When he thinks about the future, actually pauses and hopes and dreams and thinks, after this, after Max, when everything is done and I'm free, he goes home to Jess and Jilly, and he turns the guestroom into his own Batcave, and he barbecues on the weekend and he picks up Jilly from school, and he mows the grass for Jess.
And, best of all, besides watching and mocking TV with Jess next to him and Jilly curled up in his arms, the brightest of all stars, is coaching the Petunias.
When he's their coach, they'll kick everyone's ass. It'll be such a better ending than he's ever hoped for. Better than anything he dreamed in his childhood, cowering with Jess beneath her bed, waiting for the monster to fall asleep down the hall. Better than in highschool, when he was too smart and too damned cocky, angry and bitter. Better than in basic, or when he got pulled aside for black-ops.
Better than anything he's ever thought about, ever even in his most hopeful moments imagined could happen.
And after this thing with Max, he'll go home to Jess and Jilly, and maybe Cougar will come with him. Cougar would love Jilly, and she'd adore him just as much as Jake does.
It'll happen. Him and Cougar and Jess and Jilly, his family. Together, with barbecues and soccer. Soon, after this thing with Max, it'll happen.
tomorrow, after the war - PG, gennish (implied pre-Cougar/Jensen), implied child abuse
And, best of all, besides watching and mocking TV with Jess next to him and Jilly curled up in his arms, the brightest of all stars, is coaching the Petunias.
When he's their coach, they'll kick everyone's ass. It'll be such a better ending than he's ever hoped for. Better than anything he dreamed in his childhood, cowering with Jess beneath her bed, waiting for the monster to fall asleep down the hall. Better than in highschool, when he was too smart and too damned cocky, angry and bitter. Better than in basic, or when he got pulled aside for black-ops.
Better than anything he's ever thought about, ever even in his most hopeful moments imagined could happen.
And after this thing with Max, he'll go home to Jess and Jilly, and maybe Cougar will come with him. Cougar would love Jilly, and she'd adore him just as much as Jake does.
It'll happen. Him and Cougar and Jess and Jilly, his family. Together, with barbecues and soccer. Soon, after this thing with Max, it'll happen.
Really, it will.