Summary: A little girl is left on the doorstep of Evangeline Williamson, now she and her friend John McBain must figure out why she was left and figure out how to deal with their new edition.
Disclaimer: These characters belong to OLTL, and the author creates all others.
Annie: by JohnandVan
Prologue:
Samantha had to move quickly, watching for him everywhere they went. She was running out of money, and she couldn't afford to keep moving with Annie much longer. Annie was always hungry, what little food she managed to get was not enough for her child. Her only hope was her sister, Evangeline. Going to her mother was not an option. Even though they had been very close at one time. She remembered the pain, of knowing that something precious between them had been broken--- trust.
"Sam, you can't expect me to just help you out, Gabe is trouble, anyone can see that. He doesn't even treat you right, on his good days."
"Vangie, he loves me, all I need is for you to explain to the folks how much he means to me."
"I can't Sam, I love you too much to support you in this."
"Can't you just take some time, and think about what you're doing."
"I want him Vangie, and he wants me, I'm moving in with him. I just thought you of all people would understand. Oh, I forgot, for you to be in love the man has to be perfect."
"Sam, Evangeline sighed, that's not fair, I'm only thinking of you. Don't you think I've noticed how many times you've covered up bruises? I can't ignore it Sam, how can you?"
"Look don't you get it, he is passionate, he may get a little emotional but he would never hurt me."
"Look, Sam I know you think you know him, but once a man hits you they don't stop. It gets worse, and you are my sister and I will not support you on this. I love you too much."
"Well, then, I was hoping it wouldn't come to this. I don't have a sister anymore. Do you really want that Vangie?
"I don't. But if that is what you want, then you are on your own. Just know that I love you and if you every need me, no matter what I will be there for you."
Now, here she was in Llanveiw. If only she had listened to Vangie, all those years ago. How different would her life have been?
Chapter 1
She was a pretty little thing about five years old. She knew she was not supposed to move from this spot. She didn't understand why she was left and tears were streaming down her beautiful brown paper tan face. Two fat plaits were sticking out of her green hat. Now she was getting cold, shivering slightly as the wind hit her over and over again. Her green coat didn't seem to be keeping out the cold. She clutched the note that she was to give to the lady. As she stood on the doorstep, her little heart beat faster. All she could hear was her heart and her own sobbing quietly in the winter night.
Evangeline had just finished filing a restraining order on one of her clients' husbands and was heading toward her car. She got in and found her cell phone and speed dialed John McBain.
"Hey, stranger," She said.
"Hey, yourself. I hope you are calling to let me know we are still on for tonight?" He asked her hopefully.
"Yes, I am. I'm stopping by the store to pick up some chops and salad. You up for that?" She asked.
"Well, only if I can have dessert before dinner. You know we have missed each other for two days now. I'm going through some serious withdrawal, here. Do you feel me?" He asked in his sexiest voice.
"I do. You can have an appetizer, but the rest will have to wait. You're going to have a good meal first," She said with her signature laugh.
"Okay, but you better have those chops on low. Look, I got another call. See you around seven; and you get out that brown thing you wear so well," He said.
"Why, John, do you mean the dark brown one or the light brown or the one that is mixed with light and dark brown?" She asked coyly.
"Don't try it. You know which one I mean, just have it ready to put on and don't even think you will wear it for more than a minute. See you," He said.
"See you later," She said and ended the call.
Evangeline stopped by the market and made sure she had everything on the list. Suddenly, she got quite chilled, as if someone had walked over her grave. Shaking it off, she thought about John and then dismissed it. She gathered her groceries and proceeded to get them in the car.
Meanwhile somewhere in Llanview a woman needed help…
Sam could feel her life slipping away, he kept pounding and pounding and every bone was breaking. He kept asking where did she take his child. She wouldn't tell him, she loved her child more than her life. All she can hold on to was the memories of her little girl. When Annie took her first step, said her first word, before the bad things hurt her too. She was slipping and as she let out her last gasp she uttered her daughters name, as if in a prayer. "Annie," and she was gone.
Just as she approached her driveway, her headlights caught a little figure shivering at her door. Hurriedly, she went to find out what was going on.
Approaching her front step, she realized it was a little girl. Going to the little girl carefully, Evangeline said. "Hey. Little one are you lost?" she asked trying not to frighten her. She noticed that the child had been crying.
The little girl said nothing just handed Evangeline the note she had been clutching for about 30 minutes while she waited for the angel lady. Evangeline gently took the note and then said, "How about we go inside? It's cold out here."
She reached out her hand and the little girl grabbed it. Evangeline keyed in her security code and gently let go of the little girl's hand to use her key to open the door, all the while keeping an eye on the little one. Taking her hand, Evangeline led her inside the house. Cutting on the lights, she told the little one to wait while she cut the heat up to warm it up, and went to the closet and pulled out a blanket to wrap around the little girl to get her warmed up.
