Author's Note: Welcome to my new story! It felt right to post this on Father's Day, however it will be a multi chap. Just to clarify, this is certainly not your typical, cute Father's day one-shot, and it's going to get quite a bit dark. And of course, there will be lots of Peddie! Make sure to follow or favorite and REVIEW!
Disclaimer: I don't own HOA but all the kids are mine, so don't steal them :)
"Hey Yack-Patricia, I know you don't answer when I call- or when anyone calls for that matter- but if you decide to check your voicemail for some reason, I just wanted to let you know-"
"DADDY!" Three year old Alexa cried from the kitchen doorway.
Alexa was often the first to awaken out of the Miller-Sweet children. Much like her mother, she found herself not sleeping because of fear of nightmares and such, which worried her parents. She, however, had the child-like, happy attitude of her father, and because of her young age was able to shake the trauma off quite easily.
"Hi princess, want some breakfast?" Eddie asked his daughter.
"Ice cream!" Alexa cried, bursting into a fit of giggles.
Normally, Eddie would give in to her adorable puppy-dog face, but because he was still recording his message to Patricia, he decided to be a "good" parent.
"How about some cereal? You still get to use a spoon to eat it," he suggested. Alexa simply shrugged, trying to reach the top drawer of the cabinet and pull out the Cheerios.
Eddie picked up the phone once again as he got out the milk.
"Everything at home is good. The kids are behaving themselves, but they miss you, we miss you. I really miss you. Anyway, I don't know if you remember but today is our Anniversary-"
"DAD!" Kate Miller-Sweet hollered from her bedroom. Eddie placed the phone down once again and ran to his eldest daughter's aid. "Can you sign this permission slip?"
"You're going all the way to London? Kate you're only 14. I don't want you in the big city all by yourself," Eddie said.
"I won't be all by myself. The entire school is going. It's a field-trip, duh."
In Eddie's mind, Kate was his "little girl." However, in Kate's mind she was flying free, much like her mother and father had been at her age. After all, rules were made to be broken, and pissing off her parents was her favorite activity.
"I suppose I'll sign it," Eddie moaned. "Hurry, the bus will be here any minute."
"Ya, ya, I'm going."
Eddie stepped out of her room and picked up the phone once more.
"Hi again Patricia, I- uh I sent you something. I sent it to Piper's address, I'm not sure you'll get it because frankly I have no idea where you are right now. But, if you do get it, I really hope you like it. I really hope you're ok," Eddie said into the phone. "I bet you have some big trial today anyway. You're basically the best lawyer in the business-"
"HEY DAD," 12 year old Tyler called. Eddie groaned, running back downstairs to the kitchen. "Where's my lunch?"
"In the fridge Tyler. We have this conversation EVERY morning. Lunch is always in the fridge," Eddie said, slightly irritated.
"No need to get snippy, Mom," Tyler snarled.
Eddie took at deep breath and reached into the fridge, handing the blonde boy his lunch box.
"Have a wonderful day, Tyler."
"I'll try."
After dropping Alexa off at preschool, Eddie headed into school. Not as a student of course, but as a teacher. When they were first married, Patricia and Eddie agreed that since Patricia'a law career was off to such a good start, he could relax and spend a bit of time with his dad. That led to him becoming a teacher at Frobisher Academy, and he suddenly understood how the poor teachers at that haunted school must've felt.
"Mr. Miller?" Eddie heard from down the hall. "Yo! Over here!"
Eddie turned to see Peter Clarke racing toward him.
"Morning Peter," Eddie said, plastering on a fake smile.
"My dad said I should see if you're- well ok- you know since today is like your anniversary or whatever," Peter said.
"You can tell him I'm just fine. I just never expected to find myself playing both mommy and daddy on my 12th anniversary."
(If you've learned some basic math, I'm sure you can find the problem in this family equation.)
