Well, since some certain people want at least one more chapter -- here it is. I'm actually not quite sure if this'll be the last chapter -- that's up to my wonderful fans. If you want another chapter after this one -- just say so in the reviews.
Can't Take that away
was a time when I wasn't sure
but you set my mind at ease
there is no doubt that you're in my heart now
said woman take it slow
and you'll work yourself out fine
all we need is just a little patience
It'd been no more than five days -- and Freddy was still in the hospital. He had just gotten his mother to go home and finally get some rest. Katie was another big one -- she just wouldn't leave his side -- but that was alright with him. They usually shared the hospital bed and would just lay there all day like that -- occassionally fiting a few naps in there. Dewey and Ned stopped by nearly everyday -- and Zack, Marta, Billie, Sara, Justin and a few other band members would stop by a few times a day just to make sure he's still part of the living. Freddy couldn't really complain about the attention he was receiving.
Billie and Katie were the only ones visiting him now - at this particular time. Billie seemed to visit him an awful lot -- but all she could do was claim that she had nothing better to do. "So -- you succeeded, pal -- you have just won your first civil war." Billie's voice was fairly unemotional about it.
Freddy looked down at Katie who was cuddled deep into his arms on the bed with him -- sound asleep. It was quite a sight. "Yeah. So...what's next?"
"Your recovery," Billie smirked, leaning back in her uncomfortable hospital chair and propping her feet up onto the path of bed that niether of the two were occupying.
Freddy nodded. "And then things can go back to normal -- I can focus my sole attention back onto the band. I can act like I usually did before him."
Billie nodded before pausing. "...I don't think I know exactly how...that is. But sure -- as long as that makes you happy."
"And what are you gonna do?" Freddy asked quietly, staring evenly at Billie.
"What do you mean?" Billie asked, sinking further in the uncomfortable chair. She tilted her head back and slowly let her eyes slip closed.
"What are you gonna do about your dad?" Freddy explained in the same quiet voice he had been using a lot -- when he was alone with her or katie. His voice would usually return back to normal when the 'guys' or marta and sara were in the room. Billie just figured that his throat still hurt when he talked. Billie shook her head. "You can't live forever with Zack."
Billie leaned her head back again. "I know. I'm just gonna live with him for three more years."
"His dad dislikes you."
"I know that," Billie answered. Zack's dad 'disliked' everybody Zack associated himself with.
"Are you sure he'll let you stay with him for...a year at the most?" Freddy asked calmly.
Billie shrugged. "Nope. What do you expect me to do? Live with you?"
"No," Freddy answered. "You should live with your mom."
"I can't," Billie stated firmly.
"Why not?" Freddy asked.
"What's the matter with you?" Billie snapped. "You trying to get rid of me?" She didn't open her eyes -- she didn't look at his surprised face.
"No..." Freddy answered quieter than quietly. "I just..."
"She's dead, Freddy," Billie explained quietly. "He killed her while you were getting your ass kicked."
Freddy was quiet for a moment -- and Billie didn't open her eyes. She didn't want to face the face he was about to give her. She didn't want his pity. "I'm sorry, Billie."
"You shouldn't be," Billie said quietly. "She sort of asked for it. She had hated him so much but she still could get rid of him. And it's not even his fault. She never once tried to get rid of him - she let him in again and again -- and even slept easier when he decided against hitting her. But he did hit someone. And she hardly even bothered to comfort when he did. She knew what he was capable of -- and she hooked right back up with him the second I left. I was the only thing standing in the way. I was the only thing that kept him from focusing on her -- I was the only reason she was alive. Guess she was just a little too dumb to realize that."
"You're letting the anger talk..." Freddy replied slowly - quietly.
"No," Billie breathed out. "See." She lifted her head and opened her unique eyes to stare evenly at Freddy. "I'm not. That's the thing. I'm just stating facts. She deserved what she got. She really did. And I don't even miss her!" Billie kind of surprised herself -- she was actually crying. And she wasn't even trying to hide it.
Freddy slowly rose from the bed, and slowly, gently walked over to Billie. "Billie...don't cry..."
Billie rose to her feet to face Freddy. "There's this hole in my heart..." She muttered bitterly. "She left me here all alone -- and I know she doesn't even care."
Freddy pulled Billie into a warm embrace - slowly rocking her gently. "Don't say that, Billie...your mother loved you..."
"Sure she did," Billie agreed - her voice distorted with emotion. "I know she did. But those were just her feelings - not her actions. Everytime he came over she would all of sudden abandon me - to go to him. She'd leave me to go to that scum! I used to think there was something wrong with me..."
"There isn't," Freddy interrupted.
"I know that now," Billie replied. "There never was anything the matter with me. It was her -- she was the one with the defects. Not me..."
Freddy hugged her harder. "You don't need her Billie..."
"I know...I never did. I never will..."
Freddy and Billie finally broke the hug. And to both their surprises tears had welled up in Freddy's eyes. "I'm sorry, Jones..." Billes wiped away his tears. "I didn't mean to put a dark cloud over this parade..."
Freddy forced a chuckled - wiping at his own tears now. "I don't know what's the matter with me..."
"You care, man..." Billie explained. "You like me. You really like me!"
"Are you going to the funeral?" Freddy asked, trying to change the subject a little bit.
Billie shrugged, leaning against the bed. "I haven't really decided yet. A friend of my mom's asked me to speak at her funeral. But I'm not sure I want to."
"What are you gonna do about your dad?" Freddy asked, sitting gingerly down into the hospital chair Billie used to sit in.
"I don't know," Billie replied darkly.
"How'd he kill her?" Freddy asked quietly. It was a harsh question -- but Freddy actually wanted to know. He knew that Billie never turned away one of his questions -- she just wasn't that type.
"She was pregnant.." Billie began in a hushed tone. Freddy had to lean forward just to hear it all. "He hates kids -- even she knows that. He wanted an abortion - but they...y'know...didn't have enough money for it. He wanted a 'natural' abortion. But no matter how cruel my mom can unconsciously be -- she'd never kill an unborn child on purpose -- it just goes against everything she believes in. However -- my dad didn't think that way...if she wasn't gonna get rid of the kid -- he was."
Billie took a large breath before continuing. "He shoved her in front of a moving truck...a semi truck..."
Freddy's eyes widen a little bit. "A...semi truck? So...she like got splattered?"
Billie shook her head solemnly. "No. The truck had actually saw it coming -- and slammed on the brakes. So he was going rather slowly by the time it reached my mom. However -- it wasn't going slow enough - she didn't get 'splattered'...but she didn't survive it either."
Freddy nodded and opened his mouth to apologize. "Don't," Billie commanded firmly before Freddy could get out the apology. "Don't apologize. You didn't even know them. You didn't do anything. Why apoligize when it wasn't your fault?"
Freddy closed his mouth and nodded again. "Are you gonna be alright?" he asked instead.
Billie nodded slowly. "If the mooneyhams'll have me -- sure."
Freddy got to his feet. He lurched forward and threw his arms around Billie again - hugging her hard and desperately -- as if he never wanted to let go. "I'm not going anywhere," Billie whispered into his ear.
"Good," Freddy whispered back. "Because I won't let you."