Chapter Text
Honeybee paced around the guesthouse, attempting to call Wolf and, once again, she has to listen to it ring until until she's sent to voicemail. It was just past ten PM and Wolf still wasn't home. Honeybee was starting to get worried; Wolf almost never stayed out this late without her, and if he did he always called her. She looked out the window at the main house, seeing the downstairs lights on. She pulled her boots and jacket on before making her way across the snowy yard.
"Beef? You up still?" She called as she stepped into the house, knocking the snow off her boots.
Beef appeared from the back of the house. "Honeybee, to what do I owe this visit?"
"Is Wolf here? Or have you heard from him tonight?" Honeybee asked, crossing her arms.
"No, is he not in the guesthouse?" Beef asked.
"No. He went out earlier and still hasn't come home," Honeybee frowned.
"Where did he go? Do you want to go look for him?"
"He said he was hanging with Cheesecake later," Honeybee did nothing to hide the disdain in her voice. "I'm just... worried."
"What are you worried about?"
"I mean, I know he's not doing anything..." Honeybee paused, choosing her words carefully. "Behind my back or anything like that. He's just been going out with Cheesecake a lot recently and, well, you know what they do when they're together."
"Ah," Beef responded. "Is Wolf... having that problem again?"
"Having that problem again?" Honeybee repeated. "Does he have a problem?"
Beef froze, suddenly feeling like he revealed a secret. "Oh. I'm sorry, I thought he would've told you,"
"Told me what? It really sounds like something I should know about my husband."
"Right. Well, when Wolf was-" Beef was cut off by P.Y.T. by Michael Jackson playing though the room.
"Oh! Sorry, Beef, it's him," Honeybee said, taking her phone out of her pocket and answering it. "Hello?"
"Honeybee!" She could barely hear Wolf over the loud din behind him.
"Wolf, are you alright? Where are you?"
"What d'you mean? Course I'm alright," Wolf laughed, and unmistakable slur in his voice.
"It's almost eleven, I've been worried about you,"
"It's... what time is it?" There's the sound of movement from Wolf's end. "Shoot, Honeybee, I had no idea,"
"Where are you?" Honeybee asked again, hoping to get an answer this time.
"We were just getting a few drinks and Cheesecake remembered this great bar we used to go to Death Cliff," Wolf was almost yelling over the sound of the bar. "I'm really sorry, love, I don't know how I lost track of time,"
"When can you be home?" The thought of Wolf drunk off his ass out of town with Cheesecake as the only person looking out for him greatly worried Honeybee. "I can drive out there and get you if you need,"
"No, no, I'm sure I can find someone to drive me home,"
"Oh god, Wolf, at least make sure they're sober,"
"Ah, don't worry," Wolf laughed. "I'll be-" He's cut off by the call ending. Honeybee tried to call him back but it went straight to voicemail. His phone must have died.
Honeybee sighed, rubbing her temple. "He's in Death Cliff with Cheesecake," She said, putting her phone back in her pocket.
"What in the hell is he doing in Death Cliff?" Beef asked.
"Guess," Honeybee sighed again. "He said he was gonna find a ride, so he should be home soon-ish at least. Sorry, Beef, what were you saying?"
Beef took a deep breath. "When Wolf was a teenager he had something of a drinking problem," Beef explained. "It got... bad. Especially after Kathleen left. I really think he should be the one to tell you more about it,"
"Oh." Honeybee didn't know what else to say. "I can't believe he never told me. I thought we told each other everything," She'd known about Wolf's ex girlfriends, arguments he'd had with his family, Kathleen.
"I'm surprised he didn't. He was starting to drink less when the two of you started talking. I think you really helped him," Beef said. "You're welcome to stay here until Wolf gets home. I'll stay up with you," He offered.
"Thanks, Beef, but you don't have to do that,"
"It's no trouble I don't think I'd be able to sleep, anyways."
* * *
It was 2:30 in the morning and Wolf was still nowhere to be seen. There was a show playing quietly on the T.V. but neither Beef nor Honeybee were paying any attention to it. They both jumped when the there was a sound at the door.
Honeybee shot up and rushed to the door, throwing it open. As she did Wolf stumbled into the room, key to the guesthouse in hand, just barely catching himself on the doorframe.
"What took you so long?" Honeybee asked worriedly, helping Wolf steady himself.
"Sorry, honey, we were just.." Wolf's voice sounded faraway as he trailed off, leaning his head against the doorway and closing his eyes.
"Wolf, are you okay? What the hell's wrong with you?" Honeybee asked, guiding him further into the house and closing the door behind them. She heard Beef walk across the room towards them.
"No, nothing wrong, I'm..." He trailed off again, rubbing a hand over his face. " I just... don't feel well,"
"You should lie down, son," Beef took Wolf's arm from Honeybee, helping him shakily make his way to the couch.
"I'm sorry, Dad," Wolf mumbled as Beef helped him lower himself onto the couch. "Didn't even wanna do it. Everyone was starin' at me, I couldn't let them down," He curled into a shaking ball facing the back of the couch, his mumblings turning incoherent and muffled.
Beef lightly patted Wolf's arm before crossing the room back to Honeybee. "I think he did more than drink," He quietly told her.
"What? Has he ever done drugs before?"
"No. At least, not that I know of," Beef glanced back at his son. He lowered his voice despite Wolf appearing to have fallen asleep. "Kathleen did, though. She's come home like this,"
"Oh," They were both quiet for a moment, neither of them sure what to say. "I'll talk to him tomorrow. You can go upstairs, I'm going to stay here with him, if that's alright."
"Of course, you're always welcome here. Both of you," Beef hesitated before reaching out and putting his hand on her shoulder, an attempt at a comforting gesture. "Goodnight, Honeybee."
"Night, Beef," Honeybee watched Beef disappear up the stairs towards his room before sitting in one of the living room chairs. She watched Wolf laying on the couch. She couldn't help but feel hurt that he never told her something so important. She knew he wasn't the best at talking about serious topics, but him not even mentioning this, even after telling her about Kathleen, stung. Eventually Honeybee managed to fall into a fitful sleep, curled up in the chair.