Compilation Of Unseen Scenes - Private RP

[GGJ5]

The Question

Yukito Maki

If it was physically possible, then today Yukito was high off of butterflies. Well, tonight, actually. He was jittery and excited, and it was hard to hide it. They milled around most of the evening, Erin whining about not wanting to get ready to go home. He knew she was wishing they could stay at least another year. But he also knew she was starting to get homesick. It had been difficult enough for her, getting used to suddenly living outside her parent's home. And when she had finally adjusted to that, he'd swept off with her across the world. They called her a lot, and he knew one of the many reasons why was because he'd gone to talk to them before they left. There had been a very important question he needed answered by them. That Erin had no clue about, even today. Yukito laid sprawled as much as he could across the tiny bed, most of his things already packed. Because he knew, and she didn't. He knew tomorrow wouldn't be full of much task-complete-ting at all. And the thought made it very hard to fight a smile. So he buried his face in a pillow and pretended to be taking a minute-nap. His eyes peered over at the clock, seeing that it was almost eleven. He wondered if he could make it that long. He knew Erin would be energetic as much longer as she needed to. He sat up and looked over at her, pausing for a moment to watch her while she was unawares. He smiled. She was so beautiful, and so talkative, and loyal... And she was so ready for them to move forward. He knew it was time. He wiped the smile from his face, years of lying finally coming in handy for something good.

"Erin? Let's go out somewhere," he said suddenly, propping himself up on his elbows. "You want to see a beach at night? It's probably illegal to do here, but I don't think either of us should be too concerned with a criminal record, since we're leaving day after tomorrow anyways." A smirk crossed his face, and he stood up to take her hand. "Hurry up and grab your shoes!"


Erin Spenser

She wasn't ready to go home. She wasn't ready for another all-day flight, and she'd told Yukito so in no uncertain terms that day as he was packing. Erin was determined to put off packing as long as possible. At least that way it wasn't so final. And it still didn't feel like they'd done half the things she'd wanted to do. If she had it her way, they might just stay and do everything… Her parents had kept calling her and emailing her, and once she had even managed to skype with them on a borrowed webcam, and it wasn't even in a suffocating way. It was in a way that just made her miss them more, which she hadn't realized she'd been doing. But he had, and in Japan it was harder, especially because they both sounded so happy whenever they talked. But there was so much more here she hadn't done yet! And Erin wasn't ready to be stuck on a plane again. But, she'd told Yukito earlier in one of his packing moments, it would at least be better with him, though. It was too scary alone, but she didn't say that part aloud. Erin felt sure already that he knew, and that was bad enough.

Now she sat next to Yukito on their hotel bed as he lay down perfectly still next to her. Yukito had left some of the yakitori from their last meal, so Erin sat next to him finishing it. No fridge, she would argue if he teased her. She was being responsible! Erin laughed quietly at the thought.

Suddenly Yukito popped up, and were it not for the suddenness, Erin would have thought she'd woken him. He must not have been sleeping very heavily… Weird.

"Erin? Let's go out somewhere."

"Huh?" Erin laughed a little at the sudden suggestion. "Last time you were all 'everything's closed this late!" Not that she would complain at all if they did go out.

"You want to see a beach at night?" he asked her, propping himself up on his elbow. "It's probably illegal to do here, but I don't think either of us should be too concerned with a criminal record, since we're leaving day after tomorrow anyways."

Her smile grew wider. It was so rare to see this side of Yukito, the one that got the sudden ideas and impulses to go out and do something. She loved it. Erin sat up straighter. "Sure!" Anything to put off the trip back, and anything to explore more sides of Japan with Yukito. She couldn't remember seeing the beach at night.

Yukito was already up, holding his hand out to her with a smirk. "Hurry up and grab your shoes!"

Now that made her laugh. Erin grabbed his hand and let him help he to her feet. "What got into you?" she giggled, slipping on her shoes and turning toward him again. "Not that I mind or anything," Erin added quickly, teasing him. "I'm ready!" She slipped her arm into his and headed out the door. "It isn't really illegal to go on a beach, is it?" Erin asked with giggles of disbelief.

The train seemed to go by slower at night, and the whole place --the whole country for that matter-- was different at night. It always was, and she wondered why anyone would close anything here. New York never closed anything… The beach itself was much, much quieter. It was weirdly empty. And weirdly beautiful. The moon was a white crescent reflecting on the waves, so little glints of moonlight jumped form crest to crest until the darkness of the ocean swallowed them. Immediately Erin took off her shoes and felt the midnight sand under her feet, in between her toes. Again, she pulled Yukito close to her. Summer or not, the ocean had a breeze, and the darkness made it a cool one. It was a wonderful excuse to hold close to him. "It's so different now," she observed quietly. "What kind of stuff you think comes out here at night?" A glance up at him, and she giggled. "Like monster-night-crabs! Raaahraw!" With her free hand she mimed a claw snapping at Yukito's nose and laughed. "Let's just stay here. Forget all that airport crap. Okay? Good deal?" Erin grinned and kissed his cheek.


Yukito Maki

"Erin? Let's go out somewhere."

"Huh?" Erin laughed a little at the sudden suggestion. "Last time you were all 'everything's closed this late!"

He ignored her argument. It would be moot in a moment. "You want to see a beach at night?" he asked her, propping himself up on his elbow. "It's probably illegal to do here, but I don't think either of us should be too concerned with a criminal record, since we're leaving day after tomorrow anyways."

Her smile grew wider, warming up quickly to the suggestion. "Sure!" He smiled, holding his hands out to her and urging her to hurry up, making her laugh. He took note of the way her hand fit easily in his as she accepted his help up. "What got into you?" she giggled, slipping on her shoes and turning toward him again. "Not that I mind or anything," Erin added quickly, teasing him. "I'm ready!" She slipped her arm into his and headed out the door. "It isn't really illegal to go on a beach, is it?" Erin asked with giggles of disbelief. He just shrugged and smirked at her, not answering any of her questions and knowing the most important one of the night would be his.

The train couldn't have taken longer to get to the beach, he was sure. They snuck onto the empty beach, the sand still littered with marks of a hundred feet, the tide much higher than he recalled and lapping up towards them like an eager, but heavy hand. The moon was seemingly smiling down on them, offering just enough illumination without loosening its hold on the shadows. Their shoes were immediately discarded, forgotten and covered in sand as they started off, a bit of a breeze pulling them forward as they walked across the beach. It was as beautiful as he had hoped it would be. He smiled as he pulled her closer, thinking he'd spotted the place they had set up their stuff during their daytime trip here.

"It's so different now," she observed quietly, as though a loud voice over the thrum of the waves would disturb the tranquility. "What kind of stuff you think comes out here at night?" A glance up at him, and she giggled. "Like monster-night-crabs! Raaahraw!" He stared at her for a moment, then chuckled as Erin mimed a claw that looked more like a tiger claw than a crab in the dark. "Let's just stay here. Forget all that airport crap. Okay? Good deal?" Erin grinned and kissed his cheek.

“Okay,” he breathed, taking her hand in his, entwining their fingers. Her hand was empty now, but.... He smiled. “Erin? Where do you think we'll be in three years?” Yukito dropped his head, tilting it to his head rested against hers. “It's a long way ahead, isn't it? But the last two have been...wow..” He squeezed her hand. “I wouldn't have thought we'd come this far, looking back on those first weeks. I didn't know where I was going. I felt alone, and always unhappy. To be honest, I've always been a little jealous of you. Haha...you were always so happy, just being yourself. So pretty, but not full of it... You've got these pretty cool parents, and you can actually talk to them.. And you care about people, in a big way. I didn't know people could be that sincere...I didn't know I'd fall in love with you.” Yukito smirked, pulling his head away to meet her eyes. “Erin. I brought you here for a reason. I wanted to let you know how much you mean to me. I consider us in this....this relationship for good. You, and me. No matter how much else goes wrong for me, I know I can count on you. And I want you to know you can count on me.” He chuckled, “Now, you've already proven this to me about a hundred times, but now it's my turn to prove it to you.” Yukito took hold of both of her hands, and knelt down in front of her on the sand, his cheeks aching from the smile on his face. “Erin Chloe Spenser? I want you to know I'll always be there for you. I want you to be so sure of that, you can swear to it until your dying day. I want to show the world, for you to have proof that I'll always love you. That you'll be my first for a hundred things, and you'll always be the last, and most important. That I'll know you're the prettiest. That we'll share a million memories. Like T.P.-ing the park, or having food fights, or arguing over the Beatles. Or sneaking onto Tokyo beaches at night. ” He squeezed her hands, then reached into his jeans pocket to pull out his gift to her. “I want you in my life forever, Erin Spenser. But I'm going to have to ask you to do one thing for me first. And it involves changing your name." He paused, "Erin?” His smile broadened. “Will you marry me?”


Erin Spenser

"What kind of stuff you think comes out here at night?" Erin asked, then answered herself, gnashing her fingers like little claws at his nose. "Like monster-night-crabs! Raaahraw!" Finally she elicited a laugh from him, a quiet and subdued one that somehow still satisfied. The moment passed, and she announced in a moment of pure contentment, "Let's just stay here. Forget all that airport crap. Okay? Good deal?" As if sealing it, she kissed Yukito's cheek.

“Okay,” Yukito agreed easily, much to her surprise. She'd expected a laugh and some boring explanation as to why that couldn't happen, or that he liked America better or something. But the easy agreement was good, too.

He took her hand in his, feeling the familiar creases and textures of his palm and fingertips against her skin. "Well, that was easy," she announced quietly, teasing him lightly.

“Erin? Where do you think we'll be in three years?”

Her smile widened as her eyes memorized the moonlighted waves. "We could be anywhere," she responded confidently. Hopefully. "So much great stuff still gets to happen!"

Yukito dropped his head, resting it against hers. She inhaled deeply, the familiar scent of Yukito crashing perfectly against the salty beach. “It's a long way ahead, isn't it? But the last two have been...wow..” He squeezed her hand, and she grinned, giggling lightly. She knew what he meant, she was sure. “I wouldn't have thought we'd come this far, looking back on those first weeks. I didn't know where I was going. I felt alone, and always unhappy. To be honest, I've always been a little jealous of you." The words surprised her, and her face showed it in the half-darkness, but suddenly she wanted to say nothing-- to just let him go and hear his voice. "Haha...you were always so happy, just being yourself. So pretty, but not full of it... You've got these pretty cool parents, and you can actually talk to them.. And you care about people, in a big way. I didn't know people could be that sincere...I didn't know I'd fall in love with you.” All his words just piled into her heart, and she wondered if her chest would be strong enough to keep it from exploding-- she decided she didn't care. Erin was pretty sure she had never heard him say he'd fallen in love with her before, and she hadn't expected to hear it at all now, and it was almost enough to make her knees weak. Al the things he said about her… a seed of hope called out at the back of her mind.

Yukito smirked, pulling his head away to meet her eyes. “Erin. I brought you here for a reason. I wanted to let you know how much you mean to me. I consider us in this....this relationship for good. You, and me. No matter how much else goes wrong for me, I know I can count on you. And I want you to know you can count on me.” He chuckled, and her heart started hammering like crazy. The seed of hope sprouted into anticipation, and wouldn't shut up. “Now, you've already proven this to me about a hundred times, but now it's my turn to prove it to you.” Yukito took hold of both of her hands, and knelt down in front of her on the sand. And Erin gasped before she could stop herself, eyes wide in the darkness. No… Her breath caught. She was frozen. Stupidly, wonderfully frozen. “Erin Chloe Spenser? I want you to know I'll always be there for you. I want you to be so sure of that, you can swear to it until your dying day. I want to show the world, for you to have proof that I'll always love you. That you'll be my first for a hundred things, and you'll always be the last, and most important. That I'll know you're the prettiest. That we'll share a million memories. Like T.P.-ing the park, or having food fights, or arguing over the Beatles. Or sneaking onto Tokyo beaches at night. ” He squeezed her hands, and she felt herself sway a little when one hand he took to reach into his pocket. Right… breathe…. He was holding a ring. And it was like everything inside her exploded into fireworks. “I want you in my life forever, Erin Spenser. But I'm going to have to ask you to do one thing for me first. And it involves changing your name." Once again, she'd stopped breathing, and her head was screaming, "Yes, yes, say yes now, idiot! YES!" Yukito continued. "Erin?” His smile broadened. “Will you marry me?”

Then she did scream, suddenly and dizzily falling into a fierce hug, sinking to meet him on the sand. "Yes! Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!" More "yeses" came between excited kisses, though that didn't last very long. Traditions kicked into Erin's head, and she pulled back a little, feeling herself shaking like a leaf in elation. "The ring!" she half-gasped, half-giggled out. "You-- you need the ring! On my-- hand!" Grinning wider than she thought she ever could, Erin held out her shuddering right hand. Then took it back and held out the left. Then held out both, laughing a little. "I forget which one! Oh, let me see it, I didn't even look!" More laughs and another tight hug that led to an impassioned kiss. "I love you!! And I don't know why I'm crying and shaking, and I always thought girls who cried at this stuff were weird, because why do you cry when you're so happy? But I don't know and I don't care and I love you and I can't wait to be your wife!!"

Yukito Maki

Yukito actually wasn't so surprised by the stunned silence coming from Erin, as rare as it was. He could see in the dim light the shocked and mind-blown look on her face, as he held out his humble ring for her. “I want you in my life forever, Erin Spenser. But I'm going to have to ask you to do one thing for me first. And it involves changing your name." He paused, and she didn't respond. "Erin?” His smile broadened, “Will you marry me?”

The words were the flicker of flame set to a stick of dynamite, as Erin exploded into a scream of sheer happiness, tackling him in the sand and nearly knocking him over with her kisses. "Yes! Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!" When she pulled back, she was actually quivering from excitement, and the sound of her frantic 'yes's made it harder and harder for him to breathe, too, as he let out laughter drowned in a dizzy high. Oh my God...she said yes...! Something in him hadn't fully accepted the possibility of her acceptance, of the reality of getting married to her. To have all the shared things they wanted to share, and to have that kind of promise. "The ring!" she half-gasped, half-giggled out, pulling back from him. "You-- you need the ring! On my-- hand!" They both grinned at each other as though sharing some highly excitable secret, kept from everyone else, and he fumbled to pick up the ring in the sand, scared out of his wits for one killer moment he thought he'd lost it. But it was sitting next to his leg, and he picked it up and turned to Erin, who offered him her right hand, then her left, then her right again, laughing. "I forget which one! Oh, let me see it, I didn't even look!"

He had no freaking clue which hand, either, so he just took Erin's right hand and slipped it on, not sure if that was the right one, but too dizzy to care. They would have to sort it out later. Yukito held up her hand so she could see it, feeling that smile return to his face that hurt. More laughter, another wind-stealing hug from Erin and one of those kisses she could give that turned his insides out and made his head implode and his skin burn. "I love you!! And I don't know why I'm crying and shaking, and I always thought girls who cried at this stuff were weird, because why do you cry when you're so happy? But I don't know and I don't care and I love you and I can't wait to be your wife!!"

“Taiyou no Namida,” he said with a chuckle, brushing away the hair from her face. “Tears of the sun.” He leaned in to kiss her, feeling sand brush roughly against their cheeks and fall from his shaking hands as they entangled in her hair. It was a promise kiss, to go with his promising ring. “I love you,” he whispered, his words muffled by the ocean next to them. “I want to be your husband.” The word sounded more foreign to him than any word in any language before, and it tasted strange in his mouth. His forehead found hers in the dim light, their noses touching gently as he chuckled some more, the world still spinning around him as he tried to find some stable ground for his mind to rest on, and found none. “I chose your birthstone for it... I thought it fit, and it looked nice, so..” he shrugged a little, unsure how to explain why the pretty little ring had appealed to him. It just fit them better than the huge expensive ones, even if he could have afforded those. It fit them better than a nothing ring that was trying to be demure. It fit them better in its in-between, it's soft and strong, it's light-colored stone and the gentle design of the silver band. It fit them. It fit Erin. Even if it felt like an intruder when he entwined his hand in hers, pulling her closer. He would get used to it. “I heard a rumor, Erin...” he smirked mischievously, “About a girl who wrote 'Erin Maki' on her school binders once... And I've always wondered if that was true.”


Erin Spenser

Shaking from excitement, Erin held out one hand, then the other, then the first one again, for the ring. The ring. She had a ring, because Yukito wanted to marry her. "I forget which one!" she said, giving him both hands and grinning wider than should have been possible. "Oh, let me see it, I didn't even look!"

Yukito didn't seem to bother with which had was the right one, which was fine by her. She beamed, feeling sure she was dreaming now and might wake up any minute, as the night lights glinted quietly off the tiny gem on her finger. Right there on her hand was a promise she had been dreaming to see one day. And it was real. More laughter, more hugs, and another elated, breathless kiss. "I love you!! And I don't know why I'm crying and shaking, and I always thought girls who cried at this stuff were weird, because why do you cry when you're so happy? But I don't know and I don't care and I love you and I can't wait to be your wife!!"