Playing both parents had become the new normal to Eddie. To Alexa, she thought her mother was just on a very long business trip. To Tyler, his mother had left to be closer to work. But to Kate, her mother had left because of her. Kate had some idea inside her head that her Mother's leaving was all Kate's fault. She believed she drove her mother away with her attitude and difficulty. And though she didn't act like she cared, deep down she hoped every day that her mom would come home so that she could somehow find a way to apologize. She vowed she'd never turn into her father, constantly calling mom, knowing she'd never answer.
Sometimes, Eddie called Patricia's cellphone several times in a row, just to hear her voicemail. Kate and Tyler thought it was basically the saddest thing in the world. Their father was slowly losing his mind and he didn't even know it. Their mom had always been the biggest pain in the ass (and they were terrified of her), but they missed her more than they could understand. Alexa was never fortunate enough to know her mother very well, considering she left when she was only two. Having only Eddie was normal to her, she couldn't remember it any other way.
None of the Miller-Sweets would ever forget the one day Alexa asked about Patricia.
"So, how's mommy?" Alexa asked one night at dinner. Everyone dropped their forks in shock that Alexa would ask that question. "Did she call? Was I sleeping when she called? Did you tell her I say hello?"
"You Dummy, Mom never-"
"Yes, Alexa, mommy actually called a few days ago," Eddie lied to his youngest.
"She did?!" Tyler cried.
"Yes-uh- she's doing great. Everything for her is great. She misses you guys. A lot. Umm- and she says she'll try to come home- you know- when she can," Eddie said.
"That's bull-"
"Kate."
"Sorry dad," Kate said, sticking her foot in her mouth.
Eddie ran a hand through his hair, thinking of the memory. Patricia had been gone three months. Almost four. And it had been the most painful three-ish months of his life. The only thing he wanted was for her to come home. But he knew that wouldn't happen. He knew that it had all been too much for Patricia to handle, and she couldn't bare to face her family anymore.
The bad news HAD to come during his lunch break. In a shocking twist, all three of his children were sent home sick, midway through the school day. One by one, he stopped at each of their schools, picking up his "feverish" children.
"Was this some kind of a plan?!" he asked them, as they placed themselves on the living room couch.
"We thought you could use some-cheering up," Tyler said.
"I faked sick Daddy!" Alexa said, clearly very proud of her performance.
"And I can assume this was your idea Kate?" Eddie said, raising an eyebrow.
Kate nodded, wondering how bad her punishment would be. Eddie was clearly raging, pacing back and forth.
"I appreciate you caring, but do you realize that now we're all missing school because of this little joke you pulled?! I HAVE A JOB YOU KNOW. You can't just fake sick whenever you want and take me away from work! How else am I supposed to put food on the table?!"
"Doesn't mom make a heap of cash?" Tyler said.
"YOU ACTUALLY THINK SHE'S SENDING US MONEY? HOW STUPID ARE YOU. SHE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ANY OF US!" Kate cried.
"THAT'S NOT TRUE," Alexa protested. "She loves us! Right Daddy?"
Eddie didn't know how to respond. He knew Patricia loved the kids more than anything, but from where Kate was standing, it sure didn't look like it. He'd never give up on Patricia, he couldn't give up on her. Even if she stopped sending money every week, even if she never responded to his voicemails, even if it didn't look like she'd ever come home-
"WHAT KIND OF DUMB STUNT DID YOU PULL?" a familiar (VERY angry) voice said, storming into the living room. "I got three calls today, you idiots. First I hear Tyler's sick, which ok fine, I believe it. Then Kate? I should expect it from her. Faking sick. But I did not expect from you ALEXA. You're all brats, you know that? Mighty clever little devil children."
But none of the kids, nor Eddie, could move. They all were frozen there, shocked that their MOTHER had come home.
Author's Note: Well, now you just HAVE to know what happens next (and why Patricia left in the first place)! Review and tell me your guesses!
I understand that not as many of you are on FF as last year, obviously because the show is no longer on. But, if you miss it as much as I do, you know you want to come back. Those of us who are still here, we need to keep the spirit alive :) Keep writing, everyone!
Review, review, review!
