Chapter 12

I do not own Happy Tree Friends. All credit goes to Mondo Media

After a meal, Russell left their house the next morning, which left Lumpy at a loss on what to do. Umi was still hiding in her room and wouldn't come out unless it involved food or the bathroom. Often, there were times where she would peek into the hall before she stepped towards the stairs, only reaching the top before running back to her room when she heard footsteps, even if it wasn't Russell. Lumpy couldn't help but sigh at her reaction and ran a hand through his hair. Leaving everything to work itself out was no longer going to work, and so he decided to step in and take care of the situation himself.

After seeing his daughter scurry back to her room later that day, Lumpy proceeded to head after her to make sure the matter is resolved. He released a breath before slowly opening the door and seeing the toddler hide behind her bed. She peeked up and relaxed when she saw her father at the doorway. "Daddy." She slowly approached him as he closed the door behind her and sat on the bed. "Umi, we need to talk."

"Did I do something bad?" Lumpy shook his head as he hoisted her onto his lap. "No, this is about Mama." Umi lowered her head and held onto his shirt in response and started to whimper. The taller bluenette petted her with closed eyes. "Listen to me, Umi. I know Mama is scary, but he only gets scary when he wants to protect someone." The four-year old lifted her head, the fear in her eyes slightly fading into confusion. "What does protect mean?"

"It means not letting someone you love get hurt," Lumpy replied softly. "And that's what Mama did. He was trying to protect you from the bad guys."

"H-He was?" Umi felt more confused as she was told this as she listened. "There's no need to be scared of him. Yes, he does kill people, but that was a long time ago. He doesn't do that anymore unless it's necessary."

"Mama won't hurt me, right?"

"Of course not," Lumpy replied with a hug. "When you were taken, he was so upset, and he wanted to make sure that you were safe before coming home. He would rather get hurt than see you be hurt yourself." Umi returned the hug with her own and nuzzled into his shoulder. She stayed quiet for a moment, and Lumpy thought she was trying to take in the entire situation. "Same with Daddy too?"

"Yep," Lumpy pulled her away and she looked up at him with uncertainty. "Now, I want you to think about this, but I hope you'll want to be with him soon. He misses you, Umi." He set her on the floor before making his way back into the living room to wait for his husband to return.

Russell picked at his food with a bored gaze and he shoved it to another corner of his plate. He sighed and leaned back in the chair, setting the fork on the napkin in front of him and closing his eye. He had been staring at the plate for about a good half hour, and his food was barely touched. Russell started to not feel hungry and pushed it away with a sigh.

"Are you gonna eat that?" He turned to see Cuddles looking over him with his hands innocently behind his back and a smile. Russell gave a light smirk and pushed the plate towards him as the blonde sat across the table. Cuddles's smile grew as he snatched up the fork and dug in. The bluenette couldn't help but smile at him as he rested his elbow against the table. "Watch yourself, little rabbit. A wolf might eat you if you keep that up."

"Huh!?" The blonde's eyes widened in fear at the mention of wolves, and he pouted at the other. "Man, don't joke like that. You know I'm scared of wolves."

"Couldn't miss the opportunity." Russell responded with a playful glint in his eye.

"By the way," Cuddles swallowed the last bit of food before continuing. "How are things with your daughter?" Russell couldn't help but frown in response as he folded his hands together. "I'm working on it." He muttered while lowering his head. Cuddles tilted his head to the side with a lifted eyebrow before resting his head in the palm of his hand. He glanced out of the window with half-lidded eyes before turning his gaze back to the other with a gentle smile. "It'll be fine. I promise."

"That's what everyone's telling me."

"And you should believe it," Cuddles reached over and took a hand in his own. "Back when Giggles and I. . . . broke up, I felt so lost because I didn't know what to do after finding out that she cheated on me. Everyone kept telling me that I was gonna find someone else eventually, and I doubted it for the longest time. Then Toothy came along and taught me how to love again. Point is," His grip tightened and had a comforting gaze. "Don't lose hope like I did." Russell slightly averted his gaze with a frown as they both pulled away. After a moment, Cuddles stood with a smile as he began to step away. "Well, I better go. Toothy is taking me to see a movie." The blonde proceeded to walk away until Russell pulled on one of the rabbit ears on his hoodie. Cuddles turned around with a lifted eyebrow as Russell lifted his head slightly. "Thanks for trying to cheer me up."

