Archive of Our Own ^beta

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December 11th 1986, five years later...

That's how long the brothers had to serve their sentence, the rest of the band were let out of Joliet early for good behavior. Which in itself was ironic since the only crime they committed was unknowingly being accomplices. Once given their fedoras, suits, and sunglasses, despite it being the middle of december and snowing.

Jake and Elwood were now free men and left to their own devices once again. After hitchhiking to the nearest used car lot, finding a suitable replacement for the bluesmobile they decided to find somewhere to get some decent food after having the crap they typically serve in prison. Stopping at a small diner in the of Chicago, just as our men in suits walked in. A beat up station wagon pulled behind a young girl climbs out, looking inside as the vehicle pulled away. Leaving her on the sidewalk with nothing but a suitcase, and a five dollar bill. While only having a name and one detail to go by, "Your father's name is Elwood. He wears sunglasses." She heard her mother's voice echo, shouldn't be too hard to find.

Going inside, we see the two men chatting amongst themselves. Discussing what's next for them. But the bubble of their own little world is popped, and the rest of their lives (Mostly Elwood's) is changed forever. "Are you my dad?" An awkward silence fell, the unwarranted tension became so thick you could cut through it. The brothers looked back at each other, then back at the girl standing in front of them. "What?" Jake blurted out, the girl rolled her eyes. Already annoyed by even asking anyone the question in the first place. "I'm looking for my dad." She huffed, Jake straightened out his tie and leaned back against the booth. "Sorry kid, we don't do "lost and found."" Elwood simply nodded, that would have been just that had the girl not been more persistent. "Fine, do you know anyone named Elwood or something?"

She crossed her arms, as Jake and Elwood's eyes became as wide as saucers (It was hard to tell with the sunglasses) trying not to choke on their drinks or whatever food they had in their mouths. Not so surprising, Elwood was the first to ask. "You say he's your old man?" She nodded yes. "And who exactly are you?" Jake asked, eyeing her up and down with suspicion. "Erin, do you know him or not? I'd rather not be here any longer than I want." Another beat of silence followed, just as Elwood was going to speak again. Jake interjected. "Ohhh... Could you excuse us short stack?" Erin gave an offended look, as the two men stood up from the booth. Leaning in close to hush the conversation.

"I'm just saying, we don't know what trick she might be playing right now." Jake hushed, not sure how to feel about Erin. Then again he and Elwood weren't exactly innocent themselves at that age either. "But don't you think it's a little weird, what if she is who she says she is? And I can't even remember her ma, or when it could've been."

"El, she's trying to pull a long con. She could be a midget for all we know pretending to be a-" They both look back at Erin. "How old are ya?" "Fourteen?" Then back to their huddled talk. "Pretending to be a fucking fourteen year old!" He hushed, though Elwood had his own question. "Ain't she a little tall to be a dwarf?"

"No! Come, we've seen midgets that look seven. She's probably one of the giant ones."

While they were talking about whatever it even was about, Erin was feeling herself grow more bored, and like she might lose it listening to them any longer. She had to get out of there, her eyes darted over to the keys on the table. Turning away from the brothers as she swiftly grabbed them.

"Okay, how about we just ask?" Jake whispered as they turned back around. "Hey, are you one of those tall midgets or something- Where the kid go?" They looked around the diner, spotting Erin outside In the car... Uh oh. "Shit, she took the keys!" Jake exclaimed, as he pushed aside a passing waiter. Causing the poor man to drop the plates and drinks he was carrying, Elwood followed in pursuit. Apologizing for anyone he knocked over.

Erin hit the steering wheel in frustration, the engine was stalling as if some divine intervention was preventing her from leaving this godforsaken city her mother dumped her in. "Start, damn you start!" She said through gritted teeth, being caught by surprise as she's yanked out of the driver's seat. "Let me go now!"

"Why, so you can steal our car? I don't think so." Before Erin could make an escape, she's held by the collar of her jacket by Elwood. "Let me go, I don't even wanna be here! Especially if the guy my mom told me to look for isn't here!" Erin kicked her legs out, eventually being lifted up and over his shoulder. "Hey put me down!" "Take it easy, and watch your head." Elwood said, unceremoniously tossing Erin in the backseat before joining Jake in the front. "Augh, what the hell is your guy's problem? And why are you dressed like secret service?" Jake just chuckled at her confusion. "We're a lot better than secret service. We're the blues brothers."

