103/104 36: Discussing The Adoption.
That same night, at the Miller residence, Tommy was in his bedroom, putting on an orange short sleeve t-shirt. He also wore blue nike shorts that went down to his knees and he was barefoot.
Moose and Molly were also present, lying on the floor beside each other. Gigi has asked Lois if it would be alright if Moose had spent the night at her place with her, Tommy, Molly and the puppies...and knowing that this year would probably be the last time Moose would get to see his offspring...Lois just couldn't say no.
"Dad, i'm ready for bed!" Tommy shouted.
Rex then entered side Jason's room by opening the door.
"Oh. Hey. Where's Gigi?" Tommy asked.
"She went to run some personal errands. How was miss Webster's? Did you have fun?" Said Rex as he and Tommy walked over to the bed.
"Sure." Said Tommy before getting on the bed and sitting on it Indian style while Rex sat on the side of the bed. "So...what did you wanna talk to me about?"
"What do you think i wanna talk with you about?" Rex asked.
"I don't know. About being with Mom?" Tommy asked.
"Why would i be with your Mom?" Rex asked.
"Cause Cruella and the other bad guys are here in town." Said Tommy.
"It bites, doesn't it? Sometimes the bad guys get by with stuff, but it does not mean that they'll get away with it forever. And if definitely does not mean that i'm going to be getting back together with your Mom." Said Rex.
"Do you really mean that?" Tommy asked.
"Yeah, i do." Said Rex.
"So is my Mom what you wanted to talk to me about?" Tommy asked.
"I wouldn't say that." Said Rex.
"Then what?" Tommy asked.
"Listen...buddy, i think...your grandmother, Cruella, is gonna stick around for a while." Said Rex.
"Well, why? Everybody hates her." Said Tommy.
"I know." Said Rex.
"So where is she gonna stay? I mean, she can't stay here in town." Said Tommy.
Rex: "Well..."
"No way. You mean she's staying here in town?" Tommy asked.
"Yes, she is." Said Rex.
"Why?" Tommy asked.
"It's complicated." Said Rex.
"People always say that." Said Tommy.
"It's true." Said Rex.
"I don't care. I'm not stupid, i'm understand stuff. Even complicated stuff." Said Tommy.
"Tommy, i know that. You are super smart. But sometimes it's not about that?" Rex said.
"Then what's it about?" Tommy asked.
"Your Mom and i don't wanna tell you things that might hurt you." Said Rex.
"You told me you were my Dad and who my Mom was. I handled that, didn't i?" Said Tommy.
Rex remained silent.
"Dad, you said you wanted us to get to know each other as father and son. You said you wanted me to get to know my Mom. I don't wanna start our relationship off with family secrets." Said Tommy.
"Okay, you got it." Said Rex.
"You'll tell me?" Tommy said.
"Yeah. You need to hear this from me." Rex began. "How do i say it?"
"Just say it." Said Tommy.
"The reason your grandmother, Cruella, hasn't been arrested...is because she's been cleared of all charges." Said Rex.
"Cruella's cleared of all charges? Since when?" Tommy asked.
"I just found out at the station today that Cruella's criminal record of this decade is squeaky clean. There's no criminal history or anything linking her to the first three 104 Dalmatians incidents." Said Rex.
"Well, that's great." Said Tommy.
"It is?" Rex asked.
"Yeah, she'll go off, hop on the first plane to London, and leave us alone." Said Tommy.
"I don't think that's gonna happen, buddy." Said Rex.
"Why not? She wants be a free woman, doesn't she?" Tommy asked.
"Yeah, i suppose she does." Said Rex.
"So she can go back home to London. Unless...the people over there hate her too. They do, don't they?" Said Tommy.
"Yeah, they do." Said Rex.
"I wouldn't want her in my home town either. She's probably hated by everyone for stealing their Dalmatian population three times." Said Tommy.
"You know she's your grandmother, right?" Said Rex.
"I know. But i still wouldn't want her in my town. Why can't she just go away and leave us alone?" Said Tommy.
