Maya POV:

Gabby was holding on tight to Emily's hand. "Gabby this is your grandma." Gabby buried her head into my back not wanting her face to be seen.

"Well, I have a fresh tray of chocolate chip cookies I guess I'm just going to have to share with you two." with that Gabby removed her head from behind Emily and looked at her grandma. "Would you like some cookies?" She nodded her head and my grandma smiled. she reached her hand out and surprisingly Gabby took her head leading her to the kitchen.

"I thought you forgot about your poor old grandma child."

"I could never forget about you."

"then why haven't you called?"

"I don't know. honestly, but I did miss you."

"I missed you too. so when did you think you was going to tell me that you were married and that you have a child?"

"I don't know."

"Do your parents even know?" I looked at the floor not wanting to look at her or Emily. Emily didn't know that I didn't tell anyone.

"Maya, when is the last time you talked to your parents?" Emily asked me and I just stayed quiet looking at my black converse. "Maya look at me." I looked up and I sighed.

"Graduation."

"Which graduation?"

"High school. I might have spoke a few times in college but nothing in the last six years."

"Maya!" My grandma and Emily yelled.

"Your mom calls me all the time wondering whether or not I have spoken to you."

"Now she decides to care."

"You will not speak of my daughter, your mother like that! Do you understand me?"

"yes ma'am."

"Where is your phone?"

"right here." she put her hand out and I handed her the phone. she pushed some buttons then handed me the phone back. I looked down and she was calling my mother. I looked at her and she gave me the face I haven't seen since I was in middle school.

Hello

hey mom

Maya?

yeah

Baby—I miss you

I stood up and walked outside sitting on the porch steps.

really?

yes you are my daughter of course I miss you why would you ever doubt that

I missed you too

what made you call me after five and a half years

grandma called you actually and handed me the phone. I'm in Cali for a week and staying here since I haven't seen her in forever

tell me how have you been? I see all your dreams came true.

yeah more then you know. I'm great really busy. I live in Atlanta now.

when did this happen?

umm a while back its only been a few months

That's great

yeah I want you to meet someone. I should have introduce you a long time ago but I guess I was mad for stupid reasons. can you come to Cali?

yeah I can be on a plane tonight.

okay well call me when you land and I'll come pick you up

Okay

alright bye

Maya—

yeah

I love you

I love you too mom

I hung up the phone with a smile on my face. I really do miss my mom. I didn't realize until then how much I missed talking to her and hearing her voice. I wiped away the few tears that manage to fall down my face when I heard the door open and shut. I felt familiar hands wrap around my neck and a soft kiss was placed below my ear.

"how it go?"

"good actually. I miss my mom Em."

"I know baby." I turned in her arms and cried silently in her neck. she rubbed my back until my tears dried.

"How could I just stop talking to her for so long? how could I just shut her completely out my life?"

"Well maybe you can let her in now?"

"I am and will. she's coming to Cali tonight. I am going to pick her up from the airport."

"you want me to come with?"

"no stay her with Gabby. I didn't tell her I was married or about Gab."

"Maya!"

"I told her I wanted to introduce her to someone. I don't want to tell her over the phone and be like 'well even though I have been a horrible daughter let me make it worst by telling you I got married four years ago and you have a granddaughter'. That's not something I want to say over the phone."

"when you say it like that yeah it sound horrible."

"plus I'm her only child and I got married. she wasn't even there for it. I didn't tell her. she missed out on something that is never going to happen again."

"you damn right." she said and kissed my neck. I started to laugh.

"I'm hungry lets go get some food." I stood up walking inside to see Gabby sitting next to grandma as she showed her pictures of me as a kid. "Gabby don't listen to anything she say about me it's not true." Gabby laughed as grandma whispered something in her ear.

"How did the conversation go with your mom?"

"good she coming here tonight."

"that's great."

"yeah we are going out for pizza, do you want to come or bring you something back. it doesn't matter what."

"no I have somewhere to go."

"grandma where you going?"

"my friend is coming to get me."

"is your friend a man?"

"yeah."

"Grandma!"

"what? I have to have a life Maya."

"what about grandpa?"

"well before he died we said that if either was alive longer than the other we have to find someone to make us happy."

"that's sweet." Emily said.

"No that's nasty. the only thing old people should be doing is staying in the house, watching the price is right and cooking food. not going out with their 'boyfriend' doing God know what. That's nasty."

"I watch the price at right at twelve and trust me God knows what we do if you know what I mean." she winked her eye and I wanted to vomit.

"That is gross thanks for the visual." Emily smacked my arm and I looked at her. She got up and walked out the room. "So that's a no on food right?"

