Nope, your eyes DIDN'T deceive you, I really did upload another chapter! This is my apology for such a long delay after I promised to update again soon. So go on, read it! ;)

This chapter takes place a week after the last one, just so no one gets confused. So far we're a month in from when Yamato found out she cheated.

Enjoy!


"What do you mean she's refusing to sign it?"

"Exactly what I said Yamato, she's sent the documents in with a note stating 'I won't sign until I can talk to Yamato.' At this point were at a stalemate, I recommended that you comply with her request and talk to her" Takao said lifting his coffee to his lips.

Yamato scowled "I have nothing to say to her."

Takao raised an eyebrow at him "Yamato-"

"Talking won't change anything so it's useless and a waste of time."

Takao sighed, "Yamato, I know you're angry and rightfully so but we both know there's a lot you both need to speak about. I'm not saying you have to meet her alone, we can have her come into the office and I'll stay present with you so you're not speaking alone. But this is something we have to do in order to move forward."

Yamato sunk down into his chair the more he talked, of course, he knew he was completely right and he was being slightly by childish pouting and refusing to speak to her. He sighed as he looked up from his crossed arms at Takao who was patiently waiting for him to speak. He was grateful for Takao and he could see why he was such a great lawyer, kind, patient, but firm. And he knew he was blessed to have the man sitting across from him as one of his dearest friends.

"Alright, I suppose I can, but here in the office."

Takao nodded and smiled at him "That's fine, I'll contact her and set up a meeting."

Yamato threw his head back and sighed "This is such a pain in the ass, she gonna ask about seeing the kids isn't she?"

"I would assume so."

"Would it be too harsh of me to tell her 'You can see them when hell freezes over'?"

Takao chuckled, "Maybe just a little, in the end, she's still their mother".

Yamato scowled, "What kind of mother brings the man they're cheating on their husband with home?" He looked to Takao and swallowed the lump in his throat "If I hadn't come home early that day, it could have been the twins who would have walked in to see an another man in the house. How could you disgrace your home like that and call yourself a mother?"

Takao shook his head sadly "I don't know what she was thinking Yamato, it's an awful situation but we should be thankful that neither Aki nor Ruka came home to that" Yamato nodded "there are questions you have that I believe need to be answered, this meeting should do some good."

"Maybe…" Yamato turned his head and stared at the painting on the wall.

Takao watched him for a minute sadly, he really couldn't understand the pain he knew his friend had to be going through.

"How are you holding up Yamato?"

Still staring at the painting of an empty wheat field he answered: "Holding, I suppose, nothing else I can really do." He mentioned nothing of how he drinks himself into oblivion several times a week. He's never been a heavy drinker, he'd have the occasional beer after work or if he went to Long Island. But that changed after everything with Kira, he went to having a few beers a week to having several a night. He knew he should be worried about how he was turning to alcohol but he couldn't bring himself to stop or care, it was his coping mechanism, a horrible one but one nonetheless.

But he was smart enough not to tell Takao that, he knew for a fact he would not be happy to learn that fact and he knew it would definitely come back and bite him in the ass one day.

So in order to not dig deeper into how he was doing Yamato changed the subject, "I told the kids."

Takao wisely let the subject drop and went with the change "Oh? And how did that go?"

"Not as bad as I thought it would, they were upset of course and there were tears when I told them that their mother wasn't coming back home. They kept asking why" He sighed.

"What did you say?" Takao asked truly curious on how he handled that question.

Yamato shrugged "What could I say? Couldn't exactly tell them that their mother cheated. So I said that 'sometimes mommies and daddies decide that it's best if they live in different places.'" He frowned, visibly getting upset "Aki asked me if it was their fault that she left that if they listened better she would have stayed. Can you believe that?"

Takao's eyebrows drew together "For a child, it's a sudden shock to go from having both parents to just one living at home. It's natural that they start to think that perhaps it was their fault."

"I know that!" Yamato snapped, standing up he started to pace back and forth running his hands through his hair, "I know, it's not their fault and I told them as much. It was just so awful to hear him say that, my own child blaming himself for the wrongdoings of his mother. And I can't even blame all of this on her no matter how much I wish I could. I can't stand here and say that this whole thing is on her."

Takao frowned at him "Good lord Yamato, what are you talking about? This isn't your fault."

Yamato fell back into his chair and let his head fall into his hands gripping his hair "Isn't it, though? I was clearing doing something wrong if she felt the need to run to another man. Perhaps I wasn't giving her enough attention or made her feel unappreciated, I know I was busy with work, sometimes staying in a bit late and leaving her with the kids." Yamato could feel himself tearing up and his voice started to quiver "but goddammit Takao I tried, I really did, but I obviously wasn't trying hard enough. How could I've been so damn blind?" And now he could feel the tears coming, "Six months Takao, six months! How could I not see it? What did I do to make her so damn unhappy?" He choked back on a sob, he could feel a hand gently rubbing his back "What was wrong with me? Why could I be enough? And even after everything I still love her. Fuck! Just why!?"

Takao said nothing and continued to rub his back then finally, "You did nothing wrong Yamato, none of this is your fault. You may have been busy with work but she made the decision to go out and do what she did. Attention? Unappreciated? Are you joking? You rarely came to LI unless you brought her and the kids, you gave all your attention to your family. You lavished her in compliments and gifts all the time. I don't remember a time where you weren't doting on her, you were always holding her hand or kissing her anytime I saw you both. You were a loving husband and a great father. And it's okay to still love her, this isn't something you'll get over quickly, give yourself time Yamato it's only been a month. It was her that unappreciated you, she's lost a wonderful man and she will regret it one day, trust me."

Yamato said nothing but he lifted his face from his hands and rested his elbows on his thighs, his wet slightly red eyes met the kneeling Takao's and bit his lip to stop it from quivering as his eyes filled with tears once again at Takao's gentle eyes and smile.

Unable to stop himself he pulled the older man into a bone crushing hug "Thank you Takao, just thank you so much. I-I don't know what I'd do without you."

Takao chuckled lightly and returned the hug knowing he was at his most vulnerable "probably crash and burn" he said jokingly to ease the mood.

Yamato let out a small laugh and let his tears fall as Takao resumed his gentle back rubbing.

"More than likely."


Did I tear up writing it? Yes, just a little. Am I keeping in Character guys? I really hope so. Already working on the next chapter wish me luck!

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