Note:

Additional Cast:

Nick Zano as Alex Summers

Timothy Olyphant as Nicholas Ford

Sophie's POV

I have never been so down in my life, and it's me we are talking about. I have been down from times to times for not so small periods of time. But this time I have been like this the whole week, and it's tiring to have to pretend that you are OK. I do it mostly for Robin, because she has been down this week too, in sync with my mood, still feeling guilty about this, but I put on a content face for her and for the others as well, 'cause it's like they have been walking on eggshells when I am around. They try to be positive and their constant effort to cheer me up and make me laugh is pissing me off sometimes. Last week things were looking better, this week is awful.

"We get it that you feel down" I hate it when they say it. They don't get it. I wish they would stop saying that. Their parents are supportive. Their parents are proud of them, and their parents haven't been ignoring their kid's phone calls for 2 weeks now. Their parents are not like my mother. Joss gets it but the others don't. Robin doesn't get it either, and her playful efforts piss me off the most. I don't always want to go to the movies, I don't always wanna go to the park, I don't always want to sleep with her and sometimes I just wanna stay in my room and not see anyone, not even her.

But at the same time, I thank her for being there for me. I couldn't be doing this alone. I guess sometimes my bad mood gets the best of me.

Today is that day. As were the last 6.

She came home earlier, carrying a huge popcorn bag, and a bouquet of seven white roses. She came all cheery and smiley, declaring a Reign marathon. I didn't feel like it but I had no choice. I put my neutral face on and sat next to her on my king's size bed.

"Baby, I swear these clothes are not from this era. How can they be! They should have done a better research... but Adelaide looks so damn hot in them. She is fire! What do you think?" she asks as she selects the next episode.

"I guess she is good-looking." I mutter. "I am not watching this for the actress, unlike you. I am interested in the story." I say coldly afterwards, crossing my arms around my chest. She turns to me with a puzzled look in her face but after a few seconds she returns her gaze on the laptop screen, crossing her arms as well.

40 minutes later, my demeanor is still stiff and uninterested in what went down on the episode. Robin on the other side has regained her composure if her sparkly eyes are any indication. She puts the laptop aside and scoots closer on my body for a cuddling session, but I don't feel like it. Soon she is nibbling my neck and her hand travels to my stomach. Involuntary I flinch.

"Are my hands cold?" she asks innocently retrieving her hand. I sigh deeply disappointed at myself for giving my mood away.

"I just don't feel like cuddling right now. Sorry." My voice sounded weird after I said those words. Like it wasn't me that said them. But it is me.

"Oh... ok." She detaches from me and lies on her back, looking at the ceiling. The mood is so dark right now and guilt creeps on me. I shouldn't be doing this to her, I know. I close my eyes thanking whatever force is out there, that the silent is not uncomfortable between us yet, but somehow calm and soothing, but suddenly I feel movement on my bed and the warmth of Robin's body next to me is no longer there. I open my eyes and see her at the edge of the bed putting her shoes on, and alarmed I sit up.

"What are you doing?" I ask confused and feeling nauseous. She sighs deeply and stops all movements, looking down at her feet.

"I think I should go home. You are clearly not into this, so I will leave you alone as you seem to want these days." There is something in her voice I can't make out.

"What do you mean?" I frown. I thought I was fooling them so far.

"I know when your smile is real and when it's not. I also know when I am not wanted, so I am gonna go." The weird tone in her voice is still there. She gets off the bed and goes to my desk to grab her phone and her keys, and I watch her numb, not knowing how to react. She isn't the one that always runs away in this relationship, so now that she does, I am at loss of words. Do I stop her? Do I let her go?

I don't get to make a decision, because she is making it for me, and I watch her open my bedroom door and walk out.

Today is getting worse and worse.

It's not until later that night that I text her to apologize.

To babe: I am sorry. It's been a bad day, and I feel like a bitch for treating you like that. I love you and I always want to be around you, but I guess I am stupid. I never meant to hurt your feelings, and I know I have been doing that for some time now. I will understand if you are tired of me.

