Author's note: Well, here it is. Lucas talks to Jack. You might want to prepare some tissues. I definitely needed them.
—--
Lucas went toward the bathroom and smiled at the sight in front of him.
Jack was wrapped in a fluffy bathrobe with bears' ears on top of it, waterdrops dripping from his wet blonde hair.
Agatha was just taking a towel to wipe Jack's hair when Lucas stepped in.
"If it's okay with you I'll take it from here, Mrs. Thatcher", he said, smiling warmly as Jack's face lit up at seeing his buddy.
Agatha smiled too as she passed the towel over to Lucas.
"By all means, Lucas", she said. As Jack shook waterdrops from his hair, sprinkling it all around the bathroom as he bounced on the small carpet, Agatha silently added "Thank you for doing this. She never saw it fit to talk to him."
Lucas pressed his lips tightly together and slightly nodded before kneeling down and started to dry Jack's hair with a soft towel. In the next moment, he scooped the precious boy up in his arms and smiled at him.
"Alright, buddy, let's go. It's time for Dreamland. Say goodnight to your Aunt Agatha", said Lucas.
Jack smiled at Agatha as she leaned in to kiss his soft cheek.
"Goodnight, Auntie", he said.
Agatha took his little palm in her fingers and gently kissed it.
"Good night, my sweet boy", she said and glanced once again at Lucas "Goodnight, Lucas."
Lucas gave her a small smile.
"Goodnight", and with those words, he made sure that Jack was wrapped properly in his little bathrobe, his hood with bear ears on his head before he left the bathroom.
Lucas hurried up the grand staircase to escape chill air so Jack wouldn't get cold.
He came into Jack's room and helped the little boy into his pyjama. Next, he took off his suit jacket and vest and picked up the blanket off the bed.
"Okay, buddy, get in", as Jack jumped on the bed, Lucas smiled before tucking him in. In the next moment, he laid next to the darling child and welcomed him warmly in his embrace. Closing his eyes, Lucas inhaled deeply, the scent of baby shampoo and that sweet child scent filling his heart with warmth and love for his little buddy.
They laid in silence for a few moments, but Lucas could tell that Jack wasn't sleeping by the way he kept on snuggling into his side.
"You can ask me anything, buddy, you know that. Anything at all", Lucas gently started the talk he was sure will be the most painful one he ever had.
Jack moved a bit so he could look up at Lucas. Lucas fixed the blanket on the little boy to keep him from getting cold and for a few moments they just gazed at each other's eyes.
And all of a sudden, he heard Jack whispering a question:
"You won't get mad at me?"
Lucas creased his eyebrows in confusion.
"Of course not. Why would I get mad at you?", Lucas asked carefully.
Jack sniffed a bit.
"Mummy gets mad at me when I ask about you", he whispered.
Lucas took a deep breath in.
"I promise I won't", he gently caressed Jack's blonde head, checking to see if it was dry. The fire in the fireplace was roaring and the room was quite warm.
Jack watched him intently for a few seconds and then Lucas heard his silent voice:
"Why did you leave?"
Lucas swallowed hard.
This was it.
"I had to, Jack. I had to go and help other people", Lucas replied.
Jack nodded.
"Like Robin Hood?", he asked quietly.
Lucas smiled sadly.
"Yeah. Just like Robin Hood", he replied.
Jack fidgeted a bit.
"Why couldn't Mummy and I go with you?", he asked sadly, breaking Lucas' heart.
Lucas took a deep breath in, trying to keep tears at bay. Jack needed him to be strong.
"I wanted you to come", he paused, trying to find the right words. He didn't want to badmouth Elizabeth in front of her son, but he couldn't lie to Jack. He could only be honest with him in the gentlest way possible "But, your Mummy didn't want to come, Jack."
Jack pondered this information for a few seconds before he spoke again:
"Are you still my buddy?", he whispered, his voice smaller than usual.
Lucas exhaled a shaky breath.
"I will always be your buddy, Jack. Nothing will ever change that", he said as he rubbed comforting circles with his palm on Jack's back.
Jack rubbed his right eye.
"But, you're not coming back", he mumbled tearfully.
Lucas wiped the little boy's tears with his thumb.
"No, I'm not. But, we will find a way to see each other", replied Lucas, his heart shattering to million pieces as he heard Jack's quiet sob.
Lucas pulled the little boy closer to him and let him cry in his chest. Closing his eyes, Lucas allowed a few tears to fall down, but he quickly wiped them as Jack started to pull away a bit.
"Buddy?", Jack silently called him.
Lucas gently wiped the precious boy's wet cheeks.
"Yes?"
Jack wiped his eyes with his little fingers.
"I am sorry that Mummy doesn't love you anymore. But I do. I love you very much", he mumbled silently.
