Scarlett was lounging on the couch in sweats and a hoody with Aden sprawled across her lap, who was asleep. She pushed her glasses further up her nose, her eyes fixed intently on the history documentary on the TV screen.

They had spent their Sunday watching cartoons, playing board games and cooking dinner. Aden had dozed off not long ago, giving Scarlett the perfect chance to catch up on a series of documentaries on World War 2, though her mind soon wondered off to the image of Julie and the pretty blonde leaving the park together. There was something about the brunette that Scarlett was really drawn to. Sure, she was insanely attractive. And effortlessly funny. And smart. And so good with Aden. But, there was something more, that caused Scarlett's stomach to turn and the thought of this Alya girl with Julie.

You have no right to be jealous. She is Aden's teacher. That's it.

Scarlett sighed, taking a sip of her tea and sinking further into the couch. Aden rolled over in his sleep and she carefully stroked her fingers through his messy hair until he settled again.

She knew it was best not to dwell on Julie.

Though that didn't mean she didn't.

Scarlett was onto her second documentary when she heard the rumbling of a car engine pulling up into their driveway. Her stomach lurched. She heard the engine cut off, a door slam and the rattle of keys as footsteps got closer to the door. The brunette kept her eyes trained on the TV screen as the front door swung open.

"Scarlett, Aden, I'm home," she heard him call out before slamming the door behind him. "Guys, where are you?"

Luckily, Aden didn't stir and Scarlett didn't respond. The last thing she wanted to do was speak to her father. Her patience was slowly running out with him. She heard his heavy boots walk to the kitchen, then turn back through the hallway as they came closer to the living room. Eventually they stopped.

"Hey, kids," she heard her father say quietly.

Scarlett didn't look away from the screen and kept her face stoic.

"Hi."

"What are you guys doing?" he asked light hearted, still standing in the doorway.

"Sleeping. Watching TV."

He laughed nervously and Scarlett looked up at the sound. Her Dad's face was tired. His green eyes stood out against the dark bags underneath them and his beard was longer and unkempt. His hair was dark, messy and reached his shoulders now. His t-shirt and jeans were creased and stained in places. He was a mess.

"What's so funny?" she asked coldly.

"Oh erm…nothing I-I…" he trailed off, scratching the back of his neck.

Scarlett watched him as his darkened eyes looked back sadly at her.

"Scarlett, I'm sor-"

"-don't," she spat at him. "You're not sorry." Her nostrils flared and her eyes were wide in anger. He swallowed thickly, not knowing what to say. She quickly composed herself and her stoic expression returned. She turned back to the TV. She could hear him fidgeting on the spot.

"Dinner smells good, what did you make?" he tried again.

"Pasta. There's a bowl in the microwave if you're hungry."

"Sounds great, Scar, thanks."

She nodded her head once, still not looking at him. There was silence between them before she heard him turn and shuffle out of the room. The sting of tears threatened her eyes but she quickly blinked them back and sucked in a deep breath to calm herself down.

Soon she heard the quiet hum of the microwave from the kitchen and a few minutes later came the loud beeps which startled Aden awake.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Scarlett cooed as the young boy's eyes locked with hers, terror stricken.

"I don't like that noise," he whimpered, hiding his face in her side. "It sounds like the ambulance beeps."

Scarlett felt the colour drain from her face as the feeling of nausea took over her. Aden had been taken away in an ambulance after the accident. Scarlett stayed with him the whole time. And in the hospital too.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to him, hugging him tighter to her. "I'll make sure Dad doesn't do that again, okay?"

Aden's head shot up.

"Daddy's back?" he asked, hopeful.

Scarlett nodded, smiling sadly. It was all she could do. He scrambled up from the couch and bounded out of the living, across the hallway and into the kitchen.

"DADDY!" she heard Aden shout ecstatically. Scarlett slowly picked herself up from the couch and made her way to the kitchen before stopping in the doorway. She couldn't help but smile at the sight before her. Aden was sat on top of his Dad's shoulders, with his arms wrapped under the older mans chin. He was dishing out his pasta and chatting happily with the boy.

"I hope you've been a good boy for Scarlett!"

"I have, Daddy."

"You sure about that, Aden?" Scarlett questioned, raising her eyebrows and smirking.

"Yeah," he replied, pulling tongues at her.

Scarlett faked a shocked face and Aden giggled as he leant his head against his father's.

"Your face is tickly," he pouted, as he gently stroked his Dad's stubble on his cheek. Strong arms wrapped around the boy as the older man pulled Aden off his shoulders and placed him onto the table. Their Dad pulled out a stool and took a seat, before tucking into his dinner. He took a huge mouthful.

"I've been so busy, I forgot to shave!" Scarlett rolled her eyes. One because he was talking with his mouth full and two because he's been busy?

