After the Fact

[Demeter]

When Syn helped Caspian Dusek in finding out what happened to his family, she never meant to sleep with him. A night of comfort took several tumbling steps into a two week, no-strings fling. That fling turned into nine months of pregnancy, twenty eight hours of labor and a life that Syn never imagined.

And Ethan. That two week fling had given her Ethan, now four years old. The only problem being that Caspian had no clue that he had a four-year-old son named Ethan. She'd never worked up the courage to tell him. Exactly what did one say to the father of one's illigetimate son four years and nine months after the fact? She couldn't very well waltz up to the man and say 'Hi, remember me? This is yours,' while shoving the boy at him.

Besides, Syn didn't think that Caspian's reaction would go over well, considering the type of man she remembered. The kind of man who wanted to know what happened to his family and here she was keeping his son from him because of the fear he'd take the boy away from her. So she kept quiet and lived a life that wasn't what she'd wanted in her youth. Now she couldn't imagine any other life. Hell, she hadn't even known she was pregnant till the three month mark and then, at her yearly exam, her docter told her. She'd wanted to know just what the hell he'd been smoking.

After the pregnancy had been confirmed, and she;d figured out who was the other parent, Syn made the descion to move to Cedar Valley. The child, though mostly Custos, would be part cougar and she had no clue how to raise one of those. Her kindle leaders had greeted her warmly and found her a cute, three bedroom house in a mostly kindle suburb. She been able to buy the house without needing a loan. Any smart Custos saved her money.

The neighborhood, namely Orchard Street, accepted her and she found a large supply of babysitters. In fact, Ethan was down the street at a joint birthday party for him and a neighbor boy while she caught up on household chores.

Like mowing the lawn.

She was a great insurance fraud investigator, her current occupation, but the lawn mower was a her greatest enemy. After kicking the damned thing, Syn stepped away from it, sighing and running a hand through her hair. She reconsidered her idea of hiring a lawn service mostly because they'd be able to get the damned lawn mower running. It was spring and the grass needed a trimming. Syn looked out at the street. She had to do a doubeltake at the man walking down the street.

Her first thought was what the hell was Caspian Dusek doing in this sort of neighborhood. He defiantly stood out. her seocnd thought was the same but only panic filled when she saw the door to her neighboor-across-the-street's house open and Ethan toddled out.

"Momma!" the little boy shouted. Syn kept her eyes on Caspian, hoping that he wouldn't notice that the boy was a mini replica of him.

Any and all thought sof Caspian fled when Ethat started running across the street as a car screeched around the corner. Orchard street was a normally quiet road with drivers going a sedate 20 mph. Children ran back and forth the street while barely checking for oncoming cars. "Ethan!" Syn yelled as she started to run for her baby. She knew, and it was a horribly sickening feeling to know, that even with Sinner's speed she'd never reach her boy in time.

But Caspian, he was one the same side of the street as Ethan. Forgetting all thoughts and fears about Caspian discovering Ethan and taking him from her, Syn called out to him. "Caspian! Grab him!"

(ooc: I so blame Syn for this.)

[Shinigami]

Caspian was not happy. He was most certainly not the most diplomatic, yet here he was traipsing through a predominantly Cougar neighborhood (a quiet little suburban one at that) after having a "lovely" conversation with another Cougar who had stepped on a few Custos toes. He wasn't being brought up on charges or anything like that, he had just had to be warned to keep his nose where it belonged, so they sent Cas. He had played nice... well, as nice as he could be, but he had found himself wishing more than once that it had been Syn getting in trouble again. At least then he knew who he was dealing with and they knew him.

He thought on Syn as he rolled the sleeves of his dark green button down shirt up to just past his elbows. He hadn't seen her for quite sometime, though the last time he had was rather memorable. She had looked into what had brought about the attack on his family, and had stayed to offer him comfort when he had heard the truth. The little fling had only lasted a few weeks, but it was satisfying and 'no strings attached' which was just the way he liked them.

Cas looked up as he heard a child calling out to his mother, watching the boy as he bolted from one house towards the street. He couldn't help the little quirk to his lips as the boy, who looked so much like he had as a child, ran for home. It was the same enthusiasm he had shown when running after his sister with a particularly disgusting looking insect.

That memory soon vanished with the sound of squealing tires, and Cas' eyes widened when he realized the boy was going to take off across the street without paying any mind to oncoming cars. The voice that called out to the boy was familiar, though Caspian wasn't paying close enough attention to figure out just who it was. He was already in motion when he heard the order to grab the boy, and he did just that.

He snatched the back of the boy, Ethan's, shirt and hauled him back far enough to lift him up and spin around, putting him back down on the sidewalk as the car sped by. Cas looked the boy over quickly before turning to see just how this boy's mother knew his name. His eyes widened when he caught sight of Syn running towards them, shifting his gaze back towards the boy before looking once more at the woman he had shared a bed with some four years ago.

