I really hadn't planned on revealing Lacey's secret past this soon, but things happened and I decided to go ahead and write it. It will all be written in italics, and may be hard for some of you to read. It's hard for me to write, honestly. I appreciate the continued and unwavered support so far.

Lacey and Clara's father Samuel, was a firefighter that died in an uncontrollable apartment building fire along with two other firefighters. Saving lives was a big part of his life, and Judy's which is how they met. Judy had become an R.N. because she loved helping and comforting people. She met Samuel in her CPR class while she was in nursing school. Samuel was four years older than her and already a firefighter taking his re-certification class. They hit it off instantly, and were married two years later. Lacey was born two years later, Clara born three years later. They had a pretty normal life in Baltimore with Samuel spending a lot of his time at the fire house, while Judy worked at the hospital. Samuel's mother Theresa, helped out a lot with her granddaughters. When Samuel died, Judy was heartbroken, but knew that he gave his life doing what he loved. She hated that her girls would grow up without a father, considering Lacey was 7 and Clara only 4 when he died. But Samuel's family and his firefighter brothers continued to look out for them.

So Judy devoted her life to her daughters and her career. She put Clara in gymnastics and Lacey in dance to counteract the hours she spent at the hospital. Lacey had already been taking piano and singing lessons before Samuel died. She really had an ear for music and the voice of an angel, something she inherited from Samuel's side of the family. The girls really began to thrive in their respective activities. They had both taken their sisters' activities to get a feel of what the other was doing. Lacey initially liked gymnastics, but did not like the discipline that it required. She loved the freedom of dancing. Clara loved it, however. And since they were sisters and only 3 years apart, Clara and Lacey were extremely close. They often slept in each other's beds, were always together when not at dance or gymnastics practice, always hugging and telling and keeping secrets. Lacey was unlike other big sisters by actually wanting and enjoying having her little sister around when her friends came over.

And since Judy is essentially a workaholic, she spent a lot of time at the hospital. She really wanted to provide a good life for her girls. 5 years after Samuel's death, when Lacey was 12 and Clara was 9, Judy met a doctor at the hospital she worked at. Timothy Fowler M.D. was a tall, dark and handsome anesthesiologist. 6 Years older than Judy, and was smitten with her tenacity. They had been assigned to a lot of surgical cases together and romance blossomed from there. Judy was apprehensive at first, considering she was a widow with two young daughters. And she didn't want to be considered the kind of nurse that was just looking for a rich, doctor husband. Tim, as everybody called him, was divorced with a 14-year-old son that he had custody of. Timmy's mother thought it would be better for him to be raised by his father, though she spent weekends, holidays and summers with him. Judy and Tim had dated a while before she introduced him to Lacey and Clara. In case it didn't work out or so that Lacey and Clara wouldn't feel like their father was being replaced.

The girls instantly liked Tim, and he fell in love with them also. He truly treated them like they were his own daughters. In spite of Judy fearing they wouldn't like him, the girls did just the opposite. They were happy to have a father in their lives. And they were happy about having an older brother. So when Judy told Clara and Lacey that she and Tim were getting married, they were ecstatic. Clara was especially excited about being a flower girl. The wedding was small, just close family and friends since it was the second marriage for them both. Lacey sang at the wedding. Everything was perfect.

And then things slowly, but surely started to change. Lacey got weird vibes from Timmy. He was always staring at her. She didn't know what that was about. Then he started brushing up against her. At first it was really innocent, like brushing her arm when he reached for something at the table during meals. Then he started sitting too closely to her in the car, or would touch her thigh under the table. Sometimes he would brush past her in the hallway. He would "accidentally" touch her breasts, and more times than once, he would touch her butt. Timmy gave her the creeps and there wasn't too much she could do about it.

One of Timmy's friends, Aaron that he used to hang out with all the time, developed a crush on her and asked Lacey out one day. Timmy told Judy that he didn't think it would be a good idea for Lacey to talk to him because he was a sleaze. Aaron stopped coming over the house after that. He never knew what Timmy had told Judy, but Timmy didn't want him at the house anymore. Lacey couldn't believe that he did that. Judy thought it was cute that Timmy was trying to look out for Lacey by not letting her get involved with a guy that was no good for her. That was not the truth at all. Timmy wanted Lacey to himself.

