Soooo I'm back. I know it's been well two years but life got in the way. Started college again and just got overwhelmed. But enjoy everyone.
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"Nineteen years ago. I was twelve and I lived in Iowa." Charlie stated. Tristan scooted herself up the bed enough to be sitting. Charlie pulled a picture out of the box and handed it to Tristan.
"That's me, my dad, and his best friend, Chad." Charlie pointed over the top of the picture. Tristan still looked lost as to why this lady was telling all this. "The night after this picture was taken, my dad's best friend, my surrogate uncle, molested me four times." Charlie paused. Tristan stared at the picture, taking in the man that Charlie was pointing too. The man was not as tall as Charlie's dad, blonde hair, brown eyes, not a bad looking man.
"I remember begging him to stop. Telling him I didn't want to, but he didn't listen. He took everything from me that night." Charlie said, her voice shaking. "He slapped me in the face, punched me in the ribs, anything to keep me still he did. After the first time, I hurt to bad to fight anymore." Charlie's eyes unfocused as memory flashes ran through her mind.
"Uncle Chad? What are you doing?" Charlie asked. Chad settled himself down into her bed.
"Just want to cuddle with my favorite niece." Charlie shifted away from him. He pulled her closer.
"You're too close. I won't be able to sleep." She said, pulling the blankets around her tighter. He pulled them off of her. "What are you doing?"
"You need to be a good girl now." He said, pulling her shirt up. She pushed it back down.
"You need to go. I want to go to sleep." She said pulling away. He grabbed her and pulled her to him.
"You're going to do what I say!" He snapped, gripping her so hard she was sure she'd have bruises.
"Stop please!" She begged as he ripped her shirt over her head. The rest was just flashes of pain and the sound of him grunting and telling her what a good girl she was over and over. Flashes of his hand coming up and slapping her when she screamed.
"Where were your mom and dad?" Tristan asked, setting the picture down. Charlie pulled another picture out.
"They went out on a date. Mom took this picture while they were at the restaurant. It's the last picture that they were truly happy in." Charlie said, handing the picture to her. Tristan looked over the faces in the picture. The woman had a smile that lit up the entire picture; the man was looking at her like she was the greatest creation on Earth.
"Your mom is beautiful." Tristan said, running a finger over the picture.
"Yeah, she was." Charlie smiled. "But then they came home and found me curled in a ball under my bed, crying so hard I could barely breathe and Chad was gone. He'd left me there bruised, broken." Charlie's voice shook.
"I was taken to the hospital. They took lots of pictures." Charlie continued taking an envelope out of the box and pulling a stack of pictures out. She handed them to Tristan. "He gave me a black eye, busted my lip, broke two ribs on my left side." Charlie stopped, wiping a hand over the tears running down her face.
The nurses took her clothes. There were flashes from cameras and a doctor poking around between her legs. Her mom's face came into her line of vision.
"You're doing so good baby girl. It's almost over." She said.
"Carla." Her dad came into view. He led her mother away as another nurse came in and messed with Charlie's I.V. Charlie felt the doctor close her legs for her. She fell asleep right after that.
Tristan looked over the pictures and back up at Charlie.
"Why do I have a feeling that's not it?" She asked softly.
"Because it's not." Charlie said, pulling an ultrasound out of the box. "We found out about two months later he had gotten me pregnant. I was twelve, weighed eighty five pounds, hadn't even hit five foot yet and I was pregnant." Tristan stared at her, shocked.
"Didn't they give a pill or something to prevent that?" She asked.
"My parents didn't think I needed it. I'd only had my period once before it happened. What were the chances of me getting pregnant?" Charlie sighed. "Mom homeschooled me during the trial. Once that son of a bitch, pardon my French, was locked up, Dad moved us to Charming."
"Did you go to school here?" Tristan asked.
"Once Azalia was born yeah, but I was about to start eighth grade when she was born. How many pregnant seventh graders do you know?" Charlie asked, pulling more pictures out. Tristan saw Charlie sitting at a table doing home work with a very swollen belly. There were more ultrasounds and pictures of the baby's room that Charlie was decorating in the picture.
