"Can I help you?" Isabelle asked, standing in the doorway.

"Isabelle, you can't be serious." Corin smiled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Yes, I can. Good day and goodbye." She started closing the door, but was stopped by Corin's foot in the doorway.

"Oh come on! Can't I see my daughters?"

"No. Go back to the little hermit hole you've been hiding in and stay there until you die. Good. Day."

"So Harp is alive."

"I never said that-"

"Didn't have to. You didn't correct me."

"...Her name isn't Harp. It's Harper."

"Is there a difference? Belle, just let me see them. Please?"

Isabelle shifted her weight onto her other foot, "How did you find us here? We were off the grid for almost 3 years. Why now?"

Corin sighed and tore a hand through his hair, "Belle. That... is irrelevant. I... I just want to see our kids-"

"My kids. You haven't been here. Bailey doesn't remember you. I had to explain that you walked out of us when she came home crying after one of her classmates mentioned getting to spend a weekend with his dad. She didn't know what a dad was. She didn't know. Whose fault do you think that is? And now, here you are, trying to get back into our lives, and you can't answer a few simple questions?"

"Belle-"

"No. You don't get to call me Belle. And you'd better answer my questions before I break your foot."

"Fine, Isabelle. I... I followed you."

Isabelle felt her eyes widen, "You... You were the one stalking me and Harper!"

"Well, stalking is a strong word-"

"It was you! What the heck is wrong with you?!? If you really wanted to be part of our lives you should've come up to us long ago when I maybe still had hope for you!"

"Wait. Can I see the kids? Please? Just once, and I'll leave."

Isabelle sighed, "Fine. But you're looking over my shoulder. I'm not letting you even touch them. Then you leave and don't come back."

Corin sighed, "That'll do for now. Lead the way, Isabelle."

Isabelle rolled her eyes and walked back into the house. It was completely dark, as she didn't want to wake up the girls. Or rather, didn't want Bailey waking up. Harper refused to go back to sleep after what had happened earlier. Corin surprisingly seemed to know his way around even though he'd never been inside before... as far as she knew. There was a chance he came inside while they were all sleeping. She'd have to make sure all the windows were locked from now on - not that they weren't before, she'd just have to double check. 

Leading Corin up the stairs, she considered tricking him. Telling him that her room was one of the girls' and locking him inside. Calling the police. Making sure he really never comes back. Telling the girls a thief broke into the house to explain why the police were there. She could do that. In fact, she was tempted. But something kept her from doing it. A feeling in her gut and a single word. A name. Ashley. Why the heck Ashley would want Corin to not be arrested was beyond Isabelle, but it did keep her from doing anything.

Somehow, she managed to arrive at Bailey's room and open the door, though she didn't remember the walk through the hall or past her room. Hesitantly, she stepped in, making sure Bailey was sleeping. Once she was sure, she looked to let Corin know he could come in, but he was already looking over her shoulder. The scare almost made her scream, but she stifled it just in time. "Wha- What the heck?!?" she whisper-shouted, though Corin didn't seem to hear.

"She's so big..." He whispered, reaching out like he wanted to touch her to see if she was real. Isabelle slapped his hand down.

"No. Touching. Come on," she dragged him out of the room and shut the door. They walked together in silence until they were outside Harper's room. "Listen up, and listen well," She hissed through closed teeth, "Whatever you did to my baby was wrong."

"Whatever I did?" Corin asked, "Didn't you literally just say that I was never a part of your lives?"

"Oh don't even go there. I'm not oblivious. You hurt my daughter, and now she refuses to sleep because she doesn't want you to take her again. So yeah. Way to go."

Corin's brow furrowed, "She still won't sleep? I thought she'd be like you. Ya know, strong, gets over things easily-"

"Are you calling me shallow?" Isabelle frowned, "Cause that's what it sounds like."

"...Not 'shallow' per say..."

Isabelle snarled, "I remember why I hated you. But listen. She'll remember your face. Let me go in first. Don't follow until I say. Got it?" 

She wasn't sure if he actually understood or if he was just scared, since he rapidly nodded his head with wide eyes. Sighing, Isabelle walked into Harper's room. The three year old was sitting up in her bed, her blanket and pillow clutched tight against her chest. At the sound of door opening, Harper turned towards her, though she looked slightly less frightened when she realized who was walking in. "Mommy?" she whimpered, almost inaudibly. 

Isabelle smiled, "Hey, baby," she sat down on Harper's bed and brushed some of her hair out of her face, "Have you tried sleeping yet?" Harper shook her head, "Have you tried laying down?" Another head shake from Harper, though now she was wearing an almost invisible smile, "Well, maybe that would help you fall asleep."

Harper's small smile grew ever so slightly, "I can't sleep. I have to guard the window." 

Isabelle gave her a sad smile, "You don't need to guard the window. Here," She got up and double checked that it was locked, "See? You're safe," she sat down by Harper again.

"It's still my job. I'm good at it."

"I'm sure you are. Listen baby. A man wants to see you. He won't touch you. He won't come near you. He won't talk to you. He just wants to look at you. Is that ok?"

Harper thought for a moment, "Will he break the window?"

Isabelle laughed, "No, he won't break the window. Even if he tried, I'm sure you'd keep it safe."

Harper grinned, "Ok."

Isabelle looked back at the door, "Alright, Corin."

Slowly the door opened, though Corin's face was still hidden in the dark. Hesitantly, he stepped into the light, and with each step Harper's expression grew more and more terrified. Her eyes widened as they met his, her mouth slack in terror. Isabelle looked between the two of them, but mostly kept her attention on her daughter. "Baby?" she whispered.

The disturbance in the silence seemed to be an unspoken signal. Harper let out an ear-piercing screech, bouncing off the walls and out the door. The neighbors probably heard her and thought someone was being murdered. Quickly she wrapped her arms around her shaking child. "What did you do?!?!" she yelled at Corin, whose eyes were still on her baby, "WHAT DID YOU DO?!?!"

"Mommy?" Bailey's voice came from behind Corin. Slowly, he turned and faced his other daughter, staying completely silent, "Mommy, who's this? Mommy?"

"It's alright, Bailey," Isabelle lied, glaring at her ex, "It's alright. Come here."

Bailey quickly ran over before facing Corin and standing defensively, "Did you hurt Harper?"

"Bailey, no. It's alright. He's a guest," She emphasized the word, "He'll be leaving soon."

Bailey hesitantly relaxed, "Who are you?"

Corin slowly smiled and knelt down to Bailey's level, "I'm... I'm your daddy, sweetheart."

"Daddy..." Bailey's eyes widened and she turned to Isabelle, "This is daddy?"

Isabelle sighed, "Yes... yes, this is daddy."

"Hm... his skin is brown."

"Like yours, honey."

Bailey suddenly smiled, "Is he staying now?"

Isabelle opened her mouth to tell her "No," but Corin answered first, "Yes, sunshine. Of course I'm staying."

Bailey squealed in joy as Isabelle squeezed Harper tighter. Oh no. Oh.... oh no.

Wow. Somehow I did it. This is surprising (:

Ngl, I started this chapter a few days ago.... and didn't finish.... and forgot about it. So I made it a bit longer but not by much. Also, I'm 95% sure that this story will be MUCH longer than Open the Rift, judging by it's current pace. Sorry... I promise I'll tie up all the loose ends, it'll just take a really.... really.... REALLY long time. It's not that I've given up on this story, I'm just in a constant writer's block. I think I'm at least partially past it tho, so that's good.

Well, that's all for now. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see y'all later! Bye!