Tyson was having dinner by the time Ally, Bam and Ryan arrived back at April's.
Bam stayed in the car with Ryan, who was starting to have a panic attack while Ally went inside.
She walked into the kitched and dumped her bag on the counter then crouched down next to her nephew, who was throwing a tantrum over eating his peas while April and Phil stood back, looking slightly helpless.
'Tyson Ryan Carter!' she whispered, sounding angerier than if she had screamed.
Tyson imediatly stop screaming and looked at her.
'April has cooked you a lovely dinner and it's no way to thank here by screaming the house down. You apoligise right now and eat you peas' He looked ready to defy her, but thought quickly about it.
'I'm sowwy Ape' he looked at her, blue eyes shining. Ally could see April's heart melt.
'It's okay sweetie. Once you finished your dinner Phil brought some ice cream home!'
Tyson grinned and started shovling peas into his mouth.
'Tyson, there's someone here to meet you after dinner, okay?' Ally said, sliding into a chair at the counter and watching him closely.
April looked up in suprise, raising her eyebrows. Ally just nodded.
Ryan and Bam walked through the door a few minutes later. Tyson was sitting next to Ally, polishing off a bowl of ice cream. He waved to Bam, handed his bowl to April, who was stacking the dishwasher then looked at Ally expectantly.
She smiled at Bam and Ryan and motioned for them to sit down. They did.
'Alright, mister. Get ready for bed then you can hang out with Uncle Bam and his friend for a little while.' he and ran up the stairs 'I want you teeth to sparkle, Tyson!' she called after him.
'Yeah, yeah!' he called back.
Bam burst out laughing.
'It's not funny, Bam. He might end up with cavities or something. Are you going to pay the dental bills?' Ally demanded, but she was smiling.
Bam stood up and put his arms around her waist, kissing the crown of he head softly 'I would if you needed me too'
She sighed 'I know.'
'Besides, cavities isn't the worst of it. Imagin how many teeth he'll loose when I teach him to skate?' Bam grinned 'Or make a 'Mini Jackass' video?'
Ally, in no uncertain terms, explained exactly where a 'mini jackass' video would end up. It sounded extremely painful for Bam.
Ryan cleared his throat, Tyson was standing at the bottom of the stairs, toothpaste drippled down his chin and onto his hotwheels PJ top.
Ally stopped yelling at Bam, who was laughing to hard he was on the ground and turned to Tyson with a bright smile. 'Good job honey! But next time, how about you brush your teeth before you get into your jammies?'
Bam snorted and picked Tyson up, throwing him in the air and making him squeal.
'Nobody will even see him in his pijama's, Ally. Plus, I think it looks awesome' he winked at Tyson. 'How'd you like to meet a friend of my, Little Man?'
Tyson looked at Ryan and smiled. 'Sure, does he like race cars?'
Bam laughed 'This is Ryan Dunn! He owns race cars'
Tyson's eye's lit up as Bam took his into the lounge room with Ryan, giving them a chance to get to know eachother. They had decided earlier that nobody would mention Ryan being Tyson's father until after the funeral at least. Ally didn't really want him to have his life turned completely upside down.
She had April had coffee, listening to the sounds of the boys making car sounds in the living room.
'He'll take hours to get down now' Ally groaned, but she was smiling.
'It's actually hard to tell there's only one four year old in the room!' Ape laughed.
Ally's phone started ringing, she was still laughing when she answered.
'Hello?'
'Hello, miss Carter? My name is Glen Holmes from Holmes and Smith funerals.'
Ally felt the smile fall off her face. 'Oh, good evening sir.'
'And to you too, I hope. We have uh, just recived your sisters death certficate. I understand a friend at the hospital sent it over. Your friend Mr. Marger gave us this number to call. We were wondering when would be a good time to meet you to discuss the funeral?'
'I'm actually not in town at the moment. If I fly back tomorrow can we meet Wednesday?'
'Perfect. We'll say four p.m. shall we?'
Ally murmered a thank you and goodbye before she hung up, shell shocked and explained to April who it had been.
'I just can't stand the idea of facing it alone.' she paused 'or worse, with Ty.'
'Facing what?' Bam said, walking into the room with Ryan following. 'Ty passed out' he said when Ally looked around behind them.
'The funeral director just called. I'm flying out tomorrow and meeting with him on Wednesday.' Ally felt her throat tighten. 'That means leaving Tyson with a sitter and finding somewhere to stay, because I can't take him home. All of Amy's things are there still, it will just confuse him more.'
'Well, why don't Ryan and I fly with you?' Bam shrugged 'I'll come with you and Ryan can keep Ty company. If he get upset about the apartment, we'll rent a hotel room or something'
Ally lifted her head from her hands and shook it 'No, no. I can't ask you to do that Bam'
Bam opened his mouth, but it was Ryan who spoke 'Please, Ally? He's my son. I want to be there for him, and you right now.'
