trigger warning: this chapter contains talks of r*pe
Stef raced home when Lena briefed her on what she had heard. She ran in the back and practically crashed into the door to find Nate and Ivy sat on the bed with Ivy just about recovering from her tears, Stef's eyes darted to the half packed bag. Then to Ivy who sat up from leaning against Nate and didn't know what to do with herself "Aunt Stef..."
"You know…" Stef started in a shaking voice "When Lena called me to say that you were planning on running away I didn't want to believe it but…"
Ivy's brows pinched together "Lena? How did Aunt Lena know?" her eyes then slowly dragged to Nate who looked very much caught out, Ivy looked down to his phone that was out on the bed and shot up.
"You called her. You made her overhear everything!"
Nate sighed and rubbed his forehead "I'm sorry-"
"You're sorry? You're not sorry!"
Nate looked at her and hitched his breath, he then too shot up and argued back "Alright fine, I'm not. I'm not sorry that I got your aunts into this because if I can't get through to you I know for sure that she can" Nate lifted his arm in Stef's direction, raising his brows to her "Okay? So I'm not sorry, cause I'm not just gonna let you walk out just because you're scared"
Ivy looked away from him and said "I don't even know what to say to you. You just totally disrespected my privacy"
"Alright. Be mad. Just talk" Nate grabbed his jacket, nodded to Stef and left her to it. Stef turned her head to the side as Nate walked past her and then looked to Ivy who just sat herself down on the bed again and dropped her head in her hands. Quietly crying.
Stef stared at her, just utterly heartbroken by the sound. She walked over and sat beside her. Without saying anything, she just took hold of her hand, took a deep breath and then asked "Okay. So do you want to tell me what this is all about?"
Ivy shook her head and pressed her forehead against her palm, sniffling up her tears and sobbed "No"
"No? Why?"
"Cause I-I don't want you to hate me"
Stef frowned and put her free hand on Ivy's back and softly rubbed it "Babe I could never hate you...I love you with everything I've got just...talk to me please"
Ivy licked her lip and asked "What exactly did Lena tell you?"
"That she overheard you and Nate, he was trying to stop you from running away...that you were scared of some guy"
Ivy's breaths got heavier just at the idea of him. With Stef rubbing her back for comfort, she calmed herself down enough to just blurt out "His name...Jason"
Stef slowly nodded, getting information bit by bit. She didn't want to jump the gun and back Ivy into saying something vague and short to just get it out and over with, she needed to know everything "Okay, and Jason is?"
"An ex" she felt sick just labelling as that. Again Stef slowly nodded and then asked, cautiously "Ivy, is your ex boyfriend dangerous?"
Ivy hitched her breath and didn't want to answer. Stef didn't say anything. She didn't push for an answer. She let Ivy give her answer in her own time. She kept her eyes off of Stef, not wanting to look at her when she answered. Her answer was just a weak nod.
Stef took a small breath "Okay...why? What has he done-"
"Please don't" Ivy shook her head and cried. Which only made Stef feel even more sick to her stomach "Ivy, I can't help you if you don't tell me, please love"
Ivy covered her face with her hands and sobbed into her hands before dropping them down, she quickly wiped them away and took in a deep breath "At first he was sweet and protective. When I ended things he was obsessive, violent and he…" her face scrunched up at the thought, she bit down on her lip hard and shook her head "Please don't make me say it"
Stef shook her head. No. This can't happen. This couldn't have happened to another one of her babies. Not Ivy. No. Stef took a breath "No, baby please tell me he didn't...did he assault you..sexually?"
Ivy let out a strained sob, it was more like a scream. Finally saying the words that have been at the pit of her stomach for so long "He raped me"
Stef pulled her close and held onto her tight, tears of her own now falling down her cheeks. Ivy tucked her legs up on the bed and cried into Stef's shoulder. Ivy let out more sobs before saying "And I hate myself everyday because of it"
Stef gripped onto her tighter as more tears came down her cheeks "Baby why didn't you say something?"
"Because I felt humiliated and wrong"
Stef sighed and pressed her lips against her forehead, then hearing Ivy say in a cry "And now he's here. He found me, I saw him today and he...he threatened to hurt all of you and Nate to get to me...so I have to go"
"You are not going anywhere" Stef shook her head and looked to her, sweeping the hair away from her face as she looked to her "You are staying here"
"But he's-"
"Not going to get near any of us. Not whilst I'm still breathing"
Her saying that didn't exactly fill Ivy with comfort, because knowing him, he could do something about that.
