ｆａｃｅ ｔｉｍｅ ：

*outgoing call to Carrie💛*

"What's up, buttercup?"

"Where are you right
now?"

"Out, walking Alexei
— why? What's going
on?"

*sighs*
"You know about my
mom?"

"That pathetic excuse
of a human being, that
decided her drugs
were more important
than her husband and
son? That one I know
of. What happened?"

"She called yesterday.."

"..She did what?"

"She called me
yesterday, during dinner."

"Yeah, I heard you.
How the hell- tell me
everything."

"Vi dropped a bottle of
water during dinner
and it spilled on my
clothes so I went to dry
it off, he came with me.
All of a sudden the
only landline we still
have in the house rang.
I don't think it had been
used in years-"

"Bub, you're rambling.
Take a breath — what
happened when you
picked up?"

"I didn't, Vi did. He
talked to her for like a
minute or so and then
he told me she was
on the line."

"Well, what did she
say?"

"She said she saw me
on the internet. Carrie,
she told me she
wanted to meet up?"

"That absolute bitch.
The absolute nerve she
has, just because she
saw you flash by on
some news outlet,
doesn't give her any
right to reach out
again."

"Carrie.."

"I'm sorry, El. I'm just
pissed. What did you
say?"

"I told her she wasn't
my mother and I didn't
want to meet her. What
if that was a mistake?
What if she really
wanted to reach out?"

"You want my honest
opinion?"

"Please."

"You made the right
choice. She had thirteen
fucking years to make
contact again and she
never did. That says
enough of her being a
mother. Also, you have
your family. You don't
need her there. I've
met Ava a couple of
times and she seems
amazing. El, she is
your real mother."

"She really is.."

"You also have Mallory
and Levi. Do you want
them to come in contact
with somebody like
your biological mother?
After everything she
put you through?"

"No, not at all."

"Then you made the
right choice."

"I made the right choice."

"Yes you did. Now tell
me why you are
wearing Tom's shirt."

"..No reason."

"Alright, just wrap it
before you tap it."

"Oh my god, Carrie!"

"I'm only kidding —
partially. Does Tom
know about all of this?"

"He heard some things
from the phone, but I
didn't really tell him.
I just don't want to
talk about it."

"I guess you haven't
told him about your
nightmares either.."

"He knows I have
them, not what happens
though."

"My god, El. You can't
shut him out like that.
You can't keep
pretending things are
fine and jolly when
they aren't. Tom is a
big part of your life
now. You need to let
him in."

"But what if he leaves?"

"..Did I leave?"

"What?"

"I've met you through
the worst moments of
your life and have been
to hell and back with
you since, did I leave?"

"..No."

"If I didn't leave, Tom
won't either. You know
why?"

"Why?"

"We both love and care
for you. Just like Salem,
Teddy and Lucas."

"You mean that?"

"Absolutely. But you
really have to let him
in, bub. It's not fair to
him to leave him in
the dark either."

"I will tell him —
tomorrow."

"No! Today!"

"Fine. I'll tell him
today."

"Atta boy."

"You know I hate that
nickname."

"I know."

".. Thanks, Carrie."

"You're welcome, bub."

"I mean it, for everything."

"I know. I'm just that
amazing. But if she ever
reaches out again; I'm
a trained hit-woman
and I have your back."

"You're the best."

"I'm well aware. Hey,
still on for new year's
eve?"

"Heck yeah! Tom's
coming too."

"Great! Remember,
it's at Sal's old home.
Please don't turn up
at my place like you
did last year, or the
year before that,"

"I got it, I got it. 8pm,
Sal's place."

"Seven."

"Oh- seven."

"Atta boy, now you
go talk to Tom and
I'll make sure Alexei
doesn't kill himself
on the way home."

"Alright, alright.
Love you."

"Love you too."

*end call*

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i love my son eli so much-