#rrl01w5

Gen One, Day Thirty-Four

Things happened quickly after that. Johnny’s phone line went dead and they both looked at Toph for assurance, which he readily gave, still on the comms with his own crew. 

Five minutes. Five minutes from the time Johnny had received the call to the time a man in a black hoodie with ripped jeans and looking like any other punk in the area, walked onto the pier holding Eris in her hands. Robyn and Johnny went running to them when they first caught sight of her, Robyn unable to keep herself from crying at the sight of Eris, healthy and unharmed, in the arms of this stranger; one of Toph’s “guys.” 

“Mommy!” Eris squealed, reaching out to be picked up and Robyn obliged readily, squeezing Eris to her chest and sobbing as she finally had her arms back around her daughter. She turned, so Johnny could pull them both in and they could hug her together. “Where were you? You left and you didn’t say goodbye,” Eris demanded. 

“I’m sorry,” Robyn cried, smoothing down Eris’ errant stray hair that had gotten ruffled in all the hugs and love she was receiving. “I’m so sorry, honey.” 

“Alien disguise,” the dark clad man explained. “Make themselves look like anyone. Mommy,” he did air quotes, “Brought her here to play hide and seek and then left.” It was his way of explaining to Robyn and Johnny what had happened, so when Eris was old enough to understand, they could help her through it, should the need arise.

Johnny accepted a hug from Eris as well and then turned to look at the Toph and his guy. “Thank you,” he told them in earnest. 

The dark clad man nodded, giving a smirk before giving Toph a farewell pat on the shoulder and hurrying back along the pier to help the others. It left Toph to watch over the family as they welcomed Eris back into their lives.

Gen One, Day Thirty-Four

A slow smile spread across herself and just his calm demeanor had her own body relaxing from a stiffness she hadn’t known had been there. They watched other for a minute. This whole thing had been an ordeal. A rather extreme one and no matter how their relationship had been tested thus far, this had been the most vigorous one. They’d bent until they almost snapped and she’d never been so furious with him as she was the previous night.

But they’d bounced back strong. Had figured out how to get the money for the contingency plan. Had both been there when Eris was brought out of the warehouse and now Robyn had a clear and better understanding of why Johnny hadn’t ever brought up his time in Sixam. She watched him for a while before he caught her staring. 

“We make a good team, Bug,” he whispered sleepily to her. 

She could read between the lines. She understood what he was trying to say. She didn’t need the words to know this was an apology. Didn’t need to hear I’m sorry or need another explanation as to why he felt he couldn’t share the darkest parts of himself with her. This was enough, even if it was tender, these bruises would heal. 

“We do,” she agreed. 

“I won’t forget that again.” 

“I know,” she told him and he gave a small smile, leaning his head back against the headboard of the rocker, continuing to just rock. She really thought he was falling asleep for a second before his head turned, like he could feel her staring at him. 

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked. 

She hesitated for a moment, because there were things she wanted to say to him. Lectures she could give, but it would all be picking at the wounds at this point. She knew what he meant, what he was promising, when he pointed out they made a good team. Knew that he understood he couldn’t shoulder these burdens alone anymore. That being a martyr to keep her safe or not trusting her with his heart wasn’t going to fly in this relationship. 

Standing up, she walked over to him, gently climbing onto his lap, her arms around his shoulders as she swung her legs to dangle off the edge over on of his. She rested her head on his shoulder and for all the things he wasn’t saying to her, she needed to make sure he understood something back. “Because I see you.” 

It had him pause in his rocking for a moment to look at her. She knew he understood, because she could feel an old wound start to scar over. Feel it in his gaze that those were the words he needed to hear. That he hadn’t shared his secrets with her because he’d been afraid she’d look at him different. Like a monster. His own words echoing in her mind when she’d caught him talking to Eris over a year ago. It all made sense now, and she needed him to know. She saw him. And she loved him, not despite of it all, but because everything she saw. Every part of him, good and bad. They would heal and they would do it together. 

Gen One, Day Thirty

“What seems to be the problem here, ma’am,” Johnny asked as Robyn called him into the room. She hated giving in to Eris’s demands like this, but sometimes she didn’t have an hour to sit there and try to negotiate with a toddler. And since she was a daddy’s girl, Johnny was always good at getting Eris to do something she didn’t want to do. 

