"I'm really proud of you Trav," my mom ruffled my hair as we sat in the booth. "Straight A's? You're a genius."

I smiled and nodded. "Yup, wayyy smarter than Y/n."

My mom nodded and winked before picking up her menu. "You can get whatever you want."

I foot really excited and picked up my menu. "Really?" I hummed and lowered my menu. "You don't have to waste your money on me I'll be happy sharing."

She smiled sweetly at me and grabbed my hand. "Well I got a raise because I'm so hardworking and now I have enough money to get you your own meal," she nodded towards the menu. "Now pig out."

I clapped and opened the small menu. Okay, what we got here? Ohhhh hamburger and chicken tenders, no way tacos? "Mom, I can get my own tacos?"

"If that's what you want." She smiled sweetly at me.

"Alright guys," the pretty lady, named Samantha, walked up with a notepad. "We ready to order?"

"Tacos!" I yelled and they both chuckled.

"So he'll obviously be having the three tacos," Samantha smiled and wrote it down. "And you ma'am?"

"Since this is my first time eating here I'll get the tenders and fries."

Samantha nodded. "Can never go wrong with tenders and fries," she smiled and took our menus. "I'll get that right out to you."

I smiled at her. "Thank you."

She chuckled walking away. "So cute."

My eyes widened and I looked over at my mom. "She thinks I'm cute."

My mom nodded with a huge smile on her face. "I heard, but you shouldn't be happy about that."

"Why not," I frowned. "Do you think she was lying?"

"Gosh if you aren't a little Y/n," she chuckled. "Of course she wasn't lying your very handsome but, you have a girlfriend remember." I felt my cheeks get hot as I sipped my Sprite. "Righttt?"

"Mommmm," I covered my cheeks. "First."

"Oop."

"She's my wife, not my girlfriend and second you can't say that out loud, now Samantha knows I'm taken."

She laughed and raised her hands. "Well excuse me."

I smiled as we continued to joke around. I love it when's she's happy because then I'm happy. She hasn't been crying lately or quiet...she's been my mom, my best friend.

Samantha brought the food and my mom and I dug in. "So Trav," she took a sip of her water. "I have good news."

"More good news?"

She chuckled. "Yup, I've been saving up money, plus the money Y/n forced me to take, and I found this really nice apartment."

I frowned. I didn't know apartments were good news but I'll act excited anyway.

"Oh wowww really? That's g-great?"

She rolled her eyes. "We're going to move into those apartments."

My eyes widened and my heart skyrocketed. "Really!" Everyone looked at us and my mom shushed me while laughing. "Sorry," I whispered. "So we won't have to live with dad anymore?"

She shook her head. "No we won't, we can move in next week."

I clapped my hands and then frowned. "Since we're leaving now, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Well, why don't you like it when Y/n tries to give you money?"

My mom sighed. "Um, I just feel like my kids shouldn't have to take care of me."

"Well, that's dumb."

"Watch it boy."

"I'm sorry mom but, she's a billionaire why not let her take care of you? Plus you've been taking care of her since she was born, let her pay back her um...debt? Did I use that word right?"

"Yes baby you did."

"Well yeah, let her pay off her debt."

"I'll let her start helping when we move out."

I nodded and ate my last piece of taco. "Can you yell at Y/n by the way? She never bought me a Lamborghini."

My mom chuckled. "I'll give her a whooping."

I bit my lip. "Why don't you ever whoop me?"

"Because you're a good kid."

"Yeah but, I've done bad things before and you let me get away with it.

"I don't let you get away with anything, your just sensitive so all I have to do is raise my voice and you'll start crying."

"Nu-uh."

"Yeahhh, and I would never hit you because that wouldn't be right or fair."

"Because of dad?"

"Exactly, I shouldn't hit you to discipline you when he hits the both of us for nothing."

I nodded and stared at her as her eyes got sad. I knew that look and I don't want her to become depressed again because I asked a dumb question. So I picked up one of my mom's fries and smiled. "Mom say ahhh, here comes the train, choo choo."

My mom laughed and bit the fry. "Mmm taste like tacos."

"Your welcome."

-

We pulled up to the house and I got butterflies in my stomach as I spotted my dad's car.

He's back? He went missing for a month and now he's back?

"Okay baby, how about I take you to your sister's house early?" She went to start the car back up and I grabbed her hand.

"Please don't."

"Trav-"

"Mommy please don't make me leave you here alone."

She stared at me for a while and the sighed. "Travis you go straight to your room and lock the door, you run up there do you hear me?"

I nodded feeling my heart race. "Yes ma'am."

She sighed and kissed my forehead before we both climbed out of the car. We walked in hand and hand then she unlocked the door causing me to bolt into the house. I made it past the dining room and then fell onto my butt as I ran into my dad. He grabbed my arm and snatched me up causing me to whine in pain.

He slapped me causing me to fall back to the floor. "Shut up."

