Duplex - A Susan/Abby Story

[pili]

I love this fic, I've been reading it since you first posted it on fanfiction.net, till I found out it was here too.
It's a wonderful story, and I totally love the Susan/Abby dynamic
kisses.

[larue]

Aw...thanks. I thought it was getting a little boring.

[jacobsmommy]

Great update

update soon

[betinhaa]

great up date
please more soon!!!!!

[larue]

Thank you one and all. I have two new chapters going and a dynamic new character to reintroduce. I hope to get it up sometime in the very near future. Having a bit of a soccer trauma in our home that has rocked the very foundations of my marriage and family - not to mention destroyed an entire weekend. What a mess. My own little soap opera. Getting through it though. Sigh.

[erluv4evalr]

nice fanfic update soon

[larue]

Ninety degrees out and I am adding a Christmas chapter! Can't think of a better way to stay cool.....


It had been a wonderful Christmas. Uncharacteristically Cosmo slept well past dawn. Susan wondered about it and then remembered that it was Chuck that usually roused him before dawn. He would ‘hear’ him and then go get him from his room, dragging Susie behind them as they headed for the stockings and tree. Remembering that brought a lump to her throat but it was forgotten when she saw his delight with the things in his stocking…..the gifts under the tree. There were Lego sets, Transformers and a hockey jersey for him, computer paraphernalia and clothes for Susie. Susie and Cosmo had filled stockings for her and Grandpa so they would feel left out. There was noise and laughing and music and hugs…just like always. Everything was perfect Susie announced. After their gifts were opened and stockings explored, Susan made their traditional cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate. It was just enough to tide off hunger but not too much to spoil their appetite for her mother in law’s brunch. It had been a good morning but when it came right down to it, she couldn’t bring herself to go. Susie had thrown her a worried glance as she followed her Grandfather and Cosmo out the door. Susan followed them to the porch and hugged her niece before she headed down the steps. She watched and smiled as she waved the car out of the drive. She stood for a moment and looked around their snowy front yard. Cosmo’s army of snowmen were in assorted mixture of melting and being rebuilt. It made the newly snow covered yard look lumpy and weird. She suppressed a smile and then headed back to the door. She stopped and looked at the heavy white door in front of her. As much as she hated the thought of going to Chuck’s mother’s brunch, she hated the thought of going into an empty house as well. It would be awfully quiet. Too quiet. She moved toward the other front door of the duplex and hesitated before she knocked. She turned the knob and opened the door.

Christmas music was playing from the stereo and Susan grinned as she took in the riot of wrapping paper and ribbons that covered the floor near the tree.

“Ah….the calvary!” Abby laughed as Susan saw them all seated at the table. Lauren danced toward her carrying a tiny plastic plate balancing a very real looking apple and sandwich.

“Come and see! Come and see!” Lauren shrieked as she grabbed Susan’s hand and dragged her toward the little kitchen set. Luka lifted his coffee cup and nodded.

“It’s your turn,” he chuckled and reached for a piece of coffee cake from the dish on the table in front of him. “We’ve all our breakfast…over and over and over.” Susan sat on the stool by the couch and grinned as Lauren took her on a ‘tour’ of the play set. She opened doors and pulled out dishes and little utensils and plastic foods. Susan listened to her non stop talk and held all the things Lauren piled into her lap with a smile. She helped Lauren place it all back in their respective places and looked up at Abby as she was handed a real mug of real coffee.

“Has she been like this all morning?” she asked. Abby rolled her eyes and nodded. Susan laughed and took a sip of her drink.

“I think the kitchen was a hit then.” Luka nodded from his seat at the table.

“Don’t look at me though,” he snorted. “I wanted to get the building set.” Susan held her mug up as Lauren dumped a stocking full of things into her lap. She picked up the package of underwear and grinned.

“Dora?” she asked. Lauren nodded and started pulling open the plastic package.

“Ah…sweetheart…” Maggie interrupted and held up a new video case. “Want to watch a video with Grandma so Aunt Susan can have some breakfast?” Lauren stopped and studied the video for a moment and then peeked up at Susan through her newly shortened locks.

“Okay…” she sighed slowly. Susan laughed and hugged her close for a second and then Lauren took the video and went with Maggie to the entertainment center to slip in the video. Maggie sat on the couch with the little girl and they snuggled in together under a small quilt. Susan put things back into the stocking and joined Abby and Luka at the table.

“You’ll never guess what I got this morning,” Abby sighed and pushed an envelope across the table toward her. Susan frowned quizzically at her as she opened the envelope and drew out a plastic card.

“Home Depot charge account?” Abby nodded.

“For my new bathroom,” she said. Susan’s frowned deepened.

“But didn’t you…” her voice trailed off as Luka pulled a similar card from the pocket of his tee shirt and held it up for her to see. Abby rolled her eyes and chuckled.

“So much for my really great, original idea,” she sighed. Susan laughed.

