James found it hard going, trying to find a quicker route to the other side of the wooded area. It felt just like his nightmare as he snagged the dress he was wearing on the thorns and branches as he forced his way through. He got to the clearing just as the woman lifted her leg up to step off, so he screamed out the first thing that came into his head.

     “Mummy! No! Moose needs you still!” James screamed at the top of his lungs as he ran over and pulled the woman back from the edge and held onto her as tight as he could.

    Valarie was stunned to see a girl clinging onto her like her life depended on it, but the more shocking thing was what the girl had just screamed at her. Moose was her pet name for Chloe when she was younger. Valarie had once called Chloe her muse, but Chloe being young thought her mummy had said Moose, so from that day forward Chloe had been nicknamed Moose.

    James had no idea why he’d just screamed out what he did, and he felt tired and drained now he’d made it out to the woman and stopped her from jumping off the cliff, but there was another weakness he now felt as well, due to Chloe’s spirit having tried to take control of his body. James looked up at the woman and gave a weak smile before he passed out in her arms.

    Valarie looked down at the child just as she smiled up at her, the smile reminded Valarie of Chloe, just before she became a dead weight as her head fell back and Valarie had to catch her. All thoughts of killing herself faded away as she picked up the girl and then carried her back to the house where it was warmer. She had no idea where the girl had come from, but she had a strong feeling that some greater power was stopping her from ending it all.

    The girl was light enough to carry due to there being very little meat on her bones. Valarie wondered how long it had been since the child had a proper meal inside her.

    James found himself in the wooded area again, but this time there was sun shining through the trees and it looked like a nice day. He found his way into the clearing and saw the girl sat on a bench looking out over the ocean with a smile on her face as she swung her legs back and forth as they hung down off the edge of the bench.

     “Hello.” The girl smiled as she patted the seat next to her for James to join her. “Thank you for saving my mum for me.” She smiled some more.

     “Chloe right?” James asked, but he noticed that his voice sounded even more like a girls than normal. “Where are we?” He asked as he sat down. “And why do I feel like a real girl in here?”

     “You ask a lot of questions, do you know that?” Chloe giggled. “We’re sort of in your mind, so this is the place where you can be the real you.” Chloe tried to explain.

     “But I’d never been to this place before today, so how could I dream about it for all this time?” James asked looking puzzled by it all.

     “That would be my fault, sorry about that.” Chloe said with a pout. “I died while I was on holiday with my dad, but as I died I saw the past, present and future. I saw that my mummy planned to do this, so I fought to get back and save her, but my body was already gone. That is when I saw you still linked to yours, so I hitched a ride back here with you.”

     “You should have let me go to heaven, so I could have been with my mummy.” James said not feeling very happy with Chloe for what she did.

     “I came back to help save you too Jane.” Chloe smiled as she took hold of James hand and used the name his mum had given him when he was younger and first started dressing as a girl.

     “How do you know that name?” James asked.

     “I know everything about you silly.” Chloe giggled. “My mummy needs someone to look after and you need a new mummy to look after you, so it’s a match made in heaven.” Chloe added with another giggle.

     “Why would your mum want to help me?” James asked.

     “Because she will, trust me.” Chloe said as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. Chloe’s arms suddenly felt much bigger as he started to wake and found himself sat on Valarie’s lap as she hugged him close to her chest while being sat in the living room of the house.

     “Hello, and who might you be?” Valarie asked with a smile as the small blue eyed girl looked up at her.

     “I’m not sure you’ll believe me.” James said looking worried.

     “Why don’t you start from the beginning and let me be the judge of that.” Valarie said as she helped James to sit up. “But I think I better feed you first.” She added as James’s tummy groaned with hunger.

    Valarie opened a tin of soup and made James a sandwich before she sat at the kitchen table and got ready to hear the young girl’s story.

     “I need to be truthful with you from the beginning ma’am.” James said before he started eating his meal, even though he was so hungry, and it had been weeks since he last had a hot meal.

     “Please call me Val, and I find telling the truth to be the best foundation to start any friendship.” She smiled. “So what is it you need to be truthful about?”

