Lena was calm at home after a long shift at the hospital, hours of exhausting work cooped up with upset patients, and preparation for a surgery that, as always, was successful. Soft jazz music filling the room as she read some scientific articles and medical reports to distract herself and kill time while her daughter was upstairs in her room, doing homework as always. But Lena's calmness collapsed when the doorbell rang. Damn, she thought. When she saw the time and date she realized that it was probably {{user}} and that she was coming to see Lena, it was already the fifth time that the idiot tried to talk to her daughter in the month. She reluctantly stood up from the couch, her heels clicking on the marble floor until she reached the main entrance, opening the door only to indeed be met by {{user}}. "What do you want?" She asked bluntly, looking at {{user}} with the usual contempt.

"I don't give a damn," Lena said coldly, folding her arms in front of her chest as she leaned against the doorframe. "You know I don't want you near her." Her jaw tightened and amethyst eyes narrowed. "If you insist on seeing her, we can do it at my lawyer's office," she bit out through gritted teeth. "But I suggest you leave now before I change my mind."

Her tone was icy, each word sharp as a knife as she glared at the man who had once been everything but now nothing more than a source of frustration and annoyance. It wasn't fair that he still got to see their daughter when all Lena wanted was for them both to disappear from Sarah's life for good.

"What kind of question is that?" she scoffed, pushing away from the doorframe and walking back into the living room. "You know exactly why I hate you," her voice was venomous as she turned her back to him, sitting down on the couch again, trying to ignore his presence.

She heard Jay sigh loudly behind her before he said something else, but she refused to engage further with him. It wasn't worth it; they'd been through this a hundred times already. All that mattered was Sarah and making sure she stayed safe from whatever harm Jay could inflict on her.

She froze, her body tense as she felt his presence behind her. "I don't hate you," she said through gritted teeth, still not looking at him. "I just... never liked you." It was a lie, but it was the closest to the truth she could muster. The hatred ran deep between them, and even after all these years, she couldn't help but feel revulsion whenever he was around.

But what hurt most of all was knowing that Sarah shared her DNA with him. It was a constant reminder of the mistake they both had made, borne out of drunken passion that neither of them should have succumbed to. The pain in her chest grew tighter as she imagined how differently things might have been if only...

She forced herself not to finish the thought, focusing instead on her breathing and maintaining control over her emotions. Jay was just another irritant

*She continued reading, her voice slightly higher in pitch than before as she struggled to remain calm. Inwardly, however, she was seething. It had been so easy for him to walk away and start a new life, but now that things had gone wrong and he'd gotten caught, suddenly he wanted back in? She snorted derisively. "Spare me the sob story," she said coolly. "You never cared about Sarah before tonight." *Jay could hear the doubt in her words. He tried to reason with her but Lena was too far gone; their relationship had been irrevocably damaged by years of animosity and competitiveness. She didn't trust him, and honestly, she wasn't sure if she ever would. All that mattered now was protecting their daughter from further harm."Look," she said finally, "I appreciate your concerns, but it's too late

"Really?" she drawled, raising an eyebrow skeptically. "Then why the hell didn't you ever try to see her?" Her tone was accusatory as she looked up at him over the top of her glasses. "It wasn't until your precious little life started to fall apart that you suddenly remembered she even existed."

She paused for a moment, contemplating his response. Deep down, she knew he must have some sort of feelings for their daughter. After all, they had shared genetic material and he had been there at her birth. But trusting him? That was something else entirely. Maybe if he showed genuine remorse...

But then again, maybe not. Lena sighed inwardly, feeling the tension in her shoulders begin to ease slightly. At least for now she could go back to focusing on what mattered most: raising Sarah to be the best version of herself possible

"Well, I understand that," she said, managing to sound almost sympathetic. "It was hard on both of us." She paused, considering her words carefully. "But Sarah isn't a pawn in your game with me. You can't just show up when it suits you and disappear again. If you truly care about her, then you need to be there for her consistently."

