No one can tear us apart

Same day

"So the marriage between my parents is over for sure this time?" Starr asked her best friends who sadly nodded. It had been an hour and Langson and Markko were keeping them updating on the people they missed.

"Sorry Starr" Markko said "but ever since you left your dad became a huge mess".

"He'd come home drunk everyday" Langston added ''I guess your mom was getting tired of it and your dad had no problem leaving".

"Well I shouldn't be surprised" Starr said " I mean my dad went through a change ever since me and Cole got together and he went through a bigger change ever since we left but still, my mom didn't deserve that".

Cole placed an arm around her "Hey don't worry about it, your mom is better off without him".

"Yeah he's right" Markko agreed "your dad is the trash around here not your mom".

Starr nodded turning to Langston "what about Jack and Sam?"

"Oh they're growing up pretty well" Langston smiled "Jack has turned into a very handsome, smart, and loving boy and so is Sam".

"Does Sam remember me?" Starr said remembering that her brother was very young when she left.

"When he turned five he had dreams about you" Langston said "he asked Blair who the girl was and she told him that you were his sister and you went to college out of Llanview".

"What about Matthew and Nora?" Cole said.

"They're fine" Markko replied "Matthew is doing his best in High School and Nora helps the Buchananes run the bussiness" he paused before adding "but they sure do miss you Cole, when you left Nora isloated herself in their house for weeks."

Cole hung his head "I didn't mean for her to be so upset..."

"No worries man" Markko assured him "I'm sure once you explain everything she'll understand".

"Wait" Starr said "what about Jessica and aunt Viki? Did Jessica have her baby?"

Langston and Markko looked at each other.

Langston frowned "Actually, her baby girl died because she was premature".

Starr covered her mouth "oh my gosh! What happened?"

"Well after Nash's funeral that other personalitly Tess came back out" Langston explained "she spend too much time plotting revenge against Natalie and Jared that she missed a lot of her doctor appointments".

"Jessica must have been devastated".

"Heartbroken, but after she checked in a clinic and got the help she needed".

"Yeah" Markko said "now she more focused on spending the rest of her life taking care of Bree".

A yawn was heard, everyone looked at the couch to see that Nicole had woken up. She glanced with a worried face not recognising her location. Then she spotted her parents and flung across the room into her mother's arms whimpering softly.

"Nicole honey" Starr said placing her on her lap "did you have a good sleep?"

Nicole nodded as she looked to Langston and Markko with a blank expression on her face.

Starr noticed "Niki these are me and daddy's best friends Langston and Markko".

"Hello Nicole" Langston said coming closer to her "it's very nice to meet you".

"Hey Niki" Markko smiled holding out his hand "how do you do?"

Nicole looked at the hand for a moment then slapped it.

"Ow!" Markko exclaimed pretending to be hurt "you're tough".

The toddler clapped her hands and giggled causing all the adults to smile.

"She looks a little bored" Langston said turning to her boyfriend "do you have any toys she could play with?"

"I have my old building blocks in the closet" he replied getting up "I'll get them".

While Nicole played on the floor with Langston Starr and Cole decided to tell Markko how they're life had been for the last couple of years.

"Cole and I got great jobs" Starr explained "I got a job at a daycare center and Cole worked at a HighSchool coaching the lacrosse and soccer teams".

"Sweet" Markko commented "but how did you manage?"

"Well we were determined to finish school so we were homeschooled" Cole told him "after Starr had Nicole I was the only one working for a while".

"Until Nicole was six months old" Starr said "the head lady of the Daycare center Misty got me a job". She paused before adding "I remember it so well".

Flashback

Starr is carrying baby Nicole with a diaper bag waiting outside the restaurant Cole works at.

"Daddy should be finished soon" she tells her baby who begins to touch her mother's face.

"Excuse me" a woman with black hair says as she passes Starr but stops to look at the baby.

"Oh isn't she adorable" the woman smiles "your a very lucky girl".

"Thank- you" Starr says "I'm just waiting for my husband, he works here".

"Do you work?"

"No but I ought to, I just have trouble juggling my schoolwork with taking care of my baby''.

The woman runs her fingers throught her hair "what's your name?"

"Starr Thornhart"

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen"

"Well Starr" the woman says "how would you like to get a part time job working at the Daycare I own".

Starr's eyes light up "really?"

"Of course" the woman smiles "it's called Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow and it's a few blocks from here". She pauses before adding "it pays very well and we have a huge staff so while you work one of them can take care of Nicole so you and your husband could have some help".

"Oh my gosh thank- you so much!" Starr exclaims giving her a hug "what's your name?"

"Misty Zwipe" the woman says shaking her hand "so will you come by tomorrow to fill out an application?"

"I will thanks so much again".

Misty smiles and enters the restaurant.

Cole comes out, seeing his wife he walks over to her and kisses her.

"Sorry I'm late" he says then notices the excitment on her face "what's wrong?"

Starr quickly explains.

Cole smiles "that's great" he then takes in daughter in his arms "Niki will make a lot of friends when she gets older".

