Chapter Seven: Psycho

Bella looked at Budd and envied him. He was watching television without a care in the world while she was stuck with piles of homework. Being a senior sucked. Then there was a knock at the door. She opened it to see one of the last people she would have wanted, Paul.

"What do you want?" she asked, nastily.

"Is your mom home?" he asked.

"No," Bella lied.

"Bella, who's at the door?" called her mother.

"No one," she said, hoping her mother would take the hint. She didn't; a common problem with mothers. She came to see who it was for herself. She inhaled sharply when she did.

"Paul, what are you doing here?"

Paul dropped to his knees and clasped his hands.

"I know what I did was unforgivable, but it's been almost eight years. Please take me back. I'm so sorry, Betty."

Betty drew herself up to her full height and was going to tell him off, but he spoke again.

"Boy, Betty, you've just become prettier."

Oh no, thought Bella. Her mother had become more worried with her looks as she approached fifty. Betty looked at Paul and said, "Well, why don't you come in and we'll talk."

Paul came in and looked around to see what had changed. He noticed one difference immediately.

"Oh, you got yourself another one," he said, pointing at Budd. The television was still on, but Budd wasn't paying any attention to it. He was watching the stranger. Budd didn't like strangers.

"Yep, we call him Budd," said Betty, proudly, "and actually he's…"

Bella shook her head profusely at her mother behind Paul's back and Betty actually took the hint.

"He's real smart. His first grade teacher thought he was stupid, but it turned out he was bored."

Budd didn't add anything, merely looked uncomfortable. Bella went over to him.

"He looks like a cute kid," said Paul.

Betty smiled and asked, "Do you want to stay for dinner?" Bella frowned and grabbed Budd's hand.

"I think I should call Bill," said Bella later that night, helping her mother wash the dishes.

"Mija," said Betty, dropping the plate back into the soapy water, "There's no need to worry your brother. Perhaps Paul has genuinely changed. We'll just wait and see, but I don't want you calling your brother unless it's an emergency."

Bella gave her a look.

"Please don't give me that, not tonight. I just don't want you bothering your Bill over nothing. You know how busy he is. Promise me you won't mention Paul to him."

"No."

"Bella."

"Mama," said Budd, loudly from another part of the house.

"Bella."

"Fine, I promise that I won't call Bill."

"Good and finish up the dishes as well," she said, but didn't see the responding reaction because she turned to her youngest child. Budd was clutching a little, blue blanket and said, "I couldn't sleep."

"Come here," said Betty and Budd ran to her. She scooped him up, kissed him and started carrying him back to bed.

". Duérmete mi niño.

Duérmete solito.

Qué cuando te despiertes,

Te daré atolito.

Duérmete mi niño.

Duérmete mi sol.

Duérmete pedazo,

De mi corazón."

Bella found she couldn't stay mad as she listened to her mother singing Budd to sleep.

It was a mediocre Monday afternoon when Budd was coloring with crayons. Then Paul approached him.

"How about we go out for a burger?"

Budd looked at him, confused.

"Just you and me, what do you say?"

"Bill…Bill usually takes me," stammered Budd.

"But Bill's not here, he's not here a lot of the time. He hasn't been back since your mom and I got back together."

"Then Bella takes me."

"Bella's a senior in high school; she has other things to do than cart her kid brother around, come on. It's been three weeks and we really haven't gotten to know each other."

There was an edge to his voice that Budd didn't like and was a little scared of. Paul towered over Budd.

"Ok," he said, softly.

"That's more like it, just the guys off to eat."

Paul tried to hold Budd's hand as they neared the fake smile lady who was taking food orders. Budd wouldn't let him.

"What do you want?" asked Paul.

"Burger."

"But what else? Fries? Shake?"

"Ok."

Paul sighed. Budd wondered if he was getting mad. Bella had warned him not to get Paul mad.

Paul directed them to a seat once they got their food.

"So, you like school?"

"No."

"What's your favorite part?"

"When the bell rings and I get to leave."

"Oh."

They sat down and Budd unwrapped his burger.

"Yuck."

"What?"

"It has cheese on it."

"So?"

"I don't like cheese."

