Tortured Souls

Disclaimer: I do not own Good Luck Charlie

A/N:

Chapter 21 (Missing You)

"So how long will you be in Denver?" Mason asked as Charlotte walked with him. She wasn't sure she'd be there long at all, considering she really did want to get back home. "It would be fantastic to hang out more often."

"It would, but I'm hoping to get home soon, to be honest. My mom is probably worried sick about me." Chances were, that was a gross understatement, but what else could she say? She knew her mother better than anyone else did, and quite literally, neither would survive long without the other. The bond between a mother and her child would always remain there, no matter what, it could never be severed. "I imagine Mom would become as reclusive as Toby's mom is if she lost me." Mason nodded his head and sighed. Chances were pretty good that he understood just how bad the situation might be for Toby and his mother. "I've only been here one day and I already miss momma."

"Have you called her?"

"No, my phone's still charging over at Toby's place." She wasn't really wanting to go back there either when taking his mother into consideration. There was a good chance she didn't want to face the woman, it scared her just a bit, to be honest. "I'll probably head back there later…" The sun was beginning to set, which troubled her. She had not given any thought to overnight stays. Toby's mom probably wouldn't even allow her to stay overnight. She bowed her head and swallowed hard. "Oh no…I don't have anywhere to stay…I never should have left my mom behind! I listen to her on everything, she told me 'no', and I should have just left it at that!"

"Relax Charlotte, I'm sure she'll understand." She shook her head and stomped her foot on the ground. If she didn't find a way back to her mom, and soon, she might have a panic attack, and if she had a panic attack, she was in trouble. At this point, she didn't even care if she was grounded or not. "Here, come with me, I think my Aunt and Uncle can figure something out." She raised an eyebrow and looked up at him, smiling softly. He really was nice to offer her some help, but she didn't want to impose.

"Thanks, but I'd rather not impose…"

"Well. What other options are there?" Her heart crashed and she quickly smacked her forehead. There were no other alternatives. "My Aunt's nice, she'd be glad to help you out any way she could."

"I guess…I do need to calm down, really." Her heart had been racing all this time just from the stress of her predicament. If she didn't relax, she might not be able to slow the rapid pacing. "I'd really appreciate the help. I'll have to grab my phone from Toby later. I don't want to bother him or his mother right now."

"Fair enough…"

In New York, Teddy gazed from the window in PJ's guest bedroom. Her heart was pounding hard inside and her stomach had a deep, growing pit. The longer she went without Charlotte, the more depressed she became. "Have you talked to Ivy lately?" PJ asked from behind. She turned to face him and smiled vaguely. What good would Ivy do?

"No…I mean I've been talking to her. We started talking again about four years ago. She…doesn't know anything about what I've been up to." His expression fell as she folded her hands over each other and rested them in front of her waist. She hadn't told him yet, but she knew he would want to know. He was her brother, she felt more comfortable about telling him than she did Ivy. She couldn't explain her feelings on that matter, but she felt PJ wouldn't judge her as badly as Ivy might. "I haven't been up to a lot of good."

"Yeah, you said you hadn't gone through college. What have you been doing? Before your waitressing job, that is?" She chuckled nervously and moved her hand to her neck. She craned her head to the right and groaned softly. "Teddy?"

"I'm not proud of it. The first guy I worked with was willing to help me finish high school and get into college. Well I finished high school, but he was killed and I had to move on…each site manager was terrible, so Charlotte and I just kept moving east until we found Rocky and Cece…" She took a deep breath and flicked her eyes up towards his gaze. "I was working as a…stripper…PJ." His eyes widened and his jaw dropped for a split second. She winced, expecting him to start yelling, but he didn't. Instead, he gave her a brotherly hug, comforting her.

"I'm sorry, Sis." She whimpered once and felt a tear drop from her eyes. "I abandoned you guys in a rage, I should have kept in touch with you. Even when I got to New York, Skyler and her family, they asked about you and Charlotte."

"They did?"

"Yeah." He stepped back and looked towards the door. "They wanted me to bring you and Charlotte, and I started to call, but I think you were gone by then. Your number was no longer working." She grimaced in reply, she canceled her number just days before leaving. "It is good to see you again after all these years."

"What's done is done. Now, Charlotte's really all I have left, and without her…I'm lost." Her phone was on the bed, she'd been keeping it close in case Charlotte called her, but the girl never did. "I'm beyond grounding her, I just want my baby. What good would calling Ivy do right now? It's not going to take my mind off my baby."

"I know, but at least talk to her and let her know what's going on."

"Yeah…"

Charlotte and Mason entered his house and she was immediately stunned by the décor. It was a beautiful home that was decorated with lavish draperies, records, and portraits. The couch was made of tiger striped fur, and the carpeting was a sweet peach color. "Are you wealthy or something?" He chuckled and lifted his shoulders.

"My aunt's a designer and my uncle is a record producer, they save a lot of their earnings." She was impressed enough as it was. Mason walked forward a bit. She turned to a photo on the wall and smiled, there was a man and woman with Mason, and a young child. "Aunt Ivy, Uncle Emmett, I'm home!" She froze in an instant, feeling a chill shooting down her spine. She spun around, gawking her disbelief. Emmett and Ivy Heglin? Her mother's childhood best friend? No, it couldn't be.