The reality that Lacey was his step sister was irrelevant to Timmy. He stopped looking at her the way he looked at Clara in no time. Clara was a kid; way too young for him and he truly did look at her like his little sister. That was not the case with Lacey. He thought Lacey was beautiful and he really felt like he had to have her. When he first met them, he thought she was a beautiful girl and instantly clarified that she's be a knockout when she got older. His feelings for her started to change once she started to mature by growing larger breasts, hips, thighs and butt. He noticed he started to get aroused whenever he was near her. He still didn't think anything was wrong with that because technically, she wasn't his real sister. They were only related by marriage. He thought he could do whatever he wanted with Lacey because of that. He wanted her to feel the same way about him. He had visions of how hot and naughty it would be to start fucking his step sister. All of his friends would think he was a stud if he pulled that off.

Timmy decided he had to do everything in his power to convince Lacey to want him too. If she could see just how turned on he got because of her, she would like it. She would like how bad he wanted to touch and taste her. He realized that the little light touches and brushes up against her were not going to work. He wanted to really touch her, he wanted to be inside of her. And he wanted her to touch him too. He knew it would happen. With a little, maybe a lot of prodding, he'd get her on board. He tried to test the waters several times by just asking her casual questions. They were sitting in the game room one day. He was playing the Xbox, Lacey and Clara were playing Uno, when Clara had to go to the bathroom. He took his chance.

"Lacey can I ask you a question?" Timmy asked as he paused his game.

"You just did." Was Lacey's response, really not wanting him to ask her anything.

He ignored that and proceeded with what the wanted to know. "What if my dad and your mom weren't married?"

"Well, they are so...?"

Again, he ignores what she's saying and the vibes she's giving him. "We aren't really brother and sister. We could do it." Timmy says.

A wave of uneasiness comes over Lacey. She's afraid to ask, but does so anyway. "We could do what?"

"We could fuck. Come on, I won't tell anybody." Timmy actually says to her.

Lacey looks at him like he's crazy. He must be to say things like that to her. "Are you crazy? You can't be serious."

"Come on. I'll wear a condom, so it won't really count." Timmy says seriously.

Lacey is ready to leave. Then Clara comes back, ready to finish playing their game. Lacey gets up to leave. "Come on, Clar Bear. Let's go to my room." Lacey says, wanting to get as far away from Timmy as possible.

"No. I wanna finish playing Uno!" Clara whines.

"Well, I wanna go play in my room." Lacey suggests.

Timmy speaks up. "I'll come and play with you in your room if you want me to." Timmy says while giving Lacey a look that makes her skin crawl.

"No, that's ok." Lacey says. She wishes Clara would want to leave, but she feels forced to stay. There's no way in hell she's leaving Clara alone with him. He might pull that same crap on her.

Timmy sits grinning because he knows he got under Lacey's skin. Only a matter of time before he breaks her down, he thinks. He can tell she considered it. She just needs a little more motivation.

Then he starts telling her how pretty she is, and how nice she smells. He cornered her in the kitchen and pressed her up against the fridge. He pressed his body close to hers and would not let her move. He put his nose into her neck and smelled then licked her neck. She wanted to scream. He whispered in her ear, "You smell and taste so good. Come on. Let's do it." He says ever so quietly.

"No, Timmy. Please move." Lacey begs.

He didn't budge. "I want you." He says while he has his lips pressed against her ear.

"I want you to move and leave me alone, Timmy. If you don't, I'm going to tell my mom."

"No, you're not." Timmy says, as his voice and the look he's giving her changes. "Because if you do, I'll start messing with Clara."

The way he said it almost made Lacey vomit. She knew he meant it. She couldn't let him bother Clara the way he's bothering her. They hear Clara on her way into the kitchen, and he finally moves away from her and leaves.

Clara can tell something is wrong with Lacey. "What's wrong, Lace Face?" Clara asks, wondering what has Lacey so upset.

"Nothing." Lacey lies. "I just came to get a drink so I can take a pill. I have a headache."

"Oh. Well, I hope you feel better." Clara says as she eats her apple. Lacey doesn't know if she should leave Clara alone. Timmy might come back.

"Wanna watch a movie in my room?" Lacey offers.

"Can't. I'm getting ready to leave and go to Bridget's house down the street."

Lacey is quietly relieved when Clara finishes her apple and puts on her jacket to leave. Another time, Timmy asked her another crazy question. She hated how much they were alone together, because their parents worked so much. She had her dance lessons, but that was only 3 days a week. She was stuck with him for 2. Sometimes she would stay at school late, or be with her friends, but not too much because she didn't want to leave Clara alone with him. She was coming up the stairs as he was coming down. Lacey wanted to run in the opposite direction. But she continued to her room, not knowing he would turn and follow her. He put his hand up to stop her from shutting the door.

