A/N: I tried to update quicker this time so reviews would be nice. :) Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and Royalty09 for her help with editing.

The distance and my hearts to sand
Flowing through the hour glass
Time to let go of all we know
and break our hearts in stride.

I need you now more like yesterday
The last day I could see you smile.
For the last time turn out the lights
My life on standby.

So standby and watch
This fall away and fall apart.

Just say that it's over,
It's over and she's gone.

Don't worry he said,
and she's not coming home.

It's over and she's gone.

The distance and my hearts to sand
Flowing through the hour glass.
I fall to pieces, I can't let go
Of all the times I never said goodbye.

My Life on Standby - Hawthorne Heights

One week later

Since Emily left Alexis found herself feeling quite lonely a lot of the time. She was spending too much time by herself and it was beginning to become very boring. She had begun to miss her Mother and Landon a lot more recently. Jackson had been home a lot more since the day Emily left which Alexis would have liked if she hadn't become so worried about saying the wrong thing to him. Since the other week where he lost his temper Alexis was careful to not do anything that would anger him again. Though Alexis didn't realize that Jackson's main reason for doing this was because he felt he couldn't trust Alexis as much as he originally thought.

She wanted friends to hang out with since Emily had left, but her father kept putting off the school issue saying as soon as he was less busy with work he would take care of it. Besides, it was so late in the school year they probably wouldn't even let her enroll until next year.

It was after dinner that night, after she had finished reading one of the books Jackson had bought for her, that she convinced herself to ask him for something. She was nervous because it involved talking about her mother and he was busy working on something which she had come to learn meant that she wasn't supposed to interrupt him. Cautiously she knocked on the door that led to his study where he spent most of his time since he'd stopped leaving the house for work.

Jackson gathered his papers involving his latest assignment and stuck them in the top drawer before telling her she could come in.

Alexis found herself starting with an apology for interrupting and then a sudden feeling of wanting to leave without asking for what she wanted. She was sure what she wanted was something she would be better off avoiding as it would more than likely make him angry.

"Is something wrong, Alexis?" he asked, curious as to what she was doing. Lately she had seemed to be avoiding him a lot more.

"Yes…I mean no," she answered, still unsure if she should bother him with it.

"Well, which is it?"

"Never mind, it was stupid."

Alexis turned to leave but Jackson got up from his desk and stopped her from closing the door.

"I'm sure it wasn't if you came looking for me."

"It really wasn't that hard. You spend all your time in that study on work," she answered, completely unaware of how bitter she had let herself sound.

"Alexis, if that's what you're worried about I promise it will be different once I finish these last few projects I've been assigned."

"No, that's not it," Alexis answered impatiently.

"Then enlighten me," Jackson said, anxious to get back to work but he didn't want to until he figured out what was wrong with her.

"I want to see Mom," Alexis said, talking faster than normal due to being nervous at how he was going to react.

"You know that's not possible, Alexis. Anything else you want I'll get for you but I can't do that."

"But I miss her. Why can't you two just work out your differences? Why do I have to be stuck in the middle?"

"I thought you understood this. Your mother hates me and would like nothing more than to see me go to jail."

"Can I at least call her then? I want to make sure she knows I'm alright."

"I guess that would be alright," Jackson answered as he went to retrieve his cell phone from his office. "But don't say anything you know you shouldn't."

XXXX

Lisa and Landon had just finished doing the last of their dishes from dinner when the phone rang. Lisa rushed to answer it, still unable to not get her hopes up after all this time.

"Hello."

"Hi, Mom," Alexis said happily.

Lisa almost dropped the phone in surprise and heard Alexis talking again.

"Are you still there?" Alexis thought for a second that maybe her dad's cell phone had lost reception.

"No, I'm here. I'm so glad you called."

"You're not mad at me, are you?" Alexis knew how long it had been since her mother had last heard from her.

"Why would I be mad at you?"

"Because it's been weeks since I called you last," Alexis answered as though her reasoning was clearly obvious.

"I just wish you would come back home. We both miss you here." Lisa knew she was pleading to the wrong person because even if Alexis wanted to come home it would be Jackson she would have to convince.

"I miss you too. I just wanted to make sure you knew I was still okay."

"He's still treating you okay?" Lisa asked. This was her biggest fear everyday she spent wondering about Alexis.

"Yeah, but…"

Alexis hesitated with her answer which made Lisa worry.

"Is something wrong? Is he hurting you?"

"It was just once and it wasn't a big deal," Alexis said, brushing it off. "It really wasn't that big of a deal."

"What happened?" Lisa asked, suddenly becoming anxious and worried again.

"It was my fault really. I made him mad when I helped Emily get back to Miami. I was talking back to him and…"

"Alexis," Jackson said in a way that she made her aware she was getting on to a topic he didn't approve of so she stopped. He didn't like where this conversation was headed but he didn't want to cause Alexis to get suspicious.

"But you're sure you're fine? What were you saying about Emily?" Lisa was suddenly curious since Emily had been missing the same amount of time and she suspected Jackson was involved.

"Yes, Mom I'm totally fine and I helped Emily get back to Miami last week."

"Alexis, I'm not sure what you mean. Emily has been missing just as long as you."

"That's impossible," Alexis responded in shock, suddenly feeling very confused and angry.

"Hang up, Alexis," Jackson ordered. Now he was sure the phone call was going too far. Alexis refused to because she wanted to know exactly what her mom was talking about. Jackson wasn't going to stand for this disobedience from her. He quickly grabbed her hand, the one holding the phone, and twisted it behind her back. Alexis gasped suddenly from the pain but tried not to show it.

"Now, give me the phone," Jackson instructed calmly while Alexis tightened her fingers around the open phone. Though she knew it was a pretty unless attempt on her part since he was stronger and got the phone away from her easily. All she probably succeeded in doing was making him angrier. Having lost the phone, Alexis backed away from her father holding her now throbbing arm.

"Alexis has to go now. Whatever you told her you shouldn't have. It's only just going to cause problems for Alex" Jackson was angry now and planned on dealing with Alexis. She obviously needed another reminder of why she should obey him and his rules. He knew it was a risk letting Alexis call but there was also the risk of her hating him too soon if he said no. Now he was just going to have to speed up his plans.

"Please don't hurt her," Lisa begged. "She's only a child and your daughter." She hoped reminding him of this would stall whatever he was planning to do.

"Bye, Leese," Jackson said, flipping the phone shut and throwing it on the table.

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