Author's Note: At last I have finally got back to updating this. Apologies for the long wait! I enjoyed writing this chapter. There will be maybe two or three chapters left. Please leave a little review, thanks! Enjoy!

Chapter 6: Recollections

Maggie shot up in bed, a small squeal of disgust ripping from her throat as she thought back to the image of that vile, black, charred serpent tongue slithering out to lap at her cheek. Her hands wiped brusquely at her cheek and she neared gagged at the sight of a thin slime of saliva connected to her fingers. It was revolting.

Her brown orbs narrowed in distrust as she took in her new surroundings. She wasn't in her bedroom, it looked smaller. Her body rested on a small single bed. To her left was a long pristine white chest of drawers. Across from the bottom of the bed on the cream carpet was a variety of dolls, in different sizes and colourful dress. There was also a large plastic doll house and a plastic kitchen set. The walls were papered in bright pink wallpaper and several pieces of drawings were dotted here and there on the wall to her right. Maggie's heart caught in her throat, she was in her old bedroom in 1428 Elm Street.

It was only when she heard a small giggle that she lowered her head towards the bottom of the and that was when she saw her.

Little Katherine.

Her bright face beamed up at her. The little apparition of herself was dressed in the same pyjamas as herself, her brown tresses were draped over her small shoulders, accentuating her big brown eyes.

In a flash Katherine scampered further up the bed and snuggled onto Maggie's lap, leaning into her gently, "Hi!"

Maggie glanced nervously about the bright room, wondering what the hell was going on with her dream. First, she was being chased by the dead corpse of her adoptive father and now she was getting reacquainted with the childhood spirit of herself. Slowly, she raised her right hand to caress Katherine's soft hair, "Hello, what are you doing here? In my dream?"

Katherine leant back on her knees and stared gravely at her, "He said I've to keep you company!"

"H-he?" she stammered, nervous. "You mean, our father?"

"Yes" the young girl chirped and teased, "You are silly!"

Maggie felt Katherine entangle her hands with hers, "Are you real?"

Katherine shifted closer to her. "I'm your memory. Daddy says I have to help you remember. Then when the time is right, you'll come home"

"Home?" she was taken back, "But I can't go back to Springwood!"

The girl scowled in dismay, "But you have to! He says you have to come home. He said I have to do this for him, to help you remember all the happy times we had together with him. The memories they made you forget! Then you'll go home to see Daddy!"

"Why?" Maggie cried, "Why does he want me to go home?"

"Because he's our daddy! You belong in Springwood! We don't belong in Central City!" Katherine commented.

A knot form in Maggie's throat, the last thing she wanted to do was go back there and face his wrath. He was going to be fucking fuming with her for betraying him again. Once was bad enough when she was a little girl, but twice? Oh, no she was staying where she was.

"I miss daddy. Do you miss him?"

She was shocked by this question. How could she reply to her? Could she admit that she was afraid of going back there, that she was actually afraid of their father? Not the loving and tender 'father' the little girl in front of her remembered, but the vicious and barbaric monster that was lurking in people's dreams. The fiend that tried to kill her and her friends over a few months before. Her body sagged sullenly against the pillows as she answered truthfully. "I don't know. Do you remember what he did? What happened to our mother?"

The little girl's face turned despondent and she nodded grimly, "He says I'm not allowed to talk about it. But I did, I told on him. I told my teacher that mommy was given her medicine for being too nosy and now she's away" a few droplets of tears rolled down her face, "Do you remember that? Telling Miss Ferguson?"

She shook her head lightly, "I just remember being taken away from our father and that day in the garden"

Katherine abruptly stood to her feet on the bed and grinned broadly, "How about we start now?"

"Start?" Maggie swallowed, "Start what?"

"Bringing back your memories" she excitedly jumped up and down on the mattress, the springs creaking loudly beneath her weight, "It will be fun!"

Maggie chewed her bottom lip with unease.

