Love is what makes us the same
After Ryan goes to identify Greenlee's body he finds out she had one last request to ask from him. Ryan struggles with single parenting and grief.
Another of my LD du Pres stories. LD is Leo David he was born on June 29th, 2003. When shortly after Leo's death Greenlee finds out she is pregnant
"Here" Jack said giving him the tape. Ryan was full of grief but he still wanted to know what was so special about the tape. He listens to her. Telling him that she wants him to be happy, even if it is with her or not and then something happens that he didn't expect. Greenlee asks Ryan to take care of her son. He wants LD to have a family, seeing that he has lost so many people already. This surprises Ryan. He is too immersed in his own grief to even focus on the boy. Who has been staying with his uncle David since Greenlee was reported dead
"I can't" he muttered as the tape ended "I can't even take care of myself"
"Is this what she really wants?" Kendall asked giving him a cup of coffee "what about David?"
"I don't know" Ryan said sadly "I don't think I can do it, it's too much, I also have Emma to think about"
"and why do you think she asked you to take care of LD if she didn't think you could do it, I mean I am a mom and she didn't ask me, you are a father to that boy, you always have been, I don't think David is the right person to raise him, or any child for that matter" Kendall said gravely "do you have papers, Greenlee's will?"
"I do, but I think he'd be better off with someone else" Ryan smiled weakly "I love him so much, but I don't want to ruin his life"
"What makes you think you will do that Ryan, you are his father, even if he doesn't have your blood, you were the person he first called dad, and he needs you, he's already lost so much"
"Ryan?" David opened the door. He seemed tired but most of all he seemed worried about seeing Ryan
"Is LD here?" he said dryly "I need to see him"
"No, he is at the park with the nanny" David said hastily "what do you want with him?"
"I'm here to take him home Hayward" Ryan said gravely when David almost closed the door on his face "I'm here to take my boy home"
"He's not yours, not in any way, he has my brother's DNA" David said. Ryan could hear noises coming from inside the house
"He's here isn't he?" Ryan said pushing David away from the door and entering the house "LD!"
"SHUT UP!" David bellowed "you have no right to be here, go before I call the cops"
"Daddy!" LD came running towards Ryan who quickly picked him up "hi daddy"
"Hey buddy, guess what? We are going home now…" Ryan walked towards the guest room where the boy slept "let's get your thinks together okay?" LD nodded as Ryan put him down and grabbed his bag, he just stuffed the things inside, while David watched from the doorway. His face full of rage
"All set daddy" LD said happily. Ryan picked him up again. He walked out of the room pushing David out of the way
"Do you want to say goodbye to David?" go on say bye" Ryan said. David reached for the boy but Ryan stepped back
"Come on, just let me say goodbye" Ryan handed the boy to David who hugged him and kissed his forehead, but Ryan quickly took the boy back afraid that Hayward might be up to something. He walked to the car and placed the LD on the back seat. Tossing his bag to the side and closing the door. In that moment David pushed Ryan against the door
"Don't think this is over" the doctor said warningly "consider yourself lucky just because he was here today, because tomorrow you might be not as lucky"
"Are you threatening me?" Lavery asked pushing David away "are you going to take away from him somebody else he loves?"
"He is not yours, he's mine and I are not going to rest until he's back with his real family" David said, but Ryan just turned away. He got into the car and drove away.
That night as Ryan put the boy back on his own bed and tucked him in he was trying to hold back the tears but LD knew something wasn't right
"Daddy?" the boy asked. His eyes sparkled "are you sad?"
"Yeah, but I'm also very happy that you are home, Emma and I missed you" Ryan said kissing his forehead
"Where is mommy?" Ryan figured David hadn't told him about his mother's death "when is she coming home?"
Ryan sat on the bed facing the boy, running his fingers through his hair "here is the thing LD, your mommy is not coming home, not anymore"
"Doesn't she love me anymore?" the boy squealed softly "was I bad?"
"No, of course not, your mom loves you more than anything in this world, don't ever think that she doesn't" Ryan smiled softly "is just that she not coming back"
"Is she in heaven?" LD asked. His heart ached with pain "like daddy Leo?"
Ryan took a deep breath "yes, she's in heaven, but she asked me if I could take care of you, for you to come and live with me and Emma"
"Okay" LD said, clearly he seemed very calm, but maybe it was because he was tired "I love you daddy"
"I love you too" Ryan said hugging him close. Ryan tucked him in and went to check on Emma again and then he collapsed on his own bed. Tears came running down his face and he didn't have the strength to hold them back. He suddenly heard a soft voice. Emma and LD stood there watching him. The kids walked to the bed slowly. Emma touched his cheek tenderly and cuddled next to him. LD wrapped him into a hug. The tree of them fell into a deep sleep and Ryan then dreamed of Greenlee and how thanks to his beautiful kids he might as well be able to overcome this
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