His eye's pleaded with hers. She nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He squeezed her tightly.
Bam popped two beers open, handing one to Ryan. He grinned when Ally put her hand out for one 'Nah uh, someone's still not 21 for another two months!'
She looked at him scornfully, while April tried not to laugh in the corner.
'Besides, I need someone to drive me home'
She left the room to put Tyson to bed.
-II-
Tyson's P.O.V.
Tyson didn't really understand what was happening. One second, him and his Ally were at her house in New York, which isn't as good as when Aunty Ally came to look after him at his house because she doesn't have as many race car toys. Then, a man spoke to Aunty Ally at the door and made her cry, a lot.
Then the next day, his mommy didn't pick him up like normal on a sunday, instead, Aunty Ally packed his bag and they went to see Phil and April and Uncle Bam and Uncle Jess and Ava. Tyson thought this was totally cool, since he normally only saw them once a year, right before Chiristmas, and it was only July!
But when Aunty Ally told him the angels had taken mommy, he knew she was wrong. His mommy wouldn't go to heaven without him.
So now, they had been on another plane, this time with Uncle Bam and his friend Ryan, who liked race cars too, and they were going to see his mommy.
He didn't tell Aunty Ally that they would see his mommy, it would make her cry.
Instead, he waited until they got to his building and ran inside.
He looked in all the rooms, but couldn't find her. So, he did what he always did when mommy wasn't home. He found the phone in her bedroom, sat on the floor and looked at the numbers.
Speed dail one was Aunty Ally's phone, speed dial two was mommy's mobile. Speed dial three was the hospital where she worked.
He tried her mobile, but it went straight to her messages. So he called the hospital.
'Hello?' a nurse picked up. Tyson knew by the voice it was his mommy's friend Charlotte, she had a daughter who went to his pre school.
'Charlotte?'
'Tyson honey, is that you?' her voice sounded all high and funny.
'Yeah, can I talk to mommy please? Aunty Ally just brought me home from April's house'
Charlottle was really quiet for a few minutes, then she said in a voice that sounded like she had a really bad cold 'Can you put your Aunty on for a minute honey?'
'Okay' This had never happened before.
He walked into the lounge room, where Ally, Bam and Ryan were sitting on the couch, talking about something. They went quiet as soon as he walked in.
'Aunty Ally, Charlotte wants to talk to you' he handed her the phone, then climbed onto the couch, in between Bam and Ryan. Ryan put his arm around his shoulders and kissed the top of his head. It made Tyson feel happier.
'Hello?' Ally paused on the phone for a minute, then her face went white and her hands started shaking and she had tears coming down her face. She moved to sit on the arm of the chair and lowered her voice.
'Oh god, I'm so sorry Charlotte..'
Another pause.
'I guess i'll have to explain it again' She sighed 'Thank you so much.. ' she paused and listened. 'Really?.. Help him?.. Okay, thank you Char.. I know, I'll call you. Bye'
She hung up and looked at Tyson, holding her arms out.
He crawled into them.
'Honey, did you call mommy's work and ask for her?' she sounded strangled.
He nodded, not understanding the problem. Why didn't Charlotte just put his mom on the phone?
'Why sweetie?' She pushed hus hair back from his face. He felt his eyes fill up with tears.
'Because I miss her, Aunty Al. She didn't go to heaven, she wouldn't go without me. I know. So she's not here and she's not at works.. but where is she?'
Ally started to cry harder. Tyson felt himself be picked up, Bam sat his between him and Ryan again.
'Little Man, you mommy did go to heaven. She didn't want to leave you behind but she couldn't take you. She knows you'll be okay with Aunty Ally looking after you though. She died, and when you die.. you have to leave the people you love behind. Even though you don't want to. But one day, you will see mommy again in heaven.' Bam's face was all wet by the time he finished talking. Tyson felt himself crying too, but he was angry.
'NO!' he screamed at the top of his lungs 'My mommy wouldn't leave me, even if it was for heaven. Make her come back now!' he hit Bam in the chest, pounding as hard as he could.
Eventually, screaming and punding and crying made him tired enough, he fell asleep.
-II-
Normal P.O.V.
Ryan sat there and watched Tyson sleep on Bam's chest. The poor kid had been so worked up, he would be suprised if he could talk tomorrow.
Bam picked him up carefully and handed him to Ryan, then went and sat on the arm of Ally's chair and hugged her, tightly.
'Want to go to a hotel?' he asked her, rubbing small circles on her back.
She wiped her eyes and looked at Bam.
