READ AUTHOR'S NOTE BEFORE YOU READ THE CHAPTER!

(A/N: Sorry for the delay guys. I've been busy with three dogs, four cats, and playing Sims 2 pets, lol. I've also had HORRIBLE writer's block. To help with easing it, I started writing a family feud story, yes it's T&G, set in the 1850's-1860's down in the southern US. I don't think I'll post it here, because I think it's horrible. X_X But I will hopefully continue Second Chance pretty soon, and ending it, depending on what I can figure out for the plot. I wrote Rocking Chair thinking it would be 20 chapters and it is at 51 now. I now intend on making it VERY long for suspense, my satisfaction, and your confusion. :) This story was based on a dream, and as some of you have said, it is really a nightmare. The plot is going to thicken VERY quickly, so if you have any questions about what is going on or that you don't understand something, PLEASE feel free to PM me or comment on the story. I will get back to you ASAP. By the way, I am updating pictures of Talon, Lyle, and Aubrey. I am having a lot of trouble finding cute kid pictures (I have found some for Aubrey, not Talon and Lyle). When I was writing for youtube, it was NEVER this hard to find cute kid pictures on Flickr, and now, it's terribly hard! :( So if you guys feel like you can help me look for cute kid pictures, PM me and we'll look together!)

NOW you can read! Enjoy!

"It was Ally… "

Troy twisted a few times in bed before rising up. His dreams were beginning to become so realistic, like he was five inches from really touching her. It was like she was close to him, somehow.

The room was eerily cold and misty like fog. It was the middle of October, so the cold was to be expected, but fog? It just seemed odd. Everything was odd, so he pushed it aside like it was nothing and threw his feet over the edge of the bed. He rubbed his bloodshot eyes, and looked on his dresser.

No beer, no drugs, no nothing.

He was clean and had been for a long time.

He raised himself up and stretched his arms. Muscles contracted and showed themselves considerably through his tanned, velvet skin. The mirror displayed a clear image of a man, a man affected by the death of his lover and worn by 3 kids.

He glanced over at his clock, which clearly read 3:56 AM.

His dreams of Gabriella always woke him up when the best part was near. He couldn't control them, they just came. She would be there, and the next second, he was staring at a dark grey wall with three large hanging portraits of each of his kids.

His growling stomach lead him to his kitchen. He looked around in his cupboards, which were stocked full of toddler lunches and snacks for Talon. There wasn't a single quick meal for Troy anywhere in the house, other than cereal. He was tired of cereal.

Grabbing a bowl, spoon, milk, and a box of cereal, he sat down at his table and started spooning cereal into his mouth.

It was like she was trying to talk to him through his sleep, and there had been many times where she had said the murderer's name.

Only, there was one thing. The murderer's name was different in every dream.

He heard Ally quite often, but names like Maria, Jack, Troy and Talon were said also.

His dreams were so odd, like dark fantasies mixed with Disney world. They were so unrealistic, but so true at the same time. Believing his dreams was tough, but he knew that she was trying to tell him something. So, he had to believe that she was talking to him. He had to believe that she was lying beside him in bed. He had to believe that Gabriella was watching over Talon, Lyle, and Aubrey, protecting them from any harm that may be coming. He had to believe that she was with him all day, every day.

He had to believe, or else his life would be a wreck.

Whether she was real or not, he had to believe.

Believe…

Believe in what was right and what was wrong…

"Daddy?"

Troy's body twitched and he looked over. He was in such deep thought that Talon had scared him.

"You scared me, Tal." Troy chuckled slightly with a crooked smile. "Why aren't you in bed?"

Talon was now four. He was the smartest kid Troy knew. Talon could ride a bike without training wheels, read 3rd grade level books, control a computer, make himself macaroni and cheese, and he even spoke French, as his daddy had taught him. He was a big help to Troy with Aubrey and Lyle, who were both two years old. Lyle was a monster, and Aubrey was… just like Gabriella in every way. Talon helped Troy make them food, put them to bed, give them a bath, and everything else that went along with two year olds. He knew he was Troy's favorite, although he was hushed when Talon said it out loud.

Troy noticed that his cheeks were wet and his eyes were bloodshot. He had obviously been crying. He gave Troy the saddest look possible.

Troy held his arms out. "What's wrong buddy?"

Talon couldn't hold his tears, and let them pour down his face as he dragged himself towards Troy with open arms. Troy lifted his little body onto his lap and gave him a big hug as Talon cried into his shoulder. Troy gently rubbed his back and tried to shush him, but Talon was past the point of stopping.

"Come on now, you're a big boy, tell me what's going on."

Two minutes had passed before Talon was able to say anything. Once he was ready to talk, Troy was ready to listen.

"I had a dream. A bad dream, a very, very bad dream… " Talon sobbed.

"What happened in your dream?"

"Me and you and Brie and Lyle were in the park and everything got dark. Everyone went away, everything went away, and I was all alone. I kept saying 'daddy' but you wouldn't answer and I got scared and I started crying. Then someone came behind me and hugged me. It was mommy."

Troy's heart started to beat faster.

"She told me that everything was okay and that everyone was safe in Apex with her. She said you and Brie and Lyle were dead- "

"Apex? How do you know about Apex?" Troy became defensive, even against his four year old son. He didn't want his kids knowing about Apex. Troy often told Lyle, Aubrey, and Talon about Gabriella and showed them pictures and videos, but he never, ever said anything about how she had came back to visit him years ago and told him everything about death itself. He didn't want his kids knowing about that.

"Mommy told me about it in my dream. She said you guys were dead and that I would be safe in the dark room by myself because she was watching me."

"Then why are you upset? I told you not to be scared of mommy and that mommy watches over you every day and every night. She loves you very, very much."

"Because someone came up behind her and pushed her down. The bad person cut her neck with a sharp thing and kicked her and hit her. Daddy, that bad person was so mean to mommy. The bad guy made her die daddy, made her die- "

Troy cut Talon off with a big hug. He held Talon tightly in his arms. Talon was hysterical.

"I'm so sorry you were dragged into this, Talon. If I could tell mommy to stop talking to you in your dreams, I would… "

Did Gabriella mean to scare him? Did she want him to be scared of her? Did she want him to forget she ever existed?

All these seemed like possible questions to Troy. The obvious answer would be no, but within the past few months, the answers were yes. She always appeared in Talon's dreams being killed or hurt very badly.

But what she truly wanted Troy and Talon to know was that her murderer was nearby.

And the murderer was after Troy, Talon, Lyle, and Aubrey.