"So how was school today?" Stolas asked during the car road home.

"It was fine." Charlie lied.

But Stolas could tell that something was bothering her. He could tell by the soft pink in her eyes that indicated she had shed some tears. He would have questioned her further but then Octavia went on and on, talking about her day. As any good father, Stolas listened intently to his daughter, giving her his full attention. When they came home, Charlie went straight to her room to be alone, as she normally did whenever she was upset. But for the first time in a year, Stolas attempted to try to talk to her about what could be troubling her.

"Charlie." He knocked softly on her door. "Can I come in?"

She got off her bed and opened the door.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Is everything okay honey?" He approached gently. "Did something happen at school today?"

"I told you that school was fine today."

"That doesn't necessarily mean it's true."

"Why would I lie?"

"Same reason why anyone your age would lie about it. They think nobody would understand or they don't want to deal with it."

"Thanks for the concern but it's nothing. Vaggie and I just had an argument."

"What was she doing in school? I thought she was suspended."

"She sneaked in to see me. We talked, we had a disagreement, and we fought."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Do you really want to hear about it?"

"Of course I do." He sat next to her on the bed. "Charlie I may not always act like it, but I do care if you're sad or unhappy. And I know I've been busy and that I haven't been giving much thought your issues, but I'll do better. Give me a chance."

She looked at him, knowing full well that he really was trying to connect with her and make things between them better than they were. The least she could do is be fair and give him a chance.

"We fought about her mom."

"Why? Has Inez done something?"

"No. But Vaggie acts like her mom doesn't care and she doesn't want to live with her anymore, and she makes it sound like her mother is this horrible parent. And I disagreed with her and tried to get her to change her mind."

"I see, well Charlie I understand your reasoning but what business is it of yours how Vaggie feels about her mother? I mean we're entitled to our opinions about our parents."

"But she doesn't understand how lucky she is to still have her mother. Her mother isn't perfect but I know she loves Vaggie and she only wants what's best for her. She'd hate it if she never saw her mom again."

"Oh...Now I see what this is about." He said getting closer to her. "You really miss your mother, don't you?"

Charlie nodded.

"And I bet you wish more anything to have her and your father back, and it just kills you that some kids like Vaggie, who still have parents, just take them for granted huh?"

She nodded again.

"You know when I was in college I had a similar argument with your dad."

"You did?" Charlie asked, looking at him.

"Yep. You see your grandpa, God rest his soul was a very loving and accepting man. He adored your father. All his life, he tried to spend time with him and your uncles. At times he could be strict and had his own plans for all his boys but he still supported them in the end and was always there when one of them needed him. Now my father was just the opposite. He neglected me and my siblings, he tried to use money and gifts to make up for his absence, and he always tried to force me to be someone else. I was jealous of your dad because he had the father I always wanted and one day when I heard him talking about how awful his father was because he scolded him for drunk driving, I went off on him. I called him an ungrateful, spoiled, brat in a man's body and told him that your grandpa wasted his love and time on a son like him. Something I regret saying to this day."

"How did Dad react?"

"He punched me and said that I didn't know anything. We weren't on speaking terms for a week and we probably would have never spoken to each other again if it weren't for your mom. She told your dad all about my father and my childhood, and he understood where I was coming from. We both apologized and made up."

"Did Dad's feelings about Grandpa ever change?"

"I don't know. We never talked about him again, but the point is I've been where you are and I'm sure after you and Vaggie take some time to think, you'll make up. Also just because she still has her mother, doesn't mean she's not going through something very hard."

"I know but that doesn't mean it's all her mom's fault."

"You're right but you have to understand that at your age, when you can't find any answer or a reason for why things are so hard, you tend to make up your own reason by blaming someone else. Even if that someone is completely innocent."

"Does that mean Vaggie hates her mom?"

"No. No I don't think that at all. I think she's just angry and confused, and doesn't understand what her mother is going through. Granted, Inez doesn't really like to open up to anyone about her problems and she always thinks that she's right no matter what, but that's because she's someone who's always had to be strong for someone else. For Vaggie."

"Vaggie thinks her mother resents her. That her birth ruined her mom's life."

"Inez doesn't think that at all. She loves her daughter more than anyone else realizes. But she's someone who's been hurt in a way that she'll never be healed completely and she is terrified of her child suffering from that same hurt. And I know you and Vaggie probably think different but she did love Vaggie's father. She loved him very much and stood by him the best she could."

"So why leave him?"

"Because she loved Vaggie more than anything in the whole wide world and she realized that if she stayed with that man, he would have ruined Vaggie."

"What do you mean ruined? He didn't like touch her or hit her, did he?"

"No. Nothing like that. If he done that Inez wouldn't have left him, she would have killed him."

"Then what did he do?"

"I'm not in the position to tell you. Vaggie doesn't even know. But believe me, it gave Inez every right to leave. Understand?"

Charlie nodded.