Cuddles grinned and gave a peace sign. "That's what friends are for, dude." The blonde stepped out the front door and into the city, and Russell decided that it was time for him to leave as well. He slowly stood up, leaving the amount on the table before walking out. He didn't have a clue as to where he was going, but he didn't care as long as he was out of the house for a while longer.

He ended up in the woods leading to another part of town before heading home. He wondered how Lumpy dealt with being at home by himself over the past few days. His eyes lowered when he thought of the toddler that was also in the building. He shook his head and shoved his hands in his pockets. "I can't think about it right now," He muttered to himself before stopping in his tracks. "But, how can I when I know I can never be near her again? It's painful to even imagine this going on even when she's older. Though, she might grow out of it, but how long will that be? It's scary."

Fifteen minutes later, he unlocked the door to his home and stepped inside, hearing the TV from the living room. He followed the sound to see his husband on the couch with his eyes closed and his head tilted backwards. Russell quietly stepped over and leaned over him to place a gentle kiss on the lips. The kiss lingered for a moment before he pulled away only to be snagged by the front of his shirt and the one underneath him raised himself for another kiss. The two pulled away and Lumpy kissed his nose. "I was wondering when you'd be home."

"Well I'm here now." Russell muttered before climbing over the couch and sitting next to him. He leaned on the other's shoulder with a light sigh and closed his eye. Lumpy leaned on him in return and held his hand gently. "It's been boring without you, you know," Lumpy spoke softly. "I didn't know what to do so I ended up cleaning the house."

"That explains why everything looks so neat," Russell glanced around and stopped his gaze at the stairs. "How is she doing, by the way?" Lumpy lifted his head in response before speaking. "She was wrapped up in her coloring books last time I checked on her."

"I see." Russell lowered his head and Lumpy's grip around his hand tightened. The former pirate stood up a moment later and broke away. "Russell-"

"It's frustrating, isn't it?" The other spoke up with clenched fists. "Seeing this family come apart. Don't lie and say that this isn't bothering you." Lumpy couldn't help but stare before he averted his gaze with concern. It would be a lie to say the situation was nothing, but he knew saying that alone would make the bluenette more upset than he was. He breathed out a sigh and turned his gaze back. "This is a problem, but. . . I know everything will be alright."

"Everyone's been saying this," Russell replied with irritation. "And to be honest, it's getting on my nerves. It's like they can't think of anything else to say to me. What I don't get is how Ruby could suck up to Flippy so quickly despite him being in the same state I was, and Umi is scared shitless of me. What did Flippy do that didn't make Ruby hate him!?"

"He didn't do anything." Lumpy replied in a soft tone.

"So you expect me to believe that he magically got her to not hate him!?" Russell's voice was raised once again, and tears were visibly in his eye. "She hates me Lumpy. I know she does."

"She doesn't hate you." Lumpy stood and proceeded to pull him close, but Russell rejected the attempt. "Oh shut up I know you've noticed it too! I'm not that fucking stupid!" Russell hid his face from the other as he began to cry. "I wish I never got pregnant. I wish I never settled on land, and I wish you never talked to me in the first place!" The only response to the last outburst was silence. The former pirate lifted his head only for his gaze to widen at the bluenette's heartbroken face, noticing the forming tears in his eyes. "Russell." Russell stepped back before running out through the front door and out of sight. "Russell!"

Lumpy feared that he might do something reckless and was about to go after him until someone called his name. "Daddy?" He turned around to see Umi at the bottom of the stairs holding one of her stuffed animals with a scared glance. "Why was there shouting? Why are you sad? Where's Mama?" Lumpy's gaze darted back and forth from the toddler to the door, unsure of which he should choose. He groaned and angrily ruffled his hair. Umi didn't know what was going on, but she walked over to her father and hugged his leg, hoping that it would be enough to comfort him.

Russell had finally collapsed from exhaustion on the sandy beach he had arrived on. Tears were rolling down his face freely and dripping onto the sand while his mind was filled with so many thoughts he couldn't think straight. He pulled his hood over his face and glanced down at the jacket he was wearing. Lumpy had gotten it for him the year before for their anniversary, and Lumpy had apologized for getting a jacket that was two sizes bigger than him. The former pirate didn't mind because it was comfortable either way.

