Chapter Text
Bob watched wearily out the window overlooking the busy street. The sun was setting over the peer, sunset reflecting off the dirty water.
He heard his wife approach him from behind until she was standing next to him.
"Hi, Bobby." She greeted, hands coming up to massage his back gingerly.
"Hey, Lin."
The two stood in silence for a long while, simply enjoying the other's company.
They were both in their early 80's now, Louise had long since taken over the restaurant, but Bob and Linda still lived in the apartment above.
Bob had a hard time entertaining himself without the restaurant, he'd often pop in and help out despite his doctor warning him not to overwork himself anymore.
Linda had been patient with him, understanding his need to work.
It's all he'd ever known.
"How's your back?" He'd had a bad fall a few months prior, which was the final straw of him needing to retire.
He shrugged, "It uhh...doesn't hurt anymore." he tried weakly.
Linda hummed softly, resting her chin on his shoulder, "Wanna go out tonight? It's been a while."
He nodded, "Sure."
Linda smiled brightly, "Aw yay! Just me and my Bobby." She singsonged, leaning her head on the back of his shoulder.
He simply smiled, hand coming to hers, he leaned down and kissed it softly.
"Sounds perfect, Lin."
She smiled and rushed over to their room, throwing on something nice to wear.
He slowly followed her, a slight limp in his step.
Linda never mentioned it. It was an age thing, she knew it. She also knew he'd get defensive if she brought it up.
As she grew older. Linda hadn't changed much, her hair was now completely grey, she'd given up dying it a long time ago, and her face was covered in wrinkles that were previously not there, but other than that she simply looked older than before.
Bob, on the other hand, had changed quite a bit.
His bald spot grew so he was completely bald on the top, the sides of his head were still covered in little grey hairs. He too, had far more wrinkles than before, mostly on his forehead, and his mustache had thinned down over the year, much like his hair, it was also grey.
He changed into one of his dress shirts and a pair of old jeans, pulling out the dress shoes that he'd had since he was in his 20s.
Linda wore a nice dress with a light blue sweater over it.
"Movie or dinner?" She asked, back turned to him as she clipped in her earrings.
He shrugged, "Movie. I'll make something when we get home."
She nodded in agreement.
He'd been doing that a lot lately, without the restaurant, he'd been finding every excuse to cook. Linda didn't complain, she loved his cooking, and always had.
She clapped and turned to him, "Alrighty! Let's go!"
He smiled softly, following her out of the apartment.
The stairs were hard. Neither knew what that became an issue, but it was.
Getting old sucked.
Bob stopped outside the restaurant, staring at it with such want in his dark pupils.
Louise spotted her parents and waved through the window, "HI DAD! HI MOM!"
Bob smiled softly at his daughter, waving back.
Linda beamed at her youngest, "HI HONEY! ME AND YOUR FATHER ARE GOING OUT ON A DATE!"
Some customers gave her strange looks but Louise just gave her a thumbs up, walking over to the door to peek her head out, "You crazy kids better not stay out too late!" She joked.
Bob rolled his eyes, "I'm going to get the car. Goodnight Louise."
They started parking in the ally long ago, the walk was too long for Bob now, and Linda had never felt like walking that far.
Louise went back to the restaurant, waving goodbye to her parents as they drove away.
Linda smiled and looked out the window at the buildings.
She loved this town. She loved her kids, god, she was so proud of them all.
Tina was a successful author, Gene was a DJ and sometimes would play gigs with his band at local bars, and Louise followed her father's footsteps in the restaurant.
She looked over at Bob, his eyes were focused on the road ahead.
It was quiet moments like that where it hit Linda just how much she loved him, and how they don't have that much time left together.
His health was steadily growing worse, and so was hers but nearly not as bad as his.
The couple was inseparable, it was rare for them to even be in different rooms nowadays.
Not when they could lose each other so easily.
"Bobby?" She started, voice strangely wobbly.
He hummed softly in acknowledgment, eyebrows raised in concern at her tone of voice, "Yeah, Lin?"
"What am I gonna do if you die? Or what are you going to do if I die?"
Bob's brow furrowed at the strange question, Linda wasn't usually asking questions like that. She was always focusing on the positive.
"I mean...Lin. I don't know. I-...I don't know." She frowned at his answer but he continued, "If...I die first, I'd want you to move on and live the rest of your life, y'know? The kids still need you. And if you die first..." He stopped, pressing a hand to his temple, his gaze still on the road ahead, "If you die first...I don't know what I'll do."
A silence fell over the car, and the mode had completely shifted.
This was a hard topic, they both knew that.
They also both knew it was a necessary one.
Bob spared a glance at her, sighing at her deep frown.
"Lin, don't worry about stuff like that. God, can't believe I'm the one saying that." He chuckled at his comment before continuing, "We don't know when we'll die, but...I know we'll make the best of the time we have together, and with the kids. And...when we die, we'll be together forever, right?" It was at times like this that Linda was grateful for how logical and down-to-earth he was.
She nodded, tears pooling in her eyes, "Forever, Bobby. Forever." She repeated.
Forever.
He looked at her again, before deeming himself satisfied and turning back to the road.
Linda let herself space out, lost in old memories.
She remembered their first date well, after the whole allergic reaction situation cooled down he'd driven her home, hand sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck as he told her he'd, 'had a great time,' and would 'love to do this again'
It was that moment --with that anxious grin on his face and nervous look in his eyes-- that she'd known he was the one.
She'd leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, promising to call him.
And that was just the beginning.
She remembered the day he'd told her about his dream to open a restaurant.
There was this glint in his eyes as he passionately spoke about cooking and burgers and all of that. The biggest, most hopeful grin on his face.
She missed that smile.
She remembered their first kiss.
She remembered their first "I love you."
She remembered telling him when she was pregnant with Tina, and how his eye's filled up with both fear and excitement.
She remembered his smile when he held Tina for the first time. And Gene, and Louise.
And the rest was history.
"Lin?" His voice broke her out of her thoughts, she turned to him, his eyebrow raised in confusion, "We're here. Are...are you okay?"
She looked at him for a moment before launching herself at him, melting into his arms.
He chuckled softly in her ear, arms securing around her waist.
"I love you, Bobby."
She could practically feel his smile, "I know. I love you too, Lin."
Forever.
The word echoed in her mind as she held him.
He was right, they didn't know what the future held, but, as long as they were together in the end, they'd be okay, that's all that mattered.
Forever.