Chapter 7: Leaving the Past

Conner walked into the cemetery with Colin's little soccer ball in his hands. This was the ball that went out into the street that made Colin run out and get hit by the speeding car. The former Red Ranger stood at the gates and took a deep breath. He opened the gates and went towards his son's grave.

Once he found his son's grave, he found the teddy bear that Kira left there the day before. He kneeled in front of Colin's grave and set the soccer ball down. "Hey, buddy. Hope the big man upstairs is taking care of you. Of course he is, I know that you're being well taken care of," he murmured. Conner bit his lip and sighed. "I'm sorry I let you down, buddy. I let you and your mother down. I'm really sorry for that," he added. Conner rubbed the back of his neck as he stared at his son's grave.

(Flashback)

"It's a little boy Kira," Conner announced. He kissed his wife's forehead as he walked over and took his newborn son into his arms. Kira was able to sit up so he could place the baby into her arms.

"He's the most beautiful baby boy I had ever delivered, congratulations you two," the doctor congratulated.

"Thank you," Kira answered.

Conner smiled as he held his son's tiny hand. "What do you want to name him?" He asked. Kira bit her lip as she looked at him.

"I don't know, it almost seems like that none of the names that we picked out fit him," she replied.

Conner smiled and the little infant let out a small cry. "Well, how about Colin?" He asked. Kira thought about it for a minute before nodding.

"Colin's perfect," she replied.

Conner gave Kira a kiss and kissed his son's forehead.

(End Flashback)

"Thought I'd find you here," a voice commented. Conner looked over his shoulder to see his twin brother standing there.

"Eric, when did you come back from Blue Bay Harbor?" He asked.

"You kidding? I've been in Reefside for the past two years," Eric replied.

The two brother's embraced with smiles on their faces. "How did you know you'd find me here?" Conner asked when he pulled back.

"Wasn't hard to figure out bro. If you're not in the soccer field and not at your hotel. I figured you'd be here," Eric replied.

Conner let out a sigh as he kneeled in front of his son's grave again. Eric placed a hand on his twin's shoulder. "How's the moving on bit?" Eric asked. Conner shook his head.

"It's not happening, bro. I'm still in love with Kira and she's getting married to someone else," he replied.

"Yeah, read about that."

Conner rubbed his forehead. "It wasn't supposed to be like this, Eric. My son wasn't supposed to die like he did. No parent should have to bury their child, because their child shouldn't die before them. It wasn't supposed to be this way. Colin was supposed to grow up and make a difference in this world. Colin was supposed to have everything that I didn't. Kira and I were supposed to be together forever, but it's not happening all because of me," he explained. Eric kneeled by his brother.

"Conner, I know for a fact that you weren't the cause of your son's death. As far as I know it was those crazy teens who hit him when they were speeding down the street. Things happen for a reason," Eric put in.

Conner wiped his tears away. "Not this time, bro. There was no reason for my three-year-old to die. There's never a reason," he insisted. He stood up and stared at Colin's grave. "You didn't see the look on Kira's face when she pulled up to see me sitting in the street with his lifeless body in my arms. You didn't see how she nearly died then and there when I had to tell her that Colin was dead," Conner pointed out.

"You're right, I didn't see it, but I do know that Kira's never stopped loving you even after the divorce," Eric answered.

"How is it that everyone knows more than I do about all this?"

"Because you don't open your eyes. You can't let go of what happened to Colin and you're practically killing yourself over it because you were blaming yourself for it. Stop blaming yourself and see that it was an accident."

Conner took a deep breath and looked at Eric. "It is time for me to move on. That's why I'm going to get into my car, drive out of Reefside, and never look back. I'm never coming back to this place, because all it holds is painful memories. There's nothing here for me," he explained. Eric nodded his head slowly.

"Good luck, Conner," he answered.

The McKnight twins embraced one last time before Conner looked at his son's grave. "Hey, buddy, I'll see you sometime, you just be mommy's guardian angel you hear?" He stated. He said goodbye to Eric before heading back towards his car. Eric looked at Colin's grave.

"You watch over your daddy too, little man. Your daddy needs your guidance too," he put in.

Eric then turned on his heel and left the cemetery.

Conner got in his car and drove out of Reefside, leaving that part of his life behind forever.