Title: And Then There Were Two
Author: TWBasketcase
Summary: The Epilogue…takes place after the story ends and I decided to do Bender's POV.
A/N: Well the road ends here. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has read this story especially Moonjava, KushelKitten, Ailcia, DarkoBender, JBFan, Real Drama Queen817, Billy Crazy, Bravewolf, Lazaefair, Tracebo, Two Bit's Twobit, Katydid7186, Hannah, Jessesgirl29, PoohIsMyHomie, Lusmeitli, and Lady Bern too…you were all very faithful readers and reviewers to this story and for that I thank you. So here is an epilogue after all, just for you guys. I did have a few people request a sequel…we'll just have to see about that, for now I'm not too sure. I start college again this September, so I'm trying to get my butt in gear lol. So here it is I hope you all enjoy and please feel free to drop me a line (for the last time…aw that's so sad!). Thanks all – Kristen

Epilogue – 24 Months Later

The Chicago streets have changed a hell of a lot in the last two years or so; and just standing out here day after day in the sun lets me see that. It seems that there are so many cracked sidewalks and roads, busted stop signs, and flattened traffic poles that the god damn city can't even keep up with it. No matter how much god damn concrete I pour and pave they just get more and more fucked up. All the blisters and cuts aren't worth the god damned pay that's for sure.

But the pay is something that I need so no matter how much I do complain I do depend on it. I wouldn't have a place to live or food to eat if I didn't have it. I mean where the hell else am I gonna go? Can't go stay with the old man in the slammer, can I? Not that I would wanna see that scum bag anyways after what he did to my ma.

Every time I think about her it brings me back to that day; so much shit happened that day – exactly two years ago to this day – it changed my life forever…and in more ways than one. Bad things happened that day; stuff that haunts me and that will haunt me for the rest of my life.

He was screaming on the floor in pain, and my Mother leaned down and grabbed my face, "Johnny, run okay? I want you to get up and go outside and go as far as you can, alright? I'll protect ya this time…just go…"

Her voice and her eyes…the way she just looked ready to take on anything. It was the first time my Ma really stepped in to protect me – her son – but it was also the last. I don't know exactly what went on in my bedroom that day after I had finally gotten up the stairs and outta that hell house but I would rather have it that way; I don't think I wanna know exactly what happened. Hell it coulda been an accident just like my old man said it was, it's totally possible. A fall, or a push, or a pull – whatever it was – down the concrete stairs had taken my mom from me that day. She tried to keep him away, and she paid the ultimate sacrifice. It sure as hell gave my old man a reality check though…of course he is sitting in a concrete cell for the next twenty years so I don't really blame him for finally waking up.

I found everything out that night; I had returned home to caution tape and cruisers. Of course I didn't cry over it…I couldn't. As morbid as it sounds, it didn't surprise me. And because of me bein' a legal adult at eighteen and all they couldn't call Children's Services, I just had to find a place to go. Once the investigations were over I got all my stuff and I turned my back on that house forever…and I haven't been back since. I hopped around a lot; I spent most of my time with Ally and the rest with some old buddies like Jackie, Jimbo, and Dooly.

My old friends stayed the same; Jackie was still one hell of a drinker and a party girl but she got herself a good job in a garage fixing cars. She may be a small chick but she sure as hell knows her stuff when it comes to classic cars. She is actually dating Dooly now…the one who threw all the killer parties in high school. Tattooed, short, but real tough Dooly fell for Jackie; it was kinda funny because they got together after having a chugging contest at his parents' place – the last time he had a party before they finally kicked him out – and they left together. It's been that way ever since. I guess I am happy for them even if they are just a pair of drunken idiots…in a nice way of course…if that's possible.

My best buddy big Jimbo is the exact same as he always was; a huge, pot smoking, funny, couch surfing, cool guy. He still lives in his parent's basement and actually works with me, so I do tend to see him on a regular basis.

"Hey Johnny! Get your damn head outta the clouds, kid…we got work to do!" I turned to face my boss, Mark.

"Sorry…just getting a little impatient is all."

He smirked and threw me a water bottle, "It's pretty damn hot out here…if we didn't have so much freakin' work to do I'd send ya all home."

I nodded my head and stuck my shovel in the wheelbarrow; back to paving the damn roads again. I sighed and dumped the hot tar out onto the pavement. It must be turning spring earlier, either that or the sun and tar just don't mix at all. I looked up at Jimbo who was about fifteen feet behind me; he gave me a smirk and stuck his thumb to his nose like a goof. I chuckled and went back to working.

I guess that's the good thing about having a friend around here and there; it makes the shitty situations a lot better. I mean if it wasn't for certain friends I had I probably woulda killed myself or something. After the whole deal with the hospital and my parents I kinda hit an all time low. I started drinking a lot and smokin' lots of dope; my few closest friends pulled me outta that slump and I'm so grateful for it…or else I wouldn't have what I have today.