“Oh this renovation is going to be SO good……” Luka shrugged as he shook his head and took a sip from his coffee.

The video had barely begun when Lauren fell sound asleep. Maggie shifted her to the couch and covered her with the quilt. She slept soundly throughout the morning as the adults around her carried on with a quiet and gentle Christmas together. Susan fit seamlessly into the activities therer. When the time felt right, she slipped into her own quiet home to tidy things up and change her clothes. She had made her way back over and was at the table slicing tomatoes for sandwiches when the doorbell rang. Lauren was the first one there and she pulled the door open.

“Merry Christmas!” David laughed as he bent down with his arms full of packages. “Hey! What happened to all of your hair?” Lauren smiled shyly as Luka swung her up into his arms and held the door open.

“Just a little….um…accident,” Luka said as Abby glanced toward Maggie. Maggie shrugged blithely and wordlessly went on arranging sandwich meats and cheeses on a platter.

“Merry Christmas, David,” Susan smiled.

“Oh…found a friend of your standing outside on the sidewalk…” Susan looked toward the door and her mouth dropped open as she saw the woman standing there.

“Chloe?” she breathed. Her sister grinned and stepped inside. Susan made her way toward her and wrapped her in a hug as Luka shut the door and David moved to put his gifts under the tree.

“Why didn’t you call?” Susan said as she pulled back and studied her for a moment and then hugged her again. Chloe laughed.

“I left your telephone number back home,” Chloe said. She looked up at Luka as he waited to take her coat and unzipped her jacket. “I went to Dad’s but the house was dark so I figured he would be at your house and I didn’t have the address but I remembered that you said you were sharing this place with someone from the hospital so I took a cab to the ER and Jerry just happened to be leaving …..you know, he’s probably the only one there that still remembers me so I probably wouldn’t have gotten an information from anyone there if I hadn’t seen him…so he told me where to find you….and I took another cab but there was no one home next door…and I wasn’t sure what to do and…”

“And I found her just standing there,” David grinned. Susan shook her head and glanced around the room.

“Um….” She sighed as she slipped her arm through Chloe’s. “This is my sister, Chloe, Susie’s mother. That’s Abby and her mother, Maggie….and Abby’s husband, Luka and Lauren…..and David.” They all nodded and Chloe glanced around with a slight frown.

“Where’s Susie? And Dad and…..” she asked.

“Cosmo,” Susan finished. “They’re exchanging gifts with Chuck’s family. They should be back soon.” Chloe studied her for a second and then shrugged. Maggie emerged from the kitchen with two mugs and handed them to Chloe and David.

“It’s something Croatian,” she explained as David held his mug to his nose. “It’s hot and it’s very good.” They all looked up as the door opened and Susie, Cosmo and Henry pushed their way inside together. They were laughing and Susie stopped as she saw Chloe.

“Mom……” she said and stood frozen. Cosmo threw himself toward Susan who was watching Susie as she hugged him. Henry shut the door behind them and moved toward Chloe.

“When did you get here?” he said gruffly as he hugged her.

“Just a bit ago,” Chloe said as she grinned. She stepped toward Susie and stopped as Susie moved away slightly. “I wrote you I might come….in an email.”

“You say that every year,” Susie said. Chloe moved toward her and wrapped her arms around her. Susie hugged her weakly as she glanced at the family members around her.

“This is a….um….surprise,” she said. Chloe laughed and stepped back to look at her.

“My god but you are gorgeous!” she gushed as she hugged her again. “Isn’t my baby just gorgeous?” Everyone nodded in agreement as Susie shifted uncomfortably. Susan sat down in a chair and pulled Cosmo onto her lap.

“Did you have a good time?” Cosmo nodded and his smile faded.

“I missed my Dad,” he said. Susan took a deep breath and nodded.

“I know, honey,” she said quietly as she hugged him. “I miss him too.”

“Well…..” Maggie said brightly as she clapped her hands together. “Are we going to eat first or open more presents?” Cosmo jumped down from Susan’s lap.

“Presents!” he cried. Lauren jumped up and down next to him.

“Presents!” she cried as her dark curls bounced.

“I’ll vote for that,” David grinned. “Come on over here, you two. You too, Susu.” Cosmo and Lauren hurried to the tree and David bent down and selected two of the gifts he’d brought. Susie stood rooted uncertainly and then Chloe pulled her toward the tree. Susie’s eyes met Susan’s and her aunt smiled encouragingly. Susan lifted her mug to her lips and grimaced as she took another sip.

“Gads, Luka….what is in this stuff?” Luka laughed and slipped an arm across Abby’s shoulders. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to Susan’s cheek

“Merry Christmas,” he said as he kissed Abby’s cheek as well. Susan glanced around at the hodge podge of a ‘family’. Her eyes met her dad’s and she shook her head. Henry’s eyebrows raised as he tipped his head slightly toward his younger daughter. Susan shrugged and watched as David handed a present to Henry and smiled as his eyes met her’s.

