( with no remorse. )

Marley made sure to watch Hunter’s reactions before and during her confession. She felt her entire body being broken and she was numb. It was all of her faults - she was the one that hid the fact that Hunter was the father of Kai and the one that kept it for as long as she did. She had nobody else to blame but herself but in this whole situation, it felt like there was no winning. She was going to lose her best friend and the one that she loved more than anything because she didn’t want to tell him the truth. They had always been honest with each other, through everything - the assaults, the murder, the affair. Hunter was the one person that she knew she could talk to about anything and he would never judge her or make her feel as if she was a burden to him. Her chest ached as she looked at his face to process all of this and she wanted to understand how he was feeling but with Hunter, he was very good at keeping a calm face through things that were rough and this was one of those times. 

When he mentioned that Annabel and he were no longer engaged, her jaw dropped slightly. “Wait, what? Hunter” she paused, “When?” Her head bowed, her hands kept in her lap and she picked at her nails as she nodded her head. “Yes, Kai’s your son.” She knew that it was going to take time for him to process the fact that he was a father and a father to a five-year-old but she knew that he was going to be a good father - especially watching their interactions at his birthday party. At his next question, she bit the inside of her cheek. She couldn’t tell him that Sebastian knew about this before he did and besides Sebastian knowing, there were not many others that knew. “James knows he’s not the father, but other than him, you’re the only other person who knows.” When James found out that he wasn’t the father, it was far from a good time between them but now that he’s been gone for a little while, things have gotten better. She let out another breath that she didn’t realize that she had been holding as she shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I mean I guess the next step would be to tell Kai and I don’t know if you want to be there when it happens or what to do. And about like custody or whatever, we’ll have to figure that out, too, I guess.” The tears that she had held back came falling down her face but she immediately wiped them away before he could see.

***

Nothing about life in this moment in time was simple or easy, it seemed like since he got the call about William’s body being found a domino effect of bad situations decided to come flying down, his jaw clicked as Marley responded to his comment about Annabel, “ A few days ago. “ he muttered under his breath. It was as if his chest grew tighter while they sat there and conversed about the new situation at hand, when he first saw the picture of Kai, all of his sense alerted but he had talked himself into believing James’ was indeed Kai’s father, Hunter didn’t know how to accept the reality of it all. James knows he’s not the father,   perhaps that was a good thing, it gave them time and the fact he was the only other person that knew currently made it a little easier to handle. “ Does he know I’m Kai’s dad? “ Hunter had never liked James, the man had always left an uncertainty in the pit of Hunter’s stomach but he was never going to question Marley’s happiness, he had no other reason to. And Kai was a great child so Marley and James had done more than Hunter could ask for in raising his kid. 

Hunter felt defeated, everything weighing heavily on him as she finally admitted that she didn’t know what was going to happen next, the fact there was so many thing to figure out next was reeling in his head. His head fell back down into his hands as he rubbed his palms into his forehead, there was a part of him that was wishing it was all a dream that he was going to jolt awake any moment and things would go back to normal, “ I don’t know. “ he admitted aloud; it was rare that he didn’t know what to do in a situation, but he had no clue what to do or what to say anymore. “ I think we should figure all of this out another time. “ the words burned as the left his lips, he didn’t know if he wanted Marley to stay or leave, he didn’t know how to feel anymore and it was starting to worry him. Everything was changing and he had no control and that’s one thing he can’t accept. 

SPENCER: My success may not look the same as yours, but you don't compare when you don't compete!

SPENCER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaXp3fVK2pg

SPENCER: We live in totally different worlds, dude. Tearin' me down doesn't make you better, it just makes you mean.

SPENCER: We won two state chmampionships when I was assistant coach and have come pretty close the past few years since I've taken the reins. 👍🏼

HUNTER: if I recall correctly.. you always loved a good competition, Spence.

HUNTER: I feel like you've just linked some porno so I'm not gonna dive into a video link you decide to send.

HUNTER: Tearing you down? Nah, buddy, I'm just stating facts about your life.

SEBASTIAN: yes. for better or worse, you have procreated.

