March 30, 2030
We're going back to Willoughby. Miles, Stephanie, Bass and Me. I cried buckets when we said goodbye to Aaron, but Bass said he needed to get back to his diner and Aaron has grown to like his little farm. Betty was at Aaron's too when we left. Those two have become good friends. She's a little older than he is, but sometimes I wonder…
Anyway, Bass put a huge stack of blankets and pillows in the back of the wagon for us to ride on. Miles and Stephanie are driving. So far it's been an uneventful trip.
We've been talking names. I like Samantha for a girl or Andrew for a boy. Bass likes the stupidest names. The latest one he's been pushing is Mason Dixon. Mason Dixon Monroe. Good Lord, I'm having a baby with a lunatic. I asked him for girl names. He said there was no point. He's completely convinced that the baby is a boy.
Miles says we should name the baby after Bass. He thinks something like Asshole Jr would be perfect. I think he's joking. I'm pretty sure anyway…
March 31, 2030
I'm not sure where to even start about today. This was the most terrifying day of my life, and you know…I've been through some rough days before so that's saying something.
We were riding along. The day was warm but breezy. Bass was sitting with his back to the side of the wagon and I was sort of nestled between his legs. We weren't talking – just enjoying a moment. His hands were rubbing gently on my belly and his face was against my throat.
Everything happened so quickly. We were riding along slow and steady and then out of nowhere we were surrounded. There were six of them. Immediately it was clear that these were the bandits we'd heard about. They had swords and knives. This was probably our luckiest break. Bass and Miles were both in action within seconds. Bass moved with speed, but also with care as he pushed me low into the wagon, grabbed his swords and made ready to fight. Miles did the same, and handed Stephanie a shot gun that had been under the wagon seat.
"Take care of Charlie." Bass ordered Stephanie. She nodded and scooted into the wagon with me, shotgun ready. I had my bow. We watched as Bass and Miles jumped down from the wagon and were handily beating the men. Four of the bandits fell within the first couple of minutes and I was sure everything was going to be okay.
Then, a shot rang out and it wasn't coming from Stephanie. I saw Miles jerk back as a bullet hit him in the arm. Another grazed Bass's ear and that's when they started ducking beside the wagon searching for the source of the shots. Stephanie pulled the trigger and we heard a cry after the bullet was fired. No more shots came so we thought that part was over.
She turned and shot one of the remaining guys on foot just as he was prepared to stab Bass in the back. As that bandit fell, Miles finished off the one who was attacking him.
We all breathed a sigh of relief, assuming it was all over.
That's when two more came running into the fray. I had my crossbow out and shot one of them, but Bass got into a swordfight with the second, blocking my shot. I turned to point it in the other direction when we heard a horse coming and suddenly Aaron was there, riding in on a big black mare. He was swinging a sword around like he knew exactly what to do with it.
And he did. One of the bandits had Miles on the ground. Miles was weak from loss of blood and didn't look like he was going to make it out of this particular match up, but Aaron came swooping by and slashed the bandit's throat so completely that his head almost came clean off. By then it was just Bass and his guy and I finally got off a shot. An arrow went through the remaining bandit's shoulder and that slowed him down enough for Bass to finish him off with ease. Afterwards, all was quiet.
We all just stared at each other for a second and then Stephanie sprang into action, wrapping torn strips from her shirt around Miles's arm. Bass was at my side, checking me over. We all turned to look at Aaron at the same time. He was breathing heavily, and he was wearing this strange grim smile.
"Uh, Staypuft? Where did you learn to do that?"
"Bradbury was really bad. Really bad. Had to learn some new skills." That's all he would say about that, changing the subject quickly. "These assholes burned down my house, so I guess I'm going back to Willoughby with you." He didn't sound sad exactly, just resigned. It was as if he had decided that good things would never happen to him again.
"What about Betty?" I asked.
He shrugged. "She's fine. I stopped and said goodbye before I left."
"You should have brought her with you." I suggested softly.
"What's the point? Every woman I care about dies. She's better off this way."
My heart aches for Aaron. I love him like a brother. I want him to be happy.
April 2, 2030
Tonight I got the grand tour of The Happy Place. We got to Willoughby late. Most of the main street was dark. Bass dropped Miles and Stephanie off at Grandpa's. Miles is doing pretty good thanks to Stephanie, but she still wants him to get checked out. Aaron left us as soon as we hit the town limits. I'm not sure where he went. It seemed like he needed some time to think.
