the only exception

 "Phoebe, they'll be here any minute, can you come downstairs?" Hayley called up, and Phoebe had no doubt she was stressing about having Erin and her birth father, who she finally learned was named Lucas, in their house.

She really couldn't blame Hayley for stressing out though, she was too. She wanted Lucas and Erin to know how happy she was here, how homey it all felt.

She made her way downstairs right as the doorbell rang, but couldn't be bothered to go to the door and greet them, instead deciding on just lounging on the couch.

"Phoebe, good to see you again," Mrs. Murphy greeted, being the first one in the room.

"Hello," Phoebe smiled lightly, tucking her hands under her thighs to try and stop fidgeting.

"I'll be in the other room if you guys need anything, just let me know." Hayley smiled, although her statement was mostly directed at Phoebe who gave her a single, nervous nod. She wanted to ask her to stay again, but the words wouldn't come out before Hayley was gone.

"It's good to see you, Phoebe." Lucas greeted, earning a small smile back from the teen.

Erin spoke up next, "Are you having a good break? Merry Christmas, by the way."

"Oh," Lucas nodded, "Merry Christmas."

"It's not Christmas yet." Phoebe told them, watching as they shared a look with each other that she could only describe as nervous.

"Tomorrow's Christmas Eve, close enough, isn't it?" Erin tried, offering her a smile.

"I guess."

"Speaking of Christmas," Mrs. Murphy started. Phoebe didn't fully understand why she just sat quietly during these meetings, but part of her was at least grateful to have a somewhat familiar face. "Your parents have requested to see you on Christmas day."

Phoebe's pretty sure she saw red, quickly glancing at Erin and Lucas, unable to hold back the snappiness from her tone, "That's weird, because I already have plans with my parents on Christmas."

Mrs. Murphy grimaced, "Yes, well, Erin and Lucas have requested to see you on Christmas."

Phoebe shook her head, "Busy, sorry."

"Oh, come on, kid." Lucas tried, "It'd be nice to spend a holiday together."

"Don't call me kid." Phoebe tilted her head, clearly angry. "I'm already spending the holidays with my parents and the rest of my family. I don't have to see you." She paused, looking over at Mrs. Murphy, "I don't have to, do I?"

"No," she shook her head, hesitantly glancing at Erin and Lucas, "You don't have to this time."

"It'll be fun, I promise," Erin tried to persuade her, "your grandparents and aunts and uncles will all be there, they're excited to meet you."

"Well, they're not gonna meet me." Phoebe deadpanned, "I only have to see you guys, I don't have to see them."

"It's your family, Phoebe." Lucas frowned, but Phoebe was quickly shaking her head.

"No, they're not."

"Well, we're all gonna be a family again soon enough, isn't it better to go ahead and start meeting everyone?" Erin tried.

"I have a family." Phoebe laughed angrily, sick of repeating herself. "Let's see," Phoebe began counting on her fingers, "I have my grandparents, that's already four. My cousins -they're very cute by the way, almost the age I was when you abandoned me! Then there's my aunts and uncles, which really, who wants to sit here and count those all up. Oh, my uncle Zac is teaching me drums! Isn't that cool? I'm not very good yet, but my Dad is teaching me the guitar and not to brag, but I'm getting pretty good. My mom teaches me some too, even. Oh, and there's Alf, our dog. He's a real cutie. And would you look at that, we've already passed the amount of fingers I have. I think that's enough family for me."

"Well, that's nice, Phoebe." Erin replied, and Phoebe couldn't help but to pick up a bit of snappiness to her tone, "But we're your real family, sweetheart. This is just a temporary situation, from what I understand, it always has been."

Phoebe was pretty sure she was gonna be sick, but she refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing her upset, even as her eyes burned.

"Really, because I'm pretty sure a real family doesn't abandon their child." Phoebe replied, her voice getting louder.

"Okay, I think we should take a break." Mrs. Murphy cleared her throat, looking over at Phoebe, "Are you alright?"

"Am I alright?" She laughed, tears building up in her eyes, "I'm fan-fucking-tastic!"

"Everything okay?" Hayley asked in concern, making her way into the room and instantly beelining to the crying teen.

"Tell them to leave," Phoebe pleaded quietly, lip turned down as she tried to hold her tears back, "Make them leave."

Hayley nodded, turning towards Mrs. Murphy, "I think that's enough for today."

"I agree," She nodded easily, "Erin, Lucas, let's see ourselves out."

"But-" Lucas started, quickly getting shut up by both Hayley and Mrs. Murphy shooting him looks, although Murphy's was more of a warning and Hayley's more of a glare.

Hayley and Phoebe stayed silent as they left, Hayley sitting herself right in front of the younger girl, trying to show exaggerated deep breaths to silently remind the teen to breathe.

The moment they'd heard the front door shut, Hayley was talking.

"What happened, honey?"

Phoebe finally let the tears fall, "They're gonna take me away."

Hayley shook her head, "No, they're not. Not unless you want them to."

"They said so. They said this is a temporary situation and they're my real family, and I know I said you weren't my mom and this wasn't real, but it is." Phoebe sobbed, quickly being pulled into a hug by Hayley.

"What do you want, Phoebe?" Hayley asked after a moment, sitting back, but keeping her hands on the teens arms.

"I want to stay with you and Taylor. I don't want them to take me." Phoebe said, how sure she was showing even through her unsteady breathing.

Hayley nodded lightly, tears showing in her own eyes as determination set on her face, "Then they aren't going to." She assured, bringing a hand up to wipe the tears off Phoebe's face, "We won't let them."

When Hayley moved to stand up, Phoebe quickly reached back out, grabbing her arm, "Don't leave."

Hayley smiled sadly, "I'll be right back, okay? I gotta call Taylor and tell him to come home."

"Promise?" Phoebe asked, even if she knew she was being childish. The fear of losing the life she had was hanging too heavy over her head, worst case scenarios running through it.

"Absolutely," Hayley nodded, "I've never left you before, have I?" Hayley asked, waiting for Phoebe to shake her head before continuing, "I'm not gonna start now."

___

a/n

hiii, double update. hope you all enjoy.