● RUN ●

chapter 1

"Veronica, you're an idiot," Westen bent down to Dion's level and wiped away his tears. "At this point, I don't even give a shit that he beats you. That's your own goddamn choice. But the fact you let him beat your son is something I can't forgive. He's coming to live with me now." Westen didn't plan on getting so serious at his nephew's party, but the fact that Veronica thinks her actions are justified really pissed him off. "I'm calling CPS after the party. Enjoy the time I'm giving you."

Dion's heart raced when his uncle said those words that he had been longing for, 'He's coming to live with me now,' they were more beautiful than he'd imagined. Veronica, on the other hand, didn't know what to be more surprised at. Sure, Westen gave her tough love but never said he didn't care what happened to her. Veronica pushed Westen and slapped his cheek, "You're not taking my son!" She shouted, but she was more mad about what he said about her. Westen didn't move or react to her while Dion's jaw dropped. His mother never physically hit Westen, sure they screamed at each other, but neither of them had ever touched one another with bad intention. That was Joseph and Veronica's thing.

"What the hell is going on out here?" Jospeh yelled as he stumbled into the backyard. Dion began to shake in fear, his right hand wrapped around Westen's leg, and the other was clenched so hard that his knuckles were turning white. Westen didn't fear Jospeh in the slightest. He didn't believe that that scum of the Earth was any stronger than the worm he truly was. Westen glared at the drunken fool. If Dion wasn't present, he'd knock Jospeh to next week- but his nephew has seen enough violence for his lifetime. "Well, is someone going to tell me what's going-" Jospeh was interrupted by a belch erupting from his lips,"on?!" He finished angrily looking over at Veronica.

"Don't matter what happened because nothin' is happening,' Veronica sneered to her brother and went to hold onto Jospeh's arm, trying to pull him back into the house. Her attempt was useless.

"Go back to fucking school Veronica, maybe if you didn't drop out in tenth grade you'd see how stupid you're priorities are." Westen couldn't help but take that dig at his sister. She was honestly the most stupid person Westen had ever came across and it was his unfortunate pleasure that she was born in the same blood line.

"Don't talk that way about my wife!" Joseph's slurred threats were accompanied with a oh so threatening grip on Westen's white shirt.

Westen took a step closer to Jospeh and Dion immediately let go of his uncles leg. He stepped back, and his back brushed against the fence wall. He didn't want his uncle to go to the low level of his father. He thought too much of Uncle Westen to see him fight - even if it was for Dion.

"Who's going to stop me? A pussy who calls himself a man? Ain't a man if you beat on a child. Maybe if you stopped torturing your liver you could see what a disappointment you are," Westen spat at Joseph. Dion's mouth gaped, Veronica's eyes got wide, and Joseph's face turned red. Joseph's fist raised to threaten Westen again, "Do it you little bitch!" Joseph's fist shook and he sucked in his lip, "Whats the matter? Only get off beating woman and children?" Westen said getting into his face again.

Joseph pushed back Westen and let go of his shirt,"You ain't worth my time." Joseph stumbled back into the house and proceeded to go out the front door. Jospeh wouldn't ever admit it but he feared Westen's calm and cold demeanor. Jospeh knew he could over power Veronica but could he really take on a strong and determined young man like his brother in law? He wasn't confident enough to try and lose the ego he got from holding control over his wife and son. Veronica chased after him but by the time she got to the front door he had already started his truck and was pulling out.

"I'm sorry Dion." Westen said softly as he watched his sister through the glass door. "I didn't mean to get in a fight like this... will you forgive me?" Westen spoke so softly to Dion. They could both feel tears prickiling their eyes and their throats getting hot.

Dion looked up to his uncle, Westen's expression was pained as he watched his sister cry into the dining table. Dion wrapped his arms around Westens' waist. He was forgiven.

"Is that what you want, Dion? Do you want to live with me?" Westen asked with a gentle hand on the small boys head softly, rubbing his shaved head.

"Yes." Dion's voice was very soft yet screamed with emotion. His smile was bigger than the moon, and Westen's heart swelled.

'It's not too late to give him a good life,' Westen reassured himself.

-

Things calmed down just before Dion's guest began to arrive. Veronica redid her makeup, finished setting up the decorations, and set out the snacks. Westen and Dion caught up, Dion told him all about the planets he learned about in his third grade class. Westen, of course, new it all but still listen intently to what Dion had to say about them. He thought it was funny that he loved Neptune the most.

"Neptune was-was discovered in 1846!" Dion told his uncle as they sat on the couch. "And - and Neptune! It doesn't go around the Earth, wait no- I mean the sun, for like one hundred sixty-four YEARS!"

"Whoa, no way, little dude!" Westen said, now actually impressed with his knowledge of Neptune. Then Wes got him started on the stars, and you'd best believe this boy could tell you every fact possible about them. So many nights, Dion and Beso snuck out to the backyard to try to escape the closed off hell that was taking place in the four walls of his house. He saw so much beauty in the stars and often wished he could travel up to them to finally be safe.

Dion thought to himself as he continued with his uncle that maybe... just maybe this would work out for the best. That  he wouldn't even need a rocketship to finally be free of his parents.