Tessa fell onto the floor with a groan. Her duvet was tangled around her bare legs and her elbow ached from her landing. She looked around her room, bewildered, and then slowly realized what happened. Another nightmare. That was the third this week. That damn trial was really messing with her mind. Staying up till 1 A.M. every night for a week going over trial prep wasn't helping either. Knowing that pursuing more sleep was futile, Tessa pulled on a pair of pajama pants and a sweatshirt over the tee shirt she slept in and tiptoed downstairs. Her bare feet padded softly over the hardwood floor as she headed towards the fridge. She blinked as the bright light momentarily blinded her. A bowl of grapes called out to her and she quickly pulled it out. Her green eyes wandered to the clock on the stove and she sighed at the time. It was only 3:15.
Tessa continued on to the living room, plopping down on the couch. Her hand fumbled for the remote and the TV blinked to life. Of course, nothing was on this early in the morning. Finally, she settled on a crime show, hoping that the quiet voices and dark setting would lull back into unconsciousness. An hour later and Tessa found herself actually enjoying the show.
"Tessa?"
Tessa jumped at the sound of her name. Her confused, sleepy mother stood behind her, squinting in the light of the television.
"I'm sorry, Mom. Did I wake you?"
Addison shook her head as she stumbled into the living room and sat down next to her teenager.
"No, the baby wanted some juice," Her voice was hoarse from sleep. "What are you doing up?"
Tessa shrugged. "Eh, just couldn't sleep. No big deal."
That made Addison perk up slightly. "Did you have a nightmare?"
"No, just kept waking up. Really, it's nothing."
Addison obviously didn't believe her, but she didn't voice that thought; just snuggled closer to her daughter. "If you say so."
They were both silent, simply enjoying each other's company. Addison's slim fingers ran gently through her daughter's curls, making the girl relax against her. A shiver ran through Tessa's body and she snuggled closer.
"What's going through that pretty little head of yours, baby girl?"
The teenager just shrugged. "Nothing in particular. I was just thinking about the baby."
"Oh yeah? What about her?"
"That she's gonna be a lucky little girl. So many people are excited to meet her and willing to protect her. I was just thinking that I hope this trial is over before she's born. I don't want her entering the world where that's the main focus of her family," she stopped, looking down at her fingers. "Plus, if she is, she'll need you right when I'll really need you."
At the end of her statement, Tessa glanced shyly up at her mother, as if she was revealing a secret. Through sleep heavy eyes, her mother gave Tessa a puzzled glance.
"You mean you think that the baby will take my attention away from you and I won't be there for you at your trial?"
As if embarrassed by her admittance, Tessa ducked her head and nodded. Her eyes were glued to her fingers. What she didn't see was the heartbroken, betrayed look on her mother's face.
"Oh, honey. I promise that won't happen. Little Bean won't be born until May, and your trial may not even last that long. There is so much evidence piled against... him that it won't take that long at all. The jury will put him away fair and square."
Tessa shook her head dismissively and gave her mother her best smile. "I know. I'm sorry. That was late night ramblings. I think I'm just tired. I'm gonna go back to bed; see if I can't get more sleep. You should, too."
She stood up, untangling herself from her mother. Addison held onto her hand and pressed a kiss to it. "Night, sweetheart. I love you more than anything."
Tessa's foot was on the step as she replied. "Love you too, Mom." Her steps faltered, and her mouth opened as if she wanted to add more, but she shook her head and continued on. When she arrived back in her room, Tessa collapsed onto her bed, drawing her knees up to her chest. Sleep would continue to evade her, she was sure of it. A nagging, awful thought kept appearing in her head. She needed space. She needed some time away from all of this. Sure, that was what California was for; a break away from it all. And it worked. Tessa had the time of her life. She loved the sun and the sand between her toes. She'd even gone surfing and loved every minute of it. Her family spent much needed quality time with the Bennetts, and the entire week was wonderful. But, she didn't get any time away for herself. Addison was glued to her side, as if Tessa was out of her sight for a heartbeat she would disappear again. She needed to breathe. For two more hours, Tessa tossed back and forth in her bed. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.
The teen leapt up from her bed and pulled on a pair of black jeans. She pulled on a grey v neck tee and a heavy blue-green flannel. A fleece pullover went on next, and she snapped up a beanie for later. Over a warm pair of socks, she tugged on her favorite high tops. As quickly as she could, Tessa packed her bag with everything she would need for the day; wallet, book, headphones, and her phone, though she turned that off and slipped into a pocket of her bag. She wasn't planning on answering any calls today. Tessa's hand was wrapped around her doorknob when guilt dug its talons into her heart. Biting her lip, Tessa turned around and grabbed a notebook and pen off her desk. Writing quickly, Tessa hoped that this note would be enough to assure her soon to be frantic parents.
