*Sara's pov.*

It has been a week since Lin confronted Steve. I was terrified, but it seemed to have worked. I haven't heard from him ever since. Evie was over at lin's place today while I was working. I was in the store buying some groceries before picking her up. I stood in the breakfast aisle when I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder. As I turned around my entire world shattered into pieces.

"Where's Evie" he said firmly.

There it was. The face I had spent years trying to forget. Those cold and hard eyes. Those eyes the had drawn me in once, but now only terrified me.

I have to go. I have to run.

But I couldn't. I was frozen. He grabbed my shoulder and I flinched.

"You thought you were really smart huh? Sending that Lin guy with his big talk. You don't seem to be talking now?"

"I..I.." I couldn't get the words out.

"That's what I thought."

My own fears suddenly streamed out of me as I thought of Evie and my motherly instincts kicked in.

"What do you want with her." I said, keeping my voice steady and getting straight to the point. "Why should I believe you give one shit about her."

"She's my daughter too! I have the same right to see her as you do."

I scoffed. "No. You lost that right a long time ago Steve."

"You think you can just keep her away from me!"

At this point he was full on yelling and I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"I will not let my daughter get hurt because her mother decided to trust an like you."

Rage filled his eyes. Maybe it was his alcohol induced head. Maybe he just wanted to hurt me. Maybe he was genuinely upset. But what happened, happened.

He brought his fist back and took a hard blow to my face. It knocked me back and I stumbled backwards. I looked at him almost confused. Looking back I shouldn't have been confused, but I had simply forgotten how it felt. It had forgotten the fear.

He grabbed my throat, not quite choking me, but not letting enough air through for me to breathe comfortably either. His mouth moved right next to my ear and he hissed:

"I'm not done with you yet."

Before turning around and walking out of the store as if nothing happened.

*lin's pov.*

"She's running a bit late isn't she?" I said, looking at my watch slightly worried.

"Maybe traffic was just bad. It's New York City after all."

She saw my concerned eyes and gently grabbed my face.

"Hey, I'm sure she's fine."

"Yeah, I know. Just a little worried."

"I get it. With Steve showing up. It's scary."

"Yeah, I just really thought she could live peacefully without him. She deserved that after everything she's been through." V nodded.

Just then the bell rang. As I opened the door I saw her. Her eyes were red from crying and around her right eye was a big blue cirkel. That motherfucker, I thought to myself. She couldn't meet my eyes.

"Sara ." I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Was it Steve?" A small nod.

"That son of a bitch." I muttered under my breath.

V and I guided her to sit down and she told us what had happened. We were shocked. Maybe it was stupid of us to think he would really stay away. I took Sara's hand in mine and she looked up at me.

"Sara, you understand that we have to press charges right?" She looked at me miserably. Vanessa spoke up.

"I know this isn't ideal and it's going to be very difficult, but this is Evie's safety we're talking about too. I know it was different last time. Then it was just you, but now you have a responsibility to keep Evie safe too."

"You're right. I want to press charges."

I let out a relieved sigh.

"Well, you're lucky cause you already got the best lawyer in the world on your side." I joked. Both V and Sara smiled.

In that moment Evie walked in with the boys.

"Mommy!"

"Hey sweetheart, did you have fun?"

"Uhuh!"

I saw every ounce of doubt she might have had leave her eyes as she lovingly stroked her hair. I saw V with a determined look in her eyes. I felt the same way. We had to keep them safe. Both of them.