A/n: You know what I find kind of funny? With my other story, it took at least a day for me to reach 20 views. Now, its been about two hours, and I'm getting close to reaching that again. I guess people are more willing to read what I write after reading my last story? Idk.

I also did some research and realized I accidentally created a character with PTSD, so I've decided that I did that on purpose and that Harper actually does have PTSD. If I get something wrong about symptoms of this disorder, please correct me! I don't want to totally mess up a character!

Harper didn't pay attention to the twins' reactions to seeing their dad again. She didn't listen to his endless excuses for why he had to leave. All the questions she'd had about her father over the past there years came floating back in small streams, but still, a stream can turn into a raging river when it rains. Th we more she was around her father, the faster each question arrived, as if his presence fueled them. It reached the point where she had to run to her room and lock the door behind her to keep herself from spilling over the banks of stability.

"It's not your fault," she whispered again as she collapsed by the wall, "It's not... "

The room went quiet as silent tears flowed down Harper's cheeks. Without thinking, she punched the wall. It felt good, and she did it again. She kept punching until she wasn't angry anymore and there were two fist sizes holes in the wall. She knew her mom would be angry, but she didn't care. She'd heard her parent's conversations on the phone. She knew her dad was in too deep, and she knew her mom was angry with him for no reason. It seemed as if her life was slowly crumbling before her very eyes.

There was a gentle knock on the door. "Starshine?" Her father's voice was muffled by the door, " Can I come in?"

"Please don't!" Harper pleaded, already aware of the stirring questions.

" Well, can we talk through the door? "

"N-" Harper hesitated. She didn't see anything wrong with that. She could talk to him like she's practiced taking to her mirror all those years ago, before their mother said she thought he was dead. Before Harper had caught her mom talking on the phone with some guy from work. Before she heard her mom yelling at her dad for something. Back when hope was still a thing in their family.

Now, the only one with hope was the one who caused everyone else to lose theirs.

Harper walked over to the door before sitting with her back against it. "Sure. We can talk through the door," she said as steadily as she could.

" I was just wondering if you were okay? "

"Yeah, I'm fine."

" You don't sound 'fine'. "

"I mean, you've been gone 3 years. How do you know how I talk?"

" I guess that's fair. " there was a strange silence. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it wasn't peaceful either. It was more like... anxious. An anxious and patient quiet. Before Harper could figure it out, her dad kept talking, "Its just, you seemed so happy, but now... Now you seem mad."

Harper shrugged , even though she knew he couldn't see her, "Well, you did run away 3 years ago and leave Bailey with depression and me with PTSD, so I think I have every right to be mad."

" Hold on. Me leaving gave Bailey depression? And you PTSD? "

"What can I say? It's not often your dad runs off without saying goodbye to his children because his job is more important than his family."

"I never intended for you to feel that way! "

"And yet, here we are!" It took everything Harper had to keep herself from bursting into more tears.

"Starshine-"

"My name's Harper." She interrupted, even though the words hurt her probably as much as they hurt her father.

"... Harper, I didn't want to leave, but I had to! I didn't want to be gone for 3 years, either, but things happened and I had to! Part of being an adult is making sacrifices and-"

" So you'll sacrifice your family for your job? "and

"What?! No! I would never -"

"Because that's exactly what you did." The strange silence returned, only this time, it felt different. Like the anxiety had been replaced with sad longing and the patience with denial.

" Harper, " her father finally said with a sigh, "I don't know what you think of me, or even if you care about me anymore, but, I just want you to know that I'm not trying to be a bad person. I'm just trying to help out family, like you were when you took my place and became your siblings' rock. I have no desire to hurt you in any way in the future, but, please, just know that, whatever I do, everything I care about, it's all for our family. "

Harper nodded, once again knowing he couldn't see her. She heard him get up and walk down the hallway as she sat there, contemplating his words. It became to much and she opened her window for some fresh air.

 Quietly, Harper climbed onto the roof. Their mom's car was in the driveway now, so she's have to come down soon, but her bedroom was at the end of the hall, and dad would probably keep mom busy for a while, so she had time. When she looked out, Harper could see the bright red sunset and the few stars that decided to reveal their faces early. The sun created a lilac sky behind her, and the moon was slowly working it's way up in the sky.

Harper didn't know how long she'd been sitting on the roof, but soon she could hear footsteps headed towards her room. She quickly hopped inside and shut the window again, just as her mom knocked on the door. She could tell it was her mom because all it was was a single knock before silence. Harper quickly opened the door and let her mom in. 

Harper looked more like her mom than her dad. She had her mom's short, blonde hair, small figure, face shape, and sense of style. The only thing that connected her to her dad were her eyes and the occasional dark spot on her peach skin. Her siblings, however, inherited their dad's darker skin, his curly hair, and his charming smile. The only thing relating Bailey to their mom was her brown eyes, while Thomas and Hayden looked like they were their father's smaller clones.

As her mom walked around the room, Harper couldn't help but feel worried. What would their mom act like now that dad was back? Would she still be cold, or would she be happy like she used to be? She didn't know.

Here mom's check of the room was more hasty than usual. She looked around the room once, nodded, and left. It was strange, but Harper wasn't complaining. She pulled out her phone and plopped down on the bed, scrolling through her apps. She didn't realize how much time had passed until her father called her down for dinner.

Not every chapter needs to end in a cliff hanger! These chapters are longer than the ones in my fanfic, so they may take longer to write. Sorry! Anyways, I'll see you later! Right now, I have to eat dinner! (How ironic!)