I am going to do a little more time skipping in this chapter. I am also introducing several new characters. I love the reviews, and since so many people suggest that I make Lily able to talk, I am considering it.

From now on, I need to have this important note in my authors notes: 'is signing' & "is talking"

Also: Damien singing is ITALICS. Lily singing is BOLD. Both singing is UNDERLINED.

P.S. Thanks to my beta, Monica.

Gabriella washed the dished as Lily played in her food. She was playing around, silently piling her food into large mountain shaped objects on her food tray. Raine and Rocket were outside, playing in front of the window to where Gabriella could see them. They were playing with a Frisbee, trying to throw it. Troy was sitting on the ground, and every once in a while, he would get up and show them how to throw. They were having a lot more fun trying to throw it than when they actually got it right. Well, what can you expect from a three-year-old? Gabriella finished the dishes an turned to Lily, who was still carefully adding to her piles. She smiled and picked her out of the high chair, walking over to the sink and washing her off. Once Lily was clean, Gabriella brought her outside and set her on the grass. She grabbed onto Troy's leg and stood up, walking over to Rocket and Raine.

"The doctor said that Lily's hearing is getting worse." Troy said out of the blue. He had had to go alone with her that morning, for Gabriella had to take the twins to the doctor for their appointment. It was just a check-up, but she had to go nonetheless.

"I know." They didn't talk for what seemed like forever. Finally, Troy turned back to Gabriella.

"What do you want to do? If her hearing gets so bad that even the hearing aid won't help, what will we do?"

"I don't know. When she goes to school, it will be hard for her, she will have to go to a special school for disabled children. I was on the Internet today, and I was looking up schools like that. I found a few in our ar-" Gabriella was cut off as Rocket ran up, screaming in excitement.

"MOMMY, DADDY!" He paused to catch his breath. "Come over here, Lil's said her first word!" Troy and Gabriella shot up, running over to where Lily sat on the ground, looking as if nothing had happened. "Come on, Lil's, say for mom and dad!" She looked up, smiling.

"Mama!" Gabriella swelled with pride. Her little girl had said mama.

"Well, that's two to one. Raine and Rocket said Dada first, and Lily said mama." Right now, Troy could care less what she said first, as long as she said something. He picked her up and swung her around in circles. He was proud of her.

(10 years later )

Lily walked the halls of her school. She had been going there for six years now, and she still hadn't made many friends, just Michelle. She flipped her dark hair back, wishing her mom would let her cut it. As her dad had said a lot, she looked exactly like her mother. Her hair was the same, she had the same eye's, same build, everything. Her thirteen-year-old brother, and his twin, Raine looked like a mix of their parents. Jarod was a replica of his father. He was two. She sighed, though not really hearing it. Her hearing had gotten worse over the years, and now even her hearing aid only helped a little. She had mastered sign language at four, and was now spelling everything she said. Her school was for special children, and they were separated into groups accordingly. There were ten people in her group, children who couldn't hear. Suddenly, as she was walking, she bumped into someone.

The kid didn't say anything, and Lily was going to consider him rude until she recognised him as one of her classmates. He had trouble hearing, unless he was wearing a special hearing aid, and though he could hear half of the time, he didn't like wearing it, and had asked him mom if he could come to the special school to be around people like him. He didn't like being picked on. He started rapidly signing with his hands.

'I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going'

'That's fine. Hi, I'm Lily.' Lily spelled back, she was learning how sign with complete words, but was having trouble, so she either spoke when she was with her family, and they signed back, or kept her sentences short. The kid that had bumped into her was also signing with letters, she assumed that he was still learning as well.

'I'm Damien. Aren't you in my class?'

'Yea, I am.' And from that moment on, the two started hanging out. It turned out that Damien was her age, eleven, and liked to play basketball like her. After school, she invited him over, and he called his mom to ask if it was OK. He ended up having to get a teacher to do it, as he couldn't hear. When his mom said yes, the got on the bus. As soon as the bus pulled up in the driveway of her apartment, they jumped off it.

'This is where you live?' He signed.

'Yea, #A3.' She led him to the door and pushed it open. Rocket and Raine were sitting on the couch, watching a movie. They had gotten home before she did, because her school got over thirty minutes later. Jarod immediately ran up to Lily, grabbing onto her leg. He had also bee premature, and he had the same hearing problem, though his was not half as bad. With the hearing aids, he could hear fine, and he doctors said it would stay thay way.

'Hey, Jason.' Lily signed, sighing when she realized that he couldn't spell yet, she looked at Raine for help. She stood up fro the couch.

'Who's this?' She pointed at Damien as soon as she was done signing.