"Well, eat around it then."

Budd gave a little whine and Paul took the sandwich away from him. Then he picked everything off and gave it back.

"But I like pickles."

Paul exhaled and grabbed Budd's wrist.

"Don't be a crybaby. No one likes a crybaby. You're a big kid now. I want this to work with your mom, but you have to help. Got it?"

He squeezed and Budd felt pain.

"Ow."

"Got it?"

Budd nodded. Paul suddenly changed and let go of Budd's wrist.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I guess I just overreacted," said Paul and put the pickles back on the burger. Budd decided he would never be alone with Paul again.

Soon, it was Valentine's Day. It was a day that made school somewhat more bearable for Budd. The girls would give him cards and candy and attention. Then he would like some of the girls back. The year before he had gotten his first kiss from a six-year-old named Barbara. This year he had gotten three kisses from three different girls. He had a huge grin as he walked home from the bus stop. He stopped to get the mail, all of which was either for Bella or his mom, and continued to the house. His mom was at work, Bella was in her room and he had no interest in being near Paul. He heard the front door slam a few minutes after he had slammed the back one. He walked across the back yard that stretched into the desert. He had somehow never gotten lost, but he wished he would today. He had a bad feeling.

Bill walked into his Los Angeles apartment in time to hear the phone ring. He ran to answer it and succeeded before the caller gave up.

"Hello," he said and tried to recognize the person on the other end. He could only make out sobbing and heavy breathing. He wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Bill," said a voice that he hoped wasn't his sister's.

"Bella?"

"Paul came back," she said and Bill's heart stopped.

"I'll take care of it," he said, realizing the constant sobbing was his brother's.

"Uh, that's the thing; it's already been taken care of," said Bella.

"What?"

The sun was rimmed with orange and red, but most of the sky was a violet color. It was time that Budd got back. He had been exploring as usual, looking for bugs, lizards and snakes. He tried to collect snakes for Bella, but he was careful…fairly. She had taught him to stay away from the ones that rattle and the lizards that were fatter than his hand. They were monsters.

When he returned, he wished he had stayed out. His mom and Paul were fighting. Bella sat in the hallway so he joined her.

"How do you aksplain this?" Paul asked, holding up one of the red Valentines from the mail. Budd could smell the alcohol on his breath and his light brown hair was messed up.

"That's my private mail."

"But it's from him."

"I've told you, he's just a family friend."

"He seemed more than that when you were fucking him."

"Please, not in the front of the kids," said Betty, looking at Bella and Budd. Bella got up and made Budd follow her into her bedroom, but they could still hear everything.

"You mean the boy? I daresay Bella's old enough."

"Please supper's getting cold."

"We'll have supper when I fucking say so, bitch," said Paul and he slapped her across the face. Her children heard it and winced.

"Paul."

"Have them set the fucking table."

"Paul, you should leave. You're drunk."

"No, I'm not gonna leave. We're gonna be together forever."

"Ow," she said, in a way that Budd knew all too well. He got up from Bella's bed and went back to the hall. Paul had his mother by the wrist.

"Let go of me."

Bella came out as well and placed her hand protectively on Budd.

"No, not 'til you promise me."

"No, you're hurting me. I want you to leave."

"You ungrateful whore!"

Paul flung Betty against the wall and there was a sickening crunch as her head and shoulders connected. Budd heard the sound and saw his mother lying still on the floor, so quiet. Something inside Budd seemed to snap. He twisted out of Bella's grip and ran for his room.

"Whar's he going?" Paul asked. Bella shrugged.

"I don't know," she said, softly.

"Betty, wake up," he said to the body. Then Budd returned with a pistol. Paul was a bad man and Bill had told him what he did to bad men.

"Aww, that's cute. Whatcha plan on doing wid it?" Paul asked, looking at the seven-year-old with a gun, "What? Gonna shoot me?" He laughed. He crouched down so that he was face to face with Budd. Budd looked into Paul's hazel eyes.

"Now help me wake up your mom," he said, smiling.

