You Are My Sunshine (Marcus Pike)

Chapter 11

Willow took a deep breath and walked into Marcus' office.

"Willow?"

She handed him a new case file. "It's in Vegas."

Marcus flipped through it and finally closed it. "Thank you, Willow." Marcus went back to work, but Willow kept standing in front of his desk. "Is there something wrong, sweetheart?"

"I...I was wondering if I could come along this time? My mother lives in Vegas and I...I haven't seen her in a while."

Spencer saw her more than Willow did, but Spencer wrote her letters every day. Willow knew her mother loved her, but sometimes it seemed like she preferred Spencer because of his intellect. Yet another instance of her being pushed off to the side for Spencer.

"Of course, Willow."

Willow smiled. "Thank you, Marcus."

Willow left his office and it didn't take a profiler to tell that she was nervous. Sometimes she felt guilty about not visiting her mother or calling as often as Spencer did.

After Spencer had her committed at the age of 18, Spencer became her legal guardian. He'd uprooted her life in Vegas to move to DC to go to the FBI academy. Since then, it'd just been her and Spencer against the world.

Until now. Now she had someone else in her corner. Someone who let her be herself without any fear of judgement.

Marcus.

The case wrapped a lot quicker than Willow thought it would and soon the day came. The day that Marcus would get to see another part of her fucked-up life.

"Would you mind going with me?" Willow asked.

"To meet your mother?"

Willow nodded.

"I'd be honored to meet the woman who gave birth to...to everyone's Sunshine."

They got in the car and Marcus asked for directions.

Willow stared down at her hands. "She lives in Bennington Sanitarium."

Marcus could tell she was nervous, so he reached over and grabbed one of her hands in his as he drove. When they pulled up to the building, Willow hesitated getting out of the car.

"You okay?" Marcus asked her.

Willow nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I just...I just need a moment." Finally, Willow got out of the car and they went inside.

"Hello! How can I help you today?" the receptionist asked.

"I'm here to see Diana Reid. I'm...I'm her daughter Willow."

The receptionist checked her records and said, "Ah, here you are. If you'll wait over there, an orderly will come and get you."

Willow and Marcus stepped off to the side to wait. Marcus ran a hand up and down Willow's arm to try to calm her.

An orderly came through the doors and gestured for Willow and Marcus to follow him.

"How...how is she today? Is she having a good day?" Willow asked.

"She's been quiet today. She hasn't really spoken at all."

Willow nodded, not sure if that was a good sign or a bad one.

They entered the day room and Diana was in her usual spot by the bookshelves.

Willow carefully approached her. "Hi mom."

Marcus hung back, watching the interaction between mother and daughter.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Diana asked.

"Mom, it's me, Willow. Your daughter." The next words shattered Willow's heart.

"Daughter? I think you're mistaken, young lady. I only have a son."

Marcus watched as Willow folded in on herself.

"Oh, my mistake. I'm sorry." Willow brushed past him, practically running back to the car. She pulled on the door handle.

"Willow..." Marcus said.

"Open the door, Marcus."

"Willow, I'm sure..."

Willow continued to pull on the door handle, becoming more and more hysterical. "Open the door!"

"Sunshine..." Willow broke.

Her knees hit the pavement as she started crying.

How did Spencer do this? How could he sit there and pretend like he wasn't her son? She just wanted to talk to her mom about the cruel words Spencer had said to her. She wanted her mom to hold her and tell her everything would be alright. Willow felt so alone.

Marcus knelt down next to her. "Oh, sweetheart. Come here."

She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed into his t-shirt. What had she done to deserve this? What god had she pissed off that they felt like they needed to completely wreck her life?

"It's not fair!" Willow cried, "Why is this happening to me!"

"I don't know, Willow. I'm so sorry. If I could make everything better I would."

Marcus eventually managed to get Willow back in the car and he drove them back to the hotel. He helped her into bed and wrapped his arms around her. "Go to sleep, sweetheart. I'll be here when you wake up."

"Don't leave me. Please don't leave me." Willow knew she sounded like a frightened little girl. Marcus softly kissed her temple.

"I'm not going anywhere."