All I Need

Chapter Fourteen

Karlie's P.O.V

It's strange being back in L.A the weather is warmer, traffic is more hectic and the kids seem to be out of sorts. Which is common when someone they love passes on but despite that I'm constantly worried about Taylor, true to my word I haven't spoken to nor seen Cara since we have been back and that isn't about to change anytime soon but I am worried that Taylor isn't going back to her old self. She hardly ever goes out and if she does it's for a short walk around our neighbourhood for twenty minutes max before she is back locked inside for another week and it's beginning to take a toll on us. Due to Taylor essentially being out of commission I am feeling like a single parent, Ryan and Allie are great and will manage themselves but Flynn and baby Becca still require a lot of hands on physical activities and by the time its bedtime everyone is exhausted. I've never really had to do the household things like grocery shop, do washing or drop the kids off at their various activities or at school and it's a lot harder than I used to give Taylor credit for. The one thing she always manages to do is cook dinner or make the lunches for school which is a bonus because I'd be lost doing it but she still isn't functioning like a normal person and that is what worries me. She is like a ghost.

Taylor's P.O.V

'I don't know what to do, what I'm feeling is so dark and awful that I just don't know what to do anymore. I feel like I'm standing on a ledge and I can either crawl backwards to the safety of my family or I can fall. Nothing is making sense and I don't know how much longer I can go through the motions. It's been a month since mom passed and I have tried to call Austin but he isn't interested, he never calls back. Dad is apparently busy and he plays golf now and I feel so alone. I know that I could talk to Karlie or any of my friends but I feel like friends won't understand and Karlie is under so much pressure picking up my slack, I know she doesn't mind but I know it's affecting her. I spend next to no time with any of my kids or even Karlie. We no longer sit on the couch at night watching old re-runs of Friends which had been our go-to when Allie was a baby and I miss it, but at the same time I am aware that I am the cause of it. Maybe I should make things easier and just leave.'

I stare at the words on the page and crumple the paper up. 'What the hell are you thinking Taylor?' I question myself as I look around the dark living room that is lit only by the lamp by the TV and all I see are the pictures of a life Karlie and I have built together, through good times and bad we have survived and now in the face of death I can feel our ground becoming worse by the day. I'm about to go back upstairs when Becca appears at the doorway of the lounge. My heart nearly leaps out of my chest, "Becca baby, why are you up?" I question looking at her. She looks at the ground and then looks me in the eye. "I fougt you'd be lonely mommy." I look at her and feel my heart break. Walking over to her I drop in front of her and pick up her face carefully so she is looking at me. "Mommy's okay sweetie." I say kissing her cheeks. She puts her hands on my shoulders and then hugs me. I sit down on the floor and she pushes herself into my arms and latches onto me. "Please don't leave me mommy." My heart lurches and all of a sudden I feel a burning sensation and when I reach up I notice that my hands are wet. 'I'm crying' I realise as I hug Becca tighter, probably tighter than you should hug a four year old but she snuggles in closer. I move her back from me and stand up and pick her up and carry her back upstairs, she falls asleep halfway and I discover her blanket and pillow at the top of the stairs so she was probably sitting there for a while until she came down. I carry her to her bed and place her in it. Kissing her forehead I watch as she snuggles back in. I stand and watch her for a while with tears streaming down my face and then I move on to check everyone else. Flynn is dead asleep with his pyjamas all rumpled and his duvet off the bed, I replace it and kiss his cheek and then watch as he smiles before I move onto Allie who is sound asleep, I watch her from the doorway and am about to leave when she speaks. "Mom?" I turn back and walk over to her. Stroking her hair back from her face. "Yeah Allie-gator?" She says nothing except sits up and hugs me tight. I do nothing except kiss her head and hug her too. "I love you mom, I missed you." I pull back and look at her. "I love you too, I just got lost for a while but I'm back." She nods and cuddles down as I tuck her in like I did when she was child. Walking out the door I turn and check her and she is asleep again. Standing outside Ryan's door I contemplate leaving him but then I decide not to, walking in I am shocked to see his room neat and he is asleep with a t-shirt on and his duvet pulled right up. I walk over and make sure he is fully covered and then I place a kiss on his forehead, despite him being 'a big kid' I know he would appreciate it if he was awake. I leave quietly and make my way back to Karlie who is sleeping in our bed. The cats are in the bathroom on the heated floor and I smile and make my way to Karlie's side of the bed.

Sitting next to her I gently poke her until she wakes up, her sleepy face is something that has always made me go weak at the knees. However when she sees me sitting there she sits up and searches my face, bringing her hands to my face. "Are you okay baby?" I nod as she wipes the tears away. "You finally cried huh?" she questions me. I nod and pull back the blankets to get in with her which she lets me. "Becca made me," she looks at me questioningly. "All my life I've had a tough shell, it started in middle school when I had no friends and it's just continued right through my life. All the guys I dated who dumped me for someone better or who left me because it was too much but all that time you stayed and at the time I remember thinking and wondering when it would all end but it never did and I've always thought it was something to do with my mom keeping me safe and so when she died I thought that you would leave me to." I look up at her and see that she is holding back tears for me. "I'm never leaving you even if you force me to. Security would have to drag me away from you. I love you." I lean into her and press a kiss to her cheek before lying down, Karlie turns me so she can spoon me, our hands tangle together as we fall asleep until Allie comes in at 6.00am, Becca follows at 6.04am, Flynn arrives at 6.15am and Ryan stumbles in a little after 6.30am and all of them manage to find a small space of our massive bed to claim as their own and soon we are all asleep again, unaware of the black SUV outside the house watching with a pair of binoculars.

Unknown P.O.V

"Do you know what time they are supposed to leave?" I call into the back of the car. Turning around my accomplice looks at me. "Nope, I just know what I was told and that was that they are back. What are you planning?" I turn back and pick up the binoculars again, scoping out the security who are at the front door. "Nothing you need to worry about."

**SPECIAL NOTE**

This me telling you that my exam are starting soon and so until the middle of November I will only be updating when I can, it will be random. When I have a few hours I will sit down and write a new chapter but expect the updates to come in slower than they have been. This is not intentional and I appreciate all the support that is being given considering All I Need is a sequel. Hopefully I will be able to update soon but this is a warning.