Gabriella: This story is based on both true and fiction….. Brandon is real…. Sara is real……. Rachael and David Matthews are fictional as well as the CSI's……
The situation with Brandon is true…. It's based on my situation……. And well, David is based on my ex-step dad….. Cause, Sara and I met up a few years ago, around the time our mother and now ex-step dad was getting a fighting and getting a divorce… We both are 14, and turning 15 soon , and well, the situation happened to me, last year… this month….so, yeah this is a heads up….. Also, me and Sara (my sis) have different names. I am Elizabeth and she is Alex.
Sara: Just like Gabriella said...this story is both true but also fictional. The only Characters that we basically own are Brandon, Alex, Rachel and David. There maybe be some other characters in the story that we might own. As far as csi goes and anything that goes with csi is not ours to own though we wish we could if we had enough money...lol...but any way...when we were kids i lived with our dad and our step mom (who is like really crzy & unbelieveably rude sometimes) my sister Gabriella (who is my twin) lived with our mom and our step dad (who is like a really big fat jerk times infinity (not exagerating) who soo should not even b alive) well any way...we're both 14 we'll be going on 15 in a couple of months. and we like met up when we were like o I don't know 10-11 years old maybe...well any way I hope you guys like the story & again its based on us but its also not based on us...most of it is but yea...I hope that didn't confused yea...well again hope ya like the story...
Sara
PROLOGUE...
6 years old Gabriella Matthews Family Vacation...
"Daddy lets go to the Zoo!" Elizabeth told her dad as she walked in the living room and sat next to him.
"Well, I think we can today. The weather is nice today too. Let's check with mommy." Chris told his step-daughter.
"Ok!" Elizabeth said as she went upstairs to her mom's "Mommy, can we go to the Zoo today?"
"Sure." Rachel told her daughter.
"Yippie!" Elizabeth said with excitement as she jumped up and down. "I wanna see the
Manatees!"
Chris laughs, "Ok sweetheart, why don't you go get your shoes on then we'll leave."
"Okay, daddy." Elizabeth said as she went to get her shoes on before the left.
6 years old Alex Matthews Family Vacation...
"So, what are we doing today?" David asked his daughter Alexandra who likes to be called Alex.
"Can we go to Six Flags daddy?" Alex asked her dad innocently.
"I think we can. We have to check with Kelly."
"Ok! Kell, can we go to Six Flags today?" Alex asked her step-mom.
"I don't see why not." Kelly told her step-daughter.
"Yay! Come on! Come on! I wanna get there soon!" Alex said as she grabbed her dads and Kelly's hands and led them to the car.
8 years old Elizabeth Matthews/Andrews Family Vacation...
"Let's go swimming today." Chris told his family.
"That sounds relaxing. Elizabeth darling?" Rachel said then asked her daughter.
"Sure! But, where's my goggles?" Elizabeth asked.
"In your pool bag honey." Rachel told her daughter.
"Okay," Elizabeth said as she went to go get her bag before they left to go swimming.
8 years old Alex Matthews family Vacation...
"So, who wants to go see a movie tonight?" Kelly asked in an annoyed tone.
"Well, do you know what's playing tonight?" Alex asked her.
"Finding Nemo, Tomb Raider, Transformers……."
"Finding Nemo!" Alex said as she interrupted Kelly.
"Ok! Finding Nemo it is!" Kelly said. Then they both left to go see the movie.
9 years old Elizabeth Matthews/Andrews family Vacation...
A/N: around this age, Chris starts working a lot, and coming home and screaming at Rachael and Elizabeth. But, with bad days, there were SOME good ones too….
"Elizabeth, I thought I told you to get your dirty clothes together!" Chris yelled at his step-daughter.
"I forgot daddy. I'm sorry." Elizabeth said as she went upstairs to get her dirty clothes.
"Honey, do you have to yell at her like that?" Rachel asked Chris.
"I told her to do that last night!" Chris yelled again.
"Well, you could be a little nicer about it." Rachel told him
"I put them in the basket in the laundry room." Elizabeth said as she came back down stairs.
"Elizabeth honey, I didn't mean to yell. I'm sorry." Chris apologized to his step-daughter.
