Out Of Sync

Beth trembles beside you, letting out shaky breaths as she struggles to hold back tears. You comfortingly hold her hand, you can't but avoid her gaze despite your small efforts to soothe her. You've always hated it when she'd cry, you hated it even more when she'd cry and there was nothing you could do to fix the problem...

She used to cry a lot when he left.

"What...what are you saying...?" Beth croaks out, the doctor looks up from her clipboard. She shoots you both a sympathetic smiles, you know what she's trying to do. It's appreciated, but it's not working. You don't want sympathy. You want...to live.

"Mrs. Sanchez—" "Dr." You correct bitterly. You have no marital ties to him. Even if he disappeared before you could officially divorce his ass. The doctor pauses for a moment, "Dr. Sanchez," She says, "I've...in all my years of being a doctor, I've never seen a heart that's so...sick. I can't even properly explain what's wrong with it. Your heart is still beating, sure, but...it honestly shouldn't be. I'm not sure how you're still alive right now."

The doctor rereads your charts, like she's magically find the answer if she just read it one more time. "But...Mom's always been so healthy. I don't understand how something like this could happen." Beth sighs shakily. You frown, you have a very good idea how this might've happened. And who caused it.

"How much longer do I have left?" You ask, Beth sniffles, unable to hold back the sob in her throat. "I would love to tell you that you at least have a full year left, but realistically, you'll be lucky if you live another 6 months." The doctors states, you gently nudge Beth, offer her a weak smile, "Look on the bright side, Sweetie. I'll still be around for everyone's birthdays, and maybe Christmas." You chuckle. Beth wipes her tears, a sad smile forming on her face.

"You won't be around for Jerry's birthday..." She reminds you, "Yeah? Well, fuck him—actually, don't do that. Last thing you need is a new baby once I'm gone Who would help you take care of it? Definitely not Jerry." You joke. It doesn't have the effect you want, tears returns to Beth's eyes. The doctor opens the door, she must've gotten tired of being forced to witness this depress fest. "Spend as much time with your loved ones as you can, Ms. Sanchez. Cherish your final months, fill them with good memories. And please, let me know if anything changes." She says, you and Beth stand up from your seats. "We will..." Beth says before she guides you out of the room.

The walk to the car is a blur...

You remember the brief glimpses you got of some of the nurses' faces, all the looks of pity and sympathy.

You hated it.

Why do you have to be dying? Why can't you just die? You'd rather not drag it out...

Once she's sure you're secure in your seat, Beth walks to the other side of the car and slides into the driver's seat. She rubs the tears out of her eyes, "...I hate when they call me Mrs. Sanchez," You complain bitterly, leaning against the window, "It's bad enough to be Dr. Sanchez, but Mrs. is just disgusting. I haven't seen him in years. And if I did see him, the first I'd do is drag his ass to the courthouse and divorce you. Maybe I should get my name changed back to my maiden name before I kick the bucket."

"Mom, that's what you want to focus on? You just found out that you're dying, but you want to focus on Dad?" Beth asks as she starts the car, "Of course I'm thinking about that asshole. It's his fault I'm dying." You state, Beth pauses, glancing at you. "...Mom, you've never told me the full story, but I know Dad treated you like shit. Still, there's no way he could've done something to your heart." She tells you, the car pulls out of the parking spot and drive off. Your gaze remains focused on everything outside the car, anything you could see through the window.

He's done plenty to your heart.

First he stole it, and then he broke it.

And now he's probably poisoned it, too.

You sigh, "Beth, he...was a great scientist. I may hate him, but I can't deny it. He was capable of doing and creating things I didn't think were possible." You tell her, Beth watches you as you reflect, frowning in concern. She'd be lying if she said she didn't wonder what you saw in him, why you fell in love...why you fell out of love...

"He used to be so...nonchalant. Things never got to him, and if they did, he'd never show it. I don't know what happened...why he changed, but eventually, he became a very angry person. Never towards you. No, he preferred acting like he didn't give a damn about you instead of being loving—or even angry—towards you. I remember mentioning getting a divorce to him before, right before he left us. He had a big freakout about it, which lead to us arguing. Things were said, stuff was thrown, and he made it clear that no matter what I wanted or what I tried, I was going to continue to live as his wife...and when he wanted, I was going to die as his wife." You say, your eyes becoming distant the more you think about it.

