Melody had agreed to talk to him after she managed to settle him. Even though she had rented an AirBnB - maybe one of the few changes that happened in the time she was gone - she had accepted his invitation to stay at his apartment - her old apartment, in fact - with him. It was familiar and it gave her a chance to talk to him. “You still know the way. I’ll be in the kitchen” Dash opened the door for her. Melody nodded and walked down the hallway. Her son had fallen asleep on the car, so she had to carry him to her old room, something that happened too often, holding him perhaps a bit too tightly. Her room was just as she left it, more dust but in 10 years what can you expect. The bits and bobs that she left behind because she simply didn’t have anymore space. She only took the essentials with her. She didn’t expect to stay there ten years. She pulled the covers down and gently placed him on the bed. She pushed his hair away from his face and smiled. Perfect. She would talk to him. She had to. Melody tucked the sheets around him and placed a soft kiss on his temple before closing the bedroom door. She rubbed her face trying to wake up, she knew Dash wasn’t going to let anything slide. He had moved from the kitchen to the dining room, where he sat with two glasses and a bottle of whiskey. This was going to be rough. For light discussions, Dash brought out lemonade, for sad ones - hot chocolate, and for the ones that even him had a hard time pushing through - whiskey.
She sat in front of him, waiting as he poured into the glasses and handed one to her. One sip, then a question “When did you find out?” He didn’t have to spell out every word, they knew each other well enough that even a glance spoke a thousand words. Sip, answer “One month after I left. Almost exactly”. He hummed at the reply “Did you tell him?”. She shook her head “No.” He looked up at her, he was older now, he was always older than her but she could see the lines in the corner of his eyes were slightly deepened. “How did you do it?” Melody took another sip “Started working as a waiter in a diner, Betsy was an older woman who also worked there, her husband owned the diner, his name was Roger. I told her when I found out and she took me under her wing. I moved in with her and her husband, they had a son who had moved to Europe so they had a spare room. I had him. On Halloween. That’s always a fun birthday, or a cruel joke from the universe” Another sip and she continued “They helped me. Roger died 2 years later. Betsy died when he was about 6. I continue to live in their house, they passed it down to me on their will” Mel always felt undeserving of everyone’s kindness towards her, if they only knew. “Their son is now the manager of the diner. An asshole but I get a decent pay. The house is fully paid off, only need to pay water, electricity and food. He’s in the honors roll, top of his class” Melody described almost every notable moment of her 10 years. Dash nodded, he drank the rest of his drink in one swift gulp and Melody followed him bracing herself for his next question. Dash filled the glasses again and took a deep breath “Why did you do it?”. The million dollar question. “I thought everyone’s life would be easier without me. I th-”. Dash interrupted “Mel…” his voice was stern and clearly holding back, he was gripping the glass too tightly and Mel feared it might break in his hand “I thought I was doing you all-” Dash looked up at her “You could’ve said something” he interrupted. “I couldn’t- it was too late- I didn’t want anyone to come and be dragged down by me once again. I thought I was saving everyone from myself. I didn’t want -” Dash slapped his hand on the table, the force making Melody jump in her seat “We thought you were dead!” his voice raised.
His face quickly turned to worry as he stared at the hallway waiting for the kid to come see what happened. He took another deep breath. Melody sat there in shock, the thought hadn’t cross her mind, how selfish of her to not even think that. “For months, even years, we searched for any police file, medical record, court document t that Tip could get his hands on to see if there was any trace of you” Melody took in a shaky breath “I’m sorry” what could she say to that? Dash rubbed his tears away “We even called morgues, Mel. I don’t want to ever do that again. Do you even imagine the feeling that is calling a morgue in search of your best-friend, your sister?” Melody could feel the tears bubbling up “And the relief when they said that no one fit your description but then also followed immediately by utter panic that you were lying dead in a ditch somewhere god knows where or involved in some scheme” He covered his face with his hands and let out a cry. She had never seen Dash cry, tearing up - yes, but full on crying, never. She got up from her seat and rushed to him, hugging him tightly on the neck. His arms quickly held her, tight almost afraid that she would disappear. “I am so sorry” she cried. He buried his face in her shoulder while she stroke his back. The pair stayed like that for a few minute until they felt their emotions simmer down into a small flame, still there but not burning.
