Nathan has taken two wonderful days off to fully recover from the godawful flu. He had been resting and babysitting – two wonderful reasons to be at the Lewis' far more than necessary.

He's given into several dessert requests from Ethan, worn himself out a couple of times when his son goes in a sugar-induced frenzy, sat through several sappy movies whose level of cheesiness level could last him a lifetime and, so far, "zero" alone time with Chassie.

Not that it was his only agenda. He was there to spend time with Ethan and the Lewises. It was more like an ulterior motive and he had no one to deny it to. He had been trying to talk to her.

A muffled cry ripples through his serene thoughts. He turns to his right. Kathie had been sniveling for the most part of Titanic. Ethan had been sleepy on his lap. Nathan picks up the box of Kleenex and handed it over to her.

She smiles and murmurs a watery 'thank you.' She dabs her eyes dry then passed the box to her mother having a silent cry of her own. David Lewis stared blankly on the screen next to his weeping wife. They've been both trapped on the couches for over an hour. It would've been fine, if only Chassie George was there. He hadn't seen her after lunch.

As though appearing from his thoughts, she tiptoed into the living room quietly like shadow. She padded behind the couches and leaned over to her father's ear. The latter shook his head as if an answer to her. Chassie turns to her mother, her mouth to her ear.

Elizabeth Lewis' absently touches her daughter's cheek with her eyes still on the television and murmured something to her that wasn't audible enough. Chassie pursed her lips before sliding to Kathie, her elbows propped on the headrest. She whispered something to her. Kathie adjusted her head slightly, pressing a kiss on her sister's cheek before shaking her head.

Chassie shifted toward his ear. "Hey, Jack," she whispers.

He stilled when he felt the slightest touch of her lips to the shell of his ear. "What's up, Rose?" He whispered back.

"Have you seen my Kisses? I know I left a bag of Hershey's Kisses around here from last night." Her warm breath fans his cheek. Her perfume wafted to his nose like an enchantment.

"No, sorry," he murmurs distractedly.

Ethan craned his neck to look up. "Mommy, are you going to watch with us?"

"No, sorry, baby. Mommy had to do some work stuff. Maybe later." She leans further and pecked at the top of his head, which brought her face even nearer to his since Ethan was on his lap.

Her cheek brushed up against his when she pulled back.

Nathan sat there, tortured of the innocent touches. He was snapped out of it when Chassie lets out a delighted squealed, which earned her two shushes – one from her mother, and another from her older sister. Her father was holding her Hershey's Kisses that he just pulled out from the throw pillows behind him.

She skidded toward him and took the chocolates. Turning to the doorway, she looks up and wiggled her fingers goodbye to Ethan. He sighed and stared after her.

Nathan did too. Because his son wasn't the only one disappointed that she wasn't joining them. Moments later, Chassie still gone and Titanic sinking, he decided he couldn't take it anymore. "Hey, buddy, you thirsty?"

"A little," he answered.

"Okay. I'll get you some water."

He nodded and crawled to his Aunt Kathie's lap.

Nathan walked quietly out of the living room, stopping at the hallway to hear faint commotions that will give away the location of the damsel that was definitely not in distress but rather it was him sinking and freezing helplessly like Jack.

Nathan hears the noisy clatter of dishes and soft clacking of shoes in the kitchen. Which is great because it meant he doesn't have to go out of his way from his lame excuse to get out of the living room.

He headed to the kitchen, glad it was a quiet house otherwise he would have searched the old-money mansion.

There were aggressive clicks of keyboard as he enters the kitchen and then he sees Chassie behind the counter, hunched over her laptop. Next to it is a glass bowl filled with Kisses that she eats by the handful. She had her hair twisted up into a messy bun, her brows in a thoughtful furrow as she types more.

The clicking stopped as she senses his gaze boring into her forehead.

"Hi." He smiles.

"Hey," she mumbles, popping one chocolate to her mouth.

He pointed at the laptop. "I thought it has too many memories."

"Oh, yes. Memories I can't bury entirely," she quipped, "I'll give back your laptop when I finish this thing." Her fingers went back to the keyboard.

Footsteps resonated from behind him and he turns around to see who it was. It can't be one of the women because they had been too loyal to the handsome Leo DiCaprio since the opening credits of Titanic. Proving him right, David Lewis comes into view.

He stood next to him in the doorway, eyes softening at the sight of his youngest daughter engrossed with her laptop. Fired up with the sounds of her fingertips putting her beautiful thoughts into a tangible piece.

Her hazel eyes flitted to them. "And here I thought you'd survive the movie. How did you guys get out?"

"I told them I needed a drink." David chuckles.

"Nice," she mused. "And you?" She grins at him.

"Ethan was thirsty." He grins back.

She giggles, her eyes twinkling. "Enjoy your freedom. I heard you're watching The Great Gatsby next."

They both groaned. David patted his shoulder. "Let's grab a drink. Hide in my study. Will you be okay in here, sweetie?"

Chassie made a shooing gesture at them. "I'm more than okay right now."

Her father laughs quietly. David turns to him, then they carried a conversation through his study.

He handed him a glass of whiskey before pouring himself one. He usually doesn't drink in the day unless there's something bothering him.

Nathan had known him that well.

David took a swig of his whiskey before turning to the window. His lighthearted smile was gone. For the first time since he'd known him, he looked a tad aged in the daylight. Like somehow whatever was bothering him, really was consequential.

That had him uncomfortable in his seat, so he stood, regarding the view of the study window.

"Are your parents coming to the party? Your siblings?" David broke the silence.

His brows puckered in confusion.

"Chassie's Farewell Party," he clarified.

That just made his confusion skyrocket. "A Farewell Party?"

He puts his glass on his desk. "Chassie's leaving. She's going back Friday."

Nathan made a quick math in his head and was appalled by the numbers. Firstly, he hadn't known she was going back at all. Especially this soon.

"Four days away," David murmurs as if he'd been counting himself. "They haven't told you about the party tomorrow night?"

The frown on his face was clearer than words could be.

He nods. "They haven't. Sorry, I assume Chassie would have talked to you by now."

A lump grew in his throat. There was a pang in his chest that hurt a lot more when he tries to mistake it for the good old-fashioned disappointment. He knew far too well it was more than just disappointment.

"Her boss called the other day. As much as I want to punch the bastard for taking my little girl away, I can't. Chassie George doesn't want me to get involved in her career. I know she doesn't want the family business. Neither does Kathie and it leaves me barren with successors. But that's not really my point here." He slouches on his swivel chair and looks down to one of the picture frames on his desk.

"I know Chassie had been trying not to get us involved. She wanted to fly on her own. Don't get me wrong – I'm proud of her. But sometimes, I hope she just realizes my money never bought her wit and passion. It was all her. The family she was born into has nothing to do with what she could achieve. I love her stubbornness, but I hope she sees that she's great not because of my money. She's great because she simply is."

Nathan nods. He could see his point. Chassie had always had a potential for a great career but she never once acknowledged the thought that it never was and never will be driven by nepotism.

Nathan down his whiskey in one gulp. It made a crude, warm gash through his throat. He could feel David's pain. Except it gets drowned out by his own that was far from tolerable.

He was royally pissed.