Ryan moved Skylar off him, quickly laying her on the bed. Brendon walked over to the bed. "Give me my baby." Brendon's voice was so small. Ryan moved in front of him immediately wanting to comfort him.

The younger boy was shaking uncontrollably. His eyes were bright red and puffy. Ryan knew he'd been crying for a while and it pained him to see the boy like this.

"Brendon, what's going on?" Brendon kept his eyes on his daughter sleeping. 

"I want my daughter." Ryan turned to Skylar for a moment then gave his attention to Brendon. The state he was in, Brendon was sure to wake the girl.

He immediately thought of Skylar telling him how Dallon was the one who'd make Brendon this way and how she was terrified when it'd happen. He didn't want the child to wake up and not feel safe. 

"She's right there, but she's sleeping." Ryan wrapped an arm around Brendon. "Come on let's go to the living room and talk." Brendon let himself be guided out of the room.

Ryan closed his door to ensure that Skylar wouldn't wake up if they got too loud. Something seemed to snap in Brendon. He looked at Ryan, glaring at him to hide the panic that was consuming him.

"Why are you closing the door?"

"I just don't want her to wake up while we talk." Ryan moved to embrace Brendon, but the boy pushed him away.

"You are Not keeping me from my daughter," Brendon hissed. 

"Come on babe. You know I would never do that." Ryan watched Brendon nervously, not wanting to do or say anything that would anger Brendon more, but managed to do just that. 

"Don't give me that 'babe' shit. I have the right to see her whenever I want."

"I'm not saying you can't see her. She's just sleeping. And I don't think you should wake her in your current state. She might get.." Brendon blew up, not letting Ryan finish.

"In my current state?" Maybe those weren't the best words to use. "What are you trying to say? I'm suddenly not good enough to raise my child?" Brendon's voice rose in anger. Ryan glanced at the closed door, hoping Skylar was still sound asleep. 

"That's not what I'm saying. You know I think you're an amazing father ba..Brendon." Ryan didn't think Brendon would appreciate using pet names right now. When Brendon scoffed, he knew he was right.

"Yeah right. That's why you're not letting me near her. Well, news flash, I don't need someone telling me how to take care of my daughter. I especially don't need to listen to you." Brendon pushed Ryan out of the way and went into the room. Ryan followed, stopping at the door. Brendon kneeled beside the child, picking her up gently so he didn't wake her. Brendon was glad she was a heavy sleeper. 

"That's not what I'm doing. Brendon, please. Let's just go to the living room. Let her sleep." If looked could kill, Ryan would've dropped dead on the floor right there. 

"No one is going to keep me from my daughter." Brendon stormed out the room with Skylar still in his arms. 

"What are you doing?" Ryan followed Brendon out to the living room. Brendon was gathering a few of his and Skylar's things that had found their way to Ryan's house.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" When he felt he'd grabbed enough, Brendon started toward the door. "I'm leaving." 

"What do you mean you're leaving?" Ryan stopped and stared in shock. 

"I'm. Leaving." Brendon said before turning away from Ryan. Ryan stood frozen, letting the words sink in, their meaning. It sounded so... final. Ryan shook his head slowly.

"No..." Ryan whispered and Brendon was out the door. "No," he repeated, following him quickly to his car. Brendon was putting Skylar in her carseat. "Brendon, you can't leave." Ryan's eyes burned with tears. He tried blinking them away, but there were too many and his vision just blurred. "Brendon, please."

Brendon closed the door and moved to the driver's side, Ryan at his heels. "We can talk this out. Everything will be okay. Please, listen to me." He grabbed Brendon's arm in a desperate attempt to get his attention. Brendon jerked away, stopping Ryan. He took a step back and Ryan let him.  

"Don't fucking touch me." Ryan shook his head. This wasn't his Brendon. This wasn't the Brendon he came to love. He wanted his Brendon back. Tears slid down Ryan's face.

"Brendon, please," his voice barely above a whisper. "This isn't you. Please stay. We'll figure this out." Brendon's demeanor shifted for a split second as he saw Ryan in front of him looking so broken and desperate.

For a one moment, he wasn't angry anymore. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to be with Ryan so they could fix each other. And then that moment ended and Brendon just shook his head.

