The Truth Will Set You Free
Jaime's students were waiting for her art class to start. Miracle was walking in and Leon walked in behind her and caught her before she sat down.
"Miry!" Leon called.
"What?" Miracle asked irritated.
"You can't avoid me forever. Prom is just a few weeks away."
"So?"
"Well I'm your date."
"Not anymore." Miracle then went to take her seat next to Millicent. She still has to sit next to her even though she continuously has an urge slap her anytime she thinks about how Millicent betrayed her.
Everyone was seated and Jaime began her lesson. The class pulled out their canvases and paintbrushes and began expressing themselves in the new way Jaime had taught them.
Millicent suddenly got sick and ran out of the classroom to the bathroom.
"Miracle, could you check on her?" Jaime asked.
"Sure." Miracle said after a sigh and then went to the girls' room to check on Millicent. "Millicent!" Miracle called walking in to the restroom.
"Yeah?" Millicent replied.
"Are you ok?"
"Aside from the fact that I just puked up my entire breakfast, yeah. Why do you care anyway?"
"I don't. Jaime sent me."
"It's so weird you're on a first name bases with our teacher."
"Jaime is family. She's Ryder's step-sister and she's a Vega. My family is close to them because of my grandmother, you know Téa."
"It's even weirder that you call your boyfriend's mother, grandma."
"Well when people get married they call their in-laws mom or dad. Wait, why are we talking about me? What's wrong with you?"
"Truth? I think I may be pregnant."
"Whoa, with who's baby?"
"Ryder's, who else? Foolish, I know. I'm terrified. I feel so stupid for making him my first, now if I pregnant…"
"Of all people, you made Ryder your first? What part of, 'he will hurt you' don't you understand?'"
"I didn't believe it, ok! I could not imagine him hurting me…until he actually did. I'm sorry I-"
"Shut up about Leon. You need to find out if you're actually pregnant."
"There's a drug store about three minutes from here. Could you go with me?"
"May as well, I've been here all this time. Let's go and let's make it fast."
"Wait, could you take one with me?"
"You want me to take a pregnancy test too? Why? My body's not the one in question here."
"I'll feel better, more comfortable if you do."
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."
"Please, Miracle. I know I have no right to ask."
"You don't and it's stupid but fine."
They went to the drug store three minutes away and went back to school. They locked the door to the girls' restroom so that no one could walk in and then took the tests.
"What am I going to do?"
"Calm down, you don't have the result yet. Take a deep breath."
"That's easy for you to say."
"If there's any consolation, I think Ryder would be a good father."
Millicent pulled out her phone for the time.
"Ok, moment of truth." Millicent said and then went to look at the test.
"Milli, what does it say?"
"Yes, yes, yes, yes! I'm not pregnant! I'm not pregnant!" Millicent exclaimed and then hugged Miracle.
"Now you don't have to worry but you might want to find out why you've been getting sick. We should get back to class. We've been gone way too long." Miracle said then happened to glance at her pregnancy test. She blinked, then rubbed her eyes and then opened them wider.
"What is it? What wrong? Miracle?" Millicent asked.
Miracle just stood there staring at the test and eventually started to hyperventilate. She moved back until she felt the wall.
"What's wrong?" Millicent asked.
Miracle just pointed at the test and Millicent went to look.
"Oh my gosh. Miry!"
When Miracle got back to Jaime's classroom, class was over and the room was empty. Miracle went to her seat and sat down while an occasional tear would fall from her eyes. Jaime walked in the room so Miracle quickly wiped the tears away.
"Hey Miracle, you and Millicent never came back to class." Jaime noticed Miracle's sadness and sat next to her. "What's wrong, Miry?" Miracle just shook her head. "You can talk to me. Trust me; if you need to talk I'm right here."
Miracle sat in silence so Jaime got up and started preparing for her next class. Twenty minutes went by until Miracle finally said a word.
"I'm pregnant." Miracle said softly.
Jaime paused before she answered.
"You're… Did you say you're…pregnant?" Jaime asked.
Miracle just nodded her head and Jaime went back to her side.
"Oh my gosh, Miracle! Have you told anyone yet?"
"Just Millicent and now you, I just found out."
"Who's the father, if you don't mind me asking?"
"…Leon."
"Leon? You mean you two are a couple?"
"Yeah I know, it's weird and everything but I'm like in a crisis right now so could you get over that quickly, please?"
"Ok. What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to keep it but I'm scared and my mom is going to be so disappointed. She wanted so much more for me. She didn't want me to make the same mistakes. You know, she wanted to go to Harvard? Then she couldn't because she got pregnant with me so I promised her that I would go for her and now I can't even do that." Miracle really began to break down and Jaime held her.
-v-
Millicent was on her way to her next class when Ryder stopped her.
