Okay, yeah, that changed things. "Well," Anthony had nothing to say, anymore. "I hope they'll all be alright."

"Thanks...." Ben said hesitantly, because it was obvious the guy only cared about himself and didn't mean it. Ben breathed heavily but continued pacing.

Anthony sat in silence for a few moments. "They seem like good people. I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to them."

Ben looked at the man suspiciously - or rather, in his direction. He stopped pacing at last and sat down. "They are very good kids." And yet he couldn't protect them, as constantly became evident.

Anthony nodded, looking down at the ground. "I believe that," he said. "I actually hope they'll stay safe instead of doing something dangerous."

What was this guy playing at? "Thanks... I hope so too." Ben said, still a little wary.

Anthony nodded and sat in a very awkward silence for a few moments. "I'm sorry for basically telling you you don't treat your kids well, back then," he, perhaps surprisingly, apologized. Was the sleep deprivation getting to him already?

That surprised him, certainly. Ben frowned while he tried to make sense of all this and failed. "It's alright... I... don't always do a great job."

"No one does," Anthony shrugged. "I haven't seen or heard a lot about you, but from what I have, you seem like you do a better job than...some people."

Ben scoffed. "That's not hard..." He could name a few absolutely awful parents. "But thank you..." He wondered when the guy would take it back again.