This one ended up longer than the others. lol I hope that doesn't bother anyone. Enjoy!
Summer can't take it. The screams come at her from all angles and beat her worse than any physical wound ever could. It doesn't matter that the words aren't aimed at her. They cut deep and feed into her convulsions. She grips her head, her fingernails digging deep into her skin – an attempt to replace emotional turmoil with physical pain. But it's no use. She curls in on herself, a sob catching in her throat. Why can't they just be nice to each other? Or at least shut up. Is it so hard to be quiet?
Rick trods along the uneven ground of dimension something or another. He looks lazily about him, looking but not really looking for an object – one interesting enough for his granddaughter. She isn't particularly picky, but he feels compelled to find something that isn't just cool but pretty as well. She is a girl after all. She surely wouldn't want an item that looked and felt like mud.
He hadn't planned on coming back this soon. It's been only a couple of months. Still, he had a sudden urge recently – a feeling he for once could not press down. It was completely illogical, based purely in emotions, yet he did not fight it for long. That's why he is here now, searching this planet for a gift for his granddaughter.
He crouches and scoops up a shard of glass. Normally this would be far too dangerous, but he somehow isn't too worried about it. Summer isn't exactly mature for her age, but she seems to understand how to handle herself. This piece will enrapture her. A chill races through him. Maybe for all the worst reasons. And that's really why he's returning. He's never experienced such a terrible sense of foreboding.
He shoots the portal gun and jumps through, praying for once he hits his mark. He steps out into a light blue room – not Summer's – but it's not wrong. Yes! His face lights up. The other kid's room. But Rick doesn't have time to properly celebrate. He is assaulted by screams. He cringes and hisses, glaring back in the direction of the crib. I hate kids so much. Obviously nothing has improved with his parents. If he wasn't looking to avoid them at all costs he'd give them a piece of his mind.
Then beneath the screams of the child and what he knows must be yelling from the parents another sound catches his attention. He perks and turns his head toward the tiny squeaking. Squeaking? No, that's no quite it. His eyes light on her and it hits him. Sobbing. His brows knit together and a deep frown forms on his lips. "Summer?" He says softly.
Summer sucks in a sharp breath. She snaps her head up, her eyes widening to the size of bowling balls. She freezes. She wants to speak, to say how much she missed him, how much she needed him, how much it hurts. But her throat is paralyzed. And she knows he wouldn't want to hear it anyway. I don't do hugs. So why would he want to listen to her heartache.
Rick moves slowly toward her. He kneels down, level with her. "I brought you something." She always loves the things he brings her. He reaches in his pocket and draws it out, holding it between them.
Summer wipes the back of her hand across her eyes. She sniffs. "N-No…" She croaks. She pushes his hand away. "It's…it's ok." She sniffles again. "I don't need it." She swallows hard – swallows her tears and emotional pain.
Rick blinks. His mouth gapes slightly. What? His eyes narrow, but not at her. What the hell has happened these past few months? He knew that pit in his stomach was more than just a feeling. He doesn't know how else to make her feel better though, not without talking about it. And he was never good with feelings. That's why he left Beth and his wife.
Morty's screams spike and Summer gasps. She pitches forward and clenches her head with everything in her. Her shudders intensify, turning back into convulsions. Tiny moans pass her lips and tears return to her eyes.
Rick glances over his shoulder at the crib. Those screams are tremendous. Still, nothing to react this terribly over. This is not the girl he left cradling her baby brother, this is not a girl oblivious of her parents neglect, this is not Summer. What has happened? He has to find out. "Summer," He reaches out and carefully touches her shoulder.
Summer jumps. Her breathing hitches and heart skips a beat. Oh. It's been too long since there's been anyone around to touch her at all. No touching Morty, he's always so high and sick. Or something. Sometimes she wonders if she's the sick one, that if she touches him or anyone touches her they'll die. That would explain a lot. And her parents…she whines. She can't bear to finish the thought.
Rick pulls his hand back. "Sweetie," He coos. "Are you alright?"
With this simple question the floodgates are unleashed. Her sobs break free unchecked and the tears well up and over, streaming down her flush cheeks. "G-Grandpa…" She blubbers. "There…there's so much yelling." She chokes on a sob and can't speak for a long moment.
Rick tentatively reaches for her again. He closes his hands around her upper arms and draws her closer. He pulls her up into his lap and wraps his arms around her. He doesn't say a word.
Summer is caught off guard at first, his words from the first time resonating strong. Don't do hugs. Once the shock falls away she relishes the inconsistency. She burrows into Rick's chest and grans handfuls of his shirt in her tiny fists. "T-They fight, a-all the time. It hurts. I-I…It's…so much worse t-than being forgotten."
Rick starts. So she did know. She wasn't living in an idealized world. She just dealt with it. But now, something snapped. Something to do with the yelling.
