Fighting For The Doctors Affection (Manxman)

Fighting For The Doctors Affection: Chapter Thirty

A/N: Hey Jitterbugs, I hope that you all are having a fantastic week. Here it is the next chapter, this one honestly gave me a bit of a pickle, like I knew what i wanted to say however making it to the paper made it hard. (for those of you that don't know, I hand-write everything) and only put it in a document later on.  Thanks to everyone that has taken the time to read, comment and vote on this story it really means the world to me.

Dedication goes to: desgold39

Song of chapter: Don't say its to late-Westlife

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Chapter Thirty:

Athiss leaned back against the bed frame as his eyes rapidly slid closed. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to feel after hearing a story like that. It was the first time he wondered if his father thought of him as a mistake. Or if this life that his father and his father's' wife were living was a lie. Was he a lie?

As he cracked open his eyes, he eyed his father before moving his attention to the wall behind him afraid of what emotions his face may betray. He didn't want to seem like he was heartless, but he just couldn't understand. How could his father just let the person that he claimed to love walk away, and without even lifting a hand to fight. It was like all Kalil men were the same, they liked to hurt the Ceryian men in the harshest way possible, the heart.

A broken heart was always the hardest thing to mend. It took years, and years, and sometimes even with all the years the heart remained broken, shattered and in pieces, never to be put back together again.

Taking a deep breath of air Athiss moved his eyes over to his father once more. As he did, he watched as the man wrapped his arms around his legs, eyeing the wall as if it was the most interesting thing in the world now. It was like they both would rather flee, and run, then to face the harsh truth. But Athiss just had to know. Why did his father let Caspian go, if he loved him so?

Licking his lips Athiss went to ask the question that was on the tip of his tongue when he heard his father's strong and demanding voice pull him out of his thoughts. As he tilted his head and eyed his father he saw tears welling up in the man's eyes. So, taking a deep breath Athiss grabbed his father by the hand as he spoke gently: "Father- um. uh, ummm. I." Shaking his head Athiss went to open his mouth once more, when he felt his father wrap his hands around his shaking fingers, making him feel as if he was safe.

As he went to pull his hand back he heard: "Athiss- don't run, don't worry nothing you ask will be looked down upon with contempt. You are my son. And I love you. It's the reason why I told you our story, in hopes that it would be able to help you both realize that what you have is special."

Eyeing his father for a few brief moments Athiss gnawed on his bottom lip before he let the tender flesh go as he began to speak: "Father if you loved Caspian as much as you say, why did you let him go? Why didn't you fight?"

Athiss stayed silent as he watched his father's face, it was like the man wanted to be anywhere but here with him, facing these questions. But moments later he saw a smile grace the lips of the man that he knew loved him above all else. Not like a lover, or a friend, but like a parent, a father. This is the kind of father, he hoped that he could be someday, even if he had to do it alone.

Moments later Athiss felt a soft and gentle hand on his cheek as his father whispered: "I let him go because I was a coward. That's the truth of it all son, I was afraid of the consequences we both would face. And honestly, what right did I have to chase after him when he had chosen a "women" over me and the love that I thought that we shared. Who was I to get in his way of a happily ever after, a family. I knew what his parents wanted, and I just, well I wanted him happy whether that was with me. I can't say that I regret it because I have you, and your mother and he has Vaughn and Cheryl and his wife."