,In Our Family Portrait.Thaila&Janelle!

[Thaila Papillion]

Since everything Thaila thought she knew died, life had been harder. Have you ever felt lost? Like you don't know who you are or how you feel? Everything was starting to feel different to her. Foreign. The things she thought she knew, she didn't know. The people she thought she knew, she didn't know. There was one thing Thaila had always known. One thing that never changed and that never let her down.... Books. As the sun began to set on another day, Thaila had wrapped herself out and headed into the nearest town. There was a bookstore on the corner that she'd become quite well acquainted with. Every night she followed the same routine. She went in, bought a book and then went up to the Starbucks, sipping on a caramel macchiato and reading her book. Tonight was no exception. Her foot was tucked gently behind her ankle, her grey dotty dress hanging delicately either side of her chair and her fingers running delicately through her barbie blonde curls as her eyes scanned the pages of Shade's Children.

Life had began to suck for her this evil bastard seemed to figure out what she was and decided to use her as a pawn in his master plans and she had to go on with what he wanted or he'd drop her in the lap of some hunters and she did what she had to do to live. She didn't want to die. So here she was posing to be their mother rolling her eyes as she had to play the part of someone's mother the man tried to give her everything to go on so she couldn't fudge it up. She had everything down even the sent of their mother. She was sent of to this book store. It smelled of books and coffee and that was an intoxicating smell. It was no wonder why the littlest one loved books. She had spied her sitting down reading a book, and casually strolled by the girl to get a coffee letting the lilac smell dance threw the air as she breezed past her. Dane did tell her that Thaila would know that smell anywhere since it was something the mother had wore and now it was time to put on a brave face and act the part as if she never died and she was right here. She wanted to see if Thaila would turn around and look at her and wanted to see the face on her. She had stood in line brushing her hair over her shoulder as she ordered a coffee waiting for a reaction for the scent to overpower the girls senses. She after all is a vampire. Yes, Lacey knew what she is and what sort of monster her brother is, but she could not falter from the task at hand.

There weren't a lot of people that could pulled Thaila out of the trance she was in as she read a book, the words spilling over her brain, every image they conjured being committed to memory. If there was one thing, it was that smell. Without thinking, her hand sliding into her pocket, pulling a battered old bear out, pulling it straight up to her face. She closed her eyes, the bear under her nose as she breathed in heavily. It was in that action that she realized that that oh so familiar wasn't the smell of the slowly fading scent that came off the bear. Her long lashes fluttered crazily as she looked up, her eyes traveling the room in search of where the smell was coming from. Her eyes settled on a way too familiar blonde stood before her. Her heart moved up into her throat and she could swear in that moment he couldn’t breathe. She wished she could say something but she couldn't.. She just stared, mouth slacked and looking almost like a fish out of water.

[Lacey Suffolk]

She watched cautiously as she had stood in line waiting for the little ones reaction. She was such a cute and adorable little thing why would her brother want to hurt her? She didn't know what he was playing at. What a prick she got her coffee, and began to walk towards Thaila. Pretending as if she had never died and nothing ever happened trying to make Thaila feel like she is losing her mind perhaps that was Dane's plan? She just knew she had to pretend or die. " What's wrong, Baby? " She asked quietly bringing her coffee to her lips savouring the caffeinated goodness. " Is there something on my face?" She hated having to play the girl like this. " What ya reading dumplin?" She asked curiously trying to draw her out of her fish out water look, bringing a hand up, and shutting her mouth. " Thaila, my dear you don't want to leave that mouth open you don't want to be swallowing a fly." She said effortlessly and being motherly. It was one think their mother did love them to bits she just couldn't take things anymore and maybe a bit on the crazy side, but she did love her babies.

She couldn't speak. Even if she wanted to, the words wouldn't have come out. She just stood there like everything was normal, like she saw her every day or that she'd come to meet her or something. This couldn't be happening. Her life was so messed up and she was so confused, but this couldn't be her, this couldn't be her Mom........ could she?! As her mouth was closed a hand traveled up, pinching the opposite arm. She felt it. She felt the pinch and this was all real. A tear traveled down her face and her voice came out in almost a whisper. "Mommy?"

