Tom was 17 when he met his girlfriend, Yn, who was also 17. They stayed together until they were 23 when they got married. When they were 25, they had their first baby. When they were 28, they had another baby... and another when they were 30. When they were 33, Yn's family were killed in a terrorist attack while they were on holiday. Yn was distraught. Her brother was 22 and her parents were in their 50's.

It pushed her over the edge.

Yn got into drugs and alcohol. Yn was never violent when she took them, not once. Tom had tried to talk her out of it and get her help... but she became addicted. Tom and Yn came to an agreement: she could do whatever she wanted... as long as the kids didn't find them.

Tom didn't care about the alcohol, because both of them drunk it and the kids needed to know that they weren't allowed it, but adults were.

Tom filed a divorce when the eldest child (their daughter, Sofie) found some of Yn's cocaine on the drawer in the attic. Being a curious 8-year-old, she tried it. Sofie ended up having to have her stomach and liver pumped before the drugs killed her. Tom dropped the other two at Harry's house while his parents stayed with Sofie in the hospital while Tom delt with Yn.

He and Yn got into a massive row that night. When Tom found out how unbothered Yn was about her daughter finding her drugs and nearly dying, he kicked her out and filed for a divorce as soon as possible.

"HOW CAN YOU BE ACTING LIKE THIS!? OUR DAUGHTER NEARLY DIED TODAY BECAUSE OF YOU!" Tom screamed as Yn as she breathed heavily, "IT'S NOT I WANTED HER TO FIND IT!" Tom rolled his eyes, "Then why did you leave the ladder down so she could get there? You know any 8 years old would do it!" Yn sighed, "I wouldn't have done!" Tom scoffed, "Course, cus you were little miss perfect!" The argument continued for the rest of the evening until about 11 at night. What topped it and finished the row was what YN said, "She took my last dose..." Tom threw her out that night. She was only allowed back on Monday when the kids were at school and Tom was at work to collect her stuff.

Yn didn't return for another 4 years. She sent birthday presents and Christmas presents and Easter presents every year.

Tom's heart broke when he told Sofie. She began sobbing that it was her fault that she tried her mother's stuff.

Tom never hated someone more than he did Yn then.

~~~~

One Christmas eve, 4 years later, Tom was laying in bed, asleep. The youngest, Michael, had been a bugger to get to sleep and consequently taken 4 hours to get to bed. Suddenly, Tessa growled from her bed on the floor. She stalked towards the door and her hackles went up as she growled deeply. Tom picked up the baseball bat he kept under his bed and followed his dog down the stairs. Tessa's growling stopped and her tail began wagging as she bound into the living room. Tom frowned and put on his flashlight on his phone. He nearly dropped the baseball bat but grabbed it at the last minute so he didn't wake his children.

It was Yn.

In his house.

Yn began petting Tessa and telling her to be quiet or she'd wake the house. Tessa just preened for more attention from her owner whom she hadn't seen in 4 years. Tom cleared his throat as he placed the baseball bat on the table. Yn froze and turned around slowly. Tom pointed to the backdoor that leads to the garden. He went out, hoping Yn got the idea. She did and followed him outside. Tom gestured to their old patio chairs and took a seat himself. Yn shifted and looked very awkward. "Why are you in my house?" Yn sighed, "I just wanted to see them for one Christmas... hand delivers their presents instead of posting it." Tom lifted his head, trying not to show his guilt.

It would kill him if he couldn't see his kids.

"I dunno about that, they seem pretty angry you left them." Yn scoffed, "Is that what you've told them all these years? Cus you know damn well that ain't true." Yn was beginning to get angry, Tom could tell. "What else could I tell them? Their mother was a druggie and an alcoholic?" Yn grabbed her head in her hands, "No, but not fucking tell them that I abandoned them. I would never have done that to you." Tom scoffed, "You could've contacted them." Yn's face grew outraged, "No I couldn't! You blocked all contact with me!" Tom rolled his eyes, "Lawyers?" Yn bit her lip, "Still after all these years... never, ever, have I met a person like you." Tom's face crumbled, slightly. "What do you mean?"
"Lied to their children about why their mother left!"

Tom was about to respond when a voice spoke from the doorway. "Daddy...? I had a nightmare." It was Sofie. Yn gasped and covered her mouth. Tom glanced at her and gestured for Sofie to come over. She did so, rather cautiously. "Daddy, who's that?" Sofie asked, crawling into his lap. Tom glanced at Yn who actually looked heartbroken. Tom covered Sofie's ears.

"Before I even begin to speak to her, I need to know one thing." Yn nodded, eagerly. "Are you clean?" Yn looked at Tom, then looked down again. "I've been trying to get clean for the last 4 years, Tom. I haven't had anything this last year." Tom nodded, satisfied with her answer. He pulled his hands away from Sofie's ears, "Sof... that's your mother." Sofie looked at Yn and then Tom, "I thought you said she left us to do her own thing." Yn glared fiercely at Tom, who had the decency to look embarrassed. "I never left to do my own thing, Sofie. I had to go... because I was doing something very bad and naughty. But, I've seen somebody who has helped me with it and I'm much better now." Yn said gently. Sofie slid off of Tom's lap and slowly walked towards Yn, sucking her thumb. Sofie stared at her for a small second and Yn lifted her up onto her lap. Tom watched the whole exchange.

Yn began rocking slowly and humming a lullaby. Tears slowly fell from her eyes as she rocked Sofie, who drifted off to sleep.

Tom went to pick her up to take her to her room, but Yn growled and tightened her grip on Sofie, who gripped her as tightly in return. Tom backed up, not willing to wake Sofie. "Where's her room?" Yn asked, getting up. "Up the stairs and the pink door with PRINCESS SOFIE written on it. I'm going to bed, you can have the spare room tonight. We'll discuss this tomorrow." Yn took Sofie up and tucked her in bed, leaving a kiss on her head. Sofie hummed and turned over. "I love you, mummy." Yn wiped away a tear and turned back. "I love you too, princess."

Yn closed her door and looked in on her other two children. She gave them a kiss each and closed their door.

As Yn lay in the bed that night, she thought.

Maybe, just maybe, Yn would have a chance at growing old and grey with her children.