Paternal Bonds Shattered

Disclaimer: Do I need to say it? I don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 26 (Rachel's Big Family)

Jonah drove towards the small town of Index with Valerie in the passenger seat and the two children in the back. She knew she was asking a lot for Jonah to take the two children in, but they had nowhere else to go, and Rachel needed her father. She needed to see a good father. "So won't you get in trouble with Hector for all this?"

"No, Gibby's going to explain the situation to him, but we're not planning on telling him we ran into you. That would just infuriate him, and possibly Jeremy if he caught wind." Who was she kidding? It would piss Jeremy off. It would piss him off so much that she'd never hear the end of it. "Either way, I don't want to talk about that." Jonah nodded and smiled as he placed his hand on hers, it felt so good to have her with him, even though it was just temporary. "Did you know Hector's actually sent me to school and college? I'm going to be a great culinary chef one day!"

"That's amazing, Valerie." Valerie kept seeing Jonah glance in the rearview mirror at Rachel, she smiled and closed her eyes. She loved how happy he was to see his daughter, to be able to actually have her with him. Currently Rachel and Derek were passing away the time by having their own conversation and playing car games that little kids play. "Jeremy…he's never liked you?"

"No, because Gibby and Hector both treat me differently to a point…He hates my daughter too…" Jonah frowned and narrowed his eyes. Jeremy wouldn't do anything more to Rachel now, he would guarantee it. Derek would be safe too, if he was in any danger. "It is good to see you again, Jonah."

"Yeah, so why can't you stay with me?"

"You know why." Jonah frowned and turned his gaze downward, he hated that he couldn't have her with him. However she was right, it would be dangerous for everyone if she just left without word. Though, he wished he could be with her. He wished he could be there to keep Jeremy from harming her in any way. What he wouldn't give to kick that son of a bitch's ass.

"I just want to protect you, to hold you when you need me. To be there when you need someone to be there…You don't know what this is doing to me."

"I understand. It's killing everyone, believe me." Valerie looked out of her window as they passed a sign stating they've entered the small town of Index. "I love the mountains."

"Index is located in a beautiful spot." Valerie nodded and tilted her head back. She closed her eyes and breathed in as she thought about where her life was going. She wondered how her family was doing. Evidently Jonah brought them here, he never told her, but it was for good reason. "Your mother misses you just as much as all of your sisters."

"They probably think I'm dead, don't they…"

"No, they keep believing you're out there." Valerie smiled, happy that her family still had the hope and faith that she was alive. Jonah didn't feel too good that he'd have to hand her back to Gibby, but from what she had told him, Gibby treated her like a sister. So it was better Gibby than any of the other men, and Jonah was thankful that the guy was keeping her safe. "They're going to flip when they see you today."

"It breaks my heart to have to leave them again, though…" Jonah slowly nodded his head as he parked in front of the Williams residence. Valerie wondered if anything changed about her family. Nearly four years, one would think there'd be a lot different about them. Her youngest sister would have to be almost fourteen years old now. "Rachel, are you ready to meet your grandparents and Aunts?" Rachel gasped happily and raised her head up. Her father, grandparents, and aunts all in one day? This was turning out to be the best birthday ever.

"Yeah!" Jonah had parked to the driveway, which was on the right side of the front yard. Valerie had to look across him to see the yard, which seemed very nicely kept. She could see Vixen and Victoria in the yard, Victoria was watching Vixen perform her newest dance.

"Hey look, it's Jonah!" Vixen pointed out as she stopped her dancing. Victoria looked over and smiled, but they couldn't see Valerie too well.

"Who's in the car with him?" Victoria asked while rubbing her chin. Tears were coming to Valerie's eyes, her little sisters seemed like they were really growing up. Victoria must have her license by now, or at least her permit. Rachel looked at the two and Derek nudged Valerie.

"Who are they?" Derek asked with a quiet voice. Valerie sniffed as Jonah eyed her with a smile, gauging her reaction at seeing her sisters.

"Rachel, these are two of your aunts," Valerie said while wiping her eyes. "Aunt Vixen and Aunt Victoria…" Rachel grinned from ear to ear as she opened her door and exited with Derek.

"Uh oh, he brought kids with him," Victoria said with a slight laugh. Vixen gasped, seeing Valerie first as both Jonah and Valerie exited the car. She tugged on Victoria's sleeve and pointed. Her sister raised her eyebrow and looked over, her jaw fell in shock. "V-V-V-Valerie? Oh my god, it's Val!" Valerie smiled softly and walked around the car, her two sisters were too shocked for words.

