A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

 Everything, every horrible occurrence that had transpired over the call, had been relayed to Deidre, who had narrated all of the details back to the rest of her team. Needless to say, the trip to (f/n) parents' home was canceled. Instead, they were waiting for her father to arrive at Nick's. The morning sun had shifted to afternoon. Barely, the sun shone through the thick clouds that were forming overhead. Only a light snow was predicted to fall, though, but it wouldn't last too long since the colder months were coming to a close.

(F/n) was resting on the bed. Her back was to the headboard, and her body rested on top of the white comforter and sheets. She was curled up, with her legs folded and pointed to her left. On her form were a plush black hoodie, navy pajama shorts, black flannel leggings and navy fuzzy socks. All of her (h/c) locks hung loosely around her head. Overall, she just wanted to be comfy and warm.

After hearing the news, Deidre had brought her a cup of peppermint tea to help soothe her nerves and mind as well as any nausea she might've felt. Her hands were wrapped around the mug, and steam rose from the top of the beverage. She stared down into the lightly colored drink as her mind kept focusing on when her father would arrive. It was nerve wracking since she didn't know if Ether was entirely right about the other creature holding off on attacking him.

Ether wasn't speaking at all during this time. Rather, he was listening. He wanted to let his pink flower know exactly when her father arrived at Nick's home since he understood how worried she was. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his left nails were tapping against his right forearm. The taps were rhythmic, and they kept his own impatience somewhat at bay. Even his eyes were closed since it helped him focus more to a degree. If he continued to view his partner's concerned expression, he might miss when her father pulled into the driveway.

While (f/n) took another sip of her tea, his ears did catch a car going down the street. He concentrated more on the noise in case the car began to slow down. Unfortunately, it only sped. Almost, he cursed out loud. (F/n) noted the frown on his lips when she briefly averted her eyes to him. Unbeknownst to him, a small fraction of a smile hit her lips. She comprehended what he was doing, and she appreciated it.

The smile, however, didn't last long since her worry came back just as strong. It was only getting later, and he still hadn't arrived. According to Deidre, the drive from Teller's Den to her town was about five hours. If (f/n) included packing time, it might've took him five hours and thirty minutes, but he probably wouldn't spend too much time packing if at all. No doubt, he wouldn't make any stops along the way due to the urgency of the situation.

As she was about to drown in more negative thoughts about her father's wellbeing, she nearly spilled her tea when Ether suddenly opened his eyes and sat upright. She placed her tea down on the nightstand on the right side of the bed and sat upright herself. "What is it?" she finally spoke, her heartbeat increasing by a little bit.

Immediately, he didn't answer. Instead, he listened further until he heard a car pull up into the driveway. There was a loud slam and beep sound shortly after. Heavy footsteps followed. "He's here. That has to be him. There's no beeping sound with any of the deliveries." (F/n) didn't sigh in relief yet. She wanted to see for her own eyes that her father had arrived safely.

His ears caught the sound of the door opening and rushed breathing. "Please come in," he heard Nick reply before he heard her father say his thanks. The door closed again. Hurried footsteps followed after Nick told him where his daughter was in the house. Coming closer to the door, (f/n) heard the steps now. She draped her legs over the edge of the bed. Ether remained seated. He figured that the two wouldn't want him in the middle, and he would allow that due to the circumstance. (F/n) noticed his action, or lack thereof, and she appreciated his consideration. No smile or words of gratitude greeted her face or parted from her lips, but her glance gave him all the information he needed.

When the room door opened, (f/n) stood and focused her eyes on the figure in the doorway. Her body acted on its own, and her feet sped towards him. (D/n) performed a similar action. The two met with a hug. (F/n) wrapped her arms tightly around her father's waist while he hugged his daughter to him as though she was his source for any remaining portion of his sanity, which was true to an extent.

Between the two, there was an understanding of quietness. Both were just happy to see the other alive. When the two pulled away, (d/n) directed his eyes over to Ether. A neutral gaze rested in Ether's optics, but flames sparked in her father's. He remained seated as the taller male came stomping towards him. "Dad, wait. What are ..."

