Chapter 4 Craig takes a stand.
Author's Note: in this Craig's father never died, he does make an appearance in this story.
My heart started beating faster and faster as he walked through the hall and within a minute there he was with his dark black curly hair, and his green eyes that were identical to mine, and a big smile on his face "What is it Ellie?", he said taking a sip of his Pepsi.
Ellie then stepped away revealing me, Craig's eyes went wide by the look on his face I knew he recognized me, she then spoke "Craig, this is Mariah Stevens your biological daughter."
He stood there for a minute, no emotion on his face, the suspense was killing me I wanted to turn around and run out the door, but I couldn't bring myself to move. He then smiled as tears started falling down his face, as he walked over and embraced me, his voice then began to crack "look at you Mariah, your hair, your eyes, you're so tall and absolutely beautiful."
He then smiled, " I can't believe you're here, after all these years, look at you," his grin kept on getting bigger and bigger "would you like something to drink eat anything?"
I smiled "no thank you I'm fine," I said.
He couldn't stop smiling, he then looked at Ellie, "hey Ellie, would you care if I took her out for the day?" he asked.
Ellie smiled, it was the first time she saw Craig happy in a long time "I insist you guys have a good time."
I looked over at Craig "you want to spend time with me?"
He walked over to me "of course I do! You're my.." he took a breath, and spoke again "let's get to know each other."
I smiled, I couldn't be happier "I would like that Craig, I replied."
We first went around LA, saw all the important landmarks, visited different places and had an amazing time we then went for a walk around the park where we just talked.
"So tell me how are your parents Ava and Carl?"
Tears started falling down my face, as I turned away, I didn't want him to see me cry.
He then kneeled down in front of me, "Mariah, please don't cry what's wrong?"
I then took a breath as I whispered "they died, mom died by getting hit by a drunk driver, dad died by trying to get stuff out of the house when it was on fire," my head then hung down.
Craig put his arm around me "I'm so sorry…you're not living by yourself are you?"
I shrugged "I wish I was.." as we kept on walking around.
"Who do you live with?" he asked.
"My dad's girlfriend after mom died Krista and her daughter Ashley." I said rolling my eyes.
He then noticed the sad look on my face, and his face became serious "are you happy there?"
I couldn't tell him how I really felt, I would be basically asking for him to take me in, he has a lot on his plate right now, I couldn't do that to him "its..Great" I lied putting on a face smile.
His smile then turned into a frown, as his eyes got wide he began to panic "the same fake smile I had when dad beat me," he whispered.
I then looked over at him and arched my eye brows "what's wrong Craig?"
"Mariah,.." he then started shaking my shoulders "she hasn't beat you has she?, you wouldn't lie to me about that right?" he said his voice cracking.
I backed away "Craig, your scaring me!" I screamed.
Craig then heard a voice behind him "Craig? Is that you?"
His face went pale, and his eyes went dark unlike his light eyes full of happiness, they were dark full of hatred as he turned around and walked towards his father "get away from me, and her" he said coldly.
The man laughed " cant I tell my son hello?'
Craig shook his head "no… you beat me, and you will never change, I don't want you near me, nor her, GOT IT!" he screamed.
Craig's father laughed "and you say you're the perfect father, I heard about your story, you gave her up and now I'm assuming that girl is your biological daughter and you're trying to make up for it, you're no perfect parent, I loved you enough to keep you, you don't love her or you wouldn't have let her go."
Craig's anger built as he clenched his fist "your wrong! I do love her! And it wasn't my choice to give her up , and unlike YOU I would never EVER HARM HER."
"You almost did, I saw you shaking her.." he then whispered in Craig's ear "face it your just like me, with your short patience, she makes you mad, you would beat her in a minute."
Craig then clenched his fist "you bastard!"
Within a second he was punching his dad over and over, as tears fell down his face, he wouldn't stop he kept going, getting madder and madder every second.
Mariah ran over to the two men and got in between them "guys stop please!" she cried.
She managed to get the two of them to stop and Craig began to cry "I'm sorry Mariah.. you shouldn't have seen this."
"Lets just go back to your apartment Craig, I don't want to see anymore fighting" said Mariah about to cry.
Craig nodded "he isn't worth it", they began to walk when Craig's father punched Mariah knocking her to the ground.
Craig then turned around and punched his father "you fucking asshole!, how dare you fucking put a hand on her, I fucking hate you!" within a second Craig pushed his dad out into traffic where he got hit by a car.
Craig's eyes went wide, he began to breath heavily as he kneeled down to Mariah who was passed out, he began to cry "Mariah please…"
He quickly got his phone out and called 911, a woman then saw them "Craig?" she spoke she then looked at the girl and ran to them.
"Craig! What happened?, and who is this?"
He looked up "Ash, my dad he hit her, and I pushed her in front of a car.." he then began to cry "its her Ashley, its Mariah."
Ashley put her hands over her mouth "oh my god!"
Once the ambulance got there they took her to the hospital where Craig, Ellie, Ashley, Alice and Emma were waiting to hear the news.
A minute later Manny ran through the door "where is she! Where's my daughter!" she cried.
Ashley was the first to speak "how dare you show up here after what you said to her, what do you claim her now that she's hurt when there's a chance she might die?" she said walking towards her.
"This is none of your concern Ashley, you don't know what I went though!"Manny screamed.
Craig shook his head "please not now guys."
They both immediately quit talking for his sake.
A minute later the doctor walked in and Craig and Manny walked up to him " is she okay?" Craig asked worried.
The doctor nodded "she's fine, she will be able to go home today."
"Can we go see her" asked Manny.
The doctor nodded "of course, but one at a time."
Craig went and saw her first, he knocked on the door and walked in with flowers and a bear "hey how are you feeling?"
Mariah smiled " I'm good, the doctor said I can leave today."
Craig smiled "I know, I'm sorry I shouldn't have talked to my father, I should have kept walking and you wouldn't be here right now."
"It's okay dad, you did it to protect me" said Mariah grabbing his hand.
A smile formed on Craig's face, as he began to cry "you called me dad."
"you defended me, you protected me from your own father, he could've pushed you in front of that car, I understand why you gave me up, and making that sacrifice even though you were never there, that's what makes you a parent" said Mariah.
Craig smiled and hugged his daughter " I love you Mariah."
" I love you too, dad" she said smiling.
Craig was grinning ear to ear until he saw some bruises on her stomach "was that from dad?" he whispered.
Mariah shook her head back and forth "Krista, she beat me anytime I would do something wrong, or badmouth her or her daughter she started out by smacking me, by the end of the day she would beat me, I would cry myself to sleep at night" she said turning on her side.
Craig shook his head "you're not going back Mariah" he then stood up " I won't allow it, I got beat when I lived with my father until finally I took a stand and moved in with Joey, I want you to stay here in LA, I want you to live with me, you won't hurt anymore, we can be a family, I can fight for you Mariah, I can get you back, you can be happy," said Craig sticking his hand out "what do you say to that?"
Cliffhanger :D What do you guys think? Do you think Mariah will accept his offer or decline it? And what about Manny does she finally turn herself around and accept Mariah Review please tell me your thoughts and I will update ASAP thanks again for your support it means so much.
Love you guys, Countrygirl19