Chapter 6

I slowly opened my eyes seeing Rose's sleeping face, this time I didn't hit her. I slid out of bed and got dressed thinking about what happened last night after the shower.

All that I know was that it was way more than cuddles, I smirked as I wrote her a note of what I was doing in the case that she woke up before I returned. Before I left, I slid on my crocs grabbed the card that had my name on it, and headed outside

"Morning Sammy," an elderly voice said once I stepped outside

I smiled, "Morning Mrs. Parker," I said to my old neighbor, "how are you doing this morning?"

She grinned as I approached her sitting at the pond, "I'm doing very well, glad you asked," she answered as I watched her spread breadcrumbs on the water. "Word went around pretty quickly about that night," she began, "I'm proud of you."

I looked at her, "You are," I began, "why?"

"Whenever you were in meetings with that gang your father spoke to me how worried he was about you," she began once more tossing breadcrumbs into the water. I was content on watching for the fish, "He was talking about how you won't know how to defend yourself when the time came and that you would one day get hurt. You did get hurt but once you healed you were ready to kick some butt," she finished causing me to laugh

"As you know Mrs. Parker," I began, "it is pretty hard to keep an Edwards down," I paused looking up at her. "Thank you for telling me that," I began again, "it means so much to me."

"Glad to help you, Sammy," she said with a grin, "take care," she added before tossing another handful of breadcrumbs to the water

"You too," I said with a smile before heading to the nearest podium and placing my card on it. "Please lead me to the hospital," I said then watched in awe as the lights lit up underneath the pond and on the sidewalk. Then I started walking on the bridge admiring the view. Once over the bridge, I followed the sidewalk lights to the towering building in front. I made my way inside and went straight to the receptionist, "Hi, could you please tell me where Vanessa Miranda and Sebastian Miranda are?"

"Of course," she said with a smile before taking a piece of paper off the desk writing on it before handing it to me. "I put the initials of the respective patients in front of their room numbers. For Sebastian, he's in a room with other children so I put a bed number after the room number. After you're done visiting could you please visit your father's office?"

I arched an eyebrow, "Um yeah," I began, "could you please hand me a separate piece of paper with his room number. I was told that he couldn't be saved," I said

Before answering she nodded taking another piece of paper and talking while writing down the room number of my late father. "He had some things for you before he died," she began, "many of the doctors and nurses here worked with him at one point or another and wanted to gather everything up for you in the case that you may come here."

I took the paper thanking the receptionist before making my way to the children's ward. It didn't take me long to find it, I chuckled as I remembered my father exclaiming that I could find myself in any room in a hospital helping whoever was in there male or female

"Hey there Sebster," I said to the boy who was in a bed that was way bigger than his little body. "How are you feeling," I asked as I brushed some of his hair out of his face

"A little better," he said, "I want to see mommy and daddy though."

I frowned a little at the thought of Vanessa, "Mommy will take a while to be able to move around to see you but I'll make sure daddy sees you soon. Who knows there may be a surprise visitor would you like that?"

"Yeah," he said with a smile, "who is it?"

I smiled, "I'll come in with them but you have to be treating the nurses and doctors right, or else you'll have to wait to see this person until you are out got it, mister?"

"Yes ma'am," he said with a grin causing me to chuckle

"Get some rest little one," I began, "you'll need it."

After I left I headed straight to the ICU stopping a little before Vanessa's room seeing her asleep. "You can still go in and see her, you know that right," a voice asked me and I turned to see Becca, one of the nurses that my father enjoyed working with. "She's only resting her eyes, she said that she does that sometimes when there isn't much to do."

I smiled, "Thanks Becca," I said before turning on my heel gently knocking on the door before sitting next to her. "Hey Mom," I said softly as she turned her head to look at me, "how are you feeling?"

"Better knowing that everyone is okay," she said causing a smile to tug at my lips, "you're feeling guilty about this aren't you?"

I shrugged, "A little bit but I haven't really talked to anyone about it aside from one because," I paused

"Because why?"