Before she could continue, her father's right fist impacted Ether square in the left side of his jaw. Ether's head turned to the side, but that was about it. He shifted his jaw bone around. It wasn't broken, but it did click back into place and heal any bruising that might've taken place otherwise. (F/n) stared stunned and horrified while her father breathed heavily as though all of his energy had been stored in that punch.

Meeting the older male's murderous eyes, Ether grinned and giggled. (F/n) was about to run forward, but Ether cast a quick glance to her that told her to remain where she stood. Her feet moved a little bit forward, but that was it. Ether, though, could hear her heart racing, but his attention focused on her father.

Restoring his energy from pure adrenaline, her father reached forward and grabbed the front of Ether's hoodie. He let her father lift him up from the chair a little. "This is all your f*cking fault! If you never had started that game with my daughter, she would've never run into that sicko! If you never followed her out of the tunnels, none of us even would be in this mess!" Her father's arm shook him back and forth during every sentence before he tossed him back against the chair. Again, his arm went flying.

That time, Ether caught it with ease with his right hand. "You're lucky that you have a very beneficial deal with me." His tone was high-pitched, and her father's rationality returned to him little by little. (F/n) took another step forward, but that was it again. "Or, your head would be rolling. Maybe, I'd even crush your hand and jaw." Very pale blue eyes glittered with ill intent, but he didn't act upon his words; however, he kept his grip on her father's hand. "As for your accusation," Ether giggled once more, "this isn't purely my fault. Yes, I followed your daughter out of Cankerfell and inserted myself forcefully into her life. Yes, I brought up the game and carried through with it. I terrified her immensely and have made her life less than ideal, but she's responsible too. You and your wife as well."

"How dare ..."

Squeezing her father's hand, he grinned again while her father winced. Out of anger, his other hand shot forward. Ether sighed and grabbed it with his left hand. His nails threatened to stab into the human male's arm, but Ether slowly let his hand go as he relaxed his own. "I wouldn't try that again. Next time, my nails accidentally might cut into you." (D/n) scowled, but he didn't raise another fist to him.

"As I was saying, I'm not the only one to blame. Your daughter decided to enter Cankerfell. She knew the risks even if she was entering to save her friend. I didn't force her. Your daughter agreed to the game; I didn't make her. I may have given her an incentive to play, but she still accepted it. As your wife and you," he giggled again, "you both agreed to our deal. I didn't force you." Ether tightened his hold on the human male's one hand, causing him to try and get his hand away, but his attempt failed. "You let me enter your home and eat parts of your clients. You let me stay there so that you could continue to see your daughter and watch over her."

Several more giggles exited his lips. "You even went out into the forest around Cankerfell and offered me food to make such an offer with me." A glimmering, dark grin fell upon Ether's lips. "So, don't you dare put all of the blame on me. All three of you aided in bringing us to where we are now, but," Ether cast aside (d/n)'s hand, and his tone lowered immensely, "let's not forget who we should all be angry at right now. Our real problem currently. He's the one who's to blame for kidnapping your wife and unborn child." Once more, his voice dropped a tone lower, which made him sound all the more nightmarish. "He's the one who took your daughter and nearly killed her after two months of physical, mental and emotional torture."

Almost, he was about to calm down until Ether's last statement. Again, his rage flared up, and he clenched his fists to prevent himself from punching the creature again. "And, you didn't?!" Ether froze as a horrendous darkness slipped over his eyes. "Before she got captured, you fed off of her, you played countless, sick mental games with her, you killed her best friend in a cruel, grotesque fashion, you ..."

"Enough!" Ether didn't stand up from his chair, but his left nails twitched horribly, and his voice sounded as though it had been summoned from the depths of the sea to terrorize everything on land. "I ..."

Adrenaline back, her father threw aside Ether's threatening voice. "You what?! You haven't killed her?! You love her?! Ha!" Her father gripped his hoodie again and brought their faces close to each other. An almost primal growl left Ether's lips. "Don't give me those d*mn excuses! You would've f*cking killed her had she never escaped those tunnels! At your core, you're no better than that other creature!"