"Its ok daddy. So, will you play a board game with me while mom is doing laundry?" Elizabeth asked.
"Sure. Go pick one out." Chris told her.
9 years old Alex Matthews family Vacation...
"So, what are we doing today?" Alex asked her dad.
"Let's go to the park and take sable with us." David told his daughter.
"Cool! Where's Kelly?" Alex asked her dad.
"Well, she's at work right now. So, it's just you, me, and Sable." David told her.
"Ok! I'll go get her leash! Come here Sable! Sable! Come on girly!" Alex called for her dog. A few
Minutes later Sable comes over to Alex after hearing her name get called by her owner.
"Come on girly, we're going to go to the park and play!" Alex said as she put the leash on the dog.
10 years old Elizabeth Matthews family…
"But, why cant we go on vacation this year? Like to Grandma Sharon's in Florida?" Elizabeth asked.
"Because, dad got laid off from his job. Traveling costs money." Rachel told her daughter.
"He just doesn't want to go out and find a stupid job! Its not fair!" Elizabeth said angrily.
"Hey!" Chris shouted, "I had a job to buy you presents, clothes, food, and everything else!"
"I know that. You just don't want to go see Grandma Sharon!" Elizabeth said as she started crying.
"I don't have to listen to this! Go up to your room. Now!" Chris yelled.
"I don't want to." Elizabeth said.
"I said Now!" Chris yelled angrily.
"But daddy!" Elizabeth started but decided not to before Chris could hit her again, and she ran upstairs crying.
10 years old Alex Matthews Family Vacation…
"Ok, Alex, we have some news." David told his daughter.
"Ok. What is it?" Alex asked nervously.
"We're gonna be moving before school starts." David told her.
"WHAT? Dad that's Not fair! Why?" Cried Alex.
"Because, I have found a new job, and we have to move closer." David answered Alex.
"But, I don't want to move! I like my friends here!"
"Honey, you can still keep in touch with your friends here, and make new friends in
California. Plus, you'll like it. The ocean, big parks, big city. Well?"
11 year old Alex First day of 6th grade.
"Dad, can I just skip the first day?" Alex asked.
"No. You'll be fine." David put a hand on the small of Alex's back and led her inside of the larger school.
"I never thought I would hate middle school this much, and I've only been in the school for five minutes." Alex said.
"Well, have a good day; I need to get to work now." David kissed his daughter on the crown of her head and exited the building, leaving little Alex alone, in the middle of the unfamiliar hallway of her new school.
Alex wondered down the hall, looking at the small piece of paper she received in the mail; her schedule and her locker combination.
Her schedule and her locker combination were inscribed on the paper.
After twenty minutes of endlessly searching for her locker, Alex finally found it. Locker number "2312". The school was huge; no wonder she got one of the last lockers. Alex sighed.
There was ten minutes before class started, and she knew she was going to be late if the locker didn't open sometime soon.
"Ugg! Stupid locker!" Alex yelled, kicking the door of her locker. "Hey, need some help?" A soft voice asked from behind. "Those lockers are so stubborn at times."
Alex smiled and turned around, only to be met but her reflection.
The two girls stared at each other for a good 5 minutes.
"Ummmm... no thanks" Alex said while walking away from her locker. She was half way down the hall and she remembered she had to go back to her locker. By the time she went back to her locker the girl was gone. After a few minutes of trying to open her locker it opened. She put her stuff in her locker, closed it and headed down the halfway to find first hour "English."
At lunch…
After Alex got her lunch she went to find a table to sit down. A few minutes later she found an empty table. A few tables away from her Elizabeth saw Alex sitting by herself. Elizabeth got up told her friends that she would see them later and picked up her lunch tray and walked over to the table that Alex was sitting at. "Hey, mind if I sit here?"
"Ummm…no go ahead." Alex told her.
"Thanks, so what's your name? Mines Elizabeth people usually call me Liz or lizzy, but I mostly go by Liz."
"Mines Alexandra, I go by Alex, sometimes Lexy or Lex when my dad's worried abut me or when there's something important he has to tell me or whatever. I mostly go by Alex."
"So, where are ya from Alex?"
"I'm from Utah , that's where I grew up. I was born in California ."
"I was born and raised here. You know what's weird? We look almost exactly alike."
