"Oh baby!" Skye exclaimed, tears stinging her eyes as she dropped to her
knees and caught her daughter up in a tight hug. "Oh I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too Mommy," the little girl replied hugging her mother just as tightly. "You didn't write me. I thought you'd forgotten about me-"
"Oh never baby," Skye shook her head vigorously. "I never forgot about you. I've just been busy, that's all." Skye shifted her daughter so the girl's legs wrapped around her waist and she stood up, turning to face her family's wondering gazes.
"Collin brought me here for Spring Break," she informed her mother with a smile.
"Really, I thought he was taking you to the beach," she said as she pushed past her family and walked inside.
Dawne shook her head just as vigorously as her mother had moments ago. "I wanted to see you."
"I'm glad you did because I wanted to see you," she replied.
"You did?" Dawne asked innocently.
"I just couldn't wait 'til summer," Skye nodded.
"Skye," Alan asked from behind her. Skye turned with her daughter in her arms and the huge smile that hadn't left her mouth since she'd learned of her daughter's arrival. "Would you like to explain this to us?" he asked indicating the girl on Skye's hip.
"Yes please explain it to us," Edward nodded and earned agreeing nods for Alexis, Jax and AJ.
"Sure," Skye replied. "Everyone, this is my daughter."
"B-but how?" Alan asked.
"Well Daddy, it's really very simple. You see when a man and a woman fall in love they-" she began with a humorous smile.
"That's not what I ment and you know it," Alan cut her off with a wave of his hand, part from embarrassment and part because there was child in the room, certainty to young to understand. "You never told us you had a child," he said what he'd really ment to ask.
"Well you never asked," Skye said with a shrug. When they simply stared at her she sighed. "Look, when I came here I was simply looking to meet my dad. I didn't expect to stay here this long, I didn't even expect to stay past a month or two... then I met Jax."
They all turned questioning glances at Jax but he simply shook his head and said nothing. "No one knew," she answered the question they all were wondering. "Look, I have a past, you all know that. The fact that I chose not to tell you about it is my own business."
"But Skye, you have a daughter," Jax pointed out.
"Yes I do," Skye nodded.
"And you didn't tell me about any of this?" he asked. "For God's sake, we were married!"
"You're my daddy!" Dawne piped up cheerfully.
The whole room turned to Skye and her daughter. "No, no Sweety. Jax's isn't you're daddy. Do you remember me telling you my husband and I got divorced?"
"Because of the witch named Brenda!" Dawne added remembering the conversation they'd had over the phone.
Skye smiled. "Because of the witch named Brenda, that's right." The room was silent as Skye set her down and took her hand. "Dawne, I'd like you to meet my father, your grandfather," Skye introduced them, then moved down the line before he could say anything. "This is your uncle AJ. This is your baby cousin Kristina and her mommy Alexis. This is your great-grandfather-"
"The mean old man!" Dawne piped up.
AJ and Alexis snickered behind their hands at the little girl's forwardness, but hid it when Edward shot them an accusing glare. "And this, as you've already figured out is Mommy's ex-husband, Jax."
"Why did you hurt my mommy?" the girl asked looking up at Jax. "She told me you hurt her."
"Dawne," Collin scolded from across the room. "I told you your mommy didn't like to talk about that."
Skye avoided Jax's gaze as AJ cleared his throat to speak. "Am I the only one wondering who you are?" he asked the room referring to Collin.
Collin smiled a friendly smile. "Oh, right. I'm Collin Francis. Skye and I go way back, I lived next door to her when she was little. When her mother- adopted mother, sorry- died, we kept in touch."
"When I came here I asked Collin to keep an eye on Dawne while she was at a private school in France," Skye added.
"That explains you're trips to France all the time," Alan concluded.
"Well I couldn't very well stay away from my little girl all year now could I?" she asked and bent down to place a loving kiss on her daughter's head.
"I'm home!" came Monica's shout as they heard the front door open and close.
"We're in here," Alan informed her, his eyes not leaving his grandchild.
"Yes come meet Skye's daughter," Alexis added.
"Skye's what?" Monica asked as she stepped into the room. She noticed the little girl immediately and smiled. "Well aren't you a little cutie?"
"I'm glad you think so," Skye smiled.
"She looks just like Skye when she was 7," Collin added. "They could be twins, only... 19 years apart," he trailed off realizing he was making a fool of himself. "Never mind."
"Can someone please explain this to me because I'm completely lost," Monica asked throwing her hands in the air from confusion.
"Don't worry," Jax told her, his eyes never leaving Skye's, "You're not the only one that wants things explained."