(occ - Cas is enjoying this post too much... now that he has more to do, he won't shut up, lol)

[Demeter]

Syn darted past Cas to kneel infront of Ethan. She checked the boy over, turning him this way and that. Once she was satisfied that Ethan was in one piece, she swung him up to perch him on her hip before turning to Cas. "Hello, Caspian. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

By now the other parents and children who'd been attending the joint birthday party had spilled out of the neighbor's house and were staring at Syn. The mother of the other boy hurried up, apologetic because she'd sent the boy out to fetch Syn for cake and presents. "It's okay, Allie, it was probably some teen with a fast car and new liscence. No one was harmed. Ethan, why don't you go with Mrs. Willows and rejoin the party. I'll join you in a few minutes."

Allie Willows glanced from Syn to the man that had swept Ethan out of the street and narrowed her eyes. There was obviously something else going on. She took Ethan from his mother and headed for the house. Syn never said much about the boy's father but this little guy had the same eyes as the man standing next to Syn. Allie made it her business to notice these things, artist that she was.

Syn watched as Allie left with Ethan before turning back to Cas. "That's my son, Ethan. He's turning four today." She crossed her arms over her chest and wondered just how long it would take Cas to do the mental math. Sure, she could have hidden the truth from him by saying that she'd taken another lover shortly after him but that would just be lying. And it would be harder to carry out such a lie when the truth was staring her in the face every night over the dinner table.

[Shinigami]

Caspian stood and let Syn check the boy over to make sure he was alright. He was watching the boy as he was lifted up into Syn's arms and set against her hips, only drawing his attention away when she spoke his name. He snorted before he answered her, a wry smile on his face. "Yeah, it has. Almost five years if I remember correctly."

His eyes flicked towards the growing crowd from the party and rested on the woman that came up to Syn to apologize for the boy being out. Cas' eyes followed the boy as the woman, Mrs. Willows, carried him into the house. The boy looked to be around five or so, but looks were always deceiving with children of Dark Ones. He was still struck with the fact that the boy looked so much like he had when he was around that age, and confused because Syn had never mentioned having a child before. It could all be a coincidence, of course, but a little voice in the back of his head was yelling that the little boy was his.

Confirmation came when he glanced back at Syn, and she almost defiantly told him that Ethan was her son, and that today was his fourth birthday. Four years old... that would certainly fit, leaving enough time for the pregnancy. Caspian's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. He had kept his face rather impassive until then. "Oh, and here I am, a father without a present for his son."

[Demeter]

Had she been any less of a Custos, Syn would have run. She would have snagged up Ethan and scurried somewhere, mostly likely Vhea's house in the New Orleans' swamps. However, she wasn't any less a Custos and she'd seen Cas at one of the lowest parts of his life. "Always knew you were smart. Yes, Ethan is yours. Yes, I could have hunted you down, seeing as how that's how I made a living at the time but you never gave any indication that children were a wanted part of your future. Yes, I probably should have told you."

Syn glanced back towards the house, several of the other mothers had their noses pressed against the window overlooking the front yard. Mrs. Willows had a large mouth that never could keep any gossip in and she'd probably spilled the idea that Cas could have been Ethan's father. The boy's paternal heritage had always been a source of curiosity on the street. "Come on, let's go talk about this in my house."

Feeling bold, Syn grabbed Cas by the arm and dragged him across the street, showing the same sort of carelessness of Ethan when it came to crossing the road. "I'd rather not have my neighbors fall out of the window trying to get a better look at you." She showed Cas into the house, gave a final glare at the lawn mower and shut the door.

"So, go ahead and yell at me, or whatever, for keeping Ethan from you. It was my choice. Probably a bad choice but do you honestly think we could have made anything of it? I think that even a sort of joint parentship without the benefit of a relationship would have been difficult. Besides, aren't you a general in some army?"

[Shinigami]

Caspian let out a puff of air, turning to pace a step or two before coming back, only on his return steps he saw the gaggle of neighbors pressed to the windows of the house, watching their conversation. He growled under his breath, not one for liking public confrontation unless it was of the violent variety. Cas all but hissed when Syn grabbed his arm and tried to lead him across the street.

He shrugged the arm off when they stepped out into the street, not willing to be led like a child. He was keeping his mouth shut until they were in the privacy of what he could only assume was Syn's house. Caspian was angry, but he didn't need the whole neighborhood, let alone the boy he now knew was his son, hear him when he yelled.

Once the door shut behind them he turned, but his rant was stayed for a bit as Syn had more to say. Cas growled once she was finished. "Whether we could have made anything of it or not doesn't matter! I deserved to know I had a son! And yes, I'm a general, one of two I might add. Lord Marrus can do without me from time to time, and despite being a Custos, he's rather understanding when it comes to -family-."

He was pacing now, trying to calm himself a little bit, but another thought came to mind as he turned back in Syn's direction. "And as for whether or not children where a wanted part of my future... do you remember what happened to my family? About the fact that I spent everyday after that trying to find out why?" Caspian's anger was running its course as he stopped pacing and threw himself down on the nearby stairs and sighed.

[Demeter]

Syn was tempted to snarl. Of course she remembered what happened to his family. She was the one who'd found out the truth for the man, wasn't she. But that was not the point. Syn wasn't sure she was able to vocalize just what she hadn't told Syn. The irrational fears of a single mother who's father is a volitale Custos. She'd always meant to tell him. And she said as much to the man while leaning against the wall opposite Cas.