"Holy shit..."

You snap back to reality, glancing at Beth. She keeps her gaze on the road, but you can see how your words had shaken her even more than she already was.

The rest of the ride home was silent...

...

Beth seems even more distressed now that you've made it back home. "Oh, oh no...how am I gonna tell the kids?" She asks, you place a hand on her shoulder, "Don't. I don't want the kids to spend my last months being depressed and cautious around me. I want to enjoy the time I have left, I want them to enjoy it, too. Without any pain of thinking about or knowing the truth. I want to feel normal." You state, Beth nods understandingly. Her phone buzzes, Beth glances at it, muttering out a quiet "Shit, not now..."

"Work calling?" You ask knowingly, Beth look at you, she looks less like a 34 year old women with a husband, two kids, and a stable job and more like a 4 year old kid, terrified of being separated from her mother on the first day of school. "Y...yeah, but I don't want to leave you alone right now—" "Beth, sweetie, don't worry about me. I got Summer and Morty to entertain me. Do what you need to do." You tell her encouragingly. Beth frowns, but doesn't argue with you, she barely argued with you before, but she's definitely not going to do it now. "Ok...ok. I'll see you after work, Mom. And, I'll pick up ice cream on my way back." She tells you, Beth pulls your into a hug, squeezing you like this is the last time she'll ever see you.

Who knows, maybe it will be...

You hug her back before stepping out of the car, "Bye, Sweetie." You say, waving goodbye and heading inside the house. Beth watches you disappear into the house, she tightens her grip on the steering wheels, "I already lost one parents...why doesn't the other one have to be taken from me, too..." She mutters bitterly before she drives off.

"I'm back, party people!" You announce, "Party people? No one says that. You're so cringe, Grandma." Summer snickers, never looking up from her phone. "Using the word 'cringe' is cringe, Sum Sum. I would know, I'm the queen of it." You say, "Oh! H-h-hey, Grandma! How...how was your appointment?" Morty asks, he looks away from the tv. You walk over and join him the couch. "Boring. All doctors do is spout nonsense about needing to take more vitamins." You huff dramatically.

Summer finally looks up from her phone, "Were you a doctor?" She asks, you shoot her an offended look, "I was a dentist. There's a difference." You state, Summer grins teasingly, "Is there?" She asks. The two of you have a silent stare-off, "Morty. You're officially my favorite grandchild." You tell him, "What?!" Summer groans, "I...I wasn't before...?" Morty asks. "I didn't have favorites before. Now I do." You say with a shrug.

...

You quickly leave the bathroom and make your way back to the living room, "How much did I miss?" You ask, returning to your place beside Morty. "Jeremy's finally going to reveal who he wants to spend the rest of his life with." Summer tells you. You let out a scoff-ish laugh, "The rest of his life is a bit of an overstatement," You snort, "We've talked about this, Sum, reality show relationships only last 1—maybe 2—years." "We seriously need to get you back into the dating game, Gram Gram. Your views on romance are so cynical. It's depressing." Summer sighs.

"Hey, go out and get yourself a shitty boyfriend or two, then you'll be thinking the exact same way I do." You warn, but the smile on your face is unserious. Everyone jumps at the sudden, loud crash coming from the garage. It was enough to shake the whole house. "What the hell?!" You gasp, you glance over Summer and Morty. They seemed fine, just startled. "W-what was that?!" Morty asks nervously, Summer sighs and rolls her eyes, "Dad probably just forgot to open the garage again." She states. You groan, "Ugh, it's too late for this shit." You complain, "It's 6:38." Summer tells you, "Still too late." You say, standing up. "Grandma, you know Mom doesn't like it when you and Dad fight..." Morty warns, he frowns worriedly.

