Topic: Chapter 2: Fathers. (18+)

Kara Aimsley

Date: 2016-08-08 12:46 EST
What. A. Weekend. Kara stepped into her apartment, a dazzling, joyous smile on her face. Had that REALLY just happened" Had something she'd wanted for most of her life just become a reality' That smile, that laugh, those eyes and...she had to admit...that body. Most of all it was just...Gerry. Everything that he was, everything that he wanted to be....she loved. Was that weird to say' It's not like it was too soon. It had been 27 years! Granted there was that whole...19 year gap. But she'd carried that torch long enough. This was her time now. Things were finally going to start going right.

She was barely conscious of the fact that her cell's battery died somewhere around hour 3 of the trip. Kara pulled her phone out, glancing down. "Ah...crap.." she muttered, moving over to her purse and fishing out the charger.

Bill and Rose seemed pretty happy about how everything was working out, too, she'd noticed. All throughout breakfast and the car-ride home, Rose had this sly little grin on her face. Kara was just convinced that Ginny...who had apparently ALSO gotten lucky that night, was just glad the focus wasn't on her. That seemed like par for the course for the ginger girl. Kara didn't understand what her hang ups were about sex. It was a perfectly natural thing. So, she had herself a good time. Whatever, get over it, Red!

Her screen lit up, showing that the phone was, indeed, plugged in.

And good for her, too! The little blonde she'd snagged was a hottie! Kara might not have swung that way, but she knew a knock-out when she saw one. Ginny would probably never be one of those girls she could sit and gab and trade stories with. They were too different, she mused. Kara was too much of a free spirit and Ginny was...nervous. Sort of fastidious and proper, despite her enjoyment of a certain series of novels that were basically poorly written S&M smut. At least she was friendlier to her. She seemed to genuinely root for her and Gerry as a couple. That, she could appreciate.

The phone completed its boot-up sequence as Kara reached her fridge, looking for something...anything that hadn't expired. She was not the best at keeping order in her home fridge. At work, she was like a hawk, but home" Not so much. She grabbed a jug of orange juice and twisted the cap off, sipping right from the container because screw you, she was an adult and if she wanted to drink right from the carton in her own house at 9 PM, she damn well would!

That was when her phone lit up like the 4th of July, notifications sounding off. She stepped over with a quirked eyebrow, glancing down at the screen. There were several missed calls...Something must be wrong. She checked the number...she didn't recognize it at first, but there were about 7 calls from it...from the police.

Immediately, her heart dropped. The bar. It had to be the bar. Oh, God...her entire life was tied into that place...if she lost it, she didn't know what she'd do. It had been the one thing that was truly her's most of her adult life! The one thing she could point to and say with pride "This is mine." Could it really just be gone. That was when the phone rang. She nearly jumped out of her skin when it went off.

For a long moment, she just stared, trying to will herself to pick up. If she did, then it was real. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and brought it to her ear, pressing the green button.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Kara Aimsley?" the voice asked.

Oh, God. Oh, God...that tone. Oh no....

"Y-yes."

"This Officer Hester with the Dallas Police dept."

Her hands trembled, tears began to form.

"Ma'am..." the voice said.

Here it came.

"I'm sorry to tell you this..."

No, no no no...

"...but your father's dead."

Kara's eyes went wide.

And suddenly everything felt numb.

Kara Aimsley

Date: 2016-08-08 12:47 EST
“Hello' Ms. Aimsley"” The officer on the other end of the line. She was in shock. Of all the things to hear from him, this was not one she expected.

Her father...was gone.

Why'

Why did she feel so numb' So...afraid" She hated him. He’d been nothing but abusive and neglectful and cold...and now he was dead. Gone forever.

She should be glad.

“Ms. Aimsley' I’m sorry for your loss. But there is the matter of claiming the body. You were listed as his next of kin.”

That son of a bitch. After everything, he made sure she’d be in charge of his corpse. She wanted to tell the officer to toss his body in the dumpster and let the crows at the dump have him.

“Ms. Aimsley' Are you there"”

“Y-yes.” She managed to choke out, her body trembling.

“We would appreciate your input on how you’d like proceed with your father.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat hard. “H-how did he…”

“It might be better if you come in. Are you available"”

No. No, she was not. That filthy, mean spirited *** hole could rot in the sun for all she cared. He deserved it. The day he ran out on her was the best day of her life, God damn it. He wasn’t there for her *****y prom. He wasn’t there for her graduation. Didn’t teach her to drive, hell, he didn’t teach her to tie her shoes. Everything she was, she made and learned for herself! That piece of **** wasn’t there for her life, so why in the **** should she be there for him in death?

**** him.

She made her decision.

But when she opened her mouth, the words came out… “Yes. Yes, I can.”

Bill Finnegan

Date: 2016-08-09 18:26 EST
Bill was finally settling down for the evening when the doorbell rang. Rose looked up from her book, the two sharing a confused glance.

“It’s 10:30, who’s coming over here at this hour"” she said

Bill sighed and got off the bed with a groan. “Maybe one of the kids forgot something. I’ll check it out.”

He made his way down the stairs, muttering to himself. “I’m comin’, I’m comin’.”

The porch light flipped on the door was pulled open to reveal Kara. His face lit up with a tired smile...and then he saw her face. Her make-up was running down her cheeks, her eyes red from crying.

His brow creased in concern. “Kara" Honey' What’s-”

She just stepped and wrapped her arms around him burying her face in his chest. Bill was taken aback a bit, but eventually wrapped the girl in a hug. Oh no. Did Gerry do something" Wow, kid worked fast.

He rubbed her back gently. “Shhh...tell me what happened. Is it Gerry"” He asked, really hoping he was wrong.

Her body quaked against his, rocked by hard sobs. “Okay,” He said trying comfort her...“It’s okay.”

It took a few minutes before she was calm enough to speak. Even then, it came out horse shakey. “It-It wasn’t G-Gerry.” She stared up at him with those sad eyes, just breaking his heart. “It’s my d-” her fists clenched in handfuls of his shirt as she tried work through it, taking in a breath of air. “M-my d-dad. He-he….he’s…”

And then Bill understood, realization crossing his face. Jesus. He’d almost forgotten about Frank. The bastard had been blissfully out of all their lives for years now. His arms encircled the sobbing beauty again, holding her tight. “Oh, sweetie...I am so sorry. I am so, so sorry.”

Rose stood at the top of the stairs. “Bill" Who is-” She noticed a sobbing Kara. “Oh geez. Did Gerry screw up already? Kid works fast...”

Kara couldn’t help but laugh a little through the tears.

The three of them sat down and she managed to calm herself to tell them what was going on. “And they want me to come to Dallas to claim the body.”

Bill, looked across the table. “And you said"”

She cringed a bit. “I said yes.”

Bill did NOT say it out loud, but his expression shouted “Why"!”

Her eyes lowered a tick and she thought. “He’s my dad.” She said in a weak little voice. “I wanted to hate him. I wanted to tell them he could go **** his dead self.” She said.

Rose was not a fan of the language, but now was not the time for a reprimand.

“I don’t blame you.” Bill said.

She turned her eyes up to him. “I just...I thought about him laying there in that morgue. And...and nobody coming for him. Just...an object. A thing. Discarded and thrown away.” There was a distant look in her eyes. “And...and it made me...it made me feel sorry for him.”

Bill nodded. He could understand that. Frank Aimsley may have been a trash heap of a human being and a father. But that was a miserable way to go, even for a miserable person. “Well...I think you’re very...good to do that.”

“I am"” she said, needing to hear it.

“Yes. Of course. Kara, sweetie...after the way he treated you...you don’t owe him a damn thing.” Rose interjected. “The fact you are willing to send him off from this world with a bit of dignity says a lot about you.”

Bill nodded in agreement. He stood up then. “Alright. Dallas is about 4 hours away. We can be there by 3 if we leave now.”

Kara looked up at him wide-eyed. “Oh...oh, Da-er, Bill...no! No! I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t. You shouldn’t have to do this alone. So, I’m going to put some pants on that don’t have little dogs on them and we’ll hop in my truck and go. Okay?” He said calmly.

A little smile worked its way back to the brunette’s pretty face. “Thank you…”

Kara Aimsley

Date: 2016-08-10 01:45 EST
They said their goodbyes to Rose and she called Gerry to ask him to run the bar while she was away. He, of course, wanted to come with, but she needed him there. The bar had been closed too long as it was.

Kara climbed up into Bill’s truck, all nerves and jitters. She forced a smile over to him, and just looked like she was barely holding herself together. He reached across and put a hand on her shoulder.

“It’s okay. Breathe, kid. Breathe.” he said quietly, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I’ve got ya.” He smiled before turning the ignition, the old truck cranking to life.

She never appreciated him more than at this moment, she thought. Bill Finnegan was more than just a good father, he was a damn good man. The best parts of him had been passed down to his son. The kindness, the generosity, the sense of humor...that earnest desire to make people happy that so endeared the big goof to everyone he met.

Bill turned to her after backing out of the driveway, throwing the truck into gear. “Why don’t you try and get a little shut eye. Tomorrow’s going to be a big day. You’re gonna want that rest. Trust me.”

“Okay, I’ll try.” She agreed. The past 2 hours had been such a hectic mess, she didn’t realize how tired she actually was. She yawned and leaned against the door pillar. Bill reached into the backseat, pulling up a jacket and handed it over. “Here. It makes a good pillow.”

She smiled and curled it beneath her head, eyes sliding shut. “Thanks, Dad.” She muttered.

Bill glanced over at use of the name a frown crossing his face. Poor kid, he thought. She’d not had an easy go of it in life and things just seemed to keep popping up in the way of her happiness.

Kara tried to slip into a peaceful sleep. Images in her head from the first day she’d met the Finnegans. She’d seen a boy sitting out on his front lawn, playing by himself. Just a skinny little thing, he had blue eyes and brown hair. Her father was, of course, drunk again, passed out on the living room floor of their *****y little house.

Clad in a dirty, oversized Mickey Mouse t-shirt that hung off her tiny frame like a shroud, and pants that had once been jeans, but she’d cut off at the knee. Her brown hair in a messy ponytail, she smiled down at the boy, not daring to speak just yet.

He slowly looked up at this...girl, he supposed it was, though she was unlike any he’d ever seen. The two just stared at each other a moment before she gave him an awkward little wave. Gerry looked at her tiny, dirty hand. The girl had been playing around in a construction site, running around and climbing the dirt mound in a solo game of king of the hill.

He gave her a little wave. This brought a bright smile to her face. “Hi.” She said. “Whatcha doin’"”

Gerry looked down to his Star Wars figures, Chewbacca was currently flying around in an X-Wing fighter, trying to not get shot down by Cobra Commander in a TIE Fighter. (He didn’t have all the figures, alright"!) He held up the TIE Fighter. “Playin’ Star Wars.” He said in a quiet little voice.

“Wanna play?” He asked her holding the toy up to her. Anna looked at it like she had handed him the Holy Grail. There weren’t a lot of toys in her house. And those that WERE there were broken, and busted up. Barbies with irreparable haircuts and the like. Not that it mattered because she didn’t like them anyway. She saw other boys around with their toys, but most of them were older or just didn’t want to play with a girl.

She took the TIE in her hands carefully, and accidentally pressing one the buttons at the top that ejected the wing pylons . The wing fired off onto the ground. She jumped, shocked, her eyes going wide. OH NO. Oh, hell, she broke it! She stared waiting for Gerry to yell or throw a fit. Instead he got to his feet and lifted his X-wing.

“Oh no! You got hit! Now you gotta spin it like this!” He showed her with his toy and ran away from her making noises like a spaceship out of control. Her face lit up and in an ecstatic ear-to-ear smile. The pair of them played on his front lawn for the next 4 hours, taking turns being the good guy and the bad guy and chasing each other. Gerry eventually ran inside to bring out his Millennium falcon for them to TRY and heft up and fly with their tiny arms.

The little girl was ecstatic. She’d found her first friend. Someone who actually WANTED her around. It didn’t hurt that he had awesome toys that he let her use. For the first time in her young life she felt like she belonged. And Gerry would never know what that meant to her.

Bill Finnegan

Date: 2016-08-10 15:48 EST
Bill had watched out the window that day. He knew who her father was. Frank had worked with him in the steelworks. A miserable alcoholic with a chip on his shoulder. Nobody particularly liked him, except his bartender. But since his wife died, people sort of just gave him a pass. Part of him was concerned about Gerry playing with this girl. But another just took pity on her. This kid was alone in the world. A father who didn’t care, no mother, and it seemed, no friends.

Rose stepped up behind him, peering out the window. “Is that Frank Aimsley’s kid"” She asked, holding a slumbering almost-two year-old Ginny in her arms.

Bill nodded slowly.

“When did this start"” She asked, glancing to her husband.

Bill glanced back and shrugged. “I think she just showed up about 4 hours ago. They’ve been playing ever since.”

Rose stared out at the dirty little ragamuffin playing with her boy. She glanced to her husband. “We should have her over for dinner.”

Bill smiled to his wife. Rose adjusted Ginny and looked back outside. “I don’t imagine she gets to eat very well over there.” she said.

Gerry and Kara were running around making spaceship noises. “I GOT YOU!” He yelled.

“NUH-UH! DEFLECTOR SHIELDS ARE AT MAX!” She called back.

“UGH! STUPID DEFLECTOR SHIELDS! COMIN’ AROUND FOR ANOTHER PASS!” He exclaimed, making spaceship noises and turning the TIE Fighter around to attack again.

Bill stepped outside. “Ger!” He called with that booming voice. Both kids froze in place. “Come on, Luke Skywalker. Dinner’s almost ready. Time to wash up.”

“Dad! I’m not Luke!” he insisted.

Bill smirked. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

“I’m Chewbacca right now!”

Bill laughed throwing up his hands defensively. “Oh-ho, so sorry! Well, get your furry butt in there and wash up, Chewie.”

Gerry deflated a bit, but Kara looked like she was desperately trying to keep herself together. To not show that she was devastated. Bill smiled to her. “Hello, there.” He said congenially. “And what’s your name"”

Kara lowered her eyes, her arms limp at her sides, still clutching the X-Wing in her hand like she would never let it go...even if he tried to take it from her. Bill waited and she eventually muttered “Kara, sir…”

Bill walked over and crouched down in front of her. “Kara, huh' That’s a pretty name. I’m Gerry’s dad.” He said offering the child his hand.

She peered up at him with those big, blue, fearful eyes, as if she was waiting for him to hit her or start yelling...but it never came. Her eyes flicked down to his big, coarse hand and, slowly, she reached out, taking it. Bill took her’s gently, giving a little shake.

This giant of a man was pleasant. He didn’t smell like beer and whiskey or cigarettes like her father. He didn’t have a mean face or a scratchy, angry voice. He just smiled at her. Something about him made the 4 year old girl feel okay, safe. The hint of a smile formed upon her lips

“Kara. Are you hungry' Would you like to come in and have dinner with us"” He asked her.

Those blue eyes snapped up at him. She had only eaten a candy bar she’d pocketed from a construction worker’s lunch pail today, so a meal sounded great. She nodded vehemently.

“Alright.” he grinned. “Well, get in there and wash up. Ger-er….Chewie. Show her where the bathroom is.”

The two kids ran inside, leaving Bill to bring the toys back for them. He looked up the street toward their house. What was a kid that young doing wandering around on her own? The drunk son of a bitch should put down the bottle and try being a parent for a change. For that piece of trash, he was fresh out of sympathy. And if HE wasn’t going to take care of his kid, Bill damn sure would.

Kara Aimsley

Date: 2016-08-11 00:35 EST
Kara’s eyes popped open and looked around. It was still dark out. The radio playing some old country ballad. The clock read 2:30 A.M. She glanced over to see Bill sitting there, yawning, but doing alright. He had a Snickers bar in one hand, the wheel in the other, chomping away at the candy as he drove.

Not much had changed about him since then. More lines had set into his face, and his hair had gone from that dirty blonde to grey, but other than that' Those same kind eyes, that same easy going smile. That same decent sense of self. After all the years this man had been in her life, he was still THAT guy. Always there for her, always looking to help. She could still remember the day the cops had come to take her home.

“We’re sorry, Bill. But we got orders.”

Bill gave them a worried look. “Look guys...you know what kind of man he is.”

The taller of the officers stepped forward. “Bill, it doesn’t matter. You can’t go and take a man’s daughter. There are official channels you have to take. Now, Frank has agreed not to press charges if you agree to hand her over.”

Bill stared at the officer a moment, and then glancing down the street. Aimsley stood on his front lawn in a stained undershirt and a ratty pair of sweatpants, watching from a distance. She clung to Gerry as they watched from inside the house. Bill was still considering it. It wouldn’t do to be carted off to jail today. Not in front of the kids.

“Fine. But you walk her in! I want your eyes on that son of bitch.” Bill had said pointing to the cop. “You hear me"”

The shorter officer held up his hands. “You got my word. And Bill...off the record. I get why you did this. Son of a bitch waited two weeks to even call us. I’m sorry it has to go down like this.”

The policemen came in and told her what was going on. Kara had figured this wouldn’t last forever. Reluctantly, she gave in. Gerry took it much harder. Bill had to hold him back and remove him from the room so they could escort her out.

In a life full of sadness that was her saddest day.

Her father had barely looked at her when she got back home. Just sat in the living room, cracked a beer and watched TV. He hadn’t wanted her back. He just didn’t want Mr. Finnegan to win that fight.

Late that night, she lay in her bed. At that point, she was just all cried out. There were no more tears to be shed. A knock at the front door brought her out of bed. She crept to her window and peered outside. Bill stood there. Her heart dropped as her father opened the door.

It was difficult, but she could just make out what they were saying.

“What the-”

“Shut up.” Bill said, cutting him off immediately. “Shut your mouth. You listen to me. You may not care about that girl, but a lot of other people do. I don’t know if I made myself clear before, but let me remind you. Another bruise. Scratch. I see anything you’ve done to hurt that girl...and I’m bringing it down your head ten fold.”

Her dad apparently forgot his stature. “****off, you can’t come here and threaten me! Listen-”

Bill grabbed the screen door and pulled it open, backing him into the house. “YOU listen. That girl is stronger and braver than any child her age should have to be! And if you’re going to refuse to be a father to her, then I’ll do it. I’ll defend her. The same as any of my kids. And I would KILL to protect them from people like you.”

Kara’s head lowered, a smile spreading across her face. A different kind of tears welling up inside of her.

“You think I’m blowing smoke" Try me. But I promise you, I will gladly go to prison if it means that you don’t get to hurt her again.” Bill stared him down. Her father just terrified. “You have a nice night.”

Bill stormed out, the screen door banging shut behind him. Tears streamed down her face as she watched him walk away, her hand going up to window where he had stood.