"How about I make you some cocoa to help warm you up?" She asked the little girl.
The little girl only nodded yes, so Evangeline replied, "Okay, let me make it for you now; then I'll read the note."
Evangeline proceeded to the kitchen and the little one followed her with the blanket and all. Evangeline put a cup of water in the microwave and then began to read the note.
Dear Evangeline,
This is my little girl Annie, I never told you about her because we parted on such bad terms. She is the dearest little girl you will ever meet, and I'm not saying that just because she is mine. She is your niece and I need you to take care of her right now. I can't because some bad things are happening and I don't want Annie to get hurt while I fix this mess. I know you probably think this is my fault, and I know that I don't have any right to ask you to take care of Annie, but I need your help. Please do this for me; I don't have anywhere else to turn. Annie is five and she doesn't speak, I will explain later. I will get in touch as soon as I can. Help me Vangie, I promise this will be the last time.
Samantha
After reading the note, Evangeline looked at the little girl and she could see the dark eyes shaped like almonds, the little pointed nose, and the round chin. She looked a little like Sam and she had the coloring of their father. Just then, Evangeline realized that she was looking at herself at about six or seven. Why didn't I see it? Taking the water out of the microwave, Evangeline fixed the cocoa.
"Annie, I have to get the groceries out of the car, you wait right here, I'll be back. Give me a few minutes. Don't touch the cocoa I want it to cool a bit, okay?" she asked.
Annie nodded yes.
Evangeline got the groceries and found Annie just where she left her, at the kitchen table staring at the cocoa.
"Go ahead it should be ready, just sip a little," Evangeline saidWhile she drank the cocoa, Evangeline washed her little face wiping her tear stained face.
After Annie finished her cocoa, Evangeline took her hat and coat. She checked her nose and finding it warm, she walked the little girl into the living room.
"So you are my niece and I'm your Aunt Van. Your mommy said you don't talk but I look into your eyes and I see so much there," She said.
All Annie could do was look at the angel. She was just like her picture. She looked beautiful and Annie liked to hear her talk. It sounded like someone singing, gentle and caring. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to stay here for a while and then Annie jumped at hearing the doorbell.
"Don't worry. That's my friend John. You'll like him," she said with a smile, before continuing, "He was coming over to eat. I promise he won't hurt you. I'll go let him in."
Checking the peephole, Evangeline confirmed it was John and opened the door.
John grabbed her and thoroughly kissed her hello before she could stop him. She pulled away to look up into his puzzled face.
"John, we have company," she said.
"What?" he asked.
Evangeline moved away so he could see into the living room and he saw the little girl with the prettiest black eyes staring at him, looking so lost. His heart was instantly taken.
"John this is my niece, Annie. She's staying here for awhile," she said.
"Your niece, I didn't know you had..." he stopped.
He moved forward away from Evangeline and went over to the little girl. He knelt down and said, "Hello, I'm John. What's your name?"
"John, she won't speak, but her name is Annie," Evangeline answered for her.
"Annie, pleased to meet you," John said holding out his hand.
Amazingly, Annie reached out her small arms and wrapped them around his neck. She burrowed into him as if she had come home. Evangeline could only watch and quietly wipe tears from her cheeks. Annie and John seemed to connect like two lost souls. She saw John reach and pick Annie up and head for his thinking chair. He just sat with her. John and Evangeline's eyes connected and she knew it would be okay. She and John would sort this out and somehow figure out what happened to this little angel. They would make it right.
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"She is finally asleep. She wouldn't let go of my hand," John said coming into the living room from the guest room where they'd put Annie.
"I know she took to you so quickly. Must be that Irish charm," Evangeline said, sitting with him on the couch.
"Did you see her put that food away, like she hadn't eaten for a long time?" He asked, thinking about the sadness he saw in her little eyes.
"Yes, and her clothes are worn. I'll need to go buy her some things tomorrow I'm glad I had a tee shirt for her to sleep in after her bath. She loved the water. I don't think she wanted to get out," Evangeline said smiling.
"Well, I was too busy washing the dishes, which I haven't received a thank you for yet, by the way," John, said with a grin.
"Well thank you," said Van and gave him a small peck on the cheek.
"I want a real kiss. Come here," he said and reached up, brought her face close to his and finished the kiss he started when he first arrived.
Breathless as usual, Evangeline finally backed away, looked at her Irishman and sighed, "Well, what do we do now, Lieutenant? Seems we have a little one to take care of," she said.
"Yeah, let me see that note. Now, tell me how all of this happened?" He asked.
