Hey guys sorry it took so long!!! Really happy to give you guys a new chapter!!!

This chapter is dedicated to SilverDusts for her continuous support!!! ;) Thank you!

A/N a great big thanks to groovystar for the wonderful cover above!!! ;)

Happy April Fools!

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Dancing with Death

"Who are you?" I asked, putting my free hand on my hip.

"What do you mean, sweetheart?" He cocked his head to the side, and I had to try hard to keep my anger at him. He was so darn cute.

"I meant exactly what I said. Who. Are. You?" I repeated, my voice leveled and held a slight tone of coldness. I was proud of myself. I was never mad at him. The key was to stay away from him before he came up with an idea that always dissolved my anger at him. Whoever he was.

His face appeared to crumple, and I knew I had to be strong in my resolve. I couldn't let him distract me this time. It was time to finally know all the things he had been hiding. "Baby, why are you acting like this?" His eyebrows furrowed, and his blue eyes were narrowed at me.

"What is this when you try to push me away again?" He said. "Huh? Is that why?" The words came out of his mouth in a rush. He threw them out almost like they were acid. Bitter in his mouth.

"I want to know why I can't remember you!" I blurted, and he stood frozen. His feet rooted to the spot. "I want you to tell me why I can even remember my mother, but when it's you.... You-" I threw my hands up. "It's all blurry! My head aches and I let it go. Not anymore. I want you to tell me everything." I exhaled, my chest heaving up and down after my admission.

I felt more light, like there was less weight on my chest. It felt good. It felt good to finally say the words I had held back for so long. The tiredness would soon set in as it always did after an argument with him. It always left me emotionally drained.

"Oh, you really want to know huh, sweetheart?" He spoke, his voice was the only sound I had heard.

"Yeah, I actually do."

What he said next surprised me.

"Well, you don't know what I do. Maybe some things are better off not known." He said the last part barely above a whisper. So low I almost thought he didn't want me to hear it, but I did.

I was infuriated.

How dare he not think I could take the truth? That I was too fragile? Or he even thought I wasn't smart enough? The one that had me fuming was that he thought I couldn't take care of myself, and that I needed him to take care of it instead.

It was the last thought that drove my next actions. "Then why did you comment that about my mother, you jerk!" I knew exactly where to hit him, and how hard. "Maybe you need to take care of your own problems for a change. How about coming to terms with your past, and I don't know facing them! At least I acknowledge that my mother is dead." I spat, venom dripping off of each word. I knew it would hurt him, and for once I actually wanted to.

"You know what, I know you are angry so I will disregard you said anything about it." He says in a deep baritone voice which has always been there for me. Always. There is a seeming of acceptance as he sighs afterwards.

"Fine, if you want to know tell me what you remember about the night of the 'murder' of your mother."

"Well I don't know!!! Why does it matter?"

"Think harder, sweetheart." I thought so hard my head pounded. I hadn't ever tried this hard to remember. It felt like a wall was shoving me back. It was black.

"I remember.... I don't know what I remember!" But then the pain faded a little, and I remembered bits and pieces. Soon I was back to that night.....

My mom and I were watching a movie and eating popcorn. Because really, what's a movie without it?

We heard a knock at the front door. My mom went to go answer it, and she immediately locked the chain across the door.

"Who is it, Mommy?" I asked.

"Aspen go hide in the closet." I stared at her. Why was she acting so strange?

"Aspen, now!" I flew back into motion and ran into the closet. I left a tiny sliver of light seeping in. That way I would see my mom. She turned, "Don't come out unless I tell you too, no matter what."

I nodded, and she said, "Aspen, I want you to promise me."

I didn't understand what was going on, but she was the only person I loved so much I trusted her with my life. My voice came out in a croak, "I promise, mommy."

She nodded and then turned away from me, facing the door. To the side of her I saw her reaction when the person on the other side of the door spoke.

"You know this is foolish, Jannetta. Let me in." He made a sound of air leaving his mouth. "Jannetta, I know you don't want to scare her."

"I told you to get out of our lives!" My mother answered.

"I love her too. We can be a happy family like you've always wanted!" I heard a thump on the door and a light scuffing sound. It sounded as if something hit the floor, and the voice sounded even closer than it was before. "Baby, look, I love you. Just- please."