Mom and Dad, I promise I'm okay; I just needed a day by myself. I have my phone but I don't plan on answering it. I'll be back before dark. Please don't worry too much. I know this is one of the worst things I could do, all things considering, but please don't hate me when I come home. I'm not trying to scare you; I just need to get away. Love, Tessa.
With guilt coursing through her veins, Tessa left the note on her pillow, knowing that her mother would see it first. The thought of the fear that her mother would feel shortly was enough to make her turn around and consider not leaving. Then, knowing what would inevitably happen if she didn't, she continued quickly and quietly out the door.
Addison awoke in her bed, curled into her husband's embrace. His breaths were moving wisps of her hair, and she swept them back with her hand. Slowly, she rolled out of his arms to check her alarm clock. It was a little after eight, and the next thought in her mind was her daughter. Her daughter who been awake in the middle of the night. Slipping out the bed and tugging on a robe, Addison wandered down the hall to her daughter's room. The sun was shining brightly through the window, illuminating the teen's room- the teen's empty room. A sick feeling grew in her stomach as her eyes searched her daughter's room. Her eyes zeroed in on Tessa's bed, specifically her pillow. A note stood out on the turquoise fabric. Almost tripping over her feet to snatch it up, the red head read it over and over; making sure she fully understood it. Tessa had left before dawn because she needed to get away. A part of her understood; she knew the stress that her poor baby was under. It made sense that she needed some time to herself. The other part of her was furious that Tessa would do this to her- that she would just take off and scare her to death. She hadn't raised her girl to be so selfish. Still, the fear that her daughter had been out on her own in a huge city for three hours built up in her. Tessa might've lived here for four years now and explored every nook and cranny of the Emerald City, but it didn't stop the worry currently flowing through her. Tears sprung up in her eyes and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. A whimper slipped out, though, and her hands moved to cup her bump. At least she could keep one daughter safe and sound. A deep sigh escaped Addison as realized she would have to tell her husband- and he wasn't going to be happy.
Leaving her daughter's room, Addison debated going downstairs just to make sure that her sneaky daughter wasn't down there asleep on the couch, but something told her that Tessa wouldn't be there. Heading back towards her bedroom, the red head moved to her husband's side of the bed. She reached out and shook Derek's shoulder carefully.
"Derek? Der, wake up."
Slowly, her husband came to, rubbing his eyes groggily. He smiled sleepily at her at first, not noticing her pained expression. As he came to his senses, Derek could tell something was wrong with his wife. He quickly sat up, grasping her for Addison's hand.
"What's wrong? Is it the baby? Are you in pain?"
As Addison repeatedly shook her head in answer to each frantic question, Derek relaxed.
"Addie, what's wrong?"
Her voice cracked as she answered him. "Tessa- Tessa's gone."
Her words made him pop from the bed, face pale. "What? What the hell do you mean she's gone?"
The red head pursed her lips. "She left this morning for a day for herself." Every word came out with a bitter taste.
The dark haired man looked hurt and confused. "Wh- She just left? When?"
"I don't know, sometime this morning. She just left. She wrote us a note."
Addison held it out to him, and he snatched it from her. His eyes ran over it many times, absorbing the words. Anger made his fists crumple the unhelpful piece of paper. His blue eyes locked onto his wife's as he reached for his phone.
"She better plan on answering my calls."
Addison shook her head dejectedly as Derek dialed their daughter's number. She knew there would be no answer. Tessa wanted to be alone; she wasn't going to answer her phone for anyone. It was probably turned off. But, she also knew that Tessa was well aware of what she was doing to her family. She would be home before dark, because she knew if she wasn't then Addison would panic. She knew that worry would overwhelm both of her parents and she would feel awful for doing that to them. She already felt awful- her note proved it. That didn't stop her from leaving though. Tessa really did need this; she wouldn't do this to them otherwise.
Reaching out to his hand, Addison gently lowered the phone away from her husband's ear.
"Derek, stop. She's not going to answer the phone; she needs this. Let's just let her have the day."
Derek shot his wife an incredulous look. "What do you mean? She should know better than to do this after all we've been through. This is terribly selfish and awful of her."
