Always & Forever (A 'The Last Of Us' Fanfic)

Chapter 41

They had in fact made a whole day out of going to the field. Beth had made sure to take her camera to capture all the memories that she was sure they'd all make. Don was at a loss for words the second they arrived. He'd never seen so many bluebonnets in one place. Beth captured his expression perfectly. She captured so many photos of all of them together. Sarah chasing a butterfly in the field, Tommy and Kathy playing with her, Joel watching them all play and finally, her mom and dad gazing into each other's eyes. As late afternoon was slowly approaching, Beth had figured it had been long enough since she and her mom had had a conversation. They all had brought picnic blankets that they were sitting on and enjoying the food Kathy had brought. Beth sat where her dad and mom were.

"So, I never got the chance to ask you, April but while you were away, did you ever sleep with anyone else?" she asked getting right to the point.

"Beth," he father warned.

"Dad, I'm talking to her. I'm trying but I just have to know," she said looking over at him then back at April.

April took in a deep breath.

"I'm sure you think that I did. I wouldn't blame you either. But I don't know if your father told you just how much we loved each other. Still do, actually. Your dad, he told me about you and Joel. He was a good kid from what I can remember. And from the way your father talked about how the two of you got along together, I couldn't help but be taken back to the time your father and I were like the two of you. Just how in love we really were. And how ecstatic we were when we found out I was pregnant with you. To answer your question, no. I never fell in with anyone else. Your father was the only one that could ever be 'it' for me," she said.

"So then why did you leave? If you truly felt this way, why did you leave? Why did you not stay to work it out?" Beth asked.

Joel and his family were running in the field with Sarah, far away from earshot.

"I needed to clear my head. Right after we had you, it had finally sunk in that this was going to be my life. That all this was going to become routine and that scared me. Before I met your father, I moved from place to place constantly. My father, your grandfather, was in the military and we'd always be moving from town to town. I made friends but would have to leave them almost every two months. I never got used to staying in one place for more than a year. That was until my dad was honorably discharged. I didn't know what to do. I finished high school then moved out here to start my business degree. And then I met your father and there was no turning back. I guess after actually staying in one place for more than a year, freaked me out. The anxiety of having to move again finally got to me. I had to get out of the house otherwise I'd drive myself crazy. So I packed up a single suitcase and took off. I didn't know where I was going but anywhere was good enough for me. It didn't take me long to regret leaving the two of you. I probably should have come back once I had that epiphany but I was ashamed. It had been two years since I left you all. I couldn't bring myself to come back because what the two of you thought of me was something I didn't think I was ready to face. So I stayed away. I figured it was the best thing to do. I had been keeping track of your birthday. When your 18th came along I had convinced myself that I'd come back but I chickened out. I actually moved back here but got an apartment a couple miles away. It wasn't until I got the news of your graduation from the local paper that I finally decided to come back. This time for good. I've missed so much of your life, Beth and words can't even begin to express how sorry I am for that. I don't want to miss anymore...I am so sorry that you were left to feel like I abandoned you. That was never my intention. I hope that we can rekindle our relationship somehow. I love you, sweetheart. And I know that you won't be so keen on the idea of us getting closer so quickly but I'll wait. Whenever you're ready I'll be here. I'm never leaving you again. Ever," she said.

Beth's eyes had started to well up with tears.

"Why...why couldn't you have just said that? I'm...I'm sure dad could have found a way to help you out," she managed to get out.

"I couldn't. I don't know why, sweetie...but I just couldn't," April said.

"All this time, I could have had you in my life. Dad...he struggled for a long time. He would never admit it but there were times that he knew I needed you. But he just did the best he could. He did a great job without you. But...if you promise you won't leave again, well then I guess we can work something out," Beth said.

April let out a relieved breath.

"Would it be too much to ask for a hug?" she asked.

Beth leaned over and let April hug her. The second her mom wrapped her arms around her, she was a little girl all over again. She hadn't realized just how much she had missed her mom's hugs. They had been non-existent for so long, that she never thought that she'd ever get to feel them again. She tightened her arms around her and never wanted to let go.

Joel was chasing Sarah all over the field. He laughed each time she let out a fit of giggles. He was beyond ecstatic that Beth had asked him and his family to come along with her and her family. But the whole time, there was a hint of worry in the back of his mind. He worried about how Beth would react to having her mother here. Ever since she had come back into the picture, he was certain that things between the three of them were tense to say the least. After so long, Mrs. Logan coming back had to have been hard. Not only for Beth but for Mrs. Logan as well. If his father walked back into his life, he'd like to think that he'd tell him to go to hell. But if he was being honest with himself, he would have liked to hear him out. Find out what it was exactly that got him to leave his mother the way he did. Why he would abandon his kids. But he didn't see that happening any time soon. Beth's mom came back right after she had graduated. He wondered if she had had the chance to talk to her yet. Just as all these thoughts were going on in his head, he turned to see Beth and her mom in a tight embrace. He smiled as he noticed the genuine smile Beth had on her face. Maybe things would be okay with the two of them after all. Maybe he didn't need to worry as much as he thought he did.