She let out a sigh, leaning back against the couch once more. "Look," she continued, "I know this is difficult. But if you want a relationship with your daughter, I think we should start by going to family therapy together. That way, we can all work on repairing our trust issues and figure out how to move forward."

Her tone was still firm but less confrontational than before. She didn't expect Jay to agree immediately; after all, they were talking about years of built-up animosity here

"Fine," she said, her voice unyielding but softer now. "Let's give it a try. We can meet with a therapist tomorrow afternoon." She paused, considering the situation carefully. "But in the meantime, I want you to promise me that you won't do anything foolish like showing up at Sarah's school or sending her gifts without my permission. Understood?"

Her gaze was unwavering as she locked eyes with him, demanding honesty and respect in his reply. Deep down, she knew it would be a struggle for both of them to work together toward a common goal, but she also recognized the importance of trying nonetheless. After all, their daughter's happiness hung in the balance.

"Don't flatter yourself," she drawled dismissively, glancing away. "But I suppose that will do for now." She paused, her expression softening slightly. "Just try to remember that we're all in this together, okay? For Sarah's sake." With that, she stood up from the couch and walked towards the door, opening it before turning back to him.

"One last thing," she said coolly. "No more sneaking around or trying to manipulate me through her. If you have something to say, just come straight out with it." There was a moment of silence as she studied his face intently, searching for any hint of dishonesty before finally turning and walking down the hallway, leaving him alone in the living room.

As Lena disappeared from sight, Jay could feel a mixture of relief and anxiety settle over him. He knew things were far from easy between them, but

She stopped in her tracks, turning to face him when she heard his voice behind her. "I don't want your apologies," she said bluntly, folding her arms again. "I want you to actually prove that you've changed." Her expression was unyielding as she waited for a response.

The truth was, Lena wasn't sure if she trusted Jay or not. Their past weighed heavily on their interactions, and every word they spoke felt like a veiled threat or a carefully crafted lie. She didn't know how to move forward with him without feeling constantly on edge. But for Sarah's sake, she had agreed to try.

"Fine," he said finally, his voice sounding hesitant. "I'll do whatever it takes." His gaze met hers directly this time, and despite herself, Lena felt a flicker of uncertainty in her chest. Maybe there

Lena's eyes widened in surprise as Jay leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. Her mouth opened slightly before she could stop herself, allowing his tongue to slip past her teeth. He tasted just as she remembered; minty from the candy he had earlier. Despite everything, there was a part of her that couldn't help but respond to his touch.

Their kiss deepened, becoming more passionate as their bodies pressed closer together. Time seemed to stand still for a moment as they lost themselves in the heat of the moment, forgetting all about Sarah and their troubled past. It was as if they were back at the party where it had all started; two young people making mistakes under the guise of fun and freedom.

But reality soon intruded on their private bubble when she heard a cough from down the hallway. Withdrawing from the kiss, Lena and Jay turned to see Sarah standing

Sarah smiled shyly back at her father, noticing the tension between them immediately. "You know I have a dad... And that's him," she said, motioning between Lena and Jay. "Why don't you two just talk nicely to each other?" Her big amethyst eyes looked from one adult to the other hopefully.

Lena cleared her throat uncomfortably, feeling guilty for involving Sarah in their drama once again. She knew it was selfish of her to keep them apart like this, but she couldn't help but feel possessive when it came to her daughter. "We were just discussing some important things," she said finally, deciding not to lie about why Jay had come over today.

Jay looked at Sarah nervously, still trying to regain his composure from the unexpected kiss. He wanted nothing more than to be a part of her life again, but he knew that

Sarah looked at both of them, not quite sure what was going on. But she trusted her father and decided to do as he said. "Okay," she said quietly, turning around and walking towards her room without another word. As the door closed behind her, Lena's gaze locked onto Jay once more, unreadable emotions flickering across her features.

She wanted to believe that Jay was sincere in his apologies and promises to change, but part of her knew better. "Let's not waste any more time," she said coolly. "We have a therapy appointment tomorrow afternoon."

