Work Text:
Key:
Thoughts , sounds, (me)
A scarred and terrified men with no purpose, but to raise his daughter in the world falls in love with the one man he could have never thought would be possible. A man with no purpose, but to survive in this wrecked world falls in love with a man that is so different from him, yet so similar to him at the same time.
CHAPTER ONE: THE CONVERSATION
✧Ethan’s POV✧
On a dark and stormy night, the winds blowing and the downpour angrily fell onto the sleepy and quiet town. I watched the rain, calmness washing over me at the sight of it. All the stress and tension that had been built over weeks and weeks had finally been released into one heavy and tired sigh. It hurt as my shoulders raised up and down.
Across from my house, the same house that me and Mia had moved into with Rosemary, our baby girl. A light flickered on, showing shines of life for the first time in a while. The dark shadow of a man strode over to the window, pulling the curtains back from the window. His blue eyes were dark as he looked behind my house, towards the forest. Two minutes later a woman strode in, talking as she did so. She was beautiful, but not beautiful like my Mia or Rosemary. She has fair skin with no blemishes or pimples. Her black hair is short and luscious, it is done in curls, and it is her natural hair texture. It goes past her chin. She has slender arms and legs, a decent pair of breasts, and an ass as well. She embraced him, turning him towards her, whispering something into his ear before planting a sweet and longing kiss on his lips.
For a few moments, all that the husband and wife did was kiss until a fast and slick silhouette crashed into them. The wife stumbled before her husband caught her, and she burst out laughing at her daughter. The mother smiled down at her, picking her up into her arms, and bringing her closer. The daughter is just as beautiful as her mother, with long black hair, and fair skin that is perfect, long slender arms and legs. The only difference is her bright blue eyes, her father’s eyes. The daughter's hair was ruffled and messy as if she had just woken up from a nap. A happy and soft smile pulled at the daughter's lips, energetic and playful like she already was before this moment.
I looked away at that moment, tears prickling my eyes and a free one slipping down my cold cheek. It was too much for me, it was too many feelings for me, I wanted to curl up and cry into my pillow forever. Yet, I knew that I could not, not with my baby, my Rosemary. O stood up, walking away from the rain-soaked porch and into the house.
The minute I walked in, I heard her crying from her room. I strode towards the kitchen, grabbing my knife that was hidden away from peering eyes. I stalked toward her room and slowly creaked it open. It was empty as I looked inside, a sigh left my lips. I was in her room in no time, sheathing my blade before picking her up.
I looked down at her, those big blue eyes closed tightly as she cried into my shoulder. “Hey, my little monkey!” She looked up at me, tears clearing away from her eyes.
A laugh left her mouth, no syllables yet, but we were getting there. She gave me a smile before slobber on her mouth, dripping down her chin.
I gently ruffled her hair. I left the room, closing the door behind me, leaving it shut as I ventured down the stairs. Once I was downstairs, I made my way to the kitchen, setting her into her highchair. She babbled at me, laughing at me.
I studied her for a moment before speaking, “Are you hungry, my little rosemary?”
Rosemary laughed at the nickname, reaching for me as she laughed and babbled constantly. That gave me the answer I needed.
I turned away, reaching into the icebox, and grabbing the strawberry baby food container. I closed the icebox, setting it on the counter before I pulled a drawer open. I grabbed the pastel pink baby spoon as I closed the drawer with my hip. I walked towards her, pulling a chair by her high chair to feed her.
I opened the top of the container, setting it right by the container itself, making sure that the food wouldn't get on the table. I scooped a spoonful before making an airplane noise and fed her the food, her favorite flavor.
By the time I was halfway through the container of food, it was 06:02 pm. Before I could even feed her a spoonful the doorbell rang through the house.
I groaned, standing before my precious flower. “I’ll be back, my little rose.”
I gave her a kiss on the head, ruffling her thick blonde hair as I walked away. I stopped at the doorway of the kitchen, giving her one last look before walking towards the door. Once I was at the door, I looked through the peephole I could see a tall man with a military buzzcut that was slightly grown out with a beard that is growing out slightly. His brown eyes are calculated and hard, staring right through the peephole into my blue eyes as if he could sense me through the hole. He has glasses on his face, which make his face slightly softer than before. My mind came up blank as I stared at him. Then it hit me, the man who had saved my daughter when he thought it died.
Chris.I did not know why he was here, or why he was outside of my door. I did not want to open the door for him or anyone related to him. As if he knew what I was thinking, he said, “Ethan, open the door.” He paused for a moment as if he needed to find the right words to say. The right words to say to me. “Now.”
I hesitated for a moment, not really knowing if I should open the door. After five minutes, I grabbed the nob, gripping it tight enough to break it off. I quickly opened the door, showing me Chris in front of me.
”Chris.”
He gave me a tight smile as he stared at me, his eyes are cold and hard. I stare back at him the same way; cold, hard, calculated. We stare at each other for ten minutes before Rose started laughing at something, I relaxed at the sound of her. I almost looked back at the kitchen before I realized Chris was still in front of me. He looked lost, as if staring past me at something, maybe at Rosemary? I didn’t know what he was thinking about right now, and it was none of my business.
