The explanation of why it took me so to write this will be at the end of this chapter, but I will say this first, I'm sorry it did take me so long. But I hope you like what I came up with, and just a little heads up, this chapter alone contains 8k words.

Alex

I know I've prepared myself for this, but now that it is actually happening I feel...Nervous, and kind of scared. My mother stared up at me with a sad look or more like it was regret, my father didn't look me in the eyes, but he noticed how much I've grown. "We got your note...I want to start it off with I'm sorry, although that's not enough for what we did. It will never be enough, but Alex...From our perspectives we thought...We thought you weren't our child, we were wrong...We shouldn't have done that, we should have loved you regardless...We were horrible parents, we deserve everything you have to say to us..." She said.

Part of me did not expect that response, but a part of me knew she would say that, as I was about to speak, something tugged at my leg, or someone I should say. Vi looked up at me, she looked confused like she was asking who are these people? I smiled and picked her up, "Mom, Dad...I'd like you to meet Violet, my daughter." I said proudly, my mom closed her eyes and tried not to cry, but tears rolled down her cheeks.

I'm guessing this hurts for them, I already fulfilled one of the things I said I was going to do. "She's..." Helen's voice trembled, "She's beautiful..." She wiped her cheeks and tried for a smile, but I could see how sad she was, so much regret. "When you left on my birthday at six years old, I felt heartbroken." I said to my father, and then I looked at my mother, "And then on my tenth birthday you left, I felt so alone, and so scared, and so much hatred towards you two...But then I met someone...The one you hired the day you left, she took me in and took care of me, then I started to believe, I started to have fun and care about people. I wanted to end my life the day you left, but she stayed with me and told me I'm not alone...Vicky...The one you just met a little while ago, she was the one who I fell in love with, she was the one whose happiness I will ensure, she was the one I wanted to have a family with."

My father kept his head down, so I couldn't really see his expression but I know he's hurting inside. "Through all those years of not having parents, I...Had fun, I felt happy. Every time I thought of you two, I would get sad, but after a few years, I didn't feel anything when I thought if you. Because I had people around me that loved me, they thought of me as someone they'll miss if I ever disappear...They love me, and I love them." I smiled at Vi, she reached up to my face and giggled, "Daddy!"

Having her in my arms makes me feel so much better, but having her in my arms while my parents are in front of me would make them really sad. But...In everyone else's eyes, they deserve this, it's their own fault, but for me? I don't want to see them sad, because I've decided long ago that I would forgive them.

I looked down at them, "Look at me." I said, my mother looked me in the eyes reluctantly, and my father lifted his head, but he didn't look me in the eyes, he kept looking past me, or he would look above my head, or at my feet, or at Vi, but never in my eyes. "You also know in that note I said 'someday I'm going to have to forgive you' I meant that, so...I forgive you, both of you, I understand why you did what you did, I'm just sorry I wasn't what either of you wanted."

Helen covered her mouth and tears rolled down the sides of her cheeks, and David shut his eyes tightly, like he was telling himself not to cry, he finally spoke, "Alex...That day when I left...I didn't think much of it at the time, I was an idiot, too quick to judge, I should have tried to find out about my and Helens family background, I should have tried to take better care of you...I shouldn't have left." His voice is...Nothing like I remember, he used to sound like a man that could be heard even if he whispered. Now it sounds like he's done nothing but smoke and drink, and it also sounds like he injured his vocal cords. His eyes showed me that he was a broken man, he has too much regret, and too much sadness. Father...What happened?

"I'm sorry...I'm...So sorry." He said and fell to his knees, he kept saying he was sorry, Vi stared at him with a frown, "Why is the man sad?" She asked. I really don't want her to see them like this. I put Vi down and reached for my father's arm and pulled him up, he's lighter than I thought, "Please get up, as I said before, I forgive you guys. After all those years of thinking what to say to you when I met you again...I never thought I'd forget everything as soon as it happened, I was mad at you two, and I think a small part of me still is, but most of me forgives you, because without forgiveness, you can't move forward ." I said.

My father was on his feet now, but he still wouldn't look me in the eyes, "Alex, forgiving people that easily, is in a way, really cruel, because all we did for all those years was think you were going to hate us for what we did. We knew we deserved anything and everything you had to say to us...We never expected forgiveness." Helen said.