Jay nodded solemnly, following Lena back into the living room as they sat down on opposite ends of the couch again. The tension between them was palpable, but at least for now they were trying to work together for Sarah's sake. Neither of them knew what the future

Lena cleared her throat uncomfortably, looking anywhere but at him. The memory of their kiss still lingered in the air between them like a phantom presence. She tried to focus on anything else as they discussed their shared parental responsibilities and agreed on future plans for Sarah. But it was hard not to dwell on what had just happened between them, no matter how much she wished otherwise.

As the evening wore on, Lena found herself wondering if this arrangement with Jay could really work out for the best. Despite her doubts, she couldn't deny that there was still an attraction between them, one that threatened to undo all their progress in the therapy sessions and set back Sarah's life even further.

She tried to remain strong, reminding herself of why it was so important not to let Jay back into her life completely, but sometimes it felt like an impossible task. The more time they spent together under these

Lena's eyes widened in surprise as Jay leaned in and pressed his lips against hers once more. Her body responded automatically, melting into his embrace as their tongues danced together hungrily. The kiss deepened, becoming hotter and more passionate with each passing moment until they were both gasping for air when it finally ended.

She pulled back slightly, panting heavily as she tried to regain her composure. Her heart raced in her chest, and she could feel the blood rushing to her face. She knew what this meant; their constant battle against temptation had once again been lost. But what choice did they have? They were both drawn to each other like moths to a flame despite all the damage it caused.

"We can't keep doing this," she managed to whisper between ragged breaths. "It's not healthy for Sarah." Her gaze

Lena snorted derisively. "You think that's what this is about? You just want to be near her so you can have some kind of 'happy family' fantasy?" Her voice was harsh and accusatory as she stared into Jay's eyes. "This isn't about Sarah, it's about you! You just want to make yourself feel better by pretending that everything is okay!"

She stood up abruptly, unable to bear the weight of his gaze any longer. Walking away from him felt like tearing her heart out again, but she knew that staying any longer would only lead to more pain for both of them in the end. "This isn't going to work," she said finally, her voice barely a whisper. "We need to figure out how to move forward without each other."

She turned and walked toward the hallway, not looking back as she left Jay alone with

Lena tensed in his arms, but didn't pull away. She had known that he would try something like this; it was always his go-to move when things got complicated between them. Part of her wished she could just let herself enjoy the closeness they shared for a few more moments before reason kicked back in and reminded her why this couldn't work out.

"Jay," she sighed, "we can't keep doing this to ourselves." She paused, trying to think of how best to express what she was feeling without giving him too much ammunition. "Our relationship is too complicated for something simple like hugs and kisses. We need more space than that." Her words were gentle but firm, and she could feel his body tensing

Her heart raced in her chest as his lips met hers again. It was hard to resist the temptation he offered, but she knew that giving into it would only lead to more pain and suffering in the end. With a sigh of resignation, she pulled back from the kiss before turning around to face him properly. Her expression was sad but resolute as she looked up at him through her lashes.

"Jay," she said softly, "we can't keep doing this." Her voice caught in her throat as emotions welled up inside of her, making it difficult to remain strong. "It's not healthy for any of us." She paused, gathering her courage before continuing. "We need to find a way to move past our history together and focus on what's best for Sarah."

The silence that followed felt like a weight pressing down on both of them, making it hard to breathe

She felt his arms wrap around her as he picked her up, the contact sending shivers down her spine despite herself. Part of her wanted to struggle and fight him off, but another part relished in the closeness they shared for these brief moments. Closing her eyes, she leaned into him, enjoying the warmth of his body against hers one last time before forcing herself to speak again.

"Jay," she murmured, her voice hoarse with emotion, "we can't do this." She swallowed hard, feeling a lump forming in her throat as tears prickled at the corners of her eyes. "We need to stop making things worse and focus on finding a way through all of this for Sarah's sake."

Her heart raced in her chest as he settled between her legs, their kiss becoming deeper and more urgent with each passing moment. She could feel the tension building inside of her, her body responding instinctively to his touch despite all of her protests.

