A/N: Chapter One...the first in a series of flashbacks. Oh, and a quick Disclaimer: I don't own Barbie. As always, reviews make me happy! Especially after a 35km hike in gale-force winds...but we won't talk about that now...


Twenty Years Ago

Katie sat by the window, the corner of the net curtain pulled back, as she exhaled onto the cool glass. Smiling, she reached out a finger and drew a face in the mist. She watched as the picture faded, no trace left of where it once was.

As she heard a key turn in the lock, she ran to the door.

'Mommy!' She ran to her mother, who knelt down to hug her daughter.

'Hey, Katherine, sorry I'm late, were you worried about me?'

'No, it was okay, 'cause Mrs Brennon was here. She only just left before you got home.'

'Good, she got my message then.'

Katie smiled, and took her mother's hand, 'Come see what I did at school today.'

She led her into the kitchen, chattering excitedly, and proudly presented her with a painting. It was a colourful affair, created with the innocence only a child can know. In the centre, splashed with primary colours, was a black shape, and when she squinted hard enough, Katie's mother could just about make out legs and a tail.

'Do you like my horse, Mommy? It's Beau, in his field with all the flowers.'

'Honey, it's beautiful,' she smiled, but inside her heart was breaking. She didn't want to leave her alone with Wayne. It wasn't that she didn't trust him, it was just…Katherine was becoming more withdrawn every day. And she couldn't help but feel guilty. She knew she should just tell her the truth; they were drifting further apart, and as she grew older, Katherine began to sense that she was being lied to.


Katie sat in her room, playing with her new Barbie doll, brushing her blonde hair through with a tiny pink brush.

'Katherine? Are you up there?'

She quickly hid her doll as Wayne's footsteps echoed up the stairs. She could tell from his voice that he was 'in a bad way', as Mommy had put it, and that was never good. Last time he had broken her doll, hence why she had taken to hiding them beneath her bed. She hurriedly got under the covers as the door handle turned, and breathed slowly, willing him to go away.

'Katherine?' His voice was quieter now, dangerous, 'Katherine, I want my money back.'

Katie shivered, not knowing what he meant. She didn't have any money, and besides, stealing was bad. She'd learnt that at school.

'Pretend to be asleep; it doesn't bother me. I'll just have to find it myself.'

She heard rustling, and knew he was looking under the bed.

'So this is what she spends it on,' he raised his voice now, anger seeping in. Katie heard a snap, and heard the dull thud of plastic on carpet. Squeezing her eyes shut, she couldn't stop a lone tear slipping down her cheek.

'We'll see about this. I'm not having her spending my money on your crap,' he spat the last word, and slammed the door as he walked out.

Tears falling freely, Katie crept out from under the covers to the foot of the bed. Her Barbie was lying on the floor, her neck cracked, her beautiful, soft hair spread across her face. Cradling the broken doll, she slipped back into bed, curling herself up, and letting her dreams take her over.