This story is from a lyric wheel challenge at Soapzone. Before I got the lyrics, I was already thinking about doing a Zander story and these just sort of jump started my thinking and writing process. I hope you enjoy this. Rena ~~~ **A Father's Love** Chapter One My right hand holds matches My left holds my past I hope the wind catches And burns it down fast Zander Smith walked into the old diner that had once been his hangout. It seemed like so long ago now. He'd come here, see his buddies and they'd all take off to the next party to make some cash. Life was so easy then. It was easy to forget what he had done, how he had killed his brother. Now it was harder. His father had come to Port Charles so the only thing that felt right to him was to leave and never look back. He didn't need family. What was family, after all? Just another reminder of the things that he'd done. That's all it was. No, he didn't need family. Family was overrated. "Hey, stranger." Zander looked up and smiled slightly at the woman in front of him. She was about twenty and had light brown hair and dark green eyes "Hey, yourself." "What brings you back to these parts?" "Came to see old friends." "What's wrong?" "Nothing." "Right," she said with a playful smile. "Nothing's wrong and I'll actually leave Danny this time." I'm gonna step into the fire With my failures and my shame And wave goodbye to yesterday As I dance among the flames "What'd he do this time, River?" Zander asked as she sat down next to him. "The usual." "You should leave him." "And go where? Last time I checked you weren't around and I won't go to Boston." "Why not? Have you even talked to your uncle?" "Talk to my uncle, that's hilarious. Maybe you should be a stand up comic. You'd probably make more money doing that than pushing drugs." "River, please." "I'm gonna go. I need to get back before Danny gets even more plastered then he was when I left." She stood up to leave but Zander grabbed her arm. "Don't go back there, River, please." "I don't have any other choice, Zander." "Why not?" "She's there, with him." "I'll go get her." "Zander, no. Sooner or later, I'll get away." "I'd much rather it be sooner." "Damn't Zander, don't do this to me." "River, when I left you and Avalon here, I was going to come back, but..." "But you got involved with that little princess." "River." "Please, don't. It was good to see you again Zander." She smiled and left. He watched her go. He had loved her once, he had loved her more than life itself, but life had gotten in the way and he had opted to push drugs rather than marry her. Don't try to save me now Let the walls of my world all burn down Just stand back and wait 'til the smoke finally passes And I will rise From the ashes From the ashes From the ashes The next morning Zander woke up with a headache. He vaguely remembered his encounter with River. He stumbled out of bed and to the bathroom. After a hot shower he got dressed and left the motel room. He needed to see River, just to make sure. He needed to make sure that she and Avalon were okay. He had regretted leaving, but he was in love with Emily. He couldn't stay where he wasn't wanted. For all that I'm losing Much more will I gain The hard part is choosing To change what needs changed The house wasn't much more than a shack. Some of the windows were broken or cracked. Zander walked up to the door and knocked. A little girl answered. She had blond hair and brown eyes. "Uncle Zander," she cried launching herself into his arms. "Hey, princess. Is your mum home?" "She hasn't woken up yet." "Oh?" Zander asked, getting a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. "What about yout dad?" "He left last night." "Avalon, go out to my car, okay? I want you to lock the doors, too." "Why?" "I'm going to take care of something, Princess." She nodded and he put her down. She ran to the car and got in. Zander watched her until she locked the doors. He walked into the house smelling blood and stale beer. He was getting sicker by the minute. He never should have left. If he had stayed he could have gotten River and Avalon somewhere safe. He walked into the bedroom that he knew River was in. My step will be much lighter With these demons off my chest I'm born a better spirit And lay the old to rest He knew. She was lying on the bed, her neck bent in an unnatural position. He choked back tears as he walked over to her. Her brown eyes stared blankly at up at the ceiling. He looked at her for a long time, just staring at her prone, lifeless body. He finally tore his eyes away and looked around the room. A single envelope caught his eye. He picked it up off the floor. It was addressed to him. He opened it and read it. "Zander, I probably should have told you this sooner. Hell, I probably never should have kept it from you. You have the right to know. Avalon is your daughter. There, that's the big secret, the reason that Danny hates you. I love you, Zander. I always have. Take care of Avalon for me. Get her far away from this place. Give her a good life. Love, River" Zander put the letter in his pocket and left the room. He looked around the house as he pulled out his cell phone. "Gia, it's Zander. I need you to do something for me." Don't try to save me now Let the walls of my world all burn down Just stand back and wait 'til the smoke finally passes And I will rise From the ashes From the ashes From the ashes Zander watched Avalon sleep fitfully beside him as he drove to the border. He was taking her back to Port Charles, where it was safe. Gia was making living arrangements for them. She had called and said that she'd found an apartment that would work. He didn't tell Gia why he needed a two bedroom apartment even though she had asked repeatedly. He didn't know why it was so easy to accept the fact the Avalon was his daughter. It seemed natural to him. He had taken care of her since the day she was born and he loved her more than anything else. He looked at her sleeping form and smiled. He would change everything for her. He would get clean and stay clean. He would get a different job, one that didn't involve the mob in any way. He would keep Avalon safe, no matter what. I'll walk away stronger I will be flyin' Higher and truer Than I've flown before "You're back," Cameron Lewis said as Zander walked into Kelly's. He had left Avalon with Gia while he went to get dinner. He hadn't expected to run into his father this soon, not with everything else going on. "Yeah," Zander answered dejectedly. He was still trying to process River's death and revelation. He didn't need to deal with his father's hatred and accusations right now. "Where'd you go?" "What's it matter to you?" "Do you always have to answer a question with a question?" "Do you?" "Zander." "I don't have time for this," He said walking to the counter. "Is my order ready yet?" he asked Elizabeth. "It will be in a few minutes," she answered. "Do you know where Luke is?" "Why?" she asked. "I need a phone number from him." "You could try the club, that's usually where he's at this time of day." "Thanks," he said then turned to face his father. "Nothing ever changes, does it?" "What does that mean?" Zander threw up his hands in aggrivation. "I ask one question and you start this high and mighty act. I'm tired of it. I've been driving for the past seven hours, I don't need to deal with you right now." "You'll have to deal with it sometime." "Stop playing shrink with me Dad. I already have one. I don't need another." "Zander, your order's ready." Zander turned to face her and paid for the food. "Dinner for three?" Cameron asked. "Not like it matters to you," Zander said coldly grabbing the sacks. "Nothing that happens in my life matters to you, not anymore." "So you're giving up on family?" "No, not entirely. I'm just giving up on your family. I have my own now." Zander walked to the door. "You know, you were right." "And when was this?" "Eight years ago, right after I got arrested for partying on the beach. You said that I would never understand a father's love until I had my own child." With that, Zander turned and walked out of the diner. My right hand holds matches My left holds my past I hope the wind catches And burns it down fast ~*~From the Ashes Martina McBride Emotion 1999~*~ |