The Things He Left Behind

AvalonReeseFanFics

A/N: And here is another chapter. This one is going to be smaller but it's cute. We're on the road to solidifying that happily ever after. Because it wouldn't be real life if Happily Ever After was just the wedding right? Don't forget to leave a review and I'll see you guys next week!

Chapter 15

Rex and Daisy went on their honeymoon with RJ to Hawaii. There the two of them essentially had their first family vacation. It was everything that Daisy could have ever wanted too. Family moments, lots of pictures, amazing sex almost every night, and a kids club for RJ during those times when her and Rex wanted to be alone.

When they returned from Hawaii a week later the Racer family came to pick them up from the airport. Well, the Racer family minus Speed, who was still mad at both Rex and Daisy. She had handed off all the souvenirs to the family, they let them into Henry's new place for a little bit of tea and coffee, promising to have them over for dinner as soon as possible.

Then Henry showed RJ the major surprise he had set up for him.

They both took RJ up to the second floor and only down the hallway away from what would be their room.

"So, while you were gone, I told you that we were having everything moved in, right?" RJ nods to him and then stares at the door that Rex hasn't let him go through.

"Do we need to set up my room still? I mean that's fine. We can camp out in the living room," he says and then turns to Daisy.

"He got kicked out of Boy Scouts a week before the big camp out, so we had a campout at home. It was supposed to be outside but it rained that night so we camped in the living room, and roasted marshmallows in the fireplace."

Rex blinks his eyes at her and for a second, she can see regret flashing through his eyes. Regret because he had to have realized that RJ had been kicked out because he was fighting protecting his dad's honour, and maybe a little bit because he had wanted to share that memory with them and he was upset he missed it.

"Okay… so we're not doing that," he says and then opens the door. "But uh… if you don't like it I supposed we can."

RJ's very quiet as he walks into the room and then looks around. It's been done up in greens which are his favourite color, it's covered in different racing memorabilia from his favourite racers and events. All of his stuff has been moved in already and set up and there's a bunk bed with two beds, the one on the floor converting into a couch. That second bed was perpendicular to the top bunk which left room for a desk under the bed

"This is… is… mine?"

"Yeah," Rex says quickly. This has been his project, Daisy let him take full control, so he's very proud of his work. He did ask for color recommendations but that was it, so yeah, this was all Rex.

"So, uh, I picked this room cause you get the best views." He goes to the ceiling to floor window and RJ follows him. It goes out to the backyard, where they could see the pool and the forested ravine that is behind the isolated property. "I've seen deer from this window."

Rex then turns back to the room. "So, I got this bunk bed for you, it's all made out of the best wood so it's super sturdy, and the couch turns into a bed, which I think will be great when Spritle comes to stay over, and uh… I don't have it up yet, but there's a hammock for Chim Chim. And then uh… there's enough space for an actual sleep over…"

RJ turns from the view to the room and then back to the view so Rex hastily adds. "The windows automatically go into shade mode based on a timer and the position of the sun. But if you want them down at a different time you can just press a button and they'll go black. They can also be programed to show a view, I can show you how to set that up later…"

"This is my room? Really?"

He seems stuck on that. Like he isn't certain that it was, or this might be a cruel joke.

"Yeah, Rex worked really hard to get it all done for you we were gone," Daisy tells him, though she can tell that he's surprised. The room is as big as the Racer's living room. "And then Grandpops and everyone moved your stuff in and helped decorate."

"Yeah… what do you think?"

RJ turns between them and then the room. "But like… it's really mine?"

"Yeah, where did you think we were going to keep you? In the garage?" Daisy asks.

"No, I just… I thought that… I thought that we'd do it together…"

"Do you not like it?"

That question comes from Rex who is now frowning and worried that he's messed up. But RJ is suddenly smiling.

"I love it!" he cries and then hugs his dad. "Thank you so much!"

Rex bends into this hug, he has for all and every hug RJ has given him, like he wants to feel it with his whole body, down to the very core so he'll always remember those moments.

He then lets go of Rex and rushes back to Daisy. "And thank you for telling him everything I like!"

"She knows a lot more about cars then we think," he says and RJ shakes his head.

"She has no idea, she just remembers everything I like. Cause she loves me. She's the best mom ever."

