A/N: Hooray for reviews! For a while there I was panicking that I had lost some of my reviewers. So this is where you find out what happened to the happy little family! I don't think you guys noticed but in the last chapter I switched Rayanne and her twins' hair colors but I fixed it now so it's all good. This chapter is a lot of talking so I decided not to write as many descriptive episodes as I have before. I tried to leave some in there but it's hard when you want to get a story across. And it's a pretty long chapter too. Anyway, ENJOY!

Building Bridges: Chapter Eight

Mrs. Peters sat there for a while, a look of concentration evident on her face, as she traced her fingers over the picture absent mindedly. Finally she composed herself and spoke softly but steadily.

"When you were born, your father and I weren't doing very well. Financially we had everything we need but Joseph and I... We had our problems. Divorce was not an option and to this day is not a possibility to either of us. Because of his problems with me, your father focused more on the boys than on you two beautiful girls." She frowned but proceeded, "It angered me more than you can imagine. I felt like he was preparing the boys to take them away from me and leave me alone to care for you."

She cast her eyes onto the floor and shifted uncomfortably under Rayanne's gaze. "You were always very ill when you were younger, and the doctors didn't know what to do, let alone your father and I. One night when you must have been about 2 years old, I was tired, frustrated, angry, and I confronted him."

Rayanne interrupted, "Father?"

Mrs. Peters locked her eyes with Rayanne for a moment as she nodded her head before returning her gaze to the carpet which had seemed to be the most interesting thing she had seen in years. "The many fights we already had mounted and just erupted into one big outburst. We both said things we didn't mean and were too caught up in our rage..." She sighed again and closed her eyes.

"We didn't even notice the boys were outside listening to every word we said." She opened her eyes and allowed a tear to roll down her cheek and she looked up at Rayanne.

"The next morning I went into the boys' room but their beds were empty. I found a note from Charles and Alexander on the kitchen table." She turned to the last page in the photo album. There was a small, worn, and yellowed envelope. Rayanne watched as her mother pulled out the envelope and held it close to her chest. Slowly, she pulled the letter out of the envelope as she continued telling her story.

"Charles and Alexander felt it was their fault that everything was going wrong so they took off. Charles had woken Alexander up in the middle of the night, packed a few of their things, and taken Cassandra. They left you because you were ill. They figured that if there was only one child for us to care for, we wouldn't fight and you would have a greater chance of survival since we wouldn't have to pay for food for six people."

Tears flowed from Rayanne's eyes but she felt too numb to take notice of it. She slowly reached for the envelope her mother was holding. When she grabbed it she set it down in the album and shut it. She then grabber her mother's hands and held them in her own.

"Do you know where they are now? All of them?" Her voice was shaky but both of them didn't take the time to notice.

"I heard that Charles sent your father a letter but I haven't heard anything about Alexander or Cassandra. Charles said that he took them to Manhattan and they found a place to stay there. Charles left and moved to Santa Fe, he always loved cowboys since he spent so much time with that Jack Kelly boy. He left Alexander and Cassandra behind because they didn't want to leave and they felt at home in Manhattan. He didn't have the heard to force them to move twice."

Rayanne inhaled deeply "What about you and father?"

She watched as her mother slowly lowered her eyes to where their hands lay on Rayanne's knees. "I moved here because I found a job here through an old family friend and I wanted to try and find your siblings. Your father refused to leave. I left you there because that is where your doctors were. We kept in touch over the years and he even sent me pictures of you every few years."

She pulled her head back up to meet Rayanne's gaze and spoke slowly. "It is better this way, my dear. We do not fight but still care for each other deeply. I am so glad he chose to give you my letter. I was afraid you would not come. I hope you are not angry with me."

Rayanne embraced her mother tightly and thought back to the events of the day when suddenly she remembered the newsies. She pulled back but placed her hands on her mother's shoulders.

"I have something to take care of. But I will be back before dark. Will you tell William for me?" Her mother looked confused but nodded and wiped the tears from Rayanne's face.

"Why don't you take Mr. Hetherrington with you? The streets can be dangerous here in Manhattan."

Rayanne considered this for a moment but finally nodded her agreement. She quickly kissed her mother's cheek, hugger her briefly, stood up, and quickly walked to the door. She turned to face her mother before exiting the room. "I love you, Mother. I could never hate you."