Chapter 33: We're Here For You

Takes place during The Past's Future Is Present, when Becky (with Eret and Ruffnut by her side) tells her adoptive family what she went through with Drago.

Rated T for mature themes and language. Mentions rape.

Except from Chapter 7 for some context:

The night before, I had told my adoptive family all about what Drago did to me throughout the three years I was gone, including about my son and Anthony; I have never seen my brother and father look so much alike until I saw the hatred for Drago in their eyes. I was so grateful that Eret was allowed to be there when I told my adoptive family.

This is that story.

(Becky's POV)

I look to Eret outside my adoptive family's front door.

"It's okay. I'll be right by your side. I promise. You're not alone."

"Thank you, Eret."

"You're welcome."

I knock on the door and my adoptive mother, Lily, opens it.

"Hey, you two. Come on in. Ruffnut told me you have something to talk about with us."

"That we do, Mom. That we do." I tell her.

We sit down across from my parents and brother, my sister on my left side and Eret on my right.

"So, sis? What's going on?" Tuffnut asks me.

"It's not easy for me to talk about this. But I need to tell you guys what went on in the last three years."

"Okay..."

"Eret and his crew rescued me from my boat, that was a piece of driftwood by the time it got to Eret's ship. Eret and I didn't see eye-to-eye at first. But I don't want to tell you Eret's and my story. I want to tell you what went on with...with...with...I can't say his name." I breathe out shakily.

"We know who you mean. Go on, sweetheart." My dad, Frank, says.

"He came onto the ship the day Eret and I met. And I was scared the moment I saw him. He had me escorted onto his ship...and he...he...he raped me."

"Bastard."

"That's not the worst thing he did to me, though, Daddy." I start to cry, and it's taking all my strength to not break down right then and there.

"The worst thing that monster did to me...when he found out Eret and I were in love, he separated us for ten months. And during those ten months...during those ten months...he got me pregnant. I was originally going to be returned to Eret after six months, but once Drago found out I was pregnant when I was five months along, I wasn't going to be allowed to see Eret for another five months."

I try not to think of the look that monster had on his face when I was giving birth.

"Then...I went into labor at nine months...which I was glad about, considering I was born premature. He appointed Anthony as my helper after my water broke. I was so scared I'd never see Eret again, let alone my adoptive family."

Eret or Ruffnut - I can't tell who - begins to rub my back to comfort me.

"He...he told Gustavo - the man in charge of delivery - to tell the guard outside when it was time. So he could...so he could be present when his child was being born. The time came for the baby to be born...I had so many regrets. I'd never see Eret again. I'd never see my adoptive siblings again. I was so afraid I wasn't going to make it, I told Anthony that if I didn't make it, to tell Eret that I loved him."

"Oh, my love." Eret has started crying, too. I can hear the tears in his voice.

"After my baby boy was born...that monster," I say with gritted teeth, "killed him before I got a close glimpse.

"I never even got to hold my son. And he was taken from me. He killed a defenseless, helpless newborn baby. And I couldn't do anything to stop him."

"Honey, you'd just given birth. There was no way you'd have been strong enough to get up from where you had our son, let alone to stop that murderer." Eret tells me.

It's then I see the terrifying look in my father and brother's eyes. The murderous look.

I turn my face away, seeing only him.

"It's not aimed at you. It's not aimed at you. It's aimed at that monster." Tuffnut tells me, rushing to my side and beginning to rub my back as I sob into Eret's shoulder. Eret and Ruffnut, too, do what they can to comfort me.

It's a few minutes before I can speak coherently, all the while leaning on Eret.

"Sweetheart, just know that we would never look at you like that. I promise." Dad says.

I nod and continue telling them.

"After my son was born...the monster murdered Anthony. For no good reason."

"Baby, that monster was a madman without conscience or mercy. You of all people know that." Eret says.

"Go on." Ruffnut tells me.

"He told me I had one month after the birth to lose the weight, so Eret wouldn't suspect anything. I practically starved myself so I'd lose the weight faster, so maybe I'd be returned to Eret sooner."

"There's something you should know, love. I noticed that you were thinner than you had been when you left me for ten months. Much thinner. You were practically skin and bones. No offense."

