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Chapter Text

When his aunt Crystal told him to go to the family reunion that was going to be held at her house Bobby wasn't sure if he wanted to go or not, after all he would probably only be met with contempt and indifference from many members of his family, but his aunt had been so insistent that he and Athena go to the reunion. In the end after much insistence he had decided to go, at least he wouldn't have to travel to Minnesota or anything like that. Because his aunt was the only one in his family who lives in Los Angeles and still spoke to him, however he had decided that he could go that first day alone instead of going with Athena because he didn't want to expose her to the toxicity of his family and much less when there were so many people and no one ever decided to give him the opportunity to introduce them to the woman he loved. So he decided to go alone. That first time. Anyway, Athena insisted that if anything happened he should call her immediately, that she was going to be there, she was going to stay close in case things got ugly. Now definitely when the day came I was nervous and overly anxious, but definitely having super low expectations because I knew things probably weren't going to go very well.

So he took a moment when he got to the place to knock on the door, when they did he didn't expect anything other than for one of his aunts or his grandmother or his mother to open the door, what he didn't expect was for a young woman in her twenties to open the door for him, he was confused, he had no idea who this girl could be, he was sure that none of his uncles or his parents had any other children after all they were too old and he had some knowledge of most of his cousins' children so he didn't think she would go around there either and the only idea that came to his head was that Charlie had some other daughter that she never told him about for obvious reasons so or so he thought until she spoke up

- Weren't you dead? Our mom said you were - the girl says looking him up and down as if trying to check that he is, that he is not hallucinating, he is confused, why is this girl talking as if they shared the same mother? It's not possible right? His parents wouldn't have had another child after him. Besides the last time he supposed his parents had separated and his mother wasn't interested in looking for someone else and even if she had changed her mind she was too old to have children, the woman had sworn that she wouldn't do it again after everything that had happened

- What do you mean by our mom? - he asked

- Our mom to Ann - said the girl as if it was obvious

Did she have more children? - he was so confused, it was not possible that she had... Did she find someone else?

She and dad had another three - this time it was a boy no more than 10 years old who spoke - I'm Aidan your younger brother, she's Enya your other younger sister - said the boy, Bobby was so lost, had his parents really come back? Had they had more children and never told him? Why? Did they prefer to leave him abandoned and have more children? It was stupid... Aidan was so small, he hadn't even gone through the door and he was already doing badly

Bobby darling you're finally here - that was his aunt Crystal, the only one he really talked to about his family in the last 30 years, she hugged him and let him in, - I see you met your brothers, I didn't know until last night when they arrived, dear, I didn't tell you because I didn't want your mother to do any of her tricks - Bobby knew she would, after all she did it for 30 years

Why all the fuss? - There was his mother, she was not happy with his presence - What are you doing here? I thought I told you I didn't want to see you - said his mother

Why? - asked his aunt, although he knew the answer

You know it - said his mother, he didn't want to listen to her, he knew her thoughts and before he could think well the words came out

Why am I an alcoholic or is it because it's easier to lie about dying?... - he asked

I want to know too - said his newly discovered sister - you lied to us so much, who lies about the death of their son? -

I was just protecting them - assured the woman

Protect us from what? - Aidan asked - because the last thing I heard is that you went back to your alcoholic husband to have more children while lying about your second son being dead -

Bobby was impressed with this child, he would never have dared to speak like that to his mother, but Aidan did it so easily and he wasn't even being rude, or spoiled, he was just telling cruel truths but truths

Don't you dare speak to me like that Robert - his mother shouted, he got upset

My name is Aidan mom!!, I'm not my brother and I'm not being a liar, you lied to us and abandoned him when it was dad who was to blame for this!! - Aidan almost shouted and that cost him a slap from his mother

Mom!! - said Enya approaching her little brother - leave the child alone, I don't want to know when Brook and Robbie find out -

Not them! He's leaving now - her mother shouted

Are my children... - the question didn't finish, but it was totally understood

Mom told them the same thing she told us, I'm sorry if I had known - Enya said, she looked so sad and disappointed

