(Trip is 19, Lance is 16), Grant is 15, Leo is 13, Jemma is 12 (23 days away from turning 13), Skye is 11 and Avalyn is 5.
The man that played the organ at the church was sick and Minister Paul went to Leo, wanting him to play at the Mass until the organist was of good health again. Leo shrugged and accepted. Being the smartest kid in the whole town came with a price and news travelled fast indeed. Everyone knew how Leo, who had never had music lessons, managed to break down the musical scales while fooling around in the school's keyboard. Paul asked him to come to the church after school and gave him the music sheets of that week's songs that he needed to play. Leo only asked the man to tell him briefly explain him music notation (since he couldn't a music sheet) and then just began playing. Paul was amazed and left the boy playing alone.
It was a small town and there'd be no harm in leaving him alone for a few minutes. Sam didn't get to call home that often, apparently, and Paul was dying to speak with him. Leo was glad that at least, wherever Trip was studying, it wasn't as strict as the Air Force. However, Leo was still really angry at Trip for leaving. Why did everyone he like left him? He sighed and gave up on playing and took a seat on the first pew. Rolling up his shirt's sleeve, Leo unstrapped the wristwatch he always worn, even when his wrist was too small for the watch.
The wristwatch was an old Stowa - a German manufacturer - and it was dated from the early 1940's. The watch was made out of chromium and steel case, its leather strap was brown and its clock hands were blue. Its dial, that had once been white, had now taken a buff-ish color, result of the years passing by. On the case-back, there were scrawled the dates 1944, the year Leo's grandfather bought the wristwatch, 1979, the year Leo's father was born, and under it, Leo's birth year.
Sighing again, the teen strapped the watch onto his wrist again and rolled down his sleeve. He wasn't feeling in the mood to go home; it was his birthday, yes, he was turning thirteen, and Coulson and May always managed to surprise him, but Leo didn't really like his birthday.
A man walked in. His steps were strong but unhurried. Leo looked back and nearly cried. His eyes burned with unshed tears but he controlled himself.
"Pastor Tom or Minister Paul aren't here right now," he said barely on a whisper.
"It's alright," the man replied.
He took his hands off of his pockets and took a seat on the pew behind Leo. The two were in silence but inside both were unsettled.
"What are you doing here alone?"
"I was playing on the organ," Leo told him and then took a long, deep breath. "I'm supposed to play in this week's Mass. The organist is sick."
"You're a pianist then?"
Leo shook his head, "No. I just… I don't know what happens. I just… play it."
The man's heart skipped a beat. "Does anyone in your family play any instrument?"
"My Mama played piano."
I know, the man thought. "Played? What happened? Did she stop playing?"
"I don't remember her. I don't know what happened to her."
"That's…" the man sighed, "My name's Sunil. Sunil Bakshi."
"Leo," the boy said, finally learning about his father's real name.
The man got up and moved to Leo's pew, making small talk as he took a seat next to him, "Leo as in Leonard, Leonidas, -"
"Leopold. Like Mozart's father."
"I see," Bakshi said with a nod. "I can see why your mother picked such name."
"Uh," Leo began awkwardly, "if you're not looking for the Minister or the Pastor, then what are you doing here? Did you come here to pray?"
"I'm not religious. And I didn't come here to get absolution for my sins either. I don't think He forgives people like me."
"Pastor Tom says everyone gets a chance to be forgiven. Why wouldn't you get a chance?"
"I –uh..." Bakshi avoided the question and said with a smirk, "You know, you are as smart and cunning as my son. He must be about your age. How old are you?"
"Thirteen. It's my birthday today, actually."
I know, Bakshi meant to say, but told him instead, "Happy birthday," he offered a small smile.
"What happened to your son?"
Bakshi looked down. "I don't see him in years."
"Have you tried getting in touch?"
"He's better off without me."
"How do you know?" Leo unconsciously clenched his fists. "Everyone needs their father."
"Not my son. He definitively doesn't need me. I don't even know if he'd remember me."
Leo insisted, "Have you tried getting in touch?"
"He probably hates me and he has every reason in the world to hate me. I'm a bad person but I love him," the man looked at the boy, "I really love him. And that's why I had to leave him."
"How come?"
"I was never a good man, but when I met his mother…" he smiled sadly, "she almost changed me. And then I found out she was pregnant. I left. When it was just the two of us things were alright –"
Leo chocked up, trying not to cry, "You didn't want him?"
"I did. I never thought I'd want someone like I wanted that baby. When it was just me and his mother, I could break her heart and leave. I was a bad person, remember? But when she told me about the baby, I couldn't put them at risk."
"Are you sorry?"
Bakshi shook his head, "I wish I could be sorry, I wish I could be the father my son needed but… He's better off without me," he said, getting up.
Leo got to his feet and watched the man walking to the door, "How did you know I was here?"
The words echoed in the church and tore at Bakshi's heart.
He didn't even dare to turn to face him, "I'm always keeping an eye on you."
"Can I just at least get a hug? It's my birthday after all."
He nodded and turned. Leo ran at full speed to him, wrapping his arms around Bakshi's middle. He hid his face on his chest and cried.
"I'm sorry I'm not the person you want me to be."
"Try to be!" the boy begged in a whimper.
"You're better off without me, Leo. Trust me when I say so."
Bakshi untangled Leo from him but the boy grabbed his wrist, not letting him walk away.
"I still think you're good. If it matters anything to you."
"It means the world to me that you have faith in me but let it go. Give up, Leo. I'm only gonna let you down."
"I remember you. Every little thing… You were a good dad to me," Bakshi remained quiet and Leo continued, "I still have the Rubik's cube you gave me. And the wristwatch," he rolled up his sleeve and showed it to him. "And I still remember what you told me the day you left me."
"Then you remember I'm not good."
"But you left me behind so that must mean something, right?"
Bakshi didn't have a convincing answer to offer the teenager. Instead he took a paper sheet from the inner pocket of his jacket, "I've got you this."
"What is it?" Leo asked, grabbing the paper in his hands.
"Unfold it."
Leo unfolded the paper and realized it was a piano piece, "Bonnie Wee Bairn by Maeve I. Fitz," he read and then looked up at his father.
"Your mother composed it when she found out she was pregnant with you," his lips drew into a small reminiscing smile. "It's the most beautiful thing I've heard in my life."
"Thanks. I don't have anything that is hers."
"You've got her looks, and her talent, and her intelligence."
The two lapsed into silence. Bakshi comfortably rested his hand in his pockets and began walking to the church's door.
"Maybe we'll meet some other day?" Leo asked hopeful, watching his father leaving again.
"Maybe. After all, you're the one person I can't say goodbye to."
After staring at the paper for a while, Leo walked to the piano, placed the music sheet on the stand and began playing his mother's composition. Bakshi hadn't left yet; he was leaning on the wall, hidden by a column, listening to him play. It took him back to the day Maeve played it for him. It was spine-chilling to hear it after so long, not to mention that the way Leo played it sounded exactly as Maeve did.
'Bonnie Wee Bairn' means Beautiful Little Baby
Readers, readers, where are you people? I'm getting the feeling that you guys aren't excited about this fanfiction and that you've abandoned me. Let me know you're still reading. It's important.
(And yes, Absolution - Part 1 means that soon there will be a Part 2)