INFORMATION
Written by: Pinkpony4
Chapter Word Count: 8'473
Published on FanFiction: 10th of August, 2022
Published on AO3: 10th of August, 2022
Chapter 7: Stable
Michael stirred, slowly opening his eyes. He felt sluggish today, limbs like lead as he barely found the energy to roll over and check the time. His phone was telling him it was six in the morning, but it felt like three.
Yawning, he forced himself to sit up and check on Geh Ge. He was still asleep, head slumped to the left with drool running down his cheek. Michael would have found it peaceful if he didn't notice the way his brows were furrowed up and his face was pulled into a frown.
He carefully picked him up and looked him over to see if there was anything on the bed or if his clothes were the culprit, but he couldn't find anything out of the ordinary. Worried that perhaps this was something internal, he lowered his head and listened to his breathing. It was steady and even, though his heart was beating a little too quickly. Maybe he should wake him up?
Just as he pinched one of his bub's feet, Geh Ge started to cry, though he remained asleep. If babies could dream, they could definitely have nightmares too. The problem was: what could a two-month-old possibly have nightmares about?
Gently shaking his foot back and forth, Geh Ge finally started to wake up, slowly opening his eyes despite how red and puffy his face was. Tears were running down his cheeks, even as he locked eyes with Michael. At least seeing Michael seemed to calm him down.
Michael brushed his thumb gently across his face, wiping away the tears and giving him a small smile. "See, bub? Daddy's here. It's okay," he whispered, not registering what he had just called himself. Instead, he lifted him up and placed one hand on the back of his bub's head, letting him rest it on his shoulder.
Shushing him, he rocked back and forth slowly until his cries died into hiccups and he relaxed, little hands balling into fists as he tried to grab his shirt. Michael stood there like that for a while until his bub had settled down completely and was no longer shaking as badly as before.
He slowly made his way back to the mattress and laid back down to go back to sleep, rubbing Geh Ge's back to soothe him back to sleep. He kissed his forehead and let his head hit the pillow, closing his eyes and letting out a sigh of relief.
Maybe he could get a little more sleep in before Jeremy arrived. His old friend had been (unfortunately) insistent that he arrived there at eight on the dot, so he didn't have as much time as he would have liked. But he was sure Jeremy would understand once he got there.
-o0o-
The buzzing of his phone woke him up, immediately putting him in a bad mood. There was a reason he didn't use alarms anymore. He rolled over, picking it up to find out why it was when he saw how many missed messages he had. And they were all from Jeremy.
Groaning, he stretched and cracked his neck and back, getting some relief as he settled Geh Ge back by his side. Reluctantly, he answered the next call that came in not even a minute after the first.
"Hey J," he whispered. "I'm sorry; I was out like a log."
"Thought so. Usually you jump out of bed at the slightest noise. Must have been a great sleep," Jeremy said, sounding envious.
"It was. Sort of. Here, I'll let you in, but I'm still a mess."
"Noted."
Michael hung up and dragged himself from the bed and over to the door, unlocking it just before Jeremy could knock. "Good morning," he greeted, fully aware that he probably looked as bad as he had yesterday. Judging by the look on Jeremy's face, he wasn't wrong.
"He's really running you ragged, isn't he?" he commented quietly, letting himself in. "I hope you're not waking up every day like that."
"I haven't been," he yawned, leaning against the kitchen counter. "I think I'm just having some trouble adjusting to all of this – I'm not used to staying in one place for too long."
Jeremy shook his head and helped himself to Michael's kitchen, taking out what he needed to make a coffee. "I bet," he muttered, pulling out a cup and quickly getting to work. "Do you still like making your coffee so sweet that it's not coffee anymore?" he joked, getting Michael to snort.
"No, I don't have any sugar, but yes, I still like my coffee like that."
Jeremy screwed up his nose and handed the cup over. "You're weird."
"Not as much as the ones that drink it black," he jabbed, making Jeremy side-eye him. "What?"
He shook his head. "Let's just talk about what we're doin' today. Have you thought of anything specific yet?"
He took a grateful swig of the coffee, already feeling its effects. "I think so. I was thinking of the park. I know it isn't really the right weather, but I thought an outing doesn't sound like a bad idea. I could do with the sun anyway," he admitted.
"Sounds like a plan. The reporter said there wouldn't be any snow till later this evening. What were you planning to bring?"
"Well, I actually need to get ready first. But I was thinking of just some simple stuff like sandwiches and stuff like that. Granted, I don't have much, but…"
"No problem. You get yourself in order; I'll see what I can do on the food situation."
Michael nodded, grateful for his friend's help. "Thanks. Gregory's still asleep, by the way," he warned, pointing to his bub on the pillow. Jeremy nodded, shooing him off.
He went about his morning routine of taking his medication, sticking a nicotine patch on his shoulder, getting dressed, brushing his hair, and brushing his hair. By the time he was done, he could hear Geh Ge crying, now hungry.
Jeremy had managed to make a meagre two sandwiches for them, but that was all he could get without ransacking his fridge. That needed to change soon. There was no way he was going to stand by and let his friend live like that.
