Previously on "Enlightenment"

"Anything you need help with to bring in, Talia?" she simply shakes her head, taking her first step out of the cozy car. Anxiety pooling in her veins, thoughts of being denied by Joe. Him saying that she is not aloud to spend her stay with them. Natalya knows that it's not real, she knows. But a part deep down in her says that she should follow her instinct.

They walk into the small house. Joe coming out from the kitchen, greeting the two woman with a warm smile. That's when Natalya knows that she is welcome, and forever will be welcomed in the West house.

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THE NIGHT IN CENTRAL CITY IS STILL YOUNG for Natalya Roman. As she predicted before, the West family welcomed her into their home. Letting her stay in the guest bedroom without a second thought.

Now, Natalya sits in bed, the lights out except for a single lap on her bed side table. Papers and books spread out everywhere on the sheets, clipboard and pencil in hand. She's been trying to get more information on Mike, wanting to find out who he really is as soon as possible.

Her mind is clouded with so many thoughts, her priorities lost in the depths of her mind. The only way for her to get back on track and truly pay attention to things is when this mystery is finally solved.

Finally, with one last sigh of irritation, Natalya stands from the bed. She sets down her clipboard and pencil in the bedside table, continuing with organizing her papers. Putting them neatly in the drawer, running her fingers through her hair. Only in a red sports bra and spanks, her bra has yellow stitching and a light orange rim. Her spanks are black with light grey stitching, nothing special.

"Успокойся, только немного дольше, дети будут в порядке ..." as if on instinct, her native language came spewing out of her mouth when she spoke to herself. Climbing into the bed, trying to ignore the still ongoing traffic of Central City outside. Even if she is in a relatively quiet neighborhood.

With one last burst of energy, Natalya rolls over and turns off the lamp, letting the darkness consume her very being. Next thing she knows, she is slowly drifting off into a deep slumber...

¥ ¥ ¥

The sun rises over the mountains in the distance. A bright glow coming in from the window in the guest room residing in the West family home. Laying in bed is Natalya Roman, ignoring the streaming light and trying to sleep once more. Back at her home outside of Central City, her rooms window always has certain over it.

Sadly, all thoughts of sleeping longer are foiled, the door opening abruptly. Natalya feels the blanket covering her being pulled off, the cold air hitting her bare skin.

"Common Talia, time to get up!" Natalya knew that voice, it was none other than Jenny Cold. Natalya now knowing that sleeping in is impossible with her friend here. Jenny is an early bird, and likes to force that upon others when she is around. Jenny let's out an irritated groan, "Joe has breakfast ready."

Natalya sits up at the mention of Joe's breakfast. She wasn't one to be excited about food, but Joe's breakfasts are the best. Especially compared to her cooking... Jenny let's out a hardy laugh, shaking her head at her Russian friend.

"Get dressed Tal, remember your party tonight," Jenny reminds her, turning away on her heel. She takes a few long strides out of the room, shutting the door gently behind her. Leaving Natalya behind in the guest room. Natalya may wake up earlier for work, but she is definitely not a morning person, unlike Jenny.

Natalya swings her legs over the side of the bed, letting her bare feet hit the cold hard wood floor. Shivers run up her spine, but nonetheless she stands. Ready to start the day, as well as ready to get back to the orphanage as soon as humanly possible. At first, she was excited for this trip, now, she can't stand being away from her job. No, not job, her life.

On the desk next to the door, across from the bed sat on suitcase. Still packed, all of the items neatly folded and put away in the large suitcase. Natalya searches through her clothes, finding her outfit for the day. After a few minutes she pulls out a top, pants and shoes. Black skinny jeans, a nude long sleeve v-neck crop top and nude heels. With a smile, Natalya hurriedly puts them on, doing her makeup to match. her regular half up, half down hair style to top off the look.

Rushing down the stairs, Natalya is greeted by the smell of eggs and bacon. Back in college, she was surprised when she found out that Joe could cook. Now, it just seems normal, after all he did have to take care of two kids and himself. Poor Joe, never had a wife to help him along the way after Iris was born.

Natalya walks into the dining room, seeing Jenny already sitting at the table along with Joe. Him and Jenny chatting along like old friends that haven't seen each other in years. In a way, that is true.

