It's Nice To Have A Friend

17) Goodbye Isn't Forever

It was around nine in the morning when Fred turned the key of his apartment, but he barely registered everything he did. Everything was going past him, as if he wasn't part of his own body. Physically he was there, but his spirit seemed to have his own journey.

"Bud? Is everything okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." FP said, looking up from the newspaper that he had been reading leisurely.

"I didn't hear you come home tonight. You finally had a date?" He wiggled his eyebrows, believing that he felt this fuzzy because he hadn't slept all night.

Fred realized FP was there too.

"No, I was with my parents. I said goodbye to my father last night." Fred said quietly, swallowing his tears.

"What?" FP whispered, the blood disappearing out of his face.

"He was gone this morning. He died in his sleep, peacefully. His body gave up." Fred said, finally meeting FP's eyes. He was on the verge of breaking down.

"I never knew it was so bad already. I'm so sorry." FP stood up from his place at the counter and walked to his friends, being lost for words.

"I didn't want to bother anyone. It's over. I lost him." Fred croaked.

FP wasn't sure what to do. He had never been the comforting type, and usually it was Fred making sure FP was okay, not the other way around. However, FP didn't have to hesitate, because Fred fell into his arms and held on tightly, while he cried and cried.

"We've got you, buddy. You're not alone." FP said softly, holding him as close as he could.

"My dad was everything to me, you know. He taught me everything I know. He was my mentor, my best friend. I can't believe he's gone." Fred pulled back and wiped his tears, before falling down onto the couch. He was exhausted.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" FP wonderend, wishing he could take away his friend's sadness.

"Actually there is." Fred look up at him with hopeful eyes. Suddenly, he saw what he was meant to do.

"My Dad left me Andrews Constructions, but I don't believe I can do this alone. I need you." He said, without missing a beat.

"Will you do that for me?" He asked, his eyes twinkling. If he was going to run the company, he needed his best friend with him.

"Do you mean that? You want me to work for you?" FP asked, completely confused.

"Not for me, with me. Will you be my business partner?" Fred questioned, giving him a warm smile. If he was next to him, he knew things would be fine.

"Dude, of course I would! Do you trust me with that?" FP asked insecurely.

He had never considering himself someone to trust, or to rely on. Hell, keeping a job was hard for him. But here was Fred, asking him the one thing he thought he'd never hear from anyone.

"There is nobody I trust more." Fred smiled sweetly. FP smiled back, as he slowly processed what all of this meant.

FP stood up from the couch, took a trash bag from their cabinet, opened the fridge and threw all his beer in there, not caring that they were still full.

"What are you doing?" Fred asked confused, not following why he was throwing it all away.

"You trust me with your father's legacy, so I'm getting my shit together." FP said determined. It was the least he could do in return.

"I won't drink anymore, not a drop." He told him.

"FP, I appreciate the sentiment, but don't make promises you cannot keep." Fred said carefully, knowing that it was a struggle for FP.