So focussed on mixing the baby formula up for Michael, he didn't notice that he was standing right next to him until he bumped him. "Sorry," he said, handing the bottle over and watching Michael feed Gregory. Despite himself, he couldn't hold back his question.
"Mike, where's your food?"
As he expected, Michael looked up in surprise. "Well… I couldn't get much."
"I knew that, but there's practically nothing in there," he said flatly, crossing his arms.
Michael sighed. "Yeah, I know. No need to lecture me. I'll find a job and start taking better care of myself. I promise." He steered the conversation away from his food situation and instead looked at their sandwiches wrapped in cling wrap. "So what did you make? Do you still like your weird honey and banana sandwiches?"
"Are you really judging me for that? Still?" Jeremy gasped, pretending offense. He scoffed. "Well, yes I do, cheese and egg boy."
He screwed up his nose. "I actually hate that combination now. I don't know what made me like it. It gave me horrible breath."
"Well, my nose will be thankful for that."
All Michael could do was scowl at him and huff, paying attention to his bub instead.
Jeremy watched Geh Ge as he fed him, completely hypnotised. "I'll admit, I'm jealous," he mumbled, not wanting to interrupt the bub.
"You're feeling clucky?" Michael joked, grinning as Jeremy chuckled.
"Yep."
-o0o-
They left the apartment with more food than they had intended. Ms. Olivia had caught them leaving Michael's room after investigating Geh Ge's screech of indignity at his attempt to get his bub warm.
He'd thrown on the jumper he'd originally wrapped Geh Ge in when they first met and his bub must have somehow recognised it because he started trying to grab at the front and pull it away, failing every time. Any attempt to bundle him up in literally anything else resulted in him crying until Michael pulled it off and wrapped him in the old thing. The second Geh Ge was swaddled inside, he immediately stopped crying and started babbling away, sticking his fingers in his mouth and trying to act all cute and innocent like he hadn't just woken the entire building up.
"Pushy, pushy," she had croaked, making them jump. She was standing behind them, wrinkled hands holding her cane tightly. "Don't fall into the habit of giving him whatever he wants just because he cries. He'll be a spoiled little thing when he gets older if you do," she warned.
"It's only a jumper," Jeremy said, making her give him a stern look.
"Yes, and it'll be more than that if he learns he can get away with things just by throwing a tantrum." She looked back at Michael. "He may be a babe, but they learn quickly."
"Thank you; I'll keep it in mind," he sighed, scowling at his bub, who seemed oblivious to what he had done. Elizabeth had been a very spoilt girl. It was one of the reasons she couldn't take 'no' for an answer. Maybe, if his father had been harsher, she would still be alive. "I won't let him get away with it."
"Good. Now, it's none of my business, but where are you two going?" she asked anyway.
"On a picnic!" Jeremy said before Michael could. "We know it's not the right weather, but we thought it was better than being cooped up all day, especially since it's so clear outside."
Ms. Olivia perked up and eyed their bags. "Do you have enough food? Goodness knows I have too much of it now and I can't eat it all on my own."
"Well, no," Michael admitted. One sandwich and coffee each was hardly enough for a pair of full-grown adults that hadn't had breakfast yet.
"Then come on in, dearie. You two can pick out whatever you want. Don't worry about being greedy; you stop being picky once you reach my age," she told them, stepping aside to let them into her room.
The two of them stood awkwardly inside, Michael standing too stiffly because he didn't know what he should and shouldn't touch while Jeremy was looking around in wonder, not at all worried about touching her things. His eyes landed on the family photos and his smile faulted once he spotted the familiar face of the blue-eyed, curly, blonde-haired girl wearing a purple dress with white ribbons. She had a little Labrador puppy in her lap and was sitting cross-legged in front of a Christmas tree.
"Here they are! Could one of you hold the door for me?" Ms. Olivia suddenly called out. Jeremy snapped his head back and rushed to the fridge and held the door open so she could shuffle things around. "Unfortunately they'll be cold, but they'll still taste good. Hopefully."
Michael put his bag down and paused as she handed him a plastic container. "Are you sure?"
"Of course! You've got nothing else to use," she pointed out, looking at his bag. While he hadn't intended to just shove it in his bag, he didn't really have any choice.
He thanked her and started to pick out what to take. In the end, they took eight of the bite-sized quiches, four cold, mini meat pies, and two humongous chocolate-chip cookies that were the size of his palm. He carefully put them away and slotted the container into his bag once he was sure it was secure.
"Thank you, Ms. Olivia. Really," Michael said, bowing a bit out of habit.
She gave them a big grin. "It's nothing," she insisted, shooing them out. "Now, you two have a good day. And don't be home late," she warned.
"We won't!" Jeremy laughed, waving goodbye as they disappeared down the stairs.
Michael wondered if Ms. Olivia had intended to address them like they were children. He certainly hadn't missed the saddened look on her face when she closed the door. Jeremy, however, was oblivious.
