I wanna lay you down in a bed of roses
For tonight I'll sleep on a bed of nails
I wanna be just as close as the Holy Ghost is
And lay you down
On a bed of roses
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As she spoke of her willingness to bear the punishment of the Chicago crew if had come to that, he had to suppress a shiver. He could not think of it, it made him sick and angry all at the same time. For he had always known that they were capable. Evil exists, and most often, in human form, or so he had experienced.
He took a breath as she started Rob's name. A small part of him had hoped, towards the end of his years away, that the other man had finally swooped in, as he'd been waiting to do. That he had provided for his family in a way that Stan had been unable to. At least then, they'd have been cared for. He had no reason to be jealous..she'd deserved happiness, and someone who could give that to her. "As long as her love of cars goes no further than admiring them. They make a good hobby...but a lousy living." He said dryly. "She should steer clear of Toby, Tumbler and Sphinx, then...or she'll never come out from under the hood." He wondered what his daughter looked like now, most of the way grown into a young woman. It pained him to know he'd missed out on watching her blossom into the individual she'd become. And while Angelina may have had to bear the arguments associated with raising a teenager, he thought he would give anything to have had just one with his daughter. Just to have been there, doing the normal things a dad should do. He had a good feeling if he had been, the girl would have been able to wrap him around her little finger.
As she spoke of he marine, he seemed to relax a little. A marine would be familiar with respect, at least. Though the kid did have Sphinx's blood in his veins...he could only hope that the majority of the DNA had come from Sasha. "That would be unlucky for Sphinx. I think he just recovered from a few." Freb had been brief on the phone, but key elements had been there.
Her response to him going back to Chicago until Desiree had been informed of his presence was almost startling. He'd honestly thought she would agree that it was for the best. When she spoke of other business, he could only shake his head. Did she really think he'd come back for the others? He'd come back because it was safe. He could easily have heard everything Tumbler had to say over the telephone. He didn't need to venture across the country for a meeting to rehash the past.
He felt cornered, damned on every move he could choose to make. He didn't know what was right anymore, what was the respectable thing to do. She spoke of not being able to take being there for all of the women of the group, without him there. How he would help, he didn't know. She didn't draw her strength from him, she'd functioned fine in the decade without him. He sighed, running a hand through dark locks. If ever he needed guidance, it was now.
He was about respond something akin to his thoughts, but his voice faded when she continued, her voice picking up a watery consistency as tears rose, telling him to fight. That she wanted it to work, still after all this time. Perhaps he was without faith, but he knew it would be hard to fight for something that very well may not exist. For their daughter, he would fight until his dying day. But for them? Could he, with the loss that so often swam in her eyes?
He would be a lying fool if he ever said he wouldn't fight for that. While a large part of him had already accepted the loss of their love, their marriage...the embers still burned, and until they winked out, he wouldn't quit. He didn't know how this would all turn out, but if he could say he'd given it all in the end, that would be enough. Would have to be enough.
Her crystal tear caught the light from the bar and resembled a diamond for a moment before she turned from him. Seeing her cry seemed to carve into his very soul--he had never been able to handle it well. So though she may not want his touch or seek his comfort as she may have years ago, he gives it anyway, leaning forward to put his hand on her upper back, rubbing lightly.
"I will fight, Angelina. For the both of you." His voice was soft, his words carefully picked. "This is all I've ever wanted in my life. From the second I laid eyes on you...and from the second our daughter entered this world. I need you to fight, too, though. I know you've been fighting for so long...but please, just a little longer." He he let his hand trail from her back, not wanting her to flee. "Because I don't think this is something that can be done alone."
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