You wave him off with a gentle smile, "We're not going to argue, Morty. I'm just gonna scold him for being a dumbass. Let me know if I miss anything good." You say. Morty still frowns as you walk to the garage door, "Jerry, how hard is it to remember to open the fucking door—" You push open the door, but instead of being met with Jerry's stupid face, you're met with...an old man? His eyes widen when he sees you. The sides of his brow drops sadly.

No...

NoNoNoNoNoNONONONONONO...

It's...he's not...he can't be.

The old man just barely lifts his hand to wave at you. "...Hi, Y/N." He says, the horror settles on your face. It is...fuck, has he come to finish the job?! To take you out sooner? He can't even let you live 6 more months?!

You tighten your grip on the doorknob, you slowly close the door. You stumble away from it as you struggle to keep your breathing steady. "Done already? Weak. You usually yell at Dad for way longer." Summer calls from the living room. Morty stands by the counter, he followed you because of course he followed you. He liked it better when you and Jerry weren't at each other's throats. "Grandma, w...what's wrong?" He asks, you open your mouth to speak, but nothing leave your mouth except for shaky, choked breathes. The room sways, and your body somehow feels lighter than air, but heavier than a boulder at the same time.

"...Grandma?" Morty asks again, you body goes limp and you slam into the kitchen tile. "OH!" Morty lets out a startled yelp, looking around in a panic, "O-o-oh, geez! Sum...Summer?! Call Mom! Or...911!" Morty shouts. The noise and Morty's panic is enough for Summer to hurry to the kitchen. "Well, which one? I can't call both!" She says, she looks down at your unconscious form, her eyes widening. "I don't know!" Morty stresses, he still doesn't know why you fainted!

The garage door opens, it's not Jerry who walks in, it's some...random old man Summer and Morty have never met before. They share nervous expressions, the old man looks down at you, "Move. I'll help her." He says, bending down and reaching for you. "Excuse me. Who are you?" Summer asks, she tries to sound brave and firm, but the waver in her voice gives her fear away. The man doesn’t respond, his focus solely on you. Summer and Morty stand there helplessly, unsure of what to do. “S-Summer? Shouldn’t you be calling Mom…?” Morty asks, Summer’s attention drifts back to her phone, “Y-yeah. Right. Um, ok…” She mutters.

Your grip on the gun is firm as you shoot at the target in front of you. Maybe going to a shooting range to blow off steam makes you seem like a crazy bitch, but it’s the only thing that works for you now.

You won’t allow yourself to drink, you can’t risk turning into your mother…

Some friends have recommended "therapy", but you’re not paying someone to listen to your problems. Who does something like that?!

With each thought that forms in your mind, the target gets a new bullet hole. Again and again…until eventually you’re out of bullets.

"Damn…" You sigh, glancing at your empty gun, you place it down on the counter in front of you. Do most people empty their guns at shooting ranges? Is that normal? Can you just…ask for a refill?

"Man, I’d hate to be whoever pissed you off."

The man at the counter beside you finally speaks up. He was there before you arrived, and he hasn’t left yet. Now that you think about it, he hasn’t been shooting either…

"So, you finally speak. I was wondering if you were just gonna keep watching me the whole time." You say, removing the earmuffs. The man chuckles, "Oh, you noticed? Sorry. I don’t usually stare at pretty ladies are the shooting range, but that’s because I never see pretty ladies at the shooting range." He says. "Cute. You must’ve been working on that the whole time." You snort, you look the man up and down. "What’s next? You’re gonna ask if I’m here with my boyfriend?" You ask.

The man laughs, "Let me guess, you’d very strongly tell me that you don’t have a boyfriend, and that you don’t need one to come here?" He asks. "Yeah, that sounds like me." You snicker, the two of you share a laugh. There’s a few seconds of quiet as the man looks over you. His expression is tense. "And…what would you say if I asked you to come with me to the cafe next door…?" He asks.

You take a moment to think it over, studying the guy. He seems harmless, and his has the amazing ability to match your sense of humor. Maybe this is the universe finally sending you a win—even if it’s a small date...

…

"What happened after, Mama?"