Somehow I manage to make the message as self-centered as possible. It's in my nature, I don't think I can fight it, but Robin is not self-absorbed, she always knows what's going on around her.

She texts me also immediately: I am not tired of you, I just want you to be honest with me. If you need to be alone, say so and I will understand.

There should be an 'I love you too' there, but there isn't and it hurts like hell.

To babe: I know, I need a day alone. Can I have that?

Maybe after that day I will feel better. I have to feel better.

From babe: ok, call me when you are ready to talk. Goodnight.

I don't like this message either. It's one of these messages you can't tell the tone from.

I turn my phone off and lay in bed looking at the ceiling till sleep comes.

**********************************************************************************************

I wake up late... for my standards I mean. The clock reads 10 am. I put on my gym clothes and turn on my phone, expecting to find a 'good morning babe' text from Ro, but there isn't any and I want to hope that it's because she is still not awake and not because she is mad at me. But I know her daily program and I know she has a morning class today.

I put on some music and start running destined to reach the park faster than my latest record, and I do, by 2 minutes. I reach the park and sit on the bench Ro and I usually sit on and take a minute to enjoy the sun and the light May air, still listening to the music.

I feel kind of relaxed until my phone vibrates in my hands.

'Daddy is calling' I pick up anxious.

"Hey dad. Good morning." I greet him as calmly as I can manage.

"Hey honey, how are you?" His voice is laced with worry as of late. I can tell every time he calls me.

"I am doing ok, dad. How are you?" I give the same answer every time. It seems to make him relax for a bit, as if he expected me to tell him that I am not ok, that I feel awful or that I feel broken. But I can't do this to him. I love him too much to tell him the truth, just like I love Robin.

"I am good, honey. How about your exams?" He is keeping it academically for now.

"They are about to start. I have been studying, don't worry, I will ace them." I reassure him, but I know he doesn't care much about As and Bs or even Cs. He never did.

"I know you will, sweetie. I have no worries, you are a Ford after all." He jokes and I giggle. That is true.

"How is mom?" I ask swallowing hard. She hasn't called me yet, but I am still waiting.

"She is ok, busy with paperwork, you know how it is this time of the year."

"I know... have you talked to her?" I timidly ask not sure if I want this to be a yes or a no. If it is a yes, then she is ignoring me because she hates me... if it is a no, she is ignoring me because she needs time to herself.

"Don't worry honey, we have discussed it yes, she is making progress." He says quickly.

"But she hasn't been answering my phone calls, dad. Is she mad?" please say no... please...

"No, of course not honey, she just needs time. She always asks me if I talked to you on the phone and if you are doing ok. She will call you soon. I promise." He says and I feel lighter. She asks about me? She is worried? She loves me.

I smile widely at that, feeling my day getting better and better by the second. These are great news!

"Ok, dad, I believe you. Can you tell her I said hi... and that I love her?" I ask getting up from the bench.

"Sure, honey, I will. I have to go now, I have an appointment. Talk to you tomorrow." He says and I say goodbye as well. I look at me phone for a minute and make my decision.

To babe: good-morning babe.

From babe: hey, good morning.

To babe: I missed you. Can I see you?

From babe: sure, I get off in an hour.

To babe: great! I will cook for you. Pasta?

From babe: yeahh! I am starving. Syl <3

To babe: Love you more. Xoxoxoxoxox

It downs to me in a second that I am being selfish again, I treat Ro according to my mood. I have a bad day, I am being a bitch to her, I have a good day, I lure her back to me as if nothing has happened and I hate myself for it. I need to apologize and stop being freaking selfish.