I shook my head, "They're looking for me," I began once more, "people got hurt because of me, people died because of me, and I was the cause for almost more people dying. Why should I not feel guilty," I asked, "I put everyone in danger and now the show is paused for something I had to take care of."

By this time, I was crying but I felt a hand on my shoulder, "I know that's why you feel guilty Mija," Lin's voice began. "But you can never control what happens you can only prepare for it. Good or bad things will happen and we'll prepare for it as well as support each other through it."

I smiled through the tears, "Thanks dad," I began, "excuse me, I was told that I need to make a stop before I left."

"Where to," Lin asked as I stood up

"Apparently my father's previous coworkers got an office for my father who said that he had something to give me after school," I explained and Lin nodded

"Go ahead, I think the sooner you return to your room the less someone will panic that everything was a fever dream," he said causing me to chuckle

"Just be sure to leave it a surprise for Seb," I began, "I'd appreciate it if you left it a surprise for your wife but you are married to each other so I don't really care what you do."

Lin smiled, "She probably wouldn't believe me when I told her so I'll save the surprise just as you saved it for us."

"Just make sure she doesn't spit coffee in anyone's face dad," I said earning a glare from him

"Cass said it was okay," he muttered causing me to laugh

"You can at least inform her of the two lovebirds being here though," I said after I laughed. "I'll see you two later," I said before walking out of the hospital room and looking at the room number that the receptionist gave to me. "Third floor," I muttered as I found my way to an elevator and waited

"Samantha," a voice called causing me to flinch, "oh my apologies I forgot your father told me that you'd rather not be called by your full name."

I turned to find Kyle, a student doctor when my father was alive, standing next to me waiting for the elevator. "Kyle," I began with a smile, I never personally met him but my father spoke highly of him. "Did you succeed in school," I asked and he smiled

"Passed with flying colors," he answered with a smile, "where are you heading?"

"Third floor," I answered, "you?"

"Same place, going to his office," he asked as I assumed he was referring to my father

I nodded, "Yeah," I began, "I was told there was something for me there, I vaguely remember him saying that he had something to give me after school. That obviously never happened considering," I let the sentence hang as the elevator arrived, "do I need the card for this?"

"For the office floor yes you do," he began, "there is also one that you will need if you wish to visit criminal patients."

"There's a prison here," I asked as I hovered my card over the floor panel pressing the three breathing a sigh of relief once the light flashed green

"Yeah," he said, "but there aren't many people in there since people only aim for peace."

"Are we going to the same floor," I asked and he nodded, "good to know that everyone is aiming for a similar goal here."

"That's why people usually agree to come here," he said just as the door opened, "ladies first," he said with a nod causing me to smile

"Thanks for the talk," I began, "it was nice to finally meet you my father always spoke highly of you."

Kyle smile, "Thanks Sammy," he began, "his office should be on the left take care of yourself okay?"

"Thanks, you too," I replied as I watched him go down the hall, "time to see what dad left me," I said with a huff before I marched down the hall looking at each room for his office. "There you are," I muttered as I stood in front of the door

"Want some company," a voice said from behind once more.

"Rosy," I whispered in a slight yell, "what are you doing here?"

"I know how it is dealing with what loved ones left after they died," she began, "I'm here to help."

I smiled, "I hope you didn't ruin the surprise for Seb and Vanessa," I said as I went to open the door and promptly ran into it, "does this need the card too?"

I glanced over at Rose who was staring in shock at something around my neck, after I called her name she shook her head and replied. "Yeah," she began, "you do," she added. "I thought I was dreaming when I saw those necklaces last night but now it shows that I'm not."

My hand went instinctively to the pendant and the locket, "I'm not exactly ready to take these off for good yet," I said with a shy smile. "The memory of your death still hurts a little," I said and watched her eyes fill with worry

"How close were you to healing," she asked me as I waved the card in front of the handle

I bit my lip, "When the attack happened," I began, "I went with your mother and Jazzy to Pippa's to help get Amy's room ready," I paused. "I was going to go with them to pick up Amy so I could talk to the director and work on telling your story."

