Kiddo

He rolled his eyes. "You know I love Mom a lot."

"Right." he nodded.

"You don't make Mom happy. You make her sad. And you make her get really skinny. And you make her drink that funny red stuff that makes her get sick when she wakes up. You make her move into new houses and take us with her. I don't even see Mom laugh or smile anymore and it's your fault, because you make her cry all of the time. So if you just went away then she would be happy again." he folded his arms across his chest. "So leave."

"Huh. Is that what you really want?"

"Yup." he said, popping the 'p'.

He nodded. "Fine."

"Fine?"

"Fine." he said. "Look Brandon, when you're older and married you'll understand but sometimes we go through really, really hard times." he told him. "Tons of crying and fighting happens and it sucks big time. There have been times where I even cried." he said. "But I want your Mommy happy too and maybe I should leave so that can happen. I won't bother anybody anymore."

"Good." He nodded. "Now we can go home."

"Yeah." he said and just picked up the trash, throwing it out. "Let's go."

"Okay." he shrugged and got down from his seat, heading out.

Punk lead him to the car and made sure Brandon was in, then started to head home. After a while, he made it and parked in the driveway, turning off the car and opening the door for Brandon.

Brandon got out of the car and headed inside, going up to his room.

"Anybody home?" Punk called out as he walked in and closed the door.

"I am!" Ally called, coming down stairs.

"You're home early. I thought you were going to a game." Lacy said, coming in after Ally.

"Hi Ally." he said and then looked over at Lacy. "Yeah well, things didn't turn out as well as I had hoped they would."

Lacy frowned a little. "Allison, go upstairs."

"..okay." Ally shrugged and went upstairs.

"What happened?"

"Well, Brandon told me why he's upset and wants me to leave. So, that's that."

She looked a little nervous. "...are you?"

"I told him fine but honestly Lacy, I don't want to. Fuck, I don't even know what to do." he said as he ran a hand over his head. "He told me that I don't make you happy, I make you sad and make you get really skinny. That I make you drink and make you move into new houses and take them with you. He told me that he doesn't even see you laugh or smile anymore and that it's my fault because I make you cry all the time and that if I went away then you could be happy again." he sighed. "And you know something, he is right. It just sucks that he knows all this because the last thing I ever wanted was for him to resent me or to see us struggle." he told her. "I told him that maybe I should leave so that you can be happy because that's what I want for you, but I don't think that'll solve anything to be honest."

She bit her lip. "It won't. I don't want you to leave. I will talk to Brandon, just... please don't leave."

"Fine, if that's what you want, then fine. I won't go anywhere."

She sighed in relief. "Thank god."

He nodded. "I'm just gonna work out for a bit." he told her. "If anybody needs me, I'll be in there."

She sighed. "Okay."