"My sister Sam and I had a huge disagreement, years ago. According to her, I was always the favored one and she blamed me. When she got into a bad relationship, she asked me for help. I was younger, I knew she was making a huge mistake, but she couldn't see it," Evangeline said sadly.
"So, according to this note she is in trouble again. You two must have gotten along at some point for her to trust you with her child," he said.
"When we were little, before all the stuff happened, we were inseparable. We even used to finish each other sentences. She had such a great personality. She could find the humor in most anything. Then it all changed when our parents split. She sided with mom and, as you know, I sided with my father," she said reflectively.
"So, when was the last time you heard from her?" He asked.
"John, almost eight years ago. How sad is that? To go from being the closest of sisters to not even knowing a thing about your sister's life," she said.
"Hey, don't beat yourself up. We'll figure this out. When we work together, we are unbeatable. You know that."
"Yeah, but this one is personal John. I felt something had happened before I got home. Call it a premonition or foreshadowing, I don't know, but at first I thought it was about you. Only now after finding Annie, it could have something to do with Samantha," she said.
"Look, don't borrow trouble. Samantha was okay when she brought Annie here. So whatever is going on, she had enough good sense to bring her little girl to a safe place your home. So what we've got to find out is what led your sister to this time and place? Then, we figure out how we can help her, okay?" He said.
"Lieutenant, did I tell you today how much I adore you?" She asked.
"No, you haven't. Why don't you do that now?" He said with a smirk.
"I adore you," she responded and kissed him passionately before pulling back and resting her head on his comforting shoulder. He gently rubbed her arm, and both of them sat quietly thinking about Annie and how they were going to solve this mystery.
It had been a week; during that time Evangeline and John were still no closer to finding her sister than when Annie first arrived. John had put out an all points bulletin for her sister as a missing person. Meanwhile, Evangeline had taken Annie out, and shopped for her she needed everything. Evangeline had bought so much, she had to have some delivered. She had been indulgent; Annie got clothes, toys, books and video game that John and her spent too much time playing. John laughed at her when she told him of all the purchases she made. Then again he wasn't surprised considering how she shopped for herself. Evangeline was offended at first until he opened her closet and she couldn't refute his point. Evangeline knew that her mom had to know about Annie and she just didn't know how to tell her, so she just called her up and broke it to her.
"Hey, Mom. How are you?"
"Hello baby, you just called me last week, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I call all the time."
"No. You call once a week like clockwork, after I get out of church. Now tell me what happened."
"Mom, you're right, something has happened. I heard from Samantha indirectly."
There was silence on the other end, at first Evangeline thought she had dropped the phone, then she heard her mom sigh, "How is she? Is she happy?
"Mom, stop. I didn't see her, she left me someone you need to meet."
"Someone I need to meet. Who? Why didn't you see her?
"Mom um, um. Samantha had a child, her name is Annie, and she is so precious. Your first grandchild.'
"Annie! Evangeline, Samantha had a little girl, why didn't she ever tell us?"
"Mom, she cut us off you know that, but now I think she may be in trouble, do you think you can take time off and come to Llanview?"
"Evangeline, of course I'm coming to see my grandchild. I know you have everything under control as usual, but I want to meet Annie, and be there for you."
"Mom, I was hoping you would say that, I don't have a clue about little girls, and I was one."
"Nothing to it baby girl, just love her. I'll call and set up my plane reservations and clear my schedule at work. I'll see if some of my co-workers can handle my cases until I return."
"Mom, call me when you know the flight and arrival, if I can I'll pick you up or John will."
"How is John, treating you right I hope for his sake?" deadly serious.
"Yes, he has been my rock. Annie has taken to him better than she has to me, I'm a little jealous of the two of them."
"Well, that Irishman has the charm of his ancestors, so I'm not surprised."
"Mom, I'm glad you can come, and mom I've been having the same feeling that something is not right, I hope we are both wrong."
"Me too baby, I'll pray, God hears our prayers and he never gives us more than we can handle. I'll call you later. Give Annie a kiss from her Grammy, I'm on my way."
Amelia Williamson, arrived on the 2:30 American Airlines flight right on time, she never seemed to get a plane that ran late. The woman was phenomenal, regal and classy, never a hair out of place. She commanded attention wherever she went; she was a beauty, her daughters, received their good looks from her as well as their father. As she exited the plane and entered the waiting area, several people glanced at her. She was wearing a black business pants suit, with and hounds tooth shawl casually thrown across her shoulders. She carried her travel case, and looked around to see if she could locate John, finally she caught him waving at her from the other side of the security area. After she checked through she went to greet him.
"John so good of you to come and pick me up, she said giving him a hug."
Embracing her, he said "Good to see you again. How was the flight?"
"Fine, I was just so excited about meeting my granddaughter I couldn't think of much else. Except where my daughter Samantha is and if she is okay."
