D: See previous chappy..too lazy to write again.
A/N: I SOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry I haven't updated in so long, especially right near the end. I've been swamped with that Ethics project and all the end of the semester garbage. Forgiveness is optional, I'll understand. Here's the next chappy, hope you like, might be the last one or maybe an epilogue to follow, we'll see. Enjoy!
{#}
A day later Shelby was moved to her sister's room in the Pediatric Care Unit. This made both of them very happy and relieved, especially for Jess who last time she spoke with her sister was when she was on the mountain. It seemed like ages ago. The doctors credited this as one of the reasons the sisters did so well after that in they're recoveries. Just four days after they were joined together they were released.
"And you'll see the doctor in a couple days to get those stitches out." The nurse informed, as she was wheeled out by Scott and Jess by Peter. Most of the cliffhangers were there to see her home.
"Yeah. Promise. I can't STAND not taking a shower!" Shelby said.
"Ewww! Then your hair is still dirty?!" Jules squealed, twisting her face up. Shelby and a few others rolled their eyes at that.
"Nope. Scott has been washing my hair for me and Daisy's been helping me take a bath. It's very humiliating actually." Shelby said smiling though. When they finally got to the two vehicles they were taking to get home was when Scott finally exhaled, releasing all the worry and tension from the last couple of weeks. The drive back home went by really fast with Daisy entertaining Shelby and Scott's vehicle. And Kat in the second vehicle calling road jokes and games over the two-way walkie talkies the two cars shared. When they returned to Horizon, Jess and Shelby came home to a HUGE party.
"I'm so glad you're back and safe! Don't ever do that again!" Kat said giving her a big huge as they all sat around the lounge by the fireplace.
" I missed you all too. And I'm just glad to be away from all 'that'. All I wanted was to get back to where I belonged. And to get my little sister to a safe place. Away from that monster." Shelby said as she gently stroked Jess's head, which was in her lap. She has fallen asleep after all the excitement of getting to Horizon, meeting everybody and to see the place that was so special to her big sister. She understood why her sister loved this place. She felt instantly safe after getting here and being around everybody. She especially grew a special bond to Sophie. It had started back at the hospital. In all the excitement, Shelby forgot to officially introduce her little sister to everyone, especially since she wasn't awake for most of the time when the couple of them visited. She saw David, Ezra, and Auggie looking at them two smiling and it dawned on her.
"Oh! Sorry guys, this is my baby sister Jessabell Merrick. Sorry I didn't introduce you when she was still awake." Shelby said smiling apologetically. Jess stirred at the mention of her name and sat up.
"Sorry sis. I forgot to introduce you to the gang." Shelby said quickly.
"Oooh! That explains why some of them keep calling me 'Shelby's sister'." She said finally understanding why they didn't just call her Jess. (An: when you're not officially introduced, people tend to refer to you as 'Stacey's twin, or 'her sister' until you're actually introduced. Found this out when I went to pick my sis up at her work for the first. They knew my name, but I'd never met them before. Just some helpful info.)
"Jess, I'd like you to meet the rest of the gang. That's David, Ezra, Juliette, and Augusto, but you can call him Auggie." Shelby said quickly as they all smiled and nodded at the younger Merrick. Shelby snuggled down against Scott, getting comfy while Jess went to sit closer to the fireplace, enjoying being warm after her whole ordeal on the mountain.
"That's one nasty gash on you head, Shel. Is it gonna leave a scar?" Jules pointed out cringing her face.
"The plastic surgeon said slightly on the deepest part, closest to my eyebrow. But not really." Shelby said in a grimace/smile.
" Son-of-a--- He'll never touch you again. Not if I have anything to do with it." Scott growled, holding Shelby a little closer. Shelby just smiled. She was safe and sound in her guy's arms once again.
She was home at last.
Which was where she was headed to from the beginning. Just took some huge and scary obstacles to get there. She drifted off to sleep before she knew it and the gang made sure to keep their voices down as they continued to chat.
