Forgive Me Part 2
#7 of Musical Muse
Hey everyone, welcome to part 2 of my new tale. I hope you will all enjoy, and as always, comments and favs and votes and everything in between is highly encouraged and very appreciated!
Forgive Me: Part 2
Brian held the same shirt in his paws, the one that has caused all this turmoil. He laid it across the table, growling gently to himself as he rubbed his brow. His pup needed him now, no time to get angry at himself or anyone else. Picking up the phone, he dialled for the pizza Derek wanted, ordering a separate one for himself. The pup was a little bit picky with his toppings, and he more than deserved the kind he loved after all that happened today.
After the quick conversation with the pizza shop, Brian walked back in to the living room, seeing his pup still laying on the couch, the cartoon sound effects ringing in his ears as he looked over to the classic shows playing on the TV. He slowly stepped over, taking a seat beside his pup as he looked to him. "Well buddy, a little wait to get here, but it's on the way." He smiled down to his pup.
When Derek came into his life those 3 years ago, he wasn't so sure about it all. He was worried about not being a good father, worried that he wouldn't be there enough for him. But, as soon as he held the little collie in his paws, seeing the black splotch of fur covering his right eye in such an adorable way, he knew he could do it. The two have been inseparable since. Derek of course loved his mother as well, but he was always a daddy's boy.
"Thanks Daddy..." Derek semi-mumbled, his eyes glued to the flashing colours and fun slap-stick, Mr. Snuggles still held in his paws. Brian couldn't help but smile down to his pup, seeing children being children even in the darkest of times can cheer up so many people: Brian being one of them.
He couldn't help but take a glance at Mr. Snuggles. The poor teddy bear had been through so much. Rips and tears now stitched, drool and biting from when Derek was a pup, but the bear meant so much to the little pup, and to Brian himself. The bear was a gift from Brian's mother, back when Brian broke his leg when he was a young pup. Said that no matter how bad it looks now, this bear will always be there for you.
Brian felt it was only right to give the bear to his pup when he was born. Once Derek started talking, he asked what the bear's name was. "Mr. Snuggles" was what he immediately said. So adorable, of course it was! Ever since, Mr. Snuggles was always with his pup.
"No problem bud." Brian smiled, petting his pup's ears as he sat there in peace, watching the cartoons go by both of them. The time flew by without Brian even noticing, the humour and the peace he felt with his son numbing his mind from the past events of the day.
Brian slowly crossed his paw over the wound on his cheek, the blood not flowing but the sting never really truly leaving. He still didn't believe it. Ruby was one of the most peaceful woman he knew, but to lash out at him like that...it was painful in more ways than one. He did all he could for her, and his family, and it all seemed to have gone downhill...from his damn heart.
A loud ringing brought him back to reality as the doorbell was rung. The pizza! Slowly getting up to not disturb Derek, Brian answered the door, a fennec with two pizzas in his paws at the door. "Hey, give me a second to get my wallet." Leaving the door open, Brian got his wallet from the kitchen before returning to the fox at the front door. "How much?"
"Um..$28.01, are you okay sir?" The fox asked, Brian seeing genuine concern in his eyes, a look he had no seen in quite some time. "Oh, the scratch? Yeah, I am fine, just fell, don't worry. Here you go, keep the change." Brian quickly said before closing the door, breathing deeply out. He didn't even care that he gave such a huge tip, he just wanted the kid to be gone before even more thoughts raced in his head.
"Pizza's here buddy." Brian said softly, gently giving his pup a soft shake to wake him up on the couch, poor guy had a long day. A soft yawn left Derek's muzzle as his tail wagged. There's the pup I know! Brian chuckled, "Hungry?" A quick nod is all he needed to see.
Walking with Derek to the dining room, Brian laid the pizzas out for the both of them, looking to his pup. "Need help up on the chair? They are kind of high." With a look of cute determination, Derek shook his head. "I am a big boy!" He declared, giving Brian an uncontrollable smile. With a few cute sounds, Derek did manage to get on the chair with a bit of effort. "Hey, you did it bud, awesome!" Brian gave a high-five to his pup, laughing as he did. This is what he loved during the day, getting home and being with his pup.
