four - family

Present

Cleo

"How about we just sit outside and talk?" Stef whispered to me as the other two stood back with worried looks. "Just us two?" I shook my head.

"Why would I want to talk to you?" I replied back rudely as I took a few steps back away from her. "I want to go.." I looked over at Bill who nodded in agreement but Stef and Lena looked at Bill.

"Please let her stay with us, Bill." Lena pleaded softly to Bill as I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. "She's our daughter."

"I am no ones' daughter besides my mama's." I interrupted before Bill could get a word in. I looked at Stef with a glare. "I don't care what DNA says.." I trailed off sadly.

"You can't deny what DNA says either, Lacey." Lena whispered softly as walked a little closer to me and stood next to Stef.

"I can deny it all I want." I replied back as I rolled my eyes with attitude. "I am not your daughter. I am not your daughter. I am NOT YOUR DAUGHTER. My name is Lacey Brianna and I am sorry you lost your daughter. It must be very hard but do not drag me into this mess when I am already dealing with enough." I turned my body away from them and walked out of the door that lead me to the back yard and slammed the door hard. I knew deep down that I am 99% their daughter but I am staying on the 1% side in hope that this was just a big nightmare that I wake up from and tell my Mama so we can both have a giggle about it. I decided to go to hammock and lie in it realizing I had no where else to go for now.

Stef

I stared out the window as I watched my little girl lie there with tears rolling down her eyes. "Bill, you have to let us keep her here." I heard Lena and Bill discuss what is going to happen now. "She is our child."

"I know but there is more to it than just handing back a kidnapped kid to their parents." Bill answered Lena back. "You just can't rush things like this, you just can't. It's going to take time especially with Lacey. She needs time."

"But she is going to need family." Lena argued with Bill with sadness traced in it. "She needs us."

"Are you trying to argue with me that you would rather push her into a relationship with your family?" Bill answered with an annoyed tone and I sighed a little still watching my little girl staring up at the sky. She was beyond perfect and all I wanted was to wrap my arms around her. "Than to let her come to you in her own time and her own will?"

"I just don't think I want her in the system when we are able to give her a home." Lena replied to Bill as she sat in front of him at the bench as I look over at them arguing.

"I wasn't even putting that idea out there, Lena!" Bill answered back as I turn my gaze back to Lacey whose eyes were slowly dropping.

"Then what the hell are you even suggesting Bill?!" Lena yelled out with frustration as she slammed her hands onto the table now standing up. I turned around fast.

"Just shut up." I yelled with frustration and looked at them. "Bill is right, Lena. Lacey just lost her Mama and learnt that she was kidnapped in the space of 24 hours. Imagine how much pain she is feeling right now and realize that she isn't going to come running into our arms straight away. The best thing we can do as family is to let her come to terms with this in her own time and if that means having to give her space then so be it."

"But Stef-"

"No honey." I put my hand up to stop her from trying to fight me on this. "Let our baby come to us in her own time, please. Or we will lose her." I softened my voice and walked over to her to hug her. "She's alive and we know where she is. And she is safe." I whispered as she cried softly into my shoulder as Bill watched silently. "Please trust Bill with our baby girl and let what we know be enough for now." She nodded.

"Okay... Okay." She whispered as we pulled apart and she wiped her eyes then we both looked over at Bill.

"She will be staying with me." Bill whispered with a small smile and I let myself breathe. "I won't let her enter the system."

"We have to talk about things that will help Lacey now." I whispered as we all took a seat at the bench.

"Counseling?" Bill asked as he opened his folder up and I nodded. "One on one or group?" Lena looked at me and I sighed.

"One on one if possible." I answered with a small smile and he wrote it down.

"How about school?" Lena questioned Bill and she smiled. "I can put Lacey in Brandon's class at Anchor Beach as soon as tomorrow!"

"Sounds good." I agreed and turned my attention to Bill who was still in thought. "It isn't a bad idea, Bill..."

"I know." Bill replied as he looked up at us through his glasses. "It's just... It doesn't matter." I looked at him worried.

"Tell us.." I whispered with a sigh worrying what he was even thinking.

"I don't want Lacey to get special treatment, I want her having a proper education and her to be treated like any other student." He answered as he looked at Lena who quickly nodded.

"Of course she will be!" Lena reassured Bill with a small smile on her face and he nodded slowly.

"But the catch is that she will need to sit whatever test she needs to do to get in with no help." Bill ordered and Lena again nodded. "I think we are done.. I should take Lacey to the hospital to have a check up." We both nodded as we stood up.

"I will get her." I whispered and left to get her before anyone could stop me. I walked slowly to the hammock where Lacey was now asleep. "Lace?" I gently shook the hammock and she quickly shot up.

"MAMA!" She screamed and I quickly took her hand to calm her down. "She's gone." She cried out as she tried to release herself from my grip. "Where is she?"

"Lacey, shhh." I whispered as I stroke her hair as she struggled to catch her breath. "It's okay, baby." She finally calmed down and stared at me.

"She really is gone, isn't she?" She gently asked me as her big blue eyes got teary and I slowly nodded.

"I am so sorry." I whispered under my breath as she pulled away from me and got out of the hammock. "Lacey?" She stopped and I walked up to her. "She is in your heart, all those memories you have will never be forgotten nor replaced."

"Are you really... Am I..." She struggled to even ask the question as she looked up at me. "I am not your daughter am I?" Tears rolled down my eyes.

"You are my biological daughter.." I answered as tears rolled down her eyes as she shook her head. She bit her lip as she tried not to sob as she stared at my face like she was trying to figure something out. "You are my Cleo Brianna, Lacey. But you don't have to be Cleo right now or ever."

"I can't." She sobbed out and looked away from me. "I don't want.. I don't want this."

"You have got another family that loves you and misses you." I whispered with a shaky breath and nodded at her. "When you are ready, we are here." She walked away inside and I stood there with tears rolling down my cheeks. "I love you my Cleo bird."

Long time no chapter. Hey! I am back. Hope you liked this chapter! -Shaz