Skye gave a sigh of frustration. No matter how happy she was to see her little girl, she was angry with Collin for bringing her. Her whole family was demanding her to explain things she'd never explained to anyone except Collin, she wasn't sure if she could tell them the truth. "Collin," she asked turning to him with a sweet smile. "Would you mind taking Dawne to the park to play while I talk with my family."
"Sure babe," he said with a smile. "You're the boss." He gave Dawne and nod indicating her to follow him and she did, but not before giving her mother a kiss.
They waited until the door closed before the room erupted in questions from each and every one of them. "If you'd all shut up, I might have a chance to explain things," she said causing all of them to stop. "I'll answer questions, maybe, if you can ask them one at a time."
"Is Collin the father?" Alan asked his voice raising above all others.
"No he isn't," Skye shook her head firmly.
"Then who is?" this came from Jax who's gaze still hadn't left hers. Skye finally met his gaze and licked her lips as if it would help her maybe. "I-I can't say," she replied, her words barely above a whisper.
They were all silent as they watched her wondering if she would continue, but she didn't. They all saw the hurt in her eyes even though she masked it so well, so they didn't press but continued. "How come you've never told us?" Edward asked.
"Because I wanted to get to know my family first. I wanted to see if it would be safe to bring her into this family, and it wasn't," she replied shooting a glance at Edward. "I realized just how dysfunctional you all are and I just couldn't put Dawne through it. I couldn't let her live the never- ending lies and betrayals that plague this family. And I also knew Edward would try to wrap her around his little finger to use her at his will. I was not about to let that happen, believe me."
"Edward wouldn't do that," Alexis said shooting Skye a look that said she agreed with her decision, for once. "He likes to get 'em young."
Edward ignored her deliberately as AJ finally popped out a question. "How old is she?"
Skye smiled. "Seven, she's seven."
"Perhaps she's not too old," Alexis snickered and shot Edward another glance.
"No, no, no!" Skye exclaimed waving a finger in Edward's face as she saw possibilities zoom through his eyes. "You are not going to use her! After I spend some quality time with her I'm sending her back to France where you can't get to her. You are never going to manipulate my child like you've tried to do with so many others. I will not let that happen."
There was silence across the room as her words sunk in. They knew she was serious, but there was always a way to get around Skye.
"Let's see what Jax has to say?" Alexis asked the group. "He's been so quiet this whole time."
The group turned to him questioningly. "How could you not tell me about her?" he asked after a few moments.
"I tried so many times," she shook her head. "Do you remember, a couple days before the wedding I told you I was having a surprise flown in from France for you?" he nodded slowly. "Well Dawne was your surprise. I planned on you two meeting before the wedding so you could decide if you still wanted me.... She was so excited about finally having a Daddy," Skye trailed off and smiled at the memory, but her smile quickly faded. "But she was also terrified that you'd leave us like all the others had.
"But I went a head with the wedding anyway, sure you wouldn't care. I knew you'd love her. I figured you'd be different... Then Brenda showed up at the wedding, and then you were shot, and then.... then you asked me for a divorce and that was that." Skye shrugged and turned away. "If we were getting a divorce there wasn't any use telling you."
"You should have told me anyway Skye," he replied. "Brenda or no Brenda, divorce or no divorce... you should have told me."
"Didn't you hear me?" she asked. "I tried over and over. Every time I'd start someone or something would interrupt us. After a while I took it as a sign that telling you was not the way, I had to show you. And that's why I had her flown here."
"She was here?" AJ asked curiously.
Skye took a moment, then nodded. "She was here two days before the wedding. She was in the audience sitting with Collin. She came to the hospital to visit her daddy after you were shot, but you were sleeping. When you asked me for the divorce, I started drinking again... Collin flew her back to school because he knew I wouldn't want her to see me like that." She explained slowly and looked up at Jax. "So you see, I did try, but it was never the right time. I guess it ended up being best that you hadn't known."
Jax was quiet; he and Skye both knew that if she had told him, he would never have divorced her. He'd wanted a child so much and knew Skye wouldn't be able to give him one, but he'd married her anyway, content just to grow old with her. But he knew Skye wouldn't have wanted him to stay with her just for Dawne's sake. It would have been too difficult for both of them to live together day after day, knowing he was in love with another woman. Dawne would have eventually figured it out, and that was no way for a child to live.
They all waited in silence for a few seconds because no one could think of anything to say. Then Skye broke the silence with a soft clearing of her throat. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to change and then go to the park to play with my daughter." Quickly she left the room and went upstairs, leaving her family in the study, their minds buzzing with more questions.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey, thanks for all the feedback, you're all really great. Just to let you know, this story may be a little slow getting out, usually I write a few chapters before posting it so I'm ahead, but this came out so quick I had to post it soon. Oh and to the person that said something about the way Dawne is spelled, I don't really like the whole "E" thing either, but it looks better in the title, don't you think?
