Chapter 16
~2 Years Later~
Looking up at the sound of the bell at the door of the Cafe, Lacey announced, "You're Late!"
"I know, I know. I'm sorry, but Blaire got sick on the way to the babysitter's."
"You're lucky, Jas. If I didn't love you so much, I'd fire your ass."
Smiling at her boss, she replied. "I know."
"You're favorite guy's here again."
Rolling her eyes and throwing her head back in exhaustion, she looked at Lacey. "I swear,
if Jim asks me out one more time, I just might be forced to dump his coffee in his lap."
"Haven't you already done that?" Mary asked after her only to get a wave in return.
"Hi Jim." She said as sweet as possible.
Looking startled , the young man stuttered his reply. "Jasmine. Hi. I wasn't sure if you
were coming in today."
"Yea? You've been in enough times to know my schedule by now."
"Yea." He laughed a little.
"Have you ordered yet?"
"No. Not yet."
"Well, what can I get you?"
"How about a date?" Well, he definitely got bolder since two days ago.
"Jim, I'm sorry. But you're just too..."
"Hyperactive? Pushy? Clean? Shy?" He offered willingly.
"Young." She blurted out. "Jim, you're a great guy, but you're barely legal. And I'm
twenty-four with a daughter. I'm looking to settle down. Not have fun with a frat boy. I'm
sorry."
"Nah, it's ok. I should have figured. But if you change your mind, promise you'll call me
first?"
"You have my word." Taking the piece of paper with the boy's number on it, she said
good bye to Jim one last time. Once he was gone, Jasmine walked back over to the
counter and tossed it in the garbage.
"I think you just broke that boy's heart, Jas."
"He's young. He'll get over it, Lace." Just then this small group of women came into the
Cafe. Taking four menus, Jasmine began walking over to the table they chose. But as
soon as she laid eyes on the short-haired blonde on the left, she turned right around and
ran back over to Mary and Lacey. Hiding behind Lacey, she handed the menus to Mary.
"What are you doing?"
"Will you just please do the table? I can't! I promise I'll explain later."
"Fine. But you owe me big for this, girl."
"I know. Thank you so much Mary!"
"Yea yea."
After the girls left, Jasmine came out of hiding. But nobody saw that the blonde had come back in for her purse, and before she left, she looked strangely at the girl called Jasmine.
~*~
Walking into her apartment, Danni pushed PLAY on her answering machine. Hearing Joey's voice, she immediately smiled. Since Violet had...left (she still couldn't say died), Danni and Joey had gotten really close. Picking up the phone, she dialed the number that had become so familiar to her.
"Hello?"
"Hey Joey."
"Hey, D. You're back. How was Georgia?"
"It was actually a lot of fun. But um, I have to tell you something. Do you want to go get a
drink or come here or something?"
"Yeah sure. Just let me get dressed and let Kelly know. I'll be there in like a half hour."
"Ok, see you then."
"Bye." Hanging up the phone, Danni went into her bathroom and took a quick shower.
when she got out, she got dressed and threw her hair up in a messy ponytail. It was just
Joey. he had seen her at her worst so she didn't really care what she looked like in front of
him. Just then, there was a knock at the door and she knew it was Joey. "It's open!" she
yelled out of the bathroom.
"D? Where you at, girl?"
"I'm in the bathroom. Make yourself comfortable. You know where everything is. I'll be
out in a sec." And that's exactly what Joey did. He wasted no time in going straight to her
kitchen and grabbing a beer and some chips. Then he sat down on the couch munching on
the goodies while flipping through the tube.
"Hey Joe."
"Hey, D. So, what's up?" He turned off the TV so he could give her his undivided
attention.
"Not a lot, I just, what I had to say I didn't really want to say over the phone. And I
couldn't tell JC or Justin."
"Why? Does this have to do with Violet?"
"Yeah, actually it does."
"Ok." When she didn't continue to tell him anything about their lost friend, he urged her
on. "What's going on, Danni?"
"I'm not sure actually. While I was in Georgia, a couple of the girls and I went to this little cafe not far from the hotel we were staying at. And well, as soon as we sat down, this waitress was coming over to us but then she turned around quickly and told the other one to do our table. I don't know, I didn't think much of it. But then we were leaving and I had to go back in because I left my purse at the table, and I swear if my head wasn't attached I'd lose it. But anywho, as I was leaving, again, I noticed that same waitress talking to the other two. And I swear to god if that wasn't Violet, it was an exact duplicate."
"So wait, what you're saying is, Violet is alive? And in Georgia?"
"Joey, I know it sounds crazy, but think about it. We couldn't go back to see her at the
hospital and we couldn't even have an open casket at the funeral!"
