Can't Go On

"Zac...Let me make this clear. Your choosing between him or that baby. Whichever you leave wont ever get back."

Zac closed his eyes, waiting for the tears that were about to form to stop. He then opened his eyes and nodded.
"Thanks memaw..."

Mike nodded, pecking his cheek and going back at it.
"I dont regret my choice...."

"I know you don't memaw..." Zac sighed as he walked back in the bedroom, sitting beside Jr and Jude, his heart constricting as he looked at the two children. The one he loved more than his own life and... the one he didn't know but still loved just as much...

Jr was cuddled close to the other boy, not noticing his brother in the room with them.

Zac laid down,waiting for them to wake up. He'd say goodbye to Jude and then he'd go home...

Jr was sleeping hard, he was so tired, he didnt get much sleep lately.

But Jude was very energetic. He wouldn't sleep at all if he had the choice. He woke very early, always. He grinned at Zac.
"Hi mwomma!"

Jr grumbled and hugged him around the waist, mumbling into his side.

Jude smiled and Zac couldn't help but notice how similar it was to his own. They're smiles were identical.
"Jude, mommas gotta talk to you."

Kevin opened his eyes to see his baby and grandbaby. He listened quietly.

"Jude... you're gonna stay here okay?" Zac said softly as he pulled Jude into his lap.
"Otay mwomma. I like it here." He smiled. "Where are you gonna sleep?"
"Thats the thing baby... I'm not gonna be here..."
"But... youre my momma?" He tilted his head to the side.
"Baby, yeah I am. And I love you... but I have to go somewhere else... I live in a different house sweety..."
"Well can I come with you?"
"No honey... you can't..."
Thoughts ran through Zac's mind. Of how Aaron was sort of bitter and cold because he never had a mother... how kids made fun of him because his father had been a rapist...
"Wh-why not?"
"Because baby... you aren't safe where I'm going. You could... would get hurt."
"But I just met you momma..."
"I know baby..."
"But... I want to know you better..." He looked up at him with pained little eyes.
"I want to know you too baby.. and I might visit but not a lot..."
"Momma..."
A tear rolled down Zac's cheek.
"Momma I don't want you to go..." Jude looked up at him helplessly. "I want my momma..." The child's eyes were brimming with tears as he sniffled.
"Baby... I can't..."
"Wh-what about daddy? Can I know daddy?" The child whimpered, rubbing his eye with a tiny fist.
"No sweety..."
Jude began to wail.
Zac shushed him and cradled him in his arms, rocking him back and forth.

Jr woke up, watching him cry. He hugged Jude and looked at him worriedly..
"Whats wrong Judy?"
Kevin was also up, hugging his son tightly.

"M-mommas leaving!" He cried, hugging onto Jr.
Silent tears were rolling down Zac's cheeks. You'd never know he was crying if you were looking the other direction.

"You can share my momma! My momma is a good momma! He really is Judy! My momma will take care of you." Jr cooed to him while Kevin cradled Zac.

Zac looked at his mother, eyes pained and teary.
"Momma..." It was all he said as he wrapped his arms around Kevin's neck and cried into his shoulder.
Jude cried harder to Jr.
"But I don't want your momma! I want my momma! And I don't even know my daddy!" He wailed.

Kevin rocked him back and forth, holding Zac tight while Jr tried to talk Jude into taking his momma.

Jude refused to listen to Jr. He crawled over to Zac.
"Momma... did I do something bad? Is that why you're leaving?"
"oh no baby, not at all. You did nothing..."
He'd done absloutely nothing wrong... it wasn't his fault who his father was...
"I love you though...."
"I love you too sweety.. so much..."

Kevin picked Jr up and hugged him, the boy had started crying with his new friend.

"C-can I see my daddy?"
"Baby..."
"Just once." He sniffled.
Zac pulled out a picture he had in his pocket of him and Quincy.
"There baby, thats your daddy..."
"Doesn't he love me?"
"Of course baby... he loves you..."

In a way Quincy did because he was Zac's baby but....it was....
He hated to see it and know it wasnt his.
Someone else had Zac...

"Now baby.. I gotta go..."
"Come and see me?"
"Sometimes baby... I love you..."
"I love you too momma..."

Jr watched them, snuggling close to his own mother.
What if that happened to him?
It wouldnt. Kevin nor Rick would let their baby go.

"Jr, I love you. Momma I love you too, take good care of my baby please..." Zac kissed all three of their cheeks, giving Jude a tight hug before trudging home and knocking on the door, tears still pouring down his cheeks. He'd left his key inside and the door wasnt open.

Quincy never answered, Quincy was out back in a tree, like a cat sun bathing and thinking. Aaron opened the door, said nothing, and just walked away, leaving the door open for him.