Hi sorry for the dark chapters but I thought it was necessary to see some of what

Clary and Seb went through before we saw how they tried to recover from it.

Please leave a review, I would love to know what you are thinking of the story so far. or if you have any questions i'd love to answer them.

Thank you for reading x

The next few hours went by in a daze. The paramedic finally managed to get me into the back of the ambulance with Seb still clung to my side and we were rushed off to the hospital. Apparently, I need a couple of stitches for the cut across my cheekbone. I hadn't even realised it had been bleeding. They had try to take Sebastian to a room of his own but he screamed, kicked and punched until they released him and he came running back to me. I wrapped him in my arms and gave the doctors a stare that clearly said stay away from my brother. We had a social worker come in to our room with a police officer after a while, Seb had finally fallen asleep from exhaustion. The office tried to ask me a few questions about what had happened but I was to dazed and numb, I just stared at them, not saying a word, until they finally gave up and left.

The next thing I know the social worker was pulling up outside a house and ushering me and Seb out of her car. She walked us to the door and rang the doorbell. Seb had his teddy in one hand and he clung to me with his other.

"By the angel." The Dark hair woman gasped as her eyes landed on me and then down to Seb who was partly hiding behind me.

"Hello Maryse," the social worker smiled at the Dark-haired lady, "this is Clarissa and Sebastian, who I called you about earlier."

"Yes! Of course, come on in." Maryse rushed as she stepped aside to let us in. "Robert's in the kitchen with the children, we were just sitting down for breakfast." She said as she closed the door behind us. I followed the social worker as she obviously knew where she was going. She walked us into the large kitchen and I saw a middle-aged man pouring himself a cup of coffee. He looked up at us as we entered and his eyes went wide before he plastered on a smile.

"Hello Mary, good to see you again." he smiled at the social worker. So that's what her name was. I know she had told me at one point but my mind was numb from everything.

"Hello Robert." She smiled.

"Come sit down." He said as he walked towards the joint dining room. Mary followed and I walked slowly behind them. Maryse was hovering closely behind me and Seb.

"Everyone this is Clarissa and Sebastian, they are going to be staying with us for a few days." Maryse smiled as she walked to the table before turning to me and Seb.

"This is my husband Robert." She pointed to the middle-aged man who waved hello. "And these are our children, Max," she pointed to a small black haired little boy with glasses. He couldn't be much older than Seb. "Alec…" She pointed to a tall wiry boy with Black hair and an inquisitive glare. "Isabelle, but we call her Izzy." Maryse smiled pointing to a black-haired girl who was probably about my age. She was beautiful, I think I recognise her from school, but I couldn't be sure. "and lastly Jace." Maryse said finishing her introductions. Jace was clearly not related, he was the complete opposite to all the other kids. While they all had fair skin, and pitch-black hair, he had golden tanned skin and golden blonde hair and he was blatantly staring at me.

"What happened to you?" The little one called Max gasped obviously taking in my bruised and cut face. I must look terrible.

"Max." Robert scolded sternly and Seb yelped and hid behind me more. Maryse and Robert looked at Seb sadly as he peered out from behind me.

"It's ok Sebastian, you're safe here." Maryse cooed. "Are you hungry? We're having pancakes." She said bending down to Seb's height

He looked at the food on the table then at all the strangers and hid again. I stroked my hand through his hair and he looked up at me his big jade green eyes looking lost and scared. I walked over to an empty chair and sat down and Seb climbed onto my lap. Izzy placed a plate in front of me and I took a single pancake and cut it up with my fork before stabbing a piece and handed it to Seb. He looked warily at me and I nodded and he took it taking a bite of the pancake as I saw Mary usher Maryse and Robert a little bit away to talk.

"She hasn't said a thing since it happened." I heard Mary say to them in a hushed voice clearly trying to keep the conversation private but I knew the other kids could hear her too as they ate their breakfast in silence. "We believe she witnessed the whole thing." Mary continued and I heard Maryse gasp. I could feel people staring at me but I just watched Seb.

"What about the boy?" Robert asked.

"No, he told us he had hidden in his special hiding spot, like his sister had told him."

"So, this wasn't the first time this has happened." Robert said as I poured some juice for Seb.

"No, from what we could see without causing too much stress they both have signs of previous abuse." Mary said and I stiffened at the word abuse. Seb noticed and looked up at me. "The boy is very attached to her, I think she's been protecting him from most of it as she seems to have suffered the worst."

"Do you want some?"

I looked up to see who had spoken. It was Jace holding a plate of bacon, look of concern clearly on his face. I just shook my head, Seb didn't like bacon and I didn't think I could eat anything without throwing it back up again.

"Clary." Seb said quietly and I looked down at him, "When's mommy coming?" I heard someone gasp, I think it was Maryse. I felt the knot in my throat and the tears sting my eyes as I shook my head at him. no one had told him. he turned around and wrapped his arms around my neck and started crying. I held him tight as I fought back the tears. I felt someone touch my arm and I flinched and jumped up out of reach sending the chair toppling. It had been Izzy I glared at her and backed away. Seb clung tighter to me. Everyone looking at me with shock and sympathy.

"It's ok Clarissa, no one here is going to hurt you." Robert said soothingly and I just stared at him.

"Why don't we show you where you will be staying." Maryse smiled clearly trying to defuse the situation.

"I better be off." Mary said, "I'll be back in a day or so to see how you are getting on." She added looking at me and I just nodded. Robert showed her out while Maryse led me upstairs.

"Clarissa you'll be in here with Isabelle." Maryse smiled showing me a room that consisted of 2 single beds, a built-in wardrobe that was spilling out clothes it was so full. A desk with a laptop and stereo on and a vanity table with a huge oval mirror. The vanity was full of makeup products. The walls were a dark purple but it had a sparkle to it. It was surprisingly nice. I just nodded as I took it all in.

"Seb you'll be sharing with Max." she smiled at Seb as he peaked through my hair at her as she opened a door on her left. It was clearly a young child's room, it had 2 single beds with navy blue covers. On the far side was several toy boxes stuffed full of toys. There were more toys in one box than Seb had ever had. The wallpaper was covered in vehicles and roads and there was a huge rug in the middle of the room that had lots of roads for toy cars to drive on.

"NO! CLARY!" he yelled at Maryse, tightening his grip around my neck.

"Mom! We're going." Someone called from downstairs.

"OK! Have a good day at school guys. Be home for dinner." She called back and then I heard the front door open and close.

"Why don't you and Clarissa go and play." Maryse smiled at Seb kindly. She then looked at me. "The bathroom is next to your room. If you want to take a shower or anything feel free." She smiled kindly at me. "you're welcome to borrow any of Isabelle's clothes." She looked me up and down, "Though they may be a bit big for you. I'll talk to Mary about maybe getting you some of your own clothes and things." She added. "Robert and I are both working from home today so if you need anything, we'll be just downstairs." She smiled and looked from me to Seb before heading back towards the stairs.