Beth tilts her head back to look at you curiously. You spot Rick in the corner of your eye, he leans against the wall, listening and not making his presence known. You smile knowingly, holding back a laugh. "He tricked and stole an important organ." You state, Beth gasps, "Really?!" She asks. You hear Rick approach, he lightly hits your head with one of the throw pillows. "Not true." He scoffs, "Daddy! You’re home!" Beth says, she hops onto her feet and runs over to him.

You smile softly at the sight of Beth latching onto Rick, he chuckles and bends down to hug her properly. "Hi, sweetie. Ignore your mom’s slander. I never stole any organs." He states. "You did, though." You say, Rick raises one side of his unimpressed unibrow, waiting for you to continue. You blow a kiss his way, "You stole my heart~" You whisper. Rick’s expression softens, he chuckles under his breath. "You’re so cheesy." He says, you shrug as you stand up.

"It’s ’cause of the baby in her belly."

You stiffen, both your and Rick’s attention snaps to Beth, "Right, Mama? That’s why?" She asks. Rick looks at you with a surprised expression, "…Beth, how’d you even hear about that…?" You ask, she smiles, "I heard you talking to Auntie Ariel about it!" She tells you, "Right. Of course you did." You chuckle weakly. "Wait, a baby? N/N, you’re pregnant?" Rick asks, your attention shifts to him.

"I was going to wait for dinner to tell you guys, but yeah. I’m pregnant. Surprise." You say, Rick stands up and rushes over to you. "Beth, sweetie, cover your ears." Rick says, "Ok." Beth says, she places her hands over her ears, but continues to watch the two of you. "Holy shit, Baby! That’s amazing!" Rick says, he wraps his arms around you.

"I heard you, Daddy!" Beth giggles mischievously, "No, you did not." Rick teases playfully. You chuckle at them both, "Is the baby gonna be a boy or a girl?" Beth asks, "We don’t know wait, sweetie. We gotta wait and see." Rick tells her, Beth deflates, poking her lower lip out. "Ew, but waiting is boring. Mama, can’t you tell what’s in there?" Beth whines. You and Rick watch Beth affectionately, "I wish I could Beth, but the baby’s too small for anyone to tell." You state.

Beth groans, but her sulking doesn’t last long as a thought pops into her mind. "Hey, wait…how’d Mama even get a baby in her belly?" She asks. You pause before wiggling out of Rick’s arms. "I should get a start on dinner, but Daddy will explain everything to you the best he can. He’s smarter than I am." You say, running to the kitchen. Beth lets out squeal-ish laughter while Rick shouts at you, "Traitor!"

…

"—And then, I squished it under my shoe and heard it crunch!" Beth recalls excitedly, Rick glances up from the crib his was putting together, "…Did you now?" He asks. "Uh huh!" Beth says, there’s little to no shame on her voice, even as she continues, "I saw Cody outside, too. It’s too bad he didn’t see me." She sighs. "Oh? And why’s that?" Rick asks, Beth giggles, "Because he didn’t see the rock I threw at him!" She says.

Rick watches Beth carefully, “You’re…excited about having a little sibling, right?” He asks, Beth beams, “Yeah! Of course I am! I get to have a best friend all the time! Even when you and Mama are busy.” She says happily. Rick lets out a quiet breath he didn’t even realize he was holding.

Beth perks up at the sound of the front door opening, “Mama’s back!” She says, launching out of the room. Rick watches her leave with a tired chuckle, “I hope Baby Number 2 is a little more…empathetic to others…” He mutters to himself.

…

You press a kiss on Beth’s forehead, gently pulling the blankets over her. “Goodnight, sweetheart.” You say, “Goodnight, Mama.” Beth yawns, you turn off the lamp. Rick shuffles behind you, turning on the nightlight he specifically made for Beth, “Oh, wait, Daddy. I don’t want the nightlight tonight.” Beth says, she sits up. Rick pauses, he tilts his head in confusion, “You don’t? You’re gonna be ok sleeping in the dark…?” He asks, frowning in concern.

Beth pouts with an unsure expression, “I dunno…but Veronica says that only babies sleep with nightlights. And I’m not a baby!” She huffs. You and Rick share a look, “Oh, please, Veronica doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” You say, “Yeah. You think this is the only nightlight I’ve made. Even your mother has one.” Rick states.