She enters my apartment one hour and 20 minutes later, holding a big chocolate bar and a bouquet of margaritas. She waits for me to make the first move in order to act accordingly, so when I throw myself in her arms, she hugs me back relieved. I kiss her hungrily until we both need air and then I kiss her sweetly until she breaks the kiss to ask me how I am doing. I peck her nose and then her cheek and then drag her to the kitchen when lunch is ready. We sit next to each other, stealing glances and smiles and it feels good. It makes my day... I feel happier.

After we are done, we do the dishes together and then make our way to my room, bringing the chocolate bar along, and a bowl of popcorn. We sit up on the bed with our backs against the headboard and Robin brings my laptop on her lap, clicks on the Reign file and puts on the next episode.

I scoot closer to her this time, with my hand on her stomach, and she brings her arm around my back.

Ten minutes into the episode, I lean forward and press stop. I sit up next to her and she does too, looking at me curiously.

"I need to apologize." I start and she shakes her head. She is about to speak, but I raise my hand. "No, please, I need to do this and you will listen." She nods, taking my hands in hers. "Good... so... I will start by saying that I haven't been feeling very well lately, and that I have tried to pretend that it's ok, but I am really not. I wasn't in the mood to do things with you and the others, but I never wanted to not be around you... I love you, and I know you have been trying to cheer me up and that I treated you awfully, so I am sorry. I truly am." My head falls, waiting for her turn.

"It's ok, my love. I know it's been taugh on you and that you act strong, but you don't have to...you can be honest with me, baby. If you had told me that you needed space, I would have given that to you." She caresses my palms, relaxing me. "I am just trying to help you, tell me what you need and I will give it to you."

I look up and her eyes are sad. "I know you are trying and I appreciate it. I needed some time alone, but I missed you too much to go through it. I am sorry. I just need you, that's all I need now. You make me feel better." I bring her hands in my mouth and kiss her knuckles one by one.

"Any news from your mom?" She asks, looking serious.

"Dad says they have been talking and that she is making progress." I smile, remembering my dad's words again. "She loves me. She asks dad how I am doing."

"Of course she loves you, baby. I told you, this will be over soon." She pecks my lips.

"I know. One less thing to worry about, I guess. The exams period is coming."

Have I ever stated how much I hate exams?

"Yeah tell me about it! Imma need a good vacation after that." She laughs and her smile lights up the room. I love her smile. She stays still for a second and then she smiles again. "You know... maybe we can go somewhere after the exams end. I know you are probably going home for the summer, but maybe we can go somewhere together for a few weeks. Maybe a road trip?" She asks giving me her puppy eyes. I laugh.

"Yeah... I think we can do this. Dad will be ok with it, and I have money saved, so we can go!" I say as the idea downs in my head. "Hopefully mom is gonna be ok with us being together by that time and then we could go to my house together! Oh we could hang out with Joss and Vanessa, and Alice, maybe we could all go together somewhere afterwards." I daydream, planning things in my head already.

"Fuck yeah! That's gonna be awesome, baby, we are gonna have the summer of our lives!" she claps her hands looking like a kid on Christmas.

***********************************************************************************************

"So we have to put ¾ of flour. Where is your flour?" I ask looking at Ro who is standing in front of the mixer.

"Wait. I got it." She leaves the measure cap and reaches the drawer on her left. "Here is the flour." She smiles at me super excited about this. We are trying to make cookies, recipe given to us by Sam's mom. Apparently she is an amazing pastry chef and the Summers love her cooking. While Robin is excited about the cookies, I am less excited. Don't get me wrong, things are going ok, I guess, but my mom hasn't called me back yet and it's hurting me, but I decided to just be patient and not ruin Robin's good mood or the others'.