"When I was twenty eight weeks along I went into labor."
"Is that bad?"
"A woman is normally pregnant between thirty six and forty weeks. I was so small I couldn't carry the baby anymore. Azalia was twelve weeks early. Her lungs were underdeveloped and she only weighed two pounds seven ounces." Charlie said, pulling more pictures out. Tristan looked at them and saw Charlie leaning over an incubator a tiny body laying inside.
"Did she survive?"
"See for yourself." Charlie pulled more pictures out. Tristan looked over them to see the tiny baby being held, at home playing on the floor, as a toddler with a chocolate covered face. Charlie pulled the last picture out. It was the framed one. "Azalia is almost eighteen." Tristan looked at Azalia's school picture. Things were not making sense. Why was this woman telling her all this?
"There is a point to all this." Charlie said, collecting the pictures and putting them back in the box. "I blamed myself for all of it. Everything was my fault. I should've stopped him, it's my fault Azalia almost died, it's my fault we had to move across the country, it's my fault my parents were so unhappy. It took me a long time to accept that none of it was my fault. Chad was one hundred pounds heavier than me, how could I have stopped him? I shouldn't have gotten pregnant at twelve, how could it be my fault my body couldn't carry her long, though I still feel guilt about that. My parents, well they always told me they loved me and were so happy I was alive and well, they put me in therapy to cope with what happened. My mom stayed home with Azalia so I could finish school, dad worked two jobs to support all of us." Tristan watched Charlie as she set the box of photos on the floor.
"But this was my fault. I was so stupid going off alone where the guy could get me." Tristan said, tears pricking at her eyes. Charlie shook her head.
"None of it is your fault. The guy that did this to you, it's his fault. You didn't ask him to do this, to hurt you. This is not your fault." Charlie said, reaching forward and grabbing Tristan's hand. "You just have to remember that. He's a jackass and it's not your fault. Repeat that in your head a thousand times a day if you have to, but make sure it sticks." Tristan shook her head.
"What if that doesn't work?" She asked, hand gripping Charlie's tightly.
"Then you talk to your mom or call me. Here, let me see your phone." Tristan handed it to her and Charlie quickly programmed her number in. "Any time you wanna talk, call me. I always have my phone on. Hazard of having two children." Tristan took her phone back and gave her a small smile.
"Do you want your mom in here now?" Charlie asked, climbing down off the bed. Tristan nodded. Charlie gave her a small smile, picking up her box and heading out the door. She told Tristan's mom that Tristan wanted her before taking off down the hall, finding the quietest corner she could and hiding. Charlie began to cry as she sank to the floor. Hale found her a few minutes later.
"You okay? Need me to call someone?" He asked, crouching down next to her. She shook her head, pulling her phone out of her pocket. She shot off a quick text and shooed the overbearing deputy away. She sat huddled in the corner, taking deep breaths. She heard the footsteps before she saw the body they were attached to. Gemma had finally gotten there. She didn't say anything just helped Charlie to her feet and led her out of the hospital.
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Charlie woke the next morning bright and early. She rolled over and looked at the clock, it cheerfully said 7:30. Charlie groaned and rolled over, curling deeper into the covers. She took a deep breath to try to fall back asleep and smelled coffee instead. She followed her nose out of the bed and down to the kitchen. Rubbing her eyes, she was shocked to see Happy standing in her kitchen. She stared at him.
"How do you like your coffee?" He asked, pulling a mug out of the cabinet.
"Two packets of hot chocolate in it. What are you doing here?" She asked, sitting down on a bar stool at the island.
"I'm back in town for the day. Figured I should probably come talk to you." He rasped out, handing her the mug.
"Probably." She said, accepting the mug with a smile.
"You still pissed at me?" He asked. Charlie smiled softly.
"The coffee is helping your cause." She replied. She sipped at the coffee, hands wrapped around the mug, absorbing the heat from it.
