tainted.

I do.

~ Back to the funeral scene ~ Third Person POV ~

"No, Sage, no, it isn't your fault, nothing is your fault," Meredith brushes through Sage's hair with her fingers.

"But daddy would've never died if we went to the doctor that day," Sage says with a frown on her face.

"Sage, there's nothing we can do, please, just accept that he is now gone," Meredith begs Sage knowing that she will never get over this.

"Can we get ice cream?," Sage tries to changed the topic. Meredith chuckles and smiles then starts to tear up.

"Mommy, why are you crying?"

"I-I miss him Sage," Meredith wraps Sage in her arms tightly and Sage does the same.

"I miss daddy too."

~ One Year Later After The Funeral ~

"Mommy no! Please stop!," Sage collapsed to the floor and cries in fear.

"Stop touching my daughter like that! Get out!," Meredith is holding an empty wine glass bottle in her hand in the air. Fear enveloped her as she fought to protect her daughter with pure determination.

"Don't tell me to get out!," Sage's step-dad punches her mom's left leg making her step back in pain.

"Fu- Ow! GET OUT JOE!, NOW!," Meredith smashes the glass bottle near his foot. Joe grunts in frustration and storms out the door. Meredith bends down to her knees, trying to breathe, Sage is still crying hysterically on the floor.

"Why!? Why!? I hate step-dad Joe, mommy! Why is he doing this to you!? Make him stop!," Sage says still sobbing.

"I-I-I'm sorry Sage, please, it's going to be ok," Meredith kneels down over to her daughter and tries to convince her and herself when she knows it's not going to be ok.

~ 7 Months After The Funeral  ~ (lol sorry for the time changing)

"You are going to marry me! You hear!? You don't want anything happening to Sage do you?," Joe threatens Meredith. She's tied up in a chair with a cloth covering her mouth from speaking, she nods and says something in a muffled voice, but Joe couldn't quite catch what she said.

"What is that you said darling?," pulling the cloth away from her mouth. Meredith struggles trying to escape from the chair. She stares at him in horror. She doesn't want to marry him, but she has to protect Sage.

"I hate you," she spat at him.

"I love you, too. Now you better say I do cause if you don't-," Joe holds up a handgun in the air, with a smirk. "You know what will happen, don't need to explain again, do I?"
"Oh, and don't even bother telling the cops."

***

"We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, and to cherish the words which shall nite Joe and Meredith in marriage. Joe, do you take Meredith to be your lawfully wedded wife to love and cherish?," the priests smiles.

"I do," Joe looks into Meredith's eyes and puts on a fake smile. Meredith glares at him not showing off any expression not caring what the crowd might think.

"Meredith, do you take Joe to be your lawfully wedded husband to love and cherish?"

Everyone stares at Meredith, waiting for her response. Joe gives her a look, she has to say I do. If not, Sage will die.

"I-I," Meredith stutters, she can't say it.

"I do," she tries to hold in the tears. She doesn't love him, she hates him, she wants to run away with Sage rather than having to live with Joe.

"You may now ki-,"

"No." Meredith interrupts. She is not kissing Joe. But Joe grabs her waist and smashes their lips together anyway, Meredith tries to pull away but Joe has held the back of her head not letting her to pull away. Once they pull apart, Joe smirks, Meredith frowns with disgust.

"Mommy, step-dad, you'll always protect me right?," Sage walks up to them in her white, lacey, flower dress.

"Of course Sage, of course," her mom reaches in to hug her.

"I love you, mommy."

"I love you more Sage."

((soo, how'd you like it? yes, Joe that creepy perv at Sage's first birthday party is her step-dad. you might be wondering, does 11 year old Sage know that Joe killed her dad? no she doesn't YET, she will find out soon, that's it, have a gr8 day bYe))