"Morning you guys."

"Good morning daddy!" Mayzie almost knocks ever her cup when she jumps from her seat to run and hug me.

When I pick her up, she rests her head on my shoulder and wraps her arms around my neck.

"It smells good down here, what's for breakfast?"

"Zozo made eggs!" My daughter squeals in my ear.

"I made some for you." Zoey hands me a plate of eggs and a coffee mug. "That's the mug mom had made for you."

"This one?" I frown, looking at the mug. It looks like the rest of our white mugs.

"There's a message on the bottom."

When I glance underneath the mug there's nothing and Zoey mutters 'oh my god' under her breath.

"What?"

"On the inside."

That makes sense...

"Daddy," Mayzie suddenly brings her head up from my shoulder. "Where's Mommy?"

"Mommy's at the doctor." Kissing Mayzie on the cheek, I set her down. "Why don't you go color her a picture."

"Okay!" She runs out of the kitchen and

Theo stands up. "I'll color her one too!"

Ryder starts to follow after his siblings.

"Ah, Ryder," Zoey stops him. "We have school."

"Actually, I called the school, you guys are off for the rest of the week."

"Yes!" Ryder punches the air before running off.

"Did you manage to get me off work?" Xander walks into the kitchen dressed in his uniform.

"No, do you want the day off?" I could probably get him the day off if he wants...

"Not really. I'll probably be by the hospital to see mom around noon though."

"Be safe Xander." I give him Amelia's line.

"Always... Mom?" He mocks me, heading out the door.

Zoey and I are now alone in the kitchen, she won't make eye contact with me because she knows what I'm going to say.

"I think we should talk about it."

"Yes, let's talk about mom with no little kids around."

"You know that's not what I meant." I glare at her. "I'm being serious." I say when she gives me a smug look.

She joking look disappears. "I talked with mom and Doctor Treager, I'm good."

"Zoey." I can see her younger self kicking and hear her screaming.

"Daaaad," She whines, walking toward me. "It was just because of the school thing, even Doctor Treager said so." Hugging me she whispers. "I'm fine, you made sure of it."

Knocking on the door I wonder why the hell I'm even here.

This is stupid. When I finally decide I should just leave, the door opens.

"My baby!" Amelia shouts.

"Um..."

"Oh," She's disappointed, again, why the hell did I come? "I thought you were Meghan and Isaiah and Carter."

"Just me." I chuckle awkwardly.

She opens the door wider. "Well, come in."

Is it too late to run? Yes. Sighing, I walk into Amelia's apartment.

"Help yourself to any of the food that's out and there's beer in the fridge."

"Thanks." I nod, looking at all the different foods spread out on the counter. Is she expecting an army?

"So, how have you been?" She grabs to strawberry from the fruit bowl and bites into. God, how does she look so beautiful eating fruit?! "Cameron?" The way she says my name sends shivers down my spine.

"I've been fine," I tell her with a shake of my head. "How have you been?"

"Good, I'm good."

I nod awkwardly and we fall into silence.

"So," A knock cuts me off which is good, I was just going to embarrass myself.

"My baby!" I hear Amelia squeal, she rushes past me holding Carter's carrier.

Meghan walks in, waving at me, before starting a conversation with Autumn.

"Hey." Isaiah walks toward me and I nod at him. My eyes don't leave Amelia as she starts talking to Carter. "What are you going to do?"

My brows furrow in confusion. "What?"

"You need to tell her again."

"Absolutely not." I glare at him, we've gone over this many times. Telling her I loved her was stupid, I knew she didn't feel the same but did it anyway.

Her laugh suddenly rings through the apartment and I can't stop the small smile that comes to my face. She's gorgeous.

"Meghan says Mia never got your letter." I groan- I don't want to get into this right now.

"So?"

"Cameron, are you serious? If she didn't get the letter then she doesn't know you love her. So, tell her." He explains slowly like he's talking to an idiot.

"If she doesn't know, then good," I tell him, I don't know if I'm telling him or myself. "She fell in love with Ryan. Someone so different than me, she doesn't want me."

"That-" Loud shouting comes from another apartment and I notice Amelia's happy mood immediately disappears.

"You have no evidence, Mia," Johnathan tells Amelia. "Xander always has an excuse. You need concrete evidence before I can do anything."

