"Where are we going?" Micah asked as Mariana was leading him somewhere. She was in front and tugged him along the evergreen meadow. She moved quick like the rapid beat inside her chest.

"You'll see," Mariana said, careful not to reveal anything. She had a picnic basket and was leading him to his father who was waiting at a bench. She was thrilled as she wanted them to reconcile but was nervous on how Micah was going to take it.

A frisbee flew by their heads like the speed of light. Her body stopped as sensual spikes pinched her skin. Some kids were also flying their kites. Mariana wanted to watch them but knew it would hurt too much, so she merely glanced.

Once Mariana caught sight of his father, she signaled by a wave. Micah stared at her with confusion as Aidan stood up and approached them carrying a bag.

"Er Micah... I wanted to see if you can talk to your father today," Mariana said. Her face remained calm, but inside her mouth grew warm with saliva as she was nervous of his reaction.

"Why?" Micah demanded and instantly yanked his hand away from her grip. She yelped at how fast his fingers scraped away from hers.

"You know how much I hate him, why would you do this?"

"I just thought it would be good for you to have a little chat in this park. To get away from all the stress and really talk things out."

"But I don't want to talk things out with him!" He started shouting at her. His deep voice caused the air around them shudder in fear, and rattled her perturbed ears. She experienced a chill in her bones as she hated being yelled at. Especially by Micah because she loved him ever so much, so it really troubled her when his anger was directed at her.

"I know but maybe today you can clear the air?" She twiddled with her fingers as her heart beat even faster.

"But there's no reasoning with someone like him!" Micah glanced at Aidan who was in front of them. His eye started twitching and his fists curled into the form of a hammer.

"There's never reasoning with a f-father like him..." he hissed a harsh voice that trailed off into the sound of steam. That word felt too sickening to say, and it made his body shake with rage of all that he had been put through.

Seeing Aidan staring at him made him want to punch his face, but he didn't want to go that far. So he turned and started walking to go home instead.

"Micah hold on." Aidan then approached his son slowly. However, Micah turned around and was about to shout something else but was cut off.

"Can I just talk to you for today? Just for a bit and then I'll let you go."

Micah looked at him but growled and went back while briefly brushing past Mariana. He was already here so might as well get it over and done with.

They sat together on the bench, and Micah didn't look at Aidan at all. He just set his head back while grumbling. His legs kicked slightly as he was extremely furious to remain still.

"Alright," Aidan said as he was delighted Micah was calm enough to sit down.

"Before I start, I just want to say don't be mad at Mariana. It was my idea and she just wanted to help," he explained as Mariana slowly came over with the basket. Her footsteps encroached into Micah's ear as he was watching her sullen head. He could distinguish a small frown laced upon her lips which made suddenly made him feel bad.

"She really cares about you and only wants us to connect."

Micah turned over the words and digesting them in his mind. She had prepared a picnic, so they were going to be here for quite a while, and done with the best intentions, even though he was still annoyed.

Mariana stopped and handed the food to Micah. He took it and immediately placed it on the floor, so he could spread out his arm for her.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you my flower." He embraced her body into his chest and lightly pressed her head to rest on his shoulder. "I shouldn't have directed my anger towards you, you don't deserve it." He kissed her cheek and started caressing her back.

Mariana was surprised but didn't say anything as she found relief in his hug. She hugged him tightly and felt safe in his arms again.

"And I'm sorry for planning this behind your back," she said, "next time I'll discuss it with you to see if it's alright."

"Thanks my flower," he said as she slowly released herself from his hold. She felt a bit better and got a bouncy feeling back in her bones. So she sat next to him and went on her phone while they talked.

"I brought something for you," Aidan said and got out a package. He handed it to Micah and when he uncovered what was inside, it turned out to be a big cinnamon pretzel.

Micah just glared at it with despise written on his face, while Aidan looked upon him with a confident smile.

"It's your favorite remember? I got you that when I took you to your first football game."

"No, I don't."

"You don't remember?" Aidan said, "Are you sure? It's one of my best memories with you.

"Don't remember," Micah bluntly said.

"But I remember you being so happy and you really enjoyed it."

"I was happy because my child self knew that was the only time you would spend time with me," Micah muttered. He started eating the pretzel because he loved them.

Although secretly, he knew exactly what Aidan was talking about. He was around five or six when his dad took him to a game at the stadium. He even managed to get his ball autographed by one of the players. It was one of the best days of his life, but he's not going to show Aidan that he remembers it.

