This story takes place in the future. Arthur and Francine are Twenty Five years old. Married with a daughter, Zaliyah Francesca Read, age four. Neither of them went to college.

Muffy is married to Buster. They had a small yet lavish ceremony at Muffys request. They have no children but a past, possibly one of the saddest moments stem from Mrs Crosswire Baxters adolescent Years.

Needless to say, each situation made and moulded the four adults into who they are now, giving insight into why they acted the way they did in school and at home.

The next chapters take place in the psychiatrist Mrs Pancottis office. The only OC in the story

Rated TSexual themes, Racial discrimination and Abortion. Lightly mentioned. Nothing explicit so please dont report it.

Thankyou Arthurfan3000 for calling me an amazing writer.

It means heaps because so many crappy stories get a load of reviews from rather backward who gind violence and sadism funny.

So there was:

The boy who had to smile

The girl who had to be brave

The boy who had to be funny

The girl who had to pretend

Mts Pancotti sat facing both couples. Poised with an intense lopok of satisfaction that her work had finally been accomplished, The four young adults, nearing their twenty sixth bithdays were free to go.

Leaving with a smile on their face and much gratitude for the tall, dark haired Aardvark who had seen them through the toughest of times drenched within their memories. Though they would last forever, Francine in particular felt she would be able to move onwards.

Taking her medication with a glass of water before bed that night, she looked outside the bedroom window. How lufe can change a person from a bossy hypocritical brat, into a subdued sweeter young woman was remarkable.

She sighed, tightening her black night robe around her waist. Thoughts of how and why she had changed swung backwards and forward within her mind..

"Sweetie" Arthur called, stepping into their room. "Zali wants you."

"Oh okay yes." she smiled while Arthur followed her into their daughters bedroom.

Their little monkeyvark daughter with her dads face and hints of Francines features was yawning.

"Daddy and me read, "Good night Moon."

Francine knelt beside her bed and kissed her on the cheek. "Thats your favourite isnt it?" She smiled.

Zaliyah nodded. Arthur stroked his little girls forehead. "We sure did."

"Do you want your lullaby?" Francine whispered softly.

"Yes please Mommy" , Zaliyah cuddled her teddy bear.

She patted the bed with her hand. "Mommy sit with me...please."

Francine sat beside her and placed her arm around her.

Arthur stood in the room watching. Zaliyah liked having both of her parents there before she went to sleep

"Night night" she sang. "Sleep tight, look at all the stars tonight" "shining brightly until morning" "when you wake a new day dawning" "Mommy loves you, Daddy too." "Sleep tight dreaming dreams as precious as you"..

Once Francine had finished, the four yeard old was curled up on her side, fast asleep. They turned out the light and left her bedroom door open. Arthur was extremely cautious of both his girls, His wife and daughters safety was paramount given the past...

Now that therapy had concluded, Francine discussed the possibility of working full instead of part time at home as her mother in law did.

Enrolling Zaliyah into a preschool was a big step. Arthur was wary at first but the choice was hers aswell. Francine was ready to get back out into the world, after spending time at home for the past four years, dedicated to the care of her daughter.

"If youre ready to start working from home again" "then I'll drive you everyday to and from your office" he said protectively leading her to bed.

"I know you're worried, and thats sweet." She gushed. A sweet kiss was shared between them.

Arthur agreed that he had to be. Zaliyah would have to be taken care of by Oliver and Laverne who had since retired but Arthur kept in regular contact with his Parents too who would be more than happy to help out the way Jane had helped Francine manage part time work and being a Mom.

"We can talk about it later" she yawned, slipping into bed. "Sure can", he replied smoothly. " Tommorrows another day" he climbed into bed.

Francine kissed him good night. She felt her husbands hand make it's way down her thigh, then the other hand seemed to move on its own. "For now my dear" he seductively spoke.

She grabbed his waist and removed his tshirt. "For now we..." She didn't finish her sentence. Arthur did that for her by lifting her gently to remove her clothes, sliding her lingerie off...

Looking directly into his brown eyes. She asked that he make love with her. He always waited for her to ask once he had gotten her in the mood for intimacy. It made him feel wanted, loved and cherished. So they did just that..

Meanwhile.

The rain fell outside the large bedroom window where Muffy stood. She ran her delicate hands along the glass pane with tears in her eyes. She felt a warm pair of hands make their way down the curves of her back. She held him closely.

"Im so proud of you." Buster said affectionately. "Youve hidden this burden for so long".

His words were soft and sweet. Her eyes glistened while he wrapped his arms around her. The Crosswire family secret was only known to her three closest companions. This is how it would remain. Noone else would ever know the real truth of what happened to Muffy.

"Who'd of thought huh?" She faced him with a crooked smile. "The Queen bee broken, knocked off her pedastool" the joke was not one to laugh at. Buster found the irony difficult to comprehend.

"You're still my queen" he replied, kissing her eye lids.

"I love you." She quavered...

Buster removed Muffys pink robe and admired her soft skin underneath her violet night dress. He took out her hair clips and watched as her dark red hair fell like a river of water past her hips. He wanted to caress her but she simply ask, he refrain for just one moment..

Her thoughts were of days gone by. Before she felt her tears run dry. Life was simple and love was a game. She had all the money and a prestigious name. Then it decided to pour down with rain. Washing her life away...in pain

Lullaby lyrics by me.