"I have something for you." Ryder said handing her a box of candy hearts with the messages on them. "It's not Valentines Day but it doesn't have to be for me to tell you how I feel."
"Whatever."
"You look like something is on your mind. Do you want to talk about it?"
"No." She continued to walk.
"Wait, talk to me."
"There's nothing to talk about. Go talk to one of your sideliners."
"It's only about you. Now I'm here so please let me be your ears."
"You want to talk? Ok. I thought I was pregnant. How's that for conversation?"
Liam quickly walked over.
"Say what?" Liam exclaimed.
"Liam, hey!" Millicent said.
"I heard you." Liam said then turned around and gripped up Ryder.
"Are you sure you heard her? She said, 'thought' and if you don't get off of me it'll be a Buchanan fight right here, right now." Ryder said.
"Liam, leave him alone. I can take care of myself."
"Really? He hurt you and slept with him apparently unprotected."
"Liam! I love you but let me talk to Ryder on my own. Bye!"
Liam walked away but not without one last tug at Ryder.
"So when did all this happen, you thinking you were pregnant?"
"A few days ago, I found out that I wasn't today."
"You should've told me. We could have dealt with it together."
"I'm not pregnant so it doesn't matter."
"It does matter. You must have been scared. You didn't have to deal with it alone."
"…I'm still so hurt by what you did to me."
"I know but I promise I will not hurt you again. I love you and I want to spend every moment showing you. If you could just give me another chance I promise, I'll prove it."
-v-
A few days later, Bree was at a photo shoot showing off the new Bree, the edgy, less clothed Bree. Jaime and Ryder walked in.
"We need to talk to you." Jaime said.
"And put some clothes on." Ryder said.
"What are you doing? You can't just come to my work like this." Bree said angrily.
"Fine. Finish your little photo shoot."
She continued with the photo shoot and they talked afterward.
"What the hell do you two want?" Bree asked with attitude.
"Does this new you care about us?" Jaime asked.
"I don't know. I'm still figuring that out." Bree replied.
"We are not going to get anywhere with her." Ryder said.
"Why are you two here?" Bree asked.
"We're here because your crazy antics are ruining our entire family." Jaime said.
"I believe mommy and Ford did that." Bree said.
"You're making everything worst." Ryder said.
"Thanks. I'm just getting started." Bree said happily.
"Why do you want to hurt us all?" Ryder asked.
"One reason is that our wonderful parents sent me to St. Anne's. Everything else is for me to know and for everyone else to find out."
-v-
Téa and Shaun were having a family dinner. They had a Spanish feast prepared for everyone. Shaun's parents, the Vega's, all of the Mannings including their children, spouses and Blair were there except Todd and of course Leon, Miracle, Destiny, Darren and DJ were there as well. Blair was there with Tomas and Baz attended too.
Téa went over to Blair.
"You're here with Tomas so I assume you and Todd are off again and you and Tomas are on again." Téa said.
"Téa, I know what you're thinking." Blair said.
"If my brother wants to continue to play this game with you, that's on him but if you knew what's good for you, you'd stop playing this game with Todd."
"Téa, I love you and I'm sorry I have to say this but you've been on Todd's case sense Victor died. I think you're just hurt that Todd is here and Victor isn't."
"I will always love Victor but I have moved on with my life. I am extremely happy with Shaun. This is about Todd; he shouldn't have anyone. You can't trust him, Blair."
"I can't believe Téa Delgado is telling me to stay away from Todd. How many people have told you that and after he threw you out in a blizzard and punched you in the face among other things?"
"Everyone just loves to bring that up as if it wasn't decades ago. Believe me Blair, Todd is worst than he ever was before." Téa said thinking about the fact that she knows Todd killed Victor but John never found any evidence to convict him. He got away with murder. Téa hates knowing this piece of information and not being able to make Todd pay. The only people who know this secret other than Téa are John, Shaun and Tomas. They're all still hoping that one day they can crush him and put him away for good. "Besides, you've married him ten times already, isn't it getting old?"
"Ha, ha." Blair said.
"Getting married should just be getting old in general for you. You even married Tomas twice so in total you've been married, how many times? Seventeen times, I think it's time you give up."
"You always have jokes."
"You're slacking; I didn't even get a snappy comeback."
"I would but it's true. I will say this though, it may have been seventeen marriages but it's only been seven men… wait do we have to count Victor as another husband because we thought he was Todd. Otherwise, it's going to be eight and I don't want to say eight."
"You can say seven."
Hope took Gabe's hand and walked him over to Starr, James and her siblings.
"So mom… dad, I just wanted you all to know that Gabe and I are officially a couple." Hope said with a smile on her face.
No one said anything because they were all in shock by the fact that Hope called James 'dad.'
"Dad?" James asked in a confused tone.
"Don't overreact, ok. You can never replace my dad but you have been a darn good one for me and my brother and sister."
