"Kid, are you okay?" He asked.

I looked up at him and nodded. "I'm alright. Thank you for that..."

"He's sick. Coming to you after...after all of that." He sighed. "I'll go get the thing from the mailbox and throw it out."

"Don't." I said. "Don't throw it away. I want to see it."

Frank studied my face. "Alright...do you want me to call Bonnie?"

"No, I...I just want to see it." I mumbled.

He left the house, walked down to the mailbox and peered in, as though it was some kind of bomb. Knowing my dad though, I wouldn't be surprised at all. I saw him become confused as he pulled it out of the mailbox. Then he brought it up to me. When I saw the object, I was confused at first. Then I realized. I realized what it was.

My eyes filled with tears as I brought it into my own hands. "Oh my..."

"What is it?" He asked. "I mean obviously it's a stuffed lion, but."

"My first stuffy." I muttered. "I...I lost it at the house. It was my best friend. I named him Leo, too. Leo the Lion. And...my mom gave him to me when I was a baby. I...I don't know how he got it."

"Are you sure you want it?" He asked.

I nodded. "Just because he gave it to me doesn't change what it is to me. I have nothing left of my mom. This is...this is better than anything in the world."

I turned it around, and on the back was apiece of paper pinned into it. A phone number, an address, signed by 'dad'. I swallowed. I don't get it. I don't understand. I know that my moms death took a very large toll on him. Enough to psychologically make him snap. I know that the things he did to me weren't him. That it was the misfiring of the neurons. That my dad was another man I hadn't seen since I was five. He said he was getting help. He said he was getting better...What did that mean? What did that entail?

Frank waved a hand in front of my face. "Leo?"

I looked up. "Yeah. Sorry. I have to go somewhere."

"Want me to drive you?" He asked.

I blinked. "Would you mind driving me home...?"

He did it willingly enough. I was grateful. As soon as I got to the door and unlocked it I could smell something had been cooked. I shut the door behind me. "Connor?"

"Kitchen." He yelled back.

I walked in and smiled at the sight. He was shirtless, and damp, with only pants on. In his arms was a giggling Poppy, and on the stove was warming milk.

"Hi, baby." He came around the island, and gave me a sweet kiss.

"Hi." I smiled against his lips.

"How are you?" He asked.

"Better. I'm sorry about last night...it happens sometimes...and..."

"Don't be sorry. It isn't your fault. I'm just glad you're okay, now." He kissed my forehead, and pulled me into his side.

I hugged him and nuzzled my head into him. "I love you."

"I love you more."

"Connor?"

He raised his brows in response.

"I need you to do something with me." I said slowly. "And...we need to give Poppy to Frank to watch for the night."

"Why?" He asked. "What's going on?"

I handed him the lion I'd been holding.

"What's this?" He wondered aloud.

"My very first stuffy. My mom gave it to me when I was a baby. I'd lost it when I left my dads house..." I explained.

"Okay so, how did you find it?"

"He found out where I was." I stated. "And he gave me this."

I could see the anger growing on his face. "Excuse me? Did he hurt you? Are you okay?"

"Frank was there. He took care of it...but Con...I want to explain something to you." So I took him to the couch, and sat him down, and grabbed Poppy from him. If he got angry I didn't want her reading into his emotions and getting fussy. "When my mom died...it changed my dad. The psychologist explained to me that it was because something snapped in his head. Something...genetic, that was brewing there, and the trauma of losing the absolute love of his life just made everything spill over. He had a psychotic break, the thing is, they can be reversed, through years of therapy, and medications. In prison...he was given those things. I saw him today, and...I saw the grief, and the embarrassment. How ashamed he look. Sad. Depressed, even, nervous. He looked terrified of Frank. Connor, my dad, after my mom...he wasn't scared of absolutely anything."

Connor rubbed his face. "So what are you saying? You forgive him for hurting you?"

"No. I don't. I'm saying...he gave an address and a phone number. He got help. And I'd like to see what he wants, what he's about...I'm not saying I want to keep in touch, but I would like to hear him out." I said.

"I'll go, if that's what you want." He sighed. "I'll support you."

"But she can't go. If he's still the same, there's no way...no way I'll allow that." I took a deep breath. "Now. I want to go now."

"I'll go get dressed, get her bag ready." He stated. "Do you want to get changed, or?"

I looked down at the clothes I'd worn the night before. "Yes."

So, we took Poppy into the bedroom, and got dressed together. I, in black skinny jeans, and a white sweater with my leather jacket. I slipped on some black sneakers. Connor got dressed in an anchor button up, and black jeans. He then went to gather Poppy's bag, and grab her bottle for Frank to use. Then, we headed out.

"Are you nervous?" Connor asked.

I swallowed. Was I? Yes. I was quite nervous. I was terrified. I was anxious as hell. The last time I saw my dad before today, he was being dragged into prison, cuffed. He had the nastiest scowl on his face. Paton was pissed at me for putting him away. That was a horrible day for me.

"Yes. But I'll be okay." I mumbled.

I looked up at the house. After almost ten years in prison, how do you get such a nice home? Probably his friends in high places. I took a very deep breath before exhaling slowly. "I'm ready, now."

