A/N: Here we go! I missed writing Lyric so much! I hope this first chapter makes the huge wait I put ya'll through worth it! If you haven't read Music in Me and Bittersweet Symphony then Do not read past this point or you will be confused lol. 

The sound of a cell phone getting a facetime request caught Sarah McKenna's attention as she walked into the kitchen to check on the lasagna she was making. She looked at the phone belonging to her daughter and smiled at the picture on the screen. She answered the call and went to check on the lasagna, leaving the phone on the counter.

"Lyric? Are you there, Love?"
"Hey Killian, she's in the studio recording with Darren." Sarah said as she pulled the pan from the oven.
"Well where are you then?" Killian chuckled.
"Pulling dinner out of the oven, are you going to make it into town tonight?" Sarah asked.
"Fraid not, Love, I'll be in early tomorrow morning." Killian said.
"Well then I will save you some." Sarah said.
"Thank you." Killian said.

Sarah walked to the counter and picked up the phone.

"Lets go peek in the studio and see what those two are up to." Sarah said and took the phone down the hallway with her. She carefully opened the door to the studio making sure not to disturb Lyric and her father.

Lyric was playing her guitar, and singing and Darren was on the drums and Darren's teenage assistant, who was one of Lyric's students that she had talked him into hiring as an intern, was in the room behind the glass recording them. Sarah loved seeing Lyric and her father making music together. She walked into the smaller room connected to the studio and sat with Darren's assistant listening to Lyrics cover of Black Velvet.

"Up in Memphis, the music's like a heatwave

White lightning, bound to drive you wild

Mama's baby's in the heart of every schoolgirl

"Love Me Tender" leaves 'em cryin' in the aisle"

"She sounds amazing Sarah!" Killian exclaimed. "Keep me on, I want to hear the rest." Killian said.
"She's killing those vocals isn't she?" Sarah asked and turned the camera around so it was facing lyric and Darren.
"She's absolutely slaying them." Killian said. "I've told her she needs to come with me during the summer and sing with me but she won't do it." Killian said.
"Lyric's never been a fan of the huge crowds you play for." Sarah said. "She's more of a lowkey bar type which you should know considering that is how you two met."
"How could I forget?" Killian chuckled.

Lyric walked into the room where her mom and her student Graham Humbert were.
"How's it sounding Graham?" She asked.
"It sounds amazing!" Graham exclaimed.
"Are you just trying to get extra credit?" Lyric asked with a straight face.
Graham started stammering.
Lyric cracked a smile.
"Relax Graham. I'm kidding." She turned to her mom and looked at the phone she held out in her hand and saw her husband's face. She grinned and took her phone.
"Just a minute baby." She said and looked back up at Graham.

"We are gonna wrap it up for tonight, you're welcome to stay for dinner if you'd like too, if not I can take you home whenever you are ready." She smiled.
"I think I'll stay for dinner." Graham said.
"Excellent choice. I made lasagna" Sarah smiled and followed Lyric out of the studio.

"Hey where are you?" Lyric asked Killian.
"My flight was delayed. I'll be there first thing tomorrow morning. Hopefully in time to make breakfast and see Sym off to school."
"Sounds good." Lyric smiled. "You know it's good you are going to be home this week." She said as she walked down the hall towards Quins room where He and Sym were playing nintendo.
"Oh Why is that?" Killian asked.
"I'm ovulating." Lyric said in an overly sultry tone.
"Well it's a good thing listening to you sing does things to me, because I'm already all ready" Killian winked at her making her blush.
"You liked that did you?" Lyric asked.
"It was brilliant love." Killian said.
"Thank you, I have a show at the bar in a week and we are making some demos to hand out." Lyric said.

"I'm telling you, you need to come out on stage with me for the summer leg of the tour. It's an entirely different energy than playing piano for the juilliard snobs." Killian pressed.
"I haven't told Sym yet, but I decided we can come with you this summer. But that doesn't mean I'm getting out there in front of all those people." Lyric said.
"Oh you and Sym are going to love life on the road." Killian grinned.
"I'm not so sure about that. I think Symphony has my homebody genes but we both hate being away from you for so long more than we hate leaving the house. I'll let you tell her we are coming with you this summer. She's gonna freak."