Grandma do you know how... - someone else had appeared with another question that was forgotten when she noticed the whole scene - Dad? -

Brook - Bobby recognized her immediately, he recognized the confusion and fear in her eyes, she looked different, she was no longer his little princess, she had grown up, but she was her, with her waist-length blonde hair with little curls at the end, being taller than he expected, wearing a t-shirt that was too big and old for her that he recognized because it was his from when he was 17

Dad! - She was the one who ran and hugged him, he caught her easily in his arms, as if he had never lost the habit of hugging her,

Damn now you'll make the girl believe that you're fine when you're not - said his mother who seemed on the verge of a collapse

Mom I'm fine, I have been for years!! - he assured, it was true, he was better, he went to his meetings, he hadn't drunk in years, he had his job, people who trusted him, Athena, the children, his friends, something that his father could never get

No, you're not, your dad isn't and neither are you, you've probably had something to drink - shouted his mother - that's why I told Marcy to do it

Marcy? - he asked, ignoring his mother's accusations

Mom... She's here - Brook said, and as if summoned, Marcy and her son appeared

Robert - she seemed surprised by his presence, but not scared, or upset, and Brook remained still with her arms around her father's waist as if she were a little girl - what are you doing here?

Aunt Crystal invited me, I didn't expect to find out how much they lied to me - Bobby said, he was trying to process the fact that his family, for whom he cried days and nights were alive and someone decided to lie to him, let him believe that they died and tell his children that he died, that wasn't fair

Dad was alive all this time? - Robbie asked, looking at his mother and then at his grandmother and his aunt Enya

I just found out how you two, Aunt Crystal and Aidan - Enya said

Honey, I just wanted to protect you - Marcy said

From what? From dad? - I asked, he seemed so incredulous and confused

You know he has his problems - Marcy said and Bobby hated that she talked about him like he wasn't even there

So? - I ask as if whatever reason they chose to justify themselves was stupid.

He's an alcoholic, that's not fixable - said Ann.

I repeat, so? Damn it, it wasn't his decision and it wasn't his right to lie like that - Robbie was furious, they lied to him, they deceived him for years, they took his father away from him, it was unfair.

He wanted to protect them - Marcy repeated.

That's not true - Brook shouted as he broke free from his father just to look directly at his mother - if it were true, grandpa wouldn't be here... You accuse dad of being an alcoholic, but you don't care that grandpa is drunk and stinking of alcohol all the time, or his screams or when Robbie beat him up because he made a mistake with a recipe or when he did the same to Aidan -

What? - Bobby and Enya screamed

I'm not surprised, maybe that will make you open your eyes - said Crystal

They don't have to lie - said Ann

Enough! If you don't want to see the truth, you are intentionally blind - said Enya

Get out of my house, I want you and your husband out now - said Crystal

Chapter Text

Bobby isn't quite sure how he's surviving the last hour, especially since Charlie, Kai, the last brother he didn't know about, and Marcy showed up, it was strange to see that he had more family than he had any idea about, but it was worse seeing his ex-wife, not even seeing his children overwhelmed him as much as you'd expect but Marcy was different.

After all, she let him believe she was dead, she let him believe his children died, she lied to them, she let them cry because he died even though it was a lie, she contributed to a fake funeral, she lied for 10 years and that time was never going to be recovered, there was so much pain, uncertainty and lost moments.

She understands why he took them away from him, he honestly deserved it, he was a mess, so ready to drown himself in pain and addiction despite his best efforts, which wasn't good for his children or her, and then the fire, she understood that, but letting him think they died and telling them he died, wasn't right, not for him, but for his children, they had a right to know the truth and make their own decisions, not to have them made for them.

