Thinking of You..

Author's note- I want to start off by thanking any and all of you who read this story. I want to say that, this story will be different, there will be a few new characters and some of the characters you all know and love will be a tad different. There will be bumps and rough moments at times, but I promise, if you stick with it, in the end all will be made right. I want to thank ColdIce101(Amanda) from You Tube, her video Thinking of You inspired me and started this story playing out in my head. If you watch her video and read her storyline, just know one thing… this story will be different than hers. Once again, thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy.

Chapter One-

The news bulletins were on every channel, everyone in the office had stopped working, left their chairs, and were now glued in shock to the scenes unfolding on the screens before them. The damage already done was immense, homes destroyed, lives being lost every minute. They all held their breath as the last closed door in the office opened and the young woman, their boss, came out to see what had caused all the commotion. As she approached the gathered group, words left her as her eyes took in the sights before her. Reading the scrolling updates across the bottom of the screen, Reese Williams felt her word spin out of control, there had been a series of tornadoes that touched down over a small town. A town she herself had never been to, but a town that was well known to her, Pine Valley. Cassie.

Reese felt her body start to shake as one of her employees quickly grabbed her in support. Normally strong and able to control any situation the blonde architect was struggling as she fumbled for her cell phone, searching through her contacts until she located the one she needed. Hitting the send button she was met by an automatic message telling her that all circuits were busy. Tears silently falling she repeatedly tried the number, her mind going over the last phone call she had with her cousin, her best friend, one of the few people who knew everything about her and still loved her. Cassie. Cassie had been so excited about going to Pine Valley and starting her life over with a new career at Fusion, and as of their last conversation had finally begun dating again. As she listened to the message over and over through the phone her eyes never wavered from the television screen before her as her mind wandered back years, years that only seemed like yesterday…

Cassie was the sister Reese never had, they were almost like twins, both physically and emotionally. Both were tall and thin, though athletic, both had long blonde hair that they would braid for each other every night they had sleepovers. They both had deep and caring eyes, Reese's a soft brown and Cassie's an emerald green. They shared their secrets from early on, and when Reese first told Cassie about her crush on a high school girlfriend, Cassie was there for her. Then a few months later when Cassie shared her own crush on a cheerleader, the young teens had laughed and whispered about dream dates. It was only a few days later though that things had changed, Cassie had always been the braver of the two, and with that bravery she went to the cheerleader and was rewarded with her real life dream date. Reese had sat in Cassie's bedroom that weekend and listened, a tad enviously, as her cousin went on and on about how her date had gone. She listened as Cassie told her that she had come out to her family and that they had lovingly accepted her, something both girls knew Reese would never be able to do.

As similar as they were, Cassie had lived a different life than Reese, her parents lived by different standards and morals. Cassie was brought up believing that the world was hers to take on. Her parents had always supported her every move, her every choice. When she had told them she was a lesbian, they were happy for her, and showed her their unconditional love. Reese had been brought up very strictly, her life had been planned out for her and her parents, Forest and Claire Williams, drove her everyday to be the daughter they wanted her to be. That Sunday when Reese's parents had picked her up they were told about Cassie and her new girlfriend, by Claire's sister Helen. Putting on fake smiles they hugged Cassie and made excuses to leave. On the way home Reese sat in the back of the car, holding back her tears as she listened to her mother telling her and her father that there would be no more sleepovers, that Reese would be changing schools, she did not want her daughter around that kind of girl everyday.

The girls were separated, only seeing one another at the occasional family get together, and then they would always try to sneak off to once again share secrets and maintain the bond they always had relied on. When it was time for college they secretly planned on attending the same university, but Claire found out and Reese was sent away to attend the New School of Architecture and Design in San Diego, California, while Cassie stayed in New York. Over time, they drifted apart. Phone calls became further and further apart, as Cassie lived her life openly and moved in with her girlfriend, Reese continued to hide herself with one boyfriend or another to appease her parents. Once she finished her schooling she moved back to New York and started Architectural Firm. Throwing herself into her work, Reese had quickly become well known throughout her field and her parents were very proud of what she was accomplishing. She didn't leave time for dating and preferred it that way, it was easier to just say she was too busy rather than admit the truth. Cassie was still in New York, living her life in the fashion industry, she was happy and planning a commitment ceremony with her girlfriend Beth.