He then smiles up to her and her own smile widens. "You want some time to explore the room yourself?"

RJ nods and the two parents leave him there. Rex is smiling widely, he's been smiling like that since they got married, but tonight's smile is a little prouder and little wider than before. Daisy is just hoping that this new happy feeling stays for a very, very long time.

[-]

The two settled into married life surprisingly easy. They already knew that they liked waking up to one another, but they also took turns making breakfast. That was the deal. Who ever woke up first made breakfast, the other would do dishes.

Rex had found that his favourite time of day became any meal time that landed him sitting at his kitchen island with his son beside him. Which was every breakfast.

Since the wedding, RJ had been doing better in school. The fights had stopped, his grades, which were already quite high, had picked up.

That was potentially because every Sunday was dedicated to Father-Son bonding time at Thunderhead. Now that he had an outlet that he actually loved he was no longer acting out.

Though if you asked Daisy it was because he finally had his father back.

The Racer's came over every Friday night for dinner despite the fact that Daisy, RJ and Rex were over at the Racer homestead frequently. Speed had yet to come to a single dinner, and wouldn't stay in the same room as Daisy and Rex.

That morning, Rex had woken up before Daisy which meant he would make breakfast. He would also be the one who would be taking RJ to school. RJ preferred it if it was Rex because Rex had the cool cars. RJ really liked to show Rex off. Well he loved to show Henry off.

He had decided that this morning would be toast, bacon and oatmeal for their breakfast and went about making it for his family.

God, he liked saying that. His family. The family he never thought he'd get back.

RJ is next to come down the stairs. He remembered, at his age, it was a chore to wake up for school. In fact, his mother used to have to rip the blankets off of him and practically pull him out of bed to get him up. RJ never has that problem.

It definitely helps that Rex set up the windows to automatically un-shade when it was time for RJ to get up.

"Morning dad."

God Rex loves that too.

"Morning Kiddo. Bowl of oatmeal is waiting for you. You can pick the toppings out of the fridge."

"Thanks Dad."

Rex really, really, really, loves being called dad. Literally his favourite thing, hands down. And RJ uses that accolade every chance he gets.

By the time the bacon and the toast are ready, Daisy is down the stairs. She's in a pair of lacy baby-dolls in a periwinkle purple color. Coincidentally his favourite pair of lacy baby-dolls. Her hair is up, she's wearing a house coat he bought her specifically, and she comes to him immediately to press a kiss to his cheek.

He offers her a bowl of oatmeal he already has made to her taste, brown sugar with raspberries on top. Then he offers her the mug of coffee he made her.

"Mm, what service, thank you babe."

She goes to kiss him again, this time on the lips and that earns them a: "Ewwwwww," from their kid. But they're used to that too and to punish him they kiss even more.

"God guys I'm trying to eat. Can't you guys love each other when I'm gone?"

"No can do, your dad's in the office today and I'm wall-to-wall booked at the studio, which means no lovin' until we get home today."

RJ groans but Rex can't help laughing. Who would have thought I'd be teasing my son by kissing my wife? God if I'm dreaming never wake me up.

"Who's picking me up from school today?"

"Me," he tells him loving the beaming grin that grows on his face.

"Can we get ice cream after school?"

"Depends on how you do on that test. Remember, you only get rewarded if it's above a B."

"If I aced it can we go to Thunderhead?"

"Hell yeah, you get above 95, we'll go to Thunderhead and then go for ice cream."

"Ice cream without me?" Daisy asks pouting at the two of them. He kind of gets the feeling that Daisy doesn't quite like sharing her son, doesn't quite like that they're getting that close. Only since she's so used to having him to herself. She hasn't said anything or gotten mad at them, it was just a little inkling he had.

"We'll bring you back a pint of your favourite."

"Mmmm, well then I guess I can't complain, huh?" she says, before going to sit down beside RJ.

His life is literally perfect. Now… now if only he could get his little brother to forgive him.

[-]

Rex came home from the office one day to find Speed's car in the driveway.

He should have been happy. He should have been elated, but he wasn't. He wasn't because he didn't know why Speed was there.