"I think you've finally lost it living here, D."
"Don't even start on me about how I should have moved out after she died because I could
never do that."
"Ok, I'm sorry. I just think this is all in your head. I mean, it was your second trip without
Violet. And she always went with you and friends. Maybe you were missing her and you
thought you saw her."
"Then why did she hide from me?"
"Like I said, it's all in your head."
"No it's not. She's alive. And she's working at Lace's Place in Hapeville, Georgia. And I'll prove it too!"
"And how are you going to do that?"
Looking Joey square in the eye, Danni smiled coyly. "Joey, we're going to Georgia."
Chapter 17
"Well?" Joey asked Danni as she got back in the car.
"Jasmine has the day off today. You just wanna go to the hotel?"
"Yeah. I cannot believe I let you talk me into coming on a wild goose chase."
"This is not..."
"Yes it is, D! Violet's dead. She's not alive, and she's not here in Hapeville."
"I know you don't believe me Joey. This is quite unbelievable. But just trust me, please. I
need you to trust me with this." Looking into her pleading eyes, there was no way he
could tell her no. Somewhere along the line all of them had the idea implanted in the back
of their minds that she wasn't really dead. But now, actually searching for her? It seemed
crazy. But if that's crazy, then so is Joey for going along with it.
"Ok, D. I'm trusting you."
"Thank you." Pulling out of the parking lot, Joey made a right down the street and they
headed to their hotel to unpack and shower.
While they were watching TV and relaxing, Joey commented on how he could go for
some ice cream. Agreeing with him, Danni offered to go to the little convenient mart
across the street.
"Nah. It was my idea, I'll go."
"Well at least let me pay. I mean you paid for the plane tickets, and I practically drug you
here. It's the least I could do."
"But you paid for the hotel room."
"Which is crap by the way."
"Fine." He agreed just so he could go get the chocolate fudge ice cream he had been
craving for the longest time. Kelly had him on a diet, and needless to say, he hated it.
"Ok, let me just go get my money." Going into the bedroom to get her purse, Danni heard
the door close and ran out to see where Joey had gone.
"I knew it." He had left while she was in the bedroom to cheat her out of paying. "That
little sly devil." She mumbled to herself before plopping back down onto the couch to
finish watching Will & Grace.
Snickering to himself about the passers by in a car, Joey entered the little mart and went
directly to the back where the frozen goods were kept. After getting the ice cream, Joey
slowly made his way up to the counter, stopping to look at little knick-knacks and things.
But he almost dropped a little glass bunny when he heard that oh so familiar laugh. A
laugh he thought was completely impossible to hear again.
Thinking he was just imagining it, he decided he was going to get the figure for Brianna.
"Danni must be getting to me." He told himself as he walked up to the counter.
Trying not to listen on their conversation and the woman's voice, Joey fixed his attention
on anything but the woman standing two feet in front of him.
"So how is little Blaire?"
"She's great. Just got over a pretty bad case of the flu, but she's all better now."
"That's good. how old is she now?"
"15 months."
"My how the time passes. It seems just like yesterday you moved here and began coming
down here for your danish cravings."
"I know." She seemed deep in thought and Joey's ears perked up at the last thing the old
man behind the counter had said. Cravings? That means she had to have been pregnant
with "Blaire," right?
"Stop it! Danni is going to drive you insane." His head screamed at him. but he still
couldn't help but to think of how similar their...backsides were, and voices. The hair was
a lot shorter, but it still looked like Violet Emerson hair.
Going for it, Joey tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention. What do I have to lose?
He figured. "Excuse me, miss."
Turning around, the woman's smile immediately fell as her eyes landed upon the young
man standing before her.
"I knew it."
Chapter 18
Looking at shocked features of the one and only Joey Fatone, her heart began to beat so rapidly, it felt as though it would beat right out of her chest. She didn't know what to do. How could she possibly explain the past two years away to him? And usually, where you see one, one of the other guys was close behind.
"Wha.....how?...Vi...." He was so confused. Shaking his head, Joey tried to get his
thoughts straight, but it did no good. Everything was such a jumbled mess.
Looking away from the old familiar brown eyes, Violet turned to the old man behind the
counter, slowly inching her way backwards toward the door. "Uh, George, I have to go. I
promise to bring Blaire in here tomorrow to see you."
"Alright, be safe, Jasmine." The old man waved at her as she gave him one last smile
before dashing out the door.
Dropping everything he was carrying where he stood, Joey bolted out the door after her.
