Adopted by Falsettos

Chapter 37

I turned towards the open window, wondering was was going on. Should I wake up Andrew? What should I do?

I turned the doorknob and was about to go to Andrew's room when I saw a hand on the windowsill and jumped back.

"HOLY FALSETTOLAND!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, about to run to the bathroom and hide. I settled for kneeling down with my back against the door instead.

"Josie..." I heard. I knew that voice.

That was Mama's voice.

"Mama?" I asked softly, turning on a lamp. Sure enough, Stephanie's face appeared in the light, her hair matted and tangled and a fresh bruise forming on her arm.

"WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU?" I asked, tears forming in my eyes. It's bad enough that whoever did it, whether it be Samantha or Martin or someone else entirely, took my mama and daddy away from me, but to hurt them? That was crossing a line.

Stephanie walked over to me and sat me in her lap as I started sobbing.

"Shh, shh, sweetie. It's okay. I'm here. I'm home and I'm safe and I'm perfectly fine." I looked up at my mama and tearfully nodded, and she kissed my nose and ruffled my hair a little bit. "I missed you, sweet girl."

"Mama..." I said. It was all I could think of saying. "W-where did the b-bruise come f-from?" I stuttered. Stephanie smiled and said, "Let's just say I had a little fall escaping Samantha's apartment."

"So it was Samantha..." I said. Stephanie sadly nodded and hugged me tighter. "I thought she was in jail, though. If she e-escaped that m-means...she may have c-custody of me a-again."

"Sweetheart..."

"Mama..." I said, fresh tears forming. I threw my arms around my mama and sobbed into her chest. I felt myself starting to panic, this whole thing was taking me right back to Samantha and all of that stuff.

Stephanie seemed to notice and held me closer to her chest. "Baby, baby, Josie, baby. Breathe. Deep breaths, okay? Just listen to my heartbeat. You're okay, I'm here now, you're safe...just take a deep breath...good girl. That's it...you're good...just breathe, okay?" Stephanie started humming to me and the vibrations on her chest made me calm down and lulled me to sleep.

"Sweet dreams baby-" Stephanie started to say, turning off the lamp, but was cut off by a thump coming from the window. I shot awake and Stephanie turned on the lamp again.

"I'm okay..." came Brandon's weak voice from the floor. I gasped.

"DADDY!" I cheered, getting up to hug him. Brandon hugged me tightly and I sat in his lap.

"Oh my God! Josie! I missed you so much, kiddo." Brandon said, rocking me back and forth in his lap. I looked into his eyes and he said, "How are you, Jo-Jo?"

"Good." I said softly. I was really tired. I haven't gotten any sleep this whole night. Stephanie smiled and said, "Why don't we tell your Uncle Andy the good news, and then you can fall asleep watching a movie with us? Doesn't that sound fun?" I nodded and then realized my stomach was hurting. Bad.

"Mama?" I asked, clutching my stomach. Stephanie turned to me and said, "What's wrong, baby? Does your tummy hurt?" I nodded and started crying.

"It's fine, it's probably stress or this nasty bug that's going around at dance." I said.

"How long has it been hurting for?" Stephanie inquired. I sighed and said, "A week-two weeks. I've just been not feeling well since then. It's mostly the nausea though."

"Josie, do you think I should take you to the doctor in the morning?" Mama asked. I nodded and then said, "Sure, but I'm just gonna sleep it off for tonight."

Stephanie nodded and let me lay my head in her lap, and I laid my legs in Brandon's lap.

"Sweet dreams, baby girl."

AN: So you got fluff. Not for long, though. Hope you enjoyed! Catch ya later!