Katherine's eyes went wide as an idea entered her head, "Oh, I know, I'll show you all the games Daddy played with us! Do you remember the big bad wolf game?"

"No, I don't"

Jumping off the bed Katherine grabbed Maggie's hands and pulled her off of the bed, "Come on! Let's go!"

Maggie nodded and gripped the little girl's left hand. When she first discovered who HE was to her, she didn't want to remember anything about her childhood with him. But now over the last few weeks, perhaps the last month the urge to find out those lost memories was becoming to strong to resist. All she knew of her father was the sadistic fiend who tried to kill her, Doc and Tracey. The odd time she had found herself staying up all night reading those dark and disturbing news paper articles of his heinous deeds. Maybe it would be beneficial for her frame of mind to remember all the happy times she had with him when she was a little girl, what harm could it do?

"Okay" Maggie stepped forward a few feet then tugged Katherine's hand to stop her, "But he won't appear to me, it will just be memories? Yes?"

"Yes" she nodded eagerly, "He isn't here"

Maggie nodded once and allowed herself to be trailed over towards the darkness beyond the bedroom door. As the walked though the doorway a bright dazzling white light engulfed them…

Flashback…

November Saturday 5th November 1966…

It was a surprisingly bright and dry day in Springwood. Despite it being in the middle of autumn it was quite warm for once. Katherine sat contentedly at the far end of her back yard, again surrounded by her various dolls and large teddy bears. The fabric around the knees of her jeans were stained a light colour, from leaning on the grass for the last hour as she played. Her mother wouldn't be best pleased about that.

Her head turned towards the basement doors as they were flung opened, revealing her father as he stepped onto the neatly cut lawn. She sprung to her feet, a cheerful smile growing across her face as she ran towards him. "Daddy! You're home! Would you play with me? Please?"

"That's why I came out here for, princess" he smirked and bent down to peck her lightly on her lips, "You been good for your mommy?"

"Yep!" she beamed.

"Good" he straightened up, "How about we play a new game today?"

"A new game?" Her eyes lit up, "Do I know it?"

"No" he shook his head, "It's a new one I made up. About this big bad wolf and this little cute piggy he chases and eats ALL up!"

A barrage of giggles came from her as she realised what he was talking about, "It's like what I told you last week, at Halloween? When I dressed up as the werewolf? Are you going to the big bad wolf, daddy?"

He smiled impishly and nodded.

"Do you want me to get my Halloween mask for you?"

He chuckled and shook his head in discord, "Oh, I don't need a mask!"

His lips slowly curled into a dark, hungry snarl and he growled playfully at her. In turn making her chortle in amusement, "So, I'm the little piggy? You are going to chase me about the garden?"

Her eyes fell upon his fingers as he leisurely flexed and curled them, getting ready for the chase. "Yes, now I'll give you a head start. I'll count to ten okay?"

Katherine grinned and spun away, her feet carrying her towards the back of the garden. Tucked to her left was a large rose bush and she deftly slid in between it, in front of the fence and waited patiently for the game to begin.

Freddy smiled mischievously as he continued to count to ten and looked around the garden vacantly, as if staring at nothing in particular. He flashed his teeth into a small snarl, "Ten"

He titled his head to the side and sniffed the air, pretending to smell her scent as his voice went into a deep playful leer, "Oh, I smell a little piggy! I wonder, where SHE is?"

There was a small giggle from behind the rose bush as Katherine smiled merrily to herself. Her little body stooped lower onto the ground as her eyes peered through the leaves and roses. She watched with anticipation as the 'big bad wolf' slowly and predatorily stalked along the side of the fence to where she was hiding. His body was hunched over and his hands were raised, finger curled inwards like they were his claws. Her left hand clamped over her mouth to keep her rupture of giggles at bay.

A shadow loomed above her and she instinctively dashed out from behind the bush, and shrieked in laughter as the big bad wolf lunged for her and missed by mere inches.