"Violet!" He called after the woman who was practically running down the street. Finally,
catching up to her, Joey put his hand on her shoulder, attempting to stop her. Luckily it
worked. She immediately spun around. "What do you want?"
"I want to know why, if you've been alive all this, why haven't you come home? Why did
you let us all believe you were dead? Why did you let a part of all of us die?"
"I had no choice!" She screamed at the emotional man, becoming even more emotional
herself. She had shut herself off from her past life. Why did it have to come back?
Especially now. Things were finally starting to go right for her again. "Don't you think I
wanted to go home? Two years, Joey. It's been two freakin' years! I couldn't just up and
decide one day that I would go back to LA and just show up at one of your doorsteps
saying �surprise! I'm alive!"
"So why did you have the doctor pronounce you dead at the hospital? Why weren't we
allowed to see you? why, why, WHY?!"
"That wasn't my decision! Like I said, I had no choice with what happened to me and
what you were all told."
"Then whose was it?" Looking around her, Violet decided she didn't want to make more
of a scene on the street than they already were.
"Look, Joey, I promise I'll tell you everything. Just not right now. Not here. Besides, I
have to go pick Blaire up from the babysitters."
"Oh, and what's this? You have a baby? What, did you just come here and fuck the first
guy that came along and get knocked up so maybe that little void in your life would be
filled?"
"No. I was knocked up, as you say, before all this shit happened!" She screamed at him,
immediately regretting it. Her hand flew to her mouth as she closed her eyes. "I did not
just say that."
Joey was just as stunned as she was. This Blaire, she was JC's? Or quite possibly Justin's? This just opened up a whole new can of drama.
"I have to go, Joey. I promise, I'll come back later so we can talk. Where are you
staying?"
"There." Joey pointed to the hotel on the other side of the street. "With Danni."
"Danni? She's here?"
"How do you think I found out about you being here?"
"Oh." Was all she could say. Apparently she hadn't done a good enough job hiding herself
at the Cafe.
"Room 314. We'll be expecting you so you better show. Or else I'm gonna go right back
in that mart and get some information out of your friend George there."
"Don't worry. I'll show. We have a lot to talk about."
"I couldn't agree more."
"Alright, I'll see you later." She said before turning and walking away down the street.
How was she going to handle all of this? She certainly didn't know. Hopefully she would
by the time she had to see both Joey and Danni again. Violet had a lot of explaining to do,
she knew that. And she owed it, not just to them, but to herself. She had been running
from them for too long, not anymore. Ben was dead, she had nothing to be afraid of anymore. Well, except for when it came time to tell the father of Blaire everything that was going on.
~*~
"Joey, will you stop pacing please? You're making me nauscious!" Danni complained, rubbing her forehead.
"I'm sorry, D. I'm just getting sick of waiting."
"What are you waiting for? Will you just tell me before you drive me insane because you're driving yourself insane?"
"I can't tell you. But I promise, you'll be happy when the time comes." Joey said absent-mindedly while looking out the window for the millionth time that hour.
~*~
Walking down the hallway that seemed to last forever, Violet felt the nerves wracking her body again. Sure she had seen Joey earlier that day, but she hadn't seen or talking to Danni. Plus too, this was going to be the first time either of them saw Blaire. "I wonder if they'll know we were ever here if I just turn and run back home." Violet said to the toddler who shook her head and made a very disapproving noise at her mother. "I know, sweetie. I know." Violet sighed before raising her fist and knocking on the door. "here we go, Blaire. Welcome to my past." And with that, the door was swung open.
"Finally! I started thinking you wimped out on me here."
"Of course not, Joe. I can't run forever, can I?"
"No." Joey stared into Violet's eyes for a few seconds before turning his attention to the
little child in her arms, who seems to be getting restless. "Well hello there. You must be
Blaire."
Shaking her head and making a few noise, the baby reached out for Joey, who happily
took her in his arms. "Wow, she's never done that before." Violet said, a little shocked.
Usually Blaire was so shy and afraid of new people.
"Well she just knows a good catch when she sees it. Huh, Blaire?"
"Joey, who the hell is it?" Violet heard someone yell from inside. She recognized that
voice to be Danni's.
"Oh! Come in, come in." Joey said to Violet as he took the child over to Danni.
"A little cutie and one hot momma." Joey said as he brought Blaire over to Danni.
"Aww, hi cutie." Danni said, grabbing the little girl's hand.
"This is Blaire." Joey said, and Danni's head jerked up to look at Joey.
"Blaire? Then she's..." Before she could finish the sentence, Violet's voice interrupted her.
"My baby?"
Her head whipping in the direction of the voice, Danni's eyes practically bulged out of her
head. "Violet?" She whispered, afraid if she spoke any louder her old friend would
disappear.
