New beginnings

Chapter two

*in sorry this took so long to update but I had it all written out and was about to update on Monday but I pressed the wrong button and lost it all. The original was a lot better than this but I hope you like it* a bit is swearing and mane a bit of gore.

Half an hour into their drive Tate asked his father a question that still echoed in his head to this day.
"Pa, what's a fucking queer?" His innocence voice squeaked. Fiddleford was so shock he almost slammed on the breaks. He hesitantly turned to face his child in the back seat.
"A-a queer Tate, I-is a, um, is just a word about a-a person that may be  a little different b-but that's okay" this was exceedingly hard to explain to his child, too young to understand.
"B-but don't to use that word 'cause      s-some people don't like it. Oh and       d-don't use that other word either" he stammered trying to explain it in the simplest and nicest form.
"What other word?" Tate asked.
"F-fucking" Fidd hated swearing especially in front of Tate.
"Why?" The child questioned.
"It's a very bad word that only bad children use and bad children always get a time out" he warned, concentrating on the road.
"Pa I don't want a time out. I didn't mean it" Tate began to cry thinking he was in the wrong.
"No Tate, it's okay. I know you didn't mean it, just don't say it again, okay?" Fidd reassured his son.
"Okay" he snivelled whilst drying his tears.

Another half hour into their journey they had arrived at Fidd's sisters house.
"Now we're gunna see my sister, auntie Sarah, okay?" Fidd said as he unbuckled himself.
"Okay" Tate smiled happily.

They walked hand in hand up the gravel path. Tate was skipping happily along side him. Fidd impatiently knocked on the wooden door of his sisters house.
"Come on Sarah" he grumbled under his breath and tapped his foot impatiently on the floor. Soon the door creaked open slightly.
"FIDD!" a woman's voice cheered from behind the door. The woman then flung the door open. She was a small brunette with soft hazel eyes.
"Hello Sarah" he smiled at his sister.
"What are ya doin' here it's nearly ten o'clock! Where's ya wife? She in the car?" Sarah got on her tiptoes to look over Fidd shoulder at the car. It was empty.
"Sarah can we please come in?" He asked with a slight catch in his throat.
"Oh sure" she finally noticed the small child clinging to his fathers hand and smiled down at him.

She brought them into the living room. It was small but cozy.
"I don't have many toys you can play with" she said to Tate as she searched the room for a cat toy. She found a large toy that rattled.
"Can he play with this?" She asked showing Fidd the ball. He nodded with approval before she handed it to the child.
"Now Tate you stay in here and play. Me and your pa will be in the next room. Okay?" She patted his little head.
"Okay" his little voice squeaked as he inspected the toy.

Sarah sat down adjacent to Fidd at the table and passed him a hot cup of tea.
"Now can ya tell me what's happened for the surprise visit?" She smiled. Fidd's eyes began to fill with tears as he tried to tell her his misery.
"Oh Fidd it's okay, what's wrong?" She reached across the table and stroked his hand.
"S-Sarah I'm getting a divorce" he whimpered looking down at his mug.
"Fidd that's okay"
"Y-you must kn-know Sam..Sam was very a-abusive to me 'n' Tate" he snivelled.
"Oh Fidd...What do you mean abusive?" She asked squeezing his hand for reassurance. He looked up at his sister with tearful eyes. He then pulled his hand away and rolled up his sleeve. Scars, bruises and burns trailed all the way up his arm. Sarah gasped with horror and ran to hug her brother.
"I'm sorry Fidd" she whispered as she wrapped her arms around the crying man. She then lifted her head up and saw the state of his back.
"Did she do this?" She asked.
"Yes" he squeaked. Sarah then stood up and paced the kitchen, she was so angry.
"I'm gunna kill her. I'm gunna rip her apart. Hurtin' my brother like this-What did she do to Tate!?" She gasped, stopping with her pacing.
"H-he's just got a, a small burn on his a-arm. She didn't mean t-to hurt him. H-he just got in the way" he whimpered from the chair, pulling his sleeve back over his  arm.
"Oh, I'm going to kill her!" She roared with anger and began to pace the room again.
"S-Sarah i need to tell you something else" he reached out for her arm and stopped her pacing.
"What is it Fidd?" She asked softly, kneeling down to be eye level with him.
"You gotta p-promise to not get mad" he wiped away a tear.
"I promise" she nodded her head.
"Sarah I'm....im g-gay" he held his breath waiting for fistfuls of physical and verbal abuse to be thrown at him. Instead he winced at the hug he received from his sister.
"Fidd I love you know matter what" she whispered.
"Does anyone else know?" She asked looking up at him.
"No, just you... B-but I think Sam knew. S-she kept calling me queer" he frowned trying to wipe his tears.
"Please don't tell anyone Sarah, if the custody agencies knew I was gay they'd take Tate away" he pleaded "i need him Sarah, I can't live without him. He's my son. I want to be a good dad" Fidd cried as he held his head in his hands.
"Fidd you're a great dad" she patted his shoulder
"R-really" he looked up Sarah.
"Yes! I couldn't think of anyone who would look after Tate better than you. Heck you have made the most important decision to keep Tate safe" she smiled.
"Thanks Sarah"
"You wanna stay here for a while? you and Tate can sleep in my bed and I'll go on the couch"
"Really? I don't want to impose" said Fidd.
"Frankly Fidd the couch is comfier than the bed" she laughed. she pulled her arm away from his shoulder. Fidd was about to thank her but a shrill scream came from the living room. Fidd jumped up from his chair and rushed to the source of the scream.