Yukito chuckled, brushing away the hair from her face as he spoke in Japanese. He didn't have to translate, it was beautiful on its own. But he did. “Tears of the sun.” He leaned in to kiss her long and deep. “I love you,” he whispered finally, his words muffled by the ocean next to them. Her kiss was her response. She didn't trust herself to speak right now anyway. “I want to be your husband.”

"Husband," Erin managed to echo airily, almost in disbelief. "I like that… so much…" She kissed him again, clinging to him automatically. Everything couldn't be more right than right now. Nothing the rest of her life would compete with this. She was sure of it.

“I chose your birthstone for it…" It took a moment for her to realize he meant the ring. She lifted her hand for another look and grinned. "I thought it fit, and it looked nice, so..”

"It's beautiful," she murmured happily. "It's perfect." It's ours!

“I heard a rumor, Erin...” Yukito started, holding her newly-adorned hand in his. Her heart was about to explode through her chest with each passing minute. “About a girl who wrote 'Erin Maki' on her school binders once... And I've always wondered if that was true.”

Immediately, the giggles poured out like a salt from a salt shaker. "More than once!" she blurted, hugging him tighter than before. "I couldn't help it! I've always wanted to be Erin Maki!" Another squeal escaped, a translation of "and now I can!" that couldn't be expressed, and she kissed Yukito again. "I love you! I love this beach! I love Japan! I love my new name! Omigod, I can't wait to tell everyone! I don't care if they're strangers on the street who don't speak a word of English-- I wanna tell them all! I love you!"


Yukito Maki

Erin seemed to be in another world, her eyes sparkling and her words sounded distant and airy, as though she was sleep-walking and incapable of bringing herself back to reality. The instant her lips created the word 'husband' for the first time, Yukito started feeling a little dizzy himself. A shiver rose up on his back and continued every time her smile grew, or each time her decorated hand moved.

“I chose your birthstone for it…" he muttered lamely, finding nothing else coming to mind for him to say. Erin lifted her hand and grinned, sending a new shiver of excitement through him, though he couldn't have described why with any eloquence due the situation. "I thought it fit, and it looked nice, so..”

"It's beautiful," she murmured happily. "It's perfect."

Trying very hard to keep the hundreds of cheesy responses to that behind his smile, he took her hand in his, feeling for the ring he had just put there. “I heard a rumor, Erin...” Yukito started, slowly, “About a girl who wrote 'Erin Maki' on her school binders once... And I've always wondered if that was true.”

Erin started giggling like a little girl, blurting out, "More than once!" and leaping forward to hug him. Yukito let out a slow, happy sigh. Mostly because she was able to do this, hold him like this, on a dark cool night hidden from everyone. Because she could hold him and kiss him all she wanted. Because now he was ready to be this person for her, to be there for her. It felt like a nightmare had passed, dissipating into a glorious waking up he had previously only kept in dreams and wishes. "I couldn't help it! I've always wanted to be Erin Maki!" A squeal, and then another kiss. Would she ever truly know what she had done? That she had sent jitters through his stomach and sent little shivers up and down his spine that were as addicting as her smiles? That he'd never felt safer with anybody, never wondered that they would come to hate each other one day. Never wondered if she would stop loving him.

And now they were going to share a name.

"I love you! I love this beach! I love Japan! I love my new name! Omigod, I can't wait to tell everyone! I don't care if they're strangers on the street who don't speak a word of English-- I wanna tell them all! I love you!" He laughed openly at her antics, pulling her to his side in that automatic position they had discovered exclusively for walking-plus-cuddling purposes, shoulders as close as physically capable and him leaning over to catch scent of her hair.

“You can tell anyone you wish, Erin. But I would suggest you wait until morning. A lot of people are trying to sleep.” He inhaled sharply, moving even further forward to catch her cheek with a quick kiss. After a moment, a smile flashed across his face, hitting him with a sudden feeling of exhilaration he couldn't hide. In a flippant tone that teased and played with the situation, he commented, “So tomorrow I am taking you back home, with both of us pierced and tattooed in odd places, much poorer, and engaged. What will your parents say?” He caught her in another, longer kiss on the lips, then pulled her toward the street and the journey home. “Luckily I warned them about the engagement bit already...” He chuckled, lifting his head to a passing bus that squealed along in the busy traffic, the hum of a city that refused to say goodnight. "We should get back...I bet the trains are going to shut down soon..."


Erin Spenser

"I love you! I love this beach! I love Japan! I love my new name! Omigod, I can't wait to tell everyone!" Erin shouted. "I don't care if they're strangers on the street who don't speak a word of English-- I wanna tell them all! I love you!"

Yukito took her into his stride, Erin pulling herself as close into him as possible without hindering their walk. They were walking. On the beach. At night. Under the moon. On their engagement night. She had a ring. She had a fiancé. She was going to have a new name. And she could scream it out to everyone! "We're really engaged!" she squeaked out. "I can't wait to…"

“You can tell anyone you wish, Erin," Yukito finished for her as they strolled. " But I would suggest you wait until morning. A lot of people are trying to sleep.”

"Who's sleeping now?" Erin quickly objected, now wider awake than she could remember. She tossed her head back and yelled to the empty beach, "HEY, ARE YOU SLEEPING OUT THERE?" Then she fell into laughter as Yukito caught her in a surprise kiss.

"Hi, fiancé," Erin tried, grinning back at him. The foreign word made her giddy.

“So tomorrow," Yukito declared, "I am taking you back home, with both of us pierced and tattooed in odd places, much poorer, and engaged. What will your parents say?” Before she could answer, he caught her in another, longer kiss, slowly pulling her more back towards their temporary home. “Luckily I warned them about the engagement bit already...”

Erin's mouth dropped aghast. "What? You did what?!" she squeaked out, still grinning despite her surprise, and gave an impulsive whack against his arm. "Secrets don't make friends! I can't believe you! All freaking three of you! Omigod!"

"We should get back...I bet the trains are going to shut down soon..."

"Awesome," Erin responded immediately, only half-hearing his words. She beamed, resting her head against his chest and inhaling deeply. "I love you…"


Yukito Maki

“You can tell anyone you wish, Erin," Yukito said to her as they strolled. " But I would suggest you wait until morning. A lot of people are trying to sleep.”

"Who's sleeping now?" Erin objected loudly, sounding surprised that anyone in the world could peacefully try to rest while their big news was fresh and especially new news. Tossing back her head, she bellowed, "HEY, ARE YOU SLEEPING OUT THERE?" The airs on Yukito's arms stood on end, and he laughed while he tried to shush her repeatedly. He was half-serious in this intent – he didn't really want someone to catch them loitering on the beach at night and get after them for it. He also didn't want someone bursting in on their moment. To capture the best of both words, he cut off her boisterous laughter in a kiss, still feeling the tremble of her giggles through it and sending little waves through his insides. She was so happy, and his.

"Hi, fiancé," she tested the title, sending him a playful grin. He looped his arms around her, smirking.

“Hi, fiancée ,” he echoed. The words sounded stranger on his tongue than hers. “So tomorrow I am taking you back home, with both of us pierced and tattooed in odd places, much poorer, and engaged. What will your parents say?” Before she couldanswer, he caught her in another, longer kiss, slowly pulling her more back towards their temporary home. “Luckily I warned them about the engagement bit already...”

"What? You did what?!" Yukito jumped a foot in the air from surprise when she gave him a playful whack on the arm. He looked up and discovered Erin's jaw practically hitting the sand in surprise. "Secrets don't make friends! I can't believe you! All freaking three of you! Omigod!"

“But surprises of the romantic kind should make lovers,” he said without thinking, suddenly looking away from her and focusing on the sidewalk that was appearing beneath their feet. Then he stopped. “I just wanted to make sure they wouldn't totally shun you or something if they heard about it later. It wasn't like I was telling everybody.” He smirked, and looked toward passing traffic, “But I was tempted.” He hugged her close and then added, "We should get back...I bet the trains are going to shut down soon..."

"Awesome," Erin beamed, resting her head against his chest and inhaling deeply. He watched her shoulders rise and fall, felt her fall against him as he held her tighter. "I love you…"

“Good thing,” he chuckled, “Because you just agreed to marry me. Come on, already, fiancée." He stepped onto the train, "Let's go home."


Erin Spenser

The unfamiliar word "fiancée" sounded so elegant coming from Yukito, making her beam impossible to dull down in any way. Not that she could ever want it to. “So tomorrow I am taking you back home, with both of us pierced and tattooed in odd places, much poorer, and engaged. What will your parents say?” Before she could answer, he caught her in another, longer kiss, slowly pulling her more back towards their temporary home. Erin was far from protesting. “Luckily I warned them about the engagement bit already...”

That did earn a protest, though hardly an angry one. Just… shocked. "What? You did what?!" Impulsively, Erin gave his arm a whack and stared at him almost aghast, even with the incredible happiness bubbling out. "Secrets don't make friends! I can't believe you! All freaking three of you! Omigod!"

“But surprises of the romantic kind should make lovers,” Yukito retorted quickly, and Erin's happiness overflowed into laughter.

"Oh, so that's what this is about! God, I leave you alone for two weeks and you become such a guy!" She ate up the little moment to tease him, a playful payback for his secret-keeping, even if she didn't really mind it too much.

Yukito stopped suddenly. “I just wanted to make sure they wouldn't totally shun you or something if they heard about it later. It wasn't like I was telling everybody.” He smirked as Erin rolled her eyes at him. “But I was tempted.”

"Mm-hmm, I bet you were tempted… lover." The giggles resumed, and Erin pulled herself close to him in a hug that he soon returned.

"We should get back...I bet the trains are going to shut down soon..."

"Awesome." She wasn't really listening to anything but the sound of his voice. Marriage thoughts swirled in her mind, occupying her much more than the fact that it was so late at night/early in the morning. And maybe he had been serious about not supposed to be being out here. She didn't give a care right now, either, and it was amazing. Perfectly content, her head rested against his chest as she breathed in the sea air. "I love you…"

“Good thing." He chuckled as he kept her close, Erin grinning at the sensation of his laugh. “Because you just agreed to marry me. Come on, already, fiancée." He stepped onto the train with her close to his side. "Let's go home."

A happy sigh escaped Erin as she rested against him on the ride home. "That sounds perfect…"

The ends!

[More than Music]

This was so fun! : D Came to about 17,250 words. Whew! I missed role-playing with Moony.

I So Hate Consequences -- Clarence/Jess

Clarence Morgan

October. That was the last time he'd seen Quinn. He parked in front of Jessica's place again and, when he saw her car, he laid his head against the steering wheel. Nine months. That was how long it had been since the fight with Jess. People said that time could heal wounds, but he knew better, having been the victim for years. How some guys could hit a girl more than once and not feel guilty as hell, he had no idea, because this been grating on him for nine months.

Just a split second. That was all it had taken. After all those years of his father hitting him, he'd promised himself he'd never be that guy.

Now, he was.

Nothing could erase this. Why was it so much easier to get into a fight with a guy than with a girl? Because it wasn't just a girl, it was someone he would die for. Someone who had once been his world, even if just for a little while. Maybe, somehow, he could help them move past this, and maybe forget it. But that moment would always be with them, hanging in the air between them.

Like pink mist.

He looked up. Sitting out here like this never helped, because all he could think was... there were no weapon he could take in there that would protect his pride. He'd messed up, pretty much as bad as he could imagine messing up.

But he couldn't be away from Quinn anymore.

In a month, he would be going back to Iraq. After that, there was no telling what would happen. He could go and come back alright, but it would still be a year and a half. But he could get hurt again, and maybe it wouldn't heal over just fine this time. He could not come back alive at all. Who knew? It was a war zone, for god's sake. As much as he knew he could keep himself alive by pure determination alone, there was definitely a line where even extreme determination couldn't keep a man alive. He'd seen that first-hand. Still... the idea of dying and his daughter never knowing who he was... or worse, just being known as 'the guy who hit mom.'

Clarence shivered, but the truth was, that was who he was at this point.

"If you don't mess up, she'll know you. It's doesn't take much to be a father. It takes a heck of a lot more to be a daddy... are you even ready to be a daddy?"

Sighing, he unbuckled and got out. It was hot and muggy today, clouds overhead threatening to release the humidity just a bit by letting the rain pour down. Maybe he couldn't be a daddy. Maybe he never would. But he would at least try something besides just pretending that it didn't bother him.

It never got easier, did it, being on the doorstep? What the hell was he even going to say? All he was doing was getting angry again, and that would just put him in a worse place than he was already in... There had to be some way to make this right. He took in a deep breath and held it as he knocked.

“Jess, I just need a minute,” he said in a rush, knowing he probably only had a few seconds before it might slam in his face again. “I don't even need to come in. I just want to talk.”



Jessica Seeley

Jess jumped up from her couch in shock when she heard a knock on the door. She had been watching Quinn – who was currently sleeping in her crib in the living room. Yes, she had multiple cribs. Mainly so Jess could watch her if she had something else to do in a different room. It was a heck of a lot easier than moving one every time. Her little angel looked so peaceful, so beautiful..

'The door..' she told herself sternly, and rushed over to the door only stopping to fix her hair into it's usual perfect way most girls would envy. Her makeup was simple, but exceptional for just a day hanging out with her Quinn.

Hand on the doorknob, she suddenly heard a voice that made her heart drop into her stomach. “Jess, I just need a minute,” Her lips tightened into a thin line, “I don't even need to come in. I just want to talk.” It was Clarence.. the guy who hit her. But what was the emotion she was feeling? Fear? No. It was something worse... so much worse. But she would never admit it to herself..

Straightening her back and squaring her shoulders, she reached into her purse that was laying nearby and pulled out a can of mace. Placing her finger on the top of it, she opened the door slowly. The phrase 'if looks could kill' was an understatement in this situation. “What do you want?”

She made no move to hide the can in her hands, it was a warning. One pointed right towards his face. Or more specifically, his eyes. And he better believe that she would use it. There was not going to be a repeat of last time, EVER. She would make sure of that..

But then she thought of her baby angel sleeping in the other room and she took her eyes off of him for a minute. Her first word was dada. She had gotten it on tape. That both broke her heart and made her happy at the same time. Happy she could speak, but unbearably sad that the first thing she said was someone that wasn't even in her life. Someone who had hit her... She lowered her mace, but only slightly.



Clarence Morgan

“Jess, I just need a minute. I don't even need to come in. I just want to talk.”

There was a second before the sound of the door handle became the door opening. The first thing he saw was something he recognized as a can of mace. He felt his shoulders slump, raising an eyebrow. His first thought was... seriously? Then he saw her face, and recognized the expression there. He'd seen it more in Iraq than here in New Orleans. It was the face of a soldier, leaning out to inspect the enemy.

The enemy. That would be him.

“What do you want?” came the low question.

He looked right at the can of mace and put his hands in his pockets. “I know I messed up bad but...” He glanced past her. “I miss Quinn.”

'I miss my daughter. I've told myself I lived without her for a long time, so I should be fine but... I'm not. That's the truth. I'm not fine. And you can probably see the fear in my eyes. D*** it!'

Jess looked back, and he could just barely see a crib behind her. That girl was probably spoiled rotten, because Jessica always made someone the center of her world. He'd seen it, and he knew could never be a part of that. But he did it too. That was one way they had connected before.

'Please Jess. I don't deserve her, I know that. But I want to.'

He sighed, looking down. “When I first met Quinn, you said something like... it doesn't take much to be a father, but it takes a lot more to be a daddy.” He made himself meet her eyes, seeing the hurt-turned-hatred there. “I'm leaving for Iraq in a month, Jessica. And when I get back, I want to do everything to be her daddy. But...” He kicked at the doorstep lightly. “I know, no matter what I say, I can't make up for what I've done. You know I grew up with that stuff in my family, and I know it can't just be erased. But...” He took one hand out of his pocket, reaching up to rub his right shoulder, that memory much fresher than the ones he was drawing on right now. “You should know, I can't forgive myself either. Not unless you do. And maybe that'll never happen, but I miss our daughter, Jess. You know she's the most beautiful thing in this world.”

Stepping back a little, he glanced at the mace again, then at her face. “Jessica, I wouldn't be able to hurt you again. I know you're gonna find that hard to believe, after it's happened once, but... I couldn't. So you can put that thing away.” He tried a slight smile. “Please?”

'What can I say to make you believe me?'



Jessica Seeley

“What do you want?” she said lowly but fiercely.

He looked right at the can in her hands. So predictable. 'That's right, put on a brave face and act like the tough guy. But you're a coward.' Her eyes narrowed. “I know I messed up bad but...” She noticed his gaze and her muscles tensed. He was looking past her, where her baby angel was sleeping. “I miss Quinn.” She stepped to the side, blocking his view as best she could. “How dare you,” she hissed with conviction, her fingers tightened on the mace.

But was it fair to her Quinn... denying her the right to see her biological father. She would be taking away a relatively normal life from her child. Thoughts of her baby's first word entered her mind then, it pained her. And again she was torn... did protecting her mean keeping her away from her jerk of a father and the pain he'll bring or did it mean giving her the most normal life she could in that aspect. She could have screamed.

