To my reviewer, I'm so glad you're enjoying the story and I also love how much you hate Frank. You'll really hate him once I reveal more of Nelle's childhood. Want to let everyone know though there will not be anything to graphic when discussing the abuse.
Carly arrived home and looked over at Nelle beside her. "I'm glad to be home." She whispered and Carly smiled. "I'm glad to have you home, baby." Carly responded, rubbing Nelle's arm. "I-I'm sorry about, being little." "Oh, sweetie.I understand. Your dad did horrendous things to you, and you're dealing with it the best you can." Carly explained and the girl nodded. "Being that way with you, makes me feel safe." She revealed, blushing and hanging her head.
"Hey don't do that. Look at me. You have nothing to be embarrassed about." She assured as she exited the car, Nelle following behind. "Are you hungry?" Carly asked as they entered the house and Nelle nodded. "Ok. Want me to make something?" She questioned and Nelle burst out laughing. "Um what's so funny?" "You, cooking." Nelle responded through peels of laughter and Carly rolled her eyes. "I see you have been talking to Sonny." "He's told me a few stories." She responded and Carly laughed as well.
"I can cook." Nelle offered but Carly shook her head. "Absolutely not. You just got home." Carly said but Nelle shrugged. "I don't mind." She responded, going into the kitchen and rummaging through the fridge.
"This is delicious. Where did you learn to make spaghetti?" Carly questioned and the girl placed her fork down, seemingly becoming lost in thought. "I-I had to learn. Dad didn't cook for me." She revealed, remembering a time when he didn't feed her, no matter how much she begged.
Flashback
"D-daddy?" "What do you want?" He snapped. "I-I'm hungry." Four year old Nelle said but he just returned to his work. "Daddy?" "I'm busy, now be quiet. Don't make me make you be quiet." He threatened and she immediately closed her mouth. His abuse had lessened lately. At least no men had been coming around, and daddy hadn't hit her so she prayed it would stay that way. Maybe if she was really good and quiet it would and she just might get food. She just wanted something to eat.
Knowing about the bread in the pantry she quietly made her way there, not caring the bread was expired and molded as she hungrily took a bite.
End of flashback
"Oh, sweetie. I'm so sorry you had to go through that." "He would beat and, s-sexually abuse me when I wouldn't behave." She revealed and Carly closed her eyes. "Is that why you don't like to bathe?" She asked and Nelle nodded shakily. "Well, I promise you're safe, and I'll help you feel safe again when taking a bath, if you want." She said and the girl nodded. "J-just do-don't get in with me."
"Oh, baby. I would never do that." She assured and Nelle sighed in relief.
Carly knelt beside the tub as Nelle quietly sat in the soothing water. It had taken some time and a lot of comforting words, but she had finally gotten into the tub as long as Carly would stay close by. "Are you ok?" "Yes. I think so." "Can i help wash your hair?" "Please, but don't come in." She whispered as Carly picked up a plastic cup.
"It's ok, baby. I'm not moving from this spot." She assured as she carefully filled the cup with water from the tub, Nelle slowly beginning to relax. As Carly worked the shampoo into her hair, Nelle let out a content sigh.
"Feel good?" "Uh-huh. I-I've n-never had anyone do this for me before." She revealed and Carly kissed her cheek. "I know. That's why I wanted to do this for you." She explained. "Recreating childhood memories?" "Yes. You deserve that, especially after everything you've been through." She said and Nelle smiled. "I feel small." She revealed, feeling herself sink into her headspace.
"Ok, baby. Do what you need to." Carly told her and the girl nodded, giggling as Carly picked up a handful of bubbles and placed them on her nose. "Siwwy." She giggled and Carly smiled. "Is that right?" "Uh-huh. You da best though. You take cawe of me and you da best evew." She said. "Thank you, sweetie. Are you ready to get out?" "Yes. I wan cuddle wif you." "Ok, baby." Carly said, happy to be with her little sister.
Carly was awakened by a crash from the kitchen and muffled giggling. Getting out of bed, she went to investigate. Entering the kitchen she stopped at the sight. "Janelle Benson. What in the world is going on in here?" She questioned, knowing she had to be firm right now but having a very difficult time containing the laughter that wanted to come bursting out. The girl as well as the kitchen was covered in flower. Carly wondered in that moment, once again, what it would've been like to actually raise her."Wanted a snackie." "And you decided to play in the flower?" She questioned and sighed when Nelle picked up a handful and tossed it into the air, giggling hysterically as it came back down. "Yesh." She giggled and Carly had to do her best to not let a laugh escape. "Were you trying to make your own cookies?" "Uh-huh." "Well, I see you found the flower I usually use." She said. "You need another bath, but once I get you cleaned up, I'll give you a cookie." Carly explained, reaching down and lifting the girl into her arms, Nelle suddenly realizing what she had done. "I sowwy. Pwease no hit. I be good." "Oh, baby. It's ok. You're not in trouble, but you can't play in the flower." She explained as she started towards the bathroom.
