Disclaimer: I don't own the Brady Bunch
Hey!So this is the last chapter of Room probs not the best of finales but I hope you like it!
Downstairs in the living room, something moved. One of the boxes trembled before toppling over and a puppy plopped out, Bobby had placed it in while it was asleep and while there had been holes it could breathe out of. The puppy did eventually wake up, it's brown eyes peered at it's new surroundings before sniffing something up the steps. Slowly, it pattered up the steps to one of the doors that was open, and trotted in without a care in the world. The puppy sniffed something, and began to lick at what it sniffed. Alex whimpered slightly feeling something wet and slobbery touch her hand. The three year old sat up, little face scrunched up with tiredness. She yawned and rubbed her eyes with the hand that wasn't covered with water. Her eyes widened when by the light of the nightlight she saw a puppy in the room. She gasped before turning to her brother.
"Jack! Jack! Up!" She whispered, and her brother groaned.
"Alex m tired." Said Jack as he rolled over.
Alex hit him with a pillow and he groaned as he sat up seeing his sister trying to help something get on the bed. He yawned, before blinking a couple of times and...PUPPY! All tiredness was gone and he was immediately on his knees petting the puppy who had clambered onto the bed and the two little kids tried not to make too much noise so as not to wake up anyone else.
"Santa brought Lucky!" Said Jack happily as he hugged the puppy who began to lick his face. The two kids laughed and Peter yawned before doing a doubletake as he surveyed the scene.
"Uh...Bob?!"
"Huh? Wha-Oh...darn it! I really thought it would stay in the box all night." Said Bobby with a yawn.
"Well clearly not." Said Peter, smiling at how happy his kids were as they were hugging and petting the puppy. "Ok, come on guys lets go to bed you can play with Lucky tomorrow."
The two kids groaned, as Peter reached over and tucked them in yet again with the puppy laying alongside them. The next morning, the puppy rushed down the stairs followed by Jack and Alex who ran to the tree ready to open their presents. They'd never had actual Christmas before after all. Mike looked up, when the doorbell rang and went to answer it finding a pretty dark haired girl standing there.
"May I help you?" Asked Mike curiously.
"Hi I'm Tracy um does Bobby Brady live here?" She asked, and Bobby immediately rushed over.
"Dad, this is my girlfriend Tracy." Introduced Bobby and Mike smiled as he shook the young woman's hand.
"Tracy yes, hi it's so good to meet you." Said Mike jovially, as Carol joined her husband. "We've heard wonderful things about you from Bob."
Tracy smiled graciously, as Bobby introduced her to everyone, as with every new person though Jack and Alex hid behind Peter but the lady looked nice and she was Uncle Bobby's friend so that meant she had to be nice. After eating breakfast, the rest of the day the family spent the day together around the house enjoying the atmosphere. Outside, Jack and Alex played with Lucky, while Peter watched. They were having a great time playing with him, as he ran around trying to catch a ball they'd throw around.
"There see? Uncle Bobby didn't do so badly did he?" Asked Bobby, and Peter rolled his eyes affectionately. "Point one."
"Yeah but I'm still the best uncle." Said Greg, hands in his pockets.
"Oh really?" Asked Bobby incredulously. "You haven't even spent any time with them since they got here."
"Well, that can change. Hey kids, want to teach Lucky how to catch a frisbee?" Asked Greg, as he went over to them.
"What's a frisbee?" Asked Jack curiously.
"I'll show ya, I think we oughta still have one in the garage hang on a sec." Said Greg, as he walked to the garage. Bobby shook his head and both Jan and Cindy giggled as Peter scurled his lips inward while chuckling. Greg returned with a frisbee and began to play with the kids.
"Y'know I was thinking...maybe I could take a gap year from school to help you with the kids." Said Cindy, and Peter shook his head.
