Emily couldn't stand to leave Charlotte's room. She kept replaying her face over and over from the doctors exam. She looked so hurt, so broken.

She felt frustrated and like she wasn't helping Charlotte, and Emily hated feeling helpless. She always liked to have a plan.

After a few more minutes, she silently went down the hall and called Dr. Coves back.

They talked for a while, and Dr. Coves was very helpful. She explained that Charlotte's reaction, while it was heartbreaking, was not too unusual in bad abuse cases. She told Emily that she could see her trust with her and to kept being patient and showing care for Charlotte. They both agreed that she wouldn't be ready for school during the next week at least, but gave her the name of a very small, individualized private school to look into. They went over bedtime routines, cognitive and language development, medicine and medical things to look for, and the importance of encouraging Charlotte to open up to her or someone else she felt close to. Emily told her about a child psychologist who worked in the FBI crimes against children unit, and Dr. Coves highly recommended her. She suggested an appointment within the next few days, after Charlotte could have a chance to calm down a little bit more.

By the time they hung up, Emily had renewed hope and was feeling much better.

She called Derek during his lunch break and explained everything that happened at the doctor, and felt even better with his support.

Then she sat in bed on her laptop, doing some research and enjoying relaxing a little bit when she heard small feet pattering down the hall. She smiled as she closed her laptop, looking up to see the visitor.

Charlotte stood in her doorway with half her curls coming out of her ponytail after sleeping it and clutching Mr. Turtle.

"Hi Emiwy" she shyly spoke up.

Emily smiled and patted the empty space next to her on the bed. Charlotte immediately climbed up and snuggled up against Emily's body.

Emily wrapped her hands around the girls tiny frame immediately, surprised and filled with happiness to finally have her cuddling with her.

"I'm sowry I was bad at the doctow" Charlotte said, looking up a bit, and Emily could hear the sadness creeping into her voice.

"Oh you didn't do anything wrong Charlotte" Emily reassured her. "Remember, it's ok to be scared. Just remember that you can always come to me if you are, ok?"

Emily felt her head nod.

"So do you want to tell me why you were so upset at the doctors?" Emily asked, encouraging her again to open up.

Charlotte shrugged. "Is Dewek coming hewe tonight?" She asked instead.

Emily paused, surprised at her question. She couldn't tell if she was just trying to change the conversation or really was feeling attached to Derek.

"Do you want him to?" She asked

Charlotte nodded right away. "He's nice." She said

"Ok, I'll ask him" she promised, and grabbed her phone from her bedside table.

"Hey- Charlotte's awake and actually asked if you could come over tonight.. seems like she really connected with you :) any chance you could come earlier so she can see you?" She texted

A few minutes later he replied "I've been told I do have that effect on the ladies ;) Of course, I'll come at 5:30 instead?"

"Haha perfect. I don't think she'll want to open up, but she's come close a few times.. maybe you'll have the magic touch?" She sent

"You never know! Kids will always surprise you. See you later" he sent back.

"Derek can come over later tonight" Emily told Charlotte, and saw a smile tugging at her lips in response.

"We've still got the rest of the day ahead of us, Char! What should we do?" Emily asked.

Charlotte shrugged.

"Hmm.. what do you think we should do, Mr. Turtle?" She asked the stuffed animal in Charlotte's arms, eliciting a small giggle from her.

"Do you want to finally read some books?" Emily asked her

She nodded enthusiastically, and jumped off of the end of the bed.

"Race ya to your room?" Emily said with a smile "Ready... set...g- hey that's not fair!" She called, chasing Charlotte who had started running before she got to "go."

She could hear Charlotte giggling as she chased her down the hallway.

"I will beat you!" Emily called out, hearing another giggle in response, and turned into her room, seeing Charlotte jump onto her bed in victory.

"I beat you!" She said triumphantly

Emily pretended to be winded, and slowly walked over to the bed where Charlotte stood in pride.

"You... did" she said, still acting exhausted from the chase.

"But not at the tickle war!" She said, her fake exhaustion gone and how tickling Charlotte's stomach.

Charlotte laughed and bounced down on the bed until Emily jumped next to her, and they both had to take a minute to catch their breath from laughing so hard.

Emily pulled two books they had chosen at the mall from her nightstand and held them out.

"Which one first?" She asked, expecting Charlotte's usual shrug.

Instead, she watched her small hand reach out tentatively and point to one, looking up at Emily questioningly.

"Great choice!" Emily praised, surprised and happy that Charlotte made her own choice, and Charlotte smiled, proud of her decision.

"Once upon a time.." Emily began reading.

Charlotte was completely engaged in the three books they read, and loved her job as the page flipper. Emily even noticed that she seemed to be following along the words well and comprehending the story. For a girl that wasn't sent to preschool or kindergarten, she sure was smart.

After their stories, they decided it was time for lunch and carried her down with her, along with some art supplies.

Emily got to work heating up some left over pizzas and cutting up apple slices while Charlotte worked on another picture.

A few minutes later, Emily placed Charlotte's plate in front of her as she finished the finishing touches on her masterpiece. She'd drawn an assortment of flowers, hearts, and shapes in different colors, and added some stickers.

"I love that, Char" Emily told her, as she handed it to her. "In fact, I think it belongs in a special place for everyone to see" she continued, taping it to the fridge. "Perfect." She said

Charlotte smiled sheepishly, proud of her work, and ate her food quickly.

After lunch, Charlotte snuggled up to Emily again as they watched a little bit more of a movie they'd started, and worked on the star brain teaser and rubicks cube that they'd bought at the store. After a bit of work, they were able to get the star puzzle solved. They couldn't figure out the rubicks cube, but were getting close.

More importantly, Emily was over the moon to see her feel more comfortable about asking for help, making choices, and speaking what she was thinking and feeling.

She still got tentative at times, but it was still progress, and that meant a lot to Emily.

It gave her hope for the days ahead when she knew she'd have to start talking to Charlotte sport adoption and therapy... but that could wait for now. She was really hoping that Derek would be able to get her to open up before that happened so Emily could know how to best help her.

A couple hours later when the door bell rang, she jumped up first into Emily's arms to go meet Derek at the door.

Thanks for reading :)