I backed away from the dark oak door, stretching my hand out to welcome Chris into my house, not my home. I shoved those thoughts away from my mind, not wanting them at this moment. Chris stared at my arm for a moment before he walked in, unbothered by my arm.
I glared at him from behind as he walked into the kitchen, where Rosemary was. I stared out the door for a moment at my neighbors house. It was dark, as expected it was past 6:30 at night, most people would be asleep, most. I finally closed the door after a while, it clicked after I walked away from the door and into the kitchen.
I did not expect to see Chris feeding my child, my Rosemary in our house. I did not see red or feel any rage, I just felt weird at the sight. Chris had always said that he disliked children when I talked about children, even before Rosemary. I gave a smile as I began on the dishes, washing them as he feed her.
I stood there for about thirty minutes before I finished washing them and then dried my hands with a rag on the counter beside me. I wiped them, just as Chris set the container, and spoon into the sink. His eyes were cold at he stared at me. “We need to talk about something important.”
I stared at him, then at his hand that was gripping my wrist, it hurt, but not as much as going through living hell. I didn’t not mind the pain as I have died before, watching my wife die, and living through fucking hell for my daughter, and now dead wife.
I gave him a tight smile, different from the normal smile I give my daughter. “What is it?”
My daughter was preoccupied by the coloring book and colors that Chris had supposed gave her while I was doing dishes. I gave her a smile when she looked up at me for a moment before going back to coloring in her book. I forcefully pulled my eyes away from her and back to the man in front of me, he was back to looking at me, again.
“It’s about the house and Mia.” He stated coldly.
I froze at the sound of her voice, of my now dead wife and the mother of Rosemary. She had died and I felt my entire body shiver at her name, like she was hovering over me, protecting me and Rosemary. I missed her dearly, more than anything. I want her back, but I can’t have her, ever. I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t, not now. I have to protect my baby girl, my Rosemary, my little flower more than anything. I want them both together-
A warm hand grasped my shoulder, shaking me out of my thoughts, my eyes are bleary as I stared at him. Chris stared at me, his eyes clear and soft, not cloudy and teary like mine. I stared at him, slightly shocked at that.
“I know that you don’t like talking about her, but it is something about her, Ethan.” He looked away for a moment then back at me, as if he was searching for something or someone outside the house. Like a monster, all the people that want me dead and buried in the ground, far away from them.
Chris pulled his hand away, quickly. It was almost like my skin was acid, seeping through my clothes and onto his hand, onto his skin and flesh. I had not seen him like this in a long time, a very long time.
Anytime Chris had mentioned Mia before this moment and anytime before this I would break down in his arms. I would sob into his shoulder until I fell asleep or calmed down enough for him to carry me to bed. I always thanked him for that, for being a decently-good friend to me despite all the things that have happened to me or what I have done to others.
Chris stared at me, his eyes slight softer than before, still hard, but not like before. It was almost like a friendly stare, like I was his friend, but I was barely even a friend to him or at least I thought so.
“We have been compromised, we need to move you.” He said at first, then clarified to me. “We need to move both of you.”
I stared at him for a moment before rage blasted everything out the window, every sing thing, even about Mia and Rosemary. In this moment he did not care, his rage and fury seeping through my skin and flesh into the air. I could feel the tension of the room thicken as I my rage grew even more as I stared at him. “I know what you have been through, it’s been tough for all of us.” My hands clenched together, my nails digging into my skin, pricking it and making a bit of blood drip off my hands. It dropped onto the floor, staining the pristine white floor.
“You,” I pointed at him, my finger jabbing against his chest. “DON’T TELL ME WHAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH!! YOU DON’T GET TO DO THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH!” I paused, catching my breath as I stared at him, hate shimmering in my blue eyes making them a darker blue than they already are. “You know exactly what I have endured and suffered through, exactly what I have been through…”
A sob ripped from my throat, coating the tension in the room with sadness and anger. The sobs escaped my throat as he pulled me into a hug, holding me closer than he has held anyone else before. I cried into him for a while, getting it all out, I could hear Rose scribbling on her color page in the coloring book. I stood there for a long time, clinging onto him with the little strength that I had left to hang onto him. I almost fell to the floor multiple times and he caught me each time before my knees hit the floor.
𐀔𐀔𐀔
Two hours Later
𐀔𐀔𐀔
The time read 8:45 pm. Rosemary was already in her crib, asleep in her room by the time that I woke up on the couch. Chris was sitting across from me, watching the TV play an old movie, Mrs. Bridgefire. Me and Rosemary watch it on scary nights, not stormy or rainy nights, but dark and scary.
I looked over at him, rubbing the tiredness from my eyes as I sat up, the blanket falling my body and onto the floor.
“Sorry, for triggering you, Ethan.” His voice spoke out over the foggy and drifting thoughts in my mind. I looked at him, hate and tears no longer in my eyes as I stared at him. “It’s fine, Chris. Don’t worry about it.”
I looked away from him, not commenting about moving houses, not homes. My only home will be with both Mia and Rosemary, with the two people that I love more than anything else. I hope that one day that I will be able to move on from Mia and get past the pain of her death and that she is really gone.
