Chapter 4

I'm back! Chapter 4 is finally here with very many bumps in the road to get this done. You guys are probably tired of me apologizing, but sometimes life gets in the way and my writing time gets very VERY limited. I also went through a bit of writer's block for this chapter because I didn't know how to successfully connect the first part of the story to the next upcoming part. Hopefully you guys like what the result is. With PLENTY of enough delay...let's continue It's For the Best.

After finding out about his father's arrival, the night did not get any easier for BB. BB didn't sleep very much through the night because every time he tried to rest, he kept thinking about his dad. The next morning, BB awoke by the sunshine coming through his window. BB looked at the clock, groaned, and put the pillow over his face.

"Ugh…Dammit. My dad isn't even in the same county right now and I'm already having restless nights. I don't think kids my age should be worrying about shit like that. Oh well. He's coming today to get me and there's nothing I can do about it. Might as well get up and face the music." BB thought before finally crawling out of bed to take a shower.

An hour later, BB is starting to empty his closet and dresser to begin packing as Kaitlyn walks into the room.

"I just heard what's happening. How are you feeling?" Kaitlyn asks with clear compassion in her voice.

"I feel better now than what I did last night. I knew this day was going to come, and as much as I wanna avoid this, I can't. I'm slowly and I mean VERY slowly coming to terms with it." BB replies emptying the last of his dressers and puts everything on the bed.

"You mean you're fine with going back to him? Are you seriously ok with going back to live with him? I mean after all the shit he put you through? Come on, Blaine!" Kaitlyn says with her tone quickly changing from compassionate to almost screaming at her cousin.

"Seriously? Does it look like I have a choice in any of this? I'm not exactly ready to shoot fireworks because my dad's coming. He's taking me back and there isn't a damn thing that can stop him." BB says starting to put clothes in a suitcase.

"Blaine, you are not leaving." Kaitlyn replies taking the same clothes out of the suitcase.

"Come on, Katie; don't make this any harder for me than it already is." BB remarks putting the same clothes back in the suitcase again.

"They can't make you leave. You belong here now." Kaitlyn says taking the clothes out of the suitcase again. BB rolls his eyes and takes the clothes back from Kaitlyn.

"Good luck trying to convince the Tulsa court system and probably the biggest factor—my dad—about that." BB says putting the same clothes in the suitcase for the third time and zipping up the suitcase. "I mean this whole situation sucks. I didn't get much sleep last night because all I could do was think about today."

"What exactly were you thinking about" Kaitlyn asks sitting on the bed as she pats the spot next to her for BB to sit.

"Actually…a lot of things. How is he going to react seeing me? Will things get better between us? Will they get worse?" BB admits looking at the floor as Kaitlyn pats him on the back.

"As much as I hate for this to happen, I just want you to know that whatever happens that you still have a lot of people here in Houston that care about you and will watch out for you." Kaitlyn says as her voice breaks and tears start flowing. "Blaine, I don't want you to go. You don't deserve this. You need to stay here with us."

BB wraps his cousin in a hug as she quietly starts sobbing. "Believe me; I don't want to go either. But I know that whatever happens, I have you to go to. I love you, Katie." BB whispers as he comforts his cousin.

Hours later, the two cousins come downstairs carrying BB's bags as they hear a knock at the door. BB stops on the stairs and looks in the direction of the front door—knowing exactly who is on the other side. Kaitlyn senses her cousin's tension and rubs his back.

"Don't worry. I'm right next to you. Remember, if things go bad we have each other, right?" Kaitlyn whispers as BB nods the affirmative.

Even though the last few weeks have been great mental vacation for him, that feeling in the pit of his stomach is about to be face to face with him in about ten seconds. BB took a deep breath and finished walking downstairs. As he finished, Cheryl already answered the door and inside the house was the last person BB wanted to see—his father. BB didn't know how to respond to him, but any thought he had completely went out the window as his father walked up to him. What happened next sent BB into every point in the emotional spectrum in about five seconds—his father started hugging him. BB's eyes went wide at what was going on. Of all the things he expected his dad to do, the last thing he expected was a hug.

"Blaine, it's great to see you. How are you doing?" BB's dad asked still hugging him.

"I'm doing…good." BB answered cautiously. Not sure what to do at the moment, BB reciprocated the hug. As that was going on, Mike walks into the living room and locks eyes with his brother.

"Jonathan." Mike says in a cold tone, showing there was no love lost between the two brothers.

"Michael." BB's dad replies in an equally cold tone. He then releases the hug with his son and walks to his brother. "Thank you for taking care of my son during all this. I…appreciate it." Johnny says as he extends his hand. The glare didn't leave Mike's eyes as he shook his brother's hand.

"We were glad to have him here. He's welcome here anytime. It's a shame he didn't get to stay here longer." Mike replies, having a stronger meaning in his words then anyone understood at the moment.

"I know, but right now we need to get going. Steve is waiting to take us to the airport and we can't miss our flight. Is everything packed and are you ready to go?" John asks his son, who nods in response. "I'll meet you in the car." Johnny says as he exits the house. BB takes a deep breath realizing his time in Houston is over as he walks over to his aunt and uncle.

"Thanks so much for helping me. I love you guys so much." BB says trying to hold himself together as he hugs his aunt and uncle.

