Joseph's POV

I'm sat at at the kitchen table playing with Nevaeh while Kathrine is happily cooking breakfast for everybody. "it's so nice having everyone all together again" she beams talking about Michael and Ocean being back. "they only stayed over for the night" I shrug. "admit it. Your just as happy about it as I am" she smirks and I roll my eyes refusing to admit it.

It has been nice having them back in the house again even of it was just for the night so they could get some rest. They seemed to be feeling better this morning, but it's pretty obvious their not taking care of their own needs. Nevaeh is clearly being looked after, but Michael and Ocean seem pretty run down whenever they come over and they've lost alot of weight over the past month and clearly not eating much. I know how hard it is going out on your own and raising a family. I've been there before and I know how stressed you can get and so busy trying to take care of everything and everyone else you tend to forget to look after yourself, which is pretty obvious Michael and Ocean aren't taking enough care of themselves. There's also something else that's bothering me about them. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but there's something telling their hiding something.

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Ocean's POV

Even though it was nice staying over with Michaels parents, we can't wait to finally get home. Luckily Michael left some stuff in the car to get us through the night, but now that's gone we really need to get back. "mothers made us some breakfast" Michael says coming into the room bringing me from my thought. "it's not food I need. can't we just go?"

"baby, I need it just as much as you do, but of we just get Nevaeh and leave they'll get suspicious and start asking questions. You know what my mothers like. We'll just eat it quickly and go"

***

"so I was thinking of taking Nevaeh out somewhere today, maybe to the park or something since it's such a lovey day" Kathrine smiles. "we have to get going soon, we'll have to do it another time" Michael smiles trying to hurry his food. "you could always stay another night untill your both a little better"

"we're fine really. And Michael has work tomorrow" I smile through pursed lips. "you can't go in work while your ill"

"we're fine" Michael says sternly and she shakes her head. "sweating and getting the shivers isn't fine Michael. I get your both adults now and want to be independent. But right now your clearly both full of colds. Why don't you both just stay here with Nevaeh untill your both better?"

"fine, we'll stay tonight but we really have to go in the morning" Michael sighs in defeat which never takes long when it comes to his mother.

******

Michael's POV

After breakfast Ocean and I go upstairs and quickly get all our stuff together. "we'll just tell them we're going to the store or something and we're taking Nevaeh with us. Then once we're out of the house we'll drive back and say something came up like I got called into work or something" I say to Ocean trying to think of a way we can get out of staying. We were ok last night, but there's no way we can go all day and night without anything.

We go downstairs to get Nevaeh and mother is in the kitchen putting her in her high chair "we're gonna go to the store" I lie. "ok. I'll watch Nevaeh untill you get back" mother smiles "it's ok, we can take her with us" 

"I'm just about to feed her"

"I'll feed her when we get back" Ocean cuts in "it's fine. I don't mind. You two go get what you need from the store, she'll be fine until you get back" she smiles and begins feeding her some breakfast

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Mollie's POV

I haven't seen Ocean or Michael for a few days so I go round to Roberts place to try and find out what's going on.

"Ocean and Michael gone out with the baby?" I ask Robert casually sitting beside him on the sofa. "Their staying at his parents. They called me and hour ago asking if I could bring the stuff Frank left for them"

"why don't they just come back and get it themselves?" I ask confused "because his parent's are all over Nevaeh and think their sick and are insisting she stay with them untill Ocean and Michael are feeling better and they won't leave without her. I told them there's no way of me getting down and Frank won't deliever that far"

"He said that?" I ask trying not to seems surprised. Nobody knows Frank is my older brother and as far as everybody is awhere we don't even know each other which makes things easier for us if anything ever goes wrong nobody will ever connect us together. "I never asked him and to be honest I'm glad they are stuck with his parents with nothing and no money" Robert says bringing me from my thoughts. "you can't just leave them there with nothing. They've already been gone over night, they'll be going crazy by now" I tell him and he sighs. "I know it sounds cruel not to help them, but if they can get through a whole day and night without any it'll be alot easier for them to get clean. I don't want them to end up any more like me"

"I want the to get clean too" I lie. "but Robert you know what it's like to have heroin withdrawal and that pain and panic that comes with it. Do really wanna put you little sister through that?" I say softly. "of course not! I hate myself knowing their both gonna be suffering but I hate myself anyway getting them on that shit in the first place" he croaks getting upset. "then we can get the proper help, get them rehab or something. You haven't even spoken to them about wanting them to stop. You can't just cut them off like that. We'll talk to them when they get back and..."

