Work Text:
He barely slept last night, his brain just wouldn’t let him. Tossing and turning only lasted about two hours before he gave up and got back to the porch, cold be damned. He spent hours just staring at the light snow coming down, only illuminated by the soft lights coming from his living room, a hot cup of tea between his now wrinkled hands. He thinks he must’ve dozed off a few times, if the ache on his neck is any indication. Still, it wasn’t enough. So when someone knocks on his door at 8am before he’s even had time to finish his morning coffee, he’s not all that happy about it.
He expects either Tommy asking for his help repairing his leaking kitchen sink - which he’s been putting off too long for Joel’s professional opinion -, or Maria, looking for someone to babysit Benji while she works. Both things he would do if asked, but seeing as he’s patrol-free today thanks to a change of shifts at the last minute, he would like to spend the first day of this new year in peace. Turns out though, he’s doing neither of those things, because the moment he opens the door, he’s faced with a nervous-looking Dina waiting on his front porch.
“‘Morning, kiddo.” The girl can’t seem to even meet his eyes. Whether that is because he’s technically his father-in-law - and has been for about two months now even if Ellie would rather do anything else than acknowledge his existence - or something else, he has no clue.
“Hey, Mr. M.” Okay, so something is definitely up, nothing good ever comes out of that girl when ‘ Mr. M ’ is how he’s greeted. “Can I come in?” Stepping aside, he lets her through the door, closing it behind him before the cold gets even further inside.
“You want some coffee?” Without even needing to be told to, Dina takes a seat on one of his kitchen stools.
“You’ve got some tea?” Raising an eyebrow, he looks at her up and down.
“Tea? Girl, since when do you say no to a coffee from my good stash of beans?” He chuckles softly. “Last time I didn’t even have time to taste mine before you drank it all.” Even though he finds it strange, he starts preparing the tea.
“That was different, we were working, I needed the strength to fix up that drywall.” He snorts under his breath, remembering the mess she ended up doing. She apologized profusely already, the girl hates messing up, no need to bring it up again.
“Yeah, well. I would’ve liked to take at least a sip before you chugged it all.” With a soft smile gracing his face, he slides the steaming hot cup towards her, leaning over the other side of the kitchen counter to look at her. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today, kid?” She doesn’t answer right away, blowing on the hot tea before taking a small sip and burning her tongue in the process.
“Hot.” She winces.
“That’s what happens when you try to drink it right away.” He replies, amused. “So?” He insists softly.
“Do I need a reason to come by?” She tries to look offended, but with one simple raised eyebrow from him, she sighs and caves. “Damn, nothing gets past you, does it?” He simply shrugs. “Okay.” She inhales and sighs loudly, making him tense slightly. This might be the most serious he’s seen the girl, always with a smile on her face even on the darkest of days.
“Something wrong?” He frowns in concern. “Something happen between-?” He doesn’t even have time to finish before she cuts his questioning short.
“I’m pregnant.” She stares at the cup between her hands as she speaks while he can’t do anything but stare at her face.
Memories flash before his eyes. Memories of another girl, slightly younger than her, almost forty years ago telling him the exact same words, although that time he was the goddamned father, not the- whatever he is in this instance.
“Can you say something?” The girl almost pleads, making him jump to the present in a second.
“Sorry.” He blinks a couple of times, trying to get his senses back. “You- you’re pregnant ?” Dina sticks to nodding, trying to take another sip of the still scorching hot tea in her hands. “Give me that.” He says softly as he reaches for her mug, taking it and changing it to an empty glass, helping it cool down faster. “Here, try now.” He gives it back, noticing the shaky hands as she grabs it.
He runs a hand over his tired face and takes a second to gather his thoughts. A nineteen year old kid, his sort of daughter-in-law, pregnant. Not from his kid, that’s biologically impossible unfortunately, but from who he reckons was her ex-boyfriend and still best friend, Jesse. Now, that might be a problem.
“You okay?” He asks before anything else, hoping she doesn’t act like his kid and actually tells him the truth. When she shrugs though, he almost loses hope.
“I don’t really know.” She toys with the rim of the now lukewarm cup. “Physically, I’m fine. Other than some slight sickness from time to time.” He nods softly, letting her know he’s actually listening, although she’s actively avoiding his gaze. “Mentally, though, not so great.” She lets out a self-deprecating snort before running her sleeve over her eyes and sniffling softly.
