Author's Note: Sorry that this is late. I've had a fuckton going on. I'm back in serious therapy again, due to stuff going on in my life rn. But, on the bright side, yesterday marks 6 months clean for me! I'm proud of myself, even if time is meaningless. Anyway, a new (to this fic anyway) character is introduced in this chapter. This chapter is shorter than the others, but fuck it, I'm tired. I hope you enjoy this chapter! WARNING: This chapter contains discussion of child abuse, references to abuse, references tot transphobia, and PTSD and its symptoms.

Susan shows up yet again, making Nicky nervous again. With each visit from the young police officer, the blonde teen gets more and more worried that something will go wrong. However, she's merely coming to let her know that they've been investigating Marka, and have found out that she's an even more gossipy person than she seems. Apparently there are quite a few of Marka's associates that know of her contempt with her daughter, and have tried to help Nicky in the past.

"Oh, wait, Paloma? Yeah, she was my nanny for a while. We were tight. What about her?"

"Well, she seems to know a few things that you didn't tell me, about what Marka has done to you."

Nicky pales, slightly. She swallows, and shuts her eyes for a moment. "Like what? I told you all I remember."

"Like the abuse from your mother's previous boyfriends, that she allowed and encouraged."

"The fuck are you talking about? I think I'd remember that."

Susan looks at her pityingly. "Sometimes after trauma, people, especially children, will block things out of their memory as a way to cope."

Nicky is filled with fury. Her body is shaking. "Get the fuck out of my house. And don't come back until you have something useful to say, instead of lying to me."

Later that day, Nicky's phone buzzes with a call from an unknown number. She tentatively answers. "Hello?"

"Nicky?" The accented voice of her former nanny is immediately familiar.

"Paloma? Why are you calling me now?" Nicky is incredulous.

"A police officer talked to me today, asking about your mother. I think we should talk."

Nicky cackles. "After eight years, you come to my rescue? Do you know how long I pretended you were my mom, and then you didn't talk to me for either years?"

"Nicky, honey, I'm sorry. I know I was wrong, but I wasn't in a position where I could do anything to help you. Please, let me see you, so I can explain."

"…I'll think about it. I'll get back to you, when I've made my decision. Until then, don't contact me."

"Nicky-"

The blonde teen hangs up, before her former nanny could finish. She feels no guilt, only anger. She's not even completely sure why she's so angry, but she is. Angrier than she can ever remember being.

Nicky isn't sure why she decides to go back to Marka's. Maybe it's a form of self-punishment. Maybe it's out of her fury, and a desire to confront her. It's been a few weeks since she's went back to do more than pick up some of her personal belongings, and to care for Jasper.

However, as she arrives at the large house, she sees another car in the driveway. Not Marka's or her own. The car is vaguely familiar, but she can't place it. Still, she cautiously enters the front door, only to see a brown woman with black hair and brown eyes, in a casual dress arguing with Marka. Nicky is dumbfounded, and can't stop herself from asking the single question on her mind.

"Paloma?"