"You look really nice in those jeans today, Lacey." Timmy says as he grins at her.

"Leave me alone, Timmy." Lacey pleads as she tries to shut her bedroom door.

"If I leave you alone, I'll have to bother Clara. Do you want me to bother Clara, Lacey?" Just like that, he manipulated her. He used Clara against her again.

"What do you want, Timmy?" Lacey asks in annoyance.

"Can I come in your room?" Timmy asks innocently.

"Hell no. What do you want?" Lacey asks again, wishing he would just leave her the hell alone.

"I wanted to know if I showed you mine, would you show me yours?" Timmy asks.

"I'm not showing you anything." Lacey says as she tries to shut her door again.

"That's ok. I'll just come into the bathroom while you're showering one day, or I'll come in here when you're getting dressed. I want to see how hot you look with your clothes off." Timmy says to her. He doesn't care about the look of horror Lacey has on her face. He does, however, care about the front door opening and somebody coming in. Lacey lets out a breath she was holding in when he turns and heads to his room.

Lacey is paranoid every time she leaves her room. Honestly, she's paranoid even when she's in her room. She spends as much time away from home or in there as possible. She dreads even looking at Timmy. The sight of him and the sound of his voice disgusts her. His touch is even worse. She revolts every time he touches her. He was always whispering how nice her body is and how bad he wants to see and touch it. Lacey thinks if she starts to make herself fat, he won't find her attractive anymore, and will finally leave her alone. She tells her mother she wants to quit dance, and slowly but surely starts to gain weight. It did nothing to deter Timmy though. He was still obsessed and infatuated with her. He actually told her he liked that her breasts and butt had gotten bigger. She had gained weight for nothing.

Lacey seriously considered asking her mother if she could go and live with her grandmother. She had visions of running away. But she knew she couldn't. She could not leave Clara behind. She desperately wanted to tell her mother what Timmy was doing to her, but he would always warn her that if she said anything, he would mess with Clara. She believed him. She had no idea he was just saying that to taunt her. He had no interest in Clara. She was his little sister, he wasn't a pervert or a monster, so he believed. Lacey was it for him. He used her love and her fear for her sister against her. So Lacey never said a word. She could not chance Judy and Tim not believing her. Timmy was a master manipulator. She knew he'd talk his way out of it.

Meanwhile, Judy was concerned about Lacey's behaviour. She went from a fun and outgoing social butterfly to a hermit. The weight gain and her quietness concerned her. Judy honestly thought she was pregnant, and took her to the doctor's. When she realized she wasn't, she wondered if Lacey had gotten mixed up with drugs. She was clearly depressed and she didn't know why. Every time Judy would ask, Lacey would just tell her she was fine. Judy prayed that Lacey wasn't suicidal. Lacey wasn't, she just wanted the harassment to stop. It had gone on for more than 2 years now, and she thought it would only get worse. Timmy never let up on his desire for her. It actually increased. He actually let Lacey walk in on him after his shower. She had no idea he was still in the bathroom when she walked in. He was just standing there, naked. Like he was waiting for her. Lacey bolted and went to her room and cried. And cried. And cried. She really didn't think she could take it anymore, but she had to stay for Clara's sake. She would sacrifice herself for Clara if she had to.

One night, Timmy climbed into bed with her. She had no idea how he got her door open. She pretended to be asleep as he pushed his erect penis against her and grinded into her. Lacey silently cried, hoping the tears did not fall. He moaned into her ear how much he loved her and how would have her one day soon. He kissed her on the mouth before he left. Lacey had to hold in her vomit until she knew he was gone and back in his room. She rushed to the bathroom to throw up,and afterwards, she sat on the bathroom floor in tears. If her mother or Tim heard her, she would just tell them she was sick. It was the truth. Timmy made her sick to her stomach.

Lacey knew it was just a matter of time before he came through with his threat. She knew he would rape her one night. She had the heartbreaking thought to actually give in to him one day, just to get it over with. But she quickly came to her senses and realized that if she did, she would not be able to live with herself, and she knew that he would never leave her alone after that. She started putting several things up against her bedroom door to prevent him from coming in and crawling into bed with her again. But she still couldn't get any sleep from worrying about him all night. One night,she had to go to the bathroom. She couldn't hold it any longer, so she crept to the bathroom. When she was finished he was waiting for her.

Timmy put his hand over her mouth and told her not to scream. "If you scream, I'll lie and say I just scared you. And I will fuck Clara and make you watch. I'm tired of waiting. Let's go."