"I'm scared"
"I know you are baby. But now that you've told me I can help, we can find a way to track him down and find him"
"He's too smart" Ivy shook his head "Please don't tell the kids"
"This is between us and mama" Stef whispered "What can I do for you right now?"
Ivy looked to Stef and her lip began to go again as she then cried "I just really need you. I need you to love me. That's all I need"
A tear ran down her cheek as she nodded to her. Stef sighed through her tears "You've already got that, cause I love you the hell out of you, Ivy" she brought Ivy back to her and hugged her tight "I'm always going to be here"
Lena got home after the school day, she finished a little bit earlier and told the kids she had errands to run so they'd have to get home in their own car. She didn't have any errands, she just wanted to get home before they did so she could check that everything was good with Ivy without raising suspicion.
Lena walked in, peeping her head in as she slowly opened the door. She saw Ivy lying on the bed asleep, her head resting on Stef's stomach as Stef stroked her hair. If it was a different situation this would have been cute to look at, but given the situation was what it was, it just broke her heart. And she didn't even know the full story yet. She didn't want to wake Ivy, but she did want to talk about what happened "Stef" she whispered to her, causing Stef to look up at her. Lena waved her hand over to herself which was signal enough for Stef to come and talk.
Stef looked down to Ivy as she slowly moved herself from the bed, resting Ivy's head down on the pillow. She nodded to Lena to get back outside and she did. When Stef got out, she finally could let out the deep shaken breath she had been holding in over two hours now. Stef walked ahead of Lena with her hands on her hips, her eyes filled up again, she felt Lena's hand touch her back "Stef?"
"It's so much worse than we thought" Stef said, quickly wiping her eyes, she turned around to her, looking down to the ground and shook her head as she added in a mumble "So much worse"
"Whatever it is, babe, we can-"
"She was raped" Stef looked up to her, seeing the horror spread onto Lena's face. The same look that Stef had when she found out.
"What?" Lena gasped.
Stef nodded, with another tear running down her cheek "That guy...the one she's scared of...he's her ex, she said he's obsessed and turned violent and...he raped her" her voice dried up at the end of the sentence and looked down again to let out more tears roll down her face before wiping them again.
Lena was just in a state of shock, she didn't know what to do or say. She couldn't even move. She just caught Stef as she fell into her arms and tightened her grip around her.
Ivy woke up a little later on, half an hour to be exact. When she woke up to be alone, without Stef holding her for comfort. Ivy sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes before running her finger through her hair. A part of her was glad that she got it all off of her chest, but the other half felt like she was never going to be able to act around them the same again, she was afraid that they were going to look at her different. Treat her different, which was something that she wouldn't be able to stand. She was going to have to find out, Ivy dragged herself out of bed and walked into the kitchen. Finding Stef and Lena there, in silence. Ivy's eyes locked to Lena straight away, she wasn't naive, she knew that Stef would have told her by now.
Lena just looked at her, she didn't say anything. She just quickly walked straight over to Ivy and hugged her tight, still without saying a word. Ivy was just as much like Lena's first daughter than she was to Stef. Lena kissed the top of her head and wiped her cheeks as she pulled away. She remained silent, because all in all there was nothing to be verbally said. Everything that Lena wanted to say was already said just by that hug and that kiss. Ivy gave her a tight smile and sat herself on the stool at the table as Stef pushed forward a cup of coffee.
Ivy wrapped her hands around it and took a deep breath "So, have you come up with an idea on what to do? Because if you find a resolution to this then I won't have to bolt"
Stef and Lena looked to each other, Stef sighed and then took her eyes back to Ivy "Ivy, love, you're going to have to file a report"
"I can't" Ivy shook her head, looking away from her for a moment "I don't want to go through that. He'll only just get off. He's white and pretty and any jury will believe his bullshit"
"I know it's not pleasant, I won't lie to you and say that it's easy. But trust me love he will not get away-"
"How won't he? I have no bruises, if I did they would have just faded by now. I'm not pregnant-"
"They may...they may ask to do test on you...to see if"
Ivy scrunched her face up and cringed, Stef sighed again "Like I said, it isn't pleasant"
"You wouldn't even be able to catch him. He's not lived at home since he was fourteen. I'm also fairly certain Jason Sled isn't his real name"
"Why would you say that?"