Melody now sat beside him, with her hand gently resting on his forearm “If you were feeling so bad that you felt your only option was to leave I wish you would’ve talked to someone. Me, him, anyone, a priest even, for all I care” he looked at her with caring eyes and Mel felt like she didn’t deserve his love, his affection and his friendship “I felt like I wasn’t a good friend. Because what good friend doesn’t see that his best friend is hurting this much” that made her cry again. “I’m a terrible person, Dashy” she sobbed “Hey…” with his fingers underneath her chin he moved her face so he could look her in the eyes “You are not a terrible person. You’re a good person. You have a good heart. But you’re also stupid, impulsive, stubborn and way too proud to admit you did something wrong” Melody didn’t believe his words, she felt like the worst person on the planet “You are a good person, Mel. Starfish” she nodded silently. He moved to fill the glasses once more. He looked at her once more, trying to decide if he should tell her or not “I kept an eye on him. For you” this took Melody by surprise, but then again, knowing Dash, she knew he would do something like that “Thank you” she managed to say. Dash shrugged “I tried to keep my distance. I guessed he wouldn’t like me to smother him. I just wanted to be sure he wouldn’t hurt himself. I could make sure at least one of you two were alright. Alive at least” the way he spoke about her and Barrel, as if they were a unit, and it was true, they were. “Oh Dash, he must hate me so much” she sobbed again, as soon as she felt like she was done crying something else bubbled up inside her and spilled over. “He might. For now” Dash tried to reassure her, forever the romantic optimist. He cleaned her tears with his thumbs, rising from his seat and placing a small kiss on the top of her head. “You can sleep in my bed, I’ll take the couch” Melody looked up at him, with his height he would never be able to sleep well in the couch “Can you stay with me? Please, I don’t want to be alone”. He nodded. After they lying down in bed, both staring the ceiling with a million thoughts on their minds, Melody turned in bed to face him “Thank you Dash. I don’t know what I did to deserve you. Any of you” a few more tears threatened to fall. “Shh… It’s okay” he smiled at her and she tried her hardest to believe him. He took a deep breath “Just one more question” Melody looked up at him expectantly “What’s your plan for after all this?” She thought for a few seconds “I don’t have one”. “Good” Dash replied and Mel could almost hear a smile in his answer, forever the optimist.
Melody walked in the living room where the two boys where playing some shooting game and without even looking at the screen she figured out that Dash was winning, due to Tip’s cursing and frustrated grunts. “Tip!” Melody called out “ Riley is right here! Do you want her first word to be the F word ?” The boy continued with his eyes locked on the screen not even bothering to look over at Mel. “ Well, at least we would be 100% sure she’s my daughter.” The boy continues smashing the buttons of the controller as hard as he could as if it made any difference. Melody picked up the baby and sat at the armchair next to the boys. “Hey guys. Can you pause it for a second ? I need to speak to you.” She jiggled her legs up and down making the baby giggle. After a few seconds they obliged and looked up at her. ”What do you want to talk?” Dash asked placing the controller on the coffee table. “I might have done something. Or said something that I shouldn’t have...” The two boys glared at her, Melody hid her face behind the baby. “What did you do Melody?” Dash looked more concerned than anything else. “ I was talking to your mom...” she started “My mom?” The curly haired interrupted “Since when do you talk to my mom?”. “Since you moved here. I’m your spy.” She peeked over the baby to see his reaction “Anyway... I was talking to your mom and I might have slipped up about Eilonwy and Riley.” The two boys got up at the same time “Long story short, they’re coming for Christmas.” She hid her face behind the baby again. “Don’t use my daughter as a shield Melody Pond!” Tip said pulling the baby to him. “Why did you do that?” Dash looked so concerned “I’m sorry! It slipped up! We were talking about Christmas shopping and out of habit I refered to Eilonwy as your girlfriend and shit happened. I even tried o cover it up by saying that she is a girl who is a friend but your mom is smart she figured it out. So they’re coming now, your mom and dad. They want to meet Eilonwy and Riley.” Melody was already shorter than the two boys but now she felt even smaller. “They’re coming on the 23rd.” Melody stood up and started moving towards her room. “Oh.” The two boys turned to look at her “And so are my Dad and Step-Dad. And their girlfriends. And also my aunt.” The two boys glared at Mel so hard that if looks could kill she would already be so dead.
