Part Four: Father’s Guilt
The fourth part (and probably final) of that ABO idea. This time, from another person’s perspective. Summary: Cameron Campbell returns. There is someone back at Camp Campbell that he wants to meet.
Warnings: Referenced mpreg, camvid
It was too much for him. He had thought he could move past it. He had thought he could just run away and forget all about them. Start all over and pretend it never happened.
He was wrong.
He had managed to move on for a couple of months, during which he had done everything in his reach to forget about it. He kept himself busy with bureaucratic issues involving Thailand. He busied himself searching and hiring people to cover his tracks. He tried to keep himself focused on keeping all his illegally earned money safely hidden from various leaders.
But it was no use. Every night, his mind would wander back to… them.
To Camp Campbell.
To Davey.
And to their child.
The guilt was killing him. It chewed his insides and nagged his mind relentlessly. He couldn’t sleep sometimes just thinking of them, the two people he turned his back on.
Sure enough, after a whole year, it became too much. It was hard the first few months after he had discovered David was pregnant. But once the nine months passed, once there was no room for doubt that the child was born, the pressure inside his body and mind increased.
He wanted to see that baby. Wanted to look and place kisses all over the child. Wanted to see what features were inherited from him.
That was why, after a whole year of running away and hiding, he gave up and turned himself in.
As was expected, the Millers had rushed right over to the police station the moment they had been notified of his surrender and had wasted no time interrogating him.
He didn’t hold back. He told them everything. Including the reason why he had turned himself in.
All that was left was hope that they’d at least attend to his last request before taking him back to Super Guantanamo.
Surprisingly, they did. That was how he ended up back at Camp Campbell, handcuffed and standing in front of the main cabin.
The door was closed, but the music from inside let them know the place wasn’t empty. Well, that and the poster glued to the door.
Apparently, according to what it said, the parents had been invited to celebrate the return of the children to the camp for another summer. Which didn’t really bode well for him. The last time he had been in the presence of those parents, they had witnessed him getting arrested.
Miller opened the door and led him inside. Everyone halted their conversation to look at him, first in surprise, then in silent judgment.
It weren’t those piercing gazes, however, that bothered him. It was the one that stared at him in a mixture of hurt and disappointment.
Oh, how he had missed David’s eyes. Those two glowing emeralds that once looked at him with admiration and passion. Even though they no longer looked at him the same way, he still found them so beautiful.
“Hello, Davey.”
He didn’t know what else he could say. He just wanted to break the silence.
There was no response. Well, not from the young counselor anyway.
“The fuck are you doing here, Campbell?” One of the campers asked, quite harshly, as he positioned himself in front of David.
Cameron immediately recognized the kid. It was the exact same boy that had confronted him that night. What was his name again? Matt?
The elder alpha took a good look at the kid. He had grown taller the past year, he noted. Still rather thin, but he knew looks were deceiving. After all, hadn’t he himself been that small and lanky back when he was the kid’s age? Now that he was older and wiser, he knew it was not in the body he should look for the threat. It was in the eyes.
And looking in that boy’s gaze… Oh man, if looks could kill.
The kid’s eyes, curiously, were green as well, yet so different from David’s. Instead of emerald, they were more of a darker shade of jade. Captivating, but certainly not as enticing as David’s. “Max…”
“Shut up, David.”
Oh that’s right, that was his name. Max. He had been close enough.
Max’s glare didn’t falter for a second, not even when David had gently called for him in the hopes of keeping him controlled. The boy took a step closer, upper arms slightly outward in order to make himself look bigger and more menacing as he pointed an accusing finger at the newcomer.
“You have some fucking nerve showing your ugly mug here, Campbell. After everything you’ve done, you still have the gall to come here?”
Oh, he knew. He knew his presence wasn’t welcomed there. He knew it from the looks he was receiving.
But he had to go through with this. For once in his life, he was going through with something.
His gaze met David’s. “Davey… Listen…”
“You didn’t answer Max’s question.” David crossed his arms.
“What-”
“Why are you here, Cameron?”
Cameron. Not Mister Campbell. Not sir. Cameron.
Hearing David use his first name made it all worse. He knew he had fucked up, but still… it was a blow to his stomach.