"Well in all those years you were away, I had time to think, like what if I'm just different? What if in our family every once and a while, there is a child that is a bit different than the parents? And I also thought about what forgiveness is, what will it do to the ones that have wronged me? Obviously I was thinking that it would hurt you, but at the same time I thought it will help you realize you made a mistake. Growing up without you guys was hard on me, but I had friends, they kept me from ending my life, they helped me through everything. So from now on...I don't want to see you sad, and I don't want to hear you say you're sorry, because I already know..." I said, my father apologized again and again, I know he's hurting but I don't want to hear him say that, because I've moved on from hating them long ago.

He would never look me in the eyes, he would look around me and at my face, but not my eyes, "Dad, if you're sorry then look at me." I said, again he looked at my face but avoided eye contact, "I want to put everything you two have done to me, behind me. I don't want you to be sad, like the way I was when you left, I want you to be happy, because I finally have a mother and father again. Please, look me in the eyes and tell me you're sorry, if you can do that, then all is forgiven, right?"

My father stared at me with shock, "No matter how many times I say it...The feeling of regret won't go away, abandoning your child for thirteen years isn't something that can be forgiven..."

I nodded, "I know, but like I said multiple times, I don't want you to be sad because of what you did, I understand why you did what you did, I understand it was a mistake." I said and looked him in the eyes, but he didn't meet my eyes at all, he kept his head down, he was too ashamed to look at me. I put Violet down, "Vi, these are your grandparents." She looked at them, both of them had bloodshot eyes but she didn't see that so she just smiled, "Grandpa and grandma?" And she giggled, I laughed lightly, "I forgive you both, so don't apologize anymore. I don't want Vi to see you like this."

My mother was the first to just try to act normal, she bent down and ruffled her red hair around, "My name is Helen...I'd love to play with you, but we have to get back home..." She said, and she looked me in the eyes, "Alex, I know I shouldn't apologize anymore but I want to say this, I'm sorry I lost faith in you, and I'm sorry I stopped loving you...But know that I love you now...And when you were born."

But her love wasn't strong enough, she ended up leaving because of that. I nodded, "Are you two living in the old house?" I asked.

Helen nodded, "We did leave it there for nine years...Anyway we have some business to take care of...Sorry we bothered you." She said, I decided to just let them apologize for now, "No worries, I'll try visit you next week." I said.

All those thoughts I had when I was younger just disappeared, the ones where I thought of what to say when I see them again, slowly they started to come back to me as my mother and father got in their car and drove away.

I kind of thought I would have freaked out, but I handled that pretty well...Once again, Vicky got angry on my behalf, I looked back at our small home. I should apologize to her for just forgiving them, I didn't give them hateful looks or words, that's something most people would have done...But why continue to hate them? They're back and they know what they did was a huge mistake.

I picked up Vi and walked to our home, once I opened the door I found Vicky with her arms crossed, "So?" She asked. "I...Didn't want to get mad at what they did, I forgave them." I said.

Vicky glared at me, "You...God Alex...What they did is something that can't be forgiven!" She shouted, Vi looked at Vicky and frowned then she started whimpering, "I know...But it's in the past, and they know what they did, they know I should have got mad at them, they know I shouldn't have forgiven them. But forgiving them is the best thing I could do to let some of my anger out on them."

Vicky went over to Vi and picked her up. She apologized and then she slowly smiled, "I guess that's the only way to make them suffer."

I frowned, "That's not what I had in mind...When I got a good look at them, I realized they went through a lot, they went through something that made them hate themselves...I don't want to see them sad, I want to see them happy...When I was first born, they were so happy...I want to see that again."

Thinking about them makes me sad yet happy. I can finally talk with them, something I've always wanted to do...But I could never do it, because when I was just two years old, I realized they had to put on fake smiles, when I realized that, it hurt so much...

