Elise was discharged after a week and a half, Bernard picking her up from the hospital. He borrowed Vida's car, which was a green four-wheel car. He had opened the door for Elise. She entered and murmured a thank you, closing the door and buckling down. She had her hair in a low bun, some strands coming out. She had bags under her eyes, her eyes staring blankly at the dashboard.

Bernard knew she didn't want anyone to speak to her, so he left her alone for a little bed. He was at a red light, to which Elise pulled out a napkin and had read it in her mind. It was a message from him to her.

See you on the flip side, Pinkie. xoxo

Elise had placed the napkin on her shirt, her face resting on the seatbelt. Bernard knew things weren't going to be the same, especially with Vida now taking up a small habit of drinking. Bernard could only hope it didn't last long, though logically he knew the outcome would be tragic.

Metro City Hospital

Megamind was able to visit Mika without doctors noticing, as Minion came with his 'Phillis' ensemble. Megamind had looked at his charts and had scoffed. It said that with his abdominal surgery, he would not be able to do strenuous activities for a very long time. He didn't believe that.

Mika had rested on his side, her arms crossed and looking at Megamind. "So what now?" he asked as he wanted to know what would happen to him now that he was injured.

"What do you mean?" Megamind said, crossing his arms.

"Am I damaged goods now or something?" he asked. Megamind couldn't help but look at him in shock. Granted Mika can't do anything now, but he would never refer to him as a 'damaged'.

"Of course not," he said as he sat down next to him. He still had his gloves on and had rubbed his hand on his. "You're not able to do anything now, but you are by no means less."

Mika had held his hand, closing his eyes and sleeping. Megamind had still never held his hand bare. He had pulled his glove off, gripping his hand. It was cold but clammy. Now he remembered why he wore gloves; and also for the aesthetic purposes of him wearing it. He had held him firm, a thumb caressing the top of it.

Bernard's Apartment

Elise was in her room, staring at the wall of her room. She was laying down on her side in a shirt and shorts, her arms hugging her knees. She had been like this since she had returned from the hospital. She felt like she saw things, things she really thought were there, but she didn't want to voice that to her mom.

Bernard was right outside her door with the overnight bag he had. He wanted to talk to her so badly, but he knew she needed to be alone. He busted to let her know that he would always be there. He took a risk and entered the room, seeing Elise still there. He had sighed and approached her bed, sitting on the edge and facing the back of her hair.

"You know what's not fair?" Elise asked, her voice weak and her eyes heavy to open, "my mom is supposed to be the one coming to me and being there for me, but she can't even face me. And you…" she said, a scoff emanating from her, "I don't even like you… and you're here at my side…"

Bernard had hung his head just slightly. "I understand though… why you hate me…."

She had looked at him with as much as her peripheral view can allow her to. She wanted to hear what he had to say.

"You don't like me because.. you don't know me…" he said, "you just know me as your mom's husband; you don't know me. And I want you to know me, all of me. Not the way your mom does but… how a daughter should with her father…"

Elise had pulled herself up but still faced the wall. She had balled up her fist, "after four years you finally got it through your thick skull…." she said as she had suddenly punched the man in his chest. Bernard surprisingly didn't react. but he grabbed her arm and pulled her into a hug.

"You know you don't wanna fight me," he said as he had hugged her tight. She had tried to push him off, but his firm grip on her rendered her useless in trying to get away. She had slowly started to give up, in which she started to break down in front of him. She cried rivers in his chest, his arms around her tight.

It had stayed like that for a long time before Elise got tired of crying. She had started to get a headache and had rubbed her head. Bernard had rubbed her head, the girl sighing slightly. He was actually able to hold her without her being uncomfortable, though she may regret it. He had laid her down and had gotten some pills to relieve her headache. She took them dry, though Bernard gave her water to make it go down easier.

He had headed to the master bedroom, his body laying on the bed and sighing. He had closed his eyes when his phone had suddenly rung. It was Vida, and something told him that this wasn't going to be a good call. He answered the phone.

"Hey, honey," he said.

"Did you get her?" Vida asked, straight to the point and bland about it.

"Yeah…" he said as he had scratched his head.

"Good, see you when I get home," she said, hanging up.

Bernard had looked at his phone and had looked into space for a moment. She was so short with him, and he didn't know why. But he didn't let it get to him. He had resumed closing his eyes, trying to relax.

Midnight

Bernard had fallen asleep when Vida returned home, just happy to have her in his arms. He had laid in their sheets comfortably, in which he didn't suspect any sounds during the night.

But he was wrong.

He heard faint footsteps make their way across the wooden floorboards of the apartment. He heard them as clear as day, to which he had slowly risen from the bed, and had to stare at the shadow of steps. He had gotten out of the bed, being in sweat and a v-neck undershirt. He had opened the door and saw Elise.

It was Elise, trudging herself through the hallway into the living room. She was in her underwear and a shirt. Her head was in between her shoulders, murmuring something inaudible to Bernard's ears. She had made a right, where the balcony was. Bernard acted quickly, seeing his wife's daughter drag her feet to the balcony door.

She began walking to the balcony door.

It was an audible sound, to which Bernard had padded barefoot to her, where he had held her arms and turned her around to take her back to the room. But Elise hesitated, her feet somehow glued to the ground. Bernard had tried to pick her up, her feet still planted. Elise had sighed, a weird and ominous dark purple gas escaping her lips. She had open up her eyes, looking around and turning around to see Bernard.

"W-What time is it?" Elise said, the girl rubbing her eyes. She passed by Bernard, the man in shock with what had just transpired.

Bernard had looked at the balcony and took a key and locked it tight. He had taken the key and had returned to bed, Vida stirring.

"You okay?" she said, not awake enough to care.

"Just had something to drink is all," Bernard lied, his eyes looking around, trying to make sense in all of this.