Until The End
I Feel My Memories Fade With Time (2)
June, 2007
A twenty one year old Daphne glanced back at her six week old daughter as she drove through the streets of Huntington Beach with her boyfriend. The last time they saw her family was at Christmas when she was four months pregnant. Daphne decided that it was the perfect time for her family to meet her daughter since the guys had just gotten back from tour to promote their self-titled album.
“Is Misty sleeping?” Derek asked as he glanced in the rearview mirror at his daughter.
“She’s just waking up,” Daphne smiled.
She smiled and blew a kiss at Misty when the baby’s eyes focused on her. Daphne laughed lightly as Misty lazily smiled at her. Daphne turned back around to take in the familiar sights.
“So whose house are we going to again?” Derek asked.
“Matt and Jade’s; my parents and everyone else are going to meet us there,” she told him.
“I don’t think the guys like me too much,” he muttered.
“What are you talking about? They love you!” she insisted.
“Not really, they all ganged up on me when you brought me here for Christmas the year we met; especially that Brian guy!” he groaned.
Daphne smiled lightly at Brian’s overprotectiveness over her.
“They’re all just over-protective of me and Brian’s like my best friend,” she smiled.
“He wants to be more than your friend. I see the way he looks at you Daph and I don’t like it,” he hissed.
“That is not true! Brian is with Zoey anyway,” she shrugged.
“God I hate her!” he grumbled.
“Me too, she whines too much,” she mumbled.
“Brian do this for me, Brian do that for me, Brian I broke a nail!” Derek mocked.
Daphne laughed and slipped her hand into his.
“I love you,” he smiled.
“I love you too,” she smiled as she leaned over to kiss his cheek.
Derek squeezed her hand as he pulled into Matt’s driveway. They parked behind Matt’s truck and got out as the front door opened.
“Mattie!” Daphne shouted as she bounded over to her brother.
“Hey Daph!” Matt laughed as she jumped into his arms.
“I missed you!” she smiled.
“I missed you too!” he laughed.
“Come on,” she smiled once he set her down.
She linked her arm through his and led him over to Derek.
“Hey Derek,” Matt smiled lightly.
“Hey,” Derek smiled as they shook hands.
“Matt come meet your niece!” Daphne smiled as she walked around to Misty’s side of the car.
“Hey princess,” she cooed as she unbuckled Misty from her carrier.
She picked her up and kissed her cheek before turning to Matt. She grinned and settled her in his arms.
“She’s so tiny,” he smiled as he looked down at his niece.
“She’s supposed to be Matt,” she laughed.
“Well sorry, the last time I held a baby was when you were born and that was ages ago,” he smirked.
“Shut it Sanders! You’re older than me!” she smiled.
“Only by five years, Sanders!” he grinned.
“So what do you think of your goddaughter Matt?” Derek asked as he approached them.
“Goddaughter?” Matt asked.
Daphne grinned and nodded.
“We want you and Jade to be her godparents!” she smiled.
“Fuck yeah!” he cheered.
“No cussing in front of my daughter Matthew!” she smirked.
“You are probably no better!” Matt laughed.
“Matt, stop hogging the baby! Bring her inside so I can meet her!” Jade, Matt’s fiancé, called from the doorway.
“Lets go before she gets pissed,” Matt laughed as he walked towards the house with Misty.
Daphne linked her arm through Derek’s as they followed Matt inside.
“Babe we’re godparents!” Matt called.
“Godparents!” Jade shrieked as she walked out of the kitchen.
“Hell yeah!” Daphne smiled.
“Yay!” she smiled as she tightly hugged Daphne.
“Hey Derek!” she smiled as she hugged him.
“Hey,” Derek muttered.
“Jesus Christ Daph you look great! I wouldn’t have guessed that you had my goddaughter six weeks ago,” Jade grinned.
“You’re such a dork!” Daphne laughed.
“You love me!” Jade smiled.
“Hold your goddaughter, I need to fire up the grill,” Matt smiled as he passed Misty to Jade.
“Want to come help Derek?” he asked.
“Uh, yeah sure,” Derek muttered.
“She is so adorable!” Jade smiled as she looked adoringly down at the baby.