Bill Finnegan

Date: 2016-08-11 14:48 EST
The pair of them stopped off at an all-night diner, to grab coffee and a bite to eat and break up the monotony of the road. The brunette woman yawned into her coffee, sitting in their booth as he returned from the bathroom. A pleasant smile up to him.

Bill slipped into the booth with a groan. “Oh...man. Love that truck, but it is killer on the ol’ back.” He said, shifting around to get comfortable. Bill was a simple sort of guy. Black coffee. Bacon and eggs on the way. He knew what he liked. He shook his head slowly. “I tell ya, kid. Don’t know when I got so old…”

She looked across the table at him, sipping her coffee. “You’re not old. You’re distinguished.”

“The grey hair would beg to differ.”

“You mean your ‘Wisdom’ shine"” she said with a grin.

Bill chuckled, setting his coffee down. “Kiss ass.”

The waitress set their food down in front of them. “There ya go. Anything else I can do for y’all"” she asked them.

“No, thank you, we’re all set.” Bill responded.

“Alright. Y’all need anything you just holler.” She said, moving back behind the counter.

Bill and Kara dined in silence for a moment before she spoke. “What was your father like"” She asked him.

Bill considered that a moment. It wasn’t easy to answer. “Well...you gotta clarify...before or after he became a grandpa"” Bill smirked to her. “See...when I was growing up, he was kind of a hard-ass. Hard working guy, trying to do right by his family. Busted his ass every day so we could eat. And we never went to bed hungry.”

There was a hint of pride in his voice. “I was proud of him. Though, I’d never have told him that. “

Bill took in a piece of bacon and chewed a moment. “He was always tired though, so Mom pretty much told us to leave him alone when he’d get home from work. He’d just come home, go in the basement and just get obliterated.”

“Your dad was a drinker, too, huh"” Kara asked, leaning on the table.

Bill nodded. “When he was sober, he was a great man. But when he was drunk...completely different story.”

“He ever hit you?” She asked.

Bill nodded. “But never...REALLY bad. But uh...one time, he gets rip-roaring downstairs. And I forgot the rule. I was about, um...11 I think" I came home from my baseball game. I’d hit 2 homeruns that day. So, I rush back home and go down stairs. Dad’s leaning against the little bar we had down there, passed out face down. I guess a guy got his arm caught in the press that day and it was...uh…. ripped off.”

Bill nodded slowly, thinking back.

“Dad had to yank him off the thing before it pulled him in and crushed the rest of him. So...he got....really hammered.” Bill sipped his coffee, letting out a sigh. “I walk up to him and shake him, ‘Dad! Guess what! Guess what!’ but he doesn’t wake up. And I look at the glass in his hand. Jim Beam. Man loved his bourbon.”

Kara listened, pulling her knees up under her hooded sweatshirt as she sipped her coffee.

“You know, I’d seen him drink it and I’m thinking...you know what? I’m a guy. I’m tough. I had a good day. Why shouldn’t I celebrate" Like the old man!” Bill glanced up at her with a wry grin. It faded as he shook his head. “Stupid. I pry the glass from his hand and I take one sip...and just immediately. I’m coughing up my lungs.”

The corners of Kara’s mouth twitched up, letting out a tiny laugh.

Bill’s smile faded then. “Well, that wakes the old man up. He looks over. Sees me holding his glass...and he gets this look in his eye. Like...like I never seen.” Bill nodded to her. “He balls up a fist, says ‘what do you think you’re doin’ you little ****"!’ Grabs the glass out of my hand...and then he hits me. Punches me right in the face. “ Bill seemed distant, his mind back in that moment.

“Now, I’m on the groud, I’m crying, my eye’s just hurtin...ended up swelling and turning black. And he starts yelling. Calls me good-for-nothing...tells me I’m no man...I’m a coward.” He stared off. “Took me decades to realize he wasn’t actually talking to me.”

The brunette frowned listening to his story.

“Dad had his share of demons. He was always thinking he failed us somehow.” Bill thought back. “He came to my room later that night and apologized, because my mom really let him have it. She was going to throw him out, but he managed to sweet-talk her down. But I never forgot that. It changed everything between us. We could be civil, but I never looked at him the same way again. That’s the thing about being a parent, you know" You can do SO much right, but if you hurt your kid...no matter how much you love them, neither of you ever forgets it. They don’t, and YOU sure as hell don’t.”

Kara nodded, thinking back. “At least he apologized.”

Bill nodded. “He did. But once you strike that kid, man…they look at you differently. And I don’t mean spanking them or giving them a little smack when they’re REALLY bad...I mean...hurt them. You’re not their parent anymore, in their eyes. You’re a violent threat. A time bomb.”

Kara stared at him. “This sounds very familiar.“ she said quietly.

“It took us years to have any kind of relationship after that. I thought he was some abusive alcoholic who hit people when got mad. Accused him of hitting my mom without even knowing if he actually did. I think he just eventually gave up. When I had to drop out in my Junior year of College, he and I had this huge fight. Thought we’d never talk again.” Bill shook his head, remembering. “And it all stemmed from that day. That was the day we lost each other.”

Kara tried to think back to any time when her father HADN’T been on that level for her. But as it was she reached that point early on when she looked back with fondness to when he just neglected her. “How’d you two patch things up"”

“His drinking was really getting out of hand later on after he’d retired. Mom was terrified something was going to happen. Rose and me were together and she was pregnant with Gerry. And I gave him an ultimatum. Cut back and sober up or he’d never meet his grandchild. Well...he did. He’d enjoy a beer every now and again, but for the most part...Dad got sober.”

The brought a smile to Bill’s face. “My dad was an amazing grandpa. I’ll give him that. After Gerry came, he was everything you’d want him to be. He stopped getting drunk, he talked more to people...he laughed more. It was like he became a completely different guy.”

“But there was always that moment. Eating away.” She added for him.

“Yeah.” He said simply.

“At least you two were able to make amends.” She said. “He never even tried to contact me.”

“No.” Bill said, agreeing with her. “But he trusted you to be there for him in the end. That’s got to count for something.”

“Oh. Great. He trusted me to spend a bunch of money to put his dead ass in the ground. How lovely.” She deadpanned.

Bill smiled to her. “You deserved better, Kara.” Bill said.

“I had better.” She said simply, staring across the table at him, a little smile crossing her lips. “You looked after me. You and Rose" I’d have nothing if not for you. I’d be in a gutter, strung out. Or worse. You want to talk about a day a kid never forgets? Try the day a family makes a little girl feel like she matters for the first time in her life.”

Bill returned the smile and lowered his head. “Thank you.”

“Thank YOU.” She said.

Before long, they were back on the road. The hint of sunrise ahead of them as Kara sat behind the wheel, Bill sat in the passenger seat. Quiet until they reached Dallas.

Kara Aimsley

Date: 2016-08-12 15:54 EST
Bill had walked her in and helped her get through the paperwork and bureaucracy. But then, the moment came. They asked if she wanted to view her father.

In truth, she didn’t. She had no interest in seeing what he looked like now. But something inside her told her she should. That it was important. She simply nodded.

“You want me to come with"” Bill asked her.

Those blue-grey eyes turned toward the doors where they would lead her to him. To say she was nervous was an understatement. But she turned back to him and shook her head. “No. No...I...I think I need to do this myself.” She said, those eyes a mixture of sadness and fear.

Bill nodded and took her shoulders in his hand. “Listen. You need me at all, you just call. I’ll be out here. Okay"”

She tried on a brave little smile, but it quickly faded as she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face to his chest. “Thank you.” She whispered.

Bill placed a hand at the back of her head, returning the hug, a small kiss placed at the top of her head. “You go on now. Say goodbye.”

She pulled back and looked up at him as if trying to draw strength from him. Finally, she took a deep breath and started toward the door.

The doctor lead her down a long, winding corridor. That non-descript, antiseptic tile seeming to go forever. Every step feeling weighed down, as if her feet were fighting her. But why' Why the hell was she feeling this" What did she expect would happen" Why had she come here" What did this achieve. If she hadn’t the state would have disposed properly of him. She didn’t need to be here, so what the hell was happening"

The room was cold. Blues and whites. A line of refrigerated hatches along the walls. Suddenly the thought of that filled her with dread. This room full of death. Empty vessels waiting to be dealt with. She tried to think of more pleasant things. To push the thoughts out of her head. But they came surging back, not letting her off easily.

The doctor looked at her and then gripped the handle. As she yanked, Kara’s eyes slid shut, the creaking sound of the table extending out echoing in the otherwise quiet room. Slowly her eyes opened and looked down.

There he was. Her father. His skin pale. Lifelessly grey. His lips a cold blue. The last time she’d seen him, he had long shaggy brown hair. All that remained were a few silver tufts here and there. He looked thin. Too thin. His flesh clung to his ribs and she could see liver spots and scars throughout his chest. His long, gnarled fingers thin and in dire need of a manicure. A scraggly beard hung from his pointed chin. Age may have given him wrinkles, but there was no mistaking that face.

Kara swallowed hard. And then looked up to the doctor. “H….how"”

“Complications from an overdose of Oxycodone, cocaine and a mixture of alcohol. His heart just...couldn’t handle the stress.” The woman answered.

Kara shut her eyes. She wasn’t sure why the tears came. But there they were. Maybe it was the image of him...this sad, little, old man in a rathole apartment dying alone. Nobody to love him. Nobody to beg him, please, stop. Nobody and nothing in the world to live for. That was how the man who had given her life had left the world. And It broke it her heart.

The doctor watched her a moment, that clinical, fake expression of remorse upon her face.

“Can...can I have a minute alone with him"” Kara asked.

The doctor nodded. “Of course.” She stepped away and out of the room to give her privacy. The door creaking as it shut.

Kara’s eyes opened and now her grief was replaced with something else. Her voice shook. “You son of a bitch. You stupid...idiotic son of a bitch. What the **** were you thinking" Huh"”

She glared down at him with tearful eyes. “Now I’m supposed to take care of you? Give me one good reason why I should, you piece of ****!”

Her face screwed up then and she fairly growled. “Why.”

Her breathing escalated. “Why"!” Her voice echoed in the room.

Kara’s hands gripped his arm and squeezed, the rage in her eyes softening. “Why wasn’t I good enough"”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she sniffled. “I know you missed her. I know you wanted her back, but why wasn’t I good enough for you? Why couldn’t you love me?” She asked him, her body shaking with silent sobs as she clenched her teeth.

“I’m sorry….I’m so, so sorry.” Kara managed. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to save you.”

She sniffed and wiped her eyes, taking in a deep breath and letting it out, shuddering. She took a moment to just stare down at him. Her breathing finally evening out. He was so tiny. So frail. He was so distraught, so lonely, so afraid. All her life she could see it, but couldn’t put the words to it for her own anger. What a miserable, horrible life he must have led. No friends, no loved ones. Everyone pushed away, hurt before they could get to know him. Even his own daughter.

No. It wasn’t anger now. It was pity.

This was why she had come.

This was why she had to be here.

Kara blinked a few times as the realization hit her. Silent with her father for the last time. Finally, she whispered. “I forgive you.”

The words almost burned in her throat, but they were out. “I forgive you.”

Bill Finnegan

Date: 2016-08-16 01:51 EST
Kara stepped through the doors, her complexion pale and streaked with dried tears. She seemed barely there as she made a beeline straight to him. Her arms clamped around his waist as she latched onto him, her legs barely supporting her as the tears came anew. Bill held the petite beauty as she sobbed into his chest.

An hour later they were sitting outside of the hotel he’d booked for them. A cigarette between her fingers as she stared at the pavement. It wasn’t often that she smoked. Only when severely stressed out. Today, she felt she needed it, and Bill was not about to beat her up for it. She told him what had happened.

“I just wanted to scream at him. Hit him. I wanted him to know that he was gone and he couldn’t hurt me and that I had done just fine without him. In spite of him.” She said, those blue-grey eyes distant as she took a drag. The smoke was exhaled through her nostrils as she swallowed hard, staring at the burning cigarette.

Bill listened, his arm draped across the back of the bench, letting her get this out.

“But...God, Dad, he was just…” She looked to him. “He was so...small. So frail. So...sad. I-” She paused a moment, a small laugh left her. “I felt sorry for him.”

Bill nodded. He supposed he better get used to her calling him dad. “I suspect that he was a very lonely man.” he said. “You don’t act like a complete son of a bitch to everyone your entire life and die happy.”

Kara nodded and took another drag. “I guess.” She said exhaling the smoke slowly.

“Dad"” She asked him in a small voice. “I’m a good person...right"”

Bill turned to her, concern on his face.

“I mean...I…” She swallowed hard, considering her words. “I’m not him. I’m...I’m not going to turn out like him' Dying alone...not even getting a funeral because who would show up anyway"” She asked.

“Kara…”

“I-I need you to tell me I won’t...won’t be like that. Please…tell me I’m a good person...”

Bill put a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Kara. You are nothing like him. Why would you even think that"”

The brunette thought a moment. “I just...I know I can be selfish and...and I can be overly sensitive at times and I don’t...I don’t think of others before myself. I mean...I didn’t care that he had a wife. A baby on the way. I threw myself at Gerry the first time he came back. I knew all of that...and I still tried to steal him. What kind of person does that"”

Bill lowered his eyes a moment. “People make mistakes, kid. Even good people. You don’t have to erase the mistakes, but you do have to learn from them.”

Kara looked up at him with watery blue eyes and leaned against him.

Bill put an arm around her. “I’m proud of you.”

The brunette glanced up at him. “For what"”

“For all of this. For being here like you are. For being so devoted to my son. My granddaughter. Hell, for everything you do. Not many people can say they built their lives by the sweat of their own brow. But you did.” She squeezed her tight.

“And I’ll tell you this, kiddo…” he started, looking down to her. “You might have stumbled before. And, I’m sorry to say, you’ll stumble again. But it’s not about how many times you fall, it’s how you get back up that matters. That’s something he never learned. And you’ll never be him.”

Kara squeezed her eyes shut, and clung to the father she chose. “I love you, dad.”

Bill kissed the top of her head. “I love you, too, kid.”

Ginny Finnegan

Date: 2016-08-23 17:00 EST
Nasya lay on her back upon Ginny’s bed, her little limbs squirming around. Her aunt hovered over her, taking in a big gasp and then blowing a raspberry on her belly. The little one squeeled with delight.

Ginny looked down at her, her big blue eyes wide as if shocked. “Nasya! How unlady-like!” She exclaimed. Another sharp intake and then another raspberry. “Oh! You tooter!” She said as if scandalized. Nasya’s high pitch squeal was damn near ear splitting, but it made Ginny laugh.

“Come on, tootie fruity.” She picked the girl up, her young niece clinging to her as she walked out of the room, bouncing her in her arms, making a little “buhp!” noise with every bounce. She felt her phone vibrate in the back pocket of her jeans before the ring tone went off.

“Dad” the screen read. She accepted the call. “Eeeeeeyello"” the redhead answered.

“Gin"” Came the voice on the other end.

“Hey, pop. What’s up"”

“Nothin’.” He responded. “Just wanted to call in, see how you’re doing.”

Something was up. She could tell.

“I’m good...just watchin’ ol’ blue eyes here.” Ginny smiled and smooched Nasya on a pudgy cheek.

“Yeah' How is the munchkin.”

“Well, she took a beating in the stock market today, and her rent’s late, but other than that…”

“Wise ass.” He said chuckling.

“I learned from the best.” Ginny grinned. “What’s up"”

“We’re just heading home. Should be there in a few hours.” He was quiet for a long moment. “Can I ask you something"”

Here it was. “Shoot.”

“When you were growing up...was I good to you?”

Ginny went to speak, but the words caught in her throat. “Wh..what"”

“Was I a good dad"”

Ginny blinked a few times. “Dad...”

“I know with everything that happened with Gerry that...some things may have gone by the wayside. I feel like I wasn’t always there like I should have been.” He continued. She could hear the doubt and pain in his voice as he spoke and it pulled at her heart.

“Dad…” She said. “You were amazing. You lost your son and you were still always there for me. There was never a time where I felt like I was alone or unwanted. You know...when I came out...there was no fear. I didn’t have to worry about my parents looking at me or treating me different. Didn’t have to worry about getting kicked out of the house or disowned. I didn’t need to worry about any of that, because I knew my parents loved me, no matter who or what I was.” Her voice wavered a bit. “You don’t know what you and Mom being the parents you are meant to me.”

Bill was quiet on the other end before his voice came back in a low croak. “Thanks, kiddo.”

“Thank YOU.” A smile crossed her face for a moment before falling again. “What brought this on"”

“Everything going on with Kara just got me thinking. I wanted to be sure I didn’t let you down or-”

“Dad...You never let me down. Not once.”

“I hope not. I’m so proud of you kid. You have no idea.”

Ginny bit her lip as tears of happiness formed.

“We’ll be home in a few hours. Can’t wait to hug you guys again. You take care of that little muchkin, y’hear"”

Ginny nodded and sniffled. “I will. Love you, dad.”

“Love you. See you soon.”

Gerard Finnegan

Date: 2016-09-22 14:43 EST
Ginny sat beside her brother on the sofa, a plate of reheated pizza on her lap. Gerry cradled the wriggling Nasya in his arms. As they watched a Fast and Furious movie. Ginny was pretty much scoffing her way through the whole movie.

"Ugh. "How did you know the car would be there to break our fall?"" She said, imitating Michelle Rodriguez. "THAT"S NOT HOW CARS WORK, YOU DUMB SHIT"

Gerry snickered. "In these movies cars are downy soft. How do you not know this?"

"It's dumb! It's stupid and it's dumb." She said, shoving a square slice in her face.

"You're just jealous you don't live your life a quarter mile at a time."

"WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN"!" she demanded, throwing up her hands.

They sat in silence for a moment before she glanced over. "How's Kara?"

"She's good. After the thing with her dad, she was a little...rough, but she's better."

"Good." Ginny nodded. "So...do you miss her?"

"...Kara" I...literally see her every day at work."

"No, numblick."

"Oh. Ko. Yeah. Of course I do." Gerry glanced down at the baby with the big blue eyes. Eyes that always reminded him of her mother.

Ginny frowned, eyeing her pizza quietly for a moment. "Are you happy?"

Gerry smiled to his sister. "Yeah...It's not what I planned, but...given the circumstances" Things worked out pretty well."

Ginny may not have been the biggest Ko fan, but she knew what the vulgar little rogue meant to her brother. And Kara WAS great for him, she had to admit. And if he was happy, so was she.

Speak of the hellion and she will appear, a black spot of pure shadow appeared on the far wall. It began to expand like a watered down ink stain that only seemed to get darker and darker as it expanded to a large hole able to fit a small person. There was static heavy in the air as it opened up to the blackened void, and out stumbled a familiar little rogue. She was wearing flat-bottomed boots and a pair of jeans with a button-up shirt. She probably looked healthier than Gerry or Ginny alike would've ever seen her. Her hair was brushed and her overall outfit looked nice without looking too unlike her.