It was the smile that did it. Budd pulled the trigger with Paul inches from the gun. The bullet smashed into Paul's skull. Blood hit Budd. It felt chunky and yucky. Then Paul jerked. It scared Budd and he pulled the trigger again. It him in the chest and Paul completely slumped to the floor in a pool of blood. Budd hiccupped and dropped the gun. What had he done? He began to cry, like the little kid that he was. Bella ran to him and hugged him tightly as he sobbed. It wasn't long before her tears matched his.

Bill waited for Bella's answer, anxiously. He found himself playing with the phone cord.

"He's dead."

Bill knew that couldn't be all of it or she wouldn't have that tone that he had never heard in her voice before.

"And?" he asked, almost not wanting the answer.

"Budd shot him," said Bella, scared.

"What?" he asked, disbelieving.

"Well, you taught him to shoot, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but…"

"Well, he did," said Bella, doing her best to keep it together. Bill could still easily hear Budd in the background.

"Call Esteban, I'll come as soon as I can."

Bill parked the baby blue car and was met by Esteban in the yard. Esteban had quickly hugged him which surprised Bill a little. He could count on one hand the number of times that the older man had done that. Esteban looked at him with sad, brown eyes and inhaled on his cigarette in its fancy holder.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, I hated Paul."

Esteban shook his head for several seconds.

"She did not tell you why Budd kill Paul?"

"No."

"Your brother kill Paul because Paul kill Betty."

"My mom?"

Esteban nodded and Bill's worst fears about Paul had been confirmed. He had failed her. He had failed his mom. Hadn't he promised that Paul wouldn't come back? He was supposed to be the protector of the family, but he hadn't been there. His job had been done by his little brother, a seven year old. He was mad at himself and he was ashamed to admit that he was mad at Budd for doing Bill's job.

"I'll get some food and come back," said Esteban and Bill faintly nodded. He hadn't realized his feet were moving, but he found himself at the front door.

"Bill," said Bella, "You're finally here."

She hugged him for over a minute before he stopped it.

"Where is he?"

Bella nodded and directed Bill to Budd's bedroom, formerly Bill's. Any anger or jealously that Bill had felt toward Budd swiftly drained away. Budd lay on the bed. Dark circles rimmed his eyes and he looked sick.

"Budd, Budd…Bill's here," said Bella. Budd made no sign of life. Bill looked at Bella.

"He hasn't spoken since…since it happened."

Bill sat down on the bed and Budd looked at him with his hazel eyes. Bill picked him up and hugged him, but Budd still didn't respond. Bill sighed and picked him up.

"You need to eat something," said Bill and he carried him to the kitchen. Bill sat him in a chair and checked his watch.

"Esteban should be back soon," he said and started fixing Budd a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He placed it on a plate in front of his brother and motioned for Bella to go into the living room. He followed soon after.

"Tell me everything after you called me," said Bill.

"I called Esteban and he had me call the police. They came and dusted and fingerprinted, did everything before letting me attempt to clean. I wasn't too successful as you noticed by the tarps. The police were here for three hours, but Budd wouldn't talk. They put Budd in my custody for the time being."

Bill nodded and asked, "Will there be a trial?"

"No, they took my word that Budd did it, but there'll be a custody hearing in two weeks."

Then Esteban showed up with semi-hot food.

The following Friday, Bill undid his tie, Bella took down her hair and Budd left the living room.

"We need to plan what to say to the judge. Although he should easily grant me custody," said Bill.

"No."

"No?"

"Do you know what happened the last three nights?"

Bill thought for a minute and replied, "We've had to sing Budd to sleep."

Bella shook her head.

"Budd's wet the bed. He hasn't wet the bed since he was four."

Bill was silent.

"You didn't even notice. Budd deserves better than that. He needs a real parent."

"I can't provide that?"

Bella shook her head.

"How can you provide that? You're always preparing to leave. I'm with him every day."

"But you're a senior in high school, what are you going to do when you're in college?"

"I'm eighteen. Beside, I don't want to go to college. I've hated the first thirteen; I doubt I'll like the next four any better."

They stood, locked in a verbal combat.

"I won't have you not going to college and mom wouldn't have either."

Bella pursed her lips and squinted her eyes. He had used the mom card.

