Authors Note:
So, I think there will be either one or two more chapter left in this story! I feel like it's coming to its end and I couldn't be happier to share this story with you all! Please let me know if you guys like it! I promise to try my best to update when I can! School sucks, and I'm being buried alive in work! :)
Chapter Twenty
Madison POV:
I woke up kinda confused and when I felt the warmth on my back and the arms wrapped around my waist the events of last night came flooding back to my mind. Everything was a little hazy, but I remember how sweet and understanding Ryan was and I couldn't be happier that our paths crossed. I turned around and Ryan slowly woke up, and I have to say, he looked good in the morning. He opened his eyes, smiled at me and than pressed his lips to mine.
"Good morning." He said in a sleepy voice, and I couldn't help but smile and kiss him again.
"Good morning. How did you sleep?" I asked and he laughed.
"I feel like I should be asking you that." He said and I smiled. "I slept really well. I had a beautiful girl to hold the whole night, so it was a very good night." He said and I blushed but thankfully he couldn't see that. "How about you?" He asked and I leaned my head back on his chest.
"For the first time in years I fell asleep feeling safe. It was great." I said and he started rubbing my back.
"I'm glad I can provide that kind of comfort, it makes me feel useful." He said and I leaned up on my elbows.
"You are very useful. I'm here right now because of you, and I can't thank you enough for that." I said as I pressed my lips to his again. We got out of bed and followed the aroma of the coffee to the kitchen. When we walked in Jace, Clary and Danni were all sitting at the table talking. They looked over at us and smiled.
"How are you feeling Madison?" Clary asked as Ryan got me a cup of coffee.
"I'm doing better." I said and they smiled.
"Do you still want to call the cops?" Jace asked and I thought about it before I nodded.
"I can't live like that anymore. There are still six months of school left, and who knows how much worse it's going to get." I said and they nodded. Clary got up and left the room to make the call. Thirty minutes later there was a knock on the door. Jace went to answer it and not a moment later two cops walked in, one male, one female. We all sat in the living room in a tense silence before the cop started talking.
"My name is Officer Harbor, but you can call me Alaric, and this is my partner Susan." He said and I smiled. "We would like to discuss what happened last night and any other occurrence." He said and he looked at Clary and Jace. "What is your relationship with Madison?"
"I'm her therapist. She's been coming to me for a little over a year now." Clary said and he nodded.
"Well, since you are not Madison's parents or guardian, I'm afraid you have to step out of the room for our conversation." Jace and Clary nodded. They grabbed Danni and made their way upstairs. "And who are you?" He said to Ryan.
"He's my boyfriend. He's the one who saved me last night." I said and the cop nodded.
"Well, we will talk to you separately…" He started but I cut him off.
"I don't want to talk unless he's here. I've never discussed everything that's happened to me, and its going to be hard. I need him here." I said and Ryan grabbed my hand.
"Very well. Let's start at the beginning." He said and I nodded.
"It all started when I was 8….."
Clary POV:
When we got up stairs we went to our room and put Danni down and she started playing with her toys. I was laying on the bed rubbing my belly thinking about how we haven't picked a name out for her yet. She was going to be here in four months, and I would really like to stop calling my baby 'her'.
"Jace, we need to figure out a name." I said and he joined me on the bed. "I feel bad that she doesn't have one yet."
"Well, do you have any in mind?"
"I was thinking about something that goes with Danni. I mean, I know her name is Danielle but I doubt we'll ever call her that and I want their names to go together."
"Alright, well let's narrow the list down to at like 4 names and take it from there." He said and I nodded. "What's the first name that pops into your mind that could be the right fit for our daughter?"
"I don't know if it's too weird but I always liked the name Gemma. It's different, and unique."
"Gemma is different. I like it."
"What about you? What names do you like?" I asked and he started to rub my belly.
"Adeline." He says and I'm impressed. I didn't know how much he had put into the naming process.
"That's really pretty. I like that one a lot." I said and he leaned down and kissed my temple. "So, we have these two names, how do we decide?"