He suddenly came to a halt, hissing out a curse. His friend stopped, looking at him in alarm. "What's wrong?"
Michael pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. "I was gonna take out the trash."
Jeremy placed a hand over his heart, letting out a sigh of relief. "Is that all? I thought it was something actually important," he laughed, quickly cutting himself off. "Sorry."
"No, it's fine. I'll just do it when I get home."
"Will you?"
He sighed, knowing that he wouldn't. Turning on his heel, he was about to go back when Jeremy stopped him and handed him his bag. "I'll get it."
-o0o-
Twenty minutes later the bins had been emptied and they were in the car, Michael pulling out onto the main road with Jeremy holding Geh Ge in his lap. His bub had been laid on his front again, head rocking back and forth with the gentle bumps on the road, even with him driving as carefully as he could.
He stopped at a red light and watched the one car drive past. The streets were mostly empty aside from the parked cars on the side of the road. The only people they could see were the ones walking in pairs down the street every now and then and the homeless who were gathered close together under the stores' overhangs to try and hide from the cold.
Michael looked away, swallowing. He was lucky that he had a car. He knew full well that if he hadn't, he would have been in the same situation for who knows how long.
They finally arrived at the town's park. One other car was already there, belonging to the family that was on the field. Some children were playing on the swing sets while a pair of teens and their father were having a snowball fight. A mother and her daughter were knelt down together, building a snowman.
Jeremy handed Geh Ge over to Michael so he could grab both of their bags and let Michael lock the car before handing his own back. Slipping them over their shoulders, they made their way over to one of the vacant undercover tables.
The second they sat down, Michael immediately scooped Geh Ge up in his arms and curled around him to keep him warm as their faces were already going red.
They laid out their food and drinks and started to eat in silence, too focused on satisfying their hunger to talk.
"We should probably take a page out of your book and slow down," Jeremy said with half a cookie shoved in his mouth. Michael had been thinking the same thing, but it wasn't until everything was out that he realised how hungry he was. "Though you could do with the weight."
He gave him a look and Jeremy's entire face turned red as he coughed out an apology.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Mike, you're a twig. Just because you're wearing baggy clothes doesn't mean you can hide it. I bet I could see your ribcage," he explained. Sometimes Jeremy's brutal honesty was embarrassing to hear.
"I know. I just don't have enough money to eat properly."
"Look, Mike; I don't want to get into a fight today, but please let me bring some stuff to you. Let me help you – you've always done the same for me."
Michael looked down at the coffee in his hand, worrying his lip. "It feels like I'm mooching."
"It's not mooching if you're actively looking for work, which I know you are. I was planning on coming down on New Years anyway. I can just bring everything to you then."
He thought about it, feeling conflicted. It was rude of him to be constantly pushing away Jeremy's help, but Jeremy had his own problems to deal with; he barely got by as it was. But if he didn't cave in, then his old friend would just be even more persistent and do it anyway. He didn't like taking 'no' for an answer when it came to the health of his friends. "I– fine. Just don't get too much, okay?"
Jeremy pumped his fist, letting out a victorious cheer. "No worries! I'll get you something healthy and actually edible. You still don't have any allergies, right?"
They spoke in hushed voices, not wanting the family to hear them as they talked about Mike's situation to save him from embarrassment. Of course, he knew that there was nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of – no one could fault him for the situation he was in right now. He hadn't exactly planned to have children, after all.
"Alright, I'll get you the basics when I visit for New Years, alright? But no nuts just in case," Jeremy clarified. After all, they didn't know if Geh Ge had any allergies and the last thing Michael needed was the stress of rushing a baby to the hospital because he had a nut allergy.
"Thank you, J."
"It's no problem!"
They finished their food in silence after that, the other family leaving. It was around midday by the time they got up, and Michael couldn't feel his butt or his thighs.
"Should we get going? Or do you want to do something else while we're out?" Michael asked, putting his backpack on and gently rubbing Geh Ge's red cheeks as he yawned, nodding off in his arms.
Jeremy looked around, and a mischievous smile grew on his face. Despite that, he shrugged. "I'm happy to do something else."
"Like…?"
He suddenly ducked down and scooped a handful of snow, lobbing it in Michael's direction. He quickly spun around so it struck his back, ducking over to hide Geh Ge, who squawked in surprise.
"Jeremy!"
"Come oooon. Let's have some fun!" he laughed, scooping up another handful of snow and packing it into a ball. "Don't worry about smacking me in the head; I can take it."
Hunched over, Michael grabbed a fistful and quickly bolted to the side to dodge the next ball, whirling around and sending it towards Jeremy.
And he completely missed.
"What was that?! Come on, Mike; you used to be better than that," he mocked playfully.
Michael couldn't help but start joining in on the laughter. "I wasn't holding a baby back then. I'll get you, don't you worry!" he challenged.
And so the game began, their laughter eventually joined with Geh Ge's as he was spun around, delighted at how fast they were moving and jumping around.
They were all blissfully ignorant to the pair of old, brown eyes that watched them from the street across the road.
