A/N: As an Evil Regal, I'm late to the Swingtown party. After binging on all thirteen episodes, this little thought bounced around in my brain until I typed it out. I thought I'd share in case anyone else out there was despairing the lack of Swingtown fic.
Consequences.
Trina had told him there would be consequences. If he made this choice.
As always, Trina hadn't lied.
He just wished she'd been more specific.
He had moved to Cincinnati. Susan moved with him.
They'd destroyed both their families. Maybe those families were falling apart anyway.
But it was a heavy consequence.
And it strained his relationship with Susan far more than Susan had ever strained his relationship with Janet.
Because Susan still loved Bruce. And he still loved Janet. Even if they were in love with each other.
Janet.
She had surprised them all. Except Tom and Trina, but nothing surprised Tom and Trina.
'Dear Janet' had taken off like a rocket and had developed into a weekly radio show.
His wife was a star.
His ex-wife.
He was proud of her.
Janet had custody of Ricky. Partly because she was the one that stayed in Chicago—Chicago that had his school and his friends.
And partly because "Dad, I'm staying with the parent who wears the pants, has the balls, and isn't a douche."
It had hurt. But he deserved it.
Another consequence.
From what he could gather from the last time Janet made Ricky visit, it sounded like Janet had dealt with their separation the way she dealt with any other problem: by attacking it head on.
He suspected she'd used a list.
1. Do not allow outside world to see pain. Check—column is syndicated and supplemented with weekly radio talk show.
2. Get new best friend. Check, check. Henry. Trina.
3. Get new husband—but would she even put that on the list? Maybe she wouldn't want to try marriage again. Maybe she'd continued to broaden her horizons after he left. With Trina. And Tom.
Janet had gotten the Deckers in the divorce.
Even Susan didn't talk to Trina often. There had been a few calls, initially. But as Trina and Janet became better friends, too many subjects were taboo and too few were left remaining. The former friends had tactfully allowed the association to dwindle.
He knew Janet was doing well. Had an amazing support system with Ricky, Henry, Trina, and Tom. Had a great job. Was continuing to explore new opportunities and grow into the amazing person he always knew she could be.
He had sold insurance for twelve years. Had made a living exploiting people's natural fears for the safety of themselves and their loved ones.
He'd finally defied that fear. He defied that fear and took a leap. With Susan. To Cincinnati.
And now they were in a routine. They were in a routine, and there was no more 'new.'
He had taken one leap, but now it was just him and Susan and Cincinnati and nowhere else to leap to and no one else to leap toward.
And Janet had the Deckers.
Reviews would be lovely.