143Chapter 2- Mourning Danny
Willow couldn't sleep that night. Scout woke up screaming four more times and would ask for her mother, but Willow didn't hear a peep from the basement, and she didn't go down to check on her again. By the time morning came, Willow noticed the door to Danny's room was partly open, and Sam was lying in his bed with Franklin beside her, though she wasn't paying any attention to him. And there was no sign of Drew. Trying to have some sense of normalcy, Willow decided to make scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and the family favourite chamomile tea.
Scout came out shortly, rubbing her eyes and sat at the table.
"Good morning." Willow forced a smile. "Feel like some eggs today?"
She nodded. "Will Mommy let me stay home from school today? I don't wanna go."
"School's closed for the week, at least," Willow said, setting a plate of food and a glass of milk in front of Scout. "So, we can stay home."
Scout grinned. "Maybe we can all play cards!"
Willow frowned and sat across from her, sipping her tea. "I don't know if Mommy will want to play… but we can."
"Danny too?"
Willow's hard sank, and she almost dropped her tea. She couldn't be the one to tell her. It wasn't her place. It would be better for her to hear it from Sam or Drew. Willow opened her mouth to respond when Franklin walked over and barked.
"Hey, buddy," Willow scratched his ear. "Are you hungry?"
She gave him a piece of her bacon, then filled a bowl with water. They ate their breakfast and waited 20 minutes, when Franklin began pawing at Willow's leg. She sighed. Franklin was looking for his morning walk and it seemed as though Sam wouldn't be joining them for breakfast.
"Scout, why don't you go get dressed and we'll take Franklin for a walk?" Willow asked.
"Will Danny come too?"
Willow swallowed hard. "It'll just be us."
After Scout hurried off to her room, Willow placed Sam's breakfast plate and a glass of orange juice (since her tea got cold) on a tray, then carried it to Danny's room.
She held the tray in one hand and knocked with the other. "Mom? I made some breakfast for you…" She walked over and set it on Danny's night table.
Sam took a deep breath and said barely above a whisper, "Thank you…"
Willow gave a small smile. "You're welcome. Scout and I are going to take Franklin for a walk. We can wait for you if you'd like to join us."
Sam's eyes welled with tears and she shook her head.
"Okay," Willow said. "We'll be back soon."
Willow backed out to the hallway and leaned against the wall. Her eyes stung with tears. Sam was the strongest person she knew. But now it would be Willow's job to be strong for her… she just didn't think she could do it.
"Willow?" Scout appeared in the hallway. "Where is everyone?"
Willow extended her hand and took Scout's. "Let's go for that walk."
The cloudy sky above reflected how everyone was feeling. Scout held onto Franklin's leash as he sniffed every tree they passed. They walked in front of Jax's house, where Rocco walked across the lawn with Max. Max and Franklin circled around sniffing each other's behinds.
"No, Mommy, I don't want to go!" Charlotte cried out, pressing herself against the doorway. "Please don't make me go!"
"Charlotte, sweetie, it's okay." Lulu stroked her hair. "You don't have to go. I just thought some fresh air would be good for us. And it would be fun to do something together."
"But Papa's going to find me out there… please don't make me."
"It's okay. It's okay…" Lulu wrapped her arms around her. "I don't want Rocco going alone today though. Are you okay staying with Jax?"
"You'll come back?"
"Yes, of course I will."
Willow and Scout continued on their way. A couple houses were in ruins from the explosions. Dante, Cameron, and Mac were going through cleaning it up. Cam was carrying a pile of rubbish and dropped it when he saw Willow and Scout. His eyes welled with tears.
"Why is Cam crying?" Scout asked.
"Um, well…" Willow started to stay.
"I'm so glad you're back, Grandpa," Emma said as she walked past them with Robert, Noah Jr, and Ariel.
"Well, I am too, and I'm glad I got ter meet this lil' bitzer." Robert knelt over and scratched Ariel's ears.
"Hi Scout." Noah waved at her.
"Hi," Scout waved back.
Just ahead, Elizabeth, Steve, Hayden, and their parents were sitting on the front porch.
"I still can't believe we're all together," Elizabeth said. "It just feels like… like I've been alone for so long, other than Gram and my boys. I'm overwhelmed."
"Elizabeth, I can't thank you enough for taking care of Violet," Hayden said. "I know she doesn't remember me and Finn, but she seems open to spending time with us."
"It'll take some time, but I know she'll embrace both of you," Elizabeth said.