"Hi, D." Before Violet could say anything else, Danni had run over to her and enveloped
her in a big, tight hug.
"I knew it. I knew you were alive all this time. But he wouldn't believe me." Danni was
on the verge of tears, and Violet actually had tears running down her face. She had always
hated crying in front of people, but she just didn't care. It had been too long. "God, Vi, I
missed you so much. We all have." Danni said, releasing Violet from the hug.
"I've missed everyone too. But you should know that I couldn't..."
"You don't have to explain anything to me."
Violet looked at her in shock. "I don't?"
"No. I understand how the witness protection program works, which was the only
reasonable explanation for how everything had taken place. Besides, You had told me a
long time ago that the FBI had wanted to put you in it when Ben had escaped, but you
wouldn't let them. So then they told you if he found you, you would be put in it then. So
you see, it all made perfect sense. It was a closed casket and we couldn't see you at the
hospital, it all fit together. And then I saw you last week at that little restaurant you work at, which is definitely not your club, but hey, it's quiet which I know is always a plus
sometimes for you. But if I'm wrong here, which I don't think I am, please correct me.
The only thing that really needs an explanation would be your little girl over there."
Both Joey and Violet stared at Danni, mouth agape. Now, if only everyone else would be
this open minded when they find out she's been alive all this time.
It took a moment for everything to sink in before Violet actually got her thoughts together
and was able to speak again.
"No, you got it right down to a T. But, I don't know what kind of explanation you want
from me for Blaire." Violet said, confusion clouding her dark eyes.
"Well, basically I want to know who the father is. Unless you had sex right after being put
here, which in your condition, I don't think was possible, then that means she's either
Justin's or JC's."
Looking away from Danni, Violet looked over at her child, who was playing with Joey on
the floor. "Vi, you do know who the father is, don't you?"
Looking back up to Danni with tears in her eyes, she spoke. Her voice soft and shaky. "I
wish I did." Her gaze fixated back on her daughter, giggling and rolling on the floor. A
smile made it to Violet's face, but never fully made it to her eyes. "When I became
conscious and was able to understand again, the doctor told me the extent of my injuries.
And then said, don't worry. The baby's fine. The excessive amount of blood loss
fortunately didn't affect your pregnancy. Never before that one moment did I actually
wish Ben had killed me. Because then I wouldn't have had to raise her by myself, and two
great men would not be out there somewhere, unaware of the fact that they might have a
baby girl. All I want is to know who her father is. But I obviously couldn't get a paternity test done. Some women say it's their intuition, they just know by looking at their babies who the daddy is. But I look at her, and I don't just see one of them, but both. I see JC's hair, Justin's eyes, and both of their lips. I just don't know."
Wrapping her arms protectively around Violet, Danni tried soothing her the best she could. "what am I going to do?"
"You're coming home with us." Joey said, still playing with Blaire.
"Joey, I can't. My life is here now."
"No, your life is back in LA with everyone who loves you. With your baby's father. That
is where you belong. You worked for that life, and I know you wish more than anything
that you could have it back."
The look on Violet's face proved Joey to be right. Raising his arms, he said, "Well here's
your chance."
CHAPTER 19
After dropping Joey off at his house, Danni and Violet took off down the road. Suddenly
one very important question popped into Violet�s head and she turned to look at Danni.
�Where am I going to stay? I cannot believe I overlooked something as important as that.�
�Vi, relax. Do you honestly think I�d let you come back here with no place to stay?�
�So, then where are you taking me? Where am I staying?�
Danni just looked at Violet and smiled. �Home.�
Pulling up to the large brick building, a smile formed on Violet�s face. �home.� She whispered, and for the first time in two years, it actually felt like it. Going up to the apartment, Violet glanced around the place. �I can�t believe you still live here.�
�Of course I do, Vi. This was a big part of my life, and you were a bigger part. I couldn�t let that go. Although, when they took you away, it was so empty. But you�re home now. And I wasn�t expecting a baby, so there isn�t anything here for her, besides what you brought I mean.�
�Well the truck will be here in a few days. I�m sure we can manage until then.� Walking down the short hallway, Violet took a deep breath then entered her old bedroom, one filled with so many memories. Laying down the sleeping toddler on the bed, Violet walked over to the window on the left of the bedroom. Visions of her last night in this room clouded her mind, and it all came back to her.
~Flashback~
�What are you doing here?� Violet asked wearily. She knew that at any moment her life could be in jeopardy yet again, if it wasn�t since the moment she opened the door.
