Missing

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N: Hum, okay, so a lot of stress from anon users taking each others' name apparently. And to think I don't moderate guest reviews, ah well. Enjoy this chapter, there aren't many left, so here you go.

Chapter 40 (A Mother's Concern)

At the park, Trina and Monica watched Jesse pushing Victoria on the swings. She couldn't help but to admire how much he cared for the child, but she was still nervous about many things. It wasn't that she didn't trust him, but she'd been so hurt that she was scared of what the future held.

"He makes a good father," Monica whispered. Trina smiled and slowly nodded. "Victoria is a sweetheart as well." The hell they endured wasn't for the faint of heart, so it was amazing that Victoria came out of it as well as she had.

She rubbed her left shoulder and drew in a deep breath. "I don't want to say we were 'lucky', but just the fact that Andre, Cat and Robbie weren't bad…" Even Gary was difficult to call evil. "I didn't know one person could hate their spouse's kid so much. I'm a little nervous having Jesse's baby, I don't want him to forget Victoria. I want both my children to be loved equally."

Monica moved her wrinkled hand over Trina's and smiled warmly at her. "I understand." It was true that Jesse didn't seem the type to either pick favorites or suddenly grow weary of the kid that wasn't his. She didn't want to smear him in her mind because of Holly. "It's difficult to put your trust in someone after what you've gone through. Just take it a step at a time, dear."

"There's Sinjin I have to deal with too, or at least Haley. I didn't think Haley would be the one wanting a connection to be made. Victoria deserves to know her birth father." Her heart stalled and she turned her gaze to Monica. "I don't want her going through life wondering…"

"She won't. If you don't let her, then she won't." Monica took her by the hand and smiled tenderly at her. Trina rolled her head onto Monica's shoulder and carefully swept away the tears in her eyes. "What else is on your mind, sweetheart?"

"That trial. I don't know what to do. I don't want to go, to sit there and recall all those memories. I-I can't. I have to, though." Monica moved her arm around her and held her close. As they sat in silence, she watched Jesse push Victoria on the swing. There was nothing more that needed to be said.

She would go up on the witness stand and she would testify. Even for Cat, she would testify. Cat's lawyer hoped to garner support from a grand jury, but it seemed clear that the girl was going to receive some jail time. Trina hoped it wouldn't be much, or at least, not as long as Holly might receive.

After several minutes, Victoria ran over and pulled Monica away to play. Trina used this opportunity to call Jesse over. "How are you feeling?" He sat down beside her and she slowly curled her fingers around his hand.

"I'm scared. I don't know what the future holds, and I'm terrified." She leaned upright and looked into his wondrous and comforting gaze. "Jesse. Victoria is my world, my everything. After Holly, I…I don't want you to divide your attention between our children." He smiled reassuringly at her and brought his other hand over hers.

"I won't. Victoria will be as much my daughter as the baby you're carrying now." She felt her heart skip and let herself lean into him, hugging him close. It was still going to be difficult for her, but knowing Jesse was there for her was enough to start her on the right path.

"She already looks up to you so much, I don't want her to ever have her heart broken because you're not her real father." Her hand tensed around his and she drew in a slow breath of air. "Speaking of which. I need to call the number Haley gave us."

"Are you sure? If you're not ready, you shouldn't push yourself." This was the issue though. If she didn't, then she might never decide to call them. She was scared enough as it was, and already knew Haley was the one reaching out.

"Haley's the one extending the olive branch. If I don't take it, then it's on me." The woman may have said initially that Trina should take as much time as necessary, but she still had to be realistic in understanding that none of them were going to wait around forever. "Besides, they're an ocean away for god knows how long. It isn't like they can do us any damage from there."

"That is true." She was going to try to trust Haley-it wasn't her that Haley was hard on in high school so much as it was Tori. "Just be careful, but I think you know that already."

This she was going to do without Tori, since any animosity Tori might display towards Haley would only cause Victoria and herself some undue stress. So an hour later, she was with Jesse, Monica and Victoria on a laptop in a small coffee shop.

The best place she thought to be during a conversation like this.

Victoria had climbed into her lap and was sitting between her arms while grasping the table with her tiny fingers. Haley first appeared on Skype wearing a sun hat and shades. "You would think it wouldn't be as hot as it is here," Haley complained first, "But I kid you not-backpacking across Europe is hotter than I would have liked."

Trina copped up a smile and Victoria looked up at her. "Is that my stepmother, mama?" Haley removed her sunglasses and gazed at the computer with a serene expression.

"Almost. You're Victoria?" The woman waved and Victoria waved back. "It's good to meet you finally." Victoria's face scrunched and she wiggled her nose.

"We met already."

Trina stifled a laugh and watched Haley's eyebrows slide upwards. "That's true." The woman chuckled and closed her eyes. "I wasn't behaving right that day, and I'm sorry."

"Aunt Tori called you a name that she said I shouldn't repeat." Haley laughed while Victoria studied this woman carefully. "Why are you on the computer?"