"Cindy, I can't ask you to do that. I already took seven years of your life away from you, I'm not gonna ask you to sacrifice another one. Besides, it's not like you'll be gone forever. You and Bobby will visit and call, and you will graduate eventually I assume." He says, giving her a light nudge and Cindy smiled at him softly."And it's not like the kids and I will be alone. "
"I know, it's just...gonna feel weird, I haven't seen you for over seven years and now that we're all back together...we have to say goodbye. And it's stupid because you're not going anywhere but there's always going to be...that small tiny part that's scared I'll never see you again...again." She said softly, because after New Years her and Bobby did have to go to college. Something Bobby hadn't even thought about, as he turned away. They only got to spend a few days with Peter and the kids, and then they had to leave until spring break. It wasn't as though they'd never see them again but it would be weird and feel too much like...before. Peter placed a hand on his sister's shoulder. Understanding where she was coming from, because he was scared too. Scared of his younger brother and sister heading back to college, where if something happened he couldn't be there to protect them or help them. Where he couldn't see them every day.
"Tell you what, I'll call you both of you at the end of every week to let you know how me and the kids are doing and every other weekend or whenever you get the chance. You can come and visit, I have a feeling the kids will miss you just as much as I will." Said Peter before smiling teasingly. "And if any bullies try to make fun of you you let me know, and I'll be right there to punch them in the face."
She laughed and nodded with a small sniff and Bobby smiled fondly.
"There's just one more thing we gotta do first." Said Peter, and his siblings looked at him curiously.
They had to wait a few more days until Marcia was fully cleared to be out of the hospital, but the six Brady "kids" were seated on the couch across from Edwin, the spotlights, cameras, and studio audience didn't bother them. After all, they'd done plenty of performances as teenagers for that not to be an issue anymore. Even so, they each sat there with their parents, Alice, spouses and the kids off to the side watching.
"This is Edwin Bruinn of Channel Five news, I'm here today with Peter Brady, who just a few days ago was rescued from being held captive in a shed for seven years and his brothers Greg and Bobby Brady, and sisters Marcia Logan, Jan Covington, and Cindy Brady who've agreed to join me for an exclusive interview. Now firstly how are you all feeling?"
"I think I speak for all of us when I say we're a little nervous." Said Peter with a light chuckle. "But, this is important."
"And why do you feel that way?"
"Actually this interview was my brother Greg's idea."
"That's right um, over the past seven years I imagined horrible and awful things happening to my little brother. While he came back safely, and believe me I'm eternally grateful that he did I also understand that not everyone gets that type of closure. If I'd seen something like this, with a survivor talking about their experience and how they got out...it would have helped just a little." Explained Greg.
"Now let's go back to that day, August 12th 1975 what was that day like for all of you?"
"It was a normal day honestly," Said Marcia. "We woke up ate breakfast that our housekeeper Alice prepared for us and then we went to school. Greg was in college at the time, so it was just me, Jan, Cindy, and Bobby. The only difference was, that morning Peter woke up late. We knew why, but we just decided to walk to school figuring he'd be joining us momentarily."
"And why did you wake up late?"
"Well, the night before I was talking on the phone to a cute girl I liked. Normally, our parents tried to limit the phone time but that night our parents had gone out and Alice was in her room, none of the girls or Bobby were on the phone so I took advantage of that. So I didn't hear my alarm when it went off the next morning, and I just ran out the door." Explained Peter.
"Did any of you notice the kidnappers beforehand?"
"I did, there was a cream colored station wagon, that was the car they were driving. I remember that car used to give me the creeps because it was always near the high school, our school, parking lots, the park. That morning it was near the stop sign near our house but I didn't think anything of it until later. We just walked to school." Explained Cindy.
"What happened that morning?"
Peter took in a deep breath, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat. Beside him Jan held his hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
"I was running late, I remember thinking I was gonna get a real talking to when I got home, maybe even grounded. My brother and sisters were already gone at that point, I just grabbed my lunch and ran out the door without another word to my mom or Alice. So I run down the street and when I get to the stop sign there's a car and a man and a woman sitting there. Inside I'm freaking out a little because I really want to get to school. So they offer me a lift to school...and against everything I was taught and my better judgment I got in the car." Explained Peter.
