Author's Note: Greetings everyone! I have a very special announcement to make. Seeing as how I have the next five (yes, five) chapters already written and ready to go, I'm going to make a deal with you all. The reviews are coming in fabulously now and I appreciate so very much. And what's even more apparently so does my muse because I am writing up a storm! So keep them coming and my promise to you is that after I receive at least 10 reviews on a chapter I will happily post the next one (and no, Allie, it doesn't count if all 10 reviews come from you LOL). As an added bonus, I will also be bringing back that wonderful thing called the preview! :) Hopefully, they will provide some incentive to keep up your end of the bargain.

The deal starts now. For this chapter only, let's try and make 12 reviews to get that nice round number of 200. After that, the 10 deal is effect. So...get to reading and reviewing and of course...ENJOYING! :)
~JP

True North
By Jaclyn Parker

"Friends are the family we choose for ourselves."
~Edna Buchanan
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When Carly's arm flung out to land across Molly's chest for the third time, the dark haired woman had finally had enough. Groaning softly, she lifted her cousin's arm and gently replaced it back over onto her own side of the bed. Sitting up slowly, she glanced at the clock with unfocused eyes and groaned again when she saw that it was barely 6:00 in the morning. Their flight to Chicago didn't leave until 10 so they weren't even heading to the airport until 8 all of which meant that her wonderful cousin had just robbed her of at least another hour of sleep.

Molly glared down at the blonde who was lying on her back beside her, but as she watched Carly shift uncomfortably in her sleep, the glare softened to a look of sympathy. In all reality, she knew should just be grateful that Carly had finally been able to fall asleep at all. Besides the events of yesterday and the upcoming return to Oakdale pressing on her mind, the baby girl that Carly was carrying had decided to play a game of in-utero soccer well into the wee hours of the morning.

Pressing a light kiss to Carly's temple, Molly slipped out of the bed and threw on her short, light weight bathrobe. Sweeping her growing hair up from her shoulders into a short ponytail, she proceeded to silently sneak out of the bedroom to head towards the kitchen. She figured that since she was up she might as well make some coffee and really get her day started.

Pausing in the hallway, she couldn't make out any noise coming from Mattie's room or the one on the other side. To keep up appearances Carly had slept in Molly's bedroom with her with Lee taking up residence in the guest bedroom that had served as Carly's room for the past few months. But the secretive longing looks that Molly and he had exchanged before bed spoke volumes of how much they were missing their normal arrangement.

Moving as quietly as she could through the living room, she snuck a peek at the pull out couch that J.J. had graciously conceded to his father while he bunked on an air mattress up in the loft with Parker. Seeing that Jack was still out like a light, complete with a pillow over his head, Molly nodded in satisfaction and continued her way into the kitchen. She stopped short at the sight of her red ceramic tea kettle sitting on a pot holder in the middle of the center island. Reaching out to touch the kettle she pulled back when she realized that the kettle was still hot. Since Molly hadn't heard the whistle she knew that the person who had made the tea had been watching closely as not to wake everyone up.

Forgoing her original idea of coffee, Molly poured herself a cup of the hot water and added a tea bag of cinnamon apple which was her favorite morning blend. After adding a teaspoon of sugar, she cleaned up as noiselessly as she could and then moved back out into the living room, her eyes searching for any other signs of life. Spotting the back door, she quirked an eyebrow at the sight of the glass door open, but the screen door still in place. She briefly wondered whether or not she would have noticed the slight smell of the ocean air and the early morning breeze if she had been more awake when she had left her bedroom a few minutes ago.

Standing at the screen door, sipping her tea, Molly's eyes scanned the backyard until they landed on their target. Seated in the over sized, convertible, lawn swing that Molly had somehow been convinced to buy in the beginning of the summer, was Mattie.

The young girl was still in her pajamas but like Molly she wore a lightweight bathrobe over top to ward off the morning chill. She had adjusted the swing to its hammock position and was lying down on the thick quilted material. But while one leg was tucked under her, the other dangled off the edge and every so often gently rocked the swing back and forth.

Molly slid the screen door closed behind her and stepped, barefoot, out into the backyard. Pausing a moment to wiggle her toes in the cool grass, the moistness of the dew caused a chill to go up Molly's spine. Padding across the yard silently, she stopped at the other end of the hammock swing and leaned against the base.

"Is this a private party or can anyone join?"

