Memory Lane (VegasPete)

Chapter 21

"P'Pete!!"

"Macau." Pete opened his arms and Macau immediately ran into his arms, "You've really grown up now."

"Hehehe..." Macau beamed, "I'm taller than hiaa."

"You're taller than me too." Pete smiled at him, "Have you met Venice?"

"Not yet..." Macau said as he glanced at Vegas who had Venice in his arms.

Venice was looking for Vegas as soon as he opened his eyes. When he couldn't find him, he was so sad that Pete had to move into his bed to calm him down. Luckily, Vegas was back in the hospital shortly after and the boy immediately started crying for a hug.

"I'm still waiting for the right time." Macau continued. Vegas seemed busy with Venice so Macau didn't want to bother them.

Pete pushed Macau toward Vegas and Venice. Vegas had told him that Macau actually really wanted to meet Venice. But because he was hiding, he couldn't go to Kinn's house.

"They're bad people, daddy..." Pete heard Venice mutter something to Vegas.

"The bad people won't even get close to Venice and papa anymore, daddy promises." Vegas whispered while stroking Venice's back.

"I wanna go homeee." Venice whined.

"Alright, alright, we'll go home soon." Vegas replied. As Pete and Macau got closer to them, he finally noticed them, "Look, it's papa and Uncle Macau."

Hearing the word papa, Venice's face peeked out of Vegas' chest. But he immediately frowned upon seeing Macau beside him, "I don't want anymore uncle!" he exclaimed then buried his head again.

"Aww..." Macau sounded his disappointment, "I'm your real uncle though... The others are just self-proclaimed."

"Venice, are you okay?" Pete rushed beside Venice. The boy's body shook in Vegas' arms and he cried again. Vegas looked confused what to do. Pete gave him a reassuring nod and stroked the boy's head gently, "I'm sorry, are you still scared?"

Venice sobbed, "No more uncle... Uncle is bad..."

Pete and Vegas could only look at each other. They were afraid that Venice would be traumatized by the recent events and it turned out that their son was indeed traumatized.

"Venice, this uncle is daddy's little brother." Vegas tried to explain, "He is not a bad guy."

"Nooo! Bad!!" Venice screamed like he didn't want to hear another reason.

Venice seemed to be in a very sensitive state so none of them said anything about uncle anymore. Pete felt bad for Macau but when he was about to apologize to Macau, Pete realized that Macau might be the only one who wasn't panicking about Venice's situation.

Macau stepped closer to them then lowered his body so he was facing a scowling Venice "Hey Venice, I'm Macau and you call me by my name." he said with a friendly smile, "I'm not your uncle or anything, I'm your friend so you can talk to me about anything."

Venice stared at Macau hard, "Venice's friend?" he asked through sobs.

Macau nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, can I be your friend, Venice?"

Venice thought for a while before nodding weakly then buried his face again, "I like friend..."

Macau smiled cheerfully and winked at Pete and Vegas who couldn't help but be stunned.

"How can you be that good with a child?" Vegas asked the question Pete wanted to ask too.

"Actually no. It's just—I kinda know the feeling." Macau replied bitterly, "At that time, I also wanted a friend, someone I could talk to too. It's not that you and ma weren't great, hiaa, but friends and family are two different things. If I can, I want to be a friend his friend."