The police came, searched the house for any evidence of drug usage and arrested Lucy.

"Don't let them take me, please," Lucy pled to Rogue.

Lucy had flung her arms around Rogue, and she almost lost it. But she had caught her bounding emotions, captured them before they anguished from her throat in tears. After all, her mother was a monster and she wouldn't let her get away with her sins.

The look on Reeve's face was strange that night as if he didn't want to turn her over to the police.

Apparently her brother developed unusual feelings for Lucy over the years of abuse.

Rogue had to put an end on it.

She really could have used a dad. When Lucy was arrested, there wasn't even anybody there for her. No one cared about her, even Reeve. He disappeared for days. She spent a couple of days eating toast and just waited for him until he comes back.

After disappearing for three days, she spotted Reeve's silhouette on the couch when she woke up and went down to the kitchen. She rubbed her eyes blearily, squinting at the light she had just switched on, and then looking up at him.

"Are you okay?' Rogue asked through a yawn.

"Yeah, fine." Always was his default answer.

"You've always been a terrible liar. Plus, you look like an utter shit," she remarked.

"I said I'm fine, okay?" he said dismissively, leaving no room for argument. His hair was a tangled mess and his face was unshaven.

"Where have you been?" Concern appeared in her sleepy face as she sat beside him.

"None of your business."

"You went to see her, did you?" Rogue was trying to keep it calm as she was getting no reaction from her earlier question.

He nodded.

Anger and disgust, a vomit-inducing combination of emotions assaulted her. She was relieved though that Lucy had been locked up.

She let out a breath, feeling her hands shake. She almost jumped into her seat when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it." Reeve went to get the door.

Five minutes later and he still wasn't coming back and so she followed.

"Everything, okay?" She peeked her head out of the door and she was met with an unexpected sight: a professional-looking man in a three-piece suit and a cane.

He appeared to be on his late fifties, with a neatly combed white hair, a clean-shaven face, and a leather briefcase hanging at his side.

"Ah, you must be Rogue Gates. I'm Atty. Arthur Hammond." The old man greeted with a wide smile plastered on his face.

"Hi." She smiled back and eyed Reeve. Her right hand clutching the hem of his shirt.

"Go back inside," Reeve told her and to the attorney he said, "We don't need his help."

Rogue couldn't see Reeve's face, but he could hear the anger in his voice.

"Wait, help from whom?" She stubbornly stayed at the front door. "What do you want from us?"

The man turned to look at Rogue. "May I come in so we might sit and discuss things properly? I'd rather not talk about it out in the open."

Rogue didn't answer immediately, after a pause, she looked up at Reeve. The attorney expected her to ask permission from her brother for him to enter the house.

"Come in," Reeve said, stepping aside to allow the man entry. "You may take a seat attorney," Reeve gestured.

"What is he doing here?" Rogue asked his brother and sat next to him on the couch.

"I'm here to represent your father, Rufus Gates," the man who had brown hair, a small mustache, and a casual bearing, was the one to answer after setting his briefcase beside the chair.

Atty. Hammond, informed them that their father's petition for custody had been successful after years of favorable bias towards their mother.

"Why?" Rogue burst out. "He left us, so why is he coming back after giving up his rights? He abandoned me and my brother."

"I understand where you coming from Rogue. He bailed when you needed him the most so he's automatically disqualified from calling himself your father. However, it might be worth giving him a chance. For your own good. Given your situation."

Reeve grunted in irritation. Atty. Hammond returned his gaze to him.

"You cannot change the past. It is what you choose to do in the present that will determine your future. Your father wanted to make up for all those lost years. He wanted to give you everything you deserved."

Rogue recalled how year after year she had waited to hear from her father, disappointment growing with each passing years. She had buried her hatred but deep in her heart, she was longing for the father who abandoned them.

"We don't get to choose the monster who raise us but we were lucky enough to survive the ordeal of that selfish bitch. We don't need his help," Rogue sputtered. She knew the man was probably right, though. She leaned back on the couch, staring past the lawyer while shifting through her thoughts.