[A PAUSE]

SEBASTIAN: just some levity for the situation.

SEBASTIAN: are you good?

HUNTER: At least it was myself and not your who decided to knock someone up. I doubt the world would be okay with another Smythe running amoungst town.

Her heart raced as she waited for him to respond to the confession. It felt like a weight was lifted off her chest, but the guilt that she had felt over the years came rushing back to her full force. Her gaze stayed on the ground and when he finally spoke and she heard the question, she took a moment for herself to figure out how to tell him why she did what she did without sounding selfish. But she knew that she was selfish in the matter of what happened because it was something that she was knew that she shouldn’t have done. She pressed her lips together as she glanced over at him and then back at her hands. Part of her wanted to cry in this moment but she held herself together for just a minute as she finally mustered up the courage to explain everything.

“When I first found out that I was pregnant, I didn’t exactly think about the possibility that James wasn’t the father. I knew we had slept together multiple times but for some reason it just never crossed my mind. And even after Kai was born and started to grow up, I didn’t think about it. His green eyes” she paused, “I just assumed that they came from my side. My dad had green eyes so I thought it was somehow genetic but it never really made me think that there was something off or that you could have been the father. “ She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as she glanced over at him. “It wasn’t really until a couple of years ago that he looked like the spitting image of you and then I knew. I took a DNA test with James and found out that he wasn’t the father so I knew it was you. I wanted to tell you but then you were engaged and I didn’t want to ruin that for you. And I didn’t know how to tell you. I was selfish and if you never forgive me, I understand. I just,” her eyes looked at him. “I just needed you to know.”

**

Every fiber of his being was burning, he couldn’t tell if it was rage or if it was pain at this point but his skin was burning as he continued to press his fingers into his scalp, rubbing the backside of his head as his elbows left bruises in his thighs, everything felt so intense in the moment that liquid filled his eyes, the tighter he forced his eyelids together the more pressure built in his head, Hunter’s lips parted as he exhaled longly while listening to Marley speak, keep it together, he kept repeating inside of his head. He knew he couldn’t break, he had to collect himself, they needed to discuss this and figure out how they were going to handle the situation now that was thrown upon them while dealing with the reality of their past coming back to terrorize them. Swallowing thickly before finally releasing his head to sit up, he stared at the wall for what seemed like eternity before he collected his thoughts, Marley’s words were almost like daggers to his chest, so many excuses but it was him, and that’s what confused him the most, they had always been so open with each other, especially when the affair was happening and perhaps that’s why it hurt him the most. 

“ Annabel and I are no longer engaged. “ he started, his tongue briefly wetting his lips as he turned on the bed to face her, it almost burned a hole into his chest to look at her in that moment, “ Kai’s my son. “ it was surreal to be saying that, Hunter had never thought of himself as father material, he had always been appalled by the idea of himself having children after everything he endured with his own parents, he had vowed to never make the same mistakes they did with him.  “ Who all knows that James isn’t the father? “ There was no telling how any of this could end, how the investigation was going to go and now how anyone was going to react to the fact Hunter and Marley had a child together, mostly James. Hunter’s eyes scanned Marley’s face, if there was anyone in the world who could break his heart it was the woman sitting in front of him, and he swore that’s what was happening in this moment. “ I don’t want to talk about the why’s on why you kept this from me, I want to discuss what and how we’re going to do things right now. “ he maintained the neutral demeanor he had perfected over the years, right now emotions were the last thing he wanted to show or express. 

SPENCER: Well, congrats on the engagement 💁🏼‍♂️

SPENCER: Would it kill you to try and find some common ground with me? My bad for tryin' to bond over shared sexual attraction whether it's to each other or guys in general

SPENCER: Fuck you, dude. You don't know me well enough to assume shit like that. Plus, you're one to talk. Lima PD wants you on the case out of the blue? Such bullshit. What'd you let Chodeofsky and his Hobbit give you the Eiffel Tower treatment during your interview?

HUNTER: I'm glad I don't know you well enough to know your sexual encounters that happen around this town. It's the least of my worries.