He sighed, looking down. 'That's right, you don't deserve to look at her.' She told herself that that was the reason she lowered the cold can of mace in her hand.. “When I first met Quinn, you said something like... it doesn't take much to be a father, but it takes a lot more to be a daddy.” 'Just what is he trying to pull?' He met her eyes, and for a stunning second she recognized what he was feeling. “I'm leaving for Iraq in a month, Jessica. And when I get back, I want to do everything to be her daddy. But...” He kicked at the doorstep lightly, she saw because she dropped her gaze. She couldn't look him in the eyes... not then. “I know, no matter what I say, I can't make up for what I've done. You know I grew up with that stuff in my family, and I know it can't just be erased. But...” She knew her voice would have lost its conviction by that time, so she said nothing. “You should know, I can't forgive myself either. Not unless you do. And maybe that'll never happen, but I miss our daughter, Jess. You know she's the most beautiful thing in this world.”

“Good.” she said, her voice shaking slightly, “I hope you are never able forgive yourself.” He took a step back and glanced at the mace, then at her. Jess' words seemed to be caught in the back of her throat, and that made her angry. She was showing weakness in front of this jerk. This sperm donor who had dared to hit her... So why did she want him to see Quinn. “Jessica, I wouldn't be able to hurt you again. I know you're gonna find that hard to believe, after it's happened once, but... I couldn't. So you can put that thing away.” There was a pause. “Please?”

“You...” she lowered her mace to her side. “You a**hole.”

But she made no move to hurt him...yet. Then she heard movement from inside the house. She knew Quinn was awake from her nap, and may be hungry. Steeling her nerves, she inhaled deeply and opened the door wider. “Come in you retard, you're letting out the cool air.” Like she actually cared about the electricity bill. Moving to the crib, she reached in and picked up her bundle of joy, still turned away from him. “She just woke up.” There was a pause. “Her first word was dada...” She played with her small hand as she held her world in her arms.



Clarence Morgan

“I miss Quinn.” Jess saw him looking over and stepped between him and the crib. He frowned, but held his tongue as far as arguing.

“How dare you.” Her voice was low, having passed warning and gone into defense.

He sighed, looking down. His instinct kept telling him to fight but... he'd spent too much of his life fighting. The real fighting should be saved for Iraq. There was no point in arguing with Jess. She was right... he didn't deserve forgiveness. But that wouldn't stop him.

“When I first met Quinn, you said something like... it doesn't take much to be a father, but it takes a lot more to be a daddy.” He looked up at her slowly, and thought... maybe... that look in her eyes could be understanding. “I'm leaving for Iraq in a month, Jessica. And when I get back, I want to do everything to be her daddy. But...” He nudged the doorstep with his foot, not sure if she was still staring him down, but sure there was no approval in her gaze. “I know, no matter what I say, I can't make up for what I've done. You know I grew up with that stuff in my family, and I know it can't just be erased. But...” Jessica was being very quiet. He didn't know if that was a good thing or not, but it meant he could get this out before she could assume what he meant... he hoped. “You should know, I can't forgive myself either. Not unless you do. And maybe that'll never happen, but I miss our daughter, Jess. You know she's the most beautiful thing in this world.”

“Good.” A slight pause, probably because of the waiver in her voice. “I hope you are never able forgive yourself.” A bowling ball in his stomach now, he knew she might not mean it, but she had a habit of following through with what she said.

“Jessica, I wouldn't be able to hurt you again. I know you're gonna find that hard to believe, after it's happened once, but... I couldn't. So you can put that thing away.” He tried to put on a smile but didn't succeed in amusing either of them. “Please?”

“You...” She looked like she was going to protest, and pull some sort of guilt trip, but she didn't. Slowly, she lowered the mace, seeming to know that if there was one thing Clarence didn't lie about, it was guilt like this. “You a**hole.”

He shrugged. “I know, I know. But my intentions are stronger than my hands right now, and you can call me whatever you want.”

She turned, her mommy senses obviously tingling. Then she looked back at him, opening the door a bit more. “Come in you retard, you're letting out the cool air.” Clarence smiled a little at that, slowly coming, hands still in his pockets, shoulders higher than normal. He was tense. It was worse than not trusting someone else... it was like having another person inside of him that he couldn't predict – that person being his own father. Which most of why he wanted to be a better dad for Quinn.

“Hey, if I hang out for a while, I think your icy gaze will keep the place from getting too warm,” he muttered, trying not to push his luck but knowing if he kept too quiet she might get suspicious.

He watched Jess glide over to the crib and scoop up the beautiful little girl. Not crying, just stirring, and still Jess knew Quinn needed her. “She just woke up.” She hesitated for a moment, as if wondering if she should add something else. “Her first word was dada...”

That one phrase shattered what confidence he'd been using to keep himself still. His shoulders went from tense to slumped, his mouth falling open just a bit. He kept himself from the dumb question of 'really?' and forced himself to find a different phrase. “She's so amazing, and beautiful,” he said, quietly, his lips twisting into a smirk. “I bet you've already laid down the groundwork, so she'll grow up knowing that too.” He glanced up from Quinn for just a moment, wishing he was brave enough to reach out and touch her. But there was a line between brave and stupid, and trying anything would be it.

But, even as he was thinking, he started reaching for Quinn, then, by way of correcting himself, he jumped just a bit as he pulled his hand away and put it behind his head. No, no, don't do that. It was going alright so far, he couldn't go and ruin it now.

'Look what you've done, idiot. You can't even want to touch your daughter without wanting to slap yourself. You're like your dad, aren't you? How can you live with yourself?'

He rubbed his right shoulder, more out of habit and to keep his hand occupied than because it hurt. “So, um... Jess.” He looked up into her face. “What I need to say is... I'm sorry. You don't deserve to be hurt, especially by someone messed up like me.” He took a moment to breathe, trying not to say the wrong thing, but not sure what the right thing really was. “I know you must wish that Quinn had a different dad, and I don't blame you, especially after what I've done. But I want to make it right, Jessica.” He sighed, letting his hands fall at his sides, feeling like a dumb teenager, even if he wasn't one anymore.

“I know the stuff between you and me, from back then, that's over and I wouldn't dream of pushing my luck there... but you and I want what's best for Quinn, no matter what it takes.” He bit his lip for a second. “I want to be part of this family you two have here. At least... in a way, you know? I want to be there for her.” He looked away, loosing his grip. “I know you don't need anyone... ever... but I want to be there for you too. Like a family does. And since I'm most of the problem, just...” He shrugged. “Just tell me what I should do, to be better. How I can be better.” He paused. “I know the me that got us here would make you say 'hell no,' and I want to show you that... when I get back, I won't be going anywhere. Ever.”

'Even if words and I don't get along so well, and we never have.'



Jessica Seeley

“You...” She paused, lowering the mace in her hand. “You a**hole.”

He shrugged. “I know, I know. But my intentions are stronger than my hands right now, and you can call me whatever you want.”

“Don't tempt me.” she replied without hesitation, knowing that Quinn was just in the other room and she was not about to expand her angel's vocabulary. Jess turned, hearing stirring from inside the house. Carefully she opened the door a little wider, giving him a short glance. “Come in you retard, you're letting out the cool air.”

She made her way to the crib, scooping Quinn up in her arms but she intentionally faced away from Clarence. She was still at war with herself on whether or not she should be doing this. Her mind was racing at a dizzying pace but she would never let him know that. Ever.

“Hey, if I hang out for a while, I think your icy gaze will keep the place from getting too warm,” he muttered, and she played with Quinn's small hand, bringing it up to her lips and kissing the smooth skin there. Essentially, she ignored him. Her angel's palm went to Jess' hair and she tugged a bit. Not hard, but gently. She was always so gentle even when she threw her toys to the ground to see mommy pick it up and hand it right back to her over and over. She smiled at the beauty in her arms, nearly forgetting about the jerk standing right there when Quinn giggled.

“She just woke up.” She hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should be telling him the information she was about to give him. “Her first word was dada...” Jess looked up to watch him, gauging his reaction as best she could. If he did or hinted at anything she didn't like, she'd be on him like a hungry tiger on a fresh steak.

But what she saw pleased her, a little, anyway. His shoulders notably slumped and his mouth dropped. She wanted so bad to call him a retard again, or something worse, but Quinn was in her arms – serving as a constant reminder for mommy to behave... at least a little. “She's so amazing, and beautiful,” he said, quietly. His smirk made her smile back at him, as much as she hated it she couldn't help it. It was almost too perfect... him being there, seeing Quinn and promising to be better. “I bet you've already laid down the groundwork, so she'll grow up knowing that too.”

“You better believe it. She's perfect.” she stated, as if it was just a matter of fact. She watched him glance up at her, but then she looked back down at Quinn, almost giddy to have her in her arms in front of someone else. Even if it was her jerk of a father, Jess loved showing her off – because she was worth showing off.

Her eyes locked onto his hand and he started reaching for Quinn. 'Too soon! She hissed in her mind and pulled back slightly, giving him a warning with her eyes. You have to earn holding her. Prove to me you're not a complete crap head and you can.' But he jumped back, saving himself and putting that filthy hand behind his head.

He rubbed his right shoulder. “So, um... Jess.” He looked up into her face and she met his gaze steadily. “What I need to say is... I'm sorry. You don't deserve to be hurt, especially by someone messed up like me.” She muttered something about 'you got that right' and rolled her green eyes. “I know you must wish that Quinn had a different dad, and I don't blame you, especially after what I've done. But I want to make it right, Jessica.” Her heart stopped. How could he make that right? He sighed, letting his hands fall at his sides. He looked exactly like he always did, so why wasn't she tossing his butt to the curb already? Quinn wriggled, grabbing her attention immediately and she managed to switch arms, holding her baby to her side gently.

“I know the stuff between you and me, from back then, that's over and I wouldn't dream of pushing my luck there... but you and I want what's best for Quinn, no matter what it takes.” It's almost like she could feel Jess' discomfort because she started making her small, unhappy sounds that she did when she was upset. She cooed at her, but kept her eyes on Clarence, letting him know that she was still intending on listening to him, for the moment anyway. He bit his lip, she remembered how that used to make her smile, almost every time he did it. “I want to be part of this family you two have here. At least... in a way, you know? I want to be there for her.” He looked away, “I know you don't need anyone... ever... but I want to be there for you too. Like a family does. And since I'm most of the problem, just...” He shrugged. “Just tell me what I should do, to be better. How I can be better.” He paused. Part of her didn't want to believe him, wanted to tell him that she had heard his lies and his crap before... but part of her was desperate to believe him. 'Any decision I make will effect her for the rest of her life.' “I know the me that got us here would make you say 'hell no,' and I want to show you that... when I get back, I won't be going anywhere. Ever.”

It was what Quinn did next that sealed the deal for him. She actually reached for him. ”Mama..dadada...da!” she slurred in between her giggles and baby noises. Jess stood like a statue, her eyes watering uncontrollably as she stepped back slowly, but Quinn didn't quit. Her voice caught in her throat again as she covered her angel's ears momentarily. “Wash your d*** hands. No telling what you've been doing.” She pointed to the sink and released her ears. She was still struggling in her arms.

Jess couldn't believe this. She had done this only once before, but that was only when someone else was holding her and Jess and been the one she was reaching towards. 'Maybe it's because I never have anyone over...' She almost felt sick to her stomach.. but if Quinn wanted it and there was no perceivable danger, she would have it. It was just hard...

'Please don't hurt her...'



Clarence Morgan

“So, um... Jess.” He managed to meet her eyes, and was finally managing to not be intimidated by her. Either he was getting braver or she was getting softer, one of the two. “What I need to say is... I'm sorry. You don't deserve to be hurt, especially by someone messed up like me.” He earned a half-hearted mumble and a roll of her eyes, but she didn't bark at him, so that was a good sign, right? “I know you must wish that Quinn had a different dad, and I don't blame you, especially after what I've done. But I want to make it right, Jessica.” She didn't move, and he wasn't sure how to react, so he just let his hands fall to his sides. Quinn shifted in her mother's arms, making him smile just a little, and helping him gather up a bit more courage.

“I know the stuff between you and me, from back then, that's over and I wouldn't dream of pushing my luck there... but you and I want what's best for Quinn, no matter what it takes.”

He bit his lip when Quinn started making some noises like she didn't like it. Either Quinn was smart enough to feel the tense air between them, or her and Jess were so bonded at this point that she could feel her mother's reluctance.

'I want to be part of that. I'm tired of being an outsider. Why can't this be my family too?'

“I want to be part of this family you two have here.” And it came out. “At least... in a way, you know? I want to be there for her.” He looked away, not sure if this was a stupid thing to be saying. “I know you don't need anyone... ever...” Or at least you act like it. “But I want to be there for you too. Like a family does. And since I'm most of the problem, just...” He shrugged. “Just tell me what I should do, to be better. How I can be better.” He paused. Jessica was silent listening, waiting. “I know the me that got us here would make you say 'hell no,' and I want to show you that... when I get back, I won't be going anywhere. Ever.”

Still no reaction from Jessica, and he opened his mouth to say something, but Quinn moved, making him look up. Quinn... she was reaching for him. She... she wanted him. Clarence held still as stone, fighting himself with all his might, knowing he shouldn't make a move without Jess' approval.

”Mama..dadada...da!” Quinn was a beautiful mess of giggles and coos, and Jess stepped back, a look on her face that almost said... wounded. Clarence took in a deep breath, trying to keep from doing anything until Jess said something. But Quinn kept reaching for him, insisting.

'Please, Jessica...'

“Jess?” he said, finding his voice low and thick.

She covered Quinn's ears, not looking at him directly. “Wash your d*** hands. No telling what you've been doing.” He looked at his hands for a split second not believing it at first, but he quickly moved to obey. Carefully, he returned to Jessica's side, Quinn still fighting more than ever to come to his arms. When had the last time he'd held Quinn been? Probably when he'd first seen her... hadn't that been a year ago? It felt like longer.

“Hey, Quinn,” he whispered, putting his hand against her soft, tiny hand. His hands looked so dark and rough compared to hers... “I don't know how you know,” he laughed, “But yeah... it's your dad.”



Jessica Seeley

Jess stood still as she listened to him talk, it wasn't anything she hadn't heard before. Promises that will most likely never be kept. Only this time it involved Quinn, she wasn't just making decisions for herself anymore... so she had to listen, at least. If she could make it out of this with a dad, she'd have a relatively normal life. Would it be worth the risk though? The consequences, she knew, were no joking matter. What happens could seriously affect her entire life and her outlook on things in general.

But then Quinn did something that shocked her to the core, she actually reached for Clarence. Like she wanted to be held by him! Her heart stopped beating as she narrowed her eyes at him, daring him to make a move and she stood as still as a statue, hoping she would get distracted by something more exciting... or something.

”Mama..dadada...da!” She managed between her giggles and odd baby sounds. Why would she reach for him?! Maybe it was because he was really the first person she had let inside her home... or so she told herself. Jess, seeing the look in his eyes stepped back, warning him with a glare. 'One wrong move.' it said, 'just one.'

But while she was glaring a hole right into his face, she realized that he didn't have his normal 'I'm stupid' look in his eyes. He actually seemed to care... his face. He wanted to hold her. Jess gritted her teeth and looked down to see her baby struggling in her arms, getting increasingly more agitated with her current position.

“Jess?” he said, his voice almost sounding choked. Something in his eyes told her that he wouldn't hurt Quinn. Anyone else in the world, maybe, but not her. And she recognized the look in his eyes as he looked at her squirming to get to him. It was love... she could see it in her own eyes when she looked at her angel. 'D***it all!

Jess immediately covered Quinn's ears, refusing to look into his eyes anymore. “Wash your d*** hands. No telling what you've been doing.” She scowled, pointing to the sink. It took him a moment for the message to sink in, but when it did he rushed to the sink. A corner of her lips lifted up into a half smile. Carefully, he returned to Jessica's side. By that time though her baby was insistent on being held by Clarence, and she wanted to be right that second.

“Hey, Quinn,” he whispered, no longer paying attention to Jess. She watched as he put his huge hand against Quinn's. And oddly enough, she didn't pull her back. Something deep inside her bubbled to the surface and made her smile. It was almost like they were a family... almost.

“I don't know how you know,” he laughed, “But yeah... it's your dad.”

Jess' smile faltered. "Pictures." she mumbled, half hoping that he didn't hear her. She had a few pictures of him that she would show to Quinn, telling him that that was 'dad.' She had done it so often, now sometimes she would ask 'Where's daddy?' and she would point to the picture. She didn't see a problem with it at the time... because, well... pictures were better than the real thing. Carefully, slowly, she handed Quinn off to her biological father. "Be careful." she warned in an almost hissing voice. "If you value your child-making abilities, do not hurt her."

She watched as her angel put her hands up to Clarence's face and lips, running her tiny fingers across his skin.



Clarence Morgan

“Hey, Quinn,” he said, softly, reaching out to put his hands against hers. They looked so different... for a second he had to stop and realize this girl was a part of him. Smiling crookedly, Clarence glanced over at Jess, seeing her face light up. It was so rare to see a smile like that on her face... it was beautiful. He looked between all of them for a second and realized... god, they looked so much alike.

“I don't know how you know,” he laughed, looking in Quinn's big green eyes, “but yeah... it's your dad.”

