A Little Laughter Left In Me... (Laughing Jack x Reader)

~Farewell~

The next morning it was time to say goodbye. For the first time since they began you hadn't been tormented by the nightmares, so you almost wanted to go back to sleep, but you knew this was more important.

You'd be ashamed if you let them go without a word again.

You met them downstairs, tears filling your eyes when you saw your mother sitting on the couch crying.

"Don't worry honey, we're just gonna miss you, that's all." Your father tried to ease your worries.

"I know. I'm gonna miss you, too." You pulled them both in for a hug, your mother still weeping all the while.

"Our baby is all grown up..." She whimpered through her sobs, making you laugh.

Even if you weren't actually their daughter, she still found it in her heart to call you something so sweet. She was too kind.

You didn't deserve that. Such good, honest parents. Even if they did have their own secrets at times. They were rough in some ways when you were younger, but that occasional tough-love only shaped you into the fine woman you were now. If only it were possible to make up for how terribly you'd been treating them up to this point. 

They deserved to know the truth, but for their own sakes they could never.

You hated having to remind yourself that, but you had no choice. If you didn't, you would've let the truth slip a long time ago, most likely without even meaning to.

"I'll take good care of this place, don't you worry." You smiled, and they nodded with proud looks on their faces.

The expressions were for you, but you didn't feel like it was well-earned. It was like being given an award for just showing up. It made you sick to your stomach.

"We know you will. Now, let's get this show on the road!" Your father urged, attempting to lead his wife towards the door, but she quickly planted several kisses on your face, giving you one last hug before actually following him.

"Yes, please just go so I don't have to do this anymore..." You hated the thought, but it was an honest one. You didn't want to keep this façade up any longer.

"We love you so much!" Your mother cried again, holding a hand to her mouth as your father moved to shut the front door behind them.

"I love you both, too!" You replied with a sob, and the door was closed.

It took several minutes, but you heard their van drive away.

They were gone. 

From this point forward, it was you, Miles, and whoever else was willing to stick around.

You fell to your knees, crying out loud. It wasn't long before Miles barked and rushed down to you. Always the attentive one, that dog.

"At least... at least it's finally... over..." You said between sobs, hearing Miles whine and rub against you.

You cried for what felt like hours, only pausing when you heard footsteps approaching from the kitchen.

"H-Hello..?" You'd reached the point where you started to hiccup, so there was no hiding your current state.

"It's me, dear." Jason's calm, soothing voice spoke, and the man himself turned the corner, only to see you still on the floor.

"Come now, there's no need for tears." He insisted, kneeling down in front of you with tissues in his hand. He wiped your face clean and allowed you to blow your nose, then gently held your cheek.