Derek was eating peacefully, humming a song or two to himself before he saw it. The scratch marks on his dad's cheeks, a droop in his ears more than noticeable as Brian looked to him, his own ears drooping along with his. "What is it pup?"
"Daddy, what happened?" His small finger pointed straight to his cheek, Brian not being able to help but rub his paw against it as he let out a sigh. "It is a scratch bud, got it when...when me and Mommy had our fight this morning." He had to tell him the truth, he was his son, he most certainly deserved it.
"Did...did Mommy do that?" Derek said, taking another small bite of his pizza. Brian could here that tone again, the pup was scared by all this. Who is to blame him? Such violent outburst were scary, even to grown furs, let alone a pup like his.
"N...No pup. I...I did it to myself." Brian lied. He didn't want his pup to think badly of his mother. No matter what happened today, Brian loved Ruby, always had. And the last thing he wanted was for Derek to think different of his mom.
The pup's paws played with the crust in them as he looked down. "But...why would you do that Daddy? It hurts." His ears still remained down as Brian couldn't help but frown further himself. "I'm sorry pup, I didn't mean to. Just, heat of the moment I guess." Brian mumbled, reaching across the table to pet his pup's ears. "Don't worry pup, I am sorry."
He wiggled his ears, looking back up to his father as he smiled gently, a similar smile coming onto Brian's as he heard his phone vibrate in his pocket. Everything seemed to stop to Brian. What if it was Ruby? What if she was forgiving him? What if it was her mother, calling him a heartless dick? What if it was the hospital, saying Ruby got into an accident?
He quickly shuffled his paws to his pocket, pulling his smart phone to his paw and sliding the screen up. "1 new text" he mumbled, quickly tapping the text icon, before his pup pulled on his pant leg got his attention. He looked down, smiling to him. "Sorry Derek, what is it buddy?"
"Is...is it Mommy?" he asked, a glint of hope in those soft, innocent blue eyes. Brian couldn't help but sigh out. "I'm sorry buddy, no. I...I don't think she is coming home tonight. Maybe tomorrow lil guy." He drooped his head, nodding. "Alright Daddy...can I go back to the TV now?" he asked. The sadness in his form alone almost bringing a tear to Brian's eyes. "Yeah, yeah of course buddy. You can watch it. Go ahead. Hey, tell you what. You can watch it till bed! How's that?" He looked to his pup. Normally, this was very rare, and would have the pup bouncing off the walls. Today...today even the happiness of a child was muffled. "Okay Daddy...thanks..." he shuffled off, not even the least bit excited as Brian looked back to his phone.
Hey cutie, you still on for tomorrow? ;)
Oh no...Brian thought, gulping audibly as he walked into the living room. "Hey pup? I gotta make a call, I will be right outside okay?" He looked, the pup curled up facing away from the TV, hugging his teddy bear like the closest friend he ever had, nodding his little head in response.
Sadly turning to the door, Brian walked out to his front porch, already calling the man he intended to call. The one that had sent him the text.
"Hello?"
Brian gasped, almost forgetting to talk , coughing as the tears started flowing. "Dan? It is Brian...I...need to talk to you."
"Hey, you okay? What happened? No...don't tell me...." the tiger on the other end went silent, Brian nodding as if he was in front of him.
"Yeah, I got careless and...god. I am so sorry Dan. So sorry kitten..." his pet name for him coming out as the collie cried into his free paw, sniffling and trying to control himself for the tiger on the other end.
"Calm down hon, what happened?"
"Ruby she..." a cough, a sad cough, he couldn't even think of continuing but he had to. "She found a shirt I wore with you last time, had your fur and scent all over it. I...forgot to wash it and then I was late for work and...god...she wants a divorce and left for her mom's and..."
"Shh shh..." Dan tried his best to comfort him on the phone. "This isn't your fault hon. Did you want me to come over?"
"I..." Brian thought...Derek never met Dan before. Dan never had been anywhere near here. But damn that tiger knew everything about him, one of those things being his address, the collie had to bite the bullet. He needed him, more than ever.
"Please?"
"I'll be right there pup."
Hope you all enjoyed! Thank you for taking the time read my tale, and best wishes to you all!