Treat You Better ❤️💙
Part 27: Return Of The Moms
Wally x Maddie
Info and warnings: everyone is Alive AU, set in 2023-24 (in line with the show), swearing, light smut (they have their clothes on)
Summary: Bea and Sandra return home after 4 weeks in Madison. Sandra has an update about the cabin, Wally and Maddie talk about their trip and the wedding. Wally tells his mom the full story about the wedding and his doubts about college. How will Bea react?
Masterlist
The drive back to Split River was anything but quiet. Charley was still in disbelief that he had actually gone sledding and that nothing bad happened- well to him, anyways.
“I can’t believe out of all of us, I was the one that didn’t crash into someone,” Charley said from the middle of the back seat.
“I can’t believe it either,” Wally laughed, flicking the wipers on, clearing a fresh layer of snow from the windshield.
“I think I deserve a medal or something.”
Maddie turned in her seat to look back at him. “That says what? ‘I survived my first time sledding’?”
Charley leaned forward slightly. “You get me.”
“Well, since you ‘survived’ does that mean you want to go again sometime? Just you and me?” Yuri asked.
Charley nodded. “I would like that,” he said. “But not anytime soon. I may have survived, but that was still a lot. I need time to recover from that.”
Yuri laughed softly, reaching over and taking Charley’s hand in his.
The rest of the drive blurred into laughter, Charley retelling each moment like they all hadn’t been there until Wally pulled up outside his house. Yuri and Charley climbed out, grabbing their things from the back before disappearing up the front path.
Conrad was next. Wally helped him unload his sled, the two of them exchanging a quick goodbye before he headed inside.
The truck was quieter without the others, the heater humming as snow drifted against the windshield. Wally pulled back onto the road, one hand resting on the wheel, the other settling on Maddie’s thigh.
“Thank you for today,” he said after a moment. “It’s exactly what I needed.”
Maddie glanced over at him. “I figured you could use something to take your mind off of things.”
“It definitely worked,” He reached for her hand, lifting it slightly and pressing a soft kiss to the back of it. “I love you.”
Maddie felt warmth rise to her cheeks. “I love you, too.”
Wally turned down their street, headlights cutting through falling snow. As they got closer to the house, his gaze shifted, in the driveway sat Bea’s car.
“Damn,” he muttered. “I thought we’d have a couple hours before they got back.”
Maddie rolled her eyes, a small laugh slipping out. “We literally had four weeks of just us.”
“I know,” he said, glancing at her. “But I’m greedy.”
“Yes, you are,” she laughed.
That familiar tightness returned in the pit of her stomach, as Wally pulled in the driveway. Wondering if this time would be different. That this time, treatment finally helped. That she and her mom can rebuild what had been so badly broken from tears of hope and trust being shattered every time Sandra relapsed.
She wasn’t sure if she could do it all over again. The first couple of days were everything was good, steady, like they were finally at the end of it all. And then it would slip, right back to where they started. The thought alone was enough to dull that small glimmer of hope, threatening to unravel it before it even had the chance to grow. But it was still there. Quiet and fragile. And this time she wanted to believe it would last.
Wally cut the engine, glancing over at her. “You okay?”
Maddie nodded, though her voice was softer now. “Yeah. I just… hopes it sticks this time.”
“Me too.”
Maddie grabbed her bag, as they stepped out of the truck, the cold hitting immediately. Wally pushed open the front door, the warmth inside, wrapping around them. The fair smell of coffee lingered in the air as they walked in.
“Hi mom,” Wally said, closing the door behind them. “We’re back.”
Bea pushed herself up from the couch, walking over to them. “It’s good to see you.” She pulled Wally into a hug, standing on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his shoulders.
“It’s good to see you too, Ma” Wally said, hugging her back.
She let go of the hug and smiled at Maddie. “It’s good to see you too, dear.” She pulled Maddie into a quick hug. “Did you just get back from a date?”
Before either of them could respond, Sandra appeared from down the hall. “Hey, you two.”
Maddie glanced over at her mom as she walked over to them. She looked like a completely different person. Her once glassy eyes are bright and alert, the dark circles beneath are gone. She looks slimmer, and healthier. Maddie couldn’t even remember the last time her mom looked like this, even from the all the previous rehab trips. The sliver of hope grew in her chest.
