Gone

Thank you all for continuing to read and thanks for the adds and alerts. I'm sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. I don't have an editor, so I'm doing it all on my own which is part of why it's taken me so long to post. I'm doing my best to be sure to get everything as grammatically correct as I can. Still there might be some mistakes. Hope you guys will continue to read. And thank you once again for taking interest.

Seated on the firm mattress of the king bed, William set Flash in front of the prison. The little boy reached over behind one of his many Lincoln Log buildings grasping a hold of Captain Cold. "You aren't fast enough to stop me this time Flash. I've got my cold gun, and I'll finish you off and take over the city." William held Flash in his other hand. "You can't get past me." He moved Captain Cold over towards a tower. "Try this." He used the gun to fire a freeze beam knocking the tower down. "Help, the water's taking me away."

After putting Flash over to one of the buildings about to be flooded, he moved Captain Cold to the prison, freeing Ace. "It's about time you got here." William used his hands as a getaway car moving them to beyond his pillows to their new hiding place. "Now we can plan our next moves." William moved back to the Flash having him pick up the broken pieces of the water tower. He used Flash Speed to build it back up. "Now I have to go put those criminals back in prison." William rushed Flash to the pillow hideout, having him go in and grab the two criminals. "You are going to Iron Heights where you won't get out this time." Moving quickly he put the two bad guys down on the TV stand. "Have a good stay while I protect the city." Once he was back on the bed, William began to repair the damage done to the prison.

"Now there is danger at the park." Grabbing Flash, he ran into the bathroom flipping on the lights. Once the Flash was on the sink, William turned on the water pushing the stopper down. "There's a storm coming and people are still in the lake." Once the water was close to the top, he shut it off and used the Flash to rescue everyone before using a small bar of soap as a bomb splashing water on the counter top.

"William, you need to play in your room or out here with me."

Slowly he turned, facing his father. "Mom lets me do this all the time."

"Maybe when you were at home, but this isn't our home."

Why was his dad telling him something he knew. His mom really didn't mind him playing in the sink or even in the bath as long as he cleaned things up. Still shy about maybe making his dad unhappy, William let the water out and dried the counter following him back into his room.

"When I was your age, I had these too," his father said as he signaled towards his Lincoln Logs.

Settling back on the bed, William nodded, reaching for the remote. He turned the TV on to a channel playing cartoons, focusing on that until his dad went away. As he watched TV, he zoomed Flash around. More than anything he wanted to go back to living with Noah. If he would have known that his dad wasn't going to take him back, William would never have asked Mrs. Walthrop to call him. Central City was his home, not someplace like Ivy Town. There had to be a way to keep him from taking him away. Glancing over at the clock, he realized Noah would be out of school. With that thought in mind, William dropped Flash on the mattress before heading in to ask if he could talk to his best friend.

"I don't know what else to try. I know William would rather stay here with his friend. A part of me wishes it were that simple." William watched his him run his hand over his head, hoping that whoever his father was speaking to would help him realize what he wanted. "If I wasn't so certain that the press would have a field day with this, I'd take him to the park or the aquarium." William furrowed his brow in relation to what he was hearing. Why would the news people be interested in them? "I'm waiting for Jean to call back. She says we can get everything wrapped up by Friday. I know once we get him back to Ivy Town William can have more freedom than he does here. I've also talked to Raisa, and she has agreed to stay with him when Felicity and I are out."

Friday was in two days. At the right side of the bed, William began to wave his arms, knocking over his buildings causing some of the Lincoln Logs to fall off the bed. When the mattress was cleared, he made a fist with his left hand and began punching the pillow, wiping the tears from his face with his right hand. The more he thought about having to leave, the angrier he became. Taking the much abused pillow, William flung it across the bed. It hit the lamp on the bedside table knocking it to the ground with a loud thump.

"Hey William!"

Ignoring his father, William grabbed the next pillow ready to fling that one over to the TV. Before he could, the pillow was gone. Strong arms encircled him. "Let go of me." William was out of breath as he struggled to get away from his dad, but he wasn't strong enough. "Let me go, I don't want you to hold me. I want to go back to Noah's."

"I'm not letting you go until you've had a chance to calm down," said the gentle voice from behind him.

William found himself on his dad's lap, and still fought to get away as tears ran down his reddened cheeks. "I hate you, I hate you." He gasped before the anger turned into sadness. He didn't want to cry, but his body wasn't obeying him. A moment later William was resting against his dad's chest, his breath hitching as he tried to gain control. "Wa…wa…why did sh…she die." He felt a kiss on top of his head.

