Work Text:
201M2034
December 20
10:20am
“Inco! Stop messing with the radio!” Olivia slaps my hand away from the touch screen controlling the music.
“Aw come on, I just wanna put on some of my favorite music.” I say, wincing slightly as I put my hand back on the wheel of the car.
The green Baryonyx narrowed her eyes at me and scoffed, “Your taste in music hasn’t gotten better, even after all these years. Plus I don’t want you blowing the eardrums of these guys.” She then motions over to the back of the car where two other individuals were sitting.
Damien snorts, “Gotta agree Liv, look, Inco while I do find your unrefined music tastes one of the seven wonders of the world, I don’t really want to hear TheLivingTombstone’s new music.” He then looks to his right, where the other individual was sitting, “Right little guy?”
The 3 year old toddler giggled in his booster seat. Olivia and I had named him Trent Halford, after Trent Iadakan. It was a huge step in our lives when he was born, the relief on our faces when he came out a healthy boy is still and probably will always be unmatched.
I pouted and slightly slumped over, over exaggerating my displeasure. This got a few more giggles from the small Baryonyx.
Olivia smiles and pats me on the shoulder, “Don’t worry, once we get to uncle Randy’s house we’ll be able to play all the music you want.”
Damien chimes in again, “Yea! You’re lucky my dad likes the same dumb Christmas songs as you.”
I grumble under my breath as Trent and Olivia giggle.
After a few minutes of driving, we finally pull into the neighborhood that Randy’s house resided in, I take a few glances at the building passing by.
I couldn’t believe it’s been 10 long years since we graduated, and before that, the day I met the love of my life. I’ll never forget the day I almost got ran over by a speeding gator.
That did remind me, I look in the rear view mirror to Damien who catches my gaze.
“Hey Damien, when did Liz say she’ll be joining us?” My eyes return to the road as Damien responds.
“She’s got this meeting in her office, it’s gonna take a few, but she’ll be able to join us in about…3 hours?” He says, rubbing his chin with a hand.
Damien and Liz had also gotten married, but still didn't have children, much to our and Randy’s dismay. During the ceremony, Liz had mentioned a tradition among long necked dinos, and after the kiss, she lifted Damien up into the air with her neck.
I never knew he was afraid of heights until that moment.
We finally pull into the street that the house was on, an exciting grin spreading on both Olivia and Damien’s snouts.
We have had a get together like this before Christmas every year since graduation. The purpose of this was to plan everything out, who would bring what, what kind of food, etc.
Unfortunately this year the group had gotten a little smaller, Vinny started college in another state, so he wasn’t around for this year’s gathering. Ben and Lunara were off doing their own thing with Lunara’s family, and Sophia….
Olivia notices the expression I give and speaks, her voice latent with concern, “You okay?”
I smile and nod, giving her some reassurance, “It's my turn to replace the flowers and light the candles right?”
Olivia’s eyes widened slightly before smiling, “It is, I picked out the prettiest flowers I could, a nice Aquilops lady helped me pick them out.”
I adjust my shades and refocus on the road. Sophia had passed away 3 years ago, she went in her sleep, apparently the cause was untreated cancer. Regardless of the reason, I’m glad she passed the way she did, at peace and painless. Trent’s birth was one of the last things she witnessed…I’m just glad she got to see her technical nephew be born.
The loss was hard on all of us, especially the Paynes. Damien had fallen behind on his work for some time, and Olivia hadn’t painted at all for months before finally creating something for Sophia in honor of her memory.
Vinny had refused to go to school and rarely left his room, he reminded me of someone else. Randy surprisingly took it the best, apparently he had known, they both knew, but by that point it was too late, treatment would be a waste.
He didn’t cry once at her funeral, or at least he didn’t show us.
Sophia was kind of like a second mother to me, so her death hit me hard. But I had to remain strong, not only for everyone else, but for myself.
Coming back to reality, I pull into the sidewalk in front of the house, stopping the car. Olivia was turned around, talking to Damien as well as Trent, while I just looked at the house. It wasn’t until I got a good look at it when I tapped Olivia’s shoulder.
“Hey Liv?” I say, keeping my eyes on the house, the driveway specifically.
Olivia stops and turns to me, “Yes hun?”
I turn away from the house and look into Olivia’s eyes, “Randy hasn’t shoveled his driveway, or put up any decorations like he usually does.”
Olivia stares at the drive way, then a frown grows on her face. She then turns to Damien.
“Damien, can you stay with Trent for a bit? Inco get my wheelchair.”
I obliged and got out of the car, walking to the back, I open the trunk and pull out Olivia’s wheelchair. Olivia opens her door and ushers me to her, when I reach her, she climbs on and looks up at me.
“Push me.”
Nodding, I start pushing her towards the house. When we reached the front door, Olivia unlocks it with a spare key. Stepping inside, I let Olivia go and wander the house for any sign of Randy.
Olivia immediately goes to his bedroom, while I look around the kitchen and the backyard for the Dilo.
“Randy?” I call out, hoping for an answer. When I get nothing, I follow Olivia into the bedroom.
When I enter the room, the first thing I see is Olivia on the bed.
“Oliv-” I fall silent.
There, laying on the bed, was Randy. His eyes were closed and he was on his side.
Olivia grabs one of his hands and squeezes, she then turns to me and with tears in her eyes, she shakes her head.
“Nothing…” She manages to whisper out before succumbing to her tears.
