Anywhere But Here

Rick pressed closer to his father. The words said had been comforting, he trusted what his father had said.
He did feel safe after all.
"I uhm....I guess we did. I dont know what to call it." Rick gave a wilted sigh. "He kinda kicked me out. He wanted to bring a kid home...To...you know." It was difficult to say..."I told him no, And I didnt want him hurting any other kids. He said he wouldnt hurt it..." Rick felt tears stinging his eyes. "I told him he would, because he hurt me, a-and....H-He said I should go then if im so m-miserable there...And I....I left."

"Oh... baby, are you alright?" Rick frowned, stroking his back slowly. As much as he hated it he knew his son had been close to Alan... loved him even.

"No." The boy answered simply enough, pressing closer to his father. "He was everything..."

Rick frowned deeply.
"You... want me to talk to him? For you?" He would do anything for his son...

"N-No...". Rick stammered, genuinely surprised by the offer.
"Just.... Can I stay? Here... With you?"

"Of course you can. This is always a home for you, even if you go back there with Alan after this. You can always come here. I love you." Rick nodded, pressing a kiss to the boy's temple.

Rick nodded his head, and for a moment everything was quiet.
"I'm sorry for running away when I was little.. I missed you...and momma.". He never truly forgot them.

"It was my fault... I never should have acted like that in front of my baby..." Rick shook his head. "But we missed you too... trust me sweetheart."

Rick didn't even remeber why he had ran away in the first place. He had only been a little child.
"And Judey hates me."

"Jude won't hate you baby... just go talk to him. He'll forgive you. He's a good boy..." Rick spoke softly to his son.

Rick didn't want to talk to him. He wanted
Jude to just get on with his life.
"I don't wanna..."
He just wanted Alan.

"Then don't. I just didn't want you to think he hated you..." Rick frowned. "What do you want baby?"

"I want to go home... My home.... With Alan..."
He would still want to see his family but...
He wanted Alan.

Rick sighed softly but nodded.
"Alright baby... why don't you talk to him?" His voice was soft. He wanted his baby to stay here....

"Because he already has a replacement lined up for me.". Rick sighed softly into his Farhers embrace.

"Sweetheart... I really think you should talk to him. Tell him how you feel... or let me do it for you..." He sighed.

"I tried talkin to him, he got pissed.". Rick sighed to his father. " he didn't want to hear it.

"Baby I'm sure he'd listen to you if you sat him down and talked to him..." He suggested.

"I tried!" He whined softly to his father and he had, Alan just had not wanted to hear it after he had told the man he had hurt him.

"Well... we'll fix it baby don't you worry. I promise daddy will fix it." The older man nodded loking down at his son.

"Yeah?" Rick gave a soft smile, his father was so sweet to him. He didnt know why but he was very thankful.

"Yeah i do." Rick smiled sweetly. "I love you... I want to help you. if you love him... I want you to be with him." He sighed.

"But I can still come see you daddy...." He would too, he now knew that he was welcome and he wanted to spend time with his father. It would be good for him.

"Will you? Promise...?" Rick asked hopefully, his smile soft but it was there.

"Yeah daddy, I promise..." He did...He would come see his father when he could. Bout for tonight he would be with his father and he could worry about Alan tomorrow.