The front door opened and Veronica stepped out, she was washing a plate with a rag. "Hey, you two need to do your chores now, no slacking off!" Veronica called out. Valerie looked at her and cupped her hand over her mouth, Veronica was so beautiful. She would be graduating high school this year and turning eighteen in August. Knowing Vanessa, she was already twenty-two, as January passed already. "What are you two st-" Vanessa looked over and froze when she saw Valerie. Her body began to shake and the plate she held in her hands fell to the floor. Tears left her eyes as she quickly ran back into the house. "Mom! Vanessa! Get dad from the backyard, quickly!"

Vincent was in the backyard chopping some wood for the fireplace, they usually had the fireplace lit up while they had family night. It was something they did every day. Jonah chuckled lightly and placed his arm around Valerie's waist. Rachel lifted one arm and grasped her mom's pants tightly, she was very nervous now. "Who was that lady, mommy?"

"Your Aunt Veronica…she should be starting college soon."

"She's planning to go to Antioch," Jonah said as he clicked the button on his keys to lock the door. "She's heard some good things about it from me, so she wants to get started there. She always says she wants to go into modeling." Jonah walked towards the girls in the yard and scratched his head, wondering how long they were all going to stare at each other. "You do know nobody has all day, right?"

"Valerie, is that really you?" Vixen said as she walked towards her. Valerie nodded tearfully and Vixen quickly hugged her. "Oh god, we didn't know if we'd ever see you again!"

"I'm here now." Valerie looked over to see Vincent and Vanessa follow Veronica out the front door. They smiled at her, trying to first overcome the shock. Valerie walked to the three and smiled sadly, tears dripping past her chin. "Dad…"

"Valerie, where have you been," Vincent said as he hugged his daughter, holding her tightly. "Your mom's been worried sick."

"How is she?"

"Doing a lot better now," Jonah stated as Viola came out of the house. She was walking on crutches. Valerie gasped as Viola looked over at her, she thought it was too good to be true.

"Valerie…oh god it really is you." Valerie smiled and hugged her mother gently, not wanting to squeeze her too hard. She was surprised to see her mom on crutches, rather than the wheelchair. What had she been missing. She took a step back and eyed her mother carefully. Viola closed her eyes and smiled happily. "We found a good doctor who's able to operate. So through operations and rehabilitation, I'm regaining my ability to walk!"

"Oh mom, I'm so happy to hear that!"

"We're all happy about it," Vanessa said with a soft smile. She looked to Rachel, who was a bit scared of all the people. Derek didn't seem bothered at all by the group. His main issue was that he actually missed Adam. He knew that he, like Rachel, probably wouldn't be seeing Adam again for a while. "So who is this little one?" Vanessa knelt in front of Rachel and the girl quickly hid behind her mother. "She's shy."

"This is my daughter." Vincent and Viola smiled as the girls all surrounded them. Valerie leaned over and picked Rachel up. The girl wrapped her arms securely around her mother's neck and gazed curiously at the group. "Rachel, say hello."

"Hi," Rachel meekly responded. "I'm Rachel, and this is my mommy, and that's my daddy." Rachel pointed at Jonah and he beamed with pride. There was just something about hearing a child refer to him as a dad that sent him spiraling into pure joy.

"Well, I'm your mother's big sister, Aunt Vanessa."

"You're mommy's older sister? She told me lots about you." Vanessa stood straight and smirked lightly.

"Well I don't know what she may have told you, but I can almost guarantee it isn't half as good as getting to know me." Rachel smiled as Vanessa started pointing to her sisters. "Now from oldest to youngest, you have your Aunts Veronica, Victoria, and Vixen. These two over here…" Rachel watched as Vanessa stepped behind her parents and put her arms around their shoulders. "Are your grandparents…Grandpa Vincent and Grandma Viola."

"Just wait till you meet Aunt Olivia and your grandfather on my side of the family," Jonah said while crossing his arms over. Rachel blinked and looked at him with a smile. She was really enjoying the attention.

"She's adorable," Viola said as she walked to Rachel. Valerie put her daughter down and Rachel went on to hug each member of the family.

"She looks just you," Veronica commented while smiling at her sister. "So…are you here to stay?" Valerie frowned and bowed her head, this was what she hated. Jonah sighed and closed his eyes, he knew this wasn't going to be good.

"Rachel is, and so is Derek. He's Sam's son…one of the twins." Valerie's family looked at her with confusion, why was she not staying with them? "I can't, it would put too many lives in jeopardy. I have to go back into captivity, or Jeremy will find me and kill me, then probably go after all of you…"

"Jeremy?" Vincent asked with a slow growl. He recognized that name. He hated that man, he hated that man with a burning passion.

"Yes, Gibby and I saved Rachel and Derek from him. Gibby's in Seattle right now, getting his car fixed. I promised him I'd be back."

"And this Gibby…is he protecting you?"