“You do?” Beth asks, looking at you, you shrug, “Yep, maybe you l got that fear of the dark from me.” You tell her. “Can fear be…in…inherited?” Beth asks, Rick drapes an arm around your shoulder, “That’s good question, Beth, but it’s getting late and you have school in the morning,” He says, Rick gently guides you towards the door, “I promise we’ll have an answer for you in the morning.” “Promise?” Beth asks. Rick nods, clicking on Beth’s nightlight, “Promise.” He reaffirms. “…Ok. Goodnight, Mama. Goodnight, Daddy.” Beth says, she snuggles into her blankets, closing her eyes.

Rick shuts the door behind the two of you. Rick doesn’t let you break free from him, not yet, he gently guides you towards your bedroom. “This is the 5th time Beth’s said something about this Veronica kid. I wish I could talk to the teacher about it, but I’m pretty sure Beth is overhearing everything she’s talking about. Beth’s made it pretty clear the other kids don’t actually talk directly to her…” You sigh. “I think we really need to work on Beth’s…quirks.” Rick tells you quietly, the two of you reach your shared bedroom, "I don't think there's much we can do to 'fix' them at this point." You confess quietly.

"...I guess, I just feel guilty sending her to Froopy Land all the time." Rick states, you flop onto the bed, an exhausted sigh leaving you. “Beth’s taken me to Froopy Land before. I’d live there.” You say with a shrug, rolling onto your back. Rick chuckles, “Glad to know you appreciate my work.” He says, “Oh, definitely. You should make us our own secret little world.” You suggest. “Yeah? You would like that, wouldn’t you? You’d get to have me all to yourself.” Rick teases, he lays down beside you.

You snicker, “Of course. I could spend all my time with you and never have to worry about work or bills? Sounds like a dream.” You snickers shift into a yawn, “Are you sleeping with me? Or are you the car’s sleep buddy tonight?” You ask, Rick sighs softly. “I’d love to sleep in a bed with you tonight, but I’m so close to figuring out portal travel…” He says, you gently pat his cheek. “If anyone can do it, it’s you.” You say, Rick leans into your touch. “You really think I can do it?” He asks.

“Definitely. And when you finally figure it out, we’ll never have to worry about traveling by car again.” You say, Rick laughs, “We’ll be the coolest family in the neighborhood.” He chuckles. “We’re already the coolest family in the neighborhood. I’ve got the hottest husband, and you’ve got the sexiest wife.” You snicker, Rick watches you as your eyelids become lower and lower.

It doesn’t take much for you to fall asleep. Rick’s not surprised, between your job, raising Beth, and now your pregnancy…you’ve been exhausted. You’ve been so patient with him, too. You haven’t complain about him spending so much time in the garage—his lab. You truly believe he’s capable of making something great. He lets out a quiet sigh, placing a gentle kiss on top of your forehead. “I’ll make it worth it, baby. You’ll never have to worry about anything again…” He promises in a hushed voice. Rick pushes himself out of bed and quietly leaves the bedroom.

…

You take a look around the nursery, a warm smile resting on your face. It’s really starting to come together. You still don’t know the baby’s gender, but you don’t want to know. Not yet, not until the baby’s born. You did the same thing when you were pregnant with Beth.

You can hear noises in the garage. You’re always hearing the sound of Rick’s tinkering in the garage when you’re in the nursery, they’re right next door. This time, though, you hear something different than the usual explosions. You actually hear something powering up before you hear a sound you’ve never heard before.

A smile forms on your face, “…I knew you could do it.” You say under your breath. You stand up and leave the nursery, walking to the garage door. You slowly open it, Rick smiles softly when he sees you, “Rick? I heard sci-fi noises, and I didn’t immediately start smelling smoke. Did you make a breakthrough?” You ask, smiling at him excitedly. Rick walks up to you, he intertwines his hands with yours, “Sort of,” He says, gently squeezing your hands before he lets go, “I just took a long look at myself, and…I don’t think this science thing is gonna pay off.”

