"baby, c'mon, you can't leave!" roy whined, following you into the shared bedroom, which was a mess as usual, "what about me, huh?" he said in the doorway, his lips pursing out into a pout. his footsteps came closer, hands gently grasping either of your bicep's, "what about lian, baby? she'll miss you even more than i do."

lian wasn't your daughter. but she thought of you as the second parent in her life, you thought of her as your own. the love and bond between the three of you was real, no doubt about it... but having that sort of advantage on you was almost too easy for roy to abuse. he had felt guilty at first, using his little girl against you, to keep you two together— now? now it came as second nature. work smarter, not harder, right?

you would sigh at the mention of lian. he knew it'd work; you'd cave in and stay, maybe force him to sleep on the couch, but that was worth it if he could keep you around. he loved you, he really did. maybe he wasn't the best partner to you, but he was trying. despite the whole baby trapping thing, he could become the man you wanted him to be.

leaning in closer, his lips would brush over the apple of your cheek, his hands sliding down your arms to gentle intertwine atop your own, "i love you. we both do. we can work this out. can't we, baby?" too easy.