It was heart breaking doing this to this dear child. She was beautiful that was for sure. Thaila couldn't speak which she assumed was do to the shock. Shock that her mother was standing right there in the flesh. Well almost flesh since well her momma really is dead. A tear travelled down her face and Janelle reached a hand up, and brushed that tear away. " Yes baby, its me." She had said stroking her cheek softly. " What's wrong?" She asked as if things were all okay and that this was normal. A normal mother daughter greeting. " Something eating at you?" She asked tilting her head curiously and looking her daughter over. " You look beautiful tonight, my dear. Did you eat dinner like a good little girls and enjoy your mashed potatoes?" Yes she was told that her mother would feed her mashed for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was a little something that could make Thaila think she is her mother. She opened her arms for her baby to come in and hug her. Would she thought?

[Thaila Papillion]

She was really desperate to speak. She wanted to answer her questions, she wanted to ask her own. There were places inside Thaila's head that weren't sure about this, there were voices in her head screaming at her not to trust this situation. She knew. She knew that people didn't just come back from the dead every day, and she knew that things weren't always what they seemed but really.... Thai was just so desperate for this to be true that she'd do anything to make it so. Her body lifted off the chair and her eyes closed as they locked around her 'mother'. She clenched her eyes closed so she didn’t cry as she held on. "Mommy? Where have you been??"

Thaila was a smart girl she hoped and wouldn't give into her brothers bullshit trying to lure her back or break her whatever his plan had been. She had to follow along and wondered what was going on in the pretty young blondes head. She was gorgeous. Why would anyone want to harm her on purpose? She held on to Thaila once she had moved from her chair, stroking her little girls hair, and listening to Thaila speaking asking her where she has been. " I have been around baby looking for you. Don't scare me like that again." She replied cooly and soothing her little girl. " Where have you been? I have been so worried. Worried that you were hurt. I was out looking for you. I needed a little affine fix and here you are." She was meant to try to make it seem like Thaila was crazy and if that didn't work then she was to tell the dear girl daddy locked her away and sent her away for treatment and now that he is gone she could return.

Frowning, Thaila moved back to look at her 'mother'. Her arms stayed locked around the woman, far from ready to let her go. "W-what do you mean??" She'd been looking for her?? What the.... For a split second, Thaila doubted everything she knew. This woman, her mother, she seemed so sure of everything. She spoke like everything was... normal. "Mom you're.... you've been gone...... You've been gone for... for years...."

[Lacey Suffolk]

Thaila was now looking at her like she was mad asking what she meant.. and said she had been gone for years. " I know my dear, but momma has been looking for you. Your father sent me away after what happened. He thought you kids would be better off and had me locked away. Locked away in place that was like a prison the time passed, but I was always looking for you in my head, and once your father passed he could no longer keep me there. I had to find you and see how beautiful you have become. You were always alive in my head and heart, and I have been looking for you ever since i got out my dear!" She tried to play it off and hoped that she'd buy that act.

Thaila's legs buckled underneath her, unable to even hold her up anymore and her arms held to her tight as a means of support. "Why? Why did he send you away??" Her eyes were now filled to the brim with tears, her chin quivering with the pressure. "We needed you!! He always said that you left us, and he hated being left with us! Why did he send you away when we needed you??"

Thaila's legs buckled at the revelations that had been unveiled and she must have bought it seeing as her reaction thus far. " Your father, my dear wasn't a nice man." She said holding Thaila close to try to support her, before ushering her into the chair. " He didn't think I'd be a good influence on the two of you. I wanted to be there more then anything in the world. He kept me from you. He was evil like that. You lived with him you know how he could be. " She said softly. "Did you get any of my letters, baby?" She said frowning looking over at the dear girl she was torn up." You must know I wanted to be there deep down in your heart." She told Thai brushing her cheeks. " I am so so sorry I couldn't be there."