Mattie's eyes shot open and her head jerked to the side to look at Molly, her body freezing in surprise. But she quickly recovered with a long sigh and closed her eyes again.

"I didn't think anyone else was up." Mattie said softly.

"Well, I wasn't until Laila Ali whacked me in the chest for the millionth time with her arm in her sleep." Molly said and Mattie snickered, still without opening her eyes. But this time she did scoot over a miniscule distance which Molly took to mean that she was welcome to join the girl on the swing.

"You know, we put this thing up the first weekend that you and Parker came out to stay with us and I think this is only the second time I've ever actually laid on it." Molly said, placing her cup down on the grass by the frame of the swing and lying down on her side to face Mattie.

"I use it all the time. Some nights when I can't sleep, I come out here and just listen. I know it's probably just my imagination but I swear if I listen hard enough I can hear the ocean." Mattie said, her voice still soft as though not to break the blanket of the rising dawn.

Molly tilted her head and for a long moment they were both silent.

"Hmm, I don't think it's your imagination, because I hear it too." Molly said, smiling.

"Thanks." With her eyes still shut, Mattie smiled too.

"What brings you out here so early though?" Molly asked, propping her chin in her palm as she sat up on her elbow.

At this Mattie opened one green eye and just looked at Molly as to point out the absurdity of the question. Molly gave a small nod of acknowledgement and the girl shut her eye again, tilting her face towards slight warmth of the newly rising sun.

"It's going to be okay, you know?" Molly said quietly after a moment and Mattie frowned.

"No, I don't know that and neither does anyone else." She said, her voice bordering on hostile. "I wish everyone would stop acting like I'm too young to understand or to see how worried they really are. I can handle it. I'm sixteen and a half for God's sake."

"We know how old you are, Mattie, and maybe that's why we don't want you to have to handle it. At your age, your life shouldn't be this hard." Molly said and Mattie sighed loudly.

"It's too late for that Molly. My life hasn't been easy for a very long time."

"Hmm, so is that why you're out here? A little mini pity party?" Molly asked and Mattie's eyes shot open to land on her in amazement.

"Excuse me?"

"What happened to the strong independent girl I met all those months ago? Where is the funny, optimistic, bright eyed girl that has been living in my house for the summer? Now is not the time to give up!" Molly said, placing a finger under Mattie's chin and tilting her face towards her. "Your uncle meant what he said yesterday, Mattie. He's going to fight with everything he has to keep you safe and with him. We all are."

"Why…" Mattie started to ask but Molly shook her head and cut her off.

"You're family; it's as simple as that." Molly said and Mattie frowned.

"Because you're dating Uncle Lee, you mean?"

"Nope. I'm sorry to disappoint you, kiddo, but you became family a good while before that big lug and I starting anything." Molly said, bringing her finger out from under Mattie's chin and grinningly tapped her nose instead.

Mattie fought back a smile but in the end lost out and lay back down, laughing quietly. Molly lay down too and this time it was she who started to push the swing back and forth with one of her legs. They were silent for a few moments before Mattie turned her head to look at Molly.

"Molly, will you promise me something?" Mattie asked, suddenly very serious.

Molly looked at her in confusion. "What's that?"

"If…if this custody thing doesn't work out the way we want it to…" Mattie started to say.

"Mattie…" Molly tried to cut her off but stopped when Mattie sat up and leaned on her elbow to look down into Molly's face.

"Just hear me out, okay?" Mattie asked and Molly closed her mouth, before nodding. Thinking hard a moment to gather her thoughts, Mattie tried again. "If it doesn't work out and I end up having to go with this guy…will you…will you look after Uncle Lee for me?"

Stunned, all Molly could do was blink rapidly for a moment before swallowing the lump that was in her throat. She knew how close Mattie and Lee were and for the girl to ask her something like that showed just how much faith and trust she really had in Molly.

"I promise." Molly said and Mattie searched her face intently. Apparently finding what she wanted, Mattie nodded in satisfaction and flopped back down, letting her long hair fan out around her head.

"You're good for him, you know?"

Molly turned her head to look at Mattie and the teen smiled.

"He's dated before, of course. I mean, why wouldn't he, right? He's not a monk or anything and he's pretty good looking even if I am a bit biased." Mattie said and Molly smiled too. "But you…there's something that happens when he sees you that never happened before. It's like…I dunno…someone plugged him in like lights on a Christmas tree or something."

Molly blushed deeply and let out a small laugh. Then quirking an eyebrow she said, "You mean like how Parker looks at you?"