Arms raised and flopped as the invasive Russian shook her head. "I'm never gonna get used to that.." she huffed. It took her a moment before she regained her bearings and shook off the dizziness. No, she wasn't drunk. Not even in the slightest, though a wave of nervous nausea did hit her all of a sudden. She'd blame it on the portal, because it was downright disorienting.

Ginny unleashed a horrified shriek and flailed, sending reheated pizza flying in the air as she practically flipped over the armrest of the couch in her panic.

Gerry clutched Nasya protectively at the sudden flurry of activity. He watched that portal cautiously...and then his heart dropped into his stomach. For a long moment he was silent, just staring in wide eyed shock. Over the intervening months he imagined the moment when he saw her again...and here it was and he had nothing. Not a word to say.



Though she really did want to laugh when Ginny went into a panic, she also felt bad for freaking the siblings out. "Sorry....Would've called, but the long distance charges would've been taken out of my ass..." Also she didn't know their phone number and by the grace of borrowed magic, she was here. Suddenly she was in her own panic mode. Her eyes settled on Gerry, and there was emotion, and then to the child in his arms.

He was much as he'd been when she'd last seen him. Still the mountain of muscle with the kind eyes. There were new scars on his face, including one at his temple. Clad in a simple grey t-shirt and jeans, barefoot for the moment. And then there was Nasya. She'd gotten so big. A shock of black hair upon her head and those impossibly blue eyes wide as saucers. She had SO much of KO in her.

She stared at the girl and swallowed hard, eyes watering. She'd expected it wouldn't be easy, hell...there were a million things going on in her head. What if he hates me for not coming after her" What if he gave Nasya up" What if he won't let me see her" What if....There were so many possibilities swimming around her head, and there he was. A shivering breath was caught in her lungs as she visibly paled as if she was going to fall right over.

Gerry slowly got to his feet, towering over her as he always had. Any concerns he might have had about her coming and stealing the baby were gone the second he saw her face. Those blue eyes locked onto her as he slowly stepped forward. His heart pounded beneath his chest with every step. "H....hey." was all he managed. The expression on his face showing that he wished he had something better to say in that moment.

Keirra had no intention of stealing the baby, if only because she still cared for Gerry and wouldn't want her to feel exactly how she felt. She knew what he did for Nasya, Jameson told her everything before she turned him into a human pez-despenser. She took in another breath and he stood up and said that word, it wasn't the best, but it somehow managed to put her mind at ease. Her breath came out in a trembling manner, before she dragged those eyes up to him. Her voice cracked almost violently, "Can I hold her?" she squeaked out. She had totally planned to play this cooler in her head.

This didn't feel like reality. This felt like a dream. Like he would wake up any second and she'd be gone. He blinked, shaking out of his delirium. "Oh...duh..." He laughed quietly. "Of course." He walked up to her and smiled, gently cradling the little life they'd made as he passed her over to Keirra. His eyes stayed on her, still unsure of what to say to the little rogue. A million things popped into his head and died before reaching his lips.

It felt like a dream to her too, and if she hadn't planned to come for a few days, she might've thought so, too. He was passing her over, and Keirra's arms reached to wrap around the child to pull her closer. It took a moment, and she honestly didn't know why she was as emotional as she was, but the tears fell from her eyes as they closed tightly and she barked out a whining, "She's so heavy..." Ginny slowly rose and peered over the arm of the couch, those wide eyes taking in the scene before her. Gerry grinned and stepped around to Ko's side, peering down at their daughter. "I know, right?" He chuckled. "She's little, but she's like...dense." A grin upon his lips. "Just a whole lot of awesome packed into a tiny frame."

There was a strange look in her eyes as she got completely overwhelmed. "I'm sorry..." she muttered softly as she moved away from him. "I think I need to sit down." Yeah, she was making herself at home right then and there as she sat down with the kid in her arms, just enjoying her for a moment. She stared down at her, "I never thought I'd see you again," she whispered.

Gerry's gaze shifted to Keirra and the smile faded. The months that had passed between the two of them had been some of the hardest of his life. He let her have her space. Let her just BE with the little blue eyed munchkin, as he called her. Ginny shared a glance with him, the fear and shock on her face giving way to sadness. She never thought she'd see the rogue again...much less her being a mother like this. Ginny had spent the past few months helping raise the girl with her brother. In fact, Nasya was the light of her life.

There WAS a fair bit of protectiveness rising in the skinny redhead...but she reminded herself, this was Nasya's mom. She deserved this moment.

Nasya stared up at Ko, cooing away...such a happy little girl. Those eyes mirror images of her mother's. Her little hands reached up and touched the Rogue's face

Fingers moved to gently touch her cheek, as the other two ceased to exist for a moment. A long one, actually....Keirra could've probably spent the entire night just holding the kid and staring at her. She wouldn't lie, there was the fear that Gerry wouldn't agree to let Keirra take her home on a regular basis, and that fear made her want to book it. Nasya needed her father just as much as she needed her. If there'd been no explanation as to why Gerry left, she might've done just that. Instead, she broke out into a little bit of a giggle as she leaned it and spoke a bit of Russian to the kid. "Hi, little Nasya." They'd probably just be able to recognize the child's name from the foreign language.

Neither of the siblings dared move until Keirra gave them leave to. But hearing his...ex wife talking to their child brought a smile on the tall man's face. Seeing them together again seemed right. Natural. Like something that had been missing for a long time now. There WAS something different in Gerry now. It wasn't something you would notice right away...but it was there. A lot of doofy goofball that had so been a part of Gerry's personality was...not gone, but toned down. Perhaps being a single father had mellowed him out quite a bit. He was less boyish and more adult.

Keirra wasn't all that different. She was healthier now, her organs were all in working order. She sniffled lightly and pulled up, and shook her head. A hand came up to swipe at the tears, "I'm gonna cry all over your face," she warned the kid while scrunching up her nose. She gave the reaching hand a kiss, and looked over at them. She couldn't help but mouth athank you, to Gerry for reasons he'd not yet understand.

His eyes were red and shining with tears when she saw him. A storm of competing emotions swirling within him. Joy, at the reunion. Sorrow...and anger at what they'd lost. And guilt. So much guilt it was damn near crippling.

Say something. Anything, you idiot, he chided himself mentally. Say something and mean it. But the words just did not come.

The rogue would've been lying if she said that she didn't feel the same way. It was easy to feel robbed when you're looking at what you once had right in the face. That's exactly what they were, robbed. What might've been didn't matter much now...did it' That didn't mean they couldn't cry for it. The last thing, the absolute last thing she wanted to do was give the child up, but they needed to talk. She needed Ginny to take her, because there was no way she'd hand her over. Her head fell forwards, "Ginny..." she whispered, staring at the child. "Can you take Nasya and give us a minute?" Was she kicking the redhead out of her own apartment' You bet your ass she was.

Ginny was a MESS. A sniffling, weepy mess. Little gasps as she went to speak, but the words came out as a tiny squeak. She nodded slowly and stepped forward to accept the baby.

The rogue pulled her closer still and then finally relinquished Nasya to Ginny. There was a secret prayer to some god that she didn't really believe in—how could she"—that it wouldn't be the last time she held that kid. Her lips thinned out into a harsh sniffle before she turned her eyes down at her empty hands. Stop crying..

The redhead, with the practiced motherly care, wrapped her niece in her arms and held her shoulder. "c-come on, munchkin...l-let's take a walk." She smiled through her tears down at Keirra, reaching out a moment and taking her hand, a squeeze given to her before she took her leave.

When Ginny took her once empty hand, she squeezed in return and released. She dragged her eyes up to watch the woman carry off the baby, and it seemed that they'd settled their differences with time and distance. Not that she minded even in the slightest.

And now it was just the two of them, and Gerry's smile faded. His hand ran through his hair as he puffed out his cheeks in a cleansing, but worried breath. What would be next' Would she yell" Would she hit him' He didn't know. His voice came out in a low, wavering whisper. "Ko...I..."

He swallowed hard. "I am so sorry."

Those eyes were begging forgiveness as he continued. "I never...never meant to leave you....I just..."

It dawned on her that Gerry didn't know that she knew. How could he" It's not like Jameson could've possibly paid him a visit after she came to see him. She bit into her lip and shook her head as he went on with his apology. A hand came up, and she didn't know what she was going to say to him. "Stop," that was the only word that came out.

He almost winced at that. He perceived it as being far more combative then she had meant it. A verbal beating was, of course going to come. And you deserve it, he told himself. You took that piece of shit's word for it and didn't even TRY to tell her the truth. In his heart, he knew it was a crock, and nothing he tried would have worked...but rational thought was not on the menu tonight.

That hand came back to rest on her lap as she herself tried to find suitable words for him. "I..." she started, sniffling, swiping at her nose. "I know what you did," she whispered. "I know...why you did it." Keirra's fingers came back to comb her hair back and out of her wet face. "...and thank you...Thank you for making the right choice."

A wave of relief ran through him when she said that. The weight he'd been carrying since February was finally gone. All he wanted to do now was hug her, but he resisted, not sure if she was ready for that. "I tried so hard. To find another way..."

Fingers pressed against her knees as she sat there awkwardly. She wasn't sure if she was ready for it, either. "There wasn't," she shook her head at him, finally raising her eyes up to look at him. "I hated you, hated you for leaving me, and he got exactly what he wanted.." Keirra said with a weak smile. "But...I figured out the convenience of his escape date, and your disappearance, and....I got answers."

Something about the way she said that chilled him to the bone...and partly made him happy in equal measure. "That son of a bitch..." he said. "He didn't...I mean...did he....hurt you?"

May as well bring it all out into the open. If this was going to work, she didn't want there to be secrets between them. Instead of answering, she leaned forward so that her chest was pressed against her knees, and lifted up her shirt, protecting the naughty bits, but showing him that shredded, scarred up back.

She heard his knuckles crack as he clenched his fists. He wanted to cross over, find him, and beat his face until it was a mushy, red paste. He wanted to carve him up and leave him to be devoured by dogs. He wanted to wipe that piece of human trash from the face of history.

Those knuckles cracking made her wince, "Woah, dude.." she said, sitting up and putting her hand up. "Chill your muscle tits," she shook her head. "Seriously, you don't have to worry about him anymore," she swallowed hard. What was he going to say' Or do' She was on the verge of admitting to murder.

"What happened to him." He asked, his voice low. All he knew in that moment was that Jameson had maimed somebody he loved...and make no mistake, Gerry still loved her. Always would. And that meant he was protective of her.

Keirra sat back and stared up at the ceiling. Her voice was distant, her eyes seemed far off as if she were playing it over and over in her head. "...I....went over for answers....I just wanted to know if he had anything to do with your disappearance..." Keirra's fingers entwined awkwardly with one another as she tried to busy her hands. This is it...he's never going to let me see Nasya, but I can't lie to him...."He told me...everything..." she whispered, voice cracking. "So...I wanted to hurt him.."

Leaning her head further back, she took in a quivering breath. "I tried...to stab him...and he punched me right between the eyes....I was on the ground and he threw me into a table, and kicked me..." Eyes narrowed for a second to get the tears out, "I didn't..." she swallowed hard. "I didn't want to die—and—I could....I can." Maybe she should've started with that. "I picked up the chair and I hit him, and...I kicked him through the glass doors of the balcony..." Eyes continued to stare distantly as she swiped at her face once more. "...he had so many guns, and we just....we kept playing cat and mouse," eyes fell shut now. "I jumped on his back, but...he pulled me off and threw me through a glass table...."

He was already beginning to piece it together, but he didn't feel it appropriate to interrupt. There might have been a small part of him that felt a hint of revulsion at the fact that she'd taken a life...but it was DEEP down. What he felt...was glad. That son of a bitch deserved whatever happened.

This was it, she was coming up on the end of the tale, and she was sure he was going to order her out of the house. "He lifted me up and had me against the wall...he was choking me. I felt a piece of glass sticking out of my thigh and I shoved it right up through his jaw.." Keirra leaned forwards pressing her forearms on her knees. "I wanna say so bad that it was him or me....That I had to kill him...and in a way, I did....but..." Keirra turned those dead eyes to him and took in a deep breath. "I wanted to....I pulled the glass out of him and stabbed him over and over....I wanted to make sure he'd never come after you or Nasya, I wanted him to pay, and I wanted him dead." Then her hands opened to show the scars on her palms from where she stabbed him over, and over. "I'd do it again..."

Gerry moved over to her, crouching down in front her. He reached out and took those hands in his, looking from them to her. He nodded slowly, silent for a moment.

"Good."

It was said simply and curtly. "I hope it hurt like hell for him. I hope in his last seconds he was scared as hell. I hope that mother fucker felt as helpless and terrified as I did the night he sent me here. I hope that feeling lasts him for the rest of eternity."

Those eyes softened then. "But most of all...I'm sorry you had to go through that."

When he grabbed her hands, there was that familiar feeling of safety that came with it. She squeezed them back as he offered his words, and there was confusion on her face. He didn't seem to look at her any differently, not in the slightest. She pushed forward and wrapped her arms around his neck.

It was as if they'd had the same idea at the same time. He wrapped his arms around her tiny frame and held her tight. That loving embrace, though the romance between them had set sail, was still as warm and safe as it had always been. A sad smile upturned the corners of his mouth as he held her. "I missed you...so much." He whispered.

The rogue tucked her face between his neck and shoulder and held tight. There was a whimper, and a sniffle that came from her as she burrowed in further. "I'm sorry..." she whispered. "I'm sorry I didn't have more faith in you, I'm sorry I believed that you'd ever leave me like that..." Keirra took in a deep breath and let out a weak, sad laugh, "I missed you too..."

One hand moved upward, comfortingly resting at the back of her head. "It's okay." He said, quietly. "It's gonna be okay. Alright?" The pair of them just held each other there, clinging to one another for dear life. In that moment, he was not willing to let her go for anything. There was still a long road ahead and much left to be said...but for now, this was what they both needed.

Eventually, the two of them managed to get it together enough to actually start to have a more meaningful dialogue. Gerry stood up and cleared his throat, still not believing that she was there in his place. A hand running through his hair, he walked into the kitchen. "You want a drink" I need a drink."

It was easier for Keirra to believe she was there, but there was a shred of her that believed she might be dreaming. It didn't feel like it should be going this well. She didn't know what she expected, but it wasn't this. He's offering her up a drink, and of course she wants vodka...and a cigarette. "Some water would be great," she answered, because she was cutting back, and she didn't want to be drinking around Gerry or Nasya.

He initially balked at her request, shooting her a crooked eyebrow before grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge along with a beer for himself. He looked at her as if she might disappear at any moment as he approached, offering the water bottle to the little rogue. "So...other than exacting vengeance, what?s been going on?" He asked, plopping down beside her.

"Thanks.." This was the part that she was dreading. Her lips formed a thin line as she cracked open the bottle and pulled off the top. She took a sip to gather her thoughts. "I....Well, I guess I don't live at camp anymore," she started. "Now I live in a really big house, like....Four times the size of our old apartment.." There was a weak smile on her face for a moment, but it faded. "Gerry....You left. You and Ginny both left. I was so alone, without you without Nasya." Fingers clutched around the bottle. "I didn't get out of bed for two weeks....I swallowed enough pills to kill three elephants," she admitted. "I didn't know what had happened then....but I was angry and hurt...I started doing drugs, drinking...anything to numb the pain." Was this her defense for moving on"

The mention of their own place brought a smile...but it was pretty quickly removed as she went on. He knew she wasn't doing this to make him feel guilty-or at least hoped she wasn't, but it still brought up that nagging guilt that plagued him the past months. He sat patiently, listening.

Looking at him, she sighed. "I met someone," she admitted, and Keirra hung her head. "I met him before I knew what had happened to you," the rogue whispered. "He knows I wanted to come see you, Nasya, too." There were tears in her eyes as she raised them back up to him. "It was all rough, for a while my heart was failing, and he....He took care of me." Those arms wrapped around her chest after she set the bottle on the table and looked up to him. "I love you, and I'll always hate Jameson for what he took from us, but..." Keirra chewed her lip. "I'm in love."

There was always going to be that jealousy. That pain in his heart, no matter how they'd both moved on. His eyes lowered and he was silent for a long moment. It wasn't fair. None of it was fair. It wasn't supposed to be like this. It was supposed to be THEM. THEM forever. And here they were with other people. Those eyes turned up to her, then. "He treats you well?"

Knees pressed together and she stared down at them watching the fabric wetten with fallen tears before she forced her eyes to his. Nothing about it was fair, she could kill Jameson a hundred more times and it wouldn't undo what he did. She swallowed hard and nodded her head. Zver was sarcastic and spent a lot of his time fucking with her, but he'd never hurt her. She didn't think he'd ever allow himself to, either. "Yeah, he does.." Her voice a raspy whisper of what it once was.

Gerry nodded slowly, contemplating things. He reached out and put a shaky hand on her shoulder. "I should probably tell you...I've been...uh...seeing someone." He began. "We were just friends up until about...2 weeks ago. Not that...you know...she was satisfied with that." He took in a deep breath and blew it out nervously. "I,um...I held out as long as I could. She was a childhood friend of mine. And we...well...she's kinda had a thing for me for a while. I just sorta felt like...like I was betraying you or...or...Fuck I still kind of feel that way."

The guilt in his voice was evident. He was in love with Kara. That much he knew. And she was good to him. Appreciated him. They were amazing together. But part of him still felt the freshness of the wound that leaving Keirra had given him. It wasn't easy to get over, and having her here wasn't helping much.

The rogue couldn't say she was surprised, hell....Maybe she was relieved. Made her own news easier, and....Well, Keirra didn't want him to be alone, not after the sacrifices he made. Her hand moved up to take his and she nodded, "I'm glad," she whispered. It was the truth, even though it felt like a kick in the chest.

"Are you? Because...honestly, part of me wants to go beat the shit out of him." he laughed slightly. "Though...it's overridden by the fact that I'm glad you're happy. That he makes you that way." Gerry smiled to her. "That's all I ever wanted for you. Even if I'm not the one doing it."

The rogue couldn't help but laugh sadly at his honesty, and she hung her head. "I won't pretend like it doesn't hurt," she shook her head. "I..." Trying to gather her thoughts, she pulled his hand from her shoulder and looked at him, cupping his big hand in between both of her smaller ones. "I love you," she told him. "I will always love you, not just because you're you, but because you made a big sacrifice...One that I'm....I'm not sure I could've made." Keirra swallowed hard. "You deserve to be happy, I want you to love again." Those tears rolled down her cheeks as she gave him a weak smile.

