Only Hope

Chapter 2

^how I imagine Serena to look like^

Present

Sitting on the floor in his room, Gabriel took out the color black to color in the mask of batman. I hate it when mommy and daddy fight he crossed his legs and concentrated on the task in front of him. Trying to block out the sound of shattering glass in the background, the sounds became more torturing to hear. Getting up from the floor Gabriel ran to his bed and got under the covers.

"You fucking bitch! You're cheating ass wouldn't be in this house if it weren't for me" Thomas yelled at Erica.

"Fuck you Thomas! You have no right to touch me. And if you do again, I'm walking out of this house" there never use to be problems between Thomas and Erica.

Thomas and Erica met at a Christmas party. The attraction between them was undeniable; she was a blonde haired woman with piercing green eyes, a very attractive lady while he was a man all the girls wanted to get their hands on. Right after that Christmas party, they hit it off. Going on numerous dates together, until one day they became an official couple.

Once they got married Thomas and Erica tried to conceive, after finding out she couldn't get pregnant. They decided to adopt. It wasn't long before they found a couple who were too young to be raising a kid and wanted the child to grow up with parents who could provide as much as possible. The girl and boy looked a little hesitant giving up the child to adoption but knew it was for the best. The child, Gabriel, was the apple in the eyes of his new parents Erica and Thomas.

The day Thomas lost his company was the day that came crashing down on the entire household. Most of their money was spent by the time they moved into a smaller house and the money they had left wasn't enough. Erica was embarrassed, having to move into a less classy suburb and ashamed of what her friends might say. Gabriel was in kindergarten then and had to switch from private to public. A few months later Thomas officially lost it and turned to alcohol and Erica spent her time cheating on him. It all came to this moment now.

"Leave! But Gabriel is staying with me!" Thomas growled. His face was filled with rage and he looked like he was about to hit Erica. Thomas had never laid a hand on Erica, he had just grabbed onto her tightly, he didn't want to turn out to be like his cruel father and abuse his wife. Running into Gabriel's room, Erica pulled the covers off him. Gabriel looked up at his mother and saw she had tears in her eyes.

"Sorry baby, but mommy's got to go" giving the kiss on his small head, Erica fled out of the house. Thomas chucked a frame across the living room wall. Walking into the kitchen, he pulled out a bottle of whiskey and poured some into a cup, the feel of the whiskey going through his throat burned.

Soft cries came from Gabriel mommy left daddy and me getting up from the bed, Gabriel walked out of his room and into the kitchen, where he knew Thomas would be. Thinking about all that just occurred, Thomas hadn't heard Gabriel enter. Looking up he saw his son crying, this made his heart soften. Thomas just spread his arms wide and let Gabriel into his arm, the both of them wept.

Pulling into Mila's apartment, Serena shut her car off. Mila and Serena had been friends for a long time and talked about everything together. Throughout the time Serena was grieving over Lucas and Alma, Mila and Jude had been by her side step by step, she kept distancing herself from them though. Her heart couldn't handle the heartache and seeing them made Serena recollect all the memories they spent together with Lucas. Nervously Serena brought her hand up and knocked, the previous time she saw Mila was five months ago.

It took a minute before the person on the other side of the door opened up. Mila was standing there shocked. She still look like the same old Mila, brown hair with killer hazel eyes, her hair was cut pixie style now though. Realizing what the girl she was seeing was real, Mila smiled so big that it looks like it hurt. Serena chuckled and hugged Mila tightly.

"I guess you're not angry?" Serena questioned, pulling back to look at Mila. Now Mila had tears in her eyes. Mila was always the really emotional one and you never knew what mood she was going to be in.

"Never at you, come on in already" laughing Serena walked in to the familiar lounge room. Plopping down onto the couch Serena let her black hair loose from the braid. The small dog Bugsy went to curl up in Mila's lap.

"How have you been?" Serena asked politely. From the looks of it Mila looks well; life has been treating her good, she would be starting a new job at an animal shelter. She was happy with life at the moment, especially now that Serena came to visit her. Losing one of her close friend Lucas and Alma who was like a niece to her was so devastating she didn't know how to cope or really help Serena, but she would do anything for her best friend.

"I'm doing well, better now that I've seen you. I'm so sorry I didn't come to visit you. I know you wanted space from everyone but I so badly wanted to see you. Jude stopped me though, saying that you really did need time to heal" Jude hadn't been around in a while. He was always so distance from everybody. Mila desired to be that person to break his barrier and have him tell everything he wanted to say.

"Don't worry. I did need time to heal. Not completely there yet and I'll never be. Yesterday night I had a dream about Lucas......" It was still unbearable to say Lucas out loud without wanting to crack open; Serena took a deep breath and remained tranquil "Lucas told me that he and Alma are doing fine..." this time her words became shaky "B-b-but he also said Gabriel was in danger and I need to get him. Mila I must find my son. I knew it was a dreadful mistake to give him away"

At the mention of Gabriel's name Mila eyes became wide open. The little baby Lucas and Serena had were one of the best thing that ever happened to them, the duo were so excited to have the baby. Sure they were young and naïve but they couldn't have cared more. Both sought to have the baby so much. Even their clans of friends were supporting them. It came to a drastic stop before the happiness started. Having to save one life and give away the other, money became an issue....

"And I know for a fact that dream is real, just like how we are in this moment. In the dreams I walked pass the vase filled with roses and the vase shatter in the dream. This morning I walked pass and saw it was actually broken on the floor, I might sound crazy but I'm not I swear."

"Serena, I'm sure what to make of this but I do believe and I think that makes us both a little bit crazy. The thing that gets to me most is this story of Gabriel. You guys gave him to a nice loving family, willing to do anything for Gabriel. And honey, even if he's in danger, how would you find him or would they let him back to you?"

"Honestly I don't know, Mila, I just don't" at the back of Serena mind was saying I can only hope.