Disclaimer: I am no way affiliated with Family Guy. All credits go to Seth Macfarlane.

Chapter 3

"...Brian…" Stewie began, breathing heavily and trying to remain calm during the emotional turmoil. The horrible gut wrenching sensation to spill everything while his deep subconscious was telling him he needed to remain quiet to protect himself was quickly coming to the forefront of his mind and it was intolerable. Whatever silly notion that told him he would be at peace by telling Brian was jargon; it was always a hassle...trying to organize his deep seeded thoughts with his overall mentality. He needed to just tell Brian that the issues would be rectified and the dog's concerns were invalidated. That would satisfy the dog, wouldn't it? Then they could go back to how they always were.

Then the nausea hit him and he remembered why remaining silent and oblivious was no longer an option. He could attempt all he wanted to mask the insecurities and anxieties...they'd always come back and each time, they'd return with more pain; a mind crippling paralyzation. The boy quickly went to cover his mouth, fearing he'd vomit all over himself. He tightly shut his eyes, having to bow his head. It was going to be a long while before he could gather the courage. He just hoped that Brian would understand.

"Stewie, it's okay. Take your time."

The boy's eyes went wide and he lifted his head to stare at the dog who continued to sit there, waiting...patiently and giving the kid all the space he needed to sort this out himself. Love and appreciation for the dog was always there, but at that moment...Stewie was shocked, truly shocked by Brian. How would he be able to live without him? The mutt was...the greatest gift to him. The greatest gift of all.

"Ah...you're the...only person I've ever told this to. Aren't you going to say anything?" The dog stared questionably towards his little companion, eyes half lidded while he waited for the inevitable. Stewie was going to tell him that his life was rather pathetic and choosing to opt out, so to speak, was the best thing the dog ever thought of.

"...I...don't know what to say. Wanting to kill yourself, I...well, I think that's pretty selfish of you."

Shock.

"Wha-how is that selfish?"

"What would I do if you weren't here? Hm? You're the only one who makes my life bearable."

"I thought you said I was the best of a bad situation."

"I was just trying to hurt you because you hurt me, but the truth is...you're my only friend, Brian. If I didn't have you, I'd be lost."

Brian didn't know what to think. All he knew was that Stewie was telling him his life mattered, but he found himself unable to believe that. Why would the boy care for him? He found himself nonchalantly brushing aside Stewie's remarks, waving apprehensively.

"Ah, you'd be okay."

But Stewie kept up the fight.

"No, I wouldn't. I don't really care for anyone else. Just you...you're the only one I like."

Why remember that now? Why was that very moment coming back to him so suddenly? It couldn't have been more frustrating to remind himself that he had once told the dog he was his only friend who he cared for and yet Stewie held onto this lie for as long as since the two established a deeper relationship. How infuriating that was, indeed. How could Brian...ever forgive him for this?

A panic dwelled deep in the boy's stomach and he cradled himself while he rested his forehead against his kneecaps. He was mumbling to himself something incoherent while Brian stared on, not saying a word to disturb Stewie.

It must have been ages until the kid finally lifted his head and looked over the car dashboard. He was shaking, anxiety written on his pale face. He was feeling himself cave in, he was about to tell Brian he couldn't do it until…

"You know, Stewie...I can't remember a time where I didn't think how incredible you are."

"...Huh?"

"I mean...I know I don't say it enough, but I'm proud of you and I can't stress that enough."

Stewie wrapped his arms around his legs, frowning a little, but he wouldn't deny that Brian's confession truly came at an opportune time. The boy took a deep breath and whispered, "I killed my therapist, Bri."

The two were silent for a moment before Brian leaned back in his seat. Perhaps he wasn't phased by that, but that didn't mean he wasn't the least bit confused. He thought that Stewie had suppressed those homicidal tendencies; well, at least controlled them better. Still...he was surprised to hear this. Though he just nodded and rubbed his legs a little with his paws, not wanting to ask how Stewie did it, but he couldn't stop himself.

"How?"

Stewie fiddled with his fingers.

"...Well, I didn't...kill him, really. I just let him die. He had a heart condition and while we were talking, he had gotten an attack. He asked me to retrieve his medicine and Brian...I was going to give it to him, but he...he found out something about me and I couldn't let him live with that knowledge about me. It was important to me that no one knew."

Brian nodded. He didn't really understand, but he was sure that Stewie would clear that up for him as time passed. He figured they'd take one more thing at a time.

"Is that why you've been acting this way lately? Do you feel remorseful for letting him die?"

Stewie grew silent and didn't move for a moment. However, before long...he slowly nodded his head and directed his full attention to the dog. He looked as though he were going to cry at that moment, but he dared not to. He would tell Brian everything he wanted to know, but be damned if he cried. He'd never forgive himself. "I just...I didn't think anything of it while it was happening. I didn't bat an eye." The boy let out a little hiccup. "Does that make me a bad person?"

