After saying their final goodbyes and leaving the Generitech offices, the Hales made their way back to the parking structure and loaded up into Mr. Hales truck to head home. It had been an extremely emotional day for the three of them, and they rode to the house mostly in silence, except for Mr. Hale’s stereo playing while they drove. Roni had opted to sit up in the front seat this time, rather than next to Joey. She knew that something was weighing on his mind, and since odds are that once they got home he’d be ambushed by their sisters, this would be the most solitude he’d have for a bit.
Her own anxiety was bubbling while she looked out the side of the passenger window. What could Joey have to tell her? Joey’s mood changed after he had talked to Tonya, so she knew there was some connection, but she just couldn’t piece it together.Roni knew it wasn’t good news, the fact that Joey had used her full name made it evident.
As the ride home continued, Roni’s thoughts drifted to the times, such as when his Grandfather Mason passed away. She frowned as she thought about it, remembering when they were 14, Joey’s face buried against her shoulder under their spot in the park. She had just held him there, rubbing her hand along his back while he sobbed. It was one of the few times Roni had seen Joey that distraught. Roni always knew Joey was close with his Grandfather. He was probably the glue that held him and Mr. Calhoun together, if she was being completely honest. Joey had always told stories of him and his father that either included or referenced his Grandfather. Baseball games, garden parties, RV trips to the Calhoun vineyards, all involved his Grandfather.
Roni smiled wistfully as she remembered a story where Mr. Calhoun and his grandfather snuck away with an 11 year old Joey when his mom wasn’t looking at the country club so Joey could go swimming in the pond. Unfortunately for the elder Calhoun men, Mrs. Calhoun had specifically picked out a designer suit for Joey, so when the three arrived back at the club with Joey soaking through the jacket, both Calhouns were chewed out while Joey and Johnny ran off to hide.
Her smile faded as she sighed. Joey and his father were so close once, and she could only think how things would have been different if Smallara and the discovery of Homo Parvus had never occurred.
The Hale residence came into view as they turned onto their block, its familiar comfort contrasting with the weight of the day’s events. Roni sighed in relief, looking forward to eventually getting a little time to relax later tonight. She glanced back at Joey through the rearview mirror. He stared blankly out the window, lost in thought. Her chest tightened. He was finally safe, part of a family that loved him—but something still weighed on him. While Roni knew that Joey said he would tell her, she couldn’t fully grasp what it could be about.
Mr. Hale was able to pick up that something was bothering Joey as well, though not to the extent that Roni could sense. After they pulled into the driveway and exited the vehicle, he looked over at his adoptive son. “Hey Joey, why don’t you just go inside and find somewhere to relax.” he started, giving him a warm smile, “Roni and I will grab your stuff and take it inside for you.”
Joey looks at him surprised, before nodding appreciatively. “Oh—uh, okay. Thank you, dad” Joey replied softly, before turning to head up the porch and inside.
Once he was out of earshot, Mr. Hale turned to Roni, who was struggling to pull a box from the back of the truck. With the truck’s lift, the effort was almost comical.
“So, what’s wrong, Roni?” her father asked as Roni set the box down at her feet and looked up at him surprised.
Caught off guard, she looked at her dad and forced a smile “What? Nothing’s wrong”
“Oh come on, I’m your dad, you think I can’t tell when something is bothering you?” he asked with a chuckle as he walked to the truck bed to get another box.
Sighing, Roni lightly kicked at the ground before crossing her arms. “It’s Joey. I thought he’d be happy and excited but…he just seems sad still…I mean, he said he wants this. I know it’s genuine, but…” she trailed off frustrated. “why can’t he let himself enjoy it?”
Mr. Hale had taken another box out of the truck bed and set it down. “Roni, you have to remember, the boy’s going through more than just needing a new home. His life as we know it is changing, forever. He knows that this is a happy thing to happen, but that doesn’t erase everything he’s been through, or everything he’s going to go through.”
“I know that, daddy,” murmured Roni as she traced some patterns in the ground with the toe of her shoe. “I just thought, you know, he’d be happier.”
“It will be. But, Veronica, you didn’t do this for one happy moment. You did this to give him a life. And you succeeded. He’ll show his appreciation when he’s ready.”
Roni was looking down at the ground, still a little disappointed, but she understood what her father meant. She had built the moment up in her head a bit too much, expecting Joey to just be happy as soon as the process was over, but she should have known better.
“You’re right, daddy.” she finally admitted quietly, “Still…something Tonya said ruined it for him. Probably took the wind out of the whole thing”
Mr. Hale let out a sigh, running a hand through his graying hair, before walking up to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. “Roni, that may be true, but you need to remember, the conversation they had, it was his idea,” he said gently with fatherly love, “He knew exactly what he wanted to talk to her about, and she told him exactly what he needed to hear. It might have been hard for him, but they were clearly honest words”
Roni looked up at her father, “I know but…”
“No ‘buts’ Roni. Joey’s a tough kid and whatever it was they talked about, it was something he needed to know” her father stated plainly, “I’m sure he’s going to tell you what’s on his mind, you just need to give him some time to do so, okay?”
