Peter glanced over at Cole, laying peacefully on the bed next to him with earbuds in. He wondered what he was listening to.

Peter couldn't listen to loud music anymore. It made his head hurt. Which sucked, he couldn't even go to loud party's or anything of the sort. He felt bad, making all of his friends have to consistently twist, or, even completely cancel events or hangouts because of him.

He sighed and layed next to Cole, holding him close and breathing in his scent. He always smelt like colone, a subtle vanilla scent. He was glad he wasn't stinky like.. Some other guys at school.

Cole stirred in his sleep, turning to face Peter.

"What time is it..?"

Peter glanced over at the wall, the clock hitting 6pm just in time.

"6 PM, did you even get any sleep last night?" Peter laughed. "You were out like a light. For hours."

Cole yawned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

"Noo.." Peter grumbled, tugging on his arm. "Stay with me."

Cole smiled and let his body flop onto the bed again with a small thud, wrapping Peter up in his arms.

"Your needy today."

"Shut up."

They enjoyed the warmth of eachother, enjoying each other's silent company.. Until Cindy, Coles mom, suddenly barged in.

Peter instinctively sprang up, staring at her with wide, bewildered eyes.

Cole laughed in his face, shaking his head as he lazily sat up too.

Peter couldn't help but crack up a bit himself, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. He knew that Cindy knew about them, they told her a long time ago. She was very supportive, yet he always tensed up whenever they showed affection in front of her.

Peters laughter quickly ended abruptly as he noticed Cindy's cold, piercing gaze. She looked upset.

He poked Coles side, silently telling him to shut up and pay attention.

"Cole.." She breathed out, keeping her voice low and soft. "You have a visiter."

Peter wasn't used to seeing her like this. She was typically always super happy and upbeat, did something happen?

Cole tilted his head in curiosity. Who could be visiting him, now? Maybe it was Keith. He always showed up to steal his food and snacks.. Like a little sewer rat. He resisted the urge to giggle at the thought of that, keeping his expression serious. "Who is it, mom?"

Cindys face hardened. "You'll see.." She mumbled, walking away and into her room. Cole glanced at Peter nervously.

"Maybe the IRS is here. Have you been helping pay taxes yet?" Peter teased.

"Not funny." Cole rolled his eyes, hesitantly getting up and pulling on some more.. "professional" clothes. He didn't want to go out wearing the my little pony pyjamas Peter had given him as a gag gift one Christmas.

Peter got up with him, following close behind as Cole hurried into the living room.

"I swear to God, if it's Keith's fat ass eating all your food agai-" Peter was quickly interrupted by face planting into Coles back, wincing. "Ow! Why'd you stop walking?"

He quickly shut up as he saw Coles puzzled look, following his gaze to a tall man, standing by the doorway. He looked nervous. Peter recognized him- the man who sat next to Cole in court. Coles dad.

..

".. Cole," William said awkwardly, fidgeting with his long suit sleeves. Even now, he cared so much about his looks. Cole could even smell the expensive, obnoxious smelling colone from the kitchen. He instinctively was going to respond with a forced ".. Dad," But the thought of referring to that man as his own blood.. It left a bad taste in his mouth. A tingy, disgusting taste. He'd given him shots to become a better father, to own up to his mistakes, but he denied and denied and denied. Why should he listen now? Or was he only here to berade Cole once again?

"William."

Williams eyes went a bit wide at being refered to his first name by his own child, but he quickly took a sharp breath in and ignored it. "I uhm.. I came to apologize. For everything."

Peter looked between the two again and again, not really knowing how to feel. He could see the hurt in Coles eyes, it was rare.

"I gave you that opportunity a year ago," Cole said softly.

"I know. And I'm sorry for that as well. But I- ive had a lot of time to reflect. I shouldn't have.. Treated you like that. Not in any situation was that okay. I just.. Well, my father-"

Cole listened carefully. He knew he should forgive his dad.. He wanted to, so badly. He wanted to be a family again. But he couldn't push away the feeling of anger and resentment, maybe even a hint of anxiety.

