So I probably should have split this into two chapters, but I figured you all wouldn't mind an extra long chapter.
Riley was trembling. The closing song was hers and she was about to perform in front of a couple hundred people in mere minutes. She had already played piano in front of these people, she had already sang with the choir, but now she was about to go on stage alone. Mr. Arnold had told her over and over that she deserved this solo, but he couldn't understand why it was so terrifying to her.
For as long as she could remember, she had never really been alone in anything, and the fact that she was going to be very alone on that stage flaunting a vulnerability like a target was utterly terrifying. So terrifying in fact she was sick to her stomach.
"She's next, right? Then we can leave?" Rusty asked, not hiding the fact he was not enjoying sitting with the Provenza, Flynn, and Sharon with several classmates around. Not that he wanted to sit with them either, he really just didn't want to be there.
Provenza leaned past Flynn that was on the other side of Sharon. "How old are you?" he grumbled, annoyed. Probably because he loved Riley as much as everyone else, but a recital was definitely not his cup of tea. Hell, he didn't even like tea. It was not his cup of coffee. Actually it was like instant coffee to him.
"How old are you?" Rusty fired back with just as much annoyance.
"Boys," Sharon scolded lightly, without taking her eyes off the stage where Riley would arrive soon. "One more song then you both can go home."
"I thought we were eating before we went home," Rusty commented slumping down in his seat.
Flynn gave Sharon a surprised look. "They haven't eaten yet?"
"No-" Sharon began but was cut off.
"Riley would have thrown up," Rusty explains earning an understand "Ah" from the rest of the squad. "She's probably ready to throw up now. Hell, she may be throwing up."
Sharon glanced at him then looked back at the stage. She could see Mr. Arnold's back turned talking to someone and she couldn't help but wonder if it had to do with Riley.
She clutched the pamphlet a little tighter, feeling anxious for the girl and hoping she was alright. Of course Riley's nerves were obvious at home, she was shaking before she even left the house. Even through her parts with the rest of the choir or musicians, Sharon could see the nervous all over her face. But now she was about to go on alone.
Suddenly there was a person leaning over her shoulder. Sharon looked up to see one of the other choir students looking concerned. "Are you Sharon Raydor?"
Almost immediately, Sharon's heart stopped. "Yes?"
"Mr. Arnold asked if I would bring you backstage," she explained, motioning for Sharon to follow her. She sent a look past Rusty to Andy and hoped he understood.
Most of the students had cleared out from back stage and were sitting with their parents. There were a few stragglers and a few students who did lights and worked with the tech stuff that remained backstage. And Riley.
She looked like a doll in her emerald dress that had a very modest neckline and short sleeves. Her hair was curled and pulled away from her face and her makeup was just enough to light up her natural features.
Her feet rolled from toe to heel as she nodded at whatever Mr. Arnold was saying as her arms held each other in front of body.
Sharon approached them, giving the director a appreciative nod. "Ah, Sharon, it's good to see you."
"You seem well," she replied with a smile, but she made it obvious she really wanted to get to the point.
Mr. Arnold returned the smile. "I'll let you two talk for a moment."
It was almost the moment they left, Riley looked at Sharon desperately. "I can't do this. All those other kids were amazing. I'm not... I'm not like them..."
Sharon gave her foster daughter a firm look as she placed her hands on the girls small shoulders. "Just because you're different doesn't mean you're not amazing."
The girl gave Sharon a frustrated look. "That was such a mom thing to say."
A small chuckle past though Sharon's lips as she pulled Riley against her. "Sweetie, I know you're nervous, but I think you're going to do wonderful."
"And if I don't and I embarrass myself in front of everyone?"
"Then we'll have ice cream for dinner and depending on how badly you do we may see what kind of private boarding schools are on the east coast."
Sharon could feel Riley relax as she started laughing. "Boarding school? Can't you just transfer to the NYPD? I don't want to go by myself."
And just like that, Riley shared the real problem she was having going on stage with Sharon as well as how important Sharon was in her life. Riley let her fall on Sharon's shoulder as they continued holding on to one another.
"I'll stay backstage while you go on. The moment you're done, I'm right here. Okay?" Sharon promised as he caught Mr. Arnold's eye over Riley's shoulder and gave him a nod to proceed.