Roni bit her lip. “I just… I don’t want him to feel like this forever.”
“He won’t.” her father assured her. “Roni, I know this isn’t easy to hear, but you need to give Joey time to process this on his own, like a person. Eventually, the time’s gonna come where his life…it won’t just be his. It’ll be yours too”
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with thought.
“You’re going to be his guardian,” Mr. Hale continued, his tone steady but kind. “His whole world. Your life will move forward—college, jobs, maybe even marriage someday. But his? His life becomes what you allow it to be. And that’s something he’ll have to work through in his own time”
Roni’s breath caught in her throat as the reality of their future was laid out for her.
“Give him space to breathe,” Mr. Hale said, his voice softening. “He’s safe, he’s loved, and he knows it. That’s what matters. Joey will come to you when he’s ready.”
Roni was quiet, her mind turning over his words. It wasn’t fair. Joey shouldn’t be limited just because of his size. But that was the reality. His life would inevitably mirror hers—college, marriage, or wherever her journey took her, he’d be there, along for the ride.
Her resolve firmed. If that was their reality, then she’d make sure Joey’s life was full of love, happiness, and the knowledge that he mattered, every step of the way.
With a silent nod, Roni leaned into her dad’s embrace and hugged him, the emotions and the life altering choice to save her best friend giving way to what exactly that would mean for him. “Daddy…” she whispered as he hugged her,”I..think I need some space too…”
He kissed the top of her head, holding her close. “Take it, sweetie. I’ve got this. Go inside, relax, and just be proud of what you’ve done for your new brother. And know that I’m proud of you for sticking up for what you believe in”
Releasing from the embrace, Roni nods before slowly heads inside the Hale residence, her mind racing as she finally got a chance to think about the role she would play in Joey’s life while her father gathered up the boxes to start taking them inside.
1) “Roni had opted to sit up in the front seat this time, rather than next to Joey. She knew that something was weighing on his mind, and since odds are that once they got home he’d be ambushed by their sisters, this would be the most solitude he’d have for a bit.” It’s little shit like that that make a good friend.
2) “When his Grandfather Mason passed away… When they were 14” so 2018? And is this Mason Calhoun?
3) “Joey and his father were so close once, and she could only think how things would have been different if Smallara and the discovery of Homo Parvus had never occurred.” there’d still be problems, some different, others similar.
4) “he looked over at his adoptive son” reading that made me smile.
5) ““Oh come on, I’m your dad, you think I can’t tell when something is bothering you?” I think that’s what she was hoping, yeah.
6) “why can’t he let himself enjoy it?” He’s just lost a family and has to deal with the deterioration of everything he knows. And that’s not including the detail she doesn’t know
7) “You did this to give him a life. And you succeeded. He’ll show his appreciation when he’s ready.” that’s some good fathering right there.
8) “something Tonya said ruined it for him. Probably took the wind out of the whole thing” true, but it’s also something he needed to hear and he’s promised to tell her. (literally the next line from Jef was my comment, lol)
9) “you need to give Joey time to process this on his own, like a person. Eventually, the time’s gonna come where his life…it won’t just be his. It’ll be yours too” that day’s a coming, sooner than they think.
10) “You’re going to be his guardian… His whole world. Your life will move forward—college, jobs, maybe even marriage someday. But his? His life becomes what you allow it to be. And that’s something he’ll have to work through in his own time” So much growth from Jeff since he first found out.
11) “If that was their reality, then she’d make sure Joey’s life was full of love, happiness, and the knowledge that he mattered, every step of the way” she’s not on my list but Roni’s definitely looking hopeful for the best guardian.
12) “I..think I need some space too…” That’s fair
13) “I’ve got this. Go inside, relax, and just be proud of what you’ve done for your new brother. And know that I’m proud of you for sticking up for what you believe in” Jeff wasn’t a bad dad by any means, but man he stepped up in this chapter.
1) “Roni had opted to sit up in the front seat this time, rather than next to Joey. She knew that something was weighing on his mind, and since odds are that once they got home he’d be ambushed by their sisters, this would be the most solitude he’d have for a bit.” It’s little shit like that that make a good friend.
agreed. knowing when to give someone space is a pretty good ability to have.
2) “When his Grandfather Mason passed away… When they were 14” so 2018? And is this Mason Calhoun?
correct
3) “Joey and his father were so close once, and she could only think how things would have been different if Smallara and the discovery of Homo Parvus had never occurred.” there’d still be problems, some different, others similar.