"You doin' okay? The baby?" Happy asked, sitting next to her.
"Baby's fine. The doctors told me I'm about five weeks so that's right on track with the weekend we were supposed to go out and never made it out the front door." She said with a smirk. Happy grinned.
"That was a good weekend." He said. Charlie looked over at him.
"You know I was serious. If you want out tell me now and you're in the clear." She said, twirling a curl around her finger. Happy paused a moment, examining her face.
"You are something else. All the other guys, they get a girl pregnant, they never hear the end of it. You'd better take care of this baby, you helped make it. But you, you're giving me an out. Why?" He asked. Charlie thought about it.
"I've been a mom since I was thirteen. I didn't know how to be anything but a mom 'til I graduated high school. My whole world was Azalia and school. It wasn't 'til I started college that I had a life outside of motherhood and school. I met Jesse and got pregnant soon after we got together. Had Carson right after I turned nineteen, took me another three years to finish my associates. Got my bachelors after Carson started kindergarten and opened up the store right after that. I can handle a lot being on my plate because that's all I've ever known is being a crazy busy mom. So adding one more little one to the mix, just another day of the week for me." She said, staring down into her mug.
"Well I'm not going anywhere. Even if you don't want me, that's my kid and I'm gonna be there anyway it needs me to be." Happy said, lighting up a cigarette. Charlie delicately waved the smoke away as she felt her stomach turn. "It bother you?" He asked.
"I'm definitely pregnant. Cigarette smoke makes me nauseas and if I smoke I throw up." She said, he quickly stubbed the cigarette out. She shook her head.
"How's Z doing?" He asked. Charlie sighed.
"Still seeing Kip. I can't fight her on it anymore. It's exhausting. Plus he did all the labor for free on the truck. I don't like it but she turns eighteen in two weeks and then I really can't stop her." She said. Happy shook his head.
"She at the last party?" He asked, getting up and getting himself a Pepsi.
"Yeah. Not too thrilled but it's impossible to fight her on it." Charlie sighed. She sipped at her coffee, fingers twitching around the mug. The nicotine withdrawals were really getting to her. Happy reached over and took her hand in his.
Happy's hand was big enough that when she flattened her hand over his, he could curl his fingers over hers without moving her palm from its place over his. One thing Charlie had always loved was a tall muscular guy with hands much larger than hers. She looked up at him and met his gaze. His eyes blazed right into hers. She stared into his dark eyes and her stomach twisted. He was the only man she'd ever met that could see right into her soul. No one had ever turned her upside down like he had.
Happy met her gaze. He could see her eyes soften as she stared at him. Her eyes always intrigued him, they were the most expressive part of her. She never realized that even when she was acting like everything was fine, her eyes always showed exactly how she felt. He could see her sadness, a weight hanging over her. He could see the hope beginning to glimmer in her eyes as she looked at him. He leaned forward and kissed her.
Charlie sighed as his lips connected with hers. Her eyes fluttered shut as her hand rose up and cupped his jaw. His tongue swept along her lips asking for invitation. She parted them slightly allowing his tongue to sweep her mouth. She melted into him as his arms slid around her waist. He pulled her flush against him.
"Mom?" Carson's voice called down the hall, Charlie pulled away from Happy as Carson walked into the kitchen.
"Good morning baby." She said, picking up her coffee and sliding around the island to the fridge. "Do you want some breakfast?" Carson nodded as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He noticed Happy sitting at the island and went and sat next to him.
"Where have you been?" He asked the biker bluntly. Happy froze at the eleven year olds blunt statement?
"Around." He said evasively, looking over at Charlie.
"You want pop tarts this morning?" Charlie asked Carson, pulling a box out of the cupboard. Carson nodded still glaring at Happy.
"You know she's having a baby right?" Carson asked, accepting the breakfast pastry from his mother.
"She is standing right here. And yes he does." Charlie said, raising an eyebrow at her son as her arms crossed over her chest. Carson glowered at the man sitting next to him. Charlie hid a smile by refilling her coffee cup. Carson was not pleased at Happy's disappearing act.
