Song: The road to mediocre life

"Most of our life is a series of images. They pass us by like towns on the highway. But sometimes a moment stuns us as it happens. And we know that this instant is more than a fleeting image. We know that this moment, every part of it, will live on forever.'" - Lucas Scott One Tree Hill

    ***

Meanwhile in the hospital, Lexis had an unexpected visitor standing before him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm not here to fight Alexander,"

"So you're here to apologize?"

"Apologize?" E says and scoffs shaking his head.

"I don't believe I owe you an apology, maybe Hera but definitely not you," E says sitting down.

"I never said you could sit," Lexis says coldly.

"You never said I couldn't either," E replies lips upturned.

"I really don't like you," Lexis voices.

"The feeling is mutual," E replies.

"What do you want?" Lexis asks sitting straight with his back against the headboard.

"To talk. The last time we spoke, the circumstances were not the best,"

"And what makes you think I want to talk with you?"

"Because it's the first and most likely the last time," E answers.

Lexis ears perk up at the last two words .

"Last time? You're leaving?" Lexis says grinning.

"You just can't hide your joy at that news now can you?" E asks to which Lexis shrugs his shoulders.

E smiles, a smile that doesn't translate happiness but sadness to his eyes.

"Hera doesn't love me," He says.

"I'm aware of that," Lexis replies with a bored tone.

"She loves you," E says.

"That's also no secret," Lexis states.

E nods.

"I know you're aware but I thought it right to tell you. For the five years I've known and been by Hera's side, we were simply friends, nothing more. She never once had more than a platonic relationship with me,"

"And she never will," Lexis says.

"True, because she has you and you love each other," E replies.

"That we do," Lexis confirms to which E rubs his palms together with a light snigger.

"When everything is settled, I'll be leaving California and Hera's side,"

"Great decision," Lexis continues with the short answers.

"But," E says raising a hand to signal he wasn't done.

Lexis eyes thin coldly.

"I will return if she ever needs me. I promised to never let any Black hurt her and her kid. I intend to keep that promise,"

"I'm afraid you'll never be returning as she won't ever be needing you. I'll be by her side protecting, providing and caring for her,"

"That's good," E says nodding. "Make sure you do that," He adds.

"I will," Lexis replies matter of factly.

"Shakespeare is an amazing child,"

"Of course, I'm her father," Lexis says to which E grins before sighing heavily.

"I call her little demon due to her tricks and little antics, but she's actually a little angel," E says smiling at the thought of her.

"I remember the day I first held her in my hand, she was so tiny. I was worried I'd break her," E says to which Lexis stays quiet listening and watching E.

"I had many firsts with her. My first diaper change, first poop disaster, first time feeding a baby, first time staying awake to put someone to sleep, first time cleaning someone's poop," He says and chuckles at the thought that in the past was a horror.

Lexis glares at him. 

Realizing how Lexis must feel hearing how he missed out on all these, E stops listing them out.

"My intention for listing all these isn't spite. I was simply reminiscing but what I'd really like is for you to get to know her and be the father she always wanted and deserves," E explains.

"I intend to do that," Lexis replies to which E nods.

He looks around the room and notices a red cup on the night stand.

"She loves the color red," He says, eyes not he cup.

" She calls it wed, her R's are w's," He explains "But you should know that already,"

"I do," Lexis affirms.

"Good," E replies.

"Her favorite food is jollof rice,"

"With chicken thighs," Lexis finishes.

 "You know that too," E says.

"She's my daughter," Lexis replies.

"She is, that she truly is," E says smiling to himself as he recalls various memories.

"Alexander, you have great girls, girls any man will be blessed to have. Don't let them down,"

"I won't,"

"Promise me something,"

"I don't make promises to people I don't trust,"

"Smart,"

"I know you hate psychologists but my father is of the opinion that you need therapy as does Hera. If you don't mind and you're willing, get help, he recommended a trustworthy psychologist,"

"Is this a joke?" Lexis says half laughing.

"Why on earth would I trust you or your father with my mind?"

"Because we gave you back your memories," E says seriously.

Lexis eyes thin as the laughter is wiped from his face.

"What do you mean?" He asks sharply.

"How do you think Reid got you the pills that gave you back your memories?"

Lexis stays silent. He'd never given much though to that.

"You never looked into it? Surely you didn't think he made it in his fathers lab now did you?" E asks to which Lexis eyes contract as his mind rolls. If he was the source of the antidote, then he had to have known he was alive and didn't tell Hera.

Lexis slowly starts tapping his index fingers together.