"Fine, I'll take him with me and take classes while he's at school."

Bill opened his mouth, but didn't say anything. The silence was interrupted by the slamming of the back door.

"Budd!" they both said at the same time. They ran out the back door, but there was no sign of him.

"He must have gone around to the front," said Bella and they hurried in that direction.

"There he is," said Bill, spotting Budd halfway down the dusty drive. Budd carried a small red suitcase and his metal Jetsons lunch box that showed its age. He didn't stop even when they were right behind him.

"Budd, what are you doing?" asked Bella, softly gripping his shoulder. Budd shifted his weight from left to right and back again.

"I…I didn't want to be a problem," said Budd, in a croaky voice that hadn't been used in almost five days.

"Budd, you will never be a problem," said Bella, her arms around him, "but running away never solves anything, that's how mom got Bill."

"Hey, she told me that she'd never tell anyone else that," complained Bill.

"Well, she told me, wanted to make sure that I didn't end up the way she did."

Bill was hurt. Budd couldn't follow the conversation exactly so he just watched.

"I thought we were a pretty good family," said Bill.

"Three children by three different fathers? You have to admit that that's not normal."

"Still, she did the best she could."

"If she did the best she could," said Bella and her voice broke on the last, "then why she's dead?"

She started to cry and Bill hugged her.

"Bella, Bella, it's going to be okay."

"No, it's not. She's gone, she's really gone."

"But we'll never forget her," said Bill as a tear or two rolled down his cheek. Bella held Bill tightly, but then noticed Budd.

"Come over here."

Budd dropped the suitcase and lunch box and ran to them. The three of them had a group hug.

"Bella, you were right. Budd should live with you, but I hope that I'm never far behind."

Bella nodded and said, "The three of us, we'll always be together."

Bill hugged the younger two and smiled.

"Is this how you do it?" asked Budd as he aimed for the coke bottle. He shot and nicked a bottle two bottles over.

"Pretty much," said Bill, laughing, "But with better aim."

"Oh," said Budd and they practiced a little more. Bill shot everything he aimed for which impressed Budd, but Budd wasn't too bad for a six year old.

"You hungry?" asked Bill after twenty minutes.

"Yeah."

"Let's go get something," and they climbed into the Thunderbird. He drove until they reached a diner and then Budd opened up his wallet.

"Oh, damn."

"What?"

"I have less in it than I thought," said Bill, but then he noticed the restaurant sign, "I got an idea."

Budd looked at him, questioning.

"Play along, but let me do most of the talking," said Bill with a twinkle in his eye. Budd nodded and they went in.

An older woman with dark red hair done up in a ponytail and apron pockets bulging with condiments and extras of all sorts walked up to their table.

"Hi, I'm Angie, your waitress," she said with a smile and looked at the man and the boy, "Here for the father's day special?"

Budd looked at Bill, but Bill replied, "Yes, we are."

"Ok, the special is that you buy one entrée, then you get the other one free and what would you like to drink?"

"Coke," Budd answered.

"I'll have the same," said Bill and Angie left.

"But we're not…"

"We know that, but she doesn't so we get free food, that's the beauty of the con," explained Bill.

Budd nodded in comprehension and smiled. It sounded like fun, like a game. He couldn't wait for the waitress to come back. They ended up with extra fruit and bread to take home.

Budd held the roses at a distance as he peeked his head in.

"I see you."

Budd moved the flowers to his back as he entered.

"I wanted to make sure you weren't asleep."

"I guess I'll accept that," said Marilyn, pulling herself to a sitting position on the hospital bed. He kissed her and said, "I got you something."

"What? What are you hiding behind your back?"

Budd finally gave her what he had been hiding behind his back; six roses.

"One for every year…" she trailed off and tried to keep from crying.

"It's what the dad is supposed to give the new mom, isn't it?"

Marilyn nodded and composed herself slightly, "It's the hormones still."

Budd sat on the bed next to her and a nurse entered the room with an infant covered in a pink blanket. She was taken to the other woman who had dark hair.

"Her little girl beat Brian for first baby of the year," said Marilyn in a whisper.

Budd squinted and looked at the baby.

