The Forgotten Children

[jessi]

Here it is guys, my new fan fiction. And guess what? It isn’t about the McDonalds. Can you believe it? Any way I know this is kind of weird seeing how I wasn’t even born when they were on the show, but I am writing about the Ogden’s. Not so much about Stan and Hilda (though they will be main characters) but about their daughter, Sylvia who got taken in to care and her brother Tony.

Any way, please help me where you can especially when Stan and Hilda do come in to it with their characterization.
The Forgotten Children

Chapter 1

Sylvia woke up. The previous night’s party had been amazing.
Sitting up in bed, she brushed her hands through her hair. She felt as if she could sleep for weeks but there was no time for that, it was a Sunday morning which meant that she had to get ready for church.
Putting on her Sunday best on she sighed. She had only a week left before she went in to collect her results after her first year of medical school. She preyed to her lord that she had done well. Her brother Tony had just finished law school at the age of twenty one. Soon he was going to be finding a firm to join.
She wanted to follow him.
The red headed nineteen year old had soon applied her make up, had done her hair and was down stairs where her adoptive father found her.
Henry Drew was a man of religious and stood for every thing good in the world. He stood for hard work and did every thing he could for his family, including the two children he had adopted.
Sylvia and Tony had joined there family when they were five and seven.
Both had grown up strong headed. Sylvia more so he thought as he saw her walking towards him. She had a smile on her face and she stood on tip toes to kiss him good morning.
“Morning Daddy.” she said him.
“Good morning sweet, did you sleep well?”
“Not too bad, once I calmed down. The party was amazing.” she said to him.
“I know.” he said. “Jane, are you ready to go darling?” he called to his wife. “Tony, Christopher?”
Christopher was the only biological child of Henry and Jane. After his birth they had found Jane had been left unfertile. They had been desperate for more, so when they had heard of two young children who had been abused by there natural father and there fore had been taken away from there family they had taken them in.
Chris had quickly accepted Sylvia and Tony in to the family. He and Tony were the best of friends and he had nothing but respect for Sylvia. She was such a gentle women.
They three had grown up on the out skirts of Manchester.
It was a pleasant area, for Henry had come from old money and was fabulously wealthy. His wife and children lived a wonderful life style with him, for they didn’t have to ask for any thing. Henry was a doting man.
“we’re ready father, all of us.” said Chris as he came out of the kitchen with his adopted brother and mother.
They went out of there house and walked down the lane to the village church. They went in and sat in there normal seats.
Henry sitting on the end of the pew, next to Jane and then Chris, Tony and Sylvia. All were silent as they listened to the sermon. The family had always been religious.
Five minutes after the mass had begun though the door creped open and they saw a young couple. George and Hannah Wright come in. they had recently been married, Sylvia having been there bridesmaid. Hannah had been a year above her at school at they had been close.
They had a little boy with them.
“That must be the little ’un they adopted.” Sylvia told her mother. He was a little boy with blond hair and brown eyes.
“He looks gorgeous.” she said to them.
“Awww.” gushed her mother smiling.
Jane had always insisted the best thing she had ever done was adopt her youngest two children.
That afternoon Hannah headed over to see Sylvia for a while.
“I can’t stay long, George and jack are going to be expecting me home but I had to come over just to see you and tell you how happy I am. Sylvia being a mother is so wonderful!”
“I am glad your so contented.” she said to her as she poured the tea.
“Thank you. Well actually there was some thing else I wanted to ask you” she said to her.
“Well you know you can ask me anything.” she said smiling.
“Sylvia do you ever think about - you know, about your real parents.” She said it calmly as if scared the subject would upset her friend.
“Yes.” she said honestly. There was no good in denying it. She did.
“And what - what do you think about them?”
“I think my mother was what she was, and my father - he wasn’t evil. I don’t think so - I really don’t. He drunk too much and I wish mother had been less loyal to him and more so to me and Tony, but you cant change the past.” she said honestly.
“Do you ever wish you were back with them?”
“No. not often any way. I love my life here with dad and mum, as well as my brothers.” she said to them. “But - “she broke off.
“but what?”
“At times - I wonder what become of them. If she ever left him.”
“Do you think she would?”
“No she adored him. Obviously more than she ever cared for us kids.” She added with a slight bitterness in her tone.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s ok. I do half miss her at times. And him. He wasn’t a monster, he was my papa. Scary thing is I cant even recall there faces at times. Freda and Dudley - they were my siblings. They might have kids now. I don’t know anything about them.”
“Do you think Jack is going to feel that way?”
“He’s only three he most likely won’t remember any thing about them maybe wont want too. I know Tony hates remembering, almost as much as he hates them.”
“I don’t want him to grow up thinking we’re second best.”
“Hannah, being adopted isn’t easy - the people who you came from are part of who you are! Hilda and Stan…are my parents. Henry and Jane are too.” she shrugged.
“And you love them both?”
“In different fashions, yes I do.”
“But you haven’t seen the others in over a decade.”
“Yes, but they - I can’t change what those first years meant to me. There were some good times.”
“And that makes miss them?”
“At times more than any thing in the world.”

[jessi]

