Chapter Text
Beth gave Rick one last worried look. She was right in front of the door, while Jerry was already in the car. Rick had come to see her off, as well as make sure she didn’t change her mind at the last second. He wanted her to have this date. Not because he wanted to encourage her crummy relationship with Jerry, but because he wanted her to turn off ‘Mommy’ mode, if even for a few hours.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay? They’re a handful, especially at their age.”
“Sweetie, I’ve dealt with wild pigs pouring poison from their snouts while trying to eat me alive with 4-inch fangs. I got this.”
She looked at him for a moment, before shrugging her purse over her shoulders.
“If you’re sure, Dad—”
“Of course. Have a good time. And don’t worry. I can handle a few snot-nose ankle-biters for the evening.”
Summer came running down the stairs. The five-year-old grabbed hold of Beth’s leg.
“Mommy! Morty is watching a Youtuber that says bad words.”
“Oh, fucking hell, Summer. Don’t be a snitch,” Rick scolded. Beth snapped her head up at him and glared.
“DAD!”
Rick rolled his eyes, before setting his sights on his granddaughter, “Listen. Get your brother and we’ll watch a family friendly movie.”
“…And watch your language,” Beth told Rick, “The children are very impressionable.”
“Alright, honey. I got it.”
Beth eased up and smiled, kissing Summer on the forehead before walking out the door. Summer went to get Morty. Meanwhile, Rick configured the settings on his intergalactic tv. By the time his grandchildren came to the couch, he already had a bowl of popcorn ready.
Morty was carrying some superhero doll in his arms, clutching it tightly. He looked at Rick with big brown eyes.
“I wanna watch Vindicators.”
“No!” Summer yelled, “Tinkles the Magic Unicorn!”
Rick was about to say “Fuck that” when he remembered the rules Beth set for him. So instead, he said, “Heck no. We’re watching something everyone will like.”
“Land Before Time?”
“Toy Story?”
“Nope,” Rick held out the remote and smiled, “Back to the Future.”
Summer frowned, “That’s a dumb old people movie.”
“Dumb and old,” Morty mimicked as a way of agreeing.
“You two sit your butts down and eat your popcorn. I refuse to hear any complaining.”
“But it’s dumb and old!” Summer repeated.
“Have you even watched it?”
“No. But I know it’s stupid. It’s not even a cartoon.”
Morty was in parrot mode, “Not even a cartoon.”
Rick brought Morty in his lap. Then he patted a seat next to him, hinting that Summer better shape up and join them. She did. But she pouted the whole way. Rick suddenly pulled out two chocolate bars, catching his grandkid’s attention in an instant.
“Stop complaining and I’ll give this to you.”
“Wow, grandpa. Thanks!”
“Thanks, Rick,” Morty said.
With their face stuffed with candy, Rick didn’t have to hear their bellyaching for a while. During the movie, when she was done with her bar, Summer suddenly stated, “Doc is a lot like you, grandpa.”
“Huh…You think? I don’t know about that, Summer,” Rick stated. He could see the resemblance somewhat, being both old scientists. But Doc’s character was far too pure hearted to be relatable for him.
“And Marty sounds like Morty.”
Morty turned to his sister in confusion, blinking. He still had half his bar left, although it looked like most of what he ate so far was on his face.
Rick chuckled, “Yep. He’s just one letter away from being a rebel teen that hates the word ‘chicken.’”
“I like chicken,” Morty insisted as if Rick was claiming otherwise.
They continued to watch. Rick could tell that Summer was stewing over something. The more of the movie she witnessed, the more she looked back at Rick and Morty. Finally, Rick couldn’t take it.
“Summer, geeze! Take a picture. It will last longer. What is it about me and Morty that’s suddenly so interesting?”
“You’re the same as them,” the toddler said.
Rick arched a brow at his granddaughter. Summer seemed very serious and Rick could tell that her overactive imagination was getting the better of her again. She looked between him and Morty, her mind made up.
“You’re the same as Doc and Marty.”
“Okay, Summer. Sure thing,” Rick laughed.
Morty turned up to his grandfather, “Take me on a ‘venture….”
“See? He wants an adventure. You need to do it. Because you’re the same.”
“Listen, kids. Your grandpa hates dealing with time-travel. It’s way too messy. So no. I won’t take Morty thirty years into the past, if that’s what you’re asking me to do.”
Suddenly, Morty looked very sad. Rick hated to admit that it made him feel the slightest bit guilty. He loved his grandchildren and hated to disappoint them. Even though he pretended not to care, in reality, he’d do anything for them. If they asked for the moon, he would give it to them, knowing it was well within his ability.
Fuck. He had become one of those grandparents that spoil they hell out of their grandkids.
“Then take him to a planet. And me. Take me too. We wanna have an adventure,” Summer said.
Oh boy. These kids were getting weird ideas from this movie. Rick suddenly realized what Beth meant by them being impressionable. This movie was a mistake.
He turned it off, “Okay, new plan. We’re watching Toy Story.”
Summer and Morty smiled at this.