"I don't have time for all the six week program shit" he cuts me off "I want them to get clean and this is a perfect opportunity for them to do it.  they can just need to get through tonight. Plus their gonna have family around them and people that love them so their not alone"

"well try not to worry about them then. If they have family and friends around them, then they can help them" I fake a smile to reassure him while trying not to show how pissed off I am. I've been working too hard to get them to trust me and isolate them from people, and i'm not about to sit back and let their families come along and fuck it all. The worst thing that could happen is for them to get clean. And I'm not about to let them get away that easily.

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Ocean's POV

Michael and I park the car  near the woods and see Mollie getting out of her car "about fucking time!" Michael sighs impatiently as she walks over and quickly jumps into the back of our car. "thank you soo much" I sigh relived taking the stuff from her. "we'll pay you back I swear" Michael smiles. "it's fine. There's no rush. Best we keep this between us three though"

"why?" I frown confused. "because you know what Robert's like about people borrowing and owing people money. No point us all getting into a fight over a little favour between friends" she smiles and we nod. "so what's going on anyway? Why can't you both leave?"

"because they keep going on at us, thinking we're sick" Michael explains. "it's just the withdrawal sweeties. You'll both be fine once you've had some more. "why don't you both just leave now? It's not like they can stop you"

"because they have Nevaeh and every time we try to leave with her either one of them has already taken her out or she's sleeping. Trust me of we could leave now we would, but we're not leaving without Nevaeh" I explain and she smiles sympathetically. "well if you need anymore, you just call me and keep your guard up ok?"

"about what?" I frown confused. "well don't you think it's weird that every time you both try to leave they make sure neither of you can take the baby?"

"they just think their helping. It's not like we can tell them the real reason we wanna leave" Michael shrugs. "but after everything that's happened so far with your parents and with DJ, you should be carful who you trust. I'm not saying this to worry you I'm telling you as a friend. Something doesn't seem right about this"

*********

Michael's POV

When we get back Joesph is sitting in the living room with Nevaeh. "you two seem alot better" he smiles in a hush tone. "yeah, the fresh air really helped" I shrug. "I think this little ones ready for bed" he smiles handing a sleeping Nevaeh to Ocean.

Ocean goes upstairs with Neveah and I'm about to follow them when Joesph grabs my arm. "not you" he mouths so she doesn't here. And I go back into the living room with him.

"so what's going on?" He asks and I look at him confused. "nothing, we're fine! Why does everybody keep asking us that?" I shrug annoyed with the same constant question. "because something's clearly not right. We've all noticed. Your both tired all the time, your losing weight, your always in a hurry to go home and anytime anybody asks you both a question you close up and try to get away.."

"what do you expect?" I cut him off "every time we come over, we get nothing but constant questioning"

"because we're your family and we're worried about you all. You won't even tell anybody where you live"

"there's nothing to be worried about. Like we've both said a million times we're fine. We're just a little tired" I shrug. "and that's all it is?" He looks at me skeptically and I nod. He doesn't say anything for a moment then sighs. "I'm gonna asks you something. I'm not gonna get mad or yell or anything like that. I just want you to be honest ok?" He says softly yet sternly and I nod nervously. "have you and Ocean been taking cocaine again?"

"no! I already told you that awhile ago" I frown. "is it something else? Because if it is I'm not gonna get mad or judge either of you. We can get you both some help. And me and your mother will take Nevaeh and...."

"we're not taking or doing anything!" I lie cutting him off, remembering what Mollie had said earlier. The past two days my parents have constantly been around Nevaeh and asking us alot of questions and now Joseph's talking about taking Nevaeh from us.

"so stay the rest of the week" Joseph says cutting me off. "for what? I've just told you..."

"because it'll put my mind at rest if I can see it for myself"

"we can't stay all week I have work and stuff" I lie "so tell them your sick. If neither of you have anything to hide, then it won't be a problem proving it" he shrugs. "if we stay this week. Will you quit with all the questions?" I sigh annoyed. "if you stay all week and I see for myself the two of you are fine then I won't say another word"

*

After agreeing to stay the week I go upstairs and tell Ocean. "why do we have prove anything anyway?" She shrugs annoyed. "because if we don't then he'll just keep pushing until he finds out and if he does they could take Nevaeh too. It'll be fine. Mollie said if we need any help then all we had to do is call. If we need anything we could asks her to bring it to us" I reassure her. "and what about money?" She shrugs "we'll get it the same way we always do. We'll just have to be a little more carful because everyone knows us round here. It'll be fine. We'll get this week over with then we don't have to worry about Joseph getting suspicious and constantly asking questions"

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Joseph's POV

After speaking to Michael it's now clear to me that their hiding something. It's obvious their either taking something or doing something, so I've taken this week off work so I can keep and eye on them and find out exactly what's going on.