It was silent for a while. It seemed as if everyone was holding their breath.

"You need to leave." She sounded tired, and continued with a hard voice, "We will never be a happy family."

This time the voice sounded angry and I saw my mother shrink back. "Jann, Jann... you know how this works. It's cute still, after so long you still think you have a choice."

His voice was even louder and I saw a shadow in the far corner of the room. Then I saw a man, he appeared in front of my mother. Out of thin air.

Was he a magician? Or a superhero?

The man grabbed my mother's head and drug his other hand down her face. He cupped her chin, pulling her head up to his. She refused to look at him.

"It wasn't a request, Jann. You will do as I say. If you so much as breathe a word of refusal I promise you will regret it." She nodded, and then he whispered something in her ear.

She immediately began to shake her head. Then to my shock my mother hits him. She kicks him right where she tells me is the best form of defense. It works; the man dropped to his knees.

What a terrible hero. He must be the villain. They always lose.

My mother runs across the room, and grabbed what looked like a knife from a drawer in the kitchen.

"Now Jannetta, we can either do this the hard way or the easy way. Tell me where the girl is." He followed her into the kitchen, rubbing his hands against each other.

"Never!" My mommy yelled. The man came around the big table in the center of the kitchen. The name of it having something to do with vacation or water... They circled the table, both switching sides.

"Fine. Have it your way, Sweetheart. Hard way it is; Remember I gave you a fair chance." He snapped his fingers.

To my wonder and amazement another man showed up. He had a large black coat on.

"Search for the girl." The new man nodded, and I didn't think he was a hero either. He looked in the cupboards, under the couch, and he walked in the hallway leading to our rooms.

Soon, he came back, and told the man. "Nope, I don't see her anywhere."

The closet was hidden by a large plant, I could see out through the leaves however, the door was hidden from view.

The first man turned back to my mother, "Last chance, baby. You better tell me where she is or suffer the consequences."

"How much more can you make me suffer? I'm already looking at you." My mom wasn't ready for the hit that came to her face.

"Check in the closet." The man that hit my mom said, and I heard her suck in a breath.

"Thought I didn't know, huh? Now I know where your allegiance lies." My mother let herself be grabbed by the arm. After that I didn't see her because my view was blocked by a large body. I sunk back into the closet even farther. Hoping, that he wouldn't see me.

The light came into the closet, and I heard a cry come out from outside. "This isn't even going to begin how your life will look!" Another cry, and a crashing sound.

Soon there was silence except for my loud breathing, and my pounding heart.

Then there were arms that grabbed me. They pulled me out from behind all the clothes, and shoes. "Got her." The man answered. I couldn't see his face, but I saw my mother as her head jerked up to meet the man's by her hair.

"Mommy!" I yelled. She looked right at me before he made her face him. She slumped and he swept her in his arms. I could've sworn I saw tears in her eyes when she looked at me.

"You know your instructions. You best keep them." The first man told the one holding me as I thrashed around. I kicked and hit him long after they were gone.

If she wasn't dead, then where was she?

Why didn't I remember this before?

Who were those people and why did they want my mother?

A thought hit me, and my heart leaped up into my throat. "How would you know what happened? If you weren't there?" I was more thinking out loud.

However, after a long tense silence in which I can feel him staring at me even as I look at my feet he finally spoke.

"I don't even know why it would matter if I was there or not. I'm still me. I'm still Peanut Butter." A tinge of hurt can be heard in his tone. I can hear him as he walks closer, and I shake my head.

"True." I said. "But the sad thing is.... I'm not so sure I know who that is anymore." I breathed, already feeling that familiar exhaustion that comes with arguing with him.

I see the anger in his eyes and know that this was an even harder hit than the jab at his family.

"Fine, I was there. I was the second man. Happy?" He said, and if I had thought I was shocked at his outburst then, I would be stunned after the words he yelled after them.

"Would you sleep better at night knowing that your mother is in fact in Hell?"

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Phew! Finally got another one done!!!

So how was it?

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Love to hear your thoughts and any help you can give!!!

Who is the guy that came to get her mother?

Why does he want her?

Also why does he keep calling them a family?

Answer any of these questions right and get a dedication for next chapter!

Also I will read four chapters of any book of your choice!

Until next time.

Much love,

SwimmerVGirl <3