Chapter Text
On this Saturday, there are very few customers in the flower shop. But that doesn't stop Ramón spending time with his father and the others, as he usually does on Saturdays.
The adults don't like making him work in the shop, but they assign him small, simple tasks to distract him and help him take responsibility. This also allows Fit to work without feeling guilty about leaving his son alone in the flat.
Today he's helping Missa to price-label new plants. Missa reads the price out loud and Ramón writes it on the little sign that he plants in the ground with the potted plants.
The doorbell rings, attracting the attention of the florists.
“Good morning ! Welcome !” Ramón greets each new customer with the same enthusiastic tone.
This customer is no stranger to them.
“Hello, Fred. What can we do for you today ?” Fit asks as he signs and speaks audibly, as amused as ever to see Tubbo's crush in his shop.
The white-haired young man approaches the counter where Fit is seated. He signs a sentence in response to the question, “Hello, I'd like to buy a bouquet, please.”
The florist continues to sign. “Sure. Do you want one already prepared or would you like a personalised arrangement ?”
Fred takes a moment to look around before turning his attention back to Fit. "An arrangement, if possible. Something colourful."
Fit easily understands the request. With the customer's approval, the florist chooses several flowers which, together, become a very cheerful, very colourful bouquet. Fit's curiosity makes him wonder if this is a gift from Fred to himself or if it's for someone in particular. And by someone, Fit obviously thinks of Tubbo.
"The yellow roses are beautiful" the young man signs.
"Yellow roses are symbols of friendship. That's usually what you give friends to congratulate them ! I read it in my book !" Ramón announces as he signs for the customer.
"Oooh, Ramón ! I didn't know you were learning the language of flowers, that's great !" Missa replies, very enthusiastic.
While the other two talk about the language of flowers and continue with their labelling, Fit turns his attention back to his customer, who seems to be hesitating. "After thinking about it… No yellow roses.” Fred signs.
Fit can't help but smile slightly before reaching for the pink roses. He suspects that the reds are a little too intense to describe Fred's intentions.
"Is it to give as a present ?" the florist finally asks.
"You've already guessed the answer, haven't you ? I can see your smirk."
Fit just nods and wraps the bouquet in pretty light blue paper before tying it with a royal blue ribbon. The florist tries not to let his thoughts wander to the person he associates the colour royal blue with. Now is not the time.
He ends up handing the bouquet to the person who is completing the bank transaction.
Fred looks at the bouquet, then at Fit.
"Do you think he'll like it ? I'm not getting the wrong idea, am I ?"
"It's not for me to answer the second question, but I can answer the first. Yes, I'm sure he'll love the bouquet, Fred. Don't worry too much."
The young man nods. He finishes by thanking Fit before waving to the shop staff, which he leaves as quietly as he entered.
"Bagi's going to love this story" Tina comments as she works in the back of the shop preparing the day's deliveries. "It'll be a nice reward for her for looking after two little ones on her own today."
"You guys take care of Richarlyon today ?" Fit asks.
"Yes. The boys are finishing Mike and Mine's move today. They didn't want Richas to be bothered with all the back and forth, it might tire him out so they agreed that the five of them would finish the move while Richas spends time with his mum and sister."
"I didn't know today was the day Mike moved out for good." Fit mutters to himself.
He knows how much this move is affecting Pac and he'd like to do something for him, especially if he ends the day on his own.
His gaze settles on his son for a few moments and an idea pops into his head.
Mike's gone. They've taken the last of the boxes to Mike and Mine's new house and, for the first time, Pac finds himself alone in a half-empty house. Alone with his thoughts and pictures on the walls to remind him that this place wasn't always empty.
You feel like you've been left behind... Yes, that’s right. It may be selfish, but that's exactly what it is. Despite the advice he's received, Pac hasn't managed to talk to Mike about how he feels about the move. He probably never will, in fact. But if he has to put his emotions into words, he can say sad, lonely, and maybe as empty as this house that used to be theirs.
He shouldn't be alone tonight, but he doesn't want to disturb anyone. It's not worth it. Who would want to spend the evening with him anyway ?
Pac would have loved to have his little boy with him. Richas is so creative that it would have given his father something to take his mind off things. But Pac knows that his son has more fun with his little sister than if it had just been the two of them.
