Chapter Four:
When Olivia Overland was nineteen, she thought she met the love of her life. She was so enamored, she dropped out of college to marry this man. Less than a year later, she gave birth to Emily-Jane. Four years later, she had Katherine, followed by Jackson.
Her husband left two years later.
Emily-Jane Pitchiner Black - MJ Overland - had loved her father. Absolutely, unconditionally loved him. And he her. They'd go out on day trips, just the two of them, for ice cream or to a park to see the gardens.
She remembered a happy man, one who loved her and her siblings, and loved her mother. She remembered trips with the family, and as a happy seven year old with her mother, father and baby brother and sister.
But she also remembered when he left.
That horrible morning, where he'd walked out of the Overland's lives. When she'd woken up to arguing, crept downstairs and ran to her father, who kept yelling at her mother and pushed her aside.
Emily-Jane remembered the pain in her head from where it hit the countertop, and the pain in her heart as her father walked away.
Katherine Wauna Overland didn't remember her father that much. She has fuzzy memories of when he was there, and clear ones of when he wasn't. She'd always felt that maybe he'd loved her once, but knew that he'd lost that love a long, long time ago.
Katherine loved the idea of her father, but couldn't forgive him for forgetting to love her since.
Jackson David Overland was two when his dad walked out.
He didn't remember much.
But he did remember the scattered visits. The times there had been promised visits and he'd been left waiting outside for a father who would never come to pick him up.
And he remembered the words. The scathing, hurtful, discounting words. Every visit he actually went on was spent full of words. And every visit Jack came home from, he came back a little quieter.
"Hello Jack,"
Jack didn't say anything. His dad - Pitch Black - shrugged and shoved Olivia towards the couch. He squared up again and looked towards the stairs expectantly.
"Aren't you going to say hello to me?" He asked.
"No." Jack said finally, stepping in front of Rapunzel. "Now get out."
"Hmmm… no." Pitch said flatly. "Where are your siblings? I thought there were… more of you,"
"They went out." Jack hissed through his teeth.
"Out." Pitch muttered. "Very well. Now who is that?"
"My friend." Jack muttered. "And she's leaving now."
"Too bad," Pitch shrugged. "Maybe she could fix that stupid hair of yours,"
Jack bristled, but led Rapunzel down the stairs and out of the house.
"Go home," He muttered. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Rapunzel nodded nervously and turned. As soon as Jack shut the door, she took off running down the street.
With her heart pounding in her ears and her feet on the concrete, Rapunzel ran faster and faster down the street, away from the Overland house. She realized with a start that she'd left her dye stuff, but she didn't care. It wasn't like she needed that stuff for another month, or like she couldn't replace it.
"R-RAPUNZEL?!"
Rapunzel skidded to a stop, blinking away fast building tears.
"Rapunzel?"
MJ crossed the street quickly and raced up to the brunette.
"Honey are you okay?" The oldest Overland asked, grabbing the shaking Rapunzel by her shoulders. "What did Jack do?"
"N-n-not J-j-jack!" Rapunzel sniffled, cringing a bit as the rest of Jack's siblings crossed the street. "S-someone came in with your mom!"
MJ froze.
"Who?"
"T-this man," Rapunzel sniffed. "Tall, dark hair, Jack c-called him Pitch?"
MJ's expression went suddenly dark. She rubbed a few quick circles on Rapunzel shoulders.
"Honey, can you make it home alright? I'd take you but I have to get home."
"O-okay," Rapunzel said. MJ slipped past her and took off in a run back towards her house. Katherine gathered up the other siblings and followed, leaving Rapunzel alone on the sidewalk.
The brunette took a few more steps, reaching the street corner. She took a few calming breaths and pulled out her phone, dialling quickly.
Rapunzel took another shaky breath, but hit cancel on the call. She could get home by herself.
Burgess wasn't that big.
The rest of the evening in the Overland house was tense.
MJ and the others had returned home only ten minutes after Jack had told Rapunzel to leave, but the time where it was Jack and his parents had felt like ten years.
MJ had quickly fixed that, taking charge and making sure Jack and Katherine kept the younger siblings upstairs and out of Pitch's line of fire. He'd never liked Micheal Bennett's kids, and MJ knew it.
She took Olivia up to her bed by herself, turning her on her side with a bucket in case she got sick. She was furious that her mother was drunk already. It was barely five o'clock on a Saturday, and she was supposed to be working!
