Like Mother, Like Daughter (Season 4)

by originella

Eighteen-year-old Iana Milkovich is contending with a broken heart, along with her brother's arrest, and two different men in her life that just won't let go. Not to mention the notion that Yev's arrest just seems off, and secret are being kept, so Iana must consider if she'll throw herself into detective work, she deals with attending college and raising her daughter as well.

5. Off the Record

Chapter Five: Off the Record

The exhaustion had successfully permeated my entire body as the trial continued, and even though I knew I would not be called upon the stand again, I knew that Yev would be needing my constant support as the trial continued. Of course, Dad was supporting Yev, treating him like a son throughout the proceedings, and Pops and I always sat in the first provided gallery bench whenever either of us was available, not to mention the fact that Desmond had been there for Yev from day one. I was very happy that I'd decided to introduce the two of them, and even though they came from two opposite sides of the social ladder, Desmond seemed to care less, and his entire family, Lacey in particular, was completely supportive of their relationship.

"Tell it to me straight, Pops," I said, as we stood there, in the foyer of the courthouse, waiting for our case to be called. YIt was quiet, as Yev, Dad, and Desmond were prepping in the conference room, so Pops and I were left to our own devices for the time being. "Just, rip the band-aid off, you know? Are you upset with me?"

Pops turned and looked down at me, before he put an arm around my shoulder. "Kiddo, the last thing I want is you going to jail for perjury."

I blinked, angling my head so as I could look up at him. "Wait. You're not going to disown me or anything for spilling out a dirty secret of our family?" I whispered.

Pops sighed. "As much as I love you and Yev, kiddo, factually speaking, neither of you should've been here, but I think whoever's responsible for it made a good judgement call," he said, squeezing my shoulder and kissing my forehead. "The last thing I'd want to do, after all this time, is be without my kids."

I smiled, standing on my toes and kissing his temple. "Thanks, Pops. The last thing I'd want to do is go without you, too. You've made this entire process bearable somehow. You, Yev, Uncle Ian, and Hailey are all I really need, at the end of the day."

"Not Axel?"

I sighed, my shoulders deflating then as I considered it. "Well, after his attempts to get me in bed with him failed, I had to resort to extreme measures…"

"Do I really want to hear this?"

I scoffed. "Probably not," I said, forcing a grin onto my face. "All I know is, given the unspoken things between Liam and me, and my behavior recently…" I shrugged my shoulders. "All I can say now, Pops, is that things have to end sometimes so as other things have the capability of having a healthy beginning."

"You think you're going to end things with Axel?"

"If I ever want to be happy again, maybe," I said quietly, turning then as the conference door opened, and Yev looked relieved to see us standing there. I ducked out from under Pops's arm then and dashed towards him, leaping up into his arms, while all the while, Dad and Desmond looked on indulgently. "Everything okay?" I asked him, pulling back and looking up at him. "I mean, you're all prepared and everything, right?"

"I'm in Nicholas's capable hands now," Yev replied, turning and looking over at Dad. "I know it's just more people spouting shit about me today, but I'm used to it."

"You shouldn't be," Pops said, his voice firm.

"You know you shouldn't believe any of it," Desmond said, and Yev turned to look at him, a loving expression on his face, which Desmond was quick to return.

"There is one more matter up for discussion," Dad said then, and we all of us turned to look over at him. "Nothing has to be decided today, but, I figured you'd want to know as soon as possible so that you have ample time to make the decision."

"What decision?" Yev asked.

"You need to decide in a week if you're going to take the stand," Dad said levelly, and I raised my eyebrows that this hadn't been brought up before. "You'd take it a week from today, if you decide to, and I can't tell you what to do here. I can advise, of course, and, given that you're sworn to tell the truth, you would implicate yourself. The choice, however, in this situation, is yours to make."

Yev nodded. "I'll make the decision," he replied. "But can we just get through court today before I think about it?"

Dad nodded. "Of course we can," he said, squeezing Yev's shoulder as a bailiff emerged.

"Cook County Department of Corrections versus Yevgeny Milkovich?"

"Here," Dad said, raising his hand. "We'd better get in there," he said to Yev, and Yev said quick goodbyes to us all before they went to their appointed table.

"Thank god you don't have to take the stand," I muttered to Desmond as we moved to walk through the doors after him.

"Don't they usually ask significant others?" Pops asked.

Desmond laughed. "I wasn't his significant other at the time of the crime," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "Had I been, I'd be more likely to be on the list. But once that fact became known, I didn't automatically become public enemy number one."

"You were never my enemy, Des," I said, squeezing his hand as we moved to the bench that we'd been frequenting since the trial began.

He laughed again. "Somehow, I believe that, given that you were the one to arrange the meeting with Yev in the first place."

The district attorney arrived soon thereafter, along with other forms of spectators for Yev's trial that afternoon. I leaned back on the bench then, feeling that, despite everything, I felt secure between Pops and Desmond. I knew that nothing could happen to me at this point, given that I'd already testified, but I was worried about what the D.A. would end up putting Yev through, if he himself decided to testify.