“Hi, mom.” Maddie said.
Sandra pulled her into a hug. “I missed you, sweetheart.”
Maddie held onto her for a second longer than usual. “I missed you two.”
“So,” Bea said, “did you guys just come back from a date or what?”
“We went sledding with the group,” Wally said. “Even Charley and Rhonda went.”
Bea blinked. “Really? I didn’t think those two would be interested in sledding.”
“Me neither,” Wally said, shrugging of his jacket. “But they both had fun. Well - I know Charley did, I don’t know about Rhonda. It’s hard to get a read of her.”
“Well, you guys must be freezing,” Bea said. “Let me make you a hot chocolate and we can talk about the trip.”
“Thanks, Ma,” Wally said, taking Maddie’s jacket from her. “We did bring some with us, but everyone drank it before we even got some.”
Bea made her way into the kitchen as Maddie, Wally and Sandra moved into the living room. Wally and Maddie took a seat on the couch while Sandra settled into the armchair.
Sandra watched them for a moment – Wally’s hand resting in Maddie’s lap, fingers interlacing with hers. A small, knowing smiled crossed her face.
“Before we get into all that,” Sandra said. “I have some good news.”
“I think you mean great news, Sandra.” Bea called from the kitchen.
Maddie raised a brow. “What is it?”
Sandra smiled. “I sold the cabin.”
“Wait- what?” Maddie said. “How?”
“Well, while I was in group therapy, there wasn’t a lot for Bea to do,” Sandra said, crossing her legs, as she settled further back into the armchair. “She got talking to another patients son who owns an architecture company. He was looking for somewhere secluded to build a small bed and breakfast. Bea bought up the cabin, showed him photos… and he bought it.”
“He brought a cabin that’s rundown and falling apart?” Maddie asked.
“Well, no,” Bea said, walking in with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate placing them on the coffee table before settling onto the other armchair. “He mostly wanted the land because of the lake view. He’s planning to tear the cabin down and rebuild completely.”
Maddie went quiet, watching them as they continued talking. Her thoughts drifted.
She couldn’t help but wonder how much it sold for and if it would be enough to cover college. But then the doubt crept in. Sandra would need to pay Carol back for the treatment facility, and Maddie had no idea how much that cost. From what she’d heard - and how long her mom had been gone – it had to be a lot.
“How much did he buy it for?” Maddie asked.
Sandra met her eyes. “Enough for your first two years at Northwestern.”
Maddie blinked. “What? But what about paying Carol back? I don’t need it all for college. We can split it.”
“That money was always meant to be yours, Mads,” Sandra said softly. “I was never meant to spend it in the first place.”
“When does it get finalised?” Wally asked.
“Monday,” Sandra said. “Everything’s already in motion. It just becomes official then.”
Maddie nodded faintly, still processing. A small beat passed before she looked back up at her mom. “How did it go?” she asked quietly.
Sandra exhaled. “It was really intense. Four weeks doesn’t sound like a long time, but it felt like forever in there.”
She paused, her gaze dropping briefly to her hands. “There were a lot of times where I was really close to giving up. Just walk away and pretend that I was okay.”
Maddie’s chest tightened.
“But I didn’t,” Sandra continued, her voice softer. “FaceTiming with you every day – seeing you… it made me push myself. It made me not give up.”
Maddie’s grip tightened around Wally’s hand. Wally’s thumb brushed lightly over her knuckles.
“I didn’t want to disappoint you,” Sandra said. “Not again.”
The room fell quiet for a moment, the weight of her words settling over them. For the first time in a long time, Maddie let herself believe it – maybe this time really would be different.
Bea leaned forward slightly, her expression softening. “You did good, Sandra. I’m proud of you.” Sandra gave a small nod, her lips pressing together.
Bea sat back again, clearing her throat lightly. So, how was the trip? Meeting everyone?”
“Jess and Izzy are great,” Wally said. “They were easy to get along with. It helped that they have the same feelings about their mom that I do about dad.”
Bea frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Mallory also cheated on her husband to be with dad,” Wally said, his jaw tightened slightly. “She’s basically the woman version of him.”
