Allison

I wake up the next morning feel well rested. A feeling I haven't had since I was a child. As I stretch my arms, looking around the room, it dawns on me that Lilith and my dogs are nowhere in sight. That has me sitting up, twisting my body so my feet hit the floor, and without caring about the messed-up bed, I practically run to the bedroom door.

Once it's opened, I can hear voices come from down the hall. One, being a very familiar little girls voice, and others being a mix of men and women. I take a step to make my way to my sister, when it dawns on me that I slept in the towel wrapped around my body last night. Looking down, I can see I'm practically naked.

Slamming the door shut, I look around the room, not knowing what to wear. We hadn't brought anything with us. Only the clothes I was wearing at the club before my shift was over. Looking at the undesirable pile of clothing along the floor peaking at me from the open bathroom door, I scrunch my nose remembering what happened. I don't want a damn thing to do with that outfit.

A knock on the door behind me has me jumping in surprise. With a hand over my heart, I contemplate opening it up, or just wait for the person to walk away. In the end, the stranger makes the decision for me. "Allison? Um...I'm not sure if you remember me or not. My name is Martha, I'm Jackie's old lady." The woman at the other end of the door goes silent for a moment. Probably waiting to see what I will do.

I stay quiet, as I work through my memories. Trying desperately to remember a woman named Martha. Of course, events from the past have been buried for years. It's difficult for me to remember everyone from then. "It's okay sweetie if you don't remember me. You were only a wee little thing." I know she is waiting for me to say something, and I would if I knew what to say.

"Is there any chance I could get you to open the door for me?" Her voice has grown quiet. Biting my lip, I turn around to face the wood that stands between us. Knowing it's only right, she seems friendly enough, I reach out for the handle. I take a steadying breath as I open the door just a slither.

There beyond the threshold is an older woman, with long white hair. She has a giant smile on her face, her blue eyes are kind, and there's a presence about her that immediately calms me down. "Hi, I'm sorry I..." My words break off, as I'm not certain what to say to the older woman. She does look familiar.

As I study her closely, I can almost remember her. She constantly smelled of cookies, as she was always in the kitchen. Barely ever left that room, unless it was to get the rowdy men to behave. Which the minute she came out of the kitchen, they all grew quiet, and some would even look ashamed depending on what they had done.

"It's okay, I know you don't have any clothing." Its then I see the pile of garments in her hand. She holds them out to me, a nod of her head, encouraging me to take them from her. With furrowed brows, I reach out and snag them from her hold, looking down at them I can see they are men's clothing.

"They are Vipers shirt and some of his lounge pants. Well, he calls them sweats." She laughs at the word. Waving her hand in the air she continues on, "I asked if he would want me to get you an outfit from one of the other women here, but he immediately said no. The distasteful look on his face was hilarious if I do say so myself." She smiles at me once more before the sound of Jackie's voice calling her name has us both lifting our heads towards the end of the hallway.

"Oh, I guess the meeting is over. I should get back down to the kitchen and finish cooking breakfast." She turns her body and begins walking away. I go to close the door, until the sight of her stopping in her tracks has me pausing to do so.

Her head turns to the side, so she can get a better look at me. "It's so good to have you home. We've missed you here. I..." Looking down at her feet, she turns her body once more toward me. "I often found myself wondering where you were. What was happing to you." When her head lifts back up, and her eyes focus on me, I can see tears welling in them.

"You're not the energetic little girl I once knew. Looking into your eyes, I can see you've had a hard life." She walks closer to me, reaching out, I stand completely still as her hand brushes my cheek. "The life that used to shine bright in your eyes is gone. I truly am sorry for whatever you may have gone through. That I couldn't have protected you, my child." She doesn't know it, but this is the closest moment I've had in my adult life to someone showing me love and that they care.

Without thinking, I bring my body into hers, wrapping my hands around her neck. Burying my head into her hair. The feel of her arms holding me, and rubbing my back is everything I have ever wanted. I often wondered what it would be like to have someone show you love, kindness, and devotion. I haven't even been here an entire day, and already have more of it than I ever had in my life.

"It's all right darling. You're safe here with us. None of us, especially Viper will let anyone harm you or little Lilith ever again." I step back, rubbing the tears from my cheeks as I give her a saddened smile. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me there deary. You're family. I have always loved you and had a soft spot just for you." She bends closer to kiss my cheek. "That has never gone away, nor will it." When she looks into my eyes once more, I can see the honesty looking back at me. "Now get dressed and meet me in the kitchen. I'm going to feed you and then the three of us are going shopping." She smiles before turning and walking away.

I walk back into my room, shutting the door behind me. Leaning my back against the door, I think about what she just said. I want to fight with her, but something tells me it would be pointless. Instead, I drop the towel to my feet, get into the clothes that are way to big for my body, and for the first time in a long time, look forward to leaving my room.