     “I’m not really a girl, well I am, but something was broken when I was born, so I was born looking like a boy, but I am a girl in here and here.” James said as he touched a finger to his chest and then his head.

    Valarie found this hard to believe as she looked at the small child sat across the table from her. “I’m having trouble believing you, what do you call yourself when you’re a girl?” Valarie asked.

     “My mother called me Jane, but I was named James at birth.”

     “I think you look more like a Jane than a James to me. Do you mind if I call you Jane?” Valarie asked.

     “I’d like that a lot please.” Jane grinned as she sat looking at Valarie.

     “Please eat while it’s still hot.” Valarie said when she saw that Jane still hadn’t made a start on her sandwich or soup. She just couldn’t see this child as anything but a girl.

     “I wasn’t sure you’d not ask me to leave when you found out my secret.” Jane said as she made a start on the soup while it was still hot.

     “I still want to hear your story, and how you came to be out on the cliff top.” Valarie said with a raised eyebrow. “I also doubt you have any place else to go if I did ask you to leave, not that I ever would after what you did.” Valarie added with a smile.

    Jane started from the beginning and told Valarie all about his father dying while he was still very young, and then how his mother helped him become the girl he’d always felt he was inside. Then Jane looked scared as she spoke of her mother’s death and how her boyfriend found out about Jane and then started getting her to do things with creepy looking men.

    Valarie pulled Jane onto her knee when she told her about her mother’s boyfriend and running away and then wanting to die as she lay in the road. Valarie looked shocked when Jane told her about Chloe pushing her back into her body and then forcing her to help stop her mum from jumping off the cliff earlier that day. As much as Valarie wanted to believe that Chloe was still around, even if only in spirit, she was having some trouble with it.

     “Is Chloe here with us now?” Valarie asked as she looked around the room like she would be able to see her daughter if she looked hard enough.

     “She’s always with me, but it’s in here and here, not out where I can look at her.” Jane said as she touched her chest and head again.

     “Did she tell you about my nickname for her then up on the cliff?” Valarie asked as she remembered what Jane had shouted to stop her stepping off the cliff.

     “That was Chloe talking to you. She took control of my body when she saw what you were about to do, that’s also why I passed out, after she did it. It takes a lot out of us both when she takes control.” Jane explained.

     “I’m finding all this a little hard to swallow without some proof.” Valarie said as she held the child in her arms. “Can I ask Chloe some questions?” Valarie asked.

     “Yes, but I may pass out again, but don’t worry, I’ll be okay after I’ve rested.” Jane said as she closed her eyes and let Chloe have some control over her body.

     “Chloe? Is it really you sweetie?” Valarie asked in a shaky voice as she looked at the child cuddled in her arms with her eyes closed.

     “Hi mummy. I never did get to ride a pony.” Jane said the words, but Valarie gasped as she realised that Jane had been telling the truth about her daughter being inside Jane’s body with her.

     “I miss you so much.” Valarie said as she hugged Jane even closer.

     “I know you do mummy, but I need you to be strong and help Jane now. She had no one to love her, and I know you can help her become the girl I’ve seen in her soul.” Chloe pleaded with her mother.

     “Is it all true what she told me then sweetie?” Valarie asked.

     “All of it and much more. Some of it was my fault for possessing her body and forcing her to come and help you, but she’s such a sweet child, and I want you to show her all the love you showed me.” Chloe said with a smile.

     “Can’t you stop here with me as well Chloe?” Valarie asked with some hope in her voice.

     “My time here is almost up mummy. I can feel myself being pulled away from this body now my work is done.” Chloe said in a sleepy voice as she started to feel the strain of talking through Jane. “I love you mum, and I always will until the day I see you again in heaven.”

     “I love you to honey, and I’ll be looking for you when I walk through those large gates.” Valarie smiled as she started crying.

    Valarie felt sad, but at the same time she now felt an inner peace that she didn’t have before. She’d gotten to say a proper goodbye to her daughter, and now she had a new daughter to help. Valarie sat and rocked Jane in her arms as she slept off the drain she’d felt from helping Chloe say goodbye to her mum.