"Hey, sorry I'm late," said a familiar voice then, and every hair of my body stood on end as I turned my head, my mouth falling open as Axel slipped onto the bench, and very nearly protested when Desmond moved over so that we all of us could sit together. "How're you doing, Iana?" he asked me then, leaning in and kissing me.

I swallowed then, keeping my mouth closed despite everything, feeling my brow pucker automatically at my boyfriend's presence in the courtroom. "I… I'm fine," I managed to get out, all the while staring at him. "What are you doing here?"

Axel smiled. "I always come whenever I'm available," he said lightly. "You've just had day shifts at Patsy's whenever that's true." He looked over at Yev then, who turned around at the sound of Axel's voice, and the two of them shook hands.

"Thanks for coming," Yev said, and smiled at him.

Axel nodded, leaning back and putting an arm around my shoulders. "Don't mention it, man," he said quickly then, his voice polite as he turned back to me. "So, are you happy to see me?"

I opened my mouth to reply, and caught Pops's stare, and immediately knew that I had to play it cool during court proceedings. "Yeah, of course I am!" I replied, and threw my arms around Axel then, feeling like a rat. "What a surprise!"

"Glad you're happy," Axel said, kissing my cheek before turning to talk to Pops.

"Are you happy, Iana?"

I turned and looked at Desmond, raising my eyebrows. "What?"

He sighed then, leaning in closer so that nobody in the courtroom could hear us. "Liam mentioned what happened in the club the other day…"

I felt my mouth go dry. "Did he?"

Desmond looked uneasy. "We're business partners, Iana, as well as best friends," he said gently to me, and I sighed. "I saw the camera footage, and Liam confirmed it."

I dragged my hand over my mouth. "Fuck," I whispered.

"It didn't go that far, from what I saw," Desmond put in, and I looked back up at him. "You can't keep acting that way, you know."

I nodded. "Don't you think I know that, Des?" I asked, my voice shaking. "Don't you think I want to stop?"

He spread his hands. "Do you want to?"

I nodded again. "Of course I do."

"Then, what's stopping you?" he asked.

I swallowed. "Don't make me say it, Des. Please."

"Iana, I'm asking as Liam's friend. What's stopping you?"

I crossed my arms. "I'm not telling Liam anything."

"All right, how about Yev's boyfriend, then?" he asked, and gave him a petulant expression. "It would be easier to answer then, right?"

I shook my head. "Nothing about this is easy…"

"Do you have feelings for him?"

I scoffed. "No fucking way am I answering that…"

"Well, it would be easier to stop if you didn't, right, Iana?" he asked, and I felt my nails digging into the palms of my hands. "Do you have feelings for Liam? Is that why you're finding it difficult to stop acting like this? Both of you?"

I sighed, turning to fully face him then. "I want to stop, Des," I whispered then, feeling the tears threatening to escape my eyes. "I want to stop, more than anything, but I can't. It's too hard, because he's fucking right. I do have feelings for him, and I want them to stop, more than anything, because he broke my heart," I said, turning forward again as the bailiff announced that the judge was coming.

. . .

I felt the need to get out of the house that Saturday, but still make an attempt to be productive, and I was pleased when Mom agreed to watch Hailey, and I took off to Patsy's to cover for her during the night shift. Saturday nights were never too busy, so it was just me, Franny, and Yev working there, as darkness surrounded the diner. I hadn't seen much of Franny or Yev; Franny was busy in the back office mostly, while Yev was cleaning up the back. Yev had taken over night kitchen duties, which meant more money in his pocket, and he found that he had a flair for cooking that seemed to run in the family.

I just cleared the bill of the final customer of the night, and flipped the sign over so that the world knew that we were 'Closed' for the night until the Sunday breakfast rush. I turned around then, sensing that it was suddenly too quiet for two Milkovich's and one Gallagher. Shaking my head and forcing not to let the situation get to me, I went behind the counter and put the tip the customer had given me into my safe spot beneath the register. I got to my feet then, popping the joints in my back and wandered over to the kitchen window. I found myself automatically raising my eyebrows; the dishes from the customer's last order were clean, and the kitchen was spick and span, but something didn't feel right to me.

When I heard the voices from down the hallway as I walked towards the employee locker room to take my apron off, I knew I was in for trouble. "Dammit," I muttered to myself, throwing my apron down on the bench and stomping down the hallway. There was no mistaking that the voices were coming from Mom's office, which Franny frequently worked in whenever Mom took the night off, and, as I threw the door open, it was plain to see that Franny and Yev were at each other's throats. "Hold on, hold on!" I said, throwing my hands up and shoving myself in between them, and away from each other. "What's going on?!" I demanded, rolling my eyes when the two of them began screaming explanations. "One at a time!" I said, taking a coin out of my pocket.

"Tails," Franny said.

"Heads," Yev muttered.

I flipped the coin and landed it on the back of my hand, covering it with the other. Pulling it back, Lincoln's head stared back at me. "Great," I said, turning to Yev. "Go ahead. What was it this time?"

"More trial bullshit," he said, crossing his arms.

I nodded. "Okay. How so?"

