The man blinked looking from me to Axel. "You said he was kidnapped... and dead."

"I did you're right. But I'm a business man. I lie. You know that right Mr. Howe. You lie an awful lot."

Father looks to Axel then back to me frowning. "You found out then... before this I would only assume."

I nod slowly, "Yes, Father... I mean Thomas. I read the letter... I just needed to hear you say it."

"Well... What are you going to do now then?" He asks looking from me to Axel.

"What?" I ask confused.

"Well Winter, there really is nothing you can do. First of all, you can try to say something but who is really going to believe you? Your siblings won't believe you over me and neither will your mother. The police won't do anything either, you're unharmed and I didn't sell you I paid someone to take care of you, like a babysitter. I've done nothing illegal."

I go silent when I realize how right he actually is. What is there that we can do? We can't do anything. My father is a horrible person and won't get punished for it. Although mom already knows about this whole thing she loves the kids too much to get a divorce and change their lives. I'm stuck.

Axel frowns moving over to me placing his arm around my shoulder. "You're an awful man who deserves nothing good in your life."

Dad looks at me before smiling and laughing. "I may not deserve anything but guess what? I have everything. Having one child hate me or go missing is nothing big in my life, I have children at my disposal. We just have to keep this out of the press." He moved over to touch my shoulders. "You wouldn't want to ruin your siblings' lives now would you, Winter?"

I moved stepping back letting his arms fall back down to his sides. I look to Axel a moment; I have no idea what to say... or do. I know I want mom to see this but... I never thought about anything other than getting my father back, if I do anything to him it'll affect the whole family.

Axel looks at me a moment before frowning stepping between my father and me.

"We don't plan to make anyone else snuffer the consequence of your actions. Just you."

Dad took a step back looking to Axel before smiling and turning quickly moving over to his desk pulling out a piece of paper, examining it.

"And what about this? The agreement which you signed?"

"I was saving Winter from a place that I knew he wasn't wanted."

"Oh? But that's not how it was. Am I not right, Mr. Keeler? You've had your eyes on my son for a long time. I could let that leak. 'Man stalks, boy from the age of twelve then takes a deal to keep him for himself' sounds good doesn't it?"

Axel frowned taking a step closer to my father seeming to get angry. I quickly move to touch his arm, afraid that he would do anything awful... Also He's liked me since I was twelve? How did he know me? Oh well. I'll ask him later.

"If I'm going down so are you, Mr. Keeler. That is unless you want to forget about this whole thing. Keep it a secret between just us... and keep him quiet... although I don't think Winter would say anything he has no back bone. Trust me I know."

I move to step around Axel, it was my turn to tell this man off... to... tell him... tell him what? I take in a deep breath ready to say the first thing that comes to mind before the door is opened quickly my mother standing there with Garson and Raed both at her side.

"What?" Father asked looking a bit confused and nervous. "...Oh... Look who it is dear! Winter is back! Isn't that great?" He asked quickly moving to my side touching my shoulder.

I look at him a moment before once again shaking his arm off of me, I really think this man is an idiot.

Garson smiled to me moving into the room, leaving mom and Raed to continue standing in the doorway, "It's great to see you, Winter. It's been a while... probably haven't seen you since a while before you disappeared... Sorry I didn't make it to your graduation either..."

I smile looking to my brother, "Oh, it's fine I understand you're a busy person." I laugh lightly.

"Yes... Well don't worry. I'll be sure to make it to your college graduation." He moved his hand to pat my head before turning to my father, "Now that that's out of the way. Father, do you think we're idiots?"

"Huh?" Father asked stepping back, seeming surprised that the subject was now moved back to him. "I don't think you're an idiot. You're the president of Howe's hotels do you honestly think that I'd make you that if you were an idiot?"

"Of course not." He chuckled, stepping towards father again, "Then explain to me why you think we'd anything you say anymore? Mother showed us the letter... and while Mr. Keeler is partly at fault I think we'll have a little talk, just a one on one father son talk okay?" His smile sent shivers down my spine. I had no idea that my brother could actually be scary. "How about you guys wait out in the living room while I talk to dad?"