She whimpers. "At least-at least…before…they would read stories or-or sing me to sleep." She moans. "Bu-but now…now they forget…completely. And they make me listen to their screams."
Rick gently runs his fingers over her hair. "You know they love you." At least they should. Although she was an unwanted pregnancy, according to the other Rick. Actually, in whatever dimension he was from that Rick was the only thing that kept the mismatched couple from aborting her. But something must be different here. They must love her more than that if they were willing to keep her without his outside influence.
Summer hiccups. She rubs her tears off against his shirt. "It's my fault." She squeezes out.
This catches Rick's attention. "What?" His voice is sharp – too sharp – and he feels Summer jump in his hold. He breathes heavily out. "Summer," He pulls her away from him so that he can look her in the eye. "Don't ever say that. All this – none of it's your fault." He reaches up and runs a finger across her damp cheek. "Got it?"
Summer frowns deeply. Her brows furrow on her head and her eyes shine with tears and mistrust. It must be her fault. Why else would they stop paying attention to her so suddenly?
Rick sees the uncertainty in her sad eyes and he sighs. "This is between Beth and…and," Crap, what is that loser's name? Oh well. "And your dad. It has nothing to do with you. You've done nothing wrong sweetheart." He manages a small smile for her sake. "Ok?"
Summer conjures a trembling smile in response. She sniffles and wipes her arm over her eyes. Her sobs lighten in intensity. There's only a tiny hiccup every now and then. "Ok Grandpa Rick." Her voice wavers, but her heart steadies. The pain eases.
Rick's smile widens. He ruffles her hair. "That a girl."
Summer scoots back from him, sitting a space away on her knees. She opens her mouth to say something, but doesn't get a change. Her mother's voice rises suddenly and she flinches. "I've had it with you!" Summer ducks her head and whines.
Rick watches her with deep pity. He wishes he could help, but he can't reveal himself.
Summer bites her lip. "G-Grandpa…?" She waits for his eyes to lock with hers. "Can't you talk to Beth?"
Rick chuckles as she so casually refers to her mother that way. He really has sway over her. Still, "Sorry Summer." He stands slowly. "It would only make things worse." He can see it now. Beth would never let him hear the end of it, he's sure.
Summer scrambles to her feet. She lurches forward and grabs onto his sleeve. She looks desperately up at him. "Please," She whispers. "At least make Morty stop."
Rick grimaces. It's a bad move. It will give him away in an instant. He slowly turns his head toward the crib. The wails are particularly loud and annoying now that she has pointed them out again. "Alright." He sighs. He smiles weakly. This baby should suffer about as much as Summer. And those screams are a sign of some level of discomfort, perhaps even severe. So he glides across the room with Summer clinging to him and stops before the crib.
He peers down into it, the baby little different than before. He might be a year old now though. He should be. Rick frowns. Then why is he only screaming like that. He should be able to say a few words here and there. Heck, he should at least be babbling. Why these insistent screams? Probably the only way they listen to him. Rick scoffs. Yeah, right. Or…Summer said something about him being sick. He wonders if that has something to do with this.
Rick takes in a deep breath. He'll only have a minute once he does this. He lifts Morty from the crib and cradles him just like the time before. Only this time the child doesn't stop screaming. In fact, Rick swears he screams louder. Probably wanting Beth.
Summer clamps her hands over her ears and clenches her eyes shut. Just make it stop.
Rick bounces him slightly. "Come on, be a good little boy and quiet down." Of course the child doesn't listen. He lifts Morty up to eye level. "Hey." He says more sharply.
Morty doesn't stop screaming, but his attention is caught. He blinks at Rick, his eyes slowly widening as he takes in the distantly familiar appearance of the face before him.
"You hungry?" Rick hopes for a yes or no. This kid should be able to muster at least that much.
Nothing.
"Wanna play?" Rick sighs. Have these parents neglected him enough so that he hasn't learned to talk? Or is he just slower? Or both. Still no coherent response.
"Hey," Summer tugs at Rick's lab coat. "He likes it when you sing to him."
Rick quirks a brow. "Does Beth sing to him?" He brings Morty back down into a cradle.
Summer casts her eyes down. "No…" She twiddles her fingers. "But I…sometimes I'll sing to try and make it less loud."
Rick averts his eyes. Right.
Summer coughs. "And, well, he stops sometimes." She forces a smile.
Rick makes a sound of acknowledgement. "Yeah, well, I don't sing." He half laughs. The sadness that blossoms in her eyes compels him to add, "But, humming…I guess I could do that." Her face lights up and he launches into it. He hums a tune he sung to Beth so long ago, one he doesn't remember the name of or the words to anymore.
