Penny's POV
Only two days until Thanksgiving and I have never been so nervous in my life. My sister and brother were both older than me and haven't always been pleased with my life choices. When I started dating Jay, my brother said an older woman and a younger man never works. He liked Jay and they got along good, but when we split up, I could feel the "I told you so." I had always looked up to my sister and she has always been there for me. Even though she was the oldest and married when I was young. I know that I did not meet her expectations for me, going to college, a stable marriage and a good job. Instead I got pregnant in college and had married three times. The only thing I finally succeeded at was the good job. My Mom is a very stubborn woman, with very decisive opinions. She always supported my decisions, but she didn't have a problem saying how she felt about them. But when she was really mad, she wouldn't speak at all. I don't know how they were going to react to Brian and how Brian would react to them.
Brian was flying in on Wednesday and I couldn't wait. On Tuesday, I went into the office to work. After work, I had the Mustang washed and picked up groceries for Brian's visit and my Thanksgiving dish. I got home around 8:00 PM, Chloe called right as I was getting out of the Mustang.
"Hey There Kiddo!" I went to the trunk of the car and grabbed the beer to bring in.
"Hi Momma! Is there anything I need to bring to Grandmas?" I walked into the kitchen.
"No, I think we have it covered" I heard a noise coming from the family room. "That man!"
"What?" Chloe said.
"Brian's trying to be sneaky, he must've come in early." I walked back to the Family Room. "You have to hear this." I jumped into the doorway of the Family Room. "Caught you Haner!!!" Only thing I remember after that was the intense pain as a very heavy object struck me in the head and screaming before everything went black.

Chloe's POV
"Mom? Mom! Brian?" I heard Mom scream and then someone running. Mom wasn't answering me and I thought I heard a door slam.
I hung up and called 911 and sent the police to Mom's. I jumped in my car and took off, I called Brian.
"Hey Chloe, what's up?"
"Where are you Brian?"
"Umm, in the Studio with the guys. Why?"
"Something's happened to Mom."
"What do you mean? Is she ok?"
"I don't know; I was on the phone with her when she got home. She heard a noise and thought you had come early to surprise her. I heard her scream and then a thud, I could hear someone running and a door slamming. I called out to her, but she didn't answer."
"Did you call the police?"
" Yes, I just pulled up to her house and they are already here."
"Find out what's going on." I could tell Brian was just as scared as I was.
"They motioned for me to stay back, the garage door is open and the trunk is up on the Mustang. They just went into the house."
Five minutes later I could hear an ambulance coming. "Brian, there's an Ambulance coming. The police must have called for one. A police officer just came out, I'm going to see what's going on, I will call you back as soon as I can."

Brian's POV
The guys stood there looking at me, trying to figure out what was going on. Chloe said she'd call me back and hung up. "Chloe!"
"What's going on, is Penny hurt?" Matt asked.
"Yes, I think so! DAMN IT! FUCK!"
"What happened?" Zack asked.
"I don't fucking know, Chloe was on the phone with her. There was someone in the house, Penny thought it was me. Chloe said Penny screamed and after that there was only footsteps and a door slamming."
"Holy Shit" Johnny said quietly.
"I need a plane, a flight, I gotta go to Ohio NOW!"
Matt called Val. "We're not exactly sure of the details, but something has happened to Penny. Brian is waiting to hear back from her daughter. Can you find the soonest flight possible to Columbus Ohio and book it for him? I'm going to drive him to the airport." "Thanks babe, I'll let you know as soon as we find out. Yes, I'll let him know."
Matt turned to me. "Val is booking a flight for you, I'll follow you home so you can pack a quick bag and I'll take you to the airport."
"Thanks Man, but I don't want to go home. Just take me to the airport. Just leave my car here."
"Johnny and I will run your car to your house." Zack said.
Matt and I took off.
"Now if Chloe would just call me back."
Just then my phone rang, it was Val "Brian, there's a Non-Stop leaving in 35 minutes. Should I book it?"
"Yes, thank you Val."
"Love you. Give Penny my love."
"Love you too. I have a call waiting, gotta go."
"Chloe?"
"Brian, I don't have great news." I could tell she was crying. "I guess someone smashed in the window in Mom's bedroom and got in the house. They must have been in the family room and heard her come home. When she walked in the family room they hit her in the head with your guitar. Then they dropped the guitar in the Kitchen and took off through the garage. They can't find Mom's purse. She probably sat it on the kitchen island and they grabbed it on the way out. The police think they ran because she was on the phone and they knew I heard it."
"Is Penny okay?" I felt the tears in my eyes.
"Brian, she took a pretty bad blow to the head. She's unconscious and has lost a lot of blood. The ambulance just left. I am on my way to the hospital."
I couldn't speak "Brian? Are you still there?"
"Yea, I'm here. Did you see her?"
"Yes, she was ghost white and her lips were blue. Brian, I'm scared."
"She'll be okay, thank God you were on the phone with her and called 911 right away. I'm on my way, I should be there about 2:30 AM."
"I'll have Max pick you up."
"Thanks Chloe, keep me posted."
"Okay. I'm glad you're on your way."
"She'll be okay Chloe. Bye."
She has to be okay.
I told Matt what happened.
"She's going to be okay, Brian."
Suddenly, I was full of rage. "I'm going to find this Mother Fucker and pummel him to death with a guitar!" And I punched the roof of the car. I felt bad after I did it. "Sorry, Man."
"It's ok. You need to get it out."
"Thanks, I appreciate your support."
"We're brothers right?"
"Keep us posted. If you need us, call us and we'll be on the first plane out."
"Thanks. I don't know what I'd do without you guys."