Tony had been getting ready for bed when he heard a knock on the door.
“Come in,” he called.
The door opened and he saw his little sister come in. Sylvia was clearly ready for bed. She had her night gown on and she had plated her hair.
“Are you ok darling?” he asked her.
“Yeah I just wanted to talk to you about some thing. There is some thing playing on my mind.” she said to him.
“I know - your exam results right? Don’t worry about it. You are going to do fine. This family is on a good streak, me getting my interview at the firm, Chris’s promotion - “
“No, no Tony, it isn’t about my exams. I want to talk to you about our parents.”
“Ah so that’s it - don’t worry me and Chris have it covered, we’re going to go out for a meal for there anniversary.”
“Bruv, that is not it - Papa and Mama. Not daddy and mother.”
Tony’s face changed. It always did. He thought she was a much better person than he was, because over time some how, over time she had managed to forgive there papa for what he had done to them. He had definitely not.
“What about them?”
“I was just wondering - do you ever thinking of them? Ever wondered what happened to them. If they remember, or miss us?” she asked him.
“No I do not. You’re so soft,” he said in a rather rougher tone than he had intended it to be. “I’m sorry that didn’t mean it to come out like that. Why do you think about them? They have been out of our lives for so long. What’s going on in your head girl?”
“I don’t know at the moment. Its just Hannah and George have just adopted Jack and we started talking about how I feel about our mum and dad. And I was thinking about it and them and I was just wondering - how do you feel?”
“Do you really have to ask me? Sylvia he beat us. Don’t you remember that night, when dad took his belt off and beat us as if we were dogs.”
“No.” she said to him. She found it unbearable to think about that night.
“Yes. And you know, he enjoyed it. Every crack of the belt buckle.”
“Stop it.”
“Yeah. He was laughing. He was inflicting pain on us and he was laughing.”
“N-n-o.”
Tears began leaked down her face. She didn’t want to believe it.
“Yeah. Mum was crying for him to stop. But he punched her away. I am sorry sis, but it’s the truth.”
Tony went over to his sister and stroked her hair. She was so upset by it all.
He remembered, he had been trying to get over to her. To protect her. She had kept her eyes shut and she had been silent. She had just let him do his worse.
Until the night of the final beating he had never turned on her before. Sylvia had been his blue eyed girl. Then it had all happened.
“I am not saying this to hurt you; I am saying this because I want to protect you. We are nothing to do with them any more.” he reminded her.
-
“I am not stupid!” Sylvia screamed at Tony. They had been fighting all day and she had got to her breaking point.
She ran out of the boy’s room. She was sick of them.
She could hear her sister calling her name but she really didn’t want to talk to her either.
The little girl ran down the stairs. She didn’t want her brother to see how upset she was.
She stopped abruptly at the bottom of the stairs when she heard voices in the kitchen.
“The drive wasn’t that bad then chuck?”
“Nah ‘Ilda it were ok. Make us a brew will ya love, I’m parched,” she heard a voice say to her mother. A voice she knew well.
Walking down the hall way door she sighed.
Pushing the door open slightly, she waited to try and assess the situation and her fathers mood. When she saw him, he seemed quite calm and rather happy to be back, she could tell by the way he was smiling at her mother, and so she walked in.
“Daddy!” she smiled. Her voice was as quite and soft as she always spoke when spoke to him.
“Hey here’s my Silvy!” he said putting his arms out to her. That was rare in its self. Her father was not an affection man and in a house where her mother was so busy, she took all the cuddles she could get.
“Daddy…” she muttered again happily as he picked her up.
She rested her head on his shoulder as he lifted her in to his arms. He had not been drinking yet.
Her mother smiled at the happy reunion. It was rare she got them both to herself.
“You ok sweet heart, you look upset darling.”
Hilda was well aware of the fact that her youngest two had not been getting on well of late. Tony had got to an age were having his little sister about him was no longer fun or cool.
“No I’m ok. Daddy you don’t think I’m stupid do you?” she asked him.
“My little girl? No!” he smiled at her. “who said that to you?”
“No one important.” she said wrapping her arms round his neck. He kissed her head and held on to her. She felt so safe, and warm, and loved. No one else made her feel as protected as he did when he was holding her.

Sylvia went to the bottom of her waldrobe.
She was still crying. Tony could be so cruel at times.
There was a show box. Her family had forgotten she had it she thought, but it had all her old possession from when she had first left her mother. And father.
They had given her a photo before she left. One of the only ones that had been taking of the entire family.
Her parents were sitting down and Freda and Dudley were standing by there sides, while she and her brother sat on there laps.
At that moment she missed them so much. She hadn’t had a longing to go back to them so much since she had been that tiny scared girl who had been torn from her family.
The cardigan she had been wearing that day when had left. It was pink.
There was a card too. Freda and Dudley had made one for herself and her brother. They had been destroyed by there leaving.
At the bottom of the box there was some thing she had not seen before though.
A letter.

Mr and Mrs H Drew.


Why was this in her box of things from home? Maybe she should take it down to them. But it was opened. Some one had read this. Checking the door was shut she took the letter out.

Dear Mr and Mrs Drew,
I hope you do not mind me sending this letter but I feel I must.
You see me and my husband are moving home, and I am given this to social services in the hope that they will pass it on to you.
I just feel that the children should know where we are, if they should ever want to see us or need us.
Our new address is:

13 Coronation Street,
Weatherfield,
Manchester.

Thank you for every thing you do to them. We are very grateful.
Tell we miss, and love them both desperately.

Regards,
Stanley and Hilda Ogden.

“Why didn’t they tell me you wrote?” she whispered to the letter. A tear splashed on to the letter smudging her mother’s name, and again, Sylvia begun sobbing.

[valda]

I 'm enjoying reading this its really excellent Jessi

[jessi]

Thanks, I'm glad you like it

[jessi]