    Jane found herself sat on the bench looking out at the sea when she saw Chloe appear next to her smiling.

     “Did you get to speak to your mum?” Jane asked.

     “Yes thank you Jane; and I want to thank you for everything else you did for me and my mum.” Chloe said as she pulled Jane into a hug. “I’m sorry about all the nightmares, but it’s the only way I could make you do what I needed you to do.”

     “I forgive you Chloe, it was kind of fun at times having you as a weird friend.” Jane giggled. “I think I’m going to miss having you in here with me though.” Jane added with a tear in her eye.

     “I’ll miss you to, but my time is up and I can see my dad waiting for me.” Chloe said as she looked over at a bright light. “You’ll do just fine now as well. Mum will look after you, but you will have to change your name to Chloe though.” She added with a grin as she stood up and then walked towards the light and looked back at Jane before giving her a wave. “I’ve left you with a little gift to help you battle the dark memories that haunt your dreams.” And then she faded out to nothing.

    Jane started to wake up, but was surprised to find that she was in a bed and was wearing a nightgown, but the biggest shock was the fact Chloe’s mum was sat on the side of the bed keeping an eye on her.

     “Has she gone?” Valarie asked with a tear in her eye.

     “Yes, she said her dad was waiting for her.” Jane said looking just as sad to not feel Chloe in her head anymore. “She should have stayed and let me go in her place.” Jane added as the tears started to leak from her eyes.

     “Chloe could never live her life like that sweetie.” Valarie said as she pulled Jane up into her arms. “I think she wanted you to have some sort of a life before you go up to join your mother in heaven.” Valarie added as she hugged the sobbing child.

     “Chloe said that I can become her, but won’t people think it strange that your daughter is back from the dead.” Jane said as she enjoyed the hug her new mother was giving her.

     “No one knows about Chloe’s death, so I can see what she’s getting at.” Valarie said as she realised what Chloe had meant with that comment. “Could you live with being a Chloe?” Valarie asked as she held Jane at arm’s length to see what she thought of the idea.

     “I’d like to be called any girl’s name, just as long as I get to be a girl.” Jane grinned just before she threw her arms around her new mum again and hugged her.

     “Welcome back Chloe.” Valarie said as she hugged her new daughter even tighter.

    Valarie got Chloe settled back down again and then she sat telling her some stories about things her and Chloe had done until she saw that Chloe was asleep, then she tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead before going downstairs to carry on unpacking.

    Valarie looked at the time and saw it was getting late, but she just had to speak to someone about what happened, so she grabbed her phone and made a call to her sister.

    Ashley had just started to nod off in bed when her phone rang, so she picked it up looking worried when she saw it was Valarie calling her. “Sis? Is everything alright?”

     “I’m better than alright Ashley.” Valarie giggled. “I need you to get yourself down here as soon as you can.” Valarie told her sister.

     “What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?” Ashley asked sounding worried that her sister was having a nervous breakdown or something.

     “Get down here and I’ll explain everything to you.” Valarie said sounding vague about everything.

     “I’m on my way now, because I’m worried about you and this sudden happy mood I can hear in your voice.” Ashley said as she got out of bed and started getting ready while she spoke with her sister.

     “I’ve found a reason to live again.” Valarie said. “I’ll see you soon then sis.” Valarie giggled just before she ended the call and carried on sorting out.

     “Found a reason to live again?” Ashley thought to herself worryingly. Ashley had been scared that her sister was suicidal, but hearing those words from her, just made her work even faster to get a bag packed so she could get down to her sister and make sure she really was alright.

    The new house was a two hour drive away in normal daytime traffic, so Ashley was hoping to make it there much faster due to it being the early hours of the morning. She made a travel mug full of strong coffee to help keep her awake and then she was out the door and heading for her sister and whatever gave her this new lease for life she now had.

Chapter four: Insane

    Valarie was still unpacking when there was a knock at the door, so she ran to the door and opened it already knowing it was going to be her sister Ashley.

     “I spoke to her, and got to say goodbye.” Valarie said as she pulled her very confused looking sister into the house and closed the door.

