“It wasn’t worth it, honestly,” Chase mumbled with a bitter, tearful attempt at a laugh. “I never should’ve married her. If I could go back, I would’ve just...I’d tell myself not to bother.”

Stifling a sigh, Jameson reached out to lay a hand on his nearest arm. “Is that how you truly feel? I think not. Would you change the past to avoid the pain at the cost of the children? Aren’t Brianna and Connor more than worth the troubles?”

“...Yeah. S’just hard to keep telling myself that sometimes, when they’re never around. They probably feel the same way about me.”

Sure, he has! He was there when they were born ^^

“Chase? What are you doing up this late? You should be in bed,” Jackieboy called out in a hushed voice. “Oh. You both should.”

“I-I know, I just...wanted some time with her to myself,” he murmured, smiling tiredly down at the bundle tucked against his chest. “Brianna doesn’t even seem real yet.” Jackieboy chuckled as he approached.

“She’s beautiful...but if you want anything to seem real in the morning, you should probably get a few hours’ sleep.”

“Daddy! Dad, let’s have a race!” Connor burst out, bouncing enthusiastically in his corner of the restaurant booth. Next to him, Brianna was already grabbing extra straws and spoons that the waiter had left for them.

“Whoever finishes their milkshake first wins,” she put in, grinning. Chase gasped, feigning indignation. 

“Well, you’re sharing that milkshake so that’s already two against one! That’s not fair! And...well, your mom probably doesn’t want you getting cool whip and chocolate syrup all over your clothes.”

“That’s rubbish,” JJ signed, swatting at him. “Someone ought to inform Ms. Sullivan that such messes are what napkins are for! Buck up, Da. You’re not one to be afraid of a challenge!”

Chase couldn’t suppress a smile at that, though he made a show of thinking long and hard about it as he casually grabbed his spoon, swirling it around. “Ahh, I don’t know...It sounds like a whole lot of work for a brain freeze...3-2-1-go!”

“Oh, no, no!” Swearing profusely, Chase dropped down and frantically began gathering the pieces of Connor’s popsicle stick house. What had just happened? Hadn’t he gotten a good grip on the base before picking it up? It was firmly glued, supposed to be sturdy, but the next thing he knew he was holding half of the little house roof as the rest snapped off and crashed to the floor. 

Friggin’ idiot, look what you did! Connor said it was fragile! He was gonna show Stacy when she gets home! If he finds out --

“Daddy?”

Heart sinking into his stomach, Chase peeked shamefacedly at his son, standing in the hall. “Connor...I’m sorry, buddy, I’m so sorry. I thought I could -- It was an accident,” he stammered. “B-But if you want to grab the glue and the tape real quick, we can try to fix it!”

“It’s fine. Bri said it looked dumb anyway,” Connor mumbled, fiddling with the hem of his shirt as he shuffled back toward his room.

Aww <3 Even when they’re not with him, his kids keep him going.

Of course! He hasn’t gotten to see them in a while but he has to stay prepared.

Static burned around Chase’s throat and swelled in his mouth, choking any screams he tried to force out. Don’t touch them! Get away from them, stop it, stop it! Just let them go! Unable to speak, barely breathing, he watched through the blur of tears and terror as his worst nightmare unfolded before him: his children, his precious babies, laughing and beaming up at a monster with adoration in their eyes. Chase quailed at the malicious hunger he saw in Anti’s returned smile. 

“Y͢ou̧ tw͠o͠ a͢r͝e ̛so̷ ̛m͟uch ̴fun͟ to pl̷ay̷ w͘it̡h...” he purred, ruffling Connor’s hair, pinching Brianna’s cheek. “D͡o I ma̛ke ̨you͘ ͢happ͏y?̧ D̀o ͠you͘ ̢know҉ ͟Į lo͡v͢é yòu?”

“Of course, Naes!” Connor exclaimed eagerly as Brianna laughed, wrapping her arms around his waist in a tight hug.

“We love you too! You’re the best, best friend ever!”

They were scared, upset, mostly confused. Chase was the one who had to break it to them that Mommy and Daddy were “taking a break”, but eventually he had to admit that it was probably going to be a break forever. They cried for ages, begging him not to go. That was what made him try fighting for joint custody, or at least visits every so often. Brianna has learned to be satisfied with the occasional visits. Connor wants to move and live with his dad, but he hasn’t brought it up because he doesn’t want to leave his sister.

At least they were spared ever finding out about his suicide attempt. Obviously Stacy didn’t let them see the video. All she told them was that Chase had ‘an accident’ and got hurt, but he would be okay. 

OH. OW. THAT HURTS. Poor Brianna definitely didn’t take Chase’s departure well, that’s for sure. The only difference is that Chase survived that shot he made..

“I can’t offer thanks enough for your hospitality, good sir,” Stacia sighed as she smoothed the blanket over Anna’s back. “You would take us in without a second thought and provide all of this for my children? It’s quite a blessing.”

“For both of us, I think,” Paragon assured her as he carried Conley’s limp form toward the pillows. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had company in this room. Heh...my only family abandoned me, fled our home. It’s only fair that if I see a woman and her darling little tykes in the same spot, I should take them.” 

I didn’t abandon Charles. He...He left us behind. Stacia pursed her lips as she watched their host maneuver the boy under the sheets, pulling them tight up to his throat. He paused. A smile twitched at his face. 

“They look like their father, don’t they?”

“...What? I -- How would you know that?”

“Oh, it was only a guess.”