“How do you feel this morning sweet heart?”
“Nervous.”
Sylvia took her seat at the break fast table. Here it was. The day she got her results.
“Dad, I can take the car to get my result can’t I?” she asked.
“Yes, do you want me to come with you?”
“No I think this is some thing I have to do on my own.” she said to him, but appreciated the offer.
“Oh come on sister, it isn’t that bigger deal. It’s only your first year. You still have two to go.”
“Yes thank you Christopher.” Jane said sternly to her son. “You ignore him darling, we’re all so proud.”
“Please mother, I haven’t passed my exam yet. I might not get in to my second year yet.” she said to him, sighing heavily.
“But you will, we all know you will.” said Tony to her confidently.
“We’ll see. But no I am going to go alone.” she said to him seriously.
“But you are going to come back? Straight home?” Henry enquired.
“Daddy, no I told you a few days ago, me and the girls are going to go and celebrate. Don’t worry I won’t drink if I am going to be driving.” she promised.
“But Sylvia…” said Henry, his face pleading with her.
“Daddy I am not going to be out all night. This is just some thing I have to do.”
But it wasn’t going out with her friends.
It had been a week since she had found the letter from her parents and she had long since made up her mind to go and see them once she had her results.
Stan and Hilda had been playing on her mind ever since. She had been thinking about them ever since, especially the good times. Maybe she was fooling herself, taking too much of a romantic view on the situation.
She kept thinking about the moment they were going to be reunited. She imagined how they’d take her in there arms and he’d tell her how sorry he was. And then her m,other would embrace her again…
It wouldn’t happen. She knew it.
“You’re going to do just fine.” Henry said as he kissed her fore head.
“I know. I’m going to be ok.”
“Of course you will darling.”
On the way to the medical school Sylvia didn’t know which she was more nervous about. Her exams or seeing her natural mother and father again. She’d wondered what they’d think when their baby girl was a nurse, a doctor even.
Her hands were shaking as she got her hands on the envelope.
“You going to open that?” she heard a voice on her ear.
“Hannah what are you doing here?” she asked her.
Sylvia felt her heart fall. This was not what she wanted. If Hannah was here she was going to wreck every thing. She wasn’t going to let her go to her mum and dads.
She was dreaming of it, seeing them again. And in a weird way more so him. Despite all the harm he had done her when she was desperate to see him.
“Supporting you dim wit now come on and open them up.” she said to her.
Sylvia nodded and did as she was told, for now Stan and Hilda weren’t what was important.
Her fingers were trembling with nervous as she took the paper out the envelope. Then she saw her result.
“I failed.” she said to Hannah.
“What, but you were top of the class how can you have -”
“Well it says I did so I must have.” said Sylvia to her severely.
“But Syl, oh I am so sorry!”
“Yeah well me too,” she said as she headed for the door dodging all her friends from the class as she left. She just wanted to get out.
“Oh Sylvia, wait up!” she said to her.
“No.” she had failed in one of her tasks for the day.
She was not going to fail in the other.
-
Tears flowed down her cheeks as a river as Sylvia turned the final corner in to Coronation Street. This was it.
She had thought she was going back to her mother and father to tell them there daughter was going to be a nurse. Now all they had was a failure.
She parked the car and got out. Seeing there was a bench she went over and sat on it. She just wanted to think.
“You were driving fast.” she heard a voice behind her after a couple of minutes.
“Hannah why did you follow me here?”
“Because you are the best friend I have ever had and you have been acting weird days. Not just over your exams. This is some thing bigger. I know it is. Talk to me.” she said to her.
Sylvia opened her bag and pulled out the precious letter she had found a few days ago.
“They never told me she wrote to us. And after our talk…oh Hannah I know it’s pathetic…but I just want my mama. Not Jane…my real mum, who gave birth to Me.” she said as her body shook.
“Oh Sylvia.” said Hannah as she finished reading and pout her arms round the thin nineteen year old. “It kills me to see you so hurt.” she said to her.
“Well’s its Jane’s fault.” Sylvia spat, wanting to blame some one. “And Henry’s.” she said to Hannah. She had been calling them by there first names in her head all week.
Hannah had to admit she was not sure how to handle this and so she just held Sylvia. There was nothing else she could do.
“Shall we go and knock on number 13 then?” she asked her.
“Yes please.”
Hannah leant Sylvia lean on her as they got up. She was clearly hurt by every thing and too tired to support herself at first. This was a huge thing. The biggest thing Sylvia had ever tried to do.
But by the time they got there she had composed herself and was carrying her own weight proudly.
She got to the door, and knocked. And knocked…and knocked…There was no answer.
“This isn’t happening. They can’t be out. Hannah they can’t be. Please just tell me there not out.” she said to her.
“I am so sorry!” She said quietly.
“I want my mum and my dad.” she bit her lip, trying to stop the tears flowing again. Sher didn’t want them to see her so weak…they were coming she tired to convince herself. They just hadn’t got to the door yet.
“I know you do sweetheart.” she said as she wrapped her arms round her.
“Come on, we’re going for a drink. One won’t hurt.” she said to her as she pushed Sylvia towards the pub.
“This isn’t fair. No… Hannah.” She said as her friend tried to get her away from the door.
-
The four of them had been in as booth together for a while. It was a rare and wonderful thing when they could sit and have a civilized conversation together.
“Don’t you thin we should be thinking about going home?? The kids are going to be doing Polly’s nut in by now.” laughed Trevor.
“Nah we can have one more before she kills them besides she said she was taking them to the park so she wont be back for ages yet…any one want another mum, dad?” asked Irma.
“Go on then chuck.” said her father, earning a disapproving look from his wife.
“Yeah.” she said to them.
Going up to the bar, Irma ordered the usual.
That was the first time she noticed a pair of girls in the corner. She had never seen them before in the rovers before and one of them sobbing her heart out, and she seemed familiar…but they had never met... had they?
-
Sylvia had never felt so down. There was so many questions in her mind.
Why hadn’t she passed? Where were they? Had they6 moved again? Was there another letter? Had she missed something?
“I worked my but of for that exam.” she said to Hannah.
“There’s no denying that.”
“I wanted to be a nurse so much, more than any thing! I wanted to go home and make them so happy, proud of me even. The daughter they knew never had coming home.” she said to her, burying her head in her hands. “But even if I see them now, all there going to see a failure.”
“You are not failure.” Hannah insisted.
“What would you call me then? I’m pathetic crying.” she said as she tried to wipe away her tears. “I wish we’d not talk about them.”
“No. I do too but the one thing we can not change is the past. Go home Sylvia, re take the exam..”
“Maybe your right. I should. But I can’t. I am so close now. They live here…Hannah I’m so confused.”
“I think that’s why we need to get you home. Come on. You can’t say you didn’t try.”
“Ok…yeah…just wait a sec would you…my head I need to get it together. Its so light.” she said to her, probably form cry Sylvia thought.
“You are looking a bit pale. You can’t possible drive…come on I’ll drive you back and we can get your car tomorrow.” she said as she put her arms on her shoulders.
Sylvia tried to get up. Her head was aching…so sore…every thing was swirling about…twirling…every thing went black…

[valda]

Another good one Jessi I was hopeing Sylvia would say to the Ogdens hello remember me I'm your daughter oh Irma of course they look familer they are one is your sister you daft bat! :/. poor Sylvia she's fainted through the shock of it all .