Yev scoffed. "Essentially, Franny blames me for her failed marriage!"

"I never said—!" Franny shouted.

"Franny, it's still Yev's turn," I said, massaging my temples. "What did she say that makes you think that she thinks you're the reason her marriage is on the rocks, Yev?"

"She said that Clark didn't turn me in and I should just shut up about it," Yev replied.

I sighed, looking up at Yev. "Did you say that Clark had you arrested?"

Yev shook his head. "No. I just said that it's a possibility."

I turned and looked over at Franny. "Okay, Franny. Can't you admit that Clark is definitely a suspect in whoever turned Yev in?"

Franny looked annoyed, but nodded. "Yeah," she said, crossing her arms. "I mean, despite everything, he's my husband, and I love him…"

"Nobody's telling you not to love him," Yev said softly.

Franny looked over at him. "Look, I'm sorry," she said. "My marriage is failing, I have to help run a restaurant, and I have a son who constantly asks me, 'Mommy, where's Daddy Clark?' It's just been hard…"

"I know," Yev said. "It's been hard on me, too. All I know is that there's gotta be someone working against the Milkovich family. Just wish I knew who it was."

"And I have to run this place, too, plus I'm in college, and I have a daughter who says, 'Mama, come home and play with Hailey' constantly. I love her," I said, spreading my hands, "but there's just a lot."

Yev crossed his arms. "Not to mention your boyfriend."

I glared at him. "Hey!"

"Yeah," Franny said, smirking. "Among other things…"

I whipped around to face her. "You swore you wouldn't say a word!" I hissed at her.

Franny sighed, rolling her eyes. "Fine," she muttered.

"And as for you," I said to Yev, turning back to him, "no more talking about Clark until it works out one way or the other, or Franny says you can talk about him."

Yev sighed. "Fine."

"And Franny," I said, turning back to her, "you need to realize that everyone has shit going on, too, so your shit isn't the only shit that matters."

She nodded. "Will do."

"And both of you," I said, spreading my hands, "I'm going to throw in the towel and be done with you both if you don't stop acting this way. Immature," I said, filling in the blank before either of them could ask. "I love you both. You're my brother and my cousin, and I can't just cut either of you out of my life, and I won't. But the both of you need to come together and realize that this behavior is unacceptable."

Yev nodded. "You're right."

Franny smiled. "Won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't. Yev and I will be taking our leave now," I said, grabbing Yev by the shoulder and hauling him out of there.

We grabbed our things from the employee locker room, not really saying anything to one another as we put our coats on and gathered our tips. I walked outside first to warm the car up, and Yev followed soon thereafter, getting into the passenger seat. I fired my beast to life and drove down the dark alleyway, making my way towards our houses, gently tapping the palms of my hands from where they were at ten and two on my steering wheel.

"That was really great, what you said in there," Yev said quietly.

I rolled my eyes. "Can't say what side of the family I get it from," I admitted, "but Aunt Debbie always said I could command a room, just like Aunt Fiona."

"Just wish I could be looked at in an amazing way," he said.

"Hey," I said, coming to a stop at a light and looking over at him, "you are amazing, Yev. You're my brother, and I love you. Plus, Pops, Uncle Ian, my dad, and my mom… They all love you a whole hell of a lot, too. And Hailey loves you… Everyone loves you, Yev. And even Desmond's crazy about you…"

"Saw you two talking in court last week."

I cleared my throat in an awkward manner then, pulling through the intersection as the light turned green. "Mmm-hmm," I said, nodding. "We talked…"

"Anything you'd care to share?"

I sighed. "Not really."

He nodded. "Just thought I'd ask." Yev remained silent then until we arrived into our neighborhood proper, and he let out a small sigh as I parked in front of my house. "Think I could come in?"

I turned and smiled at him. "Want some Hailey time?"

He grinned. "Always," he replied.

I nodded, hopping out of the car, Yev just behind me, and we respectively slammed our doors behind us, and I locked them as we walked through the gate and up the stairs. I unlocked the door quickly, and saw Mom and Dad on the couch, Hailey still awake, and, even though it was a bit past her bedtime, I couldn't complain, because I loved seeing her at the end of a long day. I immediately gravitated towards them, and Hailey lifted her arms upwards, and I took her, kissing her forehead, turning to face Yev.

"Look, baby," I said. "Uncle Yev came to say hi!"

"Yev-Yev!" Hailey said, clapping.

Yev reached out, and Hailey took his finger into her grasp for a moment, before she became distracted by my hair and let Yev go, before Yev turned and looked at Dad. "Nicholas, I was hoping I could ask something…"

Dad got to his feet and smiled. "You need money or something?" he asked.

"No," Yev said quickly, looking slightly hurt, and Mom glared at Dad for insinuating that Yev was merely looking for a handout.

"Dad!" I hissed at him.

"Sorry, that was insensitive," he said quickly. "What did you want to ask me, son?"

Yev sighed, knowing that it was monumental, whatever it was he wanted to discuss. "I came by to say that I want to testify," he replied.

. . .

