Bad Desire: New Beginnings - Fast Forward

Epilogue Part 2

Walking into the home where all the kids stayed caused a sense of uneasiness to run through Jess; she couldn't help but feel saddened at the fact that Anya was here or any child for that matter. She always wanted to protect her children with her life so the fact that these children had no one to protect them in that family environment was heart-breaking.

"She should be just in here." Lauren began as she guided them down a hall and heading into a room it was then she was spotted.

She was sat watching something on the TV but the moment she saw Lauren, she jumped to her feet.

"Hey Anya." Lauren beamed as the little girl threw herself into her arms. "Are you okay?"

"Yes!" Anya grinned back as they pulled apart and her eyes fell on Jess and Steph.

She looked a little nervous and reluctant at first; unsure of how to take this moment but Lauren's reassuring hand on hers helped ease some nerves.

"This is Jess and Steph." Lauren began, turning to face them. "They've come to see you... do you know who they are?"

Anya paused as she looked between the women who were unsure of how to approach her. They didn't want to come on too strong but they had met in the past and they hoped she remembered.

"Um..." Anya began, looking back at Lauren before turning her attention to the girls once again. "Steph and Jess." She pointed to each of them, getting it the right way around. "They were in that photo."

"Photo?" Steph looked to Lauren for clarification.

"Jay sent a photo to her mum before everything happened and it got passed onto us. It came with a note telling her that if she ever needed anything, you two would be there to help. He trusted you both."

Jay had never forgotten about Anya, even though he had never seen her much. He had created distance between himself and her because he thought that was the only way to keep her safe. He knew that if people in the gang world linked Anya to Jay, she would be at risk.

Therefore, he cut contact and instead just tried to do what he could for her from afar.

However, it was clear he thought Anya had been with her mother and not been aware that she was in a home and that made it all the more heart-breaking. Yet Anya still didn't seem that fazed and instead just seemed genuinely interested about him.

"You know my daddy." Anya looked to Steph and Jess who appeared a little nervous at her statement. There weren't sure what they could and couldn't say but Lauren didn't look at all worried.

"It's okay, she knows a lot more than you realise. I think her mum must have continued to make her aware." Lauren smiled.

She was dealing with this whole thing so well. Jay had a daughter that she had never known about yet now that he had passed, she had built up quite a close and understanding relationship with her.

She felt like this was her duty, not only because she was a vulnerable child but also because she was Jay's. Lauren still loved him, regardless if he was here or not and she was the last part of Jay existing on this earth so she felt the need to protect that

"Should we sit down and colour, then you can all have a little chat." Lauren grinned, trying to make a comfortable environment for them all to open up.

"That sounds like fun." Jess beamed watching as Anya mimicked her expression.

As they all began making their way over to a table, Steph held back for a moment. It was clear how difficult she was finding this whole thing.

"Are you okay?" Jess asked before she followed Lauren and Anya.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." Steph nodded to which was not believed at all.