Year 32

"So yeah, they're going to start rebuilding that old Fel temple in the jungle and turning it into a headquarters soon." Marco tells you.
"Hm, looks like the Syndicate is moving quicker everyday." You answer.
"Yeah, but its good. I mean I know you told us all to watch our asses, but so far the Syndicate members that we've had dealings with have all been pretty reasonable guys. Even said that the Black Hooks could be fully incorporated as full members in a year or so. We've been doing a lot better in general."
"Well glad to hear it. Maybe I was wrong."
"It's okay. I guess you were just looking out for us like you always have. Y'know, you should join too! You're really skilled and the Syndicate is looking for members like that!"
"So I've heard. A couple of them have approached me a few times, but I'm just not interested."
"Yeah, but if you joined you wouldn't need to pay protection and you'd be able to do whatever you wanted!"
"Pretty sure I wouldn't be able to do WHATEVER I wanted. It's not like the old days where you can just break and enter into anywhere. Thanks, but I'm good with what I'm doing now. Anyway, what's the Syndicate tax this month? Did it go up to help rebuild the temple?"
"No, it's the same, but you know you don't need to worry about it. I got you covered, but I just don't know how long I'm gonna be able to. Sooner or later the Syndicate might get one of their guys to start doing the collecting. That's why I'm trying to become a real member soon!"
"Thanks as usual Marco, but don't worry yourself too much about it. I'll be fine."
"Okay…see you later then. And thanks for unloading that other stuff for me."
"No problem. Later Marco."

Marco leaves your "shop" and you just shake your head and smile at what a few little words of encouragement and support can do to mold a young mind. Marco probably sees you as the dad he wished he had. You imagine some of the other Black Hooks d too.

Which of course is handy since its paid off as far as you not really having to kick anything up to the Syndicate whose presence has becoming more noticeable in last few months. Might be time to leave soon. You don't know where you'll go though.

While you're pondering this, the door opens and someone comes in.

"Son, you and I need to have a long talk."

You can't believe it. He's older (But to you he was always old and unfun) but you'd never mistake his face or his voice.

"Dad?" you ask.
"Of course its me!" he responds.
"Wh…what the hell are you doing here?"
"Trust me, it's not something I wanted to do, but after a long talk with your mother, its what we both decided in the hopes that you've still got it in you to do the right thing. Call us hopeless optimists."
"You came all the way here to give me a lecture after nearly twenty years? How the hell did you even find me?!"
"Annah told us. Well told us where your last where abouts were anyway. She said you'd probably still be here since you've always had a tendency to stay put unless you absolutely have to move, which sounds about right."
"Wait, you've spoke to Annah?! When?"
"Nearly on a daily basis, for the past couple years. Pretty much ever since she come back to Teckleville and had the babies."
"WHAT?!"
"Congratulations, you've got twins you've never seen."

You are getting flooded with so much information right now that you can't even process it all.