"Yea that is weird. Maybe it's a coincidence; I mean my dad would have told me if I had a twin or whatever."
"Yea, my mom would have told me to. It could be a coincidence. Mind if I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"When's your birthday?"
"It's October 18, 1996 ."
"Oh my Gosh, that's my birthday, you said you lived with you dad right?"
"Uh, yea."
"Do you know what happened to your mom?"
"No, 'cause dad wouldn't talk about it, just said not to worry about it."
"My mom basically said the same thing. I live with my mom and my step dad who is a real jerk. Do you think we could possibly be twins?"
"Uh I don't know I mean it's a good possibility and we both live with are biological family, we both have the same birthday and we were born in the same state, so yea it could be a possibility. What's your last name? Did you take your step dad's last name?"
"No, I took my dad's last name well my mom wanted me to have my dad's last name. My last name is Matthews, what's yours?"
"Mine's Matthews also."
"Hey I just got an idea, how 'bout we go home after school I ask my mom who my biological dad is and you ask your dad about who your biological mom is and tomorrow we tell each other what our parents answers and if you have to, look on your birth certificate, it should say who your mom is and I'll do the same if my mom won't tell me."
"Okay, yea that sounds like a good idea."
For the rest of lunch both girls were coming up with plans to ask their biological parent about who their mom or dad is. After the bell rang for sixth period they exchanged emails and phone numbers.
Alex Matthews's car…
"Hey, Kelly," Alex said as she got in the car.
"Hey Alex, so how was school?"
"It was ok, had trouble finding my classes, but other then that it was ok."
"That's good, any homework?"
Elizabeth Matthews/Andrews household...
"Mom," Elizabeth called out to her mom when she walked into the house.
"I'm upstairs in my room sweetheart." Rachel told her daughter. A few minutes later Elizabeth walks up to her mom's room before she enter's she knocks on her mom and her step dad's door. She heard her mom say come in a few seconds later.
"Hey, mom can I talk to you, well I have more of a question then talking." Elizabeth said as she sat on her mom's bed.
"What's that sweetheart?"
"I want to know who my biological dad is."
"Liz, sweetheart, you don't need to worry about it."
"Yes, I do mom, I want to know who my biological dad is, so please tell me I'm not a little kid any more mom."
"Elizabeth I said you don't need to know about him you got that? So please just either drop the subject or go do your homework."
"Oh my gosh! Mom seriously, please tell me, I want know who he is so please tell me."
"Elizabeth Grace Marie Matthews, I said drop it, you argue with me again, then you will be grounded for a week and you won't be able to go any where, you got that missy?"
"I HATE YOU! WHY CAn'T YOU TELL ME? ALL I WAnT TO KnOW IS WHO MY BIOLOGICAL DAD IS! WHY CAn'T YOU UnDERSTAnD THAT?" Elizabeth yelled as she ran out of her mom's room and went her room slammed her door and fell on her bed crying.
Alex Matthews household...
"Daddy, can I talk to you?" Alex asked her dad as she walked into her dad's office.
"What's up kid?" David said to his daughter.
"Ummm...I was wondering if you can tell me who my biological mom is." Alex asked her dad as she sat down in front of him in one of the chairs.
"Sweetheart, what made you want to ask that?"
"Well, because I always wanted to know who she is, and I was also wondering, do I have a twin sister?"
"Alexandra, you better tell me what's going on, and I mean tell me, what do you know about your mom and your twin sister?"
"Daddy, ok, today at school I went to my locker and the stupid thing wouldn't open, so this girl comes up and asks me if I need help to get it open so I turned around and this girl that looks exactly like me. That's why I was wondering if I had a twin sister or not."
"Lex, come here, your right you do have a twin sister, since you want to know who your mom is well her name is Rachel Matthews which I'm sure changed but I don't remember her current last name right know."
"Is my twin sister named Elizabeth Matthews? 'Cause last time i checked thats what she told me it was. How come you guys kept us apart? Why didn't you let us stay with each other? Does Aunt Sara Know about this, about my twin and my biological mom?"