-o0o-
They returned home, hands freezing, breathless, and red faces burning as blood rushed back to their hands. It had been foolish of them to play without gloves on, but the adrenaline from the play had numbed the cold. Or maybe it had been the other way around. Regardless, that had been the most fun Michael had had in years.
Geh Ge wasn't so happy though – he was upset that he was no longer being swung around. The only way to placate him was for Jeremy to swing him up and down while Michael drove back home.
Unfortunately, they had to part ways in the parking lot as Jeremy's ride arrived faster than they had thought.
Michael pulled him into a hug. "Thank you," he whispered, squeezing him.
Jeremy did the same, being careful not to squish the bub in between them that had now calmed down. "It's nothing. It's good to see you smiling again."
His words made his eyes sting, but he gave him a bright smile when they pulled away.
Jeremy looked down at Geh Ge and lifted him up to kiss his forehead. "And you behave yourself," he warned, poking the bub's nose. "Don't run him ragged."
"I think that's going to happen no matter what," Michael joked, taking Geh Ge back. "Have a safe trip," he wished as Jeremy walked back and hopped into the taxi, poking his head out to wave.
Even as they started driving away, he called out: "And make sure you take care of yourself. I'll be mad if you don't!"
"I will. Bye!"
He waved until the taxi disappeared. He locked his car and made his way back to his room, feeling tired from their day. Geh Ge seemed upset now that Jeremy was gone. His eyes were welling with tears and his bottom lip began to wobble.
Michael soothed him, gently rocking him back and forth. "I know – I miss him already too."
"How was your day?" Ms. Olivia suddenly said. Michael jumped, not expecting her to be standing in the middle of their hallway.
"Oh, it was great. It's been a long time since I've had that much fun," he admitted.
She smiled, the corners of her eyes wrinkling. "I'm not sure if it's the cold, but you certainly look brighter. Not as unsure or skittish when we first met," she observed.
Really? He didn't think it would have shown that well on his face to a stranger. "How's your day been?" he asked, not wanting to be impolite.
Ms. Olivia shrugged, her smile faltering a bit. "A little lonely. Everyone was spending time with their family, of course. It just brings back sad memories…" she mumbled. She suddenly shook her head, sighing. "I shouldn't be such a downer. I did get to finish one of the blankets I have been crocheting."
Wanting to cheer her up, he indulged her. "What's it look like?"
She took the silent suggestion and started hobbling to her door. "Would you like to look?"
"I would be happy to."
The second he was inside, he noticed the light-blue and green blanket lying against her couch. It was beautifully made, with intricate patterns appearing every ten rows. His mother loved crocheting too.
"It's beautiful," he said, moving closer to examine her handiwork.
"Do you think so?" she asked, seeming more surprised that he would think that.
He nodded, pointing at the pattern. "Did you make that up or did you follow a guide? It's very detailed."
"I made it up myself. I'm surprised you noticed."
"My mother used to crochet. She made lots of blankets and couch covers. She also made a pillow cover once. They all fell apart when she left," he added, sighing. "No one knew how to fix them."
"They are very delicate. It's to be expected, so don't be upset. Boys weren't really expected to learn those 'girly' activities."
Michael chuckled. "No, my mother taught me how to sew and knit, but crochet was another ball game I hadn't got the hang of. We used to have this old treadle machine – one from the nineteen-twenties, I think. It worked really well, but the belt snapped and my father sold it," he said, frowning at the memory.
Her eyes lit up. "I have one! Over here," she said excitedly, urging him to follow her into her room. He looked around, surprised at how decorated it was, just like the main room. It had that 'old person' smell, but it wasn't suffocating since she had her window open. Aside from the wide range of family photos, cute paintings, and framed children's drawings, in the corner sat an old treadle. The patterns were different from the one they used to own, but its belt was still intact. "Stevie replaced the belt for me, so it still works like a treat!"
She suddenly turned to him, smiling. "The girls are trying to get into sewing. They even bought a new machine they plan to use. Maybe you could help me teach them," she offered.
Michael hesitated, suddenly nervous. "It's been a very long time since I've made anything. I used to just repair things anyway."
"You can still teach an old dog new tricks. You ever know; you may want to make something for Gregory in the future. Clothes don't last as long as they used to now that they use those factories and sweatshops. Nothing original exists anymore!" she ranted, huffing in annoyance.
Well… he needed to get close to everyone else. If a hand was being offered to him, he shouldn't swat it away.
"Okay. I think I'd like that."
-o0o-
The days flew by quickly. With Christmas gone and the new week beginning, Ms. Olivia had told him to go to the sisters' room at twelve to start their 'lesson'. Michael still didn't think he'd be of much help, but he went anyway.
Geh Ge was bundled up in his jumper again when he knocked on their door, stomach twisting into knots. He hated it when that happened because he had a bad habit of throwing up when he worked himself up. Usually, it was over nothing these days.
The door opened and Jamie poked her head, out. Instead of looking disgruntled or alarmed at his presence, she smiled instead, opening the door and stepping aside to let him in. "There you are! Ms. Olivia said you'd be helping us today. I didn't think you would know how to sew."
