me. And for the whole 40 minutes it takes them to arrive, All

e wants is her son back, an opportunity to talk to him, and smooth things

it's the last thing she wants or needs right now, but she doesn't seem to have

nswer Alex's question

m. For reasons so much deeper t

become a good lover and marry someone else. And while she knows it's not completely his, not really-because she knew that Damon would never eve

r; he didn't love her

away when suddenly it dawns on A

us yellow and green diner shirt, which is filthy. She probably re

s baggy enough to hide just how much weight she

never really had the time to actually work out properly, or the energy, because most days she worked from morning to ni

hatever money she did have left over, she alwa

g in her belly, she realizes how disgusting and messy it is, too. Not to

immediately knows it's them, and not just because no o

launches herself at him, wrapping her arms around her so

t at least he doesn't push he

ver run off on me like that again." She reprimands, wishing she could sound

o me for 14 years." Alex bites back, the

en pleads in

, pointing vaguely behind him while keeping his eyes tr

." Allen tries, but Alex shakes his hea

snorts, "Yeah, no, I'm don

k to me like that." Allen reprimands ag

stay with Damon." Alex throws at her, then tri

er him, "Alex!" But the boy is big and strong and man

ack into the building, leaving Alle

len

a sharp intake of breath. "Damon," she whispers ba

like a man. A strong and powerful man.

e, up and down. And suddenly Allen feels overly self-conscious as she hugs he

w that he got rid of her when he did

forgotten. That same magnetic feeling she used to get every time they were together It is as if they had s

cing herself into coherency. "How dare you?"

on snaps back, f

uld stay with you?"

you agreed, then he could." Damon expla

ly snaps, uncaring of how childish she m

posure. "Oh, you mean like you kept him from me?"

spond. "You left me," she manages in a small voic

ng closer. "That was not your decision to make alon

as possible. "Oh, yeah?" She finally bites back, "You would have found time for the bastard child fro

tually wanted you to leave." Damon hisses through clenched

ly reminding her that they're out in the middle of the neighborhood. "Look, why don

dings and the people around, then back at Allen. "Yeah, I'm not

in shock as she tries to digest what Damon just told he

think of anything, "And it's probably for the best that

llen's lips. "Excuse m

e him in the worst neighborhood in the country." Damon says it w

eling Damon's words like a punch to her gut. Because the words run so much deeper than just a jab a

amon quickly states

snort, folding her arms. "You

that we would never be able to make it." Damon says in a surprisingly soft, vulnerable tone, "And yeah, I have my ca

derstand your fear for your love for her, but it's been 15 years; you married someone else and alr

n behind Allen, and Alex comes stomping out with a small duf

ead. But as soon as she tries to reach out for him, Alex jumps out of her

lease." Allen be

just as he reaches it. Alex drops his bag to the ground, then spins around an

for dear life. "I'm so sorry, son; I never meant to hurt you." She man

e." Alex whispers back, "But it still hurts,

m, even though every syllable hurts to say,

ble teenage boy that Allen raised. "I just want a chance to get to know my father," he whispers with a shrug

e she could never deny her son anything. Especially not something

y whispers, "Just co

ck, then pecks his mothe

helplessly. "Please take care of him," she pleads, not knowing what else to say and knowing th

en felt, and then, after a moment of silence, he goes on hesitantl

h tired eyes and nods.

ts with a nod, "I'l

s seat, starts the car, and drive

yes barely blinking. It's as if a part of her has been torn away from deep inside her, and

forces her body up the four flights back up to their apartment. All she wants to do is curl up in bed a

out about Damon and running away to find him. And to top it all off, havi

to stay, and how well he seems to be doing without Allen. Which is

e shower. She stands under the scalding hot shower, her arms barely having the energy to scrub he

is taken away from them. And for some reason, she just knows that Alex needs time to cool of

sing through her blood like her nerves are going wild. And n

nd blood, the baby boy she carried inside of

s lying on his bed, along with the pajama pants there. They have a strong scent of her boy, which was nowher

s up into a tiny ball, and there, wrapped up in her son's

sobs wrack through her in waves after waves, low whimpers a