The smile on his wife's face does not vanish as they make their way to the car.

"Wow she seems really nice" Langston smiled as she and Nicole made a tower with the blocks.

"Yeah" Markko agreed whisphering to Cole "is she married?"

"I heard that Markko!" Langston shouted.

"Hey I'm only kidding!"

Langston shook her head and turned to Starr "have you spoken to your mom yet?"

"No" Starr frowned "only you guys but I don't think I'm ready to face her yet".

"Well you can take as much time as you want" Cole said "even I don't know how we're going to present ourselves".

"Wait a minute" Markko said "I you guys could present yourselves at that big Masquerade".

"What?" Cole asked.

"It's a masked ball" Langston explained "it's coming up next saturday and everybody will be there".

Markko nodded "you'll be wearing masks so nobody will recognise you and at a certain time you guys can present yourselves".

Starr tapped her chin with her fingers "well I think that will be fun".

"Yeah I think so too'' Cole agreed.

"But what am I going to wear?" she asked.

"We can go shopping tomorrow" Langston suggested "well have lunch and go to a couple of dress stores and pick one out".

"Okay" Starr smiled "that would be great''. She looked at the clock that hung above the table "are you guys doing anything special for dinner?"

"No" Markko replied "I was going to have just Langston over but since you guys are her why don't we have dinner together?"

"I think that's a great idea" Cole said smiling.

An hour later the four were busy making steaks with dresses salad and boiled potatoes. Starr and Langston made the potaotes and salad while Cole grilled the steaks. Markko set up the table and played with Nicole since she did not enjoy being lonely. After dinner was over they washed and dried the dishes and had dessert which were cookies and coffee. It was 7:45 pm when Starr and Cole decided it was getting late.

"We'd better go" Starr said picking up Nicole.

"Oh your'e leaving so soon" Markko groaned.

"It's almost Nicole's bedtime" Cole told him "beside we'll see you again tomorrow".

"That's right" Langston said giving Starr a hug "see ya tomorrow".

She gave one to Cole as well and so did Markko to them both.

"We're really glad you guys came back" he said "see ya around".

"Bye" the couple said heading to their car.

"Bye Nicole!" Langston shouted.

Nicole waved still in her mother's arms.

When Cole was driving back on the road he asked "so where too next?"

"Aunt Viki's place" Starr said "please I have to know how Jessica is doing".

Soon they were there this time Starr carried her daughter while Cole took the diaper bag.

Starr raised her free hand to the door and knocked.

"Who is it?" a voice said.

"Uh it's me" Starr answered "aunt Viki?"

Viki opened the door, her eyes were widen with shock.

"Starr!" she yelled embracing her niece "oh Starr!"

"Aunt Viki please don't cry" Starr said feeling her own eyes leak "I've already had enough crying for today".

Viki smiled wiping her eyes "I'm sorry". She was too excited to see her niece again that she did not notice the little girl in her arms.

"And Cole" she said giving him a hug "I'm glad that you're safe as well".

"Thank- you Mrs. Davidson" Cole smiled "is Jessica here?"

"No I'm afraid not" Viki replied "Sara took her shopping for a dress for the big event that's happening and she wanted to take Bree with her".

She looked at Starr and finally noticed.

"Oh my!" she exclaimed giving a small smile to the little girl "who's this?"

"This is our daughter Nicole" Starr said rocking her a little.

"Daughter?"

"Yes can we please come in?"

"Of course" Viki nodded.

Starr and Cole sat on a couch with Nicole while Viki sat in a chair in front of them.

She kept staring at the little girl "so how old is she?"

"Two years old" Cole said.

Viki clapped a hand to her cheek "is that why you ran away?"

Starr nodded "I'm really sorry aunt Viki but my dad was too controling and I didn't want to get you involved because you were too busy helping Jessica deal with Nash's death''.

"Does your mother know?"

"No and we'd appreciate it if you didn't tell her for now".

Viki paused "okay Starr, I know the way my brother treated you and Cole was terrible and I know you couldn't talk with anybody about this so I will keep your secret".

"Thanks" Starr said "I own you one".

Her aunt smiled back "I'm just happy that all of you are safe and sound". She looked at their child again "mind if I hold her?"

"No go ahead" Starr said handing the toddler to her.

Viki held Nicole tightly and walked aroung with her "hello there Nicole, I'm your aunt".

Nicole blinked but felt a warm feeling aroung the adult and stayed calm.

"You look so much like your mother" Viki added "and your father too".

Starr and Cole smiled.

"So where will the both of you be staying?" Viki asked.

"Well we were thinking about staying in a nearby hotel" Cole said.

"Nonesense" Viki said "I have one of the carriage houses opened ao all of you could stay in there".

"Really?" Cole said "okay that'd be great".

Starr pointed to her daughter who buried her face in Viki's shoulder "besides I think that's what Nicole wants".

Note: In case people get confused I made it so that Starr and Cole ran away days after Nash died.

for this chapter being a little long I just wanted them to meet Viki soon since I want to get stared on writing the big event that's going to happen.