"You would've told my story," Rose asked dumbfounded

I smiled shyly once more, "Yeah," I began, "Pippa took me aside before I helped carry boxes out. She asked how I was feeling and suggested that I do that even if some of it may scare the children. The cruelty you went through isn't something that should be hidden from view, the more people who know the better the foster system will be."

Rose smiled, "I guess that would be true for that last so then," she began, "you'd be the Eliza of my story," she paused and I chuckled at the irony of it, "what is it?"

"You were Pippa's understudy, were you not?"

Rose laughed as I slowly opened the door, "I guess you're my understudy," she added causing me to laugh but then I gasped as I saw the pile of things in the office

"What is this," I asked stunned as I made my way through to the desk, "I was told a few things not a whole office full of items."

Rose chuckled, "I'll help you go through everything," she said as I watched her go through the path that I made

I smiled, "Thanks Rosy," I began then looked at the desk, "what's this?"

I grabbed a little blue-grey box that had a little light orange bow on top, a letter sat in front of it with my nickname written in my father's handwriting. Hesitantly, I put the box down and grabbed the letter opening it slowly, "Remember that I am here if you need me," Rose said from behind as I looked back at her and smiled

"You bet I will Rosy," I said before I finished opening the envelope and taking out the letter. I took in a breath as I unfolded it, nothing good ever came out of letters to me and I prepared myself for insults from someone

'To my dearest Sammy,

I have known that times have been tough for you and I am sorry about that

I apologize that you had to go through all of what that gang had put you through, I don't know if they are done trying to get you back but I have someone helping out. She's on the inside and she speaks of a group whose plan is to maintain peace and help people who have been forced into a place in life they don't want to be in. This is something I wanted to talk to you about in person but I fear that time may not come.

The point that I wanted to make in this letter is that your mother and I love you, we want you to be safe and if your brother could write he would probably say the same thing if not something similar. Do what you want to in your life you have an amazing group of friends and a second family. If you want to go after that crush you told me you had on that girl from that show you caught then go ahead. No one is going to stop you from being you there will most likely be some obstacles in your way but you will get through them. If the E-Team ever goes after you and the family you made I am certain that my friends will help you get to that safe place.

I want you to remember that you are never responsible for what the E-Team does, just because you were a part of that gang does not mean that you will ever be responsible for the pain that they cause when they're looking for us. I want you to live your life no matter the cost, your mother and I want you to live it guilt-free whether it be telling your story or someone else's you should live your life and keep living it no matter what obstacles you face.

We will always be with you no matter the path you take

Yours Truly,

The Edwards Family'

Tears streamed down my face as I slowly sank into the chair grabbing the box in shaking hands. Slowly I pulled at the ribbon which fell onto the desk without a sound. Unlike my original thought the box wasn't wrapped it was a simple box that one would mistake for jewelry, food, or some sort of pet. I took in a breath before I lifted the lid and looked inside. Nestled in the bottom of the box was a pendent, it was like the one I currently had on but it had images engraved into it. I took it out of the box and looked at it before breaking down and crying

"What is it," Rose asked as the pendant fell from my hand

"The pendant has pictures of our memories together," I began, "from when I was born to when I left for my first day at school there."

"I think it also has me in this as well," Rose said as I craned my neck to look, "didn't I meet your parents at one point?"

There she stood, engraved into the stone, if she wasn't here I probably would have gotten lost in my thoughts and broke down even more. "Yeah," I began remembering when she walked through the doors of my parents' home. She was beet red and I wasn't paying much attention to it as I was packing my bag since Lin had invited me to spend the night at the theater and I had asked her to come with me since I didn't feel safe. "My father was crowding around you looking at your prosthetics to see if everything was working correctly and checking to see if you were healthy."

"Was there a reason behind this," she asked as she turned the pendant in her hand, "you look adorable in this one."

I looked to see her pointing at me around age ten learning how to ride a bike, I was pouting because I had fallen off once again and my father had urged me to keep going. "There is," I began, "they were making sure you were right for me because you weren't the only one who was a little red there."

"Well, that's something to take note of," Rose said, "come on let's organize these things then we can hang out."

"You got it," I said before moving to grab things and open them, preparing myself for more crying

Cassidy's P.O.V

"What do you think," Maria asked me causing me to be snapped out of my thoughts

"What?"

