Chapter Text
November 2009
"You've got out the Blue book" Blythe observed entering Don's office in then manor.
"He's five in a few months, and I've not met him once" Don sighed not taking his eyes off the photo of Blue playing in the snow.
"We can always take her to court. Get joint custody" Blythe suggested.
"I-I don't know Blythe" Don sighed rubbing his hand across his face "Dixie made it quite clear she doesn't want us anywhere near Blue. What if he doesn't want to know us?"
Blythe sat down on the desk reaching over and taking ahold of Don's hands.
"We don't know until we try" Blythe answered sincerely.
"Okay" Don repsonded looking down at their hands "What are we going to tell Ryan?"
"Tell me what?" A voice asked, both adults turned to the door and saw their eleven-year-old son stood in the doorway with a confused look on his face.
The two shared a look, silently deciding that it's time to come clean.
"Come in son" Don stated gesturing for Ryan to enter the office "it's time we have a talk"
"You're scaring me Dad" Ryan responded taking a seat in the office.
The two adults shared another look before Blythe spoke.
"Do you remember when you were six and we sent you to riding camp in Oklahoma?" Blythe asked.
"Yeah" Ryan responded "Why?"
"Well your mom and I separated that May" Don answered, Ryan's face fell.
"What?" Ryan asked looking between his parents "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It was complicated sweetheart, but we worked past it okay" Blythe replied running her fingers through Ryan's hair.
"Is that all you needed to tell me?" Ryan questioned, Don shook his head.
"Before we got back together, I ran into an ex at a nightclub. Dixie, we reconnected" Don answered.
"Oh" Ryan stated "Oh! Ew!"
Don took a deep breath and prepared himself for the reaction that was about to ensure.
"We were at DisneyWorld for your birthday when I found out she was pregnant" Don stated, Ryan's face flashed through emotions: Shock, Anger, and Disbelief.
"What? Why didn't you tell me" Ryan exclaimed "Mom did you know?".
"Yes I knew, your father and I tell each other everything" Blythe responded.
"So I'm a big brother and I've never met my sibling! You've been hiding them from me?!" Ryan yelled standing up.
"We're not... hiding" Don sighed "His mother doesn't let us see him"
"Why?" Ryan asked sitting back down in the chair.
"Because his mother is a bitch!" Blythe scoffed earning her a look from Don.
"We're thinking of taking his mama to court for joint custody" Don explained his eyes drifting back to the photo album.
"Does Grandpa know?" Ryan questioned.
"Oh no, God no" Blythe answered quickly shaking her head.
"You cannot mention any of this to him, not until we tell him" Don stated, Ryan nodded and stood up.
"I'm going to my room" He announced before leaving the office and retreating to his bedroom.
"I'll contact our lawyer" Blythe offered standing up and pressing a kiss to Don's cheek "He'll be our best shot to get Blue".
"Okay" Don replied quietly his fingers toying with the corner of the album.
Blythe offered a soft smile before leaving Don alone with his thoughts.
"I hope I'm doing the right thing" Don whispered to himself, tracing the first photo they had ever been sent. His son, only a few hours old fast asleep in the hospital cot.
Don closed the book and stood up.
He'd fight for Blue, no matter what.