as long as we have eachother

Payton was relieved when Henry grabbed the skittles, hearing the candy moving around in the package was enough to excite her. She felt so foolish not even being able to reach out and grab them herself. It was such a simple task and she needed Henry to even do that for her. In the back of her mind, she had no idea how she was supposed to eventually move out. Exhaling, Payton followed Henry back out to the car and she was quiet for the short drive home. She knew how this night would end, how most nights ended - but she hoped that Henry wouldn't get too wild since they would actually be alone for the first time in a really long time.

She smiled when Henry offered her the two items, nodding hurriedly. "Yes, of course. I'll meet you at the front door," she said, sure she could at least do that on her own. Climbing out of the car, Payton's movements were a bit slower than they had been in the past, afraid to accidentally run into something she hadn't been expected to be in the way. When Henry opened the door, Payton was quick to kick off her shoes before heading into the living room. She knew that Henry would set the groceries away before he joined her in the living room. Setting the movie and skittles down, Payton took the chance to head up to her bedroom so that she could get changed into a pair of plain pajamas - just sleep shorts and a tank top before making her way back downstairs where she settled on the couch .

---

Charles nodded when Zada started speaking, trying to encourage her to keep going. Something was obviously bothering her and he doubted this was something that she had brought up with Henry, if she was starting out with mentioning Henry. His brows pulled together at her wordss, his mind instantly going to a darker place. It wasn't something that he could say he ever thought he would hear that Henry did and he was quick to brush it aside.

"Sweetheart, you know your sister is... she needs a lot of help now. And she was in the accident with your mother. She probably still feels guilty, even if you don't realize it. That's probably why she's crying," it was easy for Charles to brush off. Even if what Zada was hinting at was the truth, Charles would cover for Henry. After all, his twin had saved him when the cheerleader incident happened all of those years ago. "You probably get a lot less attention than you're used to, huh? I can see why you'd be jealous. That's perfectly normal but I'm sure your dad is just trying his best to take care of his girls while still mourning the loss of your mom."

Charles was quiet for a long moment before he opened his arms for her. "C'mere. Let me hug you?"

Henry watched Payton over the car, grabbing the bags in his hands, grabbing the beer last. Looking at the case cause his stomach to turn, but he couldn't stop drinking. He was so stressed out and it was the only way he could relax... Too bad whenever he relaxed, he couldn't keep his hands off Payton. Opening the door for her, he watched her run off after kicking away her shoes. Sighing, Henry wrangled the groceries and used his foot to kick Payton's shoes together into the corner. Dropping the bags to the table, he put away everything that needed to go in the fridge first, dropping the case of beer to the lower shelf.

He heard Payton's door slam upstairs, and he imagined she was wanting to undress out of her school clothes. Ripping open the case, he grabbed a can and popped it open, glad Payton was out of range to hear. It didn't help that he felt the need to hide it. He couldn't, when he got too close, it would be all over his breath... But still, he didn't want to worry her, she couldn't worry if she didn't know he was already getting started. Pulling his own shoes off, he enjoyed the beer alone in the kitchen, his mind racing until he heard Payton's footsteps in the living room.

Pushing himself to enter the living room, he leaned against the door and looked over at Payton. "So what are we doing? Popcorn and a movie now? Or, the sun's already down, do you want to enjoy an ice cream in the hot tub?" Henry knew what he was doing. He was trying everything he could to make her happy now, because he knew she'd be crying later.

---

Zada felt her bottom lip start to tremble and her eyes fell away from Charles again. Her heart had sank to her stomach and she felt so small, her worries just being so easily brushed aside. Especially after how hard it had been to muster up the courage to speak them. But what if he was right? What if Zada was trying to make it all up in her head like her father was doing something wrong because she was just jealous?

She'd have to talk to Payton.

During the silence, Zada wanted to scream, to cry, to complain that it wasn't fair. That she had lost her mother too and it wasn't fair that she felt so lonely all of the time. Tears burned her eyes as she stared down at his bed, sucking on her lip where she had bitten it. She couldn't bring herself to move until Charles spoke again, her body felt so heavy, like stone. Still, she forced herself to crawl into his arms, something telling her that deep down, this was all she had wanted anyway. Curling up into his arms, wrapping her own around his torso, she couldn't help but let the tears fall down her face.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, though she felt like she was apologizing for a lot of things. Keeping him awake, being in his bed bothering him, potentially lying about her father...

@ castle.

Looking toward the direction that Henry’s voice cane from, Payton gave him a light smile. It was all she could muster because she knew at some point, whether it was during the movie or while they relaxed in the hot tub, something would change. Henry’s thoughts would drift to something darker and Payton would have no choice but to take what he had to give.

“Maybe the hot tub tomorrow?” Payton suggested after another moment of silence, as if she thought by prolonging it, Henry would just decide to head to sleep instead. As if. Payton reached back, tugging the blanket from the back of the couch before she set it on her lap, leaving some of it off to the side for Henry.

Payton pushed the blanket off, when she realized just how unhelpful she was being. “I can put the popcorn in the microwave if you want, while you get the movie all set up?” She suggested as she moved to stand, already heading toward the kitchen. She wanted to at least do something so Henry didn’t have to do it all.

