Back in LA, Mariana and Micah were sitting in the living room where his family came over to comfort them. All the lights were off as they preferred to be kept in the dark.

Mariana's head floated in the clouds as she felt like she couldn't move. Her stare darkened into the floor as she slowly stroked Rio's fur, and Crystal tried comforting her by rubbing her back.

"I don't know what else we can do anymore." Mariana sniffed and sighed. She now felt even hopeless about not getting their kids back.

"Don't give up hope so soon. They will be found, I'm sure of it," Crystal reassured as Mariana scooted closer and leaned on her shoulder.

"Yeah don't worry, I don't think the culprit couldn't have gone that far," Makayla said, as she sat on the couch that was near the scarlet curtains. Her back went all the way in, and her ankle boots skated across the floor and her pencil skirt stretch out.

"Do you know who did it?" Crystal asked.

"Yeah, it was one of the people in our group," Micah replied as he held onto Mariana's hand.

"I thought she was my friend," Mariana mumbled to herself. Her arms were intertwined with her mother-in-law, with her cheek being squished like a pancake. She continued stroking and kissing Rio even though he was trying to escape and making noises.

"Yeah, some things like this could come as a shock when it's the person we least expect."

"Yeah, I know." Mariana sighed again but she wasn't listening. Instead, she leaned over and picked up her wine glass from the table.

She kept on releasing tiresome breaths as she refilled it with the pitcher of pink lemonade. Right now, she felt hopeless even though the investigation was still going.

"I just feel like too much time has passed and they should've been found by now," Mariana continued, "I know I do sound a bit impatient, but I can't help it. I don't want to lose anyone else again. Especially my own children."

"No I agree, I also feel like they should've been found by now. But we have to give them time I guess," Micah said.

"Yes, that's right. I guess cases like these take a bit more time. Especially when you are stuck on where the person could have gone," Crystal said.

"By the way, when you guys were out together, did she give you any clue on where she would like to go in the future?" Mylah suggested.

"Not really... I mean, we didn't really talk about that kind of stuff," Mariana mumbled, but it was quite hard to hear because she felt like it wasn't much use telling them.

"Was there anything else she said they could give you a clue?" Mylah said.

"The only thing I remember is she sounds like she has seen me before, even before meeting her at the park, but I don't remember that."

"She said that?" Micah turned and looked at her questionably.

"Yeah." Mariana nodded. "I still don't know what it means, though." She started caressing her temples and her crusty eyelids. "'My memory has been a bit hazy, so I may have seen her but it's just been blocked out."

"Hmm, it really does sound like a real mystery," Mylah said.

"I think I have an idea," Makayla raised her hand.

"What is it?" Mariana's eyes slightly lifted to face her.

"I know we don't talk about him, but—h-how about you ask Mason for help?" Makayla stuttered as her words shook like water. That forbidden name reached Micah's ears as he suddenly glared at her. The room then fell into a deafening silence with the only sound being glasses clicking.

Mariana glanced at her beloved who crunched the sides of his beer can and now stared down into the hole like he had something against it. She could hear his sharp breathing and started getting worried that he would burst into a fit of yelling.

"Why did you have to say that Makayla..." Mylah mumbled. She and everybody had their shoulders hunched as they froze and not made eye contact with him.

"Why not?" Makayla shrugged and grabbed a wine bottle. "It's a good idea. And with how many links the company has, I think they can provide additional help." She filled her glass to the top and gulped it down.

"I mean, it won't hurt to ask," Mariana muttered and looked over at Micah to see his reaction. He didn't move, but the greenish glow in his eyes shined brighter than the murky brown as they burned into the can like lasers.

"What do you think Micah? Do you want to give it a try?"

Micah didn't respond but instead, kept crushing the can as hard as he could. He could feel his rage burning, and his deep grumbling rumbled into Mariana's ears, which made her hands twitch as it was truly a sensitive topic.

"I don't know," he finally responded, "do we have to?"

"No, but, it won't hurt to try. The more help the better," Mariana said softly as not to irritate him further. Her hand then slowly made its way onto his leg and started caressing it to keep him calm.

Micah swayed his head to the sides. He didn't want to admit it, but they had a point. Even if that "point" involved his brother, who he hadn't seen for four years now. But it was just the fact that he had to see him again and actually talk.

