A.N: Thanks for the reviews! They definitely gave me a boost in confidence and I will try to personally reply to any reviews I get. Here's the next chapter. Thanks iltnlock for the great idea. It took me a bit to find a song to fit, but I think I found the right one. There will be at least one more chapter after this, not sure if I'll write anymore than that… depends on if I get the inspiration. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! And it'd be awesome if you'd check out and review my other stories. thanks!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Nine Lives of Chloe King (although I wish I did…. who wouldn't want to own Alek?) nor do I own "Say What You Need To Say" by John Mayer.
Chapter 2: "Say What You Need to Say"
Later on after they had all calmed down to watch another movie, Sofie got a call from her mom and went to the other room. Alek was playing with Rosie on the floor and after a bit, Chloe went to make some popcorn while they waited for Sofie. When she came back into the room, she asked Alek, "Is Sofie still on the phone? She's been in there for awhile…"
"Yeah, I'll go check on her…" Alek replied with a frown, getting up and leaving the room. He came rushing back into the room a moment later. "She's gone! Her phone is in there, but I think she slipped out the window… there's a fire escape a little ways down. She could have easily climbed down to it…" he trailed off, cursing at himself under his breath as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
"You stay here with Rosie. Don't worry, I'll go find her." Chloe said, resting a hand on Alek's arm to calm him. He pulled her into a hug, silently thanking her, before she slipped away and headed into the other room to follow the kid's trail. The fire escape was a slight climb across the roof and a simple, small drop down, easy for the young, fit Mai even though she hadn't started her transformations and even easier for Chloe.
She found Sofie a block away from the apartment building, perched on a small statue on the roof of a low building. "Hey… Alek's worried sick about you, what's wrong?" she asked, softly, sitting down next to the troubled girl, who had her arms wrapped tight around her torso and was staring out across the city.
Take all of your wasted honor
Every little past frustration
Take all of your so-called problems,
Better put 'em in quotations
Say what you need to say [x8]
"She's not coming home… not for awhile. She's always gone… even when she's here, she's still gone. Always working, we just get in her way…" Sofie turned her tear-filled eyes Chloe's way, pain and wisdom beyond her years lurking there. "I know it's because of the problems with the Order and helping Valentina with Pride stuff… but why? Why does it have to be this way, Chloe? Why?" she sobbed and Chloe pulled her into her arms, holding the child close, tears pricking at her own eyes.
Walking like a one man army
Fighting with the shadows in your head
Living up the same old moment
Knowing you'd be better off instead,
If you could only . . .
Say what you need to say [x8]
"We lost Daddy, Rosie's too young to even remember him… I was her age when he died. Mom's always stayed away since then… it's my fault, I remind her of him and it was my fault he died…" her voice broke off into a sob and Chloe held her tighter, her heart breaking, but her determination rising. She'd fulfill her destiny as the Uniter if only to ease the heart and soul of the broken little girl in her arms. "If I wouldn't have… if I wouldn't have run away…" Sofie cried, burying her face in Chloe's shirt.
"You can't blame yourself, Sofie. It's not your fault and things just take time to heal…" Chloe murmured, soothingly, rubbing Sofie's back in a comforting way. "I'll make things better, I promise. I'm the Uniter, I can make things better…" she continued in a soft voice as she held the girl.
"But… it was my fault… I ran away just 'cause I got mad at Dad. I screamed at him and ran… but there was an assassin nearby. My daddy… he gave himself to save me. They killed him, because of me…" Sofie cried, rubbing at her eyes. "He'd still be alive if I hadn't ran… I never got a chance to say I loved him.." she whimpered.
Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for giving over
You'd better know that in the end
Its better to say too much
Than never to say what you need to say again
Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open
Say what you need to say [x24]
"Your mother doesn't blame you and nor would your dad. I'm sure he knows that you love him and he loves you, too. He still watches you from Heaven," Chloe murmured, gesturing up at the stars. "Your mom is just trying to make the world a better place for Rosie and you to grow up in, a place where you don't have to be afraid of who you are and those around you. She loves you and she'd be here if she could." she added.
"Do you really believe that, Chloe?" Sofie asked, sniffling and wiping at her face until Chloe pulled a Kleenex out of her pocket and cleaned her face for her. "I'm sorry for running off… but I just got so upset when Mom said she wouldn't be back for three weeks. She promised it was only going to be a week… we're always getting left with a nanny," she apologized, hugging Chloe.
"Yes, I really believe so. And as the Uniter, I give you my promise to do my best to end all this war and bring peace. I don't know how or when, but I promise some how I will," Chloe vowed, helping Sofie to her feet.
"I trust you, Chloe," Sofie replied, looking up at her with her eyes shining full of trust and admiration. "You'll do it, I know you will," she smiled, grabbing Chloe's hand.
"I'm glad," Chloe said with a soft smile, "Now, let's get home before Alek explodes," she made Sofie giggle as they made their way back to the apartment where a very relieved Alek awaited them.
