Must admit, of all my fics, THIS one is my fave to read and write.
I love coming up with- or trying to- crazy twists.
BTW, it's kinda late here. So, I hope I'm clearheaded enough make this chapter sensible and enjoyable.
Kim watched Jason and his brothers carefully. She was curious to see how they would react,but, at the same time she wasn't really looking forward to it. The brunette absently placed her hand on her swollen belly and began slowly rubbing it. She barely noticed the excited kicking of her unborn children. She kept her eyes on her boyfriend and his younger siblings.
Ms. Scott was watching her sons closely as well. "He's in the den."
Todd decided to react first. He dropped his fork, cleared his throat and looked his mother right in the eye. "Why didn't you tell him to take a hike?"
"I'll be glad to do it for you," Jeff added. He and Todd hadn't seen their father again yet.
Ms. Scott sighed. "I did. But he begged and begged and... maybe just talking to him this once wouldn't really hurt."
"I've got nothing to say to the guy," Todd said flatly. "He split when I was five. Five. Too late in the game to be playing daddy."
"You said it, little bro. Mom, you wanna tell him to get lost or should I?" Jeff asked.
"Todd, Jeff... you haven't even seen him again yet and he's been in town for almost a week," Ms. Scott said, a million emotions tumbling around in her.
"If I never see that dude again, it'll be way too soon. What can he say, Mom? What can he possibly say that will change anything? He ditched us. All of us. He left you to bring up three sons all on your own. You used to work like crazy to keep clothes on our back. He just up and left! Walked away from it all like it was nothing. Unacceptable," Todd said.
"He doesn't get to do this. No. He doesn't get to expect any kind of resolution after almost twenty years of ignoring the fact that we exist. Forget it. I don't wanna talk to him. Not today, tomorrow or ever," Jeff said, shaking his head.
"Same here. No, you know what? I think I will have a little chat with him. 'Scuse me," Todd said, then, stood and exited the room.
Ms. Scott looked at Jeff. "Reconsider, Jeff. Please, sweetheart."
"Mom, why are you all for this? You should be the angriest," Jeff said.
"Believe me, I am. I am. But he's still your father and he always will be. One conversation won't kill you. I'm not asking you to set aside father/son time. This will be good for you. Let him know how you feel about his abandonment," Ms. Scott said.
Jeff considered this for several long moments, then, sighed heavily and rubbed his hands over his face. He really didn't want to see Gary, but, on the same token, he wanted to get things off his chest. He stood slowly. "All right. Fine. I'm going in. Jase, how 'bout you?"
Jason- who'd been silent the whole time- looked at his brother. "You go ahead and do what you've gotta do. I've talked to him already." Then, he refocused on his dinner.
Jeff shrugged and left the room. Ms. Scott sighed in frustration. "Jason."
He looked up at his mother. "No, Mom. Once was enough."
"Okay... Jase, you didn't technically talk to him. You ranted- and you had every right- and he barely got a word in," his mother said.
"Mom... everytime I think about him, I get so... I feel this rage that actually kinda freaks me out," he said.
"Sweetie, I understand completely. But, as I said before, one conversation won't hurt anyone. I do wish your father had stayed wherever he's been all these years. But he's here. And he keeps saying he won't give up. I know you don't owe him anything, but... please. Just this once," Ms. Scott said. She wasn't entirely sure why she was urging her sons to do this. Maybe it was becasue she couldn't stop coming back to the fact that Gary was the reason Jason, Jeff and Todd existed. Oh, she knew she didn't owe him anything, either. But, maybe, an actual talk would make everyone feel a little better. Or just... . Oh, she just didn't know anymore! She was just torn now.
"Mom..." Jason said, shaking his head.
"For me," she said softly.
Jason cursed silently. Why did women always do this to guys? 'Do it for me.' Geez. He stood. "Okay, you win. I'll do it." He headed out of the room, muttering.
"What was that, honey?" Ms. Scott called after him, a light warning note in her voice.
"Nothing!" Jason called back.
"Why don't they like their daddy?" Jade asked, frowning.
"Uh, your father will explain later, baby," Kim said, kissing Jade's forehead.