The mere memory had Russell sobbing in the sleeves and curling up into a ball, knowing that he possibly screwed up whatever ties the family still had. "It's all my fault. I've lost my daughter's trust and I had the nerve to say that to him." His cries were muffled through the jacket, but he could care less. He heard the sound of crashing waves and lifted his tear-filled gaze towards the ocean. Russell slowly stood up without averting his gaze, and took a step forward. "That's right. It's my fault because I'm such an incompetent parent and husband. What the hell was I thinking that night? What made me think that she wouldn't be scared of me?" He continued to speak as he stepped into the water until his torso was above the surface. "Lumpy probably blames me too; he just doesn't want to say it to my face, which proves that I'm more of a burden to them. They'd be better off without me to hold them back," He glanced at the ring he wore and kissed it gently. "I love you, you know? I love you so much. But, this is best for you and Umi." After another breath, Russell let himself fall and the ocean soon engulfed him. He watched as the light from the sun seemed to drift farther and farther away as he sunk. He closed his eye and leaned back. I know this will hurt you both, but you don't have to worry. I'll be okay.

Russell soon heard something crash into the water, and a hand grabbed him by the front of his shirt before pulling him up. He was yanked up to the surface and he coughed for air before opening his eyes to see that he was in a familiar pair of arms. He was carried from the waves to the sand and he was set down gently. He barely managed to sit up before Lumpy harshly slapped him across the face. Russell held the red mark on his cheek and turned to see Lumpy glare at him with tears in his eyes. "You have got to be the dumbest idiot I've ever laid eyes upon!" He grabbed the front of his shirt again and yanked him forward. "What the HELL were you thinking!? Do you have any idea what would have happened if you pulled that off!? We would never see you again. I would never see you again," His hands trailed upwards to cup Russell's cheeks. "I know that it's hard to live with a daughter who's scared of you. That's why I told Umi what was going on. When you ran out, she thought you were never coming back. You should have seen her, crying her eyes out because she was so scared of losing you."

Russell stayed silent as Lumpy pulled him into a tight hug as tears finally rolled down his cheeks. "Don't you ever do this again, or I will fucking kill you myself. And you know damn well I don't want to do that, so don't force me." Russell wrapped arms around his neck and pulled himself closer with tears. "I-I thought you were mad because of what I said."

"Dumbass, I know you didn't mean it." Russell nuzzled his shoulder before lifting his head so their lips slightly touched. He hesitated to give him a kiss, although Lumpy was the one who tilted his head up so the kiss could connect. Before he knew it, Russell had found himself on his back with the bluenette above him still kissing him. Russell thread fingers into the other's hair as the kiss deepened. One of Lumpy's hands snuck under the other's shirt and pushed against his back so the two were pressed against each other while the other snuck into the back of his pants. Russell released a muffled moan as he felt a finger trace circles around his hole before pulling away with a light blush. "Not here."

"Afraid we'll be seen?"

"That, and it's not comfortable doing it on sand." Lumpy pushed himself off of the former pirate and took his hand gently before leading him to the car. 'Where are you suggesting then?"

"Home, as long as Umi isn't able to see us." The taller of the two shrugged and stepped into the car before turning it on with a slight smile. "Whatever you say."

Lumpy lead him towards the living room where the toddler waited for them. She turned around in her seat and formed tears when she saw her mother. She instantly jumped off of the couch and ran towards him. "Mama!" She grabbed onto his leg tightly and nuzzled it. "Don't go, Mama!"

"Umi."

"I don't want Mama to go!" Russell couldn't help but sigh before slowly lifting her off of the ground and into his arms. "Mama isn't going anywhere, okay? I'll be here with you and Daddy." Umi smiled in response before hugging him again. She was quiet for a moment before she spoke again. "Mama won't hurt me, right?"

"I would never." The former pirate held her close and kissed her cheek. He turned back to his husband, who wore a comforting smile on his face before he took the toddler in his arms. Umi pouted and stretched her arms out towards Russell. "I wanna be with Mama." The couple glanced at each other with a shrug before Umi was given back to the other. "I thought you were scared of me."

"I-I am, but you won't hurt me, so it's okay." Russell sat her on the couch before stretching. "We better shower before we get sick in these clothes. Umi, promise to wait for us here?" After a nod from the toddler, Russell nudged the other bluenette with a wink and a lustful smirk. "You should be so damn grateful we have a soundproof bathroom." He whispered with a growl before heading upstairs. Lumpy blushed lightly as those last few words were sent straight to his groin. After pecking a kiss on the girl's forehead, he followed his husband and awaited what would transpire in the next hour.