Disclaimer: I do not own Switched at Birth. Abc family and the producers get full credit for the wonderful show.

Talking and signing

Signing only

Chapter One: Gone

Bay stood in shock, with the phone pressed to her ear. She knew that her mom was tearfully talking to her, but all she heard was an echo in her head. "Your dad past way." She heard over, and over in her head. "He had a heart attack while no one was home."

Bay hung up the phone not even sure if her mom was still on the other line. She didn't know what to do. She felt numb, lost. How long had she stood there? Bay looked around trying to feel something, anything.

She thought back to the last time she had seen her dad. How long had it been? Months. She hadn't seen him in months, because she was to busy doing other things, and now she would never get the chance to see him again.

She thought about the last time they talked. It was on Annaleigh's birthday. Him, and Bay had shared a laugh over something in the past. She held on to the memory of his laughter.

"Mommy!" Annaleigh said, as she ran into Bay's arms nearly knocking her over.

Bay held her tight, and the first wave of tears took hold of her. The feelings she had waited to feel had struck with the force of a semi-truck.

Annaleigh pulled away confused. "Mommy what's wrong?" She asked with concern.

Bay looked up to Alice, who had just come into the room talking, "Drew called and asked me to pick Annaleigh up. I have no..." She stopped when she saw Bay in tears. "Bay? What's wrong."

Bay shook her head, and looked at Annaleigh. This was going to break her little heart. Annaleigh was five, and her pride, and joy. Bay scooped her up into her arms, and sat with her on the sofa. She hugged her tight.

Annaleigh waited for her to say something. She had that curious look that would usually have made Bay smile. "Grandpa..." Bay had to take a deep breath. "Grandpa had to go be with god in heaven." She said hoping to cushion the blow. Annaleigh was Grandpa's little girl. The two got along as if they were made from the same thread.

Annaleigh didn't say a word as her eyes teared up with understanding. She snuggled into Bay, hiding her face. Bay could feel Annaleigh's tears dampen her shirt. Tears of her own filled her eyes. The hardest thing about this was they never got to say goodbye.

Bay racked with Annaleigh, who had fallen asleep. She heard Drew's car pull into the drive. She kissed the top of Annaleigh's head as he walked into the house. The front door slammed making her jump slightly. The house creaked as Drew walked to Annaleigh's room. He peeked in, and smile at her. His smile turned into a frown when she did not smile back.

"Is something wrong?" He asked going into the room.

"Where have you been? You were supposed to pick Annaleigh up from school today." Bay replied. She could see that he was slightly drunk.

"Oh, that was today?" He said rubbing his scruffy face. "I am so sorry babe. I forgot." He said giving her innocent eyes. He notice the suit case on Annaleigh's bed, and gave Bay a confused look. "You going somewhere?"

"My dad...He had a heart attack." She had to wipe a tear away. "He didn't make it. I am going to go stay with my mom for a while. I figured we could leave in the morning."

Drew stood there unsure what to do. He was sure he smelled of alcohol, and if Bay knew he was drinking again, things would not be well. "I am so sorry Bay. How about I take a shower then I can cook some dinner. Have you eaten today?"

Bay didn't reply. He took that as a no. He left her to herself to shower. He hated that he had to lie to her, but he couldn't lose her or Annaleigh. Yet he couldn't seem to stay away from the bottle either. He was a mess, and Bay deserved better, But he refused to lose her. He wasn't strong enough to be without.

Bay stood and walked Annaleigh to their bed. Annaleigh wouldn't want to sleep alone, and Bay wanted her close. Bay watched her sleep for a few minutes before going to the living room. There she could hear the rain hit the roof. Out the window she couldn't see anything, but confusing darkness. Somehow it seemed to reflect how she felt inside.

Drew hugged her from behind. He was still slightly damp from his shower, but Bay didn't make a fuss. She knew he was drinking, but now was not the time for her to deal with it. She had known that he had a drinking problem when she met him, but he was fighting it. Lately however he had stopped going to AA meetings.

She knows things at the office have been stressful, but he can't use drinking to fight stress. She worried for him, and worried that she would not be able to leave Annaleigh alone with him. She needed him to be straight, and so did Annaleigh.

"Let me cook you some food. Did Annaleigh eat?" He asked then kissed her before she could answer so she nodded. Drew gave her a sweet smile as he pulled away.