HUNTER: See, here's the thing Spencer, when you make something out of your life, like I have, you get opportunities to help in cases like these.

SEBASTIAN: Have you spoken to Marley at all?

HUNTER: Kai's my son.

HUNTER: [ TYPING, RETYPING ]

SPENCER: Alright, you're either 100% straight (doubtful), married (who knows, you never accepted my FB friend request), or just dumb (my money's on this one).

SPENCER: Guys don't turn down head from me often so I need answers as to what's keepin' you from a little stress relief while you're in town. I figure you'll need it since Chief Wiggum has you helping with the case now.

HUNTER: Why do you need to know my sexual orientation? We'll never sleep together. And I'm engaged, not that you need to know my life.

As she sat there, debating on whether it was the right thing to do by telling him about Kai, she immediately felt like she was going to pass out. Did she want to ruin his life by telling him about their son? He was already dealing so much because of her and she didn’t want to add on to it but she also knew that if they were ever going to be in a good place, he needed to know. He deserved to know the truth about why she really left two years prior. He deserved to know what was going on with not only her but with their son. He deserved to know his son. And she knew that after the confession was made, there was no going back but Sebastian was right - it should have been done a long time ago. 

Hearing the words I love you fall from his lips were like heaven to her ears. It was something that she had wanted to hear since they were young and those words made the butterflies in her stomach go wild. “But you were my douche,” she laughed, “I love you, Hunter. I always have and what I’m about to tell you does not change that okay?” Her hand moved up to fiddle with her necklace and she began to get nervous and all she wanted to do was run but she stayed in her spot. Her gaze moved to his face - his beautiful face that she knew was going to turn into hurt and probably anger in just a few minutes. She wanted to just keep this in her mind for just a few minutes before she uttered her confession. “Kai,” she paused, the devil on her shoulder telling her to lie but she was done with the lies. “He’s your son, Hunter.”

**

There was a small laugh that bounced off the walls in the room, “ I was definitely yours. “ he admitted as he glanced at the floor while he shook his head, the smile taking over his face. It wasn’t far fetched, he had always been hers, he had always loved her, perhaps back in high school he didn’t focus on the romantic aspect of his feelings for her, they lived an hour apart, she had a boyfriend in high school and so he never expected things to happen between them, looking back on it Hunter had always hoped something would come of them but he never pursued it until later on. Hunter’s teeth sank into the inside of his bottom lip as Marley spoke up,  He couldn’t tell if he was holding his breath or his heart rate was just consuming his entire being. She said Kai’s name and Hunter’s eyes closed as he inhaled sharply, the last few words she spoke made him lean forward, his elbows dug into his legs as his head fell into his hands. 

Hunter knew something was off the moment he saw a picture of Kai, when she started to tell him about about her son and how his personality was and the things he liked, his piercing green eyes beaming at Hunter as he opened the glass chess game he bought for Kai’s birthday. Hunter’s fingers rubbed at his head as he processed actually knowing he had a son. He didn’t know what this meant now, how this was going to effect their lives and most importantly their sons life.  “ Why? “ it was the only thing he could get out in that moment, every emotion he could possibly feel was coursing in his veins, but he wasn’t angry, he knew just how that felt and he definitely didn’t feel anger.  Every why question rang in his head but words were impossible to form at this point. “ Why didn’t you tell me? “ he finally was able to mumble. 

“I love you, baby. And yes, I will tell Hunter that you said hi. I’ll be here when you wake up okay? Be good for grandma and go to bed when she tells you to okay?” Marley kissed her son on the forehead before she grabbed her purse and headed out of the house. The past couple of days have been the hardest for the girl since she had gotten to Lima - she had vowed to stay clean to Hunter and although she had been tempted on multiple occasions, she didn’t give in. But with knowing that Hunter and the police had the recording of her basically making her unknown confession in their hands, she was going crazy. She knew deep within her that Hunter would never let anything happen to her and for that she was grateful but her good old friend guilt came back with an even bigger vengeance than before. All of the guilt that she felt about the voicemail that she left, the murder she took part in, and keeping Kai a secret from Hunter were coming to a head and she was going to explode.

