Summer FY 03 - Part of the Family
Mythic slid his arm around his mates waist and leaned into his side as the two entered the house together behind the rushing kits, "Glad to be home?"
"Mmmm," was the wordless reply as the door pulled shut behind them. "I better check my messages; let me take your bag love." Kerris reached for the rucksack Mythic had thrown over his shoulders as he headed up the stairs after the kits.
Mythic relinquished the bag and headed for the kitchen. "Don't take too long I'm just making sandwiches."
Once in their room Kerris picked up his phone and dialed the voice mail, listening as he turned the bags out on the bed and started sorting the clothing into baskets. The first was his boss asking if he could take a trip for her the following Monday. He made a note to call her back and flipped to the next.
His sister's voice came over the line, something he hadn't heard in almost a year and a half now. "Kerri, I know you aren't on speaking terms with the 'rents but you should call them. It's important."
Frowning he skipped to the next message, which was even more disturbing than the last. His mother's voice, "Kerris, you need to call when you get this message. Nana is in the hospital. They don't think... Just call us."
A ball of lead formed in the pit of his stomach as he hit the button for the next message. His father's gruff voice this time, "Nana's dead, the funeral is this Sunday." That was all, but it dropped him to his knees.
Memories of his Nana flashed through his head, her holding him when he was a kit after he'd scraped his knee, the delighted way she laughed when he told her he would be the first of their family to attend college, her steadfast declaration that she didn't care if he was gay he was still her grandson! She was the only one in his family that still talked to him on a regular basis, and now she was gone! The pain grew and grew inside him until he couldn't hold it back any more, he threw his head back letting out a high pitched howl of pain and denial.
They all came running, Kitt and Audio got to him first being on the same floor but Mythic was only moments behind them.
"What happened?" Kittara sounded almost as distressed as he did.
Audio's worried; "Dad?" was accompanied by a small hand on his shoulder.
"What's wrong?" Mythic gasped out, looking around for some sign of what was causing his mate such pain. He spotted the phone lying discarded on the bed and snatched it up, hitting the replay button. His eyes widened and he too dropped the phone. "Kids, leave us alone for a few minutes? He's had some bad news, I'll explain later alright?" He sounded as soothing as possible as he shooed the worried kits from the room.
Kerris didn't resist being pulled into his mates arms, or letting the tears flow, he gave himself over to the pain for a time clinging to the other tod as if to a life raft. When the tears had subsided enough for him to think again he looked into Mythic's wonderful golden eyes and whispered, "I have to go."
Mythic nodded once firmly and tightened his arms around him. "I know. I'll ask Clawdia to watch the kits and make the arrangements this evening." It was that simple, Mythic understood and would make sure they got where he needed to be. With that worry out of his mind he let the pain take him again, curling into a ball and crying like his heart was broken.
The trip to the airport, the flight and the taxi ride all passed in a blur for him, he couldn't have done it without Mythic by his side. As they pulled up in front of his parents' house he took a deep breath and squeezed his mate's hand seeking the strength to face them. It was his trembling finger that pushed the doorbell button but Mythic's strong hand in his was all that kept him from bolting when the door opened. Thankfully it was his sister who answered. "Oh Kerri!" She threw herself on him hugging him and weeping onto his shoulder. For a stunned moment he didn't know what to do, but then his arm went around her and he held her tightly.
When she'd pulled herself together once more he introduced her. "Mythic this is my sister Jody. Jody, this is Mythic, my mate." The last word came out firmly, nearly harsh, sounding like he was shoving it down her throat.
The vixen blinked then turned and held her hand out to the taller tod. "I'm sorry we had to meet under these circumstances." She might have thought she was being polite but Kerris stiffened at her words, not pleased to meet you or even nice to meet you. She hadn't changed.
Mythic took her offered hand and shook it politely, "Kerris has told me a lot about you, I'm sorry for your loss."
Instead of inviting them in she held up a finger and closed the door. Moments later it was opened again and his mother stood there looking at the pair of them. "I can't believe you brought him! How is that going to look Kerris?' her voice lowered to an angry hiss, "It's bad enough that you're living with him, but to bring him here to defile Nana's memory!" She stepped out and closed the door behind herself. "I told you before you are not stepping one foot inside my house until you recant your evil ways and come back to the light of God!"
Kerris stiffened as if she'd just slapped him but he didn't show the anger he was feeling, simply responded with, "It's a pleasure to see you again Mother. How is Father?" as formally as he could.