Yev's testimony two days later was a success, in that Yev told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Dad had worked with him tirelessly, informing him what was both on and off the table via questioning, and told him that he would object as often as he could. However, it looked good for the D.A. when Yev had to admit, in open court, that it was him who physically assaulted Terry, and I felt like I could vomit at how pleased the D.A. looked at Yev's facial expression, one of devastation, even though he knew the question was coming.

I had finished my afternoon shift at Patsy's that Friday, and had just picked up Hailey from daycare, when I got a text message. I buckled Hailey into her carseat and got into the front, pulling my phone from my pocket and examining it, slightly shocked to get a text message from Desmond, but everything was shocking these days. I unlocked my phone and accessed the messaging app, pulling up the text quickly.

Get your cute little butt home from picking up the adorable princess, ASAP, Iana! The four of us are going out tonight, and I'm driving! Meet you at yours at seven.

I sighed, automatically realizing that I was in for a double date, which meant that I had to spend an obligatory evening with Axel. I couldn't fault Desmond for it; he wanted to show Yev a good time in case the trial didn't go in our favor, plus there was the notion that he was Liam's best friend, and didn't want either of us to wreck our respective relationships. I could admire Desmond for showing loyalty to Liam, and compassion for Yev, but I worried that I would be forced into these kinds of situations again and again, and although I didn't know the most reasonable way out of it, I knew I had to figure one out.

I stepped into the house when I arrived, Hailey in my arms, and brought her to the kitchen, where I sliced an apple and some cheese for her. Setting her in her high chair at the kitchen table, I considered who would want to watch her on my behalf that night, but a quick text from Yev figured out the problem for me. Yev said that Pops and Uncle Ian would be glad to take her for the evening, and I was relieved that childcare wasn't an imposition for my family. They all adored Hailey, and it was pleasant that I never had to beg anyone to look after her.

I brought Hailey over to the house about an hour before Desmond's arrival, before getting back to mine so that I could get ready. I wore a black and shoulderless bodycon dress with laces going up each side; it was a Nell's Rags exclusive, one that I'd worn for a dinner overseas. I felt confident in the dress, I thought to myself as I curled my hair for the evening, and stepped into my pair of black pumps to top it all off. I put on thickening mascara and a flash of deep red lipstick which appeared to make my lips thicker, and found I could easily pass for twenty-one, now that I'd done some work on myself both inside and out.

I heard Desmond honk from outside at the appointed hour, and I grabbed my matching clutch which housed my phone, I.D., keys, mascara, and lipstick. I grabbed a simple black wrap in case the autumn evening turned colder, before heading downstairs. I called out a goodbye to Dad and to my younger siblings, and playfully rolled my eyes at their respective farewells. I stepped outside and into the darkness, pulling my wrap more closely around me as I shut and locked the door behind me, going down the stairs and towards Desmond's silver four-door Lamborghini which was seriously his baby.

"Hey," I said, slipping into the back when I noticed Yev riding shotgun, and raised my eyebrows at the empty backseat. "Am I third-wheeling, or what?" I asked.

Desmond grinned at me in the rearview mirror. "Not likely," he replied, pulling the sleek car down the street. "Axel's meeting us there."

"Right, of course," I said quickly, trying my best not to sound disappointed.

We pull up shortly thereafter at a building that is the very essence of modern architecture; its main color was a deep silver, while the sign, boasting the restaurant's name, was an attractive and appealing gold color. The letters of the establishment's name glowed in the dark, which was a very good idea, from a business sense, as it made the space pop.

Desmond pulled around and got a space easily on the street, and I thanked Yev when he helped me out of the car. We made our way to the double doors, and I noticed that Axel was already inside and waiting for us. He hadn't seen me yet, so I hastily plastered an appropriate smile onto my face, which was not lost on Desmond, but he said nothing. We stepped inside together, and I walked over to Axel, as was the custom for romantic couples, and allowed him to put his arm around my waist, and to kiss my cheek.

"Glad you made it," he said.

"Wouldn't miss it," Yev replied.

"I did make the reservation," Desmond joked, "so, I was always going to be here." He stepped up to the hostess desk then, informing them of our reservation, while the rest of us stood back to let him take care of it.

"How'd the stand treat you?" Axel asked Yev.

Yev shrugged. "You know, the usual. The D.A. trying to make me look bad at any given opportunity, of course."

Axel nodded. "Of course," he replied, shaking his head. "Never liked him."

"You've met the D.A.?" Desmond asked, returning to our side.

"Law enforcement benefit dinner via Humphrey," Axel replied, and Yev and I looked away awkwardly when he mentioned his abuser by name. "His idea. My mom was sick and couldn't go, and he doesn't really talk to my brother-in-law or nephew anymore."

"Tragic," Desmond put in. "So, he's an asshole?"

Axel smirked. "The D.A. or Humphrey?"

Desmond laughed. "The D.A."

Axel nodded. You could say that, yeah."

"Are they ready to sit us?" Yev asked.

"They're clearing our table now," Desmond replied. "Shouldn't be too long."