He clasped her hand in return. It was plain on his face. It hurt. But he returned that smile. "And I'll always love you. And....and I honestly don't know if I'll ever be completely over you. Over what we had and just...don't anymore. It's not fair." He shook his head. There was a sorrow to him that was just never there when they were together. The intervening time had done a number on the big goofball. "I want to go back and change things, but even Rhydin I know I can't. I want to go back and find a way to tell you. Tell you I love you and why I had to leave. It's all so unfair..."

He turned those pained blue eyes up to her. "We deserved better." Gerry sat up, continuing on. "The last few months have been...more difficult than any since I was 11 years old. The only thing that kept me going was Nasya." He said. "That little girl...Keirra..." A smile crossed his lips. "That life we made...I look at her and know I made the right choice. No matter how much it hurts."

Keirra listened, and sat, slowly losing her grip on his hand as she scooted away to perch on the edge of the couch. Gerry was strong for so long. He took care of Nasya even in his loss, he made the hard decision, and Keirra was left wallowing in the unknown. It was her turn to be strong. She got up on her knees and wrapped her arms around him, "I am so proud of you, Gerry....I know how hard it was on me not knowing, but....Having to leave" Having to live on knowing you were robbed....You're right. It's not fair, and I'm sorry....The only comfort I can offer is the fact that Jameson will never come after our little girl again." Giving him a squeeze, she pulled back and cupped either side of his face with her hands, smiling brightly through the tears. "And she's gonna grow up to be more kickass than we ever were."

He reached up and grasped one of her hands, placing a kiss at her knuckle. "God damn right she is." A grin crossed his lips. "She's got quite the cheering section here. My dad is absolutely over the moon for that kid."

The rogue's face fell as she settled back down, "Gerry...about that..." Keirra whispered, going back to chewing on her cheek. Of course there was the fear of rejection.

"I think I know what you're gonna say..." He eyed her for a moment. "And no. You can't clone her."

The rogue barked a laugh at that and reclaimed her hand. "The world couldn't handle that much awesome."

He grinned. "BUT...if you would like to split time with her..." He nodded as if considering...

Those eyes raised up to him, and she chewed her lip nodding her head. "More than anything," she whispered. "I know it's probably not going to be easy having me visit to pick her up, and you probably don't want to see me, but...I need to be with her."

Gerry offered her a little smirk before continuing on. "Look...Kara loves that kid. She's great with her. And Ginny's been pulling mommy duty like a mother fucker. But now that you can be with her...she needs her mother."

"And why would I ever NOT want to see you? Don't you know who you ARE, Keirra" You're my best friend. The mother of my child." He shook his head, staring. "You gave me the best months of my life. You're always welcome here."

Perking back up, her torso practically slammed into his as he said those words, she littered his cheek with kisses. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but she wasn't expecting him to say yes right away. Hell, she half expected him to kick her out the second she told him about Jameson. Luckily she wasn't that strong, or she might have squished him with how tight she was holding him.

He was unprepared for that, a guttural grunt leaving him as she slammed into him. He chuckled and hugged her back, kissing the top of her head. "I love you, Ko." he said, the "but' apparent in his tone. "You just...you need to promise me one thing."

"I love you, too, Gerry." Keirra whispered and slowly pulled off, keeping her arms around him but moving to look him in the eye when he made his request for her word. "Yeah, anything..."

Gerry looked her in the eye, suddenly deadly serious. Those huge, strong hands clasped her shoulders tight. The words didn't come immediately...he almost felt bad just for thinking them, but it had to be said. "You're clean. And...I'm glad. But...it stays that way. At least around her." His head was given a little rueful shake. "I don't mean this to come off insulting or as an accusation...but I know you sometimes get low...get scared or...upset. And I've seen what can happen. But never to her. I need you to promise me...promise WITH me, we will never let that girl get any less than our best."

Gerry eyed her earnestly. "She deserves no less."

Maybe she should've been offended, but she knew. Keirra knew how bad she could be, hell, she nearly killed her body. So instead of seeming insulted, she nodded. "I know," she whispered. Fingers fell away from the hug and she smiled lightly. "If I ever feel like I'm slipping, I'll bring her to you."

The smile returned to his face. "She's so amazing, Ko. You have no idea. That is the happiest kid in the world." And she was. She was surrounded by people who were madly in love with her. Grandparents who doted on her, an aunt who thought the sun rose and set on her ass, and of course Gerry who'd settled into the role of fatherhood incredibly well. It was the thing he was best at. The same love and care and patience that had gotten he and Ko together was put tenfold into the little blue eyed baby girl.

There was light in her eyes as he spoke of their daughter, and she settled back down on the couch. She kept her eyes on him now, because everything was out in the open and it was all okay. As okay as it could've been. There was pain, and guilt, sadness, but....It was better than expected.

Gerard Finnegan

Date: 2016-10-06 16:08 EST
Gerry laid out the whole story for Kara. Keirra’s return, everything that they had discussed. What was to happen now with shared custody. All told, it was pretty rational between the two of them.

Not that this was a concern to Kara. Honestly, when he’d told her his ex showed up, her heart nearly dropped out of her ass. No amount of convincing would silence that voice in the back of her head that was terrified of losing him again.

“So…”Gerry said. “That’s about the long and short of it.” He watched her face for her reaction as the brunette took it all in.

“Okay. So...you’re okay with this"” she asked, her arms still crossed in front of her.

He sighed “Well...I mean...I’ll miss her when she’s not here...but we’re going to have equal time with her so...yeah. It’ll be fine.”

Kara was not so convinced. That not-so-thrilled look was a dear give-away.

“What"” He asked.

Kara’s eyes slid shut and she shook her head. “Nothing.”

“No, something’s clearly bothering you. What’s up"”

She looked him in the eye, a hint of impatience in her voice. “Gerry. Nothing. It’s not my business.”

“Don’t do that. Don’t do the passive aggressive thing.” He said. “Now tell me what-’

“How can you trust her"” Kara finally blurted. Those eyes locked on him. “I don’t get it. Isn’t this the woman you were sure was screwing around on you with TWO guys"”

“She wasn’t.” Gerry said curtly.

“And the woman with severe drinking and drug problem, not to mention INSANE behavioral disorders"” Kara shook her head in frustration. “I don’t get how you can subject your little girl to someone like that so flippantly.”

Gerry held up a hand. “Now wait a minute. I told you she’s clean.”

“Yeah, how do you know"” Kara scoffed. “Because she TOLD you? Do you know how addicts work" I sure as **** do! An addict will promise you over and over and over again that this time, THIS time everything is going to be different. And then you know what happens"”

Kara slammed her fist on the table. “BAM! They’re right back into it!”

“She’s not going to, Kara.” Gerry said, trying to calm her.

“You can’t know that!” She countered. “How can you take that gamble with that little girl"”

“Hey. I’m not stupid. I know Keirra’s had her share of problems. But a lot has changed. She isn’t the same person I left behind. She’s getting her shit together. I trust her. You need to respect that.” Gerry did his best to keep his voice level and calm, despite the rising frustation. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t have his doubts, but Keirra had a right to see her daughter. And she did seem to have grown quite a bit. Maybe it was a gamble. But if it came down to it, he’d move heaven and hell to protect that kid if Keirra were a threat. For now, she wasn’t.

Kara was less than convinced. All she knew was that this woman ran and spiraled every time things went wrong. She loved Gerry and she loved Nasya. She wasn’t up for losing either of them. “I just don’t want her hurt the way I was.” she said, her voice going small, quiet.

Gerry took the slender brunette by the shoulders and looked her in the eye.”She isn’t him. And I will never let anything happen to her. You know that, right"”

Kara nodded, moving close and resting her cheek against his chest, her arms wrapped around his waist. “Promise?”

“Promise.” He said, holding her close.

Gerard Finnegan

Date: 2017-04-01 00:37 EST
Months passed, the seasons changed. Gerry and Kara had only become closer. She had become the unofficial 4th roommate in his and Ginny’s apartment, spending most nights there. Ginny was glad for the female company, helping to get her brother to straighten up after himself. There had been an intense bit of arguing regarding toilet seats. An argument he had assumed was a cliche that only happened in movies until the night he heard Ginny screaming **** word after **** word when she fell in.

Since Keirra’s visit and the arrangements for visitation were set up, things had settled into a nice, simple routine. The extra income from Finnegan Cargo Handlers meant he’d probably never need to work again at the bar. He chose to anyway, of course, most of the money going into a fund for Nasya’s schooling. And, hey! He got a dog out of the deal! Apparently, Star, the dog Gerry and Kerirra had adopted had gotten busy and had herself some pups. Now, Gerry was the proud owner of a German Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix named Star Baby. Kara tried to get him to change the name, but he stuck with it, Kara settling on calling the pup “Baby”.

The dog took immediately to Nasya, appointing herself the baby’s minder. And with the girl just beginning to walk, the help was very much welcome.

Yes, even the damn dog was a girl. Gerry stood in front of the crib, holding the raven haired child with those big, icy-blue eyes in his big arms. “Y’know, kid" I don’t know when this happened, but you guys have Daddy outnumbered.” He said to her as if just realizing. “When did THAT happen, huh"” He asked her with a silly pouty face, the little girl laughing, her dark hair in little pig tails on either side. “Did YOU have somethin’ to do with it"”

Nasya reached out and grabbed his face making a happy little squeal. “You DID"” He said with a theatrical gasp. “How *DARE* you, madame!” Gerry bellowed in a posh accent that just, apparently delighted Nasya.

He heard the door open as Kara came home. “Ger"” Kara’s voice called out. “I’m home.” Baby came bolting out from the room Gerry and Kara often shared, going absolutely ballistic with excitement. Kara knelt down and rubbed the dog’s big, fluffy cheeks, gasping excitedly. “There’s my baby! Hi there, you! How’s my good girl" Who’s such a good girl, huh"” She said, petting the dog until she bolted back into the room with Gerry and Nasya.

Home, Gerry thought. She called it home. Kara still owned her own place, but here, with him and Nasya and Ginny...this was her home. If she asked him honestly, he’d be inclined to agree that with her there it DID feel like home.

“We’re back here!” He called to her.

The brunette made her way back to the room, leaning in the doorway and taking in the sight of Gerry, holding the giggling, wriggling little one in his arms. It was a role he might never have seen himself in, but damned if fatherhood didn’t look good on him. She may have only been about 14 months old, but the look of love in her eyes when her daddy talked to her, played with her, and made her laugh was something she knew Nasya would carry with her for the rest of her life. A warm smile tugged at her lips, her head resting lightly to one side against the door jamb. “What are YOU two talking about"” She asked.

“Oh, you know. That new screenplay we’re writing,” he said, bringing his hand up between his mouth and Nasya, speaking with mock confidentiality, “but between you and me, someone’s a bit of a primadonna.”

Kara smirked and shook his head. “Ass.”

“You LOVE my ass.” He said to her, moving over toward the dresser.

Kara glanced at his backside and clenched her teeth, shaking her head slowly. “God help me, I do. I really do.”

Gerry grinned back at her, giving a little shake of his butt for her benefit. Kara laughed “Ooh-hoo-hoo, you better watch it mister, or we’re gonna have to put that little lady down in Aunt Ginny’s room tonight…”

“Promises, promises.” He said, grabbing Nasya’s orange and white BB-8 cup. Getting her off the bottle was a struggle until she saw the cup with her favorite Star Wars character on it.

“Bee! Bee!” she shouted at it, her little hands reaching out for it greedily. As soon as she got it, it was right in her mouth.

“Where IS Gin tonight?” Kara asked, stepping up to him and exchanging a quick kiss with her boyfriend. She smiled to Nasya, reaching out and giving her a little tickle. Kara had become quite taken with the little bundle of energy and curiosity over the past year. She reckoned those blue eyes could just melt anyone’s heart.

“Michelle and her are out at a concert.” He responded. What had started out a wild hook up at the 4th of July bash had blossomed into something more. Ginny and the blonde stranger saw more and more of each other as the year wore on.

Michelle, it turned out was a personal style consultant, working for a company that sent fashionable clothes to people, letting them pick which ones they wanted to keep. Needless to say, everyone in the apartment got a bit of a wardrobe upgrade.

All of that aside, she treated Ginny like a queen and that made Gerry beyond happy. His sister was an amazing woman and she deserved someone to make her happy.

Nasya’s first Christmas had been quite the event, Bill and Rose really going overboard on gifts. At the end of Christmas day he had sat in the living room of his youth, his father, mother, sister, her girlfriend, his oldest friend-turned girlfriend, and his beautiful baby girl with him in a scrapyard of colorful wrapping paper. This was what home felt like. This was family.

Yes, things were going well in Clute.

Bill Finnegan

Date: 2017-04-01 19:10 EST
Bill was hunkered down over the Challenger, replacing the last spark plug. Their little father/son project had been going on for months, trying to find and restore the old muscle car. It had become the highlight of both his and Gerry’s weekends and what weeknights his son could manage. “Alright, kid. Fire ‘er up.” Bill said.

Gerry turned the key, the engine whirring a few time before it roared to life. Gerry revved that engine, the car fairly growling with power. Bill’s eyes went wide and his fists rose in the air. “VICTORIOUS!” He shouted.

Gerry’s face was alight within the car, hands drumming excitedly on the wheel as he let out a long woop. The driver’s door opened and he stood up, leaning on the roof. “Oh. Hell. YES! Will you listen to THAT!” He called to his father.

“Hit it again!” Bill yelled to him. It had been decades since this beauty had run. Getting it back in this shape with his son made it all the more special. That engine roared again, vibrating with the pure power of the V8 Hemi beneath that hood.

Gerry called out through the rolled-down passenger window. “Hit the door. We’re going for a ride.”

Bill did not need to be told twice. “GIRLS! WE’RE HEADING OUT FOR A RIDE!” He called out as he climbed into the passenger seat. As soon as the door finished rising, Gerry threw the car into reverse and grabbed a tape deck adapter for his old iPod. Bill grinned over to his son. “Tune-age"” He asked his son.

“Do it up, old man.”

Bill chuckled. “Watch that ‘old’ ****, bucko.” he said, holding up a hand. Gerry was all excited grins, grabbing his father’s hand. Foghat’s “Slow Ride” started blaring from the radio. “Oh, yeah.” Gerry said, glancing to Bill as he propped his arm up on the window.

Inside the house, Kara was moving toward the window at the sound of the rumbling muscle car in the setting sun. “Weeeeelp.” Kara said. “Looks like the boys are goin’ cruisin’.”

“Oh yeah"” Rose said, not looking up from her sudoku. “Huh.”

Kara laughed, glancing back at the nonplussed Rose. “Wuh-oh. Sounds like they’ve busted out the Foghat, too.”

“Slow Ride"” Rose asked.

“Yup.”

Rose looked up a moment, a pleasant smile on her face. “I like that song.”

As the opening chorus kicked in on the song, Gerry gunned the accelerator, the tires squealing on the pavement. The car took off down the street leaving behind a little burned rubber. Bill leaned an elbow out the window in the warm spring air, his music blaring out the window. For a moment, he felt like he was a teenage kid again, cruising around looking for a good time with one of his friends. The years between that 18 year old and the almost-64 year old dissipated, leaving only those good memories and feelings. Then, he glanced over, not seeing just a friend.

No, when Bill looked over, he saw a piece of him. His own flesh and blood. His son, looking completely at home behind the wheel of such a fine automobile. Gerry was his boy, back from the dead, and his best friend. This was a day he never thought he’d be able to see, one that never should have been. This was a gift.

The pair drove around town, listening to classic rock in that old Dodge. “God, I love this car.” Gerry said patting the steering wheel with an ear-to-ear grin on his face.

“I had one of these when I was 18 years old.” He said, shaking his head. “Cherry red with the black stripes…” He thought back, his voice taking on a wistful hush. “Man...you shoulda been around back then, Ger. We used go cruisin’ around the strip ‘til the sun came up. You’d have a guy roll up next to you, start revvin’ away...and you’d just drag and hope to God the cops weren’t around.” Bill chuckled.

Gerry glanced over to him, that little grin on his face. He could listen to the old man talk about his youth all day.

“Man, one time, I met this girl at a party. Take her for a ride...and this dude pulls up in a ‘69 Maverick. Got this blonde next to him...just smokin’ hot.” Bill grinned. “Well, he’s thinkin’ that car is hot ****, right' So, he’s revvin’ and revvin’ away, ready to jump off the line….”

Gerry smirked over to his dad. “And I just GAS it. I mean, this kid is kissin’ vapor, I’m gone so fast.” Bill said, chuckling. “So I’m flyin’ high, now right' I’ve got this cute little redhead with me, I just showed this punk what was what? I’m doing good!”

Gerry laughed, hanging a left on the street. “There’s a ‘but’ coming, ain’t there"”

Bill clenched his teeth, a wry look on his face. “Ohhhh, yeah there is.”

Gerry couldn’t help but belly laugh at the tone.

“Suddenly, there’s sirens flashing behind me. Cop pulls me over, clocked me doing about 87 in a 35. I’m ****ed.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much gettin’ a slice of the ol’ dick pie.” Gerry agreed.

“Oh. Just wait.” Bill said, holding up two fingers. “So, cop comes up to my window, knocks with the flashlight. I roll ‘er down and he peers in, pointing the flashlight at me and then my date.” Bill paused, gesturing with his hands. “Doesn’t say a word. Just walks back to the squad car, leans in the door and says something to his partner.”

Gerry glanced over, trying anticipating what was next.

“Partner throws open the door, comes storming up to my car, whips open the door and yanks this girl out!”

Gerry’s eyes widened.

“So, I hear them arguing...and she calls him ‘Daddy.’” Bill said.

A look of realization hit Gerry, his mouth forming an “O” shape. “Ohhhh! Oh-hoho….****!”

“Yeah, my thoughts exactly.” Bill nodded. “I’m sitting there just about to piss my pants. Her pops comes back to my window, leans in, starts doing the bad-cop thing. ‘What am I doing out so late"’ ‘Where’s the fire"’ ‘What was I gonna do with his little girl"’”

Bill chuckled and shook his head. “Guy tells me, not only was I busted speeding to excess, but I just so happened to have a busted tail light and he thinks he smells booze. Annnnd that’s when I hear his Partner whack my driver’s tail out with a club.”

Gerry laughed, looking to the old man with an amused pity. “Oh no!”

“Oh yes!” Bill nodded with raised brows. “Takes me in, runs me through the whole bit, fingerprints, name, mugshot....and puts me in a cell until your Grandpa could come bail me out.”

“Oh, I bet that went well.” Gerry said sarcastically.

“Oh yeah. Nothing he liked more than being called off a job to come get my dumb-ass out of prison for cruisin’ with a sheriff’s daughter.” Bill said with a laugh. “So, I’m getting checked out and I’m about to walk out the door and get a whuppin’ from my dad, and this cop grabs me by the arm. He leans in real close and says ‘Next time I see you with my daughter, boy...I might just find a gun on ya.’”

“You’re kidding me…” Gerry said, wide eyed.