'Damien. We met at school.' Lily smiled. 'We are in the same class.' Damien looked at the floor, a little shy. Lily took his hand and pushed him forward and began doing the signals she knew all to well by now. 'Damien, this is my brother, Jarod, then those two are Rocket and Raine. They are thirteen. Jarod is two, he has trouble hearing as well.' Damien nodded, looking around the small apartment. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Lily sat in the seat beside her other friend, Michelle. Michelle had a different disability, she was almost blind. Michelle had asked Lily to come with her, their class was having a musical, and Michelle played the piano. She was scared, for there were some older people coming, and just wanted a friend there. Damien was also there.
"OK, people. Lets start. I would like each person, when I call you name, to come up and sing a few bars of the song you have been practicing, and I will tell you if you can be in this musical or not. Now, Kelly Dodson!" The young director sat back, smiling. A young girl, looking to be about ten, walked up onto the stage and started singing. Lily's school was doing a special musical, only disabled children were allowed to be in it. It was going to be at a local theatre. The school children were doing it to help sponsor disabled kids who couldn't afford the things they needed. Hearing aids, seeing-eye dogs, special therapy, everything. It was going to be big. Lily had worn her hearing aids today, and could hear a little of what was going on around her. Michelle started playing the piano, and only a few seconds into the song, the director, Ms. Nesson, told her to stop. She drooped of. Kid after kid sang, only a few impressing Ms. Nesson. Damien walked up onto the stage, Lily was surprised. How could he sing if he didn't know what he sounded like? Oh, he was wearing his hearing aids.

He started singing, and surprisingly, Ms. Nesson smiled again, letting him go through the whole song.

"Any last minute sign ups?" Ms. Nesson said, as well as signed. Many of the kids couldn't hear, and therefore might have missed their chance. Lily sighed, Damien could do it, so could she. She raised her hand, walking up to Ms. Nesson.

"I would like to addution." She couldn't hear herself, but she knew she had said it. This was going to be hard.

'Very well. We have only had one pair addution for the lead role, so if you would be so kind to pair with Damien...' She stopped signing, it being more of a question than a demand. Damien smiled, happy that he would have a chance at the lead role on the show. He hopped up on the stage and handed Lily a piece of paper with the song on it. The music started, and Lily, not knowing what she sounded like, braced herself for the worst. She paid extreme attention to the music notes on the paper, because she couldn't hear the music, and didn't know the tune to well. She had heard it a lot when she still had most of her hearing with the aids.

We're Soarin', Flyin'
There's not a star in heaven
that we can't reach

Lily waited for Damien to finish his part, then she started singing.

If we're trying
So we're breaking free

You know the world can see us
In a way that's different than who we are

Creating space between us
'Til we're seperate hearts

But you faith
It gives me strength
Strength to believe

We're breakin' free
We're soaring
Flying
There's not a star in heaven
That we can't reach
If we're trying
Yeah, we're breaking free
Oh, we're breaking free

You can feel it building
Like a wave the ocean just can't control

Connected by a feeling
Ohhh, in our very souls

Rising 'til it lifts us up
So everyone can see

We're breaking free
We're soaring
Flying
There's not a star in heaven
That we can't reach
If we're trying
Yeah we're breaking free
Ohhh running
Climbing
To get to that place
To be all that we can be
Now's the time
So we're breaking free...

More than hope
More than faith
This is true
this is fate
And together
We see it coming
More than you
More than me
Not a want but a need

Both of us breaking free

Soarin'
Flyin'
There's not a star in heaven
That we can't reach
If we're trying
Yeah, we're breaking free
Breaking free..
We're running
Ohhh, climbin'
To get to the place
to be all that we can be
Now's the time
Now's the time
So we're breaking free
Ohhh, we're breaking free
Ohhh...
You know the world can see us
In a way thats different than who we are...

Ms. Nesson clapped, standing up. Lily smiled, realizing she couldn't have been that bad, otherwise Ms. Nesson would probably be kicking her out by now. The other pair that had addutioned, Max and Shelle, were standing to the side, looking slightly disappointed. Max had seeing problems, as his friend, Shelle did. They had met in class their class.

"That was wonderful! Callbacks are on Wednesday, please show up people. My aunt, Ms. Darbus, had problems with children that didn't show up." Lily didn't hear a word she said, but Damien translated for her. When they got out, Michelle was grinning from ear to ear, and gave both Damien and Lily a big hug. Lily was glowing with happiness. She couldn't wait to tell her mom and dad.

Lily threw open the door to her house and ran inside. She looked in each room, finally finding her dad and mom trying to give Jarod a bath. They noticed her and looked up.

'What is it, Sweetie?' Gabriella signed with her soapy hands.

'I auditioned for the musical! Me and Damien!' Troy looked over at Gabriella and smirked.

'Wow! I didn't know you could sing. You never tried.' He said.

'Yea, callbacks are on Wednesday.We sang Breaking Free, by Kelsi Cross, your friend. She got a CD out! I can't wait for the callbacks!' She grinned, Troy and Gabriella mirroring the look on her face. De' javu.

Wow, she is really following in her mom's footsteps now. D Well, what do you think of Damien, the musical, Max, Shelle, and everything? Hmm? Well, I have typed enough for today. Oh, and Kelsi Cross is Kelsi Nelson, she married Jason Cross (Real name, look at the back of his jersey) and put out a CD.

Please Review!