[Thaila Papillion]

"Letters? What letters?" By god, to anyone that knew the truth, this whole thing was so cruel! She was still so young, basically a child, and a child that had lost her mother so long ago that it was hard to remember her. So to try and convince her she had her Mom back?! It was cruel. Worse because it was obvious right now that Thaila was falling for it. She was easily moved into the chair, her hand reaching to grab her bear, cuddling it close to her chest. "I missed you so much!"

She let Thaila get settled in the chair asking her what letters, and that made her frown some more. " So your father never gave you them. I used to write you and Dane about how much I missed you." if her mother was really alive and in a mental ward she really could see her writing them letters with this being her little girls so sweet and adorable. She felt bad that this young lady had Dane as a brother toying with her emotions. Perhaps she should have just let him turn her in? " You baby were what kept me going knowing one day maybe I will be able to see you again and here you are and look at how much you grown." She said with a soft smily brushing her finger tips threw Thaila's soft hair watching them little ringlets bounce as she brush threw her hair. " I missed you more then words can express. I see you still have buddy. I hope you have been treating him good. " She said watching Thaila. She was too precious.

Shaking her head, Thaila continued to fight the tears. "I... I never got any letter...." Thaila was hating every one of her memories for her betrayal right now. She would have sworn she knew the way her mother smiled and the way she spoke by heart, but right now, she believed herself to be wrong. Was there any young girl that had lost a parent, who could honestly say that if there was a chance they were back, they wouldn't jump at it? Maybe she truly believed this was her Mom, or maybe she was just so desperate for it to be her Mom that she was happy to make believe. Either way, there was a grin on her face as she ran her fingers through her hair. "Of course I've been treating him good... I promised I would Mommy."

[Lacey Suffolk]

She knew her baby wanted to break down and cry by the way the words stumbled out her mouth that she never got any letters. She seemed to be falling for it hook line and sinker. " I am sorry that you never got them, princess. I missed you every day with every single beat of my heart, " She said as she bent down beside the chair placing her coffee on the table to look at her baby girl more or well her fake baby girl. Could she blame her for desperately wanting her mother back. Dane is cruel to dangle it in her face. What is she supposed to play momma dearest forever? She smiled at Thai as she said she promised she'd treat her good. " I know you would because you are momma's good little girl. What has my pretty girl been up to after all these years? " She then leaned in and hugged her baby again. " Can I get you a drink or something to eat my little dumpling?" trying to be motherly and take care of the girl in front of her as if she really were her mother.

"I have a drink." She said, looking back to the contents of the table, this infectious grin growing over her face. "Thank you though!!" Playing catch up with your own mother? Who expected to get the chance to do that after 12 years?! "I've... well I've had a hard year. But it's... getting better? I think... I mean you're here!!!"

She had replied that she had a drink and grinned, can't blame her for asking eh? She loved the grin that spread upon them lips, but was feeling horrible doing this to the poor dear. " You're welcome baby girl." She replied with a grin to her reply about the drink. " I don't think that many would expect it, but I am happy to be here now and hear all about my little girls adventures." She said grinning at her baby, and pulling over a seat to sit. " A hard year. I am sorry, baby. I am glad it is getting better and that I am in the flesh. I can't believe I finally found you after all this time looking." She said with a soft sweet sigh admiring the beauty in front of her thinking ' if this ordeal doesn't kill her it will make her stronger'.

[Thaila Papillion]

"I can't believe it either." The grin that was spread across her face was something not seen by the young blonde for a long long time. Between everything with Dane and with Talon, nothing had gone right for her, that didn’t mean she hadn't got some amazing things out of the year though. "What have you been doing since you've been free Mommy?"

It was good to have her back even if this relationship is a lie, it was nice to feel so connected to someone almost as if they really were related and Lacey liked that. Janelle was giving her that comforting closeness. " I have been traveling and working odd jobs under the table while searching for you and Dane. You are the first one I have found and I really am glad I finally found you. Now, things with me are looking up too. We can be a happy family again or try to be one. Have you made any interesting friends or read any good books? " She was curious to hear more about thai and stuff going on.