     “Spoke to whom?” Ashley asked looking worried.

     “I’ve spoke to Chloe. She’s given me a reason to live again.” Valarie said as she looked ready to explode with happiness.

     “Okay, well that’s nice.” Ashley said very slowly as she tried to work out just when her sister lost her marbles and went insane.

     “I’m not crazy sis.” Valarie said with her hands on her hips looking a little angry with her sister and the way she was looking at her.

     “I’m not seeing much proof to the contrary Val.” Ashley said with a shrug as she tried to work out just who you called to report your sister had finally lost it.

     “I was ready to end it all sis. I walked up to the cliff edge and I was about to step off and...” Valarie didn’t finish her sentence due to the look of horror on her sister’s face.

     “You were going to kill yourself? And you say you’re not crazy?” Ashley asked as she had to be led to a seat due to her legs wanting to give way on her.

     “That’s not the point sis.” Valarie tried to argue as she played down what she’d just said.

     “It kind of is a very big point Val!” Ashley snapped back. “You can’ just say stuff like that and not expect me to get upset with you over it.” Ashley added with more anger flowing out of her.

     “Chloe stopped me from doing it, and she sent me a gift of sorts.” Valarie said as she looked up at the ceiling where she knew the new Chloe to be asleep in her bedroom.

     “What are you talking about?” Ashley asked looking worried for another reason now. “What have you done?” Ashley added as she looked up at the ceiling where Valarie was looking at where she new Chloe’s new bedroom to be.

     “A young girl stopped me from stepping off the cliff. She shouted that Moose doesn’t want me to do it.” Valarie explained as she sat grinning and clapping her hands together.

     “Sweetie, Chloe is gone, and she’s never coming back.” Ashley said calmly as she reached out to take hold of her sister’s hand.

     “I know our Chloe is gone now, but she came back and spoke to me through this other little girl.” Valarie said with a pleading in her voice for Ashley to believe her.

     “Are you saying that the girl who saved you is asleep in Chloe’s room?” Ashley asked as she pointed up at the ceiling.

     “Yes, she is, and she’s Chloe now.” Valarie said in a matter of fact way.

    Ashley put her head in her hands as she tried to work out just how much trouble her sister could be in, if she’d taken some child against her will, or whether this could be part of a scam to take money from her grieving sister.

     “Just because some girl knows your pet name for Chloe, doesn’t mean she’s channelling her ghost sis.” Ashley pleaded with her sister to see sense. “She could be working with someone that checked out your background. You’ve done countless interviews for magazines.” Ashley pointed out the fact it could just be a scam.

     “I’ve never told anyone about Chloe or my pet name for her sis. She knew other stuff as well, stuff that Chloe told me on the last text message I got from her.” Valarie said refusing to believe that the new Chloe could be a scam artist. Valarie had made a point of keeping her family away from her writing, she’d even kept writing her books under her maiden name to keep the two worlds apart, that was why Chloe and her ex husbands names never made the news in the UK.

     “You may be trusting sis, but I need to live out here in the real world, so I plan to check up on this girl and make sure she’s not some insane person trying to get one over on you.” Ashley said when she saw that Valarie had made up her mind to believe whatever this girl had told her.

     “Fine, but we’ll see if you feel the same way after you’ve spoken with her in the morning.” Valarie replied, sure that once Ashley spoke with Chloe, she would also see that the child had no plan to rip anyone off, and was in fact ready to move on to the next life and hopefully see her real mother again.

    Valarie only had the two beds, so Ashley ended up sharing Valarie’s bed with her when they finally went to bed. Valarie was still asleep when Ashley woke, so she slipped out of bed and decided to go and take a look at this girl her sister was calling Chloe.

    Ashley slowly opened the door and then snuck into the room and walked over to the bed where she could see the blond hair of a child poking out from under the covers. Ashley pulled down the covers a little bit more so she could see the girl’s face. She thought the girl looked harmless enough at first glance, but looks could be deceiving. The girl started to stir and Ashley stood looking at her as she slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Ashley with a smile, but it soon turned to one of horror when she realised that the woman stood looking at her, wasn’t the same one she’d started to think of as her new mum.

