melancholia. [ ALTERNATE SPIN-OFF ] [ BILLY HARGROVE ]

xxx. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

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warnings: none

     Mary shut the door to the cabin, walking to the counter and putting things away. She noticed that the kitchen was empty, turning to see that the rest of the house was empty, too. She walked to the kitchen table as there was a note sitting there. 

Gold kept complaining about fresh air, so I took him for a walk. Don't worry, he's on a leash. Be back soon. - Andrew. 

     She sighed, setting the note back down and going back to groceries. She was putting them away when she heard a knock on the front door. She furrowed her eyebrows as she knew that she'd given everyone a key, so it didn't make any sense that someone would be knocking. By the time that Mary had unpacked all of the groceries, Andrew and Alex were already back. 

     And life went on. They worked for months. Mary was working nonstop to find out where Jackson was keeping Billy, and frequently visited Hopper to gather intel on the doctors taking care of Billy. Until finally, it was December. 

     Mary stared at her calendar as the heater was warming up the living room, and she saw that it was the day. Not only was it their anniversary, but it was time to get Billy out of that place. Hopper had gotten the address where Marley and Oliver work, and passed it on to Mary. She was ready to commence her plan. 

     "Alright, Gold, are you positive you know what you're doing?" Mary asked, Alex nodding at her once. 

     "I'm going to tell Jackson very bluntly that I know Mandy, that she's alive, and then he'll kidnap me. I'll make sure to get the doors unlocked once I'm inside, then you can sneak in, get Billy, and get out. Then you can live in peace somewhere they won't find you," Alex told her. Mary smiled slightly, looking over at him from the calendar. 

     "Okay," she said, looking to Andrew. "It's time for you to go, too." 

     "Miss Henderson-" 

     "Your family needs you," Mary told him, walking to him quickly. "You need to go." Andrew frowned at her, then pulled Mary into a hug. She shut her eyes, knowing this was going to be the last time in a long time. "Promise you'll be safe? Take care of Mary Ann?" 

     "I will," he said. "I'll keep her safe for you to see her again." There was a pause, the two stepping back to look at each other. 

     "There's a car outside for you," Mary told him quietly. 

     "Be safe, Mary," Andrew told her. She nodded once, blinking away the tears in her eyes. 

     "I will," she nodded. Andrew stepped back from her, going to his room and packing. Mary wiped her yes, walking to Alex. "Are you ready?" 

     "Yeah," Alex nodded. "Can I just... Can I call my mom first?" 

     "Why?" Mary asked, furrowing her eyebrows at him. 

     "To say goodbye," he said, a frown forming on his face. Mary looked at him, realizing his thoughts in that moment. She let his words sink in, and she didn't know what to say to him. 

     "You remember freshmen year?" Mary asked, making Alex look at her confused. "Before things went bad." Alex took a moment, then nodded at her. "That was the guy I fell in love with. Now, I'm never going to forgive you for what you did. Ever. But... I need you to be that guy again. The one who hated his dad, who had morals and standards. Can you do that?" Alex looked down at her, then nodded slightly. 

     "Can I just say goodbye to my mom?" he asked, his voice quiet. Mary nodded once, pointing to her room. "Phone's in there on the wall. I never told you it was there, but I trust you now."