They finally reached the end of the "village", and saw Michael watching Jonah rolling through the grass with Willow the puppy.
"Hi Jonah!" Scout smiled and sat on the grass beside him, with Franklin in her lap.
"Hi Scout!" Jonah sat up, and Willow the puppy licked his face.
"Hey." Michael turned to Willow and lowered his voice. "I'm so sorry about Danny… Drew spent the night on our couch and told us."
Willow looked up at him, teary eyed. "He did? Why didn't he come home?"
"I heard him tell Monica, that he blames himself for leaving Danny at Wyndemere during the battle. He's ashamed and feels like he failed Danny… like he failed all of you."
"Maybe Sam feels that way too…" Willow said. "But it's not true. Danny was just too stubborn for his own good. But I know he was coming from a good place. He wanted to save all of us."
"He was a good kid. Such a calm baby."
Willow frowned. "I wish I could've known him then. I feel so awful for Sam, Drew, and Scout."
"Well, I feel awful for you, too. If there's anything I can do…"
She lowered her gaze. "Even you knew him longer than me. I should be comforting you."
"He was your brother. You don't need to carry all the weight. I know Sam doesn't want that. If you don't grieve, then it'll build up inside and it'll come out in ways you won't expect."
"You really named your puppy, Dockette?" Laura scrunched her face as she turned the corner with Kevin and Lucy. Pavlov walked on Kevin's left-hand side, while Dockette panted heavily and kept jumping on their legs.
"It was the perfect name for her," Lucy said. "Not only is she Pavlov's daughter, but they're the best of friends."
Kevin rolled his eyes.
GHGHGH
When Willow, Scout, and Franklin arrived home, Julian was standing in the doorway of Danny's room.
"Just know that you have lots of people in your corner," Julian said. "Lucas and Kristina are planning to come over later. I'm going to look for your mother this morning. We both love you."
"Hi Grandpa!" Scout hugged him.
He smiled at her. "Hey. Did you take Franklin for a walk?"
Scout nodded.
"Why don't you head in there and give your mom a big hug?" Julian suggested. "I think it's just what she needs."
"Okay!" Scout headed into Danny's room and stood next to the bed. "Why are you in Danny's bed, Mommy?"
Willow frowned seeing Sam's breakfast plate and orange juice untouched. Julian prodded Willow to the living room.
"Are you all right?" Julian asked her.
Willow shrugged.
"Where's Drew?" he asked.
"He slept on Monica's couch last night."
He furrowed his eyebrows. "What?"
"Don't be mad at him. Michael said he's blaming himself. He thinks he failed us."
Julian sighed. "I don't know if your mother would want me to tell you this… but I think you deserve to know. They had a fight last night."
"They did?"
"Sam was angry with him, well both of us, because she didn't want to believe that Danny is dead. She would still be out there searching if we didn't calm her down. And she was also upset that he didn't give her his gun since she dropped hers."
"She wanted to kill Angelica…"
He nodded. "Well, I've probably already said too much. Your grandmother is much better at this than I am. She should be the one comforting Sam right now. Well… Danny shouldn't…" he started to choke up. "He shouldn't be gone either. Anyway, hopefully Lucas and Kristina will help. I'm heading out with Max and Milo to V-Town. Going to try to find Alexis."
"I hope you can find her. Sam and Scout need her."
"We all do. But I know just having you and Scout here will help Sam through this." He smiled before heading out.
Willow slowly made her way to Danny's room. Scout was standing next to the bed holding Sam's hand.
"Why are you so sad, Mommy?" Scout asked. "Where's Daddy and Danny?"
A fresh stream of tears fell sideways down Sam's face to her pillow.
"Why won't you talk to me?" Scout frowned. "Did I do something bad?"
Willow walked in and knelt next to Scout. "Mommy is sad. You didn't do anything wrong. It's sometimes hard to talk when you're sad, but she loves you so much."
"But why is she sad?"
Sam swallowed hard and closed her eyes. "Danny is… he's… I can't say it."
Willow held Scout's hands and squeezed them softly. "Danny got hurt yesterday. Really hurt. And sometimes when we get really hurt…" She looked over at Sam, then turned back to Scout as her eyes welled with tears. "Danny died."
Scout started to cry. "So, he's not coming back?"
Willow shook her head. "I'm sorry…"
"But that's not fair…"
"I know it isn't." Willow stroked Scout's braids. "But Danny will always be in your heart. And we'll always have each other."
Scout leaned forward and hugged Willow, crying into her shoulder. Willow looked over Sam, who was hugging the pillow tightly.