"Then why'd you leave for a week and not go to the doctor with her?" Carson continued, taking a savage bite out of the pop tart in his hand. Charlie laughed out loud at her son's audacity.
"She told me to leave." Happy said, not wanting to piss the kid off.
"And you listened?!" Carson exclaimed. "Wow you're dumb." Charlie choked.
"Carson! That's not polite!" She said, coughing. Happy stared dumbstruck at the dark haired eleven year old that had just called him dumb. If it had been an adult they'd have been laid out on the floor, but this kid did what no one else dared to.
"You'll learn something about girls, kid. The ones that matter, the good ones, when they say get lost you listen, 'til they say it's okay to come back." Happy said, looking at Charlie. She smiled at him before turning her gaze to Carson.
"Are you telling me you ignore what I say?" She asked severely, Carson cowering away from her glare.
"Of course not mommy I love you." He said, giving off puppy dog eyes.
"That's what I thought." Charlie said, Happy let out a chuckle.
"That's the other thing about the good ones. You don't rule them, they definitely rule you." Happy said, smiling at Charlie. She smirked at him, before pausing and turning to the hall leading to the stairs.
"Good morning sunshine." She said, brightly. Azalia appeared in the doorway, grumbling about the time.
"Morning all. There something caffeinated?" the teen asked, leaning over and resting her head on the counter.
"Coffee?" Charlie asked, listening to Carson laugh at his sister. Happy got up from the stool, reached over and snagged Azalia's arm, leading her to his vacated seat and planting her there. She planted the side of her face on the counter as Happy headed to Charlie's side.
"I should probably head out." He said, leaning down to kiss her.
"You gonna stop by later today?" She asked, accepting his kiss.
"If Clay lets me leave." He replied, taking the mug from Charlie's hand and setting it in front of Azalia. "Hey wake up coffee's ready." He said, tapping the teen on the head. She swatted at his hand before sitting up and picking up the mug. Charlie smiled at him as he headed out the door.
"Why was he here so early?" Azalia asked, drinking deeply of the mug in her hands. Carson grumbled through a bite of pop tart. Charlie chuckled at her son.
"He came over to talk." She said, "Opening statement was a mug of coffee." Azalia shook her head.
"You always were a sucker for coffee." She said, Carson made faces into the counter, much to the amusement of his mother and sister.
"Yes well, we've got some stuff to sort out and other stuff that is kinda fixed now." Charlie said. Azalia smiled.
"Well good to hear it." She said.
"Yes now, don't make plans for today." Charlie said, to both of her kids.
"Why?" Carson asked.
"'Cause today is a cleaning day." Charlie said gleefully. "No one is going anywhere until this house sparkles." The only sounds that followed were the groan of protest.
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The next couple days passed without incident. Charlie had talked to Tristan over the phone, Azalia had even gone to the hospital and painted the girl's nails while watching some ridiculous Disney Channel movie. Carson had taken to curling up with his mom for a bit every day, usually right before bed.
"Carson." Charlie called up the stairs. He came trotting up to the top of the staircase. "I'm going to the hospital to see Abel and Tristan. You wanna come too or stay here?"
"I just wanna stay here mom. Can we have homemade cheeseburgers for dinner tonight?" He asked. Charlie smiled up at him.
"Sure thing baby. I'll be home around 5. I love you."
"Yeah yeah love you too." She heard as he turned and went back to his room. Charlie grabbed her purse and headed to her car.
Pulling into the hospital parking lot, Charlie's phone started ringing.
"I'm on my way into the hospital what's up Jumpin' Jax?" She answered.
"I hate when you call me that."
"I know but I like it." She replied cheekily.
"You coming to see Abel today?" He asked.
"Of course, dear. I want my baby time." She said, as she passed the visitor's desk and pressed the button to go up in the elevator.
"I'll see you there in five. Gotta question." He said, then ended the call. She rolled her eyes.