"Why did you get in?"
"I think...it's because people have always been nice to me and my family, it was like when Joe Namath came to our house one time because Bobby pretended to be sick, or when a random talent scout wanted to give my brother Greg an opportunity, or when Dezi Arnez Jr. visited my sister Marcia to give a couple of examples. People were nice to our family, they were nice to us and maybe it was naive to think that everyone in the world is nice just because a handful of people were but I was fifteen and I didn't know any better." Said Peter, and his brothers and sisters looked at him, listening to what he had to say. "Everything seemed fine...until they missed the turn that led to school...and I just remember freezing up."
"What happened when you got to their house?" Asked the interviewer.
"They parked their car in their garage, and she left...and then he..."Peter lets that sentence trail off for a moment. As he recounts what happened and tries to stay strong, Greg shakes his head and looks away in anger, Marcia tried not to cry as Jan and Cindy looked down at their laps and Bobby bit his lip. "I asked him to let me go, I told him I wouldn't tell anyone what happened...then after he, did that I just remember crying and for some reason saying 'why did you hurt me?' he didn't say anything but then I was left in the shed."
"What was it like?"
"For the first two years I was alone. There was a number pad on the door, so it closed automatically and I tried to guess the numbers but I never got close and the skylight was just out of reach. I tried escaping a couple of times, once I hit the guy with the lid of the toilet but it didn't work. Every night...they would come in and do what they wanted before leaving. That's how it was, I remember seeing my mom and dad and my siblings on the news and I just...I wished I could tell them where I was...I wished I could go home. I wanted to go home so bad." Said Peter with a sniff as his face began to grow hot and the tears began to prick his eyes. "I just laid in bed dreaming of escaping and walking through that door. I felt so hollow all the time, I was like a zombie."
When did that change?"
"When Jack was born, I remember when she said she was pregnant I wasn't sure how to feel." He explained softly. "I didn't know how to be a dad, I was eighteen and honestly I didn't want to be one. Then Jack was born, and the moment I held him in my arms I knew everything was gonna be ok."
Jack sniffed and smiled softly at Pa who smiled back at him before sighing.
"It was hard at first, I was only four when Bobby was born so I didn't remember much of what Alice did. So I asked for baby books, and there were moments where I was very frustrated where I cried alongside him but...the good outweighed the bad. I like to think I got the hang of it eventually...because when Alex was born I didn't have the same fear. Then I had two of them, and they're great kids. Even with my high school education I tried making sure that, they knew everything, I asked for clothes, food for them, I made sure they were never hurt and they were always safe, I would tell them about their family as much as I could. Suddenly...I wasn't alone anymore."
"When they're older will you tell them about their mother?"
"If they want to know, then I'll try to explain it to them as best as I can."
"She's not their mother though." Said Jan before clearing her throat. "Sorry um, a mother a real mother, is someone who loves her children. Who takes care of them, who would give them the world if she could who does everything in her power to give them everything they have to succeed in life, who loves them. This woman, who r...who hurt my brother and gave birth to those two beautiful children is not their mother. She doesn't deserve to be called one. Peter was the one who raised those children and he did it alone. He soothed every nightmare, endured every tantrum, made sure that while it wasn't perfect that they felt loved and cared for and protected as every father does for their child. He's the only parent those children have."
"I agree with my sister." Said Peter softly. "If Jack and Alex have questions, I'll answer them."
"Why did you keep them in there with you? Why not send them to live out in the world?" Asked Edwin.
"I didn't trust them, how did I know they would do as they said and take Jack and Alex to safety? For all I knew, they would have done so much worse. I don't know what...but worse." He explained softly.
"I see, now as for the rest of you how were the seven years for you? How did you feel?"
