Thanks to everyone who volunteered to help me generate ideas. Your advice is very much appreciated. I also enjoy getting to know my readers a bit and knowing that y'all enjoy these stories!

Thanks again to Kellygirl46 for letting me continue with her work, and thanks to Disney Channel for blessing us with the Descendants franchise.

Chapter 5

Four Years Ago

Sian paced the floor of his apartment, holding his cell phone up to his ear. He couldn't take Jay anymore. The anger issues were getting worse. He had been reprimanded numerous times for fighting and no one wanted to work with him. On top of that, Sian had caught him drunk at work again. If this continued, Jay would be out of a job. Things were getting out of hand and the only way to fix Jay is to tell him the truth. He waited for Lonnie to return to the phone. She is the only person who can help Jay.

"Sorry, she's really fussy tonight. How are you and everyone else?" Lonnie asked as she settled the newborn onto her breast for feeding. She asked about everyone each time, but Sian knew that was only concerned about Jay. Sian was her main link to Jay and her friends in Auradon. Even Jane, one of her best friends, she only spoke to by phone now.

"Honestly, I'm about ready to kill your boyfriend, Lonnie. He's driving everyone crazy," Sian grumbled. Poor old Jay was getting worse by the day.

"Sian, he isn't my boyfriend anymore. You know that. Jay left on his own. I didn't ask him to," Lonnie spoked softly as the baby suckled at her breast.

"Take him back, Lon. Get your miserable ass back here, tell him he has a kid and take him off my hands. The guy's a dick to everyone! I can't take much more of his shit." Lonnie cried softly into the phone, breaking her brother's heart. Sian sighed and decided to try a gentler approach. "Don't cry, Lon. Jay misses you. He loves you. Please, just talk to him. Come back and talk to him. He has a right to know about Jaylian."

Present

While the other men got to work on finding Sian, Jay walked back to the bedroom and looked in on Lonnie. She had rolled over and curled herself into a ball facing the door. She looked the most vulnerable he had ever seen her. Her father was dead, her mother was missing, and no one had seen or heard from her brother in days. No wonder Lonnie was so upset. She was scared, grieving, and on top of all that, running on steam trying to take care of her little girl. Their little girl, Jay reminded himself. He was still trying to understand why Lonnie and Sian had kept his daughter a secret from him for so long. Jay walked over and knelt next to the bed, his fingers gently brushed Lonnie's hair from her face.

"Why didn't you tell me we have a kid? Jay whispered. He sighed softly, resting his head next to Lonnie's face on the bed and watched her sleep. He thought he had lost Lonnie forever. "I never would have elt the last five years happen, Lonnie. Baby… I wish you had told me."

The little girl silently crept into the room and gently placed her hand on Jay's shoulder. Jay turned his head and smiled softly at her. She had inherited his skills to sneak up on someone. Jay was impressed that she was as silent as a mouse, especially considering that earlier that morning she had been giggling and hopping like a rabbit.

"Why are all these people here? Mama said it was gonna get better soon, but I don't know what's wrong. Is that why you're here?" Jaylian's big brown eyes searched his face for an answer.

Jay nodded, his eyes glistening with his own tears that he would never let fall. "Yeah, pumpkin. I'm gonna do everything I can to make everything better. I promise." It was his first promise to his daughter, and Jay knew it wouldn't be the last.

"Are we gonna have a birthday party? That's what mama does, but not with this many people," Jaylian asked excitedly. Having more party guests means more presents for her.

"Whose birthday, pumpkin?" Jay knew it wasn't his or Lonnie's.

"Mine, next week. Mama said she's gonna get Uncle Sian and Grandma and Grandpa to come and visit again." Jaylian grinned excitedly. Being five years old is a big deal because this year, she will graduate kindergarten and next year, she will start grade one at the school where her mama works!

Jay rubbed his face. He didn't even know when his own daughters birthday is. Jay could feel his frustration over the situation growing again. Why didn't Lonnie tell him? She wasn't one to keep secrets and couldn't lie to save her life, so why would she keep this from him? This didn't make any sense.

Jay was lost in thought, still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he has a daughter who was hidden from him for five years. This isn't like Lonnie at all. The tap on his shoulder got his attention again. Jay smiled softly at Jaylian and gently brushed his hand over her head. She looks just like the pictures Jay had seen of Lonnie at this age, except her eyes were more like her father's.

Carlos softly knocked on the door. "I think we've found him."

Jay nodded and stood up. "Why don't you get dressed and then we'll have a talk about all the stuff you want for your birthday, okay?"