"And if I completely suck we're moving the east coast?" Riley asked with a smile.
"Sure. Why not. I like New York."
The girl broke the embrace and looked at Sharon for a long time that made her wonder what on earth was going on inside that pretty little head. "I don't know how to thank you," Riley said softly.
"Thank me?"
The girl nodded. "If you didn't take in Rusty and me we'd probably end up just like our mother. You're the person who made sure we got a chance."
Riley didn't wait for a response, but watched as Mr. Arnold took the stage. She stood taller now. Far from unafraid, but definitely less afraid. For a moment Riley Beck looked a lot like a little girl who had also stood on this stage before.
Mr. Arnold appeared back on the stage, walking to the center for the microphone. He smiled out into the audience. "Most of you know that I hand pick the soloist for each recital. A lot of factors play a part in who I choose to do each solo and where each musician or vocalist will be placed throughout the night's performance. So when I chose a Sophomore, a student that was completely new to our school and our ways of doing things, it was a big controversy. Each student chooses their own performance piece and is told to make it their own, tell their own story through their piece, and as always they will tell you a bit about their piece before it is perform. Without further a due I would like to introduce Miss Riley Beck."
Rusty and the two lieutenants cheered for the girl who cautiously walked out from backstage and offered her music teacher a nervous smile.
She looked out into the crowd and flexed her hands. There was a lot of people out there...Her heart was racing as she thanked Mr. Arnold and moved to the microphone.
"I would like to thank you all for coming out tonight," Riley said awkwardly, following the instructions Mr. Arnold gave her earlier in the week when introducing her piece. "My piece is my interpretation of a song called Everything is Beautiful by Anne Marie Boskovich."
She swallowed hard and looked out, absently searching for the familiar faces of the people she loved out in the stands. As she searched she kept talking. "I was really terrified when Mr. Arnold gave me this honor of being the closing soloist, and I'm especially terrified that I'm standing here right now in front of a lot of people I don't know." The weak laugh she let out was met with a friendly chuckle from the crowd, as though encouraging her. "I've never performed in front of anyone before, but I really feel connected to this song in a way that I want to share."
Finally, her eyes fell on Rusty, grinning at her like he always did that made her smile right back. She looked at him for a moment longer before thinking about how Sharon was standing just behind the curtain ready to embrace her the moment she got off stage. Provenza and Andy were watching her with these expectant, proud eyes that made her feel protected.
"This song is for the family that I never thought I would have," Riley said with finality, smiling up at the people she cared about as well as over to Sharon who was barely visible next to curtain.
Taking a deep breath, she walked over to the grand piano and sat down on the bench. She barely ran her fingers over the keys, feeling them for a moment before actually pressing them. Her eyes were closed as she inhaled and with her exhale let her fingers push the keys.
It was soft, but powerful. Sad, but hopeful. The whole room was memorized by the way a girl that showed so little confidence in front of the microphone a moment before had forgotten her surroundings and was alone in her own world with the piano.
Rusty was amazed. He had never seen his sister so peacefully detached. It almost gave him chills and he wasn't even sure why. It was like watching a whole other person have a mystical out of body moment that was connecting with an instrument in a way that brought everyone within earshot into the magical realm that she was creating.
Provenza was in awe. The quiet little bird that he had grown to love held a tune that was unlike anything he had ever thought possible. He wasn't a music person, he wasn't an art person, but he knew talent when he heard it.
Andy just smirked. In a way he had gotten used to expect the unexpected from Riley. There was something magical about her and the way the piano's tune hummed a melody that could sound so simple and enchanting seemed perfectly accurate. The girl had a girl.
Sharon was just beaming, even though the tune that was being played held a particularly sad tone it was magic to Sharon's ears. Both her older children had been on this stage before and the fact that all the emotions rushing through her body felt so familiar once again reminded Sharon that Rusty and Riley were not just her foster children, but her children.
There was a moment that it felt like everyone was holding their breath as she opened her mouth to sing, almost waiting for her jazzy-bluesy voice to break their hearts.
" I would not be here tonight /If I had to choose /It's always the bigger things in life /That seem to choose you."