"Brian's cuter looking though," Budd said, laughing. Marilyn followed suit and said, "That's because he looks like his daddy."

She took hold of his right arm, but noticed the wince on Budd's face. She gave him a look so he rolled up his sleeve, revealing a white bandage.

"I just got it last night," said Budd and opened the bandage to show her a small wolf.

"For Brian, I love it. How's Mac doing?"

"He misses you tremendously…kept me up almost all night."

"I hope he gets along with Brian."

"I'm sure they will."

Then the nurse left and Marilyn came real close to Budd.

"Get me some real food."

"What? You get out of this place in six hours."

"I know, but I'm starving. Get me some Burger King or something…please."

"How can I say no to that?" asked Budd. He kissed once more and left, but he didn't leave the hospital before a second stop at the nursery. Sleeping on a small bed, three from the left, was his son. He still couldn't believe it. He was a dad. Brian was a mutual decision, but his middle name was left to almost the last minute when Marilyn came across it and thought it was cool. Budd agreed and the baby before him became Brian Wulfric Albacea. He took one last look and left to get Marilyn something to eat.

Bill was in his office when he heard B.B. laugh. He had never heard her laugh like that in all of her six months of life. It couldn't be Josephina and definitely not Elle. Elle was rather cold with the child. Bill got up and followed the sound to her nursery. B.B. smiled and laughed in the arms of her uncle, Budd.

"Budd."

Budd blew on her stomach one more time, eliciting giggles, and Budd put her rightside up again.

"Don't get excited. I only came to meet my niece, after all, it's Christmas…for what it's worth," said Budd, smiling at her. She returned it.

"Right."

"She's quite the cutie," said Budd, of the baby with curly blonde hair, "She looks like her mommy."

"Yes, she does," said Bill and Budd noticed the circles under his eyes. He hadn't been sleeping well and while that could be attributed to the baby, Budd didn't think so.

"But she has your eyes."

"Mom's eyes," Bill corrected and Budd could sort of remember that, but not too well. Budd looked at the baby a bit longer and asked, "How is Bea doing?"

"Still in a coma."

"Is it true that you sent Elle with one of your inventions to the hospital?"

Bill didn't look his brother in the eyes.

"I did."

"Ah, I was hoping that was one of the myths."

"But I looked at B.B. and I changed my mind."

"Oh, how noble of you then."

Bill sighed and held onto the crib.

"What does B.B. stand for? Bilius Beatrix?"

"No," said Bill, exasperated, "her full name is Beatrix Bella Kiddo."

"Oh," said Budd and B.B. yawned. Budd put her down to sleep.

"I think we need to talk," said Bill.

Bill called a number on his cell phone that he had never called before, but had been gotten by one of his sources.

"Hello," said a woman in heavily accented English.

"Is Ernie there?"

"Yes, but he's going to work."

"This is important," said Bill in his voice that very few could say no to.

There was a moment of silence as she got her husband.

"This is Ernie."

"When was the last time that you saw Budd?"

"Budd?"

"Yeah."

"Last night, when he dropped me off."

"What were you doing?"

"Uh, we shot some cans in the desert and before that, we played poker in my kitchen."

"That's all?"

"Yes, and the wife and I have papers. We're completely legal."

"You can cut the act, this is Bill."

"Bill? Budd's brother?"

"Yes, that's me. Now when was the last time that you saw Budd?"

"He dropped me off at home after we buried that chick."

"What chick?"

"She was blonde and a pain in the ass."

"You didn't happen to bury her under the name Paula Schultz by any chance?"

"Si."

"I need you to go Budd's trailer and check on him."

"But I have work."

"I will pay you for her services."

There was hesitation and then Ernie said, "Okay."

"Ok," said Bill and then in an off-handed way he said, "Why didn't Budd keep his sword?"

"What? His Hanzo sword?"

"Yeah, the one he pawned."

"Budd didn't pawn that sword. He loved that sword. He practiced everyday."

"What?"

"Yeah, never let me try it."

"I need you to go to Budd's trailer and I'll call Budd's cell, say in half an hour?"

"Ok," said Ernie and Bill closed the connection, not looking forward to the next call.