Lyric opened the door to Quin's room.
"Sym your Dad is on the phone." She said. Sym dropped the controller in her hands and got up and ran to Lyric and took the phone.
"Hi Daddy!" Symphony grinned. "Are you going to be home tonight?"
"No, my flight was delayed. I will be home first thing tomorrow morning. What do you want for breakfast?" Killian asked.
"French toast. With chocolate chips and whipped cream." Symphony said.
"That's a dessert not breakfast." Lyric said and raised her eyebrow.
"Nonsense. I'll throw a scrambled egg in there if it makes you happy." Killian chuckled.
"You're going to the school when I get the call that she is literally climbing the walls because of all of the sugar you gave her for breakfast." Lyric said.
"Tell your mum to stop being such a stick in the mud." Killian said. Symphony giggled.
"Very funny Killian." Lyric said and smirked. "Grandma has dinner ready. Go clean up. You too Quin."
Symphony and Quin both groaned at the thought of having to get cleaned up for dinner as they walked out of the room.
"You would think I'm sending them to their death when I ask them to go wash their hands." Lyric sighed and walked out of the room.

The doorbell rang.
"I got it!" Lyric called as she made her way to the door.
"Expecting company?" Killian asked.
"I don't think so." Lyric said and opened the front door. Her eyes widened and she dropped her phone.
"Lyric?? Is everything okay??" Killian asked
"Uncle Max?" Lyric asked the man with dark brown shaggy hair and torn up jeans. He had sunglasses pushing his hair out of his deep blue eyes.
"Lyric?? My God the last time I saw you, you were so small. Now look at you!" Max exclaimed.
"Oh my God." Lyric said and wrapped her arms around him pulling him in for a hug. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too Kid." Max said and held her at shoulders length looking at her. "I can't believe how time flies." He said.

"Maxwell?" Darren said from behind Lyric. Lyric turned around.
"Dad, it's Uncle Max!" She exclaimed but quickly noticed that the look on her fathers face was not that of someone who was excited to see his younger brother he hadn't seen in over a decade. It was angry.
"Dad? What's wrong?" Lyric asked.
"You can't be here." Darren said. "How did you even get my address?"
Max went to speak but Darren cut him off.
"I don't even want to know. Knowing you, it wasn't legal." Darren scoffed.

"Actually, Darren, I invited him." Sarah said coming into the living room. Darren gave his wife a look that Lyric had never seen before. She had never seen her father this angry. Not even when he found out she was dating her teacher.
Symphony and Quin came into the living room to see what was going on. Lyric picked up her phone from the floor.
"Hey come on you two let's go get some lasagna." Lyric said and led them into the kitchen where Graham was.
"What is going on in there? I've never seen your Dad so angry." He asked.
"I don't know but it's about to get real uncomfortable here. I'm going to get the kids some dinner and then I'll get you some to go and I'll take you home. I don't think you want to be here for this." Lyric said.
Graham nodded.
"Probably for the best." He said.
"Lyric??" Killian said. Lyric had completely forgot he was on the phone
"Oh shoot! Killian I forgot you were on the phone." Lyric said "Sorry!"
"It's okay love, it sounds like you are about to have your hands full. I will call again later tonight. My flight won't be until late tonight."
"Okay, I love you. Talk to you later." Lyric said.
"Love you too. Love you Symphony, see you tomorrow morning." Killian said.
"Love you Daddy!" Symphony said.

Lyric hung up her phone and reached up to the cupboard above her and opened it grabbing two of the kids plates. Quin still had to use the ones with sections because he wouldn't eat anything if the different food items on the plate were touching each other, which she found hilarious because she was the exact same way when she was his age, she never fully grew out of it either.

She placed a spatula in the lasagna that her mother had already cut into sections and scooped a lasagna square onto both of their plates. She opened the fridge and grabbed the bowl of salad with Italian dressing she had made earlier. She used the salad tongs to put salad on both of the plates and then finished it off with a dinner roll. She held out the plates to Graham.
"MInd setting these on the table for me?" She asked.
"Not at all." Graham smiled and took the plates from her and set them down in front of the kids.

Lyric began filling the togo dish for Graham while keeping an ear out for the kids.
"Want to play Olive Garden?" Symphony asked.
"Olive Garden?" Graham chuckled.
"Yeah. Symphony and I are guests and you are the waiter." Quin said.
"Well sure." Graham said. "How can I help you?" Graham asked.
"Cheese. We need Cheese." Symphony said.
"Right then. Be back in a moment." Graham said and walked into the kitchen where Lyric was.
"Those two lovely guests over there have asked for Cheese." Graham said.
"Oh, I see they have you playing Olive Garden." Lyric chuckled and handed him the cheese grater.
"This is what they want. Just turn the crank and the cheese will come out."
"Thank you." Graham smiled and walked back to the table.