MJ figured that her siblings could handle themselves, but still called in sick to work herself. She wanted to be the first line of defense.
Meanwhile, Jack and Katherine had tried to keep their younger siblings entertained with the board games in the twins room.
It wasn't working.
"That's your dad, isn't it?" Emma whispered quietly. Jack nodded, cringing as he heard MJ start yelling in the kitchen.
"Yeah kiddo, that's our bio dad,"
"What was our dad then?" She asked, lying back on her bed. Jack joined her.
"He was my Dad too," Jack whispered. "I liked him a lot better than I ever liked Pitch,"
"He left you guys?"
Jack nodded grimly.
"Then why is he back?"
"I don't know," Jack mumbled. "I don't know,"
Hiccup and Merida had been friends since they were five. They'd met Jack when they started Kindergarten, and the three had become even closer.
Then, Micheal Bennett - Jack's stepdad - had died.
Jack didn't come to school for almost a month then. But when he returned, he still seemed like the old Jack they knew.
But there was the lingering feeling that he wasn't.
The two weren't stupid, they'd noticed how distant he'd gotten. They also noticed how happy he seemed with Rapunzel, and let him have that time with her without annoying them. But they missed their friend.
Rapunzel was nice. Hiccup and Merida certainly saw what Jack saw in her, and would have loved to include her in their group. The burnette was very shy and awkward though, preferring Jack to others, so they hadn't had the opportunity to hang out with her. They still saw her around - mostly with Jack - and waved and said hello whenever they did.
Which is why it was so weird for them to see neither that Monday.
At first, they assumed they had come down with a cold. But then another day passed without any replies from Jack, and Hiccup began to get worried.
"He'd be gloating if he got a day off," He said. "Something's up,"
"Or he's jus' really sick," Merida countered, taking a bite of her apple. "But it's odd tha' ah haven't seen Punzie 'round either,"
"I just don't know Meri," Hiccup muttered, putting his head in his arms. "I wish he'd talk to us,"
"Same," The redhead said softly, reaching across the lunch table to ruffle her friend's hair. "He'll come to us when he's ready though,"
"What if it's too late?" Hiccup asked.
On Thursday, the Overlands returned to school.
Jack's new white hair stood out in a crowd, and Hiccup and Merida tracked him down immediately. The two dragged him to their spot and sat him down, staring like disapproving parents.
"No texts, no emails, no nothing!" Hiccup said finally, throwing his hands in the air.
"Yeh couldnae even tell us wha' was happening?" Merida chided.
"Sorry Mom, Dad," Jack snarked, looking up at his friends. "An unexpected and unwelcome visitor swung by and didn't leave until last night."
"Pitch?" Merida said immediately. Jack nodded.
"MJ spent most of the time trying to get him to leave, but he didn't want to until all six of us were really done with him. He broke my charger though, so dead phone on top of this all,"
"That's… awful," Hiccup muttered. Jack nodded again.
"I must have really scared Punzie though," He said. "Made her leave when he showed up, and wasn't able to tell her what happened afterwards. Is she doing okay?"
Merida froze and turned slowly to face him.
"Jack, she hasn't come to school…"
"What?"
"She's been gone just as long as yeh 'ave," The redhead muttered. "Hic an' I thought she was sick,"
Jack blinked.
"That would make sense," He muttered, feeling a wave of dread wash over him. "I'll text her and see how she's doing,"
"Man, I'm just glad you're back," Hiccup said. "It's weird without you,"
"It is?" Jack asked skeptically. His friends nodded.
"You're the heart Overland," Hiccup said as the warning bell rang. The three friends looked around a bit awkwardly, and split up to go to their classes. As he walked, Jack couldn't help but feel a pang of fear for Rapunzel.
Jack went through his classes in a haze. He barely answered questions or talked in class, and almost forgot to do the worksheets his teachers handed out.
By lunch, he was solidly worried about Rapunzel, especially since he hadn't been able to charge his phone to check on her. Hiccup and Merida did their best to include him in conversations, but Jack didn't bother faking it.
He was too worried. Too upset. Too… mad at himself.
"URGH!" He growled, slamming his head into his arms. He was too tired, too mad, too sick of everything always going wrong! First Pitch, then Olivia's drinking, the anniversary of Micheals death, Pitch, the twins issues at school, MJ and Katherine trying to be their own people, Rapunzel - it all! His head felt full of twisty dark and pummeling thoughts that kept beating him down and down!
