Too Perfect ✹ Shyland

1

Shane's POV

Annie.... Ryland.... and myself. Everything was exactly how we wanted it. Annie's mother announced her second pregnancy to us around the time Annie was two, and once she turned three, our son, Reid was born. Everything was perfect......

     Until it wasn't.

~

"So there you have it.. if you enjoyed the video, hit like down below.. And we will..." I started my outro, but let Annie finish it.

"We will see you guys in the video!" Annie giggled. I couldn't help but smile, and give her a kiss on the cheek. "See you next time!"

"Bye guys!" I said, and shut off the camera. "You're going to be a YouTuber just like your daddies, huh?" I teased my daughter. "It's getting late, okay? So let's get you to bed..."

"But I want both my daddies to kiss me goodnight..." Annie started tearing up.

"How about when he gets home from work, I'll send him in to give you a kiss?" I suggested. "Just try to get some sleep first, okay?" She nodded and ran off to brush her teeth. Reid started crying, so I went to check on him.

~

After changing Reid's diaper, I tucked Annie in and kissed her goodnight.

"I love you.." I whispered. "I'll always love you, sweetheart..."

"I love you too, Daddy..." She smiled before yawning. Once her eyes closed, I left the room, shutting the door behind me, and went back into the living room to continue filming.

    "Hey what's up you guys.. Yes, it's time for another creepy video. I know.... my content has gone rather G-rated since Annie was born, but that's only because she loves making videos with me. But my original content is back... Starting now.." I said. "Today's video, we will be cove-" I was interrupted by the sound of Annie walking in. "Annie, sweetie..." I paused my camera. "Please, go back to bed. Daddy will be home to kiss you goodnight, okay?" She sat on the couch, staring at me. "Fine..."

~

    "So there you guys have it.. If you enjoyed the video, be sure to give it a thumbs up down below, and hit subscribe for more videos. I make these videos every week, and I will see you little murderers later.." I finished my video, right as Ryland walked in. "Hey baby.."

    "Hey.." He said, then saw that Annie was awake. "Um... Do you realize what time it is?"

    "Yeah.." I said. "Midnight.."

    "Why is our three-year-old daughter awake at midnight?" Ryland picked Annie up.

    "She refused to go to sleep until you got home to give her a kiss!" I said. "So, I let her watch me film.." I nonchalantly said, then realized I probably should have kept my mouth shut.

    "What were you filming?" Ryland asked.

    "Daddy made a video.. about two kids stabbing their mommy.." Annie said.

    "Shane..." Ryland said. "I'm going to put our daughter to bed... and we are going to talk..."

~

    "Baby, I'm sorry, okay?" I said.

    "Shane, you promised me... You promised you would stop filming those types of videos! Why did you betray me like that?" Ryland pleaded.

    "My channel is suffering, okay?" I said. "It's suffering! I've lost over a million subs since Annie walked in on the video we made together, asking for chocolate milk! My channel is plummeting faster than I can stop it, and it's because my content is changing."

    "You are a father, now.." He said. "We both are. As parents, we make sacrifices for our family, and you went back on your promise to sacrifice your content...." Ryland started crying. "And to make a video about kids killing their mother? Why on earth would you film that? And why would you film that in front of our daughter?"

    "It's not like she'll remember it! She's three!"

    "She just told me exactly what the video was about.... because my husband refused to tell me...." Ryland said. "I can't believe you would do that to me.."

"Baby, I'm jus-"

"No..." He interrupted me. "You can't be making excuses like this. Shane, I love you.... but we need to have some ground rules. These kids need their parents in their lives.... It's bad enough I have to work the majority of the time, and you're the only parent that is always there for them. Your video content can't be back to the inappropriate things you used to film, okay?"

"My channel is suffering!" I said. "This channel... this channel has always meant something to me.."

"You have a husband and kids now.." Ryland said. "I sacrifice my free time to work more so our kids have a stable environment to grow up in...."

"You didn't have to do that. I told you that..."

"I know.." He said. "I shouldn't be doing that either... Leaving the kids with you.... especially if I'm going to come home to this happening..."

"Ry, I've only done this once or twice, okay?" I tried to plead my case, but he got more and more upset wth me.

"I've come home to this happening more than five times.." He said. "First.... it was Annie being up past midnight..... and the constant amounts of sugar she'd be consuming late..... when she swore.... and now this.... this is the second time you've filmed something in front of her. You're lucky I didn't react like this last time..... last time, it was only a small video, but now this has got to stop.."

"I'm trying, okay?" I said. "During the day, you're filming with Clevver..... by night, you're heading back to work.... I am the only parent here.... the only parent. You may get upset with me, but at least I'm here.. At least I'm here.... trying to raise our children..."

"I can't believe you...." Ryland rolled his eyes. "I'm working to make sure we have enough money to get them into a good school..... get them clothes.... food.... Everything kids should have and need!"

"What do you think I'm doing? YouTube is my job! I'm working and raising them!"

"Daddies?" We stopped yelling as soon as we heard Annie's voice. "Why are you fighting?"

"We're not fighting, sweetheart...." Ryland said, then picked her up. "Let's get you back to bed, okay?" He started walking into Annie's room, but stopped to look at me. "We will talk about this tomorrow... Annie doesn't need to hear us, and she'll be at daycare tomorrow.."

"What more is there to say?" I asked.

"Like I said.... we will talk... tomorrow.." Ryland repeated himself, then took Annie to bed, kissing her goodnight. When he came back into the living room, he handed me a pillow and blanket. "I think it's best we sleep separately right now...."

"Ry, I'm sorry..." I said. "I'm trying..."

"I understand... but we need something to change..." He said, then gave me a small kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight..."