Bea rolled her eyes. “Because we need the woman version of that man.”
Maddie let out a small laugh. “That’s one way to describe her.”
Sandra leaned forward slightly. “How was the wedding?”
Wally tensed just enough for Maddie to notice. He glanced at her, his stomach tightening. He knows he has to tell his mom what happened. Just… not yet. Not like this.
“The venue was really nice, overlooking the ocean,” Maddie said, stepping in. “Though, we had no idea what we were eating. Everything was really fancy.”
Bea rolled her eyes again. “Figures he’d have a fancy wedding.” She rubbed at her temples. “It was his idea when we got married to go to town hall. I wanted a proper wedding, but I guess he was just waiting for the right person.”
Silence settled over the room again.
Wally sat forward slightly. “You alright, Ma?”
“Yes,” she said quickly. “Sorry. I don’t want to think about him anymore. Only want to talk to him when it regards you, and that’s it.”
Wally nodded, sitting back.
“So,” Sandra said, shifting the conversation, “what did you two wear? I’m sure you guys looked great.”
Maddie grabbed her phone, scrolling through the photos before passing it to Sandra. “We found a thrift store in Malibu, run by the sweetest elderly woman. She even gave us a discount.”
Sandra flicked through the photos, then turned the screen slightly toward Bea. “I love this one of you two.”
On screen, Maddie was looking up at Wally, and he was looking down at her like she was the only person in the world.
Maddie smiled softly. “That’s my favourite too.”
They lingered on the photos for a while longer. Maddie and Wally filled in the gaps as Sandra and Bea asked questions about the trip, Jess and Izzy, the places they’d gone, their unexpected extra night in Los Angeles. Maddie glanced over at Wally as he spoke. She knew he wasn’t ready to talk about what happened at the wedding and college. But whenever he did tell her, she’d be there.
Bea glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s getting late,” she said. “We should sort out something for dinner.”
Wally nodded. “I can cook something.”
“I’m not even going to argue,” Bea replied. “I’m exhausted from the drive.”
Wally stood, heading to the kitchen and opening cupboards and the freezer as he figured out what to make. “We’ve got stuff for mac and cheese, or there are two frozen pizzas. Take your pick.”
“I’m happy with whatever,” Sandra said.
“Mac & cheese sounds good,” Maddie added, shifting on the couch. “Do you need any help?”
Wally shook his head. “I’ve got it, babe. Thanks, though.”
He moved around the kitchen, grabbing what he needed, falling into a steady, easy rhythm. Maddie watched him, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“Make sure you grate three different types of cheeses,” Bea called from the armchair. “And don’t add it until the pasta’s al dente.”
“I know what I’m doing, Ma.” Wally said, grating a block of cheese. “I’ve made it plenty of times..”
“I know,” Bea said. “I just can’t help giving advice.”
Sandra laughed. “You’re the backseat driver of cooking.”
Wally snorted. “That’s exactly what you are, Mom.”
Half an hour later, Wally pulled the mac and cheese out of the oven, setting it on the countertop beside a stack of plates. Steam curled up from the dish, filling the kitchen with warmth and the aroma of melted cheese.
They plated up their dinner and moved to the dining table, the conversation easy and light as they ate. Wally and Maddie talked about their day sledding with the others – the chaos of it, most of them figuring it out as they went, and Nicole accidently crashing into someone, which, surprisingly, worked out in her favour.
By the time they finished, the atmosphere had settled into something easy and familiar.
Maddie pushed her chair back slightly. “I should finish packing up my stuff.”
Sandra looked over at her. “Do you need any help?”
Maddie shook her head. “No thanks, mom. I’ve done most of it already.”
“Alright.”
When Maddie disappeared down the hall, Wally started stacking plates, carrying them into the kitchen and loading the dishwasher.
Bea stood, stretching slightly. “We could probably get in an episode of Selling Sunset while the kids pack up.”
Wally glanced over at his mom, brows lifting. “Since when do you watch that show?”
“We binged a lot of it in our downtime,” Sandra explained.
“It’s surprisingly good,” Bea added, flicking on the TV.
“Fair enough,” Wally said, turning back to the dishwasher.