“Isn’t she?” Daphne smiled as they sat down on the couch.
“You and Derek did a really good job Daph. I know you two are going to be great parents,” Jade smiled.
“We’re doing our best so far,” Daphne smiled.
“What’s it feel like to be a mom?”
“It feels almost surreal; it’s the best feeling in the world though. I love her to death and she already has Derek and I wrapped around her finger.”
“It seems like she’s doing the same with Matt,” Jade laughed.
“You can tell Matt already adores her. So when can I expect some nieces or nephews?” Daphne smiled.
“I don’t know,” Jade sighed.
“Do you want kids?”
“Of course I do! I want to have kids as soon as possible, but Matt wants to wait. He wants to wait until the band is at a point where they don’t tour as much,” Jade huffed.
“Maybe that’s for the best. You two will sure as hell make great parents,” Daphne smiled.
“Thanks Daph,” Jade smiled.
“So how are things coming along with the wedding?”
“Great! I can’t believe in two months I’ll be a Sanders! It would be easier planning everything if my maid of honor was here to help me though!”
“Sorry sweetie, she has her own life in New York,” Daphne smiled sheepishly.
“Well at least you’re here now. While you’re here, we’re going to go dress shopping!” Jade squealed.
“That’s exciting! So Sadie and Zoey are the bridesmaids right?” Daphne asked.
“Yup, and Jimmy has been dating this great girl for a while so she’s a bridesmaid and Jimmy’s date. My friend Abby is a bridesmaid as well and I’m setting her and Zacky up,” Jade grinned.
“I’m sure Zacky will love you for that,” Daphne laughed.
“I’ll love you for what?” a voice asked.
They looked to the foyer and saw the guys, Sadie and Zoey standing there.
“Ah!” Daphne squealed as she jumped up.
Jimmy was the first to grab her.
“I missed you Daphne Duck!” he smiled.
“I missed you too Jimmy!” she smiled.
“Now where’s that little girl at?” he smiled.
“Jade has her,” she grinned.
“She’s so small!” he exclaimed as he bounded over to the baby.
“Daphne!” Sadie, Johnny’s girlfriend, squealed.
“Sadie!” Daphne smiled as the two tightly hugged.
“God you look great!” Sadie complimented.
“Thanks sweetie, I missed you,” Daphne smiled.
“You too,” Sadie smiled.
“Johnny!” Daphne yelled as she launched herself at him.
“Hey Daph!” Johnny laughed as he hugged her.
“I missed you short shit!” she smirked.
“You’re still shorter than I am!” he shrieked.
“Love you!” she smiled.
“What no love for me?” Zacky smirked.
“Love you Zacky!” she smiled as she threw her arms around his neck.
“Good to see you baby,” he smiled.
“You too Zack,” she smiled.
“Hey Bri,” she smiled sheepishly once she let go of Zacky.
“Well don’t just stand there; hug me baby girl!” Brian smiled.
Daphne smiled and immediately stepped into his open arms. She wrapped her arms around his torso and buried her face in his neck. She felt butterflies in her stomach when he tightly wrapped his arms around her.
“He still knows how to drive me wild!” she thought.
“I missed you so much,” he muttered as he kissed her cheek.
“I missed you too,” she smiled.
She reluctantly let go of him and glanced at Zoey, Brian’s girlfriend. She was glaring menacingly at her.
“Hey Zoey,” she muttered.
Zoey mumbled a greeting and slipped her hand into Brian’s.
“So who has the baby now?” Derek asked as he approached them.
“By the looks of it; Sadie and Johnny do,” Daphne laughed lightly.
“Hey Brian,” Derek greeted.
“Hey,” Brian mumbled.
Half an hour later, Daphne was feeding Misty while Derek sat next to her.
“Babe can you burp her for me?” she asked as she took the bottle out of Misty’s mouth.
Derek nodded and draped a burping cloth over his shoulder before taking Misty out of her arms. A few minutes later, the door flew open to reveal Kim Sanders. Daphne smiled before jumping up and striding over to her.
“Hey momma!” she smiled as she tightly hugged her mom.