    Jane had opened her eyes and looked up still rubbing sleep from them at her new mother, but she soon felt scared when she saw that this woman wasn’t the same one, even if she looked like Valarie, it wasn’t her. Jane started screaming for the woman to keep away from her.

    Ashley stepped closer trying to calm the girl down, but stepped back again when she saw it was only making things worse.

    Valarie was woken from a sound sleep when she heard a girl start screaming, it took her a couple of seconds to remember that Ashley was here, and Jane was sleeping in her new room. Valarie looked over and saw Ashley was gone, and soon worked out that she must have gone to see Jane.

    She jumped out of bed and bumped into a couple of boxes as she worked her way over to the bedroom door and followed the sounds of screaming.

     “What’s going on?” Valarie asked sounding half asleep still as she burst into the room and saw Jane curled up in the far corner of her bed shaking and screaming as Ashley kept trying to get closer and calm her down.

     “I just wanted to take a look at the girl, but she woke and started freaking out.” Ashley said as she watched her sister sit on the bed and then the girl throw herself at her.

     “Calm down Chloe, calm down.” Valarie said in a soothing voice. “This is Ashley my sister. She won’t hurt you sweetie.” Valarie added as she rocked the sobbing child in her arms.

     “I’m sorry I scared you honey.” Ashley said once Valarie had her calmed down. “What can I call you?” Ashley asked.

     “Chloe, you will call her Chloe, because that is who she is going to be from now on.” Valarie said in a firm voice as she looked her sister in the eyes.

     “Hello Chloe, it’s nice to meet you.” Ashley said not wanting to upset her sister anymore than she already had by coming into the room and scaring the child.

     “Hi Ashley.” Chloe said with a snuffle as she looked up at the new woman.

     “I’m sorry I scared you Chloe, but I want to make sure my sister isn’t being taken for a fool. I hope you understand that sweetie.” Ashley added as she stepped a little closer and held out her hand in a friendly way to show this girl she didn’t want to hurt her.

     “Why would I help the other Chloe save her mummy, just to hurt her in another way?” Chloe asked looking confused.

     “Let’s go down and sort out some breakfast while the two of you have a chat about all this and what it means to us all.” Valarie said as she placed the new Chloe on the ground so she could put her slippers on.

    Ashley held out her hand to see if this Chloe would take hold of it like the old Chloe use to do. Chloe smiled up at her and then did just that and let Ashley lead her down to the kitchen.

    Valarie still needed to go shopping yet, so breakfast turned out to be toast and butter, which Valarie sorted out while Ashley sat with Chloe so they could get to know each other a little better.

     “My sister tells me that you can talk to the other Chloe.” Ashley started.

     “Not anymore, she left to be with her father last night, after she said goodbye to her mummy.” Chloe explained. “She said that she was helping to save me as well as her mummy by making me come here and stop my new mummy from dying.” Chloe added.

     “What is your real name sweetie? I’d like to do a little checking and make sure this isn’t some scam you’ve been put up to.” Ashley said, not believing the story about her niece entering this new girl’s body so she could then stop her sister from killing herself, even if she had done just that. Ashley’s mind worked on logic, and a ghost of her dead niece coming back and then showing this girl what she needed to do, was far from logic.

    Chloe looked at her new mother worriedly, not knowing what to say. “I better explain something else before we go down that avenue sis.” Valarie said when she saw the look of worry on Chloe’s face.

     “Why do I get the feeling that you’re keeping something from me Val?” Ashley asked with a frown.

     “I think Chloe is suffering from a form of gender dysphoria.” Valarie explained as she walked over and sat down next to Chloe.

     “What do you mean by that sis?” Ashley asked looking confused.

     “It means that Chloe has some boy parts when she should have been born with girl parts.” Valarie said, not wanting to get into too many details while Chloe was in the room.

     “Oh, oh!” Ashley said as her brain finally put the pieces together and she finally understood what her sister was trying to say. “You’re a boy?” Ashley asked trying to make sure she understood correctly.

