Spooky Month - Sweet Dreams AU

Chapter 1 - Matters

  When two people get along, the trust between them grows stronger each word they speak. Maybe it doesn't even have to be two people... maybe more would do as well. But, when people fall in love... Have you wonder how those loving feelings grow without almost any effort? It is weird, it just happens. It can be something very normal to someone, as it can be something very weird to other.
  If you love a family member, a friend, a partner... anyone that makes you feel safe, your trust in them will be alive... well, until they get tired, right?
  Frederic and Dina are two lovely adults which have passion in their effort on work. On 18th of August, they became parents. Their child, a little boy called Samson, was about to live a life full of care and attention. Frederic and Dina work at the same place, so there is nothing that can go wrong with their child's evolution. But what if they couldn't have time for Samson? What if they have too much work? All day in an office. With that, Sam's evolution wouldn't go that well. Is there anything they can do about it? Of course. But Frederic and Dina didn't choose the most correct option for Sam.
  One specific day, they got promoted in their job, however they have to work harder than before. Not just that, but also they have to work in another state now. After work, already night time, Frederic and Dina were talking about Samson; they were discussing about what they should do to make sure Sam wins attention and care... and of course, love. It seems that they don't feel enough to give all their love to Sam. That places a question: why did they become parents then? Well... love is an illusion... a very dangerous one depending on the situation.
  "We can't take care of Samson." - Frederic admits. - "We can't give our time to him and to our job at the same time. We would get tired in double."
  "I know that, but... it's our son..." - Dina says sadly.
  "Dina, I don't think we are ready to be parents at all. This was a terrible idea. Our lives will be almost a misery if we keep our job and take care of a child like him."

  Dina doesn't say anything, she just looks at Sam who was sleeping on the couch, all wrapped with warm blankets. She totally knew that their lives wouldn't be easy with a child to take care of and a hard job. She and Frederic want to work in the office, as it is something that they really want to do in their lives. So... that means they will forget their child... maybe. Frederic has an idea:
  "Maybe we don't have to put Samson in an orphanage. You know, my brother could take care of him."
  "But doesn't your brother dislike kids?" - Dina asks.
  "Well, yeah, he doesn't really enjoy their presence around him. But look at Samson; he is very calm and quiet. Maybe he wouldn't mind." - Frederic answers. - "And if he doesn't accept taking care of Samson, we can build up lies."
  "Lies? That doesn't seem correct, dear."
  "Dina, I am sure my brother will be okay taking care of this kid. And I am sure he will do a great job."
  "But uhm..." - Dina says looking to the sides nervously. And then, she asks. - "What if he treats Samson the way he used to treat you when you both were younger?"
  Some silence gets in the room, as Frederic thinks about that situation with Sam; it wasn't something nice.
  "He won't." - Frederic answers, without saying anything else.
  "Then... your brother will be taking care of Samson... for the rest of his life?"
  "It may sound egoistic and wrong, but yes. I am counting on him for this. He probably knows how hard our job is, after all." - Frederic says.
  "Oh, dear Samson... I am so sorry..." - Dina says looking at her child, with such a depressed expression.
  Frederic holds Dina's hand and caresses it, in order to make her feel relaxed. Dina shows a small smile to him, and then looks back at Sam. She takes a deep breath and nods slowly but surely.
  "Alright, Frederic, let's talk with your brother." - She says with a sad tone.
  As Dina says this, she goes towards Sam, and holds him in her arms gently, while Frederic puts Sam's things inside a bag. And then, she and Frederic leave the house with Sam, in direction to Frederic's brother's house.
  The only thing that was possible to hear was their steps and the crickets singing. After quick minutes, they get in Frederic's brother's house, but it seems that he wasn't home yet. When Dina and Frederic were about to leave and go back to their house with Sam, a white van appears right in front of Frederic's brother's house. And Frederic's brother gets out of the van, surprised to see Frederic and his wife there.
  "What are you doing in front of my house?" - He asks a little upset.
  "Frank... good to see you again after a while." - Frederic says with a small smile.
  "Can't say the same about you." - Frank admits.
  Frederic's expression changes quickly after hearing his brother's response. But he, and also Dina, manage to control his willing to insult Frank, and start to talk about what bring them there.
  "I think you remember that I became a dad, don't you?" - Frederic returns.
  "Yes, good for you. And what do you want me to do about it?" - Frank says sarcastically.
  "Well uh..." - Frederic cleans his throat. - "I don't think me and Dina are really ready to be parents... after all."
  Frank laughs widely as he hears what his brother just said. He even cries a little because of how much he laughed. And finally, he looks at Frederic and Dina's angry face, still giggling a little.
  "Oh, is that so? Aw, how sad! What are you going to do now, huh?" - Frank says with a grin while acting like a teaser.
  "Actually, Frank... we would like you to be taking care of Samson from now on." - Dina says nervously but also confidently, since the laughing is making her mad.
  "Ha... WHAT?! Who the hell you think I am? I am not going to take care of that stupid kid!"
  "Frank, we are giving you the opportunity to be a better person around kids. Please..." - Dina says.
  "Fuck that opportunity of yours. I am no daddy." - Frank says mad.
  "Listen, Samson is a very calm and quiet kid, okay? I am sure you will get along with him." - Frederic says with an angry expression, but with a calm tone. - "It's not that hard for you, I know that. So, don't be a jerk."
  "You guys are the jerks here. Abandoning your own son because you're not ready to be parents after all? Gain some maturity, Fred."
  Samson begins to wake up because of the discussion, and he notices his uncle Frank first. Samson couldn't speak yet, but it seems that he was happy to see his uncle. Frank also notices Samson waking up.
  "That kid doesn't deserve you. And he doesn't deserve me as well. I mean, didn't you always say that I am a bad influence?" - Frank comments with Frederic.
  "I know that you're still nice, even with all the things you did to me. Please, Frank, I don't want anything more."
  "Taking care of a kid is a big responsibility, you ignorant. I don't even have someone to help me with that responsibility. Just take that kid to the orphanage or let him die." - Frank says.
  "Samson won't die!" - Dina interrupts. - "We want him alive, even if we don't have intentions to see him again. And we don't want him to have a different surname. So... Frank, you're the only one."
  Frank looks at the kid, looking at his happy and innocent expression, literally not understanding what is going on, but happy to see his uncle. Frank turns his back to Frederic and Dina, in order to think a little.
  *I don't have intentions in taking care of some child, especially my brother's child. I can see that Samson is very calm and seems to feel comfortable around me... but what if things mess up? I can't kill a kid, right?* - Frank thinks to himself. - *However, I can educate this kid in my own way, and that seems to be fun. But... I will ask them the motive of all of this.*