He didn't take any offense to her (most likely unintentional) insult and instead walked inside, letting her shut the door behind him. "Well, I'm not familiar with large projects. I mostly fixed ripped clothes and toys." Like Evan's Foxy plushie. But… he only did that after he died.
In retrospect, he couldn't believe he'd been cruel enough to rip the head off of one of his little brother's beloved toys.
"Good, 'cause we're only starting on the basics. She wants us to try and make a hat. She's got the patterns and everything!" Jamie said excitedly, leading him deeper into their room.
Similar to Ms. Olivia's it was far larger than his own. Two corners of the room had been covered head-to-toe with a white plastic mat to keep paint off of the floors and walls, and canvases with half-finished paintings lined them. Tables were piled with equipment and project the girls hadn't finished yet. The mess didn't really matter since they weren't going to be working in there anyway.
The wall for the room next door had been knocked down and it was the only clean area. A dining table sat next to the kitchen, where Ms. Olivia already sat with two modern sewing machines and her treadle.
Michael stood by the table, not sure where they wanted him. Alex was already sitting in front of one, and Jamie joined her to sit at the other machine. Ms. Olivia patted the seat next to her and he sat down, looking at the fabric and thread laid out.
"So, now that we're all here, let's start off with the basics: how to thread your machine and change the bobbin."
-o0o-
It was actually pretty fun. Ms. Olivia demonstrated the steps but let Michael use her treadle, and all of it came back to him in a rush the second his hand rested on the wheel and his foot touched the giant, metal peddle. In no time, he fell back into the rhythm of rocking back and forth, flicking the metal rod at the back to lift the needle and turn the fabric to start running along the bottom to create a seam.
Geh Ge had been laid down on the table close to Ms. Olivia, resting on his stomach to make sure he didn't go anywhere or roll off the table. He babbled, one side of his head smushed into the table as he watched the girls with curiosity, distracting them as he squealed and kicked his feet happily whenever they looked at him.
Halfway through the day they were halfway through their hats. It was a simple bucket hat pattern, though Michael was having an easier time of it since his was the smallest. He grinned as he turned it inside out. The fabric was a pretty yellow, with little cartoon bees and honeycombs littered across it. It was for Gregory for when he was a little older.
He remembered how all of the things that his mother and grandmothers had made were for their family. All of Elizabeth's pretty dresses had been made by his grandma on his mother's side, but the beautiful quilts that used to lie on their beds had been made by their mother. It was kind of like a family tradition back then. Every generation, the mother was expected to sew a quilt by hand for all of her children. They were warm and heavy, and they reminded them of their mother every time they slept.
It was a shame they had fallen prey to the elements.
When Michael was done, he did a single stitch to raise the bobbin thread and snip the thread that was left behind. He lifted it up, turning it back so that it was back to its perfect shape.
"Well done, Michael! It's very cute, although it's a little too small for you," Ms. Olivia giggled, knowing exactly who it was really for.
He grinned, playfully putting it on Geh Ge's head. "It's for him," he said, not being able to hold in his laughter as his bub squeaked in surprise and kicked his legs, trying to raise his arms up to find out what was suddenly blocking his vision. So as not to distress him, he pulled it off and Geh Ge paused, mumbling incoherently, trying to turn his head to look around, confused.
The sisters stared at his bub, eyes bright. They too were enamoured by Geh Ge. Michael had a feeling that given enough time, the entire building would be fawning over his bub.
-o0o-
New Year's Eve had arrived faster than he had expected, and with it, the excitement of his neighbours moving around downstairs, getting ready to watch the fireworks. Michael hadn't originally intended to stay up – he hadn't watched them in a while – but with Jeremy staying for the night, he had to.
But he wasn't complaining.
He was sitting on the floor feeding Geh Ge slowly. He was running low on the necessary supplies for his bub, so he'd have to make a trip out tomorrow. Or at least, he thought he'd have to until he heard a knock on his door.
"Who's there?" he called out. Ms. Olivia had made a habit of getting him out of his room, and it was working. He sometimes visited Jamie and Alex by himself to watch them sew. They were delighted with their bucket hats and had decided to try and make some coasters. So far, he was feeling a little more relaxed around them. Not completely, but he was no longer feeling the urge to bolt from their room anymore. They'd even offered to let Geh Ge play with their old painting stuff when he was older. He was touched by their offer, knowing full well how expensive art equipment was.
The same couldn't be said for Steve and Ash. Steve was nice, but they didn't talk much and Ash, well… they still hadn't spoken since Christmas Eve. A part of him wanted to talk, but the other half refused to, especially if his mother was going to be there tonight.
"It's Jeremy!"
Michael stood up and opened the door, startled to see that Jeremy had four bags filled with what he could only assume was food. "I come bearing gifts!" he cheered, letting himself in before Michael could say anything.
He turned around watching his friend heave the bags up onto the sink and unzip the flaps open to fish everything out. He paused, looking at him and raising an eyebrow. "Well? Are you gonna help me?"
