Yep. I'm staying up for you people. If I keep this up much longer, I'll end up with sagging skin and RSI. Still love you guys though! =)

REMEMBER

Lucas slowly cracked an eyelid open. He was lying down on a strangely familiar bed in a strangely familiar room. With great effort, he pushed himself into a sitting position, but almost reeled backwards from an immense pain that shot through his skull. Moaning, he leaned his head against the cushioned headboard, regretting the moment he got up.

Strangely, he could remember nothing of the previous day except that he was driving home as quickly as possible because he was so eager to see his wife and children.

His wife.

Alice.

Alice. I don't know what it is but I can't shake the feeling that something unpleasant went on between us.

While he was desperately trying to corral his memories, Chan-Lee entered. She held a bottle of pills, a plastic cup and an icepack in her hands. "Ah. You're up early."

He cracked an eye open and greeted her with a moan of discomfort.

"Now that's no way to say hello to someone you haven't seen in months," she cooed. She approached the bed and placed her things on it. She then placed a hand on his forehead. Cold sweat decorated it, however, his skin felt as if it were on fire.

Showing no mercy as he was a doctor, Chan threw the cool icepack onto him and opened one of the windows. Lucas shot her an agitated glance before picking the pack up and placing it on his forehead and examining the contents of the pill bottle.

In short order she returned with the little cup full of water and handed it to him. Staring out the window, she asked with a hint of worry in her voice, "Can you remember any of what happened to you yesterday?" Joseph hsd instructed her not to pry or force him to speak, but he hadn't said anything about not bringing up the topic.

After gulping down the water and two tablets, Lucas assured her that nothing of the previous day had entered his memory except for his flight.

She sighed deeply then excused herself on the premise that she would carry him a light breakfast.

He nodded then turned his attention towards the scenery outside. Being up for a bit and the reduction of his partially high temperature made him feel much better already, so he was obliged to turn to get a better view of the outdoors.

Based on the clock in his room, it was well into the morning, however, there was not a streak of sunlight to be seen. The sky seemed crammed with thunderclouds, and a cool breeze was bending the trees backwards. A thick fog also covered the landscape not too far from the house.

Contrary to everyone's belief, this kind of weather was the type that Alice loved the most.

Alice. Why am I not with her? Come to think of it, why am I not home with Zachary and Carla? Neh...I was so eager to arrive yesterday, so how did I manage to be here, at Joe's home?

Suddenly, a shrill shriek was heard downstairs. Lucas identified it as Carla's voice. "No Uncle Jay, you cheated - I want a rematch!"

A softer retort could be heard a bit after, "I won fair and square, but I'll give you a go. I bet I'll beat you again too."

Cheated. Why did that word stand out to him so much? Cheated? Cheated...Cheated. Cheat-

Cheated!

Lucas instantly dropped the icepack which unfortunately fell out the window. All his memories came rushing back to him like a charging bull. He groaned in frustration when he recalled all of the humiliation he'd been put through - both at the bar and in his own home.

He almost threw up at the revolting memories.

His imagination started roaming. He wondered at how many other guys she had seen, how long she took to plan her little schemes, and what they'd do together while he was gone.

His strength dissipated and his grey eyes grew colder by the second. Just then, Chan stepped in with a tray of food with her husband right behind her. Perfect timing.

Lucas slumped onto the bed and stared at his feet. "Hey, what's happening? You were up and fine just a few minutes ago and just a moment after I step out you get all gloomy." Chan placed the tray on a nightstand and placed a hand on her hip.

"Good morning," the blonde greeted him, running a hand through his hair.

Remembering his careless behaviour, Lucas paled and tightened his grip on the sheets. Joseph noticed his expression and made an honest effort to assure him that everything that he said the night before was just an offshoot of his anger and nothing more.

"I think you would feel better if you tell us what happened," Chan piped. "Keeping everything bagged in doesn't help." She helped him up then took a seat beside him, observing how he timidly pulled his knees to his chest, something that none of them had seen him do for years.

"Just yesterday, as soon as I came home, I discovered that Alice was cheating on me. "

Chan's mouth fell open. "Are you sure it's not just some misunderstanding? Alice wouldn't do something like that to you..."

Lucas laughed bitterly. "That's what I thought too. But then the evidence was right before me. She was trying to sneak the guy out back, and she looked heated, like they'd just cut a round short. She even told me that they'd been at it for a while now."

"Are you sure she wasn't lying about the last part?" Chan muttered, trying hard to understand.

"I know when my wife is lying." He spat out the word with such venom that Joseph flinched.

Then the irony of his statement hit him. He closed his eyes and smiled sadly.

"I say that, yet I'm the one who's been fooled and blinded for months on end. How much more pathetic can a guy get? Then again, it's my fault. If I hadn't left her alone so much then she probably wouldn't have done that."

Joseph watched in near horror as his friend continued to assault himself verbally. It began to bring unwelcome memories back to mind.

He got up and stood beside Lucas. "Your kids are downstairs. They're itching to see you."

Lucas' eyes softened a bit and he smiled (this time a genuine one) down at the sheets.

"C-can you send them up please. I'd love to be alone with them for a while."

Upon hearing that their daddy wanted to see them, Zachary and Carla bolted up the stairs and into the room.

Carla stood near his bed and held onto his hand with an ear to ear grin. Zachary, always more expressive and affectionate climbed onto his father's lap, wrapped his arms around his neck and wept. Lucas cradled him and kissed him on the forehead.

Feeling a bit jealous, Carla crawled onto the bed too and cuddled beside him.

