Dez's POV

I was sitting on the beach researching all neighborhoods within a few miles radius of the beach, and then the ones that had payphones to narrow it down. "There he is! Uncle Dez! Uncle Dez!", I heard someone yell. I turned around to see Ella run into my arms with a teenage girl trailing behind her.

"Ella! Thank goodness you're okay! You had us all worried sick!", I exclaimed hugging her tightly.

"I'm sorry, but Maddie helped me find you when I was scared and alone", Ella said.

"Did she now?", I asked looking up at the teenage girl who was looking down shyly. "And is this you're new friend, Maddie?"

"Yeah, she was really nice", Ella replied.

"Thank-you so much for helping her, Maddie. I'm sorry if this seems rude, but we really need to get to the hospital. We can keep talking there if you'd like", I offered.

"No thanks. I was just making sure she got home safely. Now I really need to be getting back before I get it big time", she said, then her eyes grew wide and her hand flew up to her mouth when she realized what she had just said.

"What do you mean? Are you okay?", I asked her, suddenly very curious and a little worried for this young girl.

"N-nothing. Everything's fine", she said quickly.

"Okay", I said sighing, knowing I wouldn't be getting anything out of her. "Here, I'll give you my number and address, along with Ella's so you can keep in touch. Let us know if you ever need anything, and thanks again for everything."

"No problem. Oh, I never did get your name", she said.

"Dez Worthy. Do you happen to have a last name?", I asked jokingly. She smiled.

"Maddie Carter", she replied and left.

"Okay Ella, let's go meet up with your Aunt Trish at the hospital", I said picking her up and walking away from the beach…but that Maddie girl was still on my mind. I wonder what's wrong with that poor girl to make her like that, and what that was little slip-up she had. Hmm…

Trish's POV (At the hospital)

"Aunt Trish!", I heard a familiar little voice yell. I smiled and turned around to see Ella running up to me.

"Ella!", I exclaimed hugging her. Then I saw Dez run around the corner panting.

"Ella", he said out of breath. "What did I tell you about staying with me?"

"Okay, this time it was because I saw Aunt Trish, but I won't do it again", she said sounding annoyed.

"Dez, how on Earth did you find her?", I asked. There were a lot of neighborhoods near the beach that had payphones.

"Well, I was researching the possible places she could've been, when I heard her yell my name. I turned around to see a teenage girl bringing her over to me", he explained.

"Her name's Maddie", Ella added.

"I think something's up with that girl. Earlier she slipped up saying that she'd 'get it big time' if she didn't get back soon", Dez said.

"Poor girl. I wonder what she meant by that", I said.

"My thoughts exactly", Dez said. "Anyway, any news?", he asked eyeing Ella so I wouldn't say anything directly about them so it wouldn't upset her.

"Well, they said that Au-Texas is still…asleep", I said trying to make it sound as believable as possible without Ella knowing who I was talking about.

"Well what about…sister?", he asked referring to Ally.

"I still don't know about her, but from what I could hear, it didn't exactly sound too good", I said sighing sadly. She can't die; she's my best friend! Ally's my rock. She's helped me through some rough times, even though she was going through even rougher times herself. I can't lose my best friend; my sister! She's way too important!

"Worst beach trip ever", Dez said throwing his head back against his seat.

"Yeah, Al-sister wasn't a very big fan of the beach in the first place. I shouldn't have let her come. She can't even swim and I should've at least told superstar that. This is all my fault! What kind of friend am I?", I exclaimed.

"Trish, calm down. I'm sure…sister wouldn't want you blaming yourself for something that wasn't your fault in the least, and something that you couldn't have prevented", Dez said. I sighed and nodded.

"You guys can cut it out now. I'm four, but not clueless. I know you're talking about Mommy when you say sister, and Austin when you say Texas or superstar", Ella said in a frustrated tone. "Now when can I see them?", she asked as tears started to roll down her face.

"I don't know baby", I said honestly.

"Will I ever see them again, or will they leave me like my daddy did?", Ella asked now full-on crying.

"Sweetie, I'm sure you'll see them again", I assured her even though I wasn't quite sure myself. "Wait, how do you know about your daddy?"

"I asked Mommy last night why I didn't have one, and she said he didn't think that he could take care of me. He left before I even knew him! What if Mommy and Austin leave too!?", she cried. I was inwardly panicking at this. I had no clue what to say, because I honestly didn't know if they would live or not, as hard as that may be to think about. Dez must've noticed this, because he spoke for me.