"I understand, but Annie is a beautiful little girl, she reminds me of how Evangeline looked when she was a little girl."
"Oh, my daughter showed you her childhood pictures?"
"Some, not all." He said laughingly.
"Well, I'm just glad, I could take off and come here, otherwise I would have insisted Evangeline bring Annie to see me."
"I'm glad too. Let me have you luggage tickets so I can get your bags." He waited until she reached in her bag and handed him the tickets.
"I don't have but two, and they are relatively light." She said.
"Um, you don't pack like you daughter, she usually has about six or seven."
"No, I'm not quite that bad." She laughed.
"Let me go get them wait here, and we will be on our way as soon as I get back, he said."
Evangeline Home"Annie please let me finish your hair, stop squirming. I want you to look perfect for your Gigi." Evangeline said, trying her best to finish Annie's hair so it looked halfway decent. She knew her mother well, if Annie weren't being taken care of like she thought she should, Evangeline would catch it. That just wasn't going to happen. She had been practicing on Annie for days now. She finally figured out that two ponytails was her best bet, she couldn't figure out how to do any other styles, and that was that.
Annie got up when Evangeline finished and went to get her doll although Annie didn't speak whenever she held her doll, one John had picked up for her she always hummed the lullaby, "Hush Little Baby". She sounded so sweet humming. Annie was dressed in a white tee shirt, and wearing a cute jean skirt, with tights and converses that seem to be the rage for some kids. Annie wanted them so she got them. She knew she spoiled her but John and she couldn't help it, Annie was so sweet, and gentle and kind. She could look so sad sometimes. Yet when she was happy, she made John and Evangeline smile, and take heart that things would turn out for the best.
Evangeline heard the car pull up and started for the door, thinking it was John and her mother. Before John could ring the bell she checked and opened the door. Smiling a secret smile because John had a key and obviously he didn't want her mother to know about it.
"Mom, said Evangeline as she reached out to give her a welcoming hug. She rested for just a minute to feel her mom and the love she always emanated with just a hug a touch or a soft kiss. 'I so glad you're here."
"Me too, sweetness." Said her mom giving her daughter a heartfelt hug.
Just as they broke apart and Amelia stepped into the room she looked around and saw Annie sitting in the floor rocking her baby and humming the lullaby. Amelia moved slowly toward Annie, while John and Evangeline stood back. Amelia was cautious, seeing her only grandchild, whom she just recently learned about just about filled her soul up with awe and joy. She was the most beautiful sight to see, sitting on the floor and looking just like a little angel. She was a mixture of Evangeline and Samantha. Amelia felt her eyes water momentarily until she blinked them away.
Kneeling down she said, "Hello, you must be Annie."
Annie looked up at the woman, who looked like her angel and her momma and smiled. She liked her voice too. Her eyes were just like her momma's.
Amelia tentatively reached out and touched her granddaughter's hair, and then her face gently.
"Annie I am so glad to finally meet you. I'm your Gigi, and I've come to visit. I'm you momma's mother."
Annie just looked at her and smiled, then she looked down and continued to hum to her baby doll.
Amelia turned to Evangeline, questioning but not speaking. She read the response in her daughters eyes and knew more was going on here than she really cared to know, but knew she had to get the answers too.
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John got Amelia's bags up to the guest room, and came back down stairs. He saw the two women sitting on the couch, staring at Annie and smiled. They were in awe, now he knew what it was to be surrounded by women, and it wasn't so bad especially when they all looked at you with such adoration when they saw you.
"Evangeline I promised I would take Annie to the park, and I still have some time before I go to the station, is that okay?
"Of course, Annie loves the park, especially when she is with her Uncle John. I'll go get her coat and hat, and tuck her gloves in her pocket. Just don't eat too much, I have a nice dinner planned and I don't want her appetite ruined. Okay?"
"Yes, ma'am. Not too much junk food. Annie" he said as he walked toward her and held out his hand. Annie quickly grabbed John's hand wanting to go to the park like now.
Annie and John had a secret way of talking with out saying anything. He saw her eyes light up at the sight of the swings, and knew that would be their first stop. He knew he should check in with the station, but he loved being with Annie. Her innocence spoke to him. She somehow trusted him completely and he loved her seemingly more each day. The way she smiled, held on to his hand like he would run away as if he would ever leave her. He was just worried that he had no leads up till now on her mother. He would hate to see the sadness in Annie's eyes he carried so long after the loss of his father and then Caitlyn. He however knew the realities of life and this little girl did not. He wanted to protect her as long as possible, then he heard his phone beep letting him know he had a message. He continued to push Annie as he got his phone and flipped it open, seeing the message was from the station he speed dialed and checked in.
"McBain here. What do you have to tell me?"