"That's a relief," I replied. "You know, I was almost used to walking in heels when I worked for Penny, but now that I'm back at the diner, sneakers are where it's at."

The hostess arrived back on the scene shortly thereafter, and we were shown to a four-person table with a bench on one side and chairs on the other. Yev and Desmond took the chairs, and Axel allowed me to slip onto the bench first. Menus were handed over, and I mentally crossed my fingers that someone would take over-long in ordering, so I could use the beast of a thing to hide my face and avoid discussion with Axel.

"They have caviar here?" Yev whispered.

"Sure do," Desmond replied with a grin. "Want to get some?"

"I wouldn't," Axel put in. "Highly overrated, if you ask me."

"Depends on the fish they get it from, and where it's caught," Desmond explained in a patient manner to Axel. "You may have gotten some cheap stuff."

"Could've, I guess," Axel said with a shrug, turning his attention back to his menu. "Have you ever had caviar, Iana?"

I blinked, lowering my menu as I turned to look at him. "No. You know that my mom and I hate seafood, Axel. I've told you this…" In fact, I remembered telling him the first time, before that disastrous Christmas party when things ended the first time.

"Right," Axel said, picking up his water class and sipping it. His eyes boasted deep circles underneath them, and it was then, for the first time, that Axel looked his age of thirty. He appeared to be distracted, as well as exhausted, and I wondered if it was because he was deliberately scheduling himself for double shifts at the prison.

A waiter arrived shortly thereafter, regarding all of us then. "Can I interest anyone in something to drink?" he asked.

"I'll have a bottle of Old Style, thanks," Yev replied.

"Half-glass of Chardonnay, please," Desmond said.

"Cranberry juice on the rocks, if you would," I said, grinning at the waiter.

"And for you, sir?" the waiter asked Axel.

"Bottle of Old Style is fine, thanks," Axel said.

"Very good," the waiter said, smiling at each of us in turn. "I'll get those going for you," he said before breezing away from the table.

"Hey," I said, briefly showing him compassion as I put my hand on his arm. "Are you doing okay, Axel? You don't seem like yourself…"

He sighed, lifting his eyes up momentarily to see Yev and Desmond in deep conversation, so we neither of us would be interrupted. "It's Humphrey," he admitted.

I blinked, inching closer to him. "Yeah? What's he doing?"

He bit his lip. "Mom's getting worse, and he keeps encouraging it," he muttered. "He'll invite me over, and I think it'll be all of us, but it never is…"

I swallowed. "Does he still?"

"He tries," Axel replied, looking sick. "He says that it's not wrong anymore, because I'm not underage, but…"

"But, in your mind, you're the age that you were when it first started," I said softly, and shook my head then, knowing the feeling all too well. "I'm sorry, Axel. I didn't know it was still going on, really…"

"No, of course you wouldn't," he replied, cutting across me. He got to his feet then, startling Yev and Desmond, and tossed his napkin on the tabletop. "Excuse me. Nature calls," he said, and immediately went towards the back.

"He okay?" Desmond asked, pointing after him.

I sighed. "He's not himself tonight…"

"I'll go talk to him," Yev said, halfway getting up.

"No, no, let me," Desmond said, smiling at Yev. He kissed him before he left the table, and I smiled at how at ease they both seemed to be with one another, and lowered my eyes back to my menu, wanting to avoid a Milkovich interrogation session at all costs.

"Talk."

I swallowed then at the firmness at the back of Yev's voice, and slowly raised my eyes upwards to lock with his. "What?" I asked.

"Talk," he said again. "Don't think you're getting out of it."

I muttered under my breath, hastily deciding on the only chicken dish the menu offered, before I shut it, placing my hands on top of it. "What do you want to know?"

"Many things," he said. "For example, who really turned me into the cops? Why you're clearly dissatisfied with your romantic relationship? Or, and this is going for the gold now, why you and Franny are clearly keeping secrets?"

I looked away from him. "We aren't keeping secrets…"

"Clearly, you are," Yev replied. "At Patsy's the other day, you got vehement with Franny when she brought up something that happened. Was it at the club?" he asked, crossing his arms, and my face immediately flushed as I remembered that evening. "It was at the club, wasn't it? That's what you're avoiding talking about?"

I gave a stiff nod. "Yeah…"

"Okay, then tell me," he said quietly, and I slowly looked up at him. "What was so bad that you don't want me to know?"

I sighed. "I don't want anyone to know."

"No judgement here, Iana. Remember that."

I felt my eyes fill momentarily with tears, before I quickly brushed them away. "Franny and I wanted to go somewhere new, so we got into the hot new place Downtown," I said softly. "What we didn't know was, it was Liam's club, and he was there…with Illiana."

He sighed. "I see. And, let me guess, you couldn't control yourself?"

I nodded then, the shame washing over me. "Bingo," I whispered.

"How far did it go?"

I looked up at him then, slightly angry. "It's not like I fucked him in his office, for Christ's sake, Yev!" I shouted.

"Keep your voice down," Yev said, and I sighed. "Okay. So, you didn't have sex."

I shook my head. "No. We… We just kissed," I replied. "That was it."

