Title: Bad Influence
Author: bubbles799
Show: Packed to the Rafters
Characters: Coby centred, with inclusion of other characters.
Summary: It's all part of the upbringing. He wasn't a bad kid; there was a good boy at heart.
Disclaimer: It doesn't matter how touched I was by the Season 3 final, PTTR is still not mine.
Based around the addition of Ryan Corr's character Coby to the PTTR mix.
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Many of the 'bad' kids a society sees aren't really bad; many are good kids at heart. And Coby Jennings was no exception to that theory.
They say an upbringing contributes to majority of a child's future life. And it was true. But what can change that person is a good influence. And perhaps Coby was one of the lucky ones in that he had the chance to experience that good influence.
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He'd felt immensely guilty by what he had done to the Rafters, but to Coby, it was what he'd been taught. It was his upbringing. He'd barely had any chance at having his parent's influence, and then he'd gone to his grandfather. His grandfather who was currently doing time for running a chop shop.
But what was proof that Coby wasn't all bad was the guilt he felt deep down inside at what he'd done. He knew it was wrong, despite it being what he was taught. That was the proof of the good person inside, masked by the bad influences.
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Family. Coby had thought he had that with his grandfather. But now that he had the Rafter's, he realised it was something he had always been missing.
Ruby's first birthday party was his sort of introduction as a true member of the family.
Julie passed him a piece of Ruby's birthday cake, practically forcing him to eat it. Coby almost couldn't describe that warm feeling he felt from such a small gesture.
And then when he was mucking around with Nathan and Ben shortly, his cousins. It felt right.
But the biggest moment for Coby was the family photo. He stood to the side as Rachel had dashed back after putting the camera on timer. Ted and Nathan both summoned Coby over quickly. He had made to protest, not sure that he belonged in amongst them. But when Dave himself put his hand out to tell Coby to hurry up and get in, that it hit Coby. Whilst he had hurt all the Rafter's, it was quite possibly Dave that he had hurt the most.
At the family's request, Coby had stepped up and took his place in between Nathan and Ben, pausing for a moment before smiling broadly for the camera. In amongst the extended family; Rachel's boyfriend Jake, Carbo and Loretta, Ted. And then in with the Rafters; Rachel, Ben, Nathan, Ruby, Julie and Dave.
He had found his place. The place he was meant to be, where he belonged. Now a part of the family, Coby had the right influences in his life, and the chance to make a life for himself. He had the Rafter's to thank and Coby knew that. For they were the good influence he needed in his life.
Just a one shot. Would love to hear a review from you guys. Enjoy!