"C'mere little piglet!" he hissed and grinned.

She ran away from him and then twisted her head towards him, sticking her tongue out at him smugly, "A-ha! You can't catch me you big bad wolf!"

Freddy couldn't help but laugh at her conceitedness. He always knew she had a little bit of a brashness about her and today she was showing it in full. His feet picked up their pace as he pursued her again and wiggled his fingers at her, "Oh, I bet you I can. Then I'll eat you all up!"

She grinned and veered around the tall oak tree near the steps of the basement and hid behind the trunk. Her fingers grasped the deep brown bark and her eyes went wide in glee as he approached her. She played along and feigned terror, "Oh, no! Someone help me!" then she broke out into a fit of giggles.

This was too much fun!

She suddenly darted to her right and sprinted towards the back of the garden, he quickly sidestepped and his hands swooped to grab her. But she ducked under his reach and laughed as he chucked to himself. With a joyful smirk, he sprang into a run and soon caught up with her, his hands curling around her waist and he gently spun her to face him. Her lips were pulled into a cheerful grin as he whispered into her ear as he drew her close, "Got you my little piggy!"

A hearty laugh came from her as he impishly attached his lips to the side of her neck, pretending to gnaw and munch at her flesh. Her small hands lightly whacked his shoulders attempting to get him to stop. But he laughed against her skin and dropped to his knees, his fingers tickling at her waist underneath her mint green t-shirt.

"S-stop that!" she managed to choke out between her giggles, "That t-tickles!"

He rolled onto her back and ceased his attack on her neck, and pulled her legs over each side of his waist so that she was straddling him. She let out a deep breath and smiled down at him as he tenderly stroked her flushed red face, "You enjoy that game?"

"Yeah! I loved it" she nodded, "Can we play it again?"

He was about to agree when Loretta's voice called out from the kitchen window, "Dinner is ready!"

Katherine crossed her arms across her chest in displeasure, "Aw!"

Freddy sat up to kiss her nose and then beckoned her off his lap, "You heard your mommy, we've to go inside. I'll play with you later, okay?"

She grinned and rose to her feet, then stepped forward as her motioned for her to climb onto his back. Her hands interlocked around his chest as he gave her a piggy back into the house...

Again a vibrant white light flashed throughout the garden. Maggie blinked wildly as she stood in the middle of the back yard, the night stars twinkling above her in the velvet sky. Her mind was now disconnected from the memory, but she knew it was now embedded in the back of her mind. A stray tear tricked down her face as she wiped it away with the back of her hand, before lowering her gaze to Katherine as she looked up at her.

"Daddy loved playing with us!"

Maggie knelt to her knees and nodded, "I know that now. I saw how happy he was, when he was playing with me. I mean, with you"

"But you are me! We're the same person!" Katherine reminded her, "You ARE Katherine, but you've grown up!"

She was speechless. Katherine was right, they were one in the same. Her lips parted as she let out a deep sigh. That memory did show that her father was normal around her, kind, warm-hearted, playful. A loving father. But inside she knew who he REALLY was, and that was hurting her. That he was really a child murderer and molester.

"You mean his special work?" Katherine read her thoughts.

Maggie looked straight at her, "What?"

"That's what he calls it, his special work"

"But there was nothing special about what he was doing!" Maggie tried to explain, "He was killing the children, I'm sure some of them were our friends! He was doing bad things to them! It wasn't right!"

Katherine frowned, "But he was still our daddy! He still is now!"

"But he's changed!" she gently grabbed the girl's shoulders, hoping that she understood "You have to listen to me, you need to understand. He's evil now, he's not the same person he was when he was alive!"

"I don't care" Katherine sobbed, "I love my daddy! I remember all the good times with him. He wasn't bad to me, he wasn't a monster to me. I was his special little angel, his princess. He would always call that to us! He loved me and he loves you!"

