Sorry, missed writing so much so have continued. I am adding an epilogue really. It may develop into a longer story- we shall see.
Let me know what you think- should I continue? Or I am doing a Netflix and ruining my story by adding a sequel?
Hope you are all well and safe.
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Steve woke up, confused, was the baby crying? No, there was silence, he reached out a hand for his husband but there was only a cold, empty space.
He got up, padding slowly down the hallway; he found Tony standing looking blankly over Manhattan-there were few lights these days. The city, the world in mourning and reeling in shock. It was where he found him most nights; his husband hadn't slept more than a few hours at a time for two weeks now.
''Tones,'' Steve said softly. The man sighed heavily and turned, a familiar hoodie clutched against his chest.
''It's his birthday, it's our baby's birthday,'' Tony choked out; then he buried his face in the blue fabric inhaling deeply. Steve understood the gesture, he did this as well; Peter's clothes smelled like him and it was comforting, made him feel close.
''Thirteen, finally he's thirteen,'' Steve smiled, their son had been so looking forward to this landmark birthday. The day he became a teenager, in his eyes no longer a child; to his parents it felt like he'd been a teenager for a long time although he would always be a little boy to them.
Today, they had planned to make his dream come true; today was the day he was supposed to get his puppy; the pet he had longed for. It was yet another loss, one of many but somehow the most devastating; they would not experience his delight, his pure, innocent joy as he buried his face in soft, warm fur. They would not get to witness his patient attempts to train his canine buddy to offer a paw and sit for a treat.
All gone in a click.
The puppy was in Harley's room, attached to another boy, not the one he was intended for.
''Yes, thirteen,'' Tony gave into the tears and began to sob.
Steve went to him and they held each other as they both cried, they had cried so much it was surprising they had any tears left; the pain was soul-destroying, a deep clawing hurt; an open raw wound. They had joined the club no one wanted membership of; they were parents who had lost a child- it was now a larger club than it naturally should be but there was no comfort to be found in company.
They still referred to their youngest son in the present tense- not yet able to accept the truth; the finality, the forever void in their family.
''I can't stay here Steve; he is everywhere, I hear him, see him all the time- its unbearable,'' Tony voiced how Steve felt as well. He had imagined being home would be a comfort but it wasn't; the echoes of the past proving suffocating and oppressive. Each precious memory was immediately followed by the crushing realisation that it was just that- a fleeting memory.
''I know Babes, we'll leave. Go somewhere, somewhere quiet, peaceful where it's just us, just us and the kids,'' Steve murmured.
''Yes, just us and the kids,'' Tony echoed back.
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So it is up to you readers, should I continue? Comment and let me know. If you say yes, any suggestions how to continue will be gratefully received.
Plus ideas for a name for the puppy?
Its all up to you now! A collaborative approach.
Salutations.
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