He didn’t deserve any compassion. He knew he didn’t. But he couldn’t just move on and not try. Just one try.
The older alpha looked at his two escorts. “Can I walk over to him?”
One of the FBI agents looked at David, refusing to give an answer before making sure it was alright with the counselor. David’s gaze never left the handcuffed man.
“You ain’t getting one step closer to him, motherfucker! I will murder you if you try!” Max took another step forward, clearly ready to defend the omega man if needed.
Cameron knew he had to be careful. Being an alpha, the kid had much a more volatile behavior, and was perfectly capable of taking him, considering he still had his wrists cuffed together.
“Max.” David’s tone was gentle and patient, hand finding its way to the boy’s shoulder and urging him to calm down. It did seem to succeed, even if only temporarily. The counselor looked back at him. “I won’t let you get any closer until you tell us why you’re here.”
Campbell sighed. For some reason, that sentence gave him some sort of comfort. David was willing to hear him.
“I’m sorry, Davey…” he started. “I’m sorry for everything… For leaving you here… pregnant and alone…For running away from it. For not being there to ease your pain and your worries.”
David remained glued to the spot, emerald colored eyes analyzing the elder’s own as he spoke.
“I know I don’t deserve any sympathy. I know what I have done is unforgiveable. And there is nothing I can do to fix it.” He had to try his best not to avert his gaze from David’s in shame. Enough of that. He wanted David to see, for once, that he wasn’t lying. “I just have one last request. Just one, before they take me in.”
He really hoped David would forgive him enough for that. His sanity depended on it.
“Will you let me see our child? Just once?”
The silence in the whole cabin was deafening. All gazes turned to David, wondering what his answer would be.
The look in David’s eyes seemed to soften a bit. But the hurt and distrust were still there.
“You want to see our daughter?”
A daughter.
He had a daughter.
“Please. Just once.” He pleaded.
“You ain’t getting shit!” Max yelled out, eyes wide open with pure fury. “You knew he was having your kid and you ran off! You left David to do all the work on his own! He had to get a second job, you fuck!” Other two kids, a brown haired boy and a blue haired girl, rushed to hold him back as he yelled at the top of his lungs. “He spent days and nights busting his ass, so that YOUR daughter had everything she needed once she was born!!! And you come here pretending to care, you low-life?! Where were you when David needed the money?! Where were you when he nearly died giving birth to YOUR kid?! WHERE?!”
Nearly died?
He looked back up at David in the hopes of receiving some hint that the boy was just over-reacting.
He received none.
Good lord…
“I’ll tell you where you were, you were travelling around, fucking up people’s lives, just as you fucked up David’s!” Max continued. “Do you know how people look at us?! How they look at him?! He’s considered an unwanted omega because of you!!!”
‘Unwanted’ was the term used for omegas that spawned children without being marked. Although the laws of society stated that no omega in that situation should be judged for that fact, the truth was people did. Out there, unwanted omegas were considered easy. Sluts.
Something that Campbell knew full well David wasn’t.
He watched as the boy panted, having lost his breath due to his furious rant. The young alpha hated him with a passion, and he couldn’t blame him.
“I know.” His gaze met David’s. “I know I fucked up and left you to clean up the mess. I know it was cowardly of me. That’s why I’m here, Davey. The guilt was too much for me to handle. I know nothing can make up for what I’ve done.” He could feel his eyes stinging. He didn’t care. He wasn’t going to hide. “But I do regret it all. And I want to try to fix it. Even if I can’t fix everything, I still want to try and fix part of it. Please, Davey.”
David didn’t answer. He just unfolded his arms, turned around and left through a door at the back. Cameron felt his heart clench in anguish. David wasn’t letting him see her. He wouldn’t get to see their daughter. Ever.
His gaze fell to the ground, and one lone tear fell down his cheek. He screwed up and was facing the consequences, he was well aware of that. But that didn’t make it any easier.
The sound of small footsteps let him know that someone was approaching him. By how light they were, it had to be one of the campers.
“You’re finished, Campbell.” He heard Max speak, this time a lot calmer than he was mere minutes before. But the venom in his tone was still palpable. “You lost your place in this family. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure to provide for them in your place.” The boy’s jade-colored eyes stared at him with confidence and defiance. “Because, unlike you, sorry-ass coward, I will not turn my back on them. Ever.”