     “No! I’m not a boy, I’ve never been a boy, nor do I ever want to be a boy!” Chloe started sobbing as she clung onto Valarie getting more and more upset.

    Valarie gave her sister a scowl as she wrapped her arms around Chloe trying to calm her down again. “I’m beginning to think that asking you to come down here was a bad idea.”

     “I’m sorry sis, but you can’t just dump all this in my lap and then expect me not to have questions and worries.” Ashley tried to argue.

     “Maybe you should try and listen to Chloe’s story and then you might find some of the answers.” Valarie argued back.

     “I’m sorry for upsetting you Chloe, but I’m kind of new to all this stuff and I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings with my comment. I was just trying to understand it a little better.” Ashley said in a calm voice as she smiled at Chloe to show her she didn’t like upsetting her.

     “I really am a girl Ashley.” Chloe pleaded with her. “even though I was named James Cale at birth, and my mother was named Nicole Cale, but I always called her mummy, or mother.” Chloe snuffled some more.

    Ashley got a pen and paper out and started making notes as Chloe told the same story she told Valarie the night before. Ashley was soon wiping away tears as she heard the story of how a boy named James, lost his mother and then ended up running away and wanting to die rather than keep living in a world where people could be so cruel.

    Chloe gave Ashley dates for when James lost his mother, and a close as she could remember when he was hit by the truck while trying to get away from Mark Mann his stepfather. Chloe also gave Ashley dates for when James ran away from the hospital, so Ashley could confirm all that as well.

     “I won’t let you return me to the hospital. I’d rather die first.” Chloe said as she sat looking at Ashley across the table with her little hands balled into fists.

     “I don’t want to send you anywhere Chloe. You’re new mother wouldn’t let me anyway.” Ashley said as she looked at Valarie and saw the same look she’d seen all their lives when her baby sister had made her mind up about something. “I just want to look into what you’ve told me and make sure you’re telling the truth.” Ashley added.

    Ashley got her laptop out her car and then she logged onto the net so she could start checking some of the facts Chloe had just told her about her former life as James Cale. Chloe sat at the kitchen table watching Ashley work.

     “Do you still have the pet’s game on there with flea bag as your pet?” Chloe suddenly said from out of know where.

     “How do you know about that?” Ashley asked with a look of shock on her face. “Only Chloe and I knew about that game and Flea Bag.”

     “I don’t know.” Chloe said looking just as shocked herself. “I have a whole bunch of memories with you in them Aunty Ash.” Chloe added, using the real Chloe’s pet name for her Aunty.

    Ashley was beginning to think that this child could be telling the truth about sharing her body with the ghost of her dead niece.

    Chloe was beginning to feel a little weirded out by all the new things she was beginning to remember, but she then thought back to what Chloe had said just before she walked into the light and was gone from her mind. “I’ve left you with a little gift to help you battle the dark memories that haunt your dreams.” Were Chloe’s parting words to her replacement. The new Chloe had no idea that Chloe was going to give her a gift of all her old memories to draw on when needed.

     “If you have all of the real Chloe’s memories, then tell me what we did that was naughty for your mother’s birthday last year?” Ashley asked as she tried to catch the new Chloe out.

     “Mum was on a diet, but we forgot to get the sweetener to make the cake with, so we just used normal sugar and lied to her about it.” Chloe said with a giggle.

     “You really do have all of Chloe’s memories.” Ashley said looking a little worried now as she saw the scowl Valarie was giving her.

     “MMM, I wonder what other little secrets she might know.” Valarie asked with an evil grin.

     “I still need to go and make a couple of calls, just to make sure this isn’t a scam.” Ashley said as she got up from the table after fishing her mobile phone out her purse.

     “What more proof do you need sis?” Valarie asked, shocked that her sister was still having trouble believing that this girl had been blessed with an amazing gift by her Niece before she passed on to the other side.

     “I’m a researcher, it’s what I do.” Ashley said as she left the kitchen while making a call to someone.

     “Do you think she’ll ever believe me mummy?” Chloe asked with a sigh.

