[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: 2025-11-24 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.