�Don�t you remember, Vi?� Slowly walking towards her, Ben�s voice became very low as he spoke those two lines that gave her nightmares for years. �You can run all you want, but I will always find you.�
�How?� Her voice was a mere whisper. Never had she thought he would actually find her again. Yes, she had feared for two years he would look for her until he had found her and made her life a living hell, but she didn�t think it would actually come to be.
�You forget Violet. I�m very disappointed in you. Don�t you remember that I have my connections? You�ve hidden yourself pretty well this time, I must admit though. And for that I give you credit. But that gets thrown right out the fucking window when I stop to think about how you made me search for your ass for six years, all the while running from the goddamn police!� He yelling caused Violet to jump. She could feel the tears threatening to fall and prayed he would just get this over with as fast as possible. But nothing ever goes the way you wish it to, does it?
�No one made you come after me! You did that all by yourself and you�ll be wishing they had caught you back then when I get through with you now.�
�No!� Running up to Violet, Ben grabbed a hold of her arm, squeezing it tight causing her more pain than she could ever remember, both physical and mental. The last thing she had ever wanted, or needed was for him to touch her again. And with the touch, brought back millions of memories of the times he felt her, he hit her, he tried raping her when she begged him to stop. �You made me come after you when I didn�t finish putting you through the hell I was put through!�
�You put yourself through that hell!� Suddenly getting a rush of courage, Violet finally stood up to him. �I never asked to meet you! I never asked to be tortured the way you had tortured me! And I certainly did not ask to be put in the fucking hospital for 3 weeks because you weren�t enough of a man to know I would never cheat on you! Everything that we have been through is all your fucking fault!�
Reaching back, Ben slapped violet across the face, and hard. Not once could he remember her being so outspoken, so strongly will-powered. But her running mouth was going to get her in more trouble than she could possibly ever dream of. Grabbing her again and pulling her close to him, Ben pulled out his gun. Showing it to her, he growled, �You ever raise your voice to me again and this will be put to your head.�
Violet knew he wasn�t joking. He had taken a gun to her before. But Violet had been lucky then. This time, she wasn�t so sure if she was to have the same luck.
Hearing a knock at the door, Ben told Violet to be quiet if she knew what was good for her, and then he threw her against the wall, causing her to hit the end table as she landed.
�Not one sound!� He pointed the gun at her, and left it pointed as he opened the door a tiny bit to see one of violet�s nosy neighbors.
As violet nursed her cut head from him throwing her against the wall and hitting the end table, she listened to what they were speaking about. She could recognize the voice as Mrs. Evans. The nicest old lady you could know, but if you made too much noise at night, you were doomed.
Knowing that if she were caught she would more than likely be shot, Violet stood up, as best as she could, and ran to her bedroom. As quietly as possible, she shut the door and locked it. Looking around the bedroom in a rush, she tried to find anything that could help her get out of there. But there was nothing. She didn�t even have a phone hooked up In there and her cell phone was out in the living room in her purse. All that was there were a bathroom door and a window.
A window.
Running over to the window, Violet looked down. It was a two story drop. Could she make it? She didn�t know. But as soon as she heard Ben banging on the door and screaming for her to �open the fucking door,� she knew she had no choice. Opening the window just in time, she jumped and plummeted to the ground, breaking her ankle in the process.
�What the hell?� Ben said to himself, not understanding the amount of pain this girl was going to go through just to be rid of him. But in his mind, she was never going to be rid of him. He would always be there. There to make her pay for all the things he had endured over the years. Raising his gun, Ben pointed it at the figure limping away from the apartment building. �Violet! Stop, Violet or I'm gonna shoot!� Seeing that she was in fact getting closer to running faster than slowing down, he fired a shot at her. Seeing that he had hit her in the arm as she rounded the corner, Ben smiled to himself. She wouldn�t get too far with a broken ankle and a gun wound to the shoulder. Running out of the apartment and down to outside, Ben began chasing Violet
~End Flashback~
Shuddering as the memory faded away, Violet wasn�t so sure she could stay here. But then she realized, Ben was dead now, he couldn�t come back to finish what he had started so long ago. Violet was safe, and she was home with the people she loved the most. None of that mattered anymore.
�Hey, Vi.� Danni said, coming into the room.
Turning to look at her old friend, she said, �Yeah?�
�Just wanted to let you know that I�m going to bed. It�s late and I gotta get back to work tomorrow afternoon.�
�Ok.�
Before leaving, Danni smiled at her. �By the way, welcome home.�
�Thanks, D.� Violet gave her a warm smile before turning back to the window and looking down at the grass below her. She saw herself lying there, two years ago with a broken ankle. Closing her eyes and shaking the vision out of her head, Violet got ready for bed and lay down next to the sleeping baby. �We�re gonna make it Blaire.� Violet whispered to her baby girl before drifting off to sleep herself.