"He told me once that he changed it for some reason. And the painfully annoying thing is, is that he always tells me the truth. Which is why I know he means what he means when he makes threats"
"Which is why, he should be on the police's radar so he can't do this to more women"
Ivy stared at her for a moment. Damn it, she really had her there. It would be best for her to come forward, hell she may even be saving another poor girl's life that he would find to torture, should he ever stop being obsessed with her. She sat up straight as she took in another deep breath and breathe out heavily through her nose "Fine...alright I'll do it"
"The kids are going to have to be aware about all of this, it won't be able to be kept a secret...and…"
"I can't tell Nate" Ivy put her hand to her forehead "God I just can't do that. He won't look at me the same I just know it won't. He's going to be freaked. Especially since we" Ivy took her eyes to them and debated on what to come clean about "The other night we-for the first time and I know considering what I've been through you may think it's fast but-"
Lena shook her head and leaned her hand down on the table "Honey no one is thinking anything like that. Your situation is different, it's a different situation for every…"
Ivy looked at her and raised a brow to Lena, finishing the sentence that she knew was on the tip of her tongue "Victim?"
She saw how reserved Stef and Lena were being. Ivy tugged a small smile as she looked down and then took herself off of the stool, walking over to the sink and said "Yeah. It's okay to say it. It's not a bad word"
"You don't have to act like you're okay" Stef said as she folded her arms. Ivy let out a muttered laugh and turned to her "I just had a mental and physical breakdown in front of you not too long okay, I'm not acting as if everything is okay because I know it's not. I'm just...I'm getting on with it, it's what I've been doing for nearly two months being back here"
It fell silent between the three of them for a moment, before Stef and Lena said nothing and just moved towards her at the same time, wrapping their arms around her and kissing each side of her head.
A little while afterwards, with the kids going off and doing their own thing before coming home for dinner. She had time to talk to Nate. So she called him, he came in through the back to the garden, finding her sat on the bench. Stef was cleaning up some dishes when she saw, she looked through the window and watched Ivy run over to him and latch her arms onto him.
Stef couldn't hear anything. But she knew Ivy, so well that she knows what she'd be saying. She apologised to him for snapping and it wasn't tough to see that he shut her up by kissing her.
Ivy rubbed her lips together as she pulled away. Ivy took a small step away, Stef saw Ivy say the words "I have to tell you something"
She wanted to look away, give privacy but she just couldn't. Sue her but she couldn't bring herself to look away, she watched her girl take a breath, clear her throat. Her eyes were closed for a moment, she saw how worried Nate was. She bet he had been worried the whole time he was apart from her, considering she was planning to jet off and snapped at him out of fear. Ivy looked up to him, slowly beginning to explain.
Stef looked away for one brief moment, when she heard Lena come in the kitchen, her wife sighed to her and said as she walked over "Stef, are you seriously spying?"
"Spying is a harsh word" Stef muttered to her as Lena stood beside her. She sighed and looked out the window "I just feel like I can't bare to look away from her, for even a second now"
Stef felt Lena's arms wrap around her body. They now both watched as Nate's face dropped. Completely and utterly dropped, along with his heart. They should know because they felt the same when they found out. Nate looked at her in shock, seeing him say "What?" and they can only imagine the tone. Gasped, cracked, in a tone so heartbreaking that it was painful for Ivy to even hear. She just nodded. Nate took a step towards hers and cupped her face, their foreheads lightly touching. Ivy allowed herself to cry, listening to whatever it was that he was saying to her.
Then he just hugged her, tighter than he ever had before.
Lena saw the tears fill up in Stef's eyes, she lightly had her lips against her cheek and whispered "Come on, babe, let's go in the living room"
Stef shuddered her breath as a tear ran down her cheek, then hearing Lena say "She's okay, you see she's with Nate, she's okay" Lena took her arms from around Stef's waist and took hold of her hand, Stef slowly came with her into the living room and let them be.
Ivy and Nate moved over to the bench, at first they would in silence. Still holding hands, Ivy sniffled from her tears, with Nate's eyes locked onto her. His voice was dry and cracked "Where is he?"
Ivy wiped her tear down her cheek with her free hand and sighed "I don't know. He's here. That's all I know. I'll probably wake up with a dead bird at my front door. Stalker 101"
"Ivy don't joke"
"Who says I'm joking?" Ivy said bluntly. She looked to him and shook his head, then to cry "You don't know what he's like, this is only the tip of the iceberg of what he is"
"What could be worse?"
"Not worse, but equally as disgusting" Ivy muttered, looking down to their hands. Not going any further with that comment, all she added was "And not just to me"
"Are you going to the cops?" Nate questioned. Ivy then scoffed a laugh and said "Kinda already have"
"I mean are you going to report him?"