Morty's shrill cries gradually fade. The man before him has a gruff voice, but the rhythm of it is enough so that he doesn't care. A smile breaks across his face and a tiny laugh issues forth.
Summer lets out a long sigh and lets the upper half of her body flop forward in dramatic fashion. She quickly rises again and a genuine smile splits her lips. "That's better."
Rick lowers Morty so that Summer can better see him.
Summer stands on her tiptoes to peer over at Morty. "See? Isn't that better Morty?" She smiles softly down at him. "You don't have to scream all the time. Grandpa Rick will make you feel better. Can you say that? Grandpa Rick."
Downstairs the not so happy couple continue to go at each other. "Idiot!" Beth's voice is loudest. "Don't tell me what I have the right to or not! I'm the one who pulls the weight around here! I'm-" She stops short. She tenses.
Jerry straightens and draws in a deep breath. He readies to launch another attack. The words are halfway out when he finds his wife's hand in his face.
"Wait." She trembles faintly. "You hear that?" Both their hearts stop dead.
"It's quiet." It's wrong.
They pivot and launch into a sprint toward the stairs – toward their son's room.
Jerry rounds the corner first and the breath is knocked from his lungs. His eyes widen and every muscle tenses. "W-Who the hell are you?" His hands clench into fists and his eyes catch fire. His lips curl into a snarl. "Get away from my son!"
Rick slowly turns to face the man in the doorway. He raises a brow, completely uninterested. Then a chord is struck. His mouth falls open. "Oh…my…God." This is the loser husband? His eyes dart from the man to Morty and back again. Oh God…he totally sees it. "You. You're the husband? You punkass little-"
"Shut up!" Jerry jumps forward. He lifts his hands into a choking pose. "You don't know me! You-" He pauses as he notices Beth from the corner of his eye. He tilts his head and lets the rage ebb slightly. "Beth?" She's frozen.
Beth quivers. Her breaths come shallow and forced. Her eyes bulge from her head and her heart beats double time. "Dad…?" Her voice is a breath on the wind.
Jerry gasps. "W-What? Dad?" He jerks his gaze around to the man holding his son and wrapping his arm around his daughter. How did he not remember this guy? Was he that oblivious? He truly must have been smitten with Beth.
Rick cringes. All of this man's – Jerry's – words could never faze him, but the softest murmur from his daughter is crippling. He opens and closes his mouth around empty words. What can anyone say when they run off and leave their wife and daughter on a whim? Nothing. The answer is nothing.
Jerry bites his lip, looking back and forth between his wife and her father. Then he snaps. He whirls and the fire returns to him. "I don't care who you are." He points a finger at Rick. "Don't you dare touch my children. Put Morty down. Now."
Rick breaks out of his daze. He narrows his eyes and his lips curl sharply downward. "Oh, your children, huh?" He mocks. "Yeah, because a real father would totally let their infant son scream at the top of his lungs and do absolutely nothing." He scoffs. "A plus parenting there Jerr-y."
Jerry's face reddens. "For your information, I was out of earshot." Fighting at the top of his lungs with his wife. And...halfway ignoring the screams. He hates screams. He hates fighting with his wife. He just wishes everyone could be quiet for once.
Rick sneers. "Because good parents would be out of earshot with a baby in the house." He leans forward. "Ya moron!" He pulls Summer closer to him.
Jerry grinds his teeth. "Summer." He stamps a foot. "Get over here." He points at the space besides him. "Get away from that walking disaster."
Summer steps backward. She shakes her head. "I like Grandpa Rick."
Jerry hisses. The hair on the back of his neck stands on end. Is this not the first time this unstable man has dropped in on his children? He breathes heavily in and out. "Your grandfather is insane." That's one thing he does remember about his wife's father. "You're only going to get hurt around him." A memory long buried comes back to him. Rick tried to get rid of him by shrinking him and squashing him. A shiver races up his spine. Totally traumatizing.
Summer stamps her foot, just like her father. She stomps forward. "No. Grandpa Rick has never hurt me. You hurt me." Her eyes shine with tears. "You yell and yell and you never ever tuck me in anymore!" Her tiny fists tremble at her side. "You're the worst…" Her voice cracks.
Jerry's brows knit together. Confusion swims in his eyes. "Honey…" He walks forward and reaches out to her.
Summer turns hard on her heel and grabs at Rick's lab coat. "Please Grandpa, take me with you." Her lip quivers. "I don't want to be here anymore."
Jerry's heart snaps in half. He drops his arms to his side. "Summer…"
Through it all Beth can't move. She stares through unseeing eyes. Dad…? It's been seven years.
Rick smirks triumphantly at Jerry, but when he looks to Summer his expression softens greatly. He bends down to her level, Morty still held in one arm. "Summer, look, you can't come with me." He lays a hand on her shoulder. This time she doesn't recoil. "I told you, it's dangerous out there. And besides," He glances in Jerry's direction, but past him, to his own daughter. "Your parents love you. They really do."