But looking back on the bad stuff that did happen during my teenage years doesn't bother me much anymore; every little thing that happened help shape the man I became today. At twenty years old I've seen more things go down than most people do in a lifetime; but all of those things made me stronger no matter how low they were and how bad off I was. Those days are behind me now and at this point in my life the most important thing is my future; because – even though I thought I would never say this – my future is holding a lot.

"Hey Johnny man, daydreaming again?" I spun around as Jimbo was handing me a drink of water. I gave him a grin and took it gratefully. He cocked a brow, "What's up with you dude?"

I shrugged and looked up at the sky; it was starting to swirl over as the sun finally hid away behind the clouds…it reminded me a lot of that day in the park, "Just thinkin' is all."

He nodded his head and wiggled his eyebrows, "You wouldn't be thinking about…"

I cut him off by holding up my hand, "Stop…I wasn't thinking anything like that," He snorted, "Just distracted that's all."

"What's up?"

I shoved my shovel back in the wheelbarrow and wiped the sweat off my forehead with my sleeve, "…never mind, you don't wanna know."

He let out a hearty laugh and rubbed his bald head, "And you say you aren't thinking perverted shit," He let out another laugh as he shook his head, "Damn dude I know you too well."

I shook my head and got back to work; but it was only a few minutes until the rain began to pour down and our supervisor told us to pack everything up. Upon gathering my things and tying a bandana around my head, I waved good bye to my co-workers and made my way home. I had moved to Chicago after I landed this job just over a year ago; and from our site today I only had a ten block walk home. So I threw my back pack over my shoulder and started on my way.

The rain was cold and sharp tonight but it felt damn good; I don't know when it started but in the past couple of months I have really grown to the rain…kinda like I prefer it over sunny days. It kinda gives me this warm friendly feeling or something…I can't quite put my finger on it.

I shoved my hands in my pockets and started to whistle a tune; oddly enough the same tune I had whistled over two years ago while sitting in detention with The Breakfast Club. That seemed so long ago after everything that has happened since then and now. I still see Brian around a lot and talk to him quite often; I know that Allison had stayed friends with him throughout high school after I left. After my whole ordeal I just never brought myself to go back – which is why I'm working where I am – but Ally stayed and brought Brian around pretty often. He ended up getting this scholarship at Indiana University and he's been studying medicine. He's not that far away so I still see him every now and again and talk to him on the phone quite often.

As for the rest of the Breakfast Club; I heard Sporto got some fancy pants scholarship to some far away school. Believe it or not he actually told Ally that himself one day; she told me that she wished him luck and that was the end of it. She doesn't even remember where it was he went, which is fine with me. And Claire, well Claire works as a waitress here in Chicago. She works in some little diner that I usually go to while I'm on my break from work so I do see her often as well. We don't talk like old friends or anything but when I do go in for food communication is a little unavoidable. I have pretty well forgotten about any hard feelings I had against her, but all the same when I do speak with her its mainly small talk. She apparently is going to college somewhere – I can't remember – in Chicago so she is working as a waitress on the side.

I stopped in front of said diner and stood under the over hang to dry off a bit. I looked through the window and noticed that she was working and decided maybe a coffee wouldn't be such a bad idea. I blew some air into my hands and wrung out some of the water that was dripping off of my hair and then opened the door and approached the counter.

She gave me a small smile as I made my way in and I gave her a nod in return.

"You working?" She asked.

I shrugged, "Just getting off actually…figured I'd get a coffee for the way home."

She nodded her head and turned to make the coffee, "How have you been?"

"Fine."

"And Allison?"

I smirked, "She's fine I guess."

She brushed a strand of red hair behind her ear and nodded, "That's good. Do you remember that Dez guy from school?"

I rolled my eyes, "Of course."

She swallowed, "Well I heard that he is in jail."

I nodded slowly feeling a little uncomfortable, "Really?"

"Yeah…he used to come in here all the time with a friend of his…J.P. or something," I smiled at the thought of my old friend J.P., "That JP guy came in here yesterday and told me about it…I guess he had a string of things he was wanted for but they finally busted him."

"For what?"

She rolled her shoulders, "Sexual assault, break and entry…drugs I think."

I smiled satisfied, "Well it's about time."

She gave me a confused look, "What do you mean?"

I grabbed the coffee off of the counter and slapped down a dollar bill, "Never mind…let's just say that he got what was coming to him."

She gave me an uncertain nod, "Well good then…you take care John."

I nodded and turned to walk out of the diner feeling suddenly satisfied. I hadn't really seen or heard much of Dez for quite awhile now and that news kinda made me feel pretty happy…well maybe that is an understatement…it made me feel delighted! I never did regain my memory from that night I was found on the streets. But the more subtle hints that were dropped my way and the more rumors I heard going around the streets the more it became a little obvious that Dez was at fault. Come to think of it I haven't really had good memory since…always forgetting little things here and there, but the doctor had told me that severe concussions can often end up in some sorta brain damage or something. But either way I kinda put two and two together and it makes a lot of sense to me that it was Dez behind everything…he was always that way about getting revenge and what not; I'm just happy it was me he took his revenge out on rather than someone else in particular.