“Daphne!” Kim squealed.
“I missed you!” Daphne yelled.
“I missed you too baby! Now where’s my granddaughter?” Kim smiled.
“Derek has her,” Daphne smiled.
Kim smiled and walked over to Derek.
“Hi Derek!” she greeted as she swooped down, kissing his cheek.
“Hey Kim,” Derek smiled.
“Oh my gosh she is so gorgeous!” Kim gushed as she gazed down at Misty in Derek’s arms.
“Isn’t she?” Derek smiled as he passed the baby to her.
“Jeez my granddaughter’s hogging all the attention; I feel unloved,” Gary Sanders teased as he walked up behind Daphne.
“Daddy!” Daphne squealed as she jumped into her dad’s arms.
“Good to see ya baby! Now let me meet my granddaughter,” he smiled as he walked over to Kim.
Daphne sat next to Derek as he pulled out his phone. He frowned and glared at it as he read over a text message.
“What’s wrong?” she frowned.
He shook his head as he hastily texted back. Daphne watched him skeptically as he grew angrier as the texting conversation continued.
“That fucker!” he grumbled after a while.
“What’s wrong?” Daphne asked again.
“Nothing, I just have to go take care of something in town,” he muttered.
“You don’t know anyone here,” she pointed out.
“Its something for work,” he told her quickly.
“How do you work with people out here?” she asked.
“You wouldn’t understand Daph. I really have to go,” he seethed as he got up and stormed out.
“Daph what kind of work does Derek do?” Zacky asked he watched Derek through the window.
“He’s a businessman,” she muttered.
“What kind of business?” Jimmy asked skeptically.
“He never told me; he just says I wouldn’t understand,” she shrugged.
“You don’t think…” Johnny trailed off as he looked at the guys.
“Think what?” Daphne asked.
“Nothing baby, guys lets go help Matt,” Gary suggested as he stood up.
All the guys followed him, except for one.
“Girls come help me make the salads. Here Daph, you relax with the baby,” Kim smiled as she passed Misty to Daphne.
“Talk to him,” Jade whispered as she passed Daphne.
She pulled Zoey up and drug her into the kitchen with them.
“You haven’t held her yet,” Daphne smiled as she got up.
She walked over to Brian as he sat in the recliner.
“I’m actually kind of scared too,” he admitted sheepishly.
“Why?” she laughed as she sat on the arm of the chair.
“She’s just so tiny,” he laughed lightly.
“You’ll be fine; she has to get used to her Uncle Brian anyway,” she smiled.
He smiled and nodded.
“Just make sure you cradle her head,” she told him as she settled Misty in his arms.
“She’s gorgeous; she looks just like you,” he smiled.
“Really?” she smiled.
“Of course, the only difference is her black hair. I can see she already has the Sanders’ dimples,” he laughed.
“I’m not surprised,” she laughed.
“You’re really doing a great job Daph.”
“Thanks Bri; it really means a lot.”
“Come on, get more comfortable,” Brian told her.
“There’s no room!” Daphne laughed.
“Hold the baby and sit on my lap,” he smirked.
“Won’t Zoey get mad?” she smirked.
“Let her,” he shrugged.
She smiled and picked Misty up. She plopped down in his lap and he wrapped an arm around her waist. He draped the other across her bare legs.
“So how do you like being a mom?” he asked as he looked down at Misty.
“I love it! I’d do anything for her,” she smiled.
“I can tell,” he smiled.
“Do you want kids?” she asked.
“Someday I do; when I’m not touring as much,” he told her.
“Do you want to have some with Zoey?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Do you love her?” she asked.
“I think I do, I’m just not sure if she’s the one,” he muttered as he laid his head on her shoulder.
“I’m sure you’ll figure things out Bri,” she muttered as she pecked his forehead.
“Do you love Derek?”
“We have a child together; of course I love him.”
“But are you in love with him?”
“I’m not sure Bri,” she muttered.
~~~~
December 2009
In the early morning hours on December 28th, Daphne and Derek were rudely awakened when her cell-phone went off.
“Who the fuck is calling you at two in the morning?” Derek grumbled as he grabbed her phone for her.