So we decided to bake cookies, we can share with Joss and the others. I think it will be a failure since I suck in the kitchen department, but Ro is certain we will even beat Ms. Harris at this. Sam is anxiously waiting for the results. Sam has been very supportive surprisingly, lately, and by that I mean she calls me Sophie instead of Ford and she even hugged me once or twice, but generally, she is being polite. Nicky is being extra loving. She gives me those encouraging smiles, and spontaneous hugs when in vicinity,just like Vanessa does. Vanessa has helped me way too much too in all this. Her words of hope and love have been comforting and I appreciate that. But Joss wins the award. He is being his usual self, cracking up jokes and being a goof to make me smile the way he knows and this is what I need to be honest. Normality, not sad eyes and tight lips in understanding. Joss is acting normal and it makes me forget a bit, it makes me feel that things are ok, that nothing is wrong.

Focused on the stove, we both get startled when we hear another voice.

"Are you guys planning on burning the house down? I just got out of work." We turn around to look at Alex, leaning on the wall, with his bright smile and arms crossed.

"Ha, ha, funny old man. Glad to see you haven't lost your sense of humor over the years." Robin mocks him and he gives her an angry look.

"Watch it kid, I know all your secrets, we don't want Sophie here to know about the roof incident or the bathtub horror, do we?" He says seriously and I turn to look at Ro, whose cheeks are red and eyes are squirmed.

"What incidents?" I ask intrigued but Ro waves her hands.

"Nothing, he is making up stories, nothing has happened, all good, let's go back to the cookies." She answers quickly and I turn to look at Alex this time who is smirking smugly, proud of himself.

"Oh, so you take back the things you just said, huh? Chicken." He comes closer to tease her.

"Hello Sophie." He hugs me first tightly, and Alex is another person that makes it feel normal.

"Hello Alex, sorry for the mess." I greet him back, gesturing at the counter.

"That's ok, sweetie." He leaves me and walks towards Ro. "What about you traitor, not even a hug? Tststst, I win?" He stands behind her and I just look at them. Ro is mixing the ingredients with eyes narrowed and Alex behind her is grinning like a wolf.

"You win nothing, old man, and I am not afraid of your threats. I know things about you too." She makes her move and I wait for Alex to retaliate.

"Ohh so? I am not embarrassed. You on the other hand, you are very embarrassed, remember? I think I should totally tell Sophie." He continues and Robin's jaw clenches.

"Empty threats, old man, you know well what will happen if you start talking." She leaves discretely the bowl down and purrs flour in the cup in front of her.

"Oh, now you want to threaten me, huh? Let's see then, kid." He turns to me. "Sophie, has Robin ever told you about the roof incident?" He asks me even though he knows the answer is no.

"Um... no, I don't think so." I say chuckling as Robin turns her head a bit to spare me a glare, but along with that movement, she mouths something to me... um... back... away? Why would I back away? In my stillness, she widens her eyes at me and mouths again 'back'. At that, I take a step back confused.

"Ok, so listen this one time, Ro - " he doesn't get to say anything else though, because a handful of flour hits him in the face. Oh boy.

"Ha! You snooze,you lose, old man!" Ro brags with hands white laughing at him.

"Um... ok." I say not knowing if I should laugh or scold Robin, or hand a towel over to Alex who is unphased. Robin keeps laughing hard, holding her stomach. I reach for a kitchen towel then and stretch my hand to give it to Alex. "Here." I say awkwardly. He takes his eyes off Robin and looks at me.

"Thank you Sophie." He wipes his face and then leans forward to leave the towel on the counter while Ro is still laughing. "Sophie, I suggest you take a few steps back." He then says and in seconds everything gets white. He takes the flour package and I watch him as he spills the content on Robin... all of it. I watch in horror as the scene unfolds in front of me and mostly at Ro, who stops laughing and starts coughing and moving her hands to clear the flour cloud. Now it's Alex's turn to laugh and his deep laughter fills the room.

"Are you kidding me? Really? What are you, freaking ten? It got on my boobs, man! I have to go take a shower, it freaking went into my pants." She tries to shake some flour off her.

"Let me take a picture." Alex says and takes off his mobile, still laughing. "Smile!" He puts the phone in her face and snaps a photo.