[brandykins]

Great update. Update soon!!

[*Natalie*]

Great update
Glad they all had christmas together

natalie x

[larue]

“You can have my room,” Susie offered later. “I can sleep with Aunt Susan.” Susan frowned slightly.

“You have a big bed,” Chloe said. “Why don’t you sleep with me and we can talk….like at a slumber party. Just us girls?” Susie hesitated and glanced toward Susan.

“Naw,” she said and went back to organizing their new videos with the old ones on the storage shelf. “I kick at night and Aunt Susan is used to it.” Chloe studied the girl’s slight back and then shrugged.

“Well, okay…that’s settled,” Chloe sighed. “Anyone interested in another game? Another movie?”

“I think I need to get this little guy to bed,” Susan said as she jostled a sleeping Cosmo. He yawned and sat up from where he’d been cuddled next to her.

“I’m tired too,” Susie said quickly. “I’ll take him up.” Susie took the little boy’s hand and half carried, half led him up the stairs. Chloe watched her go and then dropped onto the couch next to Susan.

“She’s a big help around here, I see,” she said. Susan took a deep breath and nodded.

“Truthfully?” she said and looked at her sister. “I don’t know what I would do without her.”

“Does she like her new school?” Chloe asked. “Does she have a lot of friends?” Susan nodded and then turned to Chloe.

“Why the sudden interest in this…parenting….stuff?” she asked. Chloe chuckled and shook her head.

“Just because I haven’t been around her doesn’t mean that I haven’t been interested, Susie,” she said. ‘You know that…” Susie continued to study her silently for a moment and Chloe finally shrugged.

“What?” she laughed.

“Nothing…..” Susan chuckled. She looked up as Susie came half way down the stairs.

“Cos wants you to tuck him in,” she said.

“Okay…” Susan said as she pulled herself off the couch. “I think I am going to tuck myself in too. It’s been a long day. Can you turn the tree lights off when you come up?” Chloe nodded and watched as her sister followed Susie up the stairs.

Susan peeked into Cosmo’s room and smiled. He was snuggled under a quilt in his bed, his eyes barely open.

“Hey, little man,” she said softly and slipped into the darkened room. Cosmo moved over on the bed and Susan stretched out next to him. She squirmed uncomfortably and pulled a wad of cloth out from under her back. She held it up and then turned toward Cosmo.

“Is that your Daddy’s tee shirt?” she asked. Cosmo nodded.

“Susie gave it to me when I said I missed him,” he said. “It smells like him.” Susan pressed the shirt to her nose and smiled. Fabric softener.

“Yes,” she said softly. “It does smell like him.” She spread the tee shirt over the little boy and tucked it carefully around him. She kissed his cheek and settled her head next to his on the pillow. Cosmo sighed and his eyes closed. Susan suppressed a smile and ran a finger through the fine straight hair on her son’s forehead.

“I love you, baby boy,” she whispered as he drifted to sleep. She eased off the bed and drew the quilt closer around him before she left the room and crossed the hall to her own. Susie was already buried under the blankets on the far side of the bed, her hair spreading over the pillow. Susan changed into a night gown and adjusted the bedroom door so the hall light wasn’t too bright. She slipped into bed and drew the sheet and blankets over her shoulder. It was only a moment before Susie reached over and felt for Susan’s hand. She drew her arm over her waist and held it there. Susan smiled slightly and moved over to hold her niece close.

“Why is she here?” Susie asked quietly. “Is she going to take me back with her?” Susan frowned and tightened her grip on her niece.

“She can’t do that unless you want her to,” she said.

“But she’s my mother and you’re not….” Susan sighed.

“Susie, you know that we have a legal guardianship order,” she said. “We had to get it so we could enroll you in school….get health insurance for you. Chloe signed those papers.” Susie snuggled closer.

“Besides, you’re fifteen,” Susan went on as she brushed the girl’s hair away from her face on the pillow. “No one is going to do anything without asking what you want to do.”

“But she’s been writing to me,” Susie said. “Telling me how good the schools are out there…about the beaches….that’s why I quit opening her emails.” Susan frowned slightly. Susie turned over on her back and laced her fingers through Susan’s.

“Did you see her flirting with Coach? Maybe we should warn him.”

“No…David is a big boy,” Susan chuckled. “He can take care of himself.”

“Why didn’t she come back last spring when Uncle Chuck was….”

“I don’t know,” Susan interrupted her. “But I have learned that my sister isn’t very good in situations like that anyway. It’s kind of overwhelming to her.”

“Me too,” Susie said quietly. Susan sighed and pulled her hand free. She slipped her arm under Susie’s shoulders and drew her closer. She pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“The difference is that we know how to get through things together,” she said. “You and Cosmo and I stick together. We don’t run away when the going gets tough.”

“Like my Mom…..” Susan nodded. They were quiet for a long moment.