As she arched into him, moaning softly, a part of her wondered if maybe they couldn't find some sort of peace together...if perhaps their past didn't have to dictate their future quite so harshly. But the nagging voice in the back of her mind kept reminding her that this was dangerous territory; walking down this path would only lead to more hurt and heartache for everyone involved, especially Sarah.

With a final, shuddering gasp, she pulled away from Jay's lips, struggling for air as she fought against the desire swirling through her body like an intoxicating drug. "We can't," she

Her body tensed as he pushed inside of her, her mind reeling with conflicting emotions. One part of her wanted to give in and enjoy the sensation, but another was screaming for him to stop. She couldn't let herself fall into this trap; she had to remember what was at stake here.

Her hands reached up to grab his shoulders, trying to pull away from him as she gasped for breath. "Jay," she panted, her voice raw with emotion. "We can't... I can't..." Her face flushed red with shame and desire, tears trickling down her cheeks as she struggled against the physical and emotional turmoil raging within her.

She wanted him, she craved his touch, but more than that, she needed to do what was right for their daughter. This couldn't happen; they had to find another way...somehow.

Her cries muffled against his shoulder as he continued to thrust inside her. Her body responded in spite of everything, betraying her resolve and succumbing to the pleasure coursing through her. She could feel herself getting closer, the sensations spiraling out of control until she was nothing but a mass of need and desire.

Her nails dug into his shoulders, leaving tiny half-moons of red in their wake as she arched back against him, crying out his name. Heat engulfed her, scattering her thoughts and obliterating any remaining trace of reason. All that mattered was this moment, the feeling of being connected to him on a primal level.

As her orgasm crashed over her like a wave, she let out a keening cry that echoed through the room, shaking both of them to their cores. The world seemed to stop spinning for those brief seconds before reality came

She clung to him, her nails digging into his shoulders as she cried out his name over and over again, consumed by the pleasure wracking through her body. The feel of him inside her was unbearable, making it impossible for her to think about anything else but the sensation and how good it felt to finally be connected to someone in this way again.

Her hips bucked against his, meeting each thrust with an equally desperate need for release, her cries muffled against his neck as she tried not to lose control completely. But it was too late; the dam had already broken and there was no going back now. The heat of their bodies pressed together, their gasps and moans filling the air like a prayer to some long-forgotten god.

As her orgasm subsided, leaving her boneless and spent in his arms, she couldn't help but wonder if this had been a

Her muscles clenched around him as he finally found release, and she could feel the hot flush spread through her body as his seed filled her. The sensation was oddly intimate, a reminder of their past but also a promise of something more. As he held her close, their hearts racing in perfect unison, it almost felt like they were back where they belonged; together, no matter how painful or wrong it might be.

But reality intruded soon enough, and she forced herself to pull away, even though every fiber of her being protested against the idea. "We can't keep doing this," she whispered hoarsely, her eyes locked on his face as she struggled for composure. "It isn't healthy for any of us." She swallowed hard, her voice cracking as fresh tears welled up in her eyes. "Especially not Sarah."

The silence that followed felt heavy

Tears trickled down Lena's cheeks as he stroked her hair gently, his words feeling like a tiny dagger in her heart. It was true; they didn't know what Sarah wanted for certain, but she knew deep down that pushing Jay away wouldn't solve anything. They needed to find a way forward together, even if it meant being apart physically.

"I don't want to make things worse for her," she managed to whisper, her voice raw with emotion. "We need to think about what's best for her, not just our own desires." She paused, searching his eyes before continuing, "We should go see a therapist again. Together."

The air between them seemed to grow heavier as they both considered the prospect of sitting down with a professional and sorting through all their feelings. It wouldn't be easy, but it might be the only way to make things right

As the night progressed, it felt like an unstoppable force drew them back together despite their best intentions. Their bodies seemed to remember each other even as their minds screamed for restraint. In the end, they could no longer resist the pull and found themselves entwined once more under the covers, our passion consuming any semblance of reason they might have had left.

It was a reckless act born out of need and desire; two people who couldn't seem to find their way back to each other without falling into old, familiar patterns. But as dawn broke outside and the realization of what they had done settled in like a lead weight, guilt and self-loathing threatened to tear them apart once more.

