Chapter Text
Beth has noticed a few different things in her father and son’s relationship. At first, she was relieved, he was more careful, asked if he could take her son away, and seemed overall more loving and caring.
It's true that part of her wished he could have done that for her too, it's hard to watch Rick cook Morty breakfast from across the table. Of course she was happy her dad was being kind and affectionate… maybe a bit too affectionate?
She shook her head no, she was simply being jealous, and what a terrible thing to feel about your own son! She had moved past that need to prove herself worthy of her father’s attention and love... right?
Mostly yes, but still, there was a part of her that found herself as that six-year-old asking her mom why her dad wasn't coming back and if she had done something wrong. It was something she had spent most of her life wishing for, even if she worked on herself for a few years, what is that compared to 30? It was not impossible, simply difficult.
So she ignored the glances, the side conversations, the knowing looks of a joke she was not a part of. She pretended she could not see the blush on their cheeks as their hands brushed against each other. 'Inconsequential' she reminded herself, what could possibly come from the hugs and late nights they shared?
A mixture of instincts and subconscious observations lit up in her brain as she watched them come back from an adventure. The big smiles, the hand over his shoulder and she was sure for a second that her son raised his hand as if he was going to hold Rick’s. But he didn't so she went back to her book.
'They are happy' her thoughts spat those words as if it was poison. Was she really hating their bond over her dreams of being in a happy father-daughter relationship? Is that how low she would go to get what she wants?
'Cut-throat-Beth' is who she was, she never paid any care or pity to whoever stood in her way. She controlled every situation and took over the part of a leader. Until her dad came back, suddenly her tired head felt she could rest, retire from the position she was instilled into at such a young age, and finally be taken care of.
Except she was not, he did not find himself with warm milk for her sleepless nights, even if he would comfort Morty to no end and carry him to bed. He did not kiss her cuts, no matter how deep they went, but he had gentle hands for the smallest bruises her son might find himself with.
She must be going crazy, surely her mind has to be playing tricks on her, after all, the more she entertained this search, the more she found their relationship to be similar to a romantic one. But how could that be?
They fought, of course they did, everyone argues sometimes, no matter what type of relationship they are in. Their fight moved across the different rooms in the house. She was unsure where it started, though her thoughts pointed to her son’s bedroom. All she knew for a fact was that they now stood in the living room.
Arms raised and hateful glares, still there was something she was missing. Pauses in their dialogue. Sometimes they would look at her before going silent, practically screaming that whatever they wanted to say couldn't be said around her. It made her anxious.
But then it stopped, not with a conclusion but with a look. Rick’s face softened as he wrapped his arms around himself, he took a step back and muttered words Beth had never heard come out of his mouth.
“I’m sorry” An apology, as genuine as one can get. If she wasn't in complete shock she might have even noticed the tears threatening to form in his eyes.
“Rick…” Morty’s tone was gentle and Beth wondered why she had never heard him call Rick ‘grandpa’ like Summer did.
"I love you" The way her father said that make her stomach turn, there was nothing wrong with a grandfather saying he loves his grandson. But that didn't sound like a storge kind of love.
"I love you too" Same tone as Rick, maybe she was in the wrong here, if they both said it like that then surely they must mean it as a family... right?
They left her alone with her thoughts, which soon turned into actions on a late autumn night. She might have noticed the leafs changing color or how the temperature was perfect if she wasn't staring daggers at the garage door, waiting for it to open so she could get her suspicions out of her head. 'I'm not crazy' she repeated, over and over again, until they arrived.
"Oh Beth, sorry didn't expect you to be awake sweetie" His smile was awkward, his shirt was backward, and even in the low light, she could see his cheeks red.
"Well... I should get going, you know, I have school tomorrow" Her son leaned in, his face getting closer to Rick’s, but quickly took a step back and that was enough to push Beth's words from the back of her throat and out of her mouth.
"What is going on between you two?" Her anger was palpable, yet she hugged herself, trying to occupy the least amount of space possible, trying to be proven wrong.
"What do you mean mom?" She noticed the nervousness in his voice, even if she didn't have to as he rubbed his hands together in the same way he had always done whenever he was anxious.
"Don't play dumb, I know" She eyed her dad, yet he did not move, his hands were in his pockets and he watched the situation with apparent indifference.
If you had asked Morty he would point out the very small details which show just how worried he was. But his mother could not read Rick as well as he could, so her confidence started to slowly dissipate. 'What if I'm wrong? What if my envy turned me into... whatever this is?' her eyes widen, even if just for a second, at the sudden realization that if there was something going on her son could be in danger. Yet she confronted him right by his alleged abuser, not only that but her tone had nothing but anger in it.