“Its your brother,” he mumbled as he passed it to her.
“Its only eleven there,” she grumbled as she flipped open her phone.
D- Hey Matt.
M- Daph…
D- Yes Matt; its me. What’s up?
M- You need to come home Daph.
D- What? Why?
M- Its really bad Daph…
D- What’s really bad? You’re not making any sense Matt! What the hell happened?
She heard him let out a few quiet sobs.
D- Matt! What happened?
M-…Jimmy’s dead Daphne.
***
A distraught and depressed Daphne flew out to Huntington the night before her best friend’s funeral. She let out a shaky breath as the plane landed. She got up and grabbed her purse as she walked off the plane. She grabbed her bag from the baggage claim and walked outside. She saw her brother leaning against his truck; sporting his signature aviators. He smiled sadly when he spotted her. She quickly strode over to him and wrapped her arms around his torso; quiet sobs immediately racked through her body. Matt tightly wrapped his arms around her as a few tears spilled down his cheeks.
“I can’t believe he’s gone Matt,” she muttered.
“I know baby,” he whispered as he stroked her hair.
He sniffled and wiped his eyes once Daphne calmed down.
“Derek and Misty stayed behind?” he asked.
“Yeah, they wanted to come but I didn’t want Misty seeing us like this,” she muttered as she pawed at her eyes.
“That’s probably for the best. Is that your only bag?” he asked.
She nodded and let him take it for her. They got in the truck and drove off towards his house.
“So uh how’s work?” Matt asked.
“Its great. How’s the album been coming?” Daphne asked.
“We finished everything right before all this happened,” he muttered.
The rest of the car ride was silent. Daphne noticed multiple cars parked in front of Matt’s house as they approached it.
“Everyone heard you were coming in today,” he smiled lightly.
She smiled and got out of the car. She linked arms with him as they walked up to the house. They walked inside and saw everyone in the living room. The tension in the room was thick.
“Hey Daph,” Zacky smiled sadly as he tightly hugged her.
“Hey Zacky,” she smiled.
“Hey sweetie,” Abby, Zacky’s girlfriend, greeted as she hugged Daphne.
Daphne hugged her back and moved on to Jade.
“Hey sis,” she greeted.
“Hey Daphne,” Jade smiled lightly.
“Hey short shit,” Daphne smiled as she hugged Johnny.
“Hey Daph,” he smiled.
“Hey Mrs. Seward,” Daphne smirked at Sadie.
“Hey you,” she smiled sadly as they hugged.
Daphne peered over Sadie’s shoulder at Jimmy’s fiancé, Roxxi.
“I’m sorry Rox,” she whispered as they hugged.
“Its not your fault sweetie, its good to see you,” she muttered.
“You too,” Daphne muttered.
“I just wish you came back on better circumstances.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Why the fuck are you here?”
Daphne turned around and confusingly looked over at Brian. He glared menacingly at her behind his sunglasses.
“Are you fucking high? Why do you think I’m here?” she snapped.
“You have to right to be here!” he barked.
“Calm the fuck down Brian!” Matt spat.
“No I’m not going to fucking calm down. Our brother is fucking dead and [i]she[/i] thinks she has a right to be here after not seeing or talking to him in fucking months!” Brian snarled.
“Bri I was in New York! He was my best friend too!” she cried.
“You sure as hell didn’t treat him that way! You weren’t fucking here when it happened! We’d be better off if you just stayed in New York!” he yelled.
“That really hurt Bri,” she muttered.
“Good, now go home!” he spat as he stormed out with Zoey in tow.
“I’ll fucking kill him,” Matt grumbled as he hugged his crying sister.
***
The next morning, all of Jimmy’s friends and family stood in the pouring rain as he was lowered six feet under. Matt firmly held Jade’s and Daphne’s hands as he blinked back his tears. Daphne didn’t try to hold back her tears. She didn’t hear the pastor speak, her mind was on Jimmy and on the cruel words Brian said the night before. She looked across the grave as she felt a gaze on her. She felt more tears fall as Brian glared at her. That cruel, fateful day was the last day Daphne saw her family in years.
