So, I'm going kind of overboard with Sam and Willow, but gah I love them! Haha. I want this on real GH :P But I promise the plot will pick up soon plus lots of Michael/Willow to come. I just want a couple more chapters to help Willow and Charlotte through their trauma. Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 19- A Better Night

Sam stayed with Willow and Charlotte until Jax returned home. No one had been able to find Matteo even after Jax questioned Harmony, who denied having anything to do with fake Danny. She even complained that Jax was scaring Julian and Elias on their play date. Willow heard Sam tell Jax that before returning to Scout, she was going to take Julian away from Harmony's house and insist to Lucas that he doesn't let him go there anymore.

Dante returned home really late, and Charlotte burst into tears when he said Lulu was staying at the clinic for the night with Rocco who had a concussion. Charlotte made eye contact with Willow when he explained that he hit his head off the side of the schoolhouse, and they were suspicious that someone did it to him. Unfortunately, Rocco's memory of the incident was foggy due to the concussion. But when Charlotte wouldn't calm down, Dante ended up going to get Laura and she spent the night with Charlotte in her room.

Willow was doing somewhat better since telling her parents and realizing it wasn't her brother who raped her. She spent more time out in the living room and joined the others for breakfast the next morning, but she wasn't ready to leave the house. It was a good thing it was the weekend so she wouldn't have to take another day off work, but she dreaded writing report cards since school was almost over.

Laura became the newest person that Charlotte clung to. She wouldn't leave her side until Lulu returned late morning and Dante left to check on Rocco. Lulu explained that Lucas wanted to keep him another night for observation, but he'd hopefully be able to come home the next morning. She also said he could remember someone grabbing him by the hair and pounding his head off the brick wall.

Charlotte lowered her gaze and said she wanted to talk to her mother and grandmother alone. Jax wanted to continue his search for Matteo anyway, and the mention of Matteo made Lulu look confused. After Jax headed out and Josslyn went to visit Cameron, Willow retreated to her room.

"Mommy, I know who hurt Rocco," Charlotte said. "He was trying to kill him."

"What do you mean?" Lulu asked. "Who?"

"Danny… except…" Charlotte sighed. "He's not Danny. He's Matteo Marchesi…"

"Are you sure?" Laura asked.

"Yes, you see, I saw his scars… I saw his scars before. He tried to kill Rocco because of me."

"Why do you think that?" Lulu asked.

"Because I'm his betrothed and Dante wouldn't let him in our house."

"Yeah, Dante said he was suspicious that he hurt you," Lulu said.

"Did he hurt you sweetie?" Laura asked.

There was a long pause, then Willow heard crying.

"He… He… He… raped me…" Charlotte blurted out.

Willow could hear Laura and Lulu crying with her as she explained in more detail. Laura even ended up sharing that she once was raped too, though she didn't say who did it.

By the time evening rolled around, Sam arrived at Jax's house with Scout who was just released from the clinic. She just explained that they would be spending the night, then Scout laid down in Jax's bed. Once Scout was asleep, Sam explained to Willow, Josslyn, Lulu, and Charlotte that they didn't want to take Scout home in case fake Danny returned.

"I tried Wyndemere first, but Lucas is acting off," Sam explained. "He keeps taking my dad to Harmony's for play dates. He even yelled at me when I said I wanted to bring Dad home with me. I was then going to take Scout to Molly's, then your dad offered his room. He's going to stay at our house with Drew. They're hoping Matteo shows up so they can catch him."

Willow had somewhat of a better night—if you could say that… It helped knowing Sam and Scout were just in the next room, and especially that it wasn't Danny who raped her… but she still woke up a few times with nightmares and kept peeking in her dad's room to make sure Sam and Scout were still there. At 3:00 am Sam caught Willow peeping in and clutching her pink blanket.

"Willow?" Sam sat up a little, squinting her eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Yes—sorry… Sorry… Didn't mean to wake you."

"Are you having trouble sleeping?" Sam asked. "Are you having nightmares?"

Willow lowered her gaze. "I should go back to bed so I don't wake Scout."

"Would you like to sleep with us?"

Willow looked up at her, mouth slightly agape. "Oh, I—I couldn't…"

"How come?"

"Scout is still little. It's different… I'm an adult…"

"But you're still my daughter. And you've just been through something very traumatic. No one is judging you here. Sometimes being close is the only nourishment that counts."

"It just seems like a lot to do for me…"

"Well, don't you think I might be doing it for myself also? Don't you think I might want you here because I enjoy being allowed to express my love for you? I love your courage. I love your talent. I love your tenderness with other people. I love your company. I love you."

Willow's eyes welled with tears.

"Now the only thing that's keeping you in that doorway is the law of gravity," Sam said.

Willow slowly made her way over to the bed. Sam shifted into the middle and slipped her arm around Willow when she laid down.

GHGHGH

Willow woke up late the next morning. She couldn't remember the last time she slept until 11 am… in fact, she had never slept past 8:30 before. Neither Sam nor Scout were still in bed.

Scout was propped up on the couch while Sam and Lulu were talking in the kitchen. Charlotte had apparently slept in too and Dante and Josslyn already left for work.

"Good morning, sleepy head," Sam said.

"Good morning," Willow responded, then turned to Scout. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," Scout said. "I don't like the clinic."

When Charlotte came out, Sam sent Scout back to Jax's room. Sam, Willow, Lulu, and Charlotte all sat around the table, because their mothers wanted to talk.

"We were comparing notes," Lulu said. "Though we didn't share all the personal details. But we want Dante and the rest of the police to lock Matteo up once he's found."

"Elizabeth needs your permission, Willow, to turn in the evidence," Sam said.

Willow lowered her gaze.

"But we're not going to push either of you to do anything you're not ready or comfortable doing," Sam added. "No matter what though, I will make him pay."

"Take time to think about it," Lulu said. "But you can give your testimonies to Dante."

"I don't wanna talk to Dante about it," Charlotte whined a little.

Willow cleared her throat. "Yeah, I mean, it was hard enough relaying what happened to Jax and Drew…"

"We don't have any female police officers on the island, but perhaps you could speak right to Diane since Mom made her the judge of the island," Sam said. "I'll talk to her and Nikolas about it."

"And likewise, we don't have any female therapists on the island," Lulu added. "But Sam and I were discussing maybe both of you could talk to Elizabeth about it."

Charlotte's eyes grew wide.

"I know you've already shared a little with her," Sam spoke to Willow. "You seem comfortable with her. And maybe she can share her story with both of you. Would you be okay with that?"

Willow nodded. "I like Elizabeth. I'd prefer to talk to her over a male therapist."

"But she hates me!" Charlotte blurted out.

"What?" Lulu asked. "Why would you think that?"

"Because I bullied Aiden…" Charlotte lowered her voice.

"That was a long time ago when you were little," Lulu said. "You apologized to him and have never bullied him since. Elizabeth likes you. She doesn't hold that against you."

Charlotte stared at her lap.

"Is there someone else you'd be more comfortable talking to?" Lulu asked.

Charlotte shook her head. "If you're sure she doesn't hate me, I'll talk to Elizabeth."