"Whoa, sweetie one question at a time please. As for you twin's sister's name yes its Elizabeth Mattews, it was your mom's idea to keep you guys apart becuase she wanted to keep one of you so she kept Elizabeth and I wanted to keep you guys but she only gave me you if that makes since, and about Aunt Sara, yea she knows about you and Elizabeth. Your Aunt Sara is the one that kept giving me updates about Elizabeth, I knew you were going to be seeing Elizabeth that's why I didn't tell you, I'd figured you would see her and figure it on your own which you did. And I'm sorry for keeping it from you your mom and I both agreed to try and keep it from you guys."
"Wow, that's alot to take in, I think I'm going to go up to my room now if that's ok with you, that way I can think about what all you just said, and it's ok, I'm not mad at you for keeping this from me, I'm upset that you did, but I'm not mad, I love you daddy."
"Love you to princess, I'll be here in my office trying to clear things away if you need to talk to me again."
"Okay, thanks for telling me daddy." Alex said as she got up to go to the door, her dad said your welcome and went back to his desk thinking about his other daughter. Alex went upstairs to think about what her dad had just said to her, and she had alot to take in.
Later at the Matthews/Andersons house...
Chris knocks on Elizabeth's door, "Come in." Elizabeth said with a sigh.
"How was your first day?" Chris asked her.
"Ok I guess." Elizabeth told him
"I heard that you and mom got into it. Care to tell me?"
"I just wanted to know who my biological father is. She's the one who yelled."
"I just wanted to know who my biological father is. She's the one who yelled. Told me you were my dad. That's a lie. I only met you when I was 4. So, yea."
"I have supported this family since then."
A couple of months later Alex and elizabeth started to get to know each other. Alex would usually invite Elizabeth over whenever she was able to. Every other weekend Liz would invite Alex over and they would stay up late talking about their life from the when the time they were able to remember things up to the present. After Liz argued with her mom and her step dad they finally told her who her real dad since she would find out any way. Liz was upset with her mom keeping the secret from her for years, then she finally forgave her mom. A couple weeks ago both their parents minus the step parents, they both agreed that the girls should live together with one of them. Rachel and David both agreed that they would live with their mom and they would visit their dad every other weekend and every other holiday, and they would be with both their parents on their birthday. The girls seemed fine with the arrangements that their mom and dad made.
Alex and Liz birthdays at the Matthews/Andrews household...
"Hi, mom." Alex and Liz said as they greeted their mom downstairs in the kitchen that afternoon.
"Hey, happy birthday," Rachel told her daughters as she gave them each a hug. "Hey listen I have to go into town so you guys are going to stay here with Chris, ok?"
"Mom, do we have to?" Liz asked her mom.
A couple hours later at the Matthews/Andrews house...
"Alex, Liz, I'm home." Rachel called out to the girls.
"Mom, your home, what did ya get?" Liz said as both girls ran downstairs and gave their mom a hug.
"I can't tell you that girls, but why don't we go into the living room soo that way I can bring the surprise in." Rachel said as she led the girls into the living room. "Now I want you guys to go ahead and stay here alright?"
"Okay, mom."
"Good, I'll be right back." Rachel said as she left to get the the surprise well one of them any way. A few minutes later Rachel comes back and told the girls to close their eyes. "Alright, I want you guys to close your eyes and no peeking."
"Aww, come on mom, do we have to?" Alex asked her mom.
"Yes, you do, now close them or there won't be a surprise."
"Okay," Both girls said as they closed their eyes with their hands. Rachel then brought the surprise in the living room and told them to open their eyes. "You can open your eyes now."
"OMG!!!!!!!!! DADDY YOU CAME!!!" Both girls screamed at the same time.
"Hey, I wouldn't miss my two girl's birthday now would I?"
"UHH...nope." They both said.
"Thats what I thought, hey, listen you guys I brought something for your birthday so I want you two girls to turn around and face the wall while I get it ok?"
"Awww man not again?" Liz said as both girls turned to face the wall like they were asked to do.
"Yes, again, now hold on I'll be right back." David told his daughters. A few minutes later David brought in the other surprise and told them to go ahead and turn around. "Okay, you guys can turn around now."
"OMG!!!!!!!! IT'S AUNT SARA," Liz screamed as both girls ran towards her to give her a hug.
