Three Weeks Later

Shane's P.O.V

"Hey this is Shane," I said, answering my phone.

"Shane? It's Paul," Paul replied.

"Oh hey Paul, how is France?" I asked, leaning back in my chair.

"It's horrible actually. Look, I got into a fight with Stephanie about three weeks ago and she sent me a text message saying that she would call when she felt like it so she wanted me to stop messaging and calling her. I haven't heard from her since and I called Elise and she said that she hasn't been to work for the past three weeks either. I'm really worried about her and Kaliyah," Paul said.

"So Elise hasn't seen her at all?" I asked, sitting up straighter.

"No, she said she knocks on our apartment door and she doesn't answer. She said she hasn't heard a noise from our room in the past weeks." Paul said. I could hear the worry in his voice and I couldn't blame the man.

"I'll find her and let you know what's happening." I said.

"Thanks man, tell her I love her and I want to talk to her again." Paul said.

"Will do mate, I'll talk to you soon." I said. I closed my cell and stood up. I grabbed my jacket and my car keys and walked out of my office.

"Where are you going?" Harleigh asked.

"Harleigh, there is a family emergency. My sister hasn't been heard from for three weeks." I said. Harleigh nodded and I left the building. Being the son of the owner definitely had its perks. I knew where Stephanie would be, and I was going to kill my wife for not telling me she had temporarily left Paul's apartment.

"Hello?" Marissa said as she answered the phone

"Riss, she's in Connecticut isn't she?" I asked. My wife sighed and I could only imagine the look on her face, knowing she had been caught out.

"Steph needed a break." Marissa said.

"Everyone is worried sick about her!" I said.

"Yeah well I'm worried sick about her too! She is on the verge of a breakdown Shane." Marissa said.

"All right, I'm going to talk to her. I'll be home tomorrow probably Marissa. I love you," I said.

"I love you too Shane, take care," Marissa said. I shut my phone and settled in for the drive to Connecticut.

As I got to the house both Stephanie and I had purchased when she was eighteen, one that Harrison didn't know about, I saw Stephanie just coming out of the house with my niece, four month old Kaliyah. I pulled up out the front and she turned around. Even from this distance I could see that her eyes were all puffy and red. She had been crying. I got out of the car and walked over to her. Kaliyah was wearing a camisole singlet and a diaper and that was it.

"Steph, what are you doing bringing Kaliyah out in just that?" I said. Stephanie didn't answer me and I took Kaliyah from her arms.

"Do you have clothes for her?" I asked softly. Stephanie shook her head and I sighed.

"Let's go to the mall, get Kaliyah some clothes and then we can come back and talk." I said. Stephanie nodded and I wrapped my arm around her as I walked back to my car.

"What happened to you Stephanie?" I sighed, looking over at my little sister. Stephanie shrugged and started crying again. I drove down the street and our ride was silent to the mall.

"Okay, is that enough?" I asked. Stephanie shrugged and I wrapped my arm around her shoulders tightly.

"Stephanie, please don't go on shutting me out. I'm your big brother; I'm here to help you." I said. Stephanie nodded and sighed sadly.

"Yeah, that's enough Shane, thank you." She said. I nodded and we went to the checkout where I placed the clothes for Kaliyah on the counter.

"I also need to get her formula and diapers." Stephanie said. I nodded and we went into the next shop. I grabbed the formula and diapers and after we bought them, we went back to the house.

"Stephanie, come in here a second!" I said, calling her into the kitchen. I heard her soft footsteps enter the room and I turned around to face her. She was holding Kaliyah in her arms and Kaliyah looked much happier. Stephanie's hair was framing her face and I smiled. My little sister was so beautiful. The puffiness had gone down quite a bit and she came and sat next to me on the counter. I lifted Kaliyah into my arms and looked at Stephanie.

"Can you explain to me what happened with... with everything Steph?" I asked. Stephanie's eyes welled up with tears and she reached over to grab a hold of Kaliyah's hand.

"I just... I was just struggling with everything. I could feel the depression building over me again and I was scared. I got into an argument with Paul and I'm so scared he hates me right now. I don't want to call him in case he yells at me." Stephanie said.

"Did you go to the Doctor?" I asked. Stephanie nodded and looked at me.

"I did and he said that I needed to have some time away and he gave me mild anti-depressants. I'm feeling so much better but every time I feel like picking up the phone and calling Paul or going back home, I get scared. I think he hates me Shane-O!" Stephanie said. She rested her head on my shoulder and I kissed her hair.

"Steph, I think you should call him." I said. Stephanie nodded and I gave her my phone. She took it and dialled Paul's number.

"Hey Paul... it's uh... it's me." Stephanie said. She looked at me and smiled softly.

"Are you all right to watch Kaliyah while I talk?" She asked. I nodded my head and she left the room.

"Yeah, Shane found me." I heard her say as I walked past the bedroom. I stopped and listened. Stephanie had been on the phone for a good hour and I was glad that she and Paul were finally acting civil.

"Well Kaliyah is going great, she still misses you though. And her hair has gone completely blonde which I bet you're gonna be very happy about." She said. I smiled and walked down to the other bedroom, which Stephanie had set up as a nursery. I placed Kaliyah in the portable cot and looked at her. She reminded me so much of Stephanie but I could definitely see Paul in her. Not just with the blonde hair. Even when I was playing with her before, different smiles and expressions were just Paul through and through. I pulled the door to and saw Stephanie poke her head out.

"Did Li-Li just go down for a nap?" She asked. I nodded and she held the phone out.

"Paul wants to talk to you. I'm going to sleep." She said. I nodded and she reached up to kiss my cheek.

"Thank you so much for finding her." Paul said.

"It was no problem man. I'll be taking her back to New York tomorrow and I'm going to make her promise to call either one of us if she gets too stressed out again." I said.

"Okay thanks. Look, I'm gonna get off now but I'm so appreciative of your help. Talk soon man," Paul said. I nodded and shut my cell phone.

I would do anything for my little sister, I loved her to death.