"I…" Brian didn't know what to tell Stewie that could possibly make him feel better. The truth of the matter was that Stewie did something truly awful; he voluntarily witnessed the death of a man and didn't do anything to stop it. Yet something was very different about this moment. Earlier on, Stewie killed many people; it was common knowledge and the boy never cared. He never concerned himself for feelings of sympathy or remorse and yet here was now...broken from an act he committed as a means to protect himself.

"I don't think you're a bad person, Stewie…" Brian finally began, "I just think...you're troubled and you aren't sure what you're supposed to do." He sighed. "I wish Lois and Peter were around you more. Well...no, I wish they were normal parents so you could perhaps live a decent life without having to worry about any of this. It isn't fair to you and I wish there was more I could do for you, kid."

Stewie smiled a little and reached to take Brian's hand in his own. "Brian...I don't hate my life. If anything, I'm very happy to be living it. I mean...of course there are some things I wish I could change, but the truth of the matter is...you're in this life with me and as long as you're there, I can handle the complexity that comes with me."

"Stewie…"

Brian wasn't sure if the boy wanted to be held or not. Perhaps not since he hadn't made any indication that he wished to.

Stewie sighed and leaned up in his car seat and faced Brian dead on. He then reached with his free hand to grip Brian's other paw and he squeezed hard.

Brian didn't flinch.

"Okay, Brian...here's my secret."

Discarding the approaching nausea, the anxiety, and the rush of stimulating anticipation...Stewie cleared his throat and began to speak once more. Only it wasn't the posh British accent that he had well carried. It was a mixture of Peter's voice and Brian's, perhaps. Meshed together in a unique sound that didn't quite fit the boy to his own standards, but it was his and for better or worse, it did suit the boy quite perfectly.

"This is...my real voice…"

Brian took a moment to register in his mind that Stewie was in fact talking with a completely different accent. It was so...normal. Brian mentally shook his head. No, normal wasn't the right word for it. This voice was so...very much Stewie's voice. It belonged to him along with everything else that accompanied him.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you...a long time ago, I just...I was scared that you would be disappointed in me."

The mutt smiled and removed a paw from one of the boy's hands and reached out to stroke over Stewie's cheek, taking the boy off guard. He almost flinched, but Stewie remained calm...a sense of relief washing over him to see Brian smiling. "Stewie…" that was all the dog could think to say in such an important moment as this one.

The boy grew quiet.

Then suddenly Brian unfastened himself from his seatbelt and went to unbuckle Stewie from his car seat. "Bri?" Stewie inclined, still using his real voice which made Brian's heart pump a little louder in his chest. He lifted the boy underneath his arms and piled the child onto his lap where he wrapped his arms so tightly around the boy, he must have felt suffocated.

"Well...thanks…"

"I like you a lot. I guess you could say I...really like you. I would dare to even go a little further, perhaps, I...care a great deal about you. A very great deal. Um...maybe even...deeper than that. I...I...I love you."

"I mean you know...not like in a, 'hey let's have an underpants party' or whatever grown-ups do when they're in love, but I mean, I mean...I love you...as one loves another person whom one simply cannot do without."

"Well, I...I love you, too, Stewie."

"You give my life purpose and maybe...maybe that's enough...because that's just about the greatest gift one friend can give another."

Brian's paws kept the boy close, kept the boy safe, and clung to the boy for all he was worth. Stewie had returned the embrace just as tightly, nuzzling his face into Brian's shoulder and the dog reached to place a hand on the back of Stewie's head, his fingers running over his head to soothe him.

"You'll never be a disappoint to me, Stewie...I never cared about your voice...I care about you and there's nothing you could possibly do that will make me feel any less of you."

Stewie tightened his hold on Brian's neck, bottom lip quivering while he choked back a sob. Something inside him kept screaming that this couldn't be real...how could the dog not be the slightest bit disappointed with him? How could he be so forgiving? Stewie would have asked him, but the way the dog was holding him...and whispering sweet nothings into his ear, the more he felt those persistent and nagging thoughts become dull and practically ignored.

Stewie wasn't sure how he felt in that moment. Only he...was relieved, absolutely relieved to have the satisfaction of someone knowing. Someone who wasn't there to criticize his methods, but someone who was there like Brian was.

Brian was really remarkable in every way Stewie could think. It was as though the dog took every insecurity that Stewie harbored and told him to let go.

Stewie breathed.

Brian breathed.

And suddenly...Stewie felt it. He felt...acceptance. He felt the deepest fear ebb away as a mindless afterthought. How liberating that was.

"Brian…?" Stewie whispered against the dog's shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"Can we go get some ice cream?"

Brian chuckled and squeezed Stewie tightly, afraid to let him go. "Of course, Stewie...I'll take you anywhere you want."

-End.

Author's Notes: Whooo! A++ for not having to look up any quotes. Alright! I wanted to give a a shout out to every one else who took the time to read this work. It was my very first one and I'm so stunned with all the support I received from it. Thank you so much for following and favoriting! It really meant a lot to me.

I can promise that there will be more to come in the future. :) Again, thank you so much!