She softens her voice and posture, pulling her son aside, who nervously eyed back to his grandpa. Rick frowns, he knew he shouldn't be aggressive right now, however, the idea of anyone, even his own daughter, keeping him away from his boyfriend gave him this murder rage. It wasn't unlike him to pull out a gun towards anyone who touched Morty, he had destroyed planets for a look some alien gave his boyfriend, why wouldn't he kill someone for putting their hands on him?
"Morty... you can tell me what is happening, no one will blame you or be mad at you. You are safe with me I promise" She went for a hug but he stepped back.
"Mom, there is nothing going on, and if you don't mind I rather have Rick here with me" His eyes were focused on the entry to the kitchen, almost as if he could see his grandpa through the walls.
"If he's hurting you-"
"I'm not doing anything to him" Her father cut her off abruptly, she saw the wrath in his eyes "And if you don't mind Beth, take a step back, you are making him uncomfortable"
She scoffed, if she was right then she was NOT the one making him uncomfortable. But then why did he run towards Rick's side? Why did he grab onto his arm? Why did he thank him? There was something wrong happening, she just didn't realize how deep it went.
"You are in love with him, aren't you?"
Her father, so confident, so tall, a dictator of the universe looked away. In shame, in guilt, in a futile attempt to calm the knots twisting in his stomach. He didn't mean to fall in love, he tried so hard to stay away, but he failed. However, as he felt his boyfriend hold his hand, it didn't feel like that much of a failure.
"Yes" Morty said, standing his ground, shoulders up and a glare that made it very clear: this is happening and there is nothing you can do about it.
"Son... his love is... destructive" Out of the corner of her eye she saw her father opening his mouth but he closed it without any protest "You don't want this, you think you do but when you actually see him for who he is. Its nothing but disappointing"
"No. I know you wanted someone he's not, but I know who he is, THAT is who I feel in love with. Not some image I created of him"
"He will hurt you-"
"Shoot me then" Rick finally spoke, he took a gun from one of his lab coat's many pockets and handed it to her "If you ever even think I am hurting him, shoot"
They stared at each other for a moment, she saw the way his lips started to tremble even if his eyes never left hers. He was serious. Morty looked back and forth, ready to jump in front of his boyfriend if his mom decided to actually murder him. The atmosphere grew heavier by the second.
"If you don't think it's loaded, take a shot at something" He waved his hands, another gesture to appear indifferent, in spite of that his hand held on to Morty's and he stood in front of him, making sure that bullet would hit it's target.
"How do I know you didn't mess with his mind?" She didn't cock the weapon but didn't lower it either.
"You think I drugged him into loving me? How desperate do you think I am? I can get any alien, or human, I want. I don't need to groom my own grandson into being in a relationship with me"
"I want to believe in you"
"It was my idea" Morty was tired of being left out of this conversation as if he was too stupid to know the consequences of his actions "I told him I wanted to date him, he didn't even agree at first, in fact, he made it very clear how wrong this was. I know it's weird, on an ethical and maybe even biological level, but I love him"
"If he was grooming you, you would think it was your idea..."
"Oh, so him rejecting me was him grooming me? When he pushed me away, trying to make me stop loving him like that, was him grooming me? Or maybe when I caught him crying in the garage telling me he's sorry for whatever he did that caused this, that was him grooming me?"
Beth was shocked, she didn't expect her dad to deny himself anything that he wanted, let alone for something as 'earthly' as morals.
"I would never hurt him" He looked tired... small "Keep the gun. Because if I do hurt him and you don't kill me, I will"
"Are you happy? Is he taking good care of you?"
"Yes, I promise mom, Rick has been nothing but good to me" His smile was so sweet and genuine. Beth wondered when was the last time she saw him smiling like that before Rick showed up, she couldn't remember.
"I will... accept this, with time. Don't do anything around the house, we will see about talking with Summer and Jerry" She took a step towards her dad, ready to hand him back the weapon he gave her, before stopping "I will keep this, if even a hair on his head is out of place I WILL kill you, and I will make it slow and painful"
"Please do"
She expected sarcasm, an explanation on how she could never take him down, anything but a beg to keep Morty safe. Some of her jealousy crept up, as she knew he would never do the same for her. Still, she felt a little better knowing she had a gun, in a shoe box, directly underneath her side of the bed.
Now whenever she noticed the glances, the whisperers, and the chairs getting closer, she reminded herself of that gun. She hoped she never had to wield it, but she would not hesitate to do so if needed.