Chapter Three-Hundred and Three

John kicked a rock out of his way down the sidewalk, wrinkling his nose is the scent of smoke reached his sinuses. "What the?" He looked up at the smoldering remains at the diner, seeing only its remains, blackened in front of him.

He jumped as a woman's voice spoke behind him, turning to see Annie with her signature blonde ponytail and blue ribbon. "Grease fire." She sighed, meeting the teens dark eyes. "We lost the restaurant."

John bit his lip, offering her a hug — a rare sign of affection from him. "How can I help?"

She shook her head, rubbing a hand over his back with strong muscles resided under his skin. "We're doing just fine." She smiled, taking his calloused hands and hers and touching the tips of his fingers. " just keep focusing on your music and building a family."

John smirked, not into the little coffee house on the corner. "Let me buy you a cup." He chuckled when she stepped after him. "It's the least I can do."

Annie shook her head is John told her about his plans for the future, chuckling as he spoke of his hopes for he and Claire, The ideas he had for their wedding, every minute of his life seem to be planned out. "Our children in the picture?" She asked, sipping on her coffee as his eyes came back into focus.

"Umm…" The truth was, he had put a lot of thought into your kids; he was too afraid of becoming his father. "I'm not really sure…" he rub the back of his neck, able to feel where the rope head cut into his skin. "I mean… if Claire wants to get pregnant, I would… give her my sperm but…"

"You're afraid of turning into them." She placed her hands on his, able to feel that his skin had heated with embarrassment "Johnny, you are nothing like him." She smiled as his eyes met her's "you're much more of a man than he will ever be."

Thomas paced back-and-forth on the front porch, waiting for John to come home. He hated when John left in a fit like this, he He was always terrified that he would relapse or OD on something. John was predictable, set in his ways, and stubborn as a mule, but at the same time you could never tell what he was going to do. He could've simply gone for a walk, or he could've gotten into trouble that he couldn't get himself out he was always terrified that he would relapse or OD on something. John was predictable, set in his ways, and stubborn as a mule, but at the same time you could never tell what he was going to do. He could've simply gone for a walk, or he could've gotten into trouble that he couldn't get himself out of.

John had a tendency to find something to get into, even if he wasn't looking for it.

He jumped as he Caught a glimpse of a tall shadow, Smiling when he saw the outline of John in the dark. " oh… good." He sighed, stepping down to see the teen. "You're okay."

John chuckled, picking up the leaves on the bush beside him. "I'm sorry… Dad." He rubbed his wrist twisting the ring around his finger. "I'm just… frustrated…" He sighed, sitting on the stoop of the porch.

Thomas took a seat beside him, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "What about?"

John bowed his head, forcing the tears back. "I just… I feel like, like no matter what I do, I'll never be good enough for her." He twisted his ring, I had it he developed to help with anxiety. "And I'm scared about having kids… Like, what if I turn into him? What if I can't deal with it? What, what if… What if I can't even give her kids?"

Thomas mild, rubbing his hand over John's shoulders. "I'm sure you'll do just fine." He ruffled John's hair, offering him a water bottle. "And knowing Claire, she won't put up with your bullshit if you don't."

He swallowed a drink of water, pushing his hair out of his eyes and letting the Silver Street catch the light in the porch. "Did I just hear Thomas Robert Standish curse?" He smirked, laughing when Thomas lightly punched his jaw — more pushing his head away from him than a punch.

"You're rubbing off on me." He shook his head, putting the teams back before they had it inside.