Almost in a trance, he walked over and looked inside, stunned at the amount of food in there. There were all sorts of frozen vegetables, yet-to-ripe fruit, bread to be frozen, milk, sugar, brown mushrooms, salt and pepper, a variety of meats and fish (barring salmon since he didn't like it), pasta, cheese, butter, a jar of tomato sauce, a bag of potatoes, and even things for Gregory like nappies, the baby formula, and another bottle.
"How… how much was all of this," he whispered, putting the meats in the freezer section of the mini-fridge. He hoped everything would actually fit in there.
"Don't look gift horses in the mouth, Mike. Don't worry; I didn't go over my budget. I got most of this from a market anyway, so it was a lot cheaper than getting it from the shops. Did you know there was a farmer's market out here?"
He shook his head.
"It's pretty cool. We should go visit the place when I come down next time," he said excitedly, leaning up to put the potatoes in the cabinet. Michael tried to help, but with only one arm available, the best he could do was hold things up for Jeremy to grab. The pasta, sugar, salt, pepper, and formula joined the potatoes, and with some rearrangements, they managed to get everything else in the fridge. Jeremy guessed where the nappies went and left the bottle on the sink.
"I thought we should get another one, just in case."
There was nothing Michael could do that would be good enough to express his gratitude, but a hug was the best he could offer. "Thank you so much, J."
His friend laughed and pat his back. "You've done the same thing for me hundreds of times. It's about time I finally repay the favour. Besides, you need it."
They pulled away, but Michael didn't really feel like it. "Is there anythi–"
"Ah ah ah!" Jeremy cut off, waving his finger in his face. "No take-backs! I'm happy to do this for you, and I'm not going to accept whatever you're offering." His playful smile fell. "I'm being serious. Is it gonna kill you to just accept my help?"
"No, that's not what I'm getting at. I'm just worried about how you'll be doing at home after all of this," he explained, waving his hand at the kitchen.
Jeremy looked at it, then back at him. "I always get this much when I get my groceries. I have loads of leftovers from this big feast I made up a couple of days ago, so they'll last me 'til next week. Now," Jeremy said, turning his attention – and their conversation – to his bub. "have you been behaving like I told you to?"
Geh Ge giggled, reaching, kicking, and wiggling in Michael's hold. Getting the message, he handed Geh Ge over to Jeremy. "Is that a yes, or are you just trying to cute your way out?" he laughed, looking at Michael.
"No, he's been behaving as well as any baby would."
"And by that, do you mean keeping the entire building awake for three days straight?" Jeremy joked.
Michael shook his head. "No, but he did cause a fuss when you left. I think he missed you. Oh, and he played up last night."
Jeremy's eye lit up and he looked back at his bub in wonder. "Did you?"
Geh Ge babbled, reaching up and making a grabbing motion. "I think he wants to touch your face," Michael explained. "He loved doing that for the first few days we were together."
Jeremy did as he suggested and his bub immediately latched onto his nose, touching the scars curiously. His tiny fingers dragged down and touched his lip, cooing before tapping his cheek and tipping his head back to try and get a full look at him, brows scrunched in confusion. He tilted his head to the side, making a confused grunt as he suddenly tried to touch his eye patch. Jeremy winced and leaned his head back, which turned out to be a bad idea.
"Oh nonono, it's okay," he tried to shush him but Geh Ge burst into tears, face pinched and quickly turning a bright shade of red. He looked to Michael for help.
Michael smiled and stepped forward, taking one of his bub's small hands between two fingers and squeezing it. "Now now, Geh Ge. You can't touch that," he tried to explain. His bub sniffled, looking at him before continuing to cry. Michael sighed. "Come here, Grumpy Bum. You kept me up last night with all your kicks and play. Now look at you; you're a silly little mess," he cooed, gently taking him out of Jeremy's arms and bouncing him. "Come on, calm down. Daddy's here."
He shot Jeremy a sheepish smile. "Sorry, J."
Jeremy looked upset at having been the reason for his distress, but he perked up a bit as a smile grew back on his face. "Did you just call him Geh Ge?"
Oh. He'd forgotten that Jeremy didn't know about his nickname. "Yeah, that's his nickname. It kind of just… stuck."
His smile only got larger. "And you've started calling yourself Dad. Oh, I can't wait to hear him call you that. It's gonna be so cute!" he cooed, clapping his hands together.
Michael grinned, hugging his bub as he started to calm down with his gentle pats and sways. "I hadn't realised I had been," he admitted. He felt a strange warmth fill his chest and squeeze his heart, but it wasn't unpleasant or painful.
"I'm glad you found him," Jeremy suddenly said, and he looked up to see him staring at the two with a sad smile. "He's better off with you then… whatever would dare leave him behind. I think you'll be a great dad."
"Really?" he asked. "I'm… scared."
"Of being like your dad, right? Don't be. You're more than he'll ever be. Just be who you are and he'll turn out alright."