[jessi]

Yup...

tthanks for reading, i really appreciate it

[jessi]

Chapter 4

“Oh my god.” she said.
Hannah through her bag down. She should have known some thing like this was going to happen.
Sylvia was under a tone of pressure. She had been so stressed. It was only now Hannah saw she had not been coping for days.
“This is all my fault.” she said, as she dropped to her knees by Sylvia’s side.
“Shall I ring an ambulance?” she heard a voice in her ear.
“Yes,” Hannah nodded, not even looking at them. “Can you help me pick her up please?”
“Of course,” said the male. He lifted her body off the ground and put it in the booth where he had been sitting. “I’m no medic though.”
“She could have been,” she said as she sat by her side.
Sylvia’s weakened unaware body leant in to Hannah. She looked about her. The man who had helped had stood up so the two of them could sit down, but there was an aging couple and a younger women sitting in the both with them there.
They looked as if they felt awkward. Hannah didn’t blame them.
The bar maid had rushed every one out of the bar, it was important the young girl had space to cool down and come round.
“Stan, Hilda you should go as well.” she said to her friends.
“No wait,” said Hannah to her. Stan and Hilda. That was her friend’s parents names. If she got it wrong then there was no harm done not really. “Stan and Hilda…by any chance are your names Freda and Dudley?” she asked, half hopeful, and half hoping she had got it so wrong. This was not what her best friend wanted, not how it was meant to be in Sylvia’s eyes. She wouldn’t want them seeing her like this. There was no time for foolish pride though.
“As was.” said the young red headed women.
“Did you have a sister and a daughter, named Sylvia.” she asked.
There faces changed and there was a mixture off emotions. Pain, excitement, sorrow and surprised shines through.
Hilda who had been sitting at opposite from the girls, jumped up and walked over to the other side of the unconscious daughter.
“This is her. Stan, it’s her!” she said to her husband gently as she sat down.
Hilda didn’t know what to feel or even if she should. The day she had lost the children so she had not one mad she had made herself forget them. It hadn’t worked, but she had tried, she truly had.
Yet here before her was this beautiful young woman. Her hair was soft and against her pale skin was like flames. She was cold.
“Give me your jacket Trevor,” she ordered her son and wrapped it round her daughter’s shoulders. Hilda was in a state of shock. She took hold of her daughters freezing hands. “Stan…I never thought….its been years chuck…she’s got so beautiful…look at her Stan…” she said to her husband.
He had got out of the booth as well and had come round and put his hand on his wife’s shoulder.
“I …Silvey…I - ‘ilda….” he said to her.
Clearly he didn’t believe it wither.
“Brandy?” suggested Bet.
For the first time in a long time, Stan surprised his wife.
“No…drinking was what … they took her away…no…”
Hilda for a second beamed at her husband. She had not been expecting that. He was doing some thing right for once. There was no time for drink now…
It was then that the paramedics burst in to the pub and took over.
Hilda felt angry as they took hold of there daughter. She had only just got her back and now she felt as if some one was trying to take her away from them again. Stan had to hold on to his wife to stop her pushing them to get to her.
“She’s our girl.” she muttered to him.
“Yes chuck and nowt is going to take her away from us again.” Stan said, trying to comfort her. He had never been very good at it.
“Does any one want to come with her in the ambulance?”
“Can I go?” Hilda asked the paramedic. She had completely forgotten about her daughters friend.
All that mattered was Sylvia was back in her life. Maybe she’d never given up hope of her daughters return.
Hannah felt completely pushed out and she had been since she had realized who they were.
But she understood why they were so protective of her. It had been over a decade since she had been any where near them. They were shocked.
“I can drive the others.” she heard her own voice say. It had just come floating out.
“Ok,” Hilda nodded, her eyes only having left her daughter for a moment.
“We’ll meet you at the hospital chuck.” Stan told his wife.
“Yeah…” she said as she followed the paramedics out of the pub.
-
The waiting room was full of tensions as the five of them sat there. Hilda had not been able to go any further with her than the waiting room. But maybe she thought that was a good thing. Even if Sylvia had woken up to her she might not have remembered her. And if the doctors had started prodding and pocking her trying to figure out what was wrong Hilda felt she might have slapped them.
Stan looked at his wife with concern. She just like him was worried out of her mind.
“She’ll be ok.” said Irma. “If there is one thing I remember about our Sylvia it is that she is as hard as nails.” she said to her parents.
“That she is.” said Hannah.
She had had to be growing up in a house with just brothers for company. The two of them had treated one another as sisters since they had been young but they hadn’t been there twenty four hours. And she knew she had found Chris and Tony’s over protective streak insufferable at times. And if they weren’t trying to protect her they were annoying the heck out of her.
“Always was. Even when we were really little.” said Trevor. “Did she talk to you about coming to find us?”
“No, not at all. She is the kind of girl who keeps her feelings to her self. She isn’t good at talking about what she feels, and if she cries she feels weak. It doesn’t happen often but some times it just gets too much for her and her emotions boil over. She found a letter a few days ago.”
Hilda looked in to her lap. She had not told her husband she had written when they had moved.
“Jane, her adoptive mother knew about it and she just felt so upset. She got her exam results today, and failed…” she sighed. “I am thinking every thing got on top of her. I wouldn’t be surprised. She has had so much to deal with.” Hannah felt tears begin to fill her eyes. She felt she should have been there. “Jane and Henry were putting her under the pressure; she had the boys to live up to. Why the hell didn’t I read the sign?” she asked the Ogden’s. “I mean she has been quiet all week, I thought it was literally just the exams, I should have known it had to do -- after I asked.”
None of her ramblings made much sense to Hilda, Stan, Trevor and Irma but one thing was obvious. She had a loyal friend I n Hannah.
Stan felt sickened with himself though. If there had been any one who would have influenced her to think crying was a weakness it would have been him.
He remembered how he had roared at his family, hit them when he had been drunk. He had never been much if a father to any of them, and he certainly didn’t deserve his wife’s devotion.
After coming up 30 years he had never done right by them, any of them. There wasn’t a lot of hope for him he thought to himself.
Getting up he begun to pace. He had never shown any of his regret. He was too concerned with which barrel his next pint was going to come out of.
He made for the door.
“Stan, where you going chuck?” asked Hilda.
“I need some fresh air.”

[valda]

Nice one Jessi this is a very powerfull story my friend , Hilda is tender hearted , see Irma I said you knew her looks like Stan is changeing for the better , I do feel sorry for Hannah though she is blameing herself needlessly .

[jessi]

I'm glad your enjoying it!

Am I getting every one in character, how they might have acted if this had been a real storyline?