Maggie gasped in disbelief at this, "No, he doesn't love me anymore"

The young girl's hand grabbed hers and squeezed tenderly, "Yes, he does. I know it"

There was no reply from Maggie, as deep down in the depths of her perplexed soul she knew what little Katherine said, was somehow true. The next few nights, perhaps weeks was going to reveal to her all the happy memories she had with her father as a child, before they were separated.

It was going to be hard to ignore the fact that very soon her opinion of him was going to change…

x x x

Two months later

11th February 2000

As she pressed the red end call button on her cellphone Maggie couldn't help but smile in reprieve, feeling elated that things were back to normal in Springwood. Well, as normal as it could be. Just like Paul Robertson had said two months before they had now got the 'situation' under control. There were no more admittances to Westin Hills and no more deaths. When she had spoken to him on the phone he had explained that no one has had a dream or nightmare since they first spoke back in December. Their plan was working, it was over.

He was gone.

Her hands gripped the Springwood Gazette that was sprawled on her lap and folded it neatly, then placed it on her side dresser. Her bobbed hair had now grown a few inches longer than usual and to her surprise she liked it that way. She suited it longer. The odd time she looked in the mirror with her hair this length she would see little Katherine staring back at her.

Her eyes glanced at her watch that read 10.35pm. It was time for bed and bizarrely she looked forward going to sleep at night now.

Each night for the last several weeks she was visited by Katherine who would show her another sweet and tender memory of her and her father. There were memories like, when she took her first baby steps towards him, the first time she muttered 'dada', their frequent visits to the park where he would push her on the swings, help her swing across the monkey bars, watching as she slid down the shiny silver slides. Pushing her across the lush green grass on her bright red tricycle. The special treats when he brought her to the Diner in the mall to share an ice cream sundae or to buy her that new doll she wanted. The endless nights when he told her bedtime stories, ghost stories and how she would constantly draw pictures of their little family and their house on Elm Street.

The most precious memories she relished seeing was their times spent in the backyard, playing hide and seek, tag, sprinkling her with water from the garden hose and her merry shrieks of laughter as he did so. Soaking her brown locks and yellow summer dress.

There were times at Christmas when she was shown how they used to sit and watch Christmas movies, sitting beside each other on the living room floor as he helped her play with her new dolls and toys.

Every single memory it showed how happy she was, how blissful and safe he made her felt. She was ever so glad that she was finally getting them back. It made her realised that he was right, he DID love her. He was a good father to her. She was his little girl, his special girl and that was all that mattered to her. The feeling of hatred that had consumed her for the last few months was starting to dissipate and feelings of compassion towards him was starting to burn inside of her. These recollections of her past with him was starting to change her mindset towards him and she didn't care, she welcomed it.

Then why did she feel uneasy when she thought about him? If she ever did go back to that town, and if he somehow managed to creep back into dreams, then he would kill her within an instance! She didn't want to die, it wasn't her time. Just like it wasn't her mother's time when he brutally murdered her in front of her. That was something she would never forgive him for, no matter what. Why could he not give her a chance?

Maggie growled softly and clenched her fists together in fury. There would always be a part of her that would hate him for what he did to her mother, until the day she died.

Maggie shook her head and leaned back onto her soft pillow and allowed her eyes to flutter shut as sleep consumed her.

The room grew dark, the bed morphing as her body now lay flat on dark grey sofa in the middle of a spacious living room. Her body was gently shaken awake and her eyes snapped opened to stare into a familiar angelic face.

Katherine.

She pushed herself up into a sitting position and smiled at the little girl who stood before her. For once her attire did not match hers, she was dressed in the pink dress with her hair tied back in those red ribbons. Maggie cast a quick glance to her right to the kitchen window and saw that it was still bright outside, "What's going on?"

"I've to show you what happened after mommy got her medicine!" she shifted on her feet apprehensively.

Maggie grew troubled at this, "What happened? Did he do anything to you?"

