Daddy Issues || Eminem ||

|| II || Elizabeth ||

"Lizzy."

I sat up quickly, thinking there was something wrong with Danny or Elle.. I looked to my right, noticing my siblings were standing there. Colt was holding TJ in his arms. I looked over their faces, noticing they were hungry again. We barely ate anything last night because my mother decided to throw our food away. I glanced at my phone, noticing it was eight-thirty in the morning, meaning my siblings were hungry. Yes, Colt can cook, however, he prefers my cooking over his. Same with my other siblings; they like my cooking better than Colt's cooking.

I climbed out of the bed, sitting up with my eyes on my siblings. I gave them a smile right when TJ yelled in excitement, "Lz-Iz!" I stood up, taking TJ into my arms. TJ gripped my black t-shirt once he was in my arms and lay his head on my shoulder. I glanced over at my siblings, smiling at them. I walk past Danny and Colt, heading out of the door. I heard them following, which I don't mind. Since our mother doesn't take care of any of my siblings, I was forced to become their parent. I wasn't going to leave my siblings alone with our mom. In their eyes, I am their Mother.

I headed towards the kitchen, remembering where it was thought this was my first morning in my new home. I gave Colt our two year old brother before stepping towards the counter, planning on just making breakfast for my siblings and maybe me. I don't eat much. I make sure my siblings eat as much as they can even if I have to skip meals (my last meal was three days ago). Before I could even make breakfast for my siblings, I heard a male voice say calmly, "You don't have to do that."

Jumping in fear, I quickly turned around to see Marshall "Eminem" Mathers stepping into the kitchen. Danny and Elle ran behind me, gripping my shirt while Colt was standing a few feet away from me. It wasn't just me feeling fear towards the rapper; my siblings were afraid of our new step-dad. I'm guessing he saw the fear in our eyes since the next thing he told us was, "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not a sick mother fucker that hurts children. I would like to apologize for last night. I know I scared all of you after I shouted at your mother. I knew Cassie had children, but I wasn't expecting her to have five kids. For some time now, I wanted to meet you, children. But your mom didn't want that. And I still don't know why. To welcome you into my home, let me make breakfast for you."

I narrowed my eyes on him. I do not trust him. I didn't want him coming near my siblings or me or making us food. I have been cooking since I was four years old. How would I know he won't turn into my mom's exs, leaving us or abusing us?

"Em-" I started, having him cut me off by saying, "Call me Marshall. All of you can. You are my step-children."

"Marshall. I don't trust you. I don't trust anyone near my siblings. I don't want you making us food when I can do it for them. I don't understand why you are trying to be nice to us. Leave us alone and we will leave you alone. If you are trying to understand us, don't! I don't think you know how bad it's been for us! Do you know how it feels to have a drug addict mother?!"

I immediately regret saying that since I saw no emotions in his eyes. I swallowed gently, praying quickly my step-dad doesn't lay a hand on me for speaking my mind. I stepped back, turning to Danny and Elle. I point with my head towards Colt before heading back to the counter to make breakfast for my siblings. But I didn't get far when I felt a presence near me and I immediately knew it wasn't my siblings. Again, I swallowed gently, looking into the hazel eyes of Marshall Mathers.

"Please don't be afraid of me. I will never ever hurt a child. I think we all should sit down and talk. You think I don't understand what you're going through, but I do. Since you're my step-children, I'm going to make sure all of you are taken care of. I promise."

"Okay," I replied in a soft tone, "But you will speak in front of my siblings. I don't trust my own mother around my siblings after . . . . I just don't trust my mom. Right now, I need to make breakfast for my siblings. They didn't eat much last night."

Marshall shook his head, pushing me away from the counter, "I know you're seventeen, but in my opinion, no older siblings should be raising their younger siblings. You know what, let me finish breakfast and I will call you back when I'm done. And you don't have to worry about your mother. Cassie left last night after our argument. When we do talk, I want you to tell me the truth about everything. I know your life isn't great, but that doesn't mean it won't get better. I am going to be here for you and your siblings."

I felt something I haven't felt before: Hope. Someone was going to care for my siblings and me. Admittedly, I always wanted my mom to love us and care for us, but she never did. Not wanting to get my hopes up, I quickly shook my head. I'm not going to believe it until I see it myself. No one cares for me and no one will.

// SKIP \\

After breakfast, I was sitting in the family room with my siblings. TJ was sitting in my lap, playing with my fingers. The twins were sitting next to me, hiding their faces in my arms. Colt was sitting on the arm of the couch with his hand on Danny's shoulder. We (bar TJ) were staring at Marshall, who was sitting in a chair in front of us. None of us said a word until Marshall said, "Tell me about yourself, Elizabeth."

"First off, please don't call me by my full name. I'm not a fan of my name. My mom calls me Beth, the twins call me Liz, Colt calls me Lizzy, and TJ calls me Iz-Iz. Anyway, as you know, my name is Elizabeth Josephine Bryan. Yes, I know a mouth full. I don't know what my mom was thinking when she named me. I'm seventeen years old. I know this is illegal, but I haven't been in school since TJ has been born. I have been raising my siblings since they need someone to care for them. My siblings are more important than school."

I watched as Marshall kept his eyes on me before asking, "What does TJ stand for?"

"You might not believe me, but TJ was named after Tim McGraw. My mom blackmailed the country singer to have sex with her two years ago and he did so she didn't hurt his family. No one knows about Samuel Timothy McGraw Jr. Well, I don't think anyone knows since Mr. McGraw hasn't taken his son from us."

Marshall glanced away from me. I knew I shouldn't say that, but my step-father wanted the truth and though I don't trust him, I couldn't lie to Marshall Mathers for some odd reason.

"I'm guessing Elle and Danny are short for something," the rapper said, glancing back over at us.

I looked down at the twins, who were looking up at me. I smiled down at them, nodding my head. It was Danny who replied to the sentence, "My name is Daniel Christian Taylor. Elle's full name is Danielle Christina Taylor. We are ten years old."

I thought my brother was going to say more, but I don't blame him since I know he's afraid of our step-father. I smiled again at him, thinking he was brave before looking over at Colt. I nodded towards him when I noticed he was staring at me. He glanced at Marshall, saying coldly, "My name is Colten Atticus Shelton. I'm fifteen."

Just like Danny, Colt didn't say much. I don't blame him either since we barely know anything about Marshall. I looked back at my step-father, noticing a frown on his face, "Four baby daddies?"

"Yep!" I popped the 'p,' "Mom was even dating someone when she was dating you. She left him when you two got married. I don't think she would have left the other guy if you two didn't get married. And I believe she's trying to have another kid that she won't take care of. Are we done here?"

The frown stayed on Marshall's face when he nodded slowly. I kept my eyes on Marshall before I stood up with TJ still in my arms. I gave a nod towards the rapper before walking out of the family room with my siblings following me.

"Liz, what do you think Marshall will do to us?" Elle asked, holding onto Colt's hand. I stopped, looking down at her, "Nothing I won't allow. I promise you that I will always protect you and our siblings. No one will ever put their hands on your kids again. I love you all."

"I love you too, Liz/Lizzy," Colt and the twins said warmly, having TJ shout happily, "Vv oo!" I chuckled softly, placing a kiss on TJ's cheek, "I love you too, TJ."

Now, I hope Marshall isn't planning anything bad towards us because I will beat his ass for thinking he could harm us. But what if he's trying to help? a voice in the back of my mind asked.