[jessi]

“Why do you always do this to me chuck?”
Hilda found her husband in the hospital garden.
He looked up her. She had a stony face filled with sorrow. The events of the day had taken there effect on both of them.
“Why is it when ever I need you to be there for me, or strong me, you never are?” she asked, her lip trembling.
She thought back to the day they had lost there daughter and son. They had barely been seven and five. She had begged him to stay with her that night. She had needed to feel he was there, that he was willing to change. But he had gone to the pub, came in blind drunk and passed out.
“I should walked out when I could have. But no. I loved you too much, didn’t I? Fool that I am, but I don’t think it has ever been mutual.”
“Now that just ain’t fair.” he said to her crossly. He had always felt for her what she did for him.
“Name one time you showed it…” she asked him.
He fell silent. Every word she had said was true. He had never been the man she needed. There was a big difference between need and want.
For the first time in years he painfully watched as a tear rolled on to her cheek. It seemed to take a life time to fall. Furiously she wiped it away.
“I can’t.”
“Neither can I.” she sighed. “Gods why I love you but I do Stanley. But I am begging you to go upstairs. We’ve been given a second chance not many people get that.” she siad to him. He remained standing as he was and showed no sign of moving. “Please Stan… she needs you, she needs her father to be there for her. And I need you too.”
“Ilda…I can’t.” he said to her.
She racked her brains. It wasn’t that he couldn’t be bothered she was sure. There was no reason that made sense…”Why not?” she asked.
He walked off. He couldn’t talk to her. There was so much he needed to say. But he could not for the life of him find the words.
-
Night fell on the hospital. Hannah had left and with her children Hilda had also She had presumed her husband had gone to get drunk. But he hadn’t.
Stan walked down the hospital ward. He knew what room she was. He had to do this on his own. That was why he had been unable to speak with his wife.
Going in to his daughter’s room, he sighed.
Hilda was right. She had got so big and she was stunning. He had always known she was going to be a right bobby dazzler.
“I thought you were gone for good.” he whispered to her. She was asleep he was sure. What ever he said now would come to nowt.
Sitting by her side he took a sharp deep breathe. He still had to try. It was better she was sleeping. No interruptions that way.
“Sylvia, I have been trying all day of a reason you would want to come back in to my life…and I can’t think of one.” he shrugged. “I don’t get why your looking for us…but I am glad you have, love. I didn’t think I’d ever see you - get to tell you that - I am so, so sorry.”
It wasn’t easy for him to say. He rarely ever said sorry for any thing that he did. But if he had ever owed some one an apology it was her and Tony. They had been his kids. And what he had done he now saw was inhuman. He had been a beast. No one deserved what he had given them. And what he had done to his wife over the years.
“I didn’t want to hurt you. I was out of my mind.” he tried to make excuses but he knew there were none. Nothing that could make up for his behavior.
“Worse day of me life was when they came to take yous two away from me and your mother.” he said to her. “Do remember that morning? I cuddled you…and Tony played with your mama all morning. We didn’t want to give you both up.” he said as furious tears begun. Fury at himself. Rage towards the actions of a foolish young man who didn’t know the value of what he had.
“I realized – I mean really had to face up to the fact you were gone the next day. I’d been out on a job, just local so I got back early. And you know who was on the stairs to greet me? No one… Freda was so angry with me and your mother, and you were gone. No one to run in to my arms and annoy me when I got back, eh? Not even Hilda wanted to know me that day. She was silent weeks after you were taken.
“God, Sylvia - I am so, so sorry.” he said to her as he put his head in his hands. He wanted to scream with angry at himself, but he couldn’t. He could barely speak.
With trembling hand he took one of hers. She was still so cold.
He remembered the day she was born. He had been outside the room for the last half an hour of the birth. Hilda had been screaming in agony…but Sylvia’s birth had been the quickest out of the four.
He had run in to his wife’s side and she’d placed the baby in his arms. She had been no more than 5 minutes old, and she had terrified him. So small, like a doll. If he held her too tight, she would have broken. Hilda had teased him about the look on his face, asking if he’d never held a baby that small before, when she had full well known he hadn’t. The others he had been away on jobs and he had seen them two or three days after due to work. Never so early.
He had been the proudest dad in the world. She had been so beautiful. Breathe taking. And she had looked up at him with these curious blue eyes she had been given.
And he had known she was completely dependent on him. That he had her trust completely.
He had abused that trust time and time again. Then the social workers and services had got involved.
“Its ok…” a voice said weakly.
Stand turned to see she was awake. Her hand squeezed his and a weak smile came to his lips.
“You know who I am?” he checked.
“You’re my papa…though I think dad would be the better option now days…I’m not five any more…”
“I know your not…your nineteen. Still my little girl thought aren’t you?”
“Yeah….” she sighed and in no time at all she was asleep again. He felt she had said it simply to agreed with him, but it was enough to comfort him.
-
Hilda’s heart softened.
She had been furious with Stan all night after he walked off but as she got to the hospital the next day to find him there asleep in the chair by Sylvia’s side, she couldn’t be angry with him any more.
As soon as she opened the door though he was alert.
“You been here all night?” she asked, her face sympathetic.
“Yeah…” he sighed as she walked to his side.
Hilda took her husbands hand and she kissed his forehead. “How did she sleep?”
“Not too bad love.” he said to her, “better than me.” He said shifting stiffly in the chair. “Hilda, I - yesterday…sorry…”
“Its ok chuck.” she reassured him.
Hilda smiled, and went round to the other side of her daughter’s bed and sat down.
“Has the doctor told you any thing? Why she were ill?“
“Exhaustion…” he sighed. “And don’t seem like she has been eating much…” he sighed.
“Well we’ll just have to make sure our lass starts taking care of herself. And if she won’t, then I will.”
“Don’t worry, I will.” Hilda heard a weak voice.
Sylvia had woken up again.
“What’s the time?”
“Just gone ten…“ Hilda said to her.
“What happened to me? Why I am here?” she asked.
“Yer passed out last night in the pub.”
“Last thing I remember Hannah was going to take me home - then we were here.” she said as the memory of the previous night when she had woken up to her father came back.
He gave her a knowing wink.
“Yeah well…you gave us a right good scare.” Hilda said to her.
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t meant to be like this.”
“Hannah told us about the exam. I am sorry chuck.” her mother apologized.
“It weren’t your fault…but it was my dream to be a nurse. I don’t think it meant to be some how…”
“Maybe not…” Stan agreed.
Sylvia relaxed in to the pillows. She was exhausted, and felt as if she could sleep for a year. But she had one burning question…
“Do you mind, me coming to find you?” she asked her parents. “Its just I found your letter, from when you moved…you said you missed us and to pass on the message, but mother didn’t.” she recalled bitterly. It was so unlike her lie. Jane never lied or was dishonest, and Sylvia thought what she had done was just as bad.
“No love. Of course we don’t mind.” said Hilda as she looked over at stand and gave him the ‘I’ll explain later look.’