---

Charles felt crushed as he watched the emotions at war on Zara’s face. He could only imagine how she felt. Even trying to put himself in her shoes, Charles felt like his entire world would crumble. Losing one parent in a horrific accident where Henry’s sight was taken from him... he’d essentially lose both parents because Henry would need so much help and there’d be nothing left for Charles. He bit back a sigh, relieved when Zada crawled into his lap. His arms tightened around her, one hand rubbing her back in an attempt to comfort her.

“It’s fine, Zada. I swear,” Charles spoke, his voice gentle as he reached up to wipe away some of her tears. “You’re hurting and Your dad has to help Payton. You feel neglected and that sucks. I know,” he paused, tilting his head to the side as he studied her. “But I’m always here for you. I promise, okay? Anything you need... whenever you need it. Doesn’t matter, okay?”

Charles shifted them around so he could lay down with Zada held to his chest. “Why don’t you stay in here tonight? Bed’s plenty big enough and if you feel up to it, you can always hear back to your room, too. How’s that sound?”

"Sounds good," Henry nodded, knowing she was more than capable of finding her way around the kitchen. Henry was obsessive over the house, always
making sure everything was in its right place. Nothing had changed in the house since before the accident. He always wanted Payton to feel independent, at least in her own home, as much as she could. He did so much for her, he wished she noticed. "I'm going to go change, and then I'll put on the movie."

Moving towards the stairs, his beer still clinging in his hand, he called towards the kitchen, "if you need me just yell!" It was a nervous habit, but Henry always had to make sure Payton remembered he was there for her. How could she forget though? Henry left the door to his room cracked open, so he could hear anything downstairs. Pulling off his clothes, he changed into something much more comfortable. A pair of gray sweat pants and a black shirt advertising the local high schools football team.

By the time he arrived back to the living room, he could hear the microwave beeping loudly, the smell of popcorn filling the house. He grabbed the movie off of the table and placed it into their DVD player, his fingers fidgeting. He wanted to go to the kitchen, make sure Payton could find a bowl, or that she didn't burn herself on the bag, but be forced himself to refrain. She was a big girl, she could do it. Sitting on the couch for the first time, Henry sipped his beer, waiting for Payton as he watched the title screen.

---

Zada wished she could tell Charles how she felt like a ghost in her home, that her father barely acknowledged her to the point, sometimes she had nightmares that she had been the one who died in the accident. A light gasp escaped her lips when he moved them, laying her on her side and pulling her to his chest. It didn't help that every time she looked up at him, she saw her father, the man she desperately wanted to please. It was easy to remind herself of the reality though, her small hand rising to his face, her thumb brushing over the thick beard on his face.

His arms wrapped loosely around her torso felt so comforting. Charles was like a large pillow and she found herself calming down easily as she relaxed against his chest. "Can I?" She breathed, knowing he had already given her permission to stay, but she felt the need to ask again. She remembered how sometimes, at night, she'd creep to Payton's room only to find her father sleeping with her in her bed, his arms wrapped around her tightly. Maybe Zada was just jealous...

@ castle.

Grabbing the bag of popcorn, Payton placed it in the microwave before hitting a random button. She listened to the sounds of the popping carefully, not wanting burnt popcorn. No one liked burnt popcorn and she was sure that Henry would be upset that he’d hadn’t been nearby to help out if she made such a simple mistake. That was the last thing that she wanted right now.

Payton turned away from the microwave, grabbing a glass so that she could pour herself a glass of tea. She turned toward the fridge and opened it, leaning down to grab the pitcher of tea. She hadn’t been expecting her hand to knock against a square box but when it did, her blood ran cold. She knew what it was, without even seeing it. Payton gulped, forcing herself to continue pouring herself the drink.

When the popcorn finished, Payton tossed it into a bowl before grabbing her drink. She was careful as she walked, not wanting to spill either one. She was trying to act as normal as possible, not wanting to let Henry in on the fact that she knew he had gotten beer on the way home.

Payton settled back against the couch, swallowing thickly as she set her glass down. “So, what is this movie about?” She asked. Anything to distract herself.

---

Charles let out a soft laugh, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss to Zada’s forehead. “Of course you can. This weekend is your little retreat. If you need my company to sleep better then..” he trailed off, shrugging his shoulders. It wasn’t something that Charles would ever take from her - she so obviously needed attention. Sending her back to her room just seemed unnecessary and like it might end up hurting her even worse.

“Besides, I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want you to stay,” Charles murmured, giving her another little squeeze. “Do you want to put something on the radio? Will that help?” He asked after a moment. Charles didn’t like having a television in his room so he didn’t have one but he thought music might help Zada to further relax

Henry looked up from the tv, a smile spreading across his face, one he wished she could see. He wondered if things would be easier between them if she could see his face, see the smiles that she brought to it. Instead, all she could hear was his stressed sighs, or feel the way his body tensed, or when he cursed under his breath. Payton could never see when he smiling at her, the way his eyes lit up at the sight of her.