His son. And to think that at first Pac was the most reluctant of the group to adopt a child.
In a burst of nostalgia, Pac pulls out the photo album he's created, showing Richarlyson's first years with them. He looks at the first photos with a smile on his face. Richas was so small. He's still small compared to children his own age, but he was even smaller when they first took him in.
He remembers how the baby wriggled in Cellbit's arms, a red hat with white polka dots much too big for him on his head, as they passed the threshold of the house they all shared together. But Pac didn't feel ready at the time. He didn't feel capable of raising a child when he hadn't managed to be one himself. And above all... Richarlyson's adoption had come just after he'd had a motorbike accident and lost his left leg. How can a parent fully take care of their child if they're missing a limb ? These were the doubts he had on top of all the negative thoughts he had during that period. He wasn't enough. He couldn't meet a baby's expectations. He couldn't be up to the job.
But all it took was one eye contact for Pac to fall under the spell of this little guy who was smiling at the world.
He remembers the moment when Cellbit offered him to hold Richarlyson. Pac sat down on the sofa and his friend put the child on his lap. He was immediately greeted by a huge smile and Richas laid his head against Pac's chest and, despite the excitement and stress of arriving in a new environment, he relaxed and finally fell asleep. Richas had chosen Pac's arms for his first nap with them.
Pac gazes lovingly at the photo of that moment. It was Mike who had taken it. The look on Pac's face from seven years ago was unmistakable : he has become Richas's parent from the very first minute.
The following photos show the evolution of the little boy during his first weeks with his five new parents. They were all so young, but life has forced them to become adults very early on. The six of them were a family.
A family that had grown over the years with new additions. Richarlyson now has three more parents, a little sister and a step-brother. He could have had two step-brothers, but fate, or whatever you want to call it, decided otherwise.
There's a time jump in this photo album. A big chunk of Richas's third year is missing. And rightly so. That year was the worst time of their lives, as Roier so eloquently put it in his wedding speech.
Pac sighs and lets his head fall back, staring at the white ceiling of his home. The images flash through his mind like a slideshow. He shouldn't be reminiscing about the day that changed all their lives, but his bad mood sends him into a hellish loop of bad memories. He can almost still hear the sounds and smell the odours of that day.
It was five years ago. The children were all in kindergarten. It was a small local school and there weren't many pupils, so the parents got to know each other well. That's where they met most of their current friends. It's even how Cellbit met the man who became his husband, because Richarlyson and Bobby went to the same kindergarten. And despite being two years apart, the two boys quickly became the best of friends.
That day, the children from the kindergarten were on a school bus trip. Quackity and Maximus, their teachers, had found a small educational farm to visit and the parents were all very enthusiastic about the idea.
Everyone was very disappointed when Etoiles showed up on the morning of the visit to announce that Pomme couldn't join them because the little girl had a fever. But the parents were grateful that the French-speakers didn’t bring their sick daughter with them because she risked infecting the other children.
That morning, the weather was fine and the children were excited to go to the farm despite the early hour. Who would have thought that they would never reach their destination ?
"The kids have been caught in an accident on the road ! We have to go to the hospital !"
Pac can't even remember who took the call. He just knows it wasn't him. He vaguely remembers the panicked voices of his family as they ran to get to the car to find their son. They knew there had been fatalities in the accident but they didn't know how their boy was.
Pac remembers the smell of the hospital, the sirens, the voices, the crying. The details aren't clear in his head, but he still has the image of Roier and Jaiden sitting on the floor, in each other's arms, both shaking while sobbing. The reason had been obvious to Pac but he needed confirmation of his fears. Which had been given by a member of the health staff when Cellbit had introduced himself as Roier's partner : Bobby had not survived the car accident.
And he wasn't the only one. Maximus and his child Trumpet. JuanaFlippa, Slime and Mariana's daughter. Tilin, Quackity's child.
Pac thought he was going to faint when the doctor asked to speak to Richarlyson's parents in private. No. Not Richas. Please, not my son. It doesn't matter who but not my son. Oh how he hated himself for thinking like that but coming from a panicked family man, it was human to think like that. No one can blame him for thinking such thoughts.