Addison nodded. "It is. And she knows that. Tessa probably feels awful right now. But that's not going to stop her. It's almost enough to, but not quite. We can make her feel bad about it later, but for now, we have to let her be."
Tessa sighed as she sipped carefully from her hot tea. Her music played comfortingly in her ears and her book carried her off into the tragically sweet love story of Hazel and Augustus. A pile of new books sat on her left, both new and used. Tessa had spent the morning browsing her favorite bookstores, idly picking the novels up as she went. She'd certainly made a dent in her Christmas money. Her thoughts drifted back to the morning of Christmas, only three days ago. They'd returned from L.A. on the 23rd, and had celebrated quietly with only Amelia joining them for dinner prepared by Derek. The teenager had certainly been spoiled, even though she'd told her mother that she didn't really want anything besides a gift card for Barnes and Noble. Of course, she'd received tee shirts from all her favorite shops, new clothes, and a new phone case. Plus what she'd actually asked for. The money had come in later from her aunts, uncles, and grandmother. Now, there was hardly a penny to her name after her splurge today. A sigh slipped out of her as her thoughts drifted to her family. Her parents were going to be pissed when she got home, but she pushed that thought from her mind. Tessa put her book down as she considered what to do next. She really wanted to get out of the city for a while, lose herself in the woods. Unfortunately the woods would forever be tainted by the memory of Robert.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. The ferry. She hadn't been on the ferry since first arriving in Seattle and her dad tried to persuade her that it was going to be better than New York. Despite her sour mood and unwilling attitude to relent to her father's wishes, Tessa had begrudgingly agreed that the ferry was amazing. Quickly gathering up all of her purchases, Tessa quickly left the small coffee shop, heading towards the Sound.
"Amelia, have you heard from your niece today?"
Addison stood in front of her sister in law at the nurse's desk. The petite woman looked up, clearly puzzled.
"Uh, no? Should I have?"
Addison pursed her lips tightly and rubbed her hand across her face. "No, I guess not. I just wondered."
"Addie? Something you not telling me here?"
The red head glanced at her quickly before darting her eyes away again. "Tessa's gone."
Shock made Amelia's blue eyes go wide as saucers. "What the hell do you mean she's gone?"
"Funnily enough, that was exactly how your brother reacted when he found out."
"Addison, what do you mean that Tessa is gone? Why are you not freaking out? Why aren't the police-"
Addison held up her hand to halt the questions. "Amelia, calm down. Tessa wasn't taken; she left this morning and promised to return before dark tonight. She said she just needed a day off, a day away from everything."
Amelia again looked confused. "You're telling me that the girl we just back after being missing for four months decided to take off on a whim?"
"That would be correct."
"That can't be right, Addie. Tessa wouldn't do that to us, not after everything we've been through. Something has to be wrong."
Addison felt the raging disappointment of her daughter once again. It had been a hard pit in the bottom of her stomach since she'd discovered her daughter had left. It was something she was quite unused to feeling when she thought about Tessa. "No, everything's fine; she left a note. It's in her handwriting. Besides, I don't have the same feeling I had after she went missing the first time. I didn't notice at first, but after I first found out she was taken, I got this weird feeling in my chest, like my heart was beating too fast. I don't feel like that this time."
"This still doesn't make since. She needed a day? What the hell does that mean?"
The neonatal surgeon just shrugged. "I think with the stress of the trial she just felt… overwhelmed. I know California was supposed to be her break, but I didn't let her leave my side. I think she feels cramped."
Amelia huffed and reached into her lab coat to pull out her cell phone. She dialed her niece's number quickly and frowned when it went straight to voicemail like all the other times it had been called.
"What time is it?"
Addison glanced at her watch. "1:15, why?"
The petite brunette pocketed her phone again. "Because I get off at five. I want to be there when Tessa walks through the door."
"That's fine, but don't make her feel worse than she already does." With that half plea half warning, Addison walked back out of the hospital and to her car, only to get home and wait. Half way home, the baby in her belly began to stir. One of her little feet nudged against her bladder, and she hoped that there wouldn't be much traffic in-between here and home.
"Oh, Little Bean. Your older sister is gonna be in so much trouble when she gets home. I hope you turn just like her, baby. She's such a good person; she's so strong. Tessa Adrianne means well with every breath in her body, but sometimes it doesn't work out. She's been through a lot but I know she can't wait to meet you- none of us can. Don't rush though, okay? Take your time and get as strong as you can."