"My guess is she's has some unfinished business here in Texas. Either that or she doesn't have enough money." Said Rex.
"Why don't you deport her? You and the police have the authority to do so." Said Tommy.
"We can't do that." Said Rex.
"But why not?" Tommy asked.
"Because...Look...i won't beat around the bush. Linda...i mean...she won't allow the police force to make an arrest on Cruella or to deport her. Xehanort is the new mayor of Paris, Texas...and Gigi has become deeply concerned for the safety of the puppies. And my job as an officer...it's not enough to keep them safe...at all. Which is why i came over here to talk to you. I wanted to let you know that...Gigi and i...are putting the puppies up for adoption." Said Rex.
"You and Gigi...are getting rid of the puppies? That means that we have to say goodbye to them." Tommy said.
"Do you remember how Gigi and i told you about the first 104 Dalmatians incident that happened here four years ago?" Rex asked.
"Yeah. But what does that have to do with us getting rid of the puppies?" Tommy asked.
"Everything." Said Rex.
"But why?" Tommy asked.
"Because...Dice, Mickey, Max and Olive were the last four Dalmatians that got stolen...along with your brother, Jason. Gigi thinks that history will repeat itself again...and now that Cruella is back in the U.S...it will only be a matter of time before it does. Gigi doesn't wanna relive what happened four years ago...so to keep the puppies safe, and out of harm's way, we're putting them up for adoption. Not because we don't love them...but because we wanna keep them safe. Do you understand? " Said Rex.
"I guess so. But are we really getting rid of them, Dad?" Tommy asked
"We're not getting rid of them, they're family." Said Rex.
"Family doesn't get rid of each other." Said Tommy.
"No. You're right, they don't. And if i could change things, i would. But this is how they are...and it wouldn't be right for us to keep them with us knowing that we can't keep them safe." Said Rex.
"Because Cruella's staying in town. But that doesn't mean you and Gigi have to give them up for adoption...unless...you want to." Said Tommy. "So...what are you gonna do, Dad? Are you and Gigi gonna give the puppies up?"
"I don't know, it's tough." Said Rex.
"How can Cruella even be allowed to walk around free? She's like the meanest person ever." Said Tommy.
"You know, sometimes people change." Said Rex.
"Not her. All she cares about is herself." Said Tommy.
"People thought that about me when Gigi was pregnant with your brother, Jason." Said Rex.
"Well, that was different, you didn't know about Jason...or me." Said Tommy.
"You grew up without a family...but you wanted one, right?" Said Rex.
Tommy nodded.
"Well, the puppies will have a family too." Said Rex.
"Do you and Gigi know for sure that this is the only way to keep the puppies safe?" Tommy asked.
"No, we don't...but it's the only option we can think of." Said Rex.
"Can't we just take the puppies and go back home to Omaha?" Said Tommy.
"Not for three more months. Gigi still has to finish up her book tour." Said Rex.
"So Cruella get's to go around, like she did nothing wrong? And we have to say goodbye to puppies? She's gonna rub it in Gigi's face. What if Cruella finds the puppies and takes them away again?" Said Tommy.
"Hey. That won't happen, buddy." Said Rex.
"You say that now. What if Cruella gets lucky and succeeds in tracking down the puppies? What if she finds them when they're all grown up with puppies of their own and steals them? She's a very powerful woman, Dad. She'd find them. Then she'll take them away, like she did the first time...and everything we did to keep them safe will have been for nothing. What happens then?" Said Tommy.
"Which is why we're gonna have to keep this adoption thing a secret." Said Rex.
"A secret adoption?" Tommy asked.
"Yeah, i mean...Cruella can't steal the puppies if she can't find them. And she can't find them if she doesn't know that they're being adopted." Said Rex.
"I guess that would make sense. But, uh...when will the adoption plans take place?" Said Tommy.
"This month, starting tomorrow." Said Rex.
"Oh...i see. Dad?" Said Tommy.
"Yes, Tommy?" Rex asked.
"Can we choose where the puppies go to live the way people do their colleges?" Tommy asked.