Jess mumbled something, maybe he was too focused on Quinn right now to hear her. After a dumb 'huh?' moment, he still wasn't sure if she'd muttered on purpose or not. The next thing he knew, Jess was handing him Quinn. Wow, that was always a wonderful moment. He held his hands out, keeping them as steady as possible. "Be careful," she hissed.

"I will," he assured her, smiling.

"If you value your child-making abilities, do not hurt her."

He laughed, trying to remember as hard as he could how he'd held Timmy as a baby. It had been something like... Quinn seemed to find the place on her own, contentedly stopping the adorable -- but insistent -- cooing. "I value not being in pain," he said, not taking his eyes off of his daughter. "But, to be honest, I don't think I want any more. Quinn is more than enough for this lifetime."

Quinn reached up, touching his lips as if to silence him, wonder in her eyes. He hadn't known they could get any bigger, but the sea-green eyes of his beautiful little girl -- their beautiful little girl -- lit up and widened beyond belief, taking in his facial features as she ran her tiny hands along them. She smiled a little smile he recognized, and it made him laugh.

"Hey, kiddo," he said, noticing how softer his voice had become since he'd taken her. "You might have your mommy's eyes, but you've got my smile, and I'll take that."

"Dada... dada." Something about the way she punctuated that made him want to cry. But he didn't cry. No, no way. As amazing as Quinn was, he just didn't cry.

Okay. Maybe sometimes.

He blinked, fighting it back with a smile. "Dang, you're so cute, babe," he said, a bit louder, trying to push the sound through his tightening throat. "God... I love you." He laughed, shifting her slowly. She smiled at him. He had to start blinking more furiously. "Wow, hey, where did all those teeth come from? Seriously? Look at you go!" He earned a little giggle for that, a precious little giggle. "I'm lucky you don't bite, or you'd tear right through me." He shifted his hands a bit, tickling her sides. "Oh no, there she goes... laughing away."

He looked over a Jess. "God, she could own this whole world with that laugh." He tried to calm his smile for a second, holding Quinn a bit more securely, which prompted the girl to play with his dogtags. "I missed this. Both of you." 'I'm glad you trust me, Jess. You have no idea what it means.'



Jessica Seeley

"Be careful," she hissed as she handed Quinn off to her biological father, ready to jump in and take her away if anything were to go wrong.

"I will," he assured her, smiling a smile that she hadn't seen in ages. And despite her threats, she was enjoying it as much as he was, if not more. There was a chance her baby would have a normal life. A mommy and a daddy who would move mountains for her. But that doesn't mean he should think he's special or anything. 'He's still a retarded jerk.' Or in her mind he was anyway.

"If you value your child-making abilities, do not hurt her." she tacked on, but still smiled. It was almost like...they were a family. Her eyes widened as realization hit her. Maybe... maybe they could work this out. Why else would she teach Quinn what her daddy looks like if not in hopes that it would all be relatively okay again? But there was still doubt beneath her mossy gaze, camped out there like a troll under a toll bridge just waiting for a chance to knock them off or force them to pay for their happiness. Either way, she had to be strong for her little angel, and if he earned it, Clarence as well.

He laughed again, and she watched as he stood there, clearly happier than she had seen him since.. well, they were dating. She stopped her cooing as she fell into a comfortable position in her father's arms. "I value not being in pain," he said and she nodded in reply, but doubted that he had actually noticed because his eyes were glued to her daughter. "But, to be honest, I don't think I want any more. Quinn is more than enough for this lifetime." Motherly pride almost made her chest swell as she ran her fingers through her smooth blonde hair. "Because she's the best." she stated, gazing at the happy faces her baby girl was making. Jess didn't really want any more kids either, or at least not for a long while.

Then Quinn reached up, doing her usual inspection of people's faces. She just looked so curious about everything, wonder in her bright green eyes. More laughs came from him, but they weren't convicting or mocking laughs. They were done because of joy. She knew because she was feeling it too, and she even found herself laughing quietly with him.

"Hey, kiddo," he said, his voice had gone quiet as he spoke to the beautiful baby in his arms. "You might have your mommy's eyes, but you've got my smile, and I'll take that." She glanced at his face again. "It's good she got my eyes, mine are better anyway." Jess stated, only partly joking with him. Wait... joking? With the guy who hit her and was a dead-beat dad for pretty much a year? Had she completely lost her mind? She opened her mouth to tell him she wanted Quinn back, but again she was over ruled.

"Dada... dada."

Her vote counted for more than hers.

"Dang, you're so cute, babe," he said, and Jess bit her lower lip, seeing the expression on his face. He was already on the verge of crying.. Clarence. Crying. This was turning out to be an insane day. "God... I love you." That pained her. How could he confess that he loves her angel if he didn't want to be in her life up until now? It was heartbreaking. Because if he could do it once, he'd do it again. "Wow, hey, where did all those teeth come from? Seriously? Look at you go!" She held off what she was going to say until he was okay to talk seriously with her again. "I'm lucky you don't bite, or you'd tear right through me." More laughs from both father and daughter and more emotions conflicted inside her skull.

He shifted his hands a bit, then. Moving to tickle her little smooth sides. "Oh no, there she goes... laughing away." She crossed her arms instinctively, making sure that she knew 100 percent that she wouldn't squirm and fall. She meant what she said about hurting Quinn.

Then Clarence looked over at Jess. "God, she could own this whole world with that laugh." She nodded, knowing full well what he meant. Quinn could very well be on TV or in pageants and would succeed just with one of her laughs, or maybe just a smile. "I missed this. Both of you." Jess looked him right in the eyes, taking a step closer to him.

"Then why?" she asked, a little snap in her voice. "Why would you do that if you missed us so much?" She tried to keep her voice down, for the sake of Quinn. Her voice caught in her throat as she prepared to say what she had planned in her head.

"Earlier, you told me to tell you what to do to be better. Listen close, 'cause I'm not saying it more than once. Be. In. Her. Life. And no, I just don't mean after you get back from being blown up by a turban-guys whacked out version of a 4th of July. I mean now." She inhaled deeply. Her voice took on a somber tone as she looked down at Quinn, who now had his dog tags in her mouth. "And if you do, don't go to Iraq." She denied that she was saying that for her own benefit as well as her lips were set in a thin line. "Be here, for her." It was her turn to blink back tears as she slowly took the tags out of her baby's mouth. Because the truth was that she needed help sometimes, she needed a rock – someone stable to give her strength. She had to be her own ever since she had Quinn. Which she didn't mind – no one could do as good of a job as she could, that was just a fact... but sometimes she was tired. Waking up in the middle of the night and being on constant alert at all times was wearing down on her. She wasn't the perfect girl that she was portrayed to be anymore.

"...Because... she needs a daddy, not a father."



Clarence Morgan

For a few minutes there, they were like a family. It... it felt good. "Hey, kiddo," he said softly, looking into Quinn's beautiful face. "You might have your mommy's eyes, but you've got my smile, and I'll take that."

"It's good she got my eyes, mine are better anyway." Jess didn't sound so much on the defense anymore. This was good... unbelievably good. He could only hope he didn't mess this up again.

"Dada... dada." Quinn seemed thrilled to say it while touching his face. Like she was seeing something she'd only imagined before. She was so incredible.

"Dang, you're so cute, babe," he managed, trying not to let this moment get to him. No, Clarence refused to let this make him cry, but it was getting harder by the second. Not the minute, the second. "God... I love you." He caught a glimmer of white in her smile. "Wow, hey, where did all those teeth come from? Seriously? Look at you go!" He laughed, earning a few giggles from Quinn. "I'm lucky you don't bite, or you'd tear right through me." They were laughing together again... Except for Jess. But she'd come back around, right? He could wait.

He couldn't help moving to tickle the kid, after growing up with Timmy, who needed tickling to coerce him into human interaction for the first few years of his life. "Oh no, there she goes... laughing away."

Looking over at Jess, he knew he should try and reach out. It felt more natural than it had last time. "God, she could own this whole world with that laugh." Jess nodded, but didn't say anything. She wasn't gloating about Quinn. That wasn't a good sign, was it? "I missed this. Both of you." She looked him in the eyes, coming closer. Yeah, he knew that whole thing wasn't worked out yet. But they were making progress, right? That was good. She could see he was trying, right?

"Then why?" Her voice was becoming tighter. He tensed, holding Quinn more securely.

'I don't know... because I'm stupid like that. What do you want me to say?'

"Why would you do that if you missed us so much?" She wanted answers. He had to have some in there somewhere... he just didn't know where.

He took in a deep breath and let it out as a sigh before the first words that came to mind could come out. The first words were usually the dumbest ones. “I've spent my whole life fighting, Jess. It was always part of who I was...” He looked at Quinn, trying to breathe easier. “But I'm done with that. I'm done being the one who's always on the outside. I'm not just saying I want to be better. I'm saying I am better. And I mean it.”

Jess looked conflicted, her voice catching. Something didn't set right about that. "Earlier, you told me to tell you what to do to be better. Listen close, 'cause I'm not saying it more than once.” He tensed again, knowing she would take Quinn back if he made one wrong move. “Be. In. Her. Life. And no, I just don't mean after you get back from being blown up by a turban-guys whacked out version of a 4th of July. I mean now." She took a deep breath, and Clarence found he couldn't.

“Wait, what?” Something didn't sound right. He looked at Quinn. Did she mean...?

"And if you do, don't go to Iraq."

His heart stopped. That was how being a dad was, wasn't it? Giving up the one thing he'd done for himself... the one thing he'd always wanted to do. But... could he? He'd given his word, two years. If he didn't, that meant no college, no saving the world, no helping his friends or his country.

But... his country was right here. This was what he was fighting for.

"Be here, for her." Jess' voice broke through his thoughts. She was blinking back tears, and he couldn't anymore. He'd thought it was a done-deal, going back to Iraq. But... could he blame Jess? The idea of him dying over there wasn't a great one, not if he wanted to be here for Quinn. But... he would fight, he'd stay alive! It was lose his dream or lose his daughter now. He hated that.

Jess came over and took the dogtags out of Quinn's mouth. Yeah, that was how it was. Dream or Quinn.

“But...” Nothing else would come.

"...Because... she needs a daddy, not a father."

He took a deep breath. “Here,” he said, coming closer and holding out Quinn. “Don't want her eating my dogtags.” He wiped his eyes, trying to steel himself against the tears, but it wasn't working. A few words that shouldn't have come out did, but just as whispers. “Sorry, I'm an idiot, I just...” He crossed his arms over his chest, forcing himself to breathe evenly. “Jess... the army, it's the one way I can use that anger. I'm not going to be over there for years, army isn't going to be my life. I just... I gave my word when I signed up, two years. You're asking me to go back on my word, to lie to them.”

Sighing, he looked at the door. He'd been trying a long time now, to walk in here and make things right. Now it had become an ultimatum. Because he'd been stupid and put Jess in this situation in the first place. So it was his own fault it was this way.

'So what are you going to do about it, hotshot? It's break your word or lose your daughter. This should be easy. Chose your daughter, break your word. There will be other opportunities to use the anger... there has to be. Somewhere. Not in Iraq... but not finishing my time also means my chances of going to college are pretty slim... Who cares? Plenty of people go without college.'

He shifted, arms still crossed. “Do I have to give you an answer right now? I know it should be easy, but... it's not, Jess. It's not. I just need a little time.” He met her eyes evenly. “But know, I do want to be her daddy. I do. And it's amazing that you're giving me a chance do that. I just don't want to jump and make an important decision like this, no matter what choice I make.”



Jessica Seeley

"I missed this. Both of you." He said and she immediately met his eyes, stepping closer to him. Jess would get answers, no matter what. She deserved to know, she knew that.

"Then why?" Her voice was became tighter and tighter as she spoke. She could see him tense up, holding her baby closer to him as if she would just reach down and scoop her away forever. And she very well could have. She could have taken her and moved immediately, that day if necessary due to her parents numerous connections and the amount of money she had. And her things could be brought over to her new place in a different state, or country. But what kind of life would that leave Quinn? She deserved to know her father...

He was silent, so she asked a more specific question. "Why would you do that if you missed us so much?"

Jess watched as he took a breath, probably mentally preparing himself to answer her. What shocked her was the he didn't normally think before he spoke. That was how Clarence would get on her bad side every now and again. “I've spent my whole life fighting, Jess. It was always part of who I was...” She would have gotten angry if it weren't for the fact that she knew it was undeniably true. “But I'm done with that. I'm done being the one who's always on the outside. I'm not just saying I want to be better. I'm saying I am better. And I mean it.”

Her eyes narrowed at him, only partially believing what he was saying. But... a better Clarence... what would that be like? Would he be able to help her so she could finally catch up on some rest? Would he be a daddy to the beautiful Quinn?

Jess looked conflicted, her voice catching as she spoke. It was... hard for her to make up her mind about him. She had every reason to hate him, to run him off of her property and tell him to never come back... but could she? "Earlier, you told me to tell you what to do to be better. Listen close, 'cause I'm not saying it more than once. Be. In. Her. Life. And no, I just don't mean after you get back from being blown up by a turban-guys whacked out version of a 4th of July. I mean now." She took a deep breath, preparing herself for what she was about to say.

“Wait, what?” he asked in his usual 'intelligent' way. But instead of pointing it out, she decided to finish what she was going to say before she lost her nerve and told him to forget about it. She ran her hand through her hair once more before saying, "And if you do, don't go to Iraq."

Jess could tell by the expression he was wearing that he didn't like that idea at all. Maybe he thought that she just wouldn't have asked that at all. If he did, he was dead wrong. No, this way she would know 100 percent that he was dedicated to being there for Quinn. It was the only way she thought she would ever know for sure. Because that would be just like Clarence to go to another country and come back and leave, not telling them if he was dead or alive. She would never know the difference and she'd still have to explain to her angel where her daddy was.

"Be here, for her." Jess insisted, still gauging his reaction to her words. 'you idiot, say something..' She blinked back tears and inhaled deeply once more. It was almost like she couldn't get enough oxygen to go to her lungs, like she was suffocating in this conversation, and she didn't like it. But it had to be done. For Quinn.

She slowly walked over to him and took the dogtags out of Quinn's mouth. She would wait for a reply, she knew... but not for long.

“But...” her heart dropped to the floor as she heard him start to object. But she had to try, she had to be strong and let him know. It was just... hard.

"...Because... she needs a daddy, not a father."

It was his turn to breathe in deeply then. “Here,” he said, coming closer and holding out Quinn. Jess took her back without a moments hesitation and bounced her slowly in her arms. “Don't want her eating my dogtags.”

“Like you care about that.” she said, kissing her daughter's smooth forehead. Then he cursed under his breath and she covered Quinn's ears again, shooting him a warning glance. “Sorry, I'm an idiot, I just...” She knew that was true, so she felt no need to confirm it. But he was crying, his arms over his chest. It seemed he was having just as hard of a time as she was when it came to breathing. “Jess... the army, it's the one way I can use that anger. I'm not going to be over there for years, army isn't going to be my life. I just... I gave my word when I signed up, two years. You're asking me to go back on my word, to lie to them.”

“Who the heck cares?” she said, maybe a little too harshly but feeling no remorse for doing so. “Don't you start spewing out..” Jess paused, censoring herself. “Excuses.” she finished, taking note of Quinn starting to inspect her white gold necklace around her neck. It was just a simple chain, so she didn't care about her touching it. She just had to make sure she didn't put it in her mouth and choke on it.

“Do I have to give you an answer right now?” She gritted her teeth, the muscles in her jaw tensing.” I know it should be easy, but... it's not, Jess. It's not. I just need a little time.” He met her eyes evenly and she rolled her eyes, knowing that only he would ask for more time. “But know, I do want to be her daddy. I do. And it's amazing that you're giving me a chance do that. I just don't want to jump and make an important decision like this, no matter what choice I make.”

“I can wait. God knows I've waited for a year already. But Quinn...” she looked down at the baby in her arms, not able to finish her previous sentence. “When it comes time for her to wonder where you are and you're not there. I'll tell her you died – I swear to God I will.” She breathed, “And if you decide to show your face, she won't recognize you. It's better that she thinks you're dead than you left her alone.” Even though her words seemed harsh, tears fell down her face and Quinn reached up to touch her mom's face, her small hands getting wet.



Clarence Morgan

"Be here, for her.

He couldn't say anything yet. Jess didn't realize what she was asking, did she?

“But...” What was he supposed to do? He wanted to do what was best, but he had no idea what that was anymore. Why did he have to choose? Why couldn't he just do his duty and come back?

Why did it have to be an ultimatum?

"...Because... she needs a daddy, not a father."

He took in a deep breath, not sure what else to do yet. “Here,” he said, coming closer and holding out Quinn. Jess took her without questioning him, or even glaring, just took her and held her. “Don't want her eating my dogtags.”

“Like you care about that.”

“I do,” he muttered. D*** it, he was crying... He slipped and got a glare for it, letting his frustration slip out. “Sorry,” he added, “I'm an idiot, I just...”

'I just... say all the wrong things.'

