CHAPTER ONE

Annie knocked on her brother's door. "Dixon, I need to talk to you. It's important." She waited for her brother to either open the door himself – or call 'enter'.

Dixon nodded his head to the music that was blaring through his headphones. He was listening to The Raconteurs 'Many Shades of Black'. He looked up in shock as his door banged open and a hyper looking Annie came bursting into his room, sighing he pushed pause on his I Pod. "Annie," rolling his eyes he took his ear phones off his ears.

"Lucky for me you didn't lock the door, Dixon – but – we have more important things to discuss than the fact why you are blaring your music." Annie said getting into the bed and scooting close to her brother, she put a arm around his back.

Dixon nodded and tossed his I Pod onto his night table, he wrapped his own arm around Annie and leaned them back against his headboard, the pillows giving them comfortable support. "What's on your mind?"

"Silver." Annie simply said.

Dixon's brow furred. "What's wrong with her?" Concern lacing his voice.

"The same." Annie sighed as she looked up into her brother's eyes. "She's sad." She put it simply.

Dixon nodded, "She's angry. She won't let the horrible past go. She can't. She's too hurt. She will continue to be hurt, angry and sad if she doesn't let it go." He said with some frustration in his voice.

"There's more to it than what we have heard so far, Dixon, Silver has a right to feel the feelings she's feeling. It's good that she's feeling these feelings, from what I have been hearing from everyone at school, Silver had locked away her emotions when her parents got divorced. Expect for the anger that she had against Naomi for three years." Annie quickly defended her best friend. "Silver's family got destroyed in one of the most worst and devastating way that a young girl can face. She was too young and too loved to understand why her father couldn't be with just her mom. She couldn't understand why her mother turned to liquor instead of loving her and being there for her."

"I know all --" Dixon began, but his sister broke in.

"How dare you judge Silver, Dixon. I thought you cared for her. I mean she's your girlfriend for crying out loud. You are the one who found out that night sleeping in her car in front of our house for crying out loud. You got her to open up in her weak moment and found out about her home situation with her mom." Annie shook her head. "I can't be …."

Dixon quickly wrapped his arms around his sister and crushed her to him, he felt her body tense up even more, but quickly it eased into relaxation. His head turned and kissed her jaw gently, pulling away his black eyes looked into her brown eyes, "Better?" He whispered.

Annie simply nodded. "I'm sorry that I went off on you like that, Dixon, just I'm very protective of Silver."

"I know," Dixon sighed. "But, like you said, I'm Silver's boyfriend, I'm the one who is in love with her. I'm the one who is hoping to have her beside me for the rest of our lives. I'm the one who should be so protective of her, and yet," He sighed deeply, "I can't understand why she can't unload some of this crap all ready." He tighten his hold on his sister's shoulder telling her to let him finish with his say. "I love Erin very much. But, I just don't know if I can deal with her stubbornness to hold onto the pain and past mistake that Naomi made."

"So it's Silver's anger against Naomi that you are so upset about." Annie softly said in an understanding voice.

"Yes." Dixon simply said. "You are right, we don't know what all went down when her parents marriage fell apart, and when her mom started to drink again. But, we do that Naomi made a stupid unthinking mistake back in eighth grade, and Silver is just holding onto that anger, when she should just let it go."

"But she is trying to let it go now, Dixon, after she watched you with that guy, the one who's car you busted up." Annie said in a calm voice. "After Naomi's parent's marriage finally came to an end – Silver could have easily blogged about Naomi's father's affair. But she chose to let it go, she choice to call a truce with Naomi."

"But, is it really a truce?" Dixon hissed.

"Yes, Dixon, Silver is trying with Naomi." Annie said reassuring and firmly.

Dixon sighed and nodded. "I'll let this concern go than. I have too."

"Yes you have too." Annie said, "You are not to say anything to Silver about your angst over her decisions concerning Naomi, or anyone else she choses to be angry at."

Dixon's brow creased. "I'm not a idiot, Annie, I don't want to lose Silver as my girlfriend – ever." He sighed deeply his frustration coming to light once more, "Even if it means I have to hide my true feelings."

