William was ironing the children's clothes during a very cold morning to make them warmer. They weren't awake yet and he was lost in his thoughts, almost burning Blair's pants because of it. He got back to reality after rearing the sound of a door opening, and then immediately shutting down. It was Caleb 's. William enters his room and finds a very made up scene of Caleb pretending to be asleep, with his face not being visible and breaking out in a cold sweat. William thinks Caleb is having a nightmare so he tries to wake him up. Caleb was so nervous he accidentally started warming up very fastly his pajamas, bed and blankets while making smoke, so William immediately took the blankets off. Caleb sees himself cornered and jumps to stand up on his bed in an attack position, William notices his pants and his bed have a stain.
- Was that why you woke up so early? -
William asks, Caleb refuses to answer, clearly embarrassed. His hands had more fingers than they should, he had some spikes coming out of his tail, his horns were pointier, his mouth bigger with bigger pointier teeth, his eyes went from dark red to shining red with black sclera and his body was bigger.
- Caleb, it's ok. Kids your age do this sometimes. Now get out of there, you're going to burn your bed this way. -
William offers to take Caleb out of his bed, but the boy does it alone. William takes his sheet and blanket off to wash it while Caleb goes to shower. After the shower, Caleb's body went back to normal and he dressed himself up and went to talk with William. Caleb stays behind him, while William is washing his bed sheet by hand.
- I thought you would be mad. -
- Why would I be? Kids your age wet their bed sometimes. -
- But I almost put my bed on fire! -
- But you didn't. Next time this happens, just warn me, you could get sick if you try to sleep in a wet bed in this cold. -
William is still rubbing the sheets in the laundry tank, Caleb thinks a little and slowly goes walking towards William from behind. Caleb goes to William's left side and kindly hugs him.
- You're my favorite parent. -
William hugs Caleb back with his left arm but without his hand, because it was cold, wet and covered in soap.
- I love you, son. -
William tells him with a smile. Caleb looks at him with a big relieved smile and tears in his eyes. Suddenly, Blair appears and hugs William's right side.
- I LOVE YOU DAD! -
Blair says excited with a wide smile.
- I love you, daughter! -
William answers and hugs her back with his right arm without his hand, almost laughing at him for overthinking about his past earlier in the morning. But William smiles for so long the left side of his face starts bleeding, he instantly stops smiling and interrupts the hug to go to the bathroom. He takes his hair out of the way just to find out the scar on his face seems to have regressed to a wound. He makes a bandage and goes back to put Caleb's sheet on the clothes line and wash his blanket. "Is that because I'm not eating? Makes no sense, it was normal almost all week! Maybe it is because I'm drinking too much blood? But I puke it all up hours after, if not minutes! What if…" William's thoughts are interrupted by 4 little arms hugging him again, but now worried.
- What happened? -
Blair asks.
- I just hurt my face, it's nothing. -
- But it looks bad! -
- It doesn't, faces are just hard to make bandages. -
- Your hair is red now, and I don't say this as something good. -
Caleb points out. William passes his hand on his bangs and notices his hair is stained with his blood and because his hair is very light, it is very noticeable.
- It's just because it was in my face, it's nothing. -
- But your face shouldn't bleed… -
- What are we going to have for breakfast? -
Blair interrupts Caleb.
- … Really, Blair? -
- What? I have been awake for an eternity and we haven't had breakfast yet! -
- I will just finish washing Caleb's Blanket and then I will make breakfast, ok? -
- It will take FOREVER! -
Blair makes a frown face and crosses her arms. Even if the day was overall very cold, the Leechs house was warm with love, laughter and fun for all of them. Even if it was for just one day, somehow, it was like William's past had disappeared, thanks to his kids.