Chapter 90: Don't Worry About Me
Before this 90th chapter begins, I just wanted to thank you all for the views, but I would like to ask you all to please leave a review on any of my fics. Thank you! Ruby, Eret and Becky's daughter, is 21, while Dustin and Eira are both six.
(Becky's POV)
It's been three weeks since Eret's father passed.
Eret's aunt and uncle are coming for a visit once again, and I'm hoping Aunt Grace won't be too much trouble.
Their boat arrives in the middle of the day, and Eret and the kids and I are there to greet Aunt Grace and Uncle Edward.
"Aunt Grace, Uncle Edward, how lovely to see you again." I tell them once they arrive off of their boat.
"Likewise, dear. Eret, my favorite nephew!"
"Lovely to see you again, Aunt Grace." Eret says, numbly; he's barely slept these past three weeks.
The seven of us walk around New Berk, showing Aunt Grace and Uncle Edward all the updates they've missed over the past 20 years.
"We have a new addition here on New Berk – a library. Filled with lots and lots of books."
"Mum loves spending her time in there, more often than the rest of us." Eira tells her great aunt and great uncle. I caress my youngest's hair, knowing how difficult it is for her to talk to new people.
"Oh, really?" Aunt Grace says, looking at me.
"Yes. I do love getting lost in a good book every once in a while."
"A woman after my own heart!" Aunt Grace says.
We continue walking around New Berk, approaching my adoptive siblings and parents, along with our friends.
Ruff and Tuff and I exchange glances, all of us worried about Eret.
Aunt Grace and Uncle Edward stay for a week, wanting to comfort their nephew about the loss of his father.
While our kids are out showing Aunt Grace and Uncle Edward the sights of New Berk, Eret and I are at home, happy for a break from our kids.
"Eret, can I talk to you for a minute?" I ask.
"Sure."
"I'm worried about you...you haven't been yourself these last few weeks."
"I just lost my father! Excuse me for grieving!"
"I'm not blaming you for that! I'm just worried about you."
"Don't worry about me. I don't want you worrying about me anymore."
"Eret, I am your wife! It's in my job description to worry about you, just like it's in your job description to worry about me."
"Well, maybe...maybe you..."
Eret hesitates.
"Maybe I what, Eret?"
"Maybe you're not meant to be my wife." I gasp, and my lip quivers.
"How dare you? How dare you speak to me that way? I thought we weren't supposed to take our bad moods out on each other!"
"I never want to see you again."
That's what does it. That's what breaks me.
I run out of the house, sobbing, and hoping I don't run into anyone but my adoptive family.
"Sis?" Tuffnut approaches me, stopping me.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Sis, what's going on? What's wrong?"
"Eret...he told me maybe I'm not meant to be his wife and that he never wants to see me again."
"WHAT?!"
People stare at my brother as Ruffnut approaches us, her own little family in tow – Hanna and Fishlegs.
"Fishlegs, take Hanna home. I can sense my sister needs me." Fishlegs nods at his wife, and takes Hanna home as Ruffnut approaches us closer.
"Sis, what's going on?" Ruffnut asks me.
I tearfully recount what I told Tuffnut, and Ruffnut walks away.
"Ruffnut, where are you going?"
"To teach him a lesson."
Tuff and I look at each other before we follow Ruffnut.
"Eret William Nordisk, Jr.!" Ruffnut exclaims, pounding on our front door. It opens with a creak, and, once it does, Ruffnut gasps.
"Ruff, what's – " I start, but Ruffnut blocks my way.
"Ruffnut Eugene Thorston, what is going on?" I ask. I push my sister out of the way.
When I see, I scream and collapse onto my knees.
Eret's hanged himself.
Ruffnut and Tuffnut hold me back from getting to my husband.
"No, please, gods, no." I whimper, beginning to sob into my sister's shoulder.
Tuffnut cuts Eret down and goes to get Gothi.
Once he returns with Gothi, I've not stopped sobbing.
"T-Tuff...go make sure my kids don't come near here."
"You got it, sis." Tuffnut kisses the side of my head before leaving.
Ruffnut and I look on as Gothi does what she can to save my husband.
I hear him suddenly inhale...and he starts breathing again. Ruffnut lets me go, and I rush over to Eret.
"Eret?"
"Love...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry for what I said before. You are meant to be my wife, and I want to see you every day for the rest of my life."
"I'm just glad you're alive, Eret. That's all that matters right now."
Eret sits up and I collapse in his arms, beginning to sob again, fearful of knowing how close we were to losing him.
I never want him to feel like that again.