Shit. I'm running out of time.

Enjoy!


Mick sighed, locking eyes with Nina when he opened his hotel room door. She looked down immediately, fingering a button on her jacket. He opened the door wider and Fabian and Joy stepped in before Nina and Jackson. They all sat on the sofas that were beside the bed and everyone was silent for several minutes. Mick looked tired, like he hadn't slept for days. Jackson's eyes flitted between Mick and Nina. Nina's heel bounced off the floor as she shook her leg as a nervous habit. Jackson eyed Joy and Fabian next, noting that they were holding hands, sitting side by side on the sofa, their relationship still intact. Jackson was cynical, almost jealous for a second, because they were okay, but then he considered that Fabian must've told Joy as soon as he had found out. And Joy accepted it, being as understanding as she could be, and Jackson respected that. But his thoughts immediately shifted back to his parents.


Sarah gasped in surprise when she suddenly collided with someone as she turned the corner before she could cross the street. She went crashing forward, landing on top of the person she had run into, and when she looked up, she stopped herself before she gaped at Jacob.

He groaned, lifting his head off the pavement, and rubbing the back of his head with his hand. He locked eyes with her and chuckled. "Are you okay?"

"Are you okay?" she echoed, scrambling to get off of him, but she just fell back on her butt.

"I'm fine." He pushed himself up and held a hand out to her.

Sarah hesitantly took his hand and he pulled her off the ground.

"Are you okay?" he asked again.

"I'm such a klutz sometimes, I'm sorry—"

"That doesn't answer my question, Sarah." He stated with an amused smile.

"I'm okay." she breathed.

"Where were you headed in such a hurry?"

"The coffee shop; I'm going to study for that big test we have in History."

"Would it be rude if I asked if you needed a study partner?"

"No," Sarah smiled, with a shake of her head.


After minutes upon agonizing minutes, Mick was still silent, Nina was terrified, and Fabian and Joy felt as though nothing had been solved. Jackson was still in the middle of a quarrel and they still didn't know what they were going to do about the situation.

Fabian and Joy eventually left; leaving the Campbell's sitting in the hotel room, silent and separated.

"That's it, I'm leaving." Jackson spat, standing from his seat.

"Are you going home? I'll drive you." Nina offered instantly, jumping up.

"No, I'm going to hang out with one of my friends. I don't want to be around you two anymore." He said. "This is so stupid. You guys have been through a ton of crap and this is what breaks you two up? I don't care about this. I just want my family back." he swallowed and shook his head. "And to think I've always wanted to have a relationship like you two did."

Mick gritted his teeth. "Jackson—"

Jackson shook his head, storming out of the hotel room, and leaving Mick and Nina alone.


Eric chuckled, following Danni into the Laser Tag room beside the bowling alley. "Out of all the things we could do, you choose Laser Tag?"

"Are you afraid you'll lose to a girl?" she smirked back at him, slipping on her vest.

"You think you can beat me." he retorted.

"You wanna bet?"

Eric turned toward her and found her standing right behind him, arms crossed challengingly. He gave her a once over and then matched her smirk. "Bring it."


Poppy thoughtfully tapped her nails on the table in the Clarke dining room. "Well, Emily, how do you feel about being emancipated?"

Michael blinked. "Not that that doesn't sound disgusting at all." he shrugged, leaning back in his chair.

Jerome rolled his eyes.

Poppy laughed, "Emancipated means freeing someone from the control of another; especially a parent's authority and control over a minor child. If your father is an unfit parent, then you can get emancipated, if, and only if, you have the means to support yourself. I believe you could achieve that by getting an access to your trust fund, finding a job, and buying a flat—to prove to the government that you can take care of yourself."

"How long would that take?" Michael asked. Emily quietly sat beside him, mulling over the idea.

"It could take several months if I provided you a form for emancipation of a minor, which allows a child of 16 or older the ability to petition the court."

"You mean, I'd have to go to a hearing at court and things like that?" Emily asked.

Poppy nodded.

Michael butted in again. "But that could take months. He beats her at least twice a week. She's not going to social services; she's not going to a foster home. Isn't there a faster way?"

Poppy leaned forward. "I know you're worried. I understand." She addressed Emily. "You can speed things up if you get your father to sign the documents himself. You don't need to have a hearing, only one visit to court. I don't know if that would be an option, but that's about all I can do."

"Could you get your dad to sign it?" Michael turned to Emily again.

"I don't know." She mumbled, looking at her lap.

"Well, I'll get those papers for you," Poppy said after a moment of silence and then stood up, "Walk me to the door, Gerbil."

Jerome wrapped an arm around her shoulders, leading her to the foyer. Michael grabbed Emily's hand and kissed her fingers.

"Are you okay?" he asked, brushing her hair over her shoulder. He leaned down and pecked her cheek, rubbing her back with the palm of his hand.

"He might sign it. He might not. I guess it just depends how much he hates me when I ask him."

"He doesn't hate you; he's an alcoholic."

Emily smiled sadly. "He's told me he hates me…because I look like my mother. When she died, he…"

Michael swallowed. "When did she die?"

"When I was ten," she said.

Michael tilted her head up and kissed her lips. "We'll figure this out, don't worry. He'll sign it and you'll be away from him forever."


Mick linked his fingers behind his neck, turning away from Nina and keeping his head down as he fumed.

"Mick, I know you're mad at me, and I understand that. I don't expect you to forgive me. I don't want you to forgive me. I want you to hate me forever for what I've done because it was a horrible thing to do, and I'll never stop regretting it." Nina said.

Mick still didn't turn to her, shoulders tense and pulling his head down with his hands.

"But don't shut Jackson out, please." She whispered. "He doesn't deserve it. It wasn't his fault. I don't care if you never want to see me again, but don't tell Jackson he's not you're son and you're not his father—"

"I'm not!" Mick growled.

"Yes, you are! You raised him!" she snapped back. "Just like Sarah's your daughter, Jackson is your son. You raised them both. Don't shut them out because of me, please, Mick, don't do that." She held herself back when she felt the urge to touch his back. "Don't hurt them. Hurt me; put me through hell for what I've done. Don't shut out your kids."

He looked back at her finally, blue eyes dim. He took a deep breath and his Adam's apple bobbed when he swallowed. "A small part of me, really wants you to be begging me to come back to you."

Nina watched him closely.

"But…I don't know if I'll be strong enough to fight with you again." he stated. He motioned to the front door and began to walk away from her. "I'll stay in contact with Sarah. I'll think about talking to Jackson. Good night, Nina."


Review?

"...Take your time and I'll be waiting. Keep me in mind. Somewhere down the road you might get lonely. Keep me in mind. And I pray that someday you will love me only." -Keep Me In Mind, Zac Brown Band

-Rachel