Chatper Thirteen: The Morning After
Kaitlyn awoke the next morning unaware of her surroundings. Nervously she sat up, looking curiously around the room he was in, still trying to shake the effects of sleep from her system.
Bradin watched as Kaitlyn woke, waiting unti she was not quite so groggy before he brought to her attention that he was there.
"Hey" he said softly from his place by the door. She started, whipping her head around to see who spoke.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you"
"It's Ok...where am I?"
"My room. I guess it looks different from last time you saw it"
"What's different?"
"It's clean now" Ava said, coming up behind Bradin, startling them both. "Sorry. I brought you some clothes Kaitlyn hunny, so you don't have to stay in your dress. When you're changed could you please join us in the living room?"
"Sure"
"Great. Bradin will you come help me with breakfast" she said, not waiting for a response and pulling him with her.
Ten minutes later Derrick was at Martha's, Nikki out with Cameron, and Johnny, Suzzanah, Jay, Ava, and Bradin were finishing a quick breakfast while waiting for Kaitlyn.
She emerged from Bradin's room moments later wearing jeans and a tee-shirt, with one of Bradin's sweatshirts on top, with her hair up in a high ponytail and the make-up from the night before gone.
"Hey sweetheart. Would you like something to eat?" Suzzanah asked
"No thank-you. I'm not hungry" she said
Everyone sat down in the living room area. Jay and Bradin on either side of Kaitlyn, Suzzanah and Ava in chairs and Johnny leaning on the wall.
"So..." Bradin said, trying to break the uncomfortable silence.
"Kaitlyn, what happened? Start from the beginning" Jay siad gently, looking at Bradin for help.
"Come on baby girl. We can help, whatever it is" he told her, taking her hand. She gave his hand a tight squeeze, took a deep shaking breath, and started to talk.
She retold the story that she told Bradin, of how she and her mother came to be living in Playa Linda, of how her mom drank herself stupid and slept with anyone who she could get her hand on, and of how she finally remembers what it is like to have a real family, since she has met Bradin and everyone he lives with.
By the time she finished the first part of her story, both Ava and Suzzanah had tears in their eyes, and Jay, Bradin, and Johnny were looking very possesive of Kaitlyn. She gave them all a weak smile and continued.
"I got home last night and my mom was passed out on the ground, which is no big deal, but there were people there. They said that they were from social services, and that my mom is no longer fit to be my legal guardian. They are making me move to a foster home. I'm sorry" she said as a fresh wave of tears came forwards. "I thought I'd be all cried out by now but...
"Hey, don't worry about it. It's Ok to cry, you've been so brave for so long now...I can be brave for the both of us now" Bradin said softly, pulling her in for a hug
Pulling away again Kaitlyn wiped the last tears from her eyes. "I...I don't want to m-move away. I'm happy here, I have family and friends and people who care about me, who I care about. Don't let them move me, please!"
"It'll be Ok. We'll talk to the people at social services. We'll do everything we can to let you stay here Kaitlyn" Johnny told her
"Thank-you, everyone, thank-you so much for all of your help"
"Let's actually do something to help before you start thanking us hunny" Ava said kindly
Later on that morning the social worker Johnny called stopped by the house to speak to the family and Kaitlyn about what was happening.
"Now, we have deemed Mrs. Morranis unfit to be your parental guardian. Is it true that you are unaware of your fathers whereabouts?" he asked with an unsettling evenness to his voice.
"Yes. My father abandoned my family years ago and has no contact with us. In my eyes my father is dead" Kaitlyn said with a coldness that surprised even herself
"Ok. Since you are only sixteen years old, and have not gone through the process to become imancipated, you will be placed into foster care. Should immediate foster care not be availiable, you will be placed inot a group home that the social services chooses. Thank-you for your time. We will be in tough in the next two to three working days" he said, standing up and walking out of the house leaving everyone shocked and speachless.
"Excuse me" Kaitlyn muttered, getting up and walking away towards Bradin's room.
Bradin got up and slowly followed her, letting her have space as well. She leaned against the doorframe, breathing heavily. Bradin slowly crept forward until he was behind her. he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her clsoe to him just as her knees buckld, giving way and she collapsed onto him. Bradin quickly lifted her and lay her on the bed. Slowly stroking the top of her hand with his thumb he kissed each tear that fell from her face.
"It'll be Ok Kaitlyn. I promise you, it will be Ok, and we will be together. No matter what"
"Bradin?"
"Yeah babe?"
"Lay with me?"
Without answering Bradin lay down on the bed, pulling her close to him, his arms around her and her head on his chest. For a moment Kaitlyn was tense and uneasy but soon relaxed into Bradin's arms and fell asleep.
A little mroe than an hour passed and Ava went to check on the two. Bradin heard the floorboard squeak, but made no move to stope watching Kaitlyn sleep. Turning slowly when he knew Ava would be at the door he motioned for her to be quiet and that he would join the adults in a moment.
A/N: Please R&R! The next and probably the last chapter of this story will be up in the next day or two. Thanks for all the reviews, they mean the world to me!
Love, Ally