A twenty one year old Daphne glanced back at her six week old daughter as she drove through the streets of Huntington Beach with her boyfriend. The last time they saw her family was at Christmas when she was four months pregnant. Daphne decided that it was the perfect time for her family to meet her daughter since the guys had just gotten back from tour to promote their self-titled album.
“Is Misty sleeping?” Derek asked as he glanced in the rearview mirror at his daughter.
“She’s just waking up,” Daphne smiled.
She smiled and blew a kiss at Misty when the baby’s eyes focused on her. Daphne laughed lightly as Misty lazily smiled at her. Daphne turned back around to take in the familiar sights.
“So whose house are we going to again?” Derek asked.
“Matt and Jade’s; my parents and everyone else are going to meet us there,” she told him.
“I don’t think the guys like me too much,” he muttered.
“What are you talking about? They love you!” she insisted.
“Not really, they all ganged up on me when you brought me here for Christmas the year we met; especially that Brian guy!” he groaned.
Daphne smiled lightly at Brian’s overprotectiveness over her.
“They’re all just over-protective of me and Brian’s like my best friend,” she smiled.
“He wants to be more than your friend. I see the way he looks at you Daph and I don’t like it,” he hissed.
“That is not true! Brian is with Zoey anyway,” she shrugged.
“God I hate her!” he grumbled.
“Me too, she whines too much,” she mumbled.
“Brian do this for me, Brian do that for me, Brian I broke a nail!” Derek mocked.
Daphne laughed and slipped her hand into his.
“I love you,” he smiled.
“I love you too,” she smiled as she leaned over to kiss his cheek.
Derek squeezed her hand as he pulled into Matt’s driveway. They parked behind Matt’s truck and got out as the front door opened.
“Mattie!” Daphne shouted as she bounded over to her brother.
“Hey Daph!” Matt laughed as she jumped into his arms.
“I missed you!” she smiled.
“I missed you too!” he laughed.
“Come on,” she smiled once he set her down.
She linked her arm through his and led him over to Derek.
“Hey Derek,” Matt smiled lightly.
“Hey,” Derek smiled as they shook hands.
“Matt come meet your niece!” Daphne smiled as she walked around to Misty’s side of the car.
“Hey princess,” she cooed as she unbuckled Misty from her carrier.
She picked her up and kissed her cheek before turning to Matt. She grinned and settled her in his arms.
“She’s so tiny,” he smiled as he looked down at his niece.
“She’s supposed to be Matt,” she laughed.
“Well sorry, the last time I held a baby was when you were born and that was ages ago,” he smirked.
“Shut it Sanders! You’re older than me!” she smiled.
“Only by five years, Sanders!” he grinned.
“So what do you think of your goddaughter Matt?” Derek asked as he approached them.
“Goddaughter?” Matt asked.
Daphne grinned and nodded.
“We want you and Jade to be her godparents!” she smiled.
“Fuck yeah!” he cheered.
“No cussing in front of my daughter Matthew!” she smirked.
“You are probably no better!” Matt laughed.
“Matt, stop hogging the baby! Bring her inside so I can meet her!” Jade, Matt’s fiancé, called from the doorway.
“Lets go before she gets pissed,” Matt laughed as he walked towards the house with Misty.
Daphne linked her arm through Derek’s as they followed Matt inside.
“Babe we’re godparents!” Matt called.
“Godparents!” Jade shrieked as she walked out of the kitchen.
“Hell yeah!” Daphne smiled.
“Yay!” she smiled as she tightly hugged Daphne.
“Hey Derek!” she smiled as she hugged him.
“Hey,” Derek muttered.
“Jesus Christ Daph you look great! I wouldn’t have guessed that you had my goddaughter six weeks ago,” Jade grinned.
“You’re such a dork!” Daphne laughed.
“You love me!” Jade smiled.
“Hold your goddaughter, I need to fire up the grill,” Matt smiled as he passed Misty to Jade.
“Want to come help Derek?” he asked.
“Uh, yeah sure,” Derek muttered.
“She is so adorable!” Jade smiled as she looked adoringly down at the baby.
“Isn’t she?” Daphne smiled as they sat down on the couch.
