Chapter Text
Wirt remembered the first time his mother brought home Greg. He was younger then. Greg was a strange looking baby. Like a pumpkin or a squash. He had Carmel brown hair and matching eyes. He was strange, even then. But somehow Wirt had a fondness for this strange creature. This had grown into the bond of brothers as they grow and after their adventure. They sat in the kitchen eating their breakfast together. Wirt poured his cereal and passed the box to Greg. He swiped his bowl out of the way just in time to avoid Jason funderburker. The frog was now sitting lazily in a patch of sun on the table. Wirt was more than surprised their mother had let him keep the frog. She wasn’t fond of frogs. He supposed her love for Greg was greater than her hatred for frogs. Wirt studied his notebook filled with his latest poem. He read it again in his head. I sat there with a stranger. He sat there with me. We spoke kind words and shared remarks. “I’ve never loved, never truely seen, never been loved, never been cared for, been ran from, and i’ve been shunned from the joys of the masses.” He said to me “it sounds like you’ve never properly lived.” I told him true. “No, I suppose not. Because I am death.” He told me back. Death sat there with me and I had to wonder what it means, To be faced with death or life perhaps, To know what you’ve done is all you’ll do, Or maybe to know the greatest tragedy of all, Is that death comes so quick so violent. But he’ll still never stop to smell the violets, For all his purpose lies, In causing your demise. Deaths embrace is more then the end, Is the knowing of all you never did. Deaths embrace is sharing his pain. He’d noticed that lately his poetry had changed but he couldn’t quite put his finger on how. He turned the page and glanced at old notes about his feelings. Ever since the adventure he had been confused. He’d been trying to figure out how he felt. About Beatrice Sara and even Lorna. He wasn’t sure if it was respect, or love, or something else entirely. He sighed as Greg chomped loudly. “What should we do today Wirt?” He asked. It had been a while since the fall had surrendered to the bitter cold of winter and winter had lost its strength to spring. Summer was upon them and they had every day practically to themselves. “Goodbye boys! I’ll be home from work at seven. Be good and look after each other love you,” their mother called from the front door. “Bye mom!” Greg called as. The door shut. “To answer your question I have no ideas.” Wirt said not looking up, still studying his journal. Greg picked up Jason and put him to his ear listening intently as if the frog was actually speaking to him. “He says we should take a walk,” Greg insisted. Wirt shrugged. “Fine with me.” The two set of for the door Wirt pausing to wait while Greg slowly tied his shoes. Wirt let him take the lead because he was lost deep in thought. He was pretty sure he had figured out how he felt. He’d never see Lorna again even if he wanted to. He wasn’t sure if he could ever find Beatrice again. He was sure it was best to keep their memories but leave them as that, memories. After all Sara was right there. And she was fun and cool. The two had grown significantly closer after Halloween. Wirt frowned and sighed. Greg was walking a few steps ahead of him rambling on about something or other but he wasn’t hearing a word. He glanced up to make sure they weren’t too far from home and spotted it. A moving truck. He paused and looked at it for a few more moments. The old house that had been for sale practically since he had been born was sold. It was a bit of shock because he’d heard there were a lot of expensive issues with the house which is why nobody ever bought it. A moving truck was out front. He was just about to keep moving when he saw them. A crew of redheads of all different ages unpacking things from the truck. They were chattering and laughing, he could’ve sworn he heard a bird chirp every once and a while too. He realized he’d been staring and kept walking along with Greg. Greg had spotted them too and was now chattering on about who they might be or where they moved from. A short while later Wirt turned them around. They headed back toward home their small jaunt coming to an end. They passed the house again and both glanced over. The truck was still there but it seemed everyone was inside for now. The two only made it a few more steps before they heard her. “Hey there Wirt.” Beatrice smiled and rubbed the back of her neck a little sheepishly. “Beatrice!” Wirt couldn’t help it and hugged her. After all he thought he’d never see her again. And she had been more than great company on their adventure. They both blushed as they took a step back and Greg greeted Beatrice excitedly. “I’m happy to see you both,” she started tussling Greg’s hair and looking at Wirt again. “But there’s something serious we need to talk about.” She frowned and looked at them both solemnly. “The beast is back, and this time, he’s coming here.”