“Well, I reckon that's alright, kid.” He keeps his eyes glued to her face as he speaks. “I know this might be too much for you right now, but I promise you, everything will be okay.” At that, she looks up at him, damp red eyes meeting his gaze for the first time. “It’s scary, yes, but it gets easier overtime, believe me.” He gives her the most comforting smile he can muster. “You tell Jesse yet?” Shaking her head, she takes a deep breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. Reaching over, he covers her hands with his, leaning even further over the counter. “It’s alright, kiddo, there’s time for everything.”
“I uh-” she sniffles once again, “I told Ellie this morning.” He stays silent for a few seconds, waiting for her to elaborate. When she stays silent, he gulps.
“And why ain’t she with you?” Dina’s bottom lip trembles slightly.
“She uh- she didn’t take the news too well.” Silent tears roll down her face and he squeezes her hands softly before releasing them, moving to sit right next to her, his hand landing comfortably on her shoulder. “She said…” she gulps and inhales shakily. “She said that she couldn’t believe I was that fucking careless.” His lips form a thin line as he keeps listening. “That she couldn’t believe I’d do that to her.” She lets out a watery chuckle. “As if I could fucking control that.” He squeezes her shoulder softly.
“Don’t listen to her, alight kiddo? She must’ve been scared-” She turns sharply towards him.
“Well, so am I! I’m fucking terrified . Why does she get to talk to me like that?” He sighs as she tries to clean the tears continuously flowing down her cheeks.
“Some people say stupid shit when they’re scared.” He takes a deep breath. “When my girlfriend told me she was pregnant with Sarah,” Dina stills as he says his daughter’s name out loud to her for the first time, “we were even younger than you two are now.” Releasing her shoulder, he leans over the counter. “We were about to graduate High School, so you can imagine what news like that can do to two seventeen-year-old kids.” He chuckles softly, staring at his now wrinkly hands. “She was shocked and confused, scared of her parents finding out, not knowing what to do next.” He takes a deep breath. “And instead of helping her… instead of reassuring her, I snapped.” Running a hand over his beard, he turns his gaze towards the scared kid next to him. “I was scared shitless, but instead of telling her that, instead of trying to help each other, I said some stupid shit that I regret to this day. Surely, it only took a day for me to come to my senses and apologize, but I’d already messed up.” Sniffling, Dina stares right at him.
“What happened?”
“Well, like I said, she was scared to talk to her parents, which is why she came to me first. But since I was an asshole about it, she had no other choice but to talk to them. Suffice to say, they weren’t too happy about it, and tried to get her to abort.” Now, it’s her hand reaching for his, squeezing softly. “She wanted to please her parents, but I thought we could do it, that we could actually raise a child, with or without her parent’s blessing or help. So, after many discussions, we decided to keep it.” Smiling softly, he looks at her. “I loved that kid to pieces even before she was born.” His smile falters slightly. “Unfortunately, she did not. So a few months after Sarah was born, she left. Went back to her parent’s house, I reckon.”
“I’m sorry, Joel.” The girl says softly.
“Thank you, kiddo.” He intertwines their fingers, squeezing softly. “What I’m trying to say with all of this though, is that Ellie’s most likely scared shitless. All she needs right now is to come back to her senses.”
“I guess.” Dina just shrugs.
“Believe me, kid, that girl adores you.” He knocks their shoulders together playfully. “I saw her pining over you long enough to know that she’d do anything for you.” Dina chuckles at that, a smile gracing her face once again. “She’ll come back to her senses, you’ll see. And if she doesn’t by herself, I’ll make sure she does.” With a wet laugh, she cleans the remaining tears on her face.
“Thank you, Joel.” Disentangling their fingers, he presses his hand behind her head, stroking softly.
“It’s what I’m here for, kiddo.” Holding back another pack of tears, Dina takes another sip of tea, grimacing as she does.
“Cold.” Chuckling, he stands up and grabs her cup. “Why don’t you go ahead and pick a movie while I make you some more tea? I’ll be back in a few.” She nods, and makes her way to the living room.
“Don’t drill her too much, please.” Chuckling, he pours some more hot water on a mug, making sure to use Dina’s favorite tea, which is something he keeps around the house now, apparently.