After it was just Bass and me, we drove to Marion's old diner. Even at a glance, I could tell a lot had changed. The old sign had been repainted with the new name. The windows were sparkling and a soft glow came from inside.
John Frye was just locking up. He grinned at us when we pulled in and walked over as Bass was helping me down from the wagon. "You back, Boss?"
"Yup. Back for good I think. How was everything here?"
"Business is booming. Just got rid of the last of the supper crowd." Frye turned to me then, "Hey there Ms. Matheson. Haven't seen you in a coon's age."
I smiled. Frye and I had never officially met, and the one time we'd crossed paths, hadn't been under terribly friendly circumstances. I was glad he was making an effort to be nice though. He looked at my belly. There's no way to hide that I'm pregnant – not anymore. It's obvious. "So you two are having a little one?"
Bass beamed and reached his arms around my shoulders, "Yep. We are."
"Well congratulations. Nothing better than babies. The wife and I have five. Love em all." He tilted his head a bit, looking at us thoughtfully. "You know, if you need me to cover some shifts on a regular basis, let me know. Retirement has sucked and I have really loved coming in every day."
"Well, if business continues to do well, I'll take you up on that offer." Bass said, holding out a hand for Frye to shake. After he left, Bass took me inside. The place was neat and clean and smelled a bit of fried chicken and apple pie. He didn't waste a lot of time on the first floor though. Instead, he led me upstairs.
This was where the biggest changes had happened. The rooms had been scrubbed clean of the dust that had accumulated. The walls had been whitewashed. Bass had found a decent looking yellow sofa and small wooden table for the living room. The only other room was the bedroom. It had also received a big make over. The iron bed was new and topped with soft feather mattresses and white sheets. Over that was a simple quilt in shades of blue. Along another wall was a simple wooden dresser topped with a lantern.
"I love it." I told him, almost in tears. Everything makes me cry these days. "I really love it."
Bass was excited. "We'll put the crib along this wall. Later we can re-do the attic for a second bedroom. There's plenty of room up there, but it will need a lot of work. Come with me. I want to show you one more thing.
"What?"
He took me back to the living room and directed me to the wall opposite the sofa. I hadn't noticed that wall before. There was an ornate bookshelf, hand crafted and beautifully constructed. And on the shelves were stacks of books. Bass had found books for me of every kind and my mind was whirling at all the wonderful hours of reading that lay ahead.
"You got me books?"
"Yeah, but that's not all."
"What else?"
"I made the bookcase myself."
"You did?" I was impressed, walking closer I was able to take in the fine detail and craftsmanship. "I didn't know you could do anything like this…"
He shrugged, kind of embarrassed. "I did some stuff like this with my Grandpa when I was growing up. I'd kind of forgotten about it, but when I had this idea to make the bookshelf, I just knew I'd have to give it a shot."
I stroked my fingertips along the top of the shelf and felt some ridges. I looked closer and my heart skipped a bit. There in the wood on the top of the shelf, he'd carved Bass loves Charlie. I looked over at him, tears in my eyes once again. "This is amazing. I love it so much."
He was grinning as he came over and pulled me into his arms. "This was supposed to be your Christmas present." He faltered for a moment, remembering all that had happened to change our holiday plans. He seemed to clear his head of those thoughts, "You know where I got the wood?"
I shook my head.
I went back out to the old farmhouse, you know – the place where we first…"
"Yeah, I remember." My words sounded a little breathless, but I couldn't help myself.
"Well, I pulled boards out of the walls in the room we shared that night. I brought them back and made this. I think I have enough extra to make a cradle for the baby too."
"You did all that – for me?"
"Of course I did. Charlie, you know there's nothing I wouldn't do for you, right? If anything had happened to you when we were attacked – "
"Nothing did." I assured him, stroking his cheek with my hand.
"And nothing will. I'm going to make sure of it."
He kissed me then and afterwards we christened that new bed. It's a very nice bed, especially when we're in it together. I'm no fortune teller, but I predict we're going to be there a lot.
A/N: Sorry for the delay here. I got sidetracked by wanting to get Time After Time up and complete before the comic finale, and then I was unable to write anything else until I'd done my own response fic to the comic finale. Now I'm back on track, and working on some other new stuff (including the AU for Romeo). I'll also be updating Charlie's Journal as well as the story here is not over.
Leave a comment if you have a minute.