Vicky doesn't want to see me end up like how I was when she first meet me, scared, alone, and afraid. I don't want to end up like that either, never again...Despite how Vicky is, she still has a soft spot for people who are feeling down. She walked over to me with Vi in her arms, "You did what you wanted...I should support you when you're feeling down, and when you're not sure what to do. I'm sorry I got mad at your parents...And at you also." She said and hugged, once Violet was close enough she started to climb on me, she's so young yet so smart. She has Vicky's strength no doubt about that, she started to pull herself up until she reached my chest, I grabbed ahold of her and then picked up Vicky with my free arm, Vicky groaned, "I hate it...When you do this..."

I chuckled lightly, "No you don't."

Timmy

Yesterday was fun, it was Vicky and Alex's first daughter's birthday, when I look at Violet, I can easily see that she looks more like Vicky than Alex. But Alex doesn't mind, since she's his daughter. This morning Tootie and I were eating breakfast, and then we went for a walk to Vicky and Alex's house. When we got to the door, I got a Message from Vicky, saying; 'GET OVER HERE, NOW!'

Why is she mad? I suddenly didn't want to knock on their door, in some ways she still scares me. I was going to tell Tootie, but the door swung open, and we were grabbed by the collars of our shirts, I tripped and got back up, but I didn't get to actually get up…I started to get dragged on the ground and into a room, "What the hell?" I said irritably, Vicky looked down at me with the same look she used to give me when I was younger. I shut up and gulped down my fear.

"What's up Vicky?" Tootie asked nonchalantly.

Vicky crossed her arms over her chest and started to tap her fingers on her arm, "Alex's parents are back."

Tootie's eyes widened and my jaw dropped, "H-his parents…? You mean the ones that left him because he was different?" I asked with a little anger in my voice.

Vicky nodded, and then Tootie started to get angry, "Where are they?" She asked in a low growl, I hate when she gets like this, she reminds me too much of Vicky when she was evil. Vicky shook her head, "Don't bother…Alex had a long talk with them, he told me that he forgave them, he didn't want to get mad at them, he knows better…But…" Vicky trailed off. I get it, she can't do anything, because he's already done everything. Forgiving someone who has done wrong onto you is in its own way, really hurtful.

"He fucking forgave them!?" Tootie exclaimed, for as long as I knew Tootie, she's never swore. "All the pain they caused him should never be forgiven, is he stupid or something!?" She started to raise her voice more, Vicky nodded, "I know…I know. I kind of thought that as well…But this is Alex, this is his problem."

I don't know why, but I just felt really mad as soon as she said that, "This is your problem just as much as it is Alex's! You love him don't you!? You have to help him no matter what! Especially when something like this happens!" Why did I snap at her? And why do I feel as if I need to say more? Is it because I have so much respect for Alex that I'll doing anything he asks of me? Or is it because I see him as my savior?

Vicky seemed really calm for someone who just got yelled at. My mouth betrayed my heart, "Alex is the kind of guy that'll want to do everything by himself, but that doesn't mean he wants to be alone when doing those things. Those two ignored him for most of his life, you have to be there for him, because something like this will either break him or end him."

"You couldn't be more right..." At the doorway was Alex, he had bloodshot eyes, and he also had Violet in his arms, she was crying. "She doesn't like to see me like this..." Alex pointed out and tried for a smile. "I forgave them for my own benefit, for the last nine years I had doubts they would understand they made a mistake, but I was also hopeful they'll come to realize they made a mistake. You three are my best friends...I understand you can't forgive what they did to me...Believe me I know. So I want you guys to meet them. With me, because I barely had the strength to talk to them alone..."

Vicky went to comfort Alex and Tootie followed her example. Violet stopped crying, they look like an actual family, what will I do when I meet these people that abandoned Alex? We decided to talk about something else for a while, because talking about them is depressing, well those are my thoughts not theirs. We talked for a good two hours, sometime it's good to talk to others for so long. Of course the main topic was me, "That's the first time I've ever seen you get mad, especially to Vicky." Tootie said.

Alex smiled and nodded in agreement, "Yeah, kind thought you didn't have it in you to do that. You've grown a lot."

Vicky burst out laughing, "He was like deer caught in head lights! His mouth did everything, and his whole body disagreed with everything. He wouldn't stop shaking!" I started to feel embarrassed, and Tootie and Alex couldn't help but laugh. I smiled sheepishly, "I-I tried…In all honesty, I wanted to get mad…"

Their laughter slowly died out, and then Tootie sighed, "You don't get mad because that's just who you are, and why are you still afraid of Vicky? Didn't we get past that already?" She asked.