Bay watched him go to the kitchen. He was never what she thought she was looking for. He was the complete opposite from her. He didn't understand art. He didn't have the same taste in music. He was a businessman. He like things planned to the T. Bay liked to go with the flow. She followed him to the kitchen, and took a seat at the breakfast table. She didn't understand their relationship, but she loved him. Even if it had been hard to do so lately

Tears came to her eyes as she thought of her dad. He never like Drew, which was a huge surprise to her. He was exactly the kind of man she thought he wanted her to be with. He was successful, driven and was always looking to improve.

He never knew about Drew's drinking problem. That was something they had decided to keep between them. Drew's mother was aware, but she was the only other one. She sighed to herself. Yes she would have to talk to him about it soon, but tonight was not the time.

She closed her eyes as the smell of food cooking filled the room. He had always been a great cook. He cooked for her on their first date. She knew then that she was going to like him.

Bay felt herself drift off to sleep and felt as thought she was flouting. Images of her father swirled in her head, as her heart felt heavier. Even in this state, the grief was unbearable. She jumps slightly as she woke. Drew was putting the food on plates nicely.

Bay picked at her food, not really wanting to eat. She wanted to leave tonight. She wanted to get to her mom. Mostly she wanted her dad. It was an odd feeling. She couldn't remember wanting him so badly before. Maybe it was one of those things where you only want it when you can't have it?

Again the tears came, and Bay excused herself from the table. She changed into her sleep clothes, then slipped under the covers next to Annaleigh. Her heart felt like it was splitting into tiny little pieces, and as she slipped off to an uneasy sleep. She had the strangest need for someone, the only problem is she had no idea who, and it wasn't her father.

Daphne sat slowly on the sofa. The tears stung her eyes informing her that she was crying. Her heart felt like someone grabbed it with their hand, and was squeezing it tightly. She looked around her home feeling lost, like she didn't know where she was, or how she managed to get there.

After a few minutes she manged to get to the kitchen for a glass of water. How was this possible? It seemed so unreal. Like the idea of John being gone was just, ridiculous. Daphne drank the water down quickly. Still she felt thirsty.

The lights in the house blinked and she mentally coursed. Work, she forgot she had to work. That was the last thing she was going to do. She needed to buy a ticket and go home for a couple of weeks. She needed her mom, and to comfort Kathryn. She was sure Bay was going to need someone too. She wiped away a tear from her cheek. She hadn't realized how much she missed them all until now, And now was too late to see John.

She went to the door and as she suspected Bella stood on the other side. She smiled big at Daphne. "So we get to meet the new chef today! I so hope he is cute!" She said bouncing her spot.

"Actually, I am not coming in today. Jo...My dad passed away. I'm going to talk to the boss man about getting some time off." Daphne said, receiving a frown from Bella.

"Oh, I am sorry to hear that." She said with sad eyes. Daphne nodded. It had taken her a long time to get used to reading Bella's lips. She is french and that means she formed her words a bit differently. Hell it took her a while to get used to reading the Italian accents. She was in Italy for three months before she got it down.

"Thanks. I need to go." Daphne said closing the door. She wanted to text Emmett. She needed him.

Hey Emmett, So...I am coming home for a couple of weeks. John...he's...He died. Daphne sent the text. It was so odd to text that. Again this whole thing just felt so unreal.

After texting him and ordering a ticket online, Daphne started to pack. She felt as though she was still trying to comprehend it all. She wanted to close her eyes, and go back in time. She wished someone would have been there. Hell she wished John would have been more serious about his health.

Once the packing was done Daphne found herself back on the sofa. Emmett hadn't text back yet, but he could be at work.

Maybe it was because she had been here in this wonderful place., but sadness seemed like an emotion that was odd to her. She was so thrilled when she was offered a job here in Italy. She was only here a few months before she felt at home. She felt like this was where she was meant to be.

The only thing missing was a man in her life. She had hoped by now she would be married, or at least engaged.

Buzz, buzz. She felt her phone go off. She looked at it and saw that Emmett replied, I am speechless. Was all Emmett said.

Daphne stood. Her flight left in a couple of hours, and she needed to get a hold of her boss. At least she knew that getting a couple weeks off wasn't going to be hard. After all, she only had one person above her, and she had days of vacation time saved up.

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