"Well first your aunt is most likely correct that you shouldn't repeat certain words. Also, I'm on the computer because your dad is on an archeological expedition."

"What does that mean?"

"It means he's exploring all the other continents of the world to find incredibly old and historical items. Such as dinosaur fossils. Have you ever heard of dinosaur fossils?"

Victoria's head tilted to the right and Trina gave her daughter a smile. "I've heard a little bit, but not much. There's still a lot I don't know. I was in a very bad place for most of my life."

"I heard." Haley's lips fell and she breathed out a sigh of relief. "It is good that you and your mommy are safe now." Victoria bounced in Trina's lap and nodded. "Would you like to meet your dad? He can tell you all you want to know about dinosaur fossils, bones, and other ancient artifacts."

"Articats?" Victoria cleared her throat and shook her head. "Facts?"

"Yes." Trina slid her arms down and hugged her daughter's waist, holding her in place when she had been sliding. On screen, Haley looked over her computer and started waving.

When Sinjin appeared beside Haley, Trina's heart stopped. She had been preparing herself for this moment, but even now, she could hardly speak. Part of her did want to yell at him for not waiting, but she didn't blame him for moving on. A person could only wait so long before they were forced to cave to their fears.

"Hello Trina," Sinjin replied softly, "I'm glad you're safe." Sinjin's eyes focused on Victoria and his lips turned up into a tiny smile. "And Victoria. I only saw you for a second-it didn't take me long to figure out what Tori was doing in my office, I just didn't know why."

"I'd only just found out," Trina replied. She didn't want this to be about her, but she knew he would be expecting an explanation for why he never knew. "I hadn't gotten to you before my mom got me. I want you to know I'm not upset that you moved on."

Sinjin moved his hand to his chest and furrowed his brow. "I didn't know you were alive. Everyone, the police, and even Tori were starting to lose hope. I know she never gave up, and I didn't either, but I couldn't keep hoping…I had to live my life."

The tears welled up in her eyes and she waved him off. "That's fine. I've moved on myself, so there's no worry there."

"I am glad you're okay, Trina. Haley and I both are."

"Tori told me she was on bad terms with you guys, but I don't want to start off on bad terms. I have-I need to know that you're going to be an active force in your daughter's life, even though you and I aren't together."

"I will be, you have my word on that."

Haley agreed and cleared her throat to catch their attention. "And if he doesn't, I will make sure he does." Trina laughed once and stared down at her daughter. Victoria was shifting about impatiently and slowly tapping her fingers on the table. "Right, so, Sinjin…Victoria would like to know what ancient artifacts are! Have you found anything yet?"

"Oh you know what? I think…" He grabbed a brown duffel bag from the ground and set it in his lap. Trina watched happily as Victoria leaned forward as though trying to look as Sinjin went through it. "I might have something in here." He pulled out a dusty looking lantern with seaweed on it. "Okay so it's not ancient or historical-but since we just landed, this is the only thing I've found so far." He laughed nervously and Victoria's face scrunched.

"It's just an old thingy."

"It's a lantern." Sinjin held up a finger and Haley sighed. "I found it floating beneath a dock here in London. Lanterns are used to light the way at night and-"

"Sinjin dear." Haley put her hand to his shoulder and he looked over curiously. "You're boring the poor girl." Trina brought her fingers up to her lips and waited as Haley removed an old looking coin from her purse. "Here. Victoria, do you see this?" She held it up to the screen and Victoria leaned forward, her mouth formed an oval and she reached out to grip the side of the screen.

"Is that a quarter?"

"No ma'am." It was a slightly round, bronze colored coin with a woman on it. This woman had a strange, curvy nose and small chin, and her hair looked to be in a bun of some sort. When she flipped the coin over, there was a birdlike creature on the back. "My father was an adventurer himself, and he was given this coin as a gift one day. He gave it to me, and I keep it for luck."

"It's a coin, but not a quarter? It isn't a penny or nickel."

"It's an ancient Egyptian coin, and one of the few authentic coins left that show the actual Cleopatra." Victoria gasped delightedly and Sinjin bowed his head. "Now how much of history did you learn about over the years?"

"Some." Victoria's voice was quick and energetic now, and it seemed that Haley would be taking over this chat. "I know about Anthony too."

"Would you like to hear the full story?" Victoria nodded emphatically and Haley began to speak, holding the child's attention throughout.

This was more than Holly had ever done for her, so Trina was grateful. At this point, she was starting to feel like Sinjin and Haley may very well be a positive influence in Victoria's life in the future.

It was a step in the right direction, but the hell wasn't over yet. Not until she knew that Holly could never harm her or Victoria again. Even then, the nightmares didn't feel like they would ever go away.

Perhaps they would, but only with the progress of time.

Well what are your thoughts? It seems very much like Sinjin and Haley will be good for Victoria, even though they can't be physically present at the time. Things are certainly beginning to get better, slowly but surely.