Takes place after the s.3 premiere, RennovationKlok. Spoilers for that ep, so don't read if you haven't seen it yet.

I love the father/sons dynamic in the show and wanted to showcase that. So it may sound slashy, but it's not meant to be.

More comments after the fic. Please read and review. Sorry if it sucks. It was written quickly and unbeta'd.

"Why can't you tell us where you've been? What's going on?" Nathan's voice was softer than usual, his deep growls even deeper, if that was even possible.

Charles turned toward him, "I said I'd tell you when the time was right. For now, consider it for your own safety that you're better off not knowing."

The others had dispersed, going their separate ways within the floating mansion, leaving Nathan and Charles alone to talk. The singer still couldn't believe his eyes. A man they thought was dead for nine months suddenly reappears and saves them yet again, this time from financial ruin. When Charles had walked through that door in an eerie halo of light, Nathan thought he had seen a ghost. A very brutal-looking ghost, but still a ghost.

He had traded the leather jacket and pants for his usual suit and tie. His glasses had also returned to their rightful spot on his face. The unruly, shaggy hair he had sported was now trimmed and slicked back. All in all, it was the same old , except for one slight physical change.

On his face he now bore a scar. A reminder of what the Revengencers (as they had learned they were called) had done to him, namely the metal-masked assassin sent to kill him. It served as a reminder to the band that this man had nearly sacrificed his life to protect them. It proved to them once and for all that he wasn't a robot, he was human like them.

Nathan took a step toward Charles, his eyes focused on the scar. The manager remained deathly still as the other man's eyes bore into him.

"You're . . . alive," Nathan mumbled.

"Yes Nathan, I'm alive. Although I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't broadcast that fact to the public. As far as they are concerned, you guys hired another manager."

The singer merely grunted in response, still focused on the scar. It was about three inches long and ran down the side of his face. He wanted to touch it, but he knew Charles wouldn't like that. Nathan thought back to that fateful night and realized it was a knife wound. The man he had clubbed with the wooden beam had sliced Charles's cheek with a dagger, the blood from which joined the blood of his other various wounds. Nathan clenched his fists in anger at the memories.

Without warning, Nathan enveloped the smaller man in a tight bear hug. It lasted for only a few seconds before he pulled away, flushed in embarrassment.

"Uh, sorry, you know, about that. Won't, uh, won't happen again."

Charles nodded, unfazed at the singer's display of affection. "It's quite alright, Nathan. How about you go get some rest? I have some things I need to do."

"Will you still be here when I wake up? You're not going to disappear again, right?"

Their eyes met. Nathan's innocent question stirred something inside the businessman, causing him to smile softly. "I'll still be here. I'm not going anywhere anymore."

That seemed like an acceptable answer to Nathan (either that or he really was tired). He grunted again then left the room.

He added out loud, once Nathan had left, "I'll never leave you boys alone again." Turning back to the window, he gazed at his new, cloud-filled domain. They always did say the sky's the limit. With these boys, though, the CFO knew that it wasn't even close.

So how about that episode? I nearly cried thinking he was really dead, but when he showed up at the end, I squeed in happiness. Charles is the man! He's back, scarred but alive. Season 3 is going to be brutally epic.

Again, please read and review. More fics to come now that the series is back.

- Silvarius