Lacey was crying quietly and she obliged. She had no choice but to do what he said. When they got back to her room, he made her undress while he watched. He took off his pajama bottoms and she saw that he was erect and already wearing a condom. She pleaded with him as he threw her on the bed. He didn't care about her cries. He wanted her and he would have her. Tonight.

He started kissing and fondling her as she continued to cry and beg for him to stop. He was getting ready to enter her when she reached under her pillow and pulled out the knife she hid after the first night he came into her room. He never saw it coming. She plunged the knife into his neck and he instantly collapsed on top of her as blood poured out of him everywhere. She let out a deathly scream and yelled for help. Judy and Tim came into her room and couldn't believe their eyes. Clara came running a second later and was almost as hysterical as Lacey. Judy was shocked still, but Tim ran over to save his son. He didn't understand what in the hell just went on, but Judy knew instantly what happened. After, she came out of her shocked stupor to help her husband save her step son. The boy who just tried to rape her daughter. She had to calm down enough to call 9-1-1, then she tried to calm Lacey down as she covered her in her robe. Tim was frantically trying to save Timmy until the ambulance arrived.

Tim rode to the hospital with Timmy while Judy had to stay behind. Lacey and Clara were both still hysterical when the police arrived and started questioning Lacey and Judy. Judy was devastated. Everything now made sense. And Judy blamed herself for not recognizing that Lacey was hurting sooner and for bringing Timmy into their lives. The police questioned and questioned Lacey to the point of exhaustion. Judy cried when she listened to Lacey tell the police everything that she went through with Timmy. The police searched Timmy's room and found a shocking amount of photos of Lacey on his phone. While she was sleep, walking home from school, in the bathroom, and just doing random things around the house. He had several pairs of her underwear, clean and some that had been worn, in his room. Judy couldn't believe all of that had went on in her house and right under her nose. Judy cried more when Lacey admitted that the reason she never said anything was because she was protecting Clara.

Lacey had to go to the hospital and have a rape kit done. He hadn't raped her, but it was standard procedure. And as it turned out, Lacey didn't kill Timmy like she had thought, and maybe even hoped. She did however stab him in the perfect spot for him to be paralyzed from the neck down. Lacey was relieved that he could never hurt her or anybody else ever again. And naturally, Judy and Tim's marriage was broken beyond repair. Tim had a hard time believing that his son did all of those things to Lacey, but the evidence was substantial. Judy had a hard time dealing with the guilt. Clara was a wreck, and obviously, so was Lacey. They went through counseling as a family and on their own. It helped a lot. Lacey still feared Timmy, although she knew he couldn't hurt her anymore. When they asked Timmy why he did all of those things, all he said was, "I love her." There really wasn't any point putting him in jail, because he wasn't a danger to anybody.

It took Lacey a long time to get over what she experienced, and she still felt the need to keep herself a little chubby so that no other guy would ever find her attractive again. Or so she thought...

After Lacey finished telling Danny her story, she could barely look at him. She had no idea what he would think. She saw the look on his face. He looked horrified. Lacey didn't notice that Danny actually cried while listening to what she had been through. He was the first to speak after she finished.

"I'm sorry that that happened to you and that you had to go through that." Danny said as he kissed her forehead. Lacey just knew he was going to tell her he couldn't deal with the fact that she almost killed somebody and break up with her. She wishes she never had a nightmare about Timmy and had to tell Danny her secret.

"Thanks." Lacey says, wishing he would just get their impending demise over with so she could go home.

"I'm sorry to have to say this..." Danny starts and all Lacey is thinking is, Here we go. "...but I'm glad you already tried to kill Timmy because I would have had to for what he put you through." Lacey really can't believe her ears.

He's not going to break up with me?

"I didn't think that would be your reaction to the story I just told you." Lacey says honestly.

"What? Did you think I wouldn't be able to handle it and break up with you?" Danny asks.

"Yes. It's not every day that you find out your girlfriend almost killed somebody."

"As far as I'm concerned, you did what you had to do, Lacey. You shouldn't feel bad about that." Danny says while trying to reassure her.

"I know. But in spite of everything he did to me, I feel bad about what I did." Lacey tells him truthfully.

"And that shows that you aren't a horrible person. You just had something horrible happen to you. I'm glad you told me and trust me with your secret." Danny says as he pulls Lacey into a hug and then kisses her.

"You don't hate me?" Lacey asks, sounding like a scared child.

"Of course not." Danny says as he kisses her again. "I could never hate you Lacey. I love you."

"I love you too."

Ok, so there goes Lacey's secret past. This chapter took a lot out of me. Thanks for reading. As always, reviews are greatly appreciated.