If Looks Could Kill (Sideshow Bob Fanfiction)

(Chapter 70) The Epilogue

Author's Note:

This is the final chapter of this fan-fiction, guys! It's been really fun writing it, and I really hope that you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It's been amazing to see all your feedback and see all the comments. When I first started this fan fic, I never even dreamed that it would reach 1 K views; I was just doing it for fun. Don't fret though: I will be beginning a new Sideshow Bob Fan-fic. It will be a completely separate story; a Bob x Bart Fan-fic, as requested by one of my followers! I hope you will all give it a try :) .

I've been thinking for a while about this, and I've decided that if this fan fiction gets up to 1.5 K, I will write a sequel to this one. But for now, this is the finale! 

This is the epilogue, and takes places five years later. It is written from Bob's perspective. David is now 5, Bob is 45 ish, and Caitlyn is about 35 or 34. 

I hope will enjoy this final chapter!

Chapter 70

It's been a whole five years since the accident happened. Five years today. I've been on edge at work today, all day. It's as if I'm expecting a phone call. That phone call that changed my life forever. The one that pulled me from my workplace to a hospital, only to learn that my then only son was dead.

But Gino isn't - wasn't? I'm not sure anymore - my only son anymore. David is my second son. And he reminds me more and more of Gino every day. The curly rouge locks; the cheeky, happy smile; the laughter...The only thing that's significantly different about David compared to Gino is his accent. David sounds more American than I imagined was possible. Gino had quite a strong Italian accent.

Gino would be almost fifteen now. I can't believe it...He would have been a young man. So many opportunities - just stolen from him. By BART. No...No, Bob. Let's not blame Bart. It would have happened anyway...It wouldn't have. I just know that it wouldn't have. But what's the point in playing a blame game? Why reminisce on the painful details? What's done is done.  

"Daddy! Daddy!" I look away from the board, pausing in mid sentence.

"Huh?"  I mumble. I'm at work...But...David? And Caitlyn. 

I beam brightly, opening the door.

"It's Daddy's little boy! Hello, there, David! What are you doing at my work?" I greet him, asking the question more to Caitlyn than David.

I hear a wave of 'Awes' from my students. I cannot say I blame them; David is cute as a button!

"I brought you a present from Mommy!" David launches himself at me. I swoop him up in my arms and he giggles.

Just as Gino used to.

"A present? For me?" I ask, setting him down.

"Yes! Mommy and me bought you a shiny badge thing from a shop in town! And  we- Wait, who are all these big people?" David gabbled, getting distracted.

Everyone laughed at David's childishness, myself included.

"Those are the people I teach, son. They're learning about Shakespeare," I reply.

"Who's that? Is he that man who wrote plays a long time ago?" David asks, running over to my desk, full of curiosity.

"Yes! Well done, David...David, don't go in Daddy's desk. Okay. Come on, David. Put that-"

"What's this shiny thing?"

"Its a stapler, David. Now put it back. It's dangerous," I chuckle, gently prising it out of his eager hands and placing it back in the drawer.

"Mommy has your present!"

I turn around to face my Darling Caitlyn, my wife.

"Is that so, Mommy?" I ask, picking David up, before he can get himself into any further trouble.

"Yes, it is, Bob. David, give your Daddy his present," Caitlyn hands David a small, shiny pin-badge.

"Thank you, David! It's beautiful!"

In my hands is an extraordinary Union Jack pin-badge. I clip it to my blazer before  leaning forward to give Caitlyn a kiss of gratitude.

"Thank you, darling. It's fabulous."

Caitlyn giggled.

"I hate to have to do this, but I'm afraid I have to get back to teaching these lovely people. They did pay for these classes, after all," I chuckle.

"Aww! But I want to watch Daddy work! I want to learn about Shake-pear!...The play man!"

More awes and laughs come from behind me.

"I'd love to let you, little guy, but I'm afraid you won't be allowed to. This is a University. It's like a school for grown-ups," I smiled.

"I'm a grown-up!"

"Not yet, love. I'll see you both at home, soon. Love you. Bye bye, now!"

I shut the door as Caitlyn walks down the stairs, holding an excitable David's hand.

"Oh my God, Robert! Your little boy is so cute!" one of the young women squeals.

I can't help but beam proudly.

"Quite," I reply happily, turning back to the board.

"He looks just like you! I bet he wants to be just like you when he grows up," one of the young men says.

"You think so?" I ask casually, though secretly thrilled to bits.

"Definitely. Every little boy wants to be like their dad when they're bigger. Especially with a dad like you."

"Well...Thank you very much," I chuckle.

David - wants to be like me? Really?

Does that...Does that mean that Gino wanted to be like me?

Does that mean...that he looked up to me? And trusted me?

Does that mean I wasn't a bad father...after all?