They all smiled.
"I won't say it again if you all are going to act this way."
"Ok!" Starr exclaimed. "So you and Gabe are together. I like the sound of that."
"So do I." Hope said.
"That's great news." James said shaking Gabe's hand but squeezing it tightly. "Take care of her."
"I will." Gabe said letting go of James` hand and then massaging it because of how hard he was squeezing it. "But I think Hope would say she can take care of herself."
"Of course she would. That's what Starr would say until they need a knight and shining armor to come to their rescue."
"I never need a knight and shining armor." Starr said and Hope agreed.
"Trust me, I know. These Manning girls need someone to have their backs at all times."
"James!" Starr said thinking that he was being ridiculous. Then he gave her look. "He's right."
"No he's not." Hope said.
"Yes, he is. We get kidnapped more often than normal people." Starr said.
"That's how I knew I'd be a good PI." James said.
"Don't scare him off! He already knows how often people get married in this family. This isn't going to help."
Miracle was standing alone, looking like she was in another world. Destiny noticed and then walked over to her.
"You know, you and Leon really wanted to be together and since we gave you our blessing we've hardly seen you two together at all." Destiny said.
"Oh… that's nothing." Miracle said as if she was in another world.
"What's wrong?"
"Are you going to leave Darren?"
"Leave Darren? Why the hell would I do that?"
"You kissed dad, maybe you want more than that."
"How do you know that?"
"I was at dad's house that night, looking for some time alone."
"Is that why you told Darren I was working on a case with an important client when he asked if you spoke to me?"
"Yes."
"You didn't have to do that."
"What did you tell him?"
"The truth."
"You told him about the kiss?"
"No. I'm not crazy besides I didn't kiss him back nor do I want him back. I love Darren too much to leave him ."
"I'm glad because I need you both right now."
"You will always have us both. Don't you forget it." Destiny said and gave Miracle a kiss on the forehead. "I love you."
The doorbell rung and Téa went to answer it.
"¡Ay!" Téa exclaimed when she opened the door and saw her brother, Delmonico, her grandmother, Maria, her niece, Roseanne and cousin Enrique. They had a family group hug right then and there and started to shed happy tears. "What are you all doing here?"
"Your husband." Del said.
Téa turned around and saw Shaun standing there. She ran over and gave him the tightest hug.
"Thank you, Teddy. This is the best thing you could ever do for me Ilove you so much!" She turned back to her family. "You're all just in time for dinner!"
-v-
Bree went into the kitchen at Llanfair and saw Zane sitting there.
"Hey cousin." Bree said.
"Hey. I hear you've been stirring up trouble." Zane said.
"I've heard the same about you; actually I've seen it on the cover of the newspaper."
"Did you like it?" Zane asked.
"Are you kidding? I loved it. You're totally bad ass."
"We would make a good team. Do you want to stir up trouble together?"
"I'm in."
-v-
Sam had already arrived at Llanfair with Blair, Todd, Starr, Dani, Jack, Leon and Hope. He stepped aside to talk to Vicki.
"Thanks for doing this Aunt Vicki. I really appreciate this and so does Sierra Rose." Leon said.
"No problem, I'm happy to help." Vicki said.
"Where's Téa? Wasn't she supposed to be here? She's always talking about family but she didn't even show to the family dinner." Todd said from the living room.
Leon and Vicki went back in the living room with everyone else.
"Don't start, Todd." Blair said.
"My mom already said she couldn't make it." Dani said.
"What's this dinner for anyway Vicki?" Todd asked.
The doorbell rang. Niles just retired and married Roxy so the new butler introduced Sierra Rose, Oliver, Kyle, GiGi, Rex and Shane.
"What are they doing here?" Jack asked with an attitude. "Is McPain going to show up next?"
"Jack, grow up." Starr said.
"Our entire dinner party is here." Vicki announced.
Dinner got started. It was very awkward and Todd and Jack were not making it any easier.
"Why are we here?" Todd asked.
"Well Sam and Sierra have something they want to say." Vicki announced.
"What is it?" Blair asked.
Sam and Sierra Rose stood up, walked over to each other and held hands.
"Sierra and I have been together for over a year."
"When you say together you mean?" Blair asked.
"She's my girlfriend; I'm her boyfriend. We're in love."
"So you're telling me you work with me everyday and you've been seeing my daughter behind my back and not only that but you were seeing her when she was underage?" Oliver asked very irritated.
"Fish-"
"Mr. Fish to you." Oliver said putting his foot down getting more irritated by the second.
"Daddy, we knew you wouldn't approve. We knew none of you would."
"You're damn right." Oliver said and then got silent.
"I don't approve of this catastrophe." Todd said.
"For once Todd and I agree on something." Rex said.
"This is complete betrayal." Jack said.
