Norman turned back to the kids, to find one of the girls smiling sadly at him.

"Are you okay sweetheart?" he asked.

"I'm okay." she said quietly. "I just wish Daddy loved Mommy like that." Norman blinked.

"...I." Jesus, give it up Norman. Sure, he isn't your normal type, that's true enough. But... there's no point denying it. You've fallen for him. And he doesn't feel it back.

"So do I, Sweetie." he said, meaning every word, though about quite what he wasn't sure. "So do I."

It seemed like they'd been to every park within a two mile radius now, and the kids were getting grizzly. Jayden was carrying the youngest boy, and the two girls were lagging behind, although he made sure to keep an eye on them. Don't want another origami case... He shuddered at the thought. He'd planned to keep in contact with Shaun Mars, send him a get well soon card and that, but after he'd resigned hadn't seen much point. After all, he wasn't exactly a good role-model... Poor kid. The only survivor of the Origami Killer, and whatever Carter said, it probably wasn't thanks to him.

Jayden shook his head to clear his thoughts... Hiding in the past wouldn't solve anything. It was probably time to take the kids home now.

After a while, they neared the house, and Norman paused at the sounds coming from inside, and dragged the kids back. What the Hell is going on in there? He turned to the two older girls, and knelt down to their height.

"I'm sorry girls, I don't know you or your brother's names. I'm Norman." The girl he had spoken to before hesitated, but then obviously decided she could trust him.

"I'm Amie Linda, my sister's Lucy May, and my brother is Norman Andrew." Jayden blinked.

She named her son after me? "Right. Okay Amie and Lucie, please could you watch your little brother. And if anyone comes up to you, you tell them I'm just in that house, and they do anything you don't like, you scream. As loud as you can. And don't worry, I'll be back soon. Okay?"

The young girl looked confused, but nodded.

"Okay."

Norman walked up to the door, and listened at it for a while, picking up fractured bits of conversation.

"...ea? I think my sex'yality ... do to my wife is my own business. ...re's not a good kind. All queers should go to Hell... you..."

"ood little Chris... you? Well I'm pretty sure ….our" in the Bible... beat your wife." Anyway... I have it under ... you ...up the ass anyway."

Norman growled at not being able to hear anything other than bits and pieces, and cupped his hand to the door to hear better. It didn't sound like blows were being exchanged. At the moment, anyway.

"...Norman? That's all in the past … only ever fucking with the little shit anyway. ….ed him, let alone loved him. Just a little fuck-toy. All he ever was, ...ever will be. All he's good for."

"Thanks..." Murmured Norman under his breath, and was dismayed to realise that that still hurt, even after all these years. He put his ear and cupped hands back to the door again.

"You fucking dare. He's ...you'll ever know, helped save a little boy's life. He's worth twenty of you...ore than you'll ever be!" Carter yelled, punctuating each sentence with several punches. "You fucking get out of this house, you leave ...eave your wife alone, you leave Norman and this family, you up an... you never come back. ...ou do... I'll be waiting. And I promise you now, I'll fucking kill you."

Shit... they've started fighting in there... I don't want to leave the kids alone for too long though... I'd better check on them then I'll be right back.

Norman sprinted down the steps and along the road to where he'd left the kids. They were still there, good. You couldn't be too careful.

"You okay kids?" he shouted. One of the girls, he wasn't sure whether it was Amie or Lucy, nodded. "I'll be about five minutes, okay? Keep looking after your brother."

He ran back to the door and listened once more, deciding if they were still struggling he'd burst in and try to help Carter, withdrawal symptoms or no withdrawal symptoms.

"Ever bother anyone here again!"

At that, the door opened, and seventy-five kilograms of ex-boyfriend landed on top of him.