“So where did you find one of Uncle Chuck’s tee shirts for Cosmo?” Susan asked finally.

“With my pajamas,” Susie replied with a sigh. “I had a couple that I used to sleep in.” Susan grinned and held the girl a little closer. She pressed another kiss to the top of her head.

“You are a good kid, Susie Lewis,” she said. “And you better not think of going anywhere. I need you way too much.” Susie nodded and snuggled in even closer. She yawned sleepily, wrapped her arm around Susan and hugged her.

The next morning Susan shook her head as she poured a cup of coffee from the pot. She slid it across the table toward her sister.

“Chloe…what were you thinking?” she said quietly as she shook her head and sat back in her chair.

“I thought maybe she might ready to move back with me,” Chloe rolled her eyes. “I thought you had your hands full enough with your own kid. I just checked out some of the schools, that’s all.” She didn’t look at Susan as she took a sip of her coffee.

“I didn’t mean to upset her...” Chloe shrugged. “I thought she’d want to come.” They both looked up as Susie came to the door with a cell phone in her hand.

“A bunch of kids are going to meet at the park to go ice skating,” she said. “Brett said I can ride with them. Can I go?”

“Sure….” Susan and Chloe said in unison. Susie frowned slightly as she looked from one to the other. Susan straightened and rolled her eyes.

“That sounds good, sweetie,” she said. “Maybe Cosmo and I will meet you there in a little while.” Susie nodded and started to turn away. She turned back to them and glanced at Chloe.

“Do you want to come too?” she asked. “There might be room.” Chloe’s face brightened as she lifted her head and studied her daughter’s face. She glanced toward

“No,” she said. “I’ll come with Susan later, though. I’d like to meet your friends.” Susie smiled and spoke quickly into the phone as she turned and left. Susan looked at Chloe and shook her head.

“Well, that was hard…” she said slowly.

“What?” Chloe asked.

“You…” Susan said. “Turning down a ‘date’ with a bunch of high school kids.” Chloe grimaced and shook her head. Her eyes met Susan’s and they laughed as they both clutched their coffee cups.

Several hours later Susan and Abby leaned against the railing of the park ice rink and watched the skaters. Susan waved as Cosmo skated by clinging for dear life to Susie and Jake. Lauren clomped along behind them holding hands with a pretty, young girl.

“Brittany is great with little kids, isn’t she?” Susan laughed as Lauren fell on the ice and the older girl had her right back up on her feet again. Abby nodded.

“We hired her, you know, while her mom was cutting Lauren’s hair,” Abby said as she waved to her daughter. “I’m not ready to have her back in preschool so soon after being in the hospital. Brittany agreed to be her nanny until spring.” Susan turned to look at her.

“Wow,” she said as she grinned. “That worked out perfectly, didn’t it? I bet her mom is real happy.”

“Well, not as happy as she would have been to have her go back to college but she agreed that maybe a semester off would probably help Brittany get things sorted out,” Abby sighed. “I told her that I kind of knew what it was like to be confused about what you want to do with your life. An understatement…I know.” Susan laughed and shook her head. Abby chuckled. They watched the skaters for a bit and Susan shook her head as she watched Chloe skating – racing and chasing with the kids on the ice. Susie skated by again and rolled her eyes.

“How is it that that kid can be so astute about helping others and so blind about how she feels herself?” Susan shook her head and clapped her mittened hands together as Cosmo skated past them all by himself. “She really seems to know how to deal with Cosmo and this whole grief thing. God…she even helps me with that but there’s so much going on in her own head that she doesn’t talk about. Worries me sometimes.”

“She’s only fifteen, Susan,” Abby said as she adjusted the gloves on her hands and the scarf around her neck. “They’re supposed to be confused about themselves. She’s okay.”

“Only fifteen?” Susan feigned surprise. “She’s been older than me since she was twelve!” Abby laughed.

“I’m going to take my daughter off Brittany’s hands for a while. Change your mind about skating?” Susan laughed and shook her head.

“Not on your life!” she said as she waved. “But be careful. You don’t want to jostle that baby too much.” Abby nodded and joined the skaters on the ice just in time to take Lauren’s hand from Brittany. Susan watched as the two of them stuck close to the rail and moved carefully on the ice. She took a deep breath of the cold winter air and glanced up at the bright blue sky. Christmas was over. She had made it through. Now there was New Year’s….and Valentine's Day....and then Easter…and memories of all the stuff that had happened in between. Her eyes saddened as she glanced toward the Chicago sky line and frowned slightly. It was going to be the second toughest time of her life. She just knew it.

[brandykins]

Cute update.

Update soon!!

[*Natalie*]

Great update
Glad Susan and Susie we're there for each other and Cosmo

natalie xx

[larue]

Susie threw her hands up in frustration and tapped her foot. She folded her arms across her chest and glared at Susan.

“I just don’t understand why you don’t want to go,” Susan said. “You have the dress. You have a date.”

