Because I love you. Enjoy.
XXX
Teddy whipped his head back to Emilie. "Okay? Okay!? It's true?" Teddy walked away quickly, turning to the sky and taking a deep breath.
"Teddy, I wanted to tell you, I just didn't know how. And these were fresh wounds-" New tears streaked down her already tear-stained face.
"So you lie to my face and my sisters, too?" Teddy was seeing red.
"Please listen to me! I didn't have anything to do with it, please."
Maddie interrupted. "Maybe we should go somewhere and talk." Emilie nodded and the two girls went towards Emilie's car.
"Wait!" Teddy came strolling back. He looked at his fiancée. "Please, enlighten me." Though the words were meant to sound cold and harsh, his eyes were soft, and they spoke the truth of what he really meant. I love you. I don't want to lose you. Help me understand.
The trio drove down to a nearby fast-food restaurant. The thought was to get a bite to eat since the drama unfolded before the main course was set, but no one seemed to have the appetite. They sat in an old booth that looked out to the busy highway. Maddie looked at all the cars that drove by, wondering if they knew about any of the drama that has been going on in the infamous Grey family. People thought they were perfect, despite the sob-story of the missing daughter. That's all Madeline will ever be: the girl who doesn't really fit in anywhere; the girl who missed out on her childhood; that Grey girl who doesn't seem to act like the others. The public eye has no idea about her life. They saw the tabloids sixteen years ago that read "Meet Madeline Grey", then seven years later, a whole years' coverage on "Christian Grey's Daughter: Missing", then, people just didn't care. And now, all they want is a picture of the now-perfect family and the beloved Grey child who has returned. But all Maddie need was time. Time to think and process things. She never has time to do that. And the shit she's about to hear won't be processed properly either.
Emilie was sitting across from two out of the three beautiful Grey children. Teddy and Maddie shared the same Christian Grey smile, of course when they were smiling. Right now, they both look very tired, and very frustrated.
Finally Maddie sighed and grabbed Emilie's hand. "Please, Em. Tell me everything. I need to know."
Emilie gave a quick look at both of them, then looked down at the sugar packets she was picking at. "When I was in high school, my brother got married to Jennifer. They seemed really happy together. Eric had saved her, helping her get over her drug and alcohol addiction. Jennifer had a cyst on both of her ovaries that ruptured. Eventually it turned into a tumor and she had ovarian cancer. She was healed and cancer-free quickly, but the damage was done, and she couldn't have children. Then they left, so suddenly. I never heard from them for eighteen years. I went through so much without my big brother. . including getting pregnant by some loser and giving the child up for adoption." A few tears fell, and Teddy reached over and grabbed her hand. She smiled and wiped them clear. " I saw him at the prison a few days ago. He told me how your dad owed Jennifer something, and that taking you would make it even. My brother was stupid enough to go along with it. Maddie, I swear to you. I had no idea. I knew what the charges were for right before I walked into the room to talk with him. When he told me it was you, I was in shock. I'm so sorry. I should've told you both. And your dad."
Maddie gave her a tight smile, but she felt almost sick to her stomach. He owed me, she remembered Jennifer screaming at her. Her dad was hiding something, and it was bad. "I'm gonna go to the restroom." She stood up to fast, and the black spots covered her eyes before she hit the floor.
XXX
The guest were long gone and had left the house after the big fight. Maddie and Teddy had been out for about three hours already. Phoebe stayed behind to wait for her brother and sister with her parents. Ana sat quietly on the couch, watching Christian pace angrily across the floor. Phoebe sat next to her mother, handing her a cup of tea.
"Where the fuck did they go? It's already midnight." Christian glanced at his watch. Sawyer was driving around town, looking for Teddy's car, while Taylor sat in his car at the beginning of the driveway to notify Christian if the car pulled in.
"Daddy, she's with Teddy. She's safe with him."
"Well, she's also with Emilie. Who knows what she could do."
Ana chimed in. "Emilie loves her like a sister, she would never hurt her."
Christian rubbed his stubble. So it's started. The truth will come out sooner or later.
XXX
"Maddie!" Teddy's voice brought her back to consciousness. She opened her eyes to find Emilie and Teddy holding her, with fear plain in their eyes. A couple of staff members were also watching curiously.
Maddie blushed. "I'm fine. I promise."
Teddy helped her back to the booth. "Have you eaten anything?"
Maddie turned her even more red. She shook her head.
Teddy's eyes rolled to the ceiling. "Dad is gonna kill me. Can we get a milkshake? Vanilla?" He looked over to the staff member.
"Of course. On the house." The woman scurried back to the kitchen.
Teddy smilied. "It's delicious and sugary. Probably not the best choice but." He shrugged.
The lady came back with her vanilla milkshake and a small smile.