     “I think she does already, but now she’s looking for a reason to not believe you sweetie.” Valarie said as she pulled Chloe onto her knee and hugged her. “So you have all of Chloe’s memories then do you?” Valarie asked with a grin.

     “Looks that way, but they only come to me as I need them.” Chloe pointed out. “I don’t understand why she would do such a thing for me.” Chloe added with tears in her eyes, but she was happy at the same time.

     “I think she felt you needed a little help in being a girl, so she gave you all her happiest memories to carry with you instead of all those dark ones that poor James had to deal with.” Valarie said as she cuddled with Chloe.

    They were disturbed again when Ashley ran into the room and grabbed a pen, and then she started writing down some details and what looked like a login name and password for some website. “Thanks for this Ray. I owe you one, bye!” Ashley said as she ended the call and then sat down and started tapping away on her laptop again.

     “What’s got you acting so excited sis?” Valarie asked as she watched her sister almost bouncing up and down as she worked on her computer.

     “I just need to check on something, and I’ll explain.” Ashley said as she sat waiting for a page to load up on her screen. “Oh my god.” Ashley said after a couple of seconds.

     “What is it?” Valarie asked looking worried.

     “Everything Chloe said is true, and I’m sorry that I ever doubted you sweetie.” Ashley said as she took hold of Chloe’s hands in hers and looked set to start crying at any minute.

     “I could have told you that sis.” Valarie frowned with frustration.

     “No, the thing that has me so shocked is the time and date that this Chloe and your Chloe had their accidents.” Ashley said. “It was the same time to within a couple of minutes of each other.” Ashley added.

     “You’re safe here now with me baby.” Valarie said as she now fully believed that she was meant to look after this child.

     “You can count on me as well Chloe.” Ashley smiled as she finally let the tears come, as she pulled the girl into a hug with her as well.

     “Does this mean I get to call you Aunty Ash?” Chloe asked as Ashley crushed her in a loving hug.

     “You better, or there will be trouble young lady.” Ashley said looking all bossy as she broke the hug and looked her new niece in the eyes. “We have a lot of work to do, if we want to pull off this Chloe replacing the old one.” Ashley said more to Valarie than Chloe this time.

     “I can give Jennifer a call and have a word with her about what we can do to get Chloe the medical help she needs. She does run the private school I was planning to send Chloe to, so I’m sure she must have some close friends she can talk to about it.” Valarie said as she looked to be working out details in her mind.

     “Well the two of you did go to school together, so if anyone can keep a secret, Jenny can.” Ashley said liking the plan so far.

     “You expect me to go to school as a girl?” Chloe said looking worried. “They’ll find out about James.”

     “Not with my friend helping us they won’t, and we need to get you in with some specialists anyway, so we can see about getting you some help.” Valarie said as she did her best to calm Chloe down again.

     “I know what you need missy.” Ashley said as she started to tickle Chloe. “You need a trip into the city and some real girlie time with your mum and favourite aunty.” Ashley added all excitedly.

     “Really? Do you really mean I can have my hair done and my ears pierced?” Chloe giggled as she tried to get away from her aunt.

     “That sounds like a wonderful idea.” Valarie said approving of showing Chloe a good time for once. “Let’s go and find you something to wear.” Valarie added as she held out her hand to lead Chloe up to her new bedroom to see what they could find of the old Chloe’s that would fit the new one.

    Chloe expected her mum to go to the dressing table, or one of the many boxes that were scattered around the bedroom, but she went into the bathroom that led off the bedroom, and she started running Chloe a bath.

     “I thought we were going shopping mummy?” Chloe asked as she looked into the bathroom and watched as her mum started pouring in flowery smelling oils.

     “We will be sweetie, but first we need to get you cleaned up.” Valarie said as she pulled Chloe into the bathroom and started to help her get undressed. “When was the last time you had a bath?” Valarie asked with a giggle as she fought with Chloe to get her out the nightgown.

     “I don’t remember, but the nurses in the hospital washed me while I lay in bed a couple of times.” Chloe said looking nervous as she was down to her underwear by this point.