"Okay." He exited the car, and came around to open my door. I got out, and he immediately held onto the hand that wasn't grasping my lion.

We walked up to the door. It was a mahogany wood, real wood, nice wood, actually. I stared at the claw knocker. I picked it up and slammed down on it three times.

Why was I doing this? Why was I doing this, oh my G-d. This was a bad idea. A horrible idea. We should leave. Turn around, forget this ever happened. He'd never know, he'd never have any ide-

the door opened, and I was able to get a better look at him. His black hair was swooped back, and it reminded me much of how Connor had it when I first met him. His black stubble littered his beard, and his green eyes, like mine, had aged miserably. I assume prison does that to people. He was thinner, now, leaner. His face softened when it met mine, and my heart began to beat violently.

"Leo." His voice was hoarse, and he coughed to clear his throat. "I...wasn't expecting you to..."

I lifted the lion. "Mom gave this to me...when I was a baby."

He nodded. "You loved him. He was your best friend."

"How did you get this?" I asked.

He chewed on his bottom lip. "The house was left to Paton when I went away. He...apparently disapperared, and, uh. The bank took the house, and all that was in it. I was able to access some of the boxes, but...I don't have the money to buy it back, so...I stole it. I knew you'd want it."

I stared down at the stuffy. His ear was partially torn and his main was frayed, but he was right. I did want it.

"Do you want to come in?" He rubbed his neck nervously.

I held onto Connor's arm. "Should I trust that I can?"

He looked down at his feet. "I'd like to talk. That's all."

Connor eyed me, and I met his eyes. I nodded, so he lead me in. I felt like a child. A stuffed animal in hand, and hanging onto my fiance's arm. I probably looked like a child.

My dad closed the door and lead us to the living room. The house inside was just as nice as it was outside. "This is my friends place. It's his summer house, so, he's letting me use it till I can get my own place. You might remember him. Tom and Carrie Fisher? They lived across the road, a few homes down from Josie..."

I nodded. "I...I think so, yeah...they still talk to you?"

"Not at first." He sighed, sitting on a chair. I sat on the couch and Connor next to me. Thigh to thigh, he refused to let me out of his sight, or touch. "I called and called to ask them for help with getting a lawyer, but...everyone knew. Everyone knew that..." He shook his head, and I saw his eyes filling with tears. "everyone knew the truth. So...I contacted him a few months before I got out. Told him...I got help. That I was cleared to be mentally healthy again. That I'm on drugs now. Of course, he verified it with my psychologist, and only then did he help me out."

"I don't get it." I mumbled. "The doctors told me that you...something snapped in you when mom died. And that's why you became the animal you did. Does that mean you're better now?"

"Unfortunately, yes." He nodded. "Sometimes I wish that I was still sick so that I wouldn't have to admit to myself that what I did to you was...the monstrosity it was. I hurt you, horrifically, for years." He began to cry. "I hurt my baby, and that kills me every fucking day. That I...probably screwed you up."

"You didn't." I stated. "I'm in law school. Was...I'm changing my major, but...I was. I'm getting married. I have a baby. I have a family that loves me. So yeah, I'm a little messed up, but I got stronger and I pulled myself up and out of that. I became what I never thought I would."

He smiled lightly. "Your mom, she was like that. She always overcame everyone's expectations. You were always so much like her."

I blinked and my heart swelled. "I was...?"

"Yes, of course." He nodded. "Just like her. All the way down to her eyes, of course. You look just like her, you act like her. Everything about you...is her. And I think that's why...I did what I did. It's not an excuse, and I know I was a monster. That I haven't payed for all that I did, and have done. But because I lost her, and all I had was you...I was so angry all the time. At her, mostly, for leaving me. So I..." He shook his head. "Paton...your brother was...truly fucked up."

"He had a mental illness." I stated. "He never stopped."

"What?"

"He continued all the way up until a year and a half ago." I responded. "Till he died."

My dad's eyes widened. "He's dead? How did you...how do you know?"

"That doesn't matter. He just is. He's dead. And I...I'm better now. For the first time in my life, since I was five, I don't have to worry about where the night will take me. The only thing I have to worry about is my child."

"I guess that's for the best. He can't rob anyone else of their..." He shrugged. "he cant hurt anyone else, ever again. I'm sorry, that he...was able to hurt you, even after you were so brave to put me away. You were so brave, and I'm glad you did it. I never would have gotten help if you hadn't, and...I'm so glad that I was able to receive the help that I got. It was all because of you. You did a great thing."

I licked the inside of my cheek, and cracked my knuckles out of nervousness.

"So...you're getting married?"

I nodded, and grabbed Connor's hand. "Connor and I are getting married."

"Thank you for taking care of her." My dad muttered. "For keeping her safe. She's a good person, a great person, and she deserves the best, and if she's marrying you then I'm sure you're the best."

Connor still looked pissed off. "I'm not. But she is. She's the best person alive."

"I'd have to agree." He stated. "I just want you both to know I'm not looking for forgiveness. I just wanted you to know that I'm not ever going to hurt you again, or...wreak vengeance. My time in prison was good for me, and I'm glad it happened. You can hate me. I hate me, too. I hate myself for everything I did, for exposing it to Paton."