Summer clasps her hands at her chest. "But…" She presses her lips into a flat line.
Rick sighs. "Hey, how about that gift I brought?" He raises his brows. "Huh? You sure you still don't want it?" He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the glass.
Summer hesitates. Her eyes dart to daddy. "Well," She twiddles her fingers.
Rick lays the glass on the ground and leans forward, cupping his hand over his mouth and around her ear. "Trust me. When things get too loud, just hold it close. The screams will fade and you can have peace and quiet." He leans away, smiling. "Just like you always wanted."
Summer's face lights up. She nods fervently. "Ok." She drops down and scoops up the glass, tucking it in her pocket. "I…" She bites her lip and glances at daddy from the corner of her eye. "I'll stay." She bows her head.
Rick nods. He rises and runs his hand over her head. "Good girl." He glares at Jerry. Just as unbearable as back when he was fifteen and ogling his daughter. "Now here." He passes Morty off to her. "Take care of your brother."
Morty makes a high pitched but pleasant sound. He lifts his arms and reaches out toward Rick. His eyes light up and a smile spreads over his face. "R…Rick…"
Jerry chokes on air. What? His son's first word…it…it's that horrible man's name? His blood runs cold. Why not mom? Or dad? Or anything!? He growls deep in his throat. Things could not get worse.
Rick starts and blinks. Then he chuckles. He bends over. "Good choice little guy." He wiggles his fingers above Morty. "I am the only thing worth being your first word." He raises up and walks away from the children and his face instantly is seized with fury.
Rick locks eyes with Jerry, stopping before him with his face inches from the sorry excuse of a human being. "And don't worry," He says under his breath, sure that the kids, Summer in particular, won't hear. "I won't bother your precious family anymore." He waves his hands. "I won't be coming back. Ever." He knocks his shoulder against Jerry's – hard.
Jerry stumbles and grunts. He scowls after Rick, but he doesn't bother saying a word.
Rick stomps away, down the stairs and out the door before it even crosses his mind to use the portal gun. Like he really needs to exit like that all the time anyway, especially now that they all know he's been here. He does live here after all – in this dimension. Unfortunately.
Summer draws in a deep breath and steps forward, toward daddy. "Here." She urges him to take Morty. "He…he likes to be sang to." She ducks her head.
Jerry lets out a soft breath. He manages a sad smile. "Ok, sweetheart." He lifts Morty from her. He glances at his wife – still in shock. "Do…do you want to listen too?" He bends down to lift her up in his other arm.
Summer grins. "Yeah!" She nods fervently. She leaps forward.
Jerry scoops her up and stands. "Alright," He turns and heads downstairs. "Let's go sing." And enjoy the quiet.
Beth slowly comes to life. She blinks and the image of her father fades, revealing an empty room. Was it real? Or am I crazy? She dreamed of him returning at least once a week, even after so many years. It was the thing that plagued her most, more than marital problems or the kids or anything in her whole life. She shakes her head slowly. No…it couldn't have been real. It's easier that way. Because he won't be back, probably not ever. She turns slowly, walking mindlessly downstairs to the kitchen. It's the best way to distract herself. It's the only way.
…
That night her parents are screaming again. It's not half as loud, but it's enough to make her grip her head and curl in on herself. At least Morty is asleep though. And at least daddy tucked her in. She starts. Oh. Right. She wrenches the glass from her pocket, nearly having forgotten it.
She stares intently at the pristine piece. It glimmers in the moonlight that streams through her window and bathes her bed. When things get too loud, just hold it close. She holds her breath and clutches it to her chest. She clenches her eyes shut.
Then it's gone – the noise.
It's as if a barrier has formed around her. She blinks and peers around her. She can't see anything. She tentatively reaches out to feel for something. Nothing. Slowly a smile spreads over her face. She hugs the glass. So cool. Grandpa's gifts are always the best. She reaches under her pillow and pulls out the marble. She makes it dance for a minute and puts it back.
She glances at the glass. But this…this is easily the coolest. And she can't wait to see what he brings next. To see him again. She snuggles into her pillow. "Thank you…"
Alright, so I could end it here. It would play into canon decently well. If Rick never came back then Summer would feel betrayed and grow bitter. Once Rick returned Rick would assume she feels this way and not want to deal with it and so chooses Morty. This hurts Summer more and creates the jealousy that she admitted to in the newest episode. They obviously both get over the past and get closer in the show, also like last episode.
Of course, that's just not good enough for me. lol So I'm probably going to keep going for another chapter or two and lead into canon in another way. You'll see. ;) Anyway, what did you think of this chapter? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please review! :D
