John's POV

'I don't know… I just don't feel like keeping on trying… I don't feel like I matter to anyone… nothing matters to me anymore… not even myself… I'm a burden on everyone…'

Her words kept replaying in my head. I looked towards her for a second before I set my eyes back to the road. It made me smile. She was exhausted and finally she seemed to be having a normal sleep. The only times I've always seen her to rest is after exhaustion. She'd have a dreamless night, and at least she got a maximum of a whole 3 hour sleep. As the lights turned colour, giving me sign that I had to stop for pedestrians to cross the road, I removed her glasses and made sure that her seatbelt was tight. Least I wanted was having a break and I see her fly to windscreen. I remembered it's the same thing I do to Derek when he sits in front and sleeps… I smiled… I loved her as if she was mine… I still have the vivid image of her when she was younger. Back when Rhian and I were trying for kids, we used to take her out… she used to running towards me and wouldn't let me go. Christian and Ana used to invite us quite a lot… I still remember her calling me 'Uncle'. I miss that title from her. She changed a lot.

Then we had Derek, and he was like her little brother. She used to pamper both Jason and Derek… she was like the big sister… I sometimes questioned myself on what happened with the Grey's… Jason took its toll on all of them…

'I don't know… it's… I feel alive with it… you know… when cold hits you in winter you shiver… you get that feeling that although you don't like the cold, you still love it… it's the same with… with cutting… only 10 times better…'

'I'm actually disappointed I didn't die…'

I took the next turn, and continued our way home. I kept thinking… for her cutting was like an addiction… Her will to… to die… is too strong… she used to me more lively… she used to be a light… now she's in this very deep dark place… I have to make her want to live… I need to make her see that there is a better life than what she's seeing. I made her a promise… I have to fulfil it.

I parked the car in our drive-way and stopped the car. I saw Rhian from the kitchen window, and waved at her. I saw her called Derek and Walter from her lip reading. I overlooked the passenger beside me, and didn't feel like waking her up. It was her first sleep since she's been in my care… I got out of the car and moved to the passenger seat. I picked her up. There was nothing of her in my arms. She was lighter than Derek… That rang bells… I felt my heart squeeze… The damage she was doing to herself… and the worst part… she couldn't see it…

I opened the door only to find my two sons running towards me with Rhian standing at the end of the corridor smiling at us.

'Daddyyyy!' The boys shouted.

'Shhh… Don't shout…' I told them slowly. 'Sera's sleeping…'

'She looks like a baby!' Walter noted.

'Well… you know what Walter? She'll be living with us for some time…' I smiled.

'Is she ok John?' Rhian asked worriedly.

'I'll take her to bed… She needs to rest… We'll talk later…' I replied as I kissed her on the lips and made my way upstairs. Walter followed me, and while I took her shoes off, and covered her with the covers, I saw him getting worried.

'What's wrong big guy?' I whispered.

'Sera usually hugs me, and … and… smiles at me… and plays with me… Doesn't she love me anymore?' He asked saddened.

'Why are you saying that honey?' I asked again as I moved forward to him and went down to his level.

'…because she didn't do that today…'

'Honey… Sera loves you very much… she was very tired …. And she needed to sleep…'

'Can I stay?' He asked hopefully

'Of course you can honey… but don't wake her up…' I advised him.

'What if she wakes up?'

'Then come down or else play… Whatever you two like big guy…' I replied while I ruffled his hair. He moved forward to me and hugged me tight. I caught him in mid-air and kissed his cheek. I took him into my embrace and didn't want that moment to end. I realized that both my sons were growing up too fast… I wished to stop time and have them like that forever.

'I love you daddy!'

'I love you too Wills!' I smiled.

'How is she?' Rhian started while I helped her out with the dishes.

'I don't know… She's trying to talk… but she's finding it hard…'

'Where's Walter?'