"Jack… are yeh okay?" Merida asked slowly. Jack stood up, shook his head angrily, and grabbed his bag, stalking off away from the lunch table. Hiccup and Merida shared a look.
"No… I don't think he is,"
Jack spent the rest of the day even more worried for his friend. From what he knew of Rapunzel, she wasn't the type of person to go missing. He was even more worried when his phone finally charged and he noticed the barrage of text messages he'd gotten.
Saturday, 7:38 PM: 'Hi Jackson, this is Arianna, Rapunzel's mom. Is she still over at your house?'
8:00 PM: 'Hi, just checking again, please respond, I haven't heard any messages from her all day'
Sunday, 12:00 AM: 'Jackson, please tell me she's still at your house'
12:01 AM: 'She's not in trouble, her father and I are just worried'
12:02 AM: 'We aren't mad. PLEASE just tell her to call me!"
Sunday, 6:27 AM: 'Jackson, we've reported her missing. If you know where she's been, please call me as soon as you can'
There were several more after that, most from Hiccup and Merida, asking if he was sick or if something else had happened, some homework reminders that were automatically generated, but Jack focused on the daily updates from Arianna. Everyday, she messaged him, asking if he'd heard from her daughter.
Jack raced out of the school building as soon as the final bell went off, sprinting full tilt towards the bus stop. He beat the bus by 15 minutes.
Bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet as he tried to not think of the worst, Jack waited impatiently for his siblings. After five minutes of waiting, he was joined by Hiccup and Merida, who'd seen him running.
"OKAY!" Hiccup yelled, dismounting his bike, Merida jumping off the pegs in the back. "WHAT THE HELL IS UP?!"
"Rapunzel is missing," Jack said, flipping his phone around so fast he dropped it. Merida swooped in and caught the device before it hit the cement. "Has been since Saturday night,"
"Pitch showed up Saturday night?" Hiccup confirmed. 'This isn't good,"
"I have to get the twins and Sophie home, then go out and look for her!" Jack cried.
"Jack, you didnae even reply to 'er mum!" Merida chastised. "She 'as no idea 'at you're gonna look!"
"Dammit," Jack cursed, snatching his phone from Merida and typing in the number. "Hi - Arianna, Mrs. Corona?"
"Yes?!" A shaky voice cried over the phone. "Are you Jackson? Do you know where Rapunzel is?"
"No ma'am, I don't," Jack replied. "I only just saw your messages, but I do know she left my house on Saturday. I want to help look for her-"
"Oh thank you!" Mrs. Corona cried, sniffling. "Don't get into any trouble yourself! Rapunzel gone is bad enough!"
"I'll tell you if I find her Ma'am," Jack assured her. "Please tell me if you find her!"
He hung up. The bus was still five minutes away.
"Meri and I will go look too," Hiccup said. "Where should we start?"
Jack shrugged, tearing his hands through his hair.
"Police will 'ave already checked th' obvious places, so try drugstores, Goodwills an' bus stations," Merida said quickly. "But ah doubt we'll find her if she's been missing for five days already,"
"Burgess isn't that big!" Jack protested. "Where is that bus?!"
"Merida's right," Hiccup mused. "We'll help you get your siblings home, then we have to figure out where she might go if she ran away,"
"Ran away?!" Jack yelled. "WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT?!"
"I DON'T KNOW!" Hiccup yelled back. "I BARELY KNOW THE GIRL! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO ABANDONED US FOR HER!"
Jack stepped back, mouth open, speechless. Hiccup seemed to visibly wilt, grabbing onto his bike handles with white knuckles. Merida stepped between the two boys, hands up as if to block them from going at it.
"S-sorry," Hiccup whispered. "I know you care about her,"
"M-me too," Jack said. "I'm just… really stressed out,"
And with that, the school bus finally pulled up to the curb.
"What's wrong?" Emma asked immediately, staring at the teens. Jack realized with a start that there was a bruise blooming across her jaw, and that the braids she'd been wearing that morning were now in a messy tangle around her shoulders. Jamie, who was behind her, was sporting a black eye, clothes rumpled. Sophie just seemed tireder than usual.
Today was not shaping up to be a good day at all.
"We came ta pick yeh three up!" Merida said, brushing past the boys and helping Sophie with the last step. Hiccup and Jack exchanged looks of confusion at how easily the hothead had transformed the awkward situation.