Robyn looked at Johnny, a bit exasperated. “Eris wants to play with Mommy’s make up, but we just finished getting a bath for the day.” 

“Ahh, a real predicament. Well, let the Sheriff handle it, little lady.” Robyn rolled her eyes lovingly at him as he crouched down in front of Eris, giving her the sternest cowboy sheriff look he could muster. Eris giggled and waved her arms at him in excitement. The two of them had been watching Western movies all week and while Robyn thought she was a little young for them, Johnny assured her he hadn’t picked any of the gruesome ones. 

“Now you listen here, pilgrim,” Johnny addressed the toddler and Eris squealed with delight at his best cowboy voice. “There’ll be no make up on the premises tonight.” 

Robyn sighed, playing with his hair as he kneeled there. “She’s going to grow up talking like a cowboy if you keep that up.” 

Johnny chuckled and dropped the act, giving Eris a look. “We can’t play with makeup tonight, Eris,” he said and got the slightest of pouts from Eris. He was a rock, though, unswayed by those puppy eyes. “But I bet Mommy will play dolls with you if you ask nicely.” 

Robyn glanced at her daughter to see if the toddler would go for it instead of the demands to play with things she shouldn’t be playing with. 

“Dollies, mommy?” Eris asked. 

“What’d we forget?” Johnny countered, butting in before Robyn could accept. 

“Please?” Eris added on giggling when Johnny made a noise of excitement that she was actually getting pleases and thank you’s. 

Robyn chuckled. “How could I say no?” 

Gen One, Day Twenty-Nine

“Johnny, please!” she was desperate, not letting him get away. She leapt off the bed and scurried in front of him, blocking his path and reaching up to cup his face in her hands. “Please don’t,” she told him and it made him focus on her with an unreadable expression on his face. Her voice trembled as she clarified. “Please don’t cut me out. Don’t push me away.” 

Robyn’s motions were slow as she wrapped his arms around his shoulders. He was tense and she clung onto him, pressing her lips against the nape of his neck and breathing him in. The man she loved. The man she was terrified was slipping away because of everything that had been ingrained in him after he’d left his childhood home. His Mom had wanted things for him and cut him off completely when he hadn’t wanted those same things. It had left him trying to prove to the world that he was capable of doing everything on his own. She’d felt something similar at times, though never to the degree that he’d had to do so. Even at Christmas, when his Dad had shown up, his Dad hadn’t offered any help, hadn’t offered to bring him back into the family or even try to. She’d seen then just how truly alone he’d been, if it wasn’t for her and Eris. 

“You’re not alone,” she told him and she could feel his breath hitch. “I’ve got you.” 

She could feel the moment that wall crumbled down. Whatever defenses he’d put up in between the time they’d spoken to now when he’d been having this crisis in their bedroom, she felt that come tumbling down and she tightened her grip to offer him support in it’s place. His head ducked, forehead against her shoulder and she let him just stand there, held up by her for as long as he’d need. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispered the apology into her hair, nuzzling a bit, a reassurance that he was still there and in love. “I’m just so tired.” 

“I know,” she consoled him, cupping the back of his neck to keep him close to her. “It’ll be okay, baby. We’ll get help, okay?” he could only nod. “We’ll get help.” 

Determination set in as she held her man. Determination to prove to him that this wasn’t him, just something he was going through. That he was worthy of love, no matter what he’d been made to do in the war. That this was his life and he could make that into anything he wanted it to be. Determination fueled her and she knew in that moment, as he broke down and let her offer him comfort, that this was a turning point towards the better. 

Gen One, Day Twenty-Nine

As she got to the top of the stairs, she slowed her pace, focusing on listening to the words Johnny was saying. They were too quiet to fully hear, but there was something to the timbre of his voice that made her realize he wasn’t just playing with the baby or changing a diaper, he was talking to her. The kind of talking she’d told him that morning that he’d need to do. His tone serious, a little distant. 

She walked softly to stand in the doorway, debating whether she should give father and daughter the space or stay there and just observe. In the end, her worry over Johnny won out over the need to give them privacy and she bit her lip, almost holding her breath through Johnny’s talking. 

“...and it’s not you and it’s not your Mom,” Johnny was saying and Robyn’s heart leapt to her throat, but she forced herself to listen. “Because I love you both so much. More than I’ve ever loved anyone, that’s for sure. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I don’t want to lose either of you, but that’s all I can think of sometimes. That one day you’re gonna realize I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. That you’ll grow up and we won’t talk like this. Or, worse...we will and you’ll realize I’m not...I’m not worth it.” 