Once back in New York, the women were finally able to reconnect and spend time together again, their bond picking up right where it left off. One night they had planned a dinner with Beth and Cassie's parents. Reese and Cassie had met at the restaurant earlier to have a few moments together while Beth was picking up Cassie's parents Helen and Thomas. While they shared a bottle of wine and talked about the upcoming ceremony, neither woman noticed the time until Cassie's cell phone began to ring. Looking at the number she saw it was Beth and answered with a smile that quickly faded as she listened to the voice on the other end of the line. Reese saw the despair as it covered her cousin's face, and immediately knew something was wrong. It was then that Cassie ended the call with the words, "Yes, I understand. I will be there as soon as I can." Closing the phone she stood up and left the restaurant, Reese trying to follow behind her. Once outside she fell to the ground, tears shaking her frame. As Reese bent to hold her and try to find out what was going on, Cassie just leaned into her, repeating over and over through her choked sobs, "Their gone, their gone, all of them, gone. Car accident, no one survived." Reese was horrified as the words took on meaning, and she held her cousin closer, tears from both women mixing with the rain that had begun to fall.

Together they had gone to identify the bodies, Cassie had been unable to look at what was left of Beth, so Reese had to make the identification, which was difficult because she only knew Beth from pictures. The only thing that allowed Reese to be certain it was Beth were the wisps of deep red hair surrounding the charred face. After the memorial services, Cassie had fallen into a deep depression, the only person she would speak to or allow near her was Reese. Against her parents wishes Reese took in Cassie and cared for her, trying everyday to bring her back to life. The once vibrant and carefree young woman was now an empty shell, until one day last spring. Reese had come home after work and found Cassie at the computer, with her cell phone cradled against her face. When she got off the phone she turned to Reese and once again her eyes were shining. There was a new company opening up in Pine Valley, and they wanted her to come work with them. Reese listened as her cousin went on and on about this new company Fusion and the women that would be running it. She couldn't take it all in, she was just amazed and in shock that Cassie seemed to have come back to life within the few hours she had been gone. All she could do was laugh and cry at the happiness she saw all over her cousin's face.

That had been10 months ago, so much had changed. Cassie had left for Pine Valley, her fresh start she had called it. She would call Reese every other day and they would talk about their days and their nights. Reese had heard all about the residents of Pine Valley, and their seemingly erratic behavior at times, she had heard about the Kanes, the Martins, and the Chandlers. Cassie in turn had heard about Zach Slater, a trouble maker who was a college friend of Reese's. He had come to New York looking for Reese's help and wound up living with her. Cassie at first hadn't accepted the choices Reese made in the following months, but she understood why, and now that it was all said and done she was thrilled with the outcome.

Zach had always been there for Reese throughout her college years when Cassie was not. He would sit by her side as she cried in her loneliness. So, when he had shown up on her doorstep with nowhere to go, Reese hadn't turned him away. A few months later when he brought home a newborn baby he had explained his true reasons for coming to New York. He had gotten a young girl pregnant, the young girl didn't want him or the baby. When Reese had first seen the baby girl, and held her in her arms, her heart was at once filled with love and she knew she would never let this little girl go. Agreeing without question to adopt and raise the baby as her own she named her Gabrielle. Zach, after coming to an agreement with Reese that even though he would not be known as Gabrielle's father, he would always be there if needed, left New York. Reese's parents had tried to talk her out of the adoption, telling her that no man would want a woman with a child. This was the breaking point for Reese, and had for the first time in her life stood up for herself to them. Finally telling them that she didn't need nor care if a man would want her, she didn't want a man in her life, that when she met the person she would spend her life with, it would be a woman. As for her choice to adopt Gabrielle, the child was hers now, their grandchild and it would be their choice if they played a role in both her and Gabrielle's life. They chose not to, they couldn't accept what Reese was saying to them, who their daughter had become. Reese had walked away from them that day and never looked back, Gabrielle was now 4 months old, and she had become Reese's life, her work now coming in second…

Brought back to reality when she heard a ringing on the other end of her cell rather than the automated machine, she held her breath as she waited for an answer. When she didn't get one, she made her decision. Standing up she looked around the room at her employees, and after a shaky deep breath she made the announcement. "I am going to Pine Valley, not only for Cassie, but these people will need help rebuilding their lives. I will leave this office open, but if any of you want to join me, be ready in two hours. I have to go and get Gabrielle ready and make a few phones calls to arrange things, then I will be back." With that said Reese Williams was once again strong and in control, leaving the office she began to formulate a plan in her head. Removing her cell phone from her pocket she dialed a number and waited for a response, "Zach, It's Reese, Gabby and I need your help."