I think we did, somewhere. [He doesn't say it to try to make Dagny feel any worse, just sharing his own thoughts, a little sad and lost to admit it. But it feels like they had to. Everything is so messed up now. There had to be a point where they could've stopped it, and didn't.
He curls a little more into Dagny's side, his hand sliding up to seek out his mark, a weirdly self-soothing habit.] I should have said something before we just showed up. Maybe it would have gone better.
Yeah. [Unfortunately Isaac was right, they didn’t do their one job, which was to always make sure that Thomas felt loved and supported, no matter what their intentions were, they messed up. He just hoped that it wasn’t too late to fix it, that Thomas would at least give them a second chance.
He runs his hand down Isaac’s arm, squeezing it gently, feeling just as comforted by the touch.] I think it would have been a mess either way. Maybe the next visit will go better, now that he knows we are here.
Maybe. I guess we'll see if he gets in touch with us, or... [Turning up again is probably a terrible plan, but he's not sure if any kind of contact is a bad idea, if he should try to send a message, if it'll make Thomas feel cornered, or if not doing it will make it feel like they're not trying hard enough.
It feels a lot easier to see the downsides to every angle right now than the possibility of things working out. He shrugs a little, pressing a kiss against Dagny's shoulder, just taking a little more comfort in his presence. It's an awful situation, but at least neither of them are dealing with it alone. And neither is Thomas, even if he won't come to them for it.]
[He presses a kiss to Isaac's head, rubbing his hand along his soulmate's arm, accepting the comfort and giving it back, both of them settling in the silence as they try to think about what can be done, or if there is even anything to be done.
At some point, after both of them have been sitting for long enough that his legs are starting to protest, being kept in the same position without movement, both of their phone's go off, alerting that they received a message at the same time, he leans over to grab is, sharing the screen with Isaac as he opens the message:
Dear Dads,
I know this is very formal but I feel like whenever we try to talk in person, we always get upset, and I want to say a few things.
I appreciate that you came to see me, and that you wanted to apologize, but I'm not sure I'm ready to accept it just yet. I don't understand why you came here now when you had plenty of time to come before, or when I was in the hospital. I was waiting for you to say something, and just when I stopped, that is when you showed up. And part of me is angry, because I have tried really hard to be happy and to move on, and now I have to work twice as hard all over again.
Not that you aren't worth it. But I'm scared that I'll try really hard and everything will just go back to the way it was. I don't want to live my life hurt or trying to make you happy. I just want to be happy.
Pops has offered me a place to stay for the holidays. I'm thinking of going. I miss everyone, and New York. And a lot of the time I miss you too. But I don't want it to be so hard anymore and I'm not ready for things to go back to normal, but I'm willing to see how things go. At least for a little bit. If you are okay with that too.
[He just stares at the screen for a few moments once he's done reading, blankly, absorbing the words. A lump in his throat when he finally turns over, hiding his face against his husband's chest.]
It could be worse, right? At least... at least we haven't stopped him from coming home at all. [Not with them, but being with Pops is close enough.]
I could be worse. [He echoes, wrapping his arms more fully around Isaac, holding him tightly as he tries to work though his own emotions. The fact that they've damaged this so severely that their son doesn't even trust them when they show up to fix it.]
We can stop by, we can show him we want to change, and want to do better.
It'll be okay. [He's basically just a mimic, unable to come up with his own words of comfort, just repeating Isaac's. He doesn't have much choice but to believe it, the alternative is too difficult to bear. They just need to prove that they can do this, and be the parents that Thomas needs. Now that he's given them some direction, it will be easier to follow.]
It will. [With a little bit more emphasis. Trying to help as much as he can, squeezing Dagny tighter.
He's quiet for a few moments, before taking a deep breath.] We can write him later. Tell him that... if he comes to the holidays, we won't crowd him. [Not that they'll ignore him, either, unless he asks. But he doesn't want the worry that they'll take it as a chance to bother him about staying home to keep Thomas from coming.] And that if there's anything else we can do that will help, we will.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2025-11-23 08:19 am (UTC)He curls a little more into Dagny's side, his hand sliding up to seek out his mark, a weirdly self-soothing habit.] I should have said something before we just showed up. Maybe it would have gone better.
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Date: 2025-11-23 08:25 am (UTC)He runs his hand down Isaac’s arm, squeezing it gently, feeling just as comforted by the touch.] I think it would have been a mess either way. Maybe the next visit will go better, now that he knows we are here.
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Date: 2025-11-23 08:32 am (UTC)It feels a lot easier to see the downsides to every angle right now than the possibility of things working out. He shrugs a little, pressing a kiss against Dagny's shoulder, just taking a little more comfort in his presence. It's an awful situation, but at least neither of them are dealing with it alone. And neither is Thomas, even if he won't come to them for it.]
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Date: 2025-11-24 07:28 pm (UTC)At some point, after both of them have been sitting for long enough that his legs are starting to protest, being kept in the same position without movement, both of their phone's go off, alerting that they received a message at the same time, he leans over to grab is, sharing the screen with Isaac as he opens the message:
Dear Dads,
I know this is very formal but I feel like whenever we try to talk in person, we always get upset, and I want to say a few things.
I appreciate that you came to see me, and that you wanted to apologize, but I'm not sure I'm ready to accept it just yet. I don't understand why you came here now when you had plenty of time to come before, or when I was in the hospital. I was waiting for you to say something, and just when I stopped, that is when you showed up. And part of me is angry, because I have tried really hard to be happy and to move on, and now I have to work twice as hard all over again.
Not that you aren't worth it. But I'm scared that I'll try really hard and everything will just go back to the way it was. I don't want to live my life hurt or trying to make you happy. I just want to be happy.
Pops has offered me a place to stay for the holidays. I'm thinking of going. I miss everyone, and New York. And a lot of the time I miss you too. But I don't want it to be so hard anymore and I'm not ready for things to go back to normal, but I'm willing to see how things go. At least for a little bit. If you are okay with that too.
I love you both, Thomas.
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Date: 2025-11-24 07:43 pm (UTC)It could be worse, right? At least... at least we haven't stopped him from coming home at all. [Not with them, but being with Pops is close enough.]
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Date: 2025-11-24 07:45 pm (UTC)We can stop by, we can show him we want to change, and want to do better.
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Date: 2025-11-24 07:50 pm (UTC)We just -- need to give him time. It'll be okay. [It's very clear he's trying to believe it, not all that optimistic.]
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Date: 2025-11-24 08:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-11-24 08:13 pm (UTC)He's quiet for a few moments, before taking a deep breath.] We can write him later. Tell him that... if he comes to the holidays, we won't crowd him. [Not that they'll ignore him, either, unless he asks. But he doesn't want the worry that they'll take it as a chance to bother him about staying home to keep Thomas from coming.] And that if there's anything else we can do that will help, we will.