Chloe's POV
I called Aunt Tess, she said she'd call Uncle Allen. She wanted to wait until tomorrow morning to call Grandma. She said she'd be here in the morning. I called Bianca, she said she'd be at the hospital in 15 minutes. I called Max and he said he was on his way and he'll go get Brian.
Mom was still in the ER when Bianca and Max got there. They both hugged me.
"Have you heard anything yet?" Bianca asked.
"Not yet. Brian is on his way."
"You've done all you can do, now we wait and pray." Bianca said.
Finally the Doctor came out. "Your Mom has lost a lot of blood. We've started a transfusion. She has a concussion also. We are moving her to the ICU until she is conscious and out of danger from the blood loss."
"But she's going to be okay, right?"
"We don't know anything for sure right now. But, she's very lucky that you called and got her help so quickly."
Bianca texted Brian for me, my hands were shaking so bad I couldn't do it. "I wish Brian were here." She said. She got a response from Brian.
Thanks Bianca for being there. If she wakes up before I get there, tell her I love her and I'm on my way.
The 3 of us were able to see her once she was settled in the ICU. She looked a little better, she was hooked up to a bunch of monitors. I had Max text Brian on my phone to tell him she looked better.
Max went home to take a nap before the hour drive to get Brian. Bianca stayed with me. I know Mom needs Brian, I wish he were here.

Brian's POV
After what seemed like the longest flight to Ohio and drive to the hospital, I was finally there. Bianca and Chloe were with her. She still wasn't awake.
"The police were here, they caught the guy. Some punk kid, only 18. He still had her purse." Chloe said. "I gave them a statement."
"Brian, we're going to leave you two alone. We've been talking to her, maybe she can hear us. Your voice might just be what she needs to hear." Bianca said.
They left and I held her hand, it was very cold. She was so white that she looked like a porcelain doll and I was afraid I might break her.
"Honey, I'm here. Please wake up, I need to see those beautiful blue eyes. I love you. I think I fell in love with you the moment I met you. Don't leave me." I leaned over and kissed her.
Her eyelids moved a little, then were still again. "That's it baby, wake up for me." Nothing happened.
"I need you, I don't know what I would do without you. Please wake up Penny. Come back to me."
Her hand lightly squeezed mine. "Yes!! That's it. Look at me. Open your eyes."
About a minute later her eyes opened slowly.
In a weak voice she said. "Brian?"
"I'm right here."
"What happened? I thought it was you in the house." Tears were welling up in her eyes.
"Someone broke into the house and hit you with my guitar. It's going to be okay, don't cry. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you. I will never let anyone hurt you again."
"My head hurts"
"I just called for a nurse. I know it hurts, but you are awake. You gave us all a scare."
"I'm sorry" she said.
The nurse came in and checked her monitors. She said they were all good and the ICU Doctor should be in soon.
The Doctor said that she was out of the woods and could be moved to a regular room.
"I want to go home." Penny said.
"I want you to stay at least one more day." The Doctor said.
"But tomorrow is Thanksgiving"
"Hopefully we can release you tomorrow morning, in time for Thanksgiving dinner.
She looked upset. "Penz, you need to stay here until they say you can go. When you are released, we're going to stay in a hotel for a few days until we can get the window fixed at the house and a security system installed.
"Okay, my head hurts too much to argue with you."
"I'm glad you're not going to try."
"We can give you something for your headache, let's get you moved," the Doctor said.
By the time Penny was settled in a room, she was out from the pain meds. Bianca took me to the house to get some clothes for both of us. Thank goodness I had some there. Max had come and boarded up the bedroom window and cleaned up the glass. In the family room was a giant blood stain on the carpet. "The bastard could have killed her." I picked the wall.
"But she's okay, Brian. We've got to focus on that." Bianca said.
"I've got to get some things taken care of this morning"
"Can I help?" Bianca offered.
"That would be great. You're the best. Can you call and get someone out here to replace the carpet in the family room? Just pick out whatever you think looks good that they can get done as soon as possible. I don't care about the cost. I'm going to call a security company, she's not staying here alone until that's done."
"Bianca, I need to ask you another favor."

Bianca's POV
"Sure, what is it?" I said, hoping I didn't just get myself into something, I'll regret.
"I have a surprise I want to give Penny for her Birthday, but it's going to take some work to pull it together in time."
"Whatever you need, Brian." I'm starting to get curious now.
"I need to get in contact with a Realtor here, not just any though."
"Okay?"
"We need one that is high end, discreet, that typically sells to the wealthier people in the area." Brian definitely had a clear idea of who he was looking for.
"Well, when I bought my last Mansion..." I couldn't help myself. "I haven't really had opportunity to need someone like that, but I know people who have. I will find out."
"Thanks Bianca"

Brian's POV
As soon as I got everything we needed, I jumped in the Mustang and headed back to the hospital.
Penny was awake when I got back and seemed much better.
"Hi Beautiful"
"Hi Handsome. You just missed everyone, my sibs were here and my Mom. The Doctor was here too, he said that I will probably get out tomorrow morning."
"That's great news. But you still need to not overdo it. I'm going to stay here for a while."
"But what about the album?" She said
"It can wait, the guys agree. I'm staying here until I am sure you are better and safe."
"I love you, thank you for being here."
"I love you Penelope."

Notes