"Happy Birthday you guys." Sara said as she almost fell from the girls running towards her.
A few minutes later Liz asked her mom if she and Alex could go swimming. "Mom, can me and Alex go swimming?"
"Sure, go ahead," Rachel said told them. Both girls ran upstairs to put their swimsuits on. They both ran back downstairs with their towels and asked their Aunt Sara if she would go swimming with them. "Aunt Sara do you want to go swimming with us?"
" I don't care, just give me a few minutes ok?" Sara told them.
"Okay," Both girls said as they ran outside to get in the pool.
A couple hours later Liz and Alex's friends Kendra, Alicia, Ashleigh, and Melissa, came over to celebrate their birthday. All six girls were in the pool having a good time, then Rachel told them that it was time to eat. They all climbed out of the pool and dried off. After making sure they were completely dried off, they went into the house and grabbed a plate and they all went and got some pizza, and went outside to eat. A half hour later Rachel brought the cake out and everyone sang 'Happy Birthday'. Liz and Alex blew out the candles then everyone clapped and they started to cut the cake into enough pieces for everyone. About nine o'clock Liz and Alex's friends went home, both girls went upstairs and took a shower. Half hour later they came downstairs and said goodnight to everyone.
"Goodnight mom," The girls said as they gave their mom a hug.
"Goodnight girls, happy birthday." Rachel told them after giving each of them a hug. Then they went and said good night to their dad.
"Goodnight girls," David said. Then the girls walked over to Sara and said goodnight to her before they went to bed.
"Goodnight Aunt Sara, thanks for coming over."
"Your welcome, happy birthday."
After saying goodnight they walked up the stairs very slowly, they were so exhausted that they would have slept on the stairs if they could.
In the living room…
"I'm gonna head on home, I'll see you guys later. Good to see you again Sara." David said as he started to leave.
"Yea, you to David, goodnight and drive safely."
"Goodnight, and please David drive safely."
"Okay I will." David assured them as he left.
"Yea, I think I'm gonna hit the hay sack to 'cause I'm beat. I'll see ya in the morning Rachel, night." Sara said as she headed towards the upstairs to the guest bedroom.
"Night Sar' see ya in the morning." Rachel said as
3 days later at the Airport…
"Bye Aunt Sara!" Alex and Liz said giving Sara a hug before she had to leave.
"Next time I come back, I'll take you back with me. Sound cool?" Sara said as she gave both of them a hug.
"Awesome!" "Yeah!" They both said excitedly.
"It's a deal then." Sara said as she heard flight over the intercom, "Well, ya'll that's my flight." She said as she gave them all one more hug before she left. "Bye Guys!"
"Bye!" Alex and Liz said one last time.
Later that night back at home…
"Okay girls I want you two to go upstairs and get in bed, its really late and I have to go to work in the morning." Rachel said as she gave her daughters a hug goodnight.
"Okay, mom goodnight" They both said as they went upstairs to get to bed.
"Night Lex." Liz said as she hopped in bed.
"Night Liz." Alex said as she also got in bed.
Back in Vegas at the Lab…
"Hey Sar'. Did you enjoy your trip?" Nick asked.
"Yeah. I got to spend time with my nieces, Alex and Elizabeth. Their birthday was 4 days ago." Sara replied.
"Cool. How old?"
"12, Alex is a ball of energy, Elizabeth, well I cant really tell. She's just, I don't know how to explain it."
"Yeah."
"My brother-in-law, now that guys' a prick. Not towards me, but you can sense it. You know?"
"Yea. I know how that goes."
Grissom and the others file in…
"Welcome back Sara." Grissom said then he carried on, "Assignments are……."
A month later…
"Hey, Liz, where ya going?" Alex asked her sister.
"I'm going to the movies with Brandon." Liz answered her sister
"Liz, you shouldn't be going out with him." Alex told her as she sat on her sister's bed.
"Alex, I can date him if I want to, you cant stop me." Liz said as she was getting read to go out with Brandon that night.
"I know that, but I don't want you to get hurt."
"Yea, I know Alex, but you don't have to worry about me."
"Okay, what time you going to get back?"
"I don't know yet. I'll call you when I'm on my way home ok?"
"Yea, ummm...just call my cell instead of calling the house. 'Cause I don't want Chris to get mad if its late."
