Chapter Text
"Alex, it's just a week. Please." John begged.
"John, he refuses to acknowledge that we are married, and you want to take our kids there? He didn't even invite me! The letter said, to you and your children. Yours! I don't want our children going there!"
"Please, I want them to have some extended family."
"John, do you hear yourself? Do you not remember your childhood? You were miserable. You would go home for a week in college, and be inconsolable for months afterward with bouts of depression."
"But, he is making an effort." John argued. "He wants to meet them. And he he called me."
"Do you remember every single comment your dad made about 'the gays' and every bigoted thing he said?"
"But I'm older, I can deal with it now."
"And what about Philip?" Alex asked, "he told us he was gay two years ago, do you think he should spend a week listening to your father spew bullshit about that?"
"I'll talk to him. If Henry tries to pull anything, I'll get Frances and Philip out of there so quickly."
"Please respect that I don't think our children should go there."
"Alex, please respect that I want my family to be a big part of our children's lives."
"He didn't talk to you for eight years. That's not what family should do. He refuses to admit you're even gay! That we are even married, and anyone who says we aren't family, shouldn't be around our kids."
"Alex please. I'm trying to reconnect with my family. If you had family, wouldn't you try? Even if they sucked?" John asked.
"Don't pull that card on me. And you can reconnect all you want, but until he makes a real effort, my answer will still be no. You can go down there. I'll go with you. And maybe if he acknowledges my existence, and invites me, I will reconsider."
"Alex—"
"John, this is just one of those things. A nonnegotiable thing."
"Oh yes I see it now," John snapped, "because you are the ultimate deciding power of who our children are allowed to see."
"John, if you go down there, and can honestly tell me he is a better person than he was when you lived with him, then you can take the kids, but if you come back having panic attacks and nightmares, my point stands strong."
John frowned, "I'll talk to them. I'll see if I can go down there this may, so that I can take the kids in July."
"I want him to recognize our marriage."
"Alex you know how big of a step that is," John whined with a groan.
"Millions of people recognize marriages like ours, and so many people recognize our marriage specifically, it isn't a big step. He doesn't have to even agree that we are married morally, just for him to admit that we aren't just best friend bachelors who are raising your kids."
"Ok," John agreed, "when I go in May, I'll talk to him."
"Ok." Alex nodded.
"And do you want to come?" John asked, "I'm sure I can get him to invite you."
"No, unless you want me there, I'd rather not, seeing as I would cause more trouble. As long as our kids are fine, I'm okay."
"I'd never let them hurt our kids."
"I know honey. I know." Alex agreed.
"Dad?" Philip called from downstairs, "pops?"
"Up here Philip!" John called back.
Philip swung open the door, looking furious.
"What's up son?" Alex asked grinning when he saw the look of sheer exasperation.
"You will not believe what Quincy did today!"
"What did Quincy do?" John asked calmly.
Philip walked over to the couch where John and Alex were sitting.
"He was going around fucking—"
"Language." John reminded him. Alex jut rolled his eyes. It was just one of those things John did. He didn't allow cussing. He got upset when Alex cussed in front of the kids, and annoyed when the kids did it.
"He was going around spreading rumors about Vee and I!"
"And?" Alex asked suppressing a grin. "What kind of rumors?"
"Ones that we were secretly friends with benefits, and now all those kids think they're better than us because there is some stupid rumor going around. And Georges was upset, because he heard about it, and he has the crush on Vee, and now Vee was mad at Georges for not talking to us for two days, and it's all Quincy's fault."
"Okay," John said sighing, "welcome to high school first of all, second, let the rumors go, you can deal with it, they will go away in time, and Vee and Georges will get over it too."
"Or," Alex offered, "spread rumors about Quincy. I mean, his family has something weird going on. I mean with John running off from work all the time, and whatever happened with Charles..."
"Alex," John smirked, "good examples for our son. Not spreading rumors. No revenge."
"Oh I forgot." Alex said rolling his eyes, "of course, Philip, what you should do is turn the other cheek, and suffocate Quincy with all the kindness you can throw at him. Be the bigger person."
"Thanks pops." Philip said sarcastically rolling his eyes. "What are you two up to?"
"Talking about summer plans."
"Guys," Philip whined, "it's March, if you plan that far ahead, summer won't ever come."
"Actually," Alex countered.
"I know pops, the mindset doesn't really change the amount of time that passes. And I shouldn't be worried about summer, just about doing well right now."
"Actually." Alex repeated, "not what I was going to say, but nice touch. Your father will be going out of town in May to visit his family, and if it goes well, I'm July he will take you and Frances there to meet them as well."
"And what about you?" He asked.
"I'll be staying home. His family has some issues with me, as I them, and it would be best if I didn't go."
John gently squeezed Alex's thigh giving him a loving smile.
"Anyway," Philip said abruptly, sensing the tenseness of the conversation, "I was going to grab some dinner with Theo if you didn't have any plans."
"That's fine." John agreed, "but remember, tomorrow night, we have the work party for Schuyler's company, and family is invited, so I expect you and Frances to be there."
"Sure dad." He said walking back to the door, "see you later."
Alex sighed leaning into John's side, "it's so cute how he does that whenever he has a problem."
"Yeah it is." John agreed.
"How much should we tell him before he goes to South Carolina?" Alex asked suddenly.
"Enough." John said, "not too much that he is against them before he gets there, but enough to warn him, so the dynamic doesn't completely shock him. Same for Frances."
"You know, since your so set on your family meeting ours, you could invite your sister over for a visit. You said she was liberal?"
"I was using the term liberal relatively. She is liberal in comparison to my father, but to you or I, she is still very conservative."
"She could still visit, as long as she treats everyone well."
"I'll talk to her, I know she still isn't fond of you, since you're my husband, and she was never thrilled with that idea, but I'll talk to her."
"God where did you come from?" Alex asked laughing.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"I mean, I've only met Martha a few times, and only met your father, what? Once?" He shook his head, "and they all are conservative, and there you are, my husband, for Christ's sake!"
"You don't know how many years I spent wandering that same question." John said jokingly.
Alex frowned, but became more serious, "I love you."
"I love you too baby girl." John said kissing his forehead.
"No, I love you so much John." Alex said.
"Not everything is a fight Alex." John said teasingly.
"I just-I love you." Alex finished.
"I know baby girl." John said stroking Alex's hair. "I love you too."