"I'm home." Shouted Alison as she walked inside of the home and closed the front door behind her softly. 

"In the kitchen, sweety." her mother's soft voice caressed her ears as the most amazing smell of her homemade lasagna filled Alison's nostrils.

Alison quickly took off her shoes and coat and followed the fantastic aroma of one of her favorite foods to the kitchen. She passed the small living room and with a few steps she was in front of the small kitchen.

In fact, their home was a small two-story house located in a not very good neighborhood in New York. The first floor consists of a small living room and a kitchen and two bedrooms along with a bathroom were on the second floor. It was small, but Alison and her mother had made it feel homely by decorating it well. It was a little hard to live there when her sister, Arabella was still leaving with them, but after Bella left them to continue college in London, the space was more than enough for the two of them.

Alison dropped her school bag on the sofa and walked into the kitchen. She was met with the back of her mother who was busy preparing her secret sauce. She had pulled her short dark brown hair into a ponytail and had a white apron on her green jumper and jeans.

"What's the special occasion?" said Alison playfully as she leaned on the counter.

Her mother, Evangeline, turned and huffed in annoyance. Her blue eyes glared playfully at her daughter's identical ones. She puffed a few strands of hair that had fallen on her face away and put a hand on her hips while pointing the wooden spoon with a fake accusing face toward Alison. "Now, now young girl," she pouted. "Since when I only cook your favorite food only on special occasions?" she finished emphasizing her last two words.

Alison chuckled as she walked around the small table in the middle of the kitchen and hugged her mother tight. "I'm just teasing, best mother of the world." she whispered and kissed Eva's cheeks repeatedly.

Eva giggled and kissed her daughter once but pushed her away afterward, making a disgusted face although the smile playing on her lips was giving away the fact that she was enjoying. "Ok, enough of bratty actions." she said. "Go and freshen up. The dinner is ready." 

Alison saluted. "Your wish is my command, my lady." she said in a deep voice and then went out of the kitchen with her mother's laughter filling her heart with warmth.

She went directly to her room and put on a shirt and sweatpants and went to the bathroom to wash her face and hands. After a moment she raised her head and locked eyes with the girl who was staring back at her from the mirror. Her long dark brown hair had fallen around her in natural curls and her blue eyes were sparkling. They weren't wealthy, they had so many problems but still, they managed to stay happy and supporting each other through thick and thin of life. 

Evangeline was a nurse in a hospital in the center of the city and Alison was working part-time in a pet shop not far from her school. Bella was 24, and was studying to become a doctor. She has moved to England 6 years ago after finishing high school and being accepted in a university there. They missed her but with her promise of coming back soon and having a video call almost 4 times a week, they were enduring that departure.

Suddenly as if on cue, Alison's stomach let out an angry growl and she looked away from her reflection. She practically ran down the stairs and towards the kitchen. She sat on the table and rubbed her hands together, licking her lips as her mother placed a plate with a big slice on it in front of her.

"Thanks." squealed Alison shortly before she dug into her food. Eva chuckled soundlessly at her daughter's childish enthusiasm while drinking from her glass. Her nervousness was taking away her appetite. She wanted to talk about something very important with Alison. Something that could change the life of both of them dramatically. But was her selfish decision right? Alison was a teenager and at a very tender age. Eva couldn't bear Alison gone just like Bella. She simply couldn't ...

"Mum!" Alison's soft voice brought Eva out of her thoughts. She looked up and found Alison staring at her with her forehead creased from concern. "Yes, honey?" asked Eva.

"You fine?" asked Alison concerned. "You were staring at nothing for some minutes now and have barely touched your food at all. Is everything alright?"

"Yes, yes of course." answered Eva. The sight of her warm smile calmed Alison a bit but she couldn't shake an odd feeling slowly forming at the pit of her stomach.

"You know you can talk to me any time and about anything, right?" said Alison.

Eva's smile grew wider. Sure her daughters were more mature for their ages because of the life they had. "Of course, my dear." she answered softly. "Now tell me, how was school?" she asked trying to change the topic a bit and buy more time to prepare herself.

Alison narrowed her eyes a bit but shrugged the odd feeling away. "Fine, I guess. Other than Ed and Logan end up in detention after one another one of their pranks on the teachers." she said and chuckled. "Although I should admit it was so funny."

"And how was work?" asked Eva, trying to relax a bit. 

"Good, like always." shrugged Alison nonchalantly. "You know I love to be around pets."

Eva only hummed this time, once again staring at a point on the table. Her brows furrowed.

Alison eyed her for a moment before putting her fork down, making sure to make a sound a bit louder than normal to caught Eva's attention which she was successful. "Okey, Something is up." she said firmly. "Tell me what is it."

Eva sighed and closed her eyes. She knew she must tell her soon, but it was so hard. "I'm gonna tell you." she said while she opened her eyes and stared directly at Alison. "But you should promise to not panic and let me explain everything."

"Now you are scaring the shit out of me." said Alison, her nerves skyrocketing.

"Watch your language, Alie." scolded Eva and frowned, forgetting a second about her problem.

"Are you sick? You looked so tired in the last week. Had you have any ..."

"Alison!" yelled Eva trying to cut off Alison's ramble. "I'm quite fine. I assure you." she said when Alison silenced.

"So What is it?" asked Alison desperately. "You are killing me."

"I'm getting married." said Eva not more than a whisper. Her head dropped as she fiddled with the hem of her jumper.