“You and Derek did a really good job Daph. I know you two are going to be great parents,” Jade smiled.
“We’re doing our best so far,” Daphne smiled.
“What’s it feel like to be a mom?”
“It feels almost surreal; it’s the best feeling in the world though. I love her to death and she already has Derek and I wrapped around her finger.”
“It seems like she’s doing the same with Matt,” Jade laughed.
“You can tell Matt already adores her. So when can I expect some nieces or nephews?” Daphne smiled.
“I don’t know,” Jade sighed.
“Do you want kids?”
“Of course I do! I want to have kids as soon as possible, but Matt wants to wait. He wants to wait until the band is at a point where they don’t tour as much,” Jade huffed.
“Maybe that’s for the best. You two will sure as hell make great parents,” Daphne smiled.
“Thanks Daph,” Jade smiled.
“So how are things coming along with the wedding?”
“Great! I can’t believe in two months I’ll be a Sanders! It would be easier planning everything if my maid of honor was here to help me though!”
“Sorry sweetie, she has her own life in New York,” Daphne smiled sheepishly.
“Well at least you’re here now. While you’re here, we’re going to go dress shopping!” Jade squealed.
“That’s exciting! So Sadie and Zoey are the bridesmaids right?” Daphne asked.
“Yup, and Jimmy has been dating this great girl for a while so she’s a bridesmaid and Jimmy’s date. My friend Abby is a bridesmaid as well and I’m setting her and Zacky up,” Jade grinned.
“I’m sure Zacky will love you for that,” Daphne laughed.
“I’ll love you for what?” a voice asked.
They looked to the foyer and saw the guys, Sadie and Zoey standing there.
“Ah!” Daphne squealed as she jumped up.
Jimmy was the first to grab her.
“I missed you Daphne Duck!” he smiled.
“I missed you too Jimmy!” she smiled.
“Now where’s that little girl at?” he smiled.
“Jade has her,” she grinned.
“She’s so small!” he exclaimed as he bounded over to the baby.
“Daphne!” Sadie, Johnny’s girlfriend, squealed.
“Sadie!” Daphne smiled as the two tightly hugged.
“God you look great!” Sadie complimented.
“Thanks sweetie, I missed you,” Daphne smiled.
“You too,” Sadie smiled.
“Johnny!” Daphne yelled as she launched herself at him.
“Hey Daph!” Johnny laughed as he hugged her.
“I missed you short shit!” she smirked.
“You’re still shorter than I am!” he shrieked.
“Love you!” she smiled.
“What no love for me?” Zacky smirked.
“Love you Zacky!” she smiled as she threw her arms around his neck.
“Good to see you baby,” he smiled.
“You too Zack,” she smiled.
“Hey Bri,” she smiled sheepishly once she let go of Zacky.
“Well don’t just stand there; hug me baby girl!” Brian smiled.
Daphne smiled and immediately stepped into his open arms. She wrapped her arms around his torso and buried her face in his neck. She felt butterflies in her stomach when he tightly wrapped his arms around her.
“He still knows how to drive me wild!” she thought.
“I missed you so much,” he muttered as he kissed her cheek.
“I missed you too,” she smiled.
She reluctantly let go of him and glanced at Zoey, Brian’s girlfriend. She was glaring menacingly at her.
“Hey Zoey,” she muttered.
Zoey mumbled a greeting and slipped her hand into Brian’s.
“So who has the baby now?” Derek asked as he approached them.
“By the looks of it; Sadie and Johnny do,” Daphne laughed lightly.
“Hey Brian,” Derek greeted.
“Hey,” Brian mumbled.
Half an hour later, Daphne was feeding Misty while Derek sat next to her.
“Babe can you burp her for me?” she asked as she took the bottle out of Misty’s mouth.
Derek nodded and draped a burping cloth over his shoulder before taking Misty out of her arms. A few minutes later, the door flew open to reveal Kim Sanders. Daphne smiled before jumping up and striding over to her.
“Hey momma!” she smiled as she tightly hugged her mom.
“Daphne!” Kim squealed.
“I missed you!” Daphne yelled.
