A/N: Here's chapter 3. Enjoy, people.

The doorbell three, long times followed by eight successive ones. Lisa's annoyance was at its peak when she answered, prepared to tear into the visitor, but it faltered into confusion.

"Harry?" she asked, leaning against the door. "Sorry, I thought it wasn't your day with Iris?"

"My kid just called me up crying, Mrs. West-Brown," Harry growled, pushing through. "Where is she?"

Lisa frowned. "Wait a second, what do you mean Iris was crying?"

"Iris is crying?" Elijah appeared from the living room. "Is because of her injuries?"

"Injuries?" Harry repeated, narrowing his eyes. "What did you do?"

"We didn't do anything!" Elijah raised his palms, taking a careful step back. "She, um, well we were just reconnecting over old times and—"

"Oh, good, you're here." Iris walked down the stairs and Elijah had never been so relieved to see his sister. Iris gave a tight-lipped smile and nodded to him, a signal for retreat. She leaned against the banister and addressed Harry, "I think it's time we talked."

Harry frowned and stepped forwards. "What's wrong, kid?"

Iris let out a deep sigh, mustering up every last drop of her courage. "I think we need to talk with David."

A palpable silence followed.

Iris locked eyes with Lisa, who tilted her head. A sudden clarity washed over Lisa's face. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah." Iris swallowed. "Someone reminded me I have more allies than I'd thought... and I really think it's time to put this matter to rest."

"Really?" Julian called from the living room. "Like fifteen minutes ago you said you never wanted to talk to Dad again."

"Well, times change." Iris gestured up the chairs with a lopsided grin. "I need you on my side, Dad."

The corners of Harry's eyes crinkled and he walked to her side. He clapped her shoulders and pulled her into a side hug. "You know I'm always on your side."

"We'll be downstairs if you need us," Lisa said, shoving her nosy sons back into the room before they could follow. "Let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks," Iris replied. She took a deep, steadying breath and then walked upstairs to the first floor.

She had vague memories of being a child and going down the long corridor to David's office, but was always stopped by either her mother or one of the staff members from going any further. Her heart pounded and the moisture evaporated from her mouth as she approached the solid door, but Harry's silent presence gave her the courage to go on.

Iris knocked three times and pushed down the brass handle, swinging the door inwards.

"I thought I said I didn't want to be disturbed," David said, his back facing them. He turned and his expression faltered. "Iris? And... you. What're you doing here, DeLano?"

"Always a pleasure, West-Brown." Harry stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets. "This time, I'm here for Iris. She thought the three of us could have a little chat."

David's gaze rested heavily on Iris. His throat bobbed before he spoke, "In that case, could you please leave since this is a family matter—"

"Oh, give it a rest, would you?" Iris groaned, plonking herself into one of the two leather chairs in front of a wooden desk. She glanced at the plethora of papers with jagged symbols and numbers, the frames capturing the various moments in the boys' lives, and even—

"Hey." Iris pointed. "Is that me and Mum?"

Trapped behind polished glass and a dark brown frame was a young Elise holding a toddler Iris in her arms. They looked so happy it made Iris ache, missing the warmth of her mother's smile.

"Not a day goes by that I don't miss her," David whispered, his eyes glazing over a little as he stared at the photo. "I missed both of you so much over the last ten years."

Harry snorted. "Yeah, and that's why you didn't call her."

Iris cast him a warning glance. "Hey—"

"No, I'm sorry, but I need to say this." Harry leaned forwards, resting his elbows on the table. "You do not get to pull this pity act. You have absolutely no excuse for the way you treated Elise and Iris. What's even more appalling is how you demanded custody of a child who you've never even interacted with in the last ten years!"

David scowled, his hands curling into fists. "How dare you speak to me in this way? I am Iris' father and I have every right to—"

"Father?" Harry exclaimed, his eyebrows shot up so high they nearly disappeared beyond his hairline. "Don't make me laugh. You may be related by blood, but you have no right to that title. Where were you when Iris was hospitalised for pneumonia? Where were you when she was overwhelmed from exams and needed to vent? Where were you for her first bicycle ride, all her results' days, her sport matches? You keep banging on about being her father, but you've done nothing to deserve that title."

David's nostrils flared and he exhaled harshly. "While I regret missing out on those years, there is plenty of time to make up for it now."

"No, there isn't!" Harry slammed his palms on the table and Iris jumped; she'd never seen him so furious. "Because Elise is dead, you ignorant bastard. She's gone, and she died because you abandoned her. Do you know— do you know how many times I've had to hold her as she cried about you? How many times she would try to get a job but was turned down because of your cruel orders?" His voice cracked, but he pushed on, "She's gone... and I can't even protect her kid from the man who caused her death."

A sudden, overwhelming wave of gratitude crashed over Iris as she stared at Harry. Tears pricked the back of her eyes and she blinked them away, reaching out a trembling hand to grip his arm. Watching him glare down at David with the force of a thousand suns, she'd never felt more loved. Cole was right. I have more allies than I'd realised.

