"You're going out again," Annika asked as she laid in her parent's bed as they got ready. "Does that mean you're really getting divorced? Is this the end?"
Morgana sighed from the closet as Scott glared at her from the opposite side of the room. "You would love that wouldn't you?"
Annika shrugged. "I just think it'll save me years in therapy."
Scott snorted. "It won't. Now shoo."
Annika pulled the covers over her body indicating that she wasn't going anywhere making Scott roll his eyes.
"Dad, are you gonna spend time with me or just keeping taking mom out hoping she won't leave you?"
"I will spend time with you," Scott said, "Pick something and we'll do it."
"I want you to play with me and Lia."
Scott adjusted his tie. "You don't have to coerce or trick me into spending time with Lia. Pick something you want to do. I only have so much time off," he trailed off.
Morgana came out from the closet, making them both look at her.
"You look hot, Mom," Annika smiled.
Ana just smiled softly. "Thank you, Nika."
"You do look hot," Scott agreed, looking her over. "I've never seen those."
She touched the earrings dangling from her ears. "I haven't worn them."
"They suit you," he hummed. "You look...irresistible."
"That's an odd way to put it," she said softly, her cheeks hot. Scott smiled, kissing her cheek.
"Are we all set?" He offered her his elbow.
"Nika, you're in charge," Morgana said gently, as she took his elbow. "Make sure everything runs smoothly okay? Call if you need help."
Annika waved them out. "Everything is fine. I think I'll stay in you guy's room tho I just love your bed."
Morgana smiled, kissing her head as they walked out.
Scott was quiet as they got in the car, the driver pulling off.
He felt something nestle in his gut, a sickly feeling. A realization. Something he'd always known. This game he was playing with Ana...he was winning. But only because she wasn't really playing.
She could've killed him. When he begged her to stay. She could've left. She could've abandoned him. And she'd had every right.
But he caught her off guard.
And he whisked her away and by the time she realized what happened they'd been married for ten years and he'd trapped her with a child.
According to plan of course. He just didn't expect to actually feel guilty. Where were the perks of being a remorseless sociopath when you wanted to ruin the only person you love's life?
Because that swirling sickness in his stomach only came around when he stopped and thought of...what he'd done to her.
When he did something wrong. It was guilt then probably.
He glanced out the window. He liked it better when he didn't feel that.
Maybe because he had a lot to feel guilty for.
"I saw you hang out with the kids," she said quietly.
He looked at her. "I had a few minutes, and Annika kept telling me I was two months away from having to pay for Lia's therapy too, so I figured I'd a spare an hour."
"She was talking and walking. You praise Annika for everything. But not Lia. Why?"
He looked away. "Oh? I didn't notice. It must be a coincidence."
He clenched his jaw. Annika wasn't his. Or rather didn't have his blood. His predispositions. But that was a can of worms he didn't care to open.
Lia was his. And praising her would only ruin her like it ruined him. The ego he developed, the complexes he had, that feeling of superiority, came from when he was young.
Everyone told him he was the best. He was. But it went to his head, and quickly. Maybe it was the reason he couldn't bounce back after what his mother did.
The sheer thought of someone not thinking he was the best drove him insane. Especially his mother. Praising a child of his was...
Not a wise course in his opinion. His own life was set in stone now, and while he felt some remorse regarding Morgana, his own choices for his life-he didn't really regret them.
But that didn't mean he wanted to see his children lead that type of life. Be that type of person. Even that was fueled by his need to be perfect.
He wanted them to be...good. Better. The better they were the more perfect he was, in turn.
But that would drive Morgana into a blind rage, and she was already unstable as it was.
As he saw it, she was one bad day away from getting carried away and killing herself. Or him.
"Nothing with you in ever a coincidence," she murmured, pulling him out of his thoughts. "If it's one thing I've learned after years of marriage is that with you, there's no such thing as a coincidence."
He smirked. "Hm. That's an interesting conclusion. Aren't I human too?"
"I'm not sure." She said simply.
He looked over at her in contemplation. "I see."
She looked ahead. "Life was simpler, I'm realizing, when we didn't really talk."
He shrugged. "You wanted attention didn't you? Well. My eyes are on you."
She met his eyes, before smiling softly. "I forgot how that felt. Maybe it was a mistake, wanting that. It was peaceful, before. If not a little lonely."
He shrugged. "You got what you asked for. Now you just say thank you, and accept that this was clearly the worst decision."
She snorted. "Well look at that. You know they say a broken clock is right twice a day."