"But it wasn't really it, was it, Iana?" Yev asked, and I locked eyes with his again. "Clearly, you have feelings for him."

I shrugged. "Maybe…"

"Okay," Yev said, obviously not wanting to push it. "You know what I'm going to say to you right now, Iana?"

I bit my lip. "To tell Axel immediately and make sure it never happens again. Am I right?" I asked, tapping my fingers on my menu.

"No," he replied. "But you know as well as I do that honesty is the best policy."

I crossed my arms. "You gonna rat me out if I keep my mouth shut?"

"No," he said again. "But I think you need to be honest here."

"Right, with Axel," I muttered.

"First with yourself," Yev said, his words catching me briefly off-guard then as I forced myself to look up at him, "then with Axel."

. . .

I was doing the morning shift at Patsy's the following day; my plan with Yev was, as he got on around three in time for the after-school crowd, dinner rush, and closing shift, was that he would watch Hailey for me. He would then take my car with Hailey to work, and I would take Hailey and return home. My plan for the evening was to get some essay work done, as I had some work due later in the week. I found myself just finishing up taking an order during the early afternoon, before I handed off the duty to another waitress and walked back to the office, where Franny was stationed, filling in the ordering document.

"Hey, am I cool to take a smoke break?" I asked.

"Sure," Franny said.

"Back in ten," I told her, flashing a smile. I walked down the hallway and through the employee locker room, before stepping outside. I leaned back up against the brick work of the building, and pulled my sweatshirt closer around me. It was a cool day in mid-November, and I knew that keeping my wits about me during the next handful of days was important. I reached into my pocket and took out my pack of cigarettes and my lighter, effortlessly lighting up the stick of tobacco, before placing it between my lips.

I leaned my head back against the building, savoring the feeling of the inhalation of the tobacco in my lungs, before slipping the cigarette out of my mouth and letting the breeze carelessly take off its end. I licked my lips then, slowly opening my eyes, allowing my shoulders to relax against the back of the building. It was then, as I lifted the cigarette back to my lips, that I heard the sound of a car along the alleyway. Perplexed, knowing that only employees were typically allowed to park back here, I turned my head, my heart immediately thudding in my chest when I saw that it was Liam's car. My head turned clammy as I extinguished my cigarette then, and remembered my last encounter with him, in this alley, was when my mother revealed to him that I suffered from bipolar disorder.

"Liam?" I somehow managed to say, although my tone was choked, as he flew out of his car and ran right to me. "What's…?"

"It's Hailey," he said breathlessly, his voice full of fear.

I blinked then, shaking my head. "What?" I whispered. "How do you know? Who told you? Why are you here?!" I demanded.

"Ian's working a double, and couldn't get reached," he said. "Your Mom took the kids away for the weekend. Your dad's in court on an emergency case. Axel's working at the prison until late and couldn't get away," he said, all in one breath. "Desmond and Yev are at the hospital together and I'm here…"

I crossed my arms. "Why?" I whispered. "Why are you here?!"

"Because Desmond told me to be," he said simply. "Come on. Get your stuff. I'm driving you over there."

I nodded, knowing that it was for the best, and flew through the employee door, and was surprised to see Liam following me. "What are you…?"

"It was an allergic reaction, as far as I know," he said quickly, diving for my locker, and my eyebrows shot up when I saw that he remembered which one it was. "Go tell Franny that you're taking off early."

I nodded again, running for the hallway, my heart very nearly beating out of my chest; I had never seen Liam like this, and it touched my heart that he seemed to care so deeply about my daughter's well-being. I ran for the office then, throwing open the door, the tears suspended on my lashes as it came open at my hand, and forced the words from my lips as Franny stared at my unexpected arrival, shocked.

"Hailey's in the hospital," I said.

"Jesus," she said, getting to her feet. "You'd better get over there, then."

"You sure?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

"Of course," she said quickly, pulling me briefly into her arms. "What can I do?"

"My mom is away with the kids…"

"Okay," she said, pulling back. "She gave me an emergency number to call, so I'll see if I can try that. Hey," she said, and my eyes rose to hers. "Everything's going to be okay."

I nodded. "I hope so," I said, breaking away from her and stumbling back towards the employee locker room, untying my apron faster than lightning. "Ready," I said, throwing it into my duffel bag, which Liam zipped.

Liam gave me a nod then, before he turned around, me at his heels, and led me back outside and towards his car. He threw my duffel into the back seat, while I climbed in passenger side and did my best to buckle my seatbelt. "They're at Mercy," Liam said steadily as he pulled out of the alleyway. "I hope you don't mind, but I called in some favors. Hailey's getting the best care that they can provide."

I blinked, turning and looking over at him. "You didn't have to do that."

"I know I didn't," he said softly, turning back to me. "But I wanted to."

I gave him a small smile then. "Thank you," I said.

He nodded. "You're welcome."

We drove the rest of the way to the hospital in virtual silence, although I did thank him for the ride and for handing over my duffel once we arrived. I was slightly taken aback when he parked near the emergency room entrance, and felt my eyebrows raise when I saw that the spot was reserved for him. Pushing it out of my mind, we flew in through the automatic double doors, and I sprinted towards the front desk.