~*~
A week later, Violet was all settled back into the apartment. She had decided to go for a run and found herself somehow in downtown Los Angeles. Walking down the street, she came face to face with her old business. Seeing the windows and the front door boarded up brought tears to her eyes. She loved that place. At least they hadn�t sold it to anyone, which would have been much worse. Shaking her head at her lost past, Violet turned around and ran back the other way. Deciding to make a stop before returning to the apartment, Violet turned down a side street and began jogging again. She felt bad for leaving Blaire with Danni, but she had assured Violet it was alright, take as long as she needed. She needed to get out. She needed to get a feel for LA again after being gone for two years, two years too long. Although, she still wasn�t sure how she felt about being back yet.
Sure, violet missed LA a lot, along with everything she�d had to leave behind. Her club, her friends, a man she cared about more than anything, and someone she was pretty sure was the love of her life. How do you just go back to that so easily? They all though she was dead, she wished she were dead. How could Violet exactly show up on her best friend�s doorstep a little over two years later, and just say, �surprise, I�m alive!�? Not to mention the fact that he could very well be the father of her child. Oh this was going to be a nightmare in hell.
~*~
�Blaire.� Danni said in a soft tone. She was feeding her some breakfast while Violet was out for her run. She had felt bad for leaving Danni with her responsibility, but she had assured her it was no trouble. Blaire was a great kid. Quiet, cute, and didn�t get into what she wasn�t suppose to, well, most of the time. Taking a good look at the girl�s face, Danni could see why Violet was having trouble depicting who the father was. Although she was almost positive Blaire could not be Justin�s, Danni had to admit she did have some of the boy�s features. His light blue eyes, his chin, and over the past week Danni could swear her hair was lightening. But that could also just be the sun, plus too, Violet�s mother is blonde. These features could be from them. At the same time, a the ones Danni thought may have come from JC could have also come from Violet�s side. The dark hair that was a little curly, the jaw line. Just by looking at the little girl would not get them anywhere. But Danni didn�t want to bring it up with Violet. They�d all wait until the time came for Violet to take the paternity test.
After washing Blaire�s face, Danni set her down in Violet�s bedroom to play with her toys. Going back to the kitchen, Danni finished cleaning up the mess she made while making breakfast. After putting the last dish in the dishwasher, Danni went back to the bedroom to check on the quiet youngster. Blaire was just sitting there on the floor playing with some building blocks, and having a great time by the looks of it. Deciding to join her, Danni sat next to her on the floor, building up the blocks with her. While playing with the giggling girl, Danni couldn�t help but to think of how badly she wanted a family. Her last serious boyfriend, Mark, had left her because she couldn�t get over her best friend�s death. Danni didn�t really care though. Violet was the closest thing to a family member she�d had, and if he couldn�t accept the fact that it was hard on her, then he wasn�t worth her time.
Hearing a knock on the door, Danni left Blaire with her toys once again and went to see who would actually be up this early. It was probably one of the neighbors. Danni was very surprised when she looked through the peep hole and, instead of seeing one of the old lady neighbors as she planned, she saw JC standing there, fidgeting with his feet.
Opening the door, she gave him a funny look. �You sick or something?�
Laughing, JC shook his head and walked into the apartment. �I�m fine thanks, how are you doing?�
�I�m sorry it�s just, it�s before eleven a.m. and you�re up, and you don�t have to work. It�s a tad bit shocking.�
JC gave Danni a disbelieving look and she laughed. �What? It�s true.�
�No, that�s not it.� He said, his eyes piercing through hers.
�OK, what is it then?�
�I cannot believe you forgot.� His voice was full of hurt as he shook his head at the woman.
�Forgot what?� she felt completely horrible. It looked like she just broke JC�s heart, and yet she didn�t know why. Did they have plans or something?
�Since you and Joey were gone last weekend, we agreed to do the breakfast thing this weekend, today.�
�Oh my god, I cannot believe I forgot that. It�s just, a lot has happened the past couple of weeks and this breakfast was the last thing on my mind.�
�How can you say that? She was like a sister to you.�
Just as Danni opened her mouth to speak, they heard a loud crash in the other room, followed by a long cry. Danni immediately ran to the bedroom where the baby was playing while JC just stood there in the living room saying, �what the hell was that?� Curiosity got the better of him so he followed Danni back to Violet�s old bedroom, not even thinking anything of it, just wanting to know what was making so much noise. But as soon as he entered the room, everything came rushing back to him like a tidal wave. He felt as though he were suffocating. Her smell intoxicated him, he could feel her touch once again, and he felt her presence all around him as though she were right there next to him again. All of her possessions surrounded him and he couldn�t take it anymore, he felt like he was going to pass out. Running out of the room, JC closed his once he reached the living room. Taking a few deep breaths, JC tried to calm himself as well as the churning feeling he now had in his stomach. How could just barely stepping into her old bedroom have such an affect on him?