This time it was Mattie who blushed and then both females started to giggle. When their laughter died down, Molly and Mattie found they were pushing the swing in unison.

"I've only known him a little while but I can't imagine my life without him." Mattie said, frowning as she thought about what she had just said. "I know that sounds kinda corny but that's how I feel. He's not just my boyfriend, he's my best friend."

"I know what you mean." Molly said softly, her mind drifting to not just her and Lee, but how Carly and Jack had always been…back before everything seemed to get so out of control.

Molly reached out her hand and found Mattie's resting by her side. She gently entwined the young girl's fingers with her and gave it a squeeze. Mattie squeezed back but then pulled her hand away. Molly frowned but it quickly disappeared when Mattie's fingers came back to just lightly dance on Molly's palm as she started to talk.

"I used to dream about going back to Australia, you know? When we first came to Oakdale, it happened almost every night. I used to dream about what it would have been like, for me and my mum, if my dad hadn't died in that plane crash. Even with everything that happened there, Australia was safe…it was home. It had been for my whole life."

Mattie trailed off and she closed her eyes tightly. Molly looked over to see a few tears escape the girl's eyelids and slide down her temples to get lost in her dark hair.

"But when Parker and I came out here for the summer, the weirdest thing happened. I started to dream about going home…to Oakdale." Mattie whispered her voice catching as she struggled to hold back the tears and the emotions that were running wild within her. "And it is home now, you know? I'm happy and I have a good life. Don't I deserve it? After everything that He has put me through?"

"Oh Mattie, of course you do! You deserve the best life." Molly said and Mattie flung a hand over her eyes, her chest hitching as she tried to take in deep breaths.

"Then why is this happening to me? Why did this guy have to come back now and try and take me away from my home? Away from my family?"

Mattie opened her eyes to stare at Molly, the pleading look and the tone of her voice made Molly's breath catch and her heart ache. But she didn't say anything, only shook her head to express that even she didn't have an answer to that, and the girl sighed.

"I know she hurt me and I know I shouldn't but sometimes…I really miss my mom." Mattie said and rubbed the tears burning in her eyes with the heels of her palms. It didn't seem to make a difference as a damn inside Mattie seemed to burst and she couldn't help the sobs that came out.

Molly didn't hesitate and reached out to pull the girl into her arms. Mattie seemed to resist for a moment but then clung like a lifeline to Molly, who just rocked her gently and made soothing noises.

It wasn't a long release but it was obviously needed and soon Mattie seemed to be calming down, the tears slowing and her breathing returning to normal. Still holding her tightly Molly pressed her cheek against the girl's long chestnut brown hair and spoke softly to her.

"Mattie, I know I'm not your mom but if it helps I just want you to know that I love you very much and I'm very proud of you. You were right before. You've had a hard time of it but you're strong and you will survive this, no matter what happens."

Mattie pulled away and rubbed the tears off of her cheeks. She bit her lip gently, before releasing a shaky breath and smiling up at her.

"It helps, Molly. It helps a lot."

Molly raised her arm up again and without another word, Mattie shifted to curl up by her side. Mattie's head came to rest on Molly's shoulder and the older woman gently rocked them in swing as they watched the morning sunrise paint the sky shades of purple, pink, and orange. All too soon their solitude was broken by the sounds of their names being called within the house and they finally headed inside to face what lay ahead.

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On the next chapter of True North:
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"Hmm, I'm glad everyone is here. It's providing just the distraction that we need right now. Especially for Lee and Matte." Carly said, turning from the now empty sink and wiping her hands on a dishtowel.

"How are they holding up?' Emma asked, genuinely concerned.

"Okay, for now. They're trying to keep up their brave faces." Carly said, moving away from her to lean on top of the island and giving a soft smile. "Parker hasn't left Mattie's side for more than two minutes; he's so worried about her."

"Yes, well, I noticed that Molly hasn't been too far from Lee either." Emma said and Carly jerked upright. She looked at the older woman who merely looked back with a calm and questioning gaze. "Why do you suppose that is?"

Carly narrowed her eyes and cautiously licked her lips. "I don't…"

"Actually, I've been wondering that too. Along with a few other things."

Jack's voice startled them both and they turned around see him standing next to the refrigerator. He leaned against its side with his arms crossed over his chest and Carly knew by his stance and unyielding expression that he wasn't going to budge until he got some answers.

TBC...