"Hi, excuse me," I said, panting slightly. "My daughter, Hailey Milkovich, was recently admitted due to an allergic reaction…"

"Name?"

"Iana Milkovich," I replied, handing over my I.D.

"Ward seven," said the woman.

"Thank you," I said, and Liam and I bolted to the correct ward. "I'm Hailey Milkovich's mother," I managed to get out at the second desk.

"Yes, of course, Miss Milkovich," said the woman, smiling at me. "Her uncle arrived with her about thirty minutes ago. Room 175."

"Thank you so much," I said, and Liam and I took off down the hallway, coming towards the room and throwing open the door. "Baby!" I said, throwing down my bag and dashing forward, relieved to see a bandage on her arm, and her triumphant smile. "Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry I wasn't here! Mama was at work…"

"Everything is fine with Hailey, Miss Milkovich," said the doctor, standing beside Hailey's bed with a considerate smile. "I'm Dr. Partridge, by the way."

"Dr. Partridge, I was told it was an allergic reaction…" I said.

"Hailey has an allergy to shellfish," she said carefully. "Do you or her father happen to share that allergy?" she asked.

"I have it," I said softly, turning back to Hailey and stroking back her hair. "I never gave her any just in case…"

"Her uncle was extremely apologetic," she said quickly, and I was relieved that she didn't seem to blame Yev for what happened. "Apparently, they got her fish and chips for lunch, but she snuck one of their battered shrimps when him and his boyfriend weren't looking."

"It could happen to anyone," I said, leaning down and kissing her forehead. "My tongue swelled when it happened to me. My mother freaked out," I said, laughing slightly. "But Hailey's going to be okay, right Dr. Partridge?"

"We've given her an injection to stop the symptoms, but there's no guarantee that they won't stop altogether," she said carefully. "We'd like to monitor her for the next four hours, just to be sure that she doesn't have another attack."

I nodded. "Of course, Dr. Partridge," I said, looking around, and only spotting Liam, who had remained in the doorway. "Where is my brother?" I asked.

"He took a moment with Desmond," Dr. Partridge said carefully. "He only just left before you and Mr. Kennedy showed up."

"Understood," I replied. "Did he happen to mention where he was off to?"

"The courtyard across the way," she said, nodding to where Liam stood. "Just down the hallway there, beside Mr. Kennedy. I think he needed a breather."

I smiled, turning back and seeing that Hailey was slipping into sleep. I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Will she be all right if I go and see him?"

"I was just about to check her vitals and take some notes on her," Dr. Partridge said. "Please take your time, Miss Milkovich."

"Thank you," I said. "And please, call me 'Iana'."

"Very well, Iana," she said, smiling at me as I slipped from the room.

I didn't tell Liam not to follow me, and we walked out into the courtyard together. "Yev!" I said then, and dashed towards him, and he did the same, from where he and Desmond sat on a stone bench beneath some kind of pine tree.

"Is she okay?" he asked, and I noticed his eyes were red-rimmed.

I nodded, smiling at him as I pulled him into my arms. "She's going to be fine," I assured him, keeping a tight hold on him as he sobbed with relief. "I have the allergy, too, Yev, so not to worry about a thing. Promise me you won't worry."

Yev sighed, pulling back. "I'll try not to."

I nodded, wiping his tears away. "Good," I said.

It was when a door opened from behind us then that I thought it would be another doctor cutting through here as a shortcut, but I felt my heart pounding all over again when I saw what I saw. I immediately stood in front of Yev, knowing what was going to happen, and yet I felt completely powerless to stop it. I shook my head as the men in blue stepped forward, their expressions ones of impatience, and I loathed them all the more.

"Yevgeny Milkovich?" the first one asked.

Yev sighed from behind me, but nevertheless stepped forward, and squeezed my hand as he walked by. "That's me."

"Conditions for your bail were that you adhere to a strict schedule," the man went on, his tone filled with malice. "You broke your conditions, as you did not show up for your work hours this afternoon, Mr. Milkovich. As such, your bail is hereby revoked," he said, and stepped forward, successfully yanking Yev away from us, while his other two goons cuffed him.

"No!" I shouted, stepping forward.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Desmond demanded then, and took off after them, while I stood back, and felt Liam's hand on my shoulder.

"Liam," I whispered, my voice breaking then, as I turned around and threw myself into his arms, sobbing. "They just took him…"

"Desmond's on it, Iana," he said gently, holding me against him. "It's all right…"

"They took him away," I whimpered.

Liam sighed, gently pulling me back slightly and looking down at me. "It's going to work itself out eventually, Iana," he said, and wiped my tears from my eyes.

I shook my head then, hating myself for doing it, but knowing that control had officially gone out the window. I stood on my toes then, just as Liam yanked me towards him, kissing me. I felt as if I'd found something I'd lost, while at the same time, I still knew that I had yet to completely be found.

. . .