"We sure can." Said Rex.
"Thanks, Dad." Said Tommy.
"Anytime. Oh! One more thing. This adoption thing stays between you, me and Gigi. Understand? No one else is to know about it. Got it? Got it?" Said Rex.
"I guess it wouldn't really be much of a secret if we told everyone." Said Tommy.
"That's right. So deal?" Said Rex, offering a handshake.
"Deal." Said Tommy before shaking hands with Rex.
"Dad?" Said Tommy.
"Yeah?" Rex asked.
"Does this mean we have to say goodbye to the puppies forever?" Tommy asked.
"Yes, Tommy...it does." Said Rex.
While Rex and Tommy were talking to each other, Dice was standing outside the bedroom by the half open door, listening in on the conversation. The 10 week old puppy then walked away from the door while Gigi arrived at the bedroom door to see the Dalmatian walking off.
Gigi then entered inside Jason's bedroom and saw Rex sitting on the side of the bed and Tommy sitting at the head of the bed Indian style. "Hey. What's going on? What happened?"
"I know, Gigi. We're gonna give away the puppies." Said Tommy.
"Tommy, honey, please try and get some sleep." Said Gigi.
"But Gigi..."
"We'll call you in the morning when we're ready to talk, okay?" Said Gigi, cutting Tommy off.
"Okay." Said Tommy. The 10 year old then got under the covered and laid down on the bed on his back.
Rex then kissed Tommy on the forehead. "Good night, buddy."
"Good night, Dad." Said Tommy.
Moose and Molly exited the room to head back down stairs to rejoin the puppies.
Rex and Gigi then exited the room and the 34 year old police officer closed the door all the way behind him and Gigi. The two childhood friends then went down stairs to the livingroom, where they began to talk.
"You told him?" Gigi asked.
"I wanted to wait for you." Said Rex.
"Why didn't you?" Gigi asked.
"I tried...but he was asking all sorts of questions and i couldn't just not answer them. I figured he should at least hear it from me." Said Rex.
"So how did it go?" Gigi asked.
"Terrible...but i think he understands." Said Rex.
"Sorry. I wish i could have been here." Said Gigi.
"It's not your fault, you had to run some errands. Are you finished with them?" Said Rex.
"I didn't go out to run errands...i went to see Stacy instead." Said Gigi.
"Why? Why'd you go see Stacy." Rex asked.
"When i left here...i was upset." Said Gigi.
"Doesn't seeing her make things worse?" Rex asked.
"I had to do something. So i went to an ATM and i took this money out." Said Gigi.
"Okay." Said Rex.
"Then i went to the Regency. I...i don't know, i just started saying it. It just came out." Said Gigi.
"What, Gigi? What did you say to Stacy?" Rex asked.
"I told Stacy that i thought she should leave town." Said Gigi.
"You told Stacy to what?" Rex asked.
"I told her to leave town." Said Gigi.
Rex remained silent.
"Please say something." Said Gigi.
"Gigi, how could you do that?" Rex asked.
"I didn't plan it, Rex." Said Gigi.
"You told me you went to the ATM." Said Rex.
"I was my way to the store to pick up some groceries...and i just couldn't stop thinking about Stacy and you and Tommy. And the next thing i knew, i was at her apartment handing her 300 dollars." Said Gigi.
"To leave town?" Rex asked.
"I'm sorry. I just can't deal with this, Rex. I want this thing to go away." Said Gigi.
"This thing?" Rex asked.
"You know what i mean. Everything. All of it." Said Gigi.
"When were you gonna tell me about this?" Rex asked.
"I'm telling you now." Said Gigi.
"What if it's too late?" Rex asked.
"What are you talking about?" Gigi asked.
Rex then walked off.
"Where are you going?" Gigi asked.
"Where do you think i'm going? To stop Stacy." Said Rex, stopping in his tracks.
"No, Rex, you don't have to the Regency. Stacy's not leaving town." Said Gigi.
"How do you know?" Rex asked.
"Trust me. I know. She threw the money out of her apartment and she threw me out." Said Gigi.
