Hehehe as promised I have returned with a Cole chapter. Yay! Zane's is coming up real soon, and so is Jay. Also send me any ideas for Kai! (if you want to of course, no pressure) As always, thanks for reading!

CaptainSteve1: I'm super glad you're loving it! Cole and his dad is always something I think about tbh, their relationship has so much potential in writing these stories lol. So many good (and angsty) ideas! And I'm pretty sure we'll find out pretty soon what Seliel's been up to!

PennySparker: Thank you! Hehehe does Seliel have a reason? We'll have to find out lol. (insert winky face) And yessssss I live for brotherly moments between the two. Like I'm pretty sure they fight sometimes out of the story, but they love each other regardless.

Peanut2196: Thank you! To be honest I think I've only read her character page once, so I'm glad I'm doing a good job! And yes Cole and the girls together are so adorable!! And , maybe there's something to Seliel we don't don't yet?

Despite having not visited in some time, he knew the path by memory. There was a slight breeze accompanying the cool, crisp November air. The leaves crunched under each step he took, making for the only noise present. It was completely silent, and as far as Cole could tell, he was the only person there. His left hand curled tighter around the cellophane encompassing the flowers.

Soon, he spots what he's looking for, and takes a seat on the grass before the weather-worn stone. It was a good thing the ground wasn't wet.

"Hey mom."

There was a strong gust of wind then, prompting Cole to pull firmly at his jacket. "Sorry, I uh, haven't been around to visit."

He placed a hand over the grave plaque. It was smooth, and cold.

"I've just been trying to...figure out some things." He begins to pull a flower out from the bouquet, a bright stargazer lily, before placing it onto the stone.

"I don't think you've heard yet, but...I'm going to be a dad." Cole begins to carefully place the bouquet into the vase holder at the side of the stone. He runs a finger along the edges of a petal. He closes his eyes, before speaking again. "Please help look out for me. I don't want to mess this up."

Cole sits in the silence for a moment.

The unease started to pool in his stomach.

"I don't know if you would be proud of me, if you saw me now. If you were here, with me. But...I'm trying my best."

For a long time, he just sits there beside the grave, thinking about whether his mother's real reaction would have been like. Whether she would have felt surprised at first, but loving a second later. Maybe she would have been one of those grandmothers that knit baby clothes.

But she's dead.

And all he can really hope for, is that, wherever she is, she knows he's trying.

When the sky begins to grow a little more grey, he decides it's time to leave. He stands, gazing at the gravestone one last time.

"See you soon mom. I love you."

Why was he thinking about that now?

Cole pulled himself from the memory, rubbing the back of his neck. The steam from the mug was warming up his face from subconsciously staring into his coffee for so long.

Attempting to break himself from his trance, he blinked, feeling the heavy weight behind his eyelids, begging him to close his eyes and go to sleep. He didn't know what time it was, but if he had to guess it was probably already two in the morning.

Taking a swig of the steaming liquid, he relished the warm bitter taste in his mouth. Good thing he acquired a taste for black coffee.

He heard the clinking across the table as his father mixed sugar and cream into his cup. Cole suddenly felt … awkward. But it was to be expected. After all, he and his father hadn't spoken in months.

"I'm going to see if we have any sweet bread." Lou said with a smile as he stood up from his chair and turned to go into the kitchen. Cole, watching his father walk away, winced as a memory flashed through his mind.

XXXXXXXXXX

"When will you understand that this isn't just some game of 'House'? You think you know what you're doing and you don't!"

"Oh yeah, because you sure as hell knew what to do after mom died, right?"

Cole felt guilty for a moment, seeing his father speechless. But the anger seemed to have broken him down first, his emotions spilling into his words.

"I don't need you scolding me all the time. I don't need you breathing down my neck. And..and…! Maybe I don't need you around just to remind me of all the ways I've disappointed you!"

"Cole-"

"Get out!"

Lou stood there, unmoving. Cole stared him down, breathing in short breaths, his look unwavering. Tense. Cold.

His father's eyes seemed to reflect the hurt for a split second before his eyebrows furrowed, a firm expression on his face.

"You want me to leave? I'll leave."

Lou made his way over to the door, before stopping to turn around, his hand already on the knob.

"I hope everything works out just the way you want."

The door closes behind him, leaving Cole alone, the anger slowly being replaced by an ache in his heart.

