Hello, Lovelies, 

I hope you are having a great day!  Thank you for reading Faded!  I can never express my gratitude enough.  

I do hope you enjoy the chapter.  If you do, votes and comments are a wonderful way to let me know.  If you have questions, comment or send me a message. 

-XXXX Amanda 

**********

February 28, 1968

I sat on the bed in my grandfather's guest bedroom, tears gathering in my eyes as I listened to my grandfather arguing with my uncle and aunt. Their voices drifted through the walls, shouting...Shouting like they had been shouting since my mother's funeral.

"He can't take care of him on his own!" My aunt yelled, her voice shaking, "He's-"

"Shut up!" Grandfather said, stopping whatever my aunt was going to say, "Maybe the fact that he must do well with his son will force him to stop."

"Then, why is he here instead of with him?" My uncle asked.

A few beats of silence passed before my grandfather answered, "He said he was going to find a job."

"And when is he coming back?" My aunt asked, her voice soft.

"He was due back two hours ago," Grandfather said so low I could barely hear him.

"And what will you do if he doesn't return?" My uncle asked, his words laced in sadness.

"Then, he'll stay with me," Grandfather said.

My aunt's voice reverberated off the walls, "But you're d-"

"Stop!" Grandfather yelled, halting their arguments, "He will stay with me until then and though I know neither of you will give up college to take care of him...I wouldn't expect you to...He will at least know he was loved until then."

Silence followed for a few moments, "I understand, dad," my aunt said, softly, "I do love him but I don't think either me or Chad could take care of him. I could only hope he would remember us later."

"Nora, I would never ask that of you," Grandfather said, his voice shaking, "I only ask that I give him this time. Maybe it will be enough."

"Okay, dad," she said, sighing, "We have to get back to school for class."

A few minutes later, I heard the front door close and I laid back on the bed, staring out at the night sky, knowing that my father had left but in a different way than my mother. Something told me he wouldn't return.

**********

June 4, 1983

Fucking Cody. I could see the doubt moving behind Megan's eyes because of his words. Worse, it was partly my fault that she had that doubt. If I hadn't pushed her away, sleeping my way through the groupies, his words would have held no weight. Unfortunately, because I did, they held all the weight of the world.

My lips brushed hers, "Are you hungry?" I asked, softly.

A smile lit up her face, her eyes sparkling as the darkness faded away, "Starving," she said, raising her brows because I had always been careful not to be photographed near her. It was a protective stance because I didn't want her harassed by the tabloids but I realized hiding her wasn't an option if I wanted her to trust me. Hiding her would only make her think I was ashamed and I would never be ashamed of Megan. If anything, I thought Megan should be ashamed of me. I was truly fucked up.

I led her to my car, opening the door for her like the only good foster mother I had taught me because Megan was a queen and should be treated as such. I moved around the car and got in the passenger seat, glancing at Megan, noticing that the darkness had returned to her gaze as she stared beyond the windshield. I turned toward where she was staring finding Cody standing near his car with a smirk across his face.

I narrowed my eyes, wanting to run over someone for the first time in my life. I glanced at Megan but she was no longer staring at him. Instead, her beautiful hazel eyes were raking over me.

"Please don't listen to him," I whispered, turning the key in the ignition causing the car to roar to life.

Her hand moved over mine on the steering wheel, "I'm trying," she said, shrugging, but I knew that was the best I could expect from her. She had her own problems with trust. I would simply have to prove to her that I was honest.

Still as I glance out of the windshield at Cody before pulling out of the parking spot, I realized he was going to be trouble.

**********

I took Megan to a Nico's Seafood Restaurant which overlooked the beach. Nico was a friend of mine and met me at the door. He knew Megan well but his eyes strayed to our hands clasped together.

"I see Micah finally got the balls to tell you how he felt about you," he said, grinning as his dark eyes sparkled.

I should have been embarrassed but after what Cody had pulled with Megan, I was relieved to have someone who would tell her that my feelings for her were real.

Megan's smile widened showcasing her dimples as I pulled her close to me, "I think I was more worried about my heart than my balls."

Nico nodded, "As you should be," he said, wiggling his brows, "Let me show you to your table. I'm assuming you would like a table inside."

I glanced at Megan, "It's up to her," I said, knowing there was a chance if we sat outside, someone would photograph us but I wasn't hiding her.

She tilted her head, her long dark hair falling to the side as she studied me, "I would like to sit outside," she said, raising her brow, waiting to see if I would object.

I smiled nodding, "Outside is perfect."

Nico grabbed two menus and led us to a table overlooking the ocean. He took our order and left for the kitchen leaving us to study the beach. There was a volleyball game set up on the beach. Surfers were taking advantage of the waves and it was a nice enough day that people were swimming or sunning themselves.

"God, it's beautiful here," she said taking in the cerulean sea beneath the cloudless blue sky. The green in her eyes brightened as it often did when she was happy.

"It is beautiful here," I said, pursing my lips.

She narrowed her eyes, "What are you thinking?" She asked and then, her eyes widened as she realized my thoughts, "You were going to say something cheesy."

"It's beautiful here but not as beautiful as you," I said, grinning.

"How many times have you used that one?" She asked, raising her brow.

"Enough," I said, shaking my head.

She rolled her eyes, "And that line worked?"

I sighed, "Believe it or not, yes but you would be the first person I meant it with."

"Even if that's true, I would want something more original and from the heart," she said with a shrug, "It doesn't mean anything unless you mean it."

I leaned forward, "Then, I'll say this...I meant what I said when we were fifteen," I whispered so the words would be hers and only hers. There is only one girl who has ever made my heart beat faster and that's you. I think it was telling me that it was yours before I was willing to admit it."

Her eyes met mine, remembering that night...The night she had to leave me and I never thought I would see her again. Her lips parted as she inhaled sharply.

"I thought you forgot," she said, her voice breaking.

I shook my head, "I never forgot one single moment with you," I said, taking a deep breath, "You're too important to me, Megan Doll."

"You're important to me too, Micah," she said, softly, her voice hoarse.

I took her hand and kissed the top, "I'm going to prove it to you. I swear I am."

She gave me a smile and though she was happy, I knew I had a lot to prove. I just hoped people like Cody wouldn't get in my way.