I shrugged, "Yes, but my body just sees Vicky that way. I've forgiven her and forgot most of the things she did to me, but my body is still afraid of her…You ever hear something like that before? Your body and mind aren't always on the same wavelength, like you say you want to go bungie jumping, but when you get there, your body freezes up and then in your head you're like 'I've made up my mind! Just jump!' but you don't jump at all, know what I mean?"

Alex nodded, "We've all been there before, but sooner or later you're going to have to break through that uncertainty, otherwise you'll never do what you want to do, you'll always second guess things, and never really live your life." With Violet in Vicky's arms Vicky leaned against Alex, "When he was ten or eleven, those are the kinds of things he was saying all the time, he was so mature for such a young kid." Vicky said and started to play with Violet.

Tootie nodded, "Yeah, at times it was annoying, but it was also very helpful, and just really nice to hear those things. Because no one else ever says them to anyone else."

After that we started to talk and then we decided to go and meet Alex's parents. As Vicky drove us over to where they were living, Alex was quiet, but Tootie, Vicky and I were not. When Vicky asked a question or said something to him he would nod or answer, in a short sentence. We stood at the door of his old home. Alex knocked and then we waited for ten seconds. A lady with blonde hair that seemed almost white answered the door, with a sigh of relief and a small smile, she told us to come in, "Over here." She said and led us into the living room, Alex was looking around, "You cleaned up everything pretty quick." He said and sat down along with the rest of us, she nodded and said, "No one has touched the place since…We left."

We sat down and introduced ourselves and then his father came down and noticed his wife was talking to someone (us) once he noticed Alex he smiled, but...Even with a smile, you could tell how sad he was, just looking at him I could see he regrets everything. Suddenly the thought of getting a little mad at them disappeared. "Nice to meet you." He said, "I am David Young, thank you for…" He stopped short and stared at the wall, for a second it looked like he stopped breathing, but then he sighed and then he slowly look towards the ground, "Who am I kidding…? I'm sorry…" He muttered sadly.

I looked at Alex who had the same look he had when he was a kid, sad and scared. "Alex has…Already told me most of what you two said to him, and I…" Vicky smiled with Violet in her arms, "As his partner, I have to support him, even if I don't agree with what he said." Vicky looked at me and then back to Alex's parents, "I can't forgive what you two have done…But Alex does, so I think I should forgive you as well. He's been through enough already, it just recently started to get to a point where he doesn't think about you guys."

I nodded in agreement and smiled, "As his friend, I'll be behind him no matter what, if he can forgive you two, then so can I…He's helped me out more than anyone could…Sorry Tootie, but it's true. He's a giant that cares deeply for everyone, even more than himself."

And then there was Tootie, she absolutely dislikes them, in her eyes. They are monsters, because they left him alone in a house with Vicky, who was only sixteen at the time and Alex who was only ten years old…The one thing I always forget is that day they left him with Vicky, was also his birthday. "We all have different reasons why we love Alex, and why we will respect his decisions…We are all different…Therefor not all of us like what he decided. No matter how you look at it, what you did was really cruel, especially since you both left on his birthday, a day every single child wants to remember. His first birthday with us, he cried his eyes out! That day I was confused about why he was sad, and then I hear about why he was sad, and that made me angry! No one, and I mean NO ONE should have to go through that…Two of my best friends looked like they wanted to die…The only friends I had, were Alex and Timmy, can you see why I don't like his decision? Of course I want to respect it, but at the same time, I want to get mad at you two on his behalf, because he grew up questioning himself, always wondering what he would say to you two if he ever met you again." Tootie's voice was shaky. "Every night I could hear him silently crying…In my head I was mad at myself because I couldn't do anything to help him, I never experienced anything close to what he's been through, so because of that I couldn't say anything to him."

Tootie is saying what we want to say, but with his parents actually here, those thoughts just kind of went away. Maybe it was because they looked extremely guilty and sad, or maybe it was because Alex was here. His parent's expressions didn't change while Tootie was talking, his mother nodding and his father listening but not making eye contact with anyone. His mother looked at us, "We know what we did was idiotic, horrible, un-humanlike, and basically what a parent should never do...We know, because we've had a lot of time to realize this and think about it. Everything you say, we know we deserve it." She said, her voice was gentle and soft, the same can be said about her face, but she looked so hurt.

