Archive of Our Own ^beta

Gunner watched the houses blurring past the car window. He held his backpack close to his chest. His mom was too busy reading house numbers to realize how hard he was trying not to panic. He knew she didn't like the neighborhood so it wasn't like he needed to worry anyway.

"Is this the right place?"

"Uh-huh." He nodded.

"When are you gonna need me to pick you up?"

"Dad said he'd come get me."

"If you say so." 

Gunner got out of the car and slung his backpack over his shoulders. "See ya later."

"Bye. Love you, sweetheart."

"Love you, too." 

He walked all the way to the door they pulled up to before his mom disappeared around the corner. No one was watching when he took off down the street. He'd looked both ways to make sure. What he was doing wasn't anyone else's business.

His real plans were a few houses down. It was the biggest house in the neighborhood. That didn't mean it was massive, but it was easy to find. He grabbed key under the rock by the steps.

Robbin sat up when he heard the front door crack open. The sound that came out of him was way louder than he would like to admit. He stretched and looked up to see Gunner standing in his doorway. "Hey, kid."

"Are you alright?" Gunner was already on the floor. He didn't know what he thought he was gonna do but he couldn't just stand there.

"Aw, yeah. Layin' on the floor's supposed to be good for your back. You gotta remember, I'm old." Robbin laughed. "We don't have to stay down here, ya know. Come on, help me up." He didn't need it, not all that much, but Gunner's eyes lit up so much when he got to be helpful.

He never did get over how much Gunner was just a tiny, energetic Nikki. And speak of the devil. "Does your dad know you're here?"

"My mom does."

"Really?"

"Really." Gunner flashed his biggest puppy dog eyes. "It's her week."

"You promise?"

"I promise." He nodded.

"Good. Because, if you were lying to me... I'd just have to eat you up!"

Gunner squealed. He couldn't get away fast enough. Robbin scooped him up and started tickling. "No-no-no! I'm tell- I'm telling the truth! I-I'm telling the truth! I promise!"Gunner gasped between laughs.

"What's that?"

"Telling the truth! Stop! Please!"

"You gotta speak up, kid, I can't understand you."

"She knows! She knows put me down she knows!"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure!"

"Do you absolutely promise?"

"I promise I promise!"

"Cross your hearts hope to-"

"Stop! Please! I can- I can't-" Gunner couldn't even make noise any more.

"Okay, okay, I believe you." Robbin stopped and held Gunner close to his chest. Gunner was still giggling and panting.

He held onto Robbin's shoulders. He still couldn't breathe. "It's alright, Gunner. Deep breaths. It's okay."

It took another second for Gunner to get quiet. "You ready to get down?"

"Uh-huh."

Robbin groaned when he set Gunner down on the floor. "Y'know, I think I've got some ice cream in the freezer if you wanna run grab it."

"Okay!" Gunner shot out of the room.

Robbin put a DVD in the player then crashed on the couch. His back was way mere stiff than he would like, but Gunner was so cute when he laughed. And he looked so damn happy. That was more than worth not sleeping well for a week.

Gunner ran back in with ice cream and spoons, and sat down as close as he could get to Robbin. He tried to share one of the spoons. 

"It's all yours, kiddo."

"Are you sure?"

"Oh yeah. I've been eating ice cream at least a few more years than you. I've had more than enough, go for it." Robbin put his arm around Gunner's shoulder and pulled him in close.

"Okay!" Gunner wasn't gonna push his luck.

"How're Storm and Decker doing?"

"Good. They spend a lot more time with mom and her new boyfriend so we don't see each other that much, but that's fine. I don't have to share most of my staff any more, so..." Gunner shrugged.

"I'm guessing you're not a big fan of the new guy?"

"Not really. He's a Bills fan."

Robbin chuckled. "So you guys are still big into the Chargers?"

"Mh-hm! We're not doing great, but we beat them back in September so it's not all that bad." Gunner sounded exactly like a high-pitched middle aged man talking about his team.

They spent the next several hours watching old, schlocky horror movies. The kind that were either too low budget or too scared of the censors to be all that gory. Robbin held Gunner closer when he got scared. He pointed out all the obvious effects that he could and explained all the others he'd figured out or been told about over the years. By the end of it, Gunner was pointing out things he hadn't even noticed.