“Í just don’t want to,” the girl said firmly. “What’s the big deal anyway? It’s just one dance.” Susie stopped to finger the dress hanging on the back if her bedroom door and then headed into the hall. Susan thought she saw a fleeting glimpse of wistfulness.

“Jake’s mom called and said he’s quite upset about this,” Susan said as she followed her niece toward the bathroom. Susie picked up the hairbrush from the sink counter and gazed at herself in the mirror as she drew the brush through her strawberry blonde curls. Susan leaned against the door jamb and studied the girl’s reflection.

“She’s just as confused as I am,” Susan finished.

“Jake knows why I’m not going,” Susie said as she slammed the brush onto the counter. She eased herself past Susan and headed down the staircase.

“Well, he says he hasn’t a clue as to why you have changed your mind,” Susan said as she followed the girl down the stairs, through the living room toward the kitchen. Susan glanced at the two little boys sprawled on the couch watching a movie on the television. Cosmo was absently rolling a Hot Wheels truck across his tummy and Cameron was sucking his thumb as they were totally absorbed in the screen. She studied the movie herself for a bit and shook her head. She followed Susie into the kitchen and watched her as she slipped a popcorn packet into the microwave. Susan hesitated.

“It’s your first formal dance in Chicago,” Susan said. “We hunted for hours to find that dress.” Susie was silent and waited for the beep of the microwave. She opened the door and pulled out the steaming bag of popcorn. Susan watched as she opened the bag and poured the popcorn into a bowl on the counter. She turned with the bowl in her hands and Susan stepped aside as Susie carried the bowl into the living room and plopped it on the couch.

“Stop sucking your thumb, Cameron,” she ordered. Cameron’s eyes never left the screen as he sat up next to Cosmo and slipped his thumb from his mouth. The two boys dug into the popcorn bowl. There was a knock on the door and Susie opened it. She turned away as Abby stepped inside and closed the door behind her.

“Susie,” Susan said as the girl headed up the staircase. “We’re not done talking about this.”

“Yes, we are,” the girl replied calmly as she hurried upstairs.

“What’s going on?” Abby asked as she handed an envelope to Susan. “That was in our box.”

“She has decided that she’s not going to the dance.”

“After all that shopping we did to find the perfect dress?” Abby’s eyes widened.

“Forget about the dress!” Susie shouted from the top of the stairs. “We’ll take it back!”

“We can’t!” Susan shouted back. “It’s been altered!” There was an answering slam of a door from the top of the stairs.

“Why isn’t she going?” Abby asked. Susan shrugged her shoulders.

“She isn’t telling me,” she said. “She says that Jake knows why she’s changed her mind but Jake’s mom says he hasn’t got a clue.” She sighed again and then looked at the envelope in her hands. She shook her head and tossed it unopened onto the table.

“That’s kind of official looking,” Abby said. “From the Carter Center and all…….”

“Just something from John,” Susan said. “He’s been sending them for a while now.”

“Wants you to consider taking a position on the Board or actually working there on staff?” Susan frowned and turned to look at her.

“We’ve been getting them too,” Abby chuckled.

“I don’t get it,” Susan said as she picked the envelope up again. “I thought the place was running beautifully?”

“State of the art beautifully,” Abby said. “But Luka says Carter isn’t happy with the day to day management and can’t oversee it himself as often as he’d like.”

“So he wants to pay us to do it for him? How so like Carter,” Susan sighed. Abby laughed.

“Well, I do owe him something,” she said. “He paid my tuition for that last year of med school.”

“You don’t owe him your life,” Susan said. “Don’t leave County unless you really want to.” She frowned in confusion .

“Did I just encourage someone to stay at County?” Abby laughed and turned her head as there was a blood curdling scream from the television set.

“Isn’t Cameron spending the night?” Abby asked. “Should they be watching that?” Susan turned her head in time to see a head ripping off an alien in green bloody gore.

“Cameron……” Susan asked slowly. ”Would your Mom let you watch that at home?”

“No…..,” the little boy replied slowly. Susan reached for the channel changer and grimaced.

“Oh, god. They’ll probably both end up in my bed tonight,” she said ruefully as she flicked to other channels. “Okay guys, let’s find something else to watch.” Abby laughed and opened the door.

“I’ve got an overnight shift,” she said. “I’ll talk to you later. Good luck with Susie.” Susan nodded and sighed as she settled on a cartoon station.

“Much better…..” she said as she glanced ruefully at the two little boys..

Abby opened the front door into her own living room and dropped the mail onto the table next to the door. She grinned as Lauren came racing toward her with a small cake pan from her kitchen set.

“Mommy!” she said gleefully. “Taste! It’s…..” The little girl’s face contorted in confusion and she looked back at the girl sitting at the table.

“Crème brulee…” Brittany whispered loudly. Lauren grinned and nodded as she held the pan up.