All of a sudden Thaila's heart seemed to hurt again. As far as Thaila was concerned... She had to inform a woman that her child was dead. Well technically, both of them were. "I've met some really nice people, yeah. There's this man, Eryk... He's like a papa to me... And I've made some good friends....." And with that she let out a big sigh, smiling sadly. "I... Mommy, it's just you and me now... Dane's.... Not around... He's.... Dane died."

[Lacey Suffolk]

She smiled as her daughter told her that she met a man that is like her papa and had made some good friends. " I am glad baby you deserve them. I hope he treats you better then your father did, my little dumpling." She frowned when Thaila let out a big sigh and smiled sadly " Whats wrong, dumpling?" She asked before Thaila dropped the news on her that Dane is dead and died, she forced tears out.. and her smile faced quickly into a frown.. " He.... died.. when oh my!" SHe stuttered, before taking in a deep breath tears falling down her face. " what happened, baby?" She said clinging onto her as if for dear life. " I am sorry i wasn't there."

"He... Well I.... I don't know exactly. I'm so sorry Mommy. I'm so sorry. We tried to look after each other, tried to save each other and he... He thought he was looking after us." She reached out to take the hand of the woman she believed to be her mother. "You don't have to be sorry. You're here now!"

Thaila told her she didn't know and that they tried to look after each other, but she didn’t know what happened. Janelle frowned a little, and squeezed her daughters hand as she had held it. Thaila was a brave one that was for sure. She wouldn't want her momma to know what sort of maniac her son is. " Yes, I am here now and at least I have you baby. I am glad you are safe and you didn't suffer the same fate as him " She said drying her tears to look at her. " You're my brave little girl and I am proud of you baby."

[Thaila Papillion]

She was... proud of her? Sixteen years she waited and finally someone said it. Someone was proud of her. It was a shame that it had to be a lie. Most of Thaila's life had been a lie after all. The girl who lived in a fairytale. In her own made up version of life. A world where she was happy and everything was fine. Nothing was further from the truth. The girl who glittered and wore such a big smile was a mess. She was so broken that the glitter could have been broken glass and the smile... Well there was no excuse for that lie. A lie was all it could be. "Where are you staying Mom?"

Thaila indeed was a brave girl even if she wasn't really her child and she was a fraud and this was some twisted lie. She knew her real momma would be proud of her. How could she not with all the things she has been subjected to threw out the years and having to deal with a brother such as hers. She was right in a way he was dead. The person who looks like him is a monster. She was asked where she was staying. " Some motel, baby. Like I said I don't have much and I have been traveling looking for you. I was going to pack up in a few days and move to a new city if you were not here, but you are. " She said with a soft radiating grin. " Where have you been staying dumpling? With the fella you call papa? " Lacey was briefed on Eryk and if she is to play the part she should question him on how he doesn't look much older then her daughter. " You're safe right?"

"At the moment I'm with my ex boyfriend's adopted mother." Wow. Saying it out loud made it seem stranger than she'd ever considered it to be. "I'm safe. I'm very safe actually. Safest I've been in a long time." Or well... at least that was what she thought. "I'm sure you could come stay with us. We have a lot of room... The woman I'm staying with is insanely rich... The house has wings!"

[Lacey Suffolk]

Her daughter was safe well her 'fake' daughter was and that was good. It was what mattered really. If she was well protected then maybe Dane couldn't move in with his plans. She smiled at Thaila, " I am glad you are safe baby." It was good she felt safe there and it is the safest place she had been in a long time. She was telling her how she was sure she could stay with them that the people she was living with were rich and that the house has wings. She arched a brow at that " Wings? How is that possible baby? " she asked, before speaking again. " It's fine baby I wouldn't want to impose on them and be a burden or anything my dear." She had told her loving daughter. " as long as you are safe dumpling that is all that matters. Is it odd staying with your ex boyfriends adopted mother? He is your Ex what happened did you break his little heart?" She asked curiously.