RECAP: Corrie was preparing to leave rehab when he was attacked and choked by Manuel, a kid from his group therapy. Corrie was thankfully saved and lived. He was sent to a hospital to recover from his injuries.

There are no words to express how thankful Corrie is. How thankful that he didn't die. How thankful he is that Bradley and Devon showed up at the hospital he was taken to for the recovery.

When Devon saw him lying on the hospital bed, he broke down in tears. He'd never sobbed so hard. This is the second time that Devon would see him in a hospital after almost dying. Once was a lot. Twice broke him.

Bradley, on the other hand, nearly killed the hospital staff. He was so fucking mad that this could happen. He was raging. How could Corrie almost die in the place where he was supposed to be safest? Bradley was going to fucking sue them.

Corrie's father showed the most affection Corrie had received in years. His father touched his shoulder and told him he was glad that his only child didn't die. Then he added that it would be a pain in the ass to press charges for murder. Corrie took it. Sure, it was a jackass thing to say, but you take what you can get.

Now, he's in a wheelchair getting wheeled to his father's car. Much to Corrie's surprise, it is actually his father driving the car. Ophelia is sitting in the passenger's seat, her baby bump nice and clear.

His father helps Corrie into the backseat of the car. Corrie barley holds back a scream the whole time. Breathing hurts like a bitch with a broken rib, but moving is like jumping into a pit of lava filled with sharks. Not. Fucking. Fun.

And unfortunately for him, hard painkillers are off the table altogether. There wasn't even a discussion about it. He flat out told them he couldn't take them, he'd overdose the first time he'd open them.

"You good?" Corrie's father asks from the driver's seat. Ophelia is humming along to a whatever is playing on the radio. Corrie tries to focus in on it to distract his pain.

"Uh--" the car runs over a speed bump, "fuck! Jesus fucking Christ I'm dying. It hurts so bad, Dad. So. Fucking. Bad."

Corrie's father apologizes, for the first time in Corrie's entire life. Corrie tries not to be shocked, but this is the same man who kicked his own son out for telling the truth about his fiance.

"How far along are you again, Ophelia?" Corrie asks, trying to make small talk. He needs a distraction, like, big time.

"I'm eight months along," Ophelia responds in a cheery tone. "It's a girl!"

Corrie's smile comes out more like a grimace and Corrie has never been so thankful that they couldn't see his face. "Have you picked out a name for her?"

"We haven't been able to decide yet," Ophelia pats Corrie's father's shoulder. "But, we do have the nursery set up."

"That's great," Corrie tries to stay interested in the conversation. "Where is it in the house?"

"It's on the third floor with the master," Corrie's father responds frankly. "We thought it would be best."

"You're right," Corrie finds himself agreeing with his father. He can't be a recovering alcoholic and living on such an unpredictable schedule that is a baby.

The rest of the car ride is spent in a comfortable silence. Corrie tries to rest as much as he can. He can't fall asleep, not sitting up at least. He does allow himself to space out.

"We're home," Ophelia announces to the car. They've pulled into Corrie's driveway. He realizes that he hasn't been to this place in maybe a year. He almost forgot what it looked like. It's fucking massive. A lot larger than Corrie remembered.

Ophelia goes inside the house and pushes out a wheelchair. Corrie's father opens the car door and helps Corrie out of the car.

Corrie does actually screech in agonizing pain. It's searing pain, makes him see white pain, makes sob pain.

Corrie's father is rubbing his back the whole time, trying to help him through the pain. Corrie wishes it could work that way.

"We've redone your bedroom on the first floor," Ophelia says as the three of them enter the house. "We made sure to restock your games and such. The bathroom also has a tub."

"T-thanks," Corrie winces in pain. He just wants to lay down and try to sleep.

"Do you want to go to your bedroom or stay in the living room. We've hired a full-time nurse for you, so either way, you'll be fine," Ophelia mentions as they stop in the foyer.

"I'd like for him to stay in the living room," Corrie's father speaks up. "It'll be easier for us to hear him if something is wrong."

