#thesymptomsofinsanity

"How long are you staying this time, Daddy?" Alliana blurted out. This was not an uncommon question.

Dominick and Greyson gave her 'the look', telling her to be quiet. Audrey simply pushed her food around the plate blankly. She rarely spoke when her brother came to visit. Alliana looked down at her own plate and fell silent, clearly ashamed.

Xander glanced over the doleful expressions of his children and gave a heavy sigh. "We've got an hour and a half." 

Alliana's face fell as she stood abruptly, her pale blonde hair falling to cover her speckled blue eyes. She muttered a quick 'Excuse me' and rushed out of the room. Greyson merely looked down at his hands, feeling sorry for his little sister. Out of the three children, she took the absence of their father the hardest. 

"Al.." Xander went to go after the girl, suddenly stricken with remorse. Dominick stopped him with ease.

"Don't bother," he hissed through clenched teeth, "You're just making it worse." 

"I can only buy so much time before she notice's something's up," Xander scowled. "You just don't understand, boy."

Dominick slammed his hands down against the table, causing Greyson and Audrey to flinch.

"Then, by all means, make me understand," he shouted, rising from his seat. "Or, better yet, make her understand!"

Audrey murmured something about taking care of Alliana under her breath and excused herself as well, leaving the boys by themselves.

Xander shook his finger in chastisement, "I'm getting real sick of your attitude.

"Just as I'm getting sick of your lies!"

"Y'know, I was hoping we could just enjoy the good 'ole times ton---"