You tilt your head in concern as he shrugs off his lab coat, “Are you…ok with that? I know how much you want to be a scientists.” You say, Rick chuckles and presses his forehead against yours, “I want to be your husband more.” He states. His words pull a soft smile out of you. You don’t know what’s making him so soft and sentimental, but you’re not going to question him and his choices.

“How about I go get Beth and we can go out for ice cream?” You offer, Rick takes your hands once more, he grins, “That, Y/N, is that last great idea that will be ever had in this garage. I’ll start up the car.” He states, you press a gentle kiss to his lips before heading back inside the house. “Beth!” You call out, “I’m right here, Mama.” She says, shuffling off the couch.

You smile at her, “Come on, sweetie. We’re heading out for ice cream.” You say, Beth’s eyes light up excitedly, “We are?!” She asks, you take her hand, “Yep. You know what flavor you want?” You chuckle, “So many. I want 15 flavors!” Beth tells you. “15?! I don’t know if they’ll even have that many flavors.” You gasp playfully, Beth giggles. You hear the car honk, the sound muffle by the walls, “Come on, girls! The ice cream’s gonna melt!” Rick calls out playfully.

Beth gasps and tugs you towards the garage door, “Come on, Mama! We gotta hurry!” She says, you laugh, “I’m coming. I’m coming. Don’t forget I’m talking for two…” You joke, you and Beth walk into the garage, you make sure to shut the door behind you. Beth waves at Rick excitedly, he chuckles and waves back.

You hear the sci-fi sound you heard before and there’s suddenly a green glow behind you. Both you and Beth turn around in surprise. “Mama, what’s that?” Beth asks, Rick’s eyes narrow in confusion. “…I think it’s one of the portals your father’s been working on…” You mumble with an unsure expression. A round device drops out of the portal. It beeps quickly, its lights flashing wildly. Your eyes widen in realization. You try to grab Beth, to protect her—to do anything, but it’s already too late.

You don’t feel any pain. You can only hope Beth didn’t either…

The force of the explosion is of the to flip the car upside down, Rick is thrown out of the car. It takes him a few seconds to process, his eyes widen in realization as he stares at the fiery garage, “NOOOOOOO!” He screams in horror.

>._._._._.<

“…Sir…? Sir? Sir, can you understand me?” A paramedic asks, shining a flashlight in Rick’s eyes. Rick doesn’t say anything, staring at the destruction distantly. He tightens his grip on the blanket they had given him.

He didn’t get to say goodbye.

He didn’t even get to say he loved you and Beth…more than anything.

You didn’t scream, your first and only instinct was to protect Beth…

Beth…

She was just a kid. A little kid. Sure, you and Rick joked about how she was “8 years away from college”, but she was a kid! Now, she’s never going to experience high school or middle school or anything.

And what about the baby…the baby that never even had the chance to be born…

Rick breathes, but it feels like he’s swallowing hot water. “He needs stitches. Come on, let’s go.” The paramedic tells the driver, “No…” Rick says lifelessly, the paramedic flinches, “Oh, shit! Man, you scared the hell out of me…I didn’t think you’d speak the whole time.” He says, Rick doesn’t respond to the paramedic, but he does move to stand up, “I’m not going to a hospital. I’m staying here…” He states.

“Wha—but, sir. You’re injured—” “I’m fine. Just…go away.” Rick says firmly, the young paramedic looks back to the older one in the driver’s seat. They share a look before the older one shrugs, “He’s been through enough. Let’s not drag him to a hospital if he doesn’t want to go.” The older paramedic says. The younger paramedic sighs, but shuts the door. The ambulance drives off while Rick limps back to the house.

…

“Man, you’d kill me if you saw this dinner, Y/N…” Rick jokes quietly, no one laughs at his joke. No one teases him. No one even asks for a slice of pizza. Rick takes the cold slice and chew it. He’s not hungry…well, that’s not true, he’s starving, but he doesn’t have the desire to eat. He’s just eating so he doesn’t die…

Rick sighs, “Why shouldn’t I just die? Then I could be with you a-and Beth.” He says bitterly, Rick reaches over the side of his chair, grabbing a new beer, his 7th can. He cracks open the can and takes a long drink, letting out a heavy sigh. “I miss you. I miss you so much.” He confesses to the empty air of the house. “It’s a little funny, when you think about it. I killed you. Not me-me, but a version of me. He just…killed you and Beth. Like it was nothing. Like you were nothing.