"I do." I stated. "Hate you, I mean. You're the reason I have panic attacks, you're the reason I have nightmares, and you're certainly the reason why I'm covered with scars. But...at the same time...I am who I am today because of what happened to me. So, in some ways, maybe that's how it was supposed to be. So I can't hate you for that...do you swear you're better?"

"I am." He nodded. "I'm on the sex offenders registry, so I can't be around minors. So there's no chance of me ever..."

"Well...I didn't really want you to meet our daughter." I said. "And now that you can't, that makes me feel a little better, actually."

"I'm sure it does." He agreed. "I'd feel better about it too."

"But...if you want, I could show you a picture of her, I guess." I shrugged.

"Only if you want."

I grabbed for my phone, and grabbed the one we took most recently. Our family photos. She was absolutely adorable. I handed it to Connor, and he stood up to hand it to my dad, who took it and looked down at it. His eyebrows raised. "She's beautiful."

"She is."

He lifted a hand over his mouth. "S-she has your moms eyes. The exact color."

"I know." I smiled. "That's the first thing I noticed."

"She looks like her, too." He gave a shaky sigh. "What's her name?"

"Poppy. Poppy-Jane." Connor replied, and went to grab the phone from him.

"Beautiful." He stated. "Absolutely beautiful."

There was silence for quite some time, before I said, "Now what?"

"I wasn't looking for a long lasting relationship or anything. I just wanted to talk, let you know that you're safe, and that if you don't wish for it, I wont ever go near you again. That you don't ever have to worry about me, again. I can move away from PA, live somewhere else if you want. It's up to you, Leorah."

I blinked. "I don't really want to do this...dad and daughter thing. It seems...gross."

He nodded. "I understand that."

"But at the same time...you're better." I felt my eyes swell with tears. "You're my dad. The dad...from when I was a little girl. The dad that married my mom, and called me your Leo Lion, and tucked me into bed with my mom. The dad that sang me songs, made me laugh..."

"You remember all of that?"

"I had to. It's all that kept my sane." I said. "But I'm glad I remember it, because it's the only thing that keeps me from crying at night, and from hating everything about you. So, I don't want to have dinner every Sunday, but...I don't know. We can stay in touch. I could, I guess, send you pictures of Poppy every now and again. Something like that."

"Okay." He smiled. 'That's. That's so much better than I expected."

"This is for me. Not for you." I reminded. "To heal." I lifted my hand over my heart. "Heal wounds that haven't healed before. Okay?"

"Of course."

I stood, and Connor did too. "I'm going to go home now. I'll send a text, so we can have our phone numbers..."

He stood. "Alright...uh..."

"Bye." I smiled lightly, I tugged on Connor's hand, and dragged him outside, where he shut the door behind us.

"Oh my G-d." Connor mumbled. "I wanted to tear his head off, so badly."

"That was...surprisingly good." I mumbled. "Connor...that's my dad. That's the dad I remember when I was little. He was sick...oh my G-d." I began to cry, so I sat on the steps. "He was sick, and that's why he hurt me. Something was making him do it, it wasn't my dad."

Connor sat next to me, and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

"This is such a relief." I sniffled. "...I love you, Connor."

"I love you too. So much." He pressed a kiss to my temple. 'What do you say we go get Poppy from Bonnie's?"

I nodded. "Good idea."

The next day, when I returned from class, I saw a note on the fridge from Connor.

Leo, I'm at Annalise's with Poppy...I love you.

Oh hell no. He did not get to go to Annalise's without me. I decided to call an Uber.

When I arrived, Annalise answered the door with raised eyebrows. "She's here, just like you said she would be."

I entered. "What's happening?"

"Found a job." Connor smirked, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Excuse me?"

"Okay, hardly." Annalise rolled her eyes. "Your fiance is going to get off his ass finally, and make some money at the same time. You're welcome."

I walked toward him, grabbed Poppy, kissed her forehead, and let out a laugh. "I knew you couldn't keep us away for long."

"He came to me. Crying." Annalise scoffed.

"Crying?" I looked toward him.

He blushed.

"Aw, you're cute." I kissed his cheek. "Let's not tell the rest about this right away. They'll be angry."

He agreed.

"So. What's happening?" I asked, sitting on the couch.

"More like what's happening with you? I heard you dropped out too."

"Where?" I gasped.

"I have people. You changed majors. To what?"

I sighed. "Criminal Law. I'm looking into becoming a detective."

She nodded. "Well. If that makes you happy..."

"It does." I said. "Very much." I smiled down at Poppy, who gave a giggle. I kissed her head. "So, your turn, what is this?"

"...We're going to change the public defenders office." She responded slowly. "We just need clients."

I smirked. "Do you need an extra set of hands?"

She looked between the two of us. "I can't hire the both of you."

"I don't need money." I scoffed. "It just sounds like fun. As long as there isn't murder involved."

She sighed. "Fine. Both of you can help me...it might be hard because I lost so many, but...we'll make it work."


Sorry I haven't updated in awhile! Here's a double for the super late chapter ugh