"Y-You're joking?" Mason turned to her and raised an eyebrow. "Heglin?"

"Yeah, that's my last name."

"Your Uncle and Aunt are…" She let out a dull whimper as older looking versions of Emmett and Ivy walked into the living room. She wanted to rush over and beg Ivy to call her mother, but was scared to do so. If this was truly that same person, how was she supposed to react? The adults looked at her, freezing their gazes on her. "Mr. and Mrs. Heglin…"

"Not Teddy," Ivy whispered, grabbing onto Emmett's arm. "Charlotte? It can't be…Teddy would never allow…" Charlotte swallowed hard and Mason quickly looked between the two. He cleared his throat and motioned to her.

"Um, this is a friend of mine that I met today." The couple looked at him, expecting an explanation. Charlotte remained silent. She did not know exactly what to say, and was afraid to speak up for fear of rebuke. "Toby and Regina introduced us. She's from Chicago…" Ivy stiffened, but Mason continued on without noticing. "I think she was trying to get to New York, but she got on the wrong bus and arrived here. She has nowhere to stay tonight, so I thought maybe you had an idea?"

Charlotte waved nervously and put her hands behind her back. Ivy cleared her throat and moved forward. "Charlotte?" She slowly nodded her head and watched anxiously as Ivy's brow furrowed. "Does your mother know you're here?"

"N-No ma'am…"

"Did your mother want you to come here?"

"No ma'am, and never alone…I miss mom…" Ivy started to say something, but her phone went off. Charlotte leaned forward with a wistful sigh as Ivy quickly excused herself and answered the call. She saw Ivy motion seriously for her to follow, so without question she followed Ivy into the master bedroom. She sat down and watched as Ivy began pacing the floor.

"Teddy, calm down," Ivy stopped pacing and leaned against her short dresser, her back facing the large mirror on the top. Charlotte could hear her mother's voice, rapid and fast. "What are you doing in New York?" Charlotte gasped and slapped herself mentally, she should have known her mom would go after her! "Yes, um, Charlotte got on the wrong bus. Apparently she ran into my nephew…would you like to talk to her? Who am I kidding, of course you do…"

Charlotte took the phone and carefully placed it to her hear, listening only to her mom's slow breathing. She was attempting to calm herself down. "H-Hi momma…I'm sorry I didn't listen to you."

"You're in Denver? Baby, I told you I didn't want you going to New York. Do you know how worried I've been?"

"I'm sorry." Tears stung her eyes and she slowly fell back onto the bed. "I miss you, Mommy. I'm scared, I don't have anywhere to go…"

"That's okay sweetie. Stay with Ivy…I want you on a plane here tomorrow." How would that work? They didn't have enough money for a plane ticket, she barely had enough for the bus. She stammered and let her mom's soft voice sooth her. "I do have a surprise for you, but you have to get on that plane first thing tomorrow."

"I will, Momma. I promise…" She sniffled and quickly sat up. "I made a few friends, Momma. They're really nice."

"I'm glad to hear that, Charlotte."

"I hope I can still talk to them."

"I won't have a problem with that, just…please, when I tell you not to do something-"

"I know Momma. I'm sorry." She quickly wiped her eyes and revealed a faint smile. "I love you Momma. What's in New York?"

"I love you too. Mrs. Hessenheffer and her partner, Rick, are here in New York. Also, PJ will be paying for your plane trip here." She gasped in delight and quickly jumped up. Now was not the best time for her to cheer, but she couldn't help to feel some amount of joy that her mom was actually going to let her meet her father.

"Y-You're serious? I get to meet him? Really, truly?"

"Yes baby…but only because I had to come up here thinking you'd come to find him." Teddy took a deep breath and paused for a minute. Charlotte fingered the edge of her jean belt and bit her lip, she knew she didn't deserve this instead of a serious punishment, which was likely to come either way. "He's got a good family now, dear…and none of them are judging us, so I don't have a problem with you meeting him."

"Yeah…Maybe we can find Grandma and Gabe!"

"That…" Teddy chuckled nervously. Charlotte heard her tapping her nails on the end table. "That will not happen anytime soon, sweetheart. I honestly don't think there's any chance of reuniting with them."

"But why, Momma? I think Grandma might really miss you."

"I doubt that…Honey, let's talk about this tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay Momma…" After another minute of talking and planning, they parted for the night. She was ecstatic about getting back to her mom. She looked up at Ivy with a small smile, knowing her mother directed Ivy to keep her close. "Momma says I'm going home tomorrow." Ivy smiled at her and sat beside her, patting her back.

"I know you were just wanting to see your family. Or at least, PJ, it isn't your fault for getting on the wrong bus. You are more like your mother than you could ever believe." She laughed and quickly shook her head, Teddy didn't seem like the type to sneak out and get into this much trouble.

"My mom never got in trouble."

"Oh sweetie, she got into more trouble than ever! I could tell you so many stories."

"Oh! Please? I don't have anything else to do."

Ivy laughed. "Okay, I'll see what I can pull from my old memory banks…"

So Charlotte's finally getting sent back to her Mother, but this also means she gets to meet PJ. What a chapter this was, hope you liked it