Song for this Chap is "Coming Home" by Dirty Money

Carter's P.O.V

She was finally coming home. She was finally going to be in my arms to have and to hold forever and always. Never, will I ever, let her get hurt like this again.

"You ready to go, babe?" I ask.

"Yea. I think I've got everything," she says.

Walking her to my jeep, I help her get in and put her things in the trunk. Driving to our place, I couldn't help but smile. I finally had her back.

"What are you all smiley about?" Steph asks me.

"I'm happy to have my girl back, that's all," I say, intertwining our fingers and kissing her hand.

"Well, I'm happy to be back with the man I love," she replies, making the smile on my face widen.

"I love you," I say. I really did love her. I love her more than I've ever loved any other woman.

"I love you too," she replies laying her head on my arm. Steph had fallen asleep by the time we had gotten home, and because I didn't want to wake her, I carried her inside.

My mom, dad, Tara, and Brad were all waiting for us back at our place. Since Steph was asleep, I put her in our bed. We were all talking in the living room when we hear a loud scream. Steph. Running up the stairs, I enter our room to see Steph curled up into a ball on our bed.

"Baby? What's wrong?" I ask frantically.

"H-he was r-right there," she says, tears streaming down her face.

"Who baby?" I ask, looking around our room.

"J-joe," she replies. That can't be right, he's still in the hospital.

"Baby, he's still in the hospital. It was just a bad dream, ok?" I say, trying to calm her down.

"It f-felt s-so real though. He-he said he was h-here to f-finish what he st-started," she says. My poor baby. I hate that she's suffering like this. If only I could make it go away.

"I know, baby. I know. Do you want to go back to sleep or do you want to go downstairs? I think it might be good if you eat something," I say.

Shaking her head no, she says, "I'm not hungry. Can you lay here with me until I fall asleep?" she asks.

"Of course, baby," I say, laying down next to her so she could cuddle into my side. As Steph falls asleep, my mom walks in.

"How is she?" she asks in a whispered voice. Shaking my head 'no', my mother knew what that meant and walked back outside. I thought that with Steph waking up, things would be alright. But no, Joe Valente had to ruin our lives. In the back of my mind, I was thinking of grabbing my gun and shooting him. The only thing stopping me was Steph. Me being in prison wouldn't do her any good. Right now, she needed me with her.

"My poor baby," I said, untangling myself from Steph and giving her a quick kiss on the top of her head.

"How is she doing, son?" my dad asks. Tears brimming my eyes, all I could do is shake my head.

"Woah, dude, are you alright?" Brad asks.

"No. Not even close. I knew that things would be different because no one is ever the same after their kidnapped and abused. I just thought that maybe things would be somewhat alright since she would be here with me. But they're not going to be because he ruined her. She's not the same person anymore. And I'm scared as fuck that I'm going to lose her because of it. God, if only I went home with her that night. All of this wouldn't be happening," I say.

"Son, don't you for one second think any of this is your fault. What happened to Steph could happen to anyone. I see the way she looks at you, she could never leave you, Carter. Joe is going to get what he deserves. The best thing you can do right now is be there for her and care for her," my dad says.

"I'm going to get some dinner going," my mom says.

"What time is it?" a sleepy Steph asks.

"Hey, baby. I thought you were sleeping," I say.

"I was, but then you weren't there and I got scared," she replies sitting next to me.

Wrapping my arms around her and kissing the top of her head I say, "there's nothing to be scared of, love. I'm not going anywhere,"

"Ok, good," she says. "What the hell happened to this place? I was gone for like, a week," she says.

"Babe, did they keep you in the same place? Or did they move you around?" I ask her.

"They moved me like once. Other than that, I barely saw the daylight. Why?" she asks.

"Wait. how long do you think we've been dating?" I ask her.

"Umm, five months. Almost six," she says. Shit. "Why is everyone looking at me like I have three heads?" she asks

"Babe, we've been dating for almost two years now," I say.

"Carter, stop playing," she says.

"He's not playing. Your two year anniversary is coming up in a few months," my dad says.

"But that- that's impossible. I was only gone for a week," Steph says tearing up.

"They must have kept her in the dark so much that she lost track of the time. A week to her was over a year to us," my father says.

"Over a year? I was gone for over... a year?" she says in disbelief, tears running down her face.

"I looked for you everywhere, baby. I hired so many people to try to track you down, but you just vanished. I'm so sorry, baby," I say.

"I know you tried everything, babe. It's not your fault, baby. Don't blame yourself," she says.