"Wait, let me pose at least." She says resigned and she does pose... giving the middle figure. I watch the whole thing so entertained, I don't know if I should laugh. God, this is so funny. "Ok, show is over, I am heading over to shower." She eye rolls and steps away from the counter. "Don't you dare tell Sophie about the rooftop." She threatens Alex again, pointing her finger at him.

"Sure, kid, you look so scary now... that's what you get for attacking a Summers." He mocks her. She puffs annoyed, but I don't think she really is. She walks towards me pouting.

"I won't be long, babe, if he tells you something, do not trust him, it's a lie. I love you." She tells me sweetly and kisses my nose. She chuckles lightly and then she walks past me and leaves the kitchen. Her heavy steps on the stairs make Alex laugh harder.

"You can laugh now, kid, she is out of sight." He laughs wholeheartedly and surprisingly I start laughing too.

"She was this close to killing you." I remark but his shakes his head.

"Nah... you are new to her reactions, but trust me, she enjoyed it. She lives for moments like that, when we goof around." He tells me as he sits on the stull. "Come join the old man." He points the other one and I sit next to him.

"Sorry for the mess though." I say but he waves his hands.

"Don't worry about it. How are you holding up?" He looks at me warmly.

"I am doing ok, mom hasn't answered yet, but dad says it's gonna be ok. I trust him with this." I say like I have practiced the conversation in my head.

"Things will be ok soon, don't fret, but I want you to know, that no matter what happens you are family, Sophie, you don't have to deal with this alone, you are one of us, now." The words warm my heart because I never thought I would have a family outside of blood ties.

"Thank you Alex, it means a lot to me. Thank you."

"Don't even mention it... you make my niece happy, you are part of us." He says smiling and I feel proud. "She is something else, isn't she?" His eyes get a sparkle.

"She is truly amazing.." I agree smiling too.

"She is like Christina, you know." He looks down at his hands. "She reminds me of my brother too, but 90% of the time, she is Christina. Peter was funny and a jokester, he always had my back with our parents when I would get in trouble... he would say he broke the vase or he ate the cookies, and I would nod my head agreeing with him. This one time, he made this dramatic speech to our parents when he told them he would be a musician, how music brings people together, and stuff... that is Robin... always with the speeches." He comments and I chuckle because this is so Robin. "But the rest... the rest is Christina... the bright eyes, the kind smile, the mannerisms... her ability to see beauty in stuff... all her. I stayed with them two weeks for the summer before they died and you should have seen her with Robin... the way she held her, talked to her... Peter would make faces to make her laugh, but Christina talked to her for hours like she was a grown up." He shakes his head as if to make the image in his head go away. "I don't know how it is possible but I swear to god sometimes it's like Robin is her, you know... it's weird... she looks so much like her in everything." Then he looks up at me with sad eyes.

"I am sorry you lost them." It's the only thing I say and I hear my voice crack. I know now every detail of how it happened but I never got the chance to say to Alex I am sorry for his loss.

He smiles a bit but the intense look continues. "She was pregnant you know." He says and I narrow my eyes in confusion. "Seven weeks long." I feel cold blood in my veins. "They were supposed to go the doctor's the day of the accident... I never told Ro." He says and he lets a tear escape. "It would have killed her, she always talks about how great it would have been to have a sibling, so when she was old enough and able to understand, I decided not to tell her... instead I pushed her to make friends... so that she won't feel the void. I am glad she has so many friends, she chooses her family." He shrugs and without paying mind to it, I reach forward and hold his hand.

"You did an amazing job, Alex. She is the most loving person I have met, she is a remarkable girl, thanks to you." I state firmly. "She looks up to you, you are her hero." I tell him and his smile gets bigger.

"She doesn't really need me anymore, but she is my blood, the only one I have left, I can't leave her alone in this world." He gets sentimental and I do too. "Kira and I have talked about marriage and stuff about creating our family, but Ro... she feels more like a daughter than a niece you know, maybe I shouldn't be saying this like that, but she feels like a daughter."

