Daddy Issues

Chapter 7

The dinner was going by painfully awkward.

At least that's what Sue would have liked to say. If that were the case, then it could have re-enforced her rule about not mixing business life with personal. It would have given her sufficient reasoning to push Vlad back to arm's length.

The truth of the matter was that dinner was going extremely well. She found herself smiling and laughing more and more with each round of conversation and as much as she hated to admit it, she had Vlad to thank for that. Her mother seemed to adore him, and her brother claimed him as his new fishing buddy seeing as both Lilith and Sue hated the hobby.

Vlad moaned in delight as he forked another piece of grilled fish in his mouth. "Sue if you're half as good a cook as your mother, you're going to make your husband a very happy man. "

Sue rolled her eyes and continued her meal. She hadn't miss that he called her by her first name—she'd have to deal with him later. She also hadn't missed the prediction of a husband in her future. Fat chance of that happening. "You bet your ass she can." Lilith responded instead.

"Speaking of husband," Sue's smile faded. She tried to mentally will him not to ask but it was futile the words came anyways. Vlad glanced over to the plate set out for a fifth person at the head of the table. It was an old habit of Lilith's even after her husband moved out, she still set his plate every night. Sue hadn't liked it, but she learnt to ignore it over time. It's hard however, to ignore something when it's being pointed out. "Where's yours? Isn't he joining us tonight?"

"He's sick."

"He's dead."

Vlad looked back and forth awkwardly between Lilith and Sue, as did Mark. Lilith turned sad eyes to Sue but hers remained on her plate as she didn't falter in her feeding. Sue just continued shovelling food into her mouth. She'd had years of perfecting the art of not caring.

Mark was the one who broke the silence. "He's terminally ill and has to stay in the hospital."

"Dying, dead what's the difference?" Sue asked rhetorically. After that statement the other three glanced back and forth at each other unsure as to what could be said in response. For a while all that could be heard was the clatter of utensils against plates. Well that was one way to kill the conversation; talk about the dead. Sue thought.

"Lilith," Vlad smiled at the older woman. "If you want, I can ask gramps for his pecans pie recipe. I might have to bargain a limb or two but I'm sure I can get it. " He chuckled softly.

"I'd love that." She smiled softly back at him.

****

Sue stretched out on her green yoga mat in a downward dog position. It was Sunday. Almost two whole days since the dinner. After the mention of the sperm donor turned awkward silence Vlad managed to turn the night around and brighten everyone's moods. That is before he plummeted Sue's own once more.

"So I believe an apology is in order." Vlad sipped his glass of wine, hand in pocket. "I'm a man who isn't afraid to admit when he is wrong, and I was wrong to mention your father. I didn't realize you and he weren't on good terms."

Sue stared straight ahead at the staircase from where they stood in the hallway. "It's fine, you couldn't have known. Besides, it's in the past. We aren't on any terms." Sue sipped her own wine. Vlad stared down at her curiously.

After a moment of silence, he spoke again. "Your room's upstairs."

"Well no shit Sherlock."

"That was very rude of you. For that you're going to show me your room." He grabbed her free hand and began to haul her towards the stairs. "I want to see what category of strange you fell into as a pre-pubescent."

"I'd prefer we didn't." Sue yanked her arm back and planted her feet.

Vlad gave her a sympathetic smile. Her mouth twisted into a frown; she didn't want his sympathy, it made her feel weak. Reminded her of the looks given to the little girl who kept crying for her daddy to come get her. "I didn't peg you as a coward Sue." So much for being sympathetic.

"I'm not a coward. I just don't see the point." Sue stated matter-of-factly.

"Okay, well I'll just go to the bathroom then and 'accidentally' find your room, while looking for it." He shrugged. Sue gaped at him utterly astounded. The nerve of that man. Sue watched his retreating back as he climbed the steps. She hesitated for a moment before climbing up after him. She sped passed him and made a beeline for her room. Might as well get it over with, Sue thought.

She threw the door open and stepped aside for Vlad to enter. "Emo huh?" He raised a questioning brow at her, she just shrugged in response. There wasn't much to be happy about for Sue growing up so what else would she be.

Vlad surveyed the contents of her room. The white sheets that covered her tiny bed she hid under at night, fearful of the devil that came barging in at night. The pillowed window seat she wrote her poetry at. The posters of her favorite rock bands growing up. The screaming lyrics sometimes helped with the pain...sometimes. He picked up a picture frame on her desk. It was a picture of her family; she had cut out her father's face.

"Would you mind if I asked what happened between you two?" Vlad looked up at her.

"Yes, I would." Sue deadpanned. "Are you finished? Can we leave now?"

"You seem tense Sue." He reached out for her.

"It's Miss Raymond."

"Come here." He ignored her. He pulled her deeper into the room before she could protest. This was the first time in years that she entered the room. The symbolic reminder of her weakness. Little Susie was weak, scared, and pathetic. Sue never wanted to be any of those things ever again.

Vlad pulled her in and sat her on the bed next to him. he rubbed a soft hand over her cold tremor ridden one—when did that happen? "Sue, why don't you want to be in the room? Please tell me." He asked his voice just above a whisper. Hypnotic enough to send her into her deepest unwanted memories. Why didn't she want to be in the room?

Susie tumbled up the stairs, tripping over her tiny feet. Heavy breaths racked her chest as she ran as fast as she could. There was a devil on her heels, and it was gaining. She flung her door open and went to slam it shut but it was too late. He had caught up. The door was kicked open, sending it bashing into the drywall and Susie to the hard wood floors.

"Daddy, I'm sorry!" She futilely screamed, tears pouring down her flushed cheeks. Her heart pounded so hard, Susie thought it would fly from her chest. She braced herself for the blow to come.

A large foot stomped on her stomach knocking the air right out of her. She squeezed her eyes shut and cradled her stomach. Another kick came and connected with her arms. Bruises were sure to form soon. She'll have to lie and say she fell when the teachers ask what happened tomorrow at school.

She kept her eyes shut tightly as blow after blow came raining down. She refused to look up into the blood shot eyes of the devil before her. She refused to accept that this thing was her father.

"Sue! Sue!"

"Sue!" Just as Sue snapped out of her reminiscence soft lips crashed down hard onto hers. She shut her eyes on cue and accepted their warmth. When they pulled away, she stared up in a daze. "Sorry."

"Huh?" Sue stared into cautious green eyes as her mind pieced things together.

"You were having a panic attack," He explained. "I had to stop it somehow. I saw that in teen wolf and figured, what do I have to lose." He chuckled awkwardly scratching the back of his head.

"Vlad," Sue gathered her wits about her and cleared her throat. "It's fine, thank you." She rose from her seat and dusted her dress off. "I think it's about time we leave."

Sue's mind wondered back to reality and all about her, the other students were packing up their things, the class was over. She sighed and began packing hers as well. This was all Vlad's fault, she thought to herself. Of everything that happened that night, the kiss was the most memorable. Her hand rose to her lips subconsciously. A pint of blood rose to her cheeks and she shook her head vigorously to get it flowing right again.

"Sue?" A voice came from behind her. Sue was already flustered and now this. Life just wanted to throw her under the bus. Why oh why?