"I wish I had an answer for you that would make sense." It wasn't the answer William wanted, but at this point he was too upset to care.

William squeezed his eyes shut, holding his arms between his dad's chest and his own. "I wish I wa…was with her." His eight year old mind couldn't imagine living his life without her. His mother had been his whole world. Right now he didn't want any words of comfort, and was glad just to be held in his father's arms, even though he hadn't been at first.

Once he felt strong enough, William sat back looking up at his dad. "I don't hate you."

His father's large thumb wiped away the remaining tears. "I know you didn't mean what you said, and you have every right to be angry."

William nodded. "Why would the news people try and get to us?"

Before answering, his dad settled back against the pillows. William pressed his cheek over his dad's heart.

"They are interested in me, because of my families past. I grew up in a mansion with your aunt Thea, wanting for nothing. Our parents were very wealthy and well known. As a result your aunt and I got whatever we wanted. The press loves catching the news of celebrities which is what I once was."

William glanced up. "Does that mean I'm rich too?"

His father's chest bounced as he chuckled. "We do have a lot of money, but that can't bring us true happiness."

That wasn't much fun. William rested his cheek back against his dad's chest. "Will you let me talk to Noah? He's out of school now."

"Sure I will." Once he gave William a gentle hug, He sat up. William moved over next to him taking the phone as his father headed back out into the living room area.

When his friend was the one answering the call, William let out a sigh. "I'm glad your home. Noah, my dad said something about us leaving on Friday. He can't take me away."

"That doesn't give us much time to plan an escape." For the next half hour the boys tried to find a way for William to run away. "You know, if you can get out of the resort you can take a cab here. My mom has a lot of money in the mad money jar. After you get here we can take our bikes to this place I know."

"I don't know if that will work. My dad stays in here with me."

"Well, tell him you want to try sleeping on your own tonight, and tomorrow night. That way he won't suspect anything, and you can get out once he's in his room."

"Will your brother come get me?"

"He has a date with Molly, so that would be a no."

"I'll think about it. So what am I missing at school?" With a tentative plan made, William was content to hear about the things happening at school.

After spending a long time in the bath, until the water was getting chilly, William dressed for bed. His dad was waiting for him. "Dad, I want to try and sleep alone, well with my wolf, but just him. I need to try and be brave."

Once he settled in bed, the covers were pulled over his body. "I'm proud of you for trying to be brave. If you get scared come get me, or just call for me." After getting a kiss on his head, William turned over, watching him walk out the door. To William's relief, he left the door open. He wondered how long it was going to take for them to go into their own room for the night, wishing he had a way to call Noah.

When it felt like a long enough time, William slipped out of bed, walking to the entrance of his room. Standing on the left of the door-frame, he slowly moved his head around, seeing that the living room was lit only with one lamp. Across from his room, the door to the other room was cracked open. The light didn't seem to be on.

Back in bed, William cuddled with his wolf. "I hope this works."

A version of the dreams he'd been having woke him. William felt as if his heart was going to beat out of his chest. As he tried taking a deep breath, he wiped the tears and his runny nose on the sheet. If he was going to run away with Noah, he knew that going to get his dad wasn't an option. Resting back against his pillow, William shut his eyes hoping when they opened again it would be morning.

The moment he woke up, light was shining through the curtains. William felt relieved. After sitting up, he grabbed his wolf before heading into the living room. That was when he realized that something wasn't right. All of the furniture was missing. Where there had been a door across the way, there was only bare wall. Echoes bounced off the walls when he called out for his dad and Felicity. Behind him the door to his room was gone. William ran to the wall hitting it as nothing happened.

This time when he sat up, Felicity was there beside him. Not caring that he barely knew her, William reached for Felicity, grasping around her neck and shoulders as he felt her arms wrap around him. "Shh, you're safe now." Being held in her arms had him wishing it was his mom. "I don't want any more bad dreams," he mumbled against her chest.

"I'm so sorry you keep having them. Can I tell you how I dealt with them when I was younger?"

Instead of answering, he nodded.

"When I'd wake up from a bad dream, I'd go into my mom's room. She would take me into our kitchen and warm some milk, putting just a little bit of chocolate in before we'd sit and talk about what I'd dreamed. I know that you're not used to me or your father, William. Sometimes talking about the dreams we have that scare us, helps them go away."

The second she mentioned chocolate milk, William thought that would make things a little better. "Can we get some hot chocolate?"

He felt something press in on top of his head, not minding that she was giving him a kiss. "Sure we can."

While she began to make the chocolate milk, William sat at the bar watching her. "Where'd my dad go?"