"This is totally not about you." Sam said. "The only reason this has anything to do with you is-" Sam stopped himself from bringing up the past. This was definitely not the time.
"Is what?" Jack asked. "Go ahead and say it."
"I think it's great that Sam and Sierra are dating." Starr announced trying to change the down direction that the dinner was about to go in.
"You're kidding me, right?" Todd asked.
"No! It's wonderful and they are obviously happy and if we chose our relationships based on who you and Jack crossed we would all be single and stay that way. I can't be the only one who feels this way." Starr said.
"I agree with Starr." Dani said.
"Me too." Hope and Leon said.
"I second that notion." Vicki said.
"So do I." GiGi said.
"Really Aunt GiGi?" Sierra Rose asked with excitement.
"Yeah!" GiGi said. "I just hope they don't get married or have kids." GiGi quietly said to Rex.
Sierra Rose ran over and gave GiGi a hug.
"That means so much to me." Sierra Rose said to GiGi. "What about you, Shane? Dad (Kyle)?"
"I don't like it. They can't be trusted." Shane said.
"We can't be trusted? We can't be trusted?" Todd said standing up and yelling.
"Todd, sit down." Vicki demanded and Todd did as he was told.
"Dad (Kyle)?"
"You lied to us." Kyle said simply.
"I didn't lie. I just kept a little secret."
"You lied. All those times you said you were going somewhere with someone to do something and you were really going out with Sam, you lied to us. Meanwhile, Sam was lying right to your father's face everyday as well."
"Point taken but I'm an adult now and I'm telling you the truth now." Sierra Rose said.
"How do you feel, mom?" Sam asked.
"Well…it's your choice." Blair said.
"What?" Todd and Jack said together.
"It is his choice. You weren't there when Starr and Cole were together, ok Todd? I've learned my lesson. If my kids are happy, I'm happy." Blair said.
"This is all crap! I won't allow it." Todd said.
"Too bad you can't do anything about it." Sam said. "We have all of your opinions, I even talked to Téa. Will you all just be happy for us and civil to each other?
"I can't promise the civil part from all of us but I'm sure…most of us will try to be happy for you." Blair said.
"Thanks." Sam said.
Sam and Oliver both got texts on their cell phones then they looked at each other.
"I know that look. Don't tell me you two have to go." Sierra Rose said.
"We have to. This important case we've been working on has finally cracked." Sam said.
"Thank God because I want my dad and boyfriend back." Sierra Rose said and then hugged them both. "Please, be careful."
Sam and Oliver left the dinner. Then Sierra Rose got a text.
"This dinner was really cut short. At least we made it to dessert. I know everyone's uncomfortable so maybe we should just end it now. Thanks, everyone for coming tonight. Thanks, Mrs. Buchanan for doing this for Sam and me."
Sierra Rose sped up the ending of the awkward dinner and got in her car and drove until she was almost at Izzy's house and parked her car. A few minutes later Izzy hopped in the car and Sierra Rose drove off. They arrived at Sierra Rose's home and went to her room without Kyle knowing Izzy was there. They hugged when they got to the room. Sierra Rose then took off Izzy's dark glasses.
"Oh my gosh!" Sierra Rose exclaimed.
"Is it that bad?" Izzy asked.
"Look at yourself in the mirror."
"I don't want to."
Sierra Rose turned Izzy toward the mirror forcing her to look at herself. Izzy saw her swollen black and blue eye and swollen lip. She could feel the bruises on her back and arms. She didn't have to look to know they were bad. Izzy fell to the floor and Sierra Rose sat next to her to comfort her.
"You can't continue to let your dad do this to you and I can't keep this secret for you anymore. I'm telling my dad as soon as he walks in this house."
"You can't!"
"It's not going to stop Izzy! It will never end. No, I take that back. It will end when he kills you because that's what's going to happen if you continue to put up with this."
"I know that!"
"Then why won't you let me help you?"
"It still won't end! My father will find away around whatever is thrown at him. He always does."
"Fine, I won't tell if you don't go home."
"The longer I'm gone the worst it will be."
"No! You can never go back."
"Where do you suppose I stay?"
"Stay here."
"Your dads will find out."
"Then stay at Roxy's Inn."
"I can't afford that."
"Don't worry. I can get a room for free there. She's like my grandmother, she never makes me pay. We'll say it's for me and you can stay there. I'll even stay there with you."
"I can't ask you to do that."
"You're not asking. I'm offering. If you don't choose something, I'm telling my dad or Sam, whoever I talk to first."
"Ok. I'll stay at the inn."
"Great! Right now we need to get you fixed up."
-v-
Meanwhile, the LPD's finest were moving on the biggest case they've had in a long time. They went in prepared and ready for anything to happen, possible… or not but then again is anything really impossible in Llanview, Pennsylvania?