"None taken. I lost the weight...and I was returned to Eret. Before a few weeks ago, that was the second to last time he did anything to me directly. When Eret got branded last year...he also raped me that day. And a few weeks ago, he did it again. In front of my friends. My siblings. And my husband."

"Oh, sweetheart." My mom says, covering her mouth.

"Now you all know...now you know what I went through in the past three years."

"It makes me hate him even more than I already do, love. And it makes my blood boil, the abuse and pain you suffered because of him." Eret says.

"I was so afraid to tell you guys. Because I was afraid you wouldn't love me anymore and that you'd be ashamed of me. That I wouldn't have a family anymore again."

My mom gets up and kneels in front of me, tears falling down her cheeks, and cups my face in her hands. I grab her hands with my own.

"Oh, baby girl. We could never be ashamed of you. I'm so sorry that monster put you through Hel. You lost a beautiful baby and a good friend because of that monster."

"And our former chief."

"And our former chief. The point is, Becky, is that we will never leave you. You're a part of us. And we are all, Eret included, a part of you. We will always love you and we will always be there for you."

"Thank you, Mama."

"You're welcome, baby girl. Let me ask you, if I can...How rough was the birth on you? If you don't mind my asking?"

"It hurt so much, Mama. Like the fire of a thousand suns. But Eret...you were there in my mind's eye. You were encouraging me to keep going."

"I was?"

"You were."

"Gods. If I had known what Drago was putting you through that day I came onto his ship..."

"I doubt it would've ended well for either of us."

"Good point. I just wish that I could've been there for you when you were in labor."

"I wish you could've been there, too. I wish I was with you that day. That I was on your ship, while your crew members waited for news, possibly pacing."

"And where would I be, darling?"

"Right by my side. Holding me and helping me through contractions and the birth."

"I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else, my love. Do you mind if I show them the branding scar?"

"Go ahead."

Eret pulls down his tunic to reveal the branding scar given to him just last year.

"Oh, Eret. We are so so sorry you went through that." My mom says.

"It looks worse than it feels now."

"But the pain you felt that day, Eret. The screams I heard coming from you. It broke my heart that day. It broke my heart as much as losing our son and Anthony did."

"Oh, honey. Why didn't you tell me?"

"The same reason I didn't tell you guys about what I went through. I was afraid you'd be ashamed of me and afraid you wouldn't love me anymore."

"Like I told you a week ago, nothing, and I mean nothing, could ever stop me from loving you. I promise you."

"Thank you, Eret."

"You're welcome."

"You guys want to know what I named my son? But never told anyone?"

"Sure."

"Reuben, after Eret's mom, and Frank, after you, Daddy."

"Reuben Frank Nordisk. A fitting name for a fitting baby boy. I would've like to have met him." Dad says. The rest of my family, Eret included, agrees.

"At least if he was alive, I'd have something good come out of that monster's abuse. I wish I could change the past for the better."

"Sweetheart, let me tell you something." Dad says.

"Okay."

"No offense, but it's not wise to dwell on the past."

"It's not?"

"No. You can't change the past, even when it hurts, but you can learn from it. So what did you learn from the abuse?"

"Frank..." Mom scolds.

"That I'm only his. And always will be. That that will never change." My breathing starts to get erratic. Tuffnut kneels in front of me again to help me stay calm. He's the one who's best at helping me through anxiety/panic attacks.

Tuffnut puts his forehead to mine and I grip his forearms, tears streaming down my cheeks. I close my eyes and someone begins to rub my back. I'm met with the flashbacks of the birth of my son. How Anthony helped me during a particularly tough contraction the exact same way Tuffnut is helping me through this anxiety attack.

I grip harder.

"Shhhh. You're okay, sis. You're okay. You're safe."

A few minutes pass before the anxiety attack ends.

"Baby, that is absolutely not true, what you said about you being only his, and that that will never change. And you don't have to learn from the abuse. It was abuse. Not everything you've gone through has to teach you a lesson."

"Eret's right, sweetheart." Mom says.

"Yes, he is. I was so blinded by my hatred for that monster, and I took it out on you. I'm so sorry. You don't need that from me. Or anyone else."

"Thank you, Dad."

"You're welcome."

Eret and I soon leave and go to Eret's dad's house, where Eret Sr. and Amalie are.

I recount to them what I just told my adoptive family, Eret by my side once again.

And I'll be forever grateful for him.