*Vic*

It's been a couple weeks since that incident with that group of girls and Lydia hasn't really been herself. She's more shy, like she's remembering something unpleasant. She was back in the bunk room, sleeping, so I decided to talk to Turtle about it.

"Hey, Tony?" I asked, walking into the front of the bus.

"Hm?" He looked up from the phone in his hands.

"Do you think you could help me bring Lydia back to her hyper self?" I was playing with my hands as he looked down and thought about it.

"Maybe you just need to show her that you care about her. You guys haven't really had much dad and daughter time, and I think that's what she needs the most." He told me, looking up from his phone once more.

"Thanks man." I said, getting up and walking back.

"Dia?" I asked, knocking on her bunk. I heard shuffling before her head peeked out at me.

"Si papi?" She asked, her voice just as quiet as when I met her.

"Since it's our off day, I was thinking we could get you some clothes before we go visit your grandparents." I told her.

"Sure, just let me get ready." She climbed out of her bunk and made her way to the bathroom, backpack in hand. 20 minutes later she came back out in a Falling In Reverse singlet, faded blue jeans, a pair of black Vans, and a baby blue beanie, her bracelets covering all up her forearms, which made me a little sad and a little angry that she had that many scars.

"I'm ready." She gave me a small smile and we walked off the bus and to the mall, possibly the best yet worst place in San Diego. We walked in the doors a few minutes later and I saw some fans, but I guess they knew we didn't want to be found out so they settled for smiling and leaving us be. We looked around and she bought some makeup, some lotion, and a few pairs of skinny jeans and about three shirts. We went to the food court and didn't get noticed either, but I saw some guys looking at her and almost went over and hit them. My daughter is not a fucking piece of meat. I just kept my eye on them and noticed Lydia was starting to get nervous, her eyes also trained on the two guys.

"Hey, I'm not gonna let them hurt you." I told her, pulling her into a hug. I think she has really bad anxiety, she's shaking like a chihuahua.

"Th-those are the b-boys f-from the or-orphanage who r-raped me." She forced out.

"I want you to call Jaime off of my phone, tell him to get down here. I want you to go back to the bus with him." She started shaking more violently as I talked but she nodded. Twenty minutes later, Jaime and her had left, walking back to the bus. The two guys followed them and I tailed the guys. Lydia was just behind Jaime when the first of the two guys went up and covered her mouth, the second guy following as she was dragged into an alley. Jaime immediately turned around and we walked towards the alley. The three of us had decided this earlier. Jaime and I stealthily crept behind them as they let her go.

"Long time no see, freak." The guy who had grabbed her said.

"I thought you would've hit a vein by now." He continued. "Oh, fuck off, Josh. You and Drake have done enough to me in the past." She spat, reaching into her pocket. They walked forward and she walked back until she hit the wall.

"Now, we can finish our fun."

"I've had enough of you creeps talking to my daughter like that." My voice was loud in the small silence of the alley and the guys jumped.

"What are you gonna do about? She's nothing but a whore from an orphanage." The second guy piped up, getting closer to me.

"I'll fucking show you what I'm gonna do." I growled, stepping closer and hitting him in the face. I felt his nose crack and smirked.

"You fucking bitch!" The guy yelled, holding his nose. I just hit him again, grabbing him by his shirt collar.

"You come near her again and I'll beat the fucking hell out of you." I growled. I let go of him and he ran out of the alley. I turned around and saw Jaime fighting the other dude. I turned around and Lydia was standing there.

"Jaime, mind if I help?" She asked, a small glint in her eyes. Jaime pushed away from the guy and she stepped forward a bit.

"Payback's a bitch, Josh." She smiled, bringing her knee up into his crotch, then into his face when he doubled over. He sat there on his knees, cupping his balls and groaning in pain.

"I will get you, you little suicidal whore." He threatened. All three of us just turned around and left him there with a broken nose, busted lip, and bruised balls. We got to the bus and Mike looked up at us.

"Had a good day?" He asked, seeing Jaime who had picked up the bags from when he sat them down to fight.

"You could say that." Lydia piped up. He just nodded before picking up his phone and reading a text.

"Vic, Mom and Dad want us to come over in a couple hours. They want to meet their granddaughter." He said, putting his phone up.

"Alright." I nodded, seeing Lydia walk towards the bunks.

"I'll go ahead and get ready." She called. I sat down on the couch after grabbing a bottle of water, taking a drink and checking Twitter. After awhile I examinied my hand, which had begun to ache. Pretty sure it isn't supposed to be that swollen. I got back up and was looking for an Ace bandage or something else to wrap it up in.

"Need some help?" I jumped and hit my head against the counter as I saw Lydia behind me.

"Owww." I groaned, rubbing the back of my head.

"Sorry dad." She said, taking the bandage from me.
She wrapped my hand and as she moved back a bit I saw her arm, the scars seemed more like ridges instead of flat, smooth scars.

"Thanks." I smiled.

"Vic, Lydia, we gotta go!" Mike yelled.

"Why does this feel like I'm back in kindergarten bringing a friend home?" I asked nobody in particular as we walked off the bus.

*Lydia*

I was walking behind Dad and Uncle Mike, my anxiety acting up again along with my mom's voice telling me everything I hated about myself.

You're so ugly, so fat. Why even bother? Why not just slit your wrists and save Vic the burden of raising you.

I shook my head and caught up to them, trying to rid myself of the thoughts given to me by her murderous voice but it wasn't working.

They'll hate you. You know they will. Nobody loves a cutter, you should know that, stupid bitch.

I put my hands over my ears, trying to drown it out before I had a full fucking panic attack.

I concentrated on keeping my breathing even, now holding on to my arms in a death grip. Deep breaths, Lydia. Just breathe. Just breathe. I calmed myself down and saw that Dad was next to me, Mike a few feet behind him.

"Panic attack. I don't cope with my anxiety very well when I've had a day like earlier." I told him. They both nodded and he helped me up, keeping his arm around my shoulders, I was glad though. Otherwise I might've had another panic attack. We reached their mom and dad's house and a petite woman with warm brown eyes and lightish brown hair opened the door, pulling Mike and Dad each into a hug before looking at me.

"Victor, have you been feeding your daughter? She's too thin!" She scolded him, pulling me into a surprisingly strong embrace.

"Mama, yes I have been feeding her!" He laughed, making me smile at how easy his mom was to get along with. I hope Abuelo was too. I followed them inside and saw Dad being greeted by a tall Spanish man with salt and peppered hair.

"Papa, this is Lydia, my daughter." Dad pulled me forward a little and I smiled shyly at his dad before being pulled into a tight hug.

"Victor, are you sure she's eating right? She's so thin." He mused, looking from me to Dad and back.

"Yes, I'm feeding her correctly, I promise!" Dad held his hands up in surrender as the rest of us laughed. The night went pretty well. I think they like me.

Notes

For the record, I'm kinda having a hard time imagining Vic beating someone up. Like, I can see it happening but it's kind of an odd concept. Idk. Anywhore, this actually wasn't how I had this chapter planned, but I like it better.