How Do You Measure a Year?

A/N: This takes place one year after In Truths That She Learned.

Chapter 1:

"You fucking bitch! What the hell did I tell you about doing what I say?" Frank demanded as he threw Taylor against the walled with all his might.

"Always do what you say," she replied meekly.

"What? Speak up!"

"Always do what you say," Taylor said louder, struggling to contain her tears. Frank slammed his fist into the wall directly next to Taylor's head, causing her to jump.

"Good, now go fix my dinner."

"Yes Frank." When Taylor tried to walk away, Frank grabbed her by the hair, and slammed her back up against the wall. His large hand enclosed around her throat.

"What did you call me?" he growled, his face an inch or so away from Taylor's.

"S-sir," she stammered. "Y-yes sir."

"It's too late for that you little whore." Frank grabbed Taylor's arm, and dragged her over to the bedroom. Her cries and please could be heard throughout the small house.

"No, please, don't. Get your hands off me! Please!" she sobbed.

Taylor's eyes fluttered open. A cold sweat poured down her face. After lying in bed for several minutes, she heard two-month-old Cara start to cry in her basinet at the foot of the bed. Shaking slightly, Taylor got up, and nursed her daughter.

When she crawled back in bed, her husband, Mark, asked sleepily, "You okay babe?" Taylor nodded as she pulled the sheets tighter around her.

"Yeah, it was just a bad dream," she replied. Mark pulled her close to him. She was shaking pretty badly. Mark stroked her hair until they both fell asleep.

"Mama, Mama!" thirteen month old Matthew cried as he ran into the master bedroom. The hyperactive child began to jump up and down on the bed. "Up Mama up!" Groaning, Taylor rolled over, and grabbed Matthew around the waist.

"What's wrong honey?" she asked. Matthew straddled her stomach.

"I go Aunt Mimi and Uncle Rwoger," he replied.

"You're doing downstairs?" Matthew nodded. "Okay, gimme a kiss, and get out of here." Matthew pressed his lips against Taylor's cheek, and scrambled off the bed.

After Matthew left, Taylor rolled back over, and tried to fall back asleep. She finally got up after trying for nearly half an hour. As she walked to the bathroom, she found the loft to be completely empty. For the first time in ages, Taylor took an uninterrupted shower. When she was done getting dressed, she found Mark sitting on the couch fiddling with his camera.

"Hey baby," she said as she sat down next to him. Mark turned to face his wife.

"Hey yourself. You doing okay?" Taylor gave Mark a confused look.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Mark held Taylor's face in his hand. His thumb gently stroked her cheek.

"The bad dream you had last night. You want to talk about it?" Taylor stared at her lap. She shook her head.

"No," she replied firmly. "It was nothing. What I want is for you to hold me." Mark pulled Taylor onto this lap, and the two sat in silence simply enjoying each other's company until Cara began to fuss in her bouncy seat.

A few hours later, the phone began to ring. Thinking it was Mark's Mom, Taylor ignored the ringing until she heard who it was.

"Taylor, it's Michael. Please pick up, it's important." Michael sounded upset. Taylor picked up the phone.

"What?" she snapped.

"Taylor, I need to talk to you and roger. It's really important. Can I stop by your place?" Sighing, Taylor ran her fingers through her hair.

"Sure. When will you be here?"

"Half an hour. So I'll see you then?"

"Yeah, bye." Taylor hung up before Michael could say goodbye. She just stared stood by the phone staring off into space.

The sound of the loft door sliding open shattered Taylor's thoughts. Matthew ran into the loft with Roger chasing him.

"Roger Davis you stop before your sister gets mad!" Mimi yelled. Taylor spun around; she didn't look happy. "Too late," Mimi said almost to herself. Roger froze, on the verge of tossing Matthew up in the air.

"No, I'm not mad at you, for once." Roger scowled. "Michael's stopping by. He said that it's important." Roger covered Matthew's ears, and swore. Taylor was grateful that her brother covered her son's ears when he swore now.

"Great," he said. "When will he be here?" Taylor rolled her eyes.

"Half an hour," she replied. Roger sat on the couch with Matthew on his lap, and waited for Michael to show up.

Exactly thirty minutes later, there was a sharp knock on the loft door. When Mark opened the door, he found a very stressed looking Michael.

"Umm, hi everyone," he said, almost meekly as he entered the loft. Roger gave his brother the evil eye.

"What do you want Michael?" he asked in a cold tone. Michael sighed and shifted uncomfortably.

"I came to tell you that Dad's dead."

A/N: It's fun to just jump into things. Check out Off-Set please!