sixwordstories | (no subject)

*Quietly watches him without saying anything yet.*

The doctor says it wone be easy and could take some time. I'll have to walk with a cane for a while too.

Yeah. Guess that means you'll be staying with your parents for a while?

I suppose...

The new house has stairs. And, the penthouse is sold --- not that you'd go there, you always hated the place.

There's our old place, or you could come to mom and dads too?

[Stares at him for a second.]

You remember the old place?

[nods]

Things are still coming back, but it's older things. I still can't remember much after you moved out.

I remember you used to smile more as your younger self.

Yeah, I did. Then again I was immature.

Will moving back to the old apartment help you remember?

No, you were happier. [he looks down then]

What other suggestion do you have?

I was drunk, stoned, jobless, and living off the welfare of other people nine nine percent of the time; of course I was happier.

Bella was looking forward to moving into the new house.

So being with me doesn't make you happy?

Then why don't the two of you move in there?

Don't. Don't go with me on this. Just don't.

Which part? Because if you smile when you're happy and you don't smile any more. Your whole face used to brighten up when you smiled.

Al, baby, do you want us to be happy?

[he shrugged a little, trying to lighten the mood]

Only if it means you'll smile, or would I have to wear Brea's clothes to make you do that?

[Shakes his head.]

I’m not him anymore, you know that, right? It doesn’t mean I don’t remember how to joke around, or laugh, or smile. Considering the last couple of days, hell, weeks, months --- even, I haven’t had a whole lot of reason to want to smile or to laugh. Maybe I will eventually, but it won’t because of who I once was when I was younger. I’m not living in the past, Al. You might want to, but that isn’t where you’ll find me.

To be blunt, my past isn’t my future.

[His smile faded and his mood dropped]

Fia, I'm stuck in a hospital bed, I can't walk on my own and there are parts of my past I can't remember. Things are pretty shit right now on more than one account, for both of us.

I'm just trying to lighten the mood because I'm going insane suck in here. I didn't mean to... I just need five minutes of not being serious.

I’m sorry baby, I’m just bone tired.

[Gives a long pause]. How does the Bahamas sound to you?

Go home and get some sleep. Look after yourself, I can't exactly go anywhere.

[Reaching out he took hold of Fia's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze] I think I'd prefer Florida, we could take Bella to Disney, Sea World and things like that?

Yeah? Guess we can do that. We can spend time up there while you’re getting better, find a nurse or something and Bella can see the fun stuff. [Twines his fingers around Al’s. Holding his hand tightly.]

After I'm better, I want us to be able to do it as a family. [There was silence for a moment]

Why don't you use the camera to take some pictures of the house and next time you come bring my laptop and we can start looking at decoration ideas. If mom and dad bring Bella we can see what she wants too? When they let me out of here we can move in there, start over in our new home? You and I do need to pick a bed.

Baby, how about we focus on getting you out of here and better first.

I want you to see the house in person; it won’t be the same showing you it on a computer screen. I guess that means we’re going to be staying at the new house then.

[Gives a small, rare, sound of a chuckle.] So, I’ll be carrying you over the threshold?

[The chuckle made his face light up and he reached out to take Fia's hand. It was good to hear that sound come from his lips.]

Yeah, not something you could have done when you were your old, weedy self. Y;know, maybe I shouldn't learn to walk again and just make you carry me everywhere, that would be hot.