�JC, you alright?� Danni asked, concern hanging all over her words, as she carried the one year old into the room.
�Yeah, I�m fine. It was just�being in that room again. It brought back too many memories.� JC said truthfully as he looked at Danni.
�Well, that makes sense. I mean, it was your first time being in there since she�left.� JC gave her a strange look. �Left?� She said it like Violet had just moved away or went on vacation or something. Oh well, JC thought. Maybe she still just couldn�t say she had died.
Shrugging it off, JC turned his attention to the little girl on the floor. �So, since when are you a mommy?�
�What?� Danni�s face scrunched up in confusion. Laughing, JC pointed to the girl. �Oh, that�s Blaire. I�m watching her while her mommy takes a run.�
�Oh. �Cause from the looks of the bedroom, I�d say someone moved in.� JC laughed at how preposterous that sounded. There was no way Danni would let someone move into her, basically, sister�s old room and kick all her stuff to the curb. But JC�s laughter stopped abruptly when he saw the look on Danni�s face. �D, please tell me you did not let someone move into Violet�s old room?�
�Uh, well, it�s more�moved back in.� Danni said wearily, afraid of how JC was going to react.
�What are you talking about? It was always just you and Violet? She moved you in.�
�Right, and now its Jasmine Chase.� Danni closed her eyes, praying JC would catch on sooner than later.
�I don�t care if she�s the fuckin� crown Princess of England! You can�t let her just waltz in here and throw Violet�s stuff to the damn curb!� Then it sunk in through all the rage JC was feeling. �Wait; did you just say Jasmine Chase?�
Danni nodded slowly, and JC felt dizzy once again. But there was no possible way�No. It had to be a coincidence. But then, why was Danni looking at him that way?
Leaving Danni�s side, JC moved to sit on the floor with Blaire and began playing with her little toys, making her laugh more.
�D?� JC said, still playing with the little girl.
�Yeah, Jace?�
�Does Blaire remind you of anyone?�
�Actually, yeah. She does.�
Sighing, JC looked straight into Danni�s eyes, making her feel like she was about to break down at any given moment. �Danni, who is Jasmine Chase?� It took everything in Danni to not cave in and tell JC everything that had been going on. But it didn�t work, if the door hadn�t opened at that exact moment, JC would know everything.
�Speak of the devil.�
CHAPTER 20
�Hey, D! I�m home! I didn�t mean to take so long but I stopped at Joey�s to see�� Violet Looked up in the middle of explaining and saw a wide-eyed, ghostly-pale JC Chasez sitting on the floor with her daughter. �JC.� She whispered unable to move, unable to think, unable to even blink.
�I have got to be dreaming�Or I�m seeing ghosts now.� JC said, not breaking the gaze with Violet for fear that she wasn�t real.
�Well, I can tell you one thing, JC. You�re not dreaming.� Danni said, taking Blaire into the other room once again.
The only movement made for about two minutes was JC standing up. He and Violet just stood there, looking at one another. Finally, Violet couldn�t take anymore, she felt as though she were about to burn up. Walking past JC and into the kitchen, Violet grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator for her suddenly very dry mouth. �You want something to drink?� Violet asked him in a shaky voice. Even after two years of him thinking she was dead, just being in the same room with him once again caused her to have a reaction.
�No, but I would like some answers.�
Hearing his voice directly behind her, Violet jumped a little. Going over to the corner counter, she leaned back against it and gulped down the icy cold liquid. �OK. What do you want to know?�
�How about we start with what happened two years ago? Why we were all told you had died during surgery? But you were actually very much alive and living in Hapeville, Georgia?�
Closing her eyes, Violet sighed. JC was getting angry, and he had every right to be. She had lied to him, something she had promised him to never do.