Tessa breathed as deeply as she could as the wind whipped off the water and into her face. It made the sound of the huge boat and tourists below her disappear. Her eyes watered as the cold air and wind mingled. This was what she needed. She needed the chaotic silence whirling around her, she needed just herself. She still had at least three hours before she had to be back, but she'd already ridden the fairy twice both ways. A thought burst in her mind just as the ferry struck the Seattle side of the water. She quickly disembarked the boat and made her way to the bus stop, which if her mother knew she would forbid the teen from ever leaving the house again, and waited for her stop. She knew exactly what she needed to do to make her amends for her little excursion. Tessa's hand flew up to her hair, now cut just below her shoulders. It had been her first stop this morning. Her hair had always been one of her defining features; it had always identified her as a Shepherd. In a fit of teenage rebellion, the tips of it were dyed a dark blue, not permanent of course. It would rinse out the next time she took a shower, but every time she caught a glimpse of her hair in a window or out of the corner of her eye, a kernel of satisfaction popped and made her whole body warm. She felt like a different person. She stepped into the little baby boutique, feeling out of place to the extreme. The shop owner, a nice looking woman with blonde hair greying at the temples, came out from behind the counter to greet her.
"Hi there, sweetie. Can I help you?"
Tessa smiled as she glanced around the cute shop. Baby clothes and supplies as far as the eye could see.
"No, thank you. I just need to pick something up for my little sister."
That obviously pleased the woman to hear. "Oh, that's so sweet! You're such a good sister!" She gushed loudly. The woman closed the distance between them and held out her hand. "I'm Debbie."
Tessa smiled thinly as she politely shook the woman's hand. "Tessa. It's nice to meet you."
"Well Tessa, the store is sectioned by age, and then by gender. How old is your sister?"
Tessa's cheeks pinked as she answered. "Well- she hasn't been born yet. I kind of made a big mistake recently, and I wanted to apologize."
Debbie suddenly looked concerned. "What did you do, dear?"
The teen in front of her chuckled softly. "It's a really long story. Let's just say I scared my parents really bad, and I wanted to make up for it. The baby was a big surprise, one that I wasn't exactly happy about, so I thought getting her something would… I don't know, help."
Debbie nodded understandingly. "I think I understand. You want to make amends through your baby sister."
"Does that make me an awful person? Using my unborn sister to make my parents forgive me? I mean, I feel like I owe her an apology, too- for something else entirely. She's just the favorite child right now, so…"
Tessa trailed off pathetically as her whole body flamed, waiting for this strange woman's answer.
"No, dear. You aren't an awful person. You're trying to apologize and even though you're doing to make yourself feel better, you're also doing it to make your family feel better. I'm sure everything will work out for you, Tessa. You seem like a very sweet girl. I'll leave you to shop, then."
Debbie waddled out of the room, presumably to the back. Tessa began to wander around the girl's newborns clothing, marveling at the tiny outfits. The thing that would be perfect would an onesie sporting the phrase; I'm the little sister of an idiot! But she doubted that she'd find that folded on the shelf. Her fingers trailed along adorable dresses and tiny little pants. Tessa snorted as she picked up a pair of footie pajamas that said: Yeah, I did it, but I'm adorable so you can forgive me for it. It was only seven dollars, and it would break the ice when she got home. The other choices were almost overwhelming. Her mother would love this place. Just as she was about to give up on finding something else, another pair of pajamas caught her eyes. A pale purple little thing, covered in sleepy looking owls. It was cute, simple, and adorable. With a pleased smile, Tessa made her way to the checkout counter, where a smiling Debbie now stood. Tessa hadn't heard her come back out.
"Did you find everything all right, dear?"
Tessa gave her a beaming smile. "I did thanks. This shop is adorable. I'll have to bring my mom back here."
Debbie bagged her purchases. "That'll be $14.65."
Tessa handed her last fifteen dollars over, officially cleaning her out. It was all worth it, though. She quickly thanked the friendly old woman and left the boutique, memorizing the name so she could bring Addison back later. Bitty Baby. How cute.
The teen was a good few miles from home, and her feet hurt from traipsing around Seattle all day. It was all part of her punishment though, and she doubted that it even compared to the pain her parents were probably feeling all day. She could've used her emergency credit card to get a cab, but her mom didn't like her taking cabs by herself. It was ironic, in a sad way, that her mother was so overprotective with the little things, but Tessa was taken from the building she'd deemed the most safe. Dark was approaching soon, so Tessa packed her presents into her bursting backpack that was already stuffed with her books and began to run. Running in jeans and a flannel shirt wasn't exactly comfortable, but she had to be home on time. She had to.
