The Runt, Part 12.
#13 of The Runt.
** The Runt.**
Chapter 12.
By: Wolfie Steel.
Upon hearing the news my body went limp and I fell off my chair and onto the floor, Rion quickly and gently lifted me up, before turning to Dillon and Lola and speaking.
"Guys, I know that I'm not your boss, but as you can see Sonny is not in any position to make decisions, much less run a bar, so I will take him and Tyler back to my place and stay with them, Dillon, you and Lola get the place empty of people and close it down, put a sign on the door saying that due to unforeseen circumstances The Fast Lane will be closed until further notice, then head home and stay by the phone, because I have a feeling that Sonny is gonna need every single one of us to help get him through this next week or so"
Dillon and Lola both nodded their heads solemnly and headed up onto the stage to make the announcement. Dillon took the microphone from the stand and began to shake a little as he brought it to his muzzle, Lola put her arm around Dillon's waist to offer him love and support whilst Dillon began to speak.
"Ladies and......Gentle furs......can I please have your attention?! Due to.....unforeseen circumstances, the management and staff at The Fast Lane regret to announce that......with immediate effect, The Fast Lane will be closing until further notice. We would be grateful if you would all make your way.......in an orderly fashion towards the exit, thank you for your cooperation and The Fast Lane would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused"
With Dillon's announcement complete, Lola helped the now crying Dalmatian from the stage. Rion left his home number, my car keys, and instructions to collect my car from town, on the bar counter, and then carried me out to his truck with Tyler following close behind.
Once in the truck, Tyler began to sob.
"It's all my fault if I hadn't broken into the bar, if Mr. Lane hadn't taken me in, none of this would have happened, Mr. Lane would still have his mate and they would both still be happy"
Rion sat me in the passenger seat of the truck and buckled me in, then he went to the back seat and sat with Tyler for a moment making sure he was buckled in too, then he spoke to Tyler.
"Now then young man, I will not hear you say that, what has happened to Sonny's mate is not your fault, no one was to know how Mason would take to having an adopted son, but I can tell you this much, you have only been in Sonny's life for two days, but I see a love for you in his eyes that I have not seen in anyone for a long time. Now young Tyler, I'm going to need your help over the coming weeks to help your soon to be adoptive father through what will be some very bad times, now dry your eyes and just be happy that you now have two people who love you dearly"
Tyler's tears eased but didn't stop completely, he looked at Rion and a weak smile played across his muzzle. Rion drove back to his place and once we had arrived I had woken up and was just sat there shocked. The truck came to a stop and I slowly got out while Tyler was helped out by Rion. Both Tyler and Rion then wrapped their arms around me and we walked into the house together.
Over the next few nights I had very little sleep if any, the images of what Mason must have gone through in those last few minutes kept replaying over and over in my mind, and when I did eventually get some sleep, every time I woke up I would expect Mason to be lying next to me, but the only fur I woke up to, was Tyler.
It's now been a week since the bombshell had been dropped; tomorrow is a day that I'm not looking forward to, Mason's funeral. Again I wake up next to Tyler and again standing in the doorway is Rion.
"Honey, can I talk with you for a moment please?"
I slowly and gently get out of bed so as not to disturb the sleeping Fox cub, Rion and me head downstairs and sit next to each other on the couch, and Rion gently takes my paw in his and speaks.
"I know that it has only been a week since losing Mason, but I also know that tonight you are going to need some very strong support considering the impact that tomorrow will have on you, so beginning tonight I think it would be wise if you and I started sleeping together, now I know that you are far from over Mason, but we are supposed to be mated and I want to be there to help you"
I look at Rion and a weak smile appears on my muzzle, I then place my free paw on his paw and lean forward and place a loving kiss on his muzzle. Right then in that moment of time I made a decision, yes I loved Mason and part of me always would but Mason is gone now, and Rion is here. I pull away from his muzzle and reply.
