Disclaimer: See last chapter

~ Chapter Seven ~

"The brightest future will always be based upon a forgotten past."

"Hey baby girl, would you like to stay home with me today instead of going to school?" Sonny looked at her mum, a little confused as she stared at the woman in front of her – she had completely changed overnight. She nodded slowly, wondering what the catch was and put down her school bag.

"I made you some breakfast, you're getting so thin lately." Sonny bit down on her lip and nodded, not wanting to mention it was because her mother hadn't cooked anything in over eight months.

"Here we go." Connie grinned at her little girl, kissing her gently on the forehead as she placed a large plate in front of her – she was going to be the good mother she should have always been. She never should have given up on life, she never should have given up on either of them.

Sonny looked down at the food and then slowly picked up a fork, looking back up at her mum for a minute before taking a bite. She smiled when she realized that it was the first hot food she had actually eaten since she had gotten out of hospital all those months ago.

"I am so sorry for not being here for you baby girl, but it's all going to change from now on." Connie whispered, brushing a hair behind Sonny's ear and smiling at her.

"I think we should get you a haircut, how about that?" Sonny nodded and quickly ate her breakfast, leaping up out of her seat and smiling the first smile she had managed to in eight months. She wrapped her tiny arms around her mum, never wanting to let go just in case this was all some horrible dream, and she would wake up to the harsh reality any second now.

"Let's get you dressed honey, and then I will take you out shopping." Sonny nodded and giggled when her mum lifted her up, not noticing the frown on Connie's face when she felt how light the tiny girl was. She shook her head and felt her back, tears dripping down her face when she could feel all her bones through the uniform she was wearing.

She put her down and looked through the wardrobe, realizing there was hardly anything in there, settling on a little dress she had bought her just before they were taken to hospital and all of this happened.

She sighed when the dress hung loosely off her body when she put it on, looking up at her mum and back down at the dress,

"We are going to have to buy you some stuff that fits." Sonny nodded and reached out for her mum, Connie smiled and picked her back up. If she didn't know that Sonny was thirteen she could have easily mistaken the girl for at least six years old – she was tiny.

"We need to fatten you up a little." She laughed a little, looking into her daughter's eyes when she pulled back a little to look her mum in the eyes,

"You stopped cooking and you never taught me how." She whispered,

"It's okay baby, I am not blaming you. It's all my fault, I am going to make everything better now." Sonny nodded, wrapping her arms back around her mothers neck and snuggling into her shoulder, closing her eyes as she hoped this wasn't a cruel dream.

"I think we should move away from here, what do you think?" Connie asked as they walked down the street, Sonny nodded and smiled,

"I would like that mummy."

"Good, I will look into it as soon as I can." Sonny nodded,

"It's all going to get better soon baby girl, I promise you."

~ .. ~

Sonny grinned when they pulled outside the new house, it had been two weeks since her mother had managed to pull out of her depression and Sonny was happier than ever. She giggled as she ran into the house, looking around all the rooms before deciding which one was going to be her bedroom.

"Why did we come to Wisconsin?"

"Your grandparents live here, I grew up here." Connie replied, looking down at her little girl with so much pride and love, they had both changed a lot in just two weeks and both of them were happier than ever.

"Will they like me?" Sonny frowned,

"Who couldn't like you? You're beautiful and amazing." Sonny sighed and then looked around the empty house,

"Is granddad mean?" She whispered,

"No.. he's the kindest man I have ever met and he is going to spoil you so much. We are going to see them later, is that okay?" Sonny nodded, suddenly returning to the insecure girl quickly. Connie looked around the house as she thought about how quickly Sonny's moods could change, wondering how she could help her. She hoped that after some time Sonny would be able to come out of her shell and make some friends, hopefully they could settle here.

"Mummy! We have a pool!" Sonny suddenly ran into the living room, almost bumping into her mum as she did so, pointing to the garden outside,

"I knew you would like that." Connie winked, picking her up and taking her outside, grinning when she dive bombed into the pool.

"Mum!" Sonny laughed, splashing her before climbing back out and shaking her head like she was the adult.

"We have to get ready." She smiled, taking her mum's hand to help pull her out. Connie nodded, slowly getting out and shaking her wet hair all over Sonny, who laughed and then ran through the house to the bed she had taken as her own as soon as she had walked into the house.

~ .. ~

"Is this my little granddaughter?" Sonny hid behind her mum, clinging onto her legs as tight as she could as she looked up the kind looking woman and the gentle looking man. Connie nodded and laughed, pulling Sonny out and shaking her head,

"She's a little shy."

"Well I can sort that out." The old man said, bending down to meet Sonny's eyes, she smiled when she realized that he was the one she had gotten her own eyes from and she immediately took his hand when he reached out for her.

"How about I show you around my little farm here? Have you ever ridden a horse?" She shook her head, waving back at her mum as they walked off,

"Have you ever milked a cow?" Sonny shook her head again, giggling when he lifted her up and took her to see all the different animals.

The two women left behind laughed at the two as they wrapped their arms around each other and warmly smiled,

"She's gorgeous."

"Yeah, I just hope that she can move on from everything I put her through." The older woman shook her head and touched her daughter's face with her hand, smiling at her,

"It wasn't your fault baby girl, it's all going to be okay now." Connie nodded, tears falling down her face as her own mother took her into her arms once more, rubbing her back as she reassured her that it wasn't her fault.

Sonny looked behind her, wondering why her mummy was crying before looking back up at the old man she immediately trusted.

"I think your mummy is a little upset because she is worried about you." He said, looking behind them and then back at the little girl,

"I don't want her to be worried about me." She whispered, looking down at the floor and kicking a rock gently.

"She's your mum, it's what they are there for." He smiled, pulling her gently towards the horses, smiling when her face lit up.

"You know what? I have the perfect nickname for you." He smiled, brushing her long hair out of her face as he stared at her smile and the light sparkle in her eyes that he knew would become brighter with time,

"You do?"

"Sonny."

"What does it mean?" She bit down on her lip as she looked at him and then back at the horse, gently touching it's nose.

"It means that you have the most beautiful smile in the whole world, and that one day soon you're going to make a lot of people smile because of it." She blushed a little,

"Thank you." He shook his head,

"Thank you for making me smile." He winked, picking her up again and taking her over to the house.

"Now then, I am sure your grandmother wants to fatten you up a lot so be prepared." She nodded and laughed loudly when he finally put her down, taking her hand in his again and walking into the house.

And for the first time ever Sonny knew that everything was going to be okay, it could work out.