The sun was warm, but the breeze was cool and light, a few spattering of clouds here and there. All in all it was a perfect day, not too warm though none too cold as well, light clothes were all he really needed. The cigarette bounced from between his lips, smoke clouding and then whisking gently away into the air as he walked. He was glad he had made the decision to walk today to pick Lance up instead of driving. His last class had let out earlier than usual, giving him the chance to take this walk and he was more than happy about that fact. He was almost comically surprised that there weren't more people outside enjoying this kind of weather, most seemed to busy hiding in their houses or inside in general.<br/><br/>He made his way along the sidewalk, approaching the fence that ran along the yard for the stone built school and waited, knowing it was about time. Life was good for him, it had had it's low points over the course of 26 years, but the good far outweighed the bad. The few heartbreaks, the loss of his father had been balanced by the peace he'd found in his old martial artist master, the loss of Alice had been by far outweighed by having Lance. His son was his life, as much as the rest of his family and he wouldn't go back to change anything. Now he had the means to provide for Lance without much struggle, that and his hours weren't bad at all, he could spend the time with him as much as spend for him.<br/><br/>The only negative side that he could find was the odd feeling he had had since childhood. Though it was generally filled with love, laughter and happiness, there was always something at the back of his mind. It was something that was called his imagination when he was a child, yet as he grew the feeling only went further back in his mind, waiting till the right moment to worm forward. The feeling that something was coming, something dark and wrong, something that could and just might change everything. He always felt a strong emotion tied to it, a drive to get up and do something, anything whenever these emotions came. He imagined it was his mind's way of trying to get the thoughts from his head, get yourself busy and it all goes away.<br/><br/>Still, it was getting worse lately.<br/>Much worse, more potent even and at times he felt like there was something that was waiting around dark corners waiting to leap out and...<br/><br/>His head jerked up as the shrill bell of the school ripped through the air and startled him. The next sound was that of the doors opening and the shrill sound of excited children, happy to have been released. He waited as they streamed by, being corralled to the best of ability by teachers to the buses. One particular head split off, one of the teachers noticing as Lance streamed away, ready to catch him until she spotted Blake. Blake smiled and raised his hand in greeting to the woman who warmed at the sight of Blake and waved with a smile. She often wondered how such a nice and handsome man like Blake was alone, she knew there was some history with Lance's mother, but she knew it was none of her business. God as her witness though, she didn't care what people said about father's, that man loved that child and did his best by him. Her own father had been an abomination and it warmed her heart to see such a bond between the two.<br/><br/>A bond was certainly a way to put it, Lance was all of Blake's world as much as Blake was all of Lance's world. Lance yelled happily as his father laughed and swept him up into his arms in a large hug, "hey bud, how was your Friday?"<br/><br/>"Oh it was great Dad! We drew and painted in Art today, see?" He waved a drawn picture of what looked like the park that Blake and he frequented often. Blake smiled and looked at the picture with one hand, the other supporting his son against him, "well would you look at that? You're becoming a regular Picasso!"<br/><br/>Lance laughed, "you're silly Dad!"<br/><br/>Blake grinned, "just think, you get to be just like that too, since I am your dad."<br/><br/>Lance looked thoughtful, then shrugged as if there were worse things, "where's the car?"<br/><br/>Blake smiled, "I walked today, it's a nice day so I figured we could both walk back, maybe stop by the park and run around like idiots for a bit and get a bite to eat or maybe some ice cream."<br/><br/>Lance nodded with a smile, "can James come over after that?"<br/><br/>Blake raised a brow, James was the neighbor boy who was in Blake's class, and the two were usually inseparable, "I thought you two were fighting?"<br/><br/>This was true, the two had actually gotten into it physically which had caused alarm in Blake and he had talked to the boy. He didn't know if Lance had got it, not because he was stupid, he was actually quite bright, bright enough to surprise Blake at times and from the looks of the drawing/painting, the boy was becoming a bit gifted in the creative department. It was just that Lance was quite independent for the most part, and was pretty strong willed. In the end there were no more fights but they weren't talking either, which Blake thought was for the best for a little while.<br/><br/>Lance nodded as they walked, Blake taking the backpack from him to hold, even though it was incredibly light, near empty really, "oh we made up, we said we were both sorry and played at recess."<br/><br/>Blake nodded, "very adult of you."<br/><br/>Lance positively beamed at the compliment, always loving to hear that he was like an adult, "thanks. Hey, you're going too slow Dad! Come on!"<br/><br/>Next he knew, Blake had Lance's smaller, 6 year old hand gripped to his and dragging him to the park as quick as two legs could carry them. Blake laughed, shaking the last remnants of the shadows from earlier from his mind. He was being silly, everything was fine, how could he think otherwise?