Tia peered round Rocket's shoulders to see a tall, broad shouldered man standing in the middle of the room, he spun around when he heard Rocket's voice and narrowed his eyes "well well, hello Rocket..." He said in a half snarl, half whisper.

"Rocket! Go!" It was then that both Tia and Rocket noticed Val pressed into a corner "I'll handle him" she said, stepping forward "Go!" Just as Rocket was about to reply, his dad lunged forward and grabbed Val's arm. She began to struggle violently in his grip "let me go!" She exclaimed repeatedly, but to no avail, he held on fast. Rocket took a bold step forward in an attempt to help free him mum when his dad suddenly pulled a gun from under his shirt and held it in the direction of Val's face "one more step and she dies..." He growled. Rocket froze, what was he supposed to do?

All of a sudden Val twisted round, forcing Rocket's dad to stumble forward. The gun went off, making a huge bang, then there was silence.

A few moments later there came the muffled sound of Daniel's crying who had obviously been awakened by the sound of the gun going off. Rocket glanced in the direction of the stairs, then back into the room when he suddenly noticed his dad staring intently in the direction of Daniel's crying. Their eyes met and suddenly Rocket knew what his dad was thinking.

In one swift movement Rocket's dad jumped to his feet and barged past Rocket and Tia, sprinting for the stairs. "No!" Rocket cried out, spinning round and pursuing his dad down the hall and up the stairs. Rocket reached the top step just as he saw his dad entering Daniel's nursery; Rocket's eyes narrowed in rage and he leapt up the last step and cannoned into the nursery, only to be pushed out of the way by his dad who began running back down the stairs with a bawling Daniel in his arms.

When Rocket's dad got to the bottom of the stairs he immediately ran for the door but was blocked by Tia. He stopped for a second before holding Daniel close to him and wrapping one hand around his head "move or I kill it" he hissed. Tia's eyes widened in horror "no..." she whispered "please..." Rocket's dad glared at her. "Then let me pass."

Tia took in a shaky breath before reluctantly stepping to one side, her head bowed low. Rocket's dad didn't hesitate and pushed past her before running off down the road.

Rocket reached the bottom of the steps just in time to see his dad rushing out of the door. He angrily pushed Tia against the wall and began to shout "why did you do that?" he yelled angrily "you could have stopped him!"

Tia bowed her head "I-I couldn't..." she mumbled "he was going to kill Daniel..."

"He's still going to try and kill him Tia! You should have known that!" But before Tia could reply, Val stepped in "and that's exactly what's going to happen if you don't stop him! Standing around arguing isn't going to bring him back!" The couple looked at one another before Rocket spoke "she's right, we have to save our son!" And with that they both sprinted out of the door.

Rocket's dad ran along the path with Rocket and Tia in hot pursuit; all of a sudden Rocket's dad skidded round a corner and was temporarily lost from sight. That was when Tia began to panic "what if we don't catch up with him in time?" she asked, Rocket turned on her "we will catch him up in time! Now keep running!" He yelled, causing Tia to stop momentarily in shock, before wiping away newly forming tears and running after Rocket.

Both of them ran around the corner just in time to see Rocket's dad heading off down an old concrete road "there he is!" Rocket cried "after him!" Tia glanced around her for a minute before realizing where they were and her eyes went wide "Rocket!" she shouted "that path, it leads to the river! He's going to throw him in the river!" Rocket glanced back at her in shock before narrowing his eyes and running even faster "over my dead body..." He hissed.

As the river came into sight, Tia's heart almost stopped. There on the bank stood Rocket's dad, his arms outstretched and holding a screaming Daniel out over the water. "Dad!" Rocket shouted frantically as they drew closer "stop!" His dad turned his head round slightly and chuckled "aww, isn't that sweet..." he sneered "brotherly love..." Rocket skidded to a halt "what do you mean?" He asked, confused "you know very well what I mean!" His dad snarled "your mother's found herself a new man! And with that man she created...this..." he spat in disgust, shaking Daniel enough to make him start crying again. Rocket shook his head "no, Dad, you've got it all wrong! That's not my half brother, that's my son!"

Rocket's dad hesitated for a second, registering what Rocket had just said, but then he glared again "nice try son, but I'm not that stupid!" he shouted triumphantly, holding Daniel out over the river again.

That was when Tia snapped, seeing her son so close to being killed made her maternal instincts go into overdrive. She shoved passed Rocket "GIVE ME BACK MY SON RIGHT NOW!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face. Rocket's dad turned his head round to see the state she was in, then looked back at Daniel who had now stopped crying. After a few seconds he looked back to Tia, then Daniel again. He stared intently into Daniel's eyes before turning fully round to face Tia "your eyes..." he muttered in shock "your eyes...are the same..." he took a step towards Tia and held out Daniel to her, she snatched him from his grip and pulled him close, rocking him slowly in her arms while backing away until she was hidden behind Rocket.

Rocket's dad stared at his son in sorrow for a long time before speaking "I can't believe it..." he whispered "my son...a father..." he took a step forward "...can I see...?"

Rocket folded his arms "it's a him, and no, you can't." Rocket's dad lowered his head "I'm sorry..."he mumbled "I had no idea..."

"Well you do now." Said Rocket bluntly

Seconds later there came the sound of police sirens; Val had obviously called for them as soon as Rocket and Tia had left.

Rocket's dad looked up as the police cars came round the corner; he reached over and placed a hand on Rocket's shoulder "I am so proud of you" he whispered "she looks like an amazing girl...and your son...he looks almost like you, except the eyes..." he drifted off. Rocket's eyes softened "yes" he replied "he has his mother's eyes" Rocket's dad smiled slightly "congratulations son" he said "good luck in life..." then he was dragged away into a police car and driven away.

Rocket stood watching the cars drive away; Tia came over to him and placed her hand in his. He glanced over to her and smiled, then he looked back to the retreating car "thanks, dad..." he said.