Chapter Text
The Monarch household was bustling with energy that morning, it was almost mocking how normal it was. Nothing had changed for the family, their lives went on.
Eret had gotten up earlier than anyone, she often did it to open the restaurant for the breakfast clients and make their fresh pastries. Sam had never realized just how early she did it though, not until it was seven am and she was already out the door. Foolish was getting some stuff ready in the other room, and that left Sam eating his breakfast in the company of the Monarch children. In a way, it made it feel at home.
There was something nostalgic in the way Roier pressed his little sister on so she would eat her toast quickly and get ready so they wouldn't miss the bus. The teenager looked both amused and exasperated as Leo kept pilling different toppings on top of her poor piece of toast, drowning it in honey, butter, jelly of two different flavors, and pieces of banana. Sam didnt say anything as the siblings bickered, a small part of him unable to repress the jealousy the scene caused. It was hidden, in a deep part of his heart, but it existed there with a fury Sam was tired of feeling.
It was all supposed to end today, Sam was terrified his hope was in vain.
By the time Foolish sat at the table the kids had to run to get dressed so they wouldn't miss the bus (again). Foolish laughed softly at his children's panic, and Sam hated himself for the muddy, angry feeling that that created in his gut. It was very similar to the jealousy he felt at seeing Roier interact with his sister so happily, so freely, but it was deeper than that.
He remembered eating breakfast with Tommy, but doing it in a rush always because their father was sure to find a reason to get angry every time
he saw them in the kitchen. And having to rush out of the house in the morning, not because he would miss the bus, but because he had to leave Tommy at daycare before going to work, very early so he would have fewer chances to be alone with his father.
That last one, every time Sam thought about all the effort he'd made to keep his parents away from Tommy, that was what he felt the most guilt over. Because he had done all of that and still dared hope everything would be fine when he left for college. Anything and everything that his little brother had gone through afterward had been his fault, and it terrified him.
Not because he thought it wasn't the truth, Sam knew it was, he knew he was guilty for his baby brother's suffering, but the idea of the others thinking the same. Of Tommy being found and still being taken away from him... It was a painful thought, so of course Sam focused on it, feeling the darkness in his chest grow.
"Earth to Sam, you there buddy?" Foolish was looking at him concerned, he tried to smile but it came out like a poor crooked attempt at a jack o' lantern impression.
"Yeah sorry, just nervous about today." Foolish looked at him with understanding, a soft but bright smile appearing on the older's face. It reassured him somewhat,
there was something about Foolish that was oddly calming, which would have been unthinkable a few months ago. Back when Foolish and Eret were just his bosses he came back to with his tail between his legs begging for his job back so he could pay for a lawyer. He was half expecting them to quick him to the curb (It hadn't been that long since he quit after all, a meager four months), but they didnt. Instead, they housed him, got him in contact with Quackity who was an amazing family lawyer willing to work pro Bono, and accompanied him in every part of the grueling process
that had been his life since returning to a Tommy-less home. Sam had also been horrified when they gave him a paycheck after his first week back at the restaurant, one with a substantial pay raise even though he was still in the same position as before, but when he tried to bring it up how they really didn't need to do that both Foolish and Eret had put that conversation down very hard, so Sam had given up.
Even now, the only reason Foolish wasn't at the restaurant working the opening shift with Eret was the fact that he had volunteered to drive Sam to the courthouse. Not lend him his car, but driving him so Sam could focus on what he had to say and would also have someone there for emotional support during the trial.
"That's okay, I know it's not easy. I left something for you in the room, by the way, I thought it might help you today." Once again there was a knowing look in Foolish's eyes, and Sam was very grateful for how smart the man was. He took the out and thanked him for the food before going to the room. He had to start getting ready soon anyway, it was going to be late otherwise and the courthouse was an hour away and-
Before Sam could complete that train of thought, he was staring at his bed. Or, more exactly the suit draped over it was kept in a plastic bag to avoid dust.
Foolish had lent him a bunch of his old suits for meeting with lawyers before, giant things that made Sam look like a child playing dress up that he had been very grateful for, but he knew this was different.