It was time. It was time to tell Hunter the truth about Kai and even though they exchanged their first ever I love you’s (which she will remember until she dies), she knew that he needed to know the truth about her. She wasn’t the saint that he wanted her to be and if she could qualify as evil, she would. Everything that she thought she was doing out of love was actually out of selfishness and guilt. With old faithful around her neck, she felt a sense of comfort knowing that if she needed her fix, it was there. It was something that she had kept with her since high school and nobody knew the real truth or reason behind her wearing it all the time but she was an addict and even if she never touched the contents again, she knew that she needed it to survive. She waved a goodbye to her mother once again as she pulled out of the driveway and headed toward the familiar hotel that she knew Hunter was staying in. 

She parked the car and sat in the seat for a few minutes debating on if she should actually confess the truth or continue with the lie. She wanted so badly to be free of the guilt but she knew that once the truth was spoken, there would be no going back. She wouldn’t be able to change anything and Hunter would most likely hate her for it and she didn’t blame him one bit. She deserved to be hated and shamed for the decision that she made, but she took a deep breath, put on her big girl panties and headed to his room. With three soft knocks on the door, she waited until it opened before she smiled. “Hey handsome,” she said, moving to place a kiss upon his lips - one of the last. “I didn’t mean to worry or scare you by saying we needed to talk.” She walked past him into the hotel room and turned around to look at him. “You may want to sit down, though because it’s a lot,” she warned before she moved over to the bed and sat down, patting the seat next to her.

**

It was almost like music to his ears when the quiet rattle on the door echoed in his silent room. He was quick to open the door, his lips automatically forming a smile at the mere imagine of Marley standing on the opposite side,  “ Hey there. “ The kiss was ghost like on his lips as she entered, he shut and locked the door before turning on his heels to follow her, Hunter’s heart never slowed, he could have swore it sped up, her words making him exhale sharply as he found his way next to her. Why must there always be something? It was all he could think, there never could be a moment in his life where he was just simply happy, there always had to be something that side-swiped him. He had just gotten life on track when he got the call his parents were deceased, he blamed them for all the chaos in his life, they never respected him much so at least he had a filter.

Hunter took a seat on the bed next to her, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear, he almost had a gut feeling on what she wanted to speak on but he hoped it was just a simple I left James that were about to slip from her lips. “ As long as your safe, just tell me what it is. “ his eyes scanned her face, she was still as beautiful as she was when they were kids. “ I know I should have said this years ago, but we all know I was a douche back then. I love you, Marley, and no matter what I’m always going to be here for you and beside you. “  saying the words out loud was so much different then through messages, his entire body tensed when he said it, Hunter never said I love you to many people, in fact he could name all the names on one hand he’s spoken those words to, the idea of love terrified him beyond words, he would never vocally admit it scared him, but he avoided it to protect himself at the end of the day. 

It had been publicized that he was now working with Karofsky and co. in the investigation of William Schuester’s death, he had been spending majority of his time reading over case files, analyzing the autopsy reports, speaking with the corner and Karofsky about the information, trying to pin point how to shift the direction of the case to a nobody that passed through thirteen years ago. Listening to the voicemails on his phone sent chills down Hunter’s spine, well one in particular, Marley’s. He felt like he was back thirteen years ago when she confessed on what the teacher had done to her. the guilt, and overwhelming sense of rage that coursed through his body was right back. His hand squeezed his phone as he texted Marley. He couldn’t protect her then, he would be dammed to fail her this time and he wasn’t going to allow her to fall into drugs either.

 “ Karofsky, I’ve got a few things I want to call my partner about, I’ll be back at 0900 in the morning to piece together the interviews from back then. “ he spoke as he gathered a few folders together. Dave spoke but Hunter completely ignored the man as he made sure his wallet, keys and phone were in his pocket, he shut the laptop on the desk he was using and placed the folders on top before scooping it up and heading out of the police department. His thoughts were racing, first he broke things off with Annabel and he has yet confessed that to a soul in his life, then the shared I love you’s between him and Marley and now this secret Marley so desperately needed to get off her chest but it had to be face to face? His heart was pounding as he found himself in the hotel he was staying at. Making a short trip by the front desk to get a spare room key and a quick thank you to the lady behind the desk before making his way to the elevator.