He hated to admit it, but it was true. Once that boy matured, he would take the place Cameron should have taken as the patriarch of the family. Since he had turned away from it, and since Max was the next alpha, the kid had the path unimpeded.
One of the Miller’s grabbed him by the upper arm to lead him back out of the cabin and back to the car.
“Seems like you’ve got your answer, Campbell. No more matters to attend to.”
Dejected, he let himself be led to the door. It was over. At that moment, his whole body was hurting. He suddenly felt tired, devastated.
He knew, then and there, that if the other inmates didn’t kill him, his sorrow certainly would.
The sound of a door being carefully closed, followed by a soft cry, made him halt.
“Ooh, hush hush, sweetie…”
Cameron turned around, regardless of the hold the FBI agent still had on him.
David had returned, a small bundle of cloth carefully held in his arms. The redhead was gently rocking the infant, trying to calm her down.
“I’m sorry I woke you up, honey.” He murmured tenderly. “But there’s someone here to see you.”
Campbell felt the wounds in his heart mend themselves at David’s words. He was going to see her! David was going to let him see her! The grief was suddenly replaced with hopeful joy. The colors around them suddenly became brighter and gravity seemed to ease on him, making him feel lighter.
David started walking towards him. The other parents watched, giving the bundle smiles, waves and cooing hellos. At one point, the baby even replied with a small laugh of her own.
“David, what the fuck are you doing?!” Max placed himself in front of the counselor, blocking his way.
“Language, Max.”
“You’re actually letting this piece of shit see her?!” The boy gestured towards the elder alpha, fury returning. “Why?! He doesn’t deserve it! He ran off with his tail between his legs, and now that he’s back you’re just gonna-”
When David placed his hand on Max’s head, gently brushing his dark locks, the young alpha stopped talking. The counselor was smiling at him, tender and reassuring, and in a matter of seconds the boy was calm again.
God, how did David do it? Without saying a single word? The admiration Cameron felt for him only seemed to grow by the second.
Max gave way, letting his caretaker pass, but still trailed behind, wary and protective.
David’s smile didn’t fade, not even when he focused back on the father of his child. Once he got close to Cameron, he turned a bit to the side, finally letting the elder have a good look at the infant.
Oh, what a beautiful little girl they had!
Although rather small, the baby was clearly healthy and well looked after. Her skin was the same shade as his, a healthy, slightly tanned tone, and her brown hair, although still short, was already forming a curl in front of her forehead, just like his own did.
Her little nose was small and perky, clearly inherited from David. As were her eyes.
Goodness, her eyes. Two shining emeralds, staring straight at him with curiosity, taking in his features as she saw him for the very first time.
Cameron smiled down at her.
“Hello, sweetie.”
She continued to stare at him for a moment, then her lips slowly formed a smile of their own and she let out a laugh. It made his heart swell with joy. What a wonderful little laugh his daughter has! “Would you like to hold her?”
The question made Campbell’s smile vanish in surprise. His gaze met David’s. The omega counselor seemed like he meant what he said.
“I… would love that.”
David asked the Millers if they could take Cameron’s handcuffs off. At first, there was some hesitation on the FBI agents’ part. However, they eventually gave in. Having a daughter themselves, they couldn’t find it in themselves to keep Campbell from holding his.
With a metallic click, the cuffs came right off.
“No funny business, Campbell.” Miller warned. “Be aware that one slip-up will be enough of an excuse to keep you from seeing them again.”
He nodded in understanding. Miller stepped aside and David approached him, gently placing the baby in his awaiting arms.
“Watch her head.” The redhead warned before stepping back, letting him have his moment.
“She’s so tiny…” He said upon noticing that her head fit perfectly inside his palm. “Have you-”
God, what a terrible question for a father to ask! It made his organs shrink with shame.
“Have you given her a name yet?”
David nodded. “Her name’s Flora.” Flora. What a wonderful name. He looked back down at her, smile returning.
“Hello, Flora. Hello, princess.”
Another laugh from the infant. It made him feel all giddy inside. She reached for him, and he complied, bringing her small body closer to his face. Flora’s hands instantly grabbed at his mustache, a curious look on her face. After a while, she laughed again, bringing her hands to her mouth as her feet kicked happily.
