Riley stepped slowly as he made his way downstairs. Grandad and the Dubois's decided it was safest to keep the kids out of school until Dedrick was caught.

He saw Huey and Jazmine sitting at the kitchen table doing what looked like school work.

"Whatchyall doin?" Riley asked, getting a soda from the fridge.

"Work," Huey muttered.

"Our teachers sent us the work we missed... and what we'll be doing all week,"

"All week!?" Riley was mortified.

"Better just get it done, now, Riley," Huey told him, "You'll have more time to do whatever until we have to go back to school,"

Jazmine nodded, "I'm already done with tuesday!"

Before Riley could say anything, there was a sudden knock at the door. The children all went pale in the face. Grandad had left to go grocerie shopping and had told them not to answer the door for nobody.

"WHo ya think it is?" Riley said as quietly as he could.

"Ignore it," Huey whispered.

"Kids! It's your dad! I want to explain!"

"He can't get in," Huey reassured the horrified faces before him, again in whisper, "The door's locked,"

"Huey...!" Riley whimpered, giving his brother a hug. Huey hopped off his chair and tiptoed silently to the front door, making sure to stay out of the window views. Suddenly, there was a click. That man was picking the lock. Huey turned his head sharply to the others who all made their way upstairs.

The door flew open moments later, the children were nowhere to be seen. Dedrick stepped slowly into the nice house. He whistled.

"Phew! This is some place yall boys got here," He shouted, circling the rooms down stairs, "Yessir! Ma boys be doin it big,"

The children flinched involentarily when they heard a foot come down on the stairs. Creaks were heard, followed by thumps. They were all hiding inthe laundry shoot hidden behind the curtain of Grandad's room. They were able to hold themselves up but if they were discovered, they could straighten their legs and slide down to saftey. Huey had his mouth clamped over Jazmine's mouth on account of she was making somewhat loud whimpering noises.

"Boys! I just want to talk! I was high back then!" He called, "I...I never wanted to hurt you...or your mother! I loved her! and I love you!"

Huey and Riley exchanged looks.

"Please! Lemmie be the dad I always wanted to be!" He continued. When he got no reply he sighed and shook his head.

"RILEY!"

The youngest Freeman shot his head up and looked at Huey who just shook his head.

"Riley... you especially...! I'm so sorry!" The man called, his voice getting more clear and his footsteps coming closer, "The reason your momma left me... after what I did... I know she had every right to but... but if it meant that you're here then I'm glad of that,"

"What does he mean...?" Riley whispered.

"Shush," Huey hissed.

"What does he mean that what he did made me here?"

"I dunno, Riley, shush!"

"No! What's he mean!" Riley asked, throwing the door open and hopping out, tears in his eyes he looked up at the baffled man, "Whaddia mean!? What'd you do ta make her leave ya!?"

The man stared down at the boy, falling to his knees he put his arms out to hug him, "God... look at you. You look just like your uncle Jamal,"

"Get offa me, man!" Riley snapped, stepping back, "What'd you do!?"

Huey hopped out of the shoot, tears falling from his eyes, he did his famous mid air twirl kick and knocked the man in the jaw, "Are you saying you RAPED her!?"

Riley's eyes narrowed and the man lay there on his back. Dedrick wipped the blood away from his cheek and sat up, "I know... yall must hate me... and I hate myself too... but..."

"Did you rape her or not!?" Huey demanded.

Their biological father looked up at the boys, sighing he lowered his gaze and shook his head, "I was... so high... she... she told me not to... but... I was so angry. She... she threw out all my drugs... I was... so...,"

"You need to get the fuck up outta here," Huey told him seriously, "I aint never wanna see you again, got it?"

"I want so baddly to apologize,"

"Fuck no!" Huey barked, "We want nothn ta do with you! Nigga, I hate you. Nothin will make me NOT hate you!"

Huey glared, tired of feeling afraid and tired of backing down to a man who was as weak as a man could be.

"I'm sorry..."

"Man, I don't wanna hear your voice for the resta' my life! I don't care what you do or where you go or nutin! Just... forget bout us. Get up outta here NOW!"

The broken man stood, turning on his heal he began to leave but Jazmine stepped out of the shoot and ran over, "Wait!" she grabbed him by his hand and turned to look at her two friends who were shocked by her random display.

"He's done bad things," She said innocently, "But he's still your dad... and he wants to make up for it,"

Huey glared and looked at Riley who stood there with tear stained eyes. Neither looked like they were willing to try.

"He's asking for forgiveness," She said gently.

"I aint no priest," Riley muttered.

"You don't have to forgive him... or even respect him," Jazmine shrugged, "But... why not just listen to him?"

Huey and Riley both glowered, "If Grandad sees you here, he may kill you," Huey told him, "And if you hurt Grandad... we'll kill you,"

"Will you give me a chance...? To be your father?"

The boys skuffed their feet until Riley spoke, "I can't,"

"Me either,"

Jazmine sighed and looked up at the older man with a sad look, "You can't really blame them," she whispered. The man smiled and touched her head.

"I know," He sighed and looked at the boys, "But... Please don't ever think... I didn't love you or your mother,"

"Shut the hell up an' get outta here," Huey suddenly shouted, "I swear to God, I will kill you if you ever say that around me again,"

Realizing he was defeated, he retreated down the stairs and left. Huey muttered something dark under his breath and went to his room, Riley followed and Jazmine chased after them, worried for them.

ooOOOooOOooOOOOooooOO

The thing is, the boys never breathed a word about it to anyone. A few times when sleep deprived them, they would mention it in passing but never once did they dwell much on if they should have forgiven him or not. Suppose they just wanted to get over the whole thing. There were days when Jazmine would ask a question here or there but would get a very short and sometimes curt reply.

Huey preffered it that way. He grew to forget about his "father". and Learned to be a better brother to Riley.

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months and months into years.

Huey and Riley and Jazmine grew. They grew and went along with their lives accordingly. Huey and Jazmine were living in a town much like woodcrest along with their two children. Riley wasn't too far but seemed to have difficulty settling. He grew bored easy.

I'm afraid the story doesn't end here, my friends. Oh no. We still have much more to tell of the Freeman brothers father and his quest for redemption.

ooOOooOOoOOOooOO

i still dont really know where im goin with this XD