She gives everyone a tight-lipped smile. "You all better take your seats, the fireworks are about to start."

I feel stuck. I wish was a way I could help her with this situation. I've heard Meghan say it about kills Amelia each time she has to give those kids back to their mother.

A burst of light fills the sky outside and loud crackling fills the silence.

Carter, who's being held by Meghan, starts, babbling and drooling. Isaiah grabs a cloth and wipes his chin.

When I glance at Amelia she's watching the small family with a slight smile.

A loud bang suddenly rings through the apartment and Carter starts screaming. I don't think that was a firework. Johnathan jumps to his feet, knocking over his beer in the process.

"That wasn't a firework." Johnathan confirms my suspicion looking at Isaiah, before glancing at me.

Following my first instinct, I subtly make my way to Amelia's side. She's wide-eyed and frozen in fear.

Isaiah breaks the silence we've fallen into when he turns to Meghan, handing Carter to her. "Go wait in Mia's room." He tells her seriously. "Right now." He snaps when she stays frozen.

"Johnathan Evans, you are off duty!" Autumn screams when Johnathan starts to unholster his gun.

"Go with Meghan, Autumn!" Johnathan yells at his wife. "You too." He nods at Mia. "Now!" He screams when another gunshot goes off.

"Momma!" A small voice screeches outside the apartment.

Mia looks like she's about to sprint to the door but I jerk her back. No way in hell is she getting any closer to whatever is happening out there.

Not looking back, I rush to the front door and swing it open. The little girl I've seen with Amelia on multiple occasions is standing there, sobbing uncontrollably.

Snatching her up quickly, I bring her into the apartment.

She screams louder, beating my shoulders, trying to get away from me. Ignoring her screams, I silently hand her to Amelia.

"Go hide now." Tightening her hold on the little girl, she nods then grabs Meghan and Autumn's hands, dragging them after her.

Johnathan glances at me as I pull my Smith and Wesson .380 out of my pocket.

"I have a permit."

He nods once then runs when a third gunshot goes off.

"Dad, this is an oddly long hug." Zoey brings me from my thoughts.

"Sorry," I start to let her go but jerk her back. "Not sorry."

"Dad!" She giggles, then snorts.

She phone rings and I let her go so she can answer it. Her brows furrow when she sees the caller ID.

"That better not be a boy." I tell her, completely serious.

"Um, it's Uncle Isaiah..."

Taking her phone from her hand I slide my thumb across the screen, unlocking it.

"Why are you calling my daughter?"

"Because, again, you're not answering your fucking phone!" Isaiah's calm voice gradually turns into yelling.

Shit, I left my phone in London.

"Cameron, she's up. It's-" Not caring what else he has to say I hand Zoey her cell.

"Your mom's up. Should I send Aunt Melanie over?"

"No," She shakes her head. "I can handle the kids. Just text me updates please!"

"Kids, I'm going to see your mom! Be good!" I yell up the stairs.

"Wait!" Ryder yells, from what sounds like the playroom.

"Buddy, I gotta go." I call back opening the front door.

"We have pictures for mommy!" Mayzie cries, on the verge of tears, as she rushes down the stairs.

"Okay, Sweetheart," I close the door and wait for her. "I'm sure Mommy's going to love your picture."

When she hands her paper to me I glance at it. "Oh, it's a beautiful...." blob?

"Daddy, it's a unicorn butterfly."

"Oh." I nod, pretending to get it. "I see now, there's the horn right?"

"That's the tail!" She wails, starting to cry.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" I backtrack. "I see it now. I do. I'm sure Mommy's going to love it!"

"I drew Mommy a picture of a dog." Theo hands me his paper.

"And I drew a picture of all of us." Ryder practically throws his paper at me.

"I'm going to give there's picture to Mom, okay?"

"Bye Dad!" Zoey calls as I walk out the door.

Fifteen minutes later I'm rushing down down the hall towards Lia's room. Meghan sees me and stands.

"Cameron, wait-"

Ignoring her, I head toward my wife's room.

I glance into her room through the one-way window along the wall and what I see has me seeing red. My blood starts boiling as anger, hurt, and confusion take over; mostly confusion.

"What the fu-"

Before I can barge into my wife's room, I'm tackled to the ground.

😂

😉

🖤