Blue gently shut the door, a peaceful smile playing on his lips as Red and his mother, Rose, gratefully breathed in the comforting aroma and warmth of the house, having left the chilly breeze outside. Red, despite being grateful, couldn't help but remember that the cold was their own fault for not bringing any jackets or warm clothes. Meanwhile, Rose gently rubbed her bare arms, soaking in the additional warmth before Blue led the way, beckoning them to follow.

The house wasn't particularly large, but its inviting and soothing ambiance had an instant calming effect on the three of them. They continued in comfortable silence, knowing they had plenty of time to chat during dinner in the dining room. As they approached, they took a slight turn, only to be taken aback by an unexpected sight.

Blue's father, back to them, was… well, dancing. It wasn't exactly graceful. More like a highly enthusiastic, rhythmic shaking of his posterior, accompanied by swaying hips. The music, a lively, upbeat tune, pulsed from somewhere unseen.

"Oh my god, Dad!!". Blue's voice squeaked, a high-pitched shriek that cut through the music as his face turned a bright shade of crimson.

A soft, stifled giggle escaped Red's lips. He clamped his hand over his mouth then glanced sideways, staring intently at the wall and pretending to be fascinated by the shade of ochre paint. But it was too late as he caught his mother's eye.

Her eyes were sparkling with suppressed laughter. Tears, shimmering like tiny diamonds, traced paths down her cheeks. Her shoulders shook with mirth, her attempts at composure crumbling before the sheer absurdity of the situation.

A muffled snort escaped her lips, then another, quickly escalating into giggles that threatened to become full-blown laughter.

Blue's father, oblivious, continued his enthusiastic—and shall we say, energetic—dance routine. His hips swayed, his shoulders shimmied, and his backside performed a surprisingly nimble jig to the beat of the music. None of them dared to get any close to the dancing man, at least not Red and Rose, and left it to Blue to take his dad's phone that was placed on the dining table and turn off the music.

His father, finally noticing the sudden silence and the three pairs of eyes staring at him, stopped mid-hip shake. He turned, a beaming smile on his face.

"Ah, Red! It's so great to see you!". He enveloped Red in a hug that was at once enthusiastic and slightly overwhelming.

Red's body tensed up initially as Azure approached him with open arms, but as the older man's warm hug enveloped him, he began to relax and eventually returned the hug. As Azure let go and patted his back, Red tried not to jerk away, still getting used to the sudden display of affection.

"Hey, it's great to see you too, Sir". Red said, attempting to sound casual despite his initial awkwardness.

The atmosphere seemed light-hearted and joyful, with the man's infectious enthusiasm spreading to the others. However, the mood shifted when Rose, let out a soft gasp. Her eyes were fixed on Blue's dad, filled with a mix of surprise and shock.

Everyone turned to look at her, and Red was about to ask what was wrong when she whispered,

"A-Azure...?".

Azure, Blue's father, took a step towards her, his cheerful demeanor replaced with a thoughtful scrutiny. A flicker of recognition sparked in his eyes, widening as a torrent of memories seemed to wash over him. A stunned silence hung in the air before he breathed out,

"Wait... Rose?". He breathed, his voice laced with disbelief.

Red and Blue exchanged a confused glance, both of them looking like they were lost in the midst of this sudden revelation. Blue raised an eyebrow and sent Red a questioning 'What the heck is going on' look, to which Red responded with a shrug.

Then, everything accelerated. Before Red or Blue could even process the situation, Rose and Azure moved with startling speed. Rose launched herself at Azure, her arms wrapping around his neck, clinging to him as if he might vanish. Azure, in turn, his arms instinctively reaching around her back, held her as tightly. It was a desperate, fervent embrace that left Red and Blue speechless, nearly knocking them over in their surprise. They stumbled back a step, mouths agape.

The hug seemed to last an eternity, and Blue leaned in close to Red's ear, whispering,

"Uh, did they forget we're here?". Red raised an eyebrow, before Blue took another look at the embracing pair before turning back to Red with a more confident tone,

"Yup, they definitely forgot we're still here".

Red, growing impatient, cleared his throat to remind them that they were still present. The hug finally began to loosen, and they slowly pulled back. Rose smoothing out her dress and Azure looking down, a faint blush on his face.

"Oh, sorry about that...". Azure said, chuckling, "... It's been a really long time".

"Long time indeed". She added, her voice a little wistful.

