Anna whispered to Mike. "I've never seen eyes that color before."

Mike nodded nonchalantly although he had been thinking the same thing. Actually, he had been wondering if it was colder in the house than he realized because she was bundled up. He would have liked to see her whole face because what he saw was striking. Her eyes were a dark turquoise and like Anna said completely unique, but they had a look about them - a sadness or a mystery. Mike wasn't certain exactly, but she intrigued him. He'd have to keep his ears open to see what he could find out about her - not that it really mattered except to satisfy his curiosity.

It had taken a week of discussion and contemplation before it became clear that he had no choice but to accept Bryan and Alison's offer to take Anna. Sending his daughter away was his last resort, but she couldn't stay in Turner. He could barely walk down a sidewalk without being subjected to rude comments. What happened to his friends and neighbors? Why were they siding with a punk kid who used his position to manipulate an innocent young girl? Perhaps it was all those movies and television shows that portray teenagers as adults. Some shows that Anna watched always had a villain and in Turner that was what Anna had become.

He had cried when she walked away from him through security three weeks earlier. He knew he would blow through every penny he had to visit as much as he could. Earlier when he walked down the stairs to the baggage claim area and saw his little girl waiting with Alison, he cried again. He was foolish because plenty of kids went away to camp or other places for more than three weeks. The truth was his life had become miserable. Anna's disappearance fueled speculation although only a trusted few knew the truth, rumors still spread that she was pregnant. He knew that no one would have leaked that information not Shelby or George and not Darlene or Brad either. Jake knew, but he was a professional and Bryan, Alison and Sam, he trusted with his life. He had to believe that it started as someone's malicious need to sully Anna's reputation more.

He spoke to Jake regularly and although they were still waiting on the DNA results. They had found incriminating texts on Anna's phone. They would charge him with child pornography because of the nature of the texts. Mike just wanted the whole thing to be over, but it wouldn't because of the pregnancy.

He worked and kept to himself in his lonely house. He spent many days and nights alone while Anna was with Shelby, but somehow this was different. He shopped late at night before the store closed or two towns over where no one recognized him. He switched to a new gym also two towns away and kept his head down. He always enjoyed working out, but he was doing it more than ever now. His job required him to be in good physical shape and he took that commitment seriously. He wasn't vain, he just liked to be ready to hold that hose or sprint with heavy gear. It was also the only way he had found to relieve all the stress associated with this mess that was his life.

He dropped his backpack in the room and looked at the bathroom. He was glad to see it was clean. With Anna staying, Alison's house was chocked full. Even if he came on a weekend when Alison's kids were with her ex, he didn't want to stay in Alison's son's room. He didn't want to give the kid reason to resent Anna being there, especially since he resented when Bryan and Sam showed up. As it was Anna was sharing a room with Alison's eleven-year-old daughter.

Every night Anna had told him that everything was fine, and she was happy enough, but he was anxious to see for himself. He spoke to Alison more than he did Bryan and she kept assuring him that everything was fine. So many things worried him, but was afraid to ask her if her own son was being kind to his daughter.

His intrigue over his host was forgotten, as he had all these worries on his mind while he and Anna walked back to her new home stopping for a few minutes on the beach to see the ocean. Mike had only been to the beach in Texas so this dark churning ocean was new to him. It was even colder when they stepped through the dunes although they were bundled up people were walking on the beach. One woman walked so fast she reminded Mike of the energizer bunny.

He looked at Anna as she too stared out at the angry water. "I missed you so much, baby girl."

"I know Daddy, but it's okay here. What's happening at home? Have you talked to Mom?"

He signed. "Home is awful and your mom is still stubborn. I should tell you I finally told Grandma and Grandpa. They were a bit shocked but you know they love you, right?"

She nodded. "It's cold. We should get back. I told Alison I would help with dinner."

Mike smiled because Anna was never one for cooking. He was the cook in the family. "Should I be scared?" He teased.

"No, she's taught me a lot. She's really nice and I think she loves me. Not like mom, she loves me just because, even though I messed up. I never understand how Bryan could move away for some woman and now I get it."

Mike nodded. He had spent enough time with his best friend and his wife to know they had the real deal. They were soul mates if such a sappy idea existed.

"What about the kids?" He wanted to ask about Cole directly. They spoke every day on the phone but being together she might open up more.

