the bedroom was dimly lit, with a Wolverine poster on the wall; a soft glow from the bedside lamp casting long shadows across the walls. Livvie stood by the bed, carefully packing a small overnight bag for Lucas, her movements slow and deliberate. She'd never been this kind of mom and she didn't want Lucas to feel like he couldn't be a normal kid who went to sleepovers.
Livvie packed the last bit of his clothes before falling onto his bed; running her hands through her hair as Jack walked out of the bathroom where Lucas took a bath. "He needed help washing his hair." Jack chuckled as Livvie smiled with a nod before bursting into tears. "I don't think he should go, Jack." Livvie cried out as Jack sighed, taking a seat beside her.
"Livvie, I get it. I really do. But...he needs this. He needs to have some normalcy, something that reminds him he's just a kid. That he's safe." She bit her lip to stiffle another cry while nodding. She knew that Jack was right but there last encounter with Caleb hadn't exactly gone in their favor.
"But what if something happens? What if...what if Caleb tries again? I can't—" She swallowed hard. The words getting caught in her throat. "I can't lose him. I won't survive it." Jack shook his head, getting up off the bed; kneeling at eye level with her, taking her face in his hands. "Livvie, we will not lose him. We won't! It's been months since that dream. It was probably just a temporary side effect from the possession."
Livvie nodded; she knew that Jack was right. Lucy had reached out to every contact from across the country and they all agreed that the connection was more than likely temporary and would fade with time. "I just wish that we could be sure." Jack took her hands in his, applying a soft kiss to them.
"I know. The truth is that we can't. I mean, we'll always protect him but we can't allow our fears to keep him from enjoying his life. it's not fair." She nodded again; really hating Jack at that very point for always being right; and making her look like an absolute raging ragamuffin.
"You're right. I know you're right... It's just hard."
She murmured against his hand as he nodded before leaning in and lightly kissing her lips as Lucas appeared in the doorway with a ninja turtles robe around his waist. "gross." Livvie and Jack quickly stood to their feet, whipping around to see a fake grimace on his face, a smile hidden underneath it.
"Mom, what's wrong? You look...sad," he said, his voice filled with worry.
Livvie blinked, taken aback by how easily he could read her. She forced a smile, trying to hide the turmoil inside her. "Oh, sweetie, it's nothing," she said, her voice softer than usual. "I just realized how big you're getting, and I got a little emotional about it."
It was a small lie, one that she hoped would ease his mind, but Lucas wasn't fooled. He shook his head, his expression serious. "I don't have to go if you don't want me to."
His words hit her like a punch to the gut. The truth was, she didn't want him to go. The idea of him being away—even for one night—terrified her. But she remembered Jack's words, the logic that she knew she couldn't argue with. Lucas needed this. He needed to be a kid, to experience the world outside of their carefully constructed bubble.
Closing her eyes for a moment, Livvie took a deep breath, letting Jack's reasoning sink in. When she opened them again, she looked at Lucas with as much warmth as she could muster. "No, I want you to go, Lucas. You need this, and it'll give me and your dad time to plan your birthday."
At the mention of his birthday, Lucas' face lit up, his earlier concern melting away. Livvie managed a real smile this time, though her heart still felt heavy with the weight of her decision. The truth was, most of the party had already been planned. Jack was taking Lucas to see The Wolverine in theaters while she, Lucy, and Karen set up the decorations for his X-Men themed party.
She knelt down to his level, brushing a hand through his damp hair, her touch lingering as if to memorize the feel of it. "I promise, you're going to have an amazing time tonight, and when you come back, we'll have everything ready for your birthday. You're going to love it."
Lucas beamed at her, his excitement infectious. "Okay, Mom. I'm excited! And I'll make sure to call if I need anything."
Livvie nodded, taking a deep breath before standing to her feet. She grabbed his bag from the bed and handed it to him. Lucas took it eagerly, slinging it over his shoulder before heading toward the bedroom door. Jack stood there, leaning against the doorframe, pride evident in his eyes as he watched their son pass by.
Livvie's gaze followed Lucas as he made his way toward the front door. Her heart ached with a mixture of pride and deep-seated fear. Jack's voice, low and warm, broke through her thoughts.
"I'm proud of you," he said, his tone gentle and full of meaning.
The words struck her like a blow, bringing her carefully maintained composure crashing down. The fear she had been suppressing boiled to the surface, overwhelming her. She whimpered, her voice barely a whisper as the tears welled up.
"Fuck you," she choked out, turning away from him as the tears finally spilled over. She tried to hold it together, pressing a hand to her mouth, but it was no use. The dam had burst, and she couldn't stop the flood of emotion that followed.
Jack immediately closed the distance between them, wrapping her in his arms. She leaned into him, her sobs muffled against his chest as he held her tightly, one hand stroking her back in slow, comforting circles.
"I promise that he's going to be fine," Jack murmured, his voice firm but soothing. "I know the boy's dad—John's a former cop. The place is like a fortress, Livvie. He's got a whole arsenal of weapons in that house..."
Livvie's body tensed in his arms, her breath catching as his words sank in. She pulled back, staring at him with wide, terrified eyes.
"What?" she whispered, her voice shaky.
Jack realized his mistake instantly, seeing the alarm in her eyes. "Livvie, it's under lock and key," he quickly reassured her. "John's meticulous about safety. Everything is secured. There's no way Lucas could get to any of it."
Livvie's anxiety didn't ease; if anything, it only deepened. Her mind raced, picturing all the worst-case scenarios. "Great," she muttered, her voice laced with panic, "now I have that to worry about too. What if Lucas somehow gets into it? What if something happens? What if—"
"Hey, hey," Jack interrupted gently but firmly, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Breathe. Nothing is going to happen. John is extremely careful—he's got kids of his own. He knows how to keep them safe, and that includes making sure those weapons are locked up tight."
Livvie stared at him, her chest heaving as she tried to calm the rising tide of anxiety. Jack's confidence helped, but the fear still gnawed at her, refusing to let go. The thought of Lucas being in a house with weapons, even if they were locked away, terrified her.
Seeing her struggle, Jack cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Livvie, listen to me," he said, his voice steady and reassuring. "I wouldn't let Lucas go if I thought there was any real danger. We've done everything we can to make sure he's safe. You have to trust that."
Livvie took a deep breath; she had to let him go; as he was so excited about it and she would hate to cause that heartbreaking expression on his face if she were to tell him that he couldn't go spend the night with his friends.
"Okay. Fine. Just, go ahead and bring him over there before I change my mind." Livvie practically pushed Jack away as he nodded. "Dad, are you ready to go? Mom, you're crying again? I am only going for one night..."
Livvie managed a weak smile, her heart aching as she looked at him. "Hey, you'll understand it once you have kids," she said, her voice catching slightly.
Lucas looked at her with a puzzled expression, his curiosity evident. "That reminds me... I heard something at school. How does a woman get pregnant?"
The question hung in the air, and Livvie let out a genuine laugh, the first real one she'd managed all night. The light-heartedness of it was a small but welcome relief amid her worries. Jack, on the other hand, let out a groan and closed his eyes, clearly unprepared for this particular moment of parental duty.
"Jack, This is your chance to talk with Lucas about something important. It's a part of growing up, and I think he'd really benefit from hearing it from you." Jack nodded glancing over at Lucas before giving Livvie a quick kiss on the lips before leading Lucas out the door. "My baby is growing up so fast." Livvie swallowed, watching them climb into Jack's truck to leave, she waved them off before shutting the door.