Sandra lingered in the kitchen for a moment. Wally didn’t notice she was still there until he turned around.
“Hey, Wally,” she said. “I just wanted to say thank you.”
He tossed the dish towel over his shoulder. “For what?”
“For looking after my girl while I was away.”
His expression softened. “Always.”
A small smile tugged at Sandra’s lips as she turned, heading back into the living room.
Maddie sat on the edge of Wally’s bed, folding the last of her clothes and placing them into her bag. She did one final look in the drawers Wally had cleared out years ago for her to use, since she always left clothes when she stayed over.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway before Wally appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame as he watched her for a moment. “It’s going to be really weird,” he said after a second.
Maddie glanced up at him. “What is?”
“Not seeing you in here,” he admitted. “You being the last thing I see before I go to sleep and the first thing when wake up.”
Something soft tugged in ger chest. “There’ll be other times. We’re at each other’s house all the time.”
“I know,” Wally said, a smile pulling at his lips. “I just got used to it.”
Maddie smiled faintly as she zipped up her bag and placing it on the floor.
Wally pushed himself off the doorframe, stepping further into the room, closing the door softly behind him. “You know, we’ve got a bit of time. They’re watching Selling Sunset.”
Maddie let out a small huff of laughter. “Seriously? Since when do they watch that?” “Exactly what I said. They watched it in their downtime.” Wally said, sitting next to her on the bed.
“So,” she said, smiling at him. “What do you have in mind to kill some time?”
A cocky grin formed on his face. “I can think of a few ideas. But… maybe let's not be as loud as we were at the hotel.”
Maddie laughed softly. “You did that on purpose.”
“Maybe,” he said.
He pulled her closer, slower this time, like he’d been thinking about this all day. Their lips brushed light and teasing at first, soft and light, but that didn’t last long. Wally’s hand slid into her hair, fingers threading through it as he tilted her head, deepening the kiss. His free hand moved along her side, settling at her waist before he pulled her onto his lap.
He paused just enough to meet her eyes. “Is this okay?” he asked quietly.
“Yes.”
His lips crashed onto hers again, faster and more urgent. Maddie leaned into him, her hands tightening against his back, gripping onto his sweater as his hold on her steadied, pulling her closer. Wally’s hand moved from her waist, sliding up her back before setting firmly there, keeping her close as she shifted against him. Her fingers curled into the fabric at his shoulders, holding onto him as if she didn’t want him to pull away
They broke a part for only a second, barely enough for a breath, their lips found each other again, deeper, his grip tightening as she shifted against him.
She leaned into him, steady and deliberate, guiding the movement as they shifted- Wally letting himself fall back onto the bed beneath her. He adjusted instantly, both hand settling at her hips, holding her there firmly.
The kiss picked up again straight away, Maddie stayed on top of him, hands on his shoulders before one slipped down, finding his hand. Her fingers curled into his, pushing his hand against the bed and steading herself over him. He unintentionally felt a twitch against her before his grip around her fingers tightened.
The kiss broke just enough for their foreheads to rest together, both of them catching their breath, their hands still linked, their eyes met.
Neither of them said anything, they didn’t need to.
Wally’s hand shifted slightly at her hip, grounding her there as Maddie leaned in first this time, closing the space between them again, slow and soft.
Just then, a knock at the door broke the kiss again. Before they had any time to move, the door opened.
“Hey, you two. I thought I’d come grab you, Sandra’s ready to-”
Maddie quickly pushed herself off him as Wally sat up, both of them fixing their hair.
Bea stopped mid-sentence, pressing her lips together. “Sorry- I… Maddie, your mom’s ready to head home.”
Heat rushed to Maddie’s cheeks. “Okay.”
Bea gave a small nod before turning, leaving the door open as she walked away.
Maddie glanced over at Wally, and a quiet laugh slipped out of both of them.
“That was really embarrassing.” Maddie said.
Wally huffed a laugh. “Eh, it could’ve been worse.”
Maddie shook her head, a small shudder running through her. “I don’t even want to think about that.”
Wally smirked slightly. “Yeah.. let's not.”
Maddie grabbed her bag, pushing herself off the bed and heading toward the door, Wally following just behind her.