“I look like I’m screwin’ with ya, kid" Hand to God.” Bill said sincerely. “Needless to say, there was no second date.”

“Yeah. No ****.”

Gerard Finnegan

Date: 2017-04-03 12:54 EST
Gerry and Bill drove around into the night, catching a few looks with their newly restored ‘70 Challenger, Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold” blasting over the speakers as they rolled up to an old-style drive in restaurant. A renovated throwback place that specialized pretty specifically in Burgers, Hot Dogs, Fries, and Malts.

After they’d ordered, the pair leaned against the back of the car, their tray sitting on the trunk. Gerry brought his chili dog to his mouth, taking a big bite. Bill held his cheeseburger half-way in the wrapper, taking yet another huge bite.

He looked around the area remembering when it was new. “You know…”He said between bites. “I remember when this was the Man On The Moo Diner.” He said. “They used to have this big cow statue out front with one of those glass space-helmets on.” Bill grinned and took a sip of his chocolate malt. “This was the place, kid. You’d see all kinds of cars lined up here. We'd all meet up, grab a bite and decide where we'd all go to race.” A little laugh left him. “ God, we all thought we were so cool.”

Gerry brought his straw to his lips, taking a long sip of his malt. “What happened"” He asked. “How does a place like that go tits up"”

Bill’s expression changed, the wistfulness leaving him as he chewed his burger. “Vietnam happened. I mean, at that point it had been going on for a good long while, but a lot of the kids who were part of it ended up getting drafted. A lot of them didn't come home.”

Gerry watched his father a moment. “Did you go"”

Bill shook his head. “No. I was going to college on a scholarship. I actually was going to after I got hurt, but the US Army decided I was ‘combat ineffective’. But a lot of my friends weren't so lucky. Tommy Bevers, Stan Green, Frank Ryan, Mike Nudzii. Good bunch of guys. You'd have liked them.” Bill chuckled.

Gerry smiled over to him, swallowing a bite of his dog. “You ever see ‘em anymore"”

Then Bill’s grin faded as the memories came rushing back. “Tommy was killed in Laos in ‘71. Guess one of the guys in his unit got high as hell on a night patrol. Tommy’s coming back from KP, and this guy thought he was one of the enemy and shot him six times in the chest.”

Gerry’s expression soured a bit.

“Stan was in a Huey that suffered engine failure and crashed somewhere over Khe Sanh. A couple guys got out, but he wasn't one of them.” Bill said distantly. In his mind he saw him only as the kid he grew up with, raced with, played ball with. Not a soldier who fought in a war.

“By ‘73, we were pretty much tapping out over there,” he said. “But, Frank and Nudz were stationed together. They caught in a firefight in some hellhole village in the middle of nowhere. Never made it home.” Bill finished his burger and turned to Gerry, standing up straight. “Bitch of it is, the war ended shortly after. They missed it by about three months.” He breathed in that night air, looking out over the dark horizon. “My four best friends in the world, left home to fight a war they didn’t understand and they never came back.”

Bill shook his head and walked to the spot where the statue once stood. Now it was a concrete patch with bolt holes where it had been held down. “People had different priorities, then. Kids stopped coming around. By ‘75 the Moo was an abandoned shell.” He said. “That was all she wrote.”

Gerry watched his father, lost in those memories. “Do you regret not going"” He asked.

Bill was silent a moment, his voice choked back a bit. “Sometimes.” He said. “You know, there are times when I’m glad you weren’t around for everything. When your friends go overseas to fight and you either don’t or can’t...you want to be there for them, fight beside them.” He said, walking back to the car. “When they get killed, you tell yourself...if only YOU were there...maybe you could have done something. Maybe you could have played the hero and that friend would still be alive.”

Bill turned his eyes to Gerry, gazing into the matching blue eyes that stared back. “But, really' That’s bull ****. Your parents would be getting a folded flag with theirs, more like. Like Stan’s or Mike’s or Frank’s or Tommy’s…” He trailed off a moment before reaching out and putting a hand on Gerry’s shoulder. “Or Jimmy Savage’s.”

Jimmy Savage had been part of the childhood group Gerry ran around with. One of the toughest, craziest kids he’d ever known. The guy had once been ready to beat another kid’s dad with a baseball bat to protect Gerry. Jimmy had enlisted in the army during the Iraq War. While taking part in operations in Kirkuk, Jimmy’s squad was hit by an IED, leaving him and three other men dead. Gerry had, of course been in Rhy’din at that time...but he could understand what his father was saying.

He couldn’t have done anything, of course he couldn’t. Danny Dubek had been there that day and it still happened, leaving him badly injured. If he couldn’t have done anything, what were the odds Gerry could have"

“You do what you can to honor them, kid. I miss my friends, but I don’t regret the way my life turned out.” Bill said. “I got your Mom. I got you. I got your sister. And now, I got Nasya. Far as I’m concerned, kiddo, I am battin’ a thousand.”

Ginny Finnegan

Date: 2017-04-04 13:00 EST
Life moved so fast, Ginny thought as she sat in her parents’ backyard. She felt like it was a mere week ago that she'd traveled to another world to find her brother, only to discover that he'd been...well happy was a strong word, but content. He had built a life for himself and she thought her efforts, all the struggle and sacrifice to bring him home was all for nothing.

But, there he stood at the grill, beer in one hand, spatula in the other cooking their dinner. His beautiful daughter sat in her lap, bouncing on her knee saying “Gingin!” over and over again. Every time that sweet little blue eyed angel said that name she felt butterflies. She’d always wanted to be mother, and splitting duties between herself, Keirra, and Kara seemed a pretty fair trade. Not that she trusted either of them to as good a job as SHE could (because obviously, she was the best. How could you possibly think otherwise" You’re a terrible person!) She might have been a touch competitive.

Michelle sat down next to her, a quick peck planted on her cheek. The short-haired blonde was a completely unexpected development. She’d heard that was how it was supposed to be, or so she’d been told several times. She most appreciated the way a comedian put it: “If you are a good person– genuinely good– and you are of service in this world and you have a life that is yours and that you like and that matters and it matters to you and you don’t need anybody, when you don’t need anybody, someone will come and **** that up with their love.”

Consider her ****ed. Michelle was all she could ever ask. Smart, independent, kind, funny, confident...and it didn’t hurt that she looked like she walked out of a country music video. All tan skin, curves, and that short, sassy bob of a haircut, and a smile that brought the blood straight to Ginny’s face and set her heart a-beatin’.

The blonde leaned in, flashing those pearly whites at Nasya. “Hey, there, Sugarlump!” she said in a sweet playful voice that had the little tyke grinning. “You havin’ some girl-time with your Gingin"”

Nasya leaned forward and big smile on her face. “GINginnnnnnn….” She said playfully, a delighted light to her little face as she flung herself at her aunt.

“NASNAS!” Ginny said, mimicking her excited tone, snuggling Nasya’s face widlly. “Marmarmarmarmaaaaar!” SHe said making little animal noises that made the kid shriek with laughter.

Bill walked out of the sliding glass door, a bottle in his hand as he stepped into the yard. “Lllllladies.” he said with mock flirtation in his voice.

“Heya, Mr. F.” Michelle beamed up at him. “Saw the ride. VERY nice.”

Bill sipped his bottle and exhaled with self-satisfied whisper. “Ahhhh. Thank youuuuuu.” He grinned.

“So, when do I get to take her out for a spin"” she asked with a cheeky little smirk.

“Oh, you think you could handle her"” He shot back at her with a grin.

Michelle laughed derisively. “Oh-hoho...that a challenge Mr. F" I could put that little lady through her paces and then some. Maybe test out how well the boys slapped ‘er together, so maybe the big girl can do it *right*”. She smirked at him.

“Damn. You don't lack for confidence, do ya"” Bill responded.

“My daddy taught me all about cars. By the time I was twelve, I could take that beauty apart n’ put her back together ‘fore you could spit.”

Bill chuckled. “Rrrrreally' Maybe I shoulda had YOU buildin’ her with me instead of Ger.”

“Heard that!” Gerry announced from his station at the grill.

“Nah, you were great, kid!” He called over his shoulder and shaking his head while grimacing comically at Michelle, bringing a snicker from the girl.

“Keep trash talkin’, old timer. See how hard you're laughing when I spank ya on the field later.” Gerry said, grinning at his father over his shoulder.

Ginny smiled up at her dad. Growing up in Clute wasn’t the safest feeling for anyone who fell out of the norm, let alone the lesbian daughter of a steel worker. But Bill never made her feel ashamed or afraid to confide in him. He was supportive the whole way through, doing everything he could to learn about this new aspect of who his girl was and how to best avoid accidentally saying something that might inadvertently hurt her feelings. Bill was proud of his daughter, no matter who she was or who she loved.

He lowered himself with a groan to sit beside her. Ginny glanced over with a raised eyebrow. “Was that an old-man noise I just heard.”

Bill gave her a wry look and nodded. “It was.” He said. “Gonna be a lot more of those, going on. First it was the color….”He pointed to his hair. “Then it was the physique…” He patted his belly. “Now it’s the ol’ knees. Lots a’ groanin’ on the way, kiddo.”

“”Well, if you like, I can look into a walker"” Ginny prodded him in the side with her elbow.

“Agh...get your bony elbows offa me, wise-ass.” Bill laughed laying an arm across the table behind her giving her fiery red hair a gentle, little tousle on it’s way down to the table.

Ginny grinned, repositioning Nasya to be more comfortable, leaning down and pressing her lips to the little one’s head. Nasya letting out a little high pitched happy “eeeeeee” sound while her hands reached up and clutched her aunt’s face. Those cool blue eyes looked up at her. “Lub Gin Gin!” she managed. The kid was still working her way to complete sentences, but she “lub”ed everyone.

Ginny chuckled and feigned a surprised gasp. “You DO"”

Nasya nodded happily. “Well, then…” Her aunt started. “I guess that means a certain little girl...is in need...OF SNUGGLEMONSTER!” She said rubbing her face all over the girl’s head, neck and shoulders. “SnuggleSnuggleSnuggleSnuggleSnuggle!” she said in her monster voice, another squeal leaving the little girl.

Bill watched the two of them, happy and content. The slender form of Kara slid in on the other side of him. “What's the haps, padre?” She asked with a smile, leaning into the old man.

Kara had surprised Ginny in the past year. She hadn't thought much of the brunette beauty when they first reconnected. But the love and dedication she'd shown Gerry and Nasya had completely won her over. The pair even managed to spend a few nights out, just girling it up. Kara had even taken her our dancing and had gotten the bashful redhead drunk enough to sing karaoke. Not an easy feat. And she barely even made fun of her!

Bill wrapped his other arm around Kara grinning. “I am currently sitting in my backyard with the 4-way tie for runners up for most beautiful woman in the world.” He said with a smirk, giving her a squeeze.

The sliding door opened, Rose slipping out with a glass serving dish full of what looked like pizza. “And there’s our winner.” He said, raising to his feet. “‘Scuse me ladies.” he said, sneaking off.

“Pizza dip’s ready!” Rose called out to the crowd as she moved over to the table.

“SHE’S A LADY! ” Bill belted out some Tom Jones in his best over-the-top singing voice, wrapping his arms around Rose from behind. The older woman jumped with a little yelp, not expecting him. “WHOA WHOA WHOA, SHE’S A LADY!”

“Bill!” She laughed. “You ASS!” she said, shaking her head, playfully putting an elbow to his ribs as she made her way over to the table, Bill still clinging and dancing with her.

“She's got style, she's got grace, She's a winner!” He bellowed our, Rose finally setting the dish down. Bill spun her around, one hand taking her’s and the other wrapping around her waist. “Talkin' about that little lady!”

He sang, and spun her again, dipping her as he sang. “...and the lady is miiiiiiine.” He Rose laughed up at him, her arms wrapped around his neck, beaming up at her husband, who kissed her and brought her back up to vertical.

Michelle put her fingers to her lips and wolf-whistled at them. “Ow ow!” She hollared at them. As Ginny clapped, Nasya joined in, just happy to be clapping.

“Yaaaay, Ga and Poppy!” She said encouragingly to the little one.

“Aaaaaaay! Oppy!” Nasya said, clapping up a storm.

Rose Finnegan

Date: 2017-04-05 15:50 EST
Rose sat on the porch swing watching the game of touch-football the girls, Gerry and Bill had going. Nasya clung to her grandmother, snoozing away while she hummed Rainbow Connection softly in her ear.

She watched Bill, slowed a bit by age, but still with that fire that had sent her head over heels so many years ago. Rose was a big believer in fate. Looking back, it was hard not to, with everything that had to go exactly right for them to meet.

Poor Bill, she thought. Nobody seemed to let the poor man in on the fact that he was in his 60’s and not a young buck anymore. Gerry went long for a pass and Bill managed to hit him right in the numbers with the throw. Gerry made to run for a touchdown when Ginny full-body blind-sided him, bringing him down right on his backside.

Rose chuckled, a empathetic,yet amused expression on her face. Kara rushed over and helped Ginny to her feet. She then turned to Gerry and offered her hand, removing it right when he went to grab it. “YEAH! Bringin’ that trash in MY house"! WHAT"!” She lunged threateningly at him. Gerry lay on the ground, staring up at the sky as Kara high fived Ginny.

“You’re paying for that later.” He called out to Kara.

“Psh, I’ll just have Gin take you out again.” She smirked over her shoulder.

He groaned and got to his feet. “ Like a tiny truck…” he muttered to himself.

Rose watched the two most important men in her life huddle up, listening to them plan. “Okay.” Bill began. “When did we lose control of this game" Get your head on straight, man!”

“I’m trying!” Gerry protested.

“You just got taken out by 110lb girl, man! Sack up, John Wayne!” Bill teased him.

God, did Gerry remind her of his father. They had the same laugh, same eyes, same silly sense of humor. The day he’d disappeared was the most difficult of her life. No parent should ever have to endure such a thing. But there he was. Her baby.

Her 6 foot, two inch strapping baby boy, she thought with a chuckle to herself. And he’d brought her a beautiful little grandbaby. Nothing could make up for the years they lost, but as reunions went...this was pleasant. It hadn’t been an easy thing, him coming back. She only ever confided in Bill, but it had taken a long time for to accept the reality of it, a brave face put on for everyone else's benefit. Those doubts were long ago left behind now. She had her second chance.

“Dad"” She heard Ginny's voice, something in it sounding off. Rose looked up her heart dropping as Bill clutched his chest, a pained look on his face.

“Dad!” Gerry cried out.

Bill hit the ground.

And then everything went numb.

Gerard Finnegan

Date: 2017-04-06 10:20 EST
Bill sat up in his hospital bed as Gerry entered, concern upon his face. The old man smiled up at him almost looking embarrassed.

“Dad"” He greeted him.

“Hey, Ger.” Bill said a bit weakly. A flood of relief ran through him, his father looking hardly worse for wear.

“Hey…” Gerry said, stepping into the room. “God, you scared the **** out of me, pop.” He said, taking a seat.

“YOU"!” Bill chuckled. “You should try it from my seat, kid.”

Gerry clasped his father’s hand, bringing it to his lips. Bill covered his son’s hands with his free one. “It's alright, kid. Doc says I just had a bit of dizzy spell is all.” He said reassuringly. “Guess I just wasn't getting enough water.” He said with that little laugh of his.

Gerry held tight to him, a smile forced upon his lips. “Good. Cuz, I kinda need you to stick around. We've got a lot of stuff to make up for, right?”

Bill smiled to his son. “I'm not going anywhere.” He assured him.

And Gerry believed it. He believed it was safe. He believed it right up until the sound of the sirens brought him back to reality.

That pleasant fiction shattered as the EMTs ran into the backyard and went to work on the unconscious Bill.

No.

Now nothing felt safe. Now, everything was falling apart.

Gerard Finnegan

Date: 2017-04-08 12:25 EST
Everything was a blur after the EMT’s arrived. Gerry could scarcely remember the trip to the hospital, nor where the time had gone. It was all just images. His father falling, the screams, the crying. When the adults started panicking it set Nasya off. Vaguely, Gerry remembered screaming for someone to call 911 while he attempted to wake his father up.

The family sat in the waiting room, his mother with a numb, lost look on her face while Ginny sat, wrapped in Michelle’s arms. Kara sat with a blissfully unaware Nasya with much the same look on her face as Rose. Gerry paced the waiting room back and forth, back and forth, just fidgeting anxiously.

It wasn’t fair. He’d just gotten his father back and now he might be taken away. The whirlwind of emotions were almost too much to handle. He was angry, but had nobody to be angry AT, so it just sat there, simmering and bubbling inside with nowhere to go. A few of the stages of grief apparently wanted a free-for-all today.

Finally, the doors opened and the doctor stepped out. She didn’t need to be told who the family was. The huge muscle-bound man rushing toward her gave that one way. “Mr Finnegan"” She asked, the rest of the family perking up.

“Yes.” Gerry said, the words that followed, pouring out of him in like an unkinked garden hose. “What’s going on' Is-is my dad alright' Is he gonna be okay' Please tell me he’ll be okay.”

The doctor spoke softly and calmly. “Mr. Finnegan, your father has had a massive heart attack.” Before he could say anything she spoke. “Now, we have him stabilized, but I have to tell you, it was severe and we’re not exactly certain how much damage was done.”

Gerry stared at her for a long moment. “I don’t understand...is...is he going to be okay"”

The doctor shook her head. “We just don’t know at this time. These things are very tricky, and I don’t want to give you or your family false hope. Your father was out a long time before receiving treatment. Usually, the prognosis in the event of such a long period of time is not good.”

That confusion mingled with that helpless anger. “How can you not know" You’re a doctor! You have to know! How in the hell can’t you tell me he’s going to be okay"!”

“Mr. Finnegan...I’m sorry.” she said shaking her head.

“That’s my father!” he said, his voice raising enough that people looked over. “You can’t even give me a maybe?!”

He felt a pair of hands touch his back and his mother’s voice, speaking softly. “Gerry…”

That did it. That flipped a switch in him and all that emotion whipping around inside him just boiled over as the tears came. Rose wrapped her arms around him, broken as she felt, and held her son. She stroked his hair as he clung to her.

“It’s not ****ing fair…” he managed.

“I know.” Rose whispered to him, kissing his cheek. “I know.” Rose turned her eyes to the doctor. “Can we see him"”

The doctor managed a sympathetic smile. The anger was not something she hadn’t seen before. She nodded to Rose. “We have him sedated right now, but we can let you in to see him.” She looked at all the people there for Bill. “We would prefer if it wasn’t all at once.”

Rose nodded to her. “I’m very sorry, Mrs. Finnegan. We’re doing everything we can for your husband.”

Rose smiled to her and the doctor left. She pulled back from Gerry, holding his face in her hands. “I need you to be strong, sweetie. For me, for your Dad, for all of us.” she wiped the tears from his eyes. “Alright?”