"No.." he whispered and got into the car. Ryan begged and pleaded as Brendon drove away. Ryan rushed back inside to grab his phone. He clicked on Brendon's contact to call him. He held the phone as if it were his lifeline. The phone kept ringing before he heard Brendon's voicemail. Ryan continued to call again and again until he started getting sent straight to voicemail.  

He dropped the phone on the nightstand. He just watched the phone lay there and do nothing. His gaze moved down a bit and his arm came out to pull the nightstand drawer open. He moved the few things that were in the way to uncover the picture. Fresh tears formed while Ryan looked down at Skylar's drawing. The stick figures were so happy surrounded by hearts. 

Ryan pulled the drawing out and held it to his chest as he laid down. His body curled into a ball and his tears soaked his pillow. "Please.." he pleaded knowing no one could hear him. His body shook in time with his sobs. 

Memories flashed through Ryan's mind. He saw Skylar drawing more pictures for him, playing with him, singing along with him to his song. He'd grown so attached to that little ball of sunshine. It tore him up to think that she wouldn't know what had happened because she was sleeping the whole time.

When he forced himself to stop thinking of her, his mind went deeper into thinking about him. He really didn't want to think of him because it hurt so much more. But he did and he could see Brendon so perfectly. He could see his smile, hear his voice, feel his touch. 

Ryan had trouble grasping the thought that all those memories were now behind him. Skylar wouldn't draw him anymore pictures or be with him while he sang his songs. He wouldn't wake up to Brendon in the morning or feel his soft lips against his own. He wouldn't feel what it's like to have his family with him anymore because that's what they felt like to Ryan, family. Tears continued to pour from Ryan's eyes as the emotional exhaustion pulled him into a deep sleep.

_______

(Brendon's point of view, but still in third person)

Brendon had long turned off his phone when he pulled up to his house. Even with the fifteen minute drive, he was still shaking from everything that happened that night, but it was over now. He got out of the car and moved to the back to unbuckle Skylar. As he undid the straps, she woke up. 

"Hey sleepyhead." She rubbed her eyes as she looked around confused.

"Where are we?" She asked, her voice still laced with sleep. Brendon picked her up and carried her into the house. 

"We're home baby." She looked around again but more quickly as if she were looking for someone.

"Ryan?"

"He's at his house," he said quickly, hoping she didn't ask anything else.

"But I didn't say bye," she pouted. Brendon's heart ached. He was already missing Ryan and he didn't want his actions to hurt the little girl. "Are we going back tomorrow?" Brendon's eyes were watering all over again. He took a breath to steady his nerves.

"No baby."

"He's coming here?" It had become a habit to be around Ryan almost every day and his daughter was going to have a hard time breaking away from that.

"No baby. We're not going to see Ryan anymore. Okay?" Brendon bit his lip to contain his emotions. It didn't help when Skylar looked down at the floor, her brow furrowed and her lips turned down in a frown.

"Oh." Brendon's heart was breaking for Ryan and now for his little girl. She had people coming in and out of her life and she wasn't going to deal well with another person leaving.

Brendon took her to her room and laid her down. She looked around at all the glow in the dark stars she insisted on getting after hearing Ryan's story before turning her attention back to Brendon.

"Daddy." Brendon brushed her hair away from her face and noticed a thin layer of tears in her eyes. "I'm gonna miss Ryan." She sniffled softly. Brendon leaned in and kissed her forehead.

"Me too baby, but we'll get through it together. You and me. Just like we always do." She nodded, but the tears didn't go away. Brendon gave her another kiss before leaving her room. He closed her door and made his way to his own room.

He stood at the door way and looked around. Ryan's clothes were scattered on the floor amongst his own. Brendon wrapped his arms around himself for comfort, but it didn't do anything except make him feel more lonely. 

Brendon took off his shirt and looked around to find one of Ryan's. He found Ryan's Beatles shirt and put it on. It still smelled like him. Brendon laid in bed thinking of Ryan. He looked over at his phone and wondered if Ryan was still trying to call him. He really wanted to be wrapped in Ryan's strong arms, feel the ease it brought him. He couldn't have that anymore now, not after tonight. 

Brendon knew he over reacted, but he also knew that in the end it was for the best. He had so much going on in his life. Ryan being caught in the mixed would only complicate things. He had Skylar to focus on. Brendon curled up in his blankets and closed his eyes, willing the tears to stop. This was for the best. That's what he kept telling himself. That's what he made himself believe. He just wished it didn't hurt this much.