Annie reached up and touched his check, "I'm sorry, Dix, but I'm just concerned about Silver. She has gone through so much in three short years, mostly bad, hell mostly horrible. I just don't want anymore crap thrown at Silver – I can't control the rest of the world, but I can ask you to protect and love Silver. Too understand where she is coming through – and try to help her past the hurt, and pain – but not get in her face with it." She slightly shook her head, "Silver isn't like most people we have come across back home in, Kansas." Sighing, "We aren't in Kansas anymore."

Dixon lifted his eyes, he knew that Annie had always had a safe and loving life with Harry and Debbie as her birth parents, - he knew where Silver was coming from. Hell before Harry and Debbie took him into their family – he had live with his mother who gave him to his grandmother – after his grandmother got too old to take care of him – he went to live with his mother again. His mother was crazy, and didn't want him around. She finally gave him up to the state, he hadn't seen or heard from her sense. For two years he had to live with total strangers, some were nice and kind too him – but more than half of them just wanted to beat the crap out of him, or try to steal his innocence from him. Than Harry and Debbie had come into his life – and he knew he was safe and loved. "I sincerely hope that you never become damaged, Annie," He murmured as he leaned forward and gently kissed his sister's check.

Annie closed her eyes as she allowed her adopted brother's feelings and pain to wash over her. She all ready knew some of the things that Dixon went through before coming to live with her family – but not a whole lot. Dixon had just been seven when he came to them, and he just wanted to put the past behind him and move on with his life. But, she very well knew that he still suffered with the pain over things that he was too young to control. "You are loved and safe now, Dixon, remember that." She whispered.

"I do every day." Dixon said. He lifted his head and tilted it, "I'm sorry I got you so off topic, you said you have something to share with me?"

"I'm going to make Silver's Christmas Wish come true." Annie said nodding her head firmly.

Dixon raised his right eye brow and waited for his sister to tell him more.

"She wants her family back -" Annie said.

"A-n-n-n-n-n-i-e....." Dixon sighed deeply.

"I'm going to make sure that Jackie Taylor and Mel Silver will finally put their hurt, anger aside and realize that they are truly hurting Silver, I'm going to get them to realize that Silver needs her family back. They don't have to get back together, I know that too much went down for that happen. But, if Silver can have her parents back in her life again, it will help her in the long run."

"I don't think this is such a good idea, Annie," Dixon sighed and deeply frowned. "We shouldn't meddle into their private affair. Especially how we have never met Silver's parent's before."

"Silver wants her family back – and I am going to make it happen. With or without your help." Annie quickly got out of the bed and stormed towards the connecting bathroom. She turned around quickly, "I thought you loved Silver."

"I do." Dixon said staring wide eyed at his sister.

"Than why don't you want her to be happy?" With that Annie opened the door and walked into the bathroom, slamming the connecting door shut.

"I do want her to be happy." Dixon whispered as tears sparkled his eyes.

∆Ȥ&Θ

Dixon walked through the bathroom and tapped on the door to his sister's room. "Annie, may I speak to you." He waited for her to answer. After a few minutes of silence, he decided to take the bull by the horns and try to see if she had locked the door. She hadn't – so he pushed the door opened. What he saw shook him to the core.

Annie was sitting with her legs up at her window seat, her arms were wrapped around her legs and her head rested on her knees. Her face was turned to the window, but he could see her reflection in the window, due to the full moon outside. She looked like a lost, bewildered, scared little girl. Dixon walked over to his sister and sat down behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him. Leaning his head in between her right shoulder and her neck, "What do you want me to do?" He whispered.

"Just stand by me no matter what." Annie whispered as she moved her arms up to touch his own around her waist. "Just protect Silver, love her, be there for her."

"What about you?" Dixon asked.

"I don't matter." Annie said.

"You matter, Annie, you matter very much." Dixon looked at Annie's reflection in the window. "I am just worried on how you will feel once we dig more deeply into Silver's life." He felt her stiffen, "You have always lived in a loving home, with parents whom love and respect one another. Who's marriage is built on a strong foundation. You never had to be fearful of being hit, touched, screamed vile things too. I'm just wondering how are you going to handle the heartbreak that you learn about what Silver had to go through these past three years. Perhaps even longer …."