"I did mean to tell you. I didn't know until I was three months along, and then there was the initional panic, followed by a career change and a move across the country and then there was settling into this place. I know it's no real reason but finding you and then telling you kept getting pushed back. And then my mother showed up."

Syn did snarl then, for Sinner hated the woman. She slid down the wall to sit on the floor. "My mother is a very proper, layer one Custos. She didn't like the fact that I was an unmarried woman having a child. She said all sorts of things but the main idea was that bastard children are better off with their fathers. And that, since the father is a layer seven Custos, you'd probably take him by force and, at the time, I wouldn't have put it past you."

"I'd just had Ethan and, well, I just fell in love with him and my mother's words got to me. I didn't want you to take him from me. There it is. That's why you're just now finding out. I was scared." Syn let her head hang down while she waited for Cas to reply.

[Shinigami]

Caspian let out another heavy sigh, wiping a hand over his face as he looked up at Syn. He couldn't honestly say he wouldn't have tried to make sure Ethan was with him if had found out before hand, but he also didn't think he could have been capable of taking him from Syn by force. He had also felt a pang of anger towards Syn's mother for scaring the woman into keeping his son a secret.

The fact that he had a son was a bit of a scary one. He wasn't the most pleasant man, and he most definitely didn't have much experience with children. Caspian had no idea what kind of a father he would be, especially now that he was a father -now-, and didn't have the time during pregnancy to mentally prepare himself. That is, if Syn was willing to let him play father. He wanted to, and he wouldn't give up easily, but he also didn't want to spook her into thinking he would -actually- escalate into taking Ethan from her.

He snorted, shaking his head lightly. "We're a pair, aren't we?" Cas found himself greatful that he had become the second general of the DeLuge family. They had almost tamed him over the years, especially when it came to family matters. "I don't know how we're going to make this work, but I can't just walk away now. I won't take him from you, Syn, but I want to know him. And I want Ethan to know who I am."

[Demeter]

Syn was expecting that. Of course Cas would want to get to know his son. Syn stood and walked into the family. She reached, up on her tiptoes, into the cabniet over the stove and pulled down several brightly wrapped packages. "You can start today," she said while fixing bows to the presents. "It's his birthday and its time for cake and presents, apparently. If I don't show up, he'll come looking for me. You can just be a friend of the family for now, to satisfy the neighbors."

She looked over at Cas. "They've always tried to figure out just who Ethan's father is and I'd rather not have a birthday party turned into a bunch of old women gossiping. We can tell Ethan, later."

"I'm sorry for not telling you, Cas, but, you gotta admit that us being Parents is more then a little nervewracking. I was helping my sister slaughter chickens as a child and you...well, you make your living by ending the lives of others. Any sane person would have tried to take Ethan from us back then."

[nyoka]

Vhea was ecstatic that she could make it to her nephew's birthday this year. The previous years were hit and miss mostly due to the clinic she ran... trying to keep pets alive and such, grinning to herself of how she still slaughters them by night and saves them by day.

Turning around intothe suburban area that Syn and Ethan moved to, she internally cringed. God how she loved her deserted swamp verses this scary happy fake crap in modern america. Ethan was about the only child in the whole world she could stand, Zayda tended to agree no creepy clingy things around the better. She did spoil the little Custos though, she's the auntie after all and enjoyed lavishing him in junk.

Visiting Syn's place more than once, she found her way patricularly easy pulling up the house and parking on the street. She always made an entrance to the neighborhood, the previous times it being in her attire, but this time it was with the car she had been driving a Bugatti Veyron, firey red. Matching almost perfectly with her hair and her casual black pants and halter popped against both.

Grabbing her gift for the little Custos, she trodded up the Syn's front door throwing it open expecting to find both Ethan and Syn in the dining room or past it to the backyard for a birthday celebration. Upon opening and yelling out 'happy birhtday little Custos' she was suprised to see Syn and Caspian... more Caspian than anything.

"Whoa... what the hell?"


----------------------
((ooc: Vhea was aching to jump in ^_^))

[Shinigami]

Caspian was suddenly regretting his luck. Finding out he had a son on the boy's birthday. Not only was he getting thrown into fatherhood - though he admitted to himself he had wanted that at some point in his life - he was also being forced to deal with the typical suburbia kids birthday party, which included the gaggle of gossiping parents and their own children. He nodded to Syn. "That's fine, I'd rather let Ethan know in private anyway. That way if he has questions they can be answered without the peanut gallery around."

With Syn's next apology he was starting to feel bad. He could understand how it must have appeared to her. They weren't the ideal parents, at least not the two of them together. And they also hadn't been planning on anything more than a fling between them. Cas also knew how others looked at him because of his reputation in the DeLuge army. "Well, I don't think anyone would have tried to take him away... even Custoss have their right to raise children, regardless of their profession. I can understand, though..."

He didn't get the chance to say much else as he heard the door open and a woman shout a happy birthday to a little Custos, who he assumed meant Ethan. Caspian raised a brow at the woman, quite sure he'd never met her before, and by her state of dress he figured she wasn't the suburban mom type.