After talking for thirty minutes, Tootie was still mad at them, even when they didn't say anything, even if they looked like they were about to break she still got mad. Alex's father didn't say much, but whenever he did he sounded absolutely...Lost. I don't want to feel sorry for them, that's the one thing I'll never feel for them.

Tootie

Every time one of them talks, my mind wants them to shut up, and I also think they should have never came back, because Alex was happy, he completely forgot about them. Alex started to do what HE wanted to do when they left him, which was to be a better man than his father could ever be, and a better parent than his mother could ever be, and a better person than the both of them.

I really dislike people that abandon things, maybe I shouldn't say 'things' since it was Alex they abandoned. Those two I'm referring too are his parents...Well as far as I'm concerned they aren't his parents. I really have nothing nice to say about them, because we all know why I feel that way, I don't need to say it for the thousandth time. Of course I'd like to believe that, but I'd say it a thousand more times just to hurt them, because parents are supposed to love their children, no matter what.

I could go on and on about this...But that would just make things worse, Alex taught me to just look at things on the bright side, never the negative side. It's just that it's hard for me, because I care too much for him. I want to agree with his decision but at the same time I don't, his reason is to let it go, just let it be another bad memory. I know he's pretty much talked everything out with them...Well most of it.

No matter what we say and do, Alex is going to be reminded of what they did, so I may as well say what's been on my mind since I learned what they did. Alex and Vicky sat close to each other, Tummy and I...Actually Timmy is just really shy around new people, huh, would these two classify as 'new people?' I mean we were told about them a lot by Alex.

Helen and David only talk when they're asked a question, and they never talk over any of us. The first thing I asked them when I saw them was 'why?' And their answer shocked me.

"Because we thought he wasn't our child." David said, and then he looked down, I looked over to Alex to see if he noticed it as well. For as long as I've known Alex I've come to notice a few things he does regularly, sometimes he'll say something out of nowhere and look so confident and a second later he'll look embarrassed which means he will look somewhere where he can't see anyone's eyes, at the ground. "I was…An idiot for thinking like that, I jumped to conclusions which led me and Helen to argue almost every night. Obviously anything I say won't satisfy you, because you can't forgive what we've done…We both agreed we would accept what you had to say and not to get hurt by anything…I mean we both have been through a lot in the past seven years…"

"Seven years? But I thought you l-

"Yes…I left Alex and Helen alone on his sixth birthday. But I say seven years ago because that is when Helen found me laying on the ground in the streets of New York City. It was six years after I left...I was in denial about Alex being my son, which led to me drowning myself in alcohol, three years after Alex was born we tested our blood to see if he was actually my son, it came back positive, but I still couldn't believe it, because he looked nothing like me or Helen. When she found me, I was a mess, she didn't even recognize me when she got a good look at me. Of course the first thing that came out of my mouth was 'what the hell do you want?' and then I went on about her and 'the kid' that ruined my life…" He stopped for a second and continued, "I regret a lot of thing I said and did, but at that time, I didn't because I still believe they were wrong…Helen took pity on me and offered me to spend the night in her apartment…That one sentence confused me, it made me think why is she in an apartment by herself? And then it clicked, she couldn't stand to be around him anymore than I could…But why make that decision and look so guilty about it?" David said and his eyes showed no emotion in them.

Hearing him say those words made me super angry, but at the same time, it made me sad, "That entire year Helen and me…Well mostly myself, went into withdrawal. That went on for about three years…I'm still here because of Helen, she found out that every fifty or so year a child from her side of the family is born differently, it didn't make sense to us, because that just seemed ridiculous. But it was true, we found one of her family who looked like Alex, tall, kind, and nothing like us…After that we decided to fix ourselves up and then make some money to pay everything for the house we abandoned for almost a decade." He finished.

That story itself made me very angry, but I kept myself from yelling at them. Once he was done I said, "You almost ruined your own child's life because you couldn't believe he was your kid?"