  Frank turns towards to his brother and Dina.
  "Explain why you want to give Samson to me, right now."
  "We got promoted in our job, but we need to work in another state now." - Frederic explains as he shows Frank a paper of their promotion. - "We want Samson to live here and be with you, okay?"
  "Would you do that, Frank? Please?" - Dina asks.
  Frank sighs and looks at Samson once again; he starts to think that maybe he can be better than Frederic at something, since Frederic was the "good guy" all their lives.
  "Fine. But I am no daddy, Samson is only my nephew." - Frank says, not showing any smile. He extends his arms, with the intention of holding Samson on his arms. - "Give me that kid."
  Dina and Frederic smile genuinely at Frank, as Dina lets Frank hold Samson.
  "I am doing this by my own choice, not because you want me to do it." - Frank adds.
  "Yes, Frank. Thank you so much!" - Frederic and Dina say.
  Samson is clearly happy to be in his uncle's arms, as he plays with one of Frank's fingers. Frederic and Dina take a step back while smiling.
  "You'll do a great job, I know that. Please, take really good care of Samson." - Dina says, almost crying. She places Sam's bag on the ground, close to Frank.
  "Goodbye, Frank." - Frederic says, waving at him as he walks back to his house.
  "Farewell, Fred... and Dina." - Frank says, looking at them walking away.
  As Frederic and Dina walk away, Samson starts to look confused; he doesn't understand why his parents are leaving him with his uncle. So, his smile disappears, and his expression starts to become less happy. He looks to his bag with his things on the ground; it has Samson's clothes and other essential stuff.
  Frank looks at Samson, with an expression of sadness. But then, he decides to smile at him and calling him out.
  "Hey, kid! I am going to be better, okay? I promise."
  Samson didn't understand what his uncle meant with that, but it made Sam a little bit less sad. Samson doesn't get anything, he can only think about... that his parents hate him and have totally abandoned him.
  Frank walks inside his house with Samson on his arms. He puts Sam on the couch and then he gets his things that were outside. After everything was done, Frank looks at Samson with a weird smile.
  "You're a special kid, you know? I would usually lock you in a very dark room... like the other ones. But I am going to be nice with you." - He says to Samson; still, Samson doesn't get what he meant.
  Samson looks around and he is quite sure that is the place where he lives now, so he just accept his uncle's company, smiling to him.
  "Oh, such a good life you will have, little dude."