XXXXXXXXXX

His father walked in, carrying pieces of sweet bread wrapped in a napkin. "Luckily I still had some left- Cole?"

"I'm sorry."

Upon seeing Cole's expression, his father quickly places the bread onto the table.

"Cole, you don't have to-"

"Dad, please." Cole interrupted.

Lou sat back down at his seat at the small table, meeting his son's eyes with concern.

"You were right and I didn't listen to you." His breath shuddered as he continued. "I...I haven't been a good son. I don't even think I'm being a good dad. I...I can't do it. I can't do any of this."

Cole tried hard to keep his tone firm, for he didn't want to cry. But everything came at once, and he just couldn't stop it anymore.

So he looked down at the table instead.

"I'm so tired . I wanted to show you that I could do this. That I didn't need anyone's help. That maybe you'd finally see… but - I'm drowning. His voice broke at the last word. The tears started to fall down his cheeks. "I- I can't bring them down with me."

He stubbornly wiped at the corner of his eyes with the edge of his palm, feeling small, just like a little kid.

"I'm sorry"

He heard the chair screech and felt his father's hand on his shoulder.

"I had no right to walk in and criticize the way you were living with the girls. Instead of pointing out the wrong, I should have helped you fix it."

Cole looked away, not wanting his father to look at him as he cried.

"Come here."

Accepting the invitation, he wrapped his arms around his father, holding him tightly.

"I'm sorry too. I should have been a better father to you. But… I'm here now." Lou said quietly. "We can figure things out together." Lou hugged his son tighter, never wanting to let him go.

XXXXXXXXXX

Cole shifted in his seat at the kitchen table, taking another bite of the sweet bread. "And when I got home, she just wasn't there. Thank god the girls were alright, but… she hasn't answered any of my calls." He paused, finishing the rest of the coffee before speaking again. "Ah, for some reason, I just- didn't feel safe there. And, you were the first person I called."

His father nodded, listening carefully.

"Well you and the girls are welcome to stay as long as you like. And Seliel too." he added. "Although, son, it may be time to consider some...awful truths."

"What do you mean?"

"She might have left."

"She did."

"But she might not come back."

"No, no. Why would she do that? I'm sure she just got caught up in something. There's no way she'd leave me to do this alone. There's no way-"

"Okay. Okay," Lou sighed, trying to stop his son from rambling. "We'll have to wait and see."

Changing the subject, Cole stood from the table. "Ugh, I have to get some sleep. The girls will be up in a couple hours, and I have work later tonight." He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a yawn. Cole started to pick up his mug, although his father insisted on cleaning up himself.

"You go on ahead now to sleep. I can handle this" he said, shooing Cole away.

"Alright dad," he smiled. "Goodnight."

Lou watched as his son left the room. And while he should have felt better that he and his son were reconciling, he couldn't help but worry about the current situation at hand. Or even yet, the one that might be unfolding.

Cole placed an arm over his eyes, blocking the blinding sun that seeped in through the window. He turned over on his side, hoping just to fall back asleep. But when he remembered that he was not back home, and rather, at his father's house, he immediately sat up from his makeshift sleeping place on the floor.

What time was it? The sun was too bright to have been early. He rummaged through the blankets on the floor, looking for his phone. Once he found it, the screen illuminated to reveal that it was nine in the morning. And, to be frank, Cole couldn't really remember the last time he slept in. However, he was also dismayed by the fact that there was still nothing from Seliel.

He rubbed his eyes, before peeking onto the bed where his daughters were sleeping. Or, where they should have been sleeping.

Seeing that they were no longer there, he made his way out of the room.

"Dad?" he called out.

"We're over here!" he heard his dad respond.

Cole made his way to the living room, smiling at the sight. His father was sitting on the couch, with both babies. Nina, who still appeared sleepy, was curling onto his chest, while Eleni sat up right beside his lap, taking interest in a rattle she shook in jerky motions before putting it into her mouth.

"I think you forget I did this once too, Cole," his father said, smiling.

XXXXXXXXXX

After feeding his daughters that morning, Cole, upon returning to the car to get some of their things, realized he had left his bag at the apartment. The one filled with clothes he'd need in order to change for work later.

By noon, he decided reluctantly that it'd be best to return and get it, as well as bring back some of the girls' things as well.

It was just going to be quick.

However, when he opened the door to his apartment, he immediately froze in his tracks.

Sitting on the table, head in their hands was-

"Seliel?"