An Escape || A Lander AU

🍬𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 4🍬

Luke arrived back at the townhouse once again. He wondered how the girls were? He knocked on the door and it was pretty much immediately opened, Zander stood there, with his young daughter, Winter, clinging to his leg.

"Hiya! How have you be-"

Winter perked up, seemingly recognising the voice.

"..Luke-!" She spoke, as she let go of Zanders legs and tried to latch onto Luke's instead, but she seemed to underestimate the distance between them. Zanders anxiety spiked, but Luke had managed to quickly step forward and take a hold of her before she fell. Zander sighed in relief.

"Hiya Winter! How've you been?" Luke smiled as he crouched down to her level. Zander smiled, it was unlike winter to be so social, usually she'd cower behind his legs, she was never open to new people.

"..I've been good.. we had pancakes this morning..! Have you tried papas pancakes..?" Winter asked, causing Zander to giggle.

"Oh-? Nono! I don't think I have, but I'm sure they're great!" Luke grinned.

"Papa! You should make him some..!"

"Maybe another day, princess, Papa has to go to work." Zander folded his arms.

"Awh.. ok.."

Luke just smiled as he spoke again. "How's Summer? Where is she?" Luke asked.

Zander gave a small playful sigh as he stood to the side, allowing Luke to look further into the home where he saw Summer pretending to clean with a powered off hoover.

"She saw me hoovering and just insisted she had to help- obviously I turned off the hoover before giving it to her." Zander shook his head, smile still on his face.

"Awe how sweet! Your girls are lovely, aren't they?"

"Oh absolutely-! I was quite surprised actually.. usually Winter doesn't like people.. do you honey..?"

"I like people-! ..they're just scary.."

Zander just gave a small laugh as he pat her head.

"Alrighty! Same as yesterday, 2AM, I'll be back!" Zander smiled as he waved to Summer and walked past Luke to leave.

"Papa-!" Summer called, dropping the hoover running up behind him.

Luke could see the way Zanders shoulders tensed, almost with dread, yet he turned around with a smile. Luke frowned. Zander must be so tired.

"Yes princess?"

"Cant you stay longer-!? I was about to have a tea party!" She whined.

"Honey, I have work, I'm sorry, I have to go now or I'll be late."

"That's fine though-! Please papa!"

"Luke will stay honey. It's ok! He can come to your tea party!"

"But I want you papa-!"

"I'll be back tomorrow honey, please just let me leave."

"Nuh uh! Stay! You don't need work!"

"Honey, I need work."

"Bu-"

"Summer, don't worry! Your papa will be back before you know it, alright? He just has to go away right now!"

She just pouted as she hugged Zanders legs then stepped back.

"Bye bye papa.. I love you.."

"I love you too darling, I'll see you once I'm back." He pat her head. "I love you Winter, see you girls soon!" He gave Luke a small genuine soft smile, grateful he stopped Summer before turning around and leaving.

"Alright girls-! It's almost dinner time, isn't it..? Good job papa left food-!...Luke cannot cook."

"I can cook! Look! Look!" Summer ran over to a small toy kitchen set.

"WOWW! What are you making?"

"Winter's favourite!!"

Luke smiled as he walked over and peered over her shoulder.

...just why on Earth was Winters favourite a hot wheel mixed with a Barbies dress in a plastic pot.

~~

Zander pulled up to work, he was a few minutes early so he just parked up and stared at the drivers wheel.

Then the waterworks started. His vision blurred as he quickly raised his hands to rub his eyes. Finding himself unsuccessful he opted to rest his head on the steering wheel.

Why had his life turned out like this? He had such a bright future, yet it was all gone.

His mother had always made a point to him that he should never get with violent men, or have children with violent men.

..he didn't listen.

Well.. he did to a degree.

Andrew wasn't always like this, he was sweet, he was loving and he constantly showered Zander in affection. It was when they adopted kids, which had been Andrews idea in the first place, he began to change.

He got understandably stressed and started taking that stress out on Zander.

Zander never dared to let the girls anywhere near him. He started drugs, he got fired. And Zander had to quit his dream job, an author, he was an author. But before he could even publish his first book, he was suddenly in urgent need of a job, that's why he became a bartender.

The only reason he's even still with Andrew, is because the constant hope he's clinging onto, that distant memory of the Andrew he once knew. He needed him back.

..admittedly.. the kids were stressing him out too.

He loves them to death, but taking care of two young children all on his own was taking a toll on him, he was tired of always being on the clock, he barely slept, barely had time with his kids before he has to go to work, everyday, all 7 days of the week.

He wants out of this life. Frankly he'd rather be dead than continuing on.

The only reason he's still here is for his girls.

He covered his mouth as he sat back in his chair and bawled, throwing his head back against the head rest.

What had he done to deserve this life? He was a smart young man, he had many attributes. But this is where he was. A bartender. A bartender with a dysfunctional family at home.

He can't even talk to his mother anymore, she refuses to look at him. "How could you let those girls go through what you did after swearing you'd be the best parent you can? You'd be better off adopting them out." She said, and he'll never forget it.

She's right.

He knows she is, it's unfair for the girls to grow up in such an environment. And he feels stupid, incredibly dumb. But for his own selfish reasons, he can't give them up, they're his only joy anymore.

Look at him, a grown man weeping to himself in his car outside his work, it's pathetic, isn't it?

But what can he do? He doesn't have anything anymore.