Robyn’s breath hitched in her chest and she had to clutch her chest as she felt her heart aching for him. His voice had softened, his movements a little more erratic and she could tell, even though he wasn’t facing her, that he was choked up. That he was letting out something he’d bottled since coming home. 

“And all the things I had to do over there...it was war, I know, and they were orders, and I did them so I could come home, but...that doesn’t matter to those soldiers from Sixam who were just defending their homes. That’s all they were doing, kiddo. If they were monsters, if I could even say why we were there in the first place...it might be easier to swallow, you know? But sometimes I just look at you and I wonder if they didn’t have someone like you waiting for them at home, too. And whose monster does that make me?” 

Robyn felt tears sting at her eyes. She had no idea that Johnny had gone through something like that. She’d known he had seen action, had figured he’d probably had to fire his gun, but his thoughts on the matter, the reality of the matter were deeper than she imagined. Or had even tried to. 

“Johnny,” she called from the doorway and she saw his back straighten a little. He cleared his throat and then looked over his shoulder at her, realizing she’d probably heard the gist of it. She gave him, a quick wan, smile but it didn’t hold. “I’ll make us some tea,” she said quietly, begging in her voice and her eyes for him to just come downstairs so they could talk. 

For a split second, she didn’t think he was going to say anything, or might even yell, but after a moment, he nodded at her. “Okay,” he said quietly back to her. “Let me just put her to bed.” 

Gen One, Week Five Recap

Weekly Overview (x)

The war has lasting consequences, both psychologically for Johnny and dangerously malicious for their family. As Robyn prepares for her wedding, the unthinkable happens and the young couple will do anything to protect their daughter. 

Daily Overview

Day Twenty-Nine (x) - Johnny struggles post-war & Robyn gets him help.

Day Thirty (x) - A year later, Johnny proposes to Robyn.

Day Thirty-One (x) - Random event roll & wedding planning.

Day Thirty-Two (x) - Career choices.

Day Thirty-Three (x) - Random event roll applied & Eris goes missing.

Day Thirty-Four (x) - Doing what it takes to bring Eris home.

Gen One, Day Thirty-Two

The school had made some changes to their policies after the war had ended and an upswing of bullying and violence against the people of Sixam seemed to run rampant. They didn’t host many students who were from off planet, but there were a few and they’d been just as displaced as one would imagine during the war. It made it a difficult learning environment and even some of the staff had made their biases known. 

Robyn hadn’t held those same views, nor did she judge anyone based on their origin. While some biases were natural to have and she had to admit that some days she could feel herself getting caught up in fear and a rampant imagination that one of the students would do something at the school, she had to actively fight against those thoughts and impulses. Had to remind herself to be vigilant, but not be judgmental and understand that not every person from Sixam was a for the war or even a part of the region caught up in the fighting. 

It took work and some days she had been disappointed in herself. Disappointed that she’d even entertain those thoughts, but she’d remind herself that thoughts and actions weren’t the same. That thoughts and opinions could change and it was what you did with them that really mattered. That when she had to break up a fight between one of her star students and a kid whose parents were from Sixam, but he’d grown up here his entire life, she used it as a learning opportunity for everyone involved. 

It had her delving into topics of racism, discrimination and personal biases more than she ever had before. Watching documentaries, reading articles and signing up for a committee set up by the school board to be aware of such things and what they could do to make sure their schools were safe for all of their students.

Skill Up: Research & Debate Level 3

Gen One, Day Thirty-One

Eris was developing a strong personality of her own. Testing boundaries in the way that children often did. Testing Mommy and Daddy’s patience and what she could get away with either one of them. They tried to present a united front, but it was difficult at times, providing they both worked opposite shifts as each other. 

The toddler often found herself at odds with Rosie. Especially when Johnny took Rosie for walks without her. Rosie had a tendency to enjoy getting into Eris’s snacks when left unattended as well, which didn’t add much but strife to their relationship, especially when it was peanut butter crackers, a sacred food to Eris. 

It lead to more than one encounter between the two and even if Eris couldn’t form complex full sentences yet, she sure knew how to scold Rosie in what sounded like a mature voice, giving her a piece of her mind in mumbled words and made up contexts. Rosie seemed unimpressed with Eris at most.