"I hate you!" Sara's words still filled her head long after the confrontation with her mother had passed.

She had been tossing and turning her way through the night as she lay sleepless thinking about everything that had happened.

Her pacing mother had met her return home, much like Michael upon her return with the coffee and donuts at the door. The difference being Michael had met her with love and concern. Her mother's idea of love was to control and demand.

Sara squeezed her eyes shut, but still her mother's words rang in her ears.

"You're ungrateful, Sara. We've given you everything you have ever asked us for. And how do you repay us? You shack up with your step brother like a little slut!"

Sara had stood staring with her mouth open as her mother verbally attacked her. She had listened with dry eyes to this, but when her mother called Michael a no good piece of trash Sara had lost it.

She felt her eyes fill again as her own words came back to her; as the scene played out in her head.

The words out of her mouth had been an attack on Grace and her ability to be there for everyone but her own daughter. And Sara knew her words weren't unfounded. She loved her mother, but she could remember plenty of times when she had watched her friends with their moms and felt jealous of the time spent with them. Instead of being there for Sara, Grace had spent time at homeless shelters and Aids benefits.

Sara had spewed out years of pent up anger and resentment towards her mother, and then with her final blow, telling Grace she hated her, she had watched as the pain from her words spread across her mother's stricken face.

Unable to take anymore, Sara had then fled to her room, her words leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

Now she looked to the clock on her nightstand, her mind too awake to force a shut down. It was almost 3:00am.

She hugged her stuffed bear to her chest and let her thoughts drift to Michael. She couldn't help wondering what he was doing. Was he lying sleepless in his bed just like she was? She flipped over and stared at the wall cast in gray shadows, seeing his eyes instead.

And then needing to be close to him any way she could she slipped from her bed and out the door into the hall. She made her way as quietly as she could to Michael's bedroom, and then through the door shutting it behind her.

She stood frozen for some time just staring at his bed, what had been his bed, and then made her way to it, climbing beneath sheets long cooled from his presence.

She knew the linen had since been laundered, but somehow as she snuggled beneath the blankets she felt closer to him, and it allowed her to close her eyes and find some peace.

(The next morning)

Sara made her way quietly down the stairs. She was still on house arrest, but was hoping to slip out to the pool unnoticed.

She was almost to the door when their raised voices stopped her in her tracks.

"We have to do something Aldo! If we continue to do nothing she'll just keep running back there to him!"

Sara strained to hear Aldo's response, but he was speaking much lower than her mother. She moved closer in hopes of making out his words. When her foot hit the creaky floor board she froze, holding her breath. Had they heard her? Sara stood quietly listening, her breath whooshing out in relief when her mother continued.

"We tell him we won't pay his tuition if he contacts her."

"Grace…this is my son we're talking about here!" Aldo's voice rose.

"And it's our daughter! Or is she not as important to you now that you've had your son back in your life!?"

"That isn't fair Grace. You know how much I love Sara! You know how much I love this family!"

"If you love this family, Aldo, than do it. Tell him to go away. Send him anywhere he wants to go. I don't care how much his education costs! We have to end this!"

Sara stood there her hand closed over her mouth and her eyes filling with tears as she listened. How could her mother be so heartless? Had she never been in love?

As Aldo's quiet acquiescence filled her ears, Sara brushed the tears away angrily. And then stepping back quietly evading the creaky floor board, she made her way to the door and slipped out into the late summer breeze.

(The next day)

(Michael)

Michael opened the door and silently ushered his father in. When Aldo had called him from the airport it had sent his mind spiraling through the many possibilities behind this visit. And now that Aldo was there in front of him, something in his face told Michael he wouldn't like it.

His father, never one to mince words, started out with talk of college. He knew Michael had applied to Loyola and gotten an early acceptance, but he also knew Michael had had other offers. He finished his spiel with an offer to pay full tuition if Michael wanted to go to Oxford.

Michael wasn't fooled, he knew what this was. He met his father's blue eyes, his own cold steel.

"You want to send me away, to keep me away from Sara." It wasn't a question.

Aldo nodded. "If you don't accept, Grace will insist on sending Sara to boarding school, Michael. Either way it's over; the two of you."

Michael looked down at his hands. He wanted to be angry, and he was, but more than anything he was tired.

"Sara would hate boarding school," his words came out low, but Aldo heard him.

"Yes, she would. This is for the best, Son. You might not think so now, but someday…" Aldo reached out a hand and squeezed his arm.

Michael looked up at his father, his eyes grim. "Okay. I'll go."

(Chapter End Notes:)

This story is nearing an end. But before you all send me hate mail and/or reviews I want you to know I am setting this up for a sequel.