The rest of the time we spent at the diner, I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, something that Tony seemed to be relieved about. As happy as I was though, I couldn’t help but let the worry begin to creep in once again as we were getting up to leave because now we would have to go see my father, and let’s just say that definitely wiped that smile off my face immediately. I was practically shaking by the time we got to the car.

“Alright, hand them over,” Tony instructed, holding his hand out.

“What?” I asked, giving him a confused look.

“The keys Effie, give me the keys.” He said, his face impassive.

“No,” I said, clutching the keys to my chest like a little kid who didn’t want to share their favorite toy.

“Effie,” Tony said sternly. “You can either give me the keys or I can hold you down while Mike gets the keys from you.”

Mike chuckled at that and I glared at Tony, both of us staring the other down before Tony finally sighed.

“Effie, please. Just let me drive so you can try and get some sleep. You look exhausted.” He pleaded and I sighed heavily, not being able to turn him down when he looked at me like that, as much as I wanted to.

“Fine,” I muttered, handing them over.

Tony smiled then and I headed around to the passenger side; Mike claiming the backseat as he laid down, stretching his long body as best as he could though he looked like a weird shaped pretzel by the time he was done. Tony laughed at him and I couldn’t help but smile as I tried to get comfy in the front seat, which was a rather difficult task with my bruised ribs. I wound up leaning rather uncomfortably against the window, my legs pulled up under myself, my feet dangling near the center console. I was restless though, and kept fidgeting, trying to calm my racing mind; it wasn’t until Tony reached over and rested his warm hand on my leg that I was finally able to fall into a strained slumber.

It didn’t last long though and I woke up with a gasp, jumping slightly as I straightened up, which in turn caused me to hiss in pain as I clutched my side. I adjusted myself on the seat, noticing that it was just starting to get dark out which meant I couldn’t have slept more than an hour. I heard snores coming from the back and looked back to see Mike sprawled across the backseat, one of his legs hanging over to top of the seat. I rolled my eyes as I turned around and caught Tony looking at me, his gaze on my hand that was still holding my side.

“Let me see it,” he said, turning his attention back to the road briefly before he looked back at me.

I sighed. “How long was I asleep?” I asked, hoping to sway him.

“About an hour now let me see it,” he said, not skipping a beat.

“Tony,” I argued.

“Effie, Mike said your dad beat you now just let me see it.” He said sternly.

“It’s not that bad.” I whispered.

“Effie.” he said flatly.

I sighed and leaned forward, lifting my shirt up slightly. The bruises were starting to heal, now just a pale pink but they were big and round and blotchy and compared to my pale skin they definitely looked a lot worse than what it was. I saw Tony’s jaw clench and his knuckles gripped the steering wheel tighter, the skin turning white, and I let my shirt fall back down as he turned his attention back to the road. At least he didn’t see them after the first day, I thought, just as he began to veer off toward an exit.

“What are you doing?” I questioned, knowing that this wasn’t the way we were supposed to be going.

“We’re going to stop at a motel for the night.” He answered, ignoring the way I was slightly panicking.

“But we can’t! We’re almost there!” I argued though it came out more like a whine.

“Effie, we’ve been driving all day, we’re all tired, you still look half dead and besides, we have time.” He said, his voice annoyed though it softened toward the end.

“Mike’s been sleeping; can’t he drive for a little bit?” I tried.

“I’m not driving,” Mike grumbled from the backseat.

I sighed, mentally cursing both of them with every horrible word I could think of because I knew they weren’t going to let me win this one. I crossed my arms and sulked out the window as I saw the neon sign for the motel come into closer view. Tony pulled into the parking lot, parking in a spot close to the entrance. I waited outside while the guys went and checked us in and I dug around my car, putting together a small bag with some clothes and toiletries. The guys came back out it seemed like they were having an argument of some sort but they were silent as they came closer and grabbed their own bags before I followed them to the room.

“I’m just saying, I don’t want to hear you two having sex while I’m trying to sleep,” Mike finally muttered as Tony unlocked the door and Tony sighed, and it wasn’t hard to figure out that this was what they had been arguing about before.

I just scoffed, rolling my eyes as I pushed between them, rather rudely and tossed my bag on the small couch before I picked one of the beds and just climbed right in, completely ignoring them as they had another whispered argument. I pulled the blankets around myself before I unbuttoned my jeans and shrugged them off, tossing them to the side as I tried to get comfy in the hard bed. It was a few minutes and a few slams of the bathroom door later before I felt the bed dip and I turned around, seeing Tony climbing in next to me.

“Mike’s a kicker,” he said giving me a small smile and I could tell he was nervous over how I would react to him sharing a bed with me.