Reeve stayed quiet. Silently contemplating. He had hoped that her sister will soon get the life he dreamed for her. A long happy life.

"I understand that this isn't a decision you can make so lightly. Whatever you decide to do is your choice and your choice alone. Painful as it all is, it might be worth hearing him out. Trust me on this...you do not want to spend the rest of your life asking 'why'?" he said as he stood and picked up his briefcase. "I will give you a few days to consider, but I ask that you make your decision before the first of September," he added. He gave a curt nod and began to move towards the door.

"No need to wait until the first. She's coming with you," Reeve blurted. He watched as the shock registered on her sister's face.

Atty. Hammond stopped on his tracks and turned around with a subtle smile on his face.

"What are you talking about? Are you crazy?" Rogue's head jolted and looked at her brother incredulously.

Reeve sat up, sucking in a deep, anxious breath while staring blankly straight on the wall. "Atty. Hammond is right. You'll have a better future if you will move away from this place. Besides, I know you want to see him so bad. This is your chance. I will visit you often, don't worry."

Reeve met her gaze and smiled at her.

Tears trailed down her face unchecked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rogue frowned, moving closer to him. "I'm not leaving without you."

"I've got a lot things to take care in here. I have to stay."

"Why do you have to stay?" Rogue voice cracked. "Tell me you're coming after me. Tell me that you're not going to free Lucy and take her back. Tell me that you're not going to—"

"Pack your things." Reeve dismissed her. He stood from where he was seated and made his way upstairs.

"I am not going to have a say in this, am I?" Rogue called.

Reeve halted mid-step but didn't look back. "No," he uttered and continued walking towards his room.

* * *

Rogue surveyed her room one last time. This was the last day she would spend in it. She had spent mostly all of her life in this room. She had dreamed, cried, laughed and studied in this room. She felt like she was being torn from her home, forced to go across the country to live with her estranged father.

Her things were packed up in a suitcase by her feet. She was ready to leave. It was a mixture of sadness, nervousness, and excitement. She was eager to leave the bad memories of her childhood and head off to Boston and meet her half-siblings, but at the same time all she wanted to do was curl up on the couch with her brother and never leave the house.

She grabbed her suitcase and headed downstairs.

"I'm ready," she announced when she descended.

Reeve, who was talking with Atty. Hammond, let out a small smile.

Atty. Hammond grabbed the boxes from her hand. "I will wait for you in the car," he said and walked out of the house.

Suddenly, the room filled with silence.

"Promise, you'll follow me there," Rogue spoke.

"You know I suck at making promises," Reeve humored, giving her a smile that didn't even reach his eyes. "You take care, little booboo."

She looked into his eyes and nodded, tears welled in her eyes.

Reeve pulled her sister into his embrace, shaking with sobs as slow, single tears fell from his eyes.

"Are you excited to leave this weather?" he pulled back and asked, sniffing.

"God yes! The changing seasons will be lovely and fun," she replied, forcing a cheerful tone.

"I will always be here for you, all right. Now, get out. Atty. Hammond is waiting for you." A genuine smile curved onto his lips.

She wiped her tear-stained cheeks as she stayed rooted to her spot.

"Stop crying, Rogue. You know it's not good for your heart." He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and gently traced the back of his fingers gently down her cheek.

Rogue smiled wiping the tears from his cheeks. "You're the best brother ever. I'll call you when I get there. I'm gonna miss you so much," she said sadly, wrapping her arms around his torso.

"I'll miss you more little booboo," he said kissing the top of her head. "Stay strong, Rogue. Make friends, do well in school, take care of yourself, have lots of fu—" he rambled but she cut him off.

"Yes dad, Jeez." Rogue rolled her eyes playfully and he gave her a goofy look.

Again they fell silent. He nodded and embraced her for one last time.

"I'll see you soon, brother."