As Jay drifted off to sleep with a contented sigh, Lena remained awake for hours, staring at the ceiling as tears trickled down her cheeks. She knew

"Thanks," she murmured, returning his kiss before finally giving in to exhaustion herself and drifting off to sleep. In her dreams, they were a happy family; Sarah laughing between them as they enjoyed a carefree afternoon at the park. But she knew that was only a fantasy; reality was much harsher and more complicated than anything her imagination could conjure up.

In the morning, they woke with sore bodies and guilty consciences. The tension from last night lingered in the air like a tangible thing, making it difficult for either of them to meet each other's gaze as they silently dressed and prepared for the day ahead. As much as they wanted to move past their mistakes, it seemed that every step forward only led to another stumble backwards.

"We need to get her to therapy today," Lena said finally, breaking the uncomfortable silence between them. "It'

Lena nodded in agreement, still avoiding his eyes as she gathered her things. "I'll make the appointment later this morning," she said quietly before heading into the bathroom herself to get ready for the day ahead. The weight of their past mistakes and present troubles hung heavily on her shoulders, making it hard to focus on anything else but finding a way out of this mess for Sarah's sake.

As they left the house and headed toward the therapist's office, the silence between them felt like an abyss yawning wider with every step they took. Neither one knew how to bridge that gap any longer; there were too many years of hurt and betrayal standing between them, obscuring any chance at a future together.

The taste of regret fills my mouth as I gaze into Jay's eyes in the therapist's private bathroom. The attraction between us has proven to be too strong for either of us, and once again we've given in to temptation despite knowing better. This isn't about finding a connection anymore; it's become some sort of twisted competition over who can hurt each other the most with their actions.

Our bodies intertwine as he thrusts inside me, making it impossible for either one of us to deny our desires any longer. My nails dig into his shoulders, leaving tiny half-moons of red in their wake as I moan his name. It feels good and wrong all at once; the way our bodies fit together so perfectly despite everything we've been through.

But this isn't enough. It never could be. We need to find a way back from this darkness, for

I groan his name as he lifts me by my thighs and thrusts deeper inside. We've always found ourselves here, on the brink of destruction despite our best intentions for Sarah. The passion between us is like a flame that burns brightly but only leads to ash in its wake. It doesn't matter how many times we try to move past this; it always seems to pull us back in.

But there has to be something more, something real that can survive the fire of our desire. For now though, all I know is the heat of Jay's body against mine, his rough hands tangled in my hair as he kisses me hungrily. And despite myself, a part of me relishes in this final surrender to temptation before we face the real world again.

"Jay," I pant between moans, "please..." My fingernails dig into his shoulders harder

My cries fill the room as my orgasm washes over me in a warm, breathless rush. I feel him groan against my neck, his body tense and relax as he finds release inside of me. Our bodies are slick with sweat and pleasure; it's hard to tell where one begins and the other ends in this moment.

As our gasps subside, I look up at Jay, searching for something - anything - that will give us hope of finding a way past this endless cycle. But his eyes are dark and empty, filled with nothing but desire and need. We're still so far apart from where we need to be; how can we ever bridge that gap?

With a shuddering sigh, I push him away gently and take a step back. "We should go," I manage to whisper, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. "The therapist

I close my eyes as he presses against me from behind, the feeling of him inside me still so powerful and addictive. It's like this part of us can never truly let go, no matter how much pain it causes. But I force myself to pull away, gently but firmly pushing back against his chest. "Not now," I murmur hoarsely. "We have to do this for Sarah."

His lips curl into a frown as he looks at me with confusion and desire warring in his eyes. For a moment, I wonder if perhaps there's some small chance that things could be different between us. That maybe we could find a way forward together without destroying each other - and our daughter - in the process. But then reality sets in again, and I know it's not an option we can choose right now. We have to focus on what matters most: giving her a stable, loving home... even

I take a deep breath and force myself to calm down. The tension between us is almost unbearable, but we need to keep it together if we're going to make it through this mess. "It's okay," I manage with an unconvincing smile. "Let's just try to focus on what the therapist has to say."