“Oh….yum,” Abby said as she pretended to taste the ingredients in the pan. “I think I will be thanking you for that when she finds out it doesn’t come in a Happy Meal.” Brittany laughed and Lauren grinned. Abby snuggled a quick kiss into the crook of the little girl’s neck. She stood up again and slipped into the coat that had been draped over the back of the couch.

“Luka will be home in about two hours,” she said. ‘He wants to spend some time with her so he’ll put her to bed.” Brittany nodded and stood up. Abby started to open the door and then turned back.

“Has Brett said anything to you about something happening at school with Susie?” Abby asked. “She’s decided not to go to the winter formal and won’t give Susan a reason why.” Brittany shook her head.

“No…” she said. “But I’m just supposed to give him a call if the…‘effing geek’…. shows up here at all. But that’s Brett. He’s kind of protective of his friends.” Abby’s frown deepened for a second and then she smiled.

“Good night, sweetie,” she said as she blew her daughter a kiss and waved. She hurried across the porch toward her car and didn’t notice the dark figure standing next to the porch. He waited until the car pulled out of the drive in the dusk and then made his way up the steps to the front door. He hesitated a moment and then knocked.

Susan was contemplating switching the channel back to the more adult, scary feature when the boys started throwing popcorn at one another. She reached over and opened the door.

“Oh, hi, Jake,” she said in surprise. “Cosmo….Cameron…stop it right now!” She held the door open as he stepped inside and slipped his hat off his head.

“I really need to talk to Susie,” Jake said.

“Susie,” Susan called up the stairs. “Jake is here to talk to you!” She listened for a response and then frowned slightly.

“I’ll run up and check on her,” she said. “Cosmo…Cameron…enough! Pick up all that popcorn or I am going to have to play Wicked Witch and make you eat a poisoned apple.” The two little boys stopped their popcorn fight suddenly and looked at one another for a moment. Their grins widened and they started tossing popcorn at each other again. Susan looked up at the ceiling in exasperation and shook her head as she climbed the stairs.

“Susie…..” she said as she knocked on the closed door to Susie’s room. “Jake is downstairs and he wants…..” She opened the door and stopped when she saw that the lights were off and Susie was curled into a ball under a quilt on her bed. She quietly closed the door again and went back downstairs.

“I’m sorry, Jake,” she said. “She’s already sleeping. I guess you’ll have to talk to her at school.” Jake shook his head and frowned.

“She won’t talk to me there,” he said. “She’s always surrounded by the jock goon squad.”

“Goon squad?”

“Yeah,” Jake sighed. “Brett Baker and his buddies. Jocks from football…..the wrestling team….” Susan laughed.

“That’s not a ‘goon squad’ and you know it,” she chuckled. “Those are the guys she’s tutoring.”

“Uh huh…” he nodded disbelievingly. He started as the doorbell rang. Susan shook her head and laughed.

“Wow,” she said as she opened the door. “One visitor after another tonight.”

“Hi, Dr. Lewis,” Brett said as he stamped snow off his feet at the door. He held up a text book. “I need some help with trig from Susie.” His eyes narrowed and a slight, triumphant smiled crossed his lips.

“Come on in but she’s sleeping, Brett,” Susan said. “I’m sorry…..maybe she can help you tomorrow?” She frowned again and looked back at him.

“You do your homework on Friday night?” Brett’s eyes never left Jake’s face and he nodded slowly.

“I talked to her on her cell phone just a few minutes ago,” he said. “She’s expecting me so…. you….can go home now.” The last comment was directed at Jake and he sighed in exasperation. He made his way uneasily around Brett to the door and pulled his knit cap over his head. Wordlessly he left and Brett closed the door firmly behind him. Brett turned and smiled brightly at Susan.

“That popcorn smells great,” he said. “Do you mind if I make some more for us?” Susan shook her head slowly and glanced from his back heading toward her kitchen to the door.

“You can come down now….” she said quietly. “He’s gone.” Susie appeared on the stairs and her eyes met Susan’s.

“The other one is making popcorn in the kitchen,” Susan said quietly. Susie nodded and continued past her.

“We are definitely talking about this tomorrow,” Susan said. “You know that, right?” Susie shrugged and disappeared into the kitchen. Susan turned her attention to the little boys in the midst of a shower of popcorn on her furniture and rug and sighed.

[crazylubyfan]

Great update! I love this fic! I wonder what went wrong between Susie and Jake...hmmm...you left me hanging here!

[larue]

Susan looked up from the bills she was sorting on her bed as Susie slipped into the bedroom and shut the door.

“My goodness but you slept late,” Susan said with a smile. Susie shrugged and folded the sides of her robe closer about her. Susan looked up again and frowned slightly as she noticed Susie’s white face and the freckles that stood out on her nose.

“Is everything okay?” she asked. “You’re not sick or anything, are you? I am still hoping to talk you into going to the dance tonight.”