I just gave him a small smile though and he seemed to relax, scooting down in the bed. He kept his distance though, something that surprised me and he leaned on his side, similar to how I was so that we were facing the other, neither of us saying anything as we looked into the others eyes. Mike must have flicked off the light because the room became dark and I sighed, scooting closer to Tony because I couldn’t handle the fact that he was so close to me after all these months, yet still so far. He laughed softly as I nuzzled myself in his chest, his arms swinging around my back and pulling me even closer to him.

“I missed you,” he whispered and I could tell in his voice that he truly meant it. “Why did you leave me?”

I sighed, closing my eyes. “It’s what I always do Tony.”

“But why?” he prodded.

“My whole life, everything that has ever been good or if there was a person who actually cared for me, they would always leave or things would fall to shit. I would hurt them and until you, Emily was the only one that I ever allowed to get that close to me. Then you came and completely turned my world around, you were the light in my world of darkness Tony. I couldn’t destroy you too. You’re too good for me, you deserve so much better than what I can give you. I don’t deserve you, I’ll only break you too.”

“You’re wrong,” he whispered and I was brought back to the day I left him, when he said those exact same words to me.

“What do you mean? You said that before too.”

“Effie, you’re not broken, you’re far from it. You say that you hurt everything you loved, that you’re a monster. But you’re not Effie, you have just as much light in you as you say I do, the only difference is that you’ve been surrounded by this darkness for so long that you can’t see it, it’s blinding you, making you see things that you shouldn’t. The only monsters here are your parents. They left you and made you believe that you weren’t good enough, that you aren’t worthy of being happy or finding love. They are the broken ones Effie, not you. I just wish you could see what I see when I look at you.”

I shook my head. “You’re wrong.” I said, repeating his words back to him.

“You just don’t get it do you?” he said with a sigh. “Effie, I love you, so much. When you left, I was so lost, I was pissed, I was upset. I tried to forget you, I honestly did and it was getting better, at least I thought I was. And then I saw you at that diner and the feelings came back right away, never having left in the first place. You say that you don’t deserve me but in all honesty, I don’t deserve you. You deserve someone who can show you exactly how much you’re worth, who can love you unconditionally and I don’t know if that’s me but I’ll tell you what, I’m going to try my damn hardest, I’m going to be selfish because I can’t lose you Effie, not again. I want you and only you. I love you.”

I was crying by the time he was done, tears silently rolling down my cheeks and I looked up at him, seeing that he spoke the truth, he honestly didn’t feel as if he deserved me. He called himself selfish for wanting me, which was exactly how I felt about him. I knew that it would take a long time for me to actually fully believe his words but lying here in his arms, I couldn’t help but think that maybe I could start and try. I leaned up, catching his lips in mine as he pulled me closer, nothing but pure love nestled in our sweet kisses.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, pulling away from him and leaning on his chest.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, it’s not your fault Effie.” He whispered back his breath rustling my hair as his hands started rubbing soothing circles on my back.

I fell asleep in his arms, still crying silently and for the first time in a long, long time I felt completely and utterly safe.

---

“Effie, Effie wake up,” I heard Tony’s voice say and I groaned softly, opening my eyes and squinting into the light. He had a small smile on his lips as he was hovered over me. “Come on baby, we’ve got to get going.” He said sadly and I suddenly remembered that today was the day I would be seeing my father again.

I sighed and got up, grabbing my bag and heading for the bathroom. Once I was done we all went outside and I waited by the car once again while the guys went in and checked out. As I was standing there, trying to keep my breathing calm I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket and I panicked. I pulled my cell phone out stiffly and I couldn’t help but let out a whimper when I saw that it was a blocked number. I answered it unwillingly, bringing the phone up to my ear and keeping my eye towards the building as I waited for Mike and Tony.

“Hello?” I answered, my voice shaky and I mentally cursed myself.

“Good morning oh sweet child of mine,” My father’s voice said, sarcastically sweet and it sent chills throughout my body. When I didn’t respond he continued, this time his voice laced with venom. “How stupid do you think I am; more importantly how stupid are you?” he sneered.

“What?” I squeaked out.

“Oh Effie, did you honestly expect me not to keep an eye on you after our little chat we had in your apartment? I needed to make sure you were going to hold up your end of the deal. So, imagine my surprise when one of my contacts calls me up to tell me that you’re on your way but you’re not alone. I swear, you just love making things easy for me; now I don’t have to go searching for Tony when you fail to make your payments, and just for kicks I’ll have some fun with his friend as well.”

I cringed and closed my eyes, fuck, I was so fucking stupid. This was a horrible mistake.

“Now listen close because I won’t repeat myself. You remember the mall in Seattle, just a few blocks down from your apartment?” he asked and then paused. “Answer me damn it!” he shouted when I didn’t respond.

