Josephine tucked Michele and Genevieve into her bed. Michele held the four-year-old girl tightly in his arms. Usually Josephine said prayers before bed but since her children were part of the Atrox now, that was out of the question. Michele's icy blue eyes looked lovingly at her from behind his black hair. His hair was just like his father's. He knew who he was but she hadn't told Genevieve.

Michele watched his mother walk to the vanity that was to the left of the bed. She tied her beautiful, long, black hair in a bun and removed her jewelry. He loved her very much. And so did Genevieve. Yesterday, as their mother put on her makeup, Genevieve asked if she could put some on her face. After their mother did, Genevieve said she wanted to look as pretty as her when she got older. There seemed to be a strange sadness in her eyes. Like she knew something.

"Michele?" asked the tiny voice beside him. He looked down. Genevieve's big blue eyes stared at him. Her black-blonde hair was all about her. "Can you read me a story?" Michele looked at his mother and she nodded enthusiastically. She got up and walked over to the bookcase. Her hand trailed over the spines before she took one out. She walked over and handed it to Michele. It was their favorite book. And their mother's as well.

Josephine walked back over to the vanity to remove her makeup. She saw Michele open the book out of the corner of her eye. He began to read. Michele was extremely intelligent for his age. He always reminded her of Stanton. He was very brave. Tears formed in Josephine's eyes as Michele made different voices to the different characters and made Genevieve laugh. They were all she had and she wanted to keep them safe.

It wasn't before long that Michele and Genevieve fell asleep. As Josephine went over to take the book out of his hands, she smiled. They still held each other while they slept. Josephine went over to her closet to get her nightgown. She laid it over the chair and began to untie her dress. "It's about time you undressed for me," said a voice behind her. Josephine stiffened, tied up her dress, and turned around. She gasped and backed into her vanity. "Jacques."

He wore a grin that spelled malice. And his eyes were filled with revenge. In one swift movement he had her pinned against the vanity. She could feel the bulge in between her legs. She cringed. "I'm happy to see you," he said and brought his face closer to hers, "as you can feel." She tried to push him away but he grabbed her wrists. "Either you consent or I'll force you." "In front of my own children?" Josephine asked. "You disgusting bastard!" She tried with all her might to push away but somehow he was stronger.

Jacques threw Josephine onto the floor, onto her back. He immediately lifted her dress and straddled her. Josephine screamed and began to cry. He pinned her arms on either side of her. He grinned one last time at Josephine and began to rape her. She screamed and screamed. But her screaming woke up Michele and Genevieve. She saw and cried. Michele's eyes were wide and Genevieve's were brimming with tears. "Maman!" she screamed and cried. Genevieve made to get up but Michele held her back. His eyes were full of fear. Like he knew something about Jacques.

"Look away!" Josephine yelled to them. This was horrible. They didn't need to see her being violated. Michele and Genevieve hid their faces in their hands and turned around. She heard the both of them cry. It was only a matter of time before Jacques would finish. Josephine closed her eyes and let Jacques go on with it. Then she felt it. He climaxed and emptied into her. What was once a beautiful feeling with Stanton became a disgusting feeling with Jacques. He took himself out of her and stood up. Josephine sat up and wrapped her dress around her legs and cowered at the end of the bed. She cried and cried. Jacques put himself back in his pants and smiled at Josephine. "Now I know what Stanton felt." He knelt down to Josephine. He made to kiss her. She was so angered by what he did to her, she slapped him and pushed him away. "You bastard!" He had backed into a table with a ceramic vase that crashed to the floor. There were pieces all on the floor. "You bitch!" He picked up on of the pieces and cut Josephine along the arm. She cried out. "Stop!" she heard Michele scream. "Tell your bastard child to be quiet."