"What have you been doing, Dad?" she asked annoyed, folding her arms across her chest. He looked up from his plate, giving Scarlett a helpless look. After a few moments of staring at each other, Aden cut in.

"Scarlett said it was secret mission again." His eyes were hopeful.

Their father looked between the two of them, unable to fathom something to say. Scarlett felt her jaw clench as she stared her father down.

"Well would you look at that," she laughed bitterly. "Secret Agent Alexander Dunn lost for words. Yet again."

"Scarlett…" he warned. She ran her fingers through her curls and bit on her lip, stopping herself from saying what she really wanted to say. She wanted to scream at him. Shake him. Tell him to snap out of it. Tell him to get his shit together. Tell him to stop leaving every time it got too much.

But she didn't. Instead she left the room and quietly made her way up the stairs.

Scarlett had been tossing and turning for over an hour now, unable to switch her mind off. She checked the time on the alarm clock on the bedside table. 11:47pm. She sighed and rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling. That's when she heard a small knock on her bedroom door.

"Scar?" she heard her Dad call quietly. She didn't reply. The door edged open slightly, forcing a streak of light to illuminate the bedroom. Her eyes squinted at the light.

"Scarlett?" she heard him whisper again.

"What, Dad?" she answered harshly, sitting up and rubbing at her eyes.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure," she said sarcastically.

He slowly made his way into her room, leaving the door ajar slightly so he could see in the dark. He made his way over to the bed and sat down at the end of it.

A few moments of uncomfortable silence passed as he looked around her room.

"What do you want, Dad?" she asked, tired.

She could make out the silhouette of him against the light, biting at his lip. She could swear it was to stop the tremble in it. He ducked his head and sighed.

"I bathed Aden and put him to bed. I cleaned the kitchen, too."

Scarlett snorted. "Do you want a medal?" she asked bitterly.

"Scar…I'm trying. I really am."

"Yeah, it really looks that way, Dad." She heard him sigh. She could make out him looking towards the bookshelf, where the picture of her mother stood. He stared at the spot for a while.

"You've been so brave Scarlett," she heard him whisper. He reached over for his daughter's hand. She allowed him to take it, taken back by his actions. Ever since her Mom had died he had completely closed off. He had built up unbreakable walls around himself. "You get that from her, you know. She would be so proud of you."

Scarlett felt a familiar ache in her chest as warm tears began to run down her cheeks. "I miss her," she admitted her lip trembling.

"I know, kid. I do, too. So much." She heard the crack in his voice. She nodded in understanding. His rough thumb stroked over the back of her hand, offering her comfort. He sucked in a sharp breath before slowly letting it out.

"Anyway, I'll leave you to get to sleep. I'll get Aden to school tomorrow. Have a good day at work, okay?" He brought Scarlett's hand up to his mouth and kissed it before placing it back onto the bed. He stood up slowly and carefully made his way to the door.

"Goodnight, Dad," Scarlett whispered into the room. He turned and she swore she could see the slightest hint of a smile on his lips.

"Goodnight Scar." He carefully shut the door behind him and Scarlett was submerged in darkness once again.

Julie had collected her class from the playground at 08:30. It was now 09:00 and there was still no sign of Aden. She sat in front of her class at the carpet area, going through the letters of the alphabet. Her eyes scanned the door every now and then for a sign of him. She knew that his Dad should be bringing him in today. And that unsettled Julie a little.

"Miss Maslany," she heard one of the children call, before noticing Dylan with his hand in the air, trying to catch her attention.

"Yeah, Dylan?" she replied.

"Where's Aden?"

Julie smiled gently. The two boys had struck up a friendship over the past week. Julie had seen them sitting together each lunchtime when she had peaked in the canteen to make sure her class were settled. Miles had also informed her that the two boys had paired up during their gym class. She'd asked him, wanting to make sure that Aden wasn't being left out.

"I'm not too sure," she replied honestly. The boy stuck out his lip slightly and looked to the floor.

"You'll see him again soon enough, okay?" The boy nodded slowly, looking back up to his teacher. "Now Dylan, can you tell me what letter comes after 'e'?"

Julie could see him mentally going through the letters in his head. "F!" he shouted out, smiling widely at her.

Julie faked a shocked face, exaggerating her surprise. "I am so impressed!" The boy smiled away. "Seriously, buddy. Come give me a high five!" Julie held her hand out as the little, blonde boy scrambled to his feet and made his way over to her. He swung his arm back then forwards firmly connecting his hand with Julie's, causing it to sting a little.

"Alright, Mr Muscles," she said shaking her hand from the sting of the connection, "next time you get a sticker instead."

He giggled away as he sat back down.

