Forever After ~ A Rydellington Story

The Treehouse

Chapter Fourteen

Ross' POV

"I'm pregnant with Calum's baby"

Those words rung in his mind. He knew he hated Calum the minute Riker invited him over, but he was being nice. Now he wished he had of done something about it.

He had abused her. He hit her. He kicked her. He even beat her with a crow bar. He thought that was bad enough.

But bruises go away. A new life in permanent. Rydel was carrying around a permanent reminder of the hell that Calum had put her through.

He couldn't stand it. So he left. He got up and walked right out the front door. He went to the only place he could think; the only place he ever went to be alone since he was a little kid.

Rydel called it their secret lair. They would pretend to be superheroes, and their parents would be the bad guys. They would sit from the ledge and shoot water guns at them below.

It was their favourite game. Now he went there to be alone. He went there to think.

He climbed up and sat down against the wall. He sighed as he felt tears coming on. He didn't know if they were out of anger, or remorse, or fear, or sorrow. All he knew was they were for Rydel.

"Ross" he heard a voice calling for him from below. It was Rocky.

"Ross man are you okay?"

He sighed. "I want to be alone"

He could hear the leaves crunching under his brother's feet. It was almost Christmas, and per usual there was no sign of snow.

"Rydel's worried about you" his brother responded, "She thinks your mad at her"

Ross felt the tears let go. He didn't want his sister to think he was mad at her. He was mad at Calum, and only Calum. He could never be mad at her.

"Can you tell her to come see me?" He asked, his voice trembling.

He looked out the window of the treehouse and saw Rocky disappear into the house. Moments later Rydel was climbing the ladder.

She moved in and sat beside him on the floor. She looked into his eyes. She had been crying too. Probably for the same reasons as him.

"Ross-" she began.

"I'm sorry" he cried, interrupting her. "I'm so so sorry.''

She gave him a sympathetic smile, and wrapped her arms around him. He had waited so long for this moment, to have her holding him again. He missed his big sister. He missed her hugs.

"Shh" she rubbed his back, trying to calm him down. "Ross it's okay"

"IT'S NOT OKAY" he yelled, pulling away from her. "He took you. He took you from the safety of your own home. Then he beat you. He almost killed you Rydel. And to make matters worse, he, he RAPED you."

He drew out that last word. He needed to say it to know it was real. He had to make sure it was real.

"Then he laughed when we tried to save you. He knew what he had done. He knew we couldn't get him back for this. He's psychotic"

He could see the fresh new tears falling from his sisters eyes. She looked lost, trying to find her way back to the world.

He took a few, much needed, deep breaths. He had to calm down. It was stressing her out, he could see it. Finally he spoke.

"I trust you" he said, she looked up at him.

"I trust you to make the best decision possible for you and your baby"

She looked shocked, like she hadn't expected that answer.

"If you decide to keep it, then I will be right there, by your side, helping you care for it. But if you decide to give it up, then I will support your decision."

She smiled at him. He knew it was a real smile. Not one she had faked.

"I'm not mad at you Delly" he smiled back at her, "If anything I'm proud. You were so strong, through everything over the past few months. I wouldn't have been able to hold on."

She laughed now, a small laugh, barely noticeable, but he heard it.

"Thank you" she mouthed. He nodded.

She pulled him into her arms, and he accepted.

"I love you Ross" she whispered in his ear.

"Forever and Always" they said together.

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THREE MORE CHAPTERS AND WE ARE DONE!!!

what do you think? Love it? Hate it? Not sure? Let me know!!

I'm still open for baby names!!

Love you all!!

Natalie xxx