"Uh, spies...?" Henry spoke as if he wasn't entirely sure himself. "but also ninjas? I don't know, but maybe it'll be...good?" He wasn't entirely confident, but he knew either way, an hour in to the movie and a few beers later, anything would be good. He watched how she carefully sat her glass down, hovering it above the table for a few seconds before she could confirm it wouldn't fall. Henry leaned over and helped her sit back, pulling the cover up over her legs again so she was comfortable. "It shouldn't put us to sleep, though," he laughed as he relaxed back into the couch.

---

Zada felt her fingers twisting into the fabric of his shirt, a nervous habit as she listened to him. His voice was calming and hearing that he wanted her to stay, it helped her relax that much more. "No, no, it's okay..." She whispered, enjoying the fact that she was able to hear his breathing. If he fell asleep before her, that would be enough to help soothe her to sleep, she hoped at least. Her head resting against his chest, she could also hear his heart beat, thudding heavily against his ribcage.

She was just relieved that he hadn't gotten angry at her, hadn't accused her of trying something inappropriate, crawling into his bed the way she had. Zada closed her eyes and snuggled closer up against him, for a second, pretending he was her dad. If he's going to actually give you attention, he's better than your dad," she thought to herself. Wrapping her arms tighter around him, she sighed, "thank you, Uncle Charlie."

@ castle.

Payton couldn't help but let out a small laugh as Henry attempted to describe what the movie was about. She shook her head as she shoved a handful of popcorn into her mouth. It was only once she had swallowed that she spoke. "Sounds like Batman... Dad," Payton tried to sound like she was accusing him of something. "Did you really just rent Batman, again?!" She knew how much Henry liked the Batman movies so in truth, she wouldn't have even been all that surprised. She laughed as she shifted around, until she could lean against Henry's side. She knew each time she heard a can be lifted and set back down, that Henry was taking another sip of his ber but she hoped that if she got comfortable and laid against him, that Henry wouldn't want to disturb her.

"But I guess I can still love you," Payton murmured around yet another handful of popcorn. She really did still love Henry, despite what happened between them. As soon as Henry finished and he was back to his old stuff, it was like old times. Or as close to it, as they could be after the accident. Payton shifted around again until she could lay down with her head in his lap. "Sorry if i fall asleep," she said, grinning up at him despite herself. Payton was never really able to get through movies because she always managed to fall asleep halfway through, which hadn't changed even now. Maybe if she did fall asleep, Henry wouldn't try anything more with her tonight.

---

Charles nodded when Zada spoke, reaching up to start running his fingers through her hair. He was quiet up until when she thanked him. He bit back a sigh as he shook his head, leaning over to press a kiss to the side of her head. "You don't have to thank me. It's what I'm here for you," he murmured. He was careful as he leaned down, pulling the blanket up over their bodies so that they could get comfortable. "Does the light bother you? I can turn it off if it does," he offered, knowing that he wasn't quite ready to fall asleep but it seemed like Zada was.

Without waiting for an answer from her, Charles reached out and turned the light off after setting an alarm so that they could wake up in time to get started on the hike.

- - -

Groaning as the alarm went off, Charles reached out and turned it off after a few moments. He started rubbing Zada's back, rolling over to face her fully. "Hey, you," he greeted in a tired voice, when she started to come around. "It's time to get up. Why don't you get changed and then meet me by the front door, hm?"

"Noooo," Henry shook his head, trying to sound genuine when Payton accused him of his movie choices. But, Batman had a rather specific voice and it wouldn't be long until Payton could tell he had, in fact, rented another Batman movie for millionth time. Henry reached over, grabbing a few pieces of popcorn off of the top of the bowl, popping them into his mouth as he relaxed back into the couch. It had been pretty selfish to rent another movie he knew would only serve to put Payton to sleep, but it wasn't like she was going to pay much attention either way.

When she shifted and ended up laying her head in his lap, Henry looked down, his tongue slowly running over his bottom lip. His hands moved to run through her hair, but he hesitated for a moment, admiring her for a moment. "If you're sleepy, you're sleepy. Rest, baby, I'll pack you up to bed if you do." Henry kept telling himself he could sit on this couch, enjoy his beer and that would be it. He didn't have to touch her, or hurt her, or make her cry. He never wanted to make her cry... He was fine for the moment, but who knew what might happen once he laid her small body in her bed, limp while she slept. He wouldn't be able to control himself.

Running his fingers through her hair, Henry tried his best to just focus on the movie, but it was hard when he had seen it so many times. After what only felt like a few minutes, he looked down and saw Payton's eyes closed, her lips parted slightly as she slept. His hand ran down from her hair, his thumb grazing over her cheek before he slid his arms underneath of her. One under her knees and the other around her back. Lifting her up, one one swift motion as he stood to his feet, Henry slowly carried her upstairs.

Her bedroom was dark, the purple curtains blocking out the moonlight tinted the room a hazy violet. He crept into her room, closing the door behind him quietly with his foot before bringing her to rest on the bed. His hands slipped out from underneath of her and before Henry could even think about it, he slipped to his knees by the bed and just stared at her , for a moment, completely disgusted with himself. What had he been doing to his daughter? Reaching out to touch her cheek again, Henry leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her nose, feeling his eyes burning as tears threatened to fall.