George liked to have a couple of young, intriguing people on hand for his business. He found it was easier to keep a lower profile if he had people who weren't directly involved with his job, but still they were people who he could trust. Usually it wasn't hard for him to find one, an intern of sorts. An intern with significantly better pay than the usual title would offer. Unfortunately, this town seemed to be devoid of the exact kind of personality he was looking for. Maybe he wasn't looking in the right places, maybe the right personalities were just hidden somewhere beyond his sight. Either way, he felt like he was lacking. Which is why he took out an ad in the local paper, something he never thought he'd need to do. Interviews weren't his ideal, and he'd already turned away three individuals before they even sat down. He could just tell that they were wrong. Feeling a bit discouraged, he took a long sip from his coffee when his next appointment caught his eye. This one he could already tell was more promising than the others. "Here for the interview?" He used that term loosely, it was less an interview and more a quick conversation so they could get to work immediately.
The phone rang loudly on the nightstand, why did i put this obnoxious ringtone ? the boy thought, his hand searched the nightstand while he faced the other way. “Hello ?” Tip managed to say. “ Is this T-Tip-Tippo… Tippo Doren I’m talking to ?” A woman’s voice asked on the other line. He sat up in his bed “It’s Tippou, call me Tip, and yes. It’s me. Who is this ?” he had a feeling this was an important matter. Maybe his aunt became sober enough to realize he was gone, though that was almost impossible he still liked to believe it was possible. “My name is Elizabeth, I’m a social worker. Did you know Clarissa Bell ?” the name sounded oddly familiar. “Clarissa Bell ?” he repeated to make sure he heard well. ”Yes. Her.” The lady confirmed. He thought for a few seconds until he finally remembered. “Oh yeah! Clarissa. Yeah. I remember. We went out a few times a while back when I moved to New Hampshire then we never saw each other again. Why ?” Tip was confused why a social worker wanted to know about an old hookup of his. “Clarissa died in a car crash this Wednesday…” the woman paused and Tip quickly panicked thinking they thought he had something to do with the car crash. He saw in that one tv show how easy it is to frame someone. “Oh…” he whispered. “You sure you never spoke to her after your breakup ?” the woman asked. Tip rubbed his eyes and let out a sigh “ No, we didn’t. After we decided that we shouldn’t see each other again I tried to call her to come to my friend’s bakery opening but she never answered my calls. I took the hint. She didn’t wanted to see me again. I understood.” He told the lady, that was the absolute truth there was no reason for him to lie to the social worker. “Why are you asking all this questions ?” he asked, if he was being framed for something he didn’t do he at least had the right to know. The woman took a deep breath before speaking again “I don’t know how to say this to you kid but… “ the lady took another deep breath “… she had a daughter and… you’re the father.” Tip’s mouth opened wide. No. This isn’t happening he thought. No. The boy stared blankly at the wall in front of him not knowing how to react. “Hello ?” the lady called out to check if he was still in line “Yeah. Yeah.” He managed to say. “I know this is a big shock for you but I need you to come by my office at 4 pm. It’s important. Bring some friends or family to help you.” Tips hung up and flew out of the bed. “Mel! Dash! Mel! Dash!” he screamed at the top of his lungs. He found the pain in the kitchen with their eyes wide open. “What happened ?” Mel asked setting the hand mixer down. “I just got a call from a social worker.” He sat down on the floor, he couldn’t feel his legs. “The lady said I had a daughter.” Mel’s mouth flew open. “Wh- What ? H-H-How ?! WHAT?” the girl was so confused, she looked at Dash “Get the cookies.”