Gary Scott sat stiffly in a chair while his sons sat quietly on the sofa, each staring straight ahead. Todd had gone off on him the second the young man had entered the den. Then, he fell silent and ignored Gary's pleas and apologies.
"Well, this is going great," Todd said sardonically.
Jeff scoffed. He'd wanted to lay into Gary when he saw him, but, the words had failed to come for some reason. So, he'd just taken a seat on the couch. Jason'd come in and sat down, without so much as glancing his father's way.
Like Jeff, Gary was at a loss for words. Now, that all of his children were sitting right here in front of him... he had no idea where to really begin.
Jason finally looked over at him. "You said you wanted to talk. How about actually saying something so we can get the hell out of here?" No patience when it came to this man. None at all.
Gary swallowed nervously. He couldn't believe how intimidated he felt by his son. But he needed them to hear what he had to say. It was more important than they could possibly imagine. "All right. First of all, I'd like to say I'm really glad you all agreed to hear me out. I know it wasn't an easy choice."
"Ya think?" Todd said dryly.
"Todd, please, son," Gary said.
Todd's eyes darkened at the term "son". "Don't go there, man. Ever again," he said seriously. This man brought out powerful emotions in him.
Gary sighed. "I know that a million apologies won't fix anything. I know we can't get the last seventeen years back. I know it's dead wrong of me to try and make amends after all this time. I know it's incredibly selfish."
"You know this, you know that. Wow. Maybe you should apply for a job as an encyclopedia," Todd said caustically.
"Look, knowing all of that should've made you stay wherever you were. You knew we weren't gonna just yell "Daddy's home" and do a series of backflips or anything. You knew that and you came back anyway. Yet another stupid decision of yours," Jeff said, glaring at him.
"Jeff, you're right. I'm horrible at making decisions. If I can take back-" Gary was saying.
"But you can't," Jeff said simply.
"I'm aware of that- painfully. But, if I could-" Gary began.
"You... can't," Jeff said. "Let it go."
"You all have to understand that I really do love you. And you all were always on my mind. I mean, I-" Gary was saying.
"Who friggin' cares? Nobody wants to hear any of this! 'Cause it's crap, man! Crap. Plain and simple. Love. Always thinking of us. Right. We sure as hell were heavy on your mind when you chose to take a one-way ticket outta our lives," Todd said angrily, now standing and glaring down venomously at his father.
"He's right. Don't sit there and talk to us about love. What the hell do you know about it? I'm done with this. Just get outta here. Seriously," Jeff said.
"I really need you all to listen to what I have to say. In spite of everything, I'm still your father. I'm responsible for your existence. I-" Gary was saying.
"Biology doesn't make a father," Jeff snapped harshly.
"Damn straight. Way more to it than that. Jase did everything you were supposed to for us and himself," Todd said.
"Which wasn't an easy job. You left the son you supposedly love to take care of your duties and he was a kid himself. Sick. Sick as hell," Jeff said.
Gary looked at his eldest son, renewed guilt filling him. "Jason, I know-"
"Enough with what you know. You don't know a damn thing. You weren't here to see or hear Mom cry herself to sleep every night for almost three straight months. You didn't see the deep depression she almost couldn't pull herself out of. You don't know how hard it was to try and explain to your little brothers why "daddy's never coming back" when you didn't even know why yourself. You. know. nothing," Jason said in a cold, unsympathetic voice.
"We're all grown up now. You're really not even necessary anymore. You're nothing. You're nothing," Jeff said, his tone matching his older brother's.
'I really wish you wouldn't say a thing like that, Jeffrey," Gary said quietly.
Todd scoffed. "You guys do what you want. I'm outta here. I can't take much more of this," he said, then, began heading away.
"You should hear what needs to be said. It's very important that you all hear this," Gary said solemnly.
"Hear what?" Jeff and Todd snapped at the same time.
"Just spit it out and leave," Jason said.
"There's another reason I'd like to make amends," Gary said.
"Why?" Jason asked flatly.
"I recieved quite a shock about two months ago," Gary said.
"What?" Jeff asked impatiently.
"I'm dying," Gary said quietly.
Once again, I hope ya liked it 'cause it really is late and I need to head on to bed. Get set for more drama. Cya. ;-)