---

The alarm had jolted Zada awake, but remembering instantly where she had slept, her body froze. She couldn't find the courage to open her eyes, until Charles was gently shaking her shoulder, the alarm no longer blaring. His voice was thick with sleep, sending shivers down Zada's back. "Hey," she groaned, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "Okay," she whispered, sitting up straight and turning so her legs hung off the bed. She hesitated for a few moments, fighting the urge to just fall back asleep, even sitting up. Zada was still half asleep as she pulled herself up, not really thinking about how she was leaving her uncle's bed.

Once out in the hallway, Zada stopped again, looking over her shoulder at his bedroom door. She had slept with her uncle, and they had cuddled. And...she didn't feel weird about it? Trying to force herself to feel weird about it, she crept back into her room. A voice in her head was repeating over and over, Thats disgusting, you're too old, you're not supposed to do that...

Wren grabbed her clothes from her bag and brought them to the bathroom. Slipping out of her silk pajamas, she dressed, braided her hair in two rows and slid a gray beanie on before her jacket. It was fall, and was bound to be freezing outside as October was changing into November. Yawning, she headed into the living room, her bag on her shoulder which carried her art supplies and her canvas. "Ready," she yawned once more, looking up at Charles at the door.

@ castle.

Payton had only been half-kidding when she accused Henry of renting a Batman movie but she wasn't the least bit surprised when it turned out to be the truth. She bit back a groan for two reasons. Henry already did so much for her, he deserved to watch a movie he enjoyed, didn't he? And another, smaller part that she would never admit to was afraid of complaining too much. Henry was drinking and if she somehow upset him, Payton knew tonight would end with her in tears. Most nights alone with Henry did but if he was angry or upset, it would be worse. So she would try her best not to make it worse. Exhaling slowly, Payton pulled the blanket up to her chin and wasn't the least bit surprised when she started to fall asleep.

Stirring slightly when Henry picked her up, Payton only snuggled into his chest. It wasn't until Payton felt a kiss to her nose that she started to actually wake up, frowning slightly as she started to come to. Reaching up to rub her eyes, Payton mumbled, "Is it over?" When she realized she was already in her bed, Payton realized that it must have been. She shivered as she turned toward the edge of the bed where she could feel Henry's presence.

Her eyes opened as she braced herself for what she was coming. Payton knew that fighting with Henry only served to anger him and had been when Henry truly hurt her for the first time. She wouldn't do that again, ever, she thought. Payton shifted her hips so that she could lay down flat, her stomach twisted into a firm knot as she tried to find the courage to speak. "How was.. the movie?" Payton forced herself to speak, wondering if she could distract him from what was going through his mind.

---

Charles was admittedly a bit surprised when Zada stood without much of an argument. He had thought she would try to argue a bit but she moved to her feet without him even having to convince her to stand a second time. He pushed to a sitting position, watching Zada retreat out of the room before he convinced himself to stand. Grabbing a pair of running pants, Charles pulled them on before grabbing a plain tshirt on. Running a hand through his hair, Charles left the bedroom and headed into the kitchen. He grabbed the food from the fridge and started putting it in his bag, methodically.

He glanced up when Zada appeared, giving her a bright smile. He glanced over her form to make sure she was adequately covered - he didn't want anything happening to her while out on the hike. Satisfied, Charles pulled the bag onto his bag. "Do you want a cup of coffee to go?" He asked, nodding in the direction of the coffee pot that was still basically full from the pot he'd made for himself. Charles wouldn't tell her she couldn't have caffeine or something else utterly ridiculous.

"So, what's this project, anyway? Just to paint a landscape?" Charles asked as they started out of the cabin, sliding his keys into his back pocket.

Henry looked up, blinking a few times as he straightened out his expression. His breath was thick with the scent of beer, the taste still lingering on his tongue. His face was hot, and thinking about it, how many beers had he had again? Watching Payton stir, he swallowed around the lump in his throat, briefly wishing she hadnt woken up. If she had just stayed asleep, he might've been able to convince himself to just get up and leave the room, to go sleep in his own bed and leave her alone...

But instead, here she was. Rolling onto her back and relaxing into the mattress, his eyes raking down the silhouette of her body. His hands were clammy, and he tried to keep his mind from drifting to a darker place. "It's over." He nodded, shifting to sit on the edge of the bed. Turning to look at her, Henry raised a hand to gently pinch her chin, his thumb running over her bottom lip.

Especially in the dark, she looked so much like his late wife. The shadows hid the differences, and if he wasn't thinking about it, he couldn't see a difference. He didn't care either way. Pulling hand hand away from her face, Henry clenched his jaw, cursing himself before he leaned in quickly, kissing Payton hard on the lips.

---

The cold frigid wind bit at Zada's nose as they left the cabin. The sky was still dark, no sign of the sun about to rise yet. Bringing the mug of coffee to her lips, glad Charles had suggested it, she took a sip, feeling it warm her up from the inside out. Beginning their hike up the mountain, Zada remembered how Charles said it would take at least an hour to get to the top. "Well, it doesn't have to be a landscape, but it was either a landscape or a still life." She didn't give much more reasoning than that, biting down on her lip when she remembered why she chose a landscape. It gave her a perfect excuse to get away for the weekend. If she hadn't wanted too, she would've been at home right now, probably having finished the project by now. This landscape was turning out to be a lot more hard work than she imagined.