"Sorry about that." Maddie said twisting the straw around at the top.
"It's fine Maddie." Emilie reached over and grabbed her arm, giving her a reassuring squeeze.
"I just don't get it. Dad has to be hiding something, something big. Maybe so big, Mom doesn't even know about it. I'm just so tired of-" Maddie's hand locked up, and the milkshake spilled over. "God dammit!" She whispered, as Emilie and Teddy cleaned up the mess. Her right arm still stuck, she covered her face with her left hand and sobbed, placing her head down on the table. Emilie soothingly stroked her hair, and Teddy pulled her into his arms. "I want to go home, Teddy."
"Okay. We'll go."
They drove the short distance back to the Grey manor.
Maddie laid her head down in the back seat, as they drove her home, her head pounding. Emilie snuck a glance at Teddy while he was driving, grabbing a hold of his free hand. He looked down at her in response, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. "You believe me, don't you?"
Teddy thought for a second. "I do. I believe you."
"So you don't hate me?"
Teddy laughed quietly at this. "No, I don't hate you." He leaned down and kissed her head. "Are you coming home with me?" He asked. Maybe she was sick of the Grey's.
"If I'm still invited." She smiled and kissed his shoulder.
XXX
Christian looked down at his phone, receiving a text message.
Taylor
They're here.
Headlights flashed through the window. He sat down on one of the sofa's waiting for his daughter to return.
Outside, Maddie gave her brother a hug. "I don't want to go inside. I know daddy's mad."
Teddy chuckled. "Phoebe and I have had our fair share of the wrath. It's time for you to catch up, little sis."
Maddie made her way towards the door just as Phoebe was leaving. "Is he mad?"
Phoebe smirked. "When is he not?" Phoebe gave her sister an uplifting hug. "Don't yell, that makes it worse. And don't role your eyes like your big sis use to do. It makes it ten times worse. Call me if you need me." She gave Maddie a peck on her cheek, swiftly hugged her brother, then left.
Maddie was all alone. Taking a deep breath, she entered the danger zone.
"Where've you been?" Christian walked right up to her.
For some idiotic reason, she felt brave. "I was talking to Emilie."
Christian's eyes darkened. "Why?"
"So I could get answers you wouldn't tell me." She crossed her arms. What the fuck are you doing? It's a battle of David and Goliath. And Goliath always has the last say.
Christian clenched his jaw. "There are things you can't understand and shouldn't know about."
"God, I'm not the seven year old girl you last knew. You need to stop trying to protect me. I'm not a child! You're just like Jennifer!" The words came out before she could stop them Oh Shit. Christian's face filled with pain. Maddie swallowed the lump in her throat. "You have better intentions of course..."
Christian took a deep, shaky breath. "I just don't want to lose you again. A father is supposed to protect his family, but I screwed up the day you were taken and for the last eight years. I'm trying to protect you know." Christian ran his hand through his hair.
Maddie felt guilty. She ran up to him, and hugged him hard. "I know, Daddy. But this concerns me, and I need to know. Don't keep me in the dark. I'm sorry." She got on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. Then she let go and hugged her mother, kissing her as well. "I'm sorry." She ran upstairs, tears streaming down her face. She leaned against her closed bedroom door, and sobbed.
Christian remembered those words from the beginning of his life with Ana. Don't keep me in the dark, Christian! I am not a child! He turned and looked at Ana.
She had tears in her eyes as well. She came over and embraced him tightly. "You two are so much alike, it frightens me."
Christian kissed his wife. He tasted the saltiness of her tears. He looked down at her with concern. "What is it?"
Her lip trembled. "You're both so broken."
He said nothing as they both made their way upstairs.
At around two in the morning, a young girl stormed into their room. She was sobbing so hard, she could barely breathe. Christian turned on his nightstand light, his eyes squinting from the sudden brightness. "Maddie?"
"I need. To. Go. Get. Out. Of Here Can we. Just. Leave?" She caught her breath between each word, gasping for air.
Ana got up quickly and ushered her daughter to sit on her bed, stroking her hair comfortingly. She gave a look over at her husband. "Christian?"
He nodded, a then came around to the other side. "We'll go away from here for a little while. Forget about everything." He set his chin upon his sweet daughters' head, as she leaned into him, still sobbing. Ana caressed her cheek and arm, holding back tears as well. Christian had now agreed with what his wife said earlier. His family was so broken.
XXX
I hope you liked it. Can we get this story to 100 favorites?! Since I have nothing to do, and am sad, I wrote this. Most of you remember me saying that last year, I went to the School for Orphans in Zambia. Well my church's second team left yesterday, and obviously, I am not going. I have been crying like no other! But, it means that I get to stay here and do stuff to glorify God in the states. So. Have a good evening. Review please!