"About Rose and Sammy being back together," Maria began, "I have a feeling that Sammy is still a little mad about it but she'll get over it."

I shrugged, "I would understand her being mad," I began, "remember how irritated Rose was when she woke up here," I shivered as I remembered my best friend trying to climb out of the bed with no prosthetics and a broken leg. "I can imagine Sammy is that angry but she is hiding it well."

"I think she still needs time to process it," Maria said as she looked out towards the sky

It still confused me how some parts of this place were underground while others were above ground but yet all of this was still secretive. "How so," I asked as I swung my feet from the ledge we were sitting on

"She had a month to process and heal through Rose's death," Maria began, "she was just starting to get better when we saw her and now she's faced with this," she looked at me, "how would you feel?"

I thought for a minute before tearing my gaze from the setting sun to looking at somebody that has more beauty. "You have a point," I began then narrowed my gaze, "what are you thinking?"

"Giving time for Sammy to process and giving Rose the time to talk to you," she began causing me to arch an eyebrow. "Also, the time for me to physically know my pen pal," she added causing me to chuckle

"Why did you phrase the last part like that though," I asked

"When was the last time you two talked," Maria asked and I shrugged, "I understand why she doesn't talk to me much since we don't have many similarities and sometimes there isn't much to talk about but you two," she paused. "You two have some sort of connection, you always have something to talk about but I'm getting this vibe from her."

"Like she's hiding something from us," I asked knowing the feeling all too well

"Yes," Maria began snapping her fingers, "I have a feeling she needs to talk about something that she's not ready to talk to Sammy about."

"She probably feels like I'm the best person for her to talk to," I began as I continued to watch her, the sun making her strawberry blonde hair glow red. "I believe there may be something that Sammy needs to process as well."

"Why do you think that," Maria asked as her eyes met mine

"I was talking to her former gang buddy," I began, "what was her name again, Sally?"

"Stacy," Maria corrected and I nodded

"Thanks," I said, "anywho," I began once more, "I was talking to her and she was telling me how her father wanted to give Sammy something after school the day that her family got into that car crash. That gift is in the hospital with a letter. I had found out that what her father was going to talk to Sammy about would be this place."

"Wait her parents knew about this but they didn't come here," Maria asked pushed herself up so she was standing on the ledge

"Apparently," I began, "but they were adamant on not going until they confirmed whether or not Sammy wanted to go which is understandable."

"How," Maria began as she offered her hand, "if they were even a little quicker about it they would still be alive."

"How much of a normal life did Sammy have before the gang," I asked, "did she ever tell you that?"

"No."

"Sammy's father was one of the best doctors in this state," I began, "everyone was trying to get him on their side so her family had to keep moving. The moving stopped once Nic had roped her into the gang, E-Team got the best doctor while getting another member."

"She never had a normal life?"

I nodded, "She trusted telling me because of how I talked about things that Rose did once she lost her parents," I began again. "She needed some solace in knowing that she wasn't the only one who didn't have much of a normal life," I looked at my girlfriend. "If we had a child that was put in that place would you give them even the smallest chance at normalcy?"

Maria pressed her lips into a line as I took her hand and stood up, "I guess I would," she began, "moving around isn't as fun as some people make it out to be. I would know that even from the one time I moved to a different state."

I nodded opening my mouth before a yell stopped me, "Stacy," the voice yelled

"Sammy please stop running," Rose's voice yelled as we looked to see the two running to one of the many buildings Sammy's stride in more anger than urgency. Rose was desperately trying to catch up with her with the prosthetics but her limb slowed her down

All in all, it was pretty amusing to see the two chasing after someone to the point that Maria and I started giggling

"When was she told that she could walk without the cane," Maria asked after we finished

"The doctor pulled her aside after Sammy ran," I began, "I'm guessing he told her that she didn't need the cane or any support."

"I'd say we hang out with them in a week," Maria suggested, "I'd like to stay with you openly for a little while."

"I'll take that," I said before leaning in to kiss her, "Let's go home and spend that time together."