"Okay, I will." Liz told her sister as she headed out of the room. As Liz opened the door they heard their parents fighting downstairs. Liz quietly walked downstairs and out of the front door and walked outside. About 10 minutes later Liz saw her boyfriend Brandon pull into the driveway.
"Hey, Brandon." Liz said as she got in the passengers side of the jeep.
"Hey Liz, you ready to go?" Brandon asked her.
"Yea, I'm ready, so where we going?"
"I was thinking we could go watch a movie or something then maybe go back to my place
for awhile before I take you back to your place."
"Yea, that sounds fine with me."
"Okay, lets go."
15 minutes later they arrived at the movie theatre. They both got out and walked up to the theatre and asked for to tickets to see a movie they both agreed on. Two and a half hours later the movie ended, and Brandon took Liz back to his place.
The following year…
"Alex, we're going to grandma Diana's for a week." David told his daughter.
"Is Elizabeth coming?" Alex asked her dad.
"No not this time."
"Why not?"
"Chris and your mom. They said she needs an attitude adjustment at home."
"Yeah. And Chris is probably making things up again."
"Alexandra Nicole Grace Matthews! I do not want you to say that about other people. You hear me?"
"Fine I guess I'll go pack."
Elizabeth's house…
"I DO NOT HAVE AN ATTITUDE PROBLEM!!!" Elizabeth yelled at her parents.
"Listen to you. You just screamed at your mom and I." Chris told her getting angry with her.
"Honey, talk to a councilor. Get your feelings out." Rachel told her daughter.
"I. WILL. NOT. SEE. A PERSON. THAT THINKS. I. AM. CRAZY!!!" Liz tried telling them.
"At least go to one appointment." Rachel asked her.
"No! I am not GOING!!!!"
"Yes you are." Chris told her sternly.
"You, are NOT my dad!! And I am NOT Going!!!" Elizabeth said as she ran to her room and slams the door.
"Maybe we should give her some time." Rachel tried to tell her husband.
"She needs to learn respect. Maybe a belting, once in a while. Or grounding." Chris said to her getting ready to go up to her room.
"Chris, don't start with the discipline discussion." Rachel said trying to calm him down.
"Fine play nice, But I want respect." Chris said leaving.
13 years of age, Matthews/Andrews house…
"Girls, are you read to go?" Rachel asked the girls
"Yea, we're ready now mom," Liz said as she and Alex came downstairs.
"Okay, come on I'm running late trying to get you guys to your dad's, and I have to leave for work so come on" Rachel said as she was rushing the girls out of the house and into the car.
13 years old, Matthews house…
"Dad, we're here," Alex said as she was Liz walked inside the house.
"I'm in the office girls." David said to his kids.
"Okay, we're gonna go put our stuff in our rooms." Alex said as they made their ways upstairs to their rooms.
"Okay." David said.
Later that night….
"Girls can you come in the living room please?" David asked the girls.
"Yea sure," They both replied. When they got in the living room and sat down on the couch.
"Listen that was the hospital that called, your mom, she uh, she got into an accident on her way to work this morning. After they arrived they started working on your mom, but your mom didn't make it."
Both girls look shocked, but Alex is quiet, knowing that Elizabeth would have to go back to Chris.
"What? You cant be serious. You're just kidding right?" Said Elizabeth with tears in her eyes.
"I wish I was. But, I'm not. She's gone. I'm sorry girls."
"No! She cant be dead! She CANT!! She's not dead! No!" Elizabeth shrieked.
"Honey, come here. You need to calm down a little. Please?" David said trying to coax Elizabeth into calming down.
"NO! Leave me alone! Just leave me alone!!!" Elizabeth yells as she runs to her room, slams her bedroom door and locks it.
"Alex honey? Come here."
Alex goes over to her dad, and cries in his shirt.
"She's really gone isn't she?" Alex says quietly.
"Yes honey, she is. I'm sorry." David said stroking Alex's hair.
"What; going to happen to Liz? Will she have to go back to Chris?" Alex asks as tears fill her eyes.
"I don't know hon. I'm going to call Sara, and see if you two can go stay with her. I'll talk to Chris about it to."