But there was a mixture of relief and fear when the doctor told them that Richarlyson had survived the accident but had been trapped under debris and that they had had to amputate his leg to save his life. Oh how ironic. The man who had been the most reluctant to adopt Richarlyson was to become the boy's moral pillar.
Pac learned a few days later that the accident had been caused by a lorry driver who had been drinking and had fallen asleep while driving before hitting the school bus. Maximus, who was at the wheel that day, could do nothing. Both drivers died instantly.
The survivors are still suffering from the after-effects of that day. Richarlyson lost a leg, Tallulah almost lost her hearing, and the others were left with lifelong trauma. In a way, the survivors of this accident lost one of their lives that day.
It was during this period of convalescence that Pac formed a close bond with Richas. He fully assumed his role as a dad and accompanied his son through every stage of his recovery, showing him above all how to learn to live with a prosthetic leg.
Pac stopped hiding his prosthesis under his trousers to show his son that it was possible to accept it and look cool.
But in the months following the accident, Richas managed his negative emotions, which he couldn't define at such a young age, so badly that he wouldn't let anyone near him except Pac. Richarlyson rejected his parents, except for the one person who looked like him. The one who could understand him.
For several weeks, Pac took on the role of single father and nobody ever blamed him for it. Bagi, Felps and Mike were saddened, of course, but they knew it was the best solution for their child's recovery and they were all counting on Pac.
And Cellbit was too affected by Bobby's death and was too busy taking care of Roier to be upset by the situation.
Fortunately, Richarlyson had managed to open his heart again. A little heart that had been weakened but is pampered by his parents. He would heal at his own pace.
*ding dong*
Pac is startled out of his negative thoughts by the ringing of the doorbell. But he isn’t expecting any visitors. He regains his composure and wipes his damp eyes.
The person behind the door seems to be insisting, as the biker hears a knock on the door. But that's not what surprises him most, as he can hear small laughs behind the door.
Are those kids playing a joke on me ? he thinks.
A little wary, Pac opens the door and his heart misses a beat when he discovers who's behind it.
"Hi Pac !" Ramón screams, looking very proud of himself.
"Hey Pac !" Fit says in the same tone as his son.
The mechanic is speechless and even more so when he notices that the florist is carrying a large sports bag over his shoulder.
"Ah... oh, hey ? What are you guys doing here ?" Pac finally asks, confused but happy to see familiar faces. Faces he likes.
"We wanted to surprise you, Pac ! Fit said you might be sad today so we're going to have a pyjama party to cheer you up!" Ramón replies.
"Only if you agree, Pac, of course." Fit corrects.
"Are you okay with that, Pac ? Can the three of us have a pyjama party ?"
How do you expect Pac to say no to anything with that angelic face ? It's already lost in advance, but Pac doesn't even need to think about the proposal. It's obvious to him.
The biker crouches down and stretches out his arms towards Ramón, who throws himself into them willingly, all accompanied by his little laugh that fixes every one of Pac's sorrows.
"Thank you Ramón, that's a great idea. I really appreciate it."
The Brazilian man closes his eyes for a second and enjoys the cuddle with his boy.
Oh ? His boy ? No. Ramón is not his boy. Ramón is Fit's son... But... maybe Pac wouldn't mind being Ramón's second dad.
Briefly, Pac meets Fit's gaze. He wouldn't mind being Ramón's second dad at all, especially if it meant spending the rest of his life with this man who had spontaneously decided to come and keep him company because he knew he'd be sad tonight.
Fit watches the scene with great tenderness. Pac's red eyes don't escape his gaze and he's glad he had the idea to visit Pac. Ramón was the one who suggested turning it into a pyjama party. Fit suspects that the boy has found an excuse to spend more time with Pac. Fit isn't blind ; he can see how attached his son is to the biker.
And that makes him happy.
It's important to Fit that Ramón likes Pac.
Pac and Ramón separate and the owner lets the two newcomers in.
"Ramón, you can sleep in Richas's room if you want. I'll change the sheets so you'll be more comfortable. Fit, I can take the sofa if you like. You can sleep in my room."
"I'll take the couch. We're the ones arriving unannounced Pac, it's up to us to adapt, don't worry." Fit insists.
Pac and Fit glare at each other, but the mechanic finally gives up. He can’t do much in the face of those hazel eyes that make him lose his mind. Pac is unable to hold eye contact for more than a few seconds and seeing the red tint in the biker's cheeks makes Fit smile.
