Claire's POV

I was a little overwhelmed to say the least. This was the first time I had taken care on Emma since she was a baby. She now could voice her opinion. She also wasn't shy to either.

Shane and I had been looking after her for over an hour now. Michael and Eve where due home any minute. They didn't know Emma was staying over for who knows how long. All they knew was we needed some food and milk and stuff from the store.

Emma had taken an immediate liking towards Shane. She called him funny man or when she wanted something Mr. Shane. She had him and of course me wrapped around her pinky finger.

At the moment I was making Emma a snack because she said Connor wouldn't like her have any of the prepackaged peanuts on the plane. I was listening in to the conversation while getting her some food. "Mr. Shane?" Emma asked.

"What Emma?" Shane asked in a gentle almost loving tone.

"Do I get to spend the night with you and mommy or do I have to go back to him," she said. Her voice was almost scared when she mentioned her father, who she didn't even call daddy.

"You're spending the night here with your mom and me," Shane said.

I walked into the living room with cookies and milk. Shane gave me a 'really cookies, Claire' look. I shrugged. I didn't know what type of food she likes but every child I know loves cookies.

"Ooh cookies! Thank you mamma," she gasped. Emma ran towards me and grabbed the biggest cookie off the tray.

"Ooh cookies, thank you, Claire," Shane said and took one too. Apparently he can disagree with my choices but he'll still eat them.

Just then the front door opened and in walked Eve and Michael. Emma, hearing that noise, ran behind Shane in fear.

"Yo, anyone alive in here!" yelled Eve, which of course terrified Emma who started silently crying. Shane picked her up and glared at the doorway she was bound to walk through. I came up towards Emma and put my hand on her shoulder. She had her head buried in Shane's chest, hiding herself from the dangers Eve spoke of.

"I'm alive," Emma whispered, "I'm alive right, momma?"

"Of course you're alive," I told her reassuringly.

"But why that lady ask if we were?" Emma asked.

"That's just Eve," Shane spoke up, "she says weird thing and isn't a lady."

"Oh," Emma sighed and laid her head back on Shane's chest. She had her little thumb in her mouth and was looking around the room with tired eyes even though it's only three.

"Hey guys," Michael said entering the living room. He instantly saw Emma and shot Shane a, 'what the hell dude,' look.

"Emma, this is Michael. He's my best friend," Shane said. Emma gave Michael a tired wave.

Eve walked in and gave off one of her high pitch squeals. Emma covered her ears and buried her even further into Shane's chest. "Aww, she's adorable," Eve squealed.

"That's Eve. She's my best friend," I told Emma.

"I am? Thanks CB," Eve said near tears.

"Momma, Mr. Shane, I'm sleepy," and to prove her point she yawned loudly. Shane went upstairs to put Emma down for a nap while I filled Eve and Michael in on everything that happened while they were gone.

Shane's POV

I took Emma upstairs to get in pajamas and ready to sleep. Connor had unexpectedly left Emma with a small backpack of her things. I was digging through in while she was sitting on Claire's bed. I found what I guessed to be her favorite stuff animal since when I took it out she grabbed it and put its leg in her mouth. Claire's daughter really was cute. She had Claire's brown hair but a weird pretty mix of brown and blue for her eyes. She had the same beautiful rosy smile as Claire. I was guessing this was her carryon bag for the plane because it seemed to have only necessary items. I pulled out some Hello Kitty pajamas. Yes I know who Hello Kitty is my little sister was obsessed with that brand.

I helped Emma take off the shirt she was wearing and once it was off I had to stifle a gasp. She had bruises in different stages of healing all up her arms and torso. Someone had really banged up this kid and that same someone knew how to do it to hide it from anyone else. I helped her put on the pink gold and white long sleeve shirt then left in a desperate search for Claire.

"Claire, I need you to see something up here!" I yelled then returned to Emma. I next helped her take off her jeans and put on the matching shorts. Her legs looked the same as the rest of her. Bruises, bruises, and more bruises. There were even a few cuts that looked purposely crafted.

Claire's POV

I came up into my room and saw Emma, with a stuffed puppy's foot in her mouth, and dressed in her pajamas. They were cute they had a big Hello Kitty on the shirt and on the butt of the shorts. She also had fluffy pink socks on her little feet. My eyes casually glanced at her legs and I held my hand over my mouth. She had so many bruises all over her.

"Emma climb under the covers I'll tell you a story to help you fall asleep," she complied and I tucked her in which brought more tears to my eyes because of the happiness I was feeling right now. "Once upon a time, in a magical place, lived a princess named, Emma. She had two fairy guiders, who were named Michael and Eve. The queen was Clarissa and the king Shane. One day while Shane and Clarissa, who everyone called Claire, where off doing there royal duties Emma looked out over the lands on which they lived and saw a unicorn grazing in the fields," I stopped there because Emma was already fast asleep.

Shane and I tiptoed out of the room. "I can't believe that Connor would do that to my child," I said aghast.

"I will kill that son of a bitch for what he did to you and Emma," Shane threatened.

"I'll kill him too," I said. Shane and I went downstairs and finished up our earlier conversation with Michael and Eve.

Emma's POV

I was having a nice dream about being that princess, mamma, told me about when suddenly everything changed. I was now in my room back home. I was helping Miss. Alyssa, clean up from dinner when that mean man, he's not my daddy anymore, came in. He was yelling at me for something that I didn't do when he got really mad. I was saying sorry over and over but he still raised his big fist and punched me in the tummy. I curled into a ball on the floor. Alyssa used to try to help me but she stopped since he would hit her too. His foot was raised to kick me when I woke up. I started crying and screaming.

A/N Hey guys that was my second chap for this story. If you didn't understand that 'dream' Emma had was really a memory. Please review your comments or questions or anything you want. Thanks guys.