Lucas swallowed hard before he hugged the little boy more tightly and gently kissed his forehead.
"I love you too, buddy. To the Moon and back", he whispered, praying to God to give him strength not to break down.
Not in front of Jack.
Jack wrapped his little hands around Lucas' neck and stayed like that for a while.
When they pulled apart, Jack asked the question that nearly made Lucas lose a fight with tears:
"Can I stay with you?"
A short breath escaped Lucas' lungs.
"I wish you could, buddy. More than anything. But, you have to go back to your Mummy", said Lucas.
Jack's lower lip trembled.
"But, Mummy doesn't love me anymore", he said and burst into tears.
Lucas sat up in bed and picked the darling boy up in his arms. He hugged him tightly, rocking him gently.
"Sssssh, Jack", whispered Lucas "What makes you say that?! Your Mummy loves you more than anything in this world!"
Jack sobbed into Lucas' shoulder, his little body shivering from crying.
Lucas kept on rocking the little boy in his arms, his heart aching in pain.
How could Elizabeth let this happen?! How could she let her own son think she doesn't love him anymore?!
"She sent me away", Lucas heard Jack's silent cries "And she isn't coming to Grandpa's. Not even for my birthday", Jack looked at Lucas, his eyes filling with more tears "Why, buddy? Why doesn't she love me anymore?"
Lucas gently wiped the little boy's cheek and took his handkerchief to blow out Jack's little nose.
"Jack", he gently started to talk "It is not true that your Mummy doesn't love you. She is…", Lucas tried to think of a way to explain PTSD and grief to such a small child "She is just sad. She misses your Daddy."
Jack sniffed a few times, his tears stopping as his eyes widened a bit.
"Mummy is sad?", he silently asked.
Lucas nodded as he kept on wiping tears from Jack's cheeks.
"Yeah, she is very sad", he gently replied.
Jack's little face grew thoughtful and Lucas watched him carefully. He never saw that facial expression on Elizabeth.
He must have got it from his Dad.
Jack looked up at Lucas.
"Can I help my Mummy?", he silently asked.
Lucas smiled sadly.
"You are the one who can help her the most. Even if she is angry or crying, she still loves you. You just have to help her get better. You listen to your Grandparents and be a good boy. That is how you will help your Mummy the most", Lucas said gently.
Jack nodded.
"Okay", he softly smiled and Lucas felt his heart melting at the darling boy's loving nature.
They were silent for a few moments before Jack spoke silently once again:
"Buddy?", as Lucas smiled encouragingly at him, Jack silently asked "If Mummy and Grandpa allow, can I visit you again?"
Lucas pulled the little boy closer to him.
"Of course you can. Anytime you want", he replied.
Jack frowned a bit.
"Even if Mummy is kissing someone else?", he asked, confused.
To his surprise, Lucas found the question quite funny. Therefore, he smiled warmly.
"Yes, even if your Mummy is kissing someone else", he replied.
Jack slightly nodded and in the next moment, he let out a small yawn.
Seeing that the little boy could fall asleep any minute now, Lucas quickly called him:
"Hey, buddy?", as Jack looked up at him, Lucas asked "Will you do something for me?", as the little boy nodded eagerly, Lucas silently added "Will you promise me that you will eat from now on? And talk to your Grandpa and Grandma when you are sad?"
Jack watched Lucas for a few moments, then gave him a small smile and nodded.
"Okay, buddy, I promise", he barely said the words when another yawn escaped him.
Lucas fixed the blanket on the precious child and gently caressed his blonde hair, checking to see if it was dry.
It was.
"Goodnight, buddy", whispered Lucas as he gently kissed Jack's head.
Jack snuggled closer to Lucas.
"Night, buddy", he mumbled silently and in a few moments his breathing grew deeper and he fell into a peaceful sleep.
Lucas hugged the little boy and stared at him, unable to sleep.
"Sleep, Jack", he whispered "Everything is going to be okay now."
—--
You're sleeping, son, I know
But really, this can't wait
I wanted to explain
Before it gets too late.
For your mother and me
Love has finally died
This is no happy home
But God knows how I've tried.
Because you're all I have, my boy
You are my life, my pride, my joy
And if I stay, I stay because of you, my boy.
I know it's hard to understand
Why did we ever start?
We're more like strangers now
Each acting out a part.
I have laughed, I have cried
I've lost every game
Taken all I can take
But I'll stay here just the same.
Sleep on, you haven't heard a word
Perhaps it's just as well
Why spoil your little dreams
Why put you through the hell?
Life is no fairy tale
As one day you will know
But now you're just a child
I'll stay here and watch you grow.
Because you're all I have, my boy
You are my life, my pride, my joy.
("My boy" - Elvis Presley)