"(Sighs) Thank goodness." Said Rex.
"You seem relieved." Said Gigi.
"I don't know what i am. I just don't understand why you would do this." Said Rex.
"You don't understand?! How many times has she tried to ruin our lives?! And now she's got a brand new way to do it!" Said Gigi.
"So you figured if she left town, that would solve everything?" Said Rex.
"I wish it would solve everything. I wish i could make this all go away." Said Gigi.
"You don't think i want that? You think that i'm happy that i have a kid with Stacy? I wish that none of this ever would have ever happened." Said Rex.
"But it did...because i didn't try hard enough to get in contact with you." Said Gigi.
"Look, it's not your fault." Said Rex.
"It's not your's either. There's only one person i blame for this whole mess." Said Gigi.
"Stacy." Said Rex.
"She doesn't deserve you!" Said Gigi.
"She doesn't have me!" Said Rex.
"But she has your child!" Said Gigi.
"You think that makes a difference?" Rex asked.
"I don't know! But if there was no Tommy, then at least all of this would be over! If there was no Tommy, we might have a chance!" Said Gigi.
"But there is a Tommy...and i cannot abandon him. Gigi, i guess what i'm asking is...can you live with that?" Said Rex.
"What are you saying? You wanna raise Tommy with Stacy?" Gigi asked.
"NO! Of course not...but i can't let Tommy grow up without his mother, i'm sorry, Gigi, i cant." Said Rex.
"Because of what happened with Jason." Said Gigi.
"That wasn't your fault." Said Rex.
"But you don't want it to happen to Tommy...even though it already has." Said Gigi.
"Tommy didn't do anything." Said Rex.
"Maybe not, but he comes attached to Stacy, and she's done plenty." Said Gigi.
"She won't hurt us anymore." Rex assured.
"How do you know?" Gigi asked.
"Because i won't let her. I am not gonna lose you, not after everything that's happened these past four years, but i can't...send her away. You know, see you around, good luck not being apart of our kid's life." Said Rex.
"I know you can't, you could never do that. That's not who you are." Said Gigi.
"I guess it would be easier if i was." Said Rex.
"No. What would make things easier-May God strike me down for saying this-but i would give anything for Stacy not to be Tommy real mother." Said Gigi.
"We can't wish Stacy being Tommy's mother away. It's real." Said Rex.
"Believe me, i know. And now Tommy knows that we're putting the puppies up for adoption." Said Gigi.
"I'm sorry i told him." Said Rex.
"It's okay. It's not like he wasn't going to find out anyway." Said Gigi.
"But we were going to tell him together. I shouldn't have told him behind your back." Said Rex.
"And i shouldn't have gone to Stacy behind your back, but i did. I told her to leave town, and i can't take it back. So where does that leave us?" Gigi said.
"I don't know." Said Rex.
"(Sighs) This is such a mess." Gigi began. "I wish i could go back in time...but i can't. All i can do is...feel sorry. I hate it."
"It's okay." Said Rex.
"No, it's not, because sorry can't fix anything. Sorry can't change what has happened. It can't tell you that i was only pretending to cut you out of my life. It can't fix you missing the first 10 years of Jason's life. It can't even...stop me from talking to Stacy tonight...without you." Said Gigi.
"And it can't stop me from talking to Tommy without you. You're right, it's can't fix anything. There's just so much stuff that i wouldn't have done." Said Rex.
"I just don't wanna fight anymore. I need you. I love you so much. As a friend, of course." Said Gigi.
"I love you too. So what do you say? From now on, we stick together." Said Rex.
"I think that's the only way we're gonna get through this." Said Gigi.
"Okay. Then we're agreed. From now on, we're a united front." Said Rex.
"That sounds like a plan. I'm sorry." Said Gigi.
"I'm sorry too." Said Rex.
"...I'm gonna go up stairs to my room and start printing up the flyers for the adoption of the puppies. I'll see you tomorrow." Said Gigi.
"Yeah. Same here." Said Rex. The 34 year old police officer then headed towards the door, opened it, and exited the house and closed the door behind him.