"How about we ask her, and which every name she moves the most for is what we name her?" He says and I nod. We both place a hand on my belly. "Alright baby girl, we're going to test some names out for you, let us know how you feel about them?" Jace said and I couldn't help but laugh. "I think you would be the perfect Adeline." He says and I feel her kick. Jace and I both look at each other and laugh. "Or maybe Gemma?" He says and there is absolutely no movement, which causes Jace and I to laugh again. "Alright, we can't wait to welcome you to the world Adeline." He said and she kicked again.
"What about her middle name?" I ask and I see Jace looks at me thinking.
"Well, she picked my name, so you think of the middle name." He said and I started to rub my belly thinking of a name that would go with Adeline. After a few minutes there was one name that stood out more than the rest.
"Jane." I said. "Adeline Jane Herondale." I said and she kicked again. And I laughed. "She likes it."
"So do I." Jace said and we smiled. Danni had made her way onto the bed at this point and we were all sitting laughing and being entertained by Danni when there was a knock on the door. "Come in." Jace said and Ryan poked his head into our room.
"They are done talking to us, but they want to talk to you Clary." He said and I nodded.
"I'll be right down." Ryan closed the door and I handed Danni over to Jace. I walk downstairs and see the officers sitting on the couch but Madison and Ryan were both gone. I took a seat across from them and waited to be questioned.
"So Mrs. Herondale, how long have you known Madison?"
"A little over a year now. She comes every week for sessions."
"How long have you known about her fathers abuse?"
"She never really outright said he abused her. I suspected considering whenever the topic of family was brought up she avoided it and immediately tensed."
"Why didn't you call the police?"
"There wasn't enough evidence. I can't just call the police off of my own suspicion. I need proof; a mark, or a visual confirmation that it was happening. But she came alone. We moved our sessions to my house for her safety and her comfort and I've never met her parents."
"So, in your professional opinion, how damaging do you think it would be for Madison to stay in that environment?" He said and I thought about it.
"Honestly, I've seen Madison make amazing improvements since our sessions started. She smiles more, she laughs more, she's making friends, and she has a boyfriend. A year ago I never thought we'd get that far, but she's really opening up. I think Madison is getting through just fine, but I can't say the say about her father. If Ryan hadn't gone back last night she could be lying in a hospital bed or she could be dead. It was a miracle that she left her jacket in that boys car. Madison is a strong girl, and she is a fighter, but her father is a loose cannon, I don't think it's a safe environment for her. Especially after Ryan broke their window, knocked her father unconscious and took her away. I think if she goes back she'll be serious danger." I said and the officer wrote it down.
"Thank you Mrs. Herondale. Since Madison is 18, we can't put her in a foster home or anything like that. Do you know if she has any family in the area?"
"She doesn't. Her parents are both only children, and her grandparents died a while ago. Her family is estranged from whomever else it may consist of. She's completely alone."
"I know it isn't ethical, considering your relationship with her, but until we figure it all out, would you mind looking after her?"
"Not at all. She's more than just a client of mine. I wouldn't want her to go anywhere else." I said and they nodded and got up.
"You'll hear back from us in a couple days when we gather more information. Thank you for your time Mrs. Herondale." He said and I led them to the door. Once I got back to the living room everyone was there waiting to see what happened.
"Since you're 18, the state can't do anything to you. They can't provide you shelter, or anything like that. The officers need to gather more information before they can continue on with the investigation."
"So, what does that mean for me?" Madison asks.
"They asked me if I could house you until everything gets sorted out." I said and I smile. "And I would love to have you stay with us. If that's what you want." She ran over and gave me a hug.
"I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me Clary. I know I was a pain in the ass when we first started, but you've really saved me."
"You are more than one of my clients Madison. And I'm glad you are so forgetful and left your jacket in Ryan's car, because I would be extremely upset if your father hurt you beyond repair." I said and she smiled at me.
"Alright, today is going to be a recuperation day. You ladies let us men do all the work today. You both deserve relaxation." Jace said and I couldn't help but smiled and give him a kiss. "Ryan and I will make lunch, and you two do whatever you want." I laughed and grabbed Danni and we all made our way over to the couch. We sat there cuddled under blankets while watching a movie Everything might have been a mess, but we're all in this moment because of that mess and I couldn't be happier with the growing relationship I have with Madison. All I've ever wanted to do was help people, and I feel like I've done that, and so much more.