Probably, But I don’t think it’d be to the extent of what it is now. Like Joey’s opinions of littles and his father just differ to such an extreme that it made them just not want to be around each other.
4) “he looked over at his adoptive son” reading that made me smile.
lol i enjoyed writing it
5) ““Oh come on, I’m your dad, you think I can’t tell when something is bothering you?” I think that’s what she was hoping, yeah.
I feel like most teens that are close with their parents hope that haha
6) “why can’t he let himself enjoy it?” He’s just lost a family and has to deal with the deterioration of everything he knows. And that’s not including the detail she doesn’t know
yup. I get where she’s coming from, hoping this would be something that made him happy enough to forget about it, but sadly that’s not how life works. He does appreciate it though, him sayying it was what he wants when he signed the generitech papers was proof of it.
7) “You did this to give him a life. And you succeeded. He’ll show his appreciation when he’s ready.” that’s some good fathering right there.
Jeff’s a big family man and loves his daughters a lot. He’s like Greg in a lot of ways.
8) “something Tonya said ruined it for him. Probably took the wind out of the whole thing” true, but it’s also something he needed to hear and he’s promised to tell her. (literally the next line from Jef was my comment, lol)
lol Jeff’s got some wisdom.
9) “you need to give Joey time to process this on his own, like a person. Eventually, the time’s gonna come where his life…it won’t just be his. It’ll be yours too” that day’s a coming, sooner than they think.
i can confirm it’s close.
10) “You’re going to be his guardian… His whole world. Your life will move forward—college, jobs, maybe even marriage someday. But his? His life becomes what you allow it to be. And that’s something he’ll have to work through in his own time” So much growth from Jeff since he first found out.
I’m excited to do the seperate chapters of him visiting his sisters. He’s been so bitter about everything that happened that it really closed his mind off to what Littles could actually be like. He and Kat might even want to be a little more involved than they originally thought, but time will tell. It could end up being a Tiffany reeves situation
11) “If that was their reality, then she’d make sure Joey’s life was full of love, happiness, and the knowledge that he mattered, every step of the way” she’s not on my list but Roni’s definitely looking hopeful for the best guardian.
I think she could be up there. It really all depend on how she is post training and when Joey comes home.
12) “I..think I need some space too…” That’s fair
It’s pretty wild how one can be so obsessed with something that once they get it, when reality of what it is they are getting strikes, it becomes a major thing to process
13) “I’ve got this. Go inside, relax, and just be proud of what you’ve done for your new brother. And know that I’m proud of you for sticking up for what you believe in” Jeff wasn’t a bad dad by any means, but man he stepped up in this chapter.
Agreed. he went full father mode
Honestly, I’m still not sure if you’ll follow the right path in this story, in my opinion. But this chapter was very, very happy. Thank you for offering me, for now, a story of giants that is worth reading.
I do my best. I’m unsure if it’ll meet those expectations or not, but I appreciate you sticking with it. Roni and Joey have their own issues to struggle with that we’re starting to slowly see come up. I don’t think their relationship will be anything like a Madison\Cindy or Malory\Gavin situation though. I think they are too symbiotic and close to go that direction.
1) I loved seeing Roni and Joey sitting apart as it really set the tone pretty well. As it introduced the idea to both of them as while they have lived and coexisted as friends and were really good at it and really close.
They will have to relearn that relationship and dynamic as little/guardian as it its different. As ultimately Roni would be responsible for Joey. Which is a different dynamic as it introduces a parent-like that they will have to deal with.
2) It was good seeing happy memories of Joey and his family to illustrate that it wasn’t all bad. Youd do a good job at backstory. Something I need to get better at.
3)Mr. Hale is a good father. I liked how he separated Roni and Joey so he could talk and have a bit of heart to heart with his daughter and give her some guidance as to what is going on.
4) It was nice to see brought up that Joey would have to deal with being integrated into Roni’s life in a way that Roni will never have to deal with. As she will go on dates, have a family, etc. in a way that Joey never will. He would just be part of what she is wanting her for herself but it is different.
5) I liked seeing her struggle with the idea of being limited because of size. As it seems like even someone with the best ideals and wants for there little would struggle to provide them a life that fulfilled them in a way that was equal or similar.
The only littles I coudl see achieving a similar level of happiness are the ones who live in the generitech cities . As they go to work, come home and can live there lives in a similar way. But even that luxury comes at the expense and work of others. As the cities aren’t self-sustaining. They cost real world money to operate so each city is operated at business loss that is only made up by having research and store littles and little accessories.
6) I’m really curious what Roni’s sisters will think as they seem the most in the dark about everything. They were told but they have been mostly excluded in regards to things and events.
7) Great chapter, I like how patient you have been with everything. YOu are doing a proper build up which is great to see.
8) you’ve done an excellent job making it feel like its apart of the smallara world and fitting within the other series.