Once she had the milk in the microwave, Felicity turned to him. "He got a call from a friend who needed some help."

After they had their milk, Felicity led them to the sofa. William waited for her to sit down before snuggling up next to her. "This tastes really good."

"Godiva makes the best chocolate. Do you want to talk about your dream?"

"This one was here. I came out of my room to go to yours because it was morning. After that there were only walls. Everything else was gone. My door was gone, and I was just in this giant box. Felicity, why do people hurt other people? Why did they take my mom away from me?"

When she opened her arms, William let her settle him on her lap. "Sometimes there are very angry hurt people in this world. They don't think about what their actions might do to another. In the case of your mom, I'm not sure why they took her life."

When she wiped at his tears, William didn't realize he had started to cry. "I really miss her." Seconds later she was holding him close while he felt his tears continue to fall. "It feels like someone stuck a rock in where my heart is." His breath caught. "I ca…ant keep crying."

"You cry all you need to sweetheart. Her death is such a sad event, and you need to let all that sadness out." Her words were like opening a flood gate. The rock in his chest seemed to just get bigger and bigger until it felt like he couldn't breathe.

"I want her." All the pain he felt was just too much.

Minutes or hours later, there were no more tears to cry. They were back in William's bed. With his dad's arms around him, William rested with his back up against his chest. Beside them Felicity was running her fingers through his hair. "It still feels like I've got a rock in my chest." Felicity's hand moved from his hair down to his chest, over his heart. She'd cried with him, something not even his dad had done. Needing to hold on to her, William closed his arms around her hand. His lids grew heavy. "Don't go anywhere."

"We'll be right here with you when you wake up," she said. With that reassurance, he was able to let his lids close. As he drifted into sleep, their whispered voices kept the bad dreams away. His last thoughts were about running away or staying with them.

Waking up and finding out that they were all going to the indoor swimming pool was the best surprise he'd had in a while. The moment they entered, William starred at what was in front of him. "A water slide inside." Felicity led the way to some lounge chairs that already had towels on them. He'd never imagined that there could be a place this cool in Central City. "Dad, can I go now?"

"Go right ahead. Do you want me to come with you?"

He didn't even have to think twice. "Yes yes. Felicity you have to come too."

At the top of the slide, William laughed when his dad and Felicity chose to go down together. Once they were cleared, it was his turn. He sat down in the rushing water feeling excited and a little afraid. As he continued down the blue slide, the speed of the water pushed him faster. The fear went away, replaced by pure joy. At the bottom he splashed under the water, coming up with a wide grin on his face. "Let's go again, this time I want to go with dad."

"William, I think I'll just sit here and watch you two," Felicity said as she sat down on one of the lounge chairs.

"We'll be down before you know it," he answered before leading the way to the top of the slide. After several more slides, he was ready to check out the rest of the pool. "What's that flap for?"

"I think it's there so we can go outside and swim," his dad answered

"Really?" When it was confirmed, William got a ride on his dad's back, holding his breath as he swam under the flap. When they came up, there was steam drifting off the surface. "This is so awesome." Letting go of his dad, William swam over to the side and pulled up. It was really cold, so he jumped back in swimming back to his father's waiting arms. "Is there a pool at your house?"

"Not in Ivy Town."

"Was there one at the mansion?" As he waited for an answer, William hung on to his dad's arm. He could tread water, but not for a long time.

"We did have one there. Are you ready to go back inside?" When he nodded, his dad helped him onto his back again. Inside there were more people around than there had been, and a bunch of kids at the slide. "I'm going to go sit with Felicity."

"I'm going sliding again."

In line, he met a boy a little older than him. "You got any sisters or brothers?"

Thinking of Noah, William nodded. "He's at home. He's my best friend and my brother."

"Cool, what's your name?"

"William, what's yours?"

"Toby." At the top, William went first, before waiting at the side for his new friend.

"You know there's a river in here don't you?"

That didn't seem real to him. "No way."

"Yep. Do you want to go?"

William nodded, leaving Toby at the side of the pool to go ask. "Dad, dad, Toby says there's a river inside, can I go with him?" When his dad wrapped a towel around him, William glanced back at Toby.

"We'd need to go upstairs and change out of our swim suits. And Felicity and I will come with you."

Before his dad could say anymore, William ran over to where Toby was sitting all alone. "Where are your mom and dad?"

"They went to the other pool. It's only for the boring adults. So do you get to come?"

It would be nice if he could go alone. "Yeah, but my dad and his girlfriend said they need to come too." When his friend agreed to meet him in the Lobby, William went back to the lounge chairs.

