We all stand outside on the steps from the front door. Doc stands with us completely lost as to why he was called, but stands silent anyway.

Waiting, we're all just waiting. Gia smiles when a black car pulls into the driveway. Marco and Alex are for once not being idiots.

I watch the car come to a stop, a women gets out of the car and goes to the backseat door. She opens it slowly, too slowly.

I watch in silence as the little girl no older than six climbs out of the car. She looks up at us, she looks at me.

Time seemed to stop as I looked at the child. I took one step forward before I broke. She had Evie's curly hair, and blue eyes.

I choked out a sob as I dropped to the ground. Strong arms wrapped around my waist lifting me back up again.

"You're okay," Asher whispers to me. I turn around in his arms and lay my head against his chest. He holds me still his hand gently stroking my hair.

"Lizzie." I hear Jackson say.

Heels click up the steps as the women approach's us. "Which one of you is Asher Romano?" She asks. I turn back around in Asher's arms he doesn't let go of me as I calm myself down.

"That's me." He tells her. Lizzie clings onto the women's leg hiding behind her. "You must me Mrs. Able." He holds out his hand to the women still having one wrapped around my waist.

"Yes, I didn't realize your home was so nice, you really down played it on the phone Mr. Romano. I think Lizzie will have a wonderful time here." She smiles warmly.

Her eyes go to mine "you must be Lizzie's mother, you look like her." She says sweetly. I flinch at her comment.

"I'm Lizzie's aunt." I say correcting her.

"Ah, that makes sense. You told me her birth parent was here Romano." Mrs. Able looks at the group frowning.

"That'd be me." Jackson says stepping forward.

Lizzie peaks around from the women's leg and looks up at Jackson. The pour girl looks overwhelmed taking us all in.

"Oh how lovely! We still need to sign a few papers and go over a few things before I can leave but it shouldn't take long!" Mrs. Able smiles brightly looking down at Lizzie.

"Yes, why don't we head inside and we can discuss everything." Asher let's go of me leading the women inside followed by a scared looking Lizzie. Jackson follows them.

I make no move to do the same. Alex, Marco and Gia stay back with me. "You okay?" Gia asks me putting her hand on my shoulder.

I nod the tears threatening to come though again. "She looks just like her." Alex and Marco share a look with each other having a silent conversation. Marco smiles brightly looking at me. While Alex holds in a laugh.

"Men," Gia says rolling her eyes. "Why don't we go inside and join them okay?" I nod letting her lead me into the house.

————

"Let me know if you need anything okay? I'm sure Lizzie will be very happy here." Mrs. Able walks out to her car after hugging Lizzie goodbye.

I spent the last hour zoned out Lizzie starts to cry seeing the women leave. Jackson hasn't said a word since he spoke outside the door. He's been staring off into space unable to piece together the reality.

"Hey, it's okay don't cry." I crouch down in front of the child reaching out for her. She steps away from me wiping away her tears with the back of her hand.

"Lila, said this was good for me. She said I finally get to meet my family. The others made fun of me. They said you guys would never love me because if you did you wouldn't have let me go." The girl sniffles holding a teddy bear she brought with her close to her chest.

"No, sweetie that isn't true trust me. We were protecting you we did what was best everyone here loves you Lizzie everyone's always loved you. We just had to do what was best to save you." She looks up at me with glossy eyes.

"I'm scared." She says.

"Me too, but we'll go though it all together okay?" She nods stepping closer to me. "Why don't we explore? Doesn't that seem like fun?" She nods looking over at Jackson.

"Is he really my dad?" I nod she looks at him for a moment before carefully walking over to him. He has his hands over his face. She grabs his hand pulling it away. "It's okay." She tells him. "We can explore." He smiles letting her pull him off the couch.

"Why are you on the floor?" Asher stands over me looking down.

"You coming Nova?" Jackson asks me.

"No, you guys go ahead I'll catch up." I smile a Lizzie automatically skips away.

I look up at Asher "I don't know, I was talking to Lizzie but now I'm just sitting here I guess."

"Have you eaten today?" I pause looking at him.

"Of course I did." I smile up at him.

He rolls his eyes "your such a liar." I pout crossing my arms over my chest not moving from my spot. "And a child."

He wraps his hands under my arms hoisting me up off the floor. "Asshole, I liked the floor."

"Of course you did. Come on let's get some food."

"Pizza?" I ask him batting my eyelashes, leaning into his arms.

"Pizza?" Lizzie asks skipping back into the room with Jackson following.

"See, she wants pizza." Asher rolls his eyes, with a smile playing on his lips.

"As long as you both eat something." Lizzie smiles holding her bear close.

"Did you have fun exploring?" I ask her.

She nods "I saw my room! It's so big! This whole house is big. It be so fun to play a big hide and seek!" Her eyes light up with excitement as Gia skips in the room followed by Marco and Alex.

"Big brotherrr." She says in a singing voice. "Can we pleaseeeee order pizza?" She completely ignores me giving Asher puppy dog eyes.

I laugh at her show, looking at Asher. He looks down at me surprised for a moment but nods. "Yeah, you three can order a pizza for us."

Gia smiles phone in hand and walking off to order the pizzas. "That's how it's done losers." Gia says waking last Marco and Alex.

I spin around now facing Asher. "Are you gonna tell her you already agreed to it?"

He smiles and shakes his head "she doesn't need to know that. You're in a good mood today." He comments. "I haven't seen you smile or laugh since just now."

The truth in his words rang though me. He was right. That was the sad part I haven't laughed or smiled since Evie, since she actually cared. Matt never made me laugh he always brought fear. I was scared of my father, I was bored of my life.

No, Matt never brought me fear. Matt was my safety. Matt was my light. Matt made sure I was safe. The no drinking rule, that was for safety. No eating, he wanted to keep me safe from abusive comments about my body. Why would I even think he caused fear.

"Star?" Asher asks me a look of concern on his face.

"Huh?"

"Are you okay? You blanked out for a second." I realize his arms are still wrapped securely around my waist. I look down at his hand gripping my hip.

"Fine." I respond. I move my own hand to his spinning one of the rings on his finger.

If this place is so bad why do I feel safer here than with Matt?