They were called in the next day to the police station. "We reviewed your evidence." The secretary from yesterday told Red. "And we arrested her immediately. She's responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Thomas Zacherson Gaylen. The parents are devastated. You... Don't have to prove anything to me."

Red shook his head. "No. I want the world to know who I am. I'm taking that DNA test."

"Are you sure?" She asked, sounding uneasy.

"Positive." He said. "Can you take my blood at the station?"

"I... Can arrange something. Be at the station in one hour."

"Understood." Red said. He hung up the phone and turned to Barney, who was patiently waiting on the couch.

"We're going back to the police station." Red announced. Barney nodded. He loaded them into the car and started driving. Red states out the shotgun window the whole time. Part of him was anxious to reveal who he was. He knew the danger. He knew there would be a lot of questions that people would be asking. Questions that he didn't want to answer. Questions he didn't know the answer to. But he wanted them to know. He hated all the lies. Red was done with running. He was ready to live his life out in the open. Ready to stop being afraid and finally be proud of who he was. He wanted to be proud of himself. Be the kind of person Barney was happy to say "that's my boyfriend."

The secretary from yesterday didn't look as skeptical to welcome them in as she had yesterday. She stood up. It was like she was really looking at Red for the first time. Her eyes were full of wonder.

"Are you really Red Vacktor?" She whispered. It was so quiet that Red almost didn't hear it. But he just smiled.

"I did say I'd prove it to you, didn't I?" He rolled up his sleeves. "I'm going to keep my promise."

She led Red into the back room. He winced at the sight of the needle. Barney grabbed Red's hand.

"I won't let them do anything you don't want." Barney whispered. Red nodded. He was still nervous, but Barney being there made him feel better.

He whined when they stuck it in. Barney let Red squeeze the life out of his hand. "It's okay." He assured Red. "They're almost done." Red hissed through his teeth when they pulled it out. Barney stroked Red's hair.

"You were so good." He whispered. "You're getting better at this."

"I still hate needles." Red said.

Barney chuckled. "Me too."

The police and the secretary came in. "Alright. We sent the blood samples off." She said. "Do you want to meet your aunt now?"

Red looked up at her. He seemed shocked at her proposal. Seeing one of his relatives for the first time. The first... And the last. He should take the opportunity before he misses it. He knew that. But he hesitated. Was he really ready for that?

"Do you want me to come with you?" Barney asked Red quietly. This was it. He nodded.

"Yeah." Red finally decided. "I want to see her."

"Follow me." The secretary said. They did. Past a few holding cells. The criminals glared at them as they passed. Each one looked different. Some were big, burly men that looked like bikers. Others looked like they could have been grandmas. Another was just a teenager. Practically a child. Red averted his eyes.

They were lead to a dimly lit room. A single bulb hung over Heather. She was looking down at her wrists, which were handcuffed and lying on her lap. Her hair was hanging in her face. It was bleach blonde, but now that Red was up close he could see that her roots were grey. One of the officers pulled a pair of chairs out for them. Barney and Red sat down on the opposite side of the table. That's when she looked up at them.

She chuckled. Dark, low, and humorless. "It's you." She growled. "What? Have you come to rub this in my face? That you won? That you took everything from me?"

Red was silent. She smirked at him through the messy curtain of frazzled hair. "Well. You won. Are you happy? Do you feel like you're finally free?"

He still didn't respond. Her grin grew wider. Her eyes more wild. "Fine! You're free! Your freedom came at the cost of mine! Are you proud of yourself?!"

Red felt tears in his eyes. Guilt he had never felt before was creeping up on him. A set of thin hands shot out to grab at the front of Red's shirt. She pulled him forward. Their faces were inches apart. The police ran forward and grabbed her. Barney grabbed Red. They began trying to wrestle them apart. But Heather was strong. She was so much stronger.

"IT'S YOUR FAULT!" She screamed. "YOU KILLED YOUR MOTHER! SHE NEVER RECOVERED FROM HAVING A FREAK LIKE YOU!"

Red was shocked. He couldn't cry. He couldn't speak or breathe. All he could do was melt into Heather's grasp and listen to her words. His mother was dead. Her sister was grieving her loss. And Red was the only one left.

"IT'S JUST ME!" Heather yelled. "YOU TOOK BOTH OF MY CHILDREN FROM ME! MY SISTER! YOU'RE A MURDERER! YET EVERYONE THINKS THAT YOU'RE THE SAINT!"

She wrenched herself out of the police's grasp. But they grabbed onto her again. She struggled against them. She wouldn't let Red go. Barney was yelling now. He wasn't saying anything. But he was yelling at Heather. The secretary backed up against the wall.

"I HOPE YOU DIE!" Heather shouted. "I HOPE YOU GO TO HELL! KARMA'S GOING TO COME COLLECT YOUR DEBT!"

"I'm sorry." Red said quietly.

"WHAT?!" Heather shrieked.

"I'm sorry." Red repeated. "I... I lost my family too."

"NO YOU DIDN'T!" She shouted, slamming Red down against the cold metal table. "YOU DIDN'T LOVE THEM!"

"No. You're right." Red admitted. "I didn't love them."

He turned his head to look up at Heather. They locked eyes. "But they were my family. And I lost them. They're dead. I'll never see them again. Just like Navaeh."

"DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT MY DAUGHTER!" She slammed Red into the table again.

"I'm sorry." He sobbed. "Navaeh lost everyone. Her mother. Her father. Now you. And she's going to end up like me. All alone. No family."

Barney stopped screaming. He stopped to listen to Red.

"And I'm very sorry." Red said. "I pity you. You've lost everything too. Even your freedom. You've made some bad choices, and done bad things, but you deserve to be loved. Everyone deserves to be loved."

Heather growled.

"I have Barney now." Red continued. "I love him so much. He loved me when no one else would. He care for me and educated me. He believed in me. But who's going to love you? Who will believe in you?"

Heather was crying. Furious tears. Tears of sorrow and fury. "I wish I hadn't taken your family from you." Red admitted. "I know how painful it is. And I want you to be loved."

"But you took someone from their family. You killed a child. For that, you don't deserve your freedom anymore. But... I hope... You will find love again."

Finally they managed to tear Heather away from Red. Red was just standing there in shock. Barney still holding onto him as they forced Heather out of the room. She was still kicking and screaming. Screaming profanities at Red and Barney. But she was gone.

The secretary stumbled forward. Red had forgotten that she was there. She looked like she was a second away from breaking down. She pulled Red into her arms. She didn't say anything. Just held onto Red and cried into his shoulder. But Red knew what she meant. What she wants to say. He wanted to tell her it was okay. That he was fine. But they all knew he wasn't. So he just hugged her back. Barney wrapped his arm around Red's shoulder and they all stood together and listened to the sound of Heather's shouting from down the hall.

===========================

Help. I'm so sad and bored. My family is killing me right now.
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-💕 Bubblegum 💕