Addison paced impatiently in the foyer. Amelia and Derek sat tensely in the kitchen watching both the clock and the sky. Derek sighed and ran his hand over his face.
"Addison-"
"Don't say it, Derek. Tessa will walk through that door any second. I know she will."
Her green eyes stayed glued to the door as she grew desperate. Doubt was beginning to creep in. What if she was hurt? What if she'd been taken again? What if she never walked through that door again? Thoughts that she assumed she would never think again banged around in her head again, making everything dull and dark. God, she loved her daughter, but right now she was so mad at her and desperate to see her; she wasn't entirely sure if she'd hug Tessa when she came in or slap her. The beautiful twilight sky through the windows was beginning to fade. Tessa was running out of time, and Addison was running out of faith. Thankfully, they still had some to spare when the teenager came slinking through the front door. Tessa's cheeks were pink from the cold and her breath came out in shallow huffs. Addison wasted no time in pulling her daughter's slightly shaking body into her arms.
"Thank god." Her words were muffled by her daughter's now short hair, but she didn't notice as Tessa wrapped her arms around her waist and reveled in the warmth of her mom.
"I told you I would come back."
Derek and his sister came slowly out of the kitchen, waiting for Addison to release the girl. Tessa pulled out of her mother's grasp and moved to stand in front of the two stern looking Shepherds. Derek studied her, taking in all the changes that she had made to herself today. Amelia stood slightly behind him, and she ducked her head so the teenager couldn't see the smile on her face at her appearance. She liked it. Tessa kept her eyes low, unable to meet her dad's. It wasn't long before he pulled her into his arms and squeezed tightly. He pressed his lips to the crown of her head.
"Don't you ever, ever do that to us, again. Not ever." His voice left no room for argument and Tessa wasn't planning to.
"I won't. I'm sorry I left like I did. I didn't want to- didn't plan to, but I had to. I know that it doesn't make any sense. I needed to be alone today."
Addison shuffled closer, wiping away tears that had slipped down her cheeks. "And that's perfectly fine, as long as you ask first."
Tessa nodded and finally looked up, making eye contact with her beloved aunt. Amelia stood with her arms crossed and the sternest frown she could manage. Yes, she was beyond angry at her niece for running off and scaring her pregnant mother like she did, but honestly, she couldn't stay mad at her girl. They'd already lost her once and she knew that they would all rather die than lose her again. Pushing her and yelling would do no good except make Tessa draw away from them. She couldn't keep up her disapproving act as her niece stood before her with adorably rosy cheeks, chopped and dyed locks, and the biggest, saddest eyes that had ever looked at her. Amelia rolled her eyes and yanked the girl against her with a squeeze.
"Come here, you little rebel. I like the blue." Against her chest, Tessa chuckled nervously. Addison froze next to her husband, suddenly staring at her teenager. The blue tips only covered about an inch of her hair, royal and bright. Addison's green eyes widened in shock and she pulled her daughter out of Amelia's embrace. Her hands locked onto Tessa's upper arms, forcing her to look at her.
"Oh my god. Tessa Adrianne Montgomery Shepherd, what the hell have you done with your hair?!"
Tessa tried to hide the smile that turned up the corner of her lips. "It's not permanent, Mom. It'll wash out when I take a shower."
That didn't seem to appease the red head much at all. "Don't you need a parent's signature to do this?"
"Mom, it's not a tattoo, it's cheap hair dye. I could wash it out right now if I wanted to."
"Go wash it out."
Tessa winced. "Do I have to? I really like it."
Addison raised her eyebrows at her daughter's whining. "After all that you've done today, you really want to argue with me?"
That made Tessa clamp up. She eyed her mother for another second before quickly stomping up the stairs towards the bathroom. Addison spun around to face her sister in law with a disbelieving frown just as she heard the water turn on.
"You didn't have to encourage her."
"Why not? She looked bad ass. The length is good for her, too."
The expectant mother just shook her head. "I have three children."
Amelia smiled wanly at her. "Could we stop hanging about in the entryway and go sit in either of the two rooms around us?" She turned back towards the kitchen and marched in, not bothering to look back to see if the other had followed.
Derek snorted at two of the most important girls in his life and sauntered back into the kitchen after his sister. "Is anybody hungry? Because I'm starved." He started to root around in the pantry, looking for food.