"Ok. But, um, Liz is really upset. Should you go talk to her?"
" Yeah, I should. Will you be ok for a bit?"
"Yea. I'll be on the couch.' Alex says as she makes her way to the couch.
"Ok. I'll be back.
"Ok." Alex says as she drifts in and out of sleep.
Elizabeth's bedroom…
"Elizabeth honey, can you please let me in?" David says as he knocks on Elizabeth's door.
"NO! Leave me alone! I don't want to talk to anybody! Just leave!!"
"Elizabeth, please open the door. Please?" David tries coaxing her to open the door.
"No. I will NOT open the door. I just want to be left alone. Please."
"You need to talk about this Liz."
For a few moments, all is quiet. An eerie silence cast over the house. Next, Elizabeth unlocks her door. David goes in, and talks.
The funeral…..
Everyone is in a circle around Rachel's casket. Everyone is dressed in black. Everyone is crying.
"We are brought here today for the passing of Rachel Rachelle Andrews. She was a wonderful person. A caring lady, a loving mother, a good wife. She will be missed by everyone. But, no more than her kids, Alexandra and Elizabeth Matthews. What a tragedy that took Rachel. But, may she always live in peace forever, with the angels." the pastor said.
"Now, may we bow our heads in the lords prayer….."
Everyone joins in the Lord's prayer.
"Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread.
Forgive us of our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the power, and the glory, and the kingdom, forever and ever.
Amen."
Everyone then said their last regards to Rachel, and the family, and left.
Then, the rain came down…….
Later…….. Matthews residence……
Gabby's A/N: The song, 'Holes in the floor of heaven' by Collin Rae is a favorite of mine…. But, to fit this story, I changed the lyrics around……hope it makes sense…
Alex is in her bedroom drawing in her drawing pad. She always does it when she needs a release.
Elizabeth is in her own bedroom listening to music, and writing in her diary. She always does that. No matter what…
But, this night seemed different. Tonight she had her CD on repeat. Playing a song from Collin Rae. Even though she didn't listen to country. But, this song seemed to fit.
One day shy of eight years old,
When my mom passed away.
I was a broken hearted little girl,
Blowing out that birthday cake.
How I cried when the sky let go,
With a cold lonesome rain.
My Dad smiled, said: "Don't be sad child.
"Your mom's watching you today."
'Cos there's holes in the floor of Heaven,
"And her tears are pouring down.
"That's how you know she's watching,
"Wishing she could be here now.
"An' sometimes if you're lonely,
"Just remember she can see.
"There's holes in the floor of Heaven
"And she's watching over you and me."
Seasons come and seasons go,
Nothing stays the same.
I grew up, fell in love,
Met a boy who took my name.
Year by year, we made a life,
In this sleepy little town.
I thought we'd grow old together,
Lord, I sure do miss him now.
But there's holes in the floor of Heaven,
And her tears are pouring down.
That's how I know he's watching,
Wishing he could be here now.
An' sometimes when I'm lonely,
I remember he can see.
There's holes in the floor of Heaven,
And he's watching over you and me.
Well my little girl is 23,
I watch her down the aisle.
It's a shame her dad can't be here now,
To see her lovely smile.
They throw the rice, I catch her eye,
As the rain starts coming down.
She takes my hand; says: "Mama don't be sad,
'Cos I know daddy's watching now."
"And there's holes in the floor of Heaven
"And his tears are pouring down.
"That's how you know he's watching,
"Wishing he could be here now.
"An' sometimes when I'm lonely,
"I just remember he can see.
"Yes, there's holes in the floor of Heaven,
"And he's watching over you and me."
Watching over you and me.
Watching over you and me.
Watching over you and me.
You can faintly hear her crying. Talking to her mom. But getting no reply.
Alex can here her in the next room over. She cant help to just think about how Elizabeth is taking all this. She herself had just been shocked. But, Elizabeth did know their mother a lot longer. And she also thought about if Elizabeth would have to go back to Chris. She herself hated Chris. She thought Chris had been abusive towards her mom and Elizabeth. She felt sorry for Elizabeth, because she could only imagine what else he did to her without their mother knowing.
So, without a second thought, she put her drawling pad away, got off her bed, walked out of her room, and knocked on Elizabeth's door.