“I need to show you something,” Susie said quietly. She turned around and let the back of the chenille robe slip down to her waist. Susan’s mouth dropped open as she saw the purple and greenish bruise that slashed across Susie’s back.

“Oh my god,” she cried as she stood up from the bed scattering papers to the floor and reached out to gently touch the skin between Susie’s shoulder blades. “How did this happen? When did it happen?” Susie sniffed and turned around again as Susan’s eyes widened. She clutched the robe to her chin but let the sleeves slip to her elbows. There were finger print bruises encircling the girl’s upper arms in varying shades of color as well.

“Oh my god……what….when?” Tears spilled down Susie’s cheeks. She leaned toward Susan and started to cry as her aunt gathered her into her arms.

“Honey, you have to tell me what happened….” Susan held her close with the robe clutched tightly between them and waited. “Did you fall? Did someone hurt you?” Susie tensed and she didn’t lift her head from Susan’s shoulder. Susan waited for her sobs to subside and then drew her to sit on the bed next to her.

“Are you ready to tell me about this now?” Susan asked. She adjusted the robe around her and folded it closed. She brushed the hair away from Susie’s face and pulled up the sleeves to examine the bruises on her arms again.

“Did Jake do this to you?” Susan raged inwardly when Susie nodded slowly.

“He was mad about something that happened in English class last Tuesday and when I tried to talk to him he grabbed me and threw me against the lockers in the hall,” Susie hiccupped. “He was really sorry when he saw that he hurt me but I didn’t want to talk to him after that. And I don’t want to go to the dance with him.”

“Well, I would guess not,” Susan exclaimed. “Did a teacher see it happen? Any of the other kids? What did the school have to say? Why didn’t they call me? Did you tell anyone?” Susan frowned at Susie’s silence.

“Honey, you have to tell someone,” she said emphatically. “This is assault.”

“I didn’t think it was as bad as this,” Susie said hurriedly. “I don’t want him to get in trouble. He just gets really mad sometimes and doesn’t know how to deal with it.” Susan sighed heavily.

“Has he done this to you before?” she asked warily. Susie straightened and knotted the belt of her robe at her waist. “No,” she said emphatically. “He punched a hole in a wall once but he’s never hit me. I swear, Aunt Susan. This is the first time….”

But it won’t be the last unless you stay away from him,” Susan said. Susie took a deep breath.

“That’s what Brett said,” she said quietly. Susan grimaced angrily.

“So you told…him…about it?” she asked. Susie’s shoulders sagged and Susan regretted her words instantly. She gathered the girl in her arms and held her close.

“I’m glad you talked to someone,” she said as she rocked her back and forth. “So is Brett behind the ‘goon squad’ Jake said has been coming between the two of you?” Susie nodded.

“He heard what happened from someone who saw it,” she said. “And he knows about the emails I have been getting. Someone walks me to every class and….”

“Emails?” Susie nodded.

“At first it was stupid but now he’s mad because I stopped answering him and says he is going to hurt me and anyone that even thinks about taking me to the dance if I go without him.”

“Has this been going on all week?” Susie nodded. She lifted her head and looked at Susan.

“Brett wants me to go with them,” she said. “But they all have dates and my dress is sleeveless and everyone will be able to see and…..” Susie’s face crumpled and tears spilled over her cheeks again. Susan rocked her again as she cried and waited for the sobs to still. Then she reached for the cordless phone next to the bed.

“What are you doing?” Susie cried as she grabbed the phone.

“I’m just calling Abby,” she said softly.

“Please don’t tell Abby and Luka, Aunt Susan,” Susie begged tearfully. ‘I’m so ashamed….and scared.” Susan took the girl’s face in her hands and turned her face so she was looking into Susie’s tear bleared blue eyes. Her own eyes filled with tears.

“You have nothing to be ashamed of, sweetie,” Susan said firmly. “And nothing to be afraid of either. We are going to get you to that dance…..and we’ll take care of Jake later. Okay?” Susie hesitated as she studied her aunt’s face and then nodded slowly. Susan kissed her soundly on the cheek and took the phone out of her hands. She dialed and waited a moment.

“Hi, Abby…it’s Susan,” she said when the phone was answered on the other end. “Change of plans here. Do you still have that cute little beaded jacket…erm…bolero type thing you used to wear with black pants? Oh good. Do you think that Susie could borrow it for the dance tonight? Yeah. We’ve changed our mind. Oh great! Can you bring it over? Perfect. We’ll see you in a minute then.” She shut the phone off and turned to look at Susie. The girl’s lip quivered and she leaned into Susan again. Susan gathered her close and kissed the top of her head.

“It’s so hard growing up, isn’t it?” Susan murmured. Susie nodded. Susan pulled back.

“I was talking about me…” she scolded playfully. Susie laughed and Susan looked at her watch.

“You better go call Brett and ask him to swing by here on his way and then jump in the shower,” she ordered. “We’ve got to do your hair and your nails…..” A smile played across Susie’s face as she stood up. She headed for the door and then turned back. She crossed the room and threw her arms around Susan once more.

