[OPEN] it hurts to remember.

[deacon reid rudman]

Deacon stood at the edge of the play area, his arms crossed across his chest as he watched Bandit bounce around in the water in her little yellow bikini. He looked down at his green sneakers and yellow pants, realizing the two of them probably looked like something out of a clown car or something.

"She's really cute." Thatcher said, watching her with his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah, now that she's awake. It sucks I can't go play with her, though. Someone's bound to bump into me." Deacon mumbled, shifting his weight to his other foot. Bandit looked up and smiled, waving a hand at them. They waved back, the gesture nearly identical.

"Enjoy it. I watched you grow up. And look at you now. You have a baby of your own and a very handsome fiance. You just have to move a lot faster than the rest of us. Your life is-"

"Thatcher, where's Bandit?" Deacon asked, looking around the crowd of people for his familiar red head. But she wasn't there.

[connor crayze sykes]

Despite Deacon telling him to stay home and rest after his surgery when his secod kidney failed, Connor had decided to go for a walk. He had spotted Deacon at the water park, watched Bandit playing in the water. He smiled at her, luring her towards him as he crouched. "H-hey baby." He murmured, clearing his throat and ignoring any dirty looks from others.

[deacon reid rudman]

"Daddy!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. She pressed her wet body close to him, hugging him as tight as she could.

"Bandit?" Deacon called, walking around the crowd of people he couldn't go in. He finally saw her red hair and let out a sigh of relief, regardless of the fact it was Connor she was with. "Am I going to have to put a security guard at the door?" He teased Connor, watching how excited Bandit was to see him. Ever since she woke up, she was attached to Connor and Deacon.

"Found her?" Thatcher asked, and Deacon nodded.

"Yeah, found her with her boyfriend. Naughty girl." He said with a smile, leaning down to kiss Connor's forehead. "At least come sit if you're gonna get out in the sun."

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor smiled, hugging her tight. He didn't dare lift her, not wanting to rip stitches loose. He glanced up at Deacon sheepishly, standing slowly and taking Bandit's hand, following them back towards Thatcher. He huffed at the words that he should sit, was getting antsy with how little he was able to get out anymore. But being out so much had already caused his health to drop even more, despite his wishes to be with his friends while he could. He found a rock that had been purposefully placed, and sat down, stretching his legs out.

[deacon reid rudman]

Deacon followed him over, picking Bandit up when she tried to climb on Connor. He hugged her close, her wet swim suit making his shirt damp. He sat down on the grass beside him, holding Bandit in his lap. Thatcher sat down next to Deacon, careful not to touch him. Bandit started to wiggle, humming something and Deacon sat her on her feet.

"You gonna dance?" He asked, and she nodded, bouncing up and down. "That's pretty." He said, leaning back on his hands. She smiled, climbing up on his chest. "Ugh. Monkey child. This is why you have no siblings."

She crawled off of him and onto Thatcher who lifted her up, falling back on the grass. "You're so pretty." He told her and she smiled.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor smiled faintly as he watched them, stretching some with a soft yawn. It was actually nice out for once. He watched the people running about, kids laughing, and realized for a moment he was actually a part of all this. He turned his attention back towards the others, and finally slid off the rock and on to the grass, sprawling backwards beside Deacon, hands beneath his head.

[deacon reid rudman]

Deacon leaned over, kissing across his neck before he leaned back up and against his hands. He looked over at Thatcher, trying to explain to Bandit what a flower was. "Just don't give it to daddy."

"I'm not daddy." Deacon said. "She calls Connor daddy. She calls me dad."

"Don't give it to meany head." Thatcher said and Deacon rolled his eyes.

"Why?" She asked, picking another flower.

"Because dad makes flowers go bye bye. Pick a bunch for daddy and make him feel better." He told her, turning over onto his side to watch her. She picked the flowers carefully, then walked over to Connor, handing them to him.

"A better now?" She asked hopefully.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor smiled at the kisses, closing his eyes some. He opened them again to watch her with the flowers, amused. "Thank y-you baby.." He took them, setting them next to himself, trying to figure how in the world to reply to such a question to a little girl, one who was witnessing him practically dying. He shook his head slowly, reaching up to stroke her cheek. "No, but a lot h-happier.." He smiled. "Thank you for helping, s-silly girl."

[deacon reid rudman]

Deacon watched Bandit's face drop, and his heart broke. She wanted Connor better as much as he did. "No, daddy.. Get a better.." She complained, moving to lay beside him. Deacon reached over, stroking his hair gently.

"That's enough, Bandit. Give daddy a kiss and go play, okay?" He told her, and she kissed his cheek before wandering off to Thatcher. She pulled his hand, and the two of them went back over to the flowers, picking them carefully. Deacon sighed, laying back in the grass. "It's gonna look like a dead body laid here." He said, watching the grass die.

[connor crayze sykes]

"I-it's okay Bandit.." He murmured, biting his lip as he watched her. He managed a smile when she got up, then looked at Deacon. He couldn't help but scoff bitterly at the words. "Pretty damn close e-enough..." He muttered, then sighed. "Sorry..." He curled up on his side a bit, reaching over to stroke Deacon's cheek before kissing him softly on the lips.