"Very much so! I don't know when I'm going to be free from them, I don't know what's going to happen, but as long as Gibby's protecting me from Jeremy, I will be fine." Vanessa smiled very sadly, she hated to see her sister leave, but was grateful that she was able to stop by and see them. She understood Valerie's concern, and she wasn't about to argue it.

"After what happened to us four years ago, I can see why you would worry about leaving so suddenly," Vanessa commented. Victoria groaned and felt of her hair, she still hated water. Vanessa continued college at Seattle University, but ever since that incident, she and the dean would meet outside of his office. Vixen never let what happened affect her too much. She still had memories, but she tried to push them off as much as possible.

"No kidding," Vincent said as he placed his hand on his side. Valerie looked over at him with a look of concern. Sometimes he still felt the pain of that blow, and any loud noise still affected him. "I still have a massive scar. Was it that Jeremy who orchestrated all of that?"

"Yes, but what exactly happened to you guys?"

"That you don't need to worry about," Jonah replied quickly as he stepped next to Valerie. Valerie chuckled nervously as her family shook their heads. Not only did they not want to talk about it, they didn't want to remember it or worry Valerie with all that crap. Hell, Vincent had to have his office moved to another floor. "Anyway, I just called my dad, he's coming over here as soon as he and grandpa get George to wake up."

"Your dad's coming over?"

"Yeah, it shouldn't be too long, we live like right down the street."

"Huh…small town…" Everyone laughed and Jonah rubbed Valerie's back.

"You have noidea."

It wasn't long at all before Jonah's family did indeed make it over there, hell they drove despite really not having to drive. It was just that George was with them, so it was better to drive. Rachel glanced over at them as Michael, Olivia, Ryan, and George left the car. "Who are they?"

"Your grandfather, great grandfather, great-great grandfather, and your Aunt Olivia." Valerie chuckled as Rachel tilted her head curiously, not really sure what to make of the three grandfathers. She thought there was only one grandfather on either side. Michael smiled at the young girl and looked over at Jonah.

"She has your eyes, son." Olivia smiled and walked over to Rachel, who wasn't backing away this time.

"Hi, I'm your auntie Olivia. We're going to have a lot of fun together!" She had been waiting for this day to come so she could start spoiling the little girl as soon as possible. George placed his hands in his lap and chuckled to himself, he never thought he'd live to see his great-great grandchild.

"Do I have a Grandma?" Michael frowned and picked up Rachel, he was very happy to see his granddaughter.

"Your grandmother is very likely the one who kept you and your mother safe, and the one that kept your parents family safe…watching us all from the skies and living on in our hearts." Rachel eyes widened with wonder as she looked up into the sky. Her grandmother was somewhere up there?

"Wow, she must be pretty." Michael smiled and closed his eyes, nodding in response.

"She was very pretty."

Everybody spent hours catching up and enjoying their time together, but it all seemed too swift and the time came for Valerie to have to leave. She was torn, but it was something she had to do. Arrangements were made for Rachel to live with Jonah, but it was fine that she was right down the street from her mother's family. Derek would also stay with Jonah for the time being. He didn't know if he was going to give Derek to his grandmother or not, since he didn't even know how to contact Amy right now.

After a very teary goodbye, Jonah drove Valerie back to Seattle, where Gibby was waiting for them at the auto shop. He was respectful enough to let them have some time with each other before getting on the road. It took them almost forever, never wanting to let go of each other, but knowing they had to. Eventually Valerie was leaving, looking back as Jonah waved and faded into the distance. Rachel stood at his side, grasping his jeans.

"You talked to Hector?" Valerie asked quietly. Gibby nodded and pressed his lips together. The conversation hadn't gone badly at all, but damn he was worried.

"He said he's not too thrilled with what we did, and he doesn't know if it was wise to give up Rachel and Derek just because of Jeremy, but he is really pissed off at him. Evidently Jeremy's not quite back yet."

"Oh dear, I hope he's not still stuck on the freeway." Gibby chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. Hector told him that when he called Jeremy up, the boy was walking ten miles to the nearest gas station. Who knew how long it would take him to get everything fixed.

"He'll get back when he does, and when he does get home…I'll make sure he doesn't do anything to you."

"Thank you Gibby." Gibby shrugged as he pulled onto the freeway.

"How was your visit with your family?"

"Perfect…and I think we made Rachel really happy too. How was your trip around Seattle?" Gibby chuckled nervously and grinned, he had plenty of time to revisit some of his old haunts. He just wondered if anyone saw him and thought he was a ghost.

"I had a lot of fun. We should thank Jeremy for this unexpected road trip he made us go on." The two laughed as they sped down the road. After a while, they were sure they just passed Jeremy slowly driving his car in the shoulder. Yeah, he wasn't making it back to Portland anytime soon.

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