For the people that knew her, they could almost see the story that she was singing about. The things Riley had gone through, the times she had been hurt. "You can say what you want /Believe what you will believe, yeah /But I'll take what I want /And see what I need to see. "When I'm buried in the questions /I can't find the answers /I close my eyes and listen /Till I remember /Everything was beautiful, /Nothing seem to matter /Every day was just another day to dream
Tears were in Rusty's eyes, but he pretended that they weren't. No one with a heart to listen to someone sing that song and not feel all the pain and struggling in her voice. Flynn's eyes were even glassy, but Sharon 's were the only ones that were falling as she helplessly tried to wipe them away with her tissue.
"You can say what you want /And be who you want to be, yeah /And you never looked back /To the things that you had /Or the ones that you never need. "Buried in the questions /I can't find the answers /I close my eyes and listen /Till I remember /Everything is beautiful, beautiful. "If this is all there is /You can't wrap your head around it /If somewhere love exists /You can wrap your arms around it."
The song continued to build, Riley's fingers moving easily and passionately across the keys she let the music consume her. This was her passion in life.
"Can you hear me now?"
Her eyes opened as her fingers danced to the end of the song. "Everything is beautiful."
The song had ended, but she didn't move. She felt like she was mentally and emotionally returning to the world she had left to be alone with the piano and there was no sound to it. The entire auditorium was silent, and Riley was almost afraid to look.
Suddenly Rusty jumped up in his seat and began applauding madly. That was his sister! Flynn immediately joined him, jumping up and whistling and was quickly added to by Provenza. She had emotionally stunned an entire audience and Sharon was still a little stuck. She reacted more slowly with the rest of the audience, politely applauding as Riley bashfully stood up and took her bow.
As much as she loved playing piano, she was ready to get the hell off stage. As calmly as she could she hurried over to Sharon's arms and felt wonderful as she was embraced again.
"I don't think we'll have to move to the East Coast," Riley said shyly as she closed her eyes and held tightly to her guardian.
"I think you're right."
It was the rules that the kids and to stay behind to collect their music and return the stage to its former glory before getting to head home. She had been bombarded with compliments from other students, the students that wanted nothing to do with her until they heard her performance. Still she was glad to get out of there when she saw Sharon standing in the lobby waiting for her chatting with people she had no idea who they were. She smiled at her excited foster mother who was waving her over to meet a friend of hers.
"Riley, this is Doctor Flannigan. Her daughter was in my son's class," Sharon explained, placing her hand on Riley's back. "They're the kind of Alumni that like to show their support by coming to the Fall Music Festival and such."
"It's nice to meet you," she replied shyly, really hoping this was not going to last long. She wanted to get to see the rest of her support staff before someone got a chance to sneak away.
Mrs. Flannigan beamed at Riley in a way that made Riley feel like a small child. She wanted to hide behind Sharon's leg and wait for her to quit socializing so they could go eat and go home. It had be a particularly stressful day and she was tired.
"Your talent is evident and your playing is superb. Do you take lessons?" she asked, almost towering over Riley.
Riley barely shook her head and Sharon immediately realized that this probably not the best time to push meeting new people on her. She was probably already overloaded from the recital and the other people that came up to talk to her.
"Where's my brother?" Riley asked softly to Sharon who understood she wanted to peaceful escape, but didn't necessarily take Sharon away from her socializing.
Sharon squeezed Riley's shoulder. "He's with Lieutenant Flynn and Provenza just outside. You're welcome to go find them."
She didn't miss the grateful smile before casting a vague farewell to the other two people staring at her. She was extremely happy to get away from people she didn't know and get back to the people she actually liked.
Donna Flannigan pursed her lips as she watched the girl go, completely missing Sharon's fond look that followed the girl. "That poor thing. I heard James Arnold talking about her. No wonder she's not skilled socially."
In a flash, Sharon's kind eyes turned to daggers as she looked back at her old friend, but the woman seemed none the wiser. "I've seen a lot of kids like her, Sharon. They walk in and out of my office everyday and they take a lot of time and counseling to get back to a norm."
Psychiatrists. Sharon bit back a scoff. Donna had always felt her opinion was the only one that held any real measure and she didn't see the same girl that Sharon saw.
"You should really consider professional help for her, dear. I'd even open up a spot in my schedule for her if you'd like," the woman continued, completely ignorant of the irritation on Sharon's features.