Aidan frowned at his son's response. "That's not true Micah. We had many good times together."

"There you go again! Always doubting everything I say!" Micah's temper rose as his patience diminished. He shouted loudly into Aidan's ear so that he can be heard loud and clear for the first time.

"I just mean there are times where I took you out and we had a good time," Aidan said as he put his hands up in defense.

"You mean you and Mason had a good time. I just got left behind like always, because I know your embarrassed that I don't want to do what you want me to do."

"But what about when we went to Lake Tahoe to watch the fireworks on the 4th of July? I took you and Mason and we all watched it together."

"Then you almost lost me in the crowd while having Mason sat on your shoulders."

"Did I?" Aidan muttered in confusion. He started rubbing his chin as if he was rethinking back to that day. In a few seconds, his eyes widened when he recounted what actually happened as his memory was slightly distorted. He remembered when they were deep in the crowd and realized that Micah wasn't by his side.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to lose you, Micah. I eventually found you in the end," Aidan said sorrowfully and tried patting Micah's back but got shoved off.

Micah scoffed and ripped away at the pretzel. He didn't want to hear any of Aidan's sorry ass excuses.

"Alright, what about the time we went to Santo Domingo to visit family? We went to the beach and you mother and sister wanted ice cream so us three went to get them some." Aiden said, trying to find a good experience they had when nothing went wrong.

"You looked happy running around the palm trees with Mason."

"I was, but do you remember when I needed the toilet." Micah said. He put the pretzel down and clasped his hands together. His focus was now on Aidan to see if he finally saw the flaws in his behavior.

"Yeah... I took you to the toilet as you wanted..."

"Yep, and then you left me... again." Micah nodded to himself with a straight face. But then he started scowling, as he got angry thinking of all the times Aidan chose Mason over him.

"When I came out, you and Mason were gone..."

"Oh... that's because Mason really wanted to go to the ice cream stall. I figured you wouldn't be out for another five minutes because of how long you were taking. So we just went, but we did come back as soon as we can."

"But I wanted to get them with you! Why can't you see my point?" He jumped up from the fuel of frustration. Mariana stopped looking at her phone as looked between Aidan and him.

"You deserted me as if you didn't care what would happen!" Micah raged to the top of his lungs. His voice boomed over the two like a sonic beam soaring over grass.

"I wouldn't have gone if I thought you would be out soon!" Aidan defended himself, "I kept my eye on the toilets in case I would see you coming out. There's no way I would leave you behind for good."

Micah shook his head as he wasn't hearing any of it. "And then when I cried, you told me to shut up and get over it." his words seethed like iron out of his mouth. He wanted to keep his cool, but his anger was like a conflagrant, scarlet flower planted deep in the chamber of fury that was his chest.

He glared down at Aidan with hatred sizzling in his burning eyes. His heart palpitated like it was on overdrive and his veins pulsed along his arms. He was silent while Aidan stared up with remorse that made his lips fall.

"Did I really say that?" He whispered out. He was stunned and bowed his head in shame of his own words.

Micah looked at him with disdain and kissed his teeth. "Of course you don't remember. How could you when you went walking away from me with Mason on your shoulders, just laughing together."

He then picked up the picnic basket and got out a can of sprite.

"We're done here," Micah said and motioned for Mariana to follow him. She quickly put her phone away and grabbed his hand.

"I don't want to see you again unless it's to talk about the investigation," were Micah's last words before walking away.

When they got home, they settled down and Mariana brought out their monopoly game to cheer up the atmosphere. They sat down on the floor of their living room and Mariana brought out two portraits of their kids, so it can feel like they were there too.

"Are you still mad at me?" Mariana asked as she watched Micah roll the dice.

He shook his head as he moved his piece along the pink. "Nope, just annoyed."

"Oh, yeah, it sounded like a really heated."

"Yeah."

"Oh well, at least you managed to talk a little today, even if it wasn't much," Mariana said and caressed his knee for comfort.

Micah just shrugged. He neither agreed or disagreed but just wanted to forget about it.

"Anyway, maybe next time you talk it will be better?"

"Mm, maybe," he said but didn't sound so confident.

Mariana smiled and rolled the dice. She hopes the next they meet will be calmer.

A/N: Hey I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Quite a lot happened hehe

Ngl, I lowkey find it hot when Micah is angry.🤭🤭🔥🔥