Katherine reached out with her right hand and the moment her fingers touched Maggie's right cheek, a tingling sensation swept over. Then an intense white light flooded the room..

Flash back…

Katherine sat on the far end of the sofa, her body shook as she waited for her father to appear. Droplets of tears trickled down her face as the image of her father choking her mother flickered before her. It kept repeating over and over.

She knew she had to tell someone.

Anyone!

She saw a figure sit next to her and slowly twisted her terrified gaze toward her father as he took her onto his lap. Her head tilted upwards to face him as she began, "Why…?"

But her mouth quickly clamped shut.

"You want to know why daddy did what he did?" her father concluded for her.

She nodded and looked up at him as he answered, "Well, as you know that I have a special room that nobody is allowed into except for me. But your mother was naughty. She disobeyed me and sneaked into my room. That made me angry and I had to punish her, so she had to be given her medicine for being a bad girl"

Katherine nodded slowly, acknowledging his answer and continued to listen as he started off again, "But it's going to be our secret. And you know what happens when people make a secret?"

"They don't tell anyone it," she whispered.

Freddy smirked, nodding, "Yes princess, that's right. So, you're going to keep daddy's secret? Yes?"

Katherine gave a small nodded and replied a little hesitantly, "Yes"

He smirked and carried her in his arms up to her room..

Another dazzling white light enveloped the room and the scene soon changed to a large, bright classroom…

Katherine hummed quietly to herself as she painted in her drawing, her paint brush gripped tightly in her right hand as she trailed the bristles of the brush over the page. It slowly painted in a large bright sun. A pleased grin was etched across her face and she soon pulled her gaze upwards as her Kindergarten teacher Miss Ferguson approached her and knelt at her side. Her bright green eyes glanced at the girl's painting then to her.

"Hi, miss!" she chirped.

"Hi, Katherine. What are you drawing?" Miss Ferguson gave a warm smile.

Katherine glanced at her picture then back to her teacher, "Me, daddy and mommy"

Miss Ferguson nodded, "Katherine, I noticed that your daddy has brought you to school this week. Where's your mommy? Is she sick?"

A shiver went up the young girl's spine. It was the first time her teacher or anyone had asked her about her mother. The past week since her mother was given her 'medicine' she had been plagued by the memory of that day. Every time she closed her eyes, it would resurface in her nightmares. It was going to consume her, haunt her unless she told someone. She couldn't lie to her teacher, could she?

Her lips parted slowly as she whispered, "My mommy is away"

Miss Ferguson grew nervous, "What do you mean away, sweetheart?"

Katherine couldn't keep it secret for much longer. It was eating her up inside. "Daddy gave her, her medicine. For sneaking into his special room. She was naughty and so he punished her" her face held a haunted look, "Now, mommy is away"

The colour drained on her teacher's face as she gave a meek nod. Without uttering a word she rose to her feet and walked towards the door of the classroom…

The classroom faded out and in its place was Katherine's bedroom…

Katherine stifled a yawn as Freddy leaned down to kiss her softly on the forehead, having finished reading her bedtime story. Sleeping Beauty. It had been the day before when she had told her teacher how her mother had 'gone away'. She was silently hoping that Miss Ferguson wouldn't tell anyone the secret she told her. If her father found out then he would be so mad at her. But she couldn't lie to her teacher, could she? Her parents always told her that lying was bad. That it wasn't polite to lie to anyone. Perhaps nothing would happen, maybe she would forget it and then those bad dreams would stop.

There was a sudden frantic rapping at the front door, making her father stand abruptly to his feet. He hushed her as she sat up in bed and quickly left the room. It was after a few minutes when she heard a set of footsteps approach her bedroom and then she saw a strange, dark haired woman enter. Dressed in what appeared to be police clothing.

Katherine whimpered as the woman advanced towards her and reassured, "Hi, Katherine. Don't worry, everything's going to be okay!"