"Look." Iris cleared her throat and shuffled forwards a little, until she was on the edge of her seat. "I didn't intend to rehash old wounds, but there's just one thing I have to know... why did you kick us out?"

David sighed and looked towards the right wall for a few moments, jaw clenched as if he was struggling to find the words. Finally, he spoke, "Do you remember what I said last time? About... your mother having an affair?"

A flare of anger sparked in Iris, but she stamped it out. Harry partly rose from his chair, about to lunge across the table, but swallowed and lowered himself. He pursed his lips and glanced at Iris, head tilted in an encouraging nod.

"I remember." Iris clasped her hands together tight. "It's bullshit, but I remember."

David nodded slowly and, with careful movements as if he was approaching a wild animal, opened the third drawer of his desk. He pulled out a pale yellow file and flicked it open. There were a small pile of glossy papers beneath two sheets of white paper, which David set aside.

"Around eleven years ago," David said, drumming his fingers on the table. "Elise was acting strange. Avoiding me, making random excuses when she came home late, being extremely protective of her phone. I'd tried to talk to her multiple times, but she brushed it under the carpet. So... I had her tailed."

"Wow." Harry's jaw dropped. "I thought I couldn't have a lower regard for you, but clearly I was wrong."

"Dad, be nice," Iris said, pressing down on his toes with her foot. "Go on, David."

David flinched. "Can you at least-- no, never mind. As I was saying, I had her tailed. The person I'd hired took these photos. The proof is undeniable. I was-- I was so angry, that I couldn't think straight. On the day these photos were sent to me, I kicked out Elise and you. I-- I didn't mean to get you caught in the crossfire, Iris. I am... so sorry, and I hope I can someday earn your forgiveness."

Iris froze. Her heartbeat sped up and she couldn't tear her eyes away from David; his cold mask had dropped, revealing sorrow and heartbreak. She couldn't believe it. No, she didn't want to believe it. Her mother, who used to teach her the importance of loyalty, who made her promise to always keep her allies close... an affair? It doesn't make sense, she thought.

"Let... let me see the photos," she whispered. With trembling hands, she picked up the first photo, flipped it over and--

Laughed. Hard.

The sound was dry as twigs in autumn, and full of a raw bitterness which startled the men. Tears leaked in the corner of her eyes as Iris flicked through all the photos. The first one was of Elise sat in a corner booth with a man, whose face was shrouded by a shadow. The second was of her in the park with the same man, and they were eating ice cream. The third was of them hugging and smiling. The others followed a similar fashion.

"This?" Iris spluttered, throwing the pictures down. "This is why we were kicked out?"

David's brows furrowed. "Iris, I don't understand why you're acting like this. I was told Elise was constantly going out with this man for two weeks, buying gifts for him--"

"He's her brother, you pathetic excuse of a man."

"No." David shook his head. "Elise was an only child and her parents had died a long time ago--"

"Oh, for fuck's sake." Iris pulled out her phone and opened the photos app, scrolling back several years. She turned it around, showing a photo of her being carried on the shoulders of the brown-eyed man in the photo, who was standing next to a smiling blonde woman. "That's Uncle Sammy, and this is Aunt Eleanor. Turns out, my grandparents had given up twins for adoption before having Mum as they were very young. They'd reached out, but panicked once they lost contact-- which is when, I'm assuming-- you kicked us out. Both had offered to take us with them, but Mum wanted to stay here. Did your precious detective not send any pictures of the three of them?"

David paled, staring at the phone like a man possessed. "That's-- that's impossible. She-- she would have told me."

"Elise was probably waiting for the right time to tell you," Harry spoke up. "It's quite a big thing, after all. On the day you'd received these photos, did you try to speak to her at all or did you kick her out first?"

"Of course I spoke to her!" David yelled, running a hand through his black hair. "She'd said... well, she kept making excuses about how it wasn't what it looked like, and I'd seen enough to guess."

"So you chose to make assumptions rather than communicating?" Iris' arm dropped. She was so tired. "I can see why you were suspicious, but you didn't give her a chance to explain. I still remember that that, you know. Mum was shouting she wanted to explain, but you didn't say anything. You threw us out with nothing more than the clothes on our backs, and you dare to ask for forgiveness?"

"I didn't know," David whispered, touching the photo gingerly. "Why didn't she tell me?"

"Because, David, you're a stubborn fool." It was a trait she knew she'd inherited from him, after all. A quick temper which blinded her to all else. Iris stood and nodded to Harry. "Much like you steamrolled all over my life. You did the same thing at Mum's funeral, just barged through. Lisa can understand my feelings, hell even your sons who are half your age don't push me. Why the hell can you not understand this?"

Iris crossed the room to the door, which Harry was holding open for her. Just before it slammed shut, she could have sworn she heard David say something.

It doesn't matter now, she thought, leaning against Harry. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. I'm done with him. With all of them. As soon as I find Meredith, I'm leaving his place... for good, this time.

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I hope you guys liked it!

Stay safe and thanks for reading :)