"Well, my Aunts think I should"
"And your Aunts are damn right! Ivy you can't let him get away with it what if he goes after someone else"
"I know" Ivy strained, closing her eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath, then saying in a calmer voice "I know, it's just going to be hard. And he won't be easy to catch. His parents took off a year before I met him, now I know why but he's not in any system at all. No friends no family nothing. If he disappeared off the face of the earth no one would realise"
"Police are good, Ivy, they have methods"
"I guess" Ivy took in a deep breath, she slipped her hand out of his and put them between her legs as she leaned her back against the bench "I just...it's the kids I'm thinking about. I have to sit these kids down who are my own siblings and tell them that. How?"
She felt Nate rub her back "With the support of me and your Aunts"
Ivy leaned more towards him, her forehead pressing against his "Will you really stay with me?"
"Of course. I'll support you forever if you let me"
Ivy gave him a weak smile as he kissed her forehead and then wrapped her arms around her, bringing her close once again.
Before they knew it, Stef opened the door "Ivy"
Ivy lifted her head from Nate's shoulder and looked to her, Stef sighed and said gently "They're here. It's better to get it over with than string it out, babe"
Ivy looked to Nate, who gave her a tight, reassuring smile. Clearly in agreement with Stef. Ivy took a breath and stood up, holding Nate's hand. She walked to the front of the house where they all worked in together. They all looked so relatively happy. And Ivy was just about to ruin that, she looked to Stef and Lena for some help. She could hardly bring herself to ask them to sit down.
Stef cleared her throat "Kids, could you just come in the living room. We need to talk"
The kids suddenly looked a little nervous, they knew that nothing good ever came from that. They all sat down on the couch. Ivy sat down on the armchair in front of them, rubbing her palms roughly together she said "I need to tell you guys something"
Later on that night, after Nate had gone home. Ivy was in her bedroom, flicking through her LP records when Callie came through the door. Ivy looked up to her and gave her a tight smile "Hi Callie, what's-"
Callie just walked straight over to her and wrapped her arms around her. Ivy at first was confused, but then she remembered. She remembered what Callie had been through, sadly this was something Callie had in common with her. Ivy tightened her arms around Callie's body "Oh Cal" she sighed.
"I'm sorry you've had to go through it"
"Whoa, should be the other way round here" Ivy said with a light hearted tone, pulled back and placing her hand on Callie's cheek, with a soft smile "I'm sorry that you've had to go through it"
"I hope you get a better outcome than I did with this"
Ivy sighed and looked away from her for a moment, which did not go unnoticed by Callie for a second "What?"
Ivy went to talk, then paused, thought about her words again and then came out with it "I don't think I will. Call me a cynic-"
"Cynic"
"Thank you. I don't think he will get taken down"
"Why?" Callie asked, sounding genuinely shocked. Ivy was usually so optimistic. It was hurtful to see her light be so burnt out. Ivy rubbed her forehead and shrugged, with an exhausted smile on her face "Because he's a pretty, white and has the eccentric skill in seeming like the most innocent individual you will ever set your eyes on. What Jury is going look at him and say that he is guilty? And with no physical evidence it's just unlikely"
Callie remained silent, because deep down she understood and even agreed. Which Ivy didn't blame her for, she didn't expect Callie to convince her otherwise because she couldn't. Ivy hit the nail right on the head. Ivy rubbed Callie's arms "Cal, I love you, and thank you for coming here to support me. But right now I don't know what to say, I don't know how to even try and act hopeful"
"You-"
"It's late, we both have school tomorrow...and we both need to just sleep after today. I for one am exhausted. We've just gotta take things step by step from now on. Just promise me something"
"Anything"
"Tell your sister and brothers not to treat me any different, not to act any different around me. You know how that feels"
Callie gave her a tight smile and then nodded "I'll tell them, promise"
Ivy kissed the top of her head and gave her another hug "Go get some sleep, I'll see you in the morning"
She watched Callie walk back out of the bedroom, she ran her fingers through her hair and let out a shaken breath. At least today was over, now everyone knew, which yes. Would make her feel like a weight off of her shoulders, she had been hiding it for so long. Always scared of slipping up, which she had done before with the whole drowning thing.
But now that she had let this slip, it opened a can of worms. Pursuing Jason to get arrested. That may just tick him off. Something that is always a critical thing to do. She feared the repercussions that would happen with this getting out.