"Love, your right, I do still think about and love Mason, but Mason is dead and in the letter he did say that he hoped that you, me and Tyler had a long and happy life. Sweetheart, I intend to honour my ex partners wishes and so, beginning tonight, if you still want me, I will share your bed, but for now only a kiss and your bed, once Mason's funeral is over and the estate sorted out, then I will be able to completely join with you"
I look outside and see two cars pull up in front of the house, stepping from the cars are Matt, Lola, Dillon, and Warrior Scribe, they head to the door so I stand ready to open it. The doorbell rings and I open the door, Dillon is the first to speak.
"Boss, we're here to offer our condolences and support, as for me, I had the honour of properly meeting Mason and I know that despite what happened, he loved you so very much"
That was it, the tears begin to flow again and I wrap my lupine arms around the Dalmatian and just hug him for all I'm worth.
"God I miss him Dill, why did he have to take his own damn life?! We could have worked something out between us"
Dillon's normally upright tail lowered down to the floor as he hugged me tight, then he pulled away and left a soft, sweet kiss on my left cheek.
We spent the day just going over what had happened in the relatively short space of time that we had known Mason, from the day where I saved his life by rescuing him from the dumpster, right up to the day where he felt he could no longer carry on and ended it all. At 10 pm Matt, Dillon, Lola, and Scribe, all left to make their way home, it's going to be a big day tomorrow, so an early night will be needed by all.
I gently put a sleepy Tyler into his bed and tuck him in; he looks at me with tears in his eyes and speaks.
"Dad, I know what is happening tomorrow, I had to deal with it when my real parents died, so as I am about to become your adopted son, I would like to come to the funeral and stand with you"
My eyes begin to fill with tears and I just give Tyler a big old wolf hug and I agree to let him join us at the funeral. I say my goodnights and then head into Rion's room, Rion sees me enter and gently raises the covers for me, at first I hesitate, then he speaks in hushed and soft tones.
"Sweetheart, I'm not going to force you to take up space next to me, but so you know you can sleep next to me and I will not take advantage of your sensitive state, all I ask is that you trust me"
Rion's words felt so very warm and heartfelt and my moment of hesitation passed, I removed my dressing gown and slippers and gently eased my way into the bed. After a few minutes I decide that there is something missing, that Rion is making himself uncomfortable just to help me, he is lying on his side with his arm regimentally glued to his body, I place a small lick to his muzzle and gently lift his arm and drape it over me, a smile graces his muzzle and we both fall into a calm, loving sleep.
7 am the next morning three very sad and sombre furs stand in the kitchen of a house in silent prayer before sitting to eat breakfast in total silence.
It's now 10 am and two big black Hurst's pull up outside the house, this is it, the moment I had been dreading since Mason's death. Tyler stands between me and Rion in a new pair of black pants with his new grey shirt, me and Rion are dressed in black suits with white shirts. The three of us walk past the first car and see the coffin held inside, it seems that some of the regulars at the bar have heard what has happened and are lining the street in silent respect.
The three of us get into the back of the second car and Mason begins his journey to the church and then on to his final resting place. We drive past The Fast Lane and again more furs stand outside with their heads bowed, as we pass the parking entrance a number of cars and trucks join in the cavalcade.
After half an hour we arrive at the church which stands next to the registry office where Mason and I were due to be wed, a lump forms in my throat as we pull up at the church. Dillon, Matt, Warrior Scribe, Furryl_lover, Commander Jones and Major Palio stand behind the car containing the coffin ready to be the coffin bearers.
The coffin is removed from the car by the bearers and is the transported into the church followed by me, Tyler and Rion arm in arm and then behind us walked Angel and Lola.
The service lasted for an hour and I was struggling to hold back my tears, but eventually the service finished and again we walked behind the coffin back to the waiting cars. It had been decided that we should bury Mason next to my mother, so the cortege drove down the dirt road that leads to my old den and Mason's final resting place. Again the coffin is removed from the car and then laid on the straps that would lower it into the ground.
With everything now ready Major Palio, Commander Jones, Warrior Scribe and Dillon each take a strap end and slowly begin to lower Mason's body into the ground. With the casket now in the ground I take a flower from my jacket's inside pocket and drop it on top of the coffin.
"My darling Mason, I'm so sorry, I love you so much"
With that done I slowly turn with my head bowed and tears streaming and head away to the open arms of an also crying Rion.