I Used to Know -DNF-

Chapter 33 - Benjamin Davidson

Song Recommendation - Big Plans (Why Don't We)

CW - Homophobia

"Green in the Game Room with the... candlestick?" Tubbo guessed, consulting the checklist in his hand.

Wilbur handed him the envelope, which Tubbo opened excitedly.

"Yes! I win!" He squealed.

Dream squeezed George's hand under the table and chuckled at the young boy. "Wow, Tubbo, good job!"

"Thanks!" Tubbo had a big grin on his face while the four of them started to reset the game.

All of a sudden, Cathy burst through the door, in obvious distress, to which George and Dream stood up, expecting Micheal's voice to be heard from the hallway.

"Father... Jail... appeal," she panted, trying desperately to form a sentence.

"Mum, calm down, then tell us," Wilbur said calmly, making his way over to her and leading her to a kitchen stool.

She took a moment to sort her thoughts, and after taking a drink of the water Tubbo had gotten for her, Cathy spoke.

"Your father," she said, looking at her sons, "appealed his sentence, and they found him not guilty of any charges. Lack of proof of mens rea, or something," she said, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "He's coming to Florida."

The four boys in front of her seemed to stop breathing. George looked to Tubbo. Tubbo was scared, but not like his brothers were. He had never met his father, and had no idea what to expect from him. But George and Wilbur did.

"What are you going to do?" George asked his mother.

"A restraining order against him is the best option, but that doesn't stop him from going near you three," she said. "He hit me, and you two, but he doesn't know Tubbo."

"He was physically abusive?" Dream asked, but Wilbur shot him a look that told him to shut up.

"Mum, are you sure they'll take your case if it happened in another country?"

"I called the town hall on the way here, and they said they'd make a case and look over it."

Wilbur and George let out a sigh of relief.

"When does he get here?" Tubbo spoke up, concerned.

Cathy took one of his hands in hers. "I'm told he has a layover. It'll take about 24 more hours, give or take. He's been on the plane for about three hours."

Her sons nodded.

"Don't worry, boys. It'll be okay."

________

Instead of welcoming the new year with a party, the four of them, plus Dream, Bad, and Skeppy, were watching the ball drop, knowing just 16 hours separated the family from an unknown evil. Dream, Wilbur, and George were mostly packed up to go back to Georgia a few days later. George and Dream slept in the cold room, holding each other for warmth while Wilbur hogged the heated blanket on the top bunk.

They woke up around noon, eating lunch with the family in almost total silence, save the occasional question from Cathy, trying to keep it normal.

At four, Dream and Wilbur sat on the couch bordering George and Tubbo while Cathy was finishing up some work. The four sat and watched TV.

"How?" Wilbur spit out.

"Hm?" George hummed, not taking his eyes off the television. Dream lifted his arm to place around George.