[valda]

you've got all the character's just right Jessi so don't worry ok . I can't help but get involved with the story its such a good one . Stan is the type not to show his feelings, and now I am feeling sorry for him and Hilda is the salt of the earth and did love Stan.

[jessi]

Good! I'm glad you like it. sorry there is no ch. 6 today, I'll put it up tommorrow hopefully!

[jessi]

Sorry it took so long!

Chapter 6

Irma couldn’t stop smiling.
She had missed her sister so much and had been distraught when she had been taken away. And she wasn’t the only one. Due to the fact she had grown up with brothers Sylvia had forgotten how it felt to have a sister and a best friend. She was so beautiful now, with her long red hair. Just the same as hers.
“I can’t believe it. You said the day they took you that you’d find us again and now you have.” said Irma. “But what I don’t get is why. Dad beat you.”
“Yeah but you, mum and Dudley - sorry Trevor now - didn’t. And dad is not a monster. He’d changed now.” she smiled happily. She had some doubts she had to admit. But what he had said to her had had a effect. What she had heard him say last night stayed between them.
She hadn’t forgiven him she didn’t think, but she was good at forgetting. She wanted to put it behind them. She wanted her family back and Stan was part of that.
It was then the door opened and their brother walked in.
“Didn’t expect to see you so soon.” Irma told Trevor.
“Yeah well I can’t stay away can I, not now I have my favorite little sister back?” he asked as he kissed her forehead. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m your only little sister and much better than I was thank you.”
“Good I am glad to hear It.” he sighed. “Bloody scared me, thought if I remember one thing it was that you always had to be centre of attention.”
“Yeah when we put on shows for mum and dad you always wanted to be the main role, cried if you weren’t the princess.” Teased Irma.
“Yeah and you always made Tony be the esquire so you could be the knight in shining armor or the prince.” She said to Trevor.
“I was the oldest lad I should have been it was only right.”
“Do you remember that time we got mum to join in.”
“’Cor not half. Just as I was about to save her then dad jumped in and picked her up.” Trevor recalled. “She gave him one hell of a slap.”
Sylvia laughed. “I thought he was going to cry she whacked that hard!” she said recalling the laughs they had had before a sweet happy silence took the room and she sighed happily. “I missed this. Just chatting with you.”
“Yeah well you have been missed too dearest.” Irma promised her.
“We all have.”
She shut her eyes with exhaustion.
“I’m still so tired.” she told them.
“Go back to sleep,” Irma advised her. Trevor nodded.
“Yeah, come on we’ll leave you too it, go and see mum and dad and come back later.” he said as he kissed her fore head. “I love you, and I’ll see you later today.”
“Alright…” she said drifting off.
Just as she had been about to doze off the door opened.
“Oh my word, Sylvia…sweet what happened?”
Her eyes opened to see her parents and the boys had arrived.
“Darling?” asked Henry.
“Hey,” she said to them…
“What happened, sis?” asked Tony as he sat on the bed, rushing to her side.
“I collapsed…did Hannah tell you?”
“Yeah she came by this morning, last night she said you had been staying at hers for the bight, stupid girl.” said Jane clearly agitated by the lies. Sylvia felt a rush of graduated towards Hannah for the time she had brought her though. “Came back this morning and told the truth.”
“Baby why were you do far from home, it’s an hours drive at least.” Henry asked.
“I will answer but can I ask some thing first,” she said and he nodded. “Why didn’t you tell me they write to us?”
“Who?”
“Mum and dad…the Ogden’s; they wrote! You never told me…” she sighed.
“Darling they didn’t write to the best of my knowledge.” Henry replied gently.
Jane looked torn between anger and shame.
“Why did you go through my draws?” her mother asked.
“I didn’t…”
“Liar.” Jane accused.
“She isn’t lying.” Tony defended her.
“And how would you know?”
“Because it was me. I found the letter and moved it, I put it in the box, her box.” he admitted to them.
“But why?” asked Sylvia.
“because I knew you were going to have the courage to do some thing about it unlike me.” he sighed.
Jane seemed in despair, and left the room. Her husband and son followed.
-
“You know I have only been in here no more than a day but I can not stand the look of these walls.” Sylvia said to Tony.
“You always want a change of scenery. You’re always after some thing new.”
“Maybe I was looking for some thing old,” she suggested.
“You know, if you were planning to see them, you should have told me.”
“I know but after what you said…” she sighed.
“I was cross you had the strength to bring them up, but sis,” he sighed trying to tell her and show her all the emotions he felt. There were so many. “You have welcomed them back in to my life as well with out so much as a thought for what I wanted.”
“But - I missed - I wanted them back. I was so upset after my exams I just wanted my mum and dad.”
“So are you seriously telling me if you had passed you wouldn’t have gone…please do me a favor and cut the crap. We don’t lie to each other.” he reminded to her.
“I know. Your right…I’ve been planning this since the day I found the letter. They missed me and I missed them. It seemed the right thing to do.”
“Don’t you ever think about what you are doing?”
“You know I don’t.” she sighed.
“Yeah well that’s true I guess. Sylvia I just worry about you. What if they had shut the door in your face, I’m guessing they haven’t!”
“No. They have been wonderful.”
“For all of a night…” sighed Tony.
“He wants to make it right, you don’t know how sorry dad is.”
“He never had a sorry bone in his body, not the man I remember.”
“He’s changed. He does now and he wants his kids back, I am sure of it,” she pleaded.
“Yeah of course he does.
“You know what Tony…I think you want and need this as much as I do. Because if not, you would have never hid that letter in my room…”
He shut his eyes. She knew him to well for them to be having this conversation. The pressure got to him and he walked out.
-
Sylvia was on her own until Irma came back to her. And by the time that had happened a dark cloud had come over her heart.
“My future is so uncertain.” she told her big sister and she knew it too.
“I know, but you don’t have to be so worried. What ever comes next I am going to be about for you. From now on we have each other, that’s a promise!”
“Thank you.. We used to be best friends when we were young didn’t we?” she asked tearing up.
“What are you on as about, talking as if it is in the past? We are still the best of friends.” she said taking her hand. They were going to have each other.