Bobby - she called him hoping he would react and talk to her
I understand, but it was her choice, not yours, not mine and it hurts that you made her yours, there is too much time that we can't get back - he said, he was angry but he tried to stay calm

I just wanted to protect them - she assured, he knew it was true

I know, but it doesn't change it - he said

I'm sorry - she apologized, some tears began to fall
Both remained silent, because neither really wanted to fight and it remained that way until Bobby's cell phone rang, he answered because he needed to distract himself from the need he felt to yell and get angry at her

Bobby, it's Maddie
Are you okay?
No, you need to come to the hospital right now
What happened?
Buck tried to kill himself
That didn't sound like him and it raised a lot more questions and doubts than he had time to contemplate at the moment.
I'll be there right away – he promised before ending the call and looked at Marcy

I need to go now – Eddie assured

Do you really need to go? – Marcy asked

Yes one of my boys is in the hospital and I need to go – he said

Can't you wait? – Brook asked

No, I'm sorry, he's one of my boys and I'm not leaving him alone – he told her, he wanted to spend more time with his children, but he needed to go
Which hospital are you going to? Kai asked, confusing him a little

presbyterian – he said

can you take me with you? my fiancé just wrote me a message saying he's there – Kai said

okay – he accepted, that's how he ended up leaving with Kai and Enya who refused to let them go alone luckily athena picked him up quickly, although she was a little confused by the new presences

he's Kai, she's Enya it turns out they're my brothers that I didn't know anything about, apparently kai's fiancé is in the hospital too – Bobby explained
athena had a lot of questions, but she knew it wasn't the time to ask them and she would ask them later when they could solve it and make sure her boy was okay

20 minutes later they had arrived at the hospital, where their entire usual group was and a boy unknown to them, but she saw Kai approach him so she assumed it was his fiancée, although she doesn't understand what he was doing with his group. Maddie is the first to notice them so she approached.

Bobby, I don't know what happened

Did you find him? – he asked, he was really worried about what she could have found

Yes- he hugged her tightly, wishing that hadn't happened, wishing that she hadn't been the one who found him, wishing that this hadn't even happened, he really didn't understand, why had he done it?

Evan Buckley's family - the doctor calls the one he already knows a lot Bobby and Maddie approaches

Is he okay? – Bobby asked

Yes, but he asked to speak to Athena – the doctor assured

Why – they were both very confused

It seems that it wasn't exactly a suicide attempt, he wants to make a statement and he asked for her to be here, as well as you Captain Nash, they didn't want anyone else but he needed you to be with him – the doctor said

Bobby was in Buck's room, he seemed so tired, broken, with his wrists bandaged and so pale, his eyes were red, probably from crying so much, he really wasn't okay and he seemed worse when he noticed Bobby.

I'm sorry - was the first thing he said looking at her

kid, calm down everything will be okay - he tried to calm him down but Buck shook his head and cried again

honey whatever happened it's not your fault and we'll figure it out - Athena assured

no... we can't- he shook his head

kid if you don't calm down, we'll have to postpone it - the doctor warned

no, no... I won't be able to do it if I stop - Buck said and forced himself to calm down, he needed to say it, at this moment, it took him a few minutes to calm down but when he did he looked directly at Athena - promise me that you will try, to figure it out yourself, you need to be you - he begged her, he knew that she was the only one who would really fight until the end to solve what he was thinking of telling her

I'll try - she promised and then looked at Bobby he was so guilty - I'm sorry, if I had known…- he started but stopped and stayed silent for a moment before continuing - Thena can you please record it? I don't think I can do it again - she agreed to do it

Last night I met my mom, I'm not really sure why, but I thought we could work things out, she somehow got so drunk and started rambling - he started to explain

About what? - asks Athena prompting him to continue

She asked if I was going to see my dad the next day and I said no because he is in Pennsylvania, she laughed and told me I was a fool if I hadn't noticed, which confused me so I asked her what she meant she laughed and said I was a fool if I hadn't noticed, that Bobby was my dad, it confused me, she laughed and said I was stupid if I thought Philip would give her a good child, Daniel wasn't and Maddie wasn't his but since she didn't remember who it was she looked for someone to ask her

He stopped for a moment because he needed to gather courage for the next part and he really didn't dare to look at Bobby, to interpret his reaction to what he had implied.

