CHAPTER ELEVEN: Found

This chapter goes back and forth between Claire and Alex's POV. Because it's a mother daughter moment. Oh my gosh I actually cried, while writing this. It made me so sad, and so happy. I hope you feel the same way. This fanfic is almost done, soooo close! I'm kind of sad. I enjoyed writing this. However, it cannot continue on forever.

Also, I was thinking about starting another MF Fanfic about Alex, (who else?! ;D). Do you guys think I should? Just curious! I won't give too much away about it though, I want that to be a surprise!

If you have any feedback about the book, or whether I should write another MF Fanfic, let me know in the comments! Or PM me if you want to talk about something!

Oooooh! The end is near!

Enjoy this second to last chapter!

And thank you to all who have read, commented, favorited, followed, etc. I couldn't do it without you!

Claire's POV:

We approached the fourth stop soon after the third. The rain was coming down even harder, and I could barely see the road as Phil drove along the street.

"Hayley, hand me the raincoats please," I asked. Hayley handed me two of the coats and I pulled one on, leaving the other on the ground near Phil's feet.

"Hey! It's okay! We'll find her without ever having to leave the comfort of our car!" Phil reassured me as I zipped up my coat.

"Sure honey, just keep driving." I looked out the window. Few people were on the streets, and of the ones who were, Alex was not among them. I felt a few tears drip down my face and I was surprised. I didn't think I had any tears left to cry.

Phil pat me on the shoulder, reassuring. I smiled weakly at him before turning back around. We were going to find her.

Alex's POV:

Angela returned later with hot chocolate. I sipped it as we talked some more. It was nice, being able to talk to somebody who understood. Even if I had only met her minutes ago.

She was kind, and unlike mom, she didn't get hysterical and control-freaky. It was cool.

"Feel better?" Angela asked after a moment of silence.

"Much, thank you! How can I ever pay you back?" I answered with a question. Angela smiled warmly at me.

"Oh no need. We do this all the time, take in lonely or weary people. However, we don't get many runners."

I hung my head. "Yeah, I would bet not…" I mumbled.

"Oh sweetie, don't feel bad! There's no reason to be upset! Do you want to go home?" Angela held my chin and raised my head so she looked into my eyes.

"Do you want to go home?" She repeated.

"I-I…do…." I whispered. As much as I dreaded the idea of having to return home, I wanted to go back home, I wanted to see my family again. I missed them, and I needed them.

Angela hugged me before standing up. She held out her hand.

"The rain should clear up in about half an hour at the least, I'll take you home then. Savvy?"

I smiled and gripped her hand. She pulled me to my feet. My head swam and a blinding headache throbbed in my skull. I gripped my head and gasped at the sudden pain.

"Are you okay hon?" Angela asked concerned.

The headache died down a little, but was still there. "Yeah, I'm okay. I just need to sit for a moment, have a bad headache." I winced as my brain throbbed.

"Oh, I can give you something for that!" Angela offered. I shook my head, which made it hurt even worse.

"Ah, no, it's okay. It's not that bad, and you've helped me enough! I'm okay…" I sat back down and Angela shook her head.

"Teens these days…" She mumbled. Suddenly the bell rang for the front door and Angela turned.

"Oh, that might be a customer! I've got to go up front, are you sure you don't need anything?" Angela asked.

"No, I'm cool, thanks!" I smiled. Angela walked out and closed the door. As soon as the door slammed shut, I collapsed onto the floor. I closed my eyes and hoped for this horrid headache to disappear.

Claire's POV:

We drove around for hours, until we were all exhausted. Hayley was fighting off sleep and Luke was snoring contently from the back seat. I was tired, but always alert. Same with Phil. He claimed he had stopped for three cups of coffee on his way home from the basketball thing, so he wasn't tired at all. I smiled at that.

We never found Alex though. I had surely thought we would find her. Cam and Mitchell had to go home, but that was okay. Dad and Gloria had gone home too. Everyone was tired, and I accepted that. Besides, it was my duty to find Alex, not theirs. After all, I was the one who lost her.

"Honey, there's that gas station up a ways, would you mind if we stopped there? I wanted to get some hot cocoa for the kids, and we need gas." Phi looked at me.

"Sure! No, that's fine! I could use some hot chocolate!" I smiled wearily. Phil grinned and we drove towards the gas station.