"Ella, we don't know when you can see them, but they both love and care about you so much. Your Mommy and Austin are fighters so I think they have a good chance. We just have to hope and pray for the best. Your daddy left before he knew you, but your Mommy knew and loved you very much. If they do leave, you'll see them again one day", Dez said tearing up himself. I was too. I don't want either of them to die! I love Ally so much, and Austin too even though we just met.

"In Heaven?", Ella question still crying.

"Yes baby. If they do leave, you'll see them one day in Heaven, but there's a chance they could stay. But don't get your hopes up too high just in case. Whether it's sooner or later, you'll see them both again", Dez replied. He held her close, and that's when my phone started ringing.

"Hello?", I asked the unrecognized number.

"Is this Miss. Patricia De La Rosa?", the voice asked.

"Yes…who may I ask is speaking?"

"Child Protective services ma'am. We would just like to inform you that Miss. Allyson Dawson has appointed you legal guardian of her daughter, Ella Dawson, if something was to enable her to care for the child herself. We've been informed that Miss. Dawson is currently in a coma?", the voice asked.

"Yes, that's right", I said in a shaky voice.

"Well, if you are up to being the child's guardian until her mother recovers, if she recovers that is, then I will need you to come down sometime today and sign the papers", they informed me. It made me furious when they said 'if she recovers'.

"She will recover, but I'm on my way", I said.

"Wait, will the child be with you?", they asked. That made me even madder.

"No, she will not. She's been through a lot today, we all have, so I'm leaving her with a good family friend while I'm gone", I explained. I was very angry that they thought I'd just leave her alone. Wait, did I just call Dez a friend? Oh well, I don't have time to think about that right now.

"Well then, I shall be seeing you soon Miss. De La Rosa", they said and hung up.

"Hey Dez, will you watch Ella for a little while? I have to go down town and sign some temporary legal guardianship papers", I asked.

"Sure", he said as I left to go see the snobs that call you 'Miss' and call you by your last name when they're not using your full name. So twentieth century…

Dez's POV

Right after Trish left I gave Ella a snack, and about ten minutes later she was out like a light on the opposite end of the couch we were on in the hospital waiting room. I took this as my chance to research everything I could about this little girl and her mother. My eyes widened at what I saw.

Ella Christine Dawson

Born: August 24, 2009

Birth Father: Elliot Dawson

Birth Mother: Samantha Freeman

What!? Ally's not Ella's real mother!? Who's Elliot Dawson, and who's Samantha Freeman? They sound very familiar…

Adopted: November 29, 2009

Adopted Mother: Allyson Dawson

Background: Samantha Freeman (birth mother) drugged Elliot Dawson (birth father) at a party. Around a year later, Ella was dropped off on Elliot and Allyson Dawson's doorstep. Elliot Dawson disappeared the next day, and Allyson Dawson adopted the child on her eighteenth birthday.

Wow, this is a lot to take in. I wonder what Ally's story is…

Allyson Marie Dawson

Born: November 29, 1991

Birth Father: Lester Dawson

Birth Mother: Penny Dawson

*Parents put Allyson and her older brother of five years in an orphanage soon after Allyson was born. Allyson spent the first twelve years of her life in an orphanage, until her brother became her legal guardian at the age of eighteen when he got out of the orphanage himself.

Sibling(s): Elliot Dawson

Children: Ella Dawson (adopted)

Wait, WHAT!? Ally adopted her brother's child!? Ella's Ally's niece!?

Background: Found Ella Dawson on her doorstep on November 28, 2009, where Elliot Dawson (brother) figured out the child was his. Elliot wanted to put Ella up for adoption, but Allyson said no. The next morning Allyson found a note saying that Elliot couldn't take it and left, leaving Ella and Allyson both behind. Allyson became the child's legal guardian that day.

Birth Parents: Classified as (MIA). Neither has been heard from in years.

Sibling(s): Classified (MIA) since November 29, 2009.

Poor Ally, but I think I figured out why she seems so familiar now…

Thanks guys for all you who read, reviewed, followed, and favorite me or my story. Many of you had questions about who Maddie is and what's her story. I'll just say to keep a look out for her because she will be making a reappearance in this story. She's a minor character for now, but will play a pretty important role in later chapters. So, does anybody know what Dez is thinking? You will all find this out in a few chapters; probably chapter 10. Thanks everybody! I may update sooner since this is Labor day weekend and I have Monday off school.