     “Don’t look so worried sweetie, I know about your secret remember.” Valarie said when she saw the worried look Chloe had as she looked unwilling to remove the panties she had on. “Who do you think got you dressed for bed last night while you were passed out?”

    Chloe was soon out of the panties and then she stood waiting for the bath to finish filling up before she stepped into the water with some help from her new mother. Valarie started helping Chloe to get washed and then she grabbed the shower head and set to work washing her hair for her. Chloe hadn’t been treated like this since she was James and his mother was alive, so Chloe was really enjoying all the pampering she was getting.

    The bath seemed to be over way to fast, and Chloe was soon stood in the bedroom again wrapped in a towel while Valarie ran back and forth sorting out some clothes for Chloe to wear on their shopping trip.

    Chloe was soon running on autopilot as the memories the other Chloe left her with kicked in and she started dressing herself like she’d been doing it all her life. Valarie helped to dry her hair and then she watched as Chloe added a little bit of makeup, just like Valarie had shown her daughter to do.

     “You’ll have real breasts of your own one day honey.” Valarie said when she saw Chloe fidgeting with her training bra packed out with some tissues to give her little bumps on her chest.

     “I want them now mummy.” Chloe pleaded.

     “You’re not the first Chloe to say that.” Valarie giggled as she thought about her Chloe saying the same thing all the time as she checked her ever changing body out. Valarie felt sad for this Chloe though, because without a lot of help, she would soon start to look more and more like a boy, and less like a girl, not that Valarie thought this Chloe would ever be much to look at as a boy, or a man. She was just too cute to be a boy.

     Valarie led Chloe over to the mirror on the back of the closet door and let Chloe get a good look at herself. Chloe smiled as she saw the pretty young girl looking back at her. She felt at home with her new look, and just for a second she thought she saw the other Chloe smile at her from the mirror, but then Chloe thought she might have just been seeing things.

     “I look so pretty mummy.” Chloe smiled as she looked up at her mum stood to her side.

     “I can’t argue with that sweetie.” Valarie smiled back. “Let’s go and spend some money making you look even prettier shall we?” Valarie added as she helped Chloe put her coat on before they left the bedroom and went down to see if Ashley was ready yet.

    Ashley was waiting for them in the kitchen when they got back down stairs. “Don’t you look pretty?” Ashley grinned as she saw her new niece enter the room just in front of Valarie.

     “I’ll be ready to leave in just a minute sis, I just need to give Jennifer a call and see if I can talk her into coming over for dinner this evening. I want to talk to her about Chloe as soon as we can.” Valarie said as she grabbed her phone and made the call to her old school friend who now ran the private school she hoped to still be able to send Chloe to, even if it was going to be a different Chloe, a Chloe with a secret that could get them all in trouble if they ever got found out.

    Ashley pulled Chloe up onto her knee as they sat waiting for Valarie to finish on the phone. Valarie managed to get hold of Jennifer, and she was excited about coming over and catching up on old times and meeting Chloe.

    Jennifer had no idea either, that the Chloe she thought she was coming over to meet had died, and was now buried in America next to her father and who should have been her stepmom. Valarie was going to let Jennifer meet this Chloe before she explained everything to her, and hopefully get her help in granting Chloe’s wish of becoming a real female.

     “I hope I’m going about this the right way sis.” Valarie said as she started to have second thoughts about getting her friend involved in her plan.

     “I think letting Jenny meet Chloe and then explaining things to her is the best way to do this sis.” Ashley said. “It’s going to be hard for her to see Chloe as anything but a girl once she’s met her.” Ashley added with a smile as she looked down at the girl stood next to her holding hands.

    They were soon in Ashley’s car and making their way towards the city and a fun afternoon of shopping before returning home and getting dinner ready for when Jennifer came round to see them.

To Be Continued Next Tuesday  

Story by SaraUK

Edited and Posted by SamanthaK

    EDITORS NOTE: Please Comment and/or leave Kudos and let Sara know you like her work please, Any comments on spelling, grammar or the layout of the story please PM me “Samanthak” not Sara. Thank you