My Daddy "The Fonz"

Chapter 13/Part 5: a Secret Vow

No one's POV:

By now, not an eye in the room is dry. Everyone has had a hard day and tears have been shared by all. Self despising is abound, and the next moments are for picking up each other's pieces.

Fonzie and Richie, being the oldest, are seated in the middle of the couch, both cradling the two young boys as well as Joanie. Joanie had been refusing comfort, feeling as though she did not need or deserve it. But they had refused her refusal. With Chachi's help, the clan forces her down and tackles her into a big group hug. Richie exclaims his approval of her, something she had been dying to hear. In response, Joanie gives a crying laugh and allows herself to relax into everyone's healing affection. Affirmations and kind words are exchanged, everyone beginning to feel slightly better.

As they all begin to sink into a lull, suddenly the front door swings open and startles them, revealing a fuming Mr. C and Mrs. C trying to hold him back.

"ARTHUR FONZARELLI. COME. HERE." Fonzie limps from out of the pile and toward his doom in the form of Mr. Cunningham.

"Yes sir? What'd I do?" Fonzie speaks softly in hopes this will gentle Mr. C's tone. He can tell that if he doesn't tread lightly, the promised belt may just be used on him. He does wonder what he did this time to cause such enormous fumes to come from his substitute father.

"Richard told me all about your escapades today at Arnold's. He was absolutely devastated. I am very, very disappointed in you. This is the last time I will let you get away with disrespecting my son the way you do. And NOT ONLY THAT—you let your two children run a muck in my store, nearly blowing their hands off! I outta skin you in front of everyone!" Then the signature Cunningham move of the hand resting on the shoulder. Something very unpleasant is about to go down.

Until Joanie steps up. And Richie steps up. Both stand in front of an intimidated Fonzie, guarding him. As if Fonzie needed guarding.

"Dad," they say simultaneously, stumbling over each other.

"You go first—" Joanie says.

"No, you go first," Richie insists.

Joanie nods. "Okay." She huffs before continuing. "Dad, daddy, Fonzie wasn't there. I was babysitting for him, and I had to use the bathroom for two seconds. Spike and Bobby made a break for it then. I should've watched over them better." Shame fills her eyes as she lowers her head.

"So you mean to tell me that you're the one who deserves to be punished?" Mr. C says.

Joanie does not say a word, however Chachi has some to spare. He grabs Joanie's hand. "No, Mr. C. In this instance, it was no one's fault, at least no adult. Sometimes accidents happen. Or I suppose if it is anyone's fault, it was Spike and Bobby not listening to Joanie telling them to 'stay put.' But you don't have to worry, that's already been taken care of." Chachi stands tall, just barely on the edge of confidant.

Mr. C pauses to think and glance between them. "Alright, Fonzie. I see that now. I hope you know that we are always here to babysit for you. That would help keep the kids safe and subdued. I don't know why you don't utilize my wife and I more. I mean, you've been part of this family for ages."

Fonzie looks up at that, bubbles of guilt choking him out. He lets out a bitter cough of sadness as tears begin to run down his face. He wants to accept the invitation, but that would mean he would have to accept he is worthy of being part of the family. He's not so sure of that.

Richie knows this look of shame and internal conflict. He hates seeing Fonzie like this. Instinctively the eighteen-year-old, now man, pulls Fonzie into a hug, attempting to stabilize him as Fonzie begins to tremble everywhere with sobs. "Rich, I'm no good, I'm a horrible person. I deserve...I—"

Richie shakes his head into Fonzie's neck. "No, Fonz, you're my best friend. I'm here for you. You're a great dad, an awesome son, a doting brother, and a caring person. You just don't think sometimes. But you've always been there for me, for everyone in this room. I know..." he grabs Fonzie by his shoulders and holds him to lock eyes with him. "Buddy, I know how much you care about me, and I forgive you. I've put up with you and your shenanigans for years now. One little, stupid fling you had with a girl you assigned for me to date for 0.5 seconds cannot—and will not—tear you and me apart. I won't allow it. I was foolish for almost letting it."

Fonzie is about to argue but Richie interrupts him forcefully. "No, Fonz. You listen," he says, giving his shoulders a heavy shake. "You are far more important to me than any woman, alright? Get that through your thick head. We are inseparable, and we make each other better. Two peas in a pod, okay? For life." Richie jokingly does Fonzie's move of gently punching his friend's chin, indicating his approval. "I love you, man."

Fonzie's eyes grow wide. "Y-you mean that? I ain't dead to you?"

Richie shakes his head. "No. Opposite. You make me feel more alive. You make everyone in this room come to life, Fonzie. That's what you're great at. It's your super power."

Fonzie can't help but give a wide grin, pulling his comrade into a tight embrace.

After a long hug, Fonzie gives Richie a proposal. "Hey, Red?"

Both wipe their tears as Richie answers. "Yeah, Fonz?"

"You're the best darn partner in crime there ever was. I know this is weird but...I need you. I need your help with the kids. I couldn't do it without you. They love you. I lo—We love you, man. Can you come live with us upstairs?"

The room fills with Bobby's giggles and Spike's cheering, indicating how they feel about that arrangement. "Yeah, yeah!" They shout.

Joanie shushes them.

Richie does a half grin and lets out his own giggle of nervousness. "Uh, well...wh-where would I sleep?" A blush begins to appear on his cheeks.

Fonzie's cheeks do the same as he pauses to gather himself so he doesn't die from the sheer vulnerability of pouring his heart out. He lets out a breath of air. "I guess in the bedroom with me and the boys? Unless you'd rather the couch."

Richie strains to figure out what this all means, with all the implications, shown by the confusion on his face. "As roommates, right? Roommates?"

Fonzie smiles gingerly. "Roommates, or whatever." Fonzie states this with obvious twitterpated undertones, completely and utterly flustered, trying an awful lot to hide the complicated, undefined feelings underneath.

He leaves it at that, hoping his truest friend understands his secret intent, and holds his hand out for a bro hug. A casual, friendly bro hug to sell the "only roommates" story to the room listening.

Richie misreads this of course, misstepping in his most "Richie way" and fumbles into a full-on body hug, which then falls further into an awkward—what he hopes would be a brotherly—peck on the lips.

Richie gasps at the unaccidental-accidental contact and feels heat emanating from ear to ear, himself also completely and utterly flustered inside his complicated, undefined feelings.

Fonzie steps back and folds into himself as if he were a shy child, attempting to feign confidence, as if they meant to have that "brotherly" contact. Because, he would never admit that the peck was more than between two brotherly friends.

Nor would Richie.

Both men make steady eye contact with the other, suddenly realizing exactly what it meant and what they were to each other—and accepting that what they had was next level. An intimacy they had not achieved with anyone else, not even with a single woman—despite their best efforts.

An unspoken pact. Secret to even themselves.

At least, Fonzie rationalizes silently, the kids would be well looked after now, allowing himself peace of mind to have a helper and Richie the enjoyment of being in a caretaking role. They would both be happy, as well as Bobby and Spike, and that's what matters.

A family that is healthy—and happy. That's what these happy days are all about.