David nodded, "Exactly…" There was nothing behind those words, because it was the truth, nothing more. "Nothing you say, or I say will fix what I've done. The only thing I can do is try to heal what I've caused…Which is why I'm here." David said and tried for a smile, Alex thought me that a smile is the best thing you can show anyone when you're hurt…Because not everyone will be able to see through it.

Hele grabbed his hand and squeezed it. David nodded and then looked at us, waiting for us to say something. I want to know more…But in end I can't do anything, because Alex has made his decision, and I have to respect that…I've done enough, if I say more will it break them and him? Just looking at all three of them hurts, his father barely looks at any of us, and when he does, there's always a look of hurt and regret and sadness. When Alex's mother looks at us…I could tell that she tried what Alex has thought of doing…Suicide.

Vicky

Violet kept trying to get out of my arms and crawl to her father, but I held on because all she ever wants to do is get him to play with her, but right now isn't the time. When Helen and David first came to us, I was furious, and I never wanted to see Helen's face again, I mean she left me with her kid without saying anything, how heartless can you be?

But...It was for the best, at least for me. You see I wasn't a great person to be around when I was younger, I was what you would call a bully, or psychopath. I never thought of myself as a psychopath, why? Because I thought I was never in the wrong, I mean they look at me like I'm the very reason why they lives are going to shit, pretty stupid right? But that all changed when I met Alex, he looked like what I looked like when I was growing up, I don't know what it was, but I felt as if I didn't want him to end up like me, so I started to try an act...Nice.

Anyway, we talked, and talked, and talked...And talked, I was getting bored so I said, "Hurry up!" I covered my mouth, I'm inpatient okay?! When I get like that, I revert to how I used to be, and nobody wants that. His parents stared me with shock, the twerp and twerpette, stared at me like I was crazy. Alex looked at me with a smile spread across his face, with a hint of relief if I may add. I guess in a way, the way I used to act back then, rubbed off on him. "It's been...Good, I've forgiven what you've done, nothing more needs to be said. But I guess now all that needs to be done is rebuild our relationship." Alex said and started getting up.

His mother and father nodded and we said our goodbyes for now. When we were all in the car I said, "That took longer than I thought it would..."

Alex chuckled, "Yeah, but stuff like that always takes time, it can't be rushed." He said and then looked in the rear-view mirror. That wasn't so bad, I mean we talked it out, or I guess it was more like stuff we wanted to tell Alex. Timmy and Tootie said their goodbyes and gave Violet a kiss on her forehead. For the rest of the year Alex talked with his parents and they started to look a little...Better I guess. They were always so sad when we went to visit them, they would try to hide it but I could see right through them.

Alex is twenty years old now...It's been ten years since we met, frankly those years were better then before I met him. A year before I met him, I...I actually thought about leaving this town, I thought it would be better without me and I was actually going to go through with it, but I needed money, I couldn't take my parents money, since they need to buy food and take care of Tootie, so I went to babysit the kids around dimmsdale, that was the only way, because the parents of these kids were idiots. They wanted to get away from their kids pretty quick, it made me angry when they just up and left for weekends, there wasn't a second thought, no hesitation at all. I guess that's why when I saw Helen leave Alex alone, I felt as if I needed to help him because of all those parents just leaving their kids as soon as I got there.

At first I was unsure of my decision, because I still hated a lot of people and because I was never really treated like an actual person, everyone would look at me differently, and just because I didn't stand up for myself as a kid, they made fun of me, but then one day o snapped and never went back. I was known as a psychotic kid sometimes a sociopath I would never truly hurt someone so much they'll die, I just wanted them to feel what I did. Anyway a few weeks after helping Alex I suddenly started to change, I didn't see it at first, but I could see Alex changing, which made me think is it because of me? And am I changing as well? When I noticed I wasn't being a bitch to everyone, I knew I changed.

Alex is everything to me, if he wants me to forgive someone for him, then I'll do it. I can't imagine a world without him, I'll follow forever, because he is the reason I'm here.