Her body trembled as the woman took her in her arms and carried her down the stairs. Katherine looked down the stairs and saw her father arguing with a male police officer, his face scowling in rage. "I haven't done anything!"

As the police woman stepped off the last step, Katherine flung herself at her father, "Daddy!"

He instantly spun around to her and grabbed her out of the woman's hands, her little arms gripping around his neck. A pair of lips kissed her right cheek gently, "It's okay princess, they're not taking you anywhere"

Soft sobs came from her as she stared solemnly into his eyes, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to tell daddy. But you said not to lie to people. Don't let them take me! Please don't be angry at me, I'm sorry! I really AM! I want to stay with you!"

"I'm afraid you can't Katherine" the female officer declared, "Now, say goodbye to your daddy"

Katherine shook her head and buried her head against his chest, "No. I want to stay with my daddy!"

Freddy seethed and glowered at the police officers with disdain, his hand rubbing his daughter's back lightly, "You have NO right to take my daughter away from ME!"

The female officer stepped forward, "We have legal authority to take Katherine"

More sobs fluttered from Katherine and she cried out in despair as she was forcefully pried out of his arms, "NO!"

Two sturdy male police officers grabbed Freddy and roughly shoved him out of the house, handcuffing his hands behind his back as they did so. His head whipped around towards Katherine as she screamed and thrashed in the woman's arms, her eyes pleading with him to forgive her for breaking their promise. "I didn't meantto tell! Please forgive me daddy! I'm SORRY!"

His eyes softened in sorrow, he couldn't stay angry at her. "I'll get you back Katherine. I mean it! I love you, princess! I always will!"

Katherine screamed and sobbed as she was carried over to a beige car, her hands clawing at the woman's arm as she pushed her into the back seats. "NO1"

She banged on the back window repeatedly her eyes staring over at her father as he was jostled into the back of a police car, what had she done? She had destroyed their family, betrayed him? Why? And for what? It wasn't meant to be this way, how could she be so stupid? Now, she would never see him again and it was all her fault! She was tugged back into her seat and flinched away from the police officer who sat at her side. Her hands pulled her legs up onto the seat and she rocked back and forth, consumed in tears and grief.

Her life would never be the same without him.
End flashback...

Maggie wiped at the tears that escaped her eyes, as collapsed onto her knees in the front lawn of the depilated old Elm Street house. Pushing herself to her feet she charged into the house and straight toward the row of black and white photos that rested on the mantle-piece in the living room. Her hands shook as she lifted a photo of her and her father. Her hair was tied in ribbons as she gave a cheesy grin to the camera, her little body resting on his lap as he gave a warm grin. Backing away form the mantelpiece she slowly sat on the worn, dusty sofa and stared sombrely at the picture of them both.

Soon, she felt herself become overcome with tears once more. Why was she acting like this? Her body tensed as she felt a small set of arms curl around her neck, as a head rested against her shoulder. As though someone was comforting her. Her eyes blinked as she saw that little Katherine was hugging her.

The little girl stated grimly against her shoulder, "I was stupid, I should never had said anything. It's all my fault!"

Maggie gently eased back into the sofa and gently brushed away the tears from Katherine's flushed face, "It's okay, we weren't to know. We did what we thought was best"

"But they took us from daddy! I broke my promise! I was bad! I was a bad girl!" Katherine sniffled.

What could Maggie say? She felt those same feelings, felt the heartache that Katherine had. But they weren't as powerful as Katherine's. Her jaw dropped open in awe as the apparition of Katherine began to form into a thin white mist and soared into her own body, merging together. Their thoughts and emotions becoming one and soon Maggie was overcome with frantic desolate sobs as she felt the same strong guilt that Katherine had. It over powering her, the shame of breaking her promise, betraying her father.

He had every right to be angry with her.

And now she was starting to accept what she did was wrong.

x x x

Author's Note: The scene where Freddy and Kat are playing in the back garden is linked to a one shot story I have on here! :)