Disclaimer: Well the birthday came and went...guess I'm not getting them...oh well, I can still play!
A/N: Well I've started a full-time job and I'm playing lacrosse twice a week so I'm not going to have a lot of time to update. I'll do what I can but I make no promises as to how often I'll update. Ugh...writer's block sucks...
Zoe sank tentatively onto the couch, trying to hide how badly her hands were trembling. No amount of reassurance from Rebecca was going to help until Zoe fully understood what was going on with Taylor and how she could stop it. "Okay, Taylor has given me permission to share some of what went on in our session with you, Zoe. So why don't we start with what is, quote unquote, "wrong" with Taylor," Rebecca said. Zoe nodded, hands gripping a cushion so tight her knuckles were going white. Rebecca slowly explained all the details of Taylor's disorder, watching Zoe's hands clench and unclench around her fistfuls of pillow. "I'll outline a treatment plan tonight and come by tomorrow afternoon and go through it with you and Taylor alright?" Rebecca's hand drifted to still Zoe's as she waited for a response.
"Yeah," Zoe replied, becoming aware that she had been holding her breath only when her response came with a forceful rush of air. Rebecca squeezed her hand reassuringly before getting up and scooping her baby out of the playpen and balancing her on her hip as she searched for a bottle in the diaper bag.
"Aunt Zoe is dinner ready yet?" the three Woodall children came clamouring down the stairs and into the livingroom, Hannah leading the way and whining about being hungry. Hannah stopped short when she saw the stranger standing near the couch, "Who're you?" she asked.
"Hannah that wasn't very polite," Zoe chided gently, "This is Rebecca Lennox, she's Mr. Lennox's sister."
"Oh...Hi! I'm Hannah, is that your baby?" Hannah approached Rebecca, peering into Kathryn's blanket.
"She sure is, this is Kathryn but I usually call her Katy," Rebecca smiled at the inquisitive child.
"Hannah, would you and Cliff please go set the table?" Zoe wanted a moment alone with the two older women in the room.
"Aw but it's Taylor's turn!" Cliff whined, stopping his pout when he saw the look on Zoe's face. He knew she meant business, "C'mon Hannah, lets go set the table," he took his little sister by the hand and led her to the kitchen. As they disappeared through the door Taylor walked over to her aunt and wrapped her arms around her, resting her head on Zoe's shoulder, a few stray tears finding their way down her cheeks. Zoe returned the hug, before turning to Rebecca.
"Would you like to stay for dinner? Dan usually makes enough for about ten people," Zoe forced a smile, not noticing Taylor tense as she invited Rebecca to stay.
"As much as I adore my brother's cooking, I highly doubt Taylor would be comfortable with me staying," Rebecca smiled, knowing full well how uncomfortable Taylor was.
"No...it's okay Rebecca. Stay...Mr. Lennox is your brother after all," Taylor forced a smile similar to her aunt's onto her face, her left hand drifting towards her scalp. Rebecca stepped forward, taking Taylor's hand in hers and smiled,
"If you're sure Taylor," Rebecca squeezed Taylor's hand as she nodded her consent just in time to hear Dan call them for dinner. Dinner began with Rebecca and Dan catching up, interrupted frequently by Zoe and the kids, asking for stories while Rebecca kept an eye on Katy who was seated on her lap and was intent on stealing pasta from her mother's plate. As the evening progressed the Woodall children began to grill Rebecca on her life and past.
"So were you and Mr. Lennox close when you were kids?" asked Taylor.
"Dan was a great big brother...except when I brought boyfriends home. Then he'd try to scare them away. I suppose he was just trying to protect me," Rebecca smiled wryly at the memory of Dan threatening one of her dates with death if he so much as layed one finger on her.
"What's you husbands name?" Hannah asked.
"Actually I'm not married," her smile diminished slightly.
"But you have a baby. You're only supposed to have a baby if you're married!" Rebecca's smile faded completely,
"Sometimes things don't happen the way they're supposed to Hannah," Rebecca's expression turned wistful as she thought of Kathryn's father.
"Okay kids that's enough interrogating for one night, go upstairs and finish off your homework before bed," Zoe sensed the palpable tension that had descended upon the room at the mention of Rebecca's love life. Taylor cleared the table quickly before following her younger siblings up the stairs. "Sorry about that...insatiable curiosity runs in the family," Zoe smiled, trying to break the tension.
"It's alright Zoe," Rebecca assured, "I guess I still have trouble talking about Tom. That's a story for another night though because right now I am exhausted."