"We love you too and be careful, ok?" Cheryl asks and BB nods in agreement. Cheryl breaks away for a moment to let her husband talk with her nephew.

"Don't think for one second that I'm giving up on you, Blaine. Take this note. Inside this note is a phrase. If there is any problem that you are having or are scared for your safety, text or call and say the phrase and we will come get you out, ok? I love you, Blaine." Mike says holding his nephew close.

"I love you, too." BB replies as he puts the note in his pocket and walks over to his cousin.

"Don't start crying or I will too." BB says as the cousins start laughing. "Do me a favor and not tell Evan or anybody about this situation, please?"

"Don't worry. I already have my stories thought out to explain what happened. I'll miss you and cut that hair when you get a chance." Kaitlyn replies hugging her cousin.

"I'll miss you too and NO." BB says as he grabs his bags and walks out the door. When the door shuts, Mike walks into his office and slams the door.

"What's wrong with dad?" Kaitlyn asks.

"He's taking this a little hard. He loves Blaine like a son and always has. He just needs to be alone." Cheryl replies as the women walk into the kitchen.

Three hours later, BB is lying on his bed staring at the ceiling of his bedroom. They got home from the airport about thirty minutes ago, and all BB has done is think.

"Well this is…awkward. I go from goofing around with Kaitlyn to daydreaming in my bedroom in a matter of 2 days. Maybe things will be dif…." BB thought as he hears a knock on his door.

"Can I come in?" BB's father asks from the other side. BB looks at the door confused for a second. "Why is he asking permission now? That hasn't stopped him from barging in before." BB thought as he walked to the door and opened it.

"Umm…did you need something?" BB asked cautiously.

"Yeah I do. I really need to talk to you, Blaine." Johnny said looking right into BB's eyes.

"About what?" BB asks. Before his dad answered, he grabs BB quickly and latches him into a hug.

"Blaine, I don't what else to say but I'm sorry. I am sorry for everything I have done the past few years. You never deserved the treatment. I know that my apology barely dents the hurt and anger that you have for me, but I'm hoping that we can start off with a clean slate. What do you say?" Johnny asks with tears in his eyes.

BB could not believe what he was hearing or what he was seeing. First his dad was apologizing; second his dad was crying!

"I'm still in Houston, right? This has to be a dream! There is no way in hell that Johnny Bonin, my father, is apologizing to me for being an asshole. I don't believe this." BB thought as he stared at his father with a dumbfounded look on his face for a moment before answering him.

"I can agree with you on the fact that the apology doesn't simmer any hurt and anger I've had the last few years, but I do appreciate the fact that you are willing to be a big enough person to admit that. So…are you willing to change...for me?" BB asks finding unfound courage against his father.

"Yes, Blaine, I want to become a new man and become the father that you deserve. I owe it to you. Does that mean you forgive me and want to start over?" Johnny asks in return. BB thinks for a second before answering him.

"For now…I'm willing to start over, yes." BB answers. Johnny smiles and hugs his son even tighter.

BB wasn't sure how to react to all this. BB has only been in Tulsa a matter of an hour and things have changed in a big way—hopefully for the best.

Two days later, Kaitlyn is folding her laundry when she receives a text message. She looks at the message and her eyes go wide.

"I don't believe this." Kaitlyn says running downstairs.

Mike is working in his office as Kaitlyn knocks on the door and letting herself in.

"Kaitlyn, what's the problem? Did something happen?" Mike asks. Kaitlyn shakes her head.

"Something did happen. I think Hell froze over." Kaitlyn replied showing her dad the text message. The text message was from BB.

Katie. Can't believe it. Dad asked me for my forgiveness. Says he's gonna change. Things might change after all. Thanks 4 your support!

Mike sighed and rolled his eyes at the message.

"You don't think he forgave him, did you?" Kaitlyn asked.

"Kaitlyn…he forgave him. There's no question." Mike replied honestly. "Blaine is smart, but he got blindsided by the one thing that Johnny knew would win his son back. I just hope that sweet kid isn't walking to the lion's den.

"You don't think he would lie about something big like that, would you?" Kaitlyn asks.

"Do you want me to answer that honestly?" Mike asks in return as Kaitlyn nods the affirmative. "Even though me and your uncle do not get along, we made a deal to never speak bad about each other to you kids. We don't want our hatred for each other to influence you. However, here is the truth."

Mike cleared his throat before answering Kaitlyn's question. "In the past…yes he would. He would use and abuse—no pun intended—anybody he could to get ahead…even family. I hope to God that Johnny would be that cruel and do that to his own flesh and blood. Who knows? Maybe I'm wrong and the bastard has change for the good. Time will tell, sweetheart. Thanks for showing me the text." Mike says kissing his daughter on the forehead. Kaitlyn nods and leaves the office.

When he was sure Kaitlyn left, Mike pulled out his phone and called a number.

"Hey it's me. You have a second?" Mike asks as the voice on the other side replies. "Thanks. Listen…the trap has been sprung."

What exactly did Mike mean 'The trap has been sprung'? Anybody have an idea?

This is the end of Chapter 4, and it's kind of a short chapter. As I said before, I had major problems coming up with idea for this chapter. But the chapter inform/solidify Mike and Johnny's relationship with each other. If you have read From The Ground Up...this is also the first major addition/change I did with BB going back to live with his dad.

Like Always. Thanks for reading and tell me what you thought.