"The option has always been made available to her. If she wants to seek professional help, it will be something she decides, I won't force her," Sharon explained calmly, though she could feel her blood boiling, knowing fully that Donna was not about to stop there.
"That's not a decision for a broken child. Listen, you know I respect your opinion, but Riley obviously needs help-"
"Riley is not broken and the fact that you use that word to describe any person tells me that if she was to decide that she wanted help, you would be the absolute last person on my list." The words came out of her mouth faster than she could stop them, stunning the woman to silence. Well, at least she wasn't degrading her child. "I'm going to take Riley and Rusty to dinner, praise Riley for her excellent performance and then take them home. Goodbye, Donna."
Sharon turned on her heels, and walked toward the door where she could already see Riley and Rusty laughing at one another. Andy stood near them, chuckling softly at the scene, but it looked like Provenza had already bowed out of the scene.
As soon as she opened the door to the outside, she was met with surprisingly cold air and the warm sound of laughter.
"I think everyone in the room was in shock," Rusty continued. "You kicked ass!"
"Rusty, language," Sharon warned lightly as the three of them fell into step beside her. "You did wonderfully."
"You kicked ass," Andy repeated, agreeing with Rusty.
Sharon playfully swatted at his arm as the two kids laughed. Good thing she liked him. His brown eyes twinkled at her as his hand fell on her lower back and the four of them walked toward her car.
"So, pizza tonight?" Sharon offered earning delighted smiles from both the kids in the backseat.
"With pepperoni!" Riley offered.
"And bacon!" Rusty added.
"So glad you two are too young for high cholesterol," Sharon teased.
Sharon didn't even argue when the kids sat on the floor, eating their pizza on plates over the coffee table as she and Andy stayed in the kitchen. She had poured herself a glass of wine and Andy was drinking a Coke. Almost as soon as they arrived home Riley changed into a comfortable pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt while Rusty changed into his own pajamas. This was once again out of the norm, considering technically they were eating dinner, but Sharon didn't mind after such a long day.
"You look beautiful tonight," Andy told her, his voice soft so the kids in the next room didn't hear him. "I've been trying to tell you that all night."
A light blush appeared on Sharon's cheeks as she self-consciously smooth her dress. "You don't look too bad yourself."
He loved the way she took compliments. Her eyes always fell bashfully and her cheeks held every slight pink tint. Then she would coyly return the compliment with hooded eyes and a smirk that could steal his heart. That was to say that she hadn't already.
Their tip-toe, slow dance type of relationship was almost confusingly slow. They occasionally held each other. They occasionally gave brief kisses goodnight, even make out on the couch. They'd have dinner together. But she was so used to keeping people at arm's length that she wasn't sure where to go from there.
There were so many rules she was breaking. So many things that she wasn't ready to confront that were staring in the face through these loving brown eyes. In her mind she knew that she was not even his type, and she knew his type.
It was so dangerous and risky, but it felt so damn right.
"Riley did really well tonight," Andy said causally, taking his eyes off Sharon just long enough to notice the throw had been pulled off the back of the couch and Riley had curled up on the couch as Rusty continued to watch the movie with extreme interest.
Sharon smirked. "She kicked ass."
Andy let out such a laugh both kids turned around and looked at him, but he paid them no mind. His attention was directed at Sharon who was still smirking victoriously. There was something about the light she held now. Though she was tired, she radiated this glow of energy.
Moving toward the living room, she patted Riley's leg. "Bed time, missy."
Riley groaned but didn't argue. She was far too tired. Standing up, she gave Sharon a hug and mumbled a goodnight before grabbing the pill bottle and heading to her room. Sharon noticed that she didn't just take her usual one, but a bottle of aspirin as well. At the moment, she decided not to say anything. If her head started hurting in the middle of the night Riley knew she could wake Sharon.
Rusty also stood up. "Goodnight," he told Sharon and offered Andy a smile.
"You don't have to go to bed yet, Rusty. Your sister was about to fall asleep on the couch and I know that's not the most comfortable place to sleep," she told him, absently rubbing her neck recalling the last time she had slept on the couch.
"Nah, it's okay," he said shrugging. "Nothing good on anyway."