I walked past a dimly lit alley way where I saw a few homeless people sleeping; I vaguely remember an alley way having something to do with the beating I took. I can't remember what significance it had but just looking at this one brought a chill up my spine. It just makes me happy that those days for me are over and I don't have to worry about hood ex-friends jumping me and completely immobilizing me. I shook my head and continued on my journey home.

I took the steps up to my apartment in threes and put the key into the door; a few of my neighbors were standing in the lobby and I gave them a nod…and like usual they just ignored me. I was left unfazed and stepped into the elevator and waited to be brought up to the fourth floor.

Within seconds I was standing at my door and I quickly unlocked and opened it; the place was completely dark and looked like no one had been here for days. I quietly flicked the hall light on and shed out of my soaked jacket and shirt. It was damn good to be home.

The tiled hallway floor was oddly soft under my aching feet; I walked into my kitchen and took a look around…bills on the counter, sink clean, table cleared. I sighed and picked up the envelopes; phone bill, hydro bill, water bill…argh…I tossed them back to the counter and turned to the fridge. There was some fresh chicken wrapped up and waiting to be heated up…and it had my name written all over it. I grabbed the plate and unwrapped it and popped it into the microwave.

I stepped back out into the hallway and noticed a soft light lighting up the walls and floor of my living room. I approached quietly and when I got to the door way I smiled.

Sleeping silently on the small couch in front of the TV was Allison; her hair wrapped around the arm of the seat and she had her knees brought up to her midsection. She looked very peaceful; almost as if she fell asleep waiting for me to come home. I smiled again and approached her quietly.

I took a seat on the couch next to her and brushed her hair off of her forehead; it's gotten pretty long. She smiled happily and opened her eyes slowly, "Hey you."

"Hey yourself."

She yawned and stretched her arms over her head, "What time is it?"

I shrugged, "Its dark…I'm not too sure I just got in the door."

She chuckled and smiled, "I was waiting for you…I must have fallen asleep."

"Well I kinda took my time getting home anyways."

She frowned, "Thinking about today aren't you?"

I shrugged, "How could I not? It's been two years since everything happened…kinda just haunting me again I guess."

She grabbed a hold of my hand, "Are you okay?"

I nodded, "Yeah I'll be fine…I got more important things to think about anyways."

She gave me a small smile, "True…but that doesn't mean you have to push it all away you know."

I nodded, "Yeah I know…I just want to put everything behind me though; move on. It'll always be there with me but…just can't let it get me down."

She gazed at me with admiration and love in her eyes, "Okay I think I can handle that."

I smirked playfully at her, "Yeah I hope so…wouldn't wanna stress you out." She smiled in return as I lifted her shirt up slightly and placed my hand on a round protrusion; she looked absolutely radiant.

"He kicked today," She whispered softly; I smiled and looked down once again at her bare stomach.

"I'm getting fat," She pouted playfully.

I shook my head, "No…your not; you look great."

She smiled appreciatively and rubbed her own hands on her stomach. The microwave buzzer went off signaling that my food was ready; I gave her a small smile and walked into the kitchen thinking about our relationship and what was coming in less than five months from now. I wondered how much it would change everything…change her…change me. Was I ready for something this big? Was I too young for something like this? Would I turn out like my own dad? I shook the thoughts from my head and grabbed the plate from the microwave and returned to the living room with the food. Allison smiled at me sheepishly and I handed her the plate and smirked, "What?"

I shook my head, "You're always hungry."

She shot me a glare, "Well I can't help it."

I laughed, "Just save me some, okay?"

She snorted, "I'll try."

The two of us finished the plate quickly and then lay back together on the couch. We stayed in comfortable silence for quite a while until she spoke up again, "John?"

"Yeah?"

She turned over on her side so that she was facing me, "Are you scared?"

I furrowed my brows, "What do you mean?"

"We'll be okay, right?"

I swallowed and hesitated, "Yeah we'll be okay…I have my doubts about myself sometimes but I think we will be okay."

She frowned, "Don't doubt yourself…you'll be a great dad."

I smiled and snuck my arm around her waist, "I hope so."

She smiled and rested her head on my chest and traced light circles on my stomach with her finger. I rubbed my fingers through her hair and then brought my arm back down to her stomach and I felt a small bump. I smiled to myself; that kid is definitely going to be a Bender with all that kickin' that's for sure. I closed my eyes and settled tiredly into the couch.

"You'll do great…we'll be okay," Allison whispered, and that was the last thing I heard before I let the day's exhaustion come over me. We're gonna be okay.

The End