Gerry stared at her, those blue eyes wracked with pain as he looked at his mother, and then the others. He was met with smiles of encouragement and sniffed, getting ahold of himself. Those eyes returned to Rose and he nodded.

Rose Finnegan

Date: 2017-04-12 02:18 EST
Rose stood over her husband, brushing the hair back from his forehead as he lay in the hospital bed. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she watched him, tubes hooked up to him, breathing only with a respirator. God, he’d never looked so helpless. He was always a pillar of strength, seeming almost invincible. He was her hero and here he lay, barely clinging to life.

For the moment they were alone, just the two of them and she stroked his hair. “You had no right.” she said in a weak voice. “You had no right trying to sneak away on me like that. You know that"”

Bill lay there, unconscious. “Bill"” she said pleadingly. “Please…” She sniffed, those same brown eyes shutting tight. “Please, I need you to come back. I need you to wake up and tell me everything’s going to be okay.”

Her fist clenched around the sleeve of his hospital gown, the tears overtaking her. A strained, high pitched whimper escaped her as she struggled not to sob. “Please" Please, baby.” She stroked his face gently. “Please wake up...come back to me.”

She let that despair wash over her for a moment, but then decided she would control it. Her eyes opened again as she watched him lying there. “Until that day...I was lost. You know that"” She said.

“I was afraid that I wasn’t worth a damn to anyone.” She told him. “And then...then you walk in that door...with your smile...and all your light...and-” She suppressed those feelings from overcoming her again. “God...Bill...you had me. You had me before you even said a word. I knew I was your’s. I knew.” She clutched his limp hand tightly. “Baby...My life didn’t start...until you came into it.” Rose said to him. “And I don’t-”

She winced again squeezing his hand for support. “I don’t know...what I am without you…” That was it. She couldn’t fight anymore, she just brought his hand to her lips and sobbed.

Gerard Finnegan

Date: 2017-04-19 13:07 EST
Gerry opened the door, Kara at his side. The instant she saw Bill, hooked up to machines, not even breathing for himself, she was a mess. She turned away and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend, clinging tight to him.

Gerry stared down at the old man, a distant, numb look in his eye as his arm drifted up and comfortingly rested at her back. Part of him half expected Bill to get up and just go “Ah! I’m just messin’ with ya!” But it remained a pleasant daydream.

He watched his father’s chest rise with a hiss of that respirator, feeling so lost in that moment. Just days ago, he’d been riding around with the old man, listening to him wax nostalgic about the good old day. It didn’t seem possible that the same man was lying here, barely clinging to life.

Kara finally pulled back from him, those blue eyes streaked red and wet with tears. She took a fistful of his shirt, trying to get her composure. Bill was every bit her father as well. Her eyes shut as Gerry put one of those big hands upon her cheek, his thumb wiping away a tear. A sad smile worked its way to her lips. Gerry kissed her forehead softly before she turned to face Bill.

The pair of them moved up beside him, Kara slipping her fingers in his limp, unconscious hand and squeezing. “Hey, old man.” She said in a shaky voice.

Gerry slipped around to the other side of the bed, taking the other hand. He couldn’t find the words to even consider speaking. Just stood there, staring.

“Look at you, ya lazy bum. Sleepin’ on the job.” Kara smiled through gathering tears. “You know, if you wanted to ruin our inevitable victory, you COULD have just used the Grandbaby as an excuse.”

She was trying so hard to keep positive, but that facade just crumbled, her head lowering with a weary sigh.

Gerry stared down at him. “You can’t go.” He said simply. “Not now. Not when I just got you back.”

“I need you back, Pop. Mom needs you back. Gin needs you back. Nas needs you back…” he said, barely holding it together.

“I need you back.” Kara added. “I lost one father, I can’t lose the only one who ever mattered to me. So, you NEED to come back, you hear me? For all of us…”

Ginny Finnegan

Date: 2017-04-23 18:01 EST
2006

Ginny was on pins and needles the entire car ride home. Her first year in college had been quite the awakening for the red haired 19 year old. Most of it was spent with the radio off, but more than once she needed the distraction. That first year on her own had been a bit of an awakening for her.

Clute was not exactly a place that was very open toward those who were “different.” Being around people who were open and proud was a change she welcomed and was embraced wholeheartedly. She was a lesbian. She knew who she was and she was unashamed. That much, she was confident in.

However, it was never something that came up at home. Never a topic they discussed. Her parents were good people, but that nervousness was still there. What if they didn’t accept her" What if they tried to change her" What if they were disappointed in her" People could tell her that she didn’t NEED anyone who didn’t accept her in her life, but she adored her parents. The idea of cutting them out, or being cast out from them would kill her.

The car slowed to a stop in the driveway of her childhood home. Bill’s truck parked outside like always. As comforting as the sight of that old house was, she still couldn’t help but feel a sense of impending dread.

She took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, tugging her hoodie straight around her shoulders and walking toward the door. Blue eyes remained on the knob for a moment before finally reaching out and wrapping her fingers around it.

As she entered the house, she heard music playing in the kitchen. “Come A Little Bit Closer” by Jay and the Americans. The dread in her mind was replaced as a smile grew on her face as Bill danced toward an unseen Rose.

“And I knew, yes I knew I should run, but then I heard her say-ay….” Bill disappeared and then Rose spun out into view, her face lit up with laughter.

“Come a little bit closer, you’re my kinda man...so big n’ so strong!” He sang as Rose was spun back into his arms. “Come a little bit closer, I’m all alone...and the night is so long!”

Ginny leaned against the door watching her parents dancing, Bill singing the song in his terrible singing voice. She couldn’t help but giggle a little bit. Bill’s eyes lit up at the sight of her.

“Gin!” He exclaimed and danced her way reaching out his hand to the nervous redhead. “Come on!”

She reached out and took his hand, easily lead into the dance. Bill twirled her around, Ginny’s natural grace making her a perfect dancing partner. Every last bit of worry and fear seemed to melt away as they maneuvered around the kitchen, Rose watching with that amused little smirk she so often had. No. There was nothing fear from these people. Bill Finnegan loved his daughter.

She rose up from the final dip, a smile covering her whole face. Bill placed a kiss to her forehead. “How’s my college girl doin’"” he asked. “Gettin’ all that fancy book learnin’ down"”

She nodded with a chuckle. “Yeah...yeah, totally.”

Bill Finnegan was a perceptive man. Something in her tone, in her bearing gave away a sense of unease. His brow quirked, curious. “What’s up, kiddo' You look...off. Everything okay over there" You’re not dropping out are you?”

I, uh...” She stared at him a moment before a little laugh escaped her. “No no, not dropping out.”

He looked relieved. “Oh, good. You gotta go become a millionaire so we can mooch off you the rest of our lives.” he deadpanned.

Ginny snickered. “Oh yeah. My life’s ambition. You two leeches are getting kicked to the curb while I’m lounging on the beach in Cabo, soon as I make my millions.”

“Even me"” Rose said with mock indignation.

“Nah, you’re cool. But this bum…” Ginny said, hooking a thumb Bill and making an “eesh” face.

Bill laughed. “So...what’s up"”

Ginny’s grin faltered. “We, uh...I need to talk to you guys.”

The family gathered at the table, Bill leaning forward on his elbows. “So...what’s up, kid"”

Ginny swallowed hard, her arms wrapping protectively around herself. “Um...I’m...I’m probably going to fumble and screw this up so...if you...if you guys could just wait until I’m done…”

Bill and Rose exchanged concerned glances, unsure of what this was.

“As far back as I can remember...I always knew I was a little bit...um...different.” She began. “All my friends were kind of...into one thing and I never really...uh...fell in line.” She squinted, trying to find the right words. She was silent a long moment. “God...I don’t know why this is so difficult.” She chuckled, a hint of anguish in her eyes.

Bill reached out and took her hand, giving a tight squeeze. The look on his face saying “Just say it.”

Ginny’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes darting back and forth between the two of them. “Mom...Dad...I-” She blinked, looking away. “I’m gay.”

She’d said it. The words hanging in the air over the dinner table for what seemed like an hour in her mind. The reality was it was a matter of seconds. A smile spread across Bill’s face.

“Good for you, kid.” he said giving her hand a squeeze.

Ginny looked to him a long moment, her brow creasing. “That’s it' That’s all you’re going to say"”

Bill laughed. “Well, what do you want me to say"”

“Uh...I don’t know! Yell at me" Look surprised"!” Rose smiled comfortingly to her. “Oh, sweetie. We...pretty much had our suspicions.” She nodded.

“What"!” Ginny exclaimed.

Bill nodded. “We’ve known for a while. It’s why we never brought up boys or pushed you toward...any of that.”

Suddenly, some things started to make sense. “It doesn’t bother you?” She asked her parents.

“Kid…”Bill said, still clinging to that hand. “You’re our daughter. We love you with all our hearts. We don’t care what you are or who you love, we’re always, *always* so very proud of you.”

Any time that man told her he was proud of her stirred something inside. Something that brought tears forming on her eyes. That big, strong hand of his gave her’s a squeeze. In a moment, she would be clinging to him, and then her mother. __ Present Day

Ginny sat in the chair beside his bed. She’d taken the late shift, sitting with him in case he woke up. The sounds of the respirator and machines going quietly around her. Eventually, she’d drifted off to sleep, her hand in her father’s, clinging to him as she had back then. Just being near him made her feel at home. Made her feel a little safer.

She had cried all her tears hours ago. Now, she just wanted her privacy with him. She was awoken as her head drifted off too far to one side, sniffing loudly as she woke with a start.

Big blue eyes opened and turned to the old man, a smile making its way to her face. “Daddy.” She just said quietly, her fingers tightening around that hand.

And then Bill squeezed back.

Bill Finnegan

Date: 2017-04-28 11:48 EST
December 31st, 1979- 11:50 PM

Bill sat beside the beautiful girl their bare feet in the sand.

“So, me and Dave are walking this girl we’d BOTH dated home...to her new boyfriend’s-”

Rose gave him a sympathetic laugh. “Like some kind of Ex-Boyfriend honor guard"”

Bill chuckled and nodded. “Perfect, yes!” He beamed over at her as she snickered lightly. “And Dave’s stolen a glass from the last bar we hit up, right' Katie walks inside says goodnight and thank you. Takes off. So it’s just the two of us there and he’s looking all depressed, y’know"”

Those warm, intelligent brown eyes stared up at him as she brought the bottle of wine up to her lips taking a sip, a warm expression on her face.

“Dave turns to me, says ‘Billy...the ONE good thing to come out of tonight was THIS glass.’” He continued the tale, laughing. “And a drunk guy bumps him...and the glass crashes to the ground.”

Rose’s face lit up as she laughed. “Oh-ho-ho no!”

Bill chuckled and nodded. “Dave just nods. Says ‘Yep.’ and wanders off into the night.”

He smiled brightly as she passed the bottle to him. Rose stared at him a moment, her eyes searching him appraisingly. “You have a pretty smile.”

Bill’s eyes crinkled as he grinned to her. “And you...are just plain pretty.”

She put on a theatrical pout. “I’m plain"”

For a moment there was a hint of panic on his face before he saw a little smirk forming on the brunette’s lips. “You’re messin’ with me, aren’t ya"”

Rose giggled and leaned against him, her head upon his chest. Bills heart raced at the nearness of her, the scent of her hair hitting his nostrils. “Tell me something about yourself, Bill.”

He glanced down at her, slipping an arm around her. “Something about me…” He considered. “I have double jointed fingers.” He said bringing his other hand up and bending his fingers backwards.

She squinted at his fingers. “Oooooh...weird…” She giggled, burying her face into his chest. Rose peered up at him, a little grin on her face. “Something real, jack-ass.”

Bill looked like he just got it. “Real! Oh! Okay. Um…” he narrowed his eyes staring off. “I was married.”

Rose’s brows rose as if to ask “Really"”

“We split up in 77. Haven’t really been in a relationship since.” Bill continued, taking a swig off the bottle and offering it to her.

Rose, took the bottle and upturned it, taking a drink. “I was with a guy for 3 years. Thought we were going to get married...until I walked in on him screwing another woman.”

Bill’s brow furrowed staring at her. “Oh my God.”

Rose nodded, looking away. “Guess I just wasn’t enough for him.”

Bill touched her chin and brought her gaze up to him. “Any man that you are not enough for...is a complete and utter moron. And he didn’t deserve you.”

Rose stared up at him as the crowd began to count down to the new year. “Bill"” she said quietly.

Five.

“Yeah"”

Four.

“You ever do something you know might be stupid, but did it anyway"”

Three.

“All the time.”

Two.

“Here’s to stupid.”

One.

Rose brought her hand to his cheek and pulled him down to her, their lips meeting softly as she melted into the kiss. Behind them the party erupted into cheers as 1980 began. Bill and Rose just clung to each other, melting into their kiss. Blissful, comfortable. All right in the world. ~~ Present Day

The world was fuzzy at first. All light and sound. Slowly his senses came into focus and the world made sense again. That same face, those same eyes stared down at him, tears running down her cheeks.

“Hey, there, pretty lady.” he said weakly. “Why do you look so sad?”

Her body wracked with tearful laugh. “I’m not sad.”

She leaned down, kissing his face over and over again, until she reached his lips, clinging tightly to her husband. Gerry, Kara and Ginny, Nasya in her arms stood behind Rose, holding tight to each other. He would learn the story of what happened later. But for now this was all that mattered.

Gerard Finnegan

Date: 2017-05-03 17:52 EST
Everything was bliss again, now that Bill was awake. The family was all gathered around him each taking turns talking and laughing with him. His throat was still raw from the tube and he was extremely weak, but he was alive.

The relief that poured over Gerry was palpable, he stood there with Nasya in his arms watching the old man smiling as Ginny was regaling the family with some story about a highschool friend crashing over and pointing out Bill’s monkey-print boxers. The friend has pointed out “Hey, Mr F, I can see your monkeys.” Which, apparently Bill mistook for his testicles and panicked.

Gerry grinned as the old man blushed. Bill looked over to him and the little bundle in his arms. “Hey, kid. Why don’t you bring that ol’ blue eyes over here" Let Pop hold her for a bit.”

He smirked to his father and looked to Nasya. “I dunno...what do you think, kid" Wanna go see Pop"”

“Poppy!” was her excited response reaching out for her grandfather. Gerry carried her over and passed her off. Bill grunted as he took her.

“Ugh...man. Hey there, my little sunshine…” Bill said gently to her.

“Poppyyyyyyy!” Nasya said happily as she was hugged.

“You know what, kid"” Bill said. “I dreamed of you. When I was asleep. I dreamed you were a big girl and we were sitting there, just talking and laughing. And you know what"” he asked her with raised brows.

“You were the most perfect, beautiful girl in the whooooole world.” he said with a firm nod, getting a little giggle out of the toddler.

Gerry leaned against the wall, contentedly smiling as the doctor entered the room. “Well, looks like a very popular somebody’s breaking our occupancy rules.” she grinned to them.

Bill smirked. “Sorry, Doc. I’m a bit of a scofflaw.”

The Doctor offered a tight smile in return, that Gerry, frankly didn’t like. He especially didn’t like the look on her face when she turned to him. “Mr. Finnegan...if I could have a word"”

Gerry and Rose shared a look before he stepped out into the hall. He stared at her a long moment. “What’s wrong.”

“I know now is a delicate time for you and your family, but I must be honest with you.” she said.

He felt a tightness in his chest. “What’s wrong" He’s...he’s awake, he’s talking, he’s laughing…”

The doctor nodded patiently. “I understand. But, Mr. Finnegan-”

“Gerry.” he interjected. MISTER Finnegan was in the room holding court.

“Gerry. Your father’s heart attack was very severe. There was a lot of damage-”

“But he’s going to be fine, right' He’s pulling through.” Gerry nodded as if it could make her change her mind.

“Gerry, I have to be honest about his odds. His organ function is weakened and I’m afraid it’s only going to get worse.”

His heart dropped into his stomach like a lead weight. “How long"” He choked out.

“It’s difficult to say with these things. It could be weeks...it could be months. We just don’t know at this point.” she informed him gently. “But, I recommend you and your mother get his affairs in order sooner rather than later.”

Gerry just stood there, silent as the grave, his entire body gone cold. All the hope he’d found was ripped out from under his feet.

“I’m very sorry, Gerry. I understand that this comes as a blow.” She said, reaching out and gripping his shoulder before turning and leaving him there.

Gerry turned, confusion in his eyes as he looked on his happy family. Bill was smiling, talking to the little girl in his lap, blissfully unaware that he was going to die. He couldn’t take this from them. He wouldn’t. He simply put on a smile and walked back into the room.

Gerard Finnegan

Date: 2017-05-12 11:07 EST
Bill was released to the family after Gerry signed him out with the understanding that he be monitored for the remainder of his time. It was a momentous occasion for everyone. The old man had difficulty walking and breathing was difficult, but he was alive. It gave everyone hope...except for Gerry.

Gerry who knew the truth. Gerry would hadn’t given up just yet on finding a way to save his father.

The family was gathered in the living room, as old VHS tapes played footage from a camcorder.

A much younger, and very much healthy Bill was on the screen playing a little touch football in the yard. Gerry, ten years old, short and scrawny had the nerf football in his arms running for a touchdown until Bill scooped him up with a playful battle cry.

Bill watched a smile on his face and Nasya in his arms. “Don’t think I could manage that one now, eh, Ger"”

It took a moment for Gerry to snap out of his head, eyes turning to his father. For a moment he stared. A smile formed on his lips then. “Dare you to try, old man.”

Bill laughed, a fit of coughing interrupting the moment. “Might take a rain check for now.”

Kara sat at the old man’s feet and smirked, leaning her head against his knee. On the screen, a tiny Kara came running out of nowhere and jumped off the picnic table, arms wrapping around Bill’s neck, screaming. “YOU’RE GOIN’ DOWN, OLD MAN!”

She grinned up at him. “Rain check on that one, too there, gramps"

The smile faded from Gerry’s face as attention was placed elsewhere. He stared at his father as he chuckled in response to Kara. “Yeah, rain check on piggy back rides for now.” he said. “But watch it with that ‘gramps’ talk, wise-a-” He started but glanced down to Nasya. “Butt. Wise butt.”

Kara snickered and tapped his knee with her temple before settling back in against him.

Rose stepped up behind Bill and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, placing a little kiss at his cheek. “Don’t worry. You’ll be back up and around in no time, and we’ll all be struggling to catch up.” She came around and slipped in at her husband’s side, one of those big arms of his wrapping around her.

“Where was I in all this"” Ginny asked, sat in front of one of the chairs, leaning back against Michelle’s legs.

“Gin"” A younger Rose said on the screen. The camera panned over to a tiny redheaded girl sat in a lawn chair reading a book. “Don’t you want to go play with the others"”

Those big blue eyes took one look at the chaos with Gerry, Bill and Kara and then gave her mother and the camera SUCH a look.