Was he yelling at Daisy? Blaming her for not telling him that Rex was alive and masquerading as both Racer Hex and Henry Couriere. It wasn't her fault. Rex had made her do it. It made sense for Speed to be mad at him, he was the liar, he was the one who had torn their family apart and damaged Daisy so deeply, but blaming her was cruel.

He needed to save Daisy from him. And suddenly he was practically sprinting to get inside his own house.

Rex throws open the door to his house and slams it behind him. Make his entrance known. Give Speed a chance to stop accosting Daisy, because if Rex witnessed this accosting, little brother or not, Rex was gonna whoop him.

What he finds instead is that Speed and Trixie are sitting on his couch. RJ is talking a mile a minute about school and racing and how much fun he's been having with Rex. Speed is smiling, clearly having missed RJ.

Daisy and Trixie are on the other side of the boys twittering away, obviously catching up on all that had been missed between them.

"So uh… what is happening here?" Rex asks interrupting the clearly cheery family reunion. Seeing as the door being slammed hadn't gotten their attention. "You've decided to stop sulking?"

Speed's eyes turn to him, a frown on his face.

"I'm not here for you. I'm here to see Daisy. Cause she's my sister, and I love her, and I spent a lot of time keeping her together when you left us."

"Lot of good it did her. She was still a wreck when I came back."

He hadn't meant it to come out so cruel, but he was angry. Angry that his brother didn't just understand that he had been doing this to save his family. To protect them. Angry because it was true, he had done that to Daisy and he had forced Speed to pick up the pieces.

Speed stands up to face Rex but Daisy is quicker. She is in between them right away.

"That is enough, both of you, stop it. You're brothers. Start acting like it or I'm sending you both out of the house!"

And she'd do it too. That's what was frightening about that threat. She really would kick em all out.

"Now, Trixie, RJ and I are going to go to the kitchen. RJ has homework and we're going to start on dinner. Or at least I am, Trixie can just watch if she wants, seeing as she's he guest. But you two are going to sort this out. Not with harsh words or punches, cause if I come back in here and you've ruined my living room there will be hell to pay."

"It's my living room," Rex mutters as he watches her walk away with their son and Trixie in tow.

Then he and Speed are left alone in silence, both avoiding each other's eyes.

After a long pause Speed whispers: "How could you do that to us? Abandon us like that. Not just Daisy but us… your family… me…"

"It wasn't easy," Rex admits and Speed glares at him. "I… I thought I was doing what was best. I thought I was protecting all of you. But all I did was hurt everyone… and myself."

"Did you ever even think of coming back?"

"Of course. Every day. But by then… by then I had the new face and I didn't know how… I didn't know how to face you guys after what I had put you through. So Rex stayed buried and I tried to get on with my life but… you know… I always kept a look out."

Speed glances up to him at that point.

"Yeah, I kept tabs on everyone. Not just Daisy. I kept tabs on you, and Pops and Mom. Even Spritle once he came around. It wasn't much but… I unno… it was something."

Speed looks away. "And… if you could go back…"

"God I never would have done it. I would have just come home. I would talked have things out with Pops and gotten back with Daisy. I swear, this was the worst mistake I ever made, but I can't regret it that much. Because… you know… you're the one who took down Royalton in the end. Not me. You might not have ever risen to greatness if I had stuck around."

And they would never know if that was true or not. But it was a good thing to hold on to at a time like this.

Speed nods as if he understands but Rex has a feeling he doesn't. "Why didn't you tell me when I confronted you?"

"I had a different face, Speed. I… I thought about telling you but then… I unno I chickened out. I was afraid you'd be mad and… well… I've been punishing myself. Or I was. I made the mistake, so I was going to lie in my bed and be miserable. Serve me right for being stupid. But… Daisy…"

Rex couldn't forget Daisy. Never had, never could. Speed smiles wryly and Rex doesn't even bother to continue. Speed knows exactly what he's talking about.

"We good now? You less mad?" Rex asks since Speed has stopped asking questions.

"No. We're not okay," Speed says that frown still on his face. "But we're on the road to okay."

Well they had to start somewhere.

"Think we could start with maybe not ignoring us when we come over? Or coming over for dinner with the family?"

"Yeah, that's a good place to start."

Now Speed is smiling and Rex is smiling too, because he has a feeling that Speed is just giving him a hard time. Rex has a feeling that he's already been forgiven.