Johan sat on the roof looking at the city with the starry sky. After the confession downstairs he walked away and came up here. He wished he had a place like this in the twenty first century. How much would be different if he had a place like this? A place to sit alone and think. There was the sound of footsteps but Johan didn't look back. He knew it was JB.
"Well?" Johan asked impatient.
"You've grown a lot in the two years you were here." The words forced Johan to turn around to look at the man behind him. He was expecting a lecture. JB sat down beside him looking out at the city's lights,
"Before I met you I thought time was set in stone. Any changes made were bad. But you forced me and a lot of other people to see things differently. Do you know how many times you've cheated death? Enough to give your kid Mom a heart attack. After you and Katherine changed time several times, I stopped believing in the facts of your life. You convinced me that even the past is still in flux…I guess what I'm saying is, just give them some time. They'll come around." JB gave the lightest of smiles.
"I lied down there." Johan confessed. "I don't regret everything I've done as bounty hunter. I have helped people who really needed it for free! Remember our conversations about fate and freewill? I learned something. It's impossible to separate the two. To separate yourself from them. I guess part of me always knew I was going to be a bounty hunter. The rush of it, feels…right." Johan stood up still looking at the city. "I've learned to fight, to talk my way out of dangerous situations, how to heal my wounds, how to survive by myself. I guess with of all of that I forgot how it felt to have a family. Ironic isn't it? I've spent two years trying to get back to that, only to find out I lost that part of me." Johan chuckled a little letting a single tear out.
"I remember someone once told me there is no such thing as impossible. Little did they know! You know, you're the only one I can relate to now? I can never go back to being the Johan from before." He let out a few more tears when a hand fell on his shoulder. Johan looked to see JB's sad smile.
"That's the thing about growing up. You're not supposed to stay the same. But that Johan isn't as dead as you think he is." JB said softly. Johan couldn't hold it back anymore. He caught JB in a hug let the tears freely flow. JB gave him a few pats on the back before pushing him back. Johan hitched the crying to a halt.
"Sorry." He rubbed the tears off. They sat down back down in silence enjoying the sight of the city.
The next morning everyone woke up to the sound of Johan's alarm clock. He rolled over and slapped it off. Shower? Breakfast? Shower? Breakfast? He debated slipping back into his old habits. Johan rolled back over seeing everyone getting up. Katherine had slept on few pillows and his comforter. Mom claimed she wouldn't be able to sleep, but apparently she and Dad dozed off in the corner. Jordan was stirring from a top of some crates that came with the place. JB was stretching his arms above his head at the table. His chair leaned back and feet on the table.
"I'm guessing when you designed this place, you didn't consider people staying the night." Katherine grumbled.
"Are you kidding? You're the first people to stay longer than a few hours." Johan walked over to the bathroom stretching. "Hey JB can you start breakfast? I need to shower. Feel free to use anything you can find." He pushed open the door.
"Yeah. Sure." JB stood up and stretched his spine. Johan slipped in and closed the door behind him. He turned on the shower to full blast on steaming hot. After he took his clothes off he forgot he need a spare set of clothes. They're clean enough. He shrugged it off letting his shirt drop to the floor. The hot water was just the wakeup call he needed. Yesterday felt like pulling off back to back to back to back all-nighters. And he was finally able to wash it all away.
He came back out in the living area with his clothes warm and slightly damp and a towel in his hand. There was the smell of eggs and toast with jam. Johan walked over to the table, toweling his wet hair. His plate was next to JB on the counter. The rest of the Skidmore family took all the seats at the table forcing the two to stand. Johan draped the towel around his neck picking up the plate. It felt like ages since he ate breakfast with someone else. He managed to swallow a few bites before Mom started talking.
"You're still not going there alone." She stated. Good morning to you too!
"Mom! I've done this before. For two years! I can handle myself." He argued.
"Either you take someone or you're not going at all." She sounded just like her adult self. It was a good thing that he wasn't stuck with her for the past two years.
"Take me with you!" Jordan jumped in. "You were my age when you started doing this! Everyone will just think I'm either a kid trying to make it in the bounty hunter business or some kid of the street." Johan didn't want to mention that he was nearly stabbed at his first trip around Mom and Dad, mainly Mom. He shook his head trying to figure out what to say.
"What about me? You know we're the perfect team!" Katherine volunteered. While it was true that Katherine could hold her own longer than Jordan she was more likely to draw attention to herself.
"You know what? I made up my mind. I'm taking JB with me. While the rest of you stay here." Johan settled the argument. Surely JB could sit at a table without drawing attention. He didn't plan on to stay at the restaurant long anyway.