Thirty minutes into their walk, Wren had finished her coffee and was finally beginning to feel a bit more energetic. "How much time do you spend out here?" Charles had appeared out of the woods when she had arrived and not many other people would be willing to get up before the sun for a hike.

Zada was trying not to think about it, but her mind kept going back to last night. She glanced towards him, her eyes running over his arms, remembering how they had felt wrapped around her. It felt so foreign to receive so much attention. She wondered if it was only because it had been so long since they had spent time together, if sooner or later it would wear off and he wouldn't be so enthusiastically supportive anymore.

@ castle.

Payton felt defeated when the mattress dipped under Henry's weight. She didn't have to be able to see him to know that her little attempt at distracting him hadn't mattered at all. Her attempts rarely ever worked and she knew not to push her luck, biting down on the inside of her lip. A chill ran down Payton's spine when Henry gripped her chin, her lips parting as Henry's finger brushed against her bottom lip. She wanted to cry, feeling a lump form in her throat. Please don't. The words were on the tip of her tongue but she didn't dare speak them, her body tensing as Henry's lips crashed against hers. Her lips parted on instinct, her fingers clutching the sheet beneath her.

She started to shake slightly beneath his touch, her eyes squeezing shut. Payton hoped that Henry would leave after he finished, to his own bed but she knew he preferred to stay with her. He only ever left because he was afraid that Zada would see them in bed together but without her sister here, she was sure that Henry would settle down beside her.

Payton absolutely hated the taste of alcohol on Henry's breath, it made her stomach turn. She knew that his first beer hadn't been his only one. The more that Henry drank, the more he tended to want from her. She was breathless when Henry finally pulled away, a blush covering her cheeks as she turned her head to the side, just hoping that Henry wouldn't drag this out.

---

"Well, a still life is boring. I mean, probably a lot less of a workout though..." Charles trailed off, letting out a small laugh as he glanced toward Zada with a little grin. "But I promise you this will be worth it. Even if you wish you were back in your bed right now. Think about how amazed your teacher is going to be! I bet no one else in your class is going to have anything like yours is," he said. He gave her a bright smile because he was sure that he was right. How many would be dedicated enough to hike to the top of a mountain for a good vantage point of a sunrise over the valley that the town was in.

They fell into a comfortable silence and Charles was surprised that he didn't mind Zada's company. He usually preferred hiking alone but Zada's company was welcoming. He breathed a sigh as he glanced toward her, giving her a little smile at her question. "I try to make this hike most mornings. It's a decent workout so I can usually relax when I get home. Or do whatever I want or something that needs done, you know?" Charles spoke softly.

"I spend a lot of time in the woods though. Hunting, fishing, and chopping wood. It's peaceful. Not many people venture out here so I have to learn to rely on myself a lot. Which I guess.. it was hard at first but it's gotten easier," he added with a shrug of his shoulders. He meant early on in life but when he finished speaking, Charles realized where Zada could possibly take it. Right when Henry had started distancing them from him.

Henry couldn't gauge Payton's emotions well, the shadows of the room covering her expressions, but with the bit of light he had, he could see her blush. His stomach did flips, his heart feeling like it had found its way to his throat. Swallowing thickly, Henry brought his hand to cup Payton's cheek, leaning in for another kiss. But this time, Henry didn't pull away. His tongue grazed along her bottom lip, begging for entrance, his hand rubbing down her side. Lying next to Payton, he pulled her into his big arms, feeling like if he wanted to, he could just crush her and she could do nothing about it.

His tongue found its way between her lips, and his hand that had been roaming down her side was now pushing her sleep pants down her hips. Just enough until Henry's hand could slip inside, moving straight between her legs. His hand forced her thighs apart, feeling how they were trembling, but between her legs, her cunt was dripping. "Baby girl," he smirked, breaking away from her lips for only a second. His fingers brushing gently up and down on her lips, smearing the wetness around before his thumb parted her, he began to rub her clit. The way her body was speaking to him and the skewed perception from all the beers he had drank, Henry was able to tell himself she wanted it.

Leaning back on his knees, Henry grabbed Lia's legs, bringing them up to rest against his chest, one foot resting on each of his shoulders, scooting her as close to him as possible. He pulled his cock from his pants, already hard, throbbing for his daughter. Still, he stroked himself a few times first, looking down at Payton on her back. His free hand opened her pussy again for him, and Henry waited just a moment, admiring how pink and swollen she was, before he pushed his cock deep into her.

---

Zada began to feel nervous again, goosebumps running up her arms when Charles finished speaking. She thought about what he could mean, hopefully talking about when he first moved into these woods, at first, but relying on himself, he could mean when they stopped visiting. Her dad did used to help Charles, a lot, between bringing him food on the weekends, not like he needed it, but just to be helpful, and forcing Charles to come to town for things like ball games and festivals. She had always wondered why...

Crossing her arms over her chest, she contemplated asking. Was it appropriate? If it was something horrible, did she run the risk of making this whole hike awkward? They'd be up here for hours, how long of an awkward silence could she handle? Zada glanced up at Charlie, before taking a deep breath and just asking, "You don't have to answer if you don't want too, but do you know why we stopped visiting you?" Surely it couldn't be something horrendous, or Henry wouldn't have allowed her to come on her own.

