This is what I thought,
I thought you need me,
This is what I thought so think me naïve,
I promise you a heart you'd promise to keep,
Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.

-Prelude 12/21 by AFI

PROLOGUE: Leave!

"Ann, may I speak with you for a moment?" Snively inquired. It was late August, two months since he had returned home from the cliff.

"Yes, what about?" Ann asked innocently.

"I believe you are cheating on me," Snively said. There, after two months, he finally said it.

"What? How did you come to that assumption?" Ann replied, acting hurt.

"My two-year-old daughter had seen you with St. John," Snively answered.

"No, I've done nothing of the sort. I was watching a romance flick on television when you were gone late at night. "Chibi had woken up and came in. She saw what I'm assuming she told you what I did on the movie and fell asleep after it," Ann told him.

"I didn't think she would remember that, let alone switch it around."

"Why did you let her watch that?" Snively questioned.

"I'm sorry, I won't let it happen again," Ann said.

He gave her a kiss. "Much better. Speaking of Serenity, have you seen her or her siblings?"

"Here we are, Dad," Hope said, coming in with her brother and sister, all three with a knapsack.

"Ready to go?" he asked. The three nodded, though Mecha looked unsure.

"You'll be fine," Ann spoke. Snively opened a portal and he and his children walked through. ''Bout time he leaves,' Ann thought disgustedly.