Alex

Year twenty one, first family picture with my parents and friends. My father and mother to my right and Vicky to my left with Vi in her arms, a smiled spread across both their faces, Timmy and Tootie stood next to Vicky, Nicky and Jerry thought it was best to not take part in these photos, at least not for the time being. I am twenty one years old now, time flies when you start living a normal life. That entire year was me talking with my Mother and father, they're still a little...Afraid to be around me, but when they see Vi they smile and talk with her, but at times they'd look so ashamed. My father...David, keeps apologizing and I keep telling him it's okay, because I understand what they did was a mistake, but he just can't stop apologizing.

Year twenty two, my mother and father are getting better, a little bit more happier but that sadness is still there, no matter what I say or do that sadness will not go away. This years picture is Vi standing in the middle of Vicky and myself, her eyes that went from purple to pink sparkled as she smiled widely, my parents are a little closer to us this time around, they aren't nervous around Vicky so much nowadays, but from time to time they get a little bit scared. Tootie and Timmy were by Vicky, but one thing about Tootie changed, there was a small lump on her tummy, and something about Timmy as well, he's getting taller and leaner, he's growing up to be a good man. Jerry And Nicky started to talk with my parents, it was...Awkward at first, but it's getting better, so far they seem to think of them as alright people. There is better ways to word how they feel towards my parents, but plain and simple is way to go right now.

Year twenty three, Timmy and Tootie had their first child, a baby boy, he has these tiny cute buck teeth, just like his dad. He has black hair and baby blue eyes. Vi is getting taller, but not so much like I did when I was growing up. Vi was carrying Tommy, that's what they named their first child, and I was sitting down with Vicky and on the other couch across from us was Nicky and Jerry. My parents were seat on a couch to our right. My dad is getting skinnier which is troubling me, but he says it's nothing he just isn't eating right, during those years of him drinking and trying to figure out why he's in that situation, he created a habit of not eating properly, but when he's really hungry he'll eat, so he told me not to worry about it. My mother on the other hand is looking better than when we...Reunited, I guess. We often talk about things we would have done differently in past and from time to time she would make jokes with me, and then as we got closer she would burst into tears, not because she was sad, but because she was happy.

Year twenty four, Jerry and my father started talking to each other a lot recently, they seem to be getting along the same goes for my mother and Nicky. Vicky of course is getting more used to my parents everyday, which is good for the both of us, I don't feel so...Afraid anymore, at first I really wasn't sure, but now I'm glad they're back...Anyway, Timmy, Tootie and Tommy always visit us, just because a new born always wants to see new faces, or familiar faces, not just the same faces he sees everyday. Vi really loves it when they visit because she likes playing with Tommy and he likes playing with Vi. My father is looking better than last year, but at the same time not really not sure, but he keeps telling me he's okay. My mother tells me the same thing, so of course I think that's strange, I keep asking but they say the same thing so I just go with it, hoping it's true.

Year twenty five, somethings...Just don't go the way you want them to, I was right in thinking my father wasn't okay...As of now, he is on a hospital bed, fighting a disease he's had for a while now. COPD, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, before I was born my father smoked but not as much, but after I was born...He started to smoke quite a bit, so that caused him to...Get this disease, and to put him on this hospital bed. I was mad at him of course, I mean I'm your son...I'm the one you want to think of you as a better person...Yet you didn't tell me anything...What the hell...?

I was in his room, just the two of us. "Can I ask why?" I said.

My fathers breathing is slower than it was a few months ago. "Because...I didn't want you to worry about...Me. You...Have your own family...A beautiful little girl...And a beautiful wife...I just wanted you to focus on them, not me, because I didn't deserve it." He said gently, my eyes started to sting a bit. "I just finally got you guys back...I wanted to spend time with you two because I never had the chance to do that when I was younger..." I said.

"I...I'm sorry...I truly am sorry for all the pain I've caused you...I wish I could've done everything differently, I really do..." he stopped for a few minutes, "It's okay, I've said this a thousand times, it's okay."

He shook his head, and looked me straight in the eyes, "No it isn't...What I did isn't okay...What I did isn't what you should forgive, and you shouldn't forget it as well..." He started coughing for a bit but after he stopped he said, "I'm so sorry my son...I love you..."

A weak smile spread across his face, he...Finally came to terms with what he regretted...Destroying his own life and our lives, this is the first time since he came back, that he looked in the eyes and apologized. I held his hand and closed my eyes, "I love you too...Dad."