"Yeah."

"Can I borrow your car until tomorrow?"

"Yeah keys are on the table baby have fun."

we went to my favorite pizzeria of all times OZ and I haven't been here in forever. I almost forgot how good their pizza is. "I have to go to the bathroom." Gabby said and I looked at her.

"I told you to go at home."

"I didn't have to go then but I do now."

"I will take her." Emily said grabbing Gabby's hand and walking to the bathroom. I took my phone out and started to play subway surf until the pizza came.

"Maya? Is that you?" I looked up and seen a face I haven't seen since in a very long time.

"Justin?"

"Hey I thought that was you. You still look beautiful."

"thank you."

"how have you been other than being famous."

"great actually. how about you?"

"good."

"I'm glad to see the rich and famous lifestyle hasn't gotten to you yet."

"I wouldn't let something like this change who I am."

"I'm glad." I looked over my shoulder to see Emily and Gabby walking back to the table.

"Mama, can I have ice cream?"

"After you eat your pizza." I looked to see a shocked expression on Justin face. "Justin this is my daughter Gabby and my wife Emily. Emily this is Justin." Emily raised her eye brow and I nodded my head.

"Hey Justin."

"hey. I didn't know you were—"

"Married? Gay?"

"That and has a kids. never thought I would see you married with a kid."

"well she made me change my mind."

"well it was nice meeting you and seeing you again but I have to go." I watched him walk away and I shrugged my shoulders. the waiter placed our pizza on the table and we ate. we got some ice cream and then went back to my grandma house. it was about nine at night and my mom had next me saying they were landing in about twenty minutes.

"I am going to get my mom from the airport. see you in a few."

"Mama I want to go." Gabby said as I grabbed the keys off the side table.

"Not right now."

"Please mama I want to go."

"next time baby. Em." Emily walked over picking Gabby up because I knew Gabby was about to start screaming when I left.

"Let's go take a bath while mama gone and when you get out she should be on her way back." while Emily talked to her I walked out the door. I got in the car pulling out the drive way when Gabby came outside jumping up and down. I hated seeing her cry like that but I needed to talk to my mom without her being distracted by her new granddaughter. the ride wasn't that long to the airport and when I got there my mom was coming out the airport. I ran to her wrapping my arms around her. she started to cry and I couldn't stop my own tears from falling.

"I missed you so much."

"I missed you too mommy." I heard someone clear their throat and I opened my eyes to see my dad standing there sporting a smile just like my moms. "Daddy!" I wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me up a little bit. My dad was never my favorite person but like they say absent makes the heart grow fonder.

"God I missed you baby girl."

"I missed you too." I helped place their bags in the car and we were off.

"how have you been?" my dad asked.

"Good. I'm happy."

"that's all that matters to me."

"is there someone special?" my mom asked.

"yeah."

"How long have ya'll been together?"

"Umm almost five years married for four years."

"You're married?" They both asked and I nodded my head.

"What's his or her name?" my mom asked.

"You have to wait and see."

"Well they want compare to no Emily. I loved that girl almost as much as you did. I hate that you two broke up in college. I really would have loved for her to be my daughter-in-law." I smiled. Only if my mom knew that's exactly who it is.

"well things happen. you can't dwell on the pass."

"So how is the music business treating you?" My dad asked.

"Good. I love it. I'm also an artist. I make and sell my paintings and sculptures."

"That's great."

"So how is work and things back at home?"

"home is fine." they both say. "Business is good we are still traveling a lot but not as much as we used too. only for a couple days here and there." my dad finishes. we talk about random things getting caught up when my mom asked why I moved to Atlanta.

"I moved there because my wife job transferred her."

"So it's a girl?" She questions.

"yes."

"what does—"

"Oh look we are here." I say pulling into the driveway. "Grandma not here she went out with her "Boyfriend."

"My mother has a boyfriend?" I nodded my head and she made a queasy face.

"That's what I said." I walk inside first and Emily is sitting on the couch watching TV. "Hey Baby." I said kissing her. I didn't remove my mouth from hers until I heard my dad clear his throat again. I pull back a little but not far enough for them to see her face. "Mom, dad meet my wife." I said moving and my mom face dropped until she screamed wrapping Emily in a huge hug.

"Thank God she married you." she said. My dad hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"Where is she?" I whispered in Emily ear so my parents wouldn't hear. she looked over to the room and I nodded my head walking to the room. I walked inside and Gabby was laying face down on the bed. "Baby girl look at mama please." she turned over looking at me. I put my arms out in front of me inviting her into my embrace. "I want you to meet your grandma and grandpa. You ready?"