Blue and Red exchanged a knowing glance, not needing to be told that; the long hug had already given them a pretty good idea. The atmosphere had become a bit awkward, but not between Azure and Rose, who seemed to have reconnected with a deep familiarity. The awkwardness was palpable between Red and Blue, who were unsure of how to react or what to say next. Rose, however, seemed to have found her footing. Her eyes locked onto Blue, realizing that she had met the son of a long friend of hers, and a warm smile spread across her face.

"I see you have a son now-". She said, her voice filled with surprise and delight. She crouched down in front of Blue, who was standing silently next to Red, and patted his head.

"-He looks a lot like you, though a little too good-looking". She added, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Blue's face turned bright red as he blushed, and Azure let out a loud laugh.

"I think I'm a little offended". He joked, then walked over to Red and wrapped his arm around his shoulders, pulling him close to his chest. Red felt the hidden muscles under his shirt and couldn't help but feel a little jealous and embarrassed.

"Your son sure stole your every little detail, Rose".

Red knew it was true – he looked like a younger, male version of his mother. He felt his face heat up, and he looked away, trying to play it cool. Not like it bothered him, he liked when people say he looks like his mom. He always thought she was beautiful, so that meant he was beautiful too. No?

"I think I see a bit of you in him too, Azure". Rose chuckled, her eyes still fixed on Blue.

The atmosphere was still a little awkward, but the adults seemed to have found a sense of comfort and familiarity with each other. Red and Blue, on the other hand, were still trying to wrap their heads around the sudden revelation that their parents had a history together.

Blue was so upset as they closed the door behind them, and Red could see that. It was kind of good that Blue was upset but not to the point of losing control; most people would have been pissed off and demanded answers. The awkwardness of their parents' decision to send them upstairs until dinner was ready was palpable.

Blue wanted to protest---to say staying in the living room was fine---but Azure's stern gaze and silent command, was enough to make him comply. Red, standing a few steps behind, felt a shiver run down his spine at the sight. He mentally sighed in relief, grateful it wasn't directed at him; that gaze was intense!

Still, they were both curious about their parents' old relationship, but of course, they weren't allowed to eavesdrop on the adult conversations. He didn't mind as much, but Blue clearly did.

"I can't believe this". Blue mumbled, stomping back to his bed and throwing himself onto it, face first, with a muffled groan into the soft mattress.

Red, unsure of what to do, stood there awkwardly, hands tucked into the hem of his shirt, glancing around the room as if for an answer. He contemplated whether he should sit or ask if Blue wanted company, unsure of the etiquette in this situation. Internally, he wondered why this was so freaking hard?

Blue, noticing Red's discomfort, lifted his head from the mattress, his face softened by Red's lost-puppy expression. With a small smile, he called Red's name and silently gestured for him to come sit next to him. Red gladly accepted, feeling a bit more at ease.

"It's not fair". He lamented, adjusted his position then leaning back on his hands. Red raised his eyebrows in surprise, not quite sure why this wasn't fair. Blue continued, struggling to articulate his emotions,

"I hate it when he orders me around...like I'm...". He trailed off, searching for the right words. Red resisted the urge to say 'burden' or 'puppet' to fill the void, sensing that it would only worsen the situation.

"I get it, Blue. I kinda feel the same way when my mom doesn't want me to know something. Like I'm not allowed to know or I'll break or something".

"And you're okay with her treating you like a child all the time?". He turned to Red, a surprised expression on his face. Red paused, knowing he wasn't okay with it. Yet it was the only thing holding him back from frustration. He knew his mom was trying to make up for lost time, trying to shield the child he once was, rather than facing the teenager he had become.

"Not really". Red answered, placing a comforting hand on Blue's shoulder. He smiled with genuine tenderness and sincerity,

"But sometimes they're only doing it for our own sake. Yes, knowing they're hiding something could drive you insane. But trust me, they'll tell us eventually".

"What if they don't?". Blue asked, raising the possibility.

Red considered the idea that some things are better left secrets. He knew that the truth could sometimes do more harm than good, and their parents might be protecting them. But then he thought about the situation his mother had with the mysterious man in a suit he had seen at their house. His mother had said it was a friend from work, but Red knew better. He had dug deeper, eventually finding out the man was a lawyer, not a friend. He was horrified to realize that the lawyer was there for him. His mother didn't have full custody, and Red could end up with his father. Now, he truly regretted seeking the truth. The painful revelation still stings. But he keeps that to himself for now, not wanting to burden Blue with his own family drama.