For his part Bobby knew perfectly well what he was implying, he wasn't happy about it he had thought he would never have to deal with that subject, he never told anyone what had happened because when he tried to do so they told him it couldn't happen to him.

However what made it worse, what he hated the most was that Margaret had decided to tell Buck what had happened, something told him that she hadn't kept any details to herself, it made him feel sick, he wished he had never had to hear any of it.

She was very specific with every detail, she was very detailed - Buck said, looking like he was about to throw up - she said that she found a person, who would easily give her what she wanted, that there was no way anyone would believe her if she said things had happened without permission - Buck explained

What exactly did she admit to? - Athena asked, because she had to and they both knew it had to be clear even now
She admitted directly...abuse of Bobby, she said he was 13 when it happened, that she got something she wanted - Buck was hating every second of this, he hated his mother for telling him this, for hurting Bobby, he hated that she admitted that she had deliberately hurt a child just to get what she wanted

Did she tell you anything else? – Athena asked, they were sure Athena was trying incredibly hard to seem calm
No, when she finished telling me the whole story and making sure it stuck in my head, she said I knew too much, she said they were going to make sure I didn't open my mouth at all, next thing I know I was really dizzy all of a sudden and everything was weird then I can't remember a thing - Buck said

Mom – Maddie asked seeing her mother appear at the hospital, she knew she was in the city

Maddie… I heard Evan had hurt himself again, I wanted to make sure he was okay – she said, which struck her as odd, given her mother's hatred of hospitals

He's okay – she said

Can I see him? – Margaret asked, but before Maddie could give her an answer, someone interrupted them

What the hell are you doing here Margaret, I'm not even supposed to be in the same state – the person said, Maddie saw him, it was a doctor, he seemed strangely familiar to her and he seemed furious at the presence of her mother

Oh Anthony, it's good to see you again, Margaret said, and that seemed to make the man's anger worse

Don't give me nonsense Margaret, I don't care why you're here, just leave before I call the police, I don't want abusers in my hospital – the man said, leaving Maddie confused

What?

Chapter Text

October 1991

Bobby knows he is alone from the moment that child is placed in his arms and his parents look at him with such disappointment as if he had killed someone even though he hasn't, he is only 14 and he is so scared and lost, he shouldn't be responsible for a baby but here he is with a baby and a threat from his mother that she will make him pay if he tries to abandon the baby, he wouldn't do it but the threat is still there, unfair and cruel when this is not his fault and if his parents would have listened to him this wouldn't be happening but they never listen to him

Now here he is at 2 in the morning trying to get the child he still refuses to name to wait for his mother to come back for him, she won't, it's been 3 months and he knows it but he still waits stupidly

Come on, I know you're sleepy, so am I, you just need to stop crying – he says almost begging, without any success, he had already made the typical list of all the possibilities, he doesn't need to be changed, he's not hungry, there's no fever, there are no wounds, nothing he just doesn't know he wants to sleep – you're mad because I don't give you a name – he asked even though it didn't make any sense, somehow the crying decreased a little

-this is ridiculous – Bobby complained

Bobby – that was his mom – you need to go out, your father has to get up early – his mother said, it wasn't a suggestion it was a fact, she didn't care that it was 2 in the morning and Bobby had a 4 month old baby, he could do it by will or obligation, he would do it for himself, she made sure her son was warm and grabbed some things he might need as quickly as she could before grabbing her own coat and shoes before leaving – at least calm him down I don't want you here –

Bobby hated that his mother did this, it's cruel and inhuman, really is this the same woman who took care of him when he was little? The same one who cared for him? It doesn't even matter how it is he goes out and walks he knows there is a place he can go, he knows there is only one person he could trust, he walked and at some point the child He fell asleep but continued until he reached a particular house, he was about to knock when the door opened

Can you explain to me what you're doing here at 3:30 am? - asked the boy in front of him