I leaned back against the couch, resting and closing my eyes. I enjoyed this time that I have to myself, when I don’t have to take care of Rosemary all of the time. I love my daughter to death, but at times, I need a break from her. I smiled a little at that, of the thought of my daughter and her lovely smile that I vowed to protect as my wife died in front of my eyes.
“You still have to move locations, no matter what you say, Ethan.” Chris looked over at him. I peeked through my left eye, looking at Chris, he looked away from me as if he was the one that had compromised us, me and Rosemary. Yet, I knew that he didn’t expose us to whoever may be after us(there is a lot), but he does blame himself deep down inside his chest. “I don’t blame you, just so you know.”
Chris looked at me for a moment, eyes moving back and forth as if he was searching my expressions and body language for something to pop out at him. He stared at me for three full minutes before he looked away, staring back at the movie on the Tv, but his full attention not on it at all. I knew what he was thinking of, everything that goes through his mind to now and from then on.
”I know you don’t l, E. Yet, I can’t help, but blame myself for letting this happen.” Chris sighed, still staring at the tv as if it was going to take all of his stress and pain away from him. Yet, he knew that it would not, not at all. “It was a slip up, and I payed big time for it.”
I looked at him, concern written on my face before I spoke, “Well if it is indeed a slip up, then fix the mistake, and kill the son of a bitch that made it. No one can do it better than you, C.”
I have him a smirk as he finally looked away from the TV and smirked at me. I let a wild laugh out, loving that he is back to his old Chris ways now. Me and Rosemary have that effect on the people that are close to us, and the people that want to kill me(sometimes).
”In six week times, we will be packed, moved out and have already said goodbye to the neighbors.” I looked at him, giving him a soft and charming smile. He cracked one too, he could never not be himself around me. “You’re the best person for the job, you’ll get it done.”
Chris looked over at me and nodded, a smile across his face as I spoke. He looked happy for once and I was happy for him despite our differences and minds. He stood up, I spoke to him, “You can sleep here if you want, there are like 10 guest rooms in this house. Feel free to stay over whenever, Chris.”
I spoke to him waving my hands around as I began walking around the house, locking all door and windows. Shutting off all of the light as well, can’t have the power bill skyrocketing again or have people noticing the lights are on again. We made it up the stairs together, making small talk as we both went to Rosemary’s room checking on her before retiring to bed.
”Thank you, Ethan. For everything.” Chris spoke softly, more soft than I have seen him in years and that is saying something. I gave him a tight hug and fatherly smile, which I found myself wearing all the time. “Goodnight, E.”
Chris started walking away, I stood there for a moment, watching him. Right before he entered the room, he looked back at me, hope in his eyes and tears brimming his brown eyes. “Goodnight, C.” I watched as he turned into the guest room, which is his for now.
After a while of standing there, I turned off the light, and went to my room. I stood at my door hesitating, for some reason that is unknown. I went in closing the door and getting undressed. My shoes went first, then my pants, and lastly my shirt. I stood ther in my boxers and socks. I got into bed, throwing the covers to the side before getting in and laying down, covering myself up.
I laid there for a moment, no thoughts, just nothingness. That was until the one thought came before the sweet release of sleep arrived.
Goodnight, Rosemary and sleep well.
✰✰✰
6 weeks later
✰✰✰
I looked at the house, the house that me and my wife had bought to raise our only daughter, our little Rose. It was always beautiful to me despite the fact that it always reminded me of Mia. I held Rosemary in my arm, close to my body, trying to keep her warm from the chipped, cold wind despite the eight month old being bundled in warm, thick clothes. She snuggled closer to me, digging her face into my neck and not moving. I smiled a little bit.
“The car is waiting for us, it’s time to go, E.” Chris’s voice floated through the wind, coming from behind me. I gave one last meaningful look at the house, the house that I was supposed to raise Rose in. I turned away, saying a final goodbye to it. Chris stood there with three bodyguards, one in the driver seat and the other two standing outside of the car, the door open in front of me.
I pulled my gaze away from Chris, walking to the car, and getting in. When one of the bodyguards went to close the car do, I stopped him. Chris was off to the side, not far away from me. “Thank you again, Chris.” I paused, despite losing my wife, he was still there for me throughout the grieving process. “It means a lot to me, and Rose, even is she does not know it.”
I chuckled at that thought, Chris joining in with me before he gave me a final smile before closing the car door. I pulled away from the door, letting it close behind me as I put Rose in her car seat. I set her down gently, not wanting to disturb her while she is sleeping. I buckled her up as quickly and quietly as possible.
Once she was buckled, I pulled away from her quietly. I buckled myself up, making sure it was secure and tight before I let myself relax. It was not long before the car was started and we were on the move from point A to point B, but this time there is no returning to point A.
I could only think about if we will survive to live through this and if the people are nice.
I knew that it would be a long time before we get there, and Rosemary had a good idea, catch up on sleep. These past six weeks have been stressful and I really need to find a good sleeping schedule.
Nothing crossed my mind as I slowly feel into the black pit of sleep and dreamed.