Forest

"Now you're asking for the impossible. I promise not to let him bitch at you though."


"Well enough that he...asked me to move in with him this morning."


"Like you have a right to talk about one fighting their own battles. When have you ever fought any of yours? You've always had other people doing that for you, mostly your son. Anything that involves my brother is my business, let's get that straight right now. And he left because you cheated on him, don't word it like he just walked out on you for no reason."

I sighed. "That's impossible. No one can keep Quin from bitching when he wants to. I'm screwed."



"Excuse me? Why would he ask you to move in with him? Have... have you been seeing him?"



"I didn't say he walked out for no reason, I said it was none of your businesses and it isn't. Whatever you think. I made a mistake when I first kissed Parker. I told Brett right away and I apologized, I wanted to work it out with him. I never meant to hurt him. He is the one that walked out. He made that choice, not me, so if he wants to go sulk about it now, that's his problem. All I was doing was dancing. And you do not talk about my family, ever, if you know what's good for you, little girl. Quin has made his own choices in life, I have never asked him to do any of the things he's done, and I begged him not to go back there. That was his choice, not something I forced him into doing. You can walk away now."

"I'll do my best, I swear."


"I don't know...I guess. He's the one who found me in the woods when I was alone. He helped and taught me how to take care of myself and...we became involved."


"Sweetheart, I'm not a little girl and I haven't been one of those in a long time. As for Brett, he's also the one who loved you even though you pushed him away at first. I understand it was for good reason, but he could have given up and yet he didn't. He tried to be a Father figure to your kids and wanted to raise Zoey as his own. He wanted to show you that not all men are the same. Please tell me where you'll find a man as good as him? As for him "walking out" maybe he didn't exactly know what to say to the woman who ripped his fucking heart out. You should have been coming to him, not the other way around. Why should he have been chasing after you? He already let you move into his home and was taking care of you. But, I love how you've rubbed it in his face with the man that Quin didn't even want here. How nice of you both to respect your son's wishes, real classy. Stay away from my brother, you aren't even good enough to look at him." I snarled and walked away from them both to go find Brett. He said he was going home but I knew better.


"She's right in a way. I shouldn't have came here, it's just going to upset him even more when he finds out. I'm betting he doesn't even know about the Brett thing, does he?"

"This is my brother we're talking about. Quin doesn't listen to anyone when he's mad Asher, you know that. I... I'm just gonna go home. And brace myself."



"Involved...? Why... why didn't you say anything? Fuck, we shared a bed, he probably wants to kick my ass. What are you thinking anyway? He's old enough to be your dad, hell, he's Ezra's dad."




"No he doesn't, but it's not like he ever took to Brett anyway. I'll tell him, it just want the right time. Geez, I didn't know I was going to be verbally flogged for not being with her brother anymore. It didn't work out, why does it have to be a big deal. Something good happens in my life and I'm supposed to turn it down because it's gonna hurt his feelings? He ended our relationship, not me. I'm tired of feeling guilty for the decisions I make in life. Anyone that looks down at me can just go to hell." I sighed. "Sorry."

"I don't think he'll be mad, just concerned. Besides I highly doubt Brown Eyes will let him act up, don't you?"


"Can we talk about this at home?"


"I think it has to do with why it didn't work out. If it had just happened to be happening I don't think she would have cared as much. But we hurt him. We went about all of this the wrong way. No sibling enjoys seeing their other sibling hurt, you know that." I sighed "It's going to be alright though. Okay?"

I shrugged. "Who knows with him anymore. I haven't really spoken to him in months. He doesn't come around anymore. He didn't like Brett though, and he definitely doesn't like Parker." I nodded in mom's direction. "So he definitely won't be coming around anytime soon."



"What's there to talk about. He asked you to move in with him. Want help packing?"



"You might believe that, but I don't. It was one kiss, I begged for his forgiveness, and he chose to leave anyway. Now everyone's gonna think I'm a harlot because the man I love that disappeared 20 years ago, the father of my son, shows up again and I danced with him. I'm single now, why shouldn't I see if we can make this work?"

I looked over in the direction she nodded in "Oh, shit. This isn't going to be fun at all."


Wow. That hurt. "Excuse me? Did I state that I told him yes? No."


"No one's going to think you're a harlot. They're all thinking I'm an asshole. Don't worry about it, I don't."

"Tell me about it. And she won't tell me what happened. Just said to not worry about it, they didn't work out." I shrugged. "I liked Brett too. So did Zoey. Guess that doesn't matter though does it."



"No, you didn't tell me anything until right now. You didn't say a damn word about him. You two are obviously close, a lot closer than me and you, if you're involved like that though. You're just living with me to help with Daphne. We're just... friends."



"It's hard not to, after the scene she just made in front of everyone."

"I'm sure no matter what choice your Mom makes that Brett will still come around to see you and Zoey."