“I missed you too baby! Now where’s my granddaughter?” Kim smiled.
“Derek has her,” Daphne smiled.
Kim smiled and walked over to Derek.
“Hi Derek!” she greeted as she swooped down, kissing his cheek.
“Hey Kim,” Derek smiled.
“Oh my gosh she is so gorgeous!” Kim gushed as she gazed down at Misty in Derek’s arms.
“Isn’t she?” Derek smiled as he passed the baby to her.
“Jeez my granddaughter’s hogging all the attention; I feel unloved,” Gary Sanders teased as he walked up behind Daphne.
“Daddy!” Daphne squealed as she jumped into her dad’s arms.
“Good to see ya baby! Now let me meet my granddaughter,” he smiled as he walked over to Kim.
Daphne sat next to Derek as he pulled out his phone. He frowned and glared at it as he read over a text message.
“What’s wrong?” she frowned.
He shook his head as he hastily texted back. Daphne watched him skeptically as he grew angrier as the texting conversation continued.
“That fucker!” he grumbled after a while.
“What’s wrong?” Daphne asked again.
“Nothing, I just have to go take care of something in town,” he muttered.
“You don’t know anyone here,” she pointed out.
“Its something for work,” he told her quickly.
“How do you work with people out here?” she asked.
“You wouldn’t understand Daph. I really have to go,” he seethed as he got up and stormed out.
“Daph what kind of work does Derek do?” Zacky asked he watched Derek through the window.
“He’s a businessman,” she muttered.
“What kind of business?” Jimmy asked skeptically.
“He never told me; he just says I wouldn’t understand,” she shrugged.
“You don’t think…” Johnny trailed off as he looked at the guys.
“Think what?” Daphne asked.
“Nothing baby, guys lets go help Matt,” Gary suggested as he stood up.
All the guys followed him, except for one.
“Girls come help me make the salads. Here Daph, you relax with the baby,” Kim smiled as she passed Misty to Daphne.
“Talk to him,” Jade whispered as she passed Daphne.
She pulled Zoey up and drug her into the kitchen with them.
“You haven’t held her yet,” Daphne smiled as she got up.
She walked over to Brian as he sat in the recliner.
“I’m actually kind of scared too,” he admitted sheepishly.
“Why?” she laughed as she sat on the arm of the chair.
“She’s just so tiny,” he laughed lightly.
“You’ll be fine; she has to get used to her Uncle Brian anyway,” she smiled.
He smiled and nodded.
“Just make sure you cradle her head,” she told him as she settled Misty in his arms.
“She’s gorgeous; she looks just like you,” he smiled.
“Really?” she smiled.
“Of course, the only difference is her black hair. I can see she already has the Sanders’ dimples,” he laughed.
“I’m not surprised,” she laughed.
“You’re really doing a great job Daph.”
“Thanks Bri; it really means a lot.”
“Come on, get more comfortable,” Brian told her.
“There’s no room!” Daphne laughed.
“Hold the baby and sit on my lap,” he smirked.
“Won’t Zoey get mad?” she smirked.
“Let her,” he shrugged.
She smiled and picked Misty up. She plopped down in his lap and he wrapped an arm around her waist. He draped the other across her bare legs.
“So how do you like being a mom?” he asked as he looked down at Misty.
“I love it! I’d do anything for her,” she smiled.
“I can tell,” he smiled.
“Do you want kids?” she asked.
“Someday I do; when I’m not touring as much,” he told her.
“Do you want to have some with Zoey?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Do you love her?” she asked.
“I think I do, I’m just not sure if she’s the one,” he muttered as he laid his head on her shoulder.
“I’m sure you’ll figure things out Bri,” she muttered as she pecked his forehead.
“Do you love Derek?”
“We have a child together; of course I love him.”
“But are you in love with him?”
“I’m not sure Bri,” she muttered.
~~~~
December 2009
In the early morning hours on December 28th, Daphne and Derek were rudely awakened when her cell-phone went off.
“Who the fuck is calling you at two in the morning?” Derek grumbled as he grabbed her phone for her.
“Its your brother,” he mumbled as he passed it to her.
“Its only eleven there,” she grumbled as she flipped open her phone.