"'Night, Andy," the boy called already walking down the hallway.
Andy smiled. "Goodnight, kid." Those brown eyes turned back to Sharon. They were alone. The kids off to bed and the family empty.
He put his hand around her waist and gently tugged her to the couch, letting her fall against him as they sat. Andy had the remote in one hand, flipping through the channels as the other hand gently rubbed circles on her hip bone. She let herself relax against his side, turning her head into his chest to smell the scent of his cologne. They could definitely get used to this.
Finally Andy clicked off the TV and relaxed deeper into the sofa. "Kid was right. Nothing good on."
Sharon smirked and tilted her head up to his neck inhaling again. He could feel her breath against his skin and it gave him chills as he held her tighter. "Sharon," he almost warned, not wanting to start something they couldn't finish.
"I love the way you smell," she replied seductively, her lips barely brushing his neck.
She had every intention of finishing what she was starting. For a moment she pulled away and looked Andy in the eye. She like what she saw in them a leaned in to kiss to his lips.
They're relationship blossomed, secretly, for the next several months. Andy spent Christmas with her and the kids, he was involved in their lives and the twins knew better than to mention it to anyone. Riley had gotten particularly used to him, and in a way he made her feel safer.
Though Rusty would never admit it aloud, he like having Andy around too. Sharon was very good with setting the ground rules about their relationship being separate from the relationship Andy had with the kids. It was never a question who came first, it was always Rusty and Riley. Something obviously the kids had never been used to.
Sooner than any of them had realized, summer had arrived. Granted that just meant summer school for the twins, having to catch up with classes they had missed while they were prostitutes. Dare Sharon say she was the happiest she had been in years and she was far from lonely anymore.
Still, another day, another murder. A celebrity's wife getting stabbed and thrown into the pool was the current case they were working with the new Deputy District Attorney who really made Sharon want to rip her head off. To top that off, this Emma was going to interview Rusty the same day for the Stroh case.
Rusty twirled the keys around his finger as he and Riley walked into the precinct. Phantom, the loyal dog, met them at the elevator as usual and followed them to the Major Crimes division. The desks were empty so they stopped by the tech room where everyone watched interviews.
Sharon saw them appear in the doorway and walked over to meet them. Her attention was split between them and the suspect, but they looked like they wanted to talk to her.
Riley gave her a smile that was impossible not to return as Rusty looked around her to the younger woman in the room. "Is that the new DDA? The one I'm going to have to talk to?"
Sharon felt herself stiffen at the question. "Emma Rios," she confirmed for him with a slight nod.
"What she like?"
Sharon seemed to think on this. "Lieutenant Provenza and I will both be with you for the interview."
Both twins grimaced, catching the meaning behind her words. "That bad, huh?" Rusty asked, but Sharon got called away before she could answer and they were shooed to her office by Tao.
Phantom continued trotting beside them as they made themselves comfortable in her office. Riley smiled to herself as her phone lit up and Rusty knew exactly who it was. There was a boy that had transferred mid semester and was getting some extra credits in the summer program with Riley. Sam. That was his name.
Riley was completely eaten up with him. He wasn't even a musician, but he was athletic and tall.
Rusty just rolled his eyes at her. "You're disgusting."
"You're boring," Riley replied shrugging off his insult.
Phantom yawned loudly and slid down to lay on the floor next to Riley's feet. Sharon came in a few moments later and was greeted with smiles that quickly faded when DDA Rios came in behind her followed by Provenza.
Rusty stiffened and Riley watched from behind her fallen bangs as Emma Rios made herself comfortable in Sharon's office. There was something Riley didn't like about that and she could tell Sharon didn't like it either.
"Who are you?" Emma said suddenly, noticing Riley for the first time as she looked up from her file.
Sensing Riley's inability to speak, Sharon stepped up. "This is Riley Beck, Rusty's sister."
Provenza heard the maternal anger at someone frightening her kid, but Emma must have completely missed it. "Well, I don't think you need to be in here," she replied with a bite to her voice.
Riley looked at Sharon, who gave the girl a small nod. "Why don't you go start your homework at Lieutenant Flynn's desk? I don't think he'll mind," Sharon suggested with an easy smile, trying to ease the girl's discomfort.
