Macy sat the kitchen table trying to sew the buttons on the lion costume for Gwen. she wanted to be Nala since Lily was going to be Simba. It was the tradition that they had matching costumes. Last year they were the little mermaid and flounder, Gwen being the latter. Macy had stuck her hand for the third time before giving up. She hated buttons, pushing the material away in disgust.

" Mom? Can I go play with Will?" James said entering the kitchen, a soccer ball on his hip.

"Hmm, sure. You need to be back for dinner." Macy said picking up an apple and going over to slice it. She handed James the apple in a baggie and let him go.

" Mamma, Mamma. Hungry!" Gwen yelled running to the kitchen. Macy quirked an eyebrow at her. She corrected herself. " May I have a snack?"

Gwen smiled toothy missing her right incisor. She had lost it a week ago after falling off the slide. The teacher had put it in a small baggie and gave it to her at pickup. It was lucky that it was already wanting to come out.

" Go wash up first," she said cutting another apple and set it on the table. Gwen came back and greedily downed the apples.

James walked in covered in mud leaving muddy footprints behind him. He had forgotten to take his shoes off, again. Macy snapped at him to clean it up before he would eat. They ate dinner while talking about how school was going. She let them go to the playroom while she cleaned up.

There was a knock at the door. Macy looked at the clock. It was 7:30. She wasn't expecting anyone. Drying her hands she went to answer the door. She opened to find the last person she expected to find. Percy. She stared at him, speechless.

" Hey, Macy." Percy said smiling slowly. "How have you been?"

Macy's voice felt stuck in her throat. She had no response. She looked him up and down. He wore a white button-up and blue suit pants. His shoes were black swede. His hair had grown out since the last time she had seen him. His five o'clock shadow was beginning to show.

Macy stared at him again. His smile faltered. She slapped him. Percy looked shocked. Macy shook her hand trying to remove the sting.

" What the hell do you want?" Why are you here? Why now?" Macy screamed at him.

Percy opened his mouth to respond. She slapped him again.

" I don't want to fucking hear it." She hissed drawing back to slap him again. Percy caught her hand not wanting to be hit a third time.

"Please stop. I don't know why I forgot how violent you were. Listen."

" I will not! You need to leave!"

"I will go once you have heard me out."

Macy yanked her hand back and glared at him. Why has he shown up now? What was his problem?

"Mom? Are you ok?" came James' voice from behind them. Macy turned to see him standing in front of Gwen who gripped onto him.

Macy's face softened. She leaned down and ruffled his hair. "It's ok. Go clean up and help Gwen to get ready for bed," she whispered.

She watched them go before whirling on Percy again. He stared behind her watching the kids retreat.

" They have gotten so big. He looks so much like Lance." Percy said with awe. His face looked sad.

" I know," Macy whispered back. She didn't acknowledge it as much as she could have. The fact that James looked like Lance so much hurt. It was almost the spitting image of him at that age.

" Come in." Macy sighed and led him to the den. She flopped onto the couch and clutched a cushion. She gestured to Percy to sit across from her in the chair.

" Percy, why are you here?" Macy mumbled into the cushion. She hadn't been in the same room with him for five minutes before turning back into a teenage girl.

" I came to see you of course." Percy leaned onto his knees. " And the children of course" he ventured cautiously.

Macy looked at him warily, " Why now?"

" I'm sorry. I know this is inconvenient but I just moved back a few weeks ago. I actually saw the three of you in the store the other day."

" You saw us? And that meant it was fine to just walk into our lives again?"

" It's not like that. I saw you and you looked so sad"

"Sad? I looked sad?" Macy said affronted.

" Let me finish. I mean you were happy but I know you. Your eyes. They were sad." he finished.

Macy had nothing to say for that. She knew Percy was probably right. He always read her like an open book. She didn't feel sad. She had James and Gwen. She had Lucy when she wasn't busy.

" You didn't answer the question. Why now? Macy challenged.

Percy threw his arms up. " I miss you. I miss them. I know its been 5 years, I know I left. I'm sorry. It was just a lot."

" It was a lot for me too you know!" she shot back. " My children don't have a father! I don't have a husband. I lost everything."

" Don't say that! You didn't lose everything."

" Didn't I? I didn't just lose Lance, I lost you too." Macy huffed.

Percy stayed silent. Macy knew that was for the best. What could he say? He packed up and left 5 years ago. He left her alone. He had helped with the kids as best as he could. He was the perfect godfather until he wasn't. Macy had not realized she wasn't crying until Percy was in front of her whipping her tears.

"I broke the promise. I broke it when you needed me the most. It's fine if you hate me. I hate me but I'm going to make this right. I promise." Percy apologized.

Macy shook her head. She was confused and felt raw. She pushed him away and stood up. Percy stepped back, giving her space.

"I think I should go," Percy told her running his hand through his hair.

Macy simply nodded. Percy let himself out shutting the door softly. She stood there a while longer. She washed her face and went to check on the kids. She found both of them in James' bed. She felt bad that they heard her upset. James was mature for an 8-year-old and she wondered where she got it from. Gwen was cuddled up with her favorite blue elephant. Macy decided to let it them be. She stayed up for two more hours before falling into a restless sleep.