“Jess... the army, it's the one way I can use that anger. I'm not going to be over there for years, army isn't going to be my life. I just...” This wasn't going to ever get any easier, was it? “I gave my word when I signed up, two years. You're asking me to go back on my word, to lie to them.”

“Who the heck cares?” she snapped.

“I do,” he came back, frowning, arms tense over his chest, trying hard to hide the hurt. “Because I'm trying not to be who I was, and that means keeping promises. To everyone.”

“Don't you start spewing out..” She paused, like she was back-tracking. “Excuses.” Quinn started playing with Jess' necklace, seeming to sense the growing tension.

'I'm sorry, Quinn... you deserve better than this.'

“Do I have to give you an answer right now?” All he could think was that he needed more time to really think about this... and there was someone he knew would give him an honest opinion. That was what family was for, right? He could tell Jess didn't like it, clenching her jaw, but she didn't say anything. She was trying here too, he had to give her credit for trying more than most girls would. “I know it should be easy, but... it's not, Jess. It's not. I just need a little time.” He met her eyes and she just rolled hers. She was used to him just feeding her crap. He knew that. He had to prove that he'd be different. He couldn't expect her to just believe him over-night. “But know, I do want to be her daddy. I do. And it's amazing that you're giving me a chance do that. I just don't want to jump and make an important decision like this, no matter what choice I make.”

'I want you to know that I take Quinn seriously. We both know I wouldn't have before.'

“I can wait,” she said, though she definitely didn't sound happy about it. “God knows I've waited for a year already. But Quinn...” Their eyes both fell to Quinn. Most people would say that, being just a baby, Quinn had no idea what they were doing for her. But Quinn was their daughter, hard as that was sometimes. She was smart. She knew. “When it comes time for her to wonder where you are and you're not there. I'll tell her you died – I swear to God I will.”

Clarence nodded, looking down, trying to hide his shame but not doing so hot. “I know.”

'I'd probably be dead to her anyway.'

“And if you decide to show your face, she won't recognize you. It's better that she thinks you're dead than you left her alone.” Her voice had lowered to a breath, and she was crying now too. Quinn reached up to touch her mother's tears, making it harder for both of them to do this, and easier at the same time.

“I know, if I walk out, that's the end. I can't ask for more than that,” he said, shuffling his feet a bit. “But I don't want to just stay because I feel cornered about it, and have it end up that she feels like she held me back... I have to take this seriously. I have to think it through so that it's my own decision, and nothing I can ever blame either of you for.” Clarence looked up to meet Jessica's eyes, not bothering to wipe the tears off of his face. His pride was beyond redeemable now. He had to be completely humbled with her, it was the only option. “I have to make sure I never do what I did again, Jessica. I have to make sure I never be my dad. I need you to understand that.”

Taking in a deep breath, he made himself stand up straight, putting his hands in his pockets. “I promise I'll get back to you as soon as I can. I won't make you wait any longer than you have to.” He shrugged. “There's just... someone I need to force-feed me some logic.” He put on a half-hearted smile, then shuffled his feet some more. “You'd like him. He's Timmy's other brother. He's smarter than me, has a bit of an girly Asian face, but I heard you and Raiu have been getting along lately, so that probably wouldn't bother you...” Well, that felt awkward to say. “So... um... you want me to go? Or what?”

'I knew this would be hard to fix, but I guess I never thought it through... I never thought you'd ask that of me. But I can't blame you. I have to blame me. I have to toughen up.'



Continued!

[More than Music]

Continued from above!


Jessica Seeley

“Jess... the army, it's the one way I can use that anger. I'm not going to be over there for years, army isn't going to be my life. I just...I gave my word when I signed up, two years. You're asking me to go back on my word, to lie to them.”

“Who the heck cares?” she snapped at him.

“I do,” he came back. Jess could tell that she had hurt him, but she didn't feel an ounce of guilt. “Because I'm trying not to be who I was, and that means keeping promises. To everyone.” She was quick to reply, knowing full well that this could just be another stupid lie to get out of her and Quinn's life without having to actually say he was leaving.

“Don't you start spewing out..” She paused, having to stop herself from saying something in front of Quinn. Being around him that day had put her massively on edge. “Excuses.” Jess finished as her baby started playing with the chain around her neck, inspecting it like it was some foreign object from a distant planet. But she had grown quiet, Jess realized as she waited for Clarence to speak again. Quinn was almost telepathic then. It was like she knew things were tense again. None of this was doing any good for her. Exhaustion set in momentarily as she fought with herself over everything to do with Clarence.

“Do I have to give you an answer right now?” He asked, and she just clenched her jaw in reply. She was trying so hard to think with his mind... but it was so freaking warped at that point there was no possible way she could. “I know it should be easy, but... it's not, Jess. It's not. I just need a little time.” He met her eyes and she just rolled hers. How was she supposed to know if he was telling the truth or not? “But know, I do want to be her daddy. I do. And it's amazing that you're giving me a chance do that. I just don't want to jump and make an important decision like this, no matter what choice I make.”

More conflicting emotions.

“I can wait,” she said, knowing she sounded unhappy about it. “God knows I've waited for a year already. But Quinn...” Their eyes both fell to Quinn's little face. Her whole world was right there, and she was messing her whole future up. “When it comes time for her to wonder where you are and you're not there. I'll tell her you died – I swear to God I will.”

Surprisingly, Clarence just nodded. She would have guessed that he would have some smart-alek retort to her saying that. A threat. Something. But all he said was, “I know.” The expression on his face was almost shame, she thought. Internally, she questioned the extent of her powers as a mother and if she could actually keep him away.

“And if you decide to show your face, she won't recognize you. It's better that she thinks you're dead than you left her alone.” Jess' voice had softened to the extremes as she stood there, tears streaming down her cheeks. Quinn reached up to touch her mother's cheeks, her small hands immediately getting wet. It was almost heartbreaking to know that she would be the cause of her father's 'death'.

“I know, if I walk out, that's the end. I can't ask for more than that,” he said, shuffling his feet again.

“But I don't want to just stay because I feel cornered about it, and have it end up that she feels like she held me back... I have to take this seriously. I have to think it through so that it's my own decision, and nothing I can ever blame either of you for.” He said and they met each other's eyes. Jess knew she probably looked pathetic, like a child who just couldn't stop crying. Weak. But he did too. “I have to make sure I never do what I did again, Jessica. I have to make sure I never be my dad. I need you to understand that.”

“I... understand.” she said softly.

Clarence took yet another deep breath, forcing himself to stand up straight again. “I promise I'll get back to you as soon as I can. I won't make you wait any longer than you have to.” He shrugged. “There's just... someone I need to force-feed me some logic.”

'You should know already.' Jess scoffed in her mind but forced herself to stay silent for his sake. “You'd like him. He's Timmy's other brother. He's smarter than me, has a bit of an girly Asian face, but I heard you and Raiu have been getting along lately, so that probably wouldn't bother you...” She ignored what implications that could have possibly led to. “So... um... you want me to go? Or what?”

Jess attempted to past her tears and looked up at him. “You freak.” she managed to say before wrapping her free arm around his waist and squeezing. Hard. “If you go and get yourself blown up, I swear I'll kill you.”

“Stay. She likes you.” she said while holding out Quinn to him once more, stepping back from him and wiping her eyes with her palm. Moving to the side of the crib, Jess grabbed something from the diaper bag laying there. It was a set of play baby keys, all in different colors and connected by a white ring- all made of plastic. She walked the thing over to him and handed it to him. “Her favorite toy at the moment.” What she didn't tell him was that she loved to drop them, just to see you pick it up again. That would be some bonding time, if nothing else. Plus it would be fun to watch for her at the same time.



Clarence Morgan

“I know, if I walk out, that's the end. I can't ask for more than that,” he said, feeling so pressured right now it wasn't funny. “But I don't want to just stay because I feel cornered about it, and have it end up that she feels like she held me back... I have to take this seriously. I have to think it through so that it's my own decision, and nothing I can ever blame either of you for.” They met eyes. If they could've seen themselves now, back when this had started... what would they have said? He would call himself weak and retarded, if she didn't say it first. But really, was he? Were they weak? This was Quinn. “I have to make sure I never do what I did again, Jessica. I have to make sure I never be my dad. I need you to understand that.”

“I... understand.”

He tried to breathe right, stiffening. “I promise I'll get back to you as soon as I can. I won't make you wait any longer than you have to.” He shrugged. “There's just... someone I need to force-feed me some logic.”

'He's my brother. If he doesn't know just where to poke me so I know what to do, he'll at least hear me out long enough to make me not feel like such an idiot.'

“You'd like him. He's Timmy's other brother. He's smarter than me, has a bit of an girly Asian face, but I heard you and Raiu have been getting along lately, so that probably wouldn't bother you...” He wished that didn't feel so weird to say. “So... um... you want me to go? Or what?” It felt so strange not to know.

The way Jess looked at him just then felt familiar. Nostalgic even. “You freak,” she said, through her tears, one arm enclosing around his waist for a tight embrace he hadn't felt in years. Clarence was a bit surprised, but he wrapped his arms around both of them, suddenly possessed with the notion of never letting go. This was hard on all of them, he could tell. But it was necessary. “If you go and get yourself blown up, I swear I'll kill you.”

“I won't need you to,” he muttered, smiling a little. He kissed the top of Quinn's head, pulling Jess' closer to him. “I won't, Jess. I won't even if I go. I promise.”

'If I ever die, it won't be on a battlefield of guns and grenades. It'll be on one like this.'

“Stay. She likes you.”

“She's the only one that always seems to,” he said, half-heartedly joking.

She held Quinn out to him again. Thinking back to a few minutes ago, and how it seemed to have bothered Jess, Clarence tucked his dogtags into his t-shirt before taking his daughter. Jess wiped her eyes, and Clarence put on a sad smile.

“I'm sorry I have to make you cry so much, Jess,” he said, quietly, as Quinn began gabbering to him in baby-talk. “But Quinn's lucky to have you. I wish everyone had a strong mom like she does.”

Jess bent down and scooped something out of the diaper bag. It was a set of fat, multi-colored baby keys on a white loop. It looked like it had been chewed on. "Her favorite toy at the moment."

“I can tell,” he chuckled, inspecting it. “If she could spell, I bet these marks'd spell out 'I'm teething'.” He hadn't even finishing speaking before an eager Quinn insisted on having it handed back to her. Then the gabbering got louder, and he was pretty sure she was telling him a novel-worthy story, he just couldn't tell what it was about. He laughed anyway. “Is that so?” he replied, jokingly. “Fascinating.”

Glancing over at Jess, he tilted his head to the side a little. “You're really beautiful, you know. I mean, I know you know, but,” he shrugged, as Quinn started chewing on the keys, “but you are. I mean–”

Quinn dropped the keys and put on a bit of a pout, looking down at them. “Eh-yah,” she said, very clearly, though he had no idea what that meant.

“Oh, lost it did you? Well, let's see...” He slanted, holding her firmly with one arm and bending down to scoop up the keys. “Don't know if I should clean 'em before you put 'em back in your mouth... I mean, I'm sure your mommy keeps it clean in here, but...” Without waiting for an answer either way, Quinn snatched them up quite happily and proceeded to try eating them again, cooing quietly as she looked between her parents. “Oookay,” he laughed, “I guess you'll be fine then.” He looked at Jess and shrugged a bit. “Is that okay?”

'You can't know how great this is, even with this big decision on my shoulders, to feel like family.'



Jessica Seeley

“So... um... you want me to go? Or what?” He had asked, and she couldn't help but smile a little at his clueless voice. She knew her emotions were all over the place – only Clarence made her feel like that, which is probably why they fought so much. The constant changing frustrated her to no end, because she knew that she was being ridiculous.

“You freak,” Jess managed through her tears as she gave him a tight one-armed hug. How long had it been since they had done that? Ages. She knew he probably didn't know why she did it, but that didn't matter to her at the moment. If she needed a hug, she was definitely going to get one, no matter what. But it was her turn to be surprised when she felt his arms go around both her and Quinn. It was nice. The first hug she's had in a long while. “If you go and get yourself blown up, I swear I'll kill you.”

“I won't need you to,” he muttered, and somehow – that didn't comfort her in the least. Jess watched as he kissed the top of her baby's head before pulling her closer to his body. It was comforting to her, as much as she hated to admit it to herself. “I won't, Jess. I won't even if I go. I promise.”

She wanted to tell him to stop being ridiculous and that he had no way of knowing it he would get blown up or not... but she was tired of fighting, just for a minute she wanted to relax and know that someone was there for her. And she felt like she didn't have the strength to push him away anymore.

“Stay. She likes you.” Jess said, answering his earlier question on whether or not he should stay.

“She's the only one that always seems to,” he said, half-heartedly joking. She smiled at this. "You better believe it." She joked right back at him, but held Quinn to Clarence again, making sure she had a good grip on her. He put his dogtags in his shirt before taking the only semi-squirming baby into his arms again. Jess wasn't going to lie and say that it didn't bug her at all to see her angel in his arms, especially with him being well... him.

She quickly wiped her eyes when her hands were free, and she watched him put a sad smile on his face. He really had changed... hadn't he?

“I'm sorry I have to make you cry so much, Jess,” he said, and she gestured with her hands, non-verbally telling him that she was pushing the thought of it off to the side. More sounds emanated from Quinn as she was once again in her father's arms. “But Quinn's lucky to have you. I wish everyone had a strong mom like she does.”

"It's one of my better qualities." she pointed out, shrugging as she retrieved something from the diaper bad. It was a chewed up toy key ring. She never really knew why she had taken a liking to this toy out of all the other ones she had, but Jess didn't are. So long as she liked it and it kept her preoccupied when she was busy.

"Her favorite toy at the moment." she told him, handing the keys off to him as if it were a right of passage. Knowing full well what game Quinn liked to play with them. A smile creeped up onto her face.

“I can tell,” he chuckled, inspecting it for himself before actually giving it to the small girl in his arms, even though she was reaching for it with both hands by then. “If she could spell, I bet these marks'd spell out 'I'm teething'.”

"Pretty much all of her toys would say that." she said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. The coos and noises got louder then, and more frequent. It made her smile wider than it had been before. She REALLY loved that toy. “Is that so?” he replied, jokingly to Quinn as she kept speaking in her own private language that only she could understand. “Fascinating.”

Clarence then looked at Jess, tilting his head to the side as if she had just asked a complicated question that he didn't know the right answer to. She stared at him skeptically, wondering if he was thinking about pulling some sort of stupid stunt that would make her emotions go even more haywire than they already were. “You're really beautiful, you know. I mean, I know you know, but,” he shrugged, “but you are. I mean–”

"Just because I know doesn't mean I don't enjoy getting the compliments. It's been a while since someone said that to me." she said, letting that last part slip before she could stop herself. "Thanks, by the way. You're not too bad most days." She joked and laughed a little, watching Quinn drop the keys right in front of him. "So the game begins," she muttered under her breath so he wouldn't hear her and catch on before it actually started getting fun. “Eh-yah,” she said, and Jess knew exactly what that meant. It meant 'Get them for me!' She covered her mouth to keep herself from laughing too loudly and giving away her secret.

“Oh, lost it did you? Well, let's see...” Clarence did the predictable thing and picked up the toy for her. Jess was happy to see that he seemed to hold her more securely to him as he bent down. That was a good sign, right? “Don't know if I should clean 'em before you put 'em back in your mouth... I mean, I'm sure your mommy keeps it clean in here, but...” He started but before he could get another word out, Quinn snatched them from him and proceeded to chew on them contentedly. “Oookay,” he laughed again, “I guess you'll be fine then.” He looked at Jess and shrugged. “Is that okay?”

"Yep, I just cleaned last night anyway after I put her to sleep. Plus, she's tough. I guess she gets that from you."

It was her turn to shrug as she went to sit on the couch on the back half of the room. Jess had to admit, it was nice having someone taking care of Quinn for a while, especially then when she was feeling so run down by the whole emotional mess that Clarence had brought with him. But there was no way she would let them out of her sight. The last thing she needed was him trying to kidnap her baby or something crazy and stupid like that.

She laughed openly as Quinn giggled and threw the keys to the floor again. It promised to be an entertaining show, that's for sure. When she got started, there was no stopping that adorable little baby. You were stuck until she got tired of the game... which would usually take a while. Pointing to the toy, she managed to look him in the eyes.

"You might want to get those for her."



Clarence Morgan

“I'm sorry I have to make you cry so much, Jess,” he said, and she gestured with her hands, non-verbally telling him that she was pushing the thought of it off to the side. More sounds emanated from Quinn as she was once again in her father's arms. “But Quinn's lucky to have you. I wish everyone had a strong mom like she does.”

"It's one of my better qualities," Jess came back, scooping up a pair of fat baby keys and handing them to him. "Her favorite toy at the moment." She smiled a little.

“I can tell,” he said, looking over the thing. It had definitely been chewed on. Dang, Quinn's teeth did some serious damage. “If she could spell, I bet these marks'd spell out 'I'm teething'.”

"Pretty much all of her toys would say that." Jess crossed her arms over her chest, like she was waiting for something. He almost asked what, but Quinn began 'telling him a story' in baby talk, and he was completely preoccupied by her for a moment.