[valda]

it was worth waiting for Jessi Bravo my friend . I'm pleased Sylvia is getting accepted by all the Ogdens so the foster mum had hidden the letter then, good for Tony moveing it lol I hope Tony comes round though.

[jessi]

Thanks Val!

“I was thinking why don’t we ask mum and dad if you can come back to number 13?”
“I think it might be a bit soon for that Irma.” said Sylvia.
“Why? Are you really telling me you want to go back to Jane’s.” she asked.
Sylvia sighed. She guessed that part of it was right. She and her step mother were arguing and had been ever since that first hospital visit.
“Well no but I don’t know - Irma it might be too soon for mum and dad.” she said to her.
“They have been waiting fourteen years for you to cone back they can hardly say no to you. And if they do we can get a flat of our own.” she said to her. The one thing that was obvious to her was how much her sister wanted her back and she wanted her too.
“It isn’t that I don’t want to come it is that I don’t want to run my back on Henry and Jane, they have been so kind to me over the years I don’t want to be so disloyal. But moving in with you, mum and dad would be so much fun. Irma I don’t know what I want,”
“The least we can do is ask mum and dad what they think on the subject. And look there here now.” she said looking towards the ward window where Hilda’s face had just appeared.
They had been wonderful to there daughter since she had been back in there life’s and they had visited her every day. Hilda was shocked she had not had to nag Stan to come even once. It was as if he really wanted to see her every day.
He had a very genuine concern for his daughter it seemed.
”Morning chuck” said Hilda to them.
“You ok?!” asked Sylvia as she sat up.
“Yeah we are, how are you?” asked Stan as he sat in the chair by her side.
“Wonderful. I can get out of this prison tomorrow.”
The two parents looked at each other alarmed both knowing what the other was thinking. It was a good thing that there girl got to go home and that she was better, but if she went home back to the other side of Manchester then how on earth where they meant to get to know her again. And they didn’t have the money to keep going to visit her. They would get to see her once a month at the most, maybe only once every two some times. They both felt that just wasn’t enough for them to get to know her as they felt they should. Seeing what they were thinking on there faces Irma jumped in.
“I was thinking mum why don’t our Sylvia come back to ours for a bit.” said Irma to her.
It was not Hilda’s face who showed the greatest pleasure in this prospect but her husband.
“Eh, chuck I think that’s a grand idea you coming home.” said Stan to her. As far as he was concerned where he and Hilda were was theirs little girls real home. And he wanted to make sure she got properly better under their care if possible.
“I don’t want to impose.”
“As if you could, your our daughter.” said Hilda to her. “If you want to come back with us then we are going to welcome you with open arms darling.” she said to her.
“See you can’t use them as an excuse not to come back now.” said Irma to her.
”I don’t want to be selfish though. I mean Jane and Henry have always been so kind to me.” she said to them.
“And we understand that too love. “ said Hilda with a note off regret in her voice. If she had her way and she could go back in her life and change it so that there was no need for the Drew’s to come in to there lives then she would have. But she could not and so she had to try and understand what her daughter was saying and why she did the things she did. “We are going to support you. What ever you choose.” she said to her. “Aren’t we Stan?”
“Of course we are petal.”
“Think selfishly for a minute sis.” said Irma to her. “What do you want?”
“I can’t do that.”
“Yes you can just tell us. what do you want in your heart of hearts?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” asked Sylvia, trying not to get chocked up. She was sick of crying and she hated it. “I came to you for a reason, tried to find you for a reason.”
“Then you want to come home to be with me and Stan.” said Hilda
Sylvia sighed. She felt so confused. She just wanted to be told what to do. She sighed. Burying her face in her hands she shook her head.
“I just want this to be over.” s he said to them. “But yes. I do…wanna come home…Mum…”
“oh sweetheart, come here.” said Hilda getting up, going over to the bed and holding her daughter close to her. She had missed holding her daughter. “I know you’re hurting. But it is going to get easier.”
“Why did you let me go? Mum I didn’t want to go all those years ago! I was screaming at you not to let me go! I wanted to stay with you and papa…” she sobbed against her mother, her whole body trembling.
Stan unable to watch her so distress went over and stroked her hair, trying clumsily to comfort her. She had been through enough. It was time for the pain to stop.
“Your coming home with us darling. I’m not letting you go again chuck.” said Stan to her. There it was. Decision made.
-
“So that’s it. After fourteen years of them giving us every thing and trying to raise us as best as they can you have just decided to walk out on us all. Sylvia you can not do this.” said Tony to his sister.
“Yes I can. And I am. This is it.” she said weakly.
She was up and she was out of bed. She was still weak though and as she packed her bag she felt a bit short of breathe. It was clear she had been really unwell. What ever had made her faint in the pub it wasn’t just stress he thought to himself.
She looked so little and thin.
“I’ve made my choice Tony. It is time for you to make yours. If you can visit me at home then that is what I want because god you’re my brother and I love you so much you don’t even get it.” she said to him seriously. “But I just want to go home and be with our mum and dad. That is my choice, I’ve made my mind up. So stop trying to change it.” she said as she picked up her bag. She struggled to carry it.
“Hey come on you give that to me. The weight of it looks as if it might drag you over sis.” he said wrapping his arm about her waist supporting her. When he picked the bag up he thought it was rather light. “Are you sure you are ready to go home.”
“Yes I just want to get pout of here.” she said as they went out to the waiting room where the entire family was waiting for them.
“Are you ready?” asked Irma.
“yes –“
“Its true then you are going back to them?” asked Jane.
“Yes I am .” she said to him.
“Sylvia how could you?” she asked her.
“Will you stop it love she has been through enough!” Henry was the voice of reason. “come here then if you are going home the least you can do is say good bye to your old man!” he said opening his arms to her a\and she nodded walked over and cuddled him.
“Goodbye. I’ll see you soon,” she said hugging him loosely.
“If you need me, ring me. If he raises hand to you, ring me. I’ll come and get you where ever.” he whispered in her ear.
“He wont, don’t worry. I am going to be fine, I love you.” She whispered back before she going over to Chris and hugging him.
“Don’t be a stranger.” he said . “I wish you’d come home.”
“I know. But this is just some thing I have got do. And you have to accept that.”
She turned to Jane. She had a cold hard expression. Sylvia turned away nothing was going to deter her from this.
“Please visit.” She said to Tony.
He nodded. “I’ll come this weekend.” He winked.
“Right. Are we ready to go then chuck?” asked Hilda.
“Yup.”
Then she said the words she had been longing to say for over a decade. “Come on then darling. Lets get you home.”