I stand there motionless, I didn’t know what to say. The room is silent, the only sounds being Olivia’s sniffles. I take my shades off, the darkness wasn’t helping.
For a moment, I just stare at Olivia and Randy….he looks at peace.
Even so… I couldn’t believe Randy was gone too. It’s too early…
I take a step back and bump into the dresser, my elbow touches what feels like paper. I turn around and look down, there, right next to a photo of Sophia and Randy on their wedding day, was an envelope that was titled: Olivia, Damien, and Vinny.
I turn back to Olivia, who was clutching the resting body of Randy.
“Olivia…” I say in a low voice.
I put my shades back on and hand the envelope to her, and she takes it, but she doesn’t open it. Instead she pulls me into a hug, her head on my chest.
She doesn’t cry out despite being in tears, the only sound that comes out of her were whimpers. Hearing them broke my heart and I cup a hand around her cheek, she tightens her grip on me before finally letting go.
She sniffles before looking at the envelope in her hand, opening it, she unfolds the paper within and reads it to herself.
Lil Ace, Damien, or Vinny…
Whoever finds this letter, don’t worry, I haven’t done anything stupid.
Turns out, that heart condition we found out I had was killing me faster than expected and I knew I had little time.
I guess you could say this is my will.
The house and everything in it will be given to all three of you, I don’t really care what you do with it, just don’t let a single thing go to those real estate bastards.
As for the inheritance money, that will be evenly divided amongst you three.
I’d like a funeral, nothing too big though, just a small gathering of close people.
And please…don’t let Inco drive the car in the garage, I spent a lot of time on it and I don’t want it wrecked.
Olivia smiled at that.
To Damien, sorry that we never got to go out in that car and drag race.
I’m glad to have raised a fine young man such as yourself, and I’m even more glad to see you grow up and get yourself a beautiful wife.
It’s a shame I won’t be there to see my grandkids, but I’ll be there in spirit.
I love you son, don’t ever forget that.
To Vinny, I hope college is treating you well son.
I forgot to tell you, but I never did throw that gold chain that Ferris gave to you away.
I remembered when you were a little boy, getting chucked by Olivia into the pool, you little trouble maker.
Whatever happens Vinny, don’t lose heart, you have more than enough of that to go around.
To my Lil Ace, Olivia, I’m sorry for being a lousy caretaker.
I wish I could’ve done more to be involved, even before Inco came along I never did think I was a good parent to you.
But seeing you grow, be happy, and be proud of who you were, it was a sight I will never forget.
I wish we could’ve done more together honestly, but I wouldn’t trade the experiences we went through together for anything.
I love you my Lil Ace.
And finally, Inco….
Olivia gets my attention and points at the paper, silently telling me to read along.
Inco, the moment you came into our lives was the moment I knew things would change for the better.
Thank you for being such a good friend to each of us, and for sweeping our Lil Ace off her…chair.
But regardless, you are a good man son, you have a good head on those shoulders, and you were strong enough to bear through thick and thin.
Thank you for being the light in Olivia’s life, thank you for everything son, as you already know, you are a part of our family.
And you always will be.
I’m reunited with my wife, at last.
Tears began to stain the paper, my shades doing little to prevent the onslaught of emotions. I try taking them off again and wiping my tears, but they didn’t stop. Olivia wraps her arms and tail around me once more, as we both silently cry while holding the hand of Randy Payne.
Olivia whimpers something out one last time.
“Uncle Randy…”
5 days later…
A couple days had passed since the death of Randy, and we were able to attend his funeral service. Per his request, it was a small event, only held by a small church and surrounded by close friends and relatives.
Damien had taken his passing quite well compared to Sophia, though we did know beforehand Randy had a condition that was fatal so that could’ve played a role.
Liz somehow took it worse, seeing her father in law in a casket broke her down. She’s a strong girl, she’ll heal.
Vinny had heard the news and had managed to catch a plane to join us in time for the service. He gave us all a bone crushing hug the day he arrived.
Ben and Lunara were also here, they expressed their condolences and went inside the church.
The service was relatively short, and when people started filtering out of the building, I held up my camera and pressed record. God I love modern cameras.
I first went up to Damien, “Any words for your pops Damien?”
Damien looks at me and smiles at the camera, “Don’t worry dad! I’ll drive the shit out of that car!”
After a few more words, I walk off and find Vinny, “Yo Vinny! Come here man.”
Vinny approaches me and sees the camera, he then smiles much like his brother.
“Hey dad, hope you're doing well, they better have good ass barbecues up there! Or else you’re gonna have to teach them!”
Once more I walk away and make my way towards another person, this time Olivia.
“Hey Liv?” I say, tapping her on the shoulder which prompts her to turn her wheelchair to me.
I hold the camera up a bit so she could get the message, and she receives it.
“Hey uncle Randy, I’m doing well, thanks to everyone around me, but I wanted to let you know that you’ve done more than enough for me. I love you uncle.” She smiles and gives a small wave towards the camera before I stop recording and put the camera away.
Olivia sighs and looks up at me, “You think he’ll watch these videos?”
I just look at her and give her a soft smile, “I’m sure he already has Olivia…btw, Damien wanted us to have this.”
I hand her a small piece of paper.
She unfolds it and looks at it.
It was the original photo of Sophia and Randy together.
Olivia smiles, and fights the urge to let out a tear. I just let out a hum and smile, pushing Olivia towards our car where our Trent was waiting.
“Let’s go say our final goodbyes yea?” I say to Olivia, who smiles and nods up at me.
“Yea…let’s do it.”