"Um I'm going to... I'm going to take care of Ramón's room. I'll be right back." Pac announces.
Fit watches him go, still with a small smile at the corner of his lips but eventually he meets his son's gaze, who has a frown on his face.
"What is it, boy ?"
"I can see what's going on between you two, you know."
Oh, does that bother Ramón ? Fit doesn't have time to add anything as the boy continues to speak in a slightly nonchalant tone.
"You're grown-ups, so I'm not going to interfere. But if you take too long to confess, I'll take care of it for you. You've already been awkward with each other for two months, I think that's enough."
Fit nearly chokes on his son's statement.
"Everything okay ?" Pac asks from Richas's room.
"Uh yes, yes Pac. Everything's fine." The florist turns to his son, who smirks, looking very proud of himself. "Ramón... This is... What- What are you talking about ?"
"Tell me I'm wrong."
"You- You're not right about everything."
"I'm not ?"
"Hey. Don't you sass me, young man. I am your father. If you start misbehaving, we're going home. Do you understand ?"
"Yes... Sorry. I just wanted to make you react. I know I'm right. But you know, I really like Pac and I can see that he makes you happy so... Don't waste any more time if you like him. Especially as I'm convinced the feeling's mutual."
Fit raises his eyes to the sky and ruffles his son's hair with a tender smile.
"Everything in its own time, my boy. Baby steps. I promise I'll work on myself."
"Hm. I trust you. And you deserve to have someone make you happy like that, Fit."
Genuinely moved, Fit placed a kiss on his son's head. "Thank you Ramón. You're the best son anyone could ever dream of having."
"You're not too bad yourself."
And here we go again with that cheeky little tone. But after a statement like that, Fit can let it slide this time.
Pac returns with a satisfied look on his face.
"Ramón, your room is ready. Do you want to set up your things ?" He offers.
The boy just nods with a smile and walks quickly towards the room. He looks back at his father just before he disappears from his field of vision and offers him a small smile that hints at a lot of innuendo. Fit raises his eyebrows and shakes his head.
The florist turns his attention back to Pac, who looks a little tense, perhaps even agitated, despite his smile.
"Pac, I just want you to know that it's completely okay if you don't want us to stay for the night. I don't want us to impose if you don't agree. It's your place, after all."
"It's my place... Yes. But don't worry, Fit. It makes me genuinely happy that you're both here."
"Ok. And how did the end of the move go ? Are Mine and Mike all settled in ?"
"Yes. Yes, their house is looking really nice. They've almost finished painting the rooms the way they wanted. It's lovely, it really looks like them. They'll probably have a house-warming party to celebrate their move in. I'll make sure you and Ramón are invited, of course".
"That's nice. What about you ? How are you feeling ?"
"Oh, much better !"
The lie is obvious. Fit can see it easily but if Pac isn't ready to talk about it then he doesn't want to force it. He can only support him as best he can and be ready to listen when he feels like it.
Pac quickly changes the conversation in case Fit wants to explore the subject further.
"What do you boys want to eat tonight ? I haven't had time to shop so we may have to order in."
"Pizza !" Ramón shouts from the bedroom.
Pac and Fit laugh at the boy's excited tone. Indeed, pizza sounds like a good idea tonight.
The three boys quickly receive their order and are seated at the dining table. Ramón is very excited to tell Pac all about his week, and Pac knows how to react to every sentence the boy utters.
“Fred came to the shop today !” Ramon announces.
“Oh really ?” Pac asks, looking up at Fit.
“Yes. He bought a bouquet. I even gave him a few details on the significance of the flowers he chose.”
“You'd make an excellent shopkeeper, Ramon. I'm sure that helped him in his choice.”
“You can't even imagine…” Fit comments before elaborating further. “It was a bouquet to give to someone. When Ramon told Fred that the yellow roses he wanted meant friendship, he immediately changed his mind.”
Pac gasps, shocked by Fit's comment. “Are we thinking of the same person ?”
“Damn right. He even asked me if I thought Tubbo would like the bouquet !”
Pac chuckles at this news. It's imperative that he finds out if Tubbo actually received the flowers and if there was any discussion between the two young men. Perhaps Tubbo's crush is indeed mutual.
