(WARNING: CUTENESS AND REDEMPTION)

Ryan's POV

We enrolled Tammy into a new school. She was very excited, and she was bouncing off the walls. "This kid is killing me, babe," Anthony said to me one night. "Yeah, well, you were the one who wanted to adopt her," I said. "Team effort, Ryan," Anthony said back. 

I held Tammy in my arms as we walked into her school for the first time. It wasn't the first day of school yet, but Tammy needed to "know her surroundings" as Anthony said. As I began to speak with some of the teachers, Tammy slipped away from me and ran off.

When she came back, she was followed by a boy about her age. "Dad! This is my new friend! He's super cool!" she said. I smiled gently. "That sounds lovely. Where are you parents?" I asked the kid. "They're somewhere over here," he led us to the front office, there was a woman in a T-shirt and jeans, and next to her was... oh no... Darren? "DAD!" the little kid called. Darren turned around. "Connor! Hey! I was wondering where you went off to.." he trailed off as he looked up and saw me. He nudged the woman standing next to him, which I assumed was his wife. "Bianca..." he started. The woman looked at me, and back at him. "This is Ryan?" she asked. Darren nodded.

"Well, that's wonderful! I'm Bianca Rey (Don't question  it I typed random letters in my keyboard). I'm Darren's wife. It's... interesting... to finally meet you, Ryan," Bianca put out her hand for me to shake. I shook it reluctantly. She had a bright smile, and she had smiling eyes. I turned to Darren. I sighed. "Your legs have healed..." he said awkwardly. I nodded. "So, is it just Connor here or do you have another kid?" I asked. "Connor has a twin brother, Joseph, but I don't know where he is..." Darren answered. "Well, I didn't think I'd be saying this but... I'm happy for you. Bianca's really sweet. She seems like the person who can take care of you," I said. Darren actually smiled back. "Thanks, Ryan," he said, "and this is a school. I don't see any reason to continue the conversation here. I'd be happy to invite you and Anthony for dinner (he assumed that Ryan and Anthony were still together but he assumed right)," Darren said. "That would be... nice. I'll talk it over with Anthony," I answered.

After we got back home, I immediately told Anthony what happened. He contemplated it for a moment. "All this time and you trust him too much. I don't believe a word he says. I don't want to hear a word he says. You can go, and you can take Tammy if you want, but I'm not going with you," Anthony answered. "Stubborn as a mule," I said, and rested my head on his shoulder. "I'm not going," he said. "Yes, you are," I said back.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"NO!"

"WHY ARE YOU SO STUBBORN?!" I asked him angrily. "Look, I don't want to see you anywhere near Darren ever again. He tried to kill you! Do you think I want that type of person to be around you? Around our family?" Anthony asked. I sighed. "Okay, I know you still don't trust Darren,  but at least give him this one chance?" I asked. I was pretty much pleading at this point. Anthony thought about it. He sighed, looking defeated. "Okay. Fine. I'll come with you. Only because I want to keep my family safe," he answered.

-dat night-

We sat at the table, and there was a bit going on. Bianca and I talked about the kids. Tammy, Connor, and Joseph were running around the house playing tag. Darren was focused on his fingers, moving them around. Anthony didn't do much of anything, he just sat down and stared down at the table with his hands under the table.

"Oh, Tammy is so sweet!" Bianca was saying to me. I smiled sadly. "She's our angel," I responded. "Is there something wrong?" she asked. "I'd tell you, but I don't want Tammy to overhear," I answered. I shook off the worry and smiled. "So, Bianca, in your opinion, is Darren a good husband?" Anthony asked. Darren shot him a withering look that said, 'Are you really bringing up this kind of thing again?'.

"Of course he is. He's treated me better than my previous boyfriends. They only had me around for my looks and suggested I become a model so they could get money. But Darren loves me for who I really am. He doesn't tell me how stunning he thinks I am all the time, though I'm sure he thinks about it every day (Darren nodded)," Bianca answered. "So, has he told you the time he tried to kill Ryan?" Anthony asked. "Anthony, please don-" I started. "He didn't tell me the full details, but he did tell me he regretted it," Bianca said.

Darren sighed. He explained the entire fight to Bianca. "-and I gave him a huge punch to the face, knocking him out, and I ran out of the warehouse. I'm glad you're alive, Ryan. Because once I realized what I'd done, I hated myself every day for it. And I wouldn't forgive myself if you died..." he finished. "Of course you wouldn't! You could have killed him! And you knew exactly what you were doing! You should've stayed down!" Anthony yelled. "Look, Anthony, I know we've had our differences, but if you'd just listen to me you'd know that I-" "I DON'T NEED TO LISTEN TO YOU! YOU TRIED TO KILL RYAN! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR A WORD YOU HAVE TO SAY!" shouted Anthony, and stood up from his chair, picking up his knife (child don't).

Darren stood up. "I'm not going to fight you. But even if it somehow requires harming you, I'll do anything to prove that I'm sorry," he said. "Darren!" "Anthony!" They both looked at us. "Anthony, you're being ridiculous," I said. He sighed. He shook himself out of my grasp and walked over to Darren, who stepped back. Anthony looked at me and then at Darren. He then held out his hand. "Hi. My name is Anthony Johannson. You?" he asked with a smile on his face. Darren smiled back and shook it. "Darren Rey," he said. Bianca and I sighed in relief. Peace.

At long last.