After about ten minutes we arrived. The rain was stopping, but according to Phil's iPad, we still had another hour or three to go before it officially cleared up.

I gently shook Luke's shoulder. His eyes fluttered open and he groaned sleepily.

"What? Where are we? Did we find Alex?" He shot at me.

"Well, we're at a gas station to get some hot chocolate and stretch our legs. No….we haven't found her yet, but we will! Don't worry!" I said, reassuring myself more than him. He nodded drowsily.

"Okay!"

We all got out of the car and ran into the gas station to avoid getting wet. There were several people inside, sheltering from the storm. We walked up to the counter, but there was no one there. Soon a young lady with shoulder length brown wavy hair greeted us.

"Hello! How may I help you?" She asked.

"Well, we were hoping to get four hot chocolates if it's not too much trouble!" Phil smiled.

"Perfect! I'll get those ready!" The woman heated up some water on a nearby stove.

"So what are you guys doing out in this weather?" The woman, whose name tag read Angela, asked.

"Well, actually, we're looking for our daughter. She's um…..run away." Phil said, trying not to make it awkward. Angela paused what she was doing.

"Wait, seriously?" She asked, surprised.

"I know, it was unlike her, but I guess I'm partially at fault." I answered.

"Uh huh, I see." She nodded slowly and smiled a huge toothy smile. "That's great!"

"What!?" I said surprised, "How is that a good thing?" I asked.

"Well, we get a lot of people in here to shelter from the storm you know?" She started. I nodded.

"Just about an hour ago we got a girl who had run away from home. Say, she's in the back, I'll bring her up for you!" Angela ran to the back of the store. I felt myself grip Phil's arm tightly. Hayley looked up at me, hope in her eyes once again.

Alex's POV:

I was awoken by the sound of the bathroom door opening. Angela burst in, very happy. I groaned.

"Sorry hon, did I wake you?" Angela asked concerned.

"Oh, I'm fine." I got up shakily. My headache had not returned, and now I was feeling quite hot. However, I continued to look Angela in the eye.

"Why are you so happy?" I asked. She squealed in glee.

"Well, I have some good news. That customer I had to go greet, it's a family of four, looking for a runaway daughter. The mom's got blonde hair, and there are two kids, a girl and a reddish haired boy. The dad's-"She never got to finish. I bolted out of the bathroom, despite my headache. I was going to see my family again.

Claire's POV:

I held my breath as we heard footsteps, coming closer. Biting my lip as the shadow grew taller, I awaited the result.

Suddenly Alex burst from behind the isles of goods and ran towards us. I felt myself cry out in joy, as I knelt down on the floor. Alex jumped into my arms, sobbing.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so, so sorry!" She cried.

"Shhhhh, it's okay." I rubbed circles on her back. Tears of joy flooded from my eyes and I felt Phil embrace us. Soon the whole family was huddled on the floor of the gas station. Eventually I stood up and Alex remained clutching onto my waist, not leaving my side. It made my heart melt. Phil pulled out his phone and called the other families.

"We've found her." He would say, and you could hear the cries of joy from here.

Angela stood, overlooking everything. She held out Alex's backpack. "Here you go hon."

Alex let go and walked over to her. She hugged her tightly before grasping the backpack tightly.

"Thank you." She said sincerely.

"No problem hon, it's what I'm here for!" She handed Alex a business card. "For when you need it." She said.

Alex nodded and grabbed onto my waist once more. We all walked out of the gas station and into the rain.

The rest of the family ran to the car, but I walked with Alex. She said she was too tired to run anyways. So when we got to the car, we were both soaked, but it was okay.

Alex sat in the middle of Luke and Hayley, who were both embracing her the whole car ride. It was cute. I turned and smiled at Phil.

"What'd I say?" He smiled back. I grinned foolishly at him.

"You said we wouldn't have to get out of the car." I joked, before bursting into laughter. Eventually the kids joined in, and I smiled. It was the first good laugh I'd had for months.

Alex's POV:

I gripped Hayley's hand tightly and she smiled at me.

"Good to have you back." She whispered. I smiled weakly.

"Thanks." I rasped.

I leaned back on the car seat and closed my eyes. As I felt myself drift off into sleep, I thought to myself.

I was going home.