"I'll think about it..." he muttered.

Mariana smiled in relief and nodded in agreement.

"Thanks, Micah." She patted him for encouragement and kissed him on the cheek.

"Aw, that was cute." Makayla smirked widely while tapping her phone, "you two are cute." She made a kissing face towards them and started laughing, making Mariana blush a little.

"So anyway, what have you been up to? Anything new?" Mariana asked quickly. Her cheeks were still flushed as she tried changing the subject.

"Well, I recently got a deal with this music producer to be a professional guitarist," Mylah said as she perked up in her seat.

"Really?" Mariana herself forward in her seat. "Congratulations, that's amazing!"

"Thanks. I think all that time I was recording myself making covers in my room finally paid off," Mylah giggled to herself.

"I hear her playing all the time. She sounds like an angel," Crystal said and reached over to stroke her hair.

"Yeah, I remember sometimes when we were kids. I could hear her playing in the middle of the night," Micah chuckled.

"You heard that?" Mylah whispered with her eyes widening. She then used her to shield her heated face from embarrassment.

"Our rooms were right next to each other, of course, I heard."

"And she used my karaoke microphone," Makayla said whiles side-eyeing her.

"Oh..." Mylah went quiet after that and Micah started laughing at her stunned face.

"Don't worry, getting a little concert every night was entertaining," Micah said.

"Haha, very funny," Mylah said and then turned to her sister, "are you gonna let me play a song at your wedding?" She asked with a glimmering smile.

"Maybe," Makayla chuckled nervously and then took a sip from the glass.

"Are you ever letting us meet your fiancé or are you still keeping us in the dark?" Crystal asked.

"Don't worry, I'll bring him over soon." Makayla smiled smugly and then tucked her phone away. "Whenever I feel like it."

Mariana started chuckling, and she felt better about this. It was just the right distracted that she needed to give her mind a break.

****

When he was lying in bed, Micah stared at the ceiling, having a long and hard think. His thoughts were like a lone boat, drifting through the sea of consciousness.

He was still thinking of whether to go ask his brother for help tomorrow. But he couldn't bring himself to focus, because then got a picture of Mason sitting in their father's company building. And that made him want to punch the wall like it was his face. His muscular arms folded and unfolded as he couldn't make his mind up.

Suddenly, Mariana appeared out of nowhere and flipped down on his chest. She shocked him as she wiggled and got comfortable.

"Hi!" she said as her eyes twinkled like tiny stars.

"Hi, my flower." He raked his hand through her curls and twirled some to the end of his finger. But his eyes still went back to the ceiling.

"Why so serious?" Her voice mockingly deepened, as she folded her arms while making a grumpy face.

Micah started laughing at her impression and then caressed her cheeks. "Nothing, it's nothing."

"Are you still thinking about earlier?" Mariana asked while drawing circles across his chest.

He didn't reply, so she sat up and started stroking his hair.

"You really don't want to go?" She teased him a little.

"No no, I do," he said quickly, "but—"

"Its hard isn't it?" Mariana murmured softly in understanding. "You don't have to go if you don't want to. I'm not forcing you, I just thought it was a good suggestion."

"Me too," Micah suggested, "I know it's a good idea, that's why I'm hesitant about it. It's just talking to my brother that's the problem. It's been a long time, and I don't even know if he's still the same or not."

"Yeah I know what you mean. It's going to be awkward and especially so since there's still some bad blood," Mariana said but then cradled his head in her arm.

"But everything will be fine. You don't have to stay for that long, and you won't even have to see him that much. Only if there's any updates." She smiled lovingly as her fingers crept under his chin. "If you do decide to go, it will be okay, I'll come and be right there beside you. You won't have to be there alone."

"Thanks Mari." He patted her hand and then gave it a kiss. "I love you and our kids, so I will try talking to him."

"Aw thank you my baby!" Mariana brushed his hair away and kissed him sweetly on the lips. "I really appreciate that."

"Yeah... I hope it goes well, though."

"Yeah me too. But I'm sure it will." She smiled and kissed him passionately as they fell asleep like that.

A/N: Hey I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

I find it funny how Micah's family literally walks on eggshells whenever His bro's name is mentioned 😂😂😂😭