It was a beautiful thing, the pants and jacket were a beautiful dark green, with a cream shirt and a black tie. Very elegant too, professional. It was the kind of suit his father would wear back in the day. Back when he still believed himself to be important and had the job to prove it, back when he was still trying to keep the appearances.
As he took it out of the bag, careful to not create any wrinkles in the carefully ironed material, he knew by touching it that this was not a suit he wanted to get any dirt on. He was careful putting it on, and though he had a feeling beforehand, Sam was still out of breath at the realization that it fit him perfectly.
He returned to the kitchen, clothes feeling heavy on him as he stood next to the table, too afraid that sitting would ruin the fine material. Foolish appeared again soon after, himself wearing a dark grey suit. Sam didnt know what to say at the proud look on the man's face.
"Foolish I can't accept this, I mean I already owe you guys so much money with rent and food and-"
"Oh hush, you dont owe us anything Sam, we wouldn't dare charge you for any of this." Foolish gave him a reassuring pat on the back, his bright smile appearing once more. "And this is a gift, take it as a late Christmas gift if you want but it's yours. Thank Leo later too, she is the one who went through your closet to find out your sizes."
Sam was speechless, almost. "But why? You guys, im so grateful I really am, but why do all of this for me, I mean I was basically just a guy who worked for you, this is-" Sam thought his words for a moment, but in the end, he really had no better way to express what he was thinking. A few tears escaped his eyes, and he could do nothing to stop them. "This is too much, you dont need to do so much for someone like me."
Foolish was still smiling, but there was something sour on his expression now. There was grief in those eyes, and for a second Foolish appeared twenty years older than he was. Foolish gave a look at the clock and sat back on the table, now clear from breakfast. He motioned for Sam to take the seat next to him and he couldnt help but comply.
Foolish took a deep breath, the calmness was back as he spoke. "Roier is not technically my son you know? I mean he is now, that's the place he chose to have in my life, but once upon a time he knew how to be my baby brother." There was a fondness in Foolish's eyes, Sam was speechless. "I was the oldest, twenty, and living out of state, getting closer to getting my degree and starting my life with Eret. Puffy, my little sister, was fifteen, and Roier was just a few months old when their car got hit by a drunk driver going against traffic. Puffy and Roier were in the backseat, it was a miracle but both of them were relatively okay.
Our parents were dead on impact, and the paramedics could do nothing. I got a call from the hospital at two am, three states away, telling me that both my parents were gone, and that I was the closest living relative my siblings had so they would be placed under my care, that they would be placed in emergency foster care until I was able to pick them up, or I rescinded my rights as their designated guardian."
Tears were threatening to fall out of Foolish's eyes, and his voice broke at some points. It was subtle, but Sam could tell it was a painful subject for the man, so he said nothing. "The original plan was for me to take a week to turn the office in our apartment into a bedroom, organize the funeral, and then I would come back to Texas to pick them up and see what I did with the diner and the house. That was the plan and then my mom's horrible mother decided that I wasn't fit as a guardian and that she would sue the state for the rights to my siblings.
My mother hated that woman, had been disowned by her, and kicked out at eighteen too. I had never met her, neither had Puffy and Roier was too young, but she still tried it. The trial lasted two months, during which Puffy and Roier had to remain in foster care. Even after we got reunited, she would make recurrent anonymous calls to CPS, or the police. Say things like that I was leaving Roier alone, going to parties, drinking, substances, you name it. The first few times were terrifying, after a while the police knew to ignore any claims about my apartment and threatened her with arrest if she kept making nuisance calls.
It came to a head when Roier was I think three? She found out where he went to kindergarten and tried to kidnap him during a field trip. We were lucky a stranger saw her stalking the children and noticed her grabbing him cause otherwise we might have lost him. She did jail time for a bit after that I think? It was a long time ago and we finally got a restraining order so she never bothered us again. Do you know why Im telling you this Sam?"