Lyric finished putting together Grahams to go meal and put the lid on it.. She walked over to the table where Graham was still putting cheese on the kids plates.
"Oh, it's the owner." Quin whispered.
"It's the end of Graham's shift. He has to go home now."
"What? You can't take our cheese slave!" Symphony said.

Lyric blinked and looked at her child. She shook her head.
"Lets not call people cheese slaves." She said. "Graham has to go home, because like you two he has school in the morning."
"Gross." Quin said.
"I feel that little buddy." Graham said and put the cheese grater on the table. 'But I have to listen to the boss and go home."
"Booooo!" both kids protested
"That's enough guys. Eat your Dinner. We have to go home when I come back Sym."
"Okay Mommy." Symphony sighed.

Lyric handed Graham his to go meal.
"Thank you." He said and smiled.
"Of course." Lyric nodded and led him into the living room where one could cut the tension with a knife.
"Okay, so The kids are eating, I'm going to take Graham home and then I'll be back." Lyric said. No one said a word.
"Okay then. Try not to kill each other." She said as she walked to the front door and opened it.

"Everything is okay right?" Graham asked when they got outside.
"Yeah. I think. Just some family drama." Lyric shrugged and unlocked her car.
"Let's get you home." She said.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Lyric got back to her parents house, she was surprised to see her Uncle Max sitting on the living room couch.
"Well, you're still here so that's a plus...right?" Lyric smiled.
"It's not looking good kiddo." Max sighed and stood up. "Look, you're about to hear some stuff about me that I'm not proud of and I know you were just a kid and you may not have understood what was going on and I don't know what your parents told you about why I've been away so long." Max said and stood up.
"They told me you were sick." Lyric said.
"Something like that. You better get in there and mediate things between them. It's looking rough. Don't worry about me, I'll be out here." Max said.
"Okay. I'll talk to them." Lyric said and walked into the kitchen and right in the middle of a very rare fight between her parents.

"I can't believe you would invite him here after what he did!" Darren snapped.
"Everyone deserves a second chance Darren. It's been twenty years since you've seen Max."
"There's a reason for that Sarah! He almost killed our child!" Darren fumed.
"Wait what?" Lyric asked, alerting her parents to her presence in the room.
Darren sighed and ran his hands through his dark hair.
"I don't understand. I thought you said Uncle Max was sick." Lyric said. "What do you mean he almost killed me?" Lyric asked.
Darren pulled out a chair for Lyric.
"Sit?" He asked. Lyric nodded and sat down.
"You were 6 years old, you didn't really understand what was going on. It was easier to tell you that Uncle Max was sick rather than tell you what really happened." Darren said. Sarah sat down next to Lyric.

"Your uncle was on some hardcore drugs back then, he was always clean when he was around you." Sarah said and placed her hand on Lyrics knee.
"Until he wasn't." Darren said. "Your mother and I had to go deal with some financial troubles we were having and Max agreed to babysit like he normally did." Darren added.

"It was kind of a short notice and he had already been high when he came over. We really needed to go to the meeting and we didn't have time to call the other sitter. So Max said he would put on your cartoons and crash on the couch and you would be fine. So this is partially our fault too." Sarah said and looked at her husband who just scoffed and shook his head.

"The story he told us, was that you were crying non stop because you wanted chicken nuggets so he got you in the car seat in his car and drove to get you some food." Darren said. "After he got the food he parked his car in the back of the parking lot and turned it off while you two ate. He ended up passing out, leaving the two of you in a hot car, in June for nearly 2 hours before someone noticed that he was passed out and there was a child in the car." Darren said. "They were almost too late to save you." Darren said with his eyes watering.

Lyric wiped a tear from her cheek.
"So he was sick...technically." Lyric said.
"Yes. He was." Sarah said. "But he is better now." Sarah said.
"Oh come on Sarah. How many times has he said he was clean only to turn around and sell his shit to buy more drugs?" Darren scoffed
"Darren, he spent 10 years in prison! He's done his time!" Sarah said. "After that he spent six years in a rehab facility and then he threw himself into his work. He was ashamed of what he had done so he never reached out to us until now. He lost his job and he has nowhere and no one to go to for help." Sarah said.
"That is not our problem." Darren said.