Something strange happened when they met up with Toby. His friend's eyes got really big when he looked at his dad. "You're…" Turning to him, he finished his sentence. "He's your dad?"

"Yeah, and this is Felicity." After they met Toby, William followed his friend ahead of his dad. "Why are you so surprised?"

"Because he's really famous. I mean he was stuck on an island for five years and he ran for mayor of Star City. You don't know any of this."

"No, I just found out about him a few days ago. He didn't know about me." When they entered into the huge atrium, William stopped, glancing all around. "Wow."

"I know right. So there's a boat ride on the river." While they walked, Toby kept asking him about his dad, and things like if William had a lot of toys, and a house with a pool. By the time they got to the boats, William felt the rock in his heart getting heavy. "You know what, I'm tired. I'll see you later."

"Are you ready to go for a ride?" Felicity asked when he returned to where they stood.

"I just want to go back to our room now." Not wanting to hear anything else, William walked past them. Would Noah be the same way about his dad? Maybe all the kids would want to be his friend just because his dad was rich.

"William what's wrong?" his father asked.

"Nothing, I don't want to talk about it."

In his room, once the door was shut, William walked over to the bed. He wasn't going to have any real friends anymore if he moved away. Having thought things through, William knew Noah was already aware who his dad was. Paul had said some things about that, but none of it mattered.

A tap at the door drew his attention away from sad thoughts. "Hey pal, Noah's on the phone." After he had the phone and his dad was gone again, William was ready to talk about their plans.

"So, mom's got a dinner party with some friends of hers. She's got Gabby coming to babysit. All you have to do is get a cab. Have it take you to your old house. What time did they go to bed?"

"They were already in their room around nine thirty."

Good. I'll be waiting at your house with our bikes. I've been taking supplies to where we're staying since we got off the phone. It's kind of a long way, but I don't think anyone's going to find us."

Having a plan was a relief and also a little scary. If his dad found out, William worried about what kind of punishment he'd get. His mom used time out when he was little and grounding and extra chores now that he was older. Hopefully that would be the case with his dad.

When he returned the phone to his dad, William was ready to go back to his room. "William, what happened while we were in the atrium?"

Still feeling bad about being used, William sighed. "Nothing, I just got tired is all."

"Buddy, look at me."

Slowly he did. "Toby said you're famous and all he wanted to do was ask me questions. I was sad about it, but Noah told me some jokes and I'm all better. I want to go back to my room now."

When his dad lifted him onto his lap, William was surprised but also felt defeated. The TV flipped on and the channel his dad chose played old shows. There were no other words spoken, none were needed. Taking his dad's hand, William glanced down at it during the commercial. He held his hand out, his fingers barely making it past his father's palm. The show came back on, The Munsters. It was a show he'd watch with his grandparents. "Dad, is the mansion bigger than the house on the TV?"

"Very much so."

"Did you have a big room?"

"Big enough to have a fireplace."

What would it be like to live in a place that big? It was frustrating to even think about it, because he wasn't going to stay with them. A while later, when Felicity joined them, The Adams Family was on. William felt her hand rubbing his shoulder. It was comfortable being here.

The big moment was at hand. Noah told him to leave everything, aside from the wolf, here in his room. In the living room, only the one light was on. The door to the other room was completely closed. As quietly as he could, William got the door opened, holding on to it until it clicked shut. That sounded loud, and he worried that any minute he'd be caught.

By the time he made it to the front of the resort he'd pulled the hood of his jacket up to block his face. His heart felt light and like it was going to beat all the way out of his chest. The guy at the door watched him, and as he was starting near him a cab pulled up. William quickly got in.

"Hey kid, did you lose your mommy."

"She's dead and I need to go to my aunt's home."

The cab guy stared at him. "You got money to pay?"

"She does at her house.'

"You better not be lying. Where to?"

Once he gave the address, the driver pulled away. As he did, William noticed that the door guy seemed to be talking on a phone. His stomach began to hurt and he felt hot all of the sudden. Some parents at his school spanked their kids. Would his dad spank him?"

It felt like an eternity before William noticed the houses near his neighborhood. When they pulled up to his house, Noah was waiting. Once the driver was paid he sped off. "We've got to go Flash Speed. The door guy was on the phone and we need to go now." With his helmet on, William got on his bike and took off next to Noah. The streets this time of night were empty for the most part. His stomach still hurt, and each car that passed them had William sweating bullets. It was too late to turn around and go back. Fearing what would happen if he got caught; he pedaled as fast as he could.