A/N: Hey, everyone. Sorry for the wait. My mom's nuts about good grades, so me getting a C on a History test apparently merits computer restrictions. :( Anyway... the song used in this chapter is "Don't Give Up," a duet between Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush. This was actually one of the first parts of the story that I developed, and when I started, I planned on preaching to everyone reading this to go to iTunes and download the new version, a duet between Bono and Alicia Keys where the proceeds would go to the AIDS charity Keep A Child Alive. But now the song's not available anymore! How stupid is that? Let's help out some dying kids in Africa- no wait, we're tired of that. Sheesh. I got the song on like, the first day it came out- and I'm glad I did, it's good. Sorry for the rant. I should really get myself a blog...

Mediatorsk: No sweat about not reviewing the one chapter. It happens. ;) Yeah, I thought I was making Pam sound like Prue when I wrote it, too, so that's why I put that part in there. I hoped no one would percieve it as a copycat scene from "Thank You For Not Morphing"... And yes, I'm feeling much better now.

Punk Rock Miko2: Wow, thank you so much for reviewing the stories in this series! That's so nice! Hope you continue to enjoy it.

CHAPTER NINE

"Dad, I swear, if we could control our orbing, we'd come get you right now…" Stella said into her cell phone.

"I know, honey," Mark replied from the other end. He was driving, although he had no idea where to. "I miss you guys. But Pam wants what she wants. We'll just have to see what happens. I'll talk to you later."

"We… we love you, Dad," Andy said into the phone. He hadn't said that in a while.

"I love you guys, too. Bye." Mark hung up the phone and stared at the road. He took another swig from the bottle on the passenger's seat. This was the ultimate failure. Of course, he had felt like a failure for the last decade or so, but now, he couldn't even be forgiven for what he'd done. He knew that it was all his fault. Why did he have to be such a jerk back then? As far as he was concerned, he was still a jerk and that's why Pam was so nasty. He deserved it all. His only comfort now was that his kids still believed in him. They were the only thing keeping him from completely wasting the rest of his life away. He longingly thought back to the life he'd had with Paige, back when everything was fine and they were blithely unafraid of danger.

In this proud land we grew up strong

We were wanted all along

I was taught to fight, taught to win

I never thought I could fail

No fight left, or so it seems

I am a man who dreams have all deserted

I've changed my face, changed my name

But no one wants you when you lose

Don't give up

Cause you have friends

Don't give up

You're not beaten yet

Don't give up

I know you can make it good

Mark recalled how Paige's sister Piper had been killed, and after that how her son Wyatt had switched sides and basically took over everything in sight. Still, he hadn't done or said anything to his wife or her only remaining sister that could've prevented their murders. Why had he been so naïve?

Though I saw it all around

Never thought I could be affected

Thought that we would be the last to go

It's so strange the way things turn

He remembered all the times he'd driven back to the Manor, wanting to just walk in, apologize, and pick up where he'd left off. It had always seemed so easy, but today, he'd learned the truth. Pam's reaction almost made him wish the house was still as empty, dilapidated, and battle-scarred as it was during Wyatt's reign.

Drove the night toward my home

The place where I was born, out on the lakeside

Daylight broke, I saw the smoke

The trees had burned down to the ground

Don't give up

You still have us

Don't give up

We don't need much of anything

Don't give up

Cause somewhere there's a place where we belong

Rest your head

You worry too much

It's gonna be alright

When times get rough

You can fall back on us

Don't give up

Please don't give up

Mark also thought about his most recent screw-up, becoming so confused and grief-stricken that he'd actually ran away. How could he ever have left his underage kids to fend for themselves, and why did it take him over two weeks to realize that he should go back? In leaving, he'd tried to forget about all he'd done wrong in the past. Instead, he'd just made things worse. Everything had just been so overwhelming…

Got to walk outta here

I can't take anymore

Gonna stand on that bridge

Keep my eyes down below

Whatever may come

Whatever may go

That river's flowing

That river's flowing

Don't give up

Cause you have friends

Don't give up

You're not the only one

Don't give up

There's no reason to be ashamed

Don't give up

We're proud of who you are

Don't give up

You know it's never been easy

Don't give up

Cause I believe there's a place where we belong

Mark pulled into the parking lot of the next motel he saw. He would sleep on everything, and hopefully, things would be a bit clearer in the morning. He prayed that no matter what happened between him and the Halliwells, his children would be okay.

A/N: I hope this didn't sound too much like pointless dribble. I know it's not a very strong chapter...