'I left him with her…'

'You know he'll wake her up… right?' She smiled. 'He's been jumpy all morning… if it was for him, he wouldn't have gone to school today…'

'He loves her…'

'I'll go up and check on them…' She smiled. 'You mind checking the chicken in the oven?'

'Sure…' I smiled.

'Daddy… Can you help me with this?' Derek asked as he brought his word search. 'I can't find the last two words…'

'Sure honey… just a minute.'

Rhian's POV

I could hear my son's talking from the corridor. He made the best conversations ever. He could the sun on a rainy day… He knew how to bring on a smile to my face whenever I felt down. He was exactly like John for that matter. He knew what made me happy, and some TLC from Walter, always made me feel loved.

'…and this kid at school kept pushing me, and told me that I'm not that good in anything… Is it true Sera?'

'Well… I must say the kid is very wrong baby boy…You are the most amazing person I know… and you want to know a secret?'

'Mhmm…I know how to keep secrets… for example last time my mum put au.. aubugering…'

'…aubergine?'

'Yes… that…' He said again. 'Mum put aubergine in Derek's dinner, and he ate it anyways… because usually he says that he doesn't like it… but he still ate it…' He said again. '…and now it's not a secret anymore… mum won't be happy about this!'

'Don't worry kiddo, your secret is safe with me honey.'

'Tell me the secret! Tell me the secret!'

'Well, Walter… I love you very much… and…' she continued as I heard her whispering. 'You are my favourite…'

'Sera... can I ask you something?'

'Sure munchkin'…'

'Do I remind you of Jason? Last time I heard mum and dad talking and they told me that you had a brother once…' I heard him ask. I thought that it was a good time on taking my queue.

'Um…' She started.

'Walter… your father and I told you not to wake up Sera…' I said as I moved forward and joined them on the floor. '…and you have a bed… and a chair… why are you two sitting on the ground?'

'…because mummy, we're playing…' He smiled as he kissed my cheek.

'It's fine Rhian… I love this little guy…'

'…and what is this that I hear about someone picking on you at school? How long has this been going on Walter?'

'Well, for almost a month… last time he took my pencil, the day before he took my lunch, and last time he said that I was a baby and all the class was laughing at me…'

'Why didn't you say something to me or your father?'

'…because Derek saw him, and he told me that I have to tell the teacher…'

'Did you tell your teacher?'

'Yes… but he told me that if I tell the teacher again he will tear my homework next time…' He replied again as he clung to Sera's neck.

'Come here little guy…' she told him as she hugged him and let him sit on her lap.

'John? Can you come up here for a minute?' I called him from upstairs. This needed to be discussed, and the worst part is that Walter didn't talk to us about it.

'What is it Rhian?' He replied as he joined us.

'We have a problem… Walter is being picked up on at school…' I explained.

'Walter… why haven't you said anything?'

'…because daddy! I thought I can handle him alone…'

'…and how long has this been going on?'

'…a month… I think…'

'He told the teacher but this kid threatened him…' I explained to John.

'Walter, honey… your mother and I need a name…'

'…but daddy…'

'Walter… we need to come down to the school and talk to the principal…' He explained. 'You cannot keep this for yourself honey…'

'…but daddy…'

'Honey this kid will only keep hurting you… he probably has problems himself… who bullies feels that he needs to control and he takes advantage on others.' I explained. 'We can ask Derek if you don't tell us!'

'Ok… ok…' He replied. 'You see Sera! This is how my parents always win!' He replied, while we smiled. 'He's Kayden…'

'Kayden… the blonde kid?' I asked.

'Mhmm…'

'Ok…'

'I'll call the school. Tomorrow we'll come down and have a little talk with the principal.' John added. '…but you have to promise me kiddo, that you will never keep anything from us every again...'

'I promise daddy…' He smiled. 'Did I do the wrong thing on telling Sera?'

'No honey you didn't… Sera is part of our family now…' John finished, while he kissed both of their foreheads.

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