"That's…impossible. Last time I saw Annah was two years ago."
"Yeah well that timeline matches up since that's how old they are. Look, I delivered them myself, not to mention they look like you and your sister. You're definitely the father, despite Annah trying not to admit it. That didn't last long though, since I'm pretty sure that's why she came back to Teckleville in the first place. She knew your mother and I wouldn't NOT help her."
'I…don't believe it. I mean…and I hate even asking this, are you REALLY sure? I mean maybe this…"
"Is what? A scam to get money from us? Boy, I wasn't born yesterday. I told you, the two little buggers look like you and your sister. The genetics are impossible to ignore. I mean the hair is darker and there's a difference in eye color, but there's no mistake. Shit, I even hired a wizard from Klyton to double check. They're definitely your work."
"Fuck…"
"Yeah, well that's what got you into this mess. Anyway, this brings me to why I'm here. YOU need to come back and take responsibility. I understand you're off having fun being a criminal, but even Annah gave that up after having children. They need a father and your mother and I need a fucking a break. Our days of running about catching two twin terrors are supposed to be over."
"Wait, why are you just now coming to get me then?"
"Oh, I wanted to get you a lot sooner. However Annah always claimed that she didn't know where you were. Having raised two of the best liars, I knew she wasn't telling the truth, but I always assumed you pissed her off and she didn't want you involved. However, thanks to your mother's monthly interrogating via niceness, Annah finally broke down a few months ago and as it turned out Annah just didn't want you to put your own life on hold for this. She said she'd put you through enough trouble in the past. Ain't that sweet?"
"Sounds like her."
"Also sounds fucking retarded. Why the hell should you get to continue to live without care and responsibility? Your mother of course thought you should come back too, but she was worried about me going to get you. Thought we should hire bounty hunters to find you, but I figured I'd make more of an impression and you're probably already adept at avoiding capture anyway. So here I am."
"Yes, so here you are. You might have been better off going with mom's idea though. At least you would have had a better chance of getting me back to Teckleville. Speaking of which, how the hell can I go back anyway? Aren't I wanted for murder there?"
"Oh. Yeah, no. That actually got settled shortly after you ran off with Annah. Some of the witnesses to the fight admitted Klint started it and you killing him was more of an accident and even self defense."
"You're shitting me."
"Nope. Surprised me too. Not that you weren't a murderer, since I figured Klint started it because he was an asshole like his father, but that people actually came around and spoke up in your favor. Anyway, the charges were dropped which pissed off Klint's dad who left the village swearing revenge and that was about the end of it."
"So you're saying I'm completely free and clear?"
"Yep. Have been for years now. The old sheriff is dead now anyway, so it's not even like you have worry about him either. In fact Annah, works as a deputy of the town now, so you've got a lot of breathing room as far as your shady past is concerned."
"Annah's a…what the…well I guess she found something new to do like she said she would."
"Yep. And it's time you do as well."

Your dad sees the apprehensive and non-committal look on your face and sighs.

"And of course you're going to be stubborn about this…" he remarks.
"Dad, I appreciate the update and all this news about Annah, but this is a lot to fucking take in! I mean I don't know what she's told you, but our relationship isn't exactly the most stable. I mean its not like she came here herself and TOLD me about her being pregnant. Shit, she didn't even tell you and Mom where I was until recently like you said. I might not have even been here anymore. Obviously she thinks we're better off apart."
"Bullshit, if she really thought that, she wouldn't have come back home at all. She knew your mother and I would help her. Gods know her own lush of a mother isn't going to help. Look, I'm not some relationship expert, but obviously you two have enough chemistry between each other that you got yourselves into this mess."
"Maybe, but kids didn't really play a part in any of it."
"Yeah well shit happens. You think your mother and I planned for twins? Also didn't plan on you two being criminals. Still don't know why the hell you two turned out the way you did considering you had everything."
"Here we go, another lecture…I'm not a fucking teenager anymore dad."
"Damn right you aren't, which is why its time you stopped fucking acting like one and take some responsibility for a fucking change! What the hell do you have going on that's oh so fucking important right now? From what I can tell this dump you're living in, you aren't exactly living some carefree life of a swashbuckler like in those badly written novels. What, you spend all the coin you steal on wine and whores?"
"I'll have you know I live frugally and save very carefully."
"Well great. Good for you. Glad to hear you're a thrifty thief. Actually explains a lot. Now, if you've got so much coin saved up, you've got enough to support your children."
"Is this what it's ultimately about? Fine, I'll go empty out my safe and you can take it all to give to Annah and the kids."

Your father suddenly gives you a minor tap upside your head. It's unexpected and you almost feel like you're ten years old again.

