AN: Finally an update. I apologize for the delay and give a heads up that I'm not sure when I will update again.


When lunch came around, Ray decided to fo to the auditorium. She didn't feel like being around anyone during lunch. Today was the anniversary of her mother's passing. Normally she didnt attend school on this day, but football practice was after school today and she needed th physical distraction. Ray picked up a guitar and began to strum for a few minutes before she began to play Tears in Heaven. Half way through the song Noah joined in with her.

"I miss her too sis, everyday. I'm just glad that the bastard is dead and he can't hurt us anymore."

Ray just nodded as memories began to flood her mind. Their mom tucking them in at night when they were eight years old. Their father yelling at their mother for Ray's weakness as she was the spitting image of their mother, where Noah looked like their father.

The first time their mother had tended to her back after their father had whipped Ray with switch until she bled, Ray had been ten years old. After that first beating, their mother had started slipping the 'sleep aides' into their fathers drinks, that she would get from the neighbouring medicine man. Shelby had stumbled across the Indian village when she had taken Rays clothes to the river to wash them. The day before Ray's father had thrown the small girl into the manure pile, simply because she hadn't mucked out the stalls fast enough for his liking. The night before the man had gone out drinking at the bordello and had come home angry. The other men had been bragging about how strong their sons were, how manly there were becoming. Fueled by shame and embarrassment of his 'first born' son, he drank himself into a rage before stumbling his way home and proceeded to whip Ray bloody. Shelby had cleaned Ray up and bandaged the wounds as best she could. With out fail, Ray had gotten up that morning, did her chores ad was laying fresh hay in the last stall for the horses when her father hollered for her. Ray had left the wheel barrow outside the stable and had gone back into to feed the horses before taking it over to the manure pile. Stepping outside the stable, Ray was met with a backhand to the face before the man started yelling at her for leaving he wheel barrow outside the stables, for taking so long in the stables. He hit Ray a few more times during his ranting before finally throwing the small girl into the manure pile. Noah came up behind their father and struck him the back of the head with a shovel, effectively knocking the man out. Noah left an empty flask in the man's hands before helping his sister up. The twins went up to the house and Ray stripped down to her undergarments outside before changing into the clothes she wore the day before, and they continued on with their day. By the time the abusive drunk woke up, it was dark outside. All chores, including his, had been completed. The twins had gotten the horses fresh shos and gotten supplies from the general store. Shelby cleaned Ray's wounds and re-bandaged them before Ray went to bed. As Shelby was washing Ray's soiled clothing by the river, she was approached by the old Shaman. He had pointed at the blood on the shirt. Shelby explained that it was her child's blood, that the father had beaten his son. The Shaman had shown Shelby what plants could be used to make a salve paste to apply to Ray's wounds. He also showed her which plants could be crushed into oil and roots into powder that would cause drowsiness.

Years after her and her brother were turned, Ray returned to the river, to where her mother had described meeting the shaman. To her surprise the old Indian was already waiting for her. He told her that the spirits had told him of her and her brother's return. He also told her how the spirits foretold him the story of the twins revenge, and how they would avenge the death of their mother. The spirits had also told of the fathers suffering at Ray's hands before finally being granted mercy at her brother's hands. Ray nodded as those events had happened as described, and reached their conclusion the night before. Ray spoke with the old Shaman for a few hours before presenting him with a few large bags that had dried fruits, meats, nuts as well as blankets and materials to assist with their hunting and foraging. The Shaman tried to refuse Ray's gift, but Ray pleaded with the old Indian, explaining that this was the least she could do for him inadvertently saving her life those years ago when he taught her mother which plants to use and how to use them. The Shaman finally relented and accepted the bags. The warriors that had been 'hidden' in the tree line stepped forward to retrieve them. If Ray hadn't been aware of their heartbeats and been able to smell them, she wouldn't have known that they were there, their body paint artfully done to camouflage them perfectly with their surroundings. Ray said her goodbyes to the old Indian and left the area.

"Ray-Bear, don't be a sad panda." Brittany startled Ray out of her memories as she greeted the quarterback.

"Sorry Duckie."

Brittany smiled sadly at her friend, knowing that today was not a happy day for the twins. She had come to the auditorium after over hearing Finn run his mouth and had plans to confront Ray. Knowing that this would be detrimental to the idiots health, the bubbly cheerleader had come to take Ray out to the bleachers as Santana and Quinn were in Coach Sylvester's office.

"Lets go to the bleachers Ray-Bear. Lets go enjoy the sunshine before class."

Ray smiled softly and nodded her agreeance. Looking over at her brother, Noah nodded and the trio made their way out to the bleachers.

"Ok Duckie, so what's the real reason you got me away from the student body?" Ray asked, lighting one of her herbal smokes.

"I over heard Finn saying he planned to confront you. And knowing him he'll try to do it around Mr. Schue."

Ray shook her head as Puck began to mutter to himself. Pulling out her phone, Ray dialed a number and waited for the person on the other end to pick up.

"Hi sweetie."

"Hi daddy."

"Are you and your brother ok?"

"We're fine daddy. I called because I need a small favour and no it's not illegal or involve of disposing of anything."

At her daddy's quiet chuckle, Ray smiled softly.

"How can I help pumpkin?"

"How quickly can you call the school board and Figgins to arrange for Noah and to take the exams to get exempt from Spanish and receive the full credits, because I don't know about Noah, but I would rather not suffer though Schuester butchering the language or deal with his un-professionalism when it comes to Finn for the next to years."

Ray had already called her fathers previously and kept them informed of the events that had already happened. Sure she could have easily compelled Figgins to give her the exams, but at least if her fathers were involved, neither the principal or Schuester could prevent it from happening.

"Give me thirty minutes kiddo."

"Thank you daddy. Love you and give dad a hug and kiss for me."

"Will do sweetheart. Love you too. Bye."

"You are the best sis." Noah exclaimed hugging Ray after she had hung up.

"One of us has to be Noah." Ray replied smirking at her brother.

Ray lit another cigarette, as Noah had finished her first one while she had been on the phone, and laid back on the bleachers with her head in her best friends lap, letting the smoke mellow her out.

Brittany ran her fingers through Ray's short hair as she chatted with Puck. The only person he allowed to call him Noah, was Ray and before that, their mother. To everyone else, he was Puck or Puckerman. Brittany knew that he wasn't the arrogant, womanizing jerk he portrayed himself to be within the halls of McKinley. Yes he liked sleeping with women, but Brittany knew that half the girls that claimed to have had sex with him, really hadn't. Puck had gone out on a date with all of them, but at the end of the night he would compel them into thinking that they had done the deed. It helped keep his rep intact.

Looking down at the brunette currently laying in her lap, Brittany giggled as she noticed the heavy lidded, glazed over eyes and dopey smirk on Ray's face. The Quarterback was stoned!

The trio sat in silence, just enjoying the sun until the warning bell rang. Ray continued to wear her dopey smile as the trio walked into Spanish. Mr. Schuester frowned, but before he could say anything regarding Ray's absence and avoidance of him last week, Ray slapped down a doctors note, one that she wrote of course but had her daddy's signature at the bottom, on his desk and took her seat beside Brittany with out a word to the man


Second AN Note: So as this is an on going story I'm not sure that I will be able to update as often as I write everything long hand before typing it all out. I just hope that all the followers continue to stick with it as it goes. Much Love,

Cris