It got a laugh out of everyone. Everyone but Gerry. Overwhelmed, he stepped away, abruptly heading up the stairs. Everybody glanced after him, exchanging concerned looks.

Gerry pulled open the sliding door to the backyard, stepping out into warm summer night. Blue eyes squeezed shut as he took a deep breath, trying to slow his heart and make it not feel like he might break down. The little german shepard mix puppy, Baby trotted out after him, sitting at his foot and staring up at her owner. Gerry reached down and pet the little one.

The yard was much the same as it had been in that video. The grill was new, the fence had been redone, but everything, picnic table included were still the same. Amazing how much time could change some things, while leaving others intact, he thought. Behind him, the door slid open, his fists clenching.

“I’m alright.” He said, trying to sound casual, but not turning around. “Just needed some fresh air.”

“Well, that’s bull.” Ginny’s voice responded.

He turned back to see her, clad in a t-shirt and a denim jacket, her arms crossed. “Ger. What the hell is going on"” She asked him stepping forward. “Since Dad woke up, you’ve been walking around like someone kicked Baby. Why aren’t you happier"”

Gerry stared at his sister a long moment. “It’s...it’s just been a really tough time.”

Her eyes flicked back and forth as he brow furrowed. “Uh....yeah. For all of us, dude. But we have something to celebrate now, Gerry. Why aren’t you celebrating with us" Dad is HOME. He’s strong, he’s going to get better.”

No. He wasn’t. Gerry was SO close to saying it. Instead he just stood there and cast his eyes down for a moment. Finally, he looked up to Ginny and forced a smile. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just...I needed some fresh air.”

Ginny walked up and wrapped her arms around her brother’s waist, resting her head against his chest. Gerry’s arms enveloped the tiny redhead, giving her a tight squeeze. “You always come after me, don’t you?”

“Always have, always will.” She smiled to herself. She turned her eyes up to him. “Would prefer it if I didn’t HAVE to, so maybe someone could stop wandering off"”

Gerry chuckled and leaned down kissing her forehead. “I’ll do what I can.”

His sister poked his chest. “You better. Now, come on.” She said, heading back for the house.

“I’ll be right in. Just give me a minute, kay"”

She nodded, about to head in when her brow creased with concern. “You sure you’re alright, Ger"”

He swallowed and nodded, doing his level best not to break. “Yeah. Just gonna make sure Baby goes.” He said lifting his chin toward the yard.

Ginny looked unsure, but nodded, heading back inside. A shuddering breath left the troubled man as he walked over to the picnic table, taking a seat, shadowed by Baby. His eyes turned down to the dog and scratched her big fluffy neck. How long could he keep this up" How long before it just ate him alive"

Bill Finnegan

Date: 2017-05-24 17:02 EST
Weeks passed and Bill settled into things. Despite his chagrin towards his new diet, he was happy to be home, he was alive. It was a second chance in a world that didn’t often give second chances. But he couldn’t help but notice one simple fact: He wasn’t getting better. He only felt weaker, more tired all the time, yet, when he tried, sleep came with difficulty. Random pains crept into his body every now and again. Some nights he would just feel sick to his stomach for seemingly no reason.

He woke up early today, slipping quietly out of bed while Rose slept. The old man stepped out onto the patio in back, breathing in the cool morning air. It was a bit difficult to get the air in, but he managed. For 31 years, he’d called this place home. He’d raised his children here, loved and lost so much over the years. So much of his life was spent in this yard, and suddenly it occurred to him that the time had not nearly been enough. He wanted more.

The door slid open behind him, and Bill expected to see his wife...instead he found the hulking form of Gerry. A flannel shirt and a faded navy blue ballcap on his head and a blue eyed, raven haired slumbering girl in his arms. A smile spread across his son’s handsome face. “Heya, Pop.”

Bill smirked back at him. “Ger! What are you doin’ out here so early"”

He stepped over leaning down and kissing the top of his dad’s head. “Nas didn’t sleep at all last night, so I took her out for a ride. Finally got her to sleep, so I figured I’d come by, see how you were.”

Bill eyed him a moment. Gerry had been...off ever since the heart attack. His smiles and laughter seemed to be more forced than natural. There were times he’d catch his son staring off with a sadness in those usually cheerful eyes.

“I’m…” Bill started, but then paused. “I don’t know, to be honest.”

That look came across Gerry’s face again as he sat.

“I’m having trouble breathing...last night I couldn’t sleep because every time I closed my eyes, I get dizzy and want to puke...I don’t know. It’s not good.” He frowned down at the grass.

Gerry was silent. He just held that kid in his arms, looking like a lost puppy. Bill reached out his arms. “Lemme see the munchkin.”

Gerry carefully handed Nasya over to the old man. Bill was an expert with her, positing the girl on his shoulder without even causing the slightest stir. The two sat there a long moment in the morning sun.

“I’m not getting better.” Bill said simply. He turned his eyes to his son. “Am I"”

It was a hunch, but Bill believed Gerry knew more than he let on. His son turned to him an expression of fear and remorse upon his face. “No.”

“When did they tell you?” Bill asked him, not even a hint of accusation in his tone.

“The day you woke up.” Gerry said, guilt ridden. “Everyone was so happy...I just...I couldn’t take that from you.”

Bill’s heart just broke for him, reaching out and clasping his shoulder. “Kid...God. You shouldn’t have to carry that weight. Does anyone else know"”

Gerry shook his head. “It just...never seemed like the right time.”

Bill nodded. He imagined that, put in the same place, he’d probably make the same choice. Despite the years apart, Gerry still took after him more than he could imagine. “How long do I have.”

Gerry turned to him, thinking. “The doc wasn’t sure. Said maybe weeks...maybe months.”

“Way things are going...probably the latter.” Bill said, suddenly feeling like he was living on borrowed time.

“Dad…” Gerry whispered, tears forming in his eyes. “I am so sorry.”

Bill gave him a squeeze on that muscular shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Gerry. It’s nobody’s fault. I had a good life. I mean...look at all I’ve got. I’ve got the most amazing wife, I’ve got a daughter who’s finally living for herself. I’ve got this beautiful little munchkin here….I’ve got Kara, who I could not be prouder to call my daughter….And I got you, kid.”

A smile formed through the sadness on Bill’s face, watching Gerry’s. “I’ve had a damn good life. Just...wish I had more time.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Gerry asked him, looking hopeless.

Bill sniffed out a laugh and grinned. “Not unless you’ve got some kind of crazy cure-all in that magic-land you came from.”

Suddenly, a look of realization came over Gerry’s face, his lips parting slightly. He put a hand to his forehead as if he’d been a fool. “Son of a bitch…” Gerry muttered.

Bill quirked an eyebrow at his son. “You...you alright.”

Gerry suddenly looked VERY excited. “Dad...I need to make a call.”

Gerard Finnegan

Date: 2017-06-01 13:52 EST
Keirra’s phone rang, the caller ID showing it was him. Gerry rarely called unless it was an emergency or to set up their arrangements for Nasya's time with her...and it was nowhere near time for that.

Yeah, they'd definitely had drifted apart in the whole staying friends department, not that she blamed him. She definitely had her hands full herself. Her phone rang and it was all the way across the room, 'Gangster's Paradise' ringing out. Her brow furrowed lightly and she reached out as if she could suddenly develop a super stretch ability. Sighing when it didn't work, she looked to the white wolf in the room. "Please...?" Zimushka looked at her, not at all amused, and sighed lightly, bringing the phone to her. "Thank you, Fuzzbutt," she made a kissy face and answered the phone after a moment of confusion. "Gerry' Nasya okay' What's going on?" It...was never happy news when these kinds of calls happened.

Gerry paced in his parents' yard, Bill staring at his son suspiciously. He'd just gotten really fired up about something...but didn't tell the sick man what. Finally she answered. "Ko...I need-there's...I need a favor." He said, stumbling over his words.

He sounded breathless, almost panicky. She knew that tone. It happened when he got really worked up.

Keirra at this point was...about seven-plus months pregnant, and completely undesirable in her own eyes. Still, she couldn't help but smirk when he spoke, "What kind of favor"~" she asked. "Hand stuff" Mouth stuff" Soul trade" First born son' I'm working on that one right now~ Do I need a shovel" Drugs" You need drugs?" At this point she was just teasing him, not catching on to the seriousness.

His voice gave way to a LOT of barely checked pain, then. "It's...It's my dad." He managed. "He's...he's not doing so well..."

Keirra had finally wiped Zim's spit off the phone, reaching down with her hand to swipe her last toenail with red polish. Her brow furrowed, "What's wrong with Pops?" she asked, sliding off the couch now and moving to head up the stairs—awkwardly given the fact that her nails were wet.

A long silenced followed. "A few weeks ago he had a massive heart attack. Doctor's say there was too much damage...and...they say he's not going to live much longer. I guess his organs are shutting down slowly. It's...it's really bad." Gerry's voice dropped a bit quieter, crackin just a smidge toward the end.

"I need Martyr, Ko." He said. "I need her blood. If it can heal you through everything we went through...it can save him." He said. "It's got to."

Ko's icy eyes stared ahead and she paused on the last step, her hand resting on that swollen belly. She widened that gaze and opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and lowered her head some. "Gerry..." she whispered softly. "Martyr..." Chewing on her cheek, "She disappeared a while back, I....I don't know where she is..."

It felt as if his heart had plummeted into his stomach like a meteor. It was a desperate hope to begin with...but now it was just obliterated. Keirra could hear Bill on the other end, distance. "Ger" Kid" You...you alright?" But the only thing out of her ex husband was just breathing. Stressed, shaky breathing.

Gerry nodded to his father, forcing a smile, and turning his back. "He's going to die..." He whispered, almost to himself, as if just realizing it, the last shred of hope dissipating into the air.

Turning on the step, she chewed her lip lightly. She sat down on the top step and went silent. Her lip was traded for the end of her thumbnail, and she let out a sigh. "No he's not..." she whispered softly. "Get him here, I'll figure it out....Need me to open a portal?"

"Ko...it's...what can we even do?" he asked, that voice usually so alive and chipper just broken.

"There are others," she answered him. "I'll take him to the village...We'll figure something out, Gerry. I promise."

A smile slowly spread across his face. "I need to tell my family...I don't want my mom waking up to find us just gone. But...Keirra..."

"Thank you." He sighed She could hear the tears forming even in his voice. "Thank you, so much."

There was a smile in return, though his was unseen. "Of course," she said sincerely, "any time," and she meant it. "Go tell your family, get him back to your place...I'll open a portal there."



OOC: Thanks to Keirra Owens' player for participating in this storyline

Gerard Finnegan

Date: 2017-06-05 15:41 EST
One thing Gerry never thought about, but was now grateful for" An elevator. He was pretty sure Bill couldn't handle the walk up the stairs to his and Ginny's place. Rose stood by her husband's side, clinging to him. "I'm a little jealous." she said sweetly, looking up at him. "You getting to go see a whole new world." Gerry hadn't told them the whole truth of why they were going. If they all knew that Bill was basically living on borrowed time, there was no way in hell he could get his mom to let him go. Maybe, he thought, one day he would tell her the whole story. He smiled to his mother. "I promise. Next time, I'll take you all." Bill gave her a squeeze. "Yeah. Consider this a bit of a boy's vacation." He nodded to her. "Besides. What kind of trouble could we possibly get into?" Rose smiled up at him and pulled him into a kiss. "Uh huh. You just be careful, mister." With a ding, the doors opened and they made their way into the apartment. Keirra had arrived at one point or another. She'd managed to change into a stretchy pair of yoga pants, and a long t-shirt. She hadn't really given any details just yet either. Played it off like she was grumpy and pregnant. Took every opportunity to hold her kid, and pet that dog that she gifted to Gerry. The portal for now, was closed. The energy of it would go away at some point, and she'd have to recharge the stone. For now, though, it was still going strong. She'd taken some time to tell Zver where she was going. There'd be no secrets between the two of them. Kara's interaction with Ko, up to this point was minimal. There was obviously a bit weirdness there. But she understood and appreciated Keirra's place in her boyfriend's life. Plus, she'd made Nasya. How bad could she really be? A smile crossed her lips as Gerry and the Parents entered the room. Her arms wrapped around her boyfriend as she leaned up to plant a kiss on his lips. "Everything cool?" Gerry whispered to her. Kara gave him a look. Keirra was an...acquired taste. Never one to much filter...anything. But the tall brunette beauty was making a go of it. "Yeah. We're good." She said a little smirk gracing her features. Gerry gave her another squeeze and set his eyes on Ko, a smile spreading across his face."Heya Ko." He said, moving over to her. Keirra was fat and sassy, sank into the couch cushion with a baby propped up on one leg, and the puppy's head resting on the other. "Hey Big Guy," she answered back with a soft smile. The hand that wasn't around Nasya's back reached out. "Help my fat ass get up.." He reached out, one of those big meathooks of his wrapping around her hand and pulled her to her feet. His arms encircled her, pulling her close. "Thank you." he whispered. "Ngh," a grunting little noise left her as he hoisted her up. She kept a firm hand holding Nasya, and was easily pulled into that hug. "Always," she answered back, resting her head on his chest. She loved Gerry. Maybe not in the way that she was supposed to. The people in that room took incredible care of Nasya, though. Ginny was a total mama bear. Even with Ko, she had a bit of a protective streak. That child wanted for nothing. Especially from the man they were all there for. Bill stepped in, Gerry still the absolute spitting image of him. The first time they'd met, Bill had immediately wrapped her up in a big hug, welcoming her right into the family in the way that only he could. The man even appreciated her frank and unfiltered way of dealing with people. He set those eyes, the same as his son's, upon Keirra and big grin splitting his lips. "Jeeeesus...lookit you, kiddo. You look great." That blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, but a few strands hung over a single icy eye that moved to Bill. "Hey, Pops," she answered, pulling away from Gerry to give him a hug. "You mispronounced fat," she teased him. It was hard to miss that his usual tight squeeze of a hug missed a lot of its strength. "Psh...last time I saw ya, you were skin n' bones. I think ya look absolutely beautiful." He told her with a bright smile. Keirra tried, tried not to frown. Her eyes looking up to him, and her hand rubbed his back. She was going to fix this, if it was the last thing she did. Worst comes to worst, she could owe Zver's psycho friend a favor....She didn't want it to come to that, though. Gerry would probably never stop worrying about Ko if he met that stab-happy bitch. ...Ko loved her. Rose, ever the sweetheart, nodded. "Motherhood definitely suits you, Keirra." She nodded happily. "And when did you go blonde?" Bill asked her. "You're too sweet, pops," she smiled, trying to play it cool. "Thanks, Ma." Keirra had warmed right up to Gerry's parents. Probably because she never had any of her own, and they'd always been good to her—if not slightly concerned. Within reason, of course. Though, that was the thing about them. Incredibly warm people, the Finnegans. It wasn't hard to see where Gerry got it from. Rose stepped in giving her a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. "How far along are you now, sweetie?" she asked Returning the hug, and the kiss, her eyes went to the ceiling. "Um..." she bit her lip. "Middle of July, I think, is when I'm due," Ko answered. "I got my girl," gesturing to Nasya. "And soon I'll have a boy." Keirra was warming up to the idea of a boy at this point. "Getting down to the wire, then!" She said, brightly. "Let's hope you don't end up with a giant like this one." she muttered hooking a thumb to Gerry. "13 lbs." She said with a shudder. Gerry made a face. "Oh, I was not." "Uh. Yeah. You were. I was there, sweetheart. Your giant head got stuck and they had to use the forceps. Practically needed to get the jaws of life..." Rose mumbled distantly. A snort came from Kara, which earned her a narrow-eyed stare from Gerry. "What?" the brown-haired beauty said defensively. "Your head IS huge." That...well that made her go a bit pale. "I'll die." It was true. Nasya in all her little glory had taken Ko out of this world for a small period of time. If she had a Gerry-sized baby' She didn't even want to think about it. It was the banter that made her snicker, "I guess that's why his head is shaped so funny..." Gerry reached up and touched his head self consciously, which just made Kara laugh harder, Ginny trying not to as she looked away. Bill patted his son on the shoulder. "It's okay kid. It looks distinguished." Ko held the baby out to Rose so that she could take over. Rose took Nasya in her arms. "Ga!" the little one said excitedly, her little attempt at saying grandma reduced to 2 letter word, reaching out and smushing Rose's cheeks to a delighted chuckle. "I'mma come back for your cooking soon, Ma," Keirra promised with a grin. "But for right now, I promised these boys a drive around Rhydin..." Eyes moved to Gerry, "You ready to go, Buckethead?" Gerry smiled at them and turned to Ko. "One second." He nodded. Gerry stepped up to his mother and the baby, leaning down and kissing her on her pudgy little cheek. "Daddy loves you, baby. You be good." He turned his gaze upon Rose. He couldn't tell her everything just yet, but in his mind he swore to her that he would save Bill. Rose looked up and reached a hand up, touching her son's face. "Come back." Gerry nodded. "I promise." Bill stepped up.said his goodbyes to Ginny, Kara, and his mother, reaching out for Nasya and "Alright, quit huggin' the munchkin." He grumbled. "Poppyyyyyyyy!" Nasya called out, her traditional battle cry upon seeing the old man. Bill scooped her up and put his forehead to her's. "Poppy's gonna miss you, munchkin." He said to her with a warm smile. "You keep being your perfect little self, okay?" Nasya just made a happy little "eeeeeeee" sound before he handed her back off to Rose. Ginny's turn was next, giving Gerry a good squeeze. "Seriously, don't make me come after you two." She grinned to herself. "Least you know where to find me this time." Gerry chuckled. Bill smiled down to his wife, when they returned, he would be his old self again for her...for everyone in that room. "You be careful, you hear me?" She told him. "I make no guarantees." Bill smirked. "Mmhmm." She narrowed her eyes, but softened, reaching out and pulling him into a kiss. Finally they parted. Finally, Gerry stepped up to a concerned looking Kara. The man she loved was disappearing again, but this time with his ex-wife. The thought alone filled her with dread. The last time he left was supposed to be forever. She'd gotten a second chance then, and the thought of losing him anyway was almost too much to bear. A forced smile came to her lips as Gerry cupped cheek, looking her right in those beautiful pools of blue. "I'm coming back. We're going to make everything okay again." He whispered. Kara wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. Her fists gripping his shirt tightly. "I love you."