It was like ghost town in the halls of the hotel, the dimly lit lights handing on the walls as he walked the corridors to his suite, why did he come back to Lima? Why did he have to create more in his life than he needed. After all he was finally content with his life back in Staten Island, as content as one could be with the life he’s lead and the ones he’s lost. The door clicked behind him as he set his belongings on the counter of the kitchen, checking his watch to see if Marley had texted him back, he needed a drink, “ No, no drinking. “ he grumbled as he unbuttoned his shirt, Hunter shed the dress shirt before making his way through the room to find a plain white tee and throwing it on. “ Come on Marley, where are you? “ all he could think about was the last time Marley mentioned she would be there, it was the last thing he heard from her before she disappeared on him completely, the nerves ruining through him were causing him to be antsy as he paced through his suite.

MARLEY: Yeah, maybe but even so if you would have asked, I wouldn’t have told the truth. I was never ready until enough was enough.

MARLEY: Don’t be worried okay? It’s just not something that I can tell you through text message.

MARLEY: You couldn’t have done more if you didn’t know it was happening.

MARLEY: I don’t think you’ll be saying that tonight.

MARLEY: I sure hope so.

MARLEY: Okay I’ll meet you there.

HUNTER: I should have known, that's the thing, all the signs pointed at it.

HUNTER: You're kind of worrying me right now, Marley.

MARLEY: You couldn’t have stopped it. He was too good at what he did to ever be stopped. I’m sorry for everything, though.

MARLEY: Nobody expected it at all and now we’re all trying to find a way to survive.

MARLEY: My mom can watch him, I’m positive. James left this morning for some work trip.

MARLEY: Not really, no.

HUNTER: It's no excuse, I should have done more.

HUNTER: Don't apologize to me, about anything, you have nothing to be sorry for.

HUNTER: We're going to survive it.

MARLEY: I can’t not worry about you, Hunter.

MARLEY: Are you mad? I was just so frustrated and it just happened before I could even think about it.

MARLEY: I know I’m not doing this alone but it’s so hard. There is so much going in on.

[ FEW MINUTES LATER ]

MARLEY: I need to actually hear you say that.

MARLEY: But I also think we need to talk about something else, too.

MARLEY: Something important.

HUNTER: of course I’m not mad, well I’m mad but not mad at you. I’m mad about what happened back then and that I didn’t stop it.

HUNTER: I know, chaos has erupted and none of us expected it. But just breathe and don’t give in to temptation.

HUNTER: I’m finishing up some of the files, if your mom and James can watch Kai, come to the hotel?

MARLEY: I trust you but I don’t need you to be in trouble because of me.

MARLEY: Did you listen to the recording?

MARLEY: I can promise to try and fight but Hunter I don’t know how I’m going to be able to do this.

MARLEY: I love you and I’m sorry.

HUNTER: Don't worry about me.

HUNTER: I did listen. I had to listen, I’m going through all of the findings.

HUNTER: you’re not doing it alone, you can do this... I know you can.

HUNTER: [ FEW MINUTES LATER ]

MARLEY: Not if it means you get in trouble, Hunter.

MARLEY: A recording?

[TYPING AND RETYPING]

MARLEY: Shit, shit, shit.

MARLEY: Has the recording been listened to?

MARLEY: I don’t know if I can do that now.

HUNTER: I know what I’m doing.

HUNTER: I’ll take care of it, Marley. But I need you to stay clean. I need you to promise me you will fight.

MARLEY: I heard that on the news.

MARLEY: You have to promise me you’ll be careful.

MARLEY: Promise me that you won’t put yourself and your job on the line for me.

MARLEY: Promise me that. Please.

HUNTER: I’ll do what I have to to make sure you’re safe.

HUNTER: they have a recording. I can’t promise I won’t do whatever it takes to protect you.