Title: End of the World
Fandom: due South
Characters: Ray Kowalski, Ray Vecchio, Benton Fraser.
Rating: G
Length: 300 words
Content notes: character death
Author notes: Triple Drabble
Summary: Growing up.


When Stan was five he was going to be a hero. He knew he couldn’t be an astronaut or doctor. He wasn’t smart. But he might be a cowboy. Cowboys were cool. They rode horses and wore big hats. His Dad would like it if he was a cowboy. He’d say ‘look, that’s my son. He’s a cowboy.’

Stan became Ray, and his father wasn’t proud. He was scared. First time Ray was shot on the job, he nearly died. His father came to the hospital, didn’t say much. Stood there shaking, like it was the end of the world.
~*~

When Raimondo was five he was going to be the man of the house. He’d get rich, look after Ma and the kids. He’d buy them nice things. He’d have a nice car. He’d take them on holiday to Italy.

Pa would be proud of him. He’d stop drinking and shouting and hitting and making Ma cry.

When Ray was twenty-nine his father wrapped a car around a tree. Ray hated him and was glad. He took Ma to identify the body. She turned her head onto Ray’s shoulder; shook and sobbed like it was the end of the world.
~*~

When Benton was five he was going to be an explorer. He’d go to the North Pole, find lost ice caves and make his parents proud. He’d take his mother south to a big city like Toronto. They’d hear a symphony together, and it wouldn’t be scratchy and skippy like on the LP. And then he’d go even further south; sail down the Amazon and save all the trees.

But when Benton was six, there was a knock on the door. His mother answered, then a bang, a firework smell; the end of the world and blood on the snow.