"But if I went home with you that night, none of this would have happened," I reply.

"Hey. Look at me," she says turning my face towards her so I was facing her. "None of this is your fault. You hear me? None of it. No one could have seen this coming," she says.

"But I should have protected you," I say.

"And you do, Carter. And I love you for it. None of this is your fault, ok? It's no one's fault. None of us could have seen this coming," she says.

"How can you be so positive in such a hard time?" I ask.

"Everything happens for a reason, Carter. Maybe, in some weird and twisted way, we're supposed to build from this," she says. Goddamn, I love this woman.

"I love you," I say, giving her a kiss.

"I love you too, baby," she says kissing me back.

Clearing his throat, my dad says, "Carter, make out with your girlfriend in private,"

"Right," I say, pulling away from Steph.

"I think Steph and Tara should talk. Clear some things up and make sure that everything's alright with them since it was her fiancé," my dad says.

"Yes, that's a good idea. Also, dinner is ready," my mother says, coming into the living room from the kitchen.

Steph's P.O.V

"Tara, let's go up to my room and talk," I say.

"I actually have somewhere to be. I'll see you soon," she says, packing her things to leave.

"Tee-Tee? What's wrong? Talk to me," I say.

"You wanna talk? Fine, let's talk," she says angrily. Why in the hell was she angry? I didn't do anything. At least, I don't think I did.

"What is it with you? Making your life so dramatic. You got kidnapped and it just so happened to be by my fiancé at the time. But you're not the only one who lost something. I fell in love with the wrong guy and gave myself to him. You think your life is messed up, so is mine, princess. So stop making this whole thing about you and walking around all sad and shit, it's depressing," she snaps.

"Tara, what the hell?" Brad says.

"I get that you lost something too, but you're not the one who lost over a year of their life. I got kidnapped, Tara. I was abused and starved and only saw the daytime once. Do you know what it's like to hear your own bones break, but to be so weak and dehydrated that you don't even bother fighting back anymore? Do you know what that's like?" I ask, tears running down my face once again.

"Oh don't start with your damn tears, Steph. You're being dramatic as always," she replies. What the hell was wrong with her, she never acts like this.

"You choosing the wrong man has nothing to do with me. That was a matter of choice. I didn't ask to be kidnapped and abused. Twice as a matter of fact. I don't even know who my real parents are, Tara," I start, only to be cut off by her.

"Oh trust me, Steph, I know all about your little sob story," she says.

"Wait. You- you knew? Why didn't you say something?" I ask.

"Of course I knew. Anyone with half a brain could see you guys look nothing alike. My background check on you only confirmed," she says.

"Background check? What the hell are you talking about?" I ask confused.

"Honey, did you really think I'd be your friend without looking into you first? I know all about your mini criminal record, and your parents not being biological. I know everything, Steph. What I don't get, is why you are allowed to get everything you want in life when I have to work for it and get hurt over and over again. You have a well-paying job and a man who loves you. Why does the girl that comes from a background like yours get to have that and I don't?" she says. Was it jealousy? No, it couldn't be. Tara was never a jealous person, she simply wasn't capable of being jealous of anyone. It's what made her different. She never acted like...this.

I was hurt, to say the least. She didn't tell me about being a Vuitton, and I let that slide. But how could she act like this? She's the one that chose Joe, not me. She screwed him, not me. I didn't ask to be kidnapped and abused. How could she make herself the sole victim here?

"I thought- I thought you were my friend," I say in disbelief.

"Oh honey, I was. But that was only so I had someone to outshine. Now if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be," she says.

"Someone, to outshine? Why are you acting like such a bitch?" I ask

"I wouldn't expect you to understand in that naive little brain of yours. But maybe, one day, you will," she says walking towards the door. "Oh, and for the record, I'm not saying abuse is alright, but you deserved everything Jake did to you," And with that, she walks out the door.

"That- did that for real just happen?" I ask shocked.

"I'm going to see if I can track her down," Brad says walking out the door.

"Baby? Are you ok?" Carter asks.

"I feel- I feel numb," I say. "And dizzy. Is it me, or is the room spinning?" I ask.

"Baby, I think you need to sit down," Carter says.

"Why- why are there two of you?" I ask the pounding in my head growing stronger. Before anything else could be said, I fainted.

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Anddddddd another chapter is up! Thank you guys so much for your support, it really means a lot to me. As always, feel free to reach out to me at any time! Don't forget to comment, vote, share and if you're new, don't forget to hit that follow button!

Love you guys,

~ G