Maddie and Wally stepped back into the living room, both a little more composed than they had been a minute ago.
Bea glanced up at them immediately, her expression unreadable for half a second before it shifted into something more controlled. “Right,” she said, straightening slightly. “I think we’re going to have to come up with a few rules when Maddie’s over here.. and when you’re over there.”
Wally glanced at her, thrown off. “Rules? We never had rules. And besides, we’re adults.”
“That was before you were dating,” Bea said. “You’re under my roof. My rules.”
Wally rolled his eyes. “Unbelievable.”
“We can talk about that later.” Sandra cut in gently.
Maddie let out a quiet breath before grabbing her bag, glancing briefly at Wally before heading toward the door with Sandra. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said quietly.
Wally nodded as the front door closed behind them.
He turned to his mom. “I’m gonna head to my room.”
“Actually, I think you and I need to have a talk,” Bea said, crossing her arms. “About what really happened at the wedding.”
Wally knitted his brows together. “What do you mean? I did.”
Bea held his gaze. “Your dad called yesterday and told me what happened.”
His expression fell flat. “He did?”
“He did,” she said. “But I want to hear it from you what happened, not his version.”
He didn’t answer straight way, he dragged a hand through his hair as he moved into the living room. Bea followed behind him. He dropped into the armchair, leaning forward, elbows on his knees. Bea sat in the opposite chair.
“It was fine at first,” he said. “I didn’t really fucking care about the ceremony. Then he started his vows.” He let out a sharp breath. “I wasn’t really paying attention until he said, ‘sometimes, it takes being in the wrong situation to realise what’s actually right.’” He shook his head. “That was a clear dig at you.”
Bea’s jaw tightened.
“And the first dance…” Wally let out a humourless huff. “They picked Endless Love. He fucking knew that was one of your favourites.”
“I wasn’t even on planning on drinking,” he went on. “I just-” He paused, like he was searching for the right words to say. “I just wanted to forget it for a bit. I saw the champagne bottle unattended, so I grabbed it.”
Bea stayed quiet, letting him continue.
“I went outside and found Jess and her boyfriend- they were already drinking. Then after a while, Maddie and Izzy found us. We were just talking, hanging out, away from it all.”
His tone sharpened slightly.
“Then, eventually, Dad found us. Takes one look and immediately assumes Maddie’s drinking. That she’s the reason we all were drinking. Starts saying she’ll end up exactly like her mom that it was only a matter of time before she drags me down with her.”
Bea’s brows pulled together.
“When Maddie told him that she wasn’t, he didn’t believe her,” Wally continued. “Said he heard the same bullshit from her mom.” He took a deep breath, jaw tightening “I couldn’t take any more of his shit. So I hit him.”
A brief silence settled.
“Then he told me he was glad that I was leaving the next day,” he added, quieter now, but his tone was still sharp. “Said it meant he wouldn’t have to see me again.”
Silence settled between them, again.
For a moment, Bea didn’t say anything, then she pushed herself to her feet. “Are you fucking kidding me?” she snapped, starting to pace the room, running a hand through her hair. “That man just doesn’t know when to stop does he? Taking shots at me is one thing,” she continued, her voice tight with anger, “but Maddie? Her mom? That’s fucking low. Even for him.” She turned sharply, pacing back the other way.
Wally rubbed the back of his neck. “I know it wasn’t right,” he said. “Hitting him.” He let out a breath. “But I couldn’t just stand there and let him keep talking shit about everyone, something in me just… snapped.”
Bea kept pacing for another second before Wally spoke again.
“Are you mad at me?”
That made her stop. She turned to face him. “No, I’m not mad at you.”
Wally blinked. “You’re not?”
“No. I don’t like that it got to that point,” she added. “But I understand why it did.” She shook her head. “What he said? That’s not okay. He crossed a line. Actually, he crossed about ten.”
Wally sat back slightly, staring at the floor for a second before speaking. “I’m thinking about cutting him out of my life.”
Bea didn’t respond tight away. Instead, she moved back to the armchair, slower this time, like she needed a second to take that in. “Wally…”
“I’m serious,” he added, his voice steady. “I don’t need that in my life. Not if he keeps acting like that.”