@ castle.

Payton's body would always respond to Henry's touch - whether she wanted it or not. This wasn't like the first time they had laid together, where she had cried and suffered because she felt like she owed something to Henry. At least her body warmed up to him, at least she could take him without being dry and in pain until Henry finished. Her breathing hitched when Henry's hands travelled inside her shorts, willing herself to spread her thighs for him. As afraid as she was to be doing this, Payton knew it was better to at least try and pretend that she liked what was happening.

Gasping as his finger brushed against her clit, Payton arched into his touch. She did her best not to think about what she was doing or what was happening because that was when she started to think about how wrong this was. How gross it was that she was practically enjoying what Henry was doing to her. That she was letting him have his way with her because she owed it to him, after having taken her mother from him. That if she didn't do what Henry wanted, he could start hurting Zada. If he hurt Zada... her heart skipped a beat at the thought alone.

She did her best not to whimper as Henry dragged her closer to his form. She shifted, resisting the urge to move her legs from his shoulders. Whatever Henry wanted, Payton would give to him. She let out a sharp gasp, arching off of the bed as Henry pressed into her. Her lips parted, her eyes wide as she gripped the sheets below her. "D-Daddy, please-" it was all she managed to say before a moan was dragged from her lips. Payton didn't know what she was asking for. For him to stop or just not to hurt her too bad? Biting down on her bottom lip, Payton tried to quiet herself down. Even without Zada actually here, she did her best to remain quiet as Henry started to fuck her.

---

Charles looked over to Zada when she started speaking, not the least bit surprised by her question. He couldn't exactly tell her the truth, he knew that. There was no way he could just blurt out that he had been the one behind a girl's disappearance from a few towns over. To tell the truth would risk Zada telling someone else who would tell the authorities and then he would go away from a long time. His stomach twisted at the thought. No, he couldn't dare tell her any part of the truth. Instead, Charles chose to shrug his shoulders. He gave her a small smile.

"No idea why your Dad decided to push distance between us, sweetheart. But it is what it is, right? Something that already happened, no changing it now. No point in dwelling on it," Charles said, letting out a small sigh. He reached up, rubbing his beard as his face scrunched. He wished that he had a better excuse to give her but truthfully, Charles didn't have anything he could say to her. "Maybe he was just tired of helping me out all the time, he wanted to live his own life without having to help me with every little thing, you know?"

Payton was so tight, with each thrust, Henry could feel her tighten around him, as if trying to keep him inside of her. His hands wrapped around her thighs, keeping her from squirming away if she tried. When she moaned out, the way daddy slipped off of her tongue, Henry couldn't help it. He bucked his hips harder, slamming into her, his eyes staring at how her tits bounced for him. Loosening his grip on her thighs, Henry shifted so he could lean down over her, dropping her legs to instead wrap around his waist.

Henry always felt like he had to pin her down, dominate her, in fear that if he loosened up or was to careless, she'd try to run from him. He knew she wouldn't get far, but Henry didn't want to watch his daughter squirm in his hands. So if he held her tight enough, she couldn't. When and if she started to cry or plead for him to stop, that was the worst for him, but he could never stop.

He leaned down to kiss around her chest, his lips suckling on one of her breasts as his hand groped the other. He grazed his teeth over her nipple, moaning against her when he felt it harden against his tongue. He pushed into her deeper, feeling his cock pushing her open, but he did slow slightly. His mouth trailed up her neck until his lips met hers again, his hands roaming up and down her body, squeezing her breasts. "Everything about you... Is just like her..." Henry whispered against her soft lips.

---

Zada didn't really buy the excuse, remembering just how close they had all seemed. In one day, everything changed. It would've been more gradual if it was just because her father was tired of helping him, but how do you get tired of seeing your family? Zada couldn't imagine going years without seeing Payton. Still, she dropped it, not wanting to push and question him, she didn't want to upset him.

When they reached the top of the mountain, the horizon beyond the town was just beginning to wash red. Zada dropped her bag from her shoulder and let her hands rest on her hips, taking in a deep breath now that she could relax. She definitely wasn't used to such a hike. She forgot all about her sore sides though when she looked down the mountains from where they stood, seeing the town they lived in. It looked so small from up here. "Wow." She breathed, her brows raising slightly in awe of how beautiful it was.

They had a bit of time before the sun would start to show, and Zada wanted to take a second before to catch her breath before pulling her canvas out. Thankfully, there was a little bench up here at the end of the trail, and she wondered if Charles had placed it out here. If he did this hike as often as he said, did he like to just come out here and watch the sun rise and set? "You weren't lying about the view," Zada smiled, taking a seat on the bench.

@ castle.

Payton kept telling herself that this would end, soon enough. As soon as Henry finished, he would stop touching her and she wondered if he would start to apologize like he did sometimes. That was always the worst because it made her skin crawl to think that Henry could be doing this to her all while he planned to apologize for it after. He knew it was wrong and yet he would still do it because he needed some sort of companionship - it wasn't the first time that Henry had told her that she reminded him too much of her mother. That was part of why he touched her.