“Yes, I remember,” I said, my voice stronger than before, surprising me.

“Good, I’ll be waiting there, sitting at the bench just outside of Macy’s. I expect you there no later than two and if you know what’s good for you and your precious little friends, you’ll come alone. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, I’ll be there.” I responded, my voice just as cold as his.

“Excellent, I can’t wait to see you again baby girl.” He said, that sweet sarcastic voice returning once again and then the line went dead.

I released a shaky breath just as I saw Tony and Mike coming out of the building. Tony immediately noticed the phone in my hand and walked quickly over to me.

“What is it?” he questioned his voice thick with concern.

“It was my dad, he gave us the location and time.” I said quietly beginning to pull open the car door.

“What is it?” Mike asked, climbing into the back seat as Tony walked around the front of the car to take the driver’s seat. I waited until Tony was in the car to speak.

“There’s a mall a few blocks down from my old apartment there, he said no later than two.”

“Why the mall?” Mike questioned.

I shrugged. “Lots of crowds, it will be easy for him to get lost in one to make a quick escape.” I pondered on this idea, wondering if I would be able to use the same tactic to ditch Tony and Mike.

“Where at in the mall?” Tony asked as he started the car and began to drive.

“He didn’t say, he said he’ll be keeping an eye out for me and let me know once he sees me.” I lied coolly, my old habit returning with force because neither Mike or Tony seemed to question me.

The rest of the car ride was spent in a tense and strained silence. I couldn’t stop bouncing my leg, ever after Tony reached over and grabbed my knee, this time his touch wasn’t as calming as it had been last night. I spent the whole ride trying to figure out how I could make them just drop me off, and then drive off, but by the way Tony was gripping my knee I had a feeling that it would be a useless battle. Especially when we arrived at the mall and he immediately pulled into a parking spot and began getting out.

“What are you doing?” I practically yelled when I saw him and Mike getting out. “You said you wouldn’t get out of the car.”

“That was before I knew it would be in a mall; I can’t keep an eye on you from out here.” Tony said nonchalantly, as if this were no big deal.

“Tony, you promised!” I argued, panicking even more than before.

“I also promised to keep you safe, I would rather break the other promise than this one.” He argued and I just huffed, stomping toward the back of the jeep.

I popped open the jeep and began to put all the money I had together in one of my small duffle bags that wouldn’t be too noticeable or suspicious.

“I still don’t see why we came today, if you can get the money from the settlement.” Mike said as I shut the back door, beginning to make my way up the mall entrance.

“Because, I’ll need to prove to the judiciary office that I am in fact Effie Harper, and I haven’t been Effie Harper for a long, long time. I don’t have any way to prove that I am so I’ll need my dad to get my birth certificate and shit.” I muttered harshly, my nerves getting to me.

“What if he doesn’t have any of that?” Tony asked as he walked up beside me, taking my free hand in his and despite the comfort it brought me, it still made me anxious because I had a feeling he wouldn’t be letting go of it, making getting away from him that much harder.

“Then that’s his own fucking problem.” I spat; I didn’t care if I ever saw that money, I just wanted to make sure that Tony would be safe.

The rest of the dreaded walk was silent as we made our way to the entrance. Mike pulled open the door and allowed us to go first before he followed. We walked around aimlessly for a few minutes, the guys believing that we were giving my dad a chance to spot me. With each passing moment my anxieties grew because I needed to get away from Tony, and fast. We were just walking past a Hot Topic when Tony began to speak up.

“Has your dad-” he began to say before he was caught off by a squeal.

“Oh my God! It’s Mike and Tony!”

We all froze and I looked up to see a group of teenage girls practically bouncing in the air, staring over at us with wide eyes. Before I even realized what was happening the girls quickly surrounded us and began shouting things at Mike and Tony, asking for pictures. Tony’s hand slipped out of mine and I took a step back. I had no idea what was happening here but I decided to take my chance while I could. I took another step back and just as I saw a large group of people walking past I quickly ducked in between them, just hoping that Mike and Tony had been too preoccupied to see me.

I quickly gathered my bearings and glanced around quickly until I saw the Macy’s sign. I took a deep breath and began to make my way over there, clutching the bag on my shoulders for dear life while my heart was practically beating out of my chest.

Notes

ahh, omg, I'm hoping I didn't mess this up too royally and I left @Lost in Neverland a decent spot to lead off because I had such horrible writer's block when trying to write this so with that being said, sorry if this is awful again...eep idk but anyways, your guys feedback is so amazing, thank you for sticking this out with us because I love how this story has turned out so far so please keep the sweet comments coming and thank you for reading!! <3