D- Hey Matt.
M- Daph…
D- Yes Matt; its me. What’s up?
M- You need to come home Daph.
D- What? Why?
M- Its really bad Daph…
D- What’s really bad? You’re not making any sense Matt! What the hell happened?
She heard him let out a few quiet sobs.
D- Matt! What happened?
M-…Jimmy’s dead Daphne.
***
A distraught and depressed Daphne flew out to Huntington the night before her best friend’s funeral. She let out a shaky breath as the plane landed. She got up and grabbed her purse as she walked off the plane. She grabbed her bag from the baggage claim and walked outside. She saw her brother leaning against his truck; sporting his signature aviators. He smiled sadly when he spotted her. She quickly strode over to him and wrapped her arms around his torso; quiet sobs immediately racked through her body. Matt tightly wrapped his arms around her as a few tears spilled down his cheeks.
“I can’t believe he’s gone Matt,” she muttered.
“I know baby,” he whispered as he stroked her hair.
He sniffled and wiped his eyes once Daphne calmed down.
“Derek and Misty stayed behind?” he asked.
“Yeah, they wanted to come but I didn’t want Misty seeing us like this,” she muttered as she pawed at her eyes.
“That’s probably for the best. Is that your only bag?” he asked.
She nodded and let him take it for her. They got in the truck and drove off towards his house.
“So uh how’s work?” Matt asked.
“Its great. How’s the album been coming?” Daphne asked.
“We finished everything right before all this happened,” he muttered.
The rest of the car ride was silent. Daphne noticed multiple cars parked in front of Matt’s house as they approached it.
“Everyone heard you were coming in today,” he smiled lightly.
She smiled and got out of the car. She linked arms with him as they walked up to the house. They walked inside and saw everyone in the living room. The tension in the room was thick.
“Hey Daph,” Zacky smiled sadly as he tightly hugged her.
“Hey Zacky,” she smiled.
“Hey sweetie,” Abby, Zacky’s girlfriend, greeted as she hugged Daphne.
Daphne hugged her back and moved on to Jade.
“Hey sis,” she greeted.
“Hey Daphne,” Jade smiled lightly.
“Hey short shit,” Daphne smiled as she hugged Johnny.
“Hey Daph,” he smiled.
“Hey Mrs. Seward,” Daphne smirked at Sadie.
“Hey you,” she smiled sadly as they hugged.
Daphne peered over Sadie’s shoulder at Jimmy’s fiancé, Roxxi.
“I’m sorry Rox,” she whispered as they hugged.
“Its not your fault sweetie, its good to see you,” she muttered.
“You too,” Daphne muttered.
“I just wish you came back on better circumstances.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Why the fuck are you here?”
Daphne turned around and confusingly looked over at Brian. He glared menacingly at her behind his sunglasses.
“Are you fucking high? Why do you think I’m here?” she snapped.
“You have to right to be here!” he barked.
“Calm the fuck down Brian!” Matt spat.
“No I’m not going to fucking calm down. Our brother is fucking dead and [i]she[/i] thinks she has a right to be here after not seeing or talking to him in fucking months!” Brian snarled.
“Bri I was in New York! He was my best friend too!” she cried.
“You sure as hell didn’t treat him that way! You weren’t fucking here when it happened! We’d be better off if you just stayed in New York!” he yelled.
“That really hurt Bri,” she muttered.
“Good, now go home!” he spat as he stormed out with Zoey in tow.
“I’ll fucking kill him,” Matt grumbled as he hugged his crying sister.
***
The next morning, all of Jimmy’s friends and family stood in the pouring rain as he was lowered six feet under. Matt firmly held Jade’s and Daphne’s hands as he blinked back his tears. Daphne didn’t try to hold back her tears. She didn’t hear the pastor speak, her mind was on Jimmy and on the cruel words Brian said the night before. She looked across the grave as she felt a gaze on her. She felt more tears fall as Brian glared at her. That cruel, fateful day was the last day Daphne saw her family in years.
Notes
I feel so evil for writing this.I cried while doing so, but it had to be done.
:/
</3
This was really good! Loved it :D
12/31/16