Lyric sighed and stood up.
"Dad, do yourself a favor and go outside and cool off. You're too mad."
Darren cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow at her.
"You're banishing me to the porch?" Darren asked.
"Yup. consider yourself banished." Lyric said and tried to shoo him away.
"You don't banish me to my own porch. I'm the adult here." Darren said.
"I'm almost 30! And you are too mad right now and you are acting like a child."
Darren glared at Lyric.
"I said what I said, you, porch. now." Lyric said and pointed to the front door.
Darren threw his hands up and walked out of the kitchen straight past Max in the living room and went out the front door slamming it behind him.

"Mom... I have never seen Dad this mad. Not even when he found out about Killian." Lyric said.
"I know. Max has always been a touchy subject for your father." Sarah sighed. "He will calm down. He just needs a moment to start thinking clearly and not out of anger."
"It's not looking great for me is it?" Max asked as he stood in the archway that was between the kitchen and living room.
"Tonight? Possibly not. We can try again tomorrow. In the meantime I'll get you a room at the bed and breakfast." Sarah sighed.
"No, Killian and I have a guest room. He can stay with us. Killian will be fine with it." Lyric said.
"Killian?" Max asked.
"My husband. He's been on tour with his band. He'll be home early tomorrow morning. He'll be here for a couple of weeks." Lyric smiled.
"No shit. Killian Jones? The Jolly Rogers frontman?" Max asked.
"The one and only." Lyric said.
"That's rad." Max grinned. "He's... a bit older than you." Max said and laughed nervously. "How did you meet him?"
"It's...a long story for later over a couple of beers?" Lyric suggested.
"That's the McKenna way isn't it?" Max chuckled.

Symphony walked into the kitchen.
"Mommy I'm tired, can we go home now?" she asked.
"Yeah, We are about to go." Lyric said.
"Well who is this?" Max asked and crouched down to Symphony.
"I'm Symphony Grace McKenna-Jones" Symphony stated proudly and extended her hand.
"Oh and she's very polite." Max smiled. "I'm your great Uncle Max." he said and shook her hand.
"I didn't know I had a great Uncle." Symphony said.
"Hey that's okay, you get to know me now. At least I hope." Max said.
"Sym, Uncle Max is going to be staying with us for a little bit." Lyric said.
"Okay." Sym said and looked up at Max. "But only for a little bit. Mommy and Daddy are trying to make me a little brother and the guest room is going to be his room.
"Oh Okay. Uncle Max didn't need to hear that." Lyric said and chuckled nervously.

"It's okay." Max chuckled. "You know you were the same way. You tried to kick me out of your parents' guest room as a child to make room for Sparkles McKenna." Max chuckled as he stood up and grabbed his duffle bag that was beside the couch.
"I was six!" Lyric groaned.

Darren walked back into the house and frowned at Symphony with her backpack on ready to go home.
"You're leaving?"
"Yeah Grandpa, it's almost bedtime." Symphony said.
"It's 7:30. You know, your mother never had a bedtime. Grandma and I didn't believe in it."
Symphony turned her head slowly at her mother and gave her a mean mug.
"Oh. Thank you so much for that Dad." Lyric said sarcastically. "You know that's probably why I'm such an insomniac."
"You're welcome." Darren winked. "I'm sorry, you were right. I was too mad." Darren said and then turned to Max. "However I still need some time before I'm ready to talk to you Maxwell."
"I understand." Max said.
"Come on Uncle Max, I'll show you to our car." Symphony said and grabbed his hand and pulled him away.
"Oh Okay." Max laughed as he was pulled out the door.

"Wait. He's staying with you?" Darren asked.
"Yeah. Mom was gonna put him in the bed and breakfast across from Granny's. But theres no reason for it, Killian and I have a guest room." Lyric shrugged.
"Lyric. I know you. I know you love to help people, and thats one of the things I love most about you but you have to be very careful when Max is concerned. He's been clean before. If he gets desperate for a fix..." Darren sighed. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."
"I know you don't, Dad. But you have to trust that I am old enough to know what I'm doing." Lyric said.
"I Just...after Grandpa...I don't want to ever isolate myself from another member of this family." She said and wiped fresh tears before they could fall from her eyes.

