Second Chances

No answer

   Axel gently adjusts Sadie to be under the bed covers and kisses her head as he leaves her room. Leaving Dahlia to keep Sadie company through the night.

  He walks down the hall and sits on the sectional with a sigh. His phone was on the sectional foot rest and he grabs it quickly. Opening it, he opens the call app and hits dial on Marc's name before he can change his mind. Axel waits as the phone rings and sighs as it goes to voicemail. 'I suppose it is late."

  The clock on his phone read 11:56 pm and he figured some sleep would do him good. Standing, Axel went back down the hall and into his room on the left. The entire house had the same color scheme of green and brown, including his room. He enters his en-suite bathroom and takes a quick shower before laying down.

——

  Marc sent Axel's call to voicemail after a few moments. Shoving his phone into his back pocket, he sighs and focuses back on the task at hand. 'Now's not the time Axel.'

  A small local gang has been causing a ruckus and Marc has been tasked with helping local law enforcement to contain them.

  Right now was not the time for past memories and old friends to come up.

——

  Sadie woke up with the sun, feeling refreshed and well rested. Something she can positively say doesn't happen often, or at all for that matter. She stretches and gives Dahlia a nice chin scratching before getting out of bed.

  She was a little nervous to leave the safety of her new room, but Dahlia convinced her by pawing at the door. Sadie sighs and opens the door for Dahlia, who scurries down the hallway. Sadie peaks out the door both ways and finds no sign of Axel. 'Maybe something came up.'

  Sadie walks down the hall happily and goes to sit on the couch.

"Good morning Sadie." Sadie jumps slightly and looks over to Axel in the kitchen doorway with wide eyes. He chuckles and motions for her to join him in the kitchen. She slinks after him and rounds the doorway and stops as a plate is presented to her.

"Breakfast." Sadie takes the plate hesitantly and follows Axel to the island bar stools on the other side. They sat and ate breakfast together quietly and contentedly. Once Sadie was finished, Axel grabs both their plates and loads them into his dishwasher. Axel turns back around and leans across the counter from the other side.

"I was thinking I'd explain a few things this morning, if you're up for it?" Sadie eagerly nods her head and Axel smiles before he exits the kitchen.

"Let's talk on the couch." They both walk the few feet to the couch and plop down. Sadie grabs the throw blanket on the back of the couch and covers her cold legs.

"To start off, your father, myself, and three others were on a team of sorts..." Sadie sat enthralled as Axel explained to her the role of the academy and what it was they did, and still do for them.

"So you're kinda like a...secret police..?" Chuckling, Axel nods and continues on.

"After...Kaylie left us, it hit us all pretty hard. We ended up splitting and not contacting each other." Axel lowers his head and sighs. 'I should have done more to keep us together.' He knew that now.

  Sadie rests her head on Axel's shoulder in silent support. It seems she wasn't the only one who had it rough with her mom. Sadie smiles as Dahlia jumps onto her lap, content to stay with the two as they sat quietly in each others company.

"I'll try Marc again today, he's been busy with a mission for a few weeks now." Axel kisses Sadie's head and stands from the couch, offering Dahlia a quick pat.

"It's still early, so if you'd like we can go shopping later for some stuff for you?" Sadie shrugs and places the throw back onto the couch before standing as well.

"Sure...can I shower?" Nodding, Axel motions for Sadie to follow him down the hall. The first door on the right was the guest bathroom; Axel opens the door for Sadie and she smiles.

"Thank you."

"Of course, I'll go grab you some clothes." Sadie closes the door as Axel walks away to find her some clothes. Where he plans on finding those, Sadie has no clue.

————

  Axel returns to the bathroom to hear the shower already running. He slips the clothes through the door and onto the counter quickly before shutting the door back and disappearing to his room.  

  Grabbing his phone from his dresser, Axel once again finds himself looking at Marc's contact. He clicks on the name and holds his phone to his ear. Axel clenches his jaw in frustration when once again he's sent to voicemail.

"Marc...something's come up. I really need to talk to you..and the team, in person. Please...just call me when you get this." Axel sighs, dropping his phone on his covers he flops back on his bed. 'I could try someone else.'

  Still laying down, Axel grabs his phone and goes back to his contacts. His finger hovers over different names and he decides Corey is the more likely to pick up out of everyone. He hits his contact and waits as it rings.

"Hello? Axel?" Axel let out a breath as Corey answers his phone.

"Uh yeah, hey Corey." He closes his eyes momentarily at his awkwardness.

"Sorry, I really need to talk to everyone. Marc isn't answering and I haven't tried anyone else."

———-

"Is everything alright?" Corey was taken aback by Axel's call. Their whole team knew what a stubborn ass he could be and yet here he was, calling Corey out of the blue. 'Too bad Raven's out right now.'

"I really think it's best we all meet in person." Corey was confused, Axel was acting so strange right now.

"Axel, you said so yourself. Marc isn't taking your calls. Just explain to me what this is about." He hears Axel's sigh from over the phone.

"Kaylie had a baby right after she left us. Did you know that?" Corey froze, almost dropping his phone in the process. 'What did he just say?' There's no way that's true.

"A little girl named Sadie. Phil and Sean...they ran some tests..." Corey felt his heart drop. He was terrified for what deep down he knew Axel was about to say.

"She's Marc's." That's when Corey finally drops his phone. It slips from his hand in his shock and he stares forward. 'They had a daughter?'

"..Corey....Corey you still there?" He shakily picks his phone up from the ground and sits roughly onto his leather couch.

"...yeah....Raven and I will meet you soon." Corey hung up without an answer and put his head in his hands. Tears fell from his eyes without stopping and Corey sat there and let them.

  Corey sniffles and wipes his eyes what seems like hours later when he hears the door open and close. Footsteps approach him from behind and muscular arms wrap tightly around him.

"What is wrong moya lyubov'?" Corey kept Raven in a tight grip, unable to stop fresh tears from falling at the reminder.

———-

  Raven hops over the backrest of the couch and scoops Corey up onto his lap. Raven couldn't tell you the last time he'd seen Corey like this, if he ever as. He holds him while he cries and gently consoles him the best he knows how.

  'Who the fuck made moya lyubov' cry?'