Embracing the Future

Chapter 8: Moving

A/N: I AM SO SORRY!!! I took so long making this chapter, I was sooooo busy and-well u probably don't wanna hear excuses so I'll just get to the story, and again, I'm sorry!!!! neway on with the story....

Pony's POV

I sat there staring out the car window, it had stopped raining a few minutes ago, but I still didn't want to get out of the car. I glanced over my shoulder where Arri was sleeping in the backseat. She loves me, I thought smiling, I'm the luckiest guy ever...

She looked so peaceful as she slept, all her troubles disappearing. She had so many, how did she take it? I knew what her Mom might say when she found out everything. She'd probably already made a decision. I shuddered, whatever decision was made I would support, as long as Arri was kept safe.

I got out of the car and came around to the side, opening the door, and slowly lifting her out of the car. I took a deep breath and walked up the porch steps and knocked on the door with my foot considering Arri might be irritated if I woke her up by banging her into a door.

The door was opened by a cop; I'd thought there would be some here considering the cop car in the driveway. The cop stared from me, to the sleeping Arri in my arms back to me. "I think you should come inside." he said softly but sternly.

I nodded and walked in, my throat was tight and my mouth was dry. I walked through a swinging door to see Arri's Mom sitting at an old kitchen table with red puffy eyes staring at a school picture of Arri. "Hi." I said silently.

Her head snapped up and when she saw Arri her eyes widened and she jumped out of her chair, dropping the picture, screaming, "What did you do to her!? Give her to me now!!!!"

I'd been expecting that, I placed her carefully into a chair, her Mom stopping in mid-step to stare at me bewildered.

She looked me up and down, "You didn't take her, did you?" she mumbled.

I shook my head, "No, her Father did, I found them and rescued her. I don't think he hurt her to bad." I looked at her, her hair which was very knotted, her clothes torn and covered with mud, her cheek had a scratch and one of the tears in her clothes had some blood stained on it. She did not look good. "At least I hope not..."

"H-her Father?" she stuttered "Oh, my." She said sinking back down into the chair and staring across the table at her daughter. She hadn't waken up yet.

"Um, excuse me?" her Mom glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, and I swallowed and continued, "Because of this will you be, um, well, moving?"

She turned to me and said softly, "It's a possibility, if he's really found us, we may have to."

"Right," I said holding back tears, "I'm just gonna go now."

As I turned my back I heard a chair scrape across the floor and a surprised gasp escaped Arri's Mom's lips, I felt someone grab my wrist and turned to see Arri half awake and barely able to stand.

She had tears in her eyes and I gave her a weak smile, "You know it'd be for the best, Ri."

She swallowed and said, "No it wouldn't, it would only be worse if I was away from you."

Tears were starting to stream down her cheeks, making a line through a bit of mud on her face. I pulled her into me and she buried her head in my chest and I stroked her hair and she slowly fell back asleep.

I then realized the cop and her Mom were staring at us. I was holding her up since she had fallen asleep so I cleared my throat and said, "You wouldn't happen to have a couch or something to put her on would you?" I tried not to blush; I wish they would stop staring.

Her Mom said suddenly, "I've come to a decision. While I look for a house, would it be alright if she stayed with you?"

I saw a glimmer of hope, "You mean it?" I said trying to contain my excitement.

She smiled and I had to smile back, and in that moment she reminded me of Soda Pop. "I mean it." She said softly, blue eyes radiating sympathy for me and Ri's situation.

The cop finally spoke up, "Before she leaves, I need to question her on what happened."

My smile faltered; did they have to wake her? I sighed and leaned down a bit whispering in her ear, "Wake up Arri."

She sleepily opened her eyes as I sat her gently down into a chair. The cop sat in another and questioned her; she was still half asleep but answered the questions with little protest. When he finished Arri's Mom got out of the chair and walked over to stand in front of her chair.

"Arri dear? You're going to be staying with this young man for a while, ok?" Arri nodded and her mom said, "I'll go grab you some clothes and you can go, I'll be back from looking for a house soon though. I promise" Her Mom went up the stairs and was back rather quickly handing Arri a bag. She helped Arri up and gave her a hug, whispering something in her ear. Arri sniffled and nodded I took the bag from her and we walked out the door.

I helped her into the back seat and she again fell asleep back there. I drove back to the house and carried her out of the car, Darry was going to explode at me but when he saw the sleeping Arri in my arms, he shut his mouth and gave me a 'we'll talk later' look.

I nodded and carried her up the stairs and put her in my bed before lying down beside her and pulling her close. Slowly I drifted off to sleep thinking how lucky I was to have her laying beside me.

Again, so sorry!!! I'll update soon! I promise! Hopefully my life will slow down for a second and I can update tomorrow but I'm not sure if it will. Thank you reviewers for being patient.

Em