"I'll be fine," Steel laced Annie's voice. Dixon felt her hands clench on his arms, he felt her finger nails bite into his skin, he was shocked that she didn't tear his skin open. "I'm just trying to protect Silver – from her past."

"But you aren't the one who can protect or even to help Silver, Annie." Dixon said with a slight sigh.

"Than you are truly against her," Annie tried to pull away – but Dixon held on tightly.

"Hear me out, Annie, please." Dixon said.

Annie calmed down, but she refused to relax.

"I love Silver, I will always love her. No matter what. Even if she refuses for the rest of her life not to let her anger against Naomi go." Dixon firmly said. "Now I plan on making Erin Silver my wife in perhaps five years from now. I fully see and accept her faults." His right eye brow raised.

"Now my question, Annie – is this – why are you so emotionally wrapped up in Silver for?"

"That's my business." Annie firmly said. "Now tomorrow I want to enlist the help of Ethan, Navid, Adrianna," she paused briefly, "Naomi."

Dixon nodded, "I agree to all the people, expect Naomi."

Annie pursed her lips. "I thought you were so gun ho for peace between Silver and Naomi."

"I am." Dixon said.

Annie barked in laughter.

"I'm actually just concerned about …." Dixon breathed through his nose before going on.

"Thinking that Naomi might like to use this opportunity to get back at Silver?" Annie asked.

"Yes." Dixon simply replied.

"That's why I know that Naomi will do everything to help Silver." Annie softly said.

Dixon lifted his eye brows, waiting for his sister to continue.

"That's all that I'm going to say, Naomi will be included. Along with mom and dad. I figure that they could help make Ms. Taylor and Mr. Silver understand how truly hurt, destroyed their little girl truly is." Annie said in a calm voice.

"Do you truly feel that this is the best course of action, Annie?" Dixon asked finally.

"Yes." Annie quickly stated.

"For whom? Silver or for you?" Dixon asked.

Annie tensed up once more, she winced in pain. Dixon hands moved up and began to massage her shoulders, she allowed her brother to minister to her stress.

"I just want to understand your need to be Silver's sole protector -"

"Silver has Kelly." Annie said.

"She can't trust Kelly fully – perhaps that will change in the future." Dixon replied just as quickly. "Sides it seems to me like you don't want Kelly to protect and love Silver." He pursed his lips.

"What! How can you say that? I love Kelly. I mean I know she's my elder and my guidance councilor, but I could tell how much she loves Silver from the first time I saw them together in the hallway – near Kelly's office." Annie said eyes wide in shock.

"Than why don't you trust her to protect Silver?" Dixon right eye brow rose.

Annie remained silent.

"Why don't you trust me to protect Silver?" Dixon asked with sadness in his voice.

Annie remained silent.

Dixon pulled away from his sister and stood to his feet, he turned to face her with his arms across his chest. "Annie," He said with bitterness lace in his voice, "I asked you a question."

Annie remained silent, but she had turned and looked at her brother – full in the face.

He searched her face – for a sign – any sign – he was dissatisfied. "Every since Erin Silver has entered our lives, Annie, there has become a great distance with us. We aren't as tight or close as we once were." His jaw tighten. "Why do I feel like you are my rival where Silver is concerned?"

Annie remained silent and impassively lifted her right eye brow.

"I wonder -" Dixon hissed, "I wonder if we are going to survive this battle that we are in, for Silver. For her heart, her soul. I wonder if Silver will ultimately be hurt worse by us … than she had ever been by her parents?"

Annie remained silent.

"Till tomorrow." Dixon turned and left his silent sister behind. He softly closed the connecting door that separated her room from the connecting bathroom.

Annie silently stared at the door, which her brother had just closed, with a thoughtful look on her face. Silent tears began to fall.

END CHAPTER ONE

Author's Note: This is not going to be a Annie and Dixon battling for Silver's heart story; this chapter was just to fill everyone in on the difference tact that Annie and Dixon are going into this. I don't know if I will return to Dixon questioning Annie's true motive later on in this story or not – or perhaps I'll continue along those lines in another story.

This story is for Annie to finally learn what Silver had gone through three years previous when her parents marriage ended. When her mother turned to liquor and drugs. This is a story where Annie truly comes out of her sheltered life and truly beings to learn the truly horrific things a parent can do to their child.