“Tubbo is going to have a lover…”. Ramon sings.
“Tubbo's going to have a lover…” Pac replies in the same tone, joking with the boy about the subject.
Fit admires this domestic scene. He has the impression that the three of them are a little family and that's something he'd like to make real. And even though he's almost certain that his feelings are shared by Pac, he can't be sure unless he decides to confess... And he hasn't found the courage for that yet. Unless Pac confesses first. That would be Fit's ideal scenario, but he's learnt the hard way that plans don't often work out as he'd hoped. How he wishes everything was as easy as the plans he makes in his head.
"Fit ?"
Ramón's small voice brings him back to reality.
"Yes, Ramón ?"
"Are you okay with us watching Cars ? Pac agrees if you agree. But since you told me he's the boss, we'll still watch if you say no."
The florist exchanges a look with the man actually in charge, who just smiles at him. And what a smile. Fit wants to see him every day. Fit wants it to be the first thing he sees when he wakes up and the last thing he sees when he goes to sleep. That fucking smile !
Fit struggles to turn his attention back to Ramón.
"Of course we can watch Cars, my boy. Do you want to do that right now ?"
The boy nods and follows close behind as Pac gets up to go to the sofa. With an eight-year-old to look after, of course every parent has a subscription to watch movies like Cars, The Incredibles and Peter Pan. So it's not difficult for Pac to find the film.
With popcorn on their laps, the three boys are captivated by the film, which is often interrupted by their comments.
Pac is as talkative as Fit and Ramón during a film. A detail that amuses the florist greatly.
"Pac..."
Fit's whispered voice pulls Pac out of the film when it had been a while since anyone had been talking and was entirely focused on the film.
The mechanic looks in the direction Fit is pointing him and his heart melts a little when he sees Ramón asleep against his father's arm. He exchanges an affectionate glance with the florist, who tries not to laugh so as not to wake the boy.
"I'll get his room ready." Pac announces.
"I'll wake him so he can brush his teeth. Do you mind taking care of the room by yourself ?"
"Not at all. I'll make him a cosy little nest."
Pac admires Fit gently waking up his son, who doesn't seem very motivated to walk to the bathroom. It reminds him of identical moments with Richarlyson. It seems that all parents go through similar moments.
Ramón is a lovely boy. It's easy to see that he's being raised with a lot of love and that Fit is allowing him to fulfil his potential, despite what he may think. Pac thinks back to what the florist confessed to him during the wedding and still finds it hard to believe that anyone could abandon a child like Ramón and a man like Fit.
Given the chance, he would never make that mistake.
But seeing the two of them so happy together makes him think that he'll never be able to find his place in their family. They've been together so long that they have their own language. He would never dare impose himself in their little bubble.
"Pac ?"
Ramón's little voice snaps him out of his thoughts and the boy looks half-asleep, ready to head off to Dreamland.
"Your bed is ready, Ramón. You can come."
Pac makes sure the boy is settled in the bed and then stands up, a tender smile on his face.
"I'll leave you two alone." Pac announces.
But Ramón's tiny hand clutching the bottom of Pac's T-shirt changes the biker's plans and he leans towards Ramón in surprise, fearing he's missing something. Ramón doesn't say anything, just holds him by the shirt, preventing him from leaving.
Pac looks up at Fit, who is leaning against the wall beside the bed, a simple, amused but tender smile drawn across his face.
"I think he wants you to stay a little longer." Fit says. "If you don't mind."
Of course he doesn't mind !
Impose yourself in our bubble... it's what Pac understands.
Taken aback, the mechanic sits down on the bed as Ramón finally lets go of him, satisfied that Pac is living up to his expectations.
Fit crouches down beside the bed and strokes his son's hair, singing him a lullaby in Spanish.
The two men spend a few minutes with the boy, who falls completely asleep, a peaceful look on his face.
Pac feels his heart clench. Ramón and Fit had made a place for him in their lives without him asking for anything. Without him daring to impose. They've built a castle whose walls surround the three of them, protecting them from all outside attacks. It's the first time Pac has felt this way since Richarlyson came into his life. This feeling of having a family of his own.
With the tip of his lips, Pac speaks new words to Ramón :
"Boa noite Nenê."