Jay guided the bouncing little girl out of the master bedroom and towards her own bedroom as he followed Carlos down the hall. They walked into the kitchen and focused on the laptop on the table. Carlos had been able to track Sian's phone using Sian's phone number.

"Are you sure it's him?" Jay asked, his voice rough with anger as his fingers curled into fists.

Ally was going to be waiting in line to get to Sian. He knew about Jaylian and never bothered to tell him. Jay may be a bit easier on Lonnie about this right now, but Sian was another matter. Jay's so-called friend knew how badly this breakup had affected him. Sian watched him spiral out of control many nights as Jay tried everything he could to get over Lonnie. Nothing worked and no girl could ever measure up to her.

Four Years Ago

The music vibrated through the club. Tonight was Boy's Night Out and they were on the prowl. Jay, Sian, Carlos, Aziz, and Tyler hit the nightclub for the first time in a very long time. The boys were trying everything they could think of to get Jay in a better mood. He was rude to everyone, getting into fights over the littlest things, and constantly angry. Really, really angry. It needed to end.

"I'm getting a drink," Jay said as they walked over to the bar. He had already had several before they even left the apartment. He quickly downed one shot of whiskey and ordered another one.

"Jay, take it easy, man. How about you pace yourself? We just got here and you aren't a heavy drinker," Sian reminded his friend.

Jay slammed back the second shot and looked Sian dead in the eyes as he motioned for a third. He didn't care anymore. The best person in his life was gone and there was no way he could get her back. His life wasn't the same without Lonnie.

The small blonde watched Jay and smirked. She saw that he was upset and getting very drunk very quickly. Riley knew this was the perfect opportunity to get him to finally notice her. She walked over to the boys with a wide smile and slid her arms around Jay's waist.

"Jay!" She yelled over the loud music. "I was hoping you'd show up tonight. Come dance with me." She grabbed his hand and dragged him onto the dancefloor before he could respond. She ground her body against his as he held himself up by resting his hands on her hips.

Sian shook his head and turned to Tyler. This was not going well. "Call Carlos. We need to get him home before there's any serious damage done that Jay will regret when he's sober."

The two men nodded but froze as he looked past Sian.

"Too late," said Tyler.

Sian frowned at his friend's reaction and quickly turned around to see his sister standing just a few feet away, her eyes welling up as she stared in disbelief at the dance floor. Sian was at her side in an instant.

"Lonnie, what are you doing here?" Sian hoped to buy some time to get Jay away from Riley so Lonnie could talk to him, but it was too late. The damage had been done. Her tears were already falling. "Lonnie, she only asked him for a dance. He's drunk, Lon. He isn't thinking straight right now."

"You told me that I needed to tell him. You said he misses me and wants me back!" Lonnie screamed over the music. "That doesn't look like he misses me, Sian. He's moved on."

Lonnie motioned to the man in question just as Riley glanced over. She sneered at Lonnie and wrapped herself around Jay, then tugged on his neck and brought Jay's lips to hers. Riley would get her man one way or another.

Lonnie's breath hitched as she turned around and raced out of the nightclub and into the night. She couldn't bear to stick around and see anything else.

Sian cursed under his breath. Lonnie was supposed to confront Jay and tell him about the baby. This was not going according to plan. "Get Riley off of him and get him home," Sian yelled to Tyler. "I've got to find Lonnie."

Present

The knock on the front door got everyone's attention. Jay walked over and opened it, giving a sad smile to the women as they walked in. It took a moment for them to enter the home before Jaylian peeked out of her bedroom and spotted a familiar face.

"Aunty Jane!" The half-naked girl grinned and ran over to Jane. Jay and Carlos both froze.

Jay's expression hardened as his eyes met Jane's Jay swallowed hard. He had a sickening feeling growing in his stomach. Jay glared at Jane, then turned to Carlos and searched his friend's face. Carlos shook his head. He didn't know about the child.

"You knew," Jay growled, causing Jane to step back. "Who else in this room knew and didn't bother to tell me?"

"It wasn't my place, Jay. It was Lonnie's decision. I can't blame her after what she…" Jane stopped herself before she crossed a line. She had no idea what Jay did or did not know.

"After she what, Jane?" Jay wasn't handling this well at all.

"Jay, cool down, man. Your kid's right there watching you." Tyler softly reminded him. Jay looked down and saw the little girl cowering behind Jane's legs with fear in her eyes.

Jay didn't want his child to ever look at him that way; the same way he used to look at Jafar when he was growing up, always full of fear. He took a few deep breaths and knelt down to her level. He kept his voice gentle and calm as he spoke. "You've got to finish getting dressed, pumpkin."