I struggle to find time to read all the fanfics that get posted and know I’ve missed a couple i haven’t read nodfaqs story or the recent triplets story with trying to maintain production schedules but I always try to make time for Roni and JOey chapters. It was fun to read them in the comments sections and nice to read them as proper posts
1) I loved seeing Roni and Joey sitting apart as it really set the tone pretty well. As it introduced the idea to both of them as while they have lived and coexisted as friends and were really good at it and really close.
They will have to relearn that relationship and dynamic as little/guardian as it its different. As ultimately Roni would be responsible for Joey. Which is a different dynamic as it introduces a parent-like that they will have to deal with.
exactly. There are a lot of new things to learn with all of this for both of them. The talk Joey and Tonya had really opened his eyes to some things he wasn’t aware of, and now he’s probably really wondering what his life will actually be like.
Roni on the other hand was too obsessed with just saving Joey that she never even had a moment to really sit down and think about how things will change. Now that it seems like it’s most likely going her way, the reality of the situation’s starting to crop up and I’m not sure how she’s going to handle it. It’s even possible she might defer to Joey for help just cause that’s her security blanket for when she’s overly anxious and unsure.
2) It was good seeing happy memories of Joey and his family to illustrate that it wasn’t all bad. Youd do a good job at backstory. Something I need to get better at.
thanks! I think the trade off is that I’m never too thrilled with my diaolog.
I did want to show that things weren’t always so bad between Joey and his dad, too. It’s similar to Kenzie and Cindy to an extent, as I’m sure they were close at one point but that a lot of things have happened over the years that drove a massive gap between them.
3)Mr. Hale is a good father. I liked how he separated Roni and Joey so he could talk and have a bit of heart to heart with his daughter and give her some guidance as to what is going on.
I like Mr. Hale a lot more now than I had originally planned. A lot of his issues and misconceptions regarding littles did stem from what happened between him and his sisters. having that revelation’s made him a bit more receptive to everything. Also, he doesn’t want Roni to go into this blindly either. She and Joey are pretty idealistic for the time period, but Mr. Hale I think has a bit more of a realistic vision of how things could go and he wants her to understand that.
4) It was nice to see brought up that Joey would have to deal with being integrated into Roni’s life in a way that Roni will never have to deal with. As she will go on dates, have a family, etc. in a way that Joey never will. He would just be part of what she is wanting her for herself but it is different.
yeah. It’s going to be very different for her. She’s either going to have to compromise with him and find some middle ground as they grow older, or joey’s going to have to accept that he’s tied to her hip and that his word might not mean as much as he thinks it should.
5) I liked seeing her struggle with the idea of being limited because of size. As it seems like even someone with the best ideals and wants for there little would struggle to provide them a life that fulfilled them in a way that was equal or similar.
The only littles I coudl see achieving a similar level of happiness are the ones who live in the generitech cities . As they go to work, come home and can live there lives in a similar way. But even that luxury comes at the expense and work of others. As the cities aren’t self-sustaining. They cost real world money to operate so each city is operated at business loss that is only made up by having research and store littles and little accessories.
Yeah. She’s got a couple ideas on things he can do with her that would help him stay happy and busy, like helping maintain her funkopops (which will include his own) as they can talk anime, videogames, etc. the trick is going to be helping him find his own thing and facilitating it. I do like to think that there are\will be things like baseball leagues comprised of littles and stuff like that, but i’m not too certain how many of them are actually out there at this point in the story.
6) I’m really curious what Roni’s sisters will think as they seem the most in the dark about everything. They were told but they have been mostly excluded in regards to things and events.
Ciara will be a little tricky to deal with just cause I’m uncertain how a 9 year old would react to all of this. I think that she’d go with the flow and love joey regardless of what happens. Sandi’s pretty mature for her age and I think would be okay, though seeing Joey as a little might be harder for than it is for everyone else. She’s kinda aware of Joey and Roni’s views on littles, but at the same time, school and the media would contradict them. She’s kind of teetering in the center-to-more pet type of view not too disimlar from where I think Chrissy is.
7) Great chapter, I like how patient you have been with everything. YOu are doing a proper build up which is great to see.
it’s so hard lol I think it’s a good way to build up characters, set up plot points, build areas of conflict and growth, but I really want to get into the smallara part of it lol I think I have it set up to where, when it happens, the story flow makes sense.
8) you’ve done an excellent job making it feel like its apart of the smallara world and fitting within the other series.
I struggle to find time to read all the fanfics that get posted and know I’ve missed a couple i haven’t read nodfaqs story or the recent triplets story with trying to maintain production schedules but I always try to make time for Roni and JOey chapters. It was fun to read them in the comments sections and nice to read them as proper posts
I appreciate it a lot. this is one of the few creative outlets i have so i put a lot of effort into it. I look forward to Triplets and Nodfaqs stories, and I hope J-vader puts some of their own posts up soon.