Making her way to the NICU, Charlie paused as she saw Tara Knowles approaching Abel's room. She hadn't seen the woman since high school. Tara had never been fond of Charlie, believing her to be after Jax. The fact that Charlie tended to get better grades than Tara hadn't helped. Charlie put a smile on and continued towards the nursery. Tara stopped her outside the door.
"Charlie Ryzdale. It's been a long time." She said, a look of contempt settling over her face. Charlie steeled herself.
"Tara Knowles. Back in town I see. And a big shot doctor. Impressive." She replied forcing her smile to stay bright and friendly. Tara smirked.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I'm here to see Abel. Jax is on his way to meet me." Charlie replied, making to go in. Tara blocked her path.
"This room is for family and medical personnel only." She said.
"Well than it's a good thing Jax put me on the list of family allowed to see my munchkin then huh?" Charlie said, sunnily. She turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. Jax was making his way toward the two women.
"Charlie." He greeted dropping a brotherly kiss on the top of her head. "Tara. Everything okay with Abel?" He asked, concerned as to why she was blocking the entrance to Abel's incubator.
"Tara was just informing me of the NICU's visitors policy. Not that I need reminding." Charlie said, edging her way towards the door. Jax cocked his head.
"Charlie's on the list of visitors, Tara. Unless there's something wrong. I asked her to be here." He asked trying to gauge what was going on.
"Abel ran a bit of a fever last night. I don't think he needs to be exposed to too many people. Especially ones who aren't blood relatives and may not have the best interests of Abel at heart." Tara replied snarkily. Charlie's jaw hit the ground. Jax was staring incredulously at Tara.
"May not have Abel's best interest at heart." She spat. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Do you know how careful you have to be around a preemie with the level of complications that Abel has? Jax and Gemma have been working closely with us here to ensure the safest environment for Abel to heal. You haven't." Tara replied, using her doctor status to enforce her point. Jax was staring at Tara, unsure whether he should be happy about her level of concern for Abel, or pissed at the obvious brush off of Charlie, who knew better than him or Gemma what it was like to have a preemie.
"Okay princess." Charlie spat. Jax could practically see the steam pouring out Charlie's ears. "I've been a mom since before you had tits, you stupid bitch. So my suggestion for you, is to call Doctor Roger Carlisle. I do believe he's the head of all things pediatrics here. Your boss and tell him that Charlotte Ryzdale is being refused access to a patient that she has been approved to see based on your gut feeling that she is not fit to be around him. As a matter of fact I'll call him myself!" Charlie had gotten progressively louder as she went. The nurses had begun to poke their heads around the corner. Jax at this point had one arm wrapped around Charlie's shoulders and the other reaching for the door handle. Tara was in a state of shock at the ass chewing she had just received.
"Charlie Ryzdale?" A voice called out. Charlie spun around to see Dr. Carlisle approaching.
"Roger." She said, a tight smile crossing her face.
"Charlie why don't you go in and see little Abel." He said, "I've been expecting you since Gemma Morrow called and demanded that you have full access to her grandson." Charlie smiled and hugged the man. Jax stood there a moment slightly stunned at the battle of wills that had just occurred.
"Dr. Knowles, a word please." The older man said, calmly. Jax strode into the room where Charlie was currently cooing at his tiny son.
"What the hell Charlie?" He asked, dropping into the rocking chair. Charlie sighed.
"She's always hated me Jax. Since high school, she always thought that I was trying to take you away from her. Even though as much as I love you, it's in a totally platonic you're my older brother kind of way." She said, wiggling the finger Abel had grabbed onto.
"You've been like a sister to me for fifteen years Charlie. You'll be able to see my son in here. Don't worry about that. But I will be honest when I say, I'm glad she's that protective." Jax said. Charlie cracked a grin. Jax opened his arms.
"Come here little sister." He said. Charlie curled up on his lap and accepted his hug gratefully.
"I told you so." She cracked a grin.
"What do you mean by that?" Jax asked.
"Abel is getting stronger every day. You feel better and better each and every day too." Jax smiled and squeezed her as they sat and watched Abel cooing.