Darren pulled her into a hug.
"I Know. I just ask that you be careful. And please. Do not leave him alone with Symphony for an extended period of time."
"Dad it was like 20 years ago. That's two whole decades. I forgive him and I'm willing to give him a chance. I know that if I were in your shoes I would find it hard to forgive him too but if we turn him away then he truly has no one." Lyric said. "Tomorrow is a new day. We can all collect ourselves and come back to this situation with clear heads."
"Have I ever told you how fortunate I am to have a daughter that picked up her mothers genes when it comes to the smarts?" Darren smiled.
"Well she got plenty of stuff from her father too." Lyric said and kissed her Dad on the cheek. "We will see you tomorrow after school? I've got one more recording I want to do for the demos."
"Sounds good to me kid." Darren said. "Love you, see you tomorrow"
"Love you too Dad." Lyric said as she picked up her laptop bag and put it over her shoulder and walked outside.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lyric walked down the stairs after tucking Symphony in for the night. Max was sitting on the sectional in the living room playing tug of war with Lennon and his toy rope. He got the rope away from Lennon and threw it across the living room watching Lennon chase after it. Lennon picked up the rope and turned around. Once he noticed Lyric was in the room he dropped the rope and ran to Lyric.
Max chuckled as the dog stood on its hind legs putting his paws on Lyrics chest and licked her face."
Lyric groaned.
"Lennon...I told you, unless it turns out dog saliva is the magic solution to get rid of wrinkles, don't lick my face." She looked at Max. "Don't be offended, this dog is literally obsessed with me." She said.
"No offense taken." Max said and put his hands up.
"Lennon. Sit." Lyric said firmly Lennon sat immediately.
"Whoa." Max said.
"He likes to act like he's not very well trained. But he is." Lyric smirked and looked back at Lennon.
"Upstairs. Bedtime." Lyric said. Lennon took off up the stairs. "He Sleeps in Symphony's room. Or if Sym is sleeping with Killian and I, he sleeps in our room. If he could go to school with Symphony he probably would." Lyric chuckled and walked into the kitchen, Max followed her.
"Your Dad and I had a black lab like that when we were kids." He said.
Lyric opened the fridge and grabbed a couple of bottles of beer.
"My Dad told me about Tazz. and how he named him after his favorite looney tune." Lyric smiled.

Max sat at the bar in the kitchen. Lyric grabbed the bottle opener magnet that was on the fridge and popped both bottles open and walked around the bar to where Max was sitting and sat next to him handing him a beer.
"Thank you...and Thank you for letting me stay." Max said.
"Of course!" Lyric said. "Dad just needs some time to fully cool off and think clearly."
"Yeah." Max nodded and took a sip of his beer. Lyric noticed his hands trembling. She looked up at his face and frowned at the tears falling from his eyes.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"You have this beautiful home, a husband, and a beautiful daughter. You have this.. Amazing life and I almost ruined this experience for you and I've tried and tried to forgive myself but I can't." Max weeped.
Lyric put her hands over his.
"Uncle Max, I forgive you. I mean hell you were just a kid as well. You were only 19." Lyric said.
"I don't know if I deserve your forgiveness Lyric. I almost killed you." Max said.
"You do deserve forgiveness. You were sick, not in your right mind." Lyric said.

"I don't think your father is ever going to forgive me." Max said.
"He will. He just needs time. You did something terrible, you served your time for it, and instead of getting back out on the streets, you checked yourself into a rehab facility to make sure you stayed clean. That is admirable Uncle Max, you chose to do better for yourself and that is going to go a long way with him."
"You really think so?" Max asked.
"I do." Lyric smiled. "In the meantime you can stay here, When Killian gets home tomorrow morning we will talk more about helping you get settled into town."
Max smiled and wiped the remaining tears away.
"I can't even begin to tell you how much this means to me. When I saw how mad Darren was I thought he would call the police to escort me from the house and I thought that my last chance was out the window. And then you swooped in and saved me." Max sniffed.
"We will get you back on your feet." Lyric smiled and pat his hand and then took a sip of her beer.

"To be completely honest, I've never seen my father that angry, not even when he found out I was romantically involved with my high school music teacher."
Max laughed.
"That's a good one."
"A good what?" Lyric asked.
"Joke." Max chuckled and then realized Lyric wasn't laughing.
"Oh...you.." Max started.
"Mmhm" Lyric nodded.
"And Killian...he..."
'Yup." Lyric smiled.
"That's how you two met??" Max asked.
"Yes." Lyric laughed, and you want to know whats really funny? I took his old job at Storybrooke High."
"That..is ironic." Max shook his head.
"Very." Lyric nodded. "The boy I took home earlier is in my senior class. Dad is showing him the ropes in the studio."
"Your Dad is getting back into the studio?" Max asked.
"Oh yeah, he's been back at it for years." Lyric smiled. "He has a studio built into one of the rooms in his house. He records all of The Jolly Rogers songs and recently he's recorded some covers I've done for demos to hand out at my show at the bar next week."