Bea watched him carefully, the anger in her expression shifting into something more measured. “Okay, but what about college? You’re not doing the football scholarship anymore – which I’ve come to terms with.”
Wally’s eyes widened in response, but before he could say anything, Bea continued.
“Your dad would be helping to pay for that. If you cut him off, what are you going to do?”
Wally let out a short breath. “I was thinking I made a mistake giving up the scholarship.”
Bea stilled, she didn’t expect him to say that. The old version of her would’ve jumped on that immediately- pushed him straight back into football. But being away with Sandra, seeing things differently… it stopped her.
“Would you be happy doing that?” she asked.
Wally didn’t hesitate. “No. But I’d be in college, doing something. I’d have a scholarship.” A small pause. “Something you would be proud of.”
Bea’s expression softened. “Wally, I’m going to be proud of you with or without a scholarship.”
He held her gaze. “It didn’t feel like it when you said I wasn’t smart enough to get one on my own. And it wasn’t just you. Dad said the same thing when I told him.”
Bea shook her head immediately. “I didn’t mean that, Wally. I was blindsided by what you said.” Her tone hardened slightly. “And your father’s a fucking asshole. His opinion doesn’t matter.”
Another brief pause.
“Honestly,” she added, quieter now,” neither does mine when it comes to what you choose to do.”
Wally’s jaw tightened.
“It’s your life,” Bea continued. “Same with your dad. If you want to cut him out, I support you.” She leaned forward slightly. “And college? We’ll figure that out. You can take a gap year, get a job, apply for financial aid, work- study. There are options. “You’re not stuck, Wally.”
He stayed quiet for a second, taking what she said in. He’d heard this all before but hearing it from her now felt different.
He let out a slow breath, lifting his head. “Thanks, Mom. I’ve got a lot to think about.”
Bea gave a small nod as she stood. “You do. I support whatever you decide.”
Wally nodded. “Good night.”
“Night, Wally.”
Wally stepped into his room, closing the door behind him. He stood in the middle of the room for a moment, before moving to his desk, flipping open his notebook to a blank page. He picked up a pen and split the page into two columns, football on one side, physiotherapy on the other. He worked through each side without rushing. When he finished, the physiotherapy side ran longer.
He leaned back against his chair, looking over it. For a while, he wondered if he gave up the football scholarship to quickly, but sitting there and seeing it laid out in front of him, it didn’t feel like he had made the wrong choice. He made the right one. All that pressure, the doubt, the second- guessing it all just… fell way. His let his heart lead the way instead of his mind. His chest eased, the tension he’d been carrying around the last couple of days, disappearing.
He quickly changed into his pyjamas and climbed into bed. He grabbed his phone and texted the first person he wanted to tell. Maddie.
Wally: I’ve decided what I’m going to do about college.
Maddie: Yeah?
Wally: I’m going to stick with my original plan.
Wally: Study kinesiology, become a physiotherapist.
Maddie: I’m so proud of you.
Wally: I had so many doubts about everything. Thought I made a mistake.
Maddie: You don’t have to explain yourself. It’s normal to second guess something this big.
Wally: How do you always know exactly what I need to hear?
Maddie: It’s a gift.
Wally smiled slightly.
Wally: It’s weird being in bed without you next to me.
Maddie: I know. I miss curling up next to you… falling asleep in your arms.
Wally: Yeah. I miss that too.
Wally: Maybe I should just come over.
Wally: You know so I will be able to go to sleep.
Wally: Because I don’t know if I can, not having you in my arms.
Maddie: You’re adorable.
Wally: I am, aren’t I?
Maddie: Good night, babe.
Wally: Good night, beautiful.
He placed his phone down on the side table and settled under the covers. For the first time in a long time, he felt so light. Free. And like he’d finally made the right choice.
Part 26 Part 28
Of course I was going to make Wally study kinesiology and become a physiotherapist. I felt like it was natural for him to second guess himself a bit.
Next up is a time jump as we come close to the end of this story 😭
Tags: @lover1409@rosietoesy@jamiemoonymarks@unholypsychic@darth-jaderz@m3ntaltashia23@kellykeyser85@major-tomcat @jerseygirl1313