Another half an hour went by. Julie had sent the children to their tables to start their handwriting practice. She gradually made her way around the tables, making sure the children were on task and offering help when needed. She was crouched down next to Jacob, showing him how to form the letter "g" when she heard the small tap on her classroom door.

"I'll be right back, okay Jacob? Keep going, you're doing great," she encouraged him. She stood up and made her way over to the door, opening it slightly. And then fully, when she seen who was stood in front of her. Principal Durani. And Aden. Aden, who was holding tightly onto a man's hand. Julie took in the man's appearance. He was huge. He stood well over six foot, and his body was thick and stocky. His hair was shoulder length and tucked behind his ears and a dark beard took over the lower part of his face. But when Julie looked into his eyes, all she seen was Scarlett's. They were the exact same shade of brown. It was undoubtedly her Dad.

"Good morning, Miss Maslany," Julie looked towards Principal Durani, "this is Alexander Dunn, Aden's father," he announced, gesturing towards him. Julie looked back towards the man and smiled softly at him.

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Dunn," she said, offering her hand out to him. The man eyed Julie suspiciously. Her hand had hung in the air for too long, before he grabbed it firmly and shook it slowly. The contact made Julie uncomfortable and it lasted too long. He nodded his head towards her and stared into her eyes, before dropping her hand. Julie quickly moved her hand back to her side and swallowed thickly. She looked back to Durani, who was looking at the man with concerned eyes, aware that Julie was uncomfortable.

She quickly cleared her throat and looked down to Aden, who was looking between the three adults, unsure of what was happening.

"Shall we get you into class, Aden? Dylan's been asking where you'd got to." He looked up to Julie and smiled at her.

"Okay, Miss Maslany." Aden turned to look at his father and held his small hands up in the air, offering out a hug to the man. Alexander looked down to the boy and let out a huff before rejecting the hug and going for pat on the head, instead. Julie's confusion was evident all over her face.

"You be good, kid," he said to the little boy. Aden slowly dropped his hands to his side. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked to the floor. Julie could see his lip beginning to tremble.

"Come on then Aden, let's get you inside!" she said enthusiastically, grabbing the boys hand. She gave a small wave and quick "goodbye" as she guided him through the classroom door.

Julie felt unsettled at how easily the man had just rejected Aden. All the little boy wanted a hug from his Father before he left. Scarlett was so affectionate with Aden. Even Kit had been the day she met her.

As they got through the threshold and the door was shut behind them, Julie called "Aden, guess what!?" She dropped down to kneel in front of him. "Guess who I saw on Saturday?"

She had to do something to distract him. He slowly shook his head, confused.

"Scarlett! I saw Scarlett!" she said, smiling widely.

The corners of his mouth curved upwards in response.

"You sawed my Scarlett?"

"Yeah, at the park!"

"You was at the park, too?"

"Oh, yeah. Did you have fun?"

He nodded his head enthusiastically, nearly butting Julie in the process. She giggled at him and he laughed back at her. "We gotted our faces painted after it, too!"

"No way, what did you get?"

"A tiger!"

"Scary," she whispered, raising her eyebrows. "When you say 'we.' Does that mean Scarlett got her face painted, too?"

Aden laughed again and clapped his hands together. "Yeah, she looked so silly."

Julie chuckled at him. "What did she get?"

"A racket."

"A racket?"

Aden rolled his eyes. "Yeah, a racket." Julie looked at him, totally confused, while mentally picturing a tennis racket painted onto Scarlett's face. Surely not.

"Aden, when you say racket…what does a racket look like?"

Aden sighed dramatically. "Like, browny, grey fur and a stripy tail and sharp teeth and black eyes."

Julie wracked her brain for a second before…

"Aden, do you mean a racoon?"

He rolled his eyes. "That's what I just said."

"Course you did," she said jokingly, pursing her lips. "It's a shame I didn't bump into Scarlett after you two had been painted! I would have loved to have seen it." Julie isn't even lying.

"She took a picture on her phone. She could show you!"

"We'll see, buddy. But for now, you've got some work to do, okay?" He smiled and nodded at his teacher. "Dylan saved you a space next to him. I'll be over in a second to show you what to do."

"Okay, Miss Maslany." Aden walked off to the table as Julie quickly stood and looked out of the small window in the door. She was hoping Principal Durani was still there. She wanted to discuss with him what had just happened. But as she peered out, the corridor was empty. She'd have to catch him later.

Julie turned back and made her way over to Aden's table. The two boys had their backs to her when she heard Dylan ask "where've you been?"

Aden grabbed a pencil from the pot in the middle of the table and settled back into his chair before answering, "there was lots of bottles next to his bed and it took forever to wake him up."

"Who?" she heard Dylan ask.

"My Daddy."

Julie suddenly felt sick to her stomach.