"You have a show next week?" Max grinned ear to ear.
"Yes." Lyric said. "It's at the bar we own here in town."
"Man you have really got your life figured out..." Max said.
"I'm winging it at best every day." Lyric chuckled.

"The bar is actually technically how I met Killian. It was my first night in town. I was checking out the town, and I heard an Eagles cover band playing in this bar, My best friend Tink and I had fake IDs because I loved going to the open Mic nights at bars in Boston so I went in and sat down at the bar to listen to the music and that is when I met Killian he was bartending. We just had this spark. We met up a few times before summer ended. He thought I was a college student, and he never mentioned what he did outside of the bar. So the first day of school was a surprise for both of us."

Lyric took a sip of her beer.
"We've been through a lot together, but we have a life that I am proud of."
"I'm proud of you. I knew from the day that you were born that you were going to be special. The moment I held you for the first time. I thought Lyric Mckenna is going to be a name that people will remember. She is going to be something..and here you are." Max said.
Lyric teared up a little.
"Thank you Uncle Max." She said.
"Of course kid." Max said and finished his beer. "I don't mean to cut the chat short, but I spent two days on a greyhound bus, can you show me to my room, and maybe to the shower?" Max asked.
"Oh! Of course!" Lyric smiled and set her beer down on the bar and stood up. "Come on." She smiled and walked out of the kitchen to the downstairs guest room. This is your room, the wifi password is bananas."

"Bananas?" Max laughed.
"It was chosen by the then 5 year old." Lyric smirked. The guest bathroom is just across the hall, we don't make people share with Sym. She's messy."
"Ah, you were messy too." Max said.
"Most kids are." Lyric said. Her phone started ringing and she smiled.
"It's Killian, I'll let you get settled in. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight." Lyric said.
"Night." Max replied. Lyric answered the phone as she went to the kitchen to clean up.

"Hello darling." Killian said.
"Hey." She smiled and threw the beer bottles in the recycling bin. Killian heard the sound of the glass clinking together.
"Have a couple beers before bed?" He chuckled.
"Actually...my uncle Max is in town..." Lyric said.
"The sick Uncle?" Killian asked.
"Well.. yes but I learned tonight that that wasn't all there was to it." She sighed.
"That doesn't sound good." Killian said.
"It was like 20 years ago..he was on some bad drugs. There was an incident where he was babysitting me and left me in a hot car for 2 hours. I don't remember any of it. I was 6. He spent 10 years in prison and then another 5 in a rehab facility. He's clean now...and my Dad is not quite ready to make peace with him yet and he didn't have anywhere to go..so he's staying in the guest room."

"And you are completely sure he is clean?" Killian asked.
"I mean I have no way of knowing for sure, but I trust him." Lyric said as she turned the kitchen light off and walked up the stairs.
"Lyric you should have asked me first." Killian said.
"You weren't available for me to ask Killian. Are you upset?" She asked.
"I mean a little, Our daughter is there with a potential drug addict Lyric." Killian huffed.
Lyric rolled her eyes as she opened her bedroom door.
"Can we not fight right now? I miss you. Can we face time?" She asked.
"Yeah." Killian said. Lyric turned on her camera and propped her phone up on the dresser.
"I don't want to fight either Lyric I'm just a little concerned." Killian said.
"I should have asked first. I'm sorry, I just didn't want him to think everyone gave up on him. He's been through a lot." Lyric sighed.
"I understand love, you love helping people. Especially if its family." Killian smiled. "I love that about you."

"There's that smile that I dream about." Lyric said.
"I'll be home first thing love. My flight is in 30 minutes." Killian smiled.
Lyric sighed and peeled her shirt off and went through her dresser looking for pajamas.
"Are you seriously just stripping down right here while I'm in the middle of the airport?" Killian asked.
"I'm putting on some pjs dude. It's bedtime." Lyric said.
"It's like 9:30 there." Killian said.
"I teach high schoolers. I need all the sleep I can get." Lyric said as she shimmied out of her dress pants.
"Just.. pause for a moment love." Killian said.
Lyric smirked and stood there in her bra and panties.
"Fuck, I miss you." Killian sighed, but it wasn't a regular sign. It was a longing sigh. Killian hadn't had physical contact with his wife in almost two months. Killian moved so he was sitting with his back to a wall so no one could see his phone screen but him.