“Is that so?” he asked, knowing dumb he must have looked. “Fascinating.”

He looked over at Jess, thinking for a moment. She sent him back a look so skeptical it was almost a glare, but he couldn't help thinking... “You're really beautiful, you know,” he said, before checking his words. “I mean, I know you know, but,” he shrugged, “but you are. I mean–” Quinn dropped her keys, distracting him from finishing that sentence. Maybe it was better.

"Just because I know doesn't mean I don't enjoy getting the compliments. It's been a while since someone said that to me."

Clarence furrowed his eyebrows. “Really? You really must not get out much anymore.”

"Thanks, by the way. You're not too bad most days."

“Eh-yah,” Quinn said, pointing to the keys. Clarence started looking over at Jess to see what she was doing, but Quinn started waving her arms and repeated herself one more time.

“Oh, lost it did you? Well, let's see...” He held Quinn tighter with one arm and bent down to retrieve the item. “Don't know if I should clean 'em before you put 'em back in your mouth... I mean, I'm sure your mommy keeps it clean in here, but...” Quinn obviously thought differently, grabbing it and chewing on it. “Oookay,” he laughed again, “I guess you'll be fine then.” He looked at Jess and shrugged. “Is that okay?”

"Yep, I just cleaned last night anyway after I put her to sleep. Plus, she's tough. I guess she gets that from you."

He laughed, trying to refrain from a joke about being 'army strong,' since he knew that wouldn't fly. “Yeah, probably. It's hard to tell though, since having us for parents, she'll have so much stubbornness in her system it might backfire,” he laughed.

'Though that wouldn't be as funny in reality as it would be in theory.'

She shrugged, sitting down on the couch. Honestly, now that she was seated, he could see she was exhausted. He looked at Quinn, slightly smiling. Jess didn't want to admit it, but she wanted someone to help her with the baby. And it was his daughter too, after all. Why shouldn't he stay? He'd served six months. He could get a degree in military science if he really wanted to get involved in the army again, couldn't he? Wasn't Quinn worth it?

But the reason he'd gotten into the army in the first place was to learn how to channel his anger. Could he really believe that six months had fixed that? But did it matter, if going back meant never seen Quinn again? Everything was hanging in the balance right now...

That was when Quinn dropped the keys again. Clarence raised an eyebrow. “Butterfingers,” he teased, reaching up to touch Quinn's nose with his fingertip. Jess laughed and he looked over. “What?”

"You might want to get those for her."

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” he said, sighing. Once again, he played the balance of holding Quinn tightly while still picking up the keys. “Keep them this time. I know I'm pretty elastic after boot, but seriously, you're gonna kill my back.” He smiled, looking over at Jess.

'I wish I could just say that this is all I've ever wanted, Jess, 'cause it is. But I... I can't.'



Jessica Seeley

“You're really beautiful, you know,” Clarence told her, causing her previous skeptical look to drop entirely. “I mean, I know you know, but,” he shrugged, “but you are. I mean–”

He was cut off by Quinn's keys falling to the floor, creating a sound that Jess had heard so many times before.

"Just because I know doesn't mean I don't enjoy getting the compliments. It's been a while since someone said that to me." she replied, probably being too honest with him then. There were some things that he just didn't have the right to know quite yet, and that was one of them.

She watched him furrow his eyebrows in what she thought was confusion and disbelief. “Really? You really must not get out much anymore.” He replied, but she refused to acknowledge his statement, knowing that she would just seem too pathetic for words. She used to be the life of parties, always on the scene and ready for anything. But with Quinn there, things changed. They had to, and that was just the way it was.

"Thanks, by the way. You're not too bad most days." Jess tacked on, diverting the subject to a different but still similar topic.

“Eh-yah,” Quinn said as she pointing to the keys like they were a friend that had gotten knocked overboard in the middle of the sea during a storm. She had to hold back from laughing, knowing that it would ruin both of their fun.

“Oh, lost it did you? Well, let's see...” Clarence said, bending down to retrieve the toy and give them back to the baby in his arms. “Don't know if I should clean 'em before you put 'em back in your mouth... I mean, I'm sure your mommy keeps it clean in here, but...” He was again cut off by Quinn as she grabbed the keys and placed them back in her mouth, continuing to chew. “Oookay,” he laughed, “I guess you'll be fine then.”

He looked at Jess and shrugged once more. “Is that okay?” Knowing it would be too late even if it wasn't okay, she replied, "Yep, I just cleaned last night anyway after I put her to sleep. Plus, she's tough. I guess she gets that from you." What she had just said really was true. She didn't really get sick very often, which was a blessing. Jess wouldn't know what to do if she was one of those mother's who's child was always getting sick. She would probably have an anxiety attack before all was said and done with.

He laughed again. She realized he was doing that a LOT that day. She took it as a good thing, that he actually was happy to be there and playing with his daughter. “Yeah, probably. It's hard to tell though, since having us for parents, she'll have so much stubbornness in her system it might backfire,” They both laughed then, knowing that it was way too true. But on a serious note, Jess would made sure that when and if it did backfire for her, she'd be there to help pick up the pieces and make it all better again.

She shrugged then and moved to sit down on her tan suede couch, feeling exhausted from the events of that day. But she still kept an eye on Clarence, watching to ensure that he didn't do anything stupid. Plus, as much as she didn't want to admit it, they looked good together. Like they belonged. Silently, Jess prayed that Clarence would choose to stay with Quinn. This was what she deserved, after all. A dad that loved her and would be there for her.

Quinn dropped the keys again and her mommy laughed out loud, now seeing why her baby had done it over and over again. It was absolutely hilarious to see how much they would do for her. “Butterfingers,” he teased, reaching up to touch her daughter's nose with his fingertip. Jess laughed even more, knowing full well that he would catch on soon enough. “What?” He asked, looking over to the finally relaxing Jess.

"You might want to get those for her." She said while laying on her back on the soft couch, liking the feeling of rest she was getting already. Being a single mom wasn't easy, she knew it wouldn't be even before she had Quinn. But sometimes, it was hard... really hard.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” he said and she heard him sigh. Jess didn't check to see if he picked them up again, she knew he would. Her little angel just had that affect on people. “Keep them this time. I know I'm pretty elastic after boot, but seriously, you're gonna kill my back.” She could tell by his joking tone that the cycle would repeat at least a few more times before he refused to hand them to her anymore.

She lifted her head up slightly for a minute, pushing her blond hair to the side and essentially off the back of her neck. "I don't understand you." Jess said, then yawned and stretched for a minute. Man, she really WAS tired. "After a year, you choose today to come and reintroduce yourself. I should kick you." She turned her head to look at him, her eyebrows furrowed. "And then you put me in a position where I have to choose to listen to you or possibly damage Quinn for the rest of her life." She swallowed, her right hand clenched and relaxed as it hung off the couch.

"God, I am so bipolar today."

Another yawn. "But I can't blame just you." she muttered, "I'm a ...b-word." She turned her head to look at the ceiling again. Her hand tensed again. "But if we can pull this whole mess off, I want to. I want her to know you, you jerk." Jess smiled sadly. It never got easier for her did it? When she was little, she told herself she'd be better than her parents. That her and her husband would stick together and love their child unconditionally. "When Quinn is older I'm not going to tell her what you did, okay?" She paused. "Is that fair?"



Clarence Morgan

"I don't understand you."

“Hm?” He looked over to see her visibly tired, complete with the stretching and yawning.

“After a year, you choose today to come and reintroduce yourself. I should kick you."

Clarence looked down, shrugging. “Eight months of that was either in boot or Iraq. The other four was trying to find the right way to say how sorry I was for the other eight,” he said, smiling sadly.

"And then you put me in a position where I have to choose to listen to you or possibly damage Quinn for the rest of her life." She swallowed, seeming to find it hard to accept that as truth, even if it was her own words. He wanted to shiver at the way she'd put it, but, it wasn't any less true. "God, I am so bipolar today."

Jess yawned again. "But I can't blame just you." He shifted. 'You could. For a long time, I thought you did.' "I'm a ...b-word."

Clarence let out a low chuckle. “B-word. Quaint. Sometimes, yeah, but what happened last October... that was me. Maybe you helped build up to it, but I have to take responsibility for letting it go that far.”

"But if we can pull this whole mess off, I want to. I want her to know you, you jerk." Her smile was bittersweet, her eyes on the ceiling. He shrugged.

“That'd be good,” he said, smiling.

"When Quinn is older I'm not going to tell her what you did, okay?" She hesitated, and he looked over at her, questioningly. "Is that fair?"

He took in a deep breath, shifting Quinn so she was resting more on his other side. She was still chewing away on those keys, but her big green eyes were fixed on him. “More than fair,” he said, quietly. “I'd be more than grateful if it doesn't hang in the air between us forever, you know? I want to move past it... I want to deal with it, and move on. That's something I've been working on.”

Quinn dropped her keys again, but this time he caught a better look at it. “Hey now, what's this?” he said, looking between her and the keys. “You totally just dropped that on purpose. I so saw you.” Quinn sent him a gummy smile, and he couldn't help but smile back. “I see what you did there, ceiling cat.” This time, instead of bending down to get it, he sat on the floor with his legs out in front of him, setting Quinn between his knees. “There,” he said, handing her the keys. “Now, if you drop them for me, at least I won't kill myself bending over.”

Clarence smiled a bit more, glancing over at Jess. “You look exhausted, babe.”



Jessica Seeley

"I don't understand you." Jess stated before she yawned, stretching briefly.

“Hm?”

'Another brilliant reply from Mr. Special Ed.' She thought, but decided she could at least decide to be civil for a while. It seemed to her like she was being ping-ponged back and forth with her emotions ever since Clarence knocked on her door. And to be honest, she wasn't quite sure how to remain as calm and collected anymore now that her social time was limited to just Quinn.

“After a year, you choose today to come and reintroduce yourself. I should kick you."

Jess could see he shrugged from her peripheral vision and she was glad when he actually spoke. “Eight months of that was either in boot or Iraq. The other four was trying to find the right way to say how sorry I was for the other eight,” he said.

“Sweet. But I don't believe it.” She replied, “If it took you four months to think, then you're worse off than I thought.”

"And then you put me in a position where I have to choose to listen to you or possibly damage Quinn for the rest of her life." Jess swallowed, having a hard time admitting it to herself even though she was the one who said it. She almost wanted to fight it. Not wanting to believe that that was the main option she had. What it came down to in the end. "God, I am so bipolar today."

Jess yawned again, unable to control it. "But I can't blame just you. I'm a ...b-word."

She half-halfheartedly glared at Clarence when he laughed at her substitute for the word she was not allowed to say around Quinn. “B-word. Quaint. Sometimes, yeah, but what happened last October... that was me. Maybe you helped build up to it, but I have to take responsibility for letting it go that far.”

“I wasn't referring to that anyway.” Jess paused. "But if we can pull this whole mess off, I want to. I want her to know you, you jerk." She smiled sadly, once again looking at the ceiling.

“That'd be good,” he said, and she could practically hear change in the tone of his voice. She had said something he liked. This next thing she needed to say would be the hardest for her, she knew. Her hand continued its clenching and relaxing as she thought about the right way to phrase it.

"When Quinn is older I'm not going to tell her what you did, okay?" She hesitated, waiting to see if he would say anything. Ask why, or something. "Is that fair?”

Clarence took in a deep breath and Jess held her's. “More than fair,” he said, quietly. “I'd be more than grateful if it doesn't hang in the air between us forever, you know? I want to move past it... I want to deal with it, and move on. That's something I've been working on.” She let the air in her lungs out in one long breath.

“That's hard, Clarence.” She looked at him, about to say something else but the words caught in her throat. He had hurt a lot more than her pride that day. And that year alone was difficult. It was hard to forgive him for everything. Thankfully Quinn saved the day, dropping her keys again.

“Hey now, what's this?” Did he catch on already? “You totally just dropped that on purpose. I so saw you.” Quinn smiled up at him, causing her mommy to smile a little. “I see what you did there, ceiling cat.” Clarence said, sitting down on the floor with his legs in front of him. Yep, he figured it out. “There,” he began, handing her the notorious keys. “Now, if you drop them for me, at least I won't kill myself bending over.”

Surprisingly, Quinn didn't seem to mind in the change of scenery. She just laughed a little, like she knew that she was caught and chewed on the yellow key.

Clarence smiled a bit more, glancing over at Jess. She looked back at him. “You look exhausted, babe.” He said, emphasizing the word 'exhausted.' She rolled her eyes. “It's not like you haven't seen me worn out before.” Jess said, realizing how he might take that sentence after she had already said it. What could she say to fix that? “Being a single mom is a full-time job,” she cleared her throat, laying her left arm across her stomach and feeling the soft and comforting cashmere sweater against the palm of her hand.

“But it's worth it. She will always be worth it.”

To be better than her parents, Jess would do anything for that little girl laying in Clarence's arms. She'd turn the whole world upside down if that meant she'd have a good, safe life. But she didn't know it he was willing to do the same.



Clarence Morgan

"When Quinn is older I'm not going to tell her what you did, okay?" She paused. "Is that fair?”

Clarence took in a deep breath and Jess held still. “More than fair,” he said, quietly. “I'd be more than grateful if it doesn't hang in the air between us forever, you know? I want to move past it... I want to deal with it, and move on. That's something I've been working on.” Jess sighed heavily.

“That's hard, Clarence.” She looked at him like she was going to say something, but Quinn dropped her keys again. And, this time, he saw something about this pattern.

“Hey now, what's this?” “You totally just dropped that on purpose. I so saw you.” Quinn sent him an innocent smile, and both of her parents had to echo it. “I see what you did there, ceiling cat.” Smirking, he sat down with his legs spread enough to put Quinn between his knees. “There,” he said, handing Quinn the keys again, now that she couldn't throw them and make him chase them. “Now, if you drop them for me, at least I won't kill myself bending over.”

With a giggle, Quinn just continued chewing on the keys. She seemed so easily content.

His smile grew as he watched his daughter. She was so beautiful. He looked over at Jess, who was watching him too. “You look exhausted, babe” he said, almost offering to let her go lay down while he stayed with Quinn. 'It's not like I'm stupid enough to take off with her. When I first met Quinn, you said you didn't need a break from her, but you do.'

“It's not like you haven't seen me worn out before.”

He chuckled. “True.”

“Being a single mom is a full-time job,” she tacked on, clearing her throat, looking like she was bothered by the implications she'd just made. He smirked and said nothing. Even though the 'romance' between them was over unless something miraculously changed, he had never been shy when it came to innuendo. And, back then, neither had she, when they were alone. “But it's worth it. She will always be worth it.”

“Oh yeah,” he said, reaching over to brush some of Quinn's thin blonde hair back. “She's amazing.”

He took in a deep breath, glancing up to see Jess had become still on the couch. Quinn was quiet, sucking on the keys now instead of chewing, looking over at her mommy almost knowingly. She didn't seem to be sleeping, but she was obviously taking five, her eyes closed lightly. He wondered how long it had been since she had gotten a full night's sleep. Since she didn't seem to be paying attention, Clarence found himself humming Secondhand Serenade's “Stranger”, mouth closed to muffle the sound. Quinn's eyes locked on him, curiously, making him smile. She came closer to him, and he laid on his back, pulling her onto his chest. As if she considered her mommy's napping time as her own, Quinn laid her head down.

Maybe it was that she was soothed by the deep thrum of humming in his chest. Timmy had always liked that. Clarence knew he couldn't sing to save his life – well, maybe then and only then – but babies didn't seem to know the difference. They just liked the vibration.

Quinn became still too, so Clarence closed his eyes.

'It should be easy to decide to stay with her. I mean... I've always wanted a family. Now I have my chance. And, hey, I already served. But I made a promise... How can I say I'm changed and going to commit to this family when I can't keep my commitments otherwise? Jess, you have no idea the kind of spot you're putting me in, do you?'

He opened his eyes and leaned up just a bit, feeling Quinn shift against his chest as he peeked at Jess. Her breathing had become even. He smirked, laying back down. She was asleep. Good, good. But he better not pass out too, or he'd get beat up so bad the bullet fell out of his shoulder. Sighing, he stared up at the ceiling, he found himself gently patting Quinn rhythmically on the back.

'I wish I knew what to do, babe. I wish I did. I promise I'll find it out soon. I promise.'


This interaction is done.

[More than Music]

I know, I know, we're obsessed, but we're on a roll here! XD

Clarence/Jess -- Hanging On Will Justify The Wait

Clarence Morgan

So, here he was, a lot of thoughts in his head, but no idea which ones were useful. But some of them had to be.

As sort of a joke, he'd actually brought a cake like Erin had told him to. And, if she hadn't changed it in recent years, it was Jess' favorite too -- not that he remembered her eating a lot of cake in high school, being a slim cheerleader. Hopefully it would put Jess in a bit of a good mood, though. It might make it worse too, he knew, but it was worth a shot. But it wasn't like he was telling her he was definitely going off to the army. But he was telling her he was going to be gone for a few days, and he wasn't sure how she'd take that. But... he felt like he needed to do this. Not just thought it was right, but... like he had to, in order to decide. And the sooner he could decide about Quinn, the better, right?