I went over and over with Yev two days later that it wasn't his fault, about what had happened with Hailey, which had landed her in the hospital. I didn't want him to blame himself, as the entire situation had been an accident. Even though he insisted he would pay me back the bail money that I'd lost, I refused to take it. It would take him years to pay me back, for one thing, and for another, I honestly didn't care. He was my brother, and he had helped save my daughter's life, so, as far as I was concerned, I owed him everything.

I felt sick for asking Axel for a favor on Sunday night, after they took Yev to Cook County. It was lousy timing; one, because the judge was set to give his verdict on Yev that Friday, so him getting his bail revoked was terrible. And as for two, I felt extremely bad for what I'd done with Liam at the hospital, and kept my fingers crossed that Axel wouldn't find out. Axel spent the night at my parent's house on Sunday, because I needed him close to me, and although we didn't have sex, he seemed to think that I was too upset about Yev, which was partially true.

Friday couldn't come soon enough, and I'd very nearly thrown up several times in anticipation for the end of it. The last thing I wanted was for Yev to land himself in jail for a decade or more, and even though the D.A. hadn't offered a plea bargain, Dad still assured me he had high hopes for the verdict. I sat there, on my typical bench, with just Axel for company that day; I was completely rigid, unknowing what the eventual outcome would be.

Almost as if he sensed my anxiety, Axel reached out and took my hand. He smiled slightly then as I turned to look at him, and he pressed his lips to my forehead, and for some reason, I allowed him to do so. "Don't worry," he whispered out the side of his mouth. "It's going to be fine."

"We've been stuck in here for two months, ever since I came back from Los Angeles," I said back to him, the anxiety filling my voice, not wanting him to find out about all the times in the last few weeks that I'd betrayed him. "I'm sorry if this has been such a pain in the ass to you, Axel, really, but Yev's my brother…"

"You don't have to explain it to be, Iana. I get it," he said, squeezing my hand, which sent nervousness through my entire body. "We took the three months that you were gone to take a step back, and I'm relieved to have you back in my life again."

I smiled then, the unexpectedness of the gesture catching him momentarily off-guard; he was actually being kind to me, even though I clearly didn't deserve it. "I'm glad to have you back in my life, too, Axel," I said then, surprised I could actually say it.

A door opened off the side of the courtroom then, and I launched to my feet as Yev was led out of the back room. Garbed from head to toe in a yellow jumpsuit, his wrists and ankles shackled in place, my heart went out to him as he was led forward. I threw my arms around him once he was close enough, and Dad, as his lawyer, was able to get the shackles in his wrists undone so that he could hug me back.

"Are you okay?" I whispered, trying to keep the tears from my eyes as I clutched onto him, my arms wound tight around his frame.

"I'm fine, Iana, really," he said, his voice quiet and subdued as he squeezed me back for a moment, before his eyes looked around the courtroom. "No Desmond today?"

I sighed, pulling back. "No, sorry. Most of his texts to me are asking me to take Penny and Lacey's phone calls, but today something came up with the company. He's sorry."

Yev nodded. "It's cool," he replied. "And Pops?"

"Trying to prevent Mom from killing Terry," I replied. "Uncle Ian is serving as back-up. As for the rest of them, they're working."

"We'll make do with what we've got, then," he said, turning to Axel.

"How're you doing, man?" Axel asked, and the pair gave each other one-armed hugs. "They treating you all right in there?"

He shrugged. "Best of a bad situation all around, I guess." He hesitated for a moment then before he looked up at Axel. "Listen, I'm sorry about all this. I didn't want to run…"

"It's okay, Yev," Axel said, cutting him off, squeezing his shoulder. "Although Iana had to explain to me what happened, I've come to understand her way of thinking." Axel turned to me and smiled. "She just didn't want to lose her brother. I can accept that."

Yev smiled. "You're good for my sister, Richland," he said, chuckling.

"Hey," I said, playfully shoving him back. "Not up to you."

It was the movement of the bailiff stepping forward that freaked me out slightly, and my heart thundered in my chest as Axel never let go of my hand. "All rise for Judge Vincent," said the bailiff, before returning to stand in his original position.

Yev sighed, smiling at us both before he moved back to stand with Dad.

Judge Vincent swept out from his chambers, moving to his chair and shuffling the paperwork he held before him. "Be seated," he said, and waited until everyone was sitting. "Today we begin sentencing for Yevgeny Milkovich. Mr. Milkovich, you've pled no contest to the charge of assault and battery towards Terry Milkovich, your grandfather, a crime that was originally pinned on that of your sister, Iana Milkovich. Miss Milkovich has previously testified that she took the blame for the crime, not only due to her brother's record, but because she believed that she had instigated the crime itself, and because she didn't want to lose another member of her family. I am prepared to make a ruling on sentencing today. Will the defendant please rise?"

Yev got to his feet, and Dad stood beside him, squeezing onto his shoulder.

"The sentencing for the accused, Yevgeny Milkovich, will be as follows…"

TO BE CONTINUED

---

Hey, guys! Can't get enough "Like Mother, Like Daughter"? Check out the trailer I made for the series right here. watch?v=smAwrEx7hQs

Happy watching and reading!