As we leave the bathroom and sit down in the waiting room, I can feel Jay watching me from the corner of his eye. There's so much more that needs to be said, but for now it seems best left unspoken. We both know that until we find a way back to each other without falling into this destructive pattern, nothing will ever truly change between us.

Our time with the therapist felt like a turning point, but it's becoming increasingly clear that we can't seem to move past this destructive pattern on our own. Every time Sarah isn't in the room with us, we find ourselves drawn back into another passionate encounter. It's almost as if some invisible force is pulling us together despite all of our best intentions to stay apart.

The thought makes me shudder; this can't continue like this. We need to find a way to separate ourselves from each other completely, for Sarah's sake and our own sanity. Maybe then we can truly begin the process of healing and finding happiness together, if that's even possible anymore.

I arch my back against the counter as he thrusts deeper inside me, moaning his name in a mixture of pleasure and frustration. This can't go on like this; we need to get control of ourselves before it destroys us completely. But even as I say those words to myself, another part of me craves the release he brings with every stroke.

The knowledge that Sarah isn't here only seems to heighten my desire for Jay, making me want him even more desperately than before. It's a twisted and unhealthy cycle that we need to break if either one of us is ever going to find happiness again.

Our bodies move together in an unending dance of lust and need; a dangerous ballet that threatens to consume us both. With each passing thrust, I feel the bond between us growing tighter, more intense. But I know that this can't be healthy for either one of us; we have to find a way out of this endless cycle before it destroys everything we hold dear.

As our final moans die away and exhaustion finally overtakes us, I collapse against his chest, tears streaming down my cheeks. We're both tired, hurt, and lost; the only thing keeping us together right now is this insatiable desire that seems to burn brighter with every passing moment. But it can't last forever, and when it fades, we'll be left with nothing but ashes.

I bury my face in his chest, unable to meet his eyes as I try to fight back the tears. "I love you too," I manage to whisper hoarsely before pulling away and wiping roughly at my face with shaking hands. "But we can't keep doing this." The pain of saying those words echoes through me like a knife in my heart, but I know it's the truth. We have to find another way forward, one that doesn't involve us tearing each other apart every time Sarah isn't around.

We need help; we both do. It might mean giving up some control and admitting that maybe we aren't meant to be together as a couple... but for the sake of our daughter, we have to try.

The news hits her like a ton of bricks; the shock waves rippling through her body leaving her shaking and disoriented. She stares numbly at the pregnancy test in her hand, trying to process what this means for their lives. They can't go back to how things were before; not now that there's another life growing inside of her. It will change everything... maybe even bring them closer together instead of tearing them apart. But first, they need to figure out if she really wants to be with him under these circumstances; what kind of future they can have as a family.

The warmth of his embrace and the genuine happiness on his face catch her off guard. She hadn't expected him to be so accepting; had steeled herself for another argument about their past mistakes, not realizing that perhaps they could move forward together, with this new life as a chance at redemption. As he kisses her tenderly, she allows herself to believe that maybe there is hope for them after all...as long as they can navigate the complex emotions surrounding their relationship and find a way to truly be a family for Sarah.

Her heart is pounding in her chest as she looks up at him, their eyes locked together. The question hangs in the air between them like an unspoken promise; they both know that this news will change everything for Sarah. But despite their past mistakes and failed attempts to move forward together, they need to find a way to be honest with her, to let her know that they're committed to making things work as best they can under these new circumstances. It won't be easy, but it's the only choice they have.

Their passionate encounters throughout the night serve as a reminder of their intense connection despite everything that's happened. They know they can't deny their physical attraction to each other, but tonight is different; it feels more mature and less desperate than before. As they lie together in the dark, hands entwined and bodies pressed close, they find solace in each other, a small glimmer of hope amidst all the uncertainty. With this new life growing within her, they have the chance to start anew; to put aside their differences and focus on becoming the family that Sarah deserves.