"You can stay at my place Becca," Dan started, only to be interrupted by his sister,
"Dan I'm twenty four, I think you can stop calling me 'Becca'," Rebecca smirked at him.
"Hey you'll always be my little sister and you will always be 'Becca' to me, now lets go," Dan returned with a similar smirk, helping her pack up all of her things into his car. As she strapped Katy into her car seat Dan took a moment to talk with Zoe, "How're you doing Zo?" Zoe looked at him, face expressionless but he could see the turmoil in her eyes. "You know on our trip when I said you can let me help sometimes?" Zoe nodded, "Well this is one of those times. Do you need anything Zoe?" she nodded again.
"Stay with me tonight?" she whispered, fighting off tears.
"Of course Zoe. I'm just gonna go drop Becca at my place and I'll come right back okay?" Dan pulled her into his arms, holding her close for a few moments before going to join his sister in the car. Zoe walked back into the house as the taillights of Dan's car disappeared around the corner. She climbed the stairs slowly, instinctively checking on each of the kids before heading into her bedroom. She slipped into a silk camisole and matching pants before descending the stairs to wait for Dan. She was sitting on the couch, staring at a blank television screen when Dan returned, knocking softly at the door. She had to force herself not to run to the door and fling herself into his arms but he must have seen the struggle in her eyes because he immediately pulled her into his embrace, gently kicking the door shut behind him. "C'mon Zo, let's get to bed," he led her up the stairs and got her into bed before heading to the bathroom to change into pyjamas. When he returned he found her at the head of the bed, knees drawn up, staring intently at the door and trying to contain the urge to jump up and run to him. She didn't succeed and fairly leapt from the bed and into Dan's arms. "Shh it's alright Zoe. Rebecca is the best, if anyone can help Taylor she can." Zoe clung tightly to his chest, allowing him to manoeuvre her to the bed. Dan sat on the edge of the bed and placed his hands on Zoe's hips as she stood before him. She smiled at him slightly before climbing into the bed beside him, curling her body against his.
Twenty three year old Rebecca Lennox had just gotten engaged to the man of her dreams. He was sweet and kind and so romantic and she knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Rebecca and Tom had moved in together after they got engaged and within three weeks of their engagement Rebecca began to suspect she was pregnant. She was ecstatic and called her brother a month later to tell him the news after a home pregnancy test confirmed her suspicions. When her fiancé arrived home that night he discovered a trail of rose petals leading to the bedroom where he found Rebecca, positive pregnancy test in hand.
"Tom we're having a baby," Rebecca whispered, a smile gracing her face and lighting up her eyes. Her smile soon faded when she watched her fiancé's reaction to the news. He grew angry, accusing her of sleeping with someone else.
"Who you been sleeping with you little slut? No way that's my kid...I don't want you or that bastard child!"
Rebecca had never been a shy person and she screamed right back at him. The moment his fist connected with her jaw the entire world seemed to stop. Her hand flew to the point of impact, and with tears streaming down her face she ran from the house. He chased her, and caught up to her and began pounding her hard with his fists. Dan heard her screams but was helpless to stop them until Tom strangled the last cry from her lips.
Dan awoke and sat up in bed, resting his head in his hands, his breathing fast and erratic. "Dan? What's wrong?" concern filled Zoe's voice.
"I haven't had that dream since Kathryn was born...Becca left Tom when she was about two months pregnant, he hit her and she walked out. The dream always starts off exactly as Becca told me what really happened but in the end Tom ends up killing her," Dan's breathing slowly returned to normal.
"He hit her?" Zoe asked, her arms wrapped tight around him, as much for her comfort as his.
"Once...fractured her jaw. I don't think I'll ever forget that phone call," Dan kissed the top of Zoe's head as he remembered the fateful day just over a year ago.
"Dan? It's Rebecca," Dan knew immediately that she had been crying, her voice was rough and barely raised above a whisper, "Tom hit me, Dan. Said I was sleeping around behind his back and he didn't want my bastard child so he broke my jaw."
"Becca where are you?" Even over the miles of phone line the concern was evident in Dan's voice.
"A hotel...I'm going to the airport in the morning...I'm leaving Dan. I love you and I'll call you when I can," the ominous click through the phone sent a shudder through Dan's body even as he begged his sister not to hang up.
A/N: I haven't updated in for-freakin'-ever! This chapter was a tough one to write, and seeing as how much of it was done when I was very tired and all my work is unbetaed (how on earth do you spell unbataed/unbatad?) please excuse any misspellings and typing errors.