"I missed you so much." He hugged both of them and looked at them tenderly.

Eventually they let go and sat beside him. Lucas stroked his chin contemplatively. "Carla, your hair's gotten longer, and Zack, I notice you've got a tooth missing."

An evil glint appeared in Carla's eyes. She stretched up and grabbed a tiny portion of her father's hair. "Daddy, you've got some grey hairs there."

Lucas gasped in fake astonishment, then all three collapsed, laughing.

His kids really were a blessing. They'd been the first bit of happiness he'd received since he arrived.

They talked and talked about their lives while he was away, but just before he fell asleep Carla asked him, "Daddy, are you okay?"

"Mm? No Carla. Daddy's sick. He doesn't know when he'll feel better."

"Daddy won't die, right?"

Lucas froze, and Zachary started crying again.

He held his children closer to them then said in a soothing voice, "No. Daddy won't die."

Joseph sat in the den in his sibling's home. Alice sat across from him in an easy chair, admiring a wall painting. She knew why he was there, and she didn't have the courage to face him.

He clenched his fists. "He's going back to the way he was before. All because of your carelessness."

Alice flinched slightly. She knew what she did had hurt Lucas but she never had a clue that it would hurt him so much. Keeping her resolve, Alice leaned forward and scooped up a few papers from the coffee table. She walked over to him with the partially filled forms.

Staring directly at him, she ordered, "Give these to Lucas please. Tell him to keep a copy for himself. We can discuss the matter of the children a week later at the reunion."

Joseph's eyes widened when he saw the heading on the sheets, however, he kept his mouth clamped shut and left, never once looking back.

"Thanks for the usual hospitality guys, " Lucas mumbled

"Don't mention it. We're family, right?" Chan-Lee gave him a pleasant smile.

"I'll miss you two. I hope you'll come to the reunion next week. Your old friends will be there, so make sure you're early." She stooped down and hugged her niece and nephew before straightening up and looking at Lucas in worry.

"Are you sure that you will be fine?" Joseph asked.

Lucas nodded, still not making any eye contact with him.

Joseph stretched out his hand. He looked at it for a few seconds then brought his slightly smaller one to meet it. For the first time since his arrival, Lucas made eye contact with an adult, even though he could only retain it for a few seconds before looking away.

Chan and Joe had dropped the three at the bar Lucas had been to the night before so that he could collect his vehicle, and carry his children to an old house he had bought as a vacation home in the hillside a few years back.

It's not that Alice had kicked him out. Even if she wanted to she couldn't because both of them had bought it together. He just couldn't stand being in the same house as that woman. Plus, this way, his intuitive kids wouldn't sense anything wrong with their dad taking them for a one week vacation.

Lucas got in and started the car. He urged Zachary who refused to let go of Chan's leg to get inside too. After much persuasion and prying, both families parted ways.

After driving for a few hours, Lucas turned onto a graveled driveway. It ran up bordered by trees for a short distance until it spread out into a parking area just before a cozy looking detached house. He parked then got out, fumbling with a bunch of keys. Carla and Zachary scrambled out of the car and ran over to a little shaded area beside the house with a set of swings attached to two trees.

Lucas smiled at them and opened the front door. It was large and made of varnished wood which complemented the windows on the first and second stories. Vines crept up to one of the windows on the second floor, clinging to the grooves in the brick wall for dear life. Before the entrance was a lattice fence encasing a few hardy flowers.

"Carla, Zachary! It's time to unpack."

The two children reluctantly left the swings and entered the building. Inside, the floor was made of smoothed concrete. A large green rug lay in the middle of the room with a rustic coffee table sitting on top of it. Three single wicker chairs stood around it, plush cushions sewn into the seats. To the far left of the room, a spiral staircase with black welded railings stretched up to the second floor. Several potted plants and depictions of nature hung on the pastel walls.

Carla raced Zachary upstairs, but he stopped, out of breath half of the way. Lucas scooped him up and followed Carla into one of the rooms she chose for herself.

Lucas plopped his son onto the bed in the small room and opened the bags that he had placed on it before. Carla climbed up to the top of the bed and drew the curtains aside, letting in the soft afternoon light, and giving a lovely view of the backyard.

Lucas sat down cross legged and thrust his hand inside of the bag.

"Dad?"

"Hm?"

"Don't you think it's really pretty out here?" Carla smiled down at the hedge.

Lucas nodded in reply and folded a shirt.

"I-I wish Mommy was here. She likes it here." Zachary played with the hem of his father's shirt.

Carla immediately narrowed her eyes. "Why didn't you pick up Mommy?"

Lucas turned to face them, mellow gray eyes regarding them softly.

"Can't I spend quality time with my children anymore Carla?"

She bit down on her lip. Having her mother around served as a buffer. She wouldn't create too many memories with her dad, so it would be easier for her when he left again.

"Come here."

Carla obeyed, and allowed herself to be enveloped in his arms.

"I know what you're thinking and I'm sorry. If I told you to stop, then I'd be selfish. Your mother is a bit tired, so she wants to rest at home alone for a few days. Just a week won't hurt, will it, Peach?"

Carla coloured at the well remembered nickname bit Lucas on the arm. "I guess not, Seaweed!"

She stuck out her tongue at him, and they all laughed cheerfully.

I'm exhausted, so on to the thought.

"I think insomnia is a sign that a person is interesting."

- Avery Sawyer

I'm kind of an insomniac, so I guess that makes me interesting. Oyasumi!

~Anne Callendar