Josephine looked slowly away from her bleeding arm and stared maliciously at Jacques. "What did you call him?" Rage was building up in her body. "A bastard." He said it with a smile. Josephine made to lunge at him but someone already had. Jacques was pinned against the wardrobe. By Stanton. Jacques had stark fear in his eyes. "Leave," Stanton said sternly. He threw him in the direction of the window. But Jacques took a few extra steps and fell through it. Josephine didn't go to see what had happened but went to close the window. After she had, she noticed that her arm was bleeding. She turned to Stanton who looked sad. "He raped you didn't he?" Josephine nodded and began to cry. She fell to her knees. He came over and put his arms around her. A soothing feeling came over her and she quieted down. She heard a ripping noise and saw Michele rip a long piece off of the sheets. He walked over to Stanton and held it out.

Stanton had no idea who he was but Michele knew who Stanton was. Michele saw his father take the strip out of his hand. But their hands accidentally touched. Michele felt a power surge through him and he looked oddly at Stanton. Stanton did the same. "Thank you," Stanton said and turned back to Michele's mother. Michele ran back to the bed and held Genevieve. "Who is that?" she asked. He sighed. He wasn't supposed to tell but now that their father was here, he might as well. "That is Papa," he whispered. "Papa!" Genevieve whispered back. She had a big smile on her face. She jumped from Michele's arms and off the bed. "No, Genevieve!" It was too late. As their father finished tying the makeshift bandage, Genevieve threw her arms around him.

Josephine's eyes went wide. Stanton looked down strangely at Genevieve. He wouldn't know who she was either. He would be pretty stupid if he didn't guess she was his daughter. They looked alike. Genevieve had blonde-black hair, a combination of Stanton's and Josephine's. And her eyes were his icy blue. She smiled and opened her mouth to speak but Josephine picked her up. "Thank you for coming," Josephine said. "But I came too late," Stanton said. "He already violated you." Josephine told Genevieve to go back to the bed and turned around to face Stanton. "It doesn't matter. As long as you're here." She came closer to Stanton. He put his hands around her waist and kissed her lightly. "Sleep well tonight," he said. Josephine smiled and stepped back.

Michele and Genevieve saw them kiss and Genevieve giggled softly. But as their mother stepped back and they got a clear view of him, he dissolved into shadow and disappeared. Michele watched intently as his mother changed into her nightgown and crawled into bed. She held them tightly and they all fell asleep.

"You're thinking about that night, aren't you?" asked a voice behind Josephine. She had been sitting on the hood of her car on a cliff overlooking Los Angeles. She sighed. "You were so cute then. What happened?" She turned around and smiled. "Oh ha ha," Michele said. They laughed. Josephine got off the car and walked over to him. He had grown so much from being almost five to being...whatever age he was now. "I know," he said. "I even lost count after twenty." Josephine smiled. But his smile disappeared. "Do you think Father knew back then that he had children?" He furrowed his pierced brow. "Probably on that night when he saw Genevieve," Josephine said crossing her arms. "He'd be pretty oblivious. She looks just like him." She looked at Michele. "And you remind me of him." Michele, who had been staring at the ground, looked at her. "Really?" "Yeah," she said. "You were pretty brave when you were younger and highly intelligent. Which of course was VERY rare." He smiled. "And you attract girls by the truckload." She had laughter in her voice.

"Your father has this pull on women." "I know," Michele said. "I saw his girlfriend yesterday." Josephine stood straight. "You were in L.A. yesterday?" He shrugged. "I wanted to get out. See what the big deal about it was." "And you saw Serena?" "I guess that's her name. They were walking into a diner." Josephine shrugged. "It's only a matter of time before you get yourself one." "Mom," Michele whined, "we're not gonna have 'the talk' are we?" "When a man and a woman love each other," Josephine started. But Michele covered his ears and shouted no. Josephine said it louder and she chased him around the car. They laughed afterwards. They were going to leave to get something to eat in L.A. when Michele hugge her. "I love you, Mom," he said. "I love you, too, baby." He kissed her on the cheek.