He frantically looked around the living room for his son.
"Tate! What's wrong? Where are ya?!" He panicked.
"Pa look" a little voice came from the sofa. Tate was sitting on the couch and a black cat was curled up on his lap.
"Kitty!" He squeaked while quite aggressively patting her head.
"Oh I see you've met Nancy" said Sarah as she entered the room.
"Nancy?"he turned to face his sister.
"Now why on earth would have a cat toy and not have a cat?" She raised her brow.
"Well I wasn't exactly in the right mind space to notice it was a cat toy" he argued.
"She's a rescue actually came from an abusive home. Huh? Fancy that. It's why she got no tail" she said looking over at the child and cat.
"Is she safe? You know around kids. I don't want him gettin' over confident, do somethin' stupid and her lashing out" he shuddered the thought of it.
"She's fine" Sarah began to walk toward the couch.

As Sarah sat down, Nancy got off the child's lap and meowed.
"You like Tate, Nancy?" Sarah asked stoking under the cats chin causing her to purr and wag what was left of her tail. Fidd picked up Tate and sat him on his knee.
"Ya like the kitty?" He asked as he ruffled Tate's brown hair.
"Yeah" he squeaked.
"Geez! Look at the time, I've got work in the mornin'. Best get you two off ta bed" Sarah exclaimed looking at the clock on the wall.
"Come on Tate. Bed time" Fidd said before taking Fidd in his arms.

Sarah escorted them to her bedroom.
"Thank you Sarah" Fidd smiled at his sister as he pushed opened the bedroom door, Tate nearly asleep in his arms.
"Are you sure you're gunna be okay sleeping with your back all scratched up like that?" She asked with a concerned tone.
"I'll be fine Sarah, I've had worse"
"Stop, I dont want to hear anymore. Good night Fidd. I'll be on the couch if ya need me" she smiled before walking down the corridor and out of sight. Fidd looked at his son, Tate's eyes were droopy and he was continually yawning.
"Come on let's get ya ta bed" Fidd whispered as he walked through the door way.

Fidd sat beside Tate and watched him drift off to sleep.
"Good night my darlin'" he whispered as he kissed Tate's forehead. When he knew Tate was asleep the thoughts of what he had done flooded into his mind. He had no money. No spare clothes. None of Tate's things. How was he going to feed himself and Tate let alone afford a solicitor. He laid down and began to cry himself to sleep.
"Pa?" Tate's voice croaked.
"Yeah?" Fidd whimpered, frantically trying to stop crying. He didn't want Tate to see him like this.
"Why are you crying? Is it 'cause ma called you that word?" His innocent voice asked as he turned to face his weeping father.
"Y-yes. Tate would you rather live with me or mom?" He asked. He waited for Tate's answer like his life depended on it.
"You" he squeaked. "Ma says bad words and hurts me"
"I know" Fidd whispered as he pulled his child in for a hug.
"She can't hurt us anymore" he whispered and kissed the top of Tate's head. "I promise"
Fidd held Tate close to his chest and gently weeped into his hair. They both fell into a peaceful sleep knowing they were both safe in each others arms.