"So, what's this whole 'engaged' thing I heard about?" Auggie said softly, cocking an eyebrow at Scott. Scott looked up from gazing at Shelby and smiled goofly.
"Just a little fudge Peter and Sophie pulled so I could stay with Shelby in the hospital. It's nothing. I don't think of it at all like you're thinking muchacho." Scott replied truthfully, gently playing with the hospital band Shelby still had on her wrist. She'd be getting it off when she got her stitches out.
"What, meat? Don't you want to marry her?" Auggie said, not understanding. Scott smiled down at Shelby before responding.
"Absolutely. Just not right now. When the time comes, I'll ask her to be my wife. It's going to be a special, beautiful day." He said all the while looking at Shelby's sleeping face. Kat and Jules looked on with a little tear in their eyes. They loved romantic stuff like that. Daisy just smiled for her, happy for her friend. Jess beamed at Scott.
"Told ya' you'd be my brother!" she said giggling, everyone else joining her.
A couple of days later Jess and Shelby went back for a check up at the local hospital. Shelby got her stitches out, and told she would have a little bit of a scar. (think Liz on 'Roswell') A week later Walt and their mom went on trial. Walt would get life in prison after Shelby, Jess, and their mother testified. Along with statements from Peter, Sophie, Horizon's own doctors, the girls of the Cliffhangers group who hear here nightmares, and even Scott it was an open and shut case. Scott and Sophie even got to go on the stand to testify as witnesses, Scott being the first person she told and Sophie being her counselor. Scott was behind Shelby AND Jess the whole way. Their mom got five years and probation with community service since to know about child abuse and not reporting it even on one child is just as serious as the person doing it. The Merrick sisters were saddened about that. Now they were wards of the state since both legal guardians were in jail. They still couldn't contact their real father to see if he'd take over custody so that he could legally sign to keep them at Horizon.
For the first time Shelby was faced with the true consequences of her actions.
"They're going to take us away on Monday! We have to go to some foster home until we get placed in permanent home! We're not even sure they'll keep us together!" Shelby cried on Saturday night after coming back from the latest hearing. She sobbed in Scott's arms at the outside fire pit while Kat cuddled Jess who was whimpering and sniffling.
"Can't Peter do ANYthing?!?" Daisy said miserable. Jess eyed Shelby with a look that said a thousand words.
"Sorry my Jessabell baby. Nice birthday present, huh? Get you torn away from yet another place you call home." Shelby mumbled through sniffles and whimpers. Everyone looked shocked at that.
"Today's your birthday?" Ezra asked. Jess nodded.
" 11 years ago at 1:17 am this morning, at 6lbs. 9ounces. And just under 19inches. Small little screaming squirt." Shelby mumbled smiling as she remembered.
"Wow. How old were you Shel?" Jules asked, always wanting a baby sibling.
"Almost 7. Saw the whole thing. I was the only one there for my mom. I couldn't leave her. The nurses felt too bad about making me. They always commented how mature I acted for my age." Shelby said smirking at that.
"Where was your pops?" Auggie asked, not being nosey.
"Working. I guess. Or so he says. I did come early, he'll argue." Jess said evenly, shrugging.
"Well, we are not going to mope all around tonight when it's someone's Birthday today. Let's go see if we can scrounge up something to bake a cake with." Kat said helping the birthday girl up. Just then Sophie and Peter came out all smiles on their faces. They had a gift of their own.
"We know of a certain girls special day today, so we'd like her to do the honors of opening her first gift." Peter said, putting on a whole show.
"What is that?" Shelby asked, wondering what the thick manila folder was. Jess curiously opened it and looked at the jumble of legal documents. She started reading some of what it said and the only thing she could decipher was the fact that it had printed:
Peter Michael Scarbrow and Sophie Lynn Scarbrow legal adopted foster parents of the following minors:
Shelby Marie Merrick 17 years of age
Jessabell Christine Merrick.11 years of age, today.