"I am."
They all turned at the sound of Tessa's voice. Her now completely dark brown hair was dripping water on her oversized tee shirt she'd changed into. She slipped into the seat at the bar, looking around expectantly. "I haven't eaten today."
Addison frowned at her admission, both the doctor side of her and the mother. "That's awful, Tessa. Why didn't you eat?"
"Didn't think about it, I guess."
Derek looked up from the stove where he was heating up a can of soup for his daughter; her favorite, tomato basil. "What did you do today?"
Tessa shrugged as she fingered a placemat. "Everything. I got my hair done, went to bookstores, and rode the ferry…"
Derek smiled as she trailed off. "How many times?"
His daughter grinned right back at him. "Four."
"That's my girl."
Tessa suddenly sat up, looking very excited. "Oh! I did do something else." She leapt up from the seat and they heard her run up the stairs. She came pounding back down for a moment, bulging back pack in hand. The teenager pulled out the bags she'd stuffed in there, laying them out on the counter. Her family looked on curiously, trying to see what she'd bought. The bag from the baby boutique was picked up by Addison, who looked up at her daughter with confused eyes.
"What's this, Tessa?"
The girl in question smiled sweetly. "I wanted to apologize for everything I've put you guys through, and I wanted to apologize to Little Bean as well, so I got her some presents. Open them."
Addison did so eagerly. She pulled out the owl pajamas first, and hummed in appreciation. "Oh, sweetheart. These are precious! Thank you!"
Tessa blushed as her mother pressed a kiss to her cheek. "There's another one." Amelia reached for the funny onesie, and laughed as she unfolded it.
"Nice one, Tess. Real subtle."
Addison leaned over and rolled her eyes as she read it. "You're so funny. Let's hope Little Bean has better manners than you."
Tessa shrugged sheepishly as she folded the baby clothes and placed them gently on the counter. "It was my last stop today, after the ferry. It was a really cute little store; we'll have to go back, Mom."
The red head reached for the bag the clothes came in, reading the name again. "Bitty Baby. That's cute. And I think you're right; we will have to go back. These are the only clothes she has as of right now. I don't even have a nursery ready yet."
The panic of being unprepared made Addison's eyes widen. "There's so much we need and I haven't even gotten started yet..."
A notepad found itself in her hands as she scribbled down a list on it. "God, how did I let the ball slip this much?"
Derek reached across the island to rub his wife's hand soothingly. "Relax, Ad. We still months before the baby gets here. We have plenty of time to get everything we need."
His calm voice seemed to help Addison relax, though not by much. She kept adding to the list, her eyes getting wider and wider as it grew. Tessa leaned toward her aunt, keeping her eyes on her mom like she was some wild animal.
"Was she like this before I was born?"
Amelia smirked and shrugged. "I don't know. I stayed far away until you were all wrapped up in a little blanket and the screaming had stopped."
Tessa snorted and got up from her chair to stand next to her father. His eyes softened as she wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed.
"I am sorry, Dad. I know I scared you today and probably made you upset. I didn't want to, but I knew it would. I just felt so closed in. I needed to get out of my head and not be me for a while. And it worked. I feel better. I feel like I can start this trial without having a major breakdown."
Derek smiled as he wrapped his around her shoulders and held him to her tight. "I know. Tessa, you are not the same girl you were six months ago. You are a very different person now. You were always independent, but now you need to be alone. You aren't as scared anymore because you know you can handle anything. You've grown up in ways I can't even imagine. It's still going to take some time to get used to all this. I'm not happy that you just took off without giving it much thought, but I understand why you did. Our lives are changing drastically, and I need to get used to it."
Tessa felt tears well up in her eyes at her father's words. He understood. No one ever understood; not even her wonderful mother and aunt. The person who had the hardest time dealing with everything was the first to understand, and she couldn't have been more thrilled that he did.
"Thank you."
Derek smiled and pulled Tessa into his chest. He would always love the Tessa that was there before, but she was gone. She was lost and would never come back. It was hard for him; it was hard for all of them. That Tessa was their little girl, their innocent baby. Now, they had a mature young woman who was the strongest person he'd ever met. And, even though he didn't know it was possible, he loved her even more for it every day.
Hey guys! I know it's been a while since the last chapter, and I'm sorry for that. I got a new computer but it didn't have word on it, so I've had to work on it at school when I have the time. this chapter was sort of odd , I know. it was a filler for the next few, all full of drama!