Hi Tony... They kicked me out because I wouldn't stop crying - said Bobby

I already told you how much I hate your parents - he said as he made him enter

A couple of times - he assured

Well, I never get tired of saying it... leave him with Maddie in bed - said Tony, he did so and was careful not to wake Maddie while he put him to bed and once he was sure that neither of them would wake up he left

Since you're here... you'll be a good boy and help me with breakfast - said Tony

You're 18, haven't you learned to cook yet? – asked Bobby

Why do I have you… I feel so bad for Maddie - said Bobby

And I do, but now we have you, no one will die of hunger – said Tony

At least you bought food – he asked

Of course – assured Tony

🚒🚒🚒

After Maddie told him about everything that had been going on, Philips decided that there was no point in keeping secrets anymore. After all, when the trial and investigation took place, a lot of things were going to come to light, so he decided to tell her the whole truth.

Starting with the fact that Daniel was alive, he explained that social services had taken custody of them because someone accused them of committing child neglect.

Maddie wasn't surprised at all, however that didn't stop her from yelling at him and calling him out for lying to her and letting her believe that Daniel had been dead for over 20 years, yet she let him go on because she needed him to tell her everything he knew

The second thing he told her was about how his mother had cheated on him at least twice and that resulted in Maddie and Evan being born, which was a little surprising but not unheard of

He also told her that there was a real possibility that the doctor who had yelled at his mother in the hospital could be her or her brother's father, however Evan had told him about what his mother had done, why she had done it in broad strokes

She knew that it was impossible for him to be her brother's father, but she didn't tell him, because he had no right to know that they had any of that information.

However, at the end of that horrible conversation, they decided to go to the hospital to see if they could find the doctor. On the one hand, Maddie wanted to see how big the possibility was that this man was her father and Philip wanted to know if he was really one of the people Margaret had cheated on him with, so the two of them went. Besides, Maddie was taking this as a huge opportunity for Philip to realize the real consequences of his wife's actions. She wanted him to face him, that there was no way he could say she was exaggerating.

They found it easier than they would have expected, they managed to talk to him, who was quite kind at first, at least until he heard the last name Buckley, that had made him quite tense and unwilling to talk. He was really about to walk away, but Maddie practically begged him to stay.

Please, I need to talk to you. I know you don't have to and you can go if you want. There is a great possibility that you are my biological father - She said, although she was worried that he would yell at them or simply decide to leave.

Honestly he had really wanted to leave at that moment but Maddie's answer made him tense and nervous he knew there was a big chance she was right, he knew it because after the whole incident he had done some research on what Margaret's life had been like and the fact that her name was Maddie, she was the age his daughter was supposed to be, made him think, it could be her, like a strange and twisted coincidence, he had to admit that he wasn't sure he was ready to deal with the whole thing, however if he didn't do it now, he was going to have to do it during the trial and the investigation and he really wanted to have control over part of the whole situation, plus he wanted to know how much Margaret's husband knew about the whole thing

We can go to my office - he finished saying without looking at them and started walking towards that place, when they got there he let them in before closing the door

Listen you are in my workplace, so we will have this conversation but it will be on my terms not anyone else's, if I don't feel comfortable with this the conversation will simply end and they leave whether it's their will or not, I'm just going to do this because I want to be in control even for a moment

I understand - Maddie assured the last thing she wanted was to make people uncomfortable

What do you want to know? - she asked

That day you called her a child molester, why? - she asked

I'm not going to lie to you, she abused me when I was 13 and it wasn't just once - he answered, he seemed so serious

Maddie felt sick at the statement, she wanted to say that she was surprised but she wasn't, unfortunately she wasn't, after all he had lied about Daniel, he had tried to kill Evan, he made her live a lie for 30 years, at this point nothing surprised her anymore, it just hurt her

She wouldn't be capable of doing something so despicable- said Philip, he wanted to believe that his wife would be incapable of something so serious, she tried to kill Evan her mind reminds her

You must be her husband…. I'm sorry you believed her lies, but she did and the proof of that is that she got pregnant, you should know that... She had a daughter, my daughter, she made the decision that she could take care of said child - he said, she noticed the anger he felt at everything