Jess nearly fainted. Her hands shook. Shelby took notice immediately and jumped up to see what had her little sis so upset. She read the documents and her eye instantly filled with more tears.
"Is this for real? Shel-bell? Do they really want us?" Jess whispered in shock. All Shelby could do was nod and step towards her new parents.
"You WANT us? Why? I've been impossible! It's such a huge thing!" Shelby sputtered out not believing it. Sophie smiled at her and took her face in her hands.
"You ARE my daughters. You KNOW I can't have children of my own. Being here, working with all of you kids. You guys are like my family. But especially you; I know you're not supposed to play favorites..but I guess that's were I messed up. You're my special one." Sophie said softly, all full of emotion. Shelby had tears down her cheeks already as she hugged her new mom and Jess hugged their new dad.
"Hope you guys are okay with this. We'd hate to think you guys might be thought of as less important to us. 'Cause I'll tell you right now you're not. Please don't think that." Peter said still holding Jess. Everyone shook their heads no and reassured that they were all okay with the new situation.
"We all have families and parents. They don't and who better than the people that saved their lives." Daisy pointed out, smirking at Shelby.
"What about our mother? Our real mother?" Jess said, looking worried that all this would be taken away from her.
"Actually, she was the one who suggested to do all this. Me and Soph had already began planning to do it any way when we knew you'd become a ward of the state, back in the hospital when we heard your mom turned herself in. She just brought it up faster. It was a very nice coincident, actually. Made things so much easier. We thought we'd have to go to court and fight for you two." Peter stated smiling as Shelby came over then to give him a hug. Everyone nodded at that thanking his or her own lucky stars it didn't come down to that.
"I've always wanted to call you dad. You sure act like one to all of us, but it seems especially to me. To me any way." Shelby said grinning up at Peter.
"It won't be a stretch to call you mom either. You're already like an older sister to me." Shelby commented from her father's embrace.
" Gee, thanks you guys. Now I'm REALLY going to feel old! But 'Mom' still sounds real nice to me!" Sophie said happily. They all went inside then, with everyone looking over the official document.
"Wait. Sophie Scarbrow? When did you two get hitched?!" Daisy finally realized. Everyone froze at that noticing for the first time themselves'. Peter and Sophie smiled at each other and raised their eyebrows.
"NOW they finally notice! It's only been read by, like, EVERYBODY!" Sophie said giggling. Juliette squealed.
"They got married! They got married!" she said loudly, jumping up and down.
"Wow, Queenie! You're quick!" Daisy teased as everyone waited for the explanation.
"Yesterday afternoon. When we figured out you two wouldn't be able to stay here. We were going to any way; we just had to step it up. He even already had the ring!" Sophie said showing off her ring everyone seemed to have not noticed. The girls all awwed over it.
"We're still going to have a ceremony. Being married in the court house isn't as exciting." Peter said, putting his arm around Sophie.
"And you are all invited. With my new daughters as my bridesmaids, of course." Sophie said. She loved that. My Daughters.
She positively glowed.
In just two days she went from Sophie Becker, single, Horizon Counselor to Mrs. Peter Scarbrow, married, to wife, and mother of two incredible daughters.
Who else could say that about themselves?!
Life was good.
FIN
A/N: Hope you liked my story! I loved writing this one! It was my first HG fanfic to write. I have another one that I'll be posting up soon, so be on the look out! Don't forget to review to tell me what you thought of my first ever Higher Ground story, and first completely finished fan fic!! Thank you to all my great and loyal reviewers! You guys are awesome and keep me going when I don't think my story is doing well. Here's a shout out to all those loyal reviewers: hoplessromantic, Katwomyn2k5, Emer, Lauren, Funkee Monkee, Prettyg36, molly-dolly(), KittyKat, Flamingteen, Luann, and tisha. Thanks y'all!! I love ya ta pieces!! I'm outtie! Gotta Blaze! Adios! Peace!
