Finding Them

Darcy and Dakota didn't want to open any more presents, they were happy with the cars and began to play with them. Angie was annoyed they wouldn't open the other presents which she had picked but Charles quietened her down by threatening to take her home. The twins were happy to play with Pa while the others opened their gifts. Darcy was even comfortable enough to sit on Charles' lap.

Lunchtime soon rolled around and without thinking Pa picked up Darcy without warning and she went floppy in his arms. Angie was screaming orders at everyone while Dakota was telling Pa "Put down put down". Daniel acted quickly rushing to his father taking Darcy from his father and laying her on the ground. Dakota rushed to his sister and held her little face in his hands causing Darcy to open one eye to check who was touching her. Darcy smiled at Dakota "I did good" she told her brother who nodded his head. Angie was furious that Darcy had acted like that and without thinking started to scold the twins pointing her finger in their faces.

Dakota pushed Darcy behind his back and as Angie was swinging her hand around he flinched back. Daniel was trying to get his mother to calm down while Charles was shocked at what had just occurred. The other boys were watching on waiting for Angie to hit because she had smacked all of them before. Angie pushed Dakota out of the way knocking him to the ground ready to hit Darcy who was standing there silently crying. Daniel grabbed his mother's hand stopping her from connecting with Darcy. "Mum, what the hell?" Daniel fumed out.

Charles snapped out of his shock as did the other boys. Mitchell rushed to Dakota and Darcy scooping them into his arms and trying to calm them down while Darcy screamed like someone was murdering her and Dakota fought. Charles stepped towards Mitchell to help but Jamie stopped him. "Pop it's best you don't go near them" Jamie told his grandfather who looked so sad before glaring at his wife. "Angie, what were you thinking?" He asked. "That little girl needs to learn manners, she should not be pretending to pass out like that" Angie fumed out. Hunter and Mitchell took the twins outside realising that things were going to get loud and seeing the twins were already scared they didn't want them to witness what was about to happen. Mitchell placed them in the ground as he nearly dropped them with Dakota fighting so much.

"Mum, those kids have been abused since birth. Darcy was taught to do that to protect herself so Dakota could get hurt instead of her. They do not like to be held at all. You have no right to raise your hand to any of my children" Daniel spat out. "I will whoop your arse if you speak to me like that. Those children need discipline" Angie spat back. She had raised two children and she wasn't going to allow her son to tell her how to raise children. "Yes and I have raised 4 boys but those two have never had adults they could trust. They have been hurt, starved and god knows what since they were born. The adults who should have protected them failed and have taught them that adults only hurt them, you just proved that to them again. You tried to hurt my daughter and in turn, hurt my son. They deserve to feel safe in this house and if you can't respect that, then you can find somewhere else to stay" Daniel fumed out. He loved his mother but she was completely out of line.

Angie was shocked, her son had never spoken to her like that at all. "Daniel you would do well to remember who you are speaking to" Angie said pointing her finger at her son. "I know who I am speaking to and I should have done it sooner" Daniel spat. "Angie enough. Did you even listen to what he said? Those babies have been hurt by adults all their life and you just did the same thing. Son, I am so sorry. We will get a hotel to stay at until your mother can learn to control herself" Charles told his son while glaring at his wife. "Don't you dare take his side Charles" Angie bit out. "God listen to yourself. Do you even care what you have just done?" Charles fumed at his wife. Angie went to say something but stopped herself before heading out the front door slamming it in the process. "I'm sorry son, I will call later to check on the twins" Charles told his son before following after his wife.

Dakota hadn't cried even though he had been pushed on the ground and got hurt. He was worried about his sister and was holding her close to his chest while she cried. Mitchell and Hunter were trying to help but every time they went close to Darcy she screamed more and Dakota glared. Eddie and Jamie had also gone to help but all they could do was watch the scene unfold. They each sat on the ground close to the twins to show they were there for the twins if they needed them and were not a threat. They had learnt this yesterday when they visited the psychologist.

Daniel walked out seeing all his sons sitting near the twins quietly showing support for the twins and smiled. He was proud of his oldest sons who had adapted quickly to the technique the psychologist had taught them. He joined scooting closer to the twins than the others. He just hoped that he could comfort them, that they still trusted him after this.

Darcy was hiccuping from her crying while Dakota was glaring at them all. "It's ok Dakota, they are gone now. I won't let them hurt you or Darcy. I'm sorry you got hurt" Daniel told his son who finally let a few tears from his eyes. He quickly wiped them away so as not to upset Darcy anymore. Darcy didn't like Dakota being upset at all because she always thought it was her fault.

Darcy was slowly falling asleep in Dakota's arms. Daniel scooted a little closer to the twins. Dakota was trying to stop himself crying but every so often the tears fell. "It's ok bud. I'm right here and so are your brothers. We will protect you both. You are safe here. Would you like to come and sit in my lap with Darcy?" Daniel quietly spoke to the twins. He wanted to have them both in his arms but he knew he had to show them he was going to respect them as well. Daniel knew he had to show the twins they could trust him.

Dakota looked down at Darcy who was now sleeping and then back at Daniel. He wanted comfort but he was also scared and didn't want them taking Darcy. "I can come to you so we don't wake Darcy. I won't take her from you and I won't let anyone else either" Daniel quietly told his youngest son. Dakota slightly nodded his head and Daniel moved towards the twins wrapping his arms around them both as Dakota finally broke down in tears. "It's ok bud, I got you" Daniel whispered into his son's ear while nodding at his older boys that he had it. "You did well boys, I'm proud of you all," Daniel told them. None of the boys left though wanting to make sure both the twins were going to be ok.

Dakota cried, he cried hard. He never had anyone to comfort him at all and finally, he did. Dakota always had to be strong for Darcy but he was a little boy too. Dakota was struggling to get his breath from sobbing so much all the while Daniel held his youngest children reassuring Dakota he was ok and that they would keep both of them safe.

After Dakota cried for 10 minutes, he finally fell asleep in his father's arms holding onto his sister. "They are asleep" Eddie whispered not wanting to wake the twins up. "Let's get them inside" Mitchell said standing up to go and take the twins. "Need a hand?" Jamie asked his dad earning a glare. "I'm not that old" Daniel told his boys as he grunted and groaned trying to stand with both the twins in his arms exaggerating the effort he used causing his sons to laugh. "Come on old man" Hunter laughed out. "You are lucky I'm holding my babies otherwise you would be in trouble young man" Daniel laughed out. Daniel hoped the twins wouldn't regress after what his mother had done as they had come so far in such a short period.