“Can’t promise that, kid.” He hands the mug back to her with a smile. “Now, go rest.” Making sure she’s settled, he then makes his way to his back porch, checking to see if Ellie’s lights are on. Once he sees some movement inside the garage, he knocks softly. After a few seconds, the door bursts open.
“What-” she freezes as she sees him, but just as soon as she does, she’s trying to shut the door on his face. His hand gets in the way though, and he’s proud to say he’s still stronger than her, which helps him stop her from smashing the door against his face.
“No, you don’t.” Frustrated, she lets go of the handle, finally letting him in. Pretending to be busy with something or other, she doesn’t even look at him.
“What the fuck do you want, Joel?” She spits out, and for the first time in months, he doesn’t let her anger pass.
“What I want is to know what the hell went through that goddamned thick skull of yours to say those things to your girlfriend. Your pregnant girlfriend, no less.” Arms crossed over his chest, he stands still before the now closed door as he stares at her back. “Well? You gonna say something?” She chuckles darkly.
“I have nothing to say to you, Joel.” His jaw moves, trying to contain his anger.
“That’s your answer?” He inhales angrily. “Very mature of you.” At that, she turns around, visibly agitated.
“What’s your fucking problem?” Her hand turns to a fist at her side, her knuckles white from sheer pressure.
“My problem is that your girlfriend came to my house, crying , because you threw in her face the fact that she got pregnant even before you were together.” Scoffing, she starts pacing.
“Well, she did, didn’t she?”
“Yes, but why the hell would you throw it in her goddamned face, Ellie? She’s hurting enough, no need for you to feed the fucking fire.” He stares at her pace for a few seconds. “You’re her girlfriend, you’re supposed to be supportive, to be there for her.”
“Well, it’s not my fucking kid, is it?” He stares at her, wide-eyed. “It’s Jesse’s kid, not mine. She wants support? Then she’s got her baby’s dad to give it to her.”
“What is wrong with you, Ellie?” She stops her pacing, looking right at him, but even with her piercing gaze, he doesn’t back down. “You don’t say stuff like that, not now and not ever. I raised-” he takes a shaky breath.
“You ‘ raised me better than that ’?” She chuckles darkly. “What a fucking joke .”
“ Yes .” He exudes anger. “Yes, I raised you better than that.” He takes a step closer. “You don’t talk like that to anyone, especially your girlfriend. The girl that wants nothing more than your support.” Running a hand through her hair, she stares at the ground. “I thought you loved her?”
“I do! I-” Defeated, she sits on the bed, face between her hands.
“Then prove it.” He stands right before her. “Because, I’m sorry to tell you kid, but you’ve done the exact opposite today.” Crouching to her level, he sees her rub the back of her hand over her eyes. “I know you’re scared, kiddo. But she’s terrified, and saying those things to her only made it worse.” She hiccups softly. “Look, she’s in my house, waiting for you .” For the first time in months, he dares to press a hand to her shoulder, and for the first time in months, she doesn’t flinch or pull away. “Just go there, tell her how you feel. How you really feel and you’ll see that things will get easier.” As she sits up straighter, his hand drops from her shoulder, resting now on her knee, their fingers almost touching.
“Okay.” She whispers before tentatively wrapping her pinkie around his. Smiling softly, he takes her hand in his.
“You’ve got this, alright kiddo?” She nods solemnly, eyes fixed on their joined hands. “And you ain’t alone in this, okay? Anything you need-”
“You’re here.” She rubs her eyes with her free hand once again. “I know.” Their eyes meet and he gives her a reassuring smile.
“Yeah.” Squeezing her hand once again, he stands up with a groan, his knees popping as he does, making her snort under her breath.
“Old man.” Pulling her up by their joined hands, he chuckles.
“That I am.” Running his thumb over her hand one last time, he lets go. “Now go make things right, you hear?” Nodding, she moves, opening the door before looking back.
“Thank you.” Hiding his trembling hands in his pockets, he nods.
“No need to thank me, baby.” Her smile is bright as she speaks.
“I know.” With that, she makes her way to his house, leaving him feeling lightheaded but happier than he’s been in months.
He’s gonna be a goddamned grandfather , who would’ve thought?