A/N: I SOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry I haven't updated in so long, especially right near the end. I've been swamped with that Ethics project and all the end of the semester garbage. Forgiveness is optional, I'll understand. Here's the next chappy, hope you like, might be the last one or maybe an epilogue to follow, we'll see. Enjoy!
{#}
A day later Shelby was moved to her sister's room in the Pediatric Care Unit. This made both of them very happy and relieved, especially for Jess who last time she spoke with her sister was when she was on the mountain. It seemed like ages ago. The doctors credited this as one of the reasons the sisters did so well after that in they're recoveries. Just four days after they were joined together they were released.
"And you'll see the doctor in a couple days to get those stitches out." The nurse informed, as she was wheeled out by Scott and Jess by Peter. Most of the cliffhangers were there to see her home.
"Yeah. Promise. I can't STAND not taking a shower!" Shelby said.
"Ewww! Then your hair is still dirty?!" Jules squealed, twisting her face up. Shelby and a few others rolled their eyes at that.
"Nope. Scott has been washing my hair for me and Daisy's been helping me take a bath. It's very humiliating actually." Shelby said smiling though. When they finally got to the two vehicles they were taking to get home was when Scott finally exhaled, releasing all the worry and tension from the last couple of weeks. The drive back home went by really fast with Daisy entertaining Shelby and Scott's vehicle. And Kat in the second vehicle calling road jokes and games over the two-way walkie talkies the two cars shared. When they returned to Horizon, Jess and Shelby came home to a HUGE party.
"I'm so glad you're back and safe! Don't ever do that again!" Kat said giving her a big huge as they all sat around the lounge by the fireplace.
" I missed you all too. And I'm just glad to be away from all 'that'. All I wanted was to get back to where I belonged. And to get my little sister to a safe place. Away from that monster." Shelby said as she gently stroked Jess's head, which was in her lap. She has fallen asleep after all the excitement of getting to Horizon, meeting everybody and to see the place that was so special to her big sister. She understood why her sister loved this place. She felt instantly safe after getting here and being around everybody. She especially grew a special bond to Sophie. It had started back at the hospital. In all the excitement, Shelby forgot to officially introduce her little sister to everyone, especially since she wasn't awake for most of the time when the couple of them visited. She saw David, Ezra, and Auggie looking at them two smiling and it dawned on her.
"Oh! Sorry guys, this is my baby sister Jessabell Merrick. Sorry I didn't introduce you when she was still awake." Shelby said smiling apologetically. Jess stirred at the mention of her name and sat up.
"Sorry sis. I forgot to introduce you to the gang." Shelby said quickly.
"Oooh! That explains why some of them keep calling me 'Shelby's sister'." She said finally understanding why they didn't just call her Jess. (An: when you're not officially introduced, people tend to refer to you as 'Stacey's twin, or 'her sister' until you're actually introduced. Found this out when I went to pick my sis up at her work for the first. They knew my name, but I'd never met them before. Just some helpful info.)
"Jess, I'd like you to meet the rest of the gang. That's David, Ezra, Juliette, and Augusto, but you can call him Auggie." Shelby said quickly as they all smiled and nodded at the younger Merrick. Shelby snuggled down against Scott, getting comfy while Jess went to sit closer to the fireplace, enjoying being warm after her whole ordeal on the mountain.
"That's one nasty gash on you head, Shel. Is it gonna leave a scar?" Jules pointed out cringing her face.
"The plastic surgeon said slightly on the deepest part, closest to my eyebrow. But not really." Shelby said in a grimace/smile.
" Son-of-a--- He'll never touch you again. Not if I have anything to do with it." Scott growled, holding Shelby a little closer. Shelby just smiled. She was safe and sound in her guy's arms once again.
She was home at last.
Which was where she was headed to from the beginning. Just took some huge and scary obstacles to get there. She drifted off to sleep before she knew it and the gang made sure to keep their voices down as they continued to chat.