After an hour of both trying to explain to his friends what happened and trying to understand what happened Tip managed to get dressed and convince his friends to come with him. He reached the front desk, too self-aware of how much he was sweating and if anyone could tell how much he was shaking. “I-I I was told to come here to speak to Elizabeth. She didn’t told me her last name.” the young lady at the desk smiled at him “You must be Tip Doren. I’ll tell her you are here.” Tip walked back to his friends. “ I don’t know if I can do this.” Melody straightened his shirt. “Go with your gut” the girl told him with a comforting smile. “I just don’t know how this happened…” he sighed “If you don’t know how it happened, you’re not the father.” The girl couldn’t control the giggle. “Now it’s not the time for jokes Mel!” Tip frowned. “Oh lighten up, I was trying to distract you.” Dash placed one hand on Tip’s shoulder “No matter what, we’re here. Forever. You can’t get rid of us. Not even if you tried.” The lady at the desk called him and directed him to Elizabeth’s office.
“Hello Tip. I am so sorry for this short notice. We only managed to get a hold of you today.” He nodded. “Well, let’s talk about this. Clarissa left home when she was younger making her relationship with the family rocky. We contacted them but they had no intentions of taking in the girl. Sadly. We looked all over for you, there were thousands of numbers directed to you until we found your cellphone number. You might be wondering if you’re really the father. She’s 2 months old. So she was conceived 11 months ago.” He thought where he was 11 months ago and everything fit. “If you don’t want to keep her, which I understand, it’s a big responsibility, she’s going to be sent to foster care. I think I covered everything. Do you want some time to think ?” Elizabeth looked at him. “Can I please see her ?” the lady was taken by surprise but quickly stood up from her chair. Tip followed her quietly not saying a word. “She’s here at the nursery. She’s the only one.” Tip saw the little baby wiggling her legs up in the air looking at the mobile. Still not saying a word he opened the door and walked towards the crib. The little girl smiled at him and he felt like being hit by a truck. He couldn’t leave her to foster care, he simply couldn’t, it was a horrible thing to do, she was his daughter he couldn’t just simply leave her. “Hey baby…” he whispered “how are you?” he felt stupid talking to a baby, she would never answer back. The little baby let out what sounded like a little giggle. Tip heard footsteps behind him “She’s precious isn’t she ? She’s always smiling. Her name is Riley, if you’re curious” Tip nodded not taking his eyes off the baby “I can’t leave her to foster care. She deserves a family.” He said, sure of his decision. His grandfather provided him a great childhood, filled with love and care, he couldn’t reject that from his own daughter.” The lady nodded. “We need to take care of some paper work.” Elizabeth said to him, clearly happy of his decision.
After a what felt like 2 hours of paperwork Riley was finally and officially his daughter. Before heading back to his friends he picked the little girl from the crib, she was so small, and fragile and nothing else mattered than her. Tip turned the corner to find his friend playing thumb war on the waiting room, when they realized that Tip arrived they jumped out of the couches. “Oh my god. Tip!” Mel smiled widely. “She’s so tiny.” Dash commented holding gently her little hand. “Her name is Riley.” Tip told his friends with the stupidest smile on his face. “Oh, Tippy, she has your eyes!” Mel shed a little tear. “Another thing. I made sure that if anything happens to me Riley is left to one of you. Doesn’t matter who.” Tip looked at his friends in the eyes to make sure they knew he was serious. “Tippy!” Mel cried out between tears “You stole my baby’s name. Now I have to think of a new one” she giggled playing with Riley’s tiny feet. Dash looked over at Elizabeth “She’s going to be the most spoiled little girl in town.” The lady simply laughed at the boy’s comment “Oh, you can bet your sweet ass she is! I’m going to call Binks!” Mel said excitedly.