"Reminds me of her mom," Hiccup mouthed. Jack nodded, grabbing Jamie's hand as the other boy took Emma's. The motley group set off towards the Overlands house. Hiccup let Emma sit on his bike as he pushed it, as the ten year old had started to fall behind. Jack texted Katherine to head back to the house and bring Nightlight with her. He wanted to explain as little as possible, wanting to get out to find Rapunzel as soon as he could.
They finally reached the townhouse, and Hiccup and Merida took Jamie and Emma into the bathroom to clean them up. Both had bruises and were sore, but there didn't seem to be any bleeding. Soon after they reemerged, Katherine and Nightlight pulled into the driveway.
"What's wrong?" Katherine asked, seeing three of her siblings looking worse for wear, one playing quietly in the corner, and two of her brother's friends all standing in her living room.
"Rapunzel went missing Saturday night," Jack said bluntly. "I'm going out to look for her,"
"Oh my god," Katherine said. Nightlight grabbed her hand, then looked at Jack. Jack wasn't really friends with his sister's boyfriend, but he admired how calm he looked right now. He seemed ready for anything.
"Also… Jamie and Emma got in a fight and were hurt," He added, noticing Merida's expectant look. She really had taken on the personality of Elinor Dunbroch, and that woman was known for her ability to command power in any room she was in.
"Katherine and I will stay here with the kids," Nightlight said. "Make sure they aren't hurt more than they look,"
Jack nodded.
"Ah'm gonna call Mrs. Corona again," Merida said. "Ask her if we can help more,"
"Jack and I can go out on bikes to check the woods," Hiccup added. "Jack said that's where they first met, so…"
"Sounds good," Katherine said. She scooped Sophie up into her lap and brushed the little girls hair back. "We'll stay here and wait for MJ to come home,"
"C'mon Jack, get your bike and I'll meet you out front," Hiccup said, shaking Jack on the shoulder. Jack nodded and turned to go out the back door.
Merida was already pulling out her phone and dialling. Jamie and Emma had ice packs, and their bruises looked worse. Jack himself was exhausted and worried, but he wanted - no needed, to find Rapunzel. So he stumbled out into the back yard and towards the shed, where the Overlands had stored their bikes for the past ten years. Jack yanked the door open, blinking as light flooded the dark room. He reached in to drag his bicycle out when he heard a loud squeak.
Jack looked into the darkest corner, where a figure sat huddled up, shaking and mumbling.
"Rapunzel!"
Rapunzel looked up at him, eyes unfocused. Her hair was mussed, clothes torn, and she looked hurt. Blood was caked at her hairline and stained the fabric of her shirt. Her bright green eyes were unfocused and dazed, and she squinted in Jack's direction.
"J-jack?" She whispered.
Jack's eyes widened and he threw the bike to the side, running in and pulling Rapunzel to her feet. She wobbled, not secure in her footing.
"Punz!" He cried again, not knowing whether to hug her or scream for help. "W-wha what the hell happened to you?!"
"G-gothelllll…" The brunette slurred. "S-she f-f-found me,"
"Hold on Punzie," Jack whispered. He turned back towards the house and saw Emma standing in the kitchen. "EMS!"
Emma looked over and jumped, then turned and ran back into the living room. She reemerged with Katherine seconds later, who caught a glimpse of Jack and Rapunzel on the ground. She told Emma to stay put and raced outside, sliding to her knees next to her brother.
"Oh my god!" She cried, looked at the shaking blonde-brunette in his arms. "What happened to her? Wh-where did you find her?!"
"Goosie!" Jack yelled, trying to keep Rapunzel still, but her shaking was getting out of control. "DO SOMETHING!"
Katherine ripped off her flannel shirt and stuffed Rapunzel into it. She'd been outside in the cold way too long, and the older girl feared she might have hypothermia. Katherine really didn't know what to do for something with hypothermia, and prayed that she wasn't making things worse.
Her mother had taken the car that morning, and MJ wasn't home from work yet, which meant she was the oldest available Overland.
Katherine was never one for recklessness, but seeing her baby brother holding his friend - a perfectly nice girl who Katherine really wanted to stick around - as autumn leaves and mud caked their shoes and pants made her forget to think rationally.
"Goosie!" Jack said again, looking up at her with huge eyes, full of fear.
Katherine made a split second decision.
"NIGHTLIGHT!"
Author Notes:
We hit all the crazy this chapter. There's one left, then an epilogue, and then Flurrying Family is officially finished! This chapter has a lot of sibling interactions, and my favorite beginning with everyone's different perspectives. Also more Katherine and MJ, and just a tiny bit of Nightlight and Merricup.