Lyric took her bra off and tossed it in the laundry hamper.
"You little tease. This is why you wanted to facetime." Killian hissed.
Lyric chuckled and put a tank top on.
"Just so you remember what you are coming home to." Lyric said.
"I don't believe I'll be forgetting that for the entire 9 hour flight." Killian said. "You better remember what happens when you wind me up." His tone was low and seductive.
"Oh, I remember." Lyric winked and picked up her phone and flopped down on her bed.

There was a very soft knock on her bedroom door. Lyric propped herself up on one elbow.
"Symphony?" She asked.
"Can I come in mommy?" Symphony's little voice asked from the other side of the door. She sounded upset like she was crying.
"Of course baby." Lyric said.
"What's going on?" Killian asked.
"Sym's upset about something." Lyric said as Symphony opened the door and stepped in.
Her cheeks were red and stained with tears and she was crying so hard it was coming out in high pitched hiccups.

Lyric put her phone on the bed and got up and hurried over to her crying child.
"Symphony what is wrong baby?" She asked.
"I had a bad dream." Symphony managed to choke out. "Daddy didn't make it home." She bawled.
"Oh sweetheart." Lyric frowned and picked her up and carried her to the bed. She set her down and climbed up in bed next to her. Symphony had developed severe anxiety after Grandpa Jack died.
She was still in therapy for it. Killian had been away longer than he'd normally been so Lyric had been anticipating an episode.
"Daddy is okay. It was just a dream." Lyric said "Deep breaths baby." She coached.
"Are you sure? Have you talked to him?" Symphony asked.

"I'm right here my love." Killian said. Lyric handed Symphony her phone so she could see her father was okay.
"You promise?" Symphony asked and tried to calm herself down.
"I promise. I'm only one sleep away from you, I'll be home making you breakfast before you know it." Killian said. "Come on darling, calm down." He cooed.
"Can I sleep in here Mommy?" Symphony asked.
"Of course." Lyric said. "Snuggle in and Keep talking to Daddy. I'm going to go get Lennon." She said and got off the bed and walked to the door.

She opened the door and Lennon ran right in and jumped up on the bed and found his spot at the foot of the bed.
"I should have known you would be right at the door." Lyric smiled and scratched behind his ears. "Good boy."
Lyric went to the other side of the bed and pulled the blankets back and climbed in. Symphony curled into her so they could both see Killian.
"Can you stay until I fall asleep?" Symphony asked.
"I will try. I need to board my flight in a few minutes." Killian smiled.
"Can you sing me a song Daddy?" Symphony asked.
"Of course. What do you want me to sing?" Killian asked.
"The Rockabye song." Symphony requested. It wasn't one of his songs, but it was a song the band covered a lot and it was one of Sym's favorites.
"You got it." Killian said and set his phone down.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Killian grabbed his guitar case with his acoustic guitar he carried with him, sometimes when his flight was delayed he would play and sing for fans that were in the airport
And sure enough as soon as he pulled out the guitar, two teenage girls approached him.
"Can we watch?" One of them asked.
"Actually, I'm trying to help my wife get my daughter to sleep..any other time would be fine but not right now." Killian said.
The other girl didn't seem too happy with his answer but her seemingly more respectful friend nodded.
"No problem. We will listen from over there." She said and pointed to where they were originally sitting.
"Thank you." Killian smiled and reached down in his guitar case for a spare guitar pick which he tossed to the girl.
"Thank you so much!" She beamed as she walked away with her friend.

Killian propped his phone up against the guitar case so Sym and Lyric could see him. Lyric had shut the bedroom light off, so all he could see was the glow of their faces from Lyrics phone screen. He started strumming and before too long he was singing.

She still lives with her Mom outside the city

Down that street about a half a mile

And all her friends tell her she's so pretty

But she'd be a whole lot prettier if she smiled once in a while

'Cause even her smile looks like a frown

And she's seen her share of devils in this angel town

Everything's gonna be alright

Rockabye, rockabye

Everything's gonna be alright

Rockabye, rockabye, rockabye

By the time he finished the song and looked back at his phone and saw that both of his girls appeared to be sleeping peacefully. He smiled at his phone. He put his fingers to his lips and then touched his phone screen.
"Goodnight my loves." He whispered and ended the facetime call.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lyric woke up to the smell of bacon cooking, and coffee brewing, which was one of her personal favorite ways to wake up. She looked beside her for Symphony but she wasn't there. Lyric smiled knowing she was probably 'helping' her Dad in the kitchen with breakfast.

