AUTHORS NOTE: There is a trigger warning for this chapter as it goes into what happened in Shea's past. Mostly it's for talk of abuse and sexual assault. This is a Mel and Shea chapter. The boys will be back next chapter I promise! Here comes the chapter!
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CHAPTER 6
ANDERSON RESIDENCE
Shea was nervous and tried to stay calm while she waited for Mel. Today was the day she was going to tell her love what had happened when she was thirteen years old. She knew she had to but it would be one of the hardest things she had ever done.
She was sitting out in the backyard on the swing, listening to the sounds of nature around her. Two birds were chirping to each other as if they were having a discussion. A squirrel ran up the tree with an acorn in its mouth. When it got to its destination, the squirrel stopped and chattered as though upset because it dropped its prized acorn. Watching this made Shea laugh out loud.
Shea wasn't paying attention and jumped three feet in the air when she heard a voice next to her. "Can I swing with you?"
She knew who the voice belonged to and grinned like a mad woman. "Yes you may! Hey babe. When did you get here? I was just watching nature."
Mel laughed,"About five minutes ago. I started to head over here but you looked so at peace I didn't wait to bother you."
"You could never bother me. How are you?" Shea asked kissing her love.
After returning the kiss, Mel said, "I'm doing ok. How about you?"
"I'm not going to lie, I'm a little bit nervous about this talk. Babe I owe you an explanation about what happened on Valentine's Day. Please come sit down with me." Shea said taking a breath as she could feel her body tightening just thinking about it.
"Are you ready to talk about it? I don't want to pressure you or force you in to it if you are not ready." Mel said cupping Shea's cheek. "We can do this at your pace."
"Yeah I am ready to put my past behind me. I do warn you that it is a bumpy ride." Shea said. "When I was thirteen, my mom was having an affair with her friend Scott and my dad didn't know. Anyway, Scott was at our house a lot. When my mom wasn't around he would always look at me as though he was undressing me, sometimes making comments. I hated when he came over. It was so uncomfortable but my mom was happy so I didn't say anything."
"Oh my sweet girl I am so sorry. You did not deserve that. Did you eventually tell your mom?" Mel said holding her love's hand.
Nodding Shea got up and started to pace before continuing her story, "Thanks my love. Yeah I told her and she confronted him and he denied it. Needless to say she stayed with him. Over the next few months it got worse. There was one time and this was the last time he did anything to me. My mom was throwing a party and he got there early as usual. I was wearing a new dress that I saved up for and was looking forward to wearing. I was in the kitchen by myself getting something to drink. Scott walked in and right up to me. I was pinned to the side of the counter. He ran his hands up my dress and into my underwear. He had his hand over my mouth so no one can hear me screaming. Then after what seemed like hours, but was really minutes, it was over. I was crying and my dress was a mess. I ran and told my mom what happened. This time she believed me. She left Scott and called the police. He was arrested and is now in prison."
Getting up and holding her love tight, Mel whispers in her ear, "I love you so much and you did NOT deserve what he did to you. What happened was not your fault. You were just a teenager my girl, he was an adult and he knew what he was doing."
Hugging Mel as tight as she could, Shea said through her tears. "I love you too. I blamed myself for years for what happened. Telling my story to you just now helped me look at it with a new perspective. I was actually thinking about going to counseling again. I want to get to the point where I can forgive but not forget. Is that strange?"
"No it's not sweet girl. I think that is a great idea. I am going to be here every step of the way." Mel said kissing her love softly. She could tell that Shea was finally starting to heal. "I have an idea if you want to hear it. "
Grinning and wiping the stray tears away Shea said, "If it involves us doing something together, I'm there!"
"I was thinking we should go up to your room and just have a quiet cuddle day with soft music. What do you think?" Mel said with love in her voice.
"I think that sounds like heaven. Babe, thank you for being so understanding about things. You are the love of my life. I know all this was hard to hear but now you see why I stopped the other day. I still feel bad about that. I love you so much." Shea said as she took Mel's hands in hers.
"My sweet girl I completely understand. I love you too. You are the love of my life too. As to the other day don't give it a second thought. Neither of us were ready for that part. Now I can help you close a part of your past and continue to heal. Now about that quiet cuddle..." Mel said as the girls walked back to the house hand in hand.
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A little while later the girls are laying on Shea's bed facing each other with Mel being the big spoon. It had been a very emotional day for both girls. With Mel's help, Shea came to terms with what had happened to her and that it wasn't her fault.
The girls didn't say a word to each other. No words were needed. The loving looks they gave each other, said everything with out saying a word. Their touches were gentle and loving. Occasionally they shared soft kisses that held so much promise and love.
After about a half hour, Shea looked Mel lovingly in the eyes and said in a soft voice. "Babe, I want to thank you again for helping me start to heal. I love you so much. I trust you with my life."
Kissing Shea, just because she could, Mel replied. "You are so welcome, my sweet girl. I love you too endlessly. I'm so proud to be with you."
"So am I. This is nice. I don't want to move. I like our quiet moments like this." Shea said turning around so she could cuddle closer to her love and feel her arms around her.
"Me too. It's like the world goes away and it's just us. You feel so good in my arms. It's like you were made to be in my arms. " Mel said lovingly as she held her love tighter.
"Can you stay over tonight? That way this doesn't have to end." Shea said hopefully. "I don't want you to go home. It makes me sad."
Without hesitation Mel answered her. "I can stay. My sweet girl needs me. There's no where else I'd rather be."
"Awww babe you are the best. I must have done something right to deserve you." Shea said with a huge smile on her face. "You make me so happy. "
"I feel the same. You are my sunshine and the one I run to when I have something I need to talk about. You love me for me. I have a question for you." Mel said smiling just as wide as her love was. "Do you see us together in ten years with kids and a house of our own?"
Without skipping a beat, Shea replied as she kissed Mel's hands as she held them. "Yes I do. I see us married shortly after high school. How about you?"
"Absolutely I do. I'd marry you right now if I could." Mel grinned as Shea kissed her passionately.
"I love you"
"I love you too sweet girl."
Shea cuddled up to her love and put her head on her chest. A small yawn escaped. Shea tried to hide it but Mel heard it.
"Sweetie, I want you to try and get some rest. You had an emotional day today. I'll be here when you wake up." Mel said running her fingers calmingly through Shea's hair. "I promise"
"Okay. Will you sing to me as I fall asleep, please? Love you." Shea asked already half asleep.
"Of course. I love you too. Now close your eyes please." Mel said as she began to sing a song that she knew was calming to Shea. Halfway through the song, Mel could tell that Shea was asleep. Her breathing was even and her face looked so peaceful.
As Mel watched her love sleep a tear fell down her cheek, "Never again my sweet girl. No one is ever going to hurt you again. Not while I'm here. You are safe." With that Mel drifted off to sleep holding the love of her life She couldn't imagine being anywhere else.