"Then that's okay too. Some things are better kept secret. Sometimes secrets are kept for a reason. Knowing the truth could mess with your head worse than not. And they know that, so that's why they're not spilling... yet anyway".

"Well... Yeah, you're right. Sorry, I'm just... I hate it when he keeps things from me, knowing that I only want to help". Blue mumbled, looking down. He breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling rapidly,

"I just wish he could trust me more". Red's heart ached. Blue's voice was a raw blend of sadness and frustration. He took a deep breath, unsure how to comfort him. He knew how it felt to be kept in the dark, to be treated like a child when all you wanted was to be trusted, to be seen as capable.

"He does trust you, Blue... I can see that you're the most important thing to him. Maybe he's just a little overprotective?". Blue shook his head, his gaze finally meeting Red's.

"Overprotective? You think that's the case? He's been like this ever since Mom died. Ever since she was gone, he's grown more and more distant and I don't know what to do!".

"Blue..." Red started softly, but Blue cut him off.

"I can handle it! Why can't he see that I'm not as broken as he is over losing Mom?! I'm trying to keep what little we have left of this family, but it's getting hard with him SHOVING ME AWAY!!".

He yelled, the outburst making Red gasp and flinch slightly then removing his hand. Red, not scared, but startled, looked at Blue, who immediately looked contrite, his anger replaced by shame. Red, feeling a pang of empathy, took another deep breath and said, his voice trembling slightly,

"I, um... I'm sorry about your Mom and... I can't exactly say I know how you feel, s-since you loved the one you lost. I don't have a Dad. I-I mean, he's not dead, but... I kinda wish he was".

Blue's shoulders slumped, and he tilted his head, intrigued. Red felt his face flush. He wasn't used to giving advice or comforting anyone, but it was Blue, so he did his best. He looked at it from as adult a perspective as he could, and then, without hesitation, did what adults wouldn't do. Actually talk to their kids.

"They might seem distant-". He continued, "-they might seem like they don't want to include us. But believe it or not, they just don't know how to let us in. Things are... complicated. Your Dad lost the love of his life; it's not easy to get over, and I know he's hurting as much as you do. The least we could do is... try".

"Try?". Blue repeated, his voice laced with skepticism. He looked at Red, searching for answers, his eyes red-rimmed from the tears he had tried to hold back.

"Yes, try. I know it's hard, but... my mom, she's always saying that when people are hurting, they don't know how to let others in. They build walls around themselves, and it's hard to get through. But if we can just... be patient, and understanding, maybe they'll start to open up".

"...Easy for you to say. You don't know what it's like to have a dad who's always pushing you away". Blue snorted, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. Red's face fell, and he looked down, his voice barely above a whisper,

"Actually, I do. My dad... he's not around. He never was. But my mom, she's always trying to make up for it. She's always working, always providing for me, but... sometimes I feel like she's just going through the motions. Like she's not really there for me".

"What do you mean?". Blue's expression softened, and he looked at Red with newfound curiosity. Red hesitated, unsure of how to explain.

"I don't know... it's just that sometimes I feel like I'm a burden to her. Like she's only taking care of me because she has to, not because she wants to. And it hurts... A lot". Feeling like he said more than necessary,  Red shook his head, a small smile on his face.

"B-But what I'm trying to say is... maybe your dad is like my mom. Maybe he's hurting so much that he doesn't know how to let you in. Maybe he's pushing you away because he's scared of losing you too."

Blue's face scrunched up, and he looked away, trying to process Red's words. After a moment, he turned back to Red, his eyes searching.

"You really think that's possible?". Red nodded, his voice filled with conviction.

"Yes, I do. And I think that if you can just... try talking to him about how you feel. Try helping as much as you can without him asking. We don't need to know everything, we just have to be there for them. Show him, don't just tell him".

"Show him... I-I guess I can try that". A small, tired smile touched his lips. The raw grief was still there, but a tiny crack of light had broken through.

(Hello, everyone! Blueberry is back with another chapter! Miss me? Or did you miss the book even more? Just kidding!

This chapter is intense! I wouldn't even know what to do if I was placed there to comfort Blue. I'm bad at comforting people, I'm only going to hug them and tell them to cry. You guys, that will make them feel a whole LOT better.

Anyway, that's it for today. Have a good night my angels and see you next week.

Oh, boy, I missed saying that).