This might be a boring chapter so I apologize, I'm trying really hard to finish this story! Thanks for the reviews, especially the really long one, it definitely gave me the motivation to finish this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing.

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The courage she had built up on the ride evaporated the moment her house came into view.

"Need back up?" Sam asked quietly, reaching over Paula and opening the passenger door. The wince when he did so was hard to miss.

"No," Paula said slowly, her gaze locked on the house that she so many times wished to be rid of.

"Sure 'bout that?" he asked once more.

Paula eyes travelled backed to the driver's seat. If she was being honest, she would have told him to come with her. Having someone along that wouldn't yell or berate her sounded good, but at the same time she didn't want her to think she was a needy little girl. It probably wouldn't be good for his either, walking right into the Shepard home.

There was a reason that it seemed like only yesterday that Sam was just her drug dealer; it had been only yesterday. The last 48 hours had been a whirlwind that Paula was not at all expecting.

"Thanks for the ride," Paula forced a smile, "I'll see you."

She didn't wait for a response; instead she jumped out into the crisp morning air and began the unbearably long trek to the front door.

There was a great possibility that Rick would be home, and she knew her mother wouldn't have left to work yet. Curly and Angela would probably still be tucked away in bed.

She didn't really have a plan; she was just going to ask her mom point blank. Was her daddy Bobby Vincent. It was a yes or no question. Simple.

Just before she opened the door Paula glanced back to street. Sam was still parked where he had dropped her off.

Taking a deep breath in Paula turned the knob and entered her house, doing the best to ignore the feeling of being a stranger in her own home.

"Mama?" she called out softly.

"Kitchen," a voice answered.

Paula took the few shaky steps she needed to get herself to the kitchen and to her mother.

The kitchen itself smelled like a brewery.

"Where've you been?" her mama asked, her eyes on the paper in front of her and a cigarette hanging out of her mouth.

"At a friends," Paula said slowly, "I got a question for you."

Her mama took the cigarette out of her mouth, but kept her eyes on the paper for a few more seconds. Finally after what felt like a billion minutes Marion lifted her gaze to her youngest daughter.

"You know Paula, I had high hopes for you," she sighed as she spoke, "you were always such a good little girl. You were shy and polite – not like Ang or Curly. You were quiet and smart, always thinking."

This was the first time that Paula had ever heard this.

"But something happened to you Paula – you're just the same as them now, ain't you?"

"Real nice to say about your children, mama," Paula rolled her eyes, grinding her teeth together.

"I have a question," she tried again, this time with a louder voice.

"I didn't want you to know - I didn't want you to follow in his footsteps." Marion shook her head at what she was saying, "But I guess you're just as useless as he was."

Paula felt all the air leave her chest. Her mama really didn't love her. Paula felt the urge to run, but she had to know for sure.

"So it is him, Bobby Vincent?" she asked one last time, her eyes closed shut.

"Sure is honeybuns," Marion retorted, her dried lips cracking as she gave her youngest daughter a sad smile.

Paula's feet were stuck to the lenolium.

"I ain't coming back, Mama," Paula blurted out.

"Didn't think you would," she answered, eyes still focused on the paper.

"I love you," it was possibly a lie, but with all that her mother had whirled at her she deserved to feel a bit of guilt.

The seconds ticked by and there was no response. All the while feeling like a sack of potatoes Paula turned on her heels and walked the bedroom she shared with her sister.

Angela wasn't in bed, having probably not have come home at all. Paula pulled out an old brown duffle bag and began stuffing as many pieces of clothing she could find, not paying attention if they were hers or sisters.

Once she couldn't possibly fit anything else in the bag Paula scanned the room one last time. A few memories flooded back to her. Some happy, like when she and Angela had to hide in their room while Rick and her mama went at it and they made a huge fort and played house in it for hours. But then again, that memory wasn't all that happy if she really thought about it.

"Where are you doin'?"

Paula sighed. This was going to be the hardest part of leaving.

"Go back to bed Curly, it's still early," Paula said quietly, aware that her mother still sat in to kitchen.

"Don't give me that shit," Curly voice rose a few notches, "you've been running all over the fucking city for the last week. I talked to Ponyboy the other day, says he barely sees you anymore. Tim say's that your hanging out with some kid from the River Kings. Just tell me, if you're in trouble I can help, or at least Tim can."

Guilt flooded Paula.

"Curly – I'm leaving, Tim can't do anything for me, he's done enough," Paula turned on her heels and moved toward the door. As she reached the door she could hear Curly pleading to their mother.

"Why ain't you stopping her ma!"

"Paula!"

Paula sucked in her breath and scrunched up her face. She didn't expect to feel sad leaving this house, it held nothing but bad memories and hurt for her.

If she was going to miss anything it would be her siblings. She wouldn't miss Tim though. Angela wasn't much of a sister to her anyway. Curly was the only one she would truthfully miss.

Paula whipped open the front door and without a second look she skipped down the sidewalk.

It took her all the way to the sidewalk to realize that Sam was still parked in the spot where he had dropped her off.

He had the chair reclined and his eyes were closed. In the midst of her escape she couldn't help but laugh. He looked so innocent and childish lying there, deep in sleep.

His eyes popped open though when Curly slammed the front door closed and came running down towards her.

"Paula what the fuck are you doing with him –" Curly's face was scrunched up in anger. Paula always feared Tim the most but in that moment she was seriously scared for Sam's safety.

In an effort to diffuse the situation Paula reached up and grabbed her brother by the shoulders.

"Curly – just listen to me, Sam is a nice guy," Paula said, "I have to get away from here, you should understand."

"No I sure as fuck don't Paula," Curly chest was pumping up and down now, "You're just going to abandon this family."

"What family Curly? We're nowhere near a real family," Paula cried despairingly.

"You alright Paula?"

Paula bit the inside of her cheek. She wished he would have just stayed in the car.

"It ain't your business if my fucking sister is alright," Curly snarled towards Sam. He moved to push past her but Paula pushed with as much strength as she could.

"I'm leaving Curly, you can't stop me," Paula sighed, hoping her brother would give up his tough guy act.

"Just wait till Tim finds out," Curly moved his gaze from Paula to Sam on the other side of the car and lifted his finger to point at him, "your dead."

Paula watched Sam's face waiting for him to say something back along the lines of maybe you already tried once look how that worked out but he kept his mouth shut, although she was sure that she caught sight of a small smirk.

"Tim ain't my daddy,"

It was the truth, and she was about to go find who really was.