Dream A Little Dream of Me, Sweetheart

Chapter Four

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Mia's voice dripped with contempt as she entered the room. Her eyes scanned Toby, who blushed, then cruelly on Liberty, who covered her breasts with one hand, then dropped to grab her shirt with the other. She held the shirt in front of her until she could spin around and slip it back over her head. Toby, however, arched his brow and crossed his arms over his chest.

"What are you doing in my room, Mia?" he asked slowly. Emma gasped, eyes wide, as Liberty spun around, stunned. The hard voice and look Toby was using was not...well, Toby! Emma looked at his face and was dismayed to see the boy she'd known so long was gone. A man was standing in front of her, one who wasn't playing games. It made her answer a bit more meek than she'd intended.

"Sorry Toby, it was my fault. I...I thought Mia and I could talk about a few things." She looked at Toby, willing him to understand while the two other girls glared daggers at each other. Emma sighed inwardly. Toby's voice dropped dangerously, taking on a low, silky tone that boggled Emma's mind.

"And why was she here in the first place? She's not welcome here." Emma couldn't answer, Toby was frightening the hell out of her. Where was the compassion that made Toby what he weas? A quick peek at the others confirmed that Toby's change of attitude had similar results. Mia recovered first.

"Emma invited me. Trust me, I'd never have come here if I'd known the two of you would've been here," she spat out. "And you two forget that I was his girlfriend when he died. Liberty was just his old--"

She never got to finish the sentence. Liberty, moving faster than any of them would ever have given her credit for, raced across the room and slapped the other girl across the face, hard. Mia stumbled and fell into the opposite wall, crying out and cradling her cheek. Emma yelled Liberty's name as the girl started to step into the hall to attack the girl again, and Toby put an arm around her to stop her, whispering in her ear.

"Stop love, and let me handle this. I'll take care of everything." By now, Mia had recovered and was gearing up for an attack of her own. Emma had stepped back a few paces, not knowing exactly what was going on and wanting to stay out of the way. As soon as Mia stepped forward, snarling out an obscenity at Liberty as she swing a fist, Toby caught her arm. Mia was a little thing, so that Toby, even with his average height, was looking down at her. He tightened his grip on her arm, making her cry out. Emma's and Liberty's eyes bugged as this different Toby continued to rule. He lowered his face until it was inches away from Mia's, then snarled out one soft word: Go.

Mia snatched her arm away from Toby, tears streaming down her face as she raced downstairs, Toby turning to grab Liberty's hand before following Mia down the stairs. Liberty followed, bemused. Emma brought up the rear, still stunned at the turn of events, but still having seen Toby taking Liberty's hand. The protective way he'd hovered over her in the room. And, of course, the lack of clothes and their embrace. She knew they'd shared a kiss after JT's memorial service, courtesty of Manny, who couldn't hold ice water, let alone a secret. But she'd thought it was only a one-time thing. After Toby had told Liberty that JT had still loved her at the time of his stabbing, the girl had torn into him, then had pretty much avoided him at all costs. But now? Emma smiled slightly. It was time they saw each other in a new light, and moved on. She knew they'd never forget JT--none of them would, ever--but it made sense that the two people JT loved most should love each other. It's what JT would've wanted, that they be happy together, Emma believed.

Mia had raced downstairs, but now, in the middle of the living room, she had no place else to go. Toby and Liberty came down slowly, side-by-side, hands still linked. Ashley looked up from where she was listlessly plucking at a bowl of popcorn, and was startled and confused by what she saw: Mia, crying her eyes out. Toby--whom she was suddenly, instinctively, afraid of--walking down slowly, no shirt on, and holding Liberty's hand. Liberty looked pissed...and Ashley noticed that not only was the girl's shirt on backward and inside out, but that she wore no bra. Ashley's brow furrowed as she stood up from the couch and started toward the kids. Mia had her head in her hands and was sobbing like her heart was broken. Liberty looked pissed. She looked at Emma, who shrugged in confusion--yet had a satisfied smile on her face. And Toby..her stepbrother...she looked at him and wondered where the baby brother, the boy, had gone. And she mourned that loss.

Toby stepped up to Mia, letting go of Liberty's hand and giving Mia a little push. "I thought I told you to go!" he snarled at her. Everyone else looked outside; it was still sheeting rain outside, lightning flashed every few minutes and thunder was almost a constant sound now. Wide eyes from every part of the room centered on the scene taking place in the middle of the room. What was going on?

Mia stumbled, cringing. "Where do you want me to go? It's storming out there!" She was afraid. She knew Toby wouldn't outright hit her, but somehow she was more afraid of him than she had been of her abusive baby's father. She backed away a few steps and he followed.

"That's not my problem. You're not wanted here, Mia. Leave or I'll carry you out there myself. I suggest you either run home or find someplace dry until the rain stops." Mia hesitated. "OUT!" Toby thundered. Liberty, Emma, and Ashley cringed; Mia shrieked and ran for the door, clawing at it in an effort to get it open. She finally managed to unlock it and twist the door open, flying outside. Ashley ignored the wide eyes taking in the spectacle and rushed to close the door. She turned her back to it, leaning, and watched this new, dangerous brother of hers as he turned his attention on Liberty, holding her face in his hands and scanning her eyes.

"Liberty, are you ok?" he watched her until she looked up at him and smiled. Relieved, he smiled back and stroked her cheek. The old Toby was back, gentle and smiling. But he'd changed. Liberty knew it, Ashley and Emma knew it, so did everyone in the room. The girl who'd flirted with Toby earlier sighed and knew she'd lost her chance.

Toby looked around the room, smiling, then without another word he took Liberty's hand and led the woman he loved back upstairs.