�Ok, let�s start there.� Sitting down at the kitchen table, Violet inhaled a deep breath, JC joined her. �The paramedics were able to bring me back to consciousness in the ambulance, you were there, you know. And when the surgeons operated on me to get the bullets out, I had flat-lined. But I must be really stubborn, or I�m not meant to die yet, because I hadn�t died, obviously. Then, later while I was in my own room able to comprehend everything that was going on, I had to tell the police everything. They called the FBI and immediately put me into the witness protection program.�
�I knew it! I told everyone something was up!�
�And you were right. I mean, they didn�t send out the best doctor to lie to you guys. But anyway, I�m sure Justin told you all about how after the first time Ben attacked me they wanted to hide me somewhere. Then they came back to get me again after Ben was caught killing some guy trying to find me and he got away. But I put up such a fight they agreed that if he had come back and attacked me again, I would be put in a safe house. So I had no choice this time around. I begged and begged for them to let me see you one last time, but I couldn�t. It was so hard.� Violet began to cry, and she tried not to shake and sob. Bringing her gaze up to meet JC�s, she saw he too had tears in his eyes. �Especially when I heard you and Justin screaming for me.�
�Well, with how that damn doctor was acting, we felt like he was hiding something. If we had gotten two feet further, we would have found out what that something was.�
�I wanted nothing more than to run out there and hold you, but I couldn�t.� Violet laughed a little. �I had tried. But it only ended in me passing out again. My body couldn�t handle it.�
JC looked at her and no longer felt anger and sadness, but understanding instead. And then he wondered one thing. �So why didn�t you come back after that dealer killed Ben six months ago?�
�I figured it had been too long. This hadn�t been my home in a year and a half already. And everyone I loved and cared about thought I was dead. Besides, I had started a new life. One without�� Violet looked up, unable to finish what she had started to say. But she didn�t need to.
�One without me.� JC whispered, unable to bring himself to look at her.
�Without everyone.� Violet moved to the chair beside JC and put her hand over his, expecting him to move away, but he hadn�t. �JC, the only thing that scared me more than starting a new life all over again, was having to do it without you.� Tears welled up in Violet�s eyes once again and she fought to hold them back. �I remember running towards Joey�s house that night, and when I saw you, all I thought was how much I loved you and if God gave me the chance, I would have told you that you were the man for me. The man I chose. Or more like the man who chose me.�
�So, you were going to choose me?�
�Before Ben showed up at the apartment, I had every intension of calling both you and Justin. But plans obviously changed.�
JC nodded in understanding. He could feel the rage building inside him like a tidal wave once again. Only this time because that asshole took her away from him. But fate had worked in his favor and brought her back to him. That had to mean something, right? Could this be a second chance at their love that seemed so perfect? But there was something else to consider now. And that something just ran into the room screaming for her �momma.�
�What�s wrong, sweetie?� Violet said gently, picking up the screaming child and rocking her back and forth to calm her down.
�I�m sorry, Vi. She just got away from me.� Danni said, running into the room.
�Oh that�s alright, D.� She said, still rocking the small child.
JC watched in awe as the woman he still loved held her daughter. He always knew she would make a great mother some day, and he was right. But one question burned in his mind. �So�what about her?�
�what about her?�
�Is she�� As much as he wanted to know, as much as he needed to know, JC could not bring himself to ask if the blue-eyed, brunette child was his own, or Justin�s. It just didn�t seem right.
�I don�t know.� Violet answered quickly. �I obviously couldn�t get a paternity test done, so that�s still up for debate. Although I�m pretty sure I know who the father is.� The way Violet looked straight into JC�s eyes gave him a little glimpse of hope that Blaire was his own child, one he took part in creating. �It�s funny. The doctor�s had no idea how I was able to carry her, especially to full term.�
�What do you mean?�
�Well, one, I was on the pill.�
�Oh yeah.� JC felt dumb now. He had known that perfectly well.
�And two because I had an extensive amount of blood loss from the bullet wounds.� Violet said in a quiet voice. �When he told me that the blood loss didn�t hurt the baby, I never wished I was dead more than at that very moment.�
�Why?�
�Because not only were they taking me away from everyone, but I was taking a child away from her father. It was so hard. I�ve had to raise her by myself for fifteen months, the most crucial time of her life, and she�s never known her father. I for one have never felt so alone.�
JC took her hands in his own, well, as best he could with Blaire sitting there, falling in and out of sleep. �But you�re not alone, not anymore. And never again.�
Violet looked up at the man she loved more than anything. �Promise?�
�I promise. I�m going to be right here for you whenever you need me. Always and forever.� JC wrapped his arms around the still petite woman and rested his chin on top of her head.
As much as he hoped against it, JC knew that there was a possibility that Blaire was not his daughter. And if that was so, he would still be there for Violet, and the child. He wasn�t going anywhere.
�Thank you, for not being angry with me.�
�I never could be.�
Now, how was Justin going to react to this news? He had known Violet since he was a boy, and had loved her almost just as long. Even though he was not a single man, what will he do once he sees Violet again? And finds out there is a possibility that he could be a father too?