"She is in a way... you raised her... and a parent isn't necessarily the one that gives birth to you...you may have the uncle label but that is irrelevant." I point but I don't think I can say more about it.

"We had good times you know... she was a tough cookie but very sensible and mature in her way. She would never ask for things, or be difficult at school and homework, she would ask me about everything, tell me about what was troubling her, I have seen her happy, sad, angry, heartbroken." He holds my hand with his free one. "I am glad she is with you, you make her happy, you love her, I can tell, Natalie was never that good to her." He comments and my stomach clenches at her name. Natalie... the girl that hurt my Robin. "I never liked her much, I tolerated her for Robin's sake but I didn't like her, me and Kira and Ro's friends... we all tolerated her.. she would make Ro angry and sad... she changed my niece in a dark way... Natalie was dark... troubled, and Ro paid the price... but you... you are one of the good kind, Sophie, you love her the right way, and I thank you for that." I feel my cheeks wet and I know I am crying.

"I have made her sad though." I say guilty.

"That's a healthy love. You make the other sad but you make it up to them, you realize you hurt them. You might have made her sad but you make her smile next... what Natalie did was different. She made Robin question her worth, her own actions and sacrifice her wants for her." He says bitterly. " I am glad Nat cheated on her... it made Robin see for herself what we were trying to tell her all along. She freed Robin and for that I am happy, because now she is with you and she is really happy." He flashes a smile and leaves me speechless for seconds.

"I will never hurt Robin like that." I tell him confidently. "I will not be Natalie."

"I know, kid, I trust you." He pats my shoulder and I wipe my tears.

"Thank you for telling me this. I won't tell, Robin." I promise him and he nods grateful. We stay like that for a while in the silence.

"I am back!" Ro announces clean now, wearing sweatpants and a loose t-shirt. "What did I miss?" She asks obliviously cheerful.

"Nothing much kid, I was asking Sophie about school." He smiles and I nod in agreeance.

"Ok... so nothing interesting, huh?" she jokes and I glare at her.

"Well, I think it's my turn to take a shower. Try not to burn the house down, ok?" Alex jokes again and Ro eye rolls. I nod at him and watch him leave the kitchen and head upstairs.

"He told you about the rooftop, didn't he?" She asks with arms crossed. "For the record, I only shouted ' I am in love with Natalie Coleman' 4 times, and the neighbor that complained is a 78 year old meanie old lady that hates my guts." She says in one breath and my eyes widen in shock. Her shoulders fall. "He didn't tell you, did he?" I shake my head animatedly and she huffs. "Damn it."

"You actually did that?" I say and start laughing at her face.

"Laugh all you want, I feel no shame. I am romantic." She puffs but hugs me next. "Want me to shout from the rooftops I love you too?" She gives me her bright dorkish smile and I peck her lips.

"As fun as that sounds... no." She eye rolls.

"Cynic. It's romantic." She comments.

"It's dangerous, and lame." I peck her lips again.

"My truth doesn't have to be yours too, meanie." She says playfully and then kisses me with all she has. Once we part, she looks at the counter.

"Come on, Ford, we have cookies to make, I have a bet with Sam, I need to win." She smacks my butt playfully and reaches the counter and I follow. I don't move though, I just stare at her and she notices. "What?"

"Are you happy?" I ask innocently. That throws her off but the smile returns.

"Of course I am. What else could I want? I have my family, I have you, my friends, I am healthy... I am more than happy." She tells me and after a kiss to my cheek, she goes back to the mixer.

"I love you, Robin Summers." I say and she giggles.

"I love you too, Sophie Lilian Ford... now go get me baking powder." And with that we start making cookies... that end up in failure. Can't say I wasn't expecting that.

A/N: So this is the final countdown. Only few chapters are left till the end... Thank you all for staying with us until this very moment and I hope you keep on reading and sharing your thoughts until the end. So what did you think of Sophie in this chapter?