"Good. Now is there anything else you'd like to talk to me about?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He didn't look convinced but he decided that she had opened up enough today. They could talk more tomorrow. So he left her bedroom and told her when dinner would be ready. Afterward Charlie did her homework and later in the evening, after dinner, she tried to call Vaggie to talk things out but she didn't pick up.

She called her again the next morning and after school but she still didn't pick up. Strange, Vaggie had never gone that long without picking up with her. Was she still mad at her?

Concerned, she went over to Vaggie's apartment but instead of finding her, she found the police there and talking to a frantic Inez.

"This just isn't like her officer." She told the policeman shaking with uncontrollable fear. "To just leave home without a word or a note or call to me. and she won't answer her phone no matter how many times I've called her."

"How long as she been gone ma'am?" He asked.

"Since last night. I came home after work and she wasn't in her room. I was out all night looking and I couldn't find her."

"Ms. Ramirez, is everything alright?" Charlie asked walking in on the scene.

"Charlie! Oh Charlie!" She ran to the girl and faced her in a great panic. "Charlie, last night Vaggie went out and she hasn't come home yet. Do you have any idea where she could be? has she called you or said anything to you?"

"No, she hasn't. We haven't spoken since yesterday afternoon."

"Did she say if she was going anywhere?"

"Well...Um..."

"Charlie if you know anything, you have to tell me! Please!"

"Yesterday she said something about going to live with her father."

"What?! But that's impossible! Vaggie doesn't even know where her father is!"

"Ma'am I don't wish to alarm you but this may be a case of parental kidnapping." The policeman said.

"That's also impossible! Her father never wanted her. What reason could he possibly have to take her? Unless...Oh God! Her trust fund! He probably took her to get the trust fund!"

"Now don't panic Ms. Ramirez, we've dealt with cases like these before." He said. "We'll put out a nationwide search for your ex husband and see what he knows. Would you mind coming down town with us and answering some questions?"

"Yes! Anything! I'll do anything! Just find my baby! Please!"

Charlie had never seen Vaggie's mother like this before. Crying, scared, and vulnerable. She had always been such a strong and formidable woman. One who you'd never expect to ever have a moment of weakness or to break down in tears. But that was probably because Vaggie was this woman's reason for living. If anything happened to her then Inez had nothing.

"Ms. Ramirez." Charlie spoke up. "I'll go tell Stolas and our neighbors what happened. We'll help you look for her."

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

Charlie ran home immediately and told everyone in her apartment building about Vaggie's disappearance. At once they each grabbed a flashlight and started going around town calling out Vaggie's name. Stolas and Blitzo searched the town, leaving Gina to watch Octavia, Husk searched the woods, and Angel and Charlie searched the neighborhood.

"I don't like this Angel." Charlie said, after another resident told them that they hadn't seen Vaggie. "Even as mad as she was, I know Vaggie wouldn't just impulsively run away to see her father. She would at least have a plan."

"Well maybe she was kidnapped by her father like the police think." Angel suggested.

"I don't know. Something about that doesn't seem right. If he was going to pull something like this then why wait all these years?"

"Good point but what else could have happened?"

Mystique Hollow suddenly came to mind.

"I have one idea but I didn't say anything because I didn't know if anyone would believe me."

"What do you mean? Do you know where she is?"

"No but I have a suspicion."

"Let's hear it then."

"Do you trust me Angel?"

"Um...Sure. I guess."

"Okay." She took a deep breath. "I think she might have gone across the old bridge because at night the other side turns into a magical world ruled by some strange woman called Levana. So now think there's a chance Vaggie is in that world."

She looked down, expecting him to laugh at her. But she didn't hear any laughter, she heard nothing but silence. She slowly raised her head and discovered a most unexpected sight. Angel ashen, shaky, palsied. For a moment she wondered if he was having some sort of seizure

"Angel? Are you okay?" She asked him.

"Yeah...Yeah I'm-I'm-I'm fine." Angel stammered.

"Are you sure? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"Nope! Not me! Um...You know what it's getting late. I-I-I mean we-we-we should probably go home now."

"What's wrong with you?"

"I already told you, nothing."

"Then why are you shaking?"

"I'm not shaking!" He insisted.

"Yes you are. Angel, do you know something?"

"No!"

"You know something about that bridge, don't you?"

"Of course not! I've never been over there in my life! You know that!"

"But that doesn't mean you don't know anything!" She accused. "What do you know?"

"Nothing! Leave me alone!"

"You're lying!"

"No I'm not!"

"Angel if you know something, you have to tell me! Please! This is important!"

"No it's not! You're just making up stuff! Come on, a whole other world? That doesn't make sense." But he sounded like he was trying to convince himself of that instead of her.

"Angel you're not listening to me."

"That's...Because...You're crazy!"

He started to run off in a panic.

"Get back here!"

"Crazy! Crazy!" He said, getting as far away from her as possible.

"Angel!"

"Crazy!"

She underestimated how fast his legs could move. He was out of sight in just five minutes. But she wasn't done with him just yet.