"I missed you too Mommy," the little girl replied hugging her mother just as tightly. "You didn't write me. I thought you'd forgotten about me-"
"Oh never baby," Skye shook her head vigorously. "I never forgot about you. I've just been busy, that's all." Skye shifted her daughter so the girl's legs wrapped around her waist and she stood up, turning to face her family's wondering gazes.
"Collin brought me here for Spring Break," she informed her mother with a smile.
"Really, I thought he was taking you to the beach," she said as she pushed past her family and walked inside.
Dawne shook her head just as vigorously as her mother had moments ago. "I wanted to see you."
"I'm glad you did because I wanted to see you," she replied.
"You did?" Dawne asked innocently.
"I just couldn't wait 'til summer," Skye nodded.
"Skye," Alan asked from behind her. Skye turned with her daughter in her arms and the huge smile that hadn't left her mouth since she'd learned of her daughter's arrival. "Would you like to explain this to us?" he asked indicating the girl on Skye's hip.
"Yes please explain it to us," Edward nodded and earned agreeing nods for Alexis, Jax and AJ.
"Sure," Skye replied. "Everyone, this is my daughter."
"B-but how?" Alan asked.
"Well Daddy, it's really very simple. You see when a man and a woman fall in love they-" she began with a humorous smile.
"That's not what I ment and you know it," Alan cut her off with a wave of his hand, part from embarrassment and part because there was child in the room, certainty to young to understand. "You never told us you had a child," he said what he'd really ment to ask.
"Well you never asked," Skye said with a shrug. When they simply stared at her she sighed. "Look, when I came here I was simply looking to meet my dad. I didn't expect to stay here this long, I didn't even expect to stay past a month or two... then I met Jax."
They all turned questioning glances at Jax but he simply shook his head and said nothing. "No one knew," she answered the question they all were wondering. "Look, I have a past, you all know that. The fact that I chose not to tell you about it is my own business."
"But Skye, you have a daughter," Jax pointed out.
"Yes I do," Skye nodded.
"And you didn't tell me about any of this?" he asked. "For God's sake, we were married!"
"You're my daddy!" Dawne piped up cheerfully.
The whole room turned to Skye and her daughter. "No, no Sweety. Jax's isn't you're daddy. Do you remember me telling you my husband and I got divorced?"
"Because of the witch named Brenda!" Dawne added remembering the conversation they'd had over the phone.
Skye smiled. "Because of the witch named Brenda, that's right." The room was silent as Skye set her down and took her hand. "Dawne, I'd like you to meet my father, your grandfather," Skye introduced them, then moved down the line before he could say anything. "This is your uncle AJ. This is your baby cousin Kristina and her mommy Alexis. This is your great-grandfather-"
"The mean old man!" Dawne piped up.
AJ and Alexis snickered behind their hands at the little girl's forwardness, but hid it when Edward shot them an accusing glare. "And this, as you've already figured out is Mommy's ex-husband, Jax."
"Why did you hurt my mommy?" the girl asked looking up at Jax. "She told me you hurt her."
"Dawne," Collin scolded from across the room. "I told you your mommy didn't like to talk about that."
Skye avoided Jax's gaze as AJ cleared his throat to speak. "Am I the only one wondering who you are?" he asked the room referring to Collin.
Collin smiled a friendly smile. "Oh, right. I'm Collin Francis. Skye and I go way back, I lived next door to her when she was little. When her mother- adopted mother, sorry- died, we kept in touch."
"When I came here I asked Collin to keep an eye on Dawne while she was at a private school in France," Skye added.
"That explains you're trips to France all the time," Alan concluded.
"Well I couldn't very well stay away from my little girl all year now could I?" she asked and bent down to place a loving kiss on her daughter's head.
"I'm home!" came Monica's shout as they heard the front door open and close.
"We're in here," Alan informed her, his eyes not leaving his grandchild.
"Yes come meet Skye's daughter," Alexis added.
"Skye's what?" Monica asked as she stepped into the room. She noticed the little girl immediately and smiled. "Well aren't you a little cutie?"
"I'm glad you think so," Skye smiled.
"She looks just like Skye when she was 7," Collin added. "They could be twins, only... 19 years apart," he trailed off realizing he was making a fool of himself. "Never mind."
"Can someone please explain this to me because I'm completely lost," Monica asked throwing her hands in the air from confusion.
"Don't worry," Jax told her, his eyes never leaving Skye's, "You're not the only one that wants things explained."
Skye gave a sigh of frustration. No matter how happy she was to see her little girl, she was angry with Collin for bringing her. Her whole family was demanding her to explain things she'd never explained to anyone except Collin, she wasn't sure if she could tell them the truth. "Collin," she asked turning to him with a sweet smile. "Would you mind taking Dawne to the park to play while I talk with my family."