A pin-drop silence covered the house. Alison blinked a few times not believing her ears. "Beg your pardon?" she said with her brows furrowed.

Eva took a deep breath, raised her head, and looked directly at Alison's eyes. "I'm getting married." she said with her normal firm voice.

"You are kidding, right?" Alison's lips cracked into a smirked. "Okey, were are the cameras?" She asked while searching the kitchen with her eyes for any planted cameras.

"No, Alie," sighed her mother and massaged her forehead. "I'm completely serious."

Alison's smile dropped instantly. She pushed back her chair and stood. Her palms were flat on the table, trying to balance her dizzy self. "What Kind of a sick joke is it?" she said angrily.

"Alison, please let me explain. It's not ..." pleaded Eva as she stood up as well. But she was cut off by Alison who raised her hand with closed eyes.

"How long?" asked Alison.

"What?" asked Eva confused. 

"How long were you dating that man behind my back?" asked Alison. She was acting like a jealous boyfriend, but she couldn't help but feel betrayed. "You can't marry someone you've just met, so you were dating."

"Almost four months." answered Eva quietly, feeling somehow embarrassed. 

Alison took a deep breath, trying to control herself. "That explains your secrecy in the past few months." she scoffed. "And here I was thinking we are in trouble because of debts." 

"Actually, he has paid all of our debts. He is rich." whispered Eva, looking down at her hands. 

"Don't tell me you are marrying him for money." spat Alison angrily.

Now Eva was both angry and frustrated. Her face turned a bit red. "Alison Harris, don't you dare to think that low of me." she yelled. Her breath was uneven. She closed her eyes for a moment and took deep breaths. "he is a good man, Alison. " she said and opened her eyes and looked desperately at Alison, begging her to believe her. "We understand each other so good. He is a good man and a good father."

"Father?" asked Alison. She sat down again, not trusting her shaky legs. It was hard to digest this much of news.

Eva nodded and smiled. "He has seven sons." she said fondly and seemed to get lost in a memory. "That's actually how we met. His youngest son has broken his leg at school and the school staff had brought him to our hospital and I was the nurse designated to him."

Alison shut her eyes tightly. Maybe she could get along with a stepfather, but SEVEN STEPBROTHERS??? That was a different story.

"Alie," pleaded Eva after a minute of silence, not daring to get close to her daughter. "Please say something, honey."

"Are you happy with him?" asked Alison finally looking up at her worried mother.

"Yes," said Eva and blushed a bit. "Yes, alot."

Alison nodded a few times. "When is the wedding?" she asked.

Eva fidgeted on her feet uneasily. Alison narrowed her eyes at her. "Mum??" she asked.

"Albert wants us to get married soon." said Eva, not daring to look at Alison's eyes. "And I agree with him. We love each other and ..."

"Mum!" called Alison and cut off Eva's nervous ramble. "When?"

Eva sighed defeated. "At this weekend." she said looking directly at Alison this time. "And we will move in with them just after the wedding.

"What??" Alison jumped on her feet. 

"It's alright." said Eva hurridly, trying to calm down Alison. "Although his house is a bit far from here, still you can come and see your friends." she explained and saw Alison's eyes close tighter and she looked away, certainly trying to hold back her tears. "Alison." whispered Eva pleadingly.

"Please, mum." said Alison without opening her eyes. "I love you and all, and I know you have finally found a man you've fallen in love with, but please understand me as well. You are forcing me to leave my home, my friends, everything behind to come with you and live with a complete stranger who I had no idea about till some minutes ago. I'm worried that the past repeats itself."

"I assure you that it won't." said Eva firmly while trying to keep her tears at bay. The sight of her daughter in pain was killing her. Now she was really rethinking everything. But it was good for Alison as well. She needed a father figure in her life.

"I'm going to my room." said Alison still not looking at Eva. "Do as you want, mum. I'm not going to stand in the way of your happiness which you truly deserve. I'm sure you have thought through it a lot. Just .... just understand me. I need a little alone time. I may be asleep by the time you leave for work. so goodnight, mum." she said and then without a second glance walked up the stairs. 

"Goodnight, my love." whispered Eva as a few tears fell from the ocean of her eyes as she watched her daughter going upstairs.

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Alison opened her eyes as the morning sun peeked in her room from around the white curtains of her window. She stretched her body and sat down on her bed. She hissed in pain as the headache which had started from last night hit her again. 

She had barely slept last night, mostly thinking about what she should do. Finally, she had come to the conclusion that she couldn't stop her mother. She looked so much happy when she had talked about the man a few times. Alison knew better than anyone what kind of a hard past her mother had gone through. She had sacrificed her own happiness to raise her two daughters in good condition. She deserved a happy love, a good man to love and cherish her.

Alison had decided that it was her turn. She would stand by her mother's side and support her even if it meant she should give away a few precious things. Her mother certainly was more precious than all.

She finally, detached herself from the comfort of her bed and walked into the bathroom. She took a shower and did her morning routine, before slipping into a pair of light blue jeans and a white T-shirt. She put on a blue and green plaided shirt on top of it and braided her hair.

She never used so much makeup, just a lip gloss and she was done. She grabbed her bag and left her room. Her mother's door was slightly cracked. She peeked her head inside of the room and saw her sleeping on her bed soundly.

Alison sighed. As her mother told her, her stepfather was rich, so maybe her mother was not forced to work night shifts anymore.

With so many thought in her head, she walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Not having too much appetite, she grabbed an apple and left the house to begin her 20 minutes walk to school.