He hoped she saw it that way.

Raiu had told him to wear his helmet and gear, just in case. He hadn't, of course, but a thought in the back of his mind said... he might regret it. Which, on the surface, seemed kind of ridiculous, seeing as this was the mother of his child, not an Iraqi terrorist.

Oh well.

He had no idea how he was going to tell her, but he needed to tell Jess he was going up to Missouri to see his dad... who apparently had the Huntington's gene from Gram. But he hadn't been stupid and said anything to her before he got checked out. He was free and clear of the genetic disease, meaning he couldn't have passed it on to Quinn. Which was an unbelievable relief. But his dad was just getting sicker, and now he was apparently on the edge of offing himself, and as pathetic as Clarence thought that was, he'd decided to use this as an opportunity to make things crystal-clear between the two of them, and -- hopefully -- leave the anger that had put him in his currently situation with the man who'd given it to him in the first place.

Best he could figure, the best plan of action with Jess was to promise he'd have an answer for her regarding Quinn by the time he got back on Monday. It being Thursday now, he could talk to Yukito tomorrow before he left, then have the weekend to get a good look at the family he'd left behind and decide what to do about the one he had in front of him now. Hours in the car with his mom would be more than enough time to think.

Now he just had to hope that Jess would go with it.

Knocking on the door, he took in a deep breath to prepare himself and put on a crooked smile as the door slowly opened.

"Hey babe," he said, trying to sound casual and not as freaked out as he was. "Can I come in?"



Jessica Seeley



Anxiety gnawed at the back of Jess' mind as she paced around the house. What could it be that Clarence was wanting to talk to her about? Why did she have to be in a good mood? The longer she paced, the more anxious she got. And the more she was anxious, the more she paced. The whole cycle was almost maddening. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks to look at herself in the mirror.



She had decided earlier that day to wear her favorite black shirt, the one that showed all of her shoulders and a bit of her midriff, which was okay because by then she had worked out and had a high enough metabolism that she didn't have any more extra 'baby weight.' And her black pants fit snuggly, accenting her natural curves. Usually, she didn't wear that much black, but the outfit made her look absolutely fantastic and seemed to compliment her body to no end. Jess looked like she did in high school, she realized. She even had her hair up and out of her face, accenting her model-like features.



A knock on the door distracted her from her thoughts of high school. There were more important things to be thinking about then. Like the man on the other side of the door and what exactly he had to say to her... and what she might say to him if he did anything stupid.



"Hey babe," he began with a crooked smile, "Can I come in?"



Something in his voice made her worried. There was almost a fear there that she could barely pick up on, but it was there. Ah well, a scared Clarence was better than a rude, obnoxious one. "Yeah, come in." she said, opening the door and taking a few steps inside so he could get past her but still staying close enough to the door to shut it after he walked in.



Jess also noticed that he had actually brought cake... she could have laughed. Earlier she thought that the whole cake thing was a big joke. So if he had brought it, then that meant he was trying to get on her good side. Knowing that, it was probably vanilla- which was her favorite. It was simple and plain, but you could add anything to it to make it extraordinary. It was almost like clothes. You can layer it with accessories/frosting to make it fit your mood or the occasion. There was only so much you could do with flavored cakes before it started tasting disgusting, but vanilla seemed to go with everything.



"So spit it out." she began, arms crossed lightly over her chest. "I know you didn't come here to talk about the weather or starving children in third world countries." She moved to stand in front of him, looking him right in the eyes even though she was shorter than he was. "What are you going to say that you think I won't like?" Jess knew it would be upsetting news by the 'sacrificial' cake he had brought over, and even though she'd never show it, she was nervous about what he was going to say. Really. REALLY nervous.



Clarence Morgan


"Hey babe," he said, trying to mask the worry with a crooked smile. "Can I come in?"



She looked concerned, but let him in anyway. Better than the mace last time, right? "Yeah, come in." She let him pass her and shut the door behind him. No turning back now.


"Is Quinn sleeping?" he said, making his voice lower than before. 'I'd kind of like to see her. It would give me the strength to not be scared of what I have to do.'



Her eyes fell on the cake, and she obviously saw through the joke, but a slight smile seemed to creep onto her face. He held it out a little, putting on a grin. "I remembered," he pointed out, just as he realized how beautiful she looked today. "Woah. You look..." He took in a breath that caught in his throat. "Fantastic."


"So spit it out."


Clarence smirked. "You're all business, aren't you?" he teased, gently.


"I know you didn't come here to talk about the weather or starving children in third world countries." She came in front of him, looking in his eyes like she could loom over him. Jessica, she knew him too well, even after all these years. He shrugged, looking away to try and find a place to set the cake down. "What are you going to say that you think I won't like?"


He sighed, setting the cake on the counter. "Jess, you don't have to ambush me," he muttered, looking at the floor. "I'm telling you just about as soon as I heard, isn't that a good sign?" It didn't matter. That didn't make it easier. He crossed his arms over his chest, realizing she was doing the same. "My mom called me today, out of the blue. Apparently, Dad's in the hospital." He fought to make his face more apathetic as he shuffled his feet a little. "He's sick like Gram was. Huntington's. You remember how fast that knocked her down... Sure you don't want some cake?" Clarence put on a shaky smile, putting his hands in his pockets.


Running his tongue along his top lip, he tried to keep his tone from getting darker. "Mom's worried his pride will get the better of him, because he mentioned something about how, if Gram had really been strong, she would've killed herself before she got weak like she had." He rose his shoulders up a bit. "She thinks I should go talk him out of it, since pride is a thing him and I have always had in common... plus, I dunno, I'm his only kid. Maybe she wants me to tell him I'd miss him." He worked his jaw a bit. "I'm going to confront him instead. I'm going to say the stuff I haven't, the stuff that's made me so angry all my life." He met her eyes, feeling his building frustration soften just at the sight of her. "I'm going to get it out, and I'm going to forgive him, so I can forgive myself, and let go of that anger best I can. I'll be going up tomorrow and coming back Monday. And I promised myself that, by the time I come back..."


The air caught in his throat. "By the time I come back, I'm gonna have an answer for you, about staying or leaving." He kicked at the floor a little. "I just found out this morning, but I didn't want to just go without telling you. It's just to Missouri, so I'll be close, I just... I wanted to make sure that going up wouldn't mean you deciding for me or something. I don't know."


'Because, even if I'll hate myself for it, I won't go see him if you say that's my decision.'



Jessica Seeley

"Hey babe," he began, wearing one of his infamous crooked smiles but something was different. He seemed almost scared as he stood at her doorstep. "Can I come in?"

She looked concerned, but let him in anyway. "Yeah, come in." She stepped to the side to let him in but stayed close enough to shut the door behind him.

"Is Quinn sleeping?" he asked, she noticed the decrease in his volume instantly. She could have thanked him a thousand times over for it, because it had taken her longer than usual to get her to sleep. Jess wasn't quite sure why, but earlier Quinn did not want to be laid in her crib. She cried so loud when she tried to put her down, it was almost shocking. "Yep. You can see here later if you swear on your life to not wake her up."

Her eyes fell on the cake, and immediately a small smile crept on her face. But the cake told her that something was up. He must have noticed where she was looking, because he held it out to her a little and grinned. "I remembered," he pointed out, but his expression changed from light-hearted to awestruck in seconds. It looked like he had just been nearly hit by a double-decker bus. Jess knew that look. "Woah. You look..." Clarence hesitated to take in a breath. "Fantastic."

Normally, she would have felt extremely flattered by this, but there was something more important in her mind. And she didn't know if he was really being serious or if he was just saying that to lessen the blow of something else. Regardless, she smiled a little wider.

"So spit it out."

Clarence smirked in reply. "You're all business, aren't you?" he teased, gently.

"I know you didn't come here to talk about the weather or starving children in third world countries." She walked in front of him and met his eyes directly. She knew that it must have been uncomfortable for him, but she wanted to know the real reason he came. He shrugged and looked away but she stayed still, arms across her chest gently. "What are you going to say that you think I won't like?"

He sighed, setting the cake on the granite counter nearby. "Jess, you don't have to ambush me," he muttered, looking at the floor. "I'm telling you just about as soon as I heard, isn't that a good sign?"

It was her turn to look away as she felt a slight amount of guilt for being so pushy. And it was a good sign that he was doing that. "My mom called me today, out of the blue. Apparently, Dad's in the hospital." Her hand went to her mouth, covering it like she had just cursed him in a thousand different languages. "Wh-what.." her voice trailed off as he started speaking again. "He's sick like Gram was. Huntington's. You remember how fast that knocked her down... Sure you don't want some cake?"

Jess didn't even glance at the cake. Instead she watched Clarence try put on a shaky smile, hands going right to his pockets. This was upsetting him. A lot. She could tell he was trying to act strong, like the tough guy again but it wasn't really working out for him.

He ran his tongue along his upper lip, probably trying to figure out what to say next. "Mom's worried his pride will get the better of him, because he mentioned something about how, if Gram had really been strong, she would've killed herself before she got weak like she had." He rose his shoulders up a bit. Jess stayed silent, not sure what to say to try and help. The added guilt for pushing him to get right to the point earlier was hitting her in waves as the news kept getting worse. "She thinks I should go talk him out of it, since pride is a thing him and I have always had in common... plus, I dunno, I'm his only kid. Maybe she wants me to tell him I'd miss him." He worked his jaw a bit. Every movement he made seemed like a struggle. "I'm going to confront him instead. I'm going to say the stuff I haven't, the stuff that's made me so angry all my life." He met her eyes and she stayed as still as a statue, watching him carefully. "I'm going to get it out, and I'm going to forgive him, so I can forgive myself, and let go of that anger best I can. I'll be going up tomorrow and coming back Monday. And I promised myself that, by the time I come back..."

The air caught in his throat and Jess realized she was holding her breath. "By the time I come back, I'm gonna have an answer for you, about staying or leaving." Jess' gaze fell to the ground. She felt lower than dirt, then. "I just found out this morning, but I didn't want to just go without telling you. It's just to Missouri, so I'll be close, I just... I wanted to make sure that going up wouldn't mean you deciding for me or something. I don't know."

She set her jaw and in the blink of an eye went to punch him in the stomach. Not hard enough to actually hurt him or leave a mark, but enough to maybe sting a little. "I'm not that heartless, you jerk." she said, quickly wrapping her arms around him in a very tight hug. She knew that it probably confused him; the sudden punch-to-hug change, but she didn't care.

Jess jumped back after a few moments, deciding that the physical contact was too much at the moment. "Sit please." she said, pointing to the couch, her voice soft and as non-commanding as she could manage. She moved around the room quickly, grabbing two plates, forks, and a knife. It was definitely time for cake. She cut two pieces out, one slightly bigger than the other, putting them on the expensive but small china plates, a silver fork on each. Jess had never really thought about getting any inexpensive things, even to eat off of. Her thought process was basically, if you could afford it, then why not buy it?

She took his piece over to him and sat down cross-legged on the other side of the suede couch, making sure to face him. "So Monday, you said?" Jess began, taking a bite of cake.



Clarence Morgan

"Is Quinn sleeping?"

"Yep. You can see her later if you swear on your life to not wake her up."

He smirked. "I don't know, she might smell me," he teased. "She giving you any trouble about it?"

'Because I loved putting her to sleep last time.'

She smiled at the cake, so he held it up with a rather childish grin, loving that he'd earned a smile from her. "I remembered," he said, proudly. Then he took in how she looked, and he felt his face get taken over by shock. "Woah. You look..." The air caught in his throat. "Fantastic."

Jessica's smile grew, and he was actually hoping she'd go on about the outfit for a second there, but she didn't.

"So spit it out."

He smirked, though he was a bit disappointed. "You're all business, aren't you?" he teased.

"I know you didn't come here to talk about the weather or starving children in third world countries." She met his eyes, and he couldn't help how it made him tense. He didn't want to say what he had to, and he knew it was because he didn't want to hurt her... plus, this didn't feel too great for him either. "What are you going to say that you think I won't like?"

He sighed, setting the cake on the granite counter nearby. "Jess, you don't have to ambush me," he muttered, looking at the floor. "I'm telling you just about as soon as I heard, isn't that a good sign?" It sounded a bit childish when it came out, but he couldn't stop it now.

She looked away too. 'D***, I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable.' "My mom called me today, out of the blue. Apparently, Dad's in the hospital." She put her hand over her mouth, shocked, like she'd said something horrible. 'I had to tell you...'

"Wh-what.."

'Don't say anything yet... I know you're confused.'

"He's sick like Gram was. Huntington's. You remember how fast that knocked her down..." This felt so weird. He hated talking about this. "Sure you don't want some cake?" He put his hands in his pockets and tried to smile, but Jess just watched him. Yeah, she was better with taking things seriously than he was.

He ran his tongue along his upper lip, thinking about how to put this. "Mom's worried his pride will get the better of him, because he mentioned something about how, if Gram had really been strong, she would've killed herself before she got weak like she had." He tensed a bit, raising his shoulders up. She didn't move. Like Silhouette. That wasn't a good sign. "She thinks I should go talk him out of it, since pride is a thing him and I have always had in common... plus, I dunno, I'm his only kid. Maybe she wants me to tell him I'd miss him." Clarence worked his jaw, trying to calm himself down. "I'm going to confront him instead. I'm going to say the stuff I haven't, the stuff that's made me so angry all my life." He met her eyes. Nothing. Just... listening. "I'm going to get it out, and I'm going to forgive him, so I can forgive myself, and let go of that anger best I can. I'll be going up tomorrow and coming back Monday. And I promised myself that, by the time I come back..."

Taking a shaky breath, he made himself finish the sentence. "By the time I come back, I'm gonna have an answer for you, about staying or leaving." She looked down. 'Don't... what are you doing? Hey, I'm the bad guy here, remember? Or he is. Either way.' "I just found out this morning, but I didn't want to just go without telling you. It's just to Missouri, so I'll be close, I just... I wanted to make sure that going up wouldn't mean you deciding for me or something. I don't know."

She moved her jaw, and he held his breath for a second. Bad idea, because she punched him in the stomach. "What the hell?" he laughed quietly, being breathless, putting his hand over it and looking up at her. It didn't really hurt. If she'd wanted to hurt him, she wouldn't have gone for the stomach. But he was enough to show she was frustrated.

"I'm not that heartless, you jerk," she said, going in for a tight hug. He felt himself relaxing, wrapping his arms around her.

"Good," he teased, gently, kissing the top of her head. 'Because I could actually use a hug right now.'

She moved away too soon. "Sit please." She pointed to the couch and he shrugged, walking in to the living room to obey, then seeing Quinn sleeping in the crib. He glanced over the edge, hands back in his pockets. Every day, she got more beautiful. There was no exaggeration there. More like her mother, too, in some ways. He heard clinking silverware, so he sat down on the couch. Jess might be afraid he'd wake the baby.

She came in and handed him some cake on an expensive looking plate. He raised both eyebrows, but didn't feel like commenting on how the plate looked like it costed more than the cake. But he did smile, because his piece was so bigger than hers.

Jess sat cross-legged on the other side of the couch, watching him. "So Monday, you said?" she said, before taking a bite. He nodded, trying his piece. Unlike with Erin, Clarence had to admit he wasn't comfortable enough to talk while eating. Good thing she wasn't carrying on an intense conversation.

"Monday night, probably," he said, after swallowing. "Since it's an eight hour drive. But I could get less. I'll probably bully my mom into letting me drive." He smiled a little. The only good thing about his mom's docile personality was that he knew she was easily intimidated. All he had to do was get frustrated and she'd let him drive. "But yeah. Missouri's a long drive, but we should be back in a few days. He's in Kennett right now, the closest hospital. It's starting to make his walking uneven or something like that, and when a guy as big as him starts losing his balance, bad things happen." He almost smiled, but instead took another bite, thinking.

"I think a few days is almost more than I can take," he muttered, looking down at his cake a little soberly.


'Let me just say, as much of a jerk as I am sometimes, I'm nicer than my dad. Phenomenally.'



Jessica Seeley

Jess set her jaw after hearing everything he had to say, not really sure what she can say to make it better. So she punched him. Not hard, but it was in the stomach so it took his breath away for a moment. "What the hell?" he said but laughed quietly. He put his hand on the spot where she hit and he looked up at her. She knew by the smile on his face that he was just fine.

"I'm not that heartless, you jerk," Jess said before giving him a very tight hug. She could feel him relax a little under her arms and it was only moments before he wrapped his arms around her in return. It felt... good, she realized. He smelled like he used to, also.

"Good," he said, teasing her a little. Jess could hear it in his voice, but she didn't mind. Suddenly, she felt a light pressure on the top of her head. She felt like she was a special needs child when she realized that Clarence had actually kissed her, and she didn't know how to react. She didn't even remember the last time that had happened. Her eyes widened momentarily before she decided to remove herself from him.

"Sit please." Jess said, pointing to the couch. She didn't stop to think about him waking up Quinn- who was sleeping in her living room crib. She really would hit him hard if he did wake her up, though. It was too hard to get her to sleep before he had come over. But he was smart enough to know to not wake the baby up...hopefully.