Year twenty six, family picture with my family, Tootie and Timmy's family, one person was missing...My dad, David Cox. After he passed, my mom cried, she knew about his disease, but my dad told her not to tell me, she wanted to tell me, but to her, it made sense, they've already caused enough pain to me...In my mind, nothing would have changed, because I'm the end, I couldn't do anything to help them. Vi is still sad about his passing, Vicky and I often let her sleep in our bed, because I'm still down in the dumps as well. Timmy and Tootie have been really supporting of this, Tootie looked sad yet mad, I don't know why, but I thought it was kind of funny, so I used that to cheer myself up whenever they came to visit us. I would joke about it and laugh but it wasn't enough, although I felt like that, I didn't show it in front of Vi, I don't want to look weak in front of her, never.

Year twenty seven, it's slowly getting better, Vi is growing again...So quick...The years fly by so quick now, almost like I've completed what I wanted to do...Which is true, I've made up with both my parents, and I've got a family that I love and I'm a better parent than they were. Jerry and Nicky love it when Vi visits them, of course the same goes for us too. But when we all get together, it's an amazing feeling. Tootie and Timmy are expecting another child, and we are too. We're hoping for a boy this time around.

Year twenty eight, my mom has been looking more happy, of course she will never be truly happy without my dad around, but she's getting along, she promised me no more keeping secrets, so far shes...Not leaving me. I forgot the most important thing about this year, Vicky gave birth a beating baby boy and Tootie has a baby girl, they named their baby girl, Tammy, and we named our baby boy Alex Jr. once and a while I get things I want, in this picture it was me, Vicky with Jr. (for short) in her arms and Vi beside me while holding my hand. There was also Timmy and Tootie, Tammy was in Tootie's arms and Tommy in Timmy's arms. My mom was to my left with Jerry and Nicky, they've started talking to each other a lot this year, but they also feel sorry for her, I mean it's only been one year after all...And it's also the same amount of time he spent with us, six years, but all together twelve years, well at least for me.

Year twenty nine, all of us are together, I'm carrying Vi on my shoulders and Vicky is carrying Jr. in her arms, to my right is Timmy, Tootie, Tommy And Tammy. To my left is Jerry, Nicky and my mom, my beautiful mother who has decided to stay by me for the rest of her life, she loves me and I love her, my mother is someone who I'll help no matter what.

My mom asked me and Vicky if we wanted to move in with her, because she gets lonely, that house is the one that is meant for big families, I guess when they were young they thought they would have more kids. It's really peaceful...Dads picture is next to our last picture together, just the three of us, when we were happy...At least for a little bit. Whenever I leave I always say goodbye and when I get back I say hello and sometimes I ask how he's doing...Of course I know he can't answer but it just makes me feel better.

Tomorrow I turn thirty, it's been twenty years since I met Vicky, in all those years I learned a lot, but a couple years ago I learned to only learn and remember, never forgive and forget, because of you do that, you're only just running away. It will never truly end with that reasoning alone.

Life will always have its ups and downs, but those times you're down don't have to happen, if you make the right decisions you'll never find yourself in that darkness again...Although it wasn't because of my decisions, it was because of the actions of others I was so close to ending my own life, but unlike me, you have people who love you, don't do something that will ruin that, because you mean something to someone out there.

My name is Alex Valentine, I mean it when I say this, you're, never, truly, ALONE.

The reason for taking so long with this chapter is because my stories often have something that I can relate to, or something I experienced, but I've never experienced this and actually never thought much about it, so it was difficult to come up with it from scratch, actually this whole story was hard to write, but the ending was the hardest, since I'm actually not that great at writing and endings in general.

I guess this is the end, so I want to thank everyone who stayed with this story and everyone who enjoyed it, every time someone left a review I was happy and every time this story got five hundred reads in one day it made me want to put up another chapter as soon as possible, so thank you, and I hope you all have an awesome day!

Rilurz~

P.s ~ Just a little thing I wanted to add, while writing this story I was listening to a song that gave me the idea of the story tittle and the storyline, it was called 'Dancing Alone" by "Alesana" And while writing chapter 13, I was listening to a song called, "Unsteady" by "X Ambassadors" I'm saying this because these songs are the reason why I even made the story. Have an awesome year everyone :)