Chapter Text
Ryan was fourteen years old and had a very clear goal in mind:
To get his parents back together.
How would he do it? Oh, that's an excellent question.
Five years had already passed since that day when he had returned from school and Billy's belongings were found piled up in boxes at the entrance.
"This isn't your fault, son." The alpha had told him in a tone meant to be conciliatory while ruffling his hair, but which achieved the opposite effect.
John, on the other hand, remained distant and silent on the porch. Just watching as Billy loaded the boxes into the trunk with those penetrating blue eyes until the last one was ready. Only then did both adults seem to share a look that, to be honest, would have melted the North Pole. The pheromones in the air, although faint for a pup who still didn't have a defined caste, still carried that emotional charge that made the atmosphere a minefield.
Finally Billy got into the car after saying goodbye to Ryan and drove off, leaving only the omega and his pup at the entrance watching as the vehicle disappeared at the end of the block.
"It's temporary, champ. You'll get used to it." John tried to soften it, but the emptiness in his gaze betrayed the reality behind those words:
Pure nonsense.
Since then, things had only become particularly strange. While over time Ryan had managed to "get used to" this new arrangement, he couldn't help but notice how the initial rivalry between his parents had sharpened to the point where they already seemed to want to stab each other every time they went to drop him off with the other.
So getting someone like John —meticulous, egocentric, and stubborn— together with someone like William —cynical, sarcastic, and equally stubborn— in a confined space was, in short, a very bad idea.
The worst of all.
Even more so knowing that the reason they were separated was precisely because of that.
And yet…
Despite everything, he had calculated and decided that, indeed, maybe it was exactly what was needed to set his crazy plan in motion. A plan born from the nostalgia of the child he once was and the determination of the teenager he now was.
To get his parents back together at any cost.
Because he had the hunch that very, very, very deep down they both still cared about each other, even if they showed it in ways that sometimes bordered on exasperating.
And he would cling to it like a castaway to the last plank of the ship.
"I'd like to go on a trip."
His voice broke the silence inside the vehicle. John, at the wheel, didn't react much. Whims or requests to fulfill were no inconvenience for him, much less if it was about his beloved pup —as he kept insisting on calling him even though not long ago Ryan would have presented himself as an alpha—.
They were on their way to school. It was one of those rare and miraculous days where the brunette didn't have to go squeezed in or receiving passive-aggressive comments about his family situation on the bus.
"Ah, sure. Where would you like to go? We could visit that Resort in California you mentioned the other time, the one with the dolphins."
"Actually, Mom. I was thinking of something less… you know."
The older omega adjusted the rearview mirror and raised an eyebrow.
"Something like?"
"Less eccentric. More… normal?"
"But swimming with dolphins is normal, honey. Or would you prefer an amusement park?"
Well, it was now or never.
"I'd rather go on a road trip."
"Road trip? Ryan, darling, I remind you that planes exist."
"I know, I know. But it's just that it's been sooo long since we traveled by car. The three of us."
That was enough for them to almost crash. Fortunately, the blond dodged the other driver with low curses and once in a less congested place, he parked.
His fingers, clenched on the wheel, tightened a little more as if he needed to know that this was definitely real and not the product of some concussion. "What do you mean by…?"
"I'd like us to go on a trip together for my birthday. Dad, you, and me. Like in the old times."
«Or when they still didn't hate each other so much» He held back from saying.
"Ryan…" He sighed, grabbing the bridge of his nose and messing up his glasses in the process, unsure if to process what his son was saying or to avoid slamming his face against the dashboard. "You know things with your dad aren't exactly the best."
"I know…" He let his back rest against the seat. "But everyone is going with their family somewhere on vacation!"
"And we can do that too, champ, of course we can." John tried to reconcile. "But not with… with him. I'm sorry but it's a flat no."
"Please, Mom. It's all I'm asking." He pleaded.
"Ryan…" He said in a warning tone. But that didn't seem to dissuade the younger one at all.
"I promise I'll do my homework on time…"
"Ryan, no."
"I'll be the best son in the world!"
"Ryan!" He took a breath, trying to calm down —or, failing that, play the "poor mother" card so he'd stop insisting—. "Enough! I swear that if Billy convinced you to do this little act, just know that I'm going to have a word with him. I don't spend every day breaking my back at work just for you to come and betray me like this."
Oh well, so that's how he wanted to play? Fine, he could appeal to manipulation too.
With feigned sadness, the young alpha shrank into the seat, as if the threat had really scared him, and lowered his head, remaining silent for a few moments before, in a strategic move —which he didn't plan to use so soon but knew he would— he said in a quiet voice:
"I just… want to spend time with you guys like a normal family. That's all."
There was a silence. At first to 'organize his thoughts' which, in fact, turned out to be counterproductive, since John had always been so expressive that even silent anyone could know what he really meant. Ryan knew he was making that gesture of nervously biting his lower lip, not wanting to refuse but not giving in either.
"And what if we invite Kevin instead?"
Kevin, John's alpha friend. Kevin, that weird guy who worked at the aquarium and talked like a pre-teen who discovered generic TikTok terms and never let them go. Kevin, the same guy who had been courting his mom since the divorce.
Oh no, anyone but him.
"Mom, no."
"Why not? He's… nice, and funny." Even he seemed to doubt his own words. "I thought you liked him."
Ryan snorted, his misunderstood child act cracking enough. Unfortunately his mother was so distracted he didn't catch it. Perfect.
"Let's define 'liked him'." He made air quotes with his fingers.
Another silence. John looked at the time on his wristwatch. Eight o'clock. They were both running late.
"And what if you two go instead? I, well, you know I'll be busy with work."
"Mom."
"Or we can just go the two of us."
"Mom."
"You could even go on vacation with Zoe and her family, I'm sure the Neumans would be happy to have you."
"Mom."
John sighed exasperatedly and started the engine again, knowing that this conversation was a dead end where he would end up making his son spend his first unsatisfied and angry birthday with him, or he would end up agreeing for the emotional well-being of his pup —sacrificing his own, of course—.
And, as stubborn as he was, John was someone with a relatively soft heart. Maybe softer and more fragile than he was willing to admit.
"Fine, fine, you win." They finally arrived at the institute. He stopped the car at the entrance. "I'll see what I can do… but I'm not promising anything!"
Which, translated into John's language, meant a resounding yes! to what he had planned.
"Thank you so much, Mom! I love you, you're a sunshine." He launched himself into an excited hug before shooting off toward the entrance. "See you!"
And John only returned his son's goodbye with that false carefree sparkle, but internally he already felt the pre-migraine that the mere idea of talking to Billy again brought him.
Damn him, his chicken heart and his need to be accommodating.