Corrie's eyebrows furrow in confusion. Why the hell is his father acting so protective now? He doesn't have the energy to argue, though. He just nods his head, letting Ophelia push him to the living room.

He looks longingly at the couch. The nurse is sitting there with a smile on her face. She's an elderly woman with graying hair and a nice smile.

"You must be Corrie," she smiles at him. "I'm Lisa. I'll be your nurse for the following weeks."

"Hi, Lisa. I want to apologize ahead of time for the extreme amount of cursing you'll hear from me. Also, my poor attitude." Corrie grimaces when he turns his body the wrong way. Fuck.

"That's fine Corrie. Let's get you to the couch. You're probably exhausted."

Lisa and Corrie's father work together to ease Corrie out of his wheelchair and onto the couch. It's fucking brutal, but it's better than one person. He sinks into the couch and almost moans at how good it feels.

He already feels himself dozing off into sleep.

•••

When Corrie wakes up, he notices his father looking at him.

"Uh, hi?" Corrie whispers, voice hoarse. He feels so overwhelmed by being home, nearly being killed. You know, day to day stuff.

"How are you doing?" His father asks with a small smile.

Corrie shifts and groans. "Is it time for another dose?"

"Lisa is getting it right now."

The room is filled with an awkward silence. Corrie figures his father has something to get off his chest otherwise he wouldn't just be sitting here.

Corrie can't take it anymore. "Is something wrong?"

"I..." his father looks conflicted. "I want to apologize."

Corrie nearly sits up, screaming in pain when he remembers he can't. "W-what?"

"I've made so many mistakes, Corrie. I take full responsibility for that. I've done so much to you that I shouldn't have. I've blamed you for shit that was never your fault. Like, your mother leaving and all my failed relationships. I wasn't there for you when you needed me to be. I...failed you."

Corrie can't help the tears that slip down his cheeks. He doesn't move to wipe them off his face. He doesn't know the words to say.

"But, when they called me and told me what happened, I realized that I would never forgive myself if you died. After your overdose, I didn't take it seriously. Maybe it's because I've overdosed too, I don't know. I didn't want to get involved in your recovery because I thought it was best for both of us. I didn't want to disappoint you again."

"Da-Dad," Corrie chokes on his words. "I-I--"

"I'm so, so sorry Corrie. You have no idea how sorry I am for all the years of neglect. And I know no amounts of apologies will make up for everything I've done, but it's a start."

There's a moment of silence. Corrie is still at a loss for words. He never, ever imagined this day would actually happen. He's spent countless hours thinking about if he and his father could ever make up. He's spent years agonizing over everything.

He could be stubborn. He could make his father beg for forgiveness. He could hate his father forever. But, all that waiting is so useless. He's wasted his so much time being a stubborn ass.

"Dad," Corrie's voice comes out more like a croak. "I forgive you. I...I want you to be there for me. I want you to hug me and tell me you're proud of me. I want you to tell me you love me. I want to be there as you guys raise this child. I don't want to miss anymore of my life. I was so mad at you. I hated you for kicking me out. I hated you so much. But, all that hate was a cover for the fact that I wanted you to be my father."

"I would hug you so hard if your ribs weren't broken," his father laughs. "And I am proud of you Corrie. You're so strong. And I do love you. I love you so much."

__________

☒ - unedited

Questions of the chapter: Corrie's forgiveness of his father may seem rushed, but Corrie didn't want to live his life without any parents. Now, Corrie and Devon will need to talk about their problems. How will that go?

Please tell me if you see any mistakes, I'm the queen of typos.

How are you guys?

Life update:
- ignoring real world problems to writer:/ need to work on that
- i thought today was wednesday so my whole week went out of wack lol
- next update: next week:)

Notes:
- thank you for anyone who votes on this story, comments, shared it, reads it, adds it to a reading list, etc. you guys are angels.
- email: [email protected]
- if you need to get in contact with me for any reason, please, please write on my message board first.

Thank you.

— dreamfloats