Rick tosses his empty can to the side, grabbing another one. “Do…do you think that if he was another version of me…maybe he had a version of you and Beth? I’ve been wondering. I don’t think he did. If he knew you, why would he kill you? To get back at me? I’m not that petty, am I? You would’ve told me if you thought I was petty, right?” He asks, he still gets met with silence.

“…I’ve been hiding something from you.” Rick says, swirling his beer can around, “I know you said you wanted it to be a surprise, but I couldn’t wait. I checked,” He sighs, he brings the can to his lips, “We would’ve had another girl…” Rick takes a long drink from the can until it’s empty. “At least I don’t have to worry about taking down the nursery. The explosion was so bad, it destroy that, too.” He says bitterly.

He’s been feeling that lot more.

Bitterness instead of sadness.

Anger instead of bitterness.

That Rick…that evil version of himself. He only did this because he wanted Rick to leave behind everything and travel across dimension. Rick doesn’t reach for another can, “…I’ll do it.” He affirms.

…

Rick stares at his own reflection. “Man, she wouldn’t even recognize me if she saw me now.” He huffs softly. It’s only been…2 years—he thinks. How could he look so different?

You always said you wanted him to grow his hair out…

Rick brushes a strand of hair out of his face. “Wait…you’d probably think I’m hot.” He assumes, Rick sighs, “Then you’d probably say something like, ‘Oh, I would’ve died sooner if I knew you would’ve got soooo hot!’” He mimics your voice. He can still remember what it sounds like. Clear as day. It’s…haunting.

No you, no Birdperson, no one...

Rick’s all alone.

Rick stares at his reflection once more. He looks so…tired. There’s no light in his eyes. You wouldn’t think he was hot, you’d be too busy worrying about what the hell could’ve happened to make him look like that…like this. Rick lets out a heavy sigh. “Just another year…and then I’ll stop.” He promises…you? Himself? He doesn’t know anymore.

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

. . .

Rick takes a long drink of beer. After 40-something years of this shit…he’s switched to drinking out of beer bottles. They give him so much more beer.

Green portals open in front of Rick, more versions of himself step out and each of them meet the same fate the others ones did. Despite how drunk he is, Rick aims perfectly for the other Ricks’ heads. When he first started doing this…he felt a form of satisfaction. Like he was avenging you and Beth.

Now he only feels nothing…

…

He promised himself he wouldn’t do this. Rick doesn’t want to be like those other sick fucks.

Rick sighs deeply, glancing down at all the house as his space cruiser flies above the neighborhood. “I’ve checked. So many dimensions…she’s gone.” He sighs, taking a long drink from his flask.

This is the only one.

This is the only dimension where you’re still alive.

Why? What makes this dimension do special?

Maybe…that Rick—the one who started all this—maybe he cared this version of you, but not all the others…

Rick tilts his steering wheel downwards, crashing right into the garage. The crash destroys the door and good chuck of the garage’s roof, Rick climbs out of the vehicle, unfazed by the destruction around him.

“Jerry, how hard is it to remember to open the fucking door—”

The door that leads into the house open, that’s what gets a reaction out of Rick. His eyes widen when he sees you standing there. Is this what you would’ve looked like if you had the chance to grow older? The sides of Rick’s brow drops sadly, “Hi, Y/N…” He says, just barely lifting his arm to wave. You stare at Rick, horror settling on your face. You don’t share any words with him, you slowly close the door.

Rick continues to stands there…until he hears the sound of your body thudding against the floor. He rushes to the door, but stops himself when he hears voices.

“OH! O-o-oh, geez! Sum…Summer?! Call Mom! Or…or 911!”

“Well which one? I can’t call both!”

“I don’t know!”