"Yep, will do." Raed said grabbing my arm moving out to of the room with Axel and mom quickly closing the door. "Let's go and talk for a bit... about something that isn't dad."

In the living room sat everyone, it appeared mom had every one of my siblings come here for this. It was great. Omar actually moved to hug me, apologizing about something before pushing me away trying to act cool when I told him I missed him too.

***************

A lot of time seemed to pass as we sat talking about random things in the living room, I introduced Axel to everyone and told them about everything that we've been doing, of course leaving out any kind of drugging... I also left out the whole part where I did get kidnapped. They seemed to be very interested but confused more often than not at some parts that just didn't make sense. Honestly I don't know what happened either.

I also made sure to warn Raed about the kidnappers that mistook me for him. Which made him laugh quite a lot, I guess he already knew about them and was surprised they even mistook us. He didn't explain how he knew them saying it would be a story for another time. It was a nice time, all of us sitting there together just talking. We never did anything like this before.

After a bit more talking Garson moved into the living room smiling looking at all of us before sitting in the chair that was left.

We all sat silently staring at him waiting for him to tell us anything of what had happened in the room we all weren't allowed to enter.

"What?" He asked tilting his head looking up at all of us.

"What do you mean what?" Raed asked moving over to Garson. "Tell us what happened. Or what's going to happen."

"Can't I get a moment of peace?" Garson asked with a sigh leaning back in his chair.

"Uh no you can't." Jewel replied moving to go over to Garson as well. "This is kind of important so don't be an old man and just spit it out. What the heck happened in there?"

Garson glanced around the room a moment before smiling, "Nothing much, we had a long talk about who was going to own the company and then dad decided to go live by himself." He shrugged, "I don't like him but I don't want to involve the police in this, he has a point when he says we don't need any scandals... that is unless you want to involve the police Winter. It is really all on you. You were the one he for some reason had it out for."

"Well..." I breath feeling everyone's eyes shift to me. "I don't think I'd want to do that... especially if there is a slight chance that Axel could get in trouble too... If he is choosing to just go away is that better? I don't know... I don't know what to do..."

Garson sighed before sitting up in his chair looking over to me. "We'll leave it the way it is now and then worry about it later? Or maybe if you decide you do want to get him in trouble we'll all be behind you. Okay?"

I look around at my siblings all nodding before looking to Axel that has been sitting beside me the whole time.

"Don't worry, I'll be with you too. All the way." He smiled looking down to me.

Taking in a deep breath I nod in agreement. This is all too much but... with them behind me, I think I can handle the way things are right now. Plus, I get to still hang out with Axel.

*********

After a while more of talking I decide to just leave with Axel. I really didn't feel like seeing father again as he got his stuff together and actually left the house. Garson said that he would be in contact as would everyone else... I think they're afraid I won't ever come back.

As we pulled up in front of Axel's place he took a moment to turn the car off looking over to me.

"Winter... Can I talk to you about something that's been eating me up?"

"I mean when you put it that way I can't say no can I?" I asked laughing a bit.

"What you said in your mother's bedroom... Did you actually mean it? Do you love me like I love you?"

I sigh looking down to my feet then out the window trying to find the words, trying to figure out if what I said was true or not... I still don't know either.

"Axel... I'm.... I don't know... I don't know how I feel... there are so many things about you that yes, I like them... a lot." I breath turning back to him. "I think I want to love you... but I don't know if I do... this whole experience has been.... We haven't had time to get to know each other for me to actually fall in love with you..."

"Right." He breathed adjusting himself clearing his throat. "That's understandable..."

"But." I move to touch his hand, "I'd love to try to fall in love with you and actually mean it... do you think we can do that?"

Axel's face slowly turned into a smile a light blush appearing on his face as he moved to nod his head.

"Yes. Of course. I'll work hard then."

"Great." I smiled moving to unbuckle my seat-belt leaning over to lightly kiss his cheek, "I look forward to it."

End.