slide | seaycee (sean and kaycee)

twenty-three

Sean was working in front of the studio, cleaning the windows since there were no classes scheduled for the day, you know, just polishing the place. Distracted by the music playing on his earbuds, he didn't notice when someone approached him, startling when the person pocked his shoulder.

He turned around just to get even more surprised with who it was. 

"We need to talk." The other said right away while Sean took off his earbuds.

"Wow, wasn't expecting a visit, especially from you." He admitted.

"Believe me, I don't want to be here just as much as you probably don't want me here." The other said. "But it's past the point for us to have a conversation."

"I agree." Said Sean. "let's go to the office."

They walked in silence through the hallways of Sean's studio until they've reached the room in the back, Sean's office — it wasn't anything fancy, just some a desk with a computer, a chair, a small couch, a cabinet with some filming equipment... oh and a pack n play in the corner, so Jia could take a nap whenever she was there for a long time with Kaycee and Sean.

Of course, it was the first thing the other caught his eyes on and Sean noticed but didn't say a thing, just sat behind his desk as the other sat in front of him in the chair in the opposite end.

"So, Gabe... where do you want to start." He said but decided to go on first. "Actually, I just want to say right away that I... I know you are Jia's father and that I don't want this whole thing to be a mess for her."

Gabe chuckled. "Did you learned this trick with Kaycee  or did you taught her?"

Sean looked at him confused. "What trick?"

"Soft voice and be nice, I'm not an angry dog, this whole thing won't work with me." He said. "I'm not here to be BFFs and pretend we are a big happy family 'cause that ain't happening."

"For fucking sake, Gabe, that's not it... I'm just trying-"

"Cut the bullshit, Sean." Said Gabe.

"You know what, you don't want to talk and I'm not in the mood for whatever you want." Said Sean, losing a bit of his calm.

"You better be otherwise things are going to get pretty ugly pretty soon." Said the other.

"What? We are going to fight now? Like if we were twelve?" Said Sean, sarcastic.

"No Sean, I have no intention to fight you." Explained Gabe, going straight to the point. "I want you away from Kaycee and my daughter."

Sean chuckled. "Sorry, buddy but you can't choose that."

"In fact, I can." He chuckled too, running his fingers through his hair. "You see, Sean, I can't guarantee for sure that I judge would give me Jia but there's a 50 percent chance he would... and can you imagine how hard it would be for Kaycee?"

The sentence caught Sean out of a guard. "You wouldn't do that."

"Or perhaps, let's say that someone could say Kaycee is negligent with Jia... you know, a mom that travels to teach a lot and leave the kid behind, or takes with her to all of these places that aren't a home to this kid." He kept going. "A mom who has this boyfriend at her house all the time that has access do Jia."

"Kaycee is the best mom ever and I would never hurt Jia." Said Sean, right away.

"But it could take a long time to get to gather proof and all of those things... can you imagine how hard it would be?" Said Gabe.

"You wouldn't do that." Said Sean — he really couldn't believe this man would do so much harm to his own child.

"You are right, Sean. I wouldn't... if you walk away." He answered.

"No judge would take Jia from Kaycee, she's a great mother!" He said convicted.

"Can you guarantee that? And still... the whole process would be devastating to her."

"I-"

"I just want what is best for my daughter." Said Gabe.

"No you don't, if you did this conversation could've been completely different." Said Sean.

"Well, whatever. You don't need to give me an answer, just do it and I'll know." Said Gabe, standing. "But do the right thing, Sean."

He left just like so and Sean couldn't be more devastated. He knew talking with Gabe wouldn't be easy but he didn't expect so much evilness coming from the other — despite everything he knows about Gabe, somehow he truly believed they could have had a good conversation.

Sean wanted o make amends. He knew they would never be friends but for the sake of Jia he was ready to do everything in his power to be in good shape with Gabe — but the guy just wants to see Sean far away.

He knew Gabe wasn't doing this because he wanted to be Jia's father — he was doing it because he believed it would give him space to be with Kaycee again. And not because he truly loved her but because he loved the status of "having the perfect family with Kaycee" would give him. He wanted Jia and Kaycee for promoting, for mídia, for Instagram posts and youtube videos.

But Sean, he wanted them for life. He wanted them for a family — in his perfect world, he wanted them with his last name.

"Fuck." Sean said to himself in 'I don't have a clue on what to do right now.

To help, his phone started to ring against his desk: my rainbow aka Kaycee.

He took a deep breath before answering. "Hi, babe."

"Hi... is everything alright?" She asked.

"Did you call to ask if I'm alright?" She laughed on the other end.

"No, but your voice sounded weird when you answered." She said.

"Just tired from cleaning, it's nothing." He lied. "What's up?"

"Can you bring me some milk on the way home? I was making Jia's bottle and holding her at the same time and the next thing I knew there was milk all over the floor." She said, sounding tired too. "She's been a lot today."

"Don't worry, I'll buy it."

"And some donuts please, I'm needing some sugar." She said.

"You got it boss, anything more?" He asked.

"And you please, don't take too long." He couldn't avoid but smile.

"I won't, I promise." He answered.

"Drive safe alright? Love you." She said but he noticed her attention drifting from the call. "Gosh, Jia, stop taking things out of the cabinets... No, No."

"Go take care of that, love you too babe."

The call was over — Sean had a smile on his lips and tears wanting to escape his eyes. He didn't want to lose his family, but he couldn't bear the idea of being the reason they would go through so much pain.