"Yeah that's where you went?"

"yeah that's where I went. but I needed to talk to them without you in the car. that's why I didn't want you to go." she nodded her head and I kissed her cheek. I grabbed her hand and lead her out with her standing behind me. "Mom, dad I want you to meet Gabrielle. Gabby this is your—" she pulled her to the front of me. "grandma and grandpa." tears immediately started to run down my mothers' face. she had one hand covering her mouth and the other her chest.

"Why are you crying?" Gabby asked my mom.

"She's crying because she happy to see you." my dad said bending down to her level. "You are beautiful."

"Thank you." she smiled and his eyes lit up. "Mama said that you're my grandpa."

"yeah but you can call me papa." my mom finally moved towards her bending down. she didn't say anything she just open her arms and Gabby walked forward wrapping her arms around her neck. Gabby walked back to me and we sat on the couch.

"Why did you hide her?"

"I didn't exactly hide her I just didn't tell you." I stated. I mean it was the truth I just didn't tell them about her.

"why?" my mom asked.

"I was mad."

"Gabby come on baby its time for bed. say goodnight." Emily said. Gabby said goodnight and kiss me goodnight before she hugged her grandparents. She didn't take long to adjust to them. she usually is shy and refuse to speak. once I heard the door shut I turned back to my parents.

"Why were you mad?" My dad asked calmly.

"You two were never there. you were always gone. I was always along and then we move. we moved away from my family, my friends, my life. I was mad because the things that I had that made me feel welcome and not alone was taken from me because you decided you wanted to move to the middle of nowhere. Don't get me wrong that was the worst and best experience of my life. I met Emily and she helped me feel less alone. but she couldn't fill that hole that was meant for you two. I knew you loved me and I loved you guys but I held all that anger in and when I finally left I left."

"Why didn't you tell me that? why didn't you say something sooner? I would have quit my job if I knew it bothered you so much. I would do anything for you. you are my child, my flesh and blood." my mom said wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I would have did anything to make you happy. I wish you would have said something or I would have notice." we sat there. my mom and I crying and my dad looking at me blankly.

"Daddy, please say something."

"I didn't know. I didn't pay attention. I wish I could change it but I cant and all I can say is that I'm sorry." he got up and walked out the door. I started to cry harder. My mom moved over next to me and wrapped her arms around me.

"I'm sorry—baby I'm so so so sorry I hurt you." I nodded my head.

"I'm sorry too." she nodded her head kissing my forehead.

"your dad and I are going to stay at a hotel a few blocks away. I'll see you in the morning okay baby." I nodded my head and she grabbed her suitcase walking out the door. Emily walked out the room and immediate wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into her arms. she laid back on the couch and I laid my head on her chest as she whispered sweet nothings in my ear. I finally stopped crying and she was drawing circles in my back. I kissed her chest right below her neck.

"I love you." I whispered and I kissed the top of my head.

"I love you too now lets go to bed."

The next few day was filled with trips to the beach, to six flags, to Disney land and everything else fun in Cali meant for a kid. Gabby had a huge smile on her face and she kept telling me how she wants to move here. Honestly it was a bad idea but Emily job was in Atlanta not here so she will just have to enjoy the visits. it was Thursday and I decided to take the family out to dinner. My parents were going to meet us there. We get to the restaurant and sit at a table seating six. Once everyone placed their orders the table got silent. you could tell someone wanted to speak but just didn't know what to say.

"I really need someone to start talking." My grandma said.

"How have you been mama?"

"good baby. I wish I got to see you and my babies over here more."

"I'm going to start visiting more I promise."

"a phone call every once in awhile would be nice too. A letter would work."

"No one sends letters anymore grandma."

"Well I do and so do my friends. we aren't into this technology."

"Gabby, you might need to show grandma Anne how to work an ipad before we leave." I said smiling at Gabby who was smiling back at me.

"What's an ipad?" Gabby started to explain what an ipad was when my mom directed her attention towards me.

"Why so distance?"

"what do you mean?"

"you are ignoring us. I can sense you are here but your mind is elsewhere."

"mom what are you talking about? I'm here, my mind is here."

"Don't raise your voice to your mother!"

"I wasn't—"

"Maya!"

Emily POV:

"Maya!" Her dad yelled. she closed her eyes taking a deep breath. I grabbed her hand under the table giving it a squeeze. she stood up and walked away from the table, heading for the front door.

"Gabby stay here we'll be right back." I said getting up following Maya outside. when I got outside I couldn't see where she had gone. I walked to the other side of the building and there Maya was smoking a cigarette.