Gigi then headed up stairs to her room to begin printing up the flyers of the adoptions.
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"What?" Mickey asked.
"What?" Max asked.
Olive barked.
"When?" Mickey asked.
"This month, starting tomorrow." Said Dice, having told his siblings about the adoption plans in another room.
"Where did you hear that?" Mickey asked.
"I overheard Rex and Tommy discussing it up stairs in Jason's bedroom." Said Dice.
"I was afraid this might happen. I've been expecting it for some time." Said Max.
"Well, what do we do now?" Dice asked.
"We'll probably be sent off to live with strangers. Gigi, Rex, Tommy and Mom will get on the first plane back to Omaha and we'll never see them again." Said Mickey.
"What a stupid thing to do. This is the only family that we know. What do we do?" Max asked.
"Well, we've got to do something. Otherwise we're gonna lose the only family that we have and we're never gonna see them again." Said Mickey.
"Then i guess we are going to do something. Or at least i am anyway. Now, i don't know about you guys, but i'm not going anywhere until i know for certain that Tommy is safe." Said Dice.
"Same here." Said Mickey.
"Same here." Max added.
Olive barked.
"Really? You really mean it?" Dice asked.
"Of course we mean it, Dice, you're our brother. We wanna make sure that Tommy stays safe just as much as you do. The kid deserves to be in a loving and stable environment, and that won't happen as long as Cruella and Stacy, and their gang of thugs, are out walking the street." Said Mickey.
"Thanks, you guys. You're the best." Said Dice.
"Just call us our brother's keeper." Said Max.
"Dice? Mickey, Max, Olive? What's going on?" Asked Moose as he and Molly walked up to their puppies.
"What's wrong?" Molly added.
"What's wrong? Oh...let me see. Dice...just told us that Gigi and Rex are planning to give us up for adoption." Said Mickey.
"Oh...wow." Said Moose.
"You don't seem suprised." Said Max.
"I...i am so sorry." Molly said.
"You knew. You knew!" Said Dice.
"No way. When did you guys find out?" Mickey asked.
"Today at the Texas Road House." Said Moose.
"And i found out here at the house. I over heard Gigi and Rex talking about it." Said Molly.
"And why didn't you say anything?" Dice asked.
"Because i didn't know, okay? I didn't know if they were even gonna go through with it." Said Molly.
"But you found out later that they were." Said Mickey.
"I...guessed. And then Rex and Gigi confirmed it at the Texas Road House when they were talking to Lois, Clark, Candace, Sherleen and Henry." Said Molly.
"You heard about this twice and you still didn't tell us?" Max said.
"Max, we were both sad to hear about the news. But if it makes you feel any better, Gigi and Rex don't wanna go through with this anymore than we do." Said Molly.
"Then why are they doing this then? Why are you doing this?" Mickey asked.
"Because we love you, and we wanna keep you safe. Safe from Cruella. And if sending you away to live with a new family is the only way...then it's totally worth it." Said Moose.
"Are you mad at us?" Molly asked.
"No. I just...Why wouldn't you tell us?" Dice asked.
"Probably because we didn't want this to happen. I mean, come on. Who would wanna see you guys so sad?" Moose said.
"But it's not fair. After everything we went through to stop all of those bad guys, and now they're out of prison, walking the streets of Paris, Texas?" Said Dice.
"Yeah, well...this adoption thing doesn't have to change anything with the four of you." Said Moose.
"It changes everything." Said Max.
"Yeah, but it doesn't have to." Said Molly.
"Mickey, Max and Olive and i have been apart of this family since birth for four years. We would never be able to adjust to a new family the way we do with Gigi, Rex and Tommy and you and Dad." Said Dice.
"We'll still love you. And so will the new family that your gonna have." Said Molly.
"If Gigi and Rex go through with this adoption...things will never be the same again. Not for us...and not for you guys." Said Dice.
"That is...probably true." Said Moose.
"This new family will be a permanent fixture in our lives...and we will never...ever...see you guys again." Said Dice.
104
DALMATIANS
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