A/n: This is just the prologue to the story, you are meant to be lost. But hang in there. Hopefully more will be done soon!
Steves POV
If I had ever known that some runaway would lead to this night, I would have locked her out of the DX on the spot. But something deep down told me that I would have ended up here anyhow.
"Can I get you anything?" Soda practically whispered.
I shrugged. No one could fix this, and nothing could make it better. Only time would tell where this would turn.
"A beer? Coffee? Chocolate cake?" He tried desperately.
I bit my lip. I wanted nothing more than to never open my mouth for fear of the lump running its due course, but Soda was not going to give up. He wanted nothing more than to help me in that moment, the time he knew I would need it most.
"Beer. Six." I commented dryly, emotion would let the lump move.
"Six?" I could feel the confusion, then he got it. "Getting drunk wont solve this, Steve."
I shrugged and put my head in my hands, forcing my breathing against the sting that threatened my heart. If only I had done something sooner, caught on, made something of it. If I had insisted on staying home like I should have, if I had just been there.
Soda got up and left the room, Darry came in then. The worst time for him to be there.
I clenched my jaw, tried to stop, gripped at an invisible something to pull me up, looked for the hope in an ugly world I now remembered how to hate.
Darry sat next to me, draping a comforting arm over my shoulders, and clearing his throat.
"Kids are in bed, no need to worry about them. You can tell the little ones in the mourning when you are ready. I gave Hyde some wine, he calmed down and McKell is in there with him. Shouldn't be long before he's asleep."
I nodded, unable to respond any other way. Darry handed me a beer, opened and ready.
"You cant have six, but I'll grant you a few free ones."
I was grateful for that. I didn't drink much anymore, and avoided it especially when I was upset or angry over something, but now was not the time to worry over that. I had refused to have any alcohol till the kids were gone, and even kept the cigarettes out of their view. But my non-smoking and drinking habits were broken that night, at least that night. A pack of cigarettes was my life line, and the beer was my medicine.
Tess wouldn't be happy with me, but Tess wasn't thereā¦