Quickly, she moved around the kitchen gathering forks and plates so that they could eat cake. Jess made sure that his piece was bigger than hers, all the while telling herself that it was because it was the polite thing to do. When Jess had everything ready, she went into the other room, handed Clarence his piece, and sat down on the other end of the couch indian style, facing him.

"So Monday, you said?" she began, before taking a bite. She knew what he had said, of course- she just wanted to take his mind off the more upsetting topics of their earlier conversation. He nodded in reply and ate a piece of his cake as well. 'At least now I know it's not poisoned.' she joked inwardly as he started speaking again.

"Monday night, probably," he said, after swallowing. "Since it's an eight hour drive. But I could get less. I'll probably bully my mom into letting me drive." They both smiled a little at that. Jess could definitely picture him antagonizing his mom about driving. "But yeah. Missouri's a long drive, but we should be back in a few days. He's in Kennett right now, the closest hospital. It's starting to make his walking uneven or something like that, and when a guy as big as him starts losing his balance, bad things happen."

"I see.." she said softly, not really sure what she could say to comfort him. That sickness was what it was, and she could talk until she used up her last breath, but nothing would make that better. For either one of them.

"I think a few days is almost more than I can take," he muttered, looking down at his cake sadly. Jess knew that he didn't like his dad, and she knew there was a good reason for it, too. It was different with her parents, though. They were just never around is all. True they sent money ALL the time and 'emotional support' in the form of postcards, but she would have taken that over his parents any day.

Reaching out, she touched Clarence's elbow gently with the tips of her fingers, trying to show him through physical contact that she was listening and would try to be there for him. "There's not a hell of a lot I can do." She began, her hand falling from his arm. "But if you need anything I'm here."

Jess knew what that could possibly mean, and she never went back on her word. If he needed money to get his dad to a better hospital or anything at all, she would in a heartbeat. Or if he needed some time with Quinn beforehand, that can be done too. She would take him out to eat or buy him a hot air balloon. Something. She wasn't quite sure what to add to that, knowing that she had never been put in that position before, so she just took another bite of cake.



Clarence Morgan

"So Monday, you said?" she confirmed, taking a bite of cake. Clarence nodded, waiting to speak before he swallowed his own bite -- Jess had been known to attack for bad manner, complacent as she looked right now. He needed to stay on her good side.

"Monday night, probably. Since it's an eight hour drive. But I could get less. I'll probably bully my mom into letting me drive." They shared a smile, knowing his mom's personality too well. "But yeah. Missouri's a long drive, but we should be back in a few days. He's in Kennett right now, the closest hospital. It's starting to make his walking uneven or something like that, and when a guy as big as him starts losing his balance, bad things happen." He tried to camouflage the way he was feeling, but... camo had never been his strong-suit.

"I see.." Jess said, her voice low.

He put on a smile. "It's, whatever, you know?" he said, shrugging. But the idea of spending that much time with his dad still made him tense. "I think a few days is almost more than I can take," he tacked on, in a low voice. "No big though, I'm cool." His voice wouldn't take its strength back. That irritated him.

He felt a hand on his elbow, and he turned to see compassion in Jessica's eyes that helped ease his smile. "There's not a hell of a lot I can do." Her hand fell, and his eyes were drawn to where it lay at her side. "But if you need anything I'm here."

Nodding, he reached out and took her hand in his, not looking up into her face. He found himself chuckling, pulling her hand up to his lips. "I couldn't ask anything more from you," he whispered, then looked over at Quinn. "You do so much already. Anyway, Dad's probably set as far as anyone else can help. It's me he wants up there, I know it." He sighed, still holding her hand. "I just need a support system, I guess. Something here, in case what I decide is that coming back here is permanent, you know? And you're already doing that." He shrugged. "The rest is on me."

'And, d*** it, that doesn't feel good. Chaos Clarence strikes again, right? But I can't linger. Can't regret. Just have to push on until it doesn't hurt.'

Clarence met Jessica's eyes, smiling slightly. "Anything I can do for you?"



Jessica Seeley

"So Monday, you said?" Jess confirmed, taking a bite of cake. She already knew the answer, but she felt that he needed to get his mind off of the more serious points of their conversation for at least a moment. She knew it must have been hard for him, even if he didn't like to show or admit it... and maybe she had gone just a bit soft.

"Monday night, probably. Since it's an eight hour drive. But I could get less. I'll probably bully my mom into letting me drive." They shared a smile, knowing his mom's personality too well. "But yeah. Missouri's a long drive, but we should be back in a few days. He's in Kennett right now, the closest hospital. It's starting to make his walking uneven or something like that, and when a guy as big as him starts losing his balance, bad things happen."

"I see.." Jess said, her voice low.

He put on a smile that she saw right through in a second. D*** it was frustrating when he tried to put on a 'brave' face like that. "It's, whatever, you know?" he said, shrugging. She had to fight her natural instinct of rolling her eyes. Jess knew for a fact it wasn't 'whatever.'

"I think a few days is almost more than I can take," he tacked on, in a low voice. "No big though, I'm cool." he said but his voice didn't seem as strong as it did usually. On a normal day, she would smack him upside the head and tell him to shut up and stop lying. But this was more serious, so doing that would end up causing more harm than good.

Slowly, she reached out and gently placed the tip of her fingers on his elbow, trying to be comforting to him in some way. "There's not a hell of a lot I can do." She began, dropping her hand to her side. "But if you need anything I'm here."

He nodded in understanding, then took her hand in his. Jess' eyes were glued on their hands, not sure how to react or what to even say. She could feel heat behind the skin on her cheeks. Blushing... she was blushing. Not much, but still. Blushing. He chuckled then, pulling her hand up to his face. No. His lips. Inwardly, she fought with herself on whether or not she should pull away. "I couldn't ask anything more from you," he whispered, looking over at Quinn's crib. "You do so much already. Anyway, Dad's probably set as far as anyone else can help. It's me he wants up there, I know it." Jess nodded a little in reply, doubting that he saw and she heard him sigh. But he was still holding her hand. "I just need a support system, I guess. Something here, in case what I decide is that coming back here is permanent, you know? And you're already doing that." Her eyes dropped to her lap and she inhaled deeply. "The rest is on me."

Clarence met Jessica's eyes, smiling slightly. "Anything I can do for you?"

Jess paused. She was thrown entirely off guard. "For me?"

"I don't need anything." she began, her voice wavering against her will. She cleared her throat, trying to gain some control of her vocal chords. 'God, I'm acting like such a school girl!' Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, frustration gnawing at the back of her mind.



Clarence Morgan

He could tell she was feeling bad for what was happening, even if it wasn't her fault. "It's, whatever, you know?" he said, shrugging. She didn't look impressed, as usual, but she didn't snap at him either.

"I think a few days is almost more than I can take," he tacked on, wondering if reluctant honesty was what she was looking for. He didn't like admitting how uncomfortable his dad made him. How far beyond uncomfortable he would definitely get. "No big though, I'm cool." Okay, so maybe that second part was more for himself than for her.

Her fingers graced his skin, just barely tracing his elbow. "There's not a hell of a lot I can do," she said, letting her hand fall. "But if you need anything I'm here."

Clarence nodded, watching her hand as it laid there. He was suddenly reminded of who they'd been together, how different they were now. So much time had gone by, in only two years, if that made any sense. No, not really, so he kept it to himself. It was so easy to misunderstand stuff like that. Things were going alright now, even with the decision he had to make, and the father he had to face. Things were... good. He reached over and took her hand in his, finding himself chuckling a little. It still felt the same, there, like it had made a groove in his skin. He brought it to his lips, thinking for a moment. Words never came easy. Touching did. Talking, no.

"I couldn't ask anything more from you," he said, his voice low as he looked over at where Quinn was sleeping. "You do so much already. Anyway, Dad's probably set as far as anyone else can help. It's me he wants up there, I know it." He held her hand just a bit tighter. "I just need a support system, I guess. Something here, in case what I decide is that coming back here is permanent, you know? And you're already doing that." He heard her take a deep breath. 'No sweat, babe. This is my trouble.' "The rest is on me."

He met her eyes, smiling a little. He was still the same selfish boy he'd been, in a way, wasn't he? Only coming over to talk about him. That had to stop. This was a family they were making here. He had to give and take. "Anything I can do for you?"

Jess hesitated, looking a bit unsure. "For me?"

He wanted to laugh, but instead just smiled, nodding. "That'd be what I said."

"I don't need anything." Her voice wavered, and she must've realized it, because she furrowed her eyebrows and kept her eyes away from his.

"Right, you don't need anyone," he replied, teasing just a bit, smirking at her. "I forgot." Looking over at Quinn, who stirred a bit in her sleep, he sighed. "Well, it doesn't matter. I'm there for you, babe, like I should've been this whole time." His phone chirped in his pocket, barely audible from the way he was sitting on the couch, but it made him jump. Chuckling quietly, he let go of Jess' hand and pulled it out, checking it out. "Oh boy." He looked over at her. "I hate to leave, you know I know," he said, smiling, "But there's something I need to take care of." He slowly got to his feet, putting his phone away. "I'll try and stop by before I leave tomorrow. You two be here, you think?"

He looked over to see a little hand reaching over to rub sleepy baby eyes, and Quinn shifted again. Clarence glanced over at Jess, then sauntered over to the edge of Quinn's crib. Smirking, he reaching down to touch the side of her face. She moved a bit, then seemed to calm, wrapping hand around two of his fingers. God, she was so precious. He had to go talk to Yukito about the 'now or never' Jess had given him about her. He didn't want to just cave, because he loved Quinn. He did.

"I'mma see you later, babe," he whispered down to Quinn. "Tomorrow. So you be good for Mommy while I'm gone, got it?" He kissed the tip of two fingers on his free hand and touched them to her forehead, then gently pried himself loose. She seemed like she almost understood. Amazing. He turned to Jess. "So, I'll see you later," he said, putting his hands in his pockets, his voice still lowered like it had been for Quinn. "We okay?"



Jessica Seeley

"There's not a hell of a lot I can do," she began, the hand that was previously on his elbow dropping. "But if you need anything I'm here."

Clarence reached over and took her hand in his, and she heard him chuckle. Probably because of her reaction to the very unexpected hand holding. A light blush was on Jess' face, as awkward as that made her feel, and her eyes were slightly widened. She thought that she was over all feelings for him.. so why was she acting like an idiot school girl with no experience? She had a child for God's sake! He brought her hand to his lips, making her even more conflicted about this situation. Yes. When they were together, it was good-believe it or not... or for a while it was anyway. But after everything that happened- how did he still have this effect on her? And she'd be stupid to think that she was the only girl he made feel this way. He probably had a ton of them- he always used to. It was all very maddening.

"I couldn't ask anything more from you," he said, his voice low as he looked over at where Quinn was sleeping. "You do so much already. Anyway, Dad's probably set as far as anyone else can help. It's me he wants up there, I know it." She could feel his hand tighten around hers. "I just need a support system, I guess. Something here, in case what I decide is that coming back here is permanent, you know? And you're already doing that." She inhaled deeply. "The rest is on me."

He met her eyes, smiling a little. "Anything I can do for you?"

Jess hesitated, looking a bit unsure. "For me?" she asked, knowing that was a stupid question but asking it anyway.

Clarence smiled and nodded in reply. "That'd be what I said."

"I don't need anything." Her voice wavered, which frustrated her to no end. Jess kept her eyes away from him and her eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"Right, you don't need anyone," he teased, smirking at her. But she just nodded, acting like he wasn't teasing her at all. "I forgot." She would have made a joke about his horrible memory if she could think straight, then. Jess watched him look over at Quinn, who was thankfully sleeping soundly in her crib. "Well, it doesn't matter. I'm there for you, babe, like I should've been this whole time." His phone chirped in his pocket, and they both jumped even though it was barely audible. He chuckled again and let go of her hand, which she immediately brought closer to herself, covering it with her other palm. She had to clear her head. Now.

"Oh boy." He looked over at her. "I hate to leave, you know I know," he said, smiling wider than he did before, "But there's something I need to take care of." He slowly got to his feet, and she followed suit, moving a few steps away from him. She felt like she needed to distance herself from him before she seriously started acting like an awe-struck teen. "I'll try and stop by before I leave tomorrow. You two be here, you think?"

"We should be for the majority of the day, but we are going for a walk in the afternoon."

She watched him as he sauntered over to the crib. Protectively, she moved closer, not wanting him to wake up her angel. She saw his arm reach down to touch her baby and she moved right up by the crib, but on the other side so she could keep her distance while still being able to watch what he was doing. "Be careful." Jess muttered, running her fingers through her hair.

"I'mma see you later, babe," he whispered down to Quinn. "Tomorrow. So you be good for Mommy while I'm gone, got it?" He kissed the tips of two fingers and touched them to her forehead and Jess bit her lip, praying that she didn't wake up again quite yet. "So, I'll see you later," he said, his voice still lowered like it had been for Quinn. "We okay?"

"Well duh." she rolled her eyes, feeling more like her usual self. "If we weren't do you think I would let you come into my house- let alone touch me or my baby? You must be worse off mentally than I originally thought." Jess smirked, flicking his forehead with her finger.



Clarence Morgan

"Oh boy." Yukito was back from work. That meant he needed to go over there and talk to him about Quinn, possibly a 'boy party' with Timmy, if things worked out. But Clarence's main focus was to talk to Yukito about Quinn. "I hate to leave, you know, I know." He smiled. "But there's something I need to take care of." He stood up, and Jess did too, but she seemed reluctant. He didn't know what was up, but something definitely was, even if she didn't want to talk about it. "I'll try and stop by before I leave tomorrow. You two be here, you think?" That would give him a chance to figure out what was up with her, maybe.

"We should be for the majority of the day, but we are going for a walk in the afternoon."

He nodded. "I"ll try and come over before that. I should be leaving early, to try and get up to Kennett before it's really late."

'The last thing we need is me dying in a car crash because I was driving tired.'

He saw Quinn shift, so he sauntered over, and Jess soon joined him, but on the other side of the crib. He reached down and touched Quinn, unable to smile at how precious his daughter was. "Be careful," came Jess' inevitable warning. He just smiled, knowing full well to be careful. Quinn seemed to calm at his touch. He loved her so much.

"I'mma see you later, babe," he whispered down to Quinn. "Tomorrow. So you be good for Mommy while I'm gone, got it?" He kissed the tips of two fingers and touched them to her forehead. He saw Jess tense, and it made him smile a bit more as he turned to her and put his hands in his pockets."So, I'll see you later," he said, his voice still lowered like it had been for Quinn. "We okay?"

"Well duh." She rolled her eyes, and Clarence just shrugged.

"Doesn't hurt to ask."

"If we weren't do you think I would let you come into my house- let alone touch me or my baby? You must be worse off mentally than I originally thought." He was about to say something when she smirked and he raised an eyebrow. Before he could ask why, she flicked him in the forehead, making him step back, narrowing his eyes, but he soon found himself chuckling.

"You're really an oddball yourself, Jessica Lane," he said, kissing her cheek. "I'll see you two tomorrow," he added, pointing to each of them in turn as he walked backwards for a few steps. "So take care." He smirked and turned to leave, slipping out the door before he could a breath. Big steps, big steps here.

'So I have to go tell Yukito everything I haven't told him yet. This'll be fun.'




Jessica Seeley

"We should be for the majority of the day, but we are going for a walk in the afternoon." Jess said in response to his previous question.

He nodded. "I"ll try and come over before that. I should be leaving early, to try and get up to Kennett before it's really late."

Then Clarence walked over to the crib, which worried Jess because she didn't want Quinn to wake up quite yet. Though, she kept her distance from him by going to the other side, watching his movements carefully. The last thing she needed was to be confused by him even more that day. "Be careful," she warned, knowing that he would ignore her. He always did, but that didn't stop her from saying it.

"I'mma see you later, babe," he whispered down to Quinn. "Tomorrow. So you be good for Mommy while I'm gone, got it?" Jess tensed immediately when she saw him kiss the tips of his fingers and touch them to her forehead. And she noticed that his smile just widened even more. Clarence enjoyed watching her freak out, didn't he? That was probably why he was doing what he did that night. "So, I'll see you later," he said, his voice still lowered. "We okay?"

"Well duh." she began, rolling her eyes at him and liking how she felt more like herself than she did a few moments earlier.

"Doesn't hurt to ask." he said with his signature shrug.

"If we weren't do you think I would let you come into my house- let alone touch me or my baby? You must be worse off mentally than I originally thought." she said with a smirk. She saw his eyebrow raise in curiosity and she reached up and flicked his forehead. Stepping back, Clarence narrowed his eyes at her and she did the same right back to him. The stare-down didn't last long because he started laughing again.

"You're really an oddball yourself, Jessica Lane," he said, and she was about to snap at him because she didn't like it when he used her middle name. But he did something that shocked her... he kissed her cheek. "I'll see you two tomorrow," he added, pointing to each of them in turn as he walked backwards for a few steps. "So take care."

She waved at him briefly, a look of half confusion and half frustration on her face. He just didn't make any sense to her. At all.



This interaction is done.