'Gosh, you could at least by me dinner and some drinks first' her voice was feeble, but they all laughed anyway.
'Charlottle said it might help Tyson to be here for a night, he might understand better' she shrugged 'What do you think, Ry?'
He blinked at her 'You're asking me?'
She shrugged 'Sure, he's you son..'
Ryan smiled, loving the sound of that. 'If it might help him heal fast, I'm okay with it.'
She nodded, smiling.
Ryan pick up Tyson and carried him down the hall to his room, laying him in bed and covering him over.
He stirred and opened his eyes, which were red and swollen.
'Ryan?' he croaked.
'Hey buddy?'
'Is mommy really never coming back?'
Ryan's eye's filled with tears, he felt like a part of his was being ripped out. 'I'm sorry.' was all he could manage.
Tyson stared at him, confused. 'Will Aunty Ally and I come and live in West Chester?' he asked 'I like it there.'
The question threw Ryan. There had been no talk of after the funeral, it seemed like a huge wall standing in everyones way so nobody could see the future.
He had Tyson in his life now, could be bare to let him go after this? No.
But would that mean holiday visits, or set weekends or something else?
'I really don't know' He murmered 'But, whenever you want to come to West Chester, you just tell Ally and you can come, okay?'
Tyson nodded and closed his eyes again. Ryan planted a kiss on his forehead, turned on the dinosaur night light in the corner and left the room.
Bam and Ally went to talk to the funeral director the next afternoon, so Ryan took Tyson to the park and the zoo. By the time they got home, Tyson was worn out. Ry carried him upstairs and put him down on the couch, Ally and Bam were in the kitchen, calling around to let people know the funeral would be the coming Tuesday ay 11 a.m. in West Chester.
Ally knew that was where Amy considered home. It was where both of their parents were buried.
Ryan walked in just as Ally was crossing the last name out of the pocket book.
'That's everyone, Bam' She took a sip of her beer.
Ryan sat down 'Have you thought of where you'll live when it's all over?'
Ally blinked, the tought actually hadn't crossed her mind. 'I have no idea. I don't know if I could live here' she gestured around 'But my place only has one bedroom, and since I'll have Ty with me full time..' she ran off, putting her head in her hands 'I am such an idiot.' she muttered.
Bam rubbed her back in a soothing circle. He had been doing it a lot recently. She realised how much she had missed him since leaving. She hated how up and down everything was right now, she just wanted to crawl into bed, cuddle up with chocolate and never think again. If Tyson wasn't around, she probably would be doing exactly that.
Ryan smiled 'Why don't you move back home?' Ally looked up, both her and Bam stared at him. He shifted slightly 'It's just, Tyson asked me last night when I put him to bed if that's where you'll live now. I told him I didn't know.. but he kept talking about it today, wondering if he'll go to school with Ava and have sleepover with Ape and Phil..' he paused 'And.. I'll get to spend some more time with him' he said it so quietly, he wasn't sure they evem heard.
'You know..' Bam said slowly 'It's not a bad idea. I mean, obviously, think about it first and stuff. But you both could move in with me. There are bars in West Chester so it's not like you won't have a job.. Or, you could do like the rest of my friends do and just get paid to be in my stupid ass show'
Ally shook her head, smiling.
'Alright!' she said it like she couldn't believe it. 'If Tyson is serious about moving. I'll do it.'
'Seriously?' Bam and Ryan almost shouldted in unsion.
'Of course. If Ryan wants to see Tyson more, I wouldn't dream of trying to stop him. And, I miss West Chester. New York is no place to raise a kid, as far as I'm concerned. He needs a back yard!'
'YEAH!' the boys yelled, egging her on.
'He needs a swing set!'
'Yeah!'
'He needs a tree house! A sprinkler in summer! A fire in winter!'
Bam tackled her to the ground while Ryan danced on the table. 'BACK YAAAARD!' he yelled, attempting something like a touchdown dance.
They laughed to hard, they started crying.
Tyson wandered in, looking sleepy 'Aunty Ally?' he murmered.
She was still laughing, leaning against the counter on the floor 'Yeah honey?'
'Why is Ryan on the table?' Tyson.
This set them off into laughter again, while Tyson merely shurgged and crawled so he was sitting between Bam and Ally on the floor.
'Ryan's on the table because..' she paused, giggling 'Because, he's really excited that we might go and live with Uncle Bam for a while in West Chester.'
Tyson's eyes lit up, he looked between the three of them 'Really?'
'If you want too, honey. Of course we will!' she kissed his mop of red curls. 'Ryan was really special to you mommy, honey. And he wants to spend lots more time with you.'
She saw Tyson really smile for the first time in what felt like years and knew she was doing the right thing.