"That's what I thought about him too, remember? I adored him only to find out what he really was. What if that happens to Gregory? What if he doesn't love me anymore when he finds out about what I did?"
Jeremy placed a hand on his shoulder, forcing him to look him in the eye. "Michael, it was an accident, and you've done everything you can to make things right. If you want my opinion, you tell him the truth when you think he's old enough to understand. And as for your dad's shi– horrible parenting practices, I doubt the mere idea of hitting him would even cross your mind. Hell," he gave him a fierce glare. "I'd kick your ass if I found out you did."
Michael snorted, feeling his fear dwindle a bit. "What about my… 'Episodes'. I'm inconsolable when I have them. I don't want to put him in danger."
"If I'm honest, I don't know. You don't attack anyone when you have one, you always just hide away. And you didn't abandon Gregory the last time you had one, so I think it's safe to say you know he's important and you have to keep him safe."
Michael looked down. "That's not true; I attacked my father."
Father was standing above him, a look of horror on his face. It was the first time he had seen any sort of emotion on it in weeks, but he was scared. If his father was scared, then something must be horribly wrong.
Maybe it was him, but he couldn't stop clawing at his skin. It was covered in blood and no matter how many times he dragged his nails along it, the blood wouldn't go away. It was stained to his skin just, like it had been to the gray singlet he had dumped in the fireplace.
Father kneeled down and tried to reach out a hand but Michael swatted it away, breathing heavily.
"Daddy's gonna kill you~!" He heard Evan giggle.
He snapped his gaze to the right and saw his little brother staring at him, blood running down his jaw, eyes missing from where they'd been crushed by Fredbear's teeth. "You'll get what you deserve."
He didn't want to die.
Dad grabbed him by the shoulders and tried to pull him out. His mouth was moving but he couldn't hear anything but the loud ringing in his ears.
Without warning, he opened his eyes and… Spring Bonnie was hunched to his level, face to face, with Fredbear looming behind him.
Michael screamed and slapped the bunny. It recoiled in shock, letting go and touching its face in surprise. Now it was going to kill him. They were going to avenge Evan.
He ran away blindly, slamming into the doorway and running down the Diner's halls, away from Parts & Service and into the dining area. He ran into a table he hadn't noticed before, but for some reason, it wasn't decorated in the usual party gear.
"Dad! Dad, help me!" he cried out, running around the tables before he slammed into a wall that hadn't been there before.
A pair of strong arms suddenly wrapped around him and held him still but he refused to be so. He stomped on Bonnie's feet and the animatronic cried out but didn't let go. Instead, he was pushed into the wall and held there, the bunny calling for Fredbear. He was going to die.
Evan and Elizabeth stood there, watching him, blood running from their fatal wounds. Would he join them, or would he go to Hell where all the evil people went?
Michael was in a bloody mental ward for three years after that stunt, and he ran away a year after when they thought he was back to 'normal'. So far, that had been the worst psychotic breakdown he had had, but he saw things every now and then when he worked; flashes of Bonnie and Freddy in his mind, children whispering in his ears over the gruelling hours while he prayed for the sun to somehow rise faster. Sometimes seeing Fredbear just slumped on his desk next to his computer and hearing the children's final words as they begged for mercy.
Jeremy placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. "I know. Here," he whispered, holding out a piece of paper towel he had ripped from the cabinet. Michael took it and wiped his face, blowing his nose.
They stood in silence for a bit before Jeremy led him over to the mattress. "How about we play some games while we wait for midnight, yeah?"
"That sounds nice," he sniffled.
-o0o-
They spent the rest of their day just enjoying each other's company. They had some breakfast and Michael wolfed his food down, relishing in having something actually nutritious to eat for once. Then they turned the radio on, Michael cleaned himself up, and they got to 'work'.
Jeremy was currently lying down on the mattress, Geh Ge lying on his stomach and staring at Michael as he entertained his bored baby while Jeremy read the parenting guidebook out aloud for him.
"Aaaand," Michael started, hiding his face behind his hands. "Peekaboo!" he cheered again for the tenth time in a row and Geh Ge laughed, smacking his tiny fists down, just as excited about Michael 'appearing out of nowhere' as before.
The room was filled with giggles and soft, classical music (because it was Jeremy's favourite) in the background. It was pleasant and warm, and Michael's earlier worries were gone. It was better to just focus on the here and now for the time being.
"And babies eventually start to learn how to hold their heads up by themselves by four months. After that, six months is when a baby can sit up with a bit of support. Twelve months is when a baby can finally start sitting up and down without anyone's assistance, and is usually when they start rolling around and crawling more often afterwards. By the time they are two years old, they should be able to recognise their name, and also be able to replicate and understand the most basic of commands, like 'Mummy, Daddy, stop, look, give, and so on and so forth. Sometimes, even when they've learned how to speak, they may have trouble stringing the words together in order for you to understand what they want, which is why you can often see four-year-olds walking around their guardian's legs, holding their arms up, and making 'eh' or 'ah' noises to get their attention," Jeremy recited, lowering the book to look at him. "Seems pretty straightforward. Of course, this is only based on the average. Results vary. It also says to make sure you watch their weight by exercising them regularly, which is when you wiggle their arms and legs when they're on their backs."
