Baby Clifford

A Ginger Angel

*4 Years Later*
Terrible Things by Mayday Parade  and Brother by Falling in Reverse* 

"Dada! Daddy!" The little boy named Emmit exclaimed as he ran around the house, happy that his daddy would be home from his three days of being at clubs doing gigs. Vince smiled at the boy, picking him up. He was in charge of him, since Jaylen was at work. "Emmit, you need to calm down," he said chuckling. "You're running around so much, you're making me tired watching you." Vince remarked. The little ginger boy giggled back. "But I'm excited Uncle Vincey!" He exclaimed. "I know you are. You have been nothing but energy today." Vince told him. Vince picked this up from the boy, when Ryan's son wanted to run and jump and play and not sit, he was as happy as a monkey finding food. Compared to when Emmit was upset, he'd lay down, maybe cuddle with someone, with his blanket on his side. "Now, let's just sit on my lap and watch TV, okay?" Emmit let out a dramatic sigh. "Okay."

Ryan was going to raise a dramatic kid. Vince knew because whenever Emmit did something, his reaction was 20× the averaged kid. Plus, when Emmit would watch a musical, he'd get into very easily, but Vince had a sense that the boy wasn't going to be gay. One of the senses being he already had a 'girlfriend.'

Vince kissed the boy's temple. "I love you, Emmit." He said and Emmit snuggled into him and replied, "I love you too, Uncle Vincey." He remarked and watched the TV.

Finally, Ryan appeared at the door. "Daddy!" Emmit yelled and ran at him, "My boy!" Ryan exclaimed and picked him up, kissing Emmit. The little boy giggled back. "Ah! I love that laugh. I have a joke for you. Knock, knock." Ryan remarked. "Who's there?" Emmit asked. "Who," Ryan asked. "Who who," Emmit answered. "Vincey, we have an owl in the room." Ryan laughed, his boy joining in.

"Hey, what do you say we play catch outside?" He asked. "Yeah!" Emmit exclaimed.  "Come on, Vincey, you can join." Ryan said and Vince agreed and joined them.

"No, you stay here, buddy. Daddy will get it." Ryan said as the ball was rolling across the street. He then jogged to the road. As soon as he got to the road, he bent over to grab the ball.

Wham!

"Go inside the house!" Vince sternly told Emmit then ran to Ryan. He called the ambulance before he even got him. "Ryan, Ryan! How you feel buddy?" Vince exclaimed as he sat down besides his blood covered friend. "Like I'm going to give my last breath." He harshly breathed. "No, Ryan, you have to stay alive! I called the ambulance, you're going to make it." Vince yelled at him. 

The ambulance came speeding down the road and stopped in front of the scene of the hit. The actions in front of Vince faded into a dark swirls of bodies. Somehow he appeared in a hospital room with Emmit on his lap. "What's happening?" Emmit asked. Vince had become practically mute as he watched Ryan be put into the stretcher. "I'm not sure." He whispered. Soon, they wheeled Ryan in on a stretcher and put on the bed. "Hey my little boy." Ryan, the older ginger, harshly breathed, his voice no longer quite joyful or remarkable. "Come here," he added, his hand weakly waving him over. Emmit was cautious and walked over to Ryan.  

Ryan took the boy's hand, "I know it went won't be easy without me, but keep laughing, my boy." Ryan stated, rubbing his small hand. Emmit nodded. "Without you?" Emmit asked. "I'm going to go to a better place, Emmit. Don't worry. I'll be in your heart." He whispered. "I love you, Daddy." Emmit started to cry. "I love you too. Hey, can I talk to Vincey?" Ryan wheezed. Emmit nodded and Vince walked up to the bed.

"Be a dad to him. Tell him about me, him stories. Take him to the duck pond. He loves it." Ryan gasped for any air. "I will, Ryan." Vince promised. "I love you," the ginger puffed and the machine began to beep quicker. Vince rested his forehead on Ryan's, "I love you too." He whispered. "I'll meet you again. One day, I promise. " Ryan rasped and the heart monitor gave one long beep and the line was completely flat.

Vince admittedly cried, leaning over the dead body.

*Time Skip*

Melody looked at the picture on her refrigerator. Her fingers softly touching the small ginger boy that sat on the grass with, "That stupid grin on his face." Melody suddenly burst into tears. "Daddy!" Logan cried out. Danny admittedly ran down the steps from Eliot's nursery. "What?" He simply questioned and Logan pointed to Melody. Danny sadly nodded and picked Melody up with his protective arms. "Why did he have to go?" Melody cried. "I'm not sure." Danny answered. "But we're going to be okay." He added and kissed her forehead.

*Burial*

The remaining three from the preschool group and the three children and Ryan's wife stared at the hole in the ground and the casket lowering in it. Vince sat on his knees and rubbed one of Emmit's shoulders as they both cried. "I'm here for you." Vince whispered and kissed Emmit's temple. Emmit only hugged him tightly back. 

Vince stared at the grave. 

Ryan Edward Wade

Father, husband, son, and brother. 

 May we think of him as we laugh
2019-2049