New Family

[confessorlove]

Title:  New Family
Author: confessorlove
Character: Rachel
Rating: PG
Summary: Rachel doesn't think her new brothers like her.
Author's Notes: Written for legendland Brothers and Sisters challenge.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. I just like to make them do my bidding.

 

At first, when Martha took Rachel home to meet her family, Martha’s sons teased Rachel.  They didn’t want a little sister and couldn’t understand why their mother had taken her in.  Her new brothers would steal Sarah and hide her from Rachel.  Martha reassured her that her new brothers loved her and this was just their way of showing it.  Rachel wasn’t so convinced.  She was sure they just didn’t like her and it made her sad.

She didn’t want to put up with their tricks today of all days. She needed to get away so she found Sarah, hidden in the cupboard where he brothers had left her and went outside.  She walked the short distance to the little stream that ran near their house.  She took her shoes off and sat on the bank, letting her little feet hang into the cool, glistening water.  Here she could just think.  Rachel situated Sarah in her lap, looking at the doll and smiling.  Since her brothers were mean to her, when she was with Sarah was one of the only times she was truly happy.  “I wish I knew why they didn’t like me,” she spoke to the doll in a quiet tone, almost like she was imparting a secret into her trust.  “I’ve always wanted brothers but they don’t like me.”

Rachel hugged her doll, wishing that she would talk back to her just like she had when she told her that Ruben needed her help.  She missed Ruben, he would know why her brothers didn’t seem to like her and why they were always doing things that seemed to have her running all over.  Martha had said that they would get used to her being around, but they hadn’t.  They still treated her the same, if not worse, than when she first arrived.

She stayed there for awhile, watching the tiny fish swim through the stream and under her feet before starting to head home when she saw the sun was starting to set.  She hugged Sarah to her chest as she made her way up the path and back to her house, dropping her when she opened the door and heard the cry of “Happy Birthday, Rachel,” coming from none other than her brothers.  They had remembered her birthday and that was enough to bring tears to her eyes.

Her new brothers might have teased her and tricked her but it was obvious now.  They did love her in their own special way and she couldn’t she happier about it. Rachel hugged them both despite their protests because she knew that they loved her and that was the best present she could have asked for.