What If I Had

twenty four - the rescue

Five months.

It's been five months since Rick handed himself in to the intergalactic confederation.

The day they came to pick us up off of the miniature Earth I can still remember it like it was yesterday. I remember feeling my heart sink in my chest watching the confederation's hovercrafts land and those lanky bug aliens hop it, armed and aiming their weapons at Beth and Jerry. Beth's hands were up over her head, tears in her eyes as she realized what was happening. Jerry had his hands up too, but he was very clearly relieved to be 'rescued.' He even went so far as to embrace one of the aliens, sobbing at their clawlike feet.

I rolled my eyes. That dramatic prick.

When we got back to Earth, things were so different. Unbelievably different.

I guess things are looking up for Jerry because the second we get back, the planet's taken over by the confederation. They gave him a job right away, but the downside to that is they're paying him in narcotics. 

Trying to medicate us... Earthers? Is that what they'd call us? 

Well, they're trying to medicate us to keep us from jumping at the opportunity to overthrow the intergalactic government. 

Ever since, Jerry's been a lot more of a show-off. A lot more pompous, a lot more so I've noticed when he gets his way or when the opportunity strikes where he finds himself successful. 

I don't think about him like that often, though. Thinking like that about my son-in-law is turning me into Rick.

.... but then again, that shouldn't be considered an insult. 

I remember sitting in the Smiths' living room, arms folded over my chest and wrapped around me in an embrace. An attempt to try and comfort myself in reaction to the reality of everything. An attempt made in vain. 

"B-- uhh... Mrs Smith?" My arms are still crossed, I stand up to follow her into the kitchen as she reaches into the fridge. "Gwen, honey, could you reach up into the cupboards and pass me a glass?" I hesitated. My eyes gazed around the kitchen for a moment before they landed on the cupboards up above my head, having to get on my tippy toes to reach up onto the bottom shelf, snatching the closest wine glass to the edge. 

Beth pulled out a half empty bottle of red wine, I heard it clink as she set it down on the countertop. I must've given her a look because she gave me a dry chuckle, "This is a very common coping method. I'd offer you some, too, but you're underage..." She popped the cork and poured herself a glass, just almost a full glass, before taking a sip. "... aren't you?"

I fixed the sleeve of my dress, pulling it slightly down past my wrist. "I mean, I think so." I muttered under my breath, rubbing the nape of my neck. "Yeah, n-no thank you."

"It helps, it really does. I-I of course don't mean to do it in front of you, but--"

"No, no don't worry about it Mrs Smith. I don't..." I sighed. "I'm not one to judge." Anymore. I leaned up against the countertop before launching myself up to sit on it. Beth leaned up against the counter, wine in hand, allowing a gentle silence to settle in the kitchen between us. I didn't mind it, it just gave me a lot to think about.

"What was Rick like? Growing up, I mean."

Beth took a longer sip. 

"Oh, my father was... eccentric. He was just like he is now, a lot of his time was spent in his studies and... yeah." She stifled a chuckle. Beth swivelled a finger around the rim of her glass, looking deep into the dark mahogany liquid as she spoke. "I'm just... glad he was back in my--ou-our lives," She said that last bit a little too loudly. "For as long as he was. It was really sweet to see Morty grow his relationship with his grandfather." She gulped the rest of her glass in one swig, reaching out for the bottle to pour some more in her cup.