"So, what's this whole 'engaged' thing I heard about?" Auggie said softly, cocking an eyebrow at Scott. Scott looked up from gazing at Shelby and smiled goofly.
"Just a little fudge Peter and Sophie pulled so I could stay with Shelby in the hospital. It's nothing. I don't think of it at all like you're thinking muchacho." Scott replied truthfully, gently playing with the hospital band Shelby still had on her wrist. She'd be getting it off when she got her stitches out.
"What, meat? Don't you want to marry her?" Auggie said, not understanding. Scott smiled down at Shelby before responding.
"Absolutely. Just not right now. When the time comes, I'll ask her to be my wife. It's going to be a special, beautiful day." He said all the while looking at Shelby's sleeping face. Kat and Jules looked on with a little tear in their eyes. They loved romantic stuff like that. Daisy just smiled for her, happy for her friend. Jess beamed at Scott.
"Told ya' you'd be my brother!" she said giggling, everyone else joining her.
A couple of days later Jess and Shelby went back for a check up at the local hospital. Shelby got her stitches out, and told she would have a little bit of a scar. (think Liz on 'Roswell') A week later Walt and their mom went on trial. Walt would get life in prison after Shelby, Jess, and their mother testified. Along with statements from Peter, Sophie, Horizon's own doctors, the girls of the Cliffhangers group who hear here nightmares, and even Scott it was an open and shut case. Scott and Sophie even got to go on the stand to testify as witnesses, Scott being the first person she told and Sophie being her counselor. Scott was behind Shelby AND Jess the whole way. Their mom got five years and probation with community service since to know about child abuse and not reporting it even on one child is just as serious as the person doing it. The Merrick sisters were saddened about that. Now they were wards of the state since both legal guardians were in jail. They still couldn't contact their real father to see if he'd take over custody so that he could legally sign to keep them at Horizon.
For the first time Shelby was faced with the true consequences of her actions.
"They're going to take us away on Monday! We have to go to some foster home until we get placed in permanent home! We're not even sure they'll keep us together!" Shelby cried on Saturday night after coming back from the latest hearing. She sobbed in Scott's arms at the outside fire pit while Kat cuddled Jess who was whimpering and sniffling.
"Can't Peter do ANYthing?!?" Daisy said miserable. Jess eyed Shelby with a look that said a thousand words.
"Sorry my Jessabell baby. Nice birthday present, huh? Get you torn away from yet another place you call home." Shelby mumbled through sniffles and whimpers. Everyone looked shocked at that.
"Today's your birthday?" Ezra asked. Jess nodded.
" 11 years ago at 1:17 am this morning, at 6lbs. 9ounces. And just under 19inches. Small little screaming squirt." Shelby mumbled smiling as she remembered.
"Wow. How old were you Shel?" Jules asked, always wanting a baby sibling.
"Almost 7. Saw the whole thing. I was the only one there for my mom. I couldn't leave her. The nurses felt too bad about making me. They always commented how mature I acted for my age." Shelby said smirking at that.
"Where was your pops?" Auggie asked, not being nosey.
"Working. I guess. Or so he says. I did come early, he'll argue." Jess said evenly, shrugging.
"Well, we are not going to mope all around tonight when it's someone's Birthday today. Let's go see if we can scrounge up something to bake a cake with." Kat said helping the birthday girl up. Just then Sophie and Peter came out all smiles on their faces. They had a gift of their own.
"We know of a certain girls special day today, so we'd like her to do the honors of opening her first gift." Peter said, putting on a whole show.
"What is that?" Shelby asked, wondering what the thick manila folder was. Jess curiously opened it and looked at the jumble of legal documents. She started reading some of what it said and the only thing she could decipher was the fact that it had printed:
Peter Michael Scarbrow and Sophie Lynn Scarbrow legal adopted foster parents of the following minors:
Shelby Marie Merrick 17 years of age
Jessabell Christine Merrick.11 years of age, today.