God, she took a lot after David.
Cameron pressed his lips against her temple, kissing her three times.
He loved her so much…
Two hours felt like two seconds. Deciding to go against their initial plans, the Millers let him stay for the whole party. A decision he was grateful for. The whole time he sat on one of the wooden cafeteria benches with David by his side. Needless to say, Max still refused to leave or take his eyes off the two. The little alpha boy still didn’t trust him one bit. Rather than bothering him, though, that fact only seemed to ease his concerns.
David wasn’t a completely defenseless omega, he was aware of that. The counselor was well trained and prepared to defend himself. Still, his skills would be useless against a stronger alpha. If one wanted to hurt him, or worse, their daughter, there would be little he could do.
That was why Max’s presence in David’s life relieved him. David had told him about Max’s adoption, how he became his adoptive son later on, and he could see that Max was protective of them.
It was when David went to put Flora to bed that Campbell took the chance to voice his thoughts to the younger alpha. “I know you’re not holding me very high in your consideration right now-”
“Damn straight, asshole.” Max interrupted with a glare.
“… but I hold you high in mine.”
Normally, he would have laughed at the puzzled look the boy gave him, but this time he meant what he said.
“It’s the reason why I’ll be taken to Super Guantanamo without putting a fight. Because I know you’re here with them.” He smiled down at Max. “Knowing you’re here, willing to protect Davey and Flora, puts my mind at ease.” His smile turned sad. “You’ve already done a better job today than I have done for the past year.”
Max continued to stare suspiciously at him, even taking a step back.
“I don’t know what game you’re trying to play here, but I’m not falling for it!” he let out. “You can try and get on my good graces all you want, asshole! I’m not buying it!”
This time, Cameron actually did laugh.
“I’m not trying to get on your good graces, kid.” He explained. “I just wanna say… Thank you.” The alpha man leaned back against the table. “Thank you for being there for David. And thank you for not turning your back on him.”
Max frowned. “I’m not doing it for you, motherfucker. I’m doing it for David.” “I know.” Campbell’s smile didn’t fade, not even when Miller came over and let him know it was time. By the time David came back, Cameron was back in handcuffs, ready to leave.
“I know I’m already asking too much.” He told the counselor. “But will you take her to see me?”
David nodded. “You came back, after all. Even if it’s under those circumstances.” He added, gesturing to the handcuffs.
They held each other’s gaze for a moment, pale blue staring into bright emerald. After some hesitation, Cameron brought his hands up to David’s face, cupping it in his palms. The counselor tensed a little at first, but didn’t recoil.
“I’m sorry, Davey. I really am. I’m sorry for everything that I’ve done to you.” Damn it, the tears were coming back. “I turned my back on you, and still you gave me a wonderful daughter. There are no words that can describe how ashamed I am for my actions.” He rubbed his thumbs against David’s cheeks, still keeping eye-contact with him. “I know you deserve better. I know I’m not worthy of your kindness. That’s why I couldn’t find it in myself to mark you.” He paused for a moment, wanting David to fully take in his words. “There is someone out there more deserving of you than me, and I’d rather see you happy in their arms than miserable in mine.”
David’s eyes were already starting to fill with tears as well. God, Campbell hated making David cry.
“Mr. Campbell…” He sniffed.
The alpha man brought him closer and placed a kiss on his forehead. That earned him a sad whimper from the redheaded omega.
“Time to go, Campbell.” Miller interrupted them, grabbing the convict by the upper arm so he’d hurry it up.
Nothing more was left to be said. After giving David another kiss on his forehead, Campbell let the FBI agent lead him away, out of the cabin and into their car.
He looked out the window, back at the cabin. David stood there at the door, watching him. Max stood right next to him hands in his hoodie’s front pocket, still with that glare directed at him.
The car engine started, and the vehicle moved.
The last thing he saw before being driven away was the young alpha bring one of his hands out of the pocket to hold David’s. The counselor looked down at him, eventually giving him a small, grateful smile.
Once they were out of his line of sight, Cameron sighed and leaned back on the seat. A smile of his own graced his lips and he closed his eyes.
David was safe and happy. That was all that mattered to him at that moment. As long as David and Flora were happy, he would be too.