My mom ran up and pushed my dad away before bending down and grabbing my face. "I told you to take out your anger on me," she glared up at him. "Leave our son out of it."

He snarled and clenched his fists. "Dammit! Can't you tell I've been trying to do better and love you?!"

My mom and I stood. "Go to your room Travis."

"Don't fucking move." He growled making me cower in fear. "My fucking mom told me not to marry into...your kind." He glared at my mom.

"M-my kind?" My mom walked up to him. "Don't you dare-"

He slapped her and then grabbed her throat, pushing her up against the wall.

My breathing got heavier and I got angry. I'm sitting here doing nothing while he's hurting my mom, my mom that's been protecting me all my life.

I stood up and jumped onto my dad's back. I wrapped my arms around his neck causing him to drop my mom and stumble back.

"Travis!" He grabbed my arms and flipped me over him causing me to land on my arm.

I felt a sharp pain and screamed. My vision became blurred with tears as I watched my mom walk up behind him and wack him in the back of the head with a vase nearby.

He collapsed to the ground and my mom rushed up to me. She gently grabbed my arm causing me to hiss in pain.

"I'm so sorry baby," a tear rolled down her cheek as she kissed my cheek. "I'm sorry, come on we have to get you to the hospital."

I sniffed and stood with my mom. We looked down at my dad and my mom picked me up making our way towards the door.

"Okay, everything will be okay." She smiled down at me. "Stop crying everything will be-"

Next thing you know I was on the ground as my dad pulled my mom back. She screamed and I sat there stuck as something wet ran down the side of my face. My dad started to punch my mom in the face repeatedly.

"You're trying to leave me? You found an apartment and your trying to leave me? You're not going any fucking where!" He started to choke her. "Your my coo- your mine and you don't leave your master unless given permission."

I frowned and stood up slowly. This is okay, this happens a lot...he'll stop eventually. He always stops.

My mom started to claw at his skin as he continued to call her mean names, names we learned in history...I didn't like them.

I didn't like him.

I ran up and swung my fist as hard as I could hitting the side of his head. He let go of my mom and fell to the side. My mom coughed and I picked up a piece of the broken vase before walking up to my dad.

I stood over him as he laughed. "You pack a strong punch son," he smirked. "That must be the nigger in your blood."

I raised the glass over my head and brung my hands down hard while closing my eyes. Before my hands met him, he punched me in the stomach causing me to fall down. He grabbed my broken arm causing me to scream and then he started hitting me everywhere. The face, the side, the stomach...everywhere.

I felt my head get dizzy as his punches got harder. My eyes closed as the pain took over my body.

Am I dying?

Is this what my mom feels every time she takes a hit for me?

Well if I am dying, at least I died for her.

Wait.

I opened my eyes as I realized the punches stopped but, what I saw was worse.

He was stomping on her face. She wasn't moving and I knew I had to do something quick. I tried to jump up but my vision was blurry.

I think I was standing, I tried to walk towards them but...was I even moving?

I held my hand out and felt a shock go through my hand. I looked down to see a chunk of glass sticking out of it.

Looking back up I saw my dad gone.

Was someone calling my name?

"Trav...T-Trav come here."

Mom?

I shook my head and...I wish I hadn't. My vision cleared and I saw her...my mom was laying on the ground, her hand outstretched to me and her face was...unrecognizable.

There was a pool of blood surrounding her as I crawled over and grabbed her hand with my bloody one.

"Mommy?"

"I-I love you Travis and I-I need you to know that this isn't your fault," she coughed as I shook my head.

"No stop mommy you're okay."

She smiled and gripped my hand weakly. "You have to stay s-strong for me and your sister. You need to stay happy even when I'm gone okay?"

I shook my head. "Where are you going?"

"Away baby, and hopefully we won't see each other for a long time but, while your here you need to stay my happy, strong Travis, d-don't you lose that damn smile and you stay smart okay?" I nodded as she heaved and then coughed. "And tell your sister that I love her s-so much. Tell her this wasn't her fault either and tell her to stay happy. Make sure she doesn't go crazy a-and make sure you tell her I said she better take care of her family and her soon to be family and most importantly, tell her to take care of you. And l-let her know that I'm proud of her and everything she's doing, make sure she doesn't give up and quit just because I'm gone."

I laid my head on her chest listening to her heartbeat, hoping it didn't stop.

"I-I love..." She let out a sigh and I clenched my eyes shut.

I waited for her to finish my sentence but it was silent.

I frowned.

It was silent...I pressed my ear harder into her chest trying to hear something, but I heard nothing.

I sat up and looked down at her. Her eyes were closed but, she had a slight smile on her face.

"M-mommy?" She didn't reply. "Mommy I-if you don't wake up I'll start being bad and then you'll have to whoop me," I sniffed and shook her shoulder. "Mommy please?" I gasped.

I know how to wake her up. She always said...says? That when I cry her heartbreaks. Maybe I'm crying too much and her heart broke a lot.