On the table sat a pan with scrambled eggs, and next to it a plate of crispy bacon. With her mouth watering, Natalya takes a seat across from Jenny. Stars practically beaming in her warm brown eyes. Joe taking a glance at the young woman, and letting out a hardy chuckle.

With that, they all dug in, not a single word muttered between the group. Natalya sits enjoying the comfortable silence between them. It's been a long time since she has had a old-fashioned comfortable silence between friends or family. Heck, even strangers. Now, to her, all silences are awkward, especially with Mike.

"Well, this is awkward..." Jenny stops eating, leaning back into her chair. Running her fingers through her white hair that is neatly curled. Her sharp blue eyes looking straight into Joe's soul it seems. Joe simply sending Jenny a smile.

"Thank you for breakfast, Joe," Natalya's voice comes off hesitant, her accent coming off stronger than usual. A nervous habit, she may have learned to suppress her accent, to an extent, but today it seems that the training flew out the window.

"Your welcome, and remember you two are always welcomed here," the voice of a father. That's the only thing that can describe Joe's voice. A heartwarming father who loves his children dearly. Natalya wishes she had a father like that, no, she cannot think of that now. Suddenly, a pain shot through her back, making her wince. Old memories coming back to her in waves. The horrors that went down in her childhood home. The pain her mother went through, the suffering Natalya went through. Never, never again...

"I-I have to go," Natalya excuses herself from the table, heading back upstairs into the guest room. Jenny sending her friend a sympathetic smile. Joe simply finishing up his breakfast in confusion.

Natalya sits on the bed in the guest room. Cool air from the window blowing into the stuffy room. You could practically smell the panic in the small room, Natalya holding her head in her hands. Eyes closed and trying to get her frantic breathing under control. Flashes of her father dancing across her mind, the things he did...

She stood, looking over at her phone that sat on the bedside table. She picks it up, taking out a folder and flipping through its contents. Finally the gets to a number, dialing it into her phone and holding it up to her ear. A few rings and a voice greets her. Natalya let's out a shaky breath, saying, "I need your help. Where will we meet?"

¥ ¥ ¥

Natalya sits on the couch, noise coming from all parts of the West house. Everyone having an enjoyable time. All except Natalya, the person that this party was all about. A welcome back party, and no matter how much she talks, she just can't seem to enjoy herself. Everything just rushing by in a haze. Nothing clear, it feels like her mind is going to explode. So many thoughts rushing through her mind. Confusion for her own actions seem to eat her alive from the inside.

To her, this party also seems irrational and idiotic. For Natalya will only be in Central City for two more days, throwing a party for that is confusing to her. That's beside the point, the point is, all this rational thinking is making her dislike the party. In all reality, she should be enjoying herself, after all, she is surrounded by friends. Some new, some old. Nonetheless, they are all friends and she should be chatting happily away with them. But she's not, Natalya Roman is not speaking with anyone, and everybody can see that. She is not in a mood to make side conversations, just to make others happy when she clearly, is not.

"Hey Talia!" her name is called out, making her turn her head in the direction of the voice. It's Cisco, holding a red cup. He sits on the couch next to her, smiling at his new friend.

"Hello Cisco," Natalya smiles back, pushing back the pleas in her mind to ignore him. To her, Cisco is handsome, but she feels that she shouldn't even address the thought of liking him. It just seems... wrong. She doesn't know why, but it does.

"Someone is here for you, quite an angry woman too... Jenny and Barry are trying to stall, I suggest we hurry!" Cisco jumps up, Natalya taking her time. She doesn't know who would want to speak with her other than the West's and Barrys friends. She's not vary popular in Central City after all. Still, Joe had managed to get a lot of people to come to the party tonight. Including Iris's boyfriend Eddie.

Natalya stands from the couch, taking cautious steps towards Barry and Jenny. The tight frown obvious on her face. Her red heels clicking on the hard wood floor. Black skinny jeans hugging her legs tightly, the exact opposite of the red flowy woolen cropped shirt she wore. Natalya's brown hair bouncing with each step she took, half of her hair up, the other half down.

Natalya stood, her eye wide when she sees the woman who wants who. Barry trying to calm the lady down, and Jenny blocking her way. Natalya could see the woman, barely but she could distinctly see certain characteristics. The characteristics, of her mother....