Erin just glared back. "Who?" She never heard of them, Jake swore he was about to have a stroke or aneurysm. Elwood's mind was somewhere else. "What, you've never heard of us?!"

"No." Jake had to refrain himself, but also fancying the idea of possibly hitting a minor. Once. "Alright, if you don't know who our band is. Then how do you know my brother's name missy?" Elwood nodded, Erin's eyes darted between the men. "You're brothers?"

"Yeah," Elwood answered. "Is that why you look like some kind of Mormon FBI?" Erin's sarcastic response earned a chuckle from them. "Well that's a new one." Jake guffawed. "Now answer the question, how'd you know my brother's name?"

"Is his name Elwood?" Erin asked, gaining a nod from Elwood. "My mom said it was my dad's name, before she ditched me" The brothers shared a glance, before looking in the backseat. "And what's the lady's name?" Jake raised an eye brow. "Linda." Erin responded, keeping her gaze on Elwood. "God, if you're supposed to be him. I rather go back home, so just let me- What the, did you lock me back here?!"

Erin's protesting was tuned out while Jake and Elwood discussed what this could mean for them. "Have you even been with anyone named Linda, In the past however old the midget is?" Jake asked, draping his arm across the seat. "No, but there was that one time. Remember?" Jake slowly nodded as he looked back on the good times when they were younger. "Yeah, that party we went to. You were all over that blonde-" The realization hit them both simultaneously, the mystery now solved on how Elwood wasn't aware of Erin's existence. He was seventeen. "Oh..." "Shit." Jake finished after Elwood, as the reality of their situation sunk in. "Can you open the door already?! I'd rather not be here anymore. Just at home where nothing happens."

"Now hold on there, where's your ma at?" They both waited for her answer. "Tch, I don't know. Probably heading back to Astoria." "Isn't that on the northwest?"

"Yeah," Erin answered Elwood's question.

A beat of silence followed, before Jake announced. "Excuse us for a bit, Erik. Grown-ups gotta chat."

"It's Erin-" They closed the door on her, as she tried to will the backseat door open. "Don't worry, heating doesn't work but you'll be fine." Elwood assured, much to her frustration. "We can't just let her hitchhike all the way back."

"Unless she tries to nab the car again." Erin's screams of anger can be heard from inside, as people passing through with their items bought for the holiday season. "Don't worry, she's just upset she didn't get to see Santa." Jake shouted, before turning his attention back to Elwood. "So what, we give her a ride back?"

"She's a kid, and a girl. That's enough reason to help her out." Elwood argued, even though there wasn't much to argue about.

"Right, and nothing to do about her mother..." Jake shrugged, adjusting his tie as he kean against the car's hood. "Alright, let's hit the road." He pushed himself off, almost tripping over Erin's discarded luggage. "Jesus, almost broke my neck." He picked it up, opening the door on his side as Elwood starts the engine. "Forgot something, don't worry. We'll have you home by Christmas." He tossed the suitcase at Erin, who grunted in response. "What?! I don't need any help getting home."

"Yeah you do." Elwood replied. The blues mobile drove off, just as the diners owner yelled at them for the mess they made, and their unpaid meal. Erin groaned, letting her head fall back against the seat. She turned her head toward the window, getting a somewhat decent view of the falling snow. She doesn't need help, never needed anyone but herself, but now she had no choice. She might die surrounded by the strangest men she's ever seen.

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Hey everyone, I know y'all are probably waiting for updates on this particular fic (believe me been there before) but just like life things take an unexpected turn... And I may have gotten a little too ambitious at trying to finish this at a deadline I couldn't make. So for the time being, Sweet child of mine will be on hiatus until I can find a way to continue and give this story the ending it deserves. But I'll also be working on another fanfic so if anyone's interested, you should check it out. Thank you all. whoever most of you are, for giving this support and sticking around. I promise I won't abandon this or orphan it 😅