"Go away. Please?" Elizabeth mumbles.
"Liz, come on, lets talk. Please?" Alex goes on.
"No. I can't. I don't want to talk. I want to be left alone. I'm listening to music, and I just want to be left alone. Maybe later."
"You can't hide out forever you know that don't you?"
"Yes, I can. And I will." Elizabeth argues back.
"What about dinner? It'll be done soon." Alex states out of concern.
"I'm not hungry. Go without me."
"Fine. But, I'm gonna tell dad."
"I don't care." Elizabeth says matter-of-factly.
"I do. I care. A lot more than you know. And don't you ever forget that." and with that, Alex walks away.
2 weeks later…….
"Hey Sara. This is David."
"Hey. How are you? The kids?"
"I'm doing ok. But, the kids aren't. Alex is trying to go back to normal. Elizabeth is a ghost anymore. She will barely come out to eat, or to talk. She only comes out of her room to use the bathroom, or to shower. That's it."
"Oh man. I'm sorry Dave. So I take it she's not going to Chris's?"
"No, she isn't. But, I have some, uh, unexpected news for you. When Rachel died, her will stated, that you are to take the kids. I think that she was 110 correct when she made that decision. I don't think I could take care of them. I love them to death, but, I can't raise them."
"Wow." takes a deep breath. "I want to take them. I will do that for Rachel. I don't like Chris, and I don't think they should be in foster care. God knows what Rachel and I went through."
"Yeah. I've been suspicious of Chris though. He is NOT suit to be a parent. I know for a fact, how he treated Rachel and Elizabeth both. But, I think he did more when Rachel wasn't home. They both need to get as far as they can from here. Start new."
"Yeah. I agree. I have always suspected that more was going on. But, you're right, they need to start new. A clean slate."
"Well, I guess I should get the girls to pack, and all that. I can ship the rest of their stuff later on. Rachel left the uh, the bank account to you and the kids. For anything. And they can get social security till they're 18, unless they go to college then its 19."
"I'm sure we will figure something out. We'll be ok. Just let me know when their flight is."
"I will. I'm going to have to have a long talk with them. They may hate me after this."
"David, you're doing the best thing. I will take good care of them. I promise."
"I know. Well, I'll let you go back to work. I'll let you know the flight. Bye Sara. Take care."
"You too. Bye."
Later that night….
"Girls, I have an important announcement to make. This is going to affect everything too." David said on the edge of things, but remaining calm.
"What hasn't already affected us in anyway shape or form lately? Mom's gone, we're miserable, I mean come on, there's nothing worse that can happen." Elizabeth remarked.
"Can we please stay calm? This is hard for me too. Ok? So lets just all calm down." David said getting frustrated.
"Ok, fine. I'm calm now. Can you continue with the discussion?"
"Ok. You guys are going to live with Aunt Sara." David finally spit it out.
"What?" Elizabeth asked as if she heard him wrong.
"Simple. You guys are living with Aunt Sara now."
"Why? Why can't we stay here with you? I just freakin met you, and now, you're ditching both of us? What happened to sending me to Chris?"
"You're not going back to Chris. He's not safe. Look, I wouldn't do this if I didn't have to. Its in your mother's will, and even if I wanted to, I couldn't go not fulfilling it." David explained.
"Fine. You just want to get rid of us? Just like that? Fine with me." Elizabeth gets up and starts going to her room.
"Elizabeth, wait. Come back here."
"No daddy. I'm going to my room. And I'm staying there until we leave." Elizabeth goes in her room and shuts and locks her door.
"Daddy, its not your fault. Its how she is. And, I think most of it is Chris's doing. Don't worry. I know you're sad, and I'm sad, but maybe we will have a clean slate on this. Don't you think?" Alex said finally.
"I'm going to miss you so much. We can still see each other whenever. You can call me whenever. Or write to me. It doesn't matter. I'll always be here. Always." David said with emotion.
"I know dad. I know. And I will always be there too. Always and forever." Alex said as she kissed her father on the cheek.
"Why don't you get to bed? I'll check on Elizabeth. Goodnight sweetheart."
"Goodnight daddy. I love you."
"I love you too my bright yellow bumble bee."