Michael nodded, continuing to play with his bub. "And is there anything about what to do if they don't?"
"Well," he started, flicking to the front of the chapter about motor skills. "it says that if there is a vacant look in their eyes, or they are slow to respond, then it's a good idea to get them checked by a doctor, especially if they hit five months and still can't hold their heads up by themselves. That's something to be worried about."
He hummed, thinking the chapters over when Geh Ge started to whimper. That was the signal that they were done with 'Tummy Time'. It sounded stupid, but that's what the book called it.
"Up we get, bub. How was that, hmm?" he asked, bouncing him.
"Brrbhge," he mumbled, dribble running down his chin. Michael got up to wipe it off just as the last song finished and the news came on.
"And today two parents have been arrested for allegedly killing their two-month-old son, Oliver Isaac," the reporter started, and Michael froze. Behind him, he heard Jeremy sit up with a gasp. "The baby's parents told their family that he had been handed over to the authorities, but a family friend said otherwise, accusing them of killing the baby. After extensive questioning, the parents admitted to dumping the baby in a locker at the local pool earlier this month."
He slowly turned around, meeting Jeremy's wide eye. "Despite police investigating the area, they were unable to locate the baby or its body. Currently, the parents are on house arrest until more information can be found, although there has been talk about the pair being put on trial late next month."
Michael drowned out anything else she said from there as she talked about some sort of criminal that had been released going missing. He couldn't care less about that. "Do you think anyone will think it's him," he whispered, looking at Jeremy.
His friend swallowed. "They shouldn't. I mean… kids go missing all the time, unfortunately, and since he's just a newborn, the case is probably going to be dropped pretty quickly. Especially since he's been missing for a while," he admitted sadly. "Maybe that's for the best, though."
Michael nodded, looking back down at his bub who watched him with a big, toothless smile on his face, his fist stuffed in his mouth. "I hope you're right. For all our sakes." He shook his head, desperate to get back to what they'd been doing before. "How about we play chess? I found an old set from home," he suggested.
Jeremy smiled, happily taking the hint. "'Course. Though you'll have to remind me what the rules are again. It's been a loooong time."
-o0o-
"There you are, boys!" Ms. Olivia greeted cheerfully when they reached the bottom floor fifteen minutes until midnight. A TV had been set up on a coffee table that had been dragged down in front of the two couches. Only Steve, Jamie, Alex, Ash, and Ms. Olivia were there. That gave Michael some relief that he wouldn't have to deal with a certain someone's relative.
"We were startin' to think you wouldn't show up!" Steve called, waving them over. There wasn't enough room for the two, so they settled for leaning against the wall instead.
"We weren't exactly sure if anything was going on down here until we started hearing them laughing," Michael admitted, nodding at Jamie and Alex.
The two were giggling, sparkling wine in their glasses as they talked. Ms. Olivia looked over at the two girls and smiled, leaning over to whisper: "I think we brought out the alcohol a little too early," she admitted.
"Yeah, but they brought the stuff. Might as well guzzle it all down. Would you two like a drink?" Steve called out, waving a hand towards the coffee table where two empty glasses sat.
The two of them shook their head. For Michael, it was because he had a baby and a set of stairs to walk up, and for Jeremy, it was because he wasn't allowed to have alcohol in the first place anymore.
Steve shrugged, grinning. "More for us then, right, Ash?" he added, elbowing the ex-nurse in the ribs. He smiled, looking more relaxed. Maybe alcohol had that effect on him.
Ms. Olivia smiled and turned back to the TV, seemingly having nothing else to say. He was grateful for that. He wanted to enjoy the fireworks, but he also didn't feel like talking too much. He just hoped that their cheering wouldn't wake Geh Ge up, which it most likely would anyway.
A live broadcast was playing of the timer counting down the minutes till midnight, with singers he didn't recognise singing pop songs and dancing along with the small crowd that had gathered in the chilly night to watch the show in person.
Ms. Olivia pulled something out from the little bag she was holding, revealing a camera. She smiled, pointing it in their direction and taking a photo of the whole group after urging Michael and Jeremy to scoot closer.
When the clock struck twelve, he was (for once) not filled with fear and dread, but with delight as the sky suddenly lit up with wave after wave of beautiful lights and explosions, the pop and crackle of the fireworks lowered for the sake of his bub.
The group cheered, hugging each other and joining in a chorus of 'Happy New Year!'s. The two of them joined in the revelry, their excitement infectious. While he only hugged Jeremy, Ms. Olivia pulled the both of them into a surprisingly strong hug wishing them the best.
She stepped back waving the two of them to stand closer as she raised the camera. "It's good to remember moments like this. Say 'cheers' boys!"
"Cheers!" they said together, an arm wrapped around each other with Geh Ge nestled between them, somehow still asleep.
Maybe 2024 would turn out to be better than the year before.
TO BE CONTINUED…