"Put it out." I said walking up to her. she looked at me and shook her head.

"Don't start please I need it."

"no put it out. I'm serious." she took one more drag and dropped the cigarette to the ground twisting on it with the heel of her shoe.

"Happy?"

"Yes." I said grabbing her waist making her face to fully. "What happen back there?"

"I'm just irritated that's all."

"with your parents?"

"yes. my mother saying I can "sense" but she couldn't sense that her daughter needed her attention, her daughter was sad and lonely. did she sense that? no, she thought everything was fine."

"Maya let it go."

"I can't."

"you can. be the mother you desperately wanted yours to be for Gabby." she nodded her head and smiled.

"How did I get so lucky to have you?"

"I guess you wish upon a star." I laugh and walked away. she caught up intertwining our fingers. we walked back into the building taking our seats just as the food was coming out. Everyone started to eat. it was a comfortable silence among the table.

"Why did you come back you Cali?" Maya's mom spoke up.

"Because my real mommy is coming back for me." Gabby spoke up. Maya and I turned our heads and looked at her.

"What?" I asked maybe I heard her wrong.

"I heard you and mama talking one night." my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. that was something I didn't want her to know.

"What is she talking about?"

"Gabby is adopted." I said turning my head to face her. "I adopted her when she was four and then Maya adopted her when she was five." her mom just nodded her head not knowing what to say. we needed to talk to Gabby when we get back home because this is going to affect her more than anything.

we finish up dinner and headed back to grandma's house. when we got in grandma immediate went to bed said she was tired. Gabby was sitting on the couch watching cartoons while Maya and I stand in the kitchen.

"how are we going to tell her this?" I asked my mind running with several different thoughts.

"I don't know I really wish she hadn't heard us that night."

"we thought she was asleep. we put her to bed. when did she—"

"our door was close so she had to have open it."

"let's go talk to her because she about to have her life change."

"yeah but when need to try to keep her home life a normal as possible so she doesn't realize anything is different." I nodded my head. I could feel tears building up and I was fighting for them not to fall.

"Gabrielle we need to talk to you."

"is it about what I said at dinner?"

"yeah baby."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean too."

"No baby its okay. we didn't want to tell you until we got back home. but yes you birth mom wants you back but—"

"you cant let her take me!"

"Baby that's not going to happen me and your mommy will do everything to keep you with us."

"she used to hurt me when she was mad or let other people do it." I remember when I first found her I asked did anyone ever touch her down there but now I need to ask this question again.

"Gabby, do you remember anyone touching you down there? your private part?" she looked down and when Maya touch her chin to lift her face she had tears in her eyes.

"Baby what's wrong?" Maya asked pulling her into her lap.

"I don't remember but in my nightmares I have some time someone is." I bend down so I am right in front of her and kiss her cheek.

"come here baby." I picked her up and rocked side to side. she wrapped her arms around my neck burying her face into the crook. "Let's watch a movie." I said and she nodded her head. I told her to go get a movie out her bag and come back. she ran to the room and I turned to Maya. "We need to take her to a doctor and get her checked."

"she needs a therapist."

"I want to know if someone actually molested my baby."

"will they be able to tell?"

"they will be able to tell if there was ever trauma to it."

"well we could do it back in Atlanta?"

"as soon as we get back." with that Gabby came in holding her favorite Disney movie 'Beauty and the Beast'. we all fell asleep on the couch. Maya's back against the couch, my back to her and Gabby's back to me.

Landing back in Atlanta…..

it was Saturday and I was honestly tired from the flight. we went inside ate something then we all crawled into my bed and fell to sleep. I woke up to Gabby tossing and turning in her sleep. she was sweating and I started to draw circles in her back to calm her. she settled down and I pulled her closer pulling my fingers through her curls. she open her eyes and looked at me.

"Hey, have a bad dream." she nodded her head and I pulled her to lay on my chest. "Want to tell me about it?" I asked rubbing her back. she shook her head no and I nodded. "everything going to be fine." I really hope it was.

A/N: Okay so here it is. Thank you to the guest who is giving me really great ideas. I hoped you all enjoyed this story and sorry it is taking so long to get these updates out but school is hectic. It's the last few week until my summer vacation and I have endless amounts of test coming. But the best news about that though is that My Summer Vaca I can write and get chapters out faster. I will not have any work that needs to be completed during that time frame the only thing that might be in the way is if I get a job.

So review and tell me what you like don't like. what you want to see and what you would like to see happen or not. If any questions review and ask or PM me. Thanks!