"Sure babe," he said with a smile. "You're the boss." He gave Dawne and nod indicating her to follow him and she did, but not before giving her mother a kiss.
They waited until the door closed before the room erupted in questions from each and every one of them. "If you'd all shut up, I might have a chance to explain things," she said causing all of them to stop. "I'll answer questions, maybe, if you can ask them one at a time."
"Is Collin the father?" Alan asked his voice raising above all others.
"No he isn't," Skye shook her head firmly.
"Then who is?" this came from Jax who's gaze still hadn't left hers. Skye finally met his gaze and licked her lips as if it would help her maybe. "I-I can't say," she replied, her words barely above a whisper.
They were all silent as they watched her wondering if she would continue, but she didn't. They all saw the hurt in her eyes even though she masked it so well, so they didn't press but continued. "How come you've never told us?" Edward asked.
"Because I wanted to get to know my family first. I wanted to see if it would be safe to bring her into this family, and it wasn't," she replied shooting a glance at Edward. "I realized just how dysfunctional you all are and I just couldn't put Dawne through it. I couldn't let her live the never- ending lies and betrayals that plague this family. And I also knew Edward would try to wrap her around his little finger to use her at his will. I was not about to let that happen, believe me."
"Edward wouldn't do that," Alexis said shooting Skye a look that said she agreed with her decision, for once. "He likes to get 'em young."
Edward ignored her deliberately as AJ finally popped out a question. "How old is she?"
Skye smiled. "Seven, she's seven."
"Perhaps she's not too old," Alexis snickered and shot Edward another glance.
"No, no, no!" Skye exclaimed waving a finger in Edward's face as she saw possibilities zoom through his eyes. "You are not going to use her! After I spend some quality time with her I'm sending her back to France where you can't get to her. You are never going to manipulate my child like you've tried to do with so many others. I will not let that happen."
There was silence across the room as her words sunk in. They knew she was serious, but there was always a way to get around Skye.
"Let's see what Jax has to say?" Alexis asked the group. "He's been so quiet this whole time."
The group turned to him questioningly. "How could you not tell me about her?" he asked after a few moments.
"I tried so many times," she shook her head. "Do you remember, a couple days before the wedding I told you I was having a surprise flown in from France for you?" he nodded slowly. "Well Dawne was your surprise. I planned on you two meeting before the wedding so you could decide if you still wanted me.... She was so excited about finally having a Daddy," Skye trailed off and smiled at the memory, but her smile quickly faded. "But she was also terrified that you'd leave us like all the others had.
"But I went a head with the wedding anyway, sure you wouldn't care. I knew you'd love her. I figured you'd be different... Then Brenda showed up at the wedding, and then you were shot, and then.... then you asked me for a divorce and that was that." Skye shrugged and turned away. "If we were getting a divorce there wasn't any use telling you."
"You should have told me anyway Skye," he replied. "Brenda or no Brenda, divorce or no divorce... you should have told me."
"Didn't you hear me?" she asked. "I tried over and over. Every time I'd start someone or something would interrupt us. After a while I took it as a sign that telling you was not the way, I had to show you. And that's why I had her flown here."
"She was here?" AJ asked curiously.
Skye took a moment, then nodded. "She was here two days before the wedding. She was in the audience sitting with Collin. She came to the hospital to visit her daddy after you were shot, but you were sleeping. When you asked me for the divorce, I started drinking again... Collin flew her back to school because he knew I wouldn't want her to see me like that." She explained slowly and looked up at Jax. "So you see, I did try, but it was never the right time. I guess it ended up being best that you hadn't known."
Jax was quiet; he and Skye both knew that if she had told him, he would never have divorced her. He'd wanted a child so much and knew Skye wouldn't be able to give him one, but he'd married her anyway, content just to grow old with her. But he knew Skye wouldn't have wanted him to stay with her just for Dawne's sake. It would have been too difficult for both of them to live together day after day, knowing he was in love with another woman. Dawne would have eventually figured it out, and that was no way for a child to live.
They all waited in silence for a few seconds because no one could think of anything to say. Then Skye broke the silence with a soft clearing of her throat. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to change and then go to the park to play with my daughter." Quickly she left the room and went upstairs, leaving her family in the study, their minds buzzing with more questions.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey, thanks for all the feedback, you're all really great. Just to let you know, this story may be a little slow getting out, usually I write a few chapters before posting it so I'm ahead, but this came out so quick I had to post it soon. Oh and to the person that said something about the way Dawne is spelled, I don't really like the whole "E" thing either, but it looks better in the title, don't you think?