[valda]

oh Jessi its an excellent one have a K Sylvia's going home , whats Janes problem btw ? she seems so down on the Ogdens for no reason

[jessi]

Thank you . Yup sge has I loved writing that bit.

Jane problem? Well she has rasied Slyvia to be her daughter for fourteen years, and in her mind she is her mother. Remember, Stan mistreated the kids rather badly. Jane is scared that Slyvia is going to get hurt again.

[valda]

Ahh now I understand Jane yes of course, but she is worrying needlessly because Stan once he changed is a different man (Stan was a man like that once he made up his mind that was it ) thank you for explaining Jessi

[jessi]

“I hate Mrs Walker for making me work tonight.” said Irma as she came down stairs. She had tried to get the night off. It hadn’t happened.
“You are angry, you don’t hate her.” said Hilda to her daughter. Hilda was grateful for all the work that Annie Walker put in the direction of their family. She put most of the food on the table.
“But our Sylvia has only just got home.”
“I know which is why me and your father are looking for ward to having her to our selves for a bit.” said Hilda to her daughter. “Go on, love off with you. Its only four hours.” she said to her.
“Only…” sighed her daughter before turning and kissing her mothers cheek. Some thing she had not done in quite a while. “I’ll see you when you get back.” she said as she walked of to the Rovers.
Hilda shut the door and walked in to the living room where she saw her husband and other daughter sitting on the sofa side by side, cup of teas in hand, Stan looking thrilled that they had her back but Sylvia still looking rather up tight.
She had not seemed so when her big sister had been there. But even when they had been kids the two of them had been as thick as thieves remembered there mother fondly.
“It is so good to have you back chuck. I know I keep saying it but god bless you I thought I’d never see you walk back in to our home.” she said sitting on one of the chairs about the table, the nearest one to her husbands.
“Neither did I.” she admitted. This had moved so close. She hadn’t even found the letter two weeks ago. And here she was in a whole new world…or a old one depending how you looked at it.
“Love…you know if you have any questions for you can ask. I know me and Stan have plenty for you love.” said Hilda.
“I guess I do…first and form most what happened to Mops?” she asked.
“Oh chuck. He died a while ago, before we even moved here.” said Stan to her.
Mops had been the family dog. He had been a mongrel and Stan had been intending to take him to the dogs home but when he had brought mops home the kids had fell in love with them. Hilda had been furious with him. It had been another month to feed as far as she had been concerned but even Stan loved him in the end. He had been his best friend.
“I thought he might have.” she said shaking her head. “And I think the same applies for all my nan’s and granddads.” she asked.
“Yes…” Stan nodded. ”I am so sorry.”
”They were your mum and dads.” she said to them. They had nothing to be sorry for.
“We know.” Hilda muttered.
She sighed heavily, holding the tea close for warmth. Sadness was in her eyes. She felt such regret for never being able to say good bye to them. They had been great.
“What about Trevor? I mean I have seen him yeah but I don’t know a lot about him.”
“Well his married with a wife and kiddies now.” said her father.
“So I’m an aunty?” s he beamed.
“Aye…and our Irma has she told you about her husband?” asked Hilda.
”No… I didn’t know she was married, if she is why she is living with you too?” she asked shocked.
“Chuck her husband died.” Hilda explained. “And so did her son…”
“Oh my god.” she said shocked, it was in her eyes. She looked at them desperately as if she wanted them to tell her what to say. “She has been so strong for me this past week and she has had that to deal with!” she asked. It put her own worries to shame.
“It has been a few months since it happened now love. She is over the worse of it now.” Hilda assured her.
“I had no idea.” she muttered and Stan put his arms about her.
“It’s going to be ok love. No one expected you too, how could you? And your home now, we’re together. She’ll be ok.” he said to her squeezing g her.
“I know but… I feel selfish now. She has been so strong.” she muttered.
“You are not selfish love. You kids have all had your own problems.” said Hilda. “They have been different you know, but all valid.”
“Yeah…” she said as she took a moment to pause. Her poor sister going through all that. “Any way you lot said you had questions for me…come on.“ she said trying to cheer herself and both of them up.
“Oh yes,” said Stan. “We want to know every thing. How you did at school? What did you enjoy doing when you were young? Who was your best friend?“
“Well you met her, out Hannah! She is a lovely girl and she has been there for me ever since I got to Jane and Henry’s. We grew up together.” she said to them “her, me and the boys.”
“Well I bet you lot had loads of fun.” Hilda smiled.
“The four of us had a right laugh together. There was a river down by the house where we lived when we were kids. We used to go down there every Sunday.” she said to them.
“Yeah? Did you go to the same school?”
“Yes she was in the year above me and stuff but we always made time for each other.”
And the three of them spoke long in to the night. It was great fun. Even though there were a few sad moments, and those of reflections but for the most of it they just laughed.
From the people that they had left her mum and dad were so different. They felt warmer. They seemed to care more.
As ten rolled around she yawned though. Putting her head on her dads shoulder she smiled. She had always been fairly happy but could not remember the last time she had been so happy or felt so at home.
“Right young lady you get up them stairs and get in to bed.” Hilda ordered her.
“If you say so mother. Night, night dad,” she said wrapping her arms about her fathers neck and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
“Sleep well my darling.” he said to her.
“Night mum.” she said giving her a kiss and walking out the room and up the stairs.
“It is so good to have her back. And she is so beautiful and clever.” she Hilda as she took the space next to her husband.
Stan nodded in agreement and took his wife’s hand.
“Aye love. This time we are going to be a proper family. I promise you Hilda. This time I am not going to screw up.”
“I know chuck, I know.”