She smiled. "Sam is Sam still like my big brother and Rory, those two belong together."

He took a deep breath and asked, "And Alison's kids?"

Anna wasn't sure how to answer. Keira was not obnoxious or anything, but it didn't thrill Anna to be sharing a room. She was an only child so living in a house full of people and energy and noise was overwhelming at times. She really missed her own room, but Alison would let her hide in her studio above the garage when she needed her space. They were really trying to make her feel welcome.

"Dad, I know what you're asking, but Cole is nothing like we heard about. Sure, he and Sam are not best friends, but they get along. I think Rory helps with that. He has been nice... really."

Cole hadn't been mean to her, but unless they were all together, he ignored her. He spent a lot of time in his room. The truth was Anna couldn't figure out if he was avoiding her or something else. She wasn't about to ask either.

When they reached the house Alison was finishing dinner. She called out to them. "All settled in?"

Her father nodded as she started to help set the table. No one told her she had to, but she owed it to Alison for taking her in. She owed many people for the mess she made especially her dad.

She was starting to feel at home, she thought, as she opened the silverware drawer. The house was a lot bigger than her houses, even the one that her mother lived in with George. It was comfortable and compared to her Dad's it looked like a magazine with vases and other decorations that Alison seemed to know exactly where to place. Even if they bought some stuff like that she wouldn't even know where to put it to make her dad's house look nice. George's house had a modern and sparse decor while her Dad's was just lived-in.

Alison announced, "We'll eat without Bryan. He'll be another hour even if he gets away on time." Then she asked, "Was it nice inside? I've always liked that house. I don't even know who lives there."

Mike replied, "Very nice, and the room looks comfortable."

Anna agreed. It was like Alison's with pretty things. "The woman seemed nice. It's a big house so maybe she lives with someone."

"Who?" A voice asked.

Anna turned to see Sam and Rory, who had asked the question. "I went with my dad to the B&B."

Rory looked amused as Sam and Mike automatically shook hands and Mike slapped him on the back.

Sam said, "Mike, this is Rory."

Rory smiled. "Nice to meet you. We love having Anna here. I've never met anyone who lives in that house, but my uncle's wife is friends with one of the daughters. All I know is that they used to play together in the summer. The family never used to be year round."

Mike replied, "It doesn't matter. It's just a place for me to sleep."

Dinner was loud with everyone talking. A few times Anna caught her father's eye and smiled. Everything in this house differed from their quiet life in Turner. Except their life was no longer quiet in Turner because of her. She had unfollowed everyone, but she could still find out what was happening. Sometimes she and Sam would talk. He still had friends who shared rumors with him. He had promised her they didn't know where she was. She trusted Sam. Only Sam knew about Dustin - Bryan and Alison too. Sam had even promised that it was her secret so he wouldn't tell Rory.

When she saw Sam and Rory together, she felt sad. It made her think of Dustin. Alison had been taking her to talk to Dr. Deb. She was helping her sort out her feelings about a lot of things - Dustin, the baby, her mother. Rory knew she was seeing Dr. Deb, because Rory used to see her too when she was struggling with her mother's death. Anna knew each having a mother that died was one thing that made Sam and Rory's bond so strong.

The kids finished their dinner quickly and only Anna stayed behind and started clearing the table. Alison smiled. "Thank you, Anna but you go with the others. Your father can help me."

Anna didn't really want to leave her father. She knew they were just playing video games which she didn't really care about. She hadn't played games since she outgrew Castleland.

She knew her father was studying her to make sure she was all right. Although they talked every day on the phone that was different because she could lie and tell him everything was fine. When Bryan came in, she decided to let the grownups be and left the kitchen as the two men embraced.

She started walking away. Bryan said, "Tell me what's really going on in Turner."

Anna didn't move and hid outside the kitchen and listened. Her father told about how no one would talk to him and how he had to switch his gym - he had loved his gym. He couldn't even shop in town. Then he said, "The guys at the firehouse support me, but even some of them are giving me sideways glances like they're just pretending since I'm the boss."

Anna realized that her father was crying. She'd seen him cry before, but because he was with Bryan and Alison it seemed worse somehow. She ran back into the kitchen and hugged him.

"I'm sorry daddy."

Alison quietly said, "Anna, why don't you go show your dad my studio."