"I love you, too." He said quietly, giving one last kiss. Bill nudged his son out of the way. "One side, Junior, one side." He said, stepping up to Kara. She looked at him with a stern expression, poking him in the chest. "I want a full report. Tell me all about it when you get back, got it?" A smile crossed the old man's lips. "All the sordid details. Got it." The pair of them finally wrapped each other in a tight embrace before he joined Gerry, turning to face Keirra. "We're ready." Softening slightly when they said their goodbyes, she smiled and moved over to give her daughter a kiss on the cheek. "See you soon, Mini Me," she promised the kid and pulled the stone out of her pocket. It was a gift from a friend. One that helped her track down Gerry in the first place. She opened the portal and it flickered lightly. Soon, the shadow stretched out over the wall. "I'll protect him," said the shortstack before waving them on through. "Come on. Let's get this show on the road. Bye everyone," she called out. She'd let them step through before she went after them. Bill paused a moment at the portal, a moment. A current of fear running through him as he stood before the gateway to another world. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face. He glanced back at Rose, looking like a kid. With a deep breath, he stepped on through. Keirra would wait for Gerry to go through, then she'd follow after them both. She took a final glance to Rose, and then determination was heavy on that face. Pops wasn't dying. Not today, not any time soon. Once they were all through, the portal would fix closed behind them.

Gerard Finnegan

Date: 2017-07-10 17:49 EST
Back. He was back. The world he knew faded away and Rhydin was once again around him. He could feel the difference in the air. An electricity that wasn't there back home. When they got to the otherside, they were outside the large house Keirra lived in now. It was nothing like the cramped camper she'd grown used to living in. No, the place was huge. Made a hell of a difference when one befriended a rich nighteater, it seemed. Zimuska, a massive white wolf pawed at the window upon seeing Ko appear and let out a howl.

Bill blinked as they arrived, the room that had been around them replaced with something else. For a moment he almost looked afraid...but a grin slowly spread across the old man's face. "Whoa...that was a helluva thing..." Bill chuckled.

A grin cracked open on the rogue's face, "You ain't seen nothing yet, Pops."

"Daaamn, Ko. You upgraded." He turned to her with a lopsided grin.

A smirk found her face, "Yeah, I do aight," she teased him. "I'll give you the tour later, but we should get this show on the road," she snickered and another portal was opened.

Bill gaped at the portal, same as the first time. This sort of magic was completely foreign to him. Even after seeing it once, it still blew his mind. "...how do you do that?" he whispered. "I don't," she shook her head, holding up the rock. "This does," Keirra informed him. "It's just something someone made for me using their powers," she smiled. "It's good to know people."

Gerry gave her shoulder a squeeze as he passed. "Yeah. Yeah it is." With a smile he stepped into the portal and out to the other side. Bill followed, stepping up to the threshold, glancing her way with that child-like glee in his aged face. With a little chuckle he stepped on through. As they all went through, Keirra looked surprised to see where they were at. "This isn't right..." she muttered, nose twitching lightly as she sniffed the air. "Smells good, though..." A frown, "Man, this thing don't work right when I'm hungry..."

Bill looked between the two of them. "Well...I mean...we're already here..." He gestured to the counter. "It would be rude to just show up and not get food...right?"

Gerry shot him a look. "Dad. You're coming off a massive heart attack..."

"...so' what? Am I gonna get MORE terminally ill" If I'm going out, I'm going out with a cheeseburger in me!"

"I had a heart attack," Keirra shook her head. She had, that was a thing that had happened. "I'll be damned if it stops me from eating cheeseburgers," clearly on Bill's side here.

Gerry sighed and looked to the preggers rogue. "Alright, alright...we're gonna cure you anyway..." He said. "Just...sit. Relax, alright, dad?"

As Bill sat, Gerry got in line with Keirra. A gaze cast her way. "You look good. Gettin' excited?" He asked, nodding to her belly.

"Last one killed me," she snickered, eyes to the menu. "So, I guess more afraid than anything..."

"Yeah, but you're persistent. Like a vulgar energizer bunny." he grinned, eyeing the menu himself. "Yeah, I guess," she said with a scoff.

"How's...Zeever was it?"

Those eyes trailed over to him for a moment, when he brought up Zver. She frowned and looked down at her feet—or belly, rather—for a moment. Things with Zver had been...rocky to say the least. What with the demonic possession and her trying to ruin his life. She went quiet for a moment before, "Good."

His brows knit together, looking her over. "That sounds like the least 'good' good I've ever heard. Y'all okay?"

Keirra looked way up to him, "You..." she dropped her eyes again, "...you know better than anyone how hard I can be to live with," Ko told him.

Gerry considered that a moment before nodding. "True. Though, I know how you can be when you dedicate yourself to something. " He glanced down to her. "When you really put your heart into things."

"Yeah, but," Keirra stepped forward, they were next in line. "I always seem to **** it up somehow," she whispered.

"You didn't with me." He reminded her, finalizing what he wanted in his head.

He stepped up to the cashier and ordered for himself and his father. The appearance and personality weren't the only things they shared. They each held an affinity for plain food. No condiments on anything for either of the Finnegan boys.

"Yeah well," she shook her head. "We both know how it would've ended." Keirra swallowed hard and then stepped up to the counter, "I'll have a cheeseburger with everything but mustard. If you put a drop of mustard on it, I'll puke all over the floor and have this baby in your kitchen...Oh, and...fries with honey mustard sauce, annnd a caffiene free diet coke," she groaned.

She certainly had a way with words. That was something he'd always appreciated about her. The self-loathing wasn't great, but the sense of humor and lack of a filter, he'd always found endearing. "You still talk to any of the Caravan?" He asked, plunking down the cash to pay for their food. It was the least he could do for her helping him out. "Not really," Keirra shook her head and shrugged. "I see Saila every now and again, but that's mostly just through Hex. Other than that' Haven't really seen any of them in forever," she shrugged. "Put those days behind me." She moved over to wait for their order. "Thanks," she said, never one to protest a free meal.

Gerry nodded, walking with her. "Honestly, I think that's a good thing. That group...they never seemed like a great thing for you."

"They were family," she said with a nod. "...but I'll admit that I'm happier now." That brought that warm, genuine smile to his face. "Good. You deserve to be happy."

Keirra was silent then, up until the food came. She lit up and grabbed a tray, "Foooood~" she chimed softly, stepping aside to let him take the other tray.

The pair of them found Bill talking to a confused looking, horned man trying to just enjoy his food. "You know, I used to read my kids a story about this guy who was kinda like you. He lived in a place where it was always winter. Good book."

Bill could be dropped into a world where they didn't even communicate verbally and wind up striking up a conversation with someone.

"Dad. Food." Gerry interrupted stealing his father away much to the strangers relief

"Oh. Gotta go! Kid brought me food! Take er easy!" Bill slid in beside his son and Keirra.

"Yeah, let's mow down," though she wasn't at all mortified by Bill's actions. Hell, she found them funny. This was someone that never had a filter. She slid into a seat and plopped down, happy to take the weight off of her legs.

Bill looked at that burger almost lustily. It had been weeks since he was allowed anywhere near red meat. He took one big bite and groaned. "Shooooo goood..."

Keirra took a couple bites, and then started laughing so hard she nearly choked. She coughed and took a drink of her coke with a shake of her head. "Ngh..."

Bill beamed over the table to her. "Okay...so...what?s the story here. This...cure-all thing ya got. I just pop a pill or somethin' and bam! I'm all better?"

"Something like that," she said with a smirk. "It's a little more complicated, I guess, but....If I tell you, you might try to back out," she teased him, catching her breath.

He chomped away at that burger, brows furrowed. "Thatsh Ominoush..."

Ko took another bite and her eyes slid to Gerry. "You remember the one time we went to that taco stand at 2 in the morning after Karaoke?"

Gerry's eyes met Ko's a grin spreading across his face. "Totally! Great night." He said, bringing the burger up to take a bite. "As I recall...I had to piggy-back you home."

"Yeah, and..." Ko laughed and pointed, taking a sip to calm herself. "You almost fell and killed us both! I think I drank as much you did that night!"

He laughed and shook his head. It had been a long time since he'd drank like that. "God...that seems like a lifetime ago." He said. "Remember when you, me and Katja went for a joyride in that car?"

Bill gave his son SUCH a look.

"Oh god, that bitch almost made me pee myself that night!" she cackled and shook her head.

Gerry just ignored it and laughed. "It was this old 67 Challenger, Pop. First time I'd ever driven. You'd have loved it."

Bill rose an eyebrow at his son. "I take it the car wasn't in one piece when you were done with it..."

Gerry glanced to Ko for confirmation...he was pretty sure it was, in fact not.

Keirra shrugged lightly and popped a fry into her mouth, "Yeah that thing got trashed, but....The owner was a dick," she amended it.

Bill snorted. "Well, if the owner was a dick..."

A grin spread across her face, and she nodded. "Total dick."

Gerry laughed and looked back to her. "Dad n' me have been restoring his old 70 Challenger the past few months. Got her up and running not too long ago."

"next time you visit, we'll go joyriding." Bill promised her. "long as you don't wreck the damn thing." "Hey, you talk to your son!" she yelped at him. "He's the wrecker, I happen to be a great driver." Playing a montage of all the cars she'd wrecked in her head.

Gerry MIGHT have gotten a bit defensive. "Alright! It was my first time driving! Cut me some slack! I'm a good driver now!"

"Oh yeah, and I'm a virgin!" she teased him.

Bill smirked. "He drives kinda like an old lady." He said, confidentially to Ko.

"Because I have your Granddaughter in the car, ya jerk!"

Gerard Finnegan

Date: 2019-02-11 01:05 EST
The trio piled into a car and hit the road. The ride remained mostly silent until they pulled into spot on the outskirts of a wooded area. Keirra went off to negotiate the terms, leaving the them on their own for the time being. It was strange, being back. So much was tied to this place, so many memories. Fate had taken him in so many different directions throughout his life. He'd been a kid in suburban Texas, lived the life of a pirate, became a successful business owner and became a father. He hadn't been prepared for any of it, but if there was something to be said for Gerard Finnegan, it was that he adapted well. It was almost funny....He'd fought like hell to return to Rhy'din to no avail, and now all he wanted to get his dad healthy and get home. Gerry glanced in the rearview, catching sight of Bill.

The old man looked so much like him. The same tall, broad build. Those same easy, friendly blue eyes. That same wry grin. He always seemed so alive. So energetic. Now, though...he seemed tired. Bill's skin was a pallid shade of white, his eyelids heavy beneath his brow.

"Pop?" He asked, taking the old man's attention, a shadow of concern passing his face. "You alright?"

Bill blinked as if snapping awake. He looked to Gerry in the reflection nodded, a distant smile on his face. "Yeah. Yeah, just...kinda tired."

"Well, stay awake, alright' Hate for you to miss this." Gerry tried a smile on, masking the fear with something, anything else.

Bill grinned and gave him a thumbs up. "You got it, kid."

The weakened old man looked around them. It didn't look much different than home. It was like going to another developed country and expecting a complete culture shock only to find a Burger King. Not that he was disappointed, just surprised. Still...he was on another world. Another...dimension,he supposed it could be called.

"Amazing..." he muttered.

"What's that?" Gerry asked.

"Look at us, Ger." Bill said, gesturing around them. "This is like some kinda sci-fi stuff. Never dreamed I'd do something like this."

Gerry grinned, thinking about it. It had been such a part of his life, he'd rarely even considered how it might seem to someone else. "Yeah...yeah, I guess it is pretty amazing."

"You miss it?" He asked his son.

Gerry turned, glancing back.

"This place." Bill clarified.

Gerry thought a moment. All those good and bad times rushing back. His connection to Rhy'din was filled with conflict. The highest highs...and the lowest lows. "I miss Ko. And my business and some of my friends...but...there's a lot of pain for me here. It wasn't the easiest life."

"No. I suppose not. But..." Bill smirked. "What is?"

"Being a billionaire and waited on hand and foot?" Gerry submitted immediately.

"Ooh." Bill nodded slowly. "Yeah, that IS pretty cushy."

"Bet your ass." Gerry nodded, overly sincere, a smirk forming...

"I can't imagine how much it must have hurt. Leaving here. Leaving her." Bill said. "Almost your whole life was in this place. Everything you had, everything you built..."

Gerry's eyes lowered. That had been the hard part. The life he'd had was hard earned and he was infinitely proud of it. He loved his wife, his daughter, his friends. Having all but one of those blessings taken away left him devastated for a long time. It took the love of a good woman and his family to bring him back from the edge. Letting go of Rhy'din wasn't an easy thing to do, but it was necessary. This time when he went back home to Clute...it would be his choice.

?"That said..." Bill reached out, gripping his son's shoulder weakly. "I wouldn't trade the time I've had with you for anything. Seeing the man you became...meeting you all over again...it's been the greatest joy of my life. I-"

Gerry's brows knit together as he glanced back, reaching to his shoulder and taking his father's hand in his. "Hey. Don't start that. Don't start that goodbye tone. We're going to have more times together. We're going to get you healthy and we're gonna go home. Just stay awake, alright?"

"Just...Shut up and let me talk, willya?" Bill said, sounding a little more drowsy. "The day you came back into our lives...it was....like somebody gave me back a piece of my heart. I haven't felt like that since...God. I don't even remember. You came into this world so happy...so sweet. Every second with you was perfect, Ger...I'd never loved something more. I held you in my arms and I looked on at this...this piece of me. My boy....My amazing son..."

"Dad..." Gerry whispered, peering into the old man's familiar but tired eyes.

"And then you were gone..." Bill began to sound more and more distant, weaker. "I didn't...I didn't know. Where you went...what happened. Just...just shut off for a long time. Wasn't fair. To Gin...your mom. Shoulda...shoulda done better. "

"Dad. Why are you telling me this?" Gerry said, worry creeping into his voice.

Bill's breathing became uneven. "You gotta...you gotta cherish it. Every....second. Family, Ger...it's...you gotta..."

"Dad?" Gerry turned around.

"Never...let go." Bill stared ahead his brows knitting together as if he just realized something. "Oh. Oh my."

Bill froze a moment staring off at nothing. And then his head lolled back as he fell into unconsciousness. Gerry's heart dropped.

"Dad!" He threw open his door and moved to the rear of the car. He crouched over his father, shaking him, but Bill was not responding. He wasn't even breathing "Dad"! DAD! Wake up! Oh, come on, not now, not now!"

Gerry looked around in a panic, lost and helpless. "Dad, please!"

He wrapped his father in his arms, holding him close, tears streaming down his face. He held him tight, as if he cold hold him tight enough to keep him from leaving. "HELP!" Gerry screamed. "SOMEBODY HELP!"

Bill lay there, barely breathing. Gerry just cried out again and again to a vast nothing, helpless as his father lay dying in his arms. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The tranquil sounds of the lake filled his ears, mingling with Otis Redding singing "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay". The scent of pine heavy in the air. It was a perfect spring day at the lakehouse. One of many in the three years since that night. Gerry sat on a lawn chair upon the pier, his eyes closed, just drinking in everything the place had to offer. Slowly, blue eyes slid open, the greens, browns and blues reflecting in the imperfect mirror of the water. This place was perfect. He wasn't sure he believed in a heaven, but if it did exist, the lakehouse wasn't too far off.

He glanced down and moved the gold band around his left ring finger with his thumb, a smile spreading across his lips. There was no question about it. He belonged with Kara. Years and distance had parted them for far too long, but eventually, everything worked out how it was supposed to. Their wedding had been simple. Just a few friends and family. They'd even tied the knot on this very pier, followed immediately by a party crashed by every damn person with a boat along the lake.

"There's Daddy." He heard his wife's voice say in the distance. "Hiding out on the pier again."

Gerry glanced back. "Not hiding!"

Kara smirked to him, kneeling over the raven haired, blue eyed four year old Nasya. Her hair in braids courtesy of her aunt Ginny. The girl giggled and ran down the steps, leaving behind her very pregnant stepmother with a warm smile on her face. Their baby boy, William Daniel Finnegan would be there in less than a month. He couldn't wait, and neither could Nasya. Gerry stood up and opened his arms to the girl, wrapping her in a hug and spinning her around. "Heeeey, little munchkin."

"Daddyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy" she squealed, opening her arms like she was flying. Gerry planted a big kiss on the girl's cheek as he carried her to the chair, taking a seat with her in his lap.

"Daddy?" she asked.

"Yes, m'dear?"

"How come you sit out here all the time?" she asked.

"I think you know why. I think we've had this conversation before." He teased her, the little girl giggling again. "I think you just like to hear it."

Guilty. She rested her head against his chest.

"Your Poppy." Gerry said. "Whenever we came out here as kids, we'd wake up and every day, he'd be here. Right in this spot. I'd wander down and we'd sit, just the two of us listening to music and fishing. This was his favorite song."

"Do you like it?" Nasya asked him, trying to decide if she did as well.

"I love it." Gerry nodded. The little one curled up into him.

"Me too." She decided.

"Yeah." A voice said from behind them. "Nothin' quite like it."

Bill set his chair down beside his son, very much alive. His skin had long ago taken back its color, those eyes once again filled with energy. He had two beers in his hand and handed one off to Gerry. Life didn't often grant second chances, much less thirds or fourths...but Bill Finnegan was a lucky man.

Rose came up behind him, wrapping her arms around her husband's shoulders and placing a kiss upon the top of his head. Bill shut his eyes, hand clasping around her forearm, a smile on his face.

"Otis" Again?" She asked. "Aren't you guys tired of this song?"

"No." Gerry, Bill, and Nasya said it at once, a grin passed between father and son.

Rose rolled her eyes playfully and gave Bill one last squeeze. "Don't stay down here too long. Dinner's almost ready."

"Thanks, hon." Bill said to his wife and pulled her down into a lingering kiss. Gerry smiled, watching his parents just be unabashedly still in love. For a moment, he worried that the past three years had been a dream. That he would wake up in a second in the back of the that car and his father would be gone. The bliss of the intervening years nothing more than a brilliant fantasy. But it wasn't. Rose held onto Bill's hand until she had to let go, walking toward the lakehouse where Ginny and Michelle stood upon porch, a diamond ring adorning the redhead's hand. Ginny leaned back into the blonde's arms, a happy little smile on her lips. She cocked her head back, stealing a kiss of Michelle before settling back in.

Yeah, Gerry thought. This was good.

Nasya curled up in his arms and stared out at the shimmering waters of the lake with those brilliant blue eyes, latched onto her father. "Daddy?" She muttered, slightly muffled by his shirt.

"Yeah, baby girl?" Gerry said.

"I like it here." She finished.

Gerry looked over to Bill, the old man smiling back at him, holding his bottle toward him. He eyed his father a long moment, just thinking about everything that had brought them here, and how easily it had almost fallen apart.

"Yeah, Munchkin." He said, tapping the neck of his bottle to Bill's. "Me too."

Gerry sat there with his father and his daughter, the three of them warm, safe, and content. Yes, like his father, Gerard Finnegan was a lucky man.

(OOC Note: This story has been begging to get finished for years. I'm sorry I took so long to find and write this ending. I hope it's as satisfying for you guys as it has been for me. Thanks for reading and for your patience.)