I wiped my cheeks and smiled. "Look mommy I'm happy," I chuckled. "You can wake up now your heart should be fixed."

But she didn't move.

I heard a knock at the door but I didn't look away from my mom.

"Wait I know," a tear rolled down my cheek again. "We left our dessert in the car, maybe food will make you happy because it makes me happy," I smiled and stood up. "Let me go grab it."

I stood up running to the door feeling better now that I knew how to wake my mom up. I pulled the door open and frowned when I saw five officers and a bunch of cop cars. Lights were flashing and one of the officers crouched down.

"Hey son, why don't you come outside with me huh?"

The four other cops ran inside and I nodded up at him. "Yeah, let me just get my mom." I turned and sprinted back into the house ignoring the calls of the officers.

"Mommy cops are-" I stopped when I saw two cops crouched over her. "Leave her alone, she's heartbroken and only I can fix it."

Someone placed their hand on my shoulder and I turned around seeing a man with different clothes smiling down at me. "How about we leave?"

I shook my head and shook his arm off of my shoulder. "No, I'm not leaving her."

His smile dropped and he got on his knees. "Look, I know you don't want to leave her side but, you have to."

"Why?"

"Because we need to look after you and make sure you're better."

"My mommy always makes sure I'm better first so I want her to be first this time."

"Daniel we don't have time for this, you know who did this and he doesn't want attention on his house anymore. Get the kid out of here so we can take Eddie to jail."

The nice man scoffed. "We're just going to release him the next day."

The mean man looked down at me and rolled his eyes. "Because he's powerful so get the damn kid out- no what? I got him."

I backed away as he walked up to me. "Sir please don't-"

"Can it," he grabbed my good arm. "Come on kid."

"No!" I snatched my arm away and before I knew it I was in the air.

His arms were wrapped around my waist as he carried me out of the house...away from my mom.

"No, let me go please!" I yelled as the tears started to fall again.

I yelled and kicked trying to get out of his arms and back to my mom. I can't leave her, I'm the only one that can wake her up.

"Pleaseeeee!"

I was outside now and that caused my crying and screaming to get more aggressive.

"Trav!"

Quincy?

The mean man put me down as someone else touched me. I turned around and came face to face with Quincy.

"Hey," He whispered. "What-"

I shook his head and threw myself into his arms as I cried.

It's Quincy, I'm safe now.

He rubbed my back and I gripped him tighter.

I'm safe but...

Mommy?

I felt Quincy pull me away slightly and he looked down at me as I let out another sob. He shook his head.

"Sir, can we check on the kid?" I heard from behind me

Quincy frowned at the man in different clothes and leaned back all the way looking down at me with sadness in his eyes.

What was wrong?

He nodded and cupped my cheeks. "Hey Trav."

No.

"Let them help-"

"No! They have to help my mommy I'm okay."

He shook his head. "Travis you have to let them help you."

I shook my head as tears continued to roll down my cheeks. "But mommy-"

"No stop," He rested his forehead on mine. "You need to be okay alright? I'll call Y/n and she'll be here in no time."

I glanced at the plan with different clothes. "What about my mommy?"

"You just get better okay? Everything will be fine."

Okay, I trust Quincy.

I nodded and grabbed the outstretched man's hand. "Call my sister please, I need her bad."

She's the one that has to protect me. I need my sister and I really need her to hug me.

"Hey kid I'm sorry about that officer."

I looked up and realized that it was the nice man. "I don't like him, he took me away from my mommy."

"That so-called father took you away from your mom." He tried to whisper to himself.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing kid, don't worry." I nodded as we made it to the back of a big truck. "I'll lift you up now, ready?"

I nodded as he lifted me up and sat me on a bed. He smiled softly and wiped my cheeks. "Okay kid let me check you out."

I zoned out and looked at the front door of my...old home? Maybe someone else can wake her up? I sighed and shook my head.

Mommy called you smart for a reason Travis, nobody can wake her up...she'll sleep forever now.

I bit my lip trying to stop the tears.

"It's okay to cry," the nice man said. "Crying makes you strong."

I nodded slowly as he grabbed a mask. "Are you feeling pain?"

I nodded. "In my heart."

He frowned. "Pain anywhere else?"

I looked down and nodded looking back up at him. "My arm, and face, and hand, and stomach- um everywhere really."

The nice man smiled softly. "Well can I put this mask on you in order to stop you from feeling some of that pain?"

I quickly nodded. "Please?"

He put the mask over my face and laid me back. "You're going to feel sleepy, don't fight it." I nodded. "How old are you?"

"Eight."

"Wow you're old." I smiled behind the mask. "I guess you can count to eight then?" I nodded. "Prove it." He smiled down at me.

Here we go, time to show him how smart I am.

"One, two, three..." my eyes started to become heavy. "Three, four...um five, seven..."

I closed my eyes as my body started to relax.

"Ten."

Then everything went black.

-