Anger. He hated that feeling. Ironic. It made his insides all jumbled and hot, it made him feel like he was about to burst with hate. To blow up at others, to hurt others. He couldn't handle it, it consumed him whole and it was hard to get back out, snap out of it. He'd gotten anger issue management, he learnt the dumb breathing exercises, everything that was supposed to calm him. But nothing could calm the burning fire of hatred that heated his insides, made him clench his fists and resist the urge to throw a punch right then and there. It only fueled it.

He breathed, looking over at Peter when he noticed his comforting hand on his. Rubbing circles with his thumb. Now that calmed him.

He understood well. His dad had gone through a lot too, it was generational. Cole prayed he could break that curse. But a part deep in him was still convinced that one day, he would snap and become just like his father. The thought made him want to throw up. He wondered if his dad felt the same way.. Did he hate his dad? Did he promise to never be like him too? He broke that promise. Cole could very well be the same.

Cole let out a loud, deep breath he'd been holding. Very quickly, the anger that shook his core was replaced by saddness. Sorrow.

"Dad.." He finally called out, voice breaking as his eyes filled with tears. He stumbled towards him, throwing his arms around William and holding onto him like he was hanging off a mountain.

William didn't know how to respond to this, he'd never really shown Cole affection after the age of four. He winced, but very slowly, hesitantly went to wrap his arms around his son, too.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I was talking to Garvey, and he really made me open my eyes. I.. I was such a  horrible father.."

Cole felt his body tense when his dad held him close, despite being the one to initiate the contact. The only time his dad touched him was to beat him. What if he switched back? Reverted to his old ways? What if he hurt his mom?

Cole wanted to run, but he stayed still and let himself be embraced by his dad for the first time in years. Maybe ever. He was probably getting snot and tears all over his nice suit, the old him would've gotten so mad. But now he held him, like a infant, craddling him almost as he swayed back and forth.

William patted his back awkwardly, still not very used to this "affection" stuff.

"You know.. Garvey told me that you learnt a lot about forgiveness. Forgiving yourself," He glanced at Peter, then looked back down at his son. "And your mother. So.. I was hoping you could forgive me, too."

Cole felt a mix of emotions. He wanted to scream, to beat him to a pulp, maybe crawl up on the floor and sob, or maybe even run away. But one feeling over powered the rest- yearning. He yearned for his dads love all his life, and even if he denied it, he still yearned to be held and comforted by him. He wanted to be able to truly be a child again.

"I forgive you," He sniffled weakly, his words muffled by Williams shirt. But it was loud enough for him to hear. "Not completely. That's.. Gonna take a while. But I do love you, dad, I do."

Williams eyes widened. He didn't expect this at all. But it felt so nice. Being able to hold your own son seemed like a given, but he hadn't even considered it. It was hard to even word out his affection.

"I.." He choked on his words. "Love.. You.. Too," He eventually said, sighing after. He hadn't even muttered those words since God knows how long.

Cole laughed, wiping his face with his arm and sniffling away the gross snot. He really wasn't a pretty crier.

He had forgotten Peter was just in the corner, but he soon glanced over and saw Peters confused gaze.

William spotted Cindy in the hallway at the same moment, she had a mixed look of regret and.. happiness? On her face.

"I-I should go," William mumbled out, patting Coles back again before quickly heading out the door. He still got a bit flustered seeing his ex wife.. Especially after everything he'd done.

Cole was stunned for a while, not believing that seriously happened. But.. It was amazing. After years, they could be a family again!

He joyfully pranced back to Peter, hugging him tightly and swinging him in the air in a full circle before setting him back down.

"Peter! My dad, he changed!" He called out.

Peter let himself be swung around, holding onto Cole tightly as he let out a awkward chuckle.

"Yeah.. I guess he did," He said with narrowed eyes as he was set down. "But I don't trust him."

Cole sighed. "Your always a little resentful, aren't you?"

Peter smirked. "Look at how long it took for me to forgive you! Well, it is kind of your fault for making me permanently disabled. Not cool, dude, not co-"

"Quit that!"