Ghost Of You (Michael Berzatto X Black!OC X Eventual Richie Jerimovich)

29. Get Your Shit Together (So I Can Love You)

2021-Chicago, Illinois

Angie watched the snow fall on the other side of the window. She stood at the kitchen sink washing dishes, while Sophia covered the table with her school project.

"Do you have any pictures of Uncle Neil, Mommy?"

"It's not that kind of family tree, baby. They just want your real family."

"Uncle Neil is my real family."

Angie smiled at her daughter's innocence. "I guess you're right. I'll check and see if I have something."

She turned the water off and headed into her bedroom. Angie pulled some boxes out of the back of the closet that contained different photo albums.

"That's a lot of pictures." Sophia said, walking into the room and sitting on the floor.

"Yeah." Angie sat next to her daughter. "But they're all good memories."

"Like what?"

"Well, this is when I graduated high school." She pointed to the picture. "And this one was me and your dad's wedding."

"Is that Uncle Carmy?"

"Mhm. That was when he went off to school."

"What's that?"

Angie stopped flipping the pages and gently ran her fingers over the dark picture. "That's your brother."

"How is that my brother?"

"That's when he was in my tummy."

"How did they get the picture?"

"They used a special machine to look at him."

"Mommy?" Sophia scooted closer to her mother, leaning against her.

"Hm?"

"Why is my brother in heaven?"

Angie sighed. "Well..." She wrapped her arms around the little girl, pulling her close. "When he was in my tummy, there was a bad accident, and he died."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, baby. It's not your fault."

"Can I put him in my family tree?"

"If you want too, sweetie."

"I want to."

"Okay." Angie handed her the photo. "Be careful with it."

"I will." Sophia leaned up to kiss her mother on the cheek before walking back into the kitchen.

Angie heard her phone ringing in the other room. She got up and quickly went to answer it. "Tina?"

"Ange, you need to get down here."

"What happened?"

"I think Mikey had a fucking breakdown or something."

"What?"

"He started a fucking fire, Angie!"

"Oh my god. I'll be right there." She hung up and grabbed her shoes. "Sophia, put your shoes on."

"Why?"

"Because I said so! Do it now!"

She felt bad for yelling at her daughter, but she'd have to deal with that later.

🤍

Angie pulled into the lot and parked the car. "Stay here." She got out and ran into the building.

"Oh, thank fuck." Richie sighed.

Angie coughed at the smoke that filled the restaurant. "Where is he?"

"In the kitchen."

"Soph's out in the car. Can you go sit with her?"

"Yeah, 'course."

"Thanks." She headed into the kitchen and saw Michael cleaning up the mess from the fire extinguisher.

"What're you doing here?"

"Tina called me. What happened?"

"It was just a little fire."

"She said you had a breakdown."

"I didn't have a breakdown." He scoffed. "She's just overreacting."

"How'd the fire start?"

"I forgot my cigarettes on the stove. It's not a big deal."

"You could've burnt the whole fucking place down!"

"I know, Angie!"

"You could've killed everyone in this building, and yourself!"

"I fucking get it!" He sighed and ran his hand over his face. "Jesus!"

Angie held him tightly as she tried to suppress the tears in her eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry to worry you."

"It's okay."

But it wasn't okay. And he knew that. He knew that he couldn't keep putting her and Sophia through all his ups and downs.

"I'm gonna finish cleaning up. Why don't you go home, and I'll meet you there."

"I can stay."

"It's fine. Go ahead."

Angie sighed and nodded her head. "Okay. I love you."

"I love you too, honey."

🤍

It was nearing one o'clock in the morning when Michael made his way back home. He slowly pulled his boots off and hung his coat before quietly walking to the bedroom.

"Michael?" Angie quietly hummed.

"Hi." He shut the door and sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry, honey. Did I wake you?"

"I was waiting for you." She sat up and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry. It took a little longer than I thought."

"It's okay." She yawned against his shoulder.

"Go back to sleep, baby. You're tired."

"Join me." She pleaded as she laid back down.

"I will." He softly stroked her cheek.

"You okay, Bear?"

"Yeah, I'm okay."

"C'mere."

"I smell like smoke."

"You always smell like smoke."

He hesitantly laid down next to her, resting his head on her chest. She softly raked her fingers through his hair as she began to fall back asleep. He glanced up at his wife's sleeping figure as he could feel the steady rise and fall of her chest.

"I'm so sorry I'm not good enough for you." He whispered. He knew she couldn't hear him. He didn't want her to. He just needed to say it.