"Like something was missing, I was in medical school at the time and I got a call from my mom asking if I'd seen Peter. Which, I thought was odd because I hadn't seen him until about a couple weeks ago just before I left for college. Then I heard Peter went missing and...it was like everything around me stopped. The last thing my other mother ever told me before she died was to take care of Peter and Bobby and...I'd failed. I had failed as an older brother." Said Greg, and immediately Peter shook his head and was gonna say something when Greg continued. "I even dropped out of school for half of the year in order to help my parents, I remember dad was the one who made the fliers, who tried to get media attention, and mom...my poor mom spoke out...she tried to stay strong but I could tell she was hurting...and deep down I was too. I thought...if I had been there I could have stopped it."
"I remember we came home and I told mom Peter hadn't come with us, I just thought he chose to stay home. Mom was frantic calling everyone, while Alice was trying to make sure we weren't upset and dad went out to look for him. When the police arrived, we talked to them...and after that it was just...the world stopped. I just remember thinking if only I had waited, if only I had just taken a moment to look back and not leave until I saw him...if only I'd woken him up that morning...if only I'd said I love you. Because that night..the night before." Marcia can feel her throat grow tighter as she stops to dry her tears."The last thing we ever talked about was me teasing him about using the phone too late, and saying he was gonna be in trouble with mom and dad. I didn't even say goodnight...what if the last thing he ever remembered was that?"
"That year...and even the years that followed mom and dad were super strict with us. We weren't allowed to veer too far from theirs or Alice's sight at the store, at the park, anywhere. We were given walkie talkies to always be in communication with our family, we weren't allowed to stay out too late, and if we were going somewhere without a parent or Alice we had to tell when we were going home, where we were going, and if we were going to be even a few minutes late to stop and call to let them know. I wasn't any better..when Marcia left for college I was the only eldest child left...and I felt lonely. Each of us girls was closer to the brother nearest to us in age even inspite of the squabbles. Peter was my brother...but he was also my friend...and I didn't have my friend anymore." Jan took a shaky breath before sighing. "And I will never forgive that man and that woman for what they did."
"As soon as Jan left it was just me and Cindy, but even before then um Peter and I shared a room...I couldn't even sleep in it after." Said Bobby who paused before drying his eyes. "Because every night, I would go to sleep and expect Peter to be there but he wasn't. Every morning...I would wake up, and he wouldn't be there and eventually I just stopped wanting to sleep because it meant getting my hopes up only to have them ripped away every morning. Eventually I just moved into Greg's old room in the attic, because I couldn't be there anymore. A part of me...was so angry. Angry at Peter, at them, at myself, at everyone...because it wasn't fair. I just wanted my older brother back. Finally I just...lost hope. I figured, if I didn't think about him, if I just stopped caring...it would get better but it didn't. "
"I told the police about the car, but they never found it...and eventually, and that year after Bobby left for college had been the longest year of my life. It felt like forever. Mom and dad crying all the time, being worried all the time, and...it wasn't fair. When I was a sophomore or a junior..I started jogging every morning, because anything was better than being in that house where it felt empty and cold and didn't feel like home anymore. Except...I don't know why but I would jog to the house where we eventually found Peter...it felt like there was something there...so one day a few days before Christmas I finally decided to just hop the fence and I knocked on this shed and something knocked back." Explained Cindy, as she got into what happened next.
"Tell me about after, how did you all feel seeing Peter again, and Peter how did you feel seeing your family again?"
"I was so happy, nervous because I didn't know how they'd take to seeing Alex and Jack. But I was overjoyed that they got me out...and I'm so sorry, that you all had to go through that." Said Peter sincerely.
"I wasn't your fault, it never was." Said Jan softly, as she hugged Peter. "And now we have you back."
"I think it's safe to say we all felt over the moon." Said Greg softly with a light chuckle as the others joined in and hugged Peter who smiled. Because the hug was tight and it was warm, and they were clearly intent on not letting him go anytime soon.
