Heimat AU: Mikey's Rescue

Chapter Seventeen: Love Is All Any Child Deserves

Xero was a mess. He was feeling anger and extreme guilt. His son was hurt, and he hadn't been there. He kept his emotions down as his son's hit him. Jesse was scared and hurting and confused. He held Xero's hand all the way home. He was wide awake and didn't say a word the entire ride.

Xero was thankful that Taylor had suggested they all ride together. He definitely wouldn't have been able to drive, and he needed to be near Jesse. Jesse needed him. He wasn't about to let his son down again.

When they arrived home Xero lifted Jesse out of the car. His son instantly curled into him. His head falling on his father's shoulder, his little hands fisting into his father's coat, and his scarlet cheek stinging in the winter air.

"It's okay, baby bear, you're home now. We're home." Xero said softly as he carried Jesse inside. He went to put him down to take his coat off, but Jesse shook his head and started to silently cry once more. "Okay, I won't let go. Let's take your coat off, yeah?"

Jesse nodded against Xero's shoulder. Xero used one hand and unzipped Jesse's coat, his son shrugging out of it. Taylor took it from him and helped Xero out of his. She gave the pair a sympathetic look.

"God, I feel responsible." She said.

"How?" Xero asked, rubbing Jesse's back.

"I brought her in...to this family. I enrolled Nic when she was a toddler and..."

"No, Cindy knew us from way before. I didn't actually remember her, Tay. It's fine. Honestly. She told me who she was after four years of teaching Nicole ballet. And by then it was too late." Xero said. "I never thought she was capable of this. I can't...she..." Xero swallowed and shook his head. He couldn't talk about Cindy without anger.

And he couldn't be angry with Jesse in his arms.

"I'm so sorry, Xero, and I'm so sorry Jesse." Taylor said. She smoothed back her nephews hair and scowled.

She was thankful this Christmas was over. And that they were all getting ready to go on a vacation. And that the kids would have fun. Seeing Jesse's tear stained face and red cheek was heartbreaking.

Xero nodded. "It's okay, Tay, it's okay. I'm going to take Jesse into Annie and get ready for bed. Goodnight."

She said her goodnights and left with a very somber Nicole.

"I want mama, too." Jesse said quietly and sniffled.

"We're going to mama right now." Xero said and kissed his son's forehead.

Xero carried Jesse into his and Annie's room. Annie was awake and reading. She smiled over her book, but as she seen her crying son and Xero's troubled expression, her smile fell. "What's wrong?"

"Mama!" Jesse cried out. Xero set him on the bed, and he crawled into his mother's lap and buried his head into his mother's neck. "Mama, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make her angry. I didn't know she was going to hurt me."

"H-hurt you?" Annie pulled Jessie away, slightly, to look at her son. She gasped when she seen his cheek. "What? Who did this, baby?"

"C-Cindy...Mama!" Jesse launched himself back into his mother and sobbed as hard as he could while his mother hugged him back and rocked him back and forth.

"It's okay, you did nothing wrong." Annie said. Her eyes on her husband, asking him silently what's happened.

"The kids were off in the prop room. Cindy tracked them down and she attacked Jesse, Annie." Xero said slowly.