Disclaimer: I don't own SS

A/N: So I originally had this in my drabble collection, but it wasn't a prompt from my list, and I just keep adding to it, so I figured I should make it a regular fic. XD

This takes place completely as telephone calls, and all time stamps are in Richie's time, wherever he is.


Wednesday, September 4, 5:48pm

"Hey, Richie, how was your flight?"

"It was all right. As good as a flight from New York to Arizona can be, at least."

"True. How are you feeling?"

"…In all honesty, Virgil, not very good. I'm at the house and it just feels so… so empty without her. It's so strange."

"I know, babe. But at least you know she's in a better place now. Somewhere she won't have to suffer."

"Yeah. But still, V, it's weird to know that I'll never hear my mom's voice again. I'll never be able to call her with good news. Our children, when we have them, will never meet their grandmother."

"…Yeah… I… I know what you mean…"

"Oh, God, Virgil, I'm so sorry. I didn't even think! I mean, here I am whining about losing my mom when you—"

"Richie. It's fine. You just lost your mother. It's perfectly fine for you to 'whine' about it. It's natural."

"You sure?"

"Yes. Absolutely."

"…Thanks, Virgil."

"Any time, babe."

Friday, September 6, 2:36am

"..Hello?"

"Virgil?"

"Y-yeah. Richie?"

"Yeah… Do you have a minute?"

"Of course I do, babe, what is it?"

"…I'm sorry, I woke you didn't I? I forgot about the time change. Never mind, I'll call you in the morning."

"No, no, no, it's okay Rich. What's wrong?"

"I just… I miss her so much, V… I don't get it… For years, she's l-lived half way across the c-country, but I always knew I c-could talk to her if I-I needed her… And n-now I can't and I d-don't know what to d-do."

"Shhh. It's all right. Of course you're going to miss her, Richie. She was your mother. You just have to find a way to find comfort in the fact that she's gone. Just think, remember how she had Alzheimer's at the very end?"

"Y-yeah."

"Remember how she could barely even remember you and I?"

"Yeah…"

"Now she is up in heaven, watching you, and she knows exactly who you are, and she can remember every single detail of your life, from day one. Imagine how happy that makes her, Richie."

"…I guess so… But why does it hurt so much, V? I feel like my heart is being ripped out of my chest."

"That's because you loved her, sweetie."

Sunday, September 8, 4:19pm

"Hello?"

"Hey, Rich. How are you doing?"

"I'm all right, V. We just finished up at the funeral home, making the last minute arrangements and everything. The actual funeral will be on Wednesday."

"You're getting help with all of this, right? I mean, you're not the only one trying to put this all together?"

"Yeah, my dad is helping out as much as his arthritis allows him to, and a few of the cousins are pitching in, too."

"I'm worried about you, Richie."

"Don't be. I'm fine."

"… All right…"

Tuesday, September 10, 3:46pm

"Hello? Virgil? You there?"

"Yeah, I'm right here."

"What's up? Everything all right?"

"Everything is perfectly fine, Richie. Why do you ask?"

"I dunno, maybe because I've been calling you for hours and you haven't been picking up?"

"Oh… Well… About that…"

"Never mind, I don't have time for excuses. Someone's knocking at the door, hold on, let me answer it."

"…Hey there, Rich."

"You're here."