Making Amends…

"Hello," Dave answered his cell.

"Hi daddy, is it okay if I spend the night at Katie's?"

"Sure, but don't you need a change of clothes?"

"Its fine, Katie and I share clothes all the time."

"Okay princess, see you tomorrow…oh wait, how was the game?"

"We lost by a touchdown."

"Aww, sorry to hear that."

"Yeah, it's fine. K dad, I'll see you tomorrow, nite."

"Good night."

Madison hung up her cell, it took everything she had to not break down and cry while she was talking with her father.

"Please Stryder, just take me to Katie's house."

"Baby, please, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I love you so much."

Madison was full of conflicting emotions. She wanted more than anything to hate him but her heart wouldn't let her listen to reason. She was texting Katie while listening to her boyfriend cry and plead and beg for her forgiveness.

"Look, I have to think about us okay. I need my space right now."

"Okay," he said with a mere whisper.

He pulled in front of Katie's house and got out first so he could open the door for Madison. He helped her out and pulled her in for a hug. She hugged him back, not knowing what else to do at that moment. He pulled her away and examined her face for any bruises or swelling. She looked up at the tall, blond hair, brown eyed boy and watched him show off his dimples with his sly smile.

"Your face is perfect. See, that shows you how much I love you. I never hit you in the face. Your beautiful sweet face."

"Why do you have to hurt me at all?" Madison asked then suddenly feared it might set him off again.

"Because you make me do it. When you misbehave I have no choice. I teach you lessons because I love you."

"Oh…." Madison was lost for words. "I need to go inside now, is that okay?"

"Sure," he kissed her on the forehead, nose then lips, "I'll talk to you tomorrow."

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"Maddy, are you feeling okay? You have been in my bathroom forever."

"Sorry, yeah, just that time of month, I'll be out in a minute."

She looked at her body in the full length mirror. She had a huge bruise on her right hip and outer thigh from where Stryder slammed her against his car. She had bruises around her upper arms from where he held onto her while yelling in her face. She had a slight limp as well. He had never hurt her this badly before. She was going to have to think of a lie to tell Katie and another that where she would back her up with for the lie she will have to tell her family. She thought about it for a few minutes then thought of the two perfect lies. She dressed herself in a pair of Katie's pj's then met her friend outside the door.

"Maddy, what happened? Why are you limping?"

She sighed, "Okay, I have a big secret and I need your help."

"Of course, what happened?"

"Styrder and I were drinking a little and I wanted to drive. It was just in the parking lot but I hit the fence and really hurt my ankle and got a couple of bruises."

"Oh my God, are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital?"

"No, please, if my dad finds out that I was drinking and driving I will never see daylight again. First he will spank me like there is no tomorrow and then ground me for life. Please, please don't tell."

"I don't know, how can we do it?"

"Cheerleaders get hurt all the time, it's totally believable. We just have to do some practice moves tomorrow and I have to "fall." Your dad will call my dad, both thinking I got injured here. It's solid. Please Katie…"

"Ugh, okay fine, but promise me, no more drinking and driving."

"Okay, promise. Thank you!"

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"Dad! Dad! Hurry, come quick, Maddy is really hurt!" Katie yelled in dismay.

Rick ran out along with Katie's mother Jenna and sister, Heather.

"Oh my God, sweetheart, what happened?" Jenna asked with motherly concern.

Rick helped her up and carried her in the house.

"I don't know. Kate and I were trying out this new move for the next game and I just lost my balance. I think I hurt my ankle and my hip really hurts."

Rick carefully placed Madison on the couch then called Dave. Less than two minutes later there was a knock on the door.

"What happened?" Dave asked.

"It was stupid. The move Kate and I were trying required at least three of us to properly pull it off. I lost my balance, it's my fault."

"Your fault? Princess, accidents happen, don't be so hard on yourself. Come on; let's go home so we can ice your ankle."

Dave carried Madison home then gently placed her on the living room couch and propped her ankle. Derek walked in. He had been there early to start some famous special sauce that took hours to perfect. He along with Dave, Aaron and Spencer had plans to BBQ and watch the game.

"What happened?" Derek asked with huge concern.

"It's okay Uncle Derek, I promise. I just twisted my ankle trying a new cheer."

Dave walked in with a bag of ice just as Spencer, Aaron and Bailey walked through the front door with groceries in hand. Bailey ran over to Madison.

"Mawdy, are you kay?"

"I'm fine, just a little cheerleading accident."