"But I need help," Jaylian whimpered.

"I'll be there in a minute to help you, okay sweetie?" Jane said. "You go pick out your clothes for today."

The little girl nodded and scurried back to her bedroom.

Jay tried to reel his anger back in. "Tell me fast, Jane."

"She went back once to tell you, about a month after she had Jaylian. You guys had gone out and she wanted to surprise you, so she called me over to babysit. Jay, you were drunk and from what she said, all over Riley. It broke her heart to see you had moved on.

Jay felt like he had been punched in the gut and literally stumbled backwards. Tyler grabbed him and got him into a chair. The poor guy had been through a lot since three that morning. Jay rubbed his face. Lonnie came to him, but he never knew. Tyler shook his head. He knew exactly what Jane was talking about.

"He wasn't all over her," Tyler explained. "Jay was drunk and yeah, dancing with Riley was a mistake, but he pushed her off as soon as she kissed him. Lonnie didn't stick around to see him flip out on her."

"Wait, you knew she was there and you never told me? What the hell, Tyler?!" Jay stood up and pushed him in the chest once, then once again pushing him into the kitchen counter. Jay was more than ready to hit something now. His voice got louder and louder as he grew more frustrated with the knowledge that everything bad that happened in the last five years could have been avoided. "I could have had Lonnie and my kid years ago and no one bothered to tell me!"

"I didn't know about the kid, Jay!" Tyler yelled back, raking his fingers through his hair in frustration. He didn't like not telling Jay, but it had been made clear that he was not to say anything. "I thought Sian would have told you, but he said not to say anything. He said Lonnie had to make the call. It was up to her, not us."

Jay clenched his hands into trembling fists as he struggled for some strength to not hit someone or something. When was Lonnie back and why did she not come right to him? He honestly didn't even remember the night Jane and Tyler were talking about. Over the last five years, Jay has spent many miserable nights in a drunken haze trying to get over Lonnie. Yeah, Riley has tried time and time again to get together with him, but he never wanted Riley and never has. He turned her away constantly. No girl can ever touch what he feels for Lonnie.

Four Years Ago

Lonnie was just settling Jaylian down for bed when the phone rang. She frowned at the screen as she didn't recognize the number, but she saw that the area code was from Auradon City so she figured it was her brother. She started talking immediately when she answered. "I'm putting her to bed, Sian. I can't talk right now."

"Good, then you can just listen like a good girl." Riley hissed into the phone.

"Who is this?" Lonnie set the baby up on her shoulder and held her against her chest.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Where are my manners? It's Riley. How are you, Lonnie? I saw you the other night at the club. Too bad Jay didn't. He was a little occupied with me." Riley pushed the knife deep into Lonnie's heart and twisted it.

Lonnie closed her eyes and swallowed hard. All she could think about for the past two days was the memory of Jay dancing with and kissing Riley. "What do you want?"

"Oh, not much. Just for you to stay away from Auradon and never come back here. Jay is mine now. You lose, I win." Riley hung up the phone. There was no way she was ever going to let Lonnie get in her way again.

Present

The tug on Jay's shirt got his attention. He looked into the big brown eyes of his now fully-clothed daughter and felt his heart, and all of his anger, melt. Jay knelt down to her level. He smiled softly into the girl's bright, curious eyes,, then glanced up at the woman behind her. Lonnie was tousled, exhausted, and confused by all the commotion. She woke up when she heard Jay yelling. She knew he would be upset, she just didn't know how bad it would be.

Jay tried to focus. Lonnie saw him kissing and dancing with Riley, but she didn't know the whole story. She was hurt, and that's on him for letting it happen. Guilt started to creep in along with anger, frustration, and exhaustion. It wasn't a good combination. Jay closed his eyes and sighed. He tried again to focus on his little girl.

"What's up, pumpkin?" Jay tried very hard to hide the anger he was feeling. None of this was her fault.

Jaylian looked up at her mother, then cupped Jay's face. "Are you my Daddy?"

I decided to omit the bit about Jay punching and breaking the wall because I read somewhere that breaking/hitting inanimate objects during arguments can be a red flag flag for domestic violence, and those of us who have read the original story posted by Kellygirl46 know that Jay has been trying to learn how to deal with his anger in healthier ways. Also, I will not have Jay, Lonnie, and their sweet little girl living with that much fear.

If someone you know is hitting or throwing things when upset (and they are older than the age of two), then leave that relationship, or at least confront that person and encourage them to get help and learn how to communicate and deal with their emotions in healthier and safer ways.

If you are personally struggling with this, you can always message me privately, but I would still encourage you to