"What the fuck?!" you utter.
"This isn't about money, this is about responsibility and YOU needing to fucking take some! Your children need their father, you've already missed some of it, you really want to miss it all?" your father says.
"Why don't you do it? Obviously you think I'm a no good vagabond, so I would make a terrible father."
"Maybe you would, but I don't think so. Surprised to hear me say that?"
"A little."
"Well I'm not saying it to boost your ego, I'm saying it because I believe based on what Annah's told me about you and the boy I used to know. There is a streak of responsibility in you. I mean even as a thief you're obviously preparing for the future by saving your ill-gotten loot. I remember how you always stuck by your sister and tried to take the blame for some of the more serious shenanigans you two got up to. It looks like you're running some sort of shop here and Annah's said you've run a shop in the past with some other woman that you apparently had a stable relationship with. You've got it in you to be a contributing member of society."
"I don't know about that."
"Well you won't know unless you try and you might as well try with a family. As far as you and Annah are concerned, well I don't know if you two are going to be a proper husband and wife. I mean it'll be good if you can, and I'm inclined to believe you two are still in love. However, if that doesn't work out, you should at least still be there for your children."
"You don't think I'll just be a bad influence?"
"Oh, I don't doubt that you won't to some degree, however I also don't think you're going to want to put up with the headache of raising two little criminals. I know Annah certainly won't and I can't say I'd want to be on her bad side. What the hell happened to her anyway? I swear she can shoot the wings off a fly."
"Long story, though I don't know all of it since she's never told me the whole story about her adventures during our times away from each other either."
"Well maybe that's something you can finally catch up on and bond over. Besides, y'know, your kids of course."
"Maybe."

Your father puts a hand on your shoulder.

"Look, this has been an exciting adventure for me and all, but I really want to get back home before your mother starts hiring a search party. I need to know if you're coming with me or not. It's a simple answer that doesn't require much overthinking. If you are, let's get going now. If you aren't, then I won't bother you again with this."

You refuse the call

While there is a part of you that feels sort of shitty about this, you don't feel like you have some obligation to go back to Teckleville. Annah obviously didn't want you involved otherwise she would have told you (or even your family) a lot sooner than she did.

In fact this makes you sort of reconsider your relationship with Annah in the first place. Sure, you two have love for one another, but it's always been the same and you two never stay together for whatever reason. If you go back, why should this time be any different? Might even be worse with children involved, you really don't think you'd make that great of a father. You'd feel trapped for one thing.

Maybe you'd feel different if it was just you and Annah settling down and living somewhere other than Teckleville together. You nearly did it before with Zalmora.

Hell, you don't necessarily need anyone. You've been doing okay on your own and you're just not feeling this scenario so it's probably for the best that you stay away and just move on entirely.

Still, you do feel somewhat of an obligation. Even if Annah didn't ask for your help directly you'll try to provide it anyway, assuming your father is willing to take it for you.

"Dad, hang on just a second." You say and go to the back of your shop and open up the safe (and disarm the traps) You then haul out some of the coin to put in a bag and a smaller amount in a nearby backpack with your basic tools.

You come back with your father still waiting and shove the bag in his hand. You're making this quick because arguing with him is a pointless endeavor.

"What's this?" your dad asks.
"That's everything I have in the shop. Now, I got more at home, but I doubt you're going to wait around to accept it and honestly carrying more might require hiring mercenaries to help protect it on your way back to…"

You get a headshake and a sigh before you can finish. Apparently your dad already knows what you're going to say.

"Y'know, I can't say I'm entirely surprised by this, but I sort of hoped I'd be wrong. Unfuckingbelievable. Y'know what, you're right, I'm not gonna stick around and you can keep this shit as well. You've made your decision to not return, well good because I don't want to see you ever again." Your father says and throws the bag of coin on the floor before walking out.

You stand there for a moment pondering your decision. You almost rush out the door to go apologize and say you're returning, but then you decide your first decision is your true feelings. You're not done living your own life, with responsibility only to yourself.

Seeing as you were going to leave here soon anyway, you gather up the coin that your father left and make your way to book passage on a ship. You're just going to leave it all behind and not look back.

You have no idea where you'll be heading, but your life as a rogue will continue with no further interference from your past.