Chapter Text
“Good morning.” Campbell yawns, turning so that he could rest his face in Bill’s neck.
“Morning bubba.” Bill whispers, kissing the boy’s forehead. “Sleep well?”
Campbell nods, yawning as he closes his eyes again.
“Why don’t we go back to sleep, it is a sunday.” Bill suggests, brushing his hand through the boy’s hair. He looks down at Campbell, breathing softly, falling asleep again already. “That’s a good boy.” Bill whispers, kissing Campbell’s forehead again before shuffling to lay down again so that he could get at least a few more moments of sleep in.
He smiles as Campbell mutters something in his sleep along the lines of ‘I love you.’ Bill was only just drifting off again when there was a knock on the door.
“No.” Campbell mutters as Bill slips out of bed to put his dressing gown on.
“I’ll be back.” Bill tells the boy, stroking the sweaty hair out of his eyes. “Go back to sleep.” Bill hears the door go again so moves over to the door.
“Hiya Billy.”
Bill stands a little frozen when he opens the door to his mother. “Mother? What are you doing here?”
She smiles, letting herself into the house. “Can’t a mother just check up on her son?” She asks, putting her bag down.
“I guess I’ll make up a pot of coffee.” Bill says, worried about what to do about Campbell. Bill looks over to her when she sighs as she sits at the dining table. “What mother?” He asks, getting some mugs together.
“The house is just so quiet. How do you manage?” She asks, looking over as she sees footprints.
“Daddy come back?” Campbell is standing in the door frame with Sparky in his arms.
“Oh. Who is this?” Essie turns back to her son.
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Essie looks at the boy who was sitting on Bill’s lap. “Go over it again.” She asks, Campbell seeming to be more clingy than usual.
“I know.” He says to the boy who was making small noises. “Well you always said you wanted grandchildren.” Bill starts. “I went to visit him as a patient, he had gotten himself rather hurt after a manic episode. They told me about his… circumstances. See his mother died in childbirth and his father.” Bill sighs. “Well you know how they are with children who are different.”
Campbell rests his head on Bill’s shoulder, looking over to the woman.
“So you adopted him? Just like that?” She asks, putting her mug down to wave at the young boy.
“I couldn’t just leave him? Asylums are more prisons than hospitals, mother.” Bill senses that Campbell was getting antsy. “Alright, sit down here. I’ll go get your meds.” Bill moves the boy onto the chair before getting up and moving to the cupboard.
“What’s his uh… condition?” Essie asks, the boy looking down at Sparky.
“He's a manic depressive. More manic than depressive but we get our bad days.” Bill explains smiling at Campbell.
“But he looks so calm. I thought they were more disruptive, loony?” Essie points out, making Bill grip the counter.
“Please don’t use those words around Campbell.” He tells her through gritted teeth. “Every case is different. The reason he is so calm right now is partly because he’s just woken up and partly because of Sparky.” Bill motions to the stuffed dragon in the boy’s arms. “Here you are.” Bill rests Campbell’s pills on the table.
“Cocoa daddy?” Campbell asks, playing with his pills on the table. “Take those and then you can have one okay?”
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“How long do you plan on staying?” Bill looks to his mother, already feeling that she has outstayed her welcome by just turning up out of the blue anyway.
“Don’t worry Billy, I have a hotel room. I was only planning to stay for my hospital check up but I think I might stay longer, get to know Campbell a little better.” She motions to Campbell who had his head stuck in his new book; around the world in 80 days.
“That really isn’t necessary.” Bill points out. “What is this appointment for that you couldn’t just do back home?” He changes the subject.
“Don’t you worry about me Billy. I’ve survived long enough without you doing so.”
Campbell makes a noise of annoyance, closing up his book and chucking it.
“Don’t do that!” Essie shouts looking to Campbell who was in a state of shock now. “Go pick it up.” She points to the book.
Bill stood up quickly to move over to Campbell. “Mother stop!” He tells her off, cradling the scared boy in his arms.
“You’re coddling him, he’ll keep misbehaving if you let him.” She points out, looking to how the books pages had been crumpled.
“He isn’t misbehaving.”
His mother tuts at him, picking up the book and smoothing it out.
“He isn’t. Campbell feels every emotion amplified. If you want to get to know him better like you said you do, be patient or leave.” Bill tells her, moving his attention to Campbell who was whimpering quietly. “You’re okay. I’m sorry for the shouting.” He whispers, rubbing the boy’s back. “You’re my good boy aren’t you?” Bill asks, the boy nodding, hiding his face in the man’s shoulder.