She squirmed beneath him, her thighs wrapping around his waist as Henry leaned over her. Payton's eyes flew open when his teeth grazed against her nipple and she couldn't help the little gasp that she let out. Payton whimpered, trying to ease close to him, only for his words sent a chill down her spine. Turning her head away from him, tears welled in her eyes. Payton tried desperately to keep it to herself but another thrust pulled a sob from her. She reached up, frantic to cover her face so that Henry wouldn't see just how upset she was.

---

Charles couldn't help but feel an odd sense of pride with how amazed Zada appeared to be over the vantage point. He'd spent years hiking around here, he knew just about every trail and it wasn't unheard of for him to go on a hike that would last a few nights if he thought the view was worth it. Charles sighed as he set his hands on his hips, looking out over the valley. "I told you it would be worth it," eh teased as he shrugged the bag from his shoulders. He produced a large canteen filled with water that he was quick to pour into two collapsible glasses, handing one to her.

"I have... a banana, some cashews, or some sliced up apples with peanut butter. Do you want a snack?" Charles asked as he rummaged around in his bag before pulling out the cashews for himself. He groaned as he finally sat beside Zada on the bench. "This hike goes by really fast, on the way down. Before you know it, we'll be back at the cabin and you'll be able to take a shower or nap or whatever you want to do," he said. "And I promise I won't drag you up here tomorrow. It's your weekend, you should be able to at least enjoy some part of it, huh?"

His hands gripped the sheets on either side of her head, watching as her head fell to the side. The moan that escaped her lips just continued to help Henry in the moment. He pushed himself up slightly, his hands moving from the sheets to hold her hips as he continued to fuck her. Her mattress started to squeak, the bed frame smacking against the wall with each thrust. For once, he didn't have to worry about waking Zada up. There was no one else in the house to hear their panting breath, the creaking mattress or her cries, if it came to that point.

Feeling himself reaching his climax, Henry dug his fingers into her hips, cumming deep inside of the girl under him. She wanted nothing more than to squirm away, to escape his clutches, he knew that. A loud moan slipped off of his tongue, his hips still rocking back and forth very slowly, loving how he felt inside of her. Henry wasn't afraid of getting his daughter pregnant, she was on birth control and even if something happened, he would make sure the situation was taken care of.

Sliding out of her, he shuddered, feeling just how sensitive his cock had become. His eyes fell down Payton's limp body, her legs trembling as she tried to push away, to give herself some space. He stopped her though, his hand hooking around her knee to drag her back to him. Sliding his fingers up her thigh, his thumb ran over her slit, wiping up any cum that dared tried to escape from her. "Such a good girl," he whispered, completely captivated by how gorgeous she was.

---

"Apples, please." Zada smiled, having almost forgotten about the food Charles had packed up the night before. Taking the little Tupperware container from her uncle, she popped the lid off and picked up one of the slices, and agreed, "yeah, its definitely worth it. And probably a nap, my legs already feel like Jell-O," she laughed, dipping the apple slice into some peanut butter.

They sat and ate their snacks and before long, the sun was beginning to peak above the horizon. Excited, Zada placed the lid back onto the food container and sat it next to her on the bench, before unzipping her own bag. She had brought a tiny collapsible easel, one canvas and all of the paints and brushes she thought she would need. A few minutes into painting her landscape, she thought about what they would do tomorrow. Her dad said he'd be back to pick her up later in the afternoon, maybe she would just lay around and be lazy?

"Do you have any plans for tomorrow?" She asked him, doing her best to still talk to him while she tried to focus. "Or for later today?" Luckily, landscapes didn't take long and with Zada's style, she'd probably have it in mostly done maybe around in around an hour. Any little details or perfections she could always finish back in his cabin.

@ castle.

Payton shook beneath Henry and she said a silent prayer that Henry wouldn't realize why as her tears flowed down her cheeks. She hoped that he didn't realize she felt completely horrified and disgusted with herself, her body was responding to Henry's touch even if she wanted nothing more than to push him away and put an end to this. Grunting as Henry finished inside her, Payton's movements stilled for a long moment until he pulled away from her entirely.

It gave her the opportunity to try and squirm away from him, wanting to put as much distance between them as she could. Payton's bed was a full-sized bed, there wasn't a whole lot of space for her to move in but she was hopeful that Henry would let go of her. She froze when Henry pulled her back against him, her stomach flip-flopping as she felt his fingers teasing her thighs. Payton's lips parted as she frantically wiped away the tears. She was forcing herself to calm, wrapping her arms tightly around her torso as if she could protect herself from Henry's desires.

She nodded at his praise, relieved that it seemed like Henry was still in a good mood. Usually, when he was in a good mood, Payton wouldn't have to suffer as much. She hoped this was the end of it. She sniffled, refusing to turn toward him. "C-Can I.. go clean up?" Her voice was small but hopeful that Henry would let go do as she asked so that she could shower and try to scrub her skin clean of the dirty feeling she couldn't quite shake as Henry held her close.