“I love you, Aunt Susan,” she said.

“Back at you, kiddo,” Susan said as she squeezed her and then turned her toward the door again. “Now scoot!” Susan took a deep breath as the girl left the room and her hands folded into fists. god. How was she going to handle this? Chuck would have been out the door and tearing down the road after any kid that had done this to her. She wanted to call the school or the police right away. She wanted to rip every hair out of Jake’s head. She wanted…..god….she was shaking.

“Susan?” Abby’s voice came up the stairs. “I’ve got the jacket….and some new nail polish too.” Susan headed to the hall and down the stairs.

Nearly fours hours later Susie stood before the mirror for a final check. Susan and Abby were standing behind her.

“I can’t believe this jacket fits so well,” Susan said as she adjusted the shoulders of the multicolor beaded jacket. It slipped over Susie’s shoulders and fastened just under her breasts. It went perfectly with the simple black dress she wore. Best of all the long sleeves covered the bruises on her arms.

“What?” Abby scoffed. “You can’t believe something I wear would fit a fifteen year old girl?” Susan chuckled.

“Well, at least Luka’s not complaining…” Abby slapped her playfully on the back and Susie rolled her eyes. Susan’s eyes met Susie’s in the mirror and she grinned.

“You look beautiful….”she said. Susie’s eyes sparkled and she reached up to play with one of the tendrils of hair that Susan had pulled from the mass of curls pinned up at the back of her head. The rhinestones in her ears sparkled with the same shine as the beads on the jacket.

“Abby, they’re here…”Luka called up the stairs.

“My shoes!” Susie cried and all three made a mad dash about the bedroom looking for the black heels she’d chosen. Abby straightened suddenly.

“Lauren!” she called quietly. Abby hurried in the hall toward Cosmo’ bedroom and found her daughter on the floor with Cosmo and his trains, her candy stripe stocking feet stuffed into Susie’s heels. Abby grinned, kissed the little girl’s nose and snatched the shoes from her feet. She ignored Lauren’s protest and hurried back to Susie’s room. Susie shoved the shoes on her feet and stood straight for a second and sighed.

“Thank you,” she said and reached out to hug both Susan and Abby. Susan pulled away impatiently.

“Go…GO!” she said as she turned Susie toward the door and pushed her impatiently into the hall. Susie took a deep breath and started down the staircase. The first face she saw was Luka’s as he snapped a picture of her. And then there was Brett….and Sean…and Bobby…and Tyler….and Craig. All of them were in tuxedos and all of them had a flowers in their hands.

“Nice,” Brett drawled slowly as he held out his arm when she reached the bottom of the steps. Flash. Another picture. And another and another. Susan and Abby watched from their seats on the steps as Susie wrapped herself in a shawl, blew them a kiss and walked out to the waiting limosine with her entourage. They hurried to the porch and watched as the limo drove away. Susan sighed and wrapped her arms around herself in the nippy winter air. She glanced over at Luka, who had wrapped his arms around Abby.
He handed the camera to her.

“Get some good ones?” she asked. Luka nodded.

“How about you?” he asked. Susan’s face fell slightly and she nodded.

“I am not sure what I should do with them though.” she said as she led them back into the house.

“Susan,” Abby groaned. “You have to turn him in, you know that. It’s assault.”

“Maybe I should just show them to his parents and let them handle it this time.” Luka shook his head and Abby grimaced.

“What if he is learning this behavior from his parents?” Abby said. “They’re liable to beat the crap out of him and that’s not going to get him any help. He needs help. Now.”

“But shouldn’t this be up to Susie? Privacy issue and all that?” Susan glanced from one face to the other.

“Some of the kids at school saw it happen,” Abby said calmly. “If you let it go they will think that he got away with it. And he can’t get away with it.”

“Um…..I don’t know,” She said nervously. “What if it were Lauren?” Luka’s brows were drawn together and his face hardened as he glanced toward Abby and then back to Susan.

“Do you think we feel differently because it’s Susie and not Lauren?” Susan hesitated as she studied their faces and then shook her head. She knew they loved Susie. Almost as much as she did. She crossed her arms and sighed deeply.

“You know what I was thinking about when I woke up this morning?” she said as she turned and made her way across the room from them. She picked up a frame with a photo of Chuck in it. Her fingers traced the ornate silver designs around his face.

“I was going through my bills this morning and checking my calendar to see when things were due,” she said as she shook her head slowly and set the frame back on the table.. “And I was thinking……” She turned around and wrapped her arms around herself.

“A year ago today I was standing at my husband’s bedside when they told us that an undetected liver cancer had already spread to his colon and his lungs and…..” Her voice trailed off.

“And I was seriously wondering if I was going to make it through the day okay.” She shrugged her shoulders.

“There’s always something new to deal with isn’t there?” She shook her head and sighed.