"How has the recovery process been since coming home?"
"It hasn't been easy." Said Peter softly, "I get nightmares still and it was a little hard for the kids to adjust at first but they're doing great. They got a dog this past Christmas and they couldn't be happier and they also got a baby cousin courtesy of their Aunt Marcia and one more on the way thanks to Uncle Greg and Aunt Nora."
There's a light chuckle from Marcia, and the air becomes much lighter.
"We're getting through it, one day at a time though. I'm going to therapy so are the kids and I have my family with me." He said softly.
"What plans do you have for the future?"
"Well, I don't know yet but I know it's full of endless possibilities."
"What would you say to Mr. and Mrs. Levac?"
"Rot in hell." Said Greg immediately, making the others laugh. "Simple as that."
"Oh no I agree." Said Marcia with a nod.
"Mm-hm, hope you enjoy jail." Said Bobby, as Jan and Cindy nodded.
"First of all," Said Peter as he looked in the camera. "I would say, there are only two good things that came of this my son and my daughter. For seven long years, you did everything in your power to make me feel helpless, alone, miserable, humiliated, all for your own sick and twisted desires. What you did to me is something I can never forgive, I can't go back and wake up earlier or tell you no thank you and just keep on running. But I can make sure you're sent away and that you never ever hurt a child ever again...because that's what I was. I was a fifteen year old child, who didn't deserve to be taken away from my home and my family. My family didn't deserve to be in pain all those years, they didn't deserve to feel like the whole world had been taken away from them...but you deserve that. From this moment onwards, I won't think of you anymore...but I'm sure you'll think about me for the rest of your lives and I want you to know. While you sit in that cell, I'm free and happy...back with the most important people in the world to me. As for my kids, they're free...they get to live the life I always wanted them to have. Treats every day not just sundays, a big backyard where they can play with their dog, a family that loves them and that will stand by them no matter what, feeling the summer breeze and the winter air and...living in a world that's scary yes, but that's also full of sunshine and hope."
His family beamed at him, proud and while they knew Peter still had some ways to go...he was doing better. Better enough to know that what happened was something he didn't deserve. He deserved to be happy.
"Lastly Peter, what would you say to a child who has been abducted and might be watching this?"
"Well, to you I say, I know right now everything is scary and there's gonna be times where you feel alone and like the whole world has abandoned you...but it hasn't. You're gonna go home, you're gonna be with the ones who love you and what happened or is happening to you...it's not your fault and don't ever think it is regardless of what anyone tells you. Because you did nothing wrong, you did nothing to deserve this, you did nothing to give anyone any reason to hurt you. Don't ever lose hope, because that is something that no one can ever take away from you. It's that hope, that's going to keep you alive and it's going to help you make it through this...and after this...because there is always an after this...you're gonna be safe and sound and you're gonna live the rest of your life knowing that you survived. Keep hoping and keep fighting." Said Peter softly.
After New Years, Bobby and Cindy had to head back to school. Both Jack and Alex were standing by Peter holding his hands trying not to cry, as Aunt Cindy and Uncle Bobby were hugging everyone and saying goodbye while Grandpa was loading everything into the truck.
"Hey, cheer up kiddo we'll see you again soon ok?" Said Bobby, ruffling Jack's hair.
"Promise?" Asked Alex, and Bobby hugged his niece and nephew who clung to him.
"We promise." Said Cindy, once it was her turn to hug them. Bobby stood, and looked up at Peter who smiled at him. The two of them hugged and Bobby sighed, glad that this time he wouldn't have to wait seven years to see his brother again. Beside him, Cindy hugged Peter as well and Peter hugged both younger siblings close.
"Stay safe ok?" Said Peter softly.
"We will, I promise." Said Cindy, as she clung to Peter.