Robbin did a double take when he glanced at the clock: it was nearly 4:00. Gunner was half asleep leaning against his side with an empty pint of ice cream in his lap. He hated to wake him up, but he knew Brandi, Nikki, or both would be out for blood if Gunner wasn't home pretty soon.

Gunner opened his eyes. He didn't even remember falling asleep, or the end of Chopping Mall.

"It's gettin' late, kid. Are you gonna need me to drive you home soon?"

"No." Gunner shook his head. He definitely wasn't freaking out about the time. "Gonna stay over with a friend a few houses down."

"You think you should head over soon?"

Gunner nodded.

"I promise I'm not tryin' to chase you off, I just don't want you to get in any trouble."

"I know." Gunner stretched, then got up. He threw his arms around Robbin and held on tight.

"What's wrong, kiddo?" He held Gunner close to his chest like he would disappear otherwise.

"I don't wanna go." Gunner knew he couldn't cry his way out of this but it felt like he was trying.

"Aw, I know. But I don't think you really want your dad to kick my butt, either, do you?" He shook his head. "'Cause that's what's gonna happen if you don't get going soon, alright?"

That made Gunner laugh. Robbin knelt down to hold Gunner's face and wipe his tears away. "There we go. There's that smile." He straightened back up when he was sure the crying was over. "Now come on, let's get you outta here."

He pulled Gunner in for one last hug.

"Love you."

"I love you, too, kiddo." Robbin kissed his small forehead and rubbed his back. "You want me to walk you down?"

Gunner shook his head. "I think that's just gonna make it harder."

"That makes sense. I've still gotta watch you go, okay? Make sure you're safe."

"Okay."

Robbin leaned out the door to watch Gunner walk down to the end of the block. He stopped and knocked on a door and waved. Robbin waved back. He figured everything was safe and finally went back inside.

There was something in his spot on the couch when he sat back down. He shifted and found a little blue and gray stuffed bear with a note tied around its neck.

This is Derrick, he's my favorite bear. He didn't wanna leave. I'm gonna miss him a lot. Can you take care of him for me?

Robbin smiled to himself. He kept Derrick in the front of his shirt for the rest of the day.

Derrick sat on the nightstand while he took a shower that night.

"Hey, buddy." Robbin picked Derrick up and put the little bear on his chest when he got in bed. He fell asleep holding Derrick in his arms.

Gunner never went inside that house. He wasn't sleeping over anywhere. He just knew a couple kids his age played in that yard sometimes so it wouldn't be weird it he was staying there.

He took off around the corner and down another two blocks to the bus stop. Gunner held his backpack in his lap on the ride. He got a sweet old man to let him try his cologne. There was no chance he was gonna let his dad figure out what he'd been doing.

It was a long walk to get the rest of the way back. The sun was setting when he got back home.

Nikki turned when he heard the front door open. "Gunner! Bambino, come here!"

Gunner dropped his backpack. He threw all of his weight onto his dad.

"What's wrong, little man? Do you feel alright?" Nikki touched Gunner's forehead to check for a fever. He didn't look sick, but there was never any telling with kids.

"I'm just tired."

"I'm sorry, kiddo." Nikki kissed his forehead. "Dinner's almost ready, you wanna sit with me while I finish up?"

"Mh-hm."

"Hold on tight." He picked Gunner up and sat him on the kitchen counter. "How's your week been?"

"Fine. Glad I'm home, though." Gunner talked until his brain got tired and he had food. He left out the past few hours.

He was laying down with this head in dad's lap by bedtime. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

"Alright. You sure everything's okay?"

"Mh-hm. I just missed you."

"Yeah, of course. Hey, you wanna run take a bath in my big tub and then we can knock out?" Gunner nodded.

Nikki stretched out in bed, already changed and struggling to keep his eyes open. He lit up when his little boy came out. "Come here, bambino. I missed you so bad."

"Missed you, too." Gunner made himself as small as he could. He fell asleep with his dad rubbing his back, cuddled up like a teddy bear.