Title: Black Sheep
Characters: Pete & Cady Townshend
Word Count: 1,184
Rating: PG-13, language
Warnings/Spoilers/Summary: Cady comes to a realization during a visit with her family in 1969

Author's note: This IS canon with the epic.


Sitting in the busy, almost overcrowded room, Cady could only wish she was thousands of miles away. While she had certainly gotten used to being with crowds, around crowds, in crowds as Pete’s career grew, this was a crowd of a different beast. It was the crowd whom she did not belong.

It was her family.

It mattered little that her husband made as much money yearly as they did. It mattered little that her husband actually loved her. It mattered little she always wore the most fashionable attire, even when heavy with child. It mattered little the entire reason she was at that particular family function was to introduce her and Pete’s child to her family. They cared not for her, cared not for her child.

She was just a black sheep better left ignored. She never should have come back, tried to make amends, believe things were different. She had never fit in and nothing had changed. Nothing ever would.

Getting up from her seat in the corner of the busy room, baby in her arms, Cady slipped out of the room. They could not see her cry. They could never see her cry. But she did not believe if she had even cried in front of them, they would see it. They were just too different. She was a big black sheep in the midst of perfect little white ones.

She was getting out.

Without even pausing to inform her family’s servants, who had always given her more consideration than her own flesh and blood and even seemed to take pride in her child, Cady headed directly to the front door. There was no luggage to collect, as she had never intended to stay with her baby overnight, but rather to return home to New York before dusk. The diaper bag left in a downstairs bathroom could remain, she cared little. No one would like notice it anyways. She had to get out.

She could have ‘borrowed’ a car from her family or perhaps even asked someone else to drive her away. But no, she would not give into that thought. It seemed wrong to ask them to aid in her flight from them. And she had not the patience to call for a cab. Therefore Cady set out to town by foot. It was some distance away, but the April weather was pleasant. She and the baby would be outside the Kersey realm of influence before long. And she would never, ever return.

Reaching the first outcropping of non-mansion residences, Cady ducked into the first gas station. The attendant recognized her as they attended high school before, but as she had as few friends then as now, their conversation was clipped and contained only to necessity. With a cab called, she debated about calling Pete to inform him she would be on the train back to New York much sooner than anticipated, but he was likely not at home but working on final release preparations for the rock opera. Deciding it would do no harm to call him anyways, Cady quickly dialed the number to the apartment.

Two rings later, Pete answered, “Hello?”

“Oh god, Pete,” Cady muttered, her bottom lip trembling.

“Baby, what is it? Are you okay? Is the baby okay?”

“We’re… we’re waiting for a cab to take us to the train station. We’ll be back in New York in three hours or less. Actually less. I’m just going to pay the fucking cab to drive us all the way. I don’t… I don’t belong here, Pete. I thought maybe this time would be different. But it’s not. I belong with you. Always with you. This is not my world,” she quickly answered.

“Take a breath, Cady. Unfortunately some things never change. But fortunately some things never change as well. Like I love you. That will never change. I will be here when you get home. I promise.”

“I will see you soon.”

By the time she and the baby were settled in the back of the cab, the tears could no longer be contained. She attempted to exorcise all her negative thoughts and feelings, letting the tears drip and her breath to catch in sobs, before the baby needed to nurse. It would do no good to pass her negativity to the young child. But soon the baby began to fuss and Cady did not yet feel free of her dark thoughts and feelings. She could not starve her child even for a few minutes to calm herself.

Yet as the baby latched onto her breast, Cady felt her negativity disappear. Her baby was the future, her future. And her husband was a very big part of that as well. It was time to move on, to put her past behind, to forget about trying to please a family that would never be pleased. It was time to let go and celebrate the fact she was a part of something better, bigger.

Arriving at the apartment, she quickly paid the expensive far and scrambled out with the baby sleeping in her arms. Her elbow hit the buzzer on the apartment before she shifted her child to pull her keys free. By the time they were inside the building, Pete had taken the elevator down and rushed over to them. His hand gently touched the baby’s head before he leaned in and kissed Cady sweetly.

“I missed you,” he muttered. “Both of you.”

“Oh, Pete, never again. Don’t make me do that ever again,” she muttered softly.

He kissed her again, “Let’s go upstairs so you can lay the baby down and you can tell me all about it.”

With the baby sleeping soundly in the cradle not much later, Pete’s arms slipped around Cady and he pulled her into his lap on the couch. Within moments she was crying once more. No words were exchanged, Pete knowingly well enough to just let her cry it out. Her body shook with sobs, eventually racking her body so much she could hardly breathe. His arms tightened about her and his lips touched her temple. Slowly her sobs dissipated.

“Take a deep breath, baby,” he instructed gently.

Her chest shook as she followed his directions twice. Her red and swollen eyes went to his briefly before she pressed her cheek to his shoulder. Her fingers found his, weaving between his fingers. Pete responded by squeezing her hand lightly.

“I am… I am not like them. I will never be like them. I am the black sheep,” she declared.

“I am sorry you had to face that alone. You never should have. I should have dropped everything to come with you. I apologize, my love,” he stated evenly. “I am also sorry that nothing has changed. Did they not even care about the baby?”

She shook her head, “Not at all.”

He sighed, “Their loss. Very much their loss. You are amazing and so much better than them. I love you.”

“But Pete, if I don’t belong with my family, where do I belong?”

“Right here with this family. Always.”