Jack and Alex clung to Peter watching as their aunt and uncle left before going back inside with Pa. That night, they went to sleep in Uncle Bobby's bed instead of the other one. Lucky was curled up at the foot of the bed, Dr. Cho said that for now it would be better to keep them asleep in the same room and that eventually..as children often do they would seek independence by asking for their own room. For now, simply let them be.
"Now remember, I'll be in the next room if you need me alright?" Said Peter softly, as he tucked them in. He was moving into the girls' old room, and would be sleeping there. from now on. "Goodnight, I love you."
"Love you." Said Jack and Alex softly, as he kissed their foreheads and tucked them in goodnight.
27 Years later
"-What my dad went through, it was a terrible thing that tore my family apart." Said the curly haired woman, as she stood on the stage looking out a others who were staring up at her. "In honor of what he, and what so many went through I started the Sunshine Day Center, an organization that helps survivors of child abductions get the care and the treatment they need. Because we talk so often about what happens before a child is abducted, we don't talk enough about the aftermath. About the children who do come home and are left wondering what's next for them and-."
"You're still watching that?" Asked Alex, as she stood in her father's kitchen leaning against the granite countertop. Her wild and dark curls tumbling down past her shoulders, as her dark eyes looked at her video on the laptop screen. She'd been invited to do a TedTalk on the Sunshine Day center she'd started, named for the song her father used to sing to her and her brother so long ago in that tiny room. Sure she knew her dad was there for every speech, but it was still a little weird to see herself on the screen.
"I love listening to my wonderful daughter making a difference." Said Peter, wrapping his arms around his daughter's shoulders and kissing her cheek. She looked away, pretending to be annoyed but she didn't mind her father's affection. Not really. "You have the cake for tonight right? Not like last time?"
"So I forgot the cake once, sue me." She exclaimed and he laughed. "Yes I got it this time, Yvette reminded me."
"How is she by the way?" Asked Peter curiously, as he let go and went back to making lunch.
"Great, um we're going to Hawaii at least next year. When the weather's hotter." Said Alex, as she snuck a french fry and popped it in her mouth. Peter smiled at his daughter. His little girl who was now a beautiful young woman nearly in her thirties, making a difference in the world, living life to its fullest. He was so proud of her, of both his children. While his daughter had become an author, and eventually started her own organization. His son had gone into the family business and become an architect like his grandfather and Aunt Jan before him. "Do you know where Jack is by the way? He never misses these lunches."
"He had something to do first, at least that's what he told me over the phone. Did he say anything to you?" Said Peter and Alex shrugged slightly. Though he was curious too, because she was right his son never missed these Sunday lunches with him and his sister. While they had long since forgotten "Sunday Treat" they had eventually gotten used to spending every sunday having lunch together.
"Nope, and Sharon doesn't know either." She replied, mentioning his daughter-in-law. "She's glad he's out of the house though because that makes party planning much easier."
"I still can't believe he's thirty-one now, it seems only yesterday he was telling me that he was five." Said Peter wistfully.
"How does it feel being 49?" She teased, and he groaned lightly.
"We don't talk about that." He responded, and she giggled. "Ok, come on let's go get everything ready while we wait for your brother."
Jack meanwhile, now thirty years old stood infront of the old house...the house where they, the monsters had lived. It was abandoned now, dilapidated with overgrown weeds and cracked windows looking like something out of a Stephen King novel. No one had wanted to buy it, and there were talks of the city wanting it torn down, which he didn't mind and neither did his dad. He just wanted one more look however. He rounded the corner and hopped over the wall to the backyard which was full of junk, and everything was full of graffiti...his eyes however settled on the shed. He opened the door, and looked inside. It was full of dust, and dirt with cobwebs everywhere. This placed looked so much bigger, once upon a time. Then again he'd been five then, and he was no longer five but a thirty year old man, with a wife, and two children with one more on the way
"Goodbye room." He whispered softly, before heading out. Today was his birthday after all, and he wanted to make it a good one. He just hoped his sister remembered to get the cake this time.