"Yes you hurt my cousin, but seeing you in need of help and turning a blind eye doesn't make us any better,"

"You and I have a common denominator," E says to which Lexis raises an eyebrow.

"Wanting Hera and Shakespeare's happiness," He says to which Lexis index fingers freeze before he continues tapping them against each other relaxing his brows.

"You may seem okay but you've both been through a lot and need help. While having each other helps, seeing a professional does too. I may not like you, neither does my father but his medical ethics won't let him see someone who needs help and turn a blind eye," E says getting up.

"If you decide to take up the offer," He says taking out a card from his chest pocket and dropping it on the blanket in front of Lexis.

"Call him directly," E says.

"Don't worry I won't have him drug you and try taking Hera from you," E half jokes.

"I'm not, you wouldn't have the ability to take her even if you tried for a lifetime," Lexis says to which E chuckles.

"I see it now," He says getting up and placing his hands in his pant pockets.

"See what?"

"Why she loves you. Why they all fell for you," E answers.

"You know if not for our history I believe we'd have made great friends," E says to which Lexis stays silent but the left side of his lips slightly upturn.

He picks up the card and raises it.

"I can't promise taking up your offer but I promise not to throw away the card," Lexis says to which E lightly scoffs and shakes his head.

"Well, that's something," E says.

"Get well soon Alexander, your girls need you," E says.

Lexis nods.

"I will," He replies and hesitates.

"Also..." He says pausing.

"I'm sorry for being an ass the other day," He finishes.

"Accepted," E replies turning around to leave.

"Ethan," Lexis calls out stopping him.

"Susan, tell her...I'm truly sorry,"

E smiles this time a smile that reaches his eyes.

"I'll do that," He says turning around  to leave taking another step as Lexis calls out,

 "Also Ethan,"

E stops and glances back at him.

"Thank you for all you did for Hera and our daughter," Lexis says sincerely thankful.

"You just had to rub in the our didn't you?" E asks jokingly.

Lexis shrugs.

E grins, "The pleasure was mine," He says throwing back his own good natured punch.

Lexis rolls his eyes as they both burst out lightly laughing.

"Also...thanks for helping with the antidote," Lexis adds seriously, truly grateful.  Knowing, considering his connection with E's cousin, E could have refused to make it.

E nods quietly accepting his gratitude, understanding the weight of it. He then turns around to leave but turns back again to glance at Lexis saying,

"You're not asking why I never told Hera about your being alive seeing as I knew, neither are you mad," 

"Because I can deduce and understand your choice,"

E gives a heartfelt smile that reaches his eyes as he nods.

"You're welcome. Goodbye Alexander, let this be the last time we meet," He says to which Lexis replies,

"Likewise," As he watches E walk out shutting the door behind him. He breaks into a grin.

                                                               ***

Hera retuns to the sight of Lexis standing by the window of his room looking outside.

She walks over and wraps her ams around his waist.

He breaks into a smile.

"You're back," He says comforted by her presence.

"I'm back," She echoes rubbing the side of her face against his back.

He uses his palms to cover the back of her hand.

"You've worked hard," He says caressing her hands as they both stay silent in thought with  the side of her head resting against his back.

"He's much better now," Hera gives an update on Nathan knowing though he wasn't asking he'd want to know.

"He was broken, drunk to a stupor when I arrived but he took time to think today when his head was much clearer. He's at a better place," Hera relates.

"Do you think he'll be okay?" Lexis asks after a while.

"With time, he will," Hera says to which Lexis exhales in relief and nods patting her hands.

"With time, we'll all be okay," Lexis says to which Hera nods sighing as she tightens her hold on him.

"Are you good now?" Lexis asks in relation to her relationship with Nathan.

"Yes,"

"That's good, at least one good thing has happened," Lexis says to which Hera chuckles.

"What's funny?" He asks.

"How similar you and Nathan are," She answers.

"How?"

"He asked if things were good between you and I, when I said Yes, he said your exact same words,"

"That's good at least one good thing has happened," Hera quotes  and giggles to which Lexis smiles.

She tightens her hold around his waist.

"I missed you SO SO much Alexander Black," Hera says filled with feelings of gratitude at being able to see and touch him again.

Lexis lips upturn.

"So did I Shakespeare, so did I," He says taking her right hand in his and raising it to his lips, he bends and kisses it.

Hera smiles to herself. She'd missed being called that.

They both stay silent in each others embrace. Drinking in the quiet of the night of which's stillness was interrupted by the sound of the machine in the room and their breathing.

***

It was my birthday Monday, happy birthday to everyone born this wonderful month!  What have you been up to?