"Мама?" the words came out of Natalya voice like venom. That one Russian word for mother burned the back of her throat. This woman is not her mother, never was, and never will be. Why you ask? Well that's a story for another time.

"дорогой!" her mother finally broke through, throwing her arms around her only child.

"Let go," Natalya hisses, trying to pry her mother's arms off of her. Finally, after a few moments of failing of getting her mother off of her, Natalya gives in, hugging her mother back. Unfortunately, her mother is indeed slightly taller than Natalya by an half of an inch. Her Father was tall, a staggering six foot. Poor Natalya got the shortness from her mother's side of the family, her grandmother and grandfather both pretty short.

"Mother, please, not here..." She whispers to her mother. It feels like everyone else around them vanished into thin air. That it is only the mother and daughter pair in the West home. Natalya knows that isn't true, but it feels as if it should be true.

"Fine," finally her mother gives in, breaking the hug between them. That's when Natalya takes in her mother appearance fully. A beautiful Russian woman stood before her, little signs of aging at all. Dark chocolate hair wisped back into a tight bun, strand of hair framing her face. Strands of grey and silver peaking up from her roots. The same chocolate brown eyes as Natalya, as well as the strong jaw line and nose. She wore a black long sleeve cocktail dress to her knees with a white cropped leather jacket and white heels. More formally dressed than her daughter.

"What are you doing here mother? I thought you were busy," Natalya questions the grown woman in front of her, brow raised.

"I am busy darling! I have a gala I must attend this evening, I just thought a surprise visit would be good! Is it a sin to want to visit my own daughter before she leaves once more?"

"Of course not mother, its just, I wasn't expecting you to be here... Wait, why didn't Barry and Jenny let you in?"

"Enough about that!" her mother blows off Natalya's questions with a wave of her hand. A smile evident in the older woman's face. At this point, everyone else is minding their own business once more. Natalya now noticing that Barry and Jenny have vanished into thin air.

Her mother takes this as a que to confuse to speak, "More about you my darling. Tell me, how is the orphanage? Is Nate still being good?"

"The orphanage is wonderful mother, and yes, Nate is still very well mannered," Natalya feels herself relaxing around her mother. This happens everytime she sees her. Natalya is tense and angry, holding onto an old teenage grudge. Than, after a few minutes of speaking she relaxes and lets go of that grudge.

"I am truly sorry that I can't get to chat long darling, but I must be going. The gala starts soon and I have to be there, it's a work thing. Я люблю тебя, моя дорогая Наталья," her mother leaves, blowing a kiss in Natalya's direction.

She shakes her head, smiling happily that she got to see her mother. Even if it was for a brief moment, it still fills her with joy. She wasn't planning on seeing her mother for this trip, well, she was but she didn't think it would work out that way.

Natalya noticed Cisco walking in her direction. She turns to face him, a smile plastered on her face. "So, who was that?" Cisco questions, stopping when he reaches Natalya.

"That was my mother, she just wanted to stop by. I still don't understand why Barry and Jenny would have to hold her back... I guess I'll ask them in the morning. I think I'm going to hit the hay, good night Cisco," Natalya rushes to get all the words out. Running up the stairs and into her room before Cisco could reply.

Natalya kicks off her shoes and takes out her hair, not even bothering with changing clothes. She lays back onto the bed, before she could get back up again to wash up, her eyes close and she falls asleep...

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PLEASE EXCUSE/IGNORE ALL SPELLING AND GRAMMAR MISTAKES, THANK YOU!

Успокойся, только немного дольше, дети будут в порядке = Calm down, just a little longer, the children will be fine

дорогой = Darling

Я люблю тебя, моя дорогая Наталья = I love you, my dear Natalya

WARNING: TRANSLATIONS MAY NOT BE 100% ACCURATE

Hey guys, sorry for the wait. I was almost done that Wattpad decided to delete most of my work so I couldn't update over the weekend. I was planning on updating on Thanksgiving but, plans changed. The weekend has just hectic, and school started back up again... also sorry for the grammar and spelling mistakes, there are a lot in this one. I didn't have time to fully edit, once the story is finished I will go back and fix everything, I swear... Remember,

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AGAIN, PLEASE EXCUSE/IGNORE ALL SPELLING AND GRAMMAR MISTAKES, THANK YOU!