Spencer put down the bag of groceries and walked over to examine his sister's injuries more closely.

"Your ankle definitely doesn't look like more than a small sprain. Does anything else hurt? Spencer asked.

"Umm, my hip kinda hurts."

"Can I look at it please?"

Madison hesitated but knew there was no good excuse to not let him. She pulled her Victoria Secret black sweats down just enough to show her brother the bruise on her hip.

"Did you fall directly on your hip? That bruise is huge."

"I'm fine, really, I promise." She said feeling flustered.

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Dave wanted to attend to Madison but had his hand full with his other little girl.

"Daddy, I'm hungwy."

"Okay Monkey let's fix you lunch." Dave handed the bag of ice to Spencer.

Aaron and Derek were in the kitchen preparing the food. Dave lifted his youngest into her booster seat on the bar stool at the kitchen island. He gave her carrot sticks to start with. He walked over to the make a sandwich for Bailey and got lost in thought.

"Dave…Dave? Are you okay?" Derek asked.

"Oh, sorry, yes. I was just thinking about Maddy. I found out yesterday that she is cutting herself again," Dave whispered so Bailey couldn't hear.

"What? Are you serious?" Aaron asked rhetorically. "She promised me." He said out loud but meant for just himself.

Derek slammed his hand down a little too hard on the counter top out of frustration. It concerned Bailey greatly.

"Uncwle Dewek, why are you mad?"

He took a deep breath and turned around and gave Bailey a big smile.

"No, I'm fine. I just got a little upset because I forgot to buy one of the ingredients I need. It'll be okay."

Derek took over making Bailey's peanut butter and jelly sandwich and handed it to her with a cup of milk. He sat down next to her and did his best to stay focused on the little girl. She always helped bring him back to smiling. Dave and Aaron were still in the corner talking in a whispered tone.

"Did you find her box?" Aaron asked.

Dave opened up a cabinet door and pulled out a small wooden box.

"Do you think you can help her again?"

"I did it last time and it's been four years since. We just have to find out what stresser triggered her to do it again."

"Alright, like last time, you have my blessing to do whatever you need to get through to her." Dave said as he handed the box to Aaron.

Aaron left the kitchen with the box in hand. Dave walked over to Derek and let out a sigh of concern. Bailey was distracted by playing with one of her mini dolls and eating her lunch.

"Rossi, if you don't want to get Maddy help outside the family wouldn't Spencer be the better choice to help? Medically speaking that is."

"I can see that but Aaron has a much deeper understanding behind why she does it."

"Really? How is that?"

"Because when he was a teen," Dave paused, "he did the same thing as a means to help with the pain caused from his father."

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"Spencer, where is Maddy?"

"Oh, I helped her upstairs. She insisted on wanting to freshen up in her own bathroom."

Aaron walked upstairs and stood in Madison's bedroom door just waiting for her. She walked out from her bathroom. She did put her hair up in a high pony tail. She also changed her outfit to a pink with black heart shaped polka dot draw string pj bottoms; and a gray and white tight fitting long sleeve top. She was limping around in pain looking for anything sharp since her box had been found and taken away. She was also getting one text after another from Stryder. She was answering her text messages and searching.

"Looking for this?"

Madison froze in her tracks, "shit," she mouthed to herself before turning around. She saw Aaron standing by her door holding her box of razors and knives. She looked at the box then back up to Aaron. She limped over to him.

"You promised me that you would never harm yourself again."

She looked up at him with sad eyes, "I know Uncle Aaron, I'm sorry."

"I'm sure you remember what I promised you if you ever did do this again right?"

"Yes…" Madison answered softly.

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A week had past since Styder had abused Madison. She was no longer limping and her bruises were gone. Dave drove into Aaron's driveway and parked the car. Madison hesitated to get out of the car.

"Daddy, why can't I just go to a regular therapist?"

"Because we tried that last time and it wasn't until Aaron stepped in did you start to really get better."

Madison knew it was true but still hated the idea of what had to be done in order for her to stop cutting herself. She sighed and gave her father a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll be back tonight," said Dave.

She gave her father a half smile, grabbed her purse and cell phone and got out of the car. She reached the front door and knocked just as Dave pulled out from the driveway. Aaron opened the door to see his beautiful "honorary" niece staring at her shoes.

Aaron lifted her head with a soft touch under her chin. He looked into her big blue eyes with a concerning look from his beautiful brown eyes.

"You know why I have to do this right?"

"Yes sir."

"Alright then, come in."