Her eyes flicked over Mythic then dismissed him out of her mind. "He is distraught, seeing you with this... person is not going to make it any easier on him." She looked over his shoulder at the waiting taxi and nodded once. "The viewing takes place at the funeral home tomorrow at 10 am, the service to follow at 2 in the old graveyard. We will be opening the house at 4 to accept condolences; I do not suggest you come to that." She turned on her heel and went back into the house with no further words for either of them.
The night passed restlessly for Kerris, he had no idea how he was going to make it through the next 24 hours in the company of his 'loving' family. He'd have gotten no sleep at all if it hadn't been for Mythic's arms around him, his hands running soothingly down his back. He couldn't eat breakfast, just pushing the almost inedible scrambled eggs the hotel served around aimlessly on his plate before throwing them out. He dressed carefully in his full dress uniform knowing how proud Nana had been of him for enlisting despite the reasons he'd chosen to.
Mythic straightened his tie for him and he returned the favor for a moment admiring the way his mate looked in the black suit before the crushing weight of his sorrow reminded him why Mythic was in black. "Its time love." He nodded once and they left for the funeral home.
They were a half hour early, but people had already started to show up. Mythic held his hand firmly as he walked through the dimly lit rooms toward the casket. He didn't cry, that would be showing weakness and a man didn't show weakness, not around his father. He leaned down and brushed a soft kiss to his Nana's forehead, held her hand a moment then turned and headed for one of the side rooms. There they stayed, not joining the rest of the family in the receiving line as it would 'distress' his father to see him and 'that person' there. Instead they waited together in the smaller chamber.
A handful of his old school chums came by and paid their respects, some of his more distant cousins spoke to him as well, but it wasn't until just before they were to leave for the graveyard that his Papa appeared in the small room. "There ya are boy! What are ya doin' hidin' in here? Ya know full well your Nana would find ya and make ya come stand right beside her! Come on now." The older fox took him by the arm and pulled his barely resisting grandson along with him. "Who's this fine lookin' fellow ya brung wit' ya?"
"Papa, I can't go in there. Father and Mother will have a fit." Kerris tried to dissuade the older gentleman gently but to no avail.
But the older tod just snorted and pulled him along. "Yur a parta this fambly and yur gonna kiss yur Nana boy, don't ya disrespect her none wit' that hogwash." Mythic stayed with him, holding his hand as tightly as ever while he was manhandled by a fox three times his age into walking straight up to the coffin once more. He spared a glance for his Father, not surprised to see the rage in the older male's eyes for a moment he hesitated but the older fox pulled at his arm and got him moving once more.
His Father met them a few feet in front of the coffin barring the way. "Dad, what do you think you are doing?" He sounded angry beyond anything Kerris had ever heard before making the fox let Mythic and his grandfather go, on the off chance that he'd have to defend himself physically.
"I done brought ya son ta pay his respects ta ya mother boy and ya best be movin' outta th' way now afore ya make a scene." He turned to Kerris' mother and raised his voice a little. "Tilly, ya best be gettin' ya husband outta th' way now girl. Boy's gotta right ta be here wit' his fella, even if ya don' approve." He turned to address the whole of the assembled furs. "Ya'll know how proud mah 'Lizbet was a her college graduate, military grandson, well I ain't gonna be ta one ta keep him from payin' his respects ta her and neither is mah son." Before he knew what was happening he was standing at the side of the coffin with Mythic once again holding his hand, tears streaming down his face as he held his arm around his Papa. "Tha's it boy ya let it out now. 'Lizbet loved ya and she always wanted ta meet ya fella but ya never brung him, till now."
His grandfather refused to let him go once he had a hold on him, insisting that he and Mythic ride in the limo with him, where Kerris finally remembered his manners enough to introduce them. "I'm pleased as punch ta meet ya Mythic! Ya done good by our Kerri and for that both 'Lizbet and I loved ya even afore we met ya."
"The pleasure is all mine Mr. Foxworthy I assure you. Kerris has told me many great things about the both of you I only regret that we couldn't make the trip sooner. Your wife sounds like a spirited lady and I would have loved the chance to get to know her better."
The older fox chuckled rustily, nodding his head, "Name's Henry I figua yur a parta this fambly and get ta call me by mah name boy. Yup she'd a loved ya on sight. Don' ya go letting mah boy chase ya 'way now, he's got him a stubborn streak abou' this that ain't no good for no one. Ya just keep on livin' ya life and makin' our Kerri happy and we'll get on jus' fine!"