Jess nearly fainted. Her hands shook. Shelby took notice immediately and jumped up to see what had her little sis so upset. She read the documents and her eye instantly filled with more tears.
"Is this for real? Shel-bell? Do they really want us?" Jess whispered in shock. All Shelby could do was nod and step towards her new parents.
"You WANT us? Why? I've been impossible! It's such a huge thing!" Shelby sputtered out not believing it. Sophie smiled at her and took her face in her hands.
"You ARE my daughters. You KNOW I can't have children of my own. Being here, working with all of you kids. You guys are like my family. But especially you; I know you're not supposed to play favorites..but I guess that's were I messed up. You're my special one." Sophie said softly, all full of emotion. Shelby had tears down her cheeks already as she hugged her new mom and Jess hugged their new dad.
"Hope you guys are okay with this. We'd hate to think you guys might be thought of as less important to us. 'Cause I'll tell you right now you're not. Please don't think that." Peter said still holding Jess. Everyone shook their heads no and reassured that they were all okay with the new situation.
"We all have families and parents. They don't and who better than the people that saved their lives." Daisy pointed out, smirking at Shelby.
"What about our mother? Our real mother?" Jess said, looking worried that all this would be taken away from her.
"Actually, she was the one who suggested to do all this. Me and Soph had already began planning to do it any way when we knew you'd become a ward of the state, back in the hospital when we heard your mom turned herself in. She just brought it up faster. It was a very nice coincident, actually. Made things so much easier. We thought we'd have to go to court and fight for you two." Peter stated smiling as Shelby came over then to give him a hug. Everyone nodded at that thanking his or her own lucky stars it didn't come down to that.
"I've always wanted to call you dad. You sure act like one to all of us, but it seems especially to me. To me any way." Shelby said grinning up at Peter.
"It won't be a stretch to call you mom either. You're already like an older sister to me." Shelby commented from her father's embrace.
" Gee, thanks you guys. Now I'm REALLY going to feel old! But 'Mom' still sounds real nice to me!" Sophie said happily. They all went inside then, with everyone looking over the official document.
"Wait. Sophie Scarbrow? When did you two get hitched?!" Daisy finally realized. Everyone froze at that noticing for the first time themselves'. Peter and Sophie smiled at each other and raised their eyebrows.
"NOW they finally notice! It's only been read by, like, EVERYBODY!" Sophie said giggling. Juliette squealed.
"They got married! They got married!" she said loudly, jumping up and down.
"Wow, Queenie! You're quick!" Daisy teased as everyone waited for the explanation.
"Yesterday afternoon. When we figured out you two wouldn't be able to stay here. We were going to any way; we just had to step it up. He even already had the ring!" Sophie said showing off her ring everyone seemed to have not noticed. The girls all awwed over it.
"We're still going to have a ceremony. Being married in the court house isn't as exciting." Peter said, putting his arm around Sophie.
"And you are all invited. With my new daughters as my bridesmaids, of course." Sophie said. She loved that. My Daughters.
She positively glowed.
In just two days she went from Sophie Becker, single, Horizon Counselor to Mrs. Peter Scarbrow, married, to wife, and mother of two incredible daughters.
Who else could say that about themselves?!
Life was good.
FIN
A/N: Hope you liked my story! I loved writing this one! It was my first HG fanfic to write. I have another one that I'll be posting up soon, so be on the look out! Don't forget to review to tell me what you thought of my first ever Higher Ground story, and first completely finished fan fic!! Thank you to all my great and loyal reviewers! You guys are awesome and keep me going when I don't think my story is doing well. Here's a shout out to all those loyal reviewers: hoplessromantic, Katwomyn2k5, Emer, Lauren, Funkee Monkee, Prettyg36, molly-dolly(), KittyKat, Flamingteen, Luann, and tisha. Thanks y'all!! I love ya ta pieces!! I'm outtie! Gotta Blaze! Adios! Peace!