She shifted uncomfortably and gave Rusty a fleeting look. If he wanted her to stay, she'd stay. But he just shrugged, letting her know that he'd be fine. He had two allies already, his sister could go do homework elsewhere.
"Okay... well... I guess I'll be out there..." Riley said gathering her things. But Phantom stayed by her vacant chair looking up at Sharon for her command.
"You too, Phantom," the captain commanded gently. How horrible was it that she was actually considering getting the twins a dog?
The big German Shepherd stretched its back as it stood, easily trotting behind the girl.
Rusty looked up at Sharon and Provenza before finally looking at Emma Rios. This was not going to be fun.
Riley sat down at Lieutenant Flynn's desk, earning a odd look from him. Her sandy hair had been tied out of her face with a braid (finally listening to Sharon about keeping her hair out of her eyes) and those wide blue eyes seemed to be in distant thought.
She had always been skittish, like a beaten dog, but right then she looked more disconcerted than afraid. Phantom just stayed at her feet, always ready to protect her young master.
"What's up, kiddo?" Andy asked her, glancing at Sharon's office. He could see the new DDA questioning Rusty and Sharon's shoulders as stiff as a board. Obviously this young woman had no idea what she was getting herself into, poking a mother bear.
"I don't think I like her," Riley said like she was really trying to figure out whether or not that was truth, mostly because she lacked reason.
Andy smirked. "That's okay. I don't think the captain does either."
He watched as her hand tightened around the arm of the chair as the conversation in Sharon's office suddenly got heated. So heated in fact that Sharon was on her feet.
Sharon's lips were in a tight line and her eyes were piercing. How dare this woman question Rusty about that part of his life. She could have ripped the woman's throat out like the mother bear she was.
"You think I'm tough?" Emma nearly laughed. "You wait until Stroh's lawyers as about how you and your sister ended up on the street. Or how you two became whore-phans."
Sharon nearly bolted to her feet as Rusty seemed to get hostile at the name calling. Whore-phan?
"Whoa!" Rusty snapped. "I'm sorry. A whore-phan?"
Emma just stood straighter. "Oh, they'll say it!"
Sharon had to nearly glue herself to that chair so she didn't jump up and slap the woman. "DDA Rios! We are stopping!" she demanded, her voice cold and threatening.
The young woman just glared at her. "Excuse me-"
Sharon didn't want to hear what she had to say. "It's time to stop," Sharon nearly yelled, not taking her eyes off of Rusty. There seemed to be angry tears building in the boy's eyes.
"Why are there officers in this interview?" Emma demanded glaring between
Provenza got between Rusty and Emma, also very ready for this to be done. "Rusty has a right to have his guardian present!"
That seemed to silence Emma, but only for a moment. "His guardian? Are you saying my-my witness lives with you? Do both of them live with you? Him and the girl?"
For the moment, Sharon ignored the question and gave her foster son a soft smile. "Rusty, that's enough for now. Lieutenant, thank you."
That was their cue to get out. Rusty snatched the car keys off Sharon's desk and stopped long enough to inform Emma she was an asshole and he was never going to talk to her again. Sharon had other words she'd use for it, but none of which she'd dare to say with children present.
But Rusty stopped again as he reached for the door. "And the girl has a name. It's Riley."
And he was gone.
Emma moved to the front of Sharon's desk and licked her lips, preparing herself for a fight. "There is nothing in the LAPD rules or policy that says Rusty can't live with a police officer."
Sharon's eyes were daggers as she looked at the younger woman, almost daring her to push her to her limit. Sharon would win. Sharon always won. She knew the rulebook forward and backward. She had experience and intelligence on her side and she would not be put off by this Ivy League law school brat.
"Stroh's lawyers will claim you couched the witness!" Emma snapped.
Sharon nearly rolled her eyes. "Rusty and I have never even discussed the case."
"Nah, you just put a roof over his and his sister's head, fed them and bought them their clothes. Are you paying for the Catholic school that goes with the uniform he's wearing? And were those keys to a vehicle he just grabbed off your desk?" Emma shot at her, ready for a fight but having no idea who she was up against.
"I keep a car for when my children visit. Rusty takes it to school," she replied easily, no longer even looking at the woman, bored with the conversation.
