Aeron Masters

“Well, never say never. You’re still young. Jocelyn was a special case with me, but it was a…welcomed change from what my family tended to offer at the time.” 

“Well I’m sure Ainsley could always use a friend if you’re interested. I know it’s not the same as your own daughter.”

“Much to her older sister’s dismay, yes. I always found it endearing, if not a tad confusing.”

“I find it quite adorable actually. I always loved the idea having a girl that was a daddy’s girl.”

“Jocelyn was something special. They both ended up taking too much after me. At least when they were kids.”

“Was she a daddy’s girl?” Aeron asked curiously raising an eyebrow.

“Having any family is better than none, or so I hear. Granted I was in a hospital for awhile without any, so maybe there’s truth to it.” Peter shrugged. “I don’t know what they think of me now. When they were kids, we were fine. Jocelyn followed me around from the time she could walk.”

“I can’t imagine having family and then not having them there for you though. Although having your daughter following you around sounds like an adorable thing to see.”

“As someone whose mother deeply resented them the older they got, perhaps don’t let her grow up feeling any sense of regret for having her. Doesn’t end well.” Peter shrugged, “no, but my oldest still only tolerates me less than half the time. Malia tends to hold a grudge, in one of the lesser attractive traits she got from me.”

“I don’t regret her, I just wish I gave her a better life to come into,” Aeron admitted heavily, “I just wanted her to have a family, and all she will have is me. But what does the others think of you?”

“I’m not an overly forgiving man, but I didn’t have to. Vince and Jocelyn were better off around our chaotic family than those women, anyway.” Peter shrugged, “I was trapped in a bunker for half of my daughter’s life, I don’t know that constitutes as raising, really.”

“That does make it easier I suppose. With Ainsley though she’s stuck with just me. If I had known that would be her life I wouldn’t have brought her into the world. I know what it’s like to be lonely, and I never wanted that for her. And the point is you didn’t run out on your children, you were still there for them.”

“Not everyone is built for parenthood and unfortunately sometimes that gets discovered after the child is born. It’s how I ended up with two of my kids not knowing their mothers. Nobody would have dreamed of leaving me in charge of kids given the chance. Hell, nobody should have wanted a sociopath that hurt people and yet here I am. Never know what might happen.”

“Did you ever forgive their mothers for leaving them? I doubt you’re as terrible as you seem to think you are considering you actually raised your children.”

“Well, parenthood’s not for everyone. I’ve been told that plenty of times. Is she the only one?” 

“No but being abusive isn’t the answer either or just abandoning when they were the one that begged for a child. Don’t get me wrong Ainsley is my life and I wouldn’t change anything, but I got pregnant thinking we were going to be a family until I woke up one day and he was gone. I can excuse some absent parents but he will never be one of them. But she is my only child and probably always will be. No one wants a single mom.”

“Well, I was kidnapped and kept in a dirt hole for ten years. Makes the concept of decent paternal relationships a little hard to keep.”

“At least you have a far better excuse than mine or even Ainsley’s father. I’m sure they want to have a relationship with you, just talk to them.”

“Our family dynamic isn’t exactly warm and cuddly.” Peter sighed. Not that he blamed them, but he did care for his children, “my boy Vince is…thirty-two, I think, so Jocelyn’s twenty. Unless I missed another birthday somewhere, which is all too possible I guess.” Damned dirt hole.

“Ainsley is two. I can’t imagine what she’s going to be like at twenty or even thirty-two,” Aeron admitted shaking her head, “If you want a better relationship with them then you have to put in the effort. No relationship magically gets better without having effort put into it.”

“I only extend it to my kids, myself.” Peter shrugged, “unfortunately I’ve been kept from them awhile, neither of them might be thrilled to see me.”

“I have to think that no mater how bad things are a child is excited to see their parent. Although if I ever saw mine I’d be pretty angry. How old are they?” She asked him curiously

“Family loyalty, and all that.” Peter shrugged. He was grateful to know his kids were still there somewhere, but couldn’t help wishing they had decided to live somewhere without as much history. “Runs deep in my experience.” Even if it didn’t show in great ways always.

“I don’t have much experience with family loyalty, or even family,” at the end of the day she didn’t mind that though. She didn’t want his pity. “The only experience that I have is with my daughter and that’s it.”

“Such is the rumor.” Peter sighed, shaking his head. Even after a lifetime, he couldn’t really stand the town. “Suppose I should be be happy to be back, to some degree.”

“Honestly I wouldn’t understand why anyone would look forward to being here,” Aeron knew though that her own distaste had nothing to do with the actual city but rather what happened to her.

“It’s really fine.” Cress promised, shrugging. It was a gut instinct and she couldn’t get past that, but she had moved on. “Things managed to work out alright. It’ll happen for you someday too.”

“I’m glad that thinks worked out for you, I’m just not getting my hopes up so that if things don’t change I’m not disappointed.”

“Maybe not, but I did have twins with a guy who was killed the week before I went into labor.” Cress argued. Things had worked out, but it still hurt. “But thank you, about the mom thing. I worry sometimes.”

Aeron knew that regret flashed across her face, “I’m sorry. I should have watched what I said. That’s awful, and no one should go through that.”