Lyric sat up and got out of bed she walked over to the closet and opened the door and stepped in looking for what she wanted to wear, she picked out a black skirt and blazer set with a red blouse for a pop of color. She hung the set on her bathroom door and walked into the bathroom turning on the shower to start getting ready for the morning.

When Lyric walked downstairs and into the kitchen Killian and Symphony were whispering something. When they saw her come in they stopped and looked at her.
"Whats that about?" Lyric asked.
"You look pretty today mommy." Symphony said and smiled.
"While I thank you for your compliment, I recognize you are trying to distract me." She said and looked at Killian.
"She's right, you look amazing darling." Killian said.
Lyric looked at him with what he referred to as her mean mom mug, a look she gave her students often as well.

"We should just ask." Killian shrugged.
"She's going to say no." Symphony sighed.
"Well just because your mother is about as much fun as a pocket full of rocks, doesn't mean she will say no." Killian shrugged.
"Hey! I think I'm a very fun mom." Lyric said. "What are you asking me?"
"Well Sym and I were talking...it is Friday." Killian started.
"Dad and I want to play hooky and have a Daddy daughter day." Sym said flatly.
Lyric sighed.
"Seeeee I told you!" Symphony groaned.
"Hey. I haven't said yes or no yet." Lyric said. "I'm leaving it up to you. You're almost 9. By the time I was 9 I knew what kind of student I wanted to be. You've been working really hard on your perfect attendance this year. If you are willing to miss a day-"
"Yes!" Symphony interrupted.

Lyric blinked, a little caught off guard by the rapid fire answer.
"Are you sure?" She asked.
"Yes. I only cared about that because I thought you would be disappointed in me if I didn't have perfect attendance." Symphony admitted.
"Sym, I would never be disappointed in you for that. I don't expect you to be a mirror image of me, like your father doesn't expect you to be a mirror image of him either. You are your own person, I loved school, I strived for excellence. But that doesn't have to be what you do. I'm not saying that you can just not care about your grades and never go to school, but you don't have to worry about me being disappointed if you need a day off. Everyone does every now and then." Lyric smiled and hugged her daughter.
"Go change into play clothes. Every time your father has you without me, its messy." She said and ruffled her daughters hair.

"Thank you mommy!" Symphony said and ran out of the kitchen.
Killian leaned against the counter and smiled.
"Hey you." He said
"Hey." Lyric said and bit her lip. She squealed no longer able to hold in her excitement to see her husband after nearly 2 months she ran to him and planted her lips all over his face leaving red lipstick prints everywhere She pulled back and chuckled.
"Oops." She said.
"Oh? Oops?" He asked and spun the two of them around so her back was to the counter and he was pressed up against him.
"Oh! Mother..." Lyric gasped.
"She's not here right now." Killian chuckled and kissed her.
"Mmm Play hooky with us?" Killian whispered in her ear.
"I can't. It's the semester test day before spring break. Besides Sym needs a Daddy Daughter day."
"Fair." Killian smiled and kissed her again. "But I am taking you out tonight. I already asked your parents if they could take Sym for the night. You are mine after school Mrs. Mckenna-Jones." Killian smirked.

"I can't wait." Lyric grinned. "Literally. Like I might jump you right here in the middle of this kitchen."
"Don't threaten me with a good time." Killian grinned and lifted her by her ass and set her up on the counter and started kissing up her neck.
"Jesus fucking Christ." Lyric nearly moaned.

"Hey so I was getting the mail- Whooaa! Shit." Max said and put the news paper in his hand over his eyes.
"Shit! Uncle Max!" Lyric said.
"Sorry mate." Killian chuckled and stepped away and turned to face Max and extended his hand
"Killian-" He paused and looked at Max. "Hey...I recognize you." He said. "You were a roadie for my band when we first got started."
Lyric put the lid on her coffee cup and walked over to them and looked at Max.
"You didn't mention that you knew Killian." She said and looked at her watch.
"Shit! I'm going to be late! You'll have to tell me about how you know each other later." Lyric said. She kissed Killian on the cheek.
"I love you I'll see you later." She smiled and winked.
"Love you too darling have a good day." Killian said as Lyric left the kitchen and went hollering up the stairs telling Symphony she loved her.
"See you later Uncle Max!" Lyric said as she walked out the front door.

Killian looked at Max.
"You didn't tell Lyric you worked with me before. Why?" He asked.
"To protect her." Max said.
"From what exactly?" Killian asked.
"The truth." Mac replied.