"Oh, I apologize. You're not couching the witness, you're bribing him," the woman snapped incredulously. "This has to change. But first, I need him to finish this interview."
Soberly, Sharon looked back at the DDA. "That's not a good idea right now." This time, she didn't sound angry or have any hint of attitude in her voice. She was almost asking Emma to listen to her. To understand that she had Rusty's best interest in mind and at the moment it wasn't her.
Emma rolled her eyes. "Oh my God. Whatever happened to professional distance and good ole fashioned foster care?"
"That boy was selling himself on the street, so was his sister, so they could survive which puts them at special risk-"
"Don't talk to me about special ri-"
"Don't interrupt me," Sharon warned, her voice harsher than ever. "Which puts him at special risk for suicide."
Emma just stared at her, her expression stony. "Don't talk to me about special risk when I am prosecuting a serial killer."
Sharon sat back in her seat and clasped her hands in front of her, trying to keep herself from throttling the woman.
"I want those kids out of your house and placed somewhere else post haste."
Sharon almost shrugged. "That's not going to happen. So I suggest you factor my legal guardianship into your case."
Emma snatched up her files and moved toward the door. "Oh I am."
Sharon barely glanced at her. "And DDA Rios," she called coldly, catching the woman's attention again. "Those children have names. Rusty and Riley Beck."
There was no response needed and Emma slammed the door shut behind her. Sharon calmly stood up and followed behind her, noticing the confused expression Riley was giving her brother as he nearly pulled her toward the door.
"Shouldn't we tell Sharon we're leaving?" she asked looking across the room to Sharon exiting her office.
"You can do it. I'll be in the car. We're going home!" Rusty snapped not even turning toward where Emma was exiting. He couldn't even look at her right now.
Riley nodded. "Okay. I'll meet you in the car."
In a second Rusty moved toward the elevator while his sister gave Sharon a nervous look as she approached her. The look almost made Sharon's heart break. Those two were way too young to have to worry about things like they did.
Those big blue eyes looked borderline fearful as she got closer. "He's really upset," Riley almost whispered to Sharon like it was some sort of secret.
Sharon gave a small nod and placed her hand on Riley's shoulder to guide her back into the privacy of the office. "I know. I'm sure you can empathize."
Riley frowned and let out a hard exhale. "That woman's a bitch. She pretty well has it written all over her! She's probably had everything in her life handed to her and-"
"She doesn't know what it's like to have to make the hard choices in life," Sharon cut in, not correcting Riley's word choice. Still, she could see the frustration that someone had the nerve to hurt her brother. She could see that Sharon was just as mad as she was, even through her masked expression.
Riley pursed her lips, trying to remain tough and angry. "She's not going get us taken away from you, is she?"
It was at that moment that Sharon was given an even bigger reason to fight. This woman wasn't just threatening her by taking these kids that she loved away. Of course she knew that Rusty and Riley staying with her was the best for all of them, but she now remembered why. Those kids had been through enough. Riley would probably not survive being placed in another home, especially away from her brother. She would run and end up on the street all over again. Rusty... Rusty had spent so much of his young life fighting, she wasn't sure how much more he could handle.
Sharon was their life line. They needed her. She needed them and there was not a way in hell Emma Rios, some uptown snot-nosed brat, was going to take those kids from her.
So Sharon looked Riley in the eye, cupping her face with her palm and made a promise. "I will do everything in my power to make sure you two are together."
Riley's blue eyes looked up at Sharon with determination and strength that was definitely more often seen in her brother. "No. I want you too. I want the three of us to be together." Riley took a deep breath and summoned the bravery that she felt like she always lacked because what she was about to say was important, but also terrifyingly true.
"You're the only person that's ever cared what's happened to us or what will happen to us. You're the only mom we've ever had and I don't want to lose that," Riley said firmly. "So I want you to promise that you'll do your best to keep all of us together."
Sharon could feel the knot growing in her throat as Riley looked at her. Finally, she gave a small nod. "I will do everything I can to keep all of us together. But if something happens," Sharon tapped on her own chest, "I will always be right here and you can always find me."
Riley nodded before going into hug her. Suddenly she felt a little less like an orphan.
I hope you liked it. If there is anything specific you want to see or anything you really liked or really just feel like leaving a review, I'd be glad to hear it!