---

Charles fell into a silence, pulling out the book from the bag as he let Zada focus on her painting. He forced himself to focus on what he was doing, only to start glancing toward her out of the corner of his eye. Charles had done his best to ignore the cravings he had, after the incident with the cheerleader years ago. He'd done a pretty damn good job, considering he hadn't hurt a single person since then. He dreamed of it, thought of different ways he could but he never followed through in fear that he would completely lose what family he had left. If he didn't have Henry or the girls in his life, what would he have? But... if Henry was doing what he suspected, what Zada had told him about... would Henry really be able to do anything if he showed Zada a bit of affection? That would be all it was. Nothing more - he wouldn't send her back with bruises or anything else.

Clearing his throat when Zada spoke, Charles looked up to her and gave a quick shrug of his shoulders. "I didn't really have anything in mind. Was there something you wanted to do?" He asked, tilting his head to the side. He let his gaze sweep over her and for a moment, Charles was sure that he could get away with simply showing her affection. She seemed so deprived already, Charles wondered if she would be open to it or would she try to push him away?

Henry loosened his touch on Payton, recoiling back slightly when he noticed she was crying. She always cried. No matter how gently he touched her, no matter what sweet thing he said, she always cried. It might've been that Henry was tired, or just too deep in his own thoughts, but he couldn't bring himself to berate her, to mock her for crying like he sometimes would. This time, he just completely let go of her and nodded his head in the direction of the bathroom.

When Payton all but ran to get out of the bed, Henry watched her disappear and felt his shoulders slouch. Letting out a loud sigh, he fell back into the bed and let his arms stretch out next to him. Why did he always do this, why couldn't he stop? His head turned to the side, his nose pressing into her pillow. Inhaling deeply, Henry could smell her, the shampoo she used on her hair... Opening his eyes, he looked towards the clock on her night stand and forced himself up. He couldn't just lay there while she cleaned herself up alone, crying. And even though he knew she wanted to be alone, at least free of him, he still found himself trailing her to the bathroom.

He had pulled his sleeping pants back up, telling himself he could clean himself up later. Right now, Payton was more important. "Sweetie?" He knocked on the door before propping it open. "Can I help? Do you need clothes or a towel?"

---

"No, I had nothing in mind, either. Just curious." She answered, stifling a yawn as she returned her attention to the painting. About an hour passed and Zada had most of the canvas filled. It looked good, but it wasn't finished, but she could continue it later. Her hand was starting to cramp and regardless, she just wanted a break. Cleaning and drying her brush off, Zada began to put all of her paints away, leaving the canvas out to dry on the ground for the time being.

"I can finish the rest later," she told Charles, glancing up at him as she put away the easel and zipped her bag up. They still had the whole day ahead of them and Zada wondered what they could do. All she knew was that she definitely wanted to soak up the time she had with him, enjoying the attention and affection she was receiving. Standing up and stretching, she turned to look at Charles, who seemed like he was thinking long and hard about something serious. "Are you okay?" Zada asked, sitting down on the bench beside of him. "Thinking about something?" She teased him, a smile on her face as she lightly pinched his arm.

@ castle.

Payton kept herself silent after she asked her question, not daring to so much as look toward his direction. She didn't want to push him far enough that he would decide to either start telling her she needed to take this, that she was the reason this all started in the first place.. or he'd simply make fun of her for crying. Payton hated it because she loved Henry, she wanted him to be the father she had grown up with and she had loved with every ounce of her being. Payton had been a Daddy's girl. There was no getting around that fact. She gulped, not daring to even move a muscle until Henry grunted. It was all she needed to know he was giving her permission to clean herself up.

She pushed to her feet and all but rushed into the bathroom, turning the shower on. Payton hardly waited for it to even warm before she climbed inside, starting to scrub at her skin with her cloth. She was desperate to rid herself of the dirty feeling but no matter how hard she tried, it didn't really seem to matter at all. Eventually, Payton dropped the cloth on the side of the tub and simply hung her head as she openly cried. Her eyes squeezed shut, her nails digging into her sides.

Payton jumped when she heard the door open and Henry started to speak. She panicked for a moment, whipping around toward the direction of the door. Was he not finished after all? she gulped, sure that was about to help so when he offered her help, Payton took several long moments to answer. "Um, yeah. B-Both. Please," Payton forced herself to sound stronger than she felt at the moment. She sniffled as she wiped her cheeks. "I think I have a towel in here though.. y-you don't have to.. help. If you don't want to," Payton said, not wanting to ask more of Henry than she already had. She always needed something, Henry deserved to do things that weren't for her.

---

Charles hadn't flipped a page of his book in probably twenty minutes, his thoughts focused on trying to contain himself. He shouldn't be thinking about touching Zada, of loving her the way he wanted to. He swallowed thickly and turned away from her, convincing himself not to do anything. Or at least trying to, anyway. But then Zada was asking if he was okay and he knew that he was losing the battle before she even knew what was going on. It was nearly cruel if he thought about it for too long.

"You.. don't have to be jealous of the attention that your father gives Payton. You know that, hm?" He murmured, turning toward her with a slight frown. He wondered if Zada would realize what he was hinting at. Charles swallowed as he set his hand on Zada's thigh, his thumb brushing back and forth carefully. "I can make you feel good... don't you want that? Isn't that what you're jealous of? All the attention Payton gets, all of the.. pleasure she gets?"