"So, I go into the kitchen, and this is what I find." Carly was saying to Sonny, Bobbie, Jason, sam, Nina and Dr. Garcia that evening as she showed them the pictures she'd taken on her phone of the disaster in the kitchen. They roared with laughter at the sight. "I take it she was in her headspace?" Bobbie asked, Carly having explained that new development to the others and she nodded. "Yes, and I had a difficult time staying strong." She responded as a loud laugh escaped and Anne smiled, knowing she'd made the right choice for her patient. "How has she been the rest of the day?" Sonny asked once he had calmed down. "She's been fine. She insists on following me wherever I go, but I don't mind." She explained before she heard the sound of footsteps. "Hey, baby. Did you have a good nap?" Carly questioned as Nelle crawled into her lap. "Uh-huh. No bad dweams." She whispered, hiding her face in Carly's shirt when she realized she had regressed. "It's ok, sweetie. They know, and they aren't judging you." "Weally?" "Really." Bobbie responded. "Otay." She whispered, cuddling closer to Carly.
"Mesh." She whispered and Sam smiled, leaning closer. "Yeah, I heard. I heard you played with the flower." She responded, and the girl began shrieking with laughter, eyes wondering towards the cabinet. "Don't even think about it, Janelle." Carly said immediately and Nelle began to pout but one look at Carly and she sighed resignedly, leaning back against Sam as Carly finished preparing dinner.
"Sorry." Sam mouthed, realizing her mistake and shooting an apologetic look at Carly who shook her head. "It's fine. This is just going to be interesting when she's like this." She responded and Bobbie smiled. "I wonder what she would've been like if-"
"You mean if I had raised her?" Carly snapped. "Well we will never know because I left her with that abusive bastard which is why she's like this." Carly bellowed before leaving the room, Nelle beginning to cry and squirm and point to the open door Carly had just gone through. "Shhh, kiddo. It's ok. Carly's ok." Sonny comforted as he took the girl from Sam. "Ly Ly." She sniffled, pointing once again to the open door. "Come on, honey. Let's go check on her." Nina said, taking Nelle and exiting the room, everyone staring in amazement over the progress between the two.
Entering the bedroom, Carly let the tears fall. If only she'd raised Nelle. She wished more than anything that she could undo everything that happened when she came to port Charles. If she had, then the girl wouldn't have been physically and sexually abused by not only her father, but many more men.
"Carly?" Nina questioned as she entered the room, Nelle beginning to squirm and point to Carly. "Hey. Go give Ly Ly a hug. Can you do that?" Nina questioned and Nelle nodded rapidly, immediately approaching Carly. Somehow understanding why she was upset, even in her headspace, Nelle hugged her before whispering, "Not youw fault. I wuv you. You not wike daddy." "Thank you, sweetie." She responded through tears, hugging Nelle just as tightly, Nina unable to look away as Carly held her regressed daughter and she began crying softly. Nelle was finally happy, and that was all she'd ever wanted. It didn't erase the hell she'd gone through, but at least she was doing what she needed to to cope.
"Sorry." She said but Nina shook her head. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I can't imagine how difficult this is for you when she goes into her headspace." Nina said and Carly nodded. "I see that little blonde girl." She revealed, not needing to explain more and Nina nodded. "I know. I can't even imagine what it's like for you, but you have another chance. She goes into her headspace with you because she feels safe, so I would use that opportunity." She explained. "Thank you, Nina." "You're welcome. I'd do anything for you guys." She remarked, smiling slightly. "I guess we should eat dinner." She said before they returned to the dining room.
"This is amazing." Sam declared as she took a bite of the pasta. "Thank you. I'm not much of a cook, but I figured with Nelle being little I might need to learn." She responded, reaching over and helping her with the fork. "Good?" "Uh-huh." She responded, reaching for the plate and picking up some pasta with her hand, much to Carly's amusement. "Baby, fork." Carly said exasperatedly, retrieving some wipes from the counter. "Otay." The girl responded before placing a bite of spaghetti in her mouth, successfully using the fork this time.
Nelle squealed in delight as Carly tickled her relentlessly as the others watched on with amused looks on their faces. "Pl-please n-no more." She gasped out as she continued giggling hysterically. Carly sat up and pulled the girl into her lap, Nelle lying her head on Carly's shoulder and blinking sleepily.
"You tired, little one?" "Uh-huh." She mumbled, Carly pressing a kiss to her head. "Say night night and I'll go tuck you in." She said, rising from the floor. "Night night. Wuv you." She whispered, waving shyly and the others smiled, going over and hugging her.
"She was out like a light." Carly explained, reentering the room and taking a seat next to Sonny on the couch, her head coming to rest on his shoulder. "That was fast." "Mom, I'm telling you, as soon as I tucked her in she was asleep." She responded, a yawn escaping her own mouth and the other 5 looked at her. "I don't think she's the only one who's tired." Nina said. "No. You would be correct about that." Carly remarked and they began gathering their stuff, promising to return soon.
Once they had left, Carly locked up the house before going upstairs and looking in on Nelle one more time before going to her own room. She was exhausted, but she couldn't be any happier to have Nelle home and with that thought, she closed her eyes, sleep overtaking her immediately.