"What am I supposed to say? I thought it was just casual until he asked me that this morning. He's been gone all Winter, and with everything you've been going through when was I supposed to talk to you about him? Excuse the hell out of me for having a sex drive." I said and noticed a few of the others looking at us now. "I think I should go." I stood up and starting walking towards home.


"What's going on? Should I take Daphne for you?"


"Her brother is hurting and so is she. It's fine, don't worry about what other people think. Have I ever worried?"

"Not with that man there. It's obvious, by the way he stormed out of here, they don't like each other. He's not gonna come around."



"Could you please? I'll be back soon." She nodded and took Daphne and I hurried after Brooke. "Hey, Brooke. Will you stop? Damn." She finally did but didn't turn around. "I'm sorry... Brooke, I'm sorry. You made it sound... like you were more involved than that. And I'm not psychic, how am I supposed to know about your... sex drive? I haven't had one since my fiancé died."



"No. Sometimes I think you should though," I said and leaned against him as they started another song.

"He's upset now but I doubt he'd let Parker keep him from seeing you."


"It's just common knowledge that most people do like to have sex and the age gap doesn't bother me. I mean, I was out here alone with a group of men. Was I supposed to stay celibate?" I turned around to face him "Why did you ask if I wanted help packing? That was really harsh, Carter. You obviously moved on after I vanished and had a baby with another woman, I'm sure you didn't give poor little me another thought. Out of sight, out of mind I guess. But I've never acted the way you just did...and in front of people I might add."


"Baby, I'm a Simmons. You know I give zero shits."

I shrugged. "Maybe you're right. Will you let me go home now? I'm really not hungry and... I don't feel like dancing anymore."



"I... I'm sorry. You're right, I shouldn't have spouted off like that. But... wow you are way wrong. I thought about you... every day. Every single day. For years. I... I had to go to therapy Brooke... to get over... the fact that you were probably dead. I'm sorry that... that I moved on. It's not like I planned on it. A chance meeting in the woods and... I'm sorry okay? It's not like I just forgot about you as soon as you went missing. I... even with Ronna... I never forgot about you."



I smiled. "I know. I told you, Quin's just like you. Even though he'd hate that, he was never like Carl. Carl was... well he... they didn't bond. Let's just say that."

"Sure. Look though, I love you. Anything I do it's because I care. Want me to walk you home?"


"Did she know about me? Please, be honest."


"Carl was a dick bag."

"Sure. Yeah, you can do that. I don't really want to walk home alone."



"No. She didn't. It was too painful for me to talk about it. Outside of therapy, I didn't talk about you anyone."



"He was. You don't... really know the half of it."

"Alright, let's go." I told her and we started walking.


"I see. I really should go now, you need to go back to Daphne. I'll see you later."


"Do I want to know?"

"I'm sorry... for having an attitude with you."



"I don't want you to move out Brooke," I blurted out.



"No. You don't. It'll just make you angry."

"Don't worry about it. I'm used to it."


"Why?"


I had a pretty good idea without her going into detail. "Did someone take care of it?"

"Doesn't make it right."



"Because I... I like having you there."



"Charles. None of them knew I had any idea. But I did."

"Really, Sunshine. Don't worry about me, I promise that my feelings are still in tact."


"Then I'll tell him I'm going to stay."


"Sounds like Charles took care of a lot after we left." I said, guilt washing over me...again.

I nodded a little. "Okay. Good."



"Really?"



"He did. We took care of each other though. Me, Erica when she came back to six, Darlene, Carolyn before she died, Charles, all of us. We had to band together. We wouldn't have survived. At least us women wouldn't have."

We made it to her house "Goodnight. If I do see you out and about tomorrow I'm going to come looking for you."


I nodded "I promised to help you with Daphne and that's what I'm going to do."


"I'm so sorry, Selma. I was such a stupid jack ass."

"I can't promise anything. So you'll probably have to come look for me."



I smiled a little. "Thank. I... I'm glad you're staying."



"You didn't know. You couldn't have. Couldn't have known that us that were single moms... they'd use our kids against us... to get what they wanted. And they did. Especially with Darlene until she moved in with Charles and married him."

'I will, I promise." I smiled and kissed her on the head "Goodnight."


"Me too. And just to clarify. I didn't tell Jon about the bed thing so you don't have to worry about him wanting to kick your ass." I said, teasing him a little.


"I'm never leaving you again. I promise."

"Good night Asher," I said and hugged him.



I chuckled a bit. "Well that's a good thing. I haven't gotten into that many fights, and it's been years since I was in the Games. He could probably take me."



"Good. I... I don't want you to," I said and laid my head on his chest. "Do you have a cabin? To yourself?"

I hugged her back and watched as she went inside and heard the door lock then headed back to the wedding party.


"I wouldn't let him."


"I do but it's pretty far from here."