Sam looked at Foolish, at the man who had taken him in without a thought, who was only a decade older than him and seemed to have everything figured out. Someone he was intimidated by and admired all the same, who Sam knew deep down he would always be able to trust. Foolish still had that soft easy smile on his face, and Sam noted how honest it was.
"I tell you this Sam because I was like you. I was young and terrified, and the only reason I didn't crumble was the fact that I had friends and Eret, but you were alone when you came back looking for a job desperately. And I know exactly where I would be now if I hadn't had the support system I did, that's why we are so willing to help you, because I know the hole you are inside of like it were my own and I am ready to throw you a rope and ladder."
"I- I don't know what to say."
Foolish stood up, laughter bubbling in his chest as he walked to the front door. "You don't need to say anything, for now, we should really get going so just relax and remember everything will be okay buddy."
And for a moment, Sam believed him.
Sam knew his parents weren't in prison, that they had managed to stay out until the trial by paying a hefty bail. He knew that going to the courthouse would mean seeing them again for the first time since he had returned to the haunted house that had never really been his home. This knowledge did not make it any easier when he entered the cold building, Foolish right behind him, only to find his parents and their lawyer standing in the middle of the hallway, talking in hushed voices.
In the almost three months since he had seen his parents, Sam had managed to forget how similar he and his father were. It had been three months since he last saw his parents, but even longer since his father's green eyes weren't clouded in hate.
Thinking back, Sam was sure his father had never looked at him with anything other than displeasure.
People filled in onto the courtroom, Foolish sat down right behind where Sam needed to be with his lawyer, giving him a thumbs up. From across the small walkway were they were sitting Sam’s fathe gave him a nasty look he was trying hard to ignore.
He dissociated through most of the opening statements, focusing on controlling his breathing as to avoid a panic attack. He drank a sip of water, it was cold, and so was the glass, time seemed to be happening fast as they both presented evidence.
The world was ringing in his ears as the defendants called him to the stand.
"You swear to say the truth, only the truth and nothing but the truth?"
"I swear".
Sam’s ears were still ringing as his father was dragged away, his mom walking calmly behind him. The verdict still feeling unreal as Foolish hugged him.
Sam couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak, couldn’t process it as Quackity accompanied to a separate room, one with a table in the middle where his mom was handcuffed.
It was such a strange sight, his mother looking as prim and proper as always but incredibly exhausted. And yet she was smiling slightly, if Sam had to guess, he’d say she was at peace.
He sat down slowly, Quackity did the same on the chair next to him. The silence was screaming and the tension was palpable. His mother sighed before she finally spoke, looking Sam in the eyes.
“Samuel, I’m not going to sit here now and pretend I regret everything. I regret having you, staying with you father, I regret Tommy, but I can’t regret much else.” There was a pit on Sam’s stomach, a stone that grew with every word the woman that called herself his mother spoke.
Sam knew he hadn’t been wanted or loved as a child, but the flat out declaration still made him want to vomit. Still, his mother took a big breath and continued. Her words unknowingly marking the fate of two families.
”Your father wanted to just leave Tommy outside or something, it was my idea to take him far away, where we wouldn’t be tracked down but also where he would have a chance. I’m not going to pretend I’m a good person Samuel, much less a good mother, but I made sure we left Tommy somewhere safe.”
His mother didnt speak further, but she did slide a Manila folder over to Sam. He opened it slowly, afraid of what he would find. His mom was still smiling softly at him as the folder slid from his hands, surprised by the contents.
It started normally enough, it contained Tommy’s birth certificate, his vaccine charts, a transcript from day care. And then the keys to one of his fathers newer cars, along side papers and-
“The-the house” Sam didn’t know what to say as he stared into the deed in his hands. The deed that had his name written on it.
”They were just going to take it away after all this, might as well go to you. Do watch ever you want with it, consider it an apology. Keep going.”
Sam didn’t spoke as he carefully moved the thick paper out of the way, finding what he was looking for. There, at the bottom of the folder, was a small torn out piece of paper containing an address.
He now knew were to look, and Sam wouldn’t stop until Tommy was with him again.