everyonelives | why is it you always get to sit in the shade

( Score one for the first concern William carried since the passenger swap. And Mickey being Klaus' vampire is up there with his worlds colliding coincidences.

Stepping into his underwear, he pulls them up under his towel, an old habit, unhooking his towel after. He has a thought he has to say out loud. But they're new. He doesn't want it to be a thing. Except, he didn't communicate with the last boyfriend, or the one before him.

So, he tries. )

Do I have the right to ask if he has feelings for you?

I can't stop you from asking.

[And he can't say the answer is no either. At the same time...]

But he knows where we stand, and he's not looking to get in the way of that. And I don't have feelings for him. At least not like that.

[She shrugs because not really? Not in a way that the weight isn't still there. But she also doesn't know what to tell him about any of that so:]

I have to talk to J.J. I can't just ... leave things the way we left them. But beyond that, I'm getting there.

That, I know. I also know vampires and their emotions. But, you say I shouldn't worry being in close, invited quarters and I won't worry.

( And he trusts Cooper. )

That frees up my time to worry about Mia.

If you want to talk to me, before or after J.J., at all, know I'm right here.

( Always. )

Does he have a way of contacting you?

J.J.?

[She shakes her head.]

My phone got destroyed and I've been using burners.

[And Cooper trusts Mickey. Whether or not he should, however, still remains to be seen, but he hopes things don't take a turn for the worst.]

Did your uncle give you anything about what's going on with her?

Then, when you're ready you can reach out to him on your terms.

( There's an argument to be said everything has been on her terms, but she is his daughter and her terms are the terms he backs. )

Only that he, too, knows about the Crisis and remembers everything. But, he said if she should talk to anyone, it's dad. Apparently, he played a bigger part in it than we all thought.

( We all being ... William. )

Considering everything lately, to even be saying how weird it feels to know there was an alternate timeline we all lived in... And Mia has to carry both of them with her alone.

Yeah, that sounds ... messed up.

[He turns to look at him.]

If you could remember, would you want to?

[She nods. She hasn't meant to put everything on her terms, but when it comes to J.J., two parts of her are often at war. The part that loved him, and would have married him if things were different, and the part that remembers him standing there with Zoe's blood on his hands.

She still doesn't know how she's going to handle this conversation.]

Yeah. And hopefully he'll actually talk to me.

It was called the Crisis for a reason.

( But, still he doesn't know the answer. )

Even as a kid, I always wanted all the answers. But these don't feel like my answers to have. You're my answer. Not something I can't remember.

All you can do is try.

( Is that enough dad advice for the afternoon? )

Do you want to get ready for lunch? Maybe get a hot shower in?

Yeah, I probably should.

[She turns to him with a smile before leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek.]

I'll see you in a bit.

[He can't help but smile at the last part of that comment, but he stays focused on the task at hand.]

Well, she knows she's here for you if she needs it. Sometimes that's all you can do.

( Next, he seeks out his wife. Is she in the backyard? The kitchen? )

I'm here for her if she needs it.

( Usually, he has to wait for her to come to him, but she did, she was honest. And she came home. Maybe she's on a roll. )

Alright, let's finished getting dressed and unpacked or I'll just undress you all over again.

[Coop smirks and nods as he gets to his feet.]

Yes, we probably should save that until at least after lunch.

[She's close enough. She's helping arrange the lunch order and making sure they have enough place settings for everyone, but turns when she sees him.]

Going to be interesting, having a full house again.

After we eat something. I'm hungry.

( Anybody passing by can hear the shared laughter coming from William's room. )

And more. My son brought his boyfriend.

( How does he do this? )

Yes. Presumably because he wants you to get to know him.

[She turns to face him more, leaning back against the counter so she can see his face.]

Or, enjoy the fact that he definitely seems to be scared of you.

[Yes, they can. And honestly, Michael is pleased to hear it. All he's ever wanted was his sons to be alive and happy, and since he seems to have failed that with Lucas, at least Cooper seems to be on the right track.

But as he's making his way back to his room, he contemplates, before pulling out his phone and sending a text to the one member of the Sullivan family who isn't here. She might still have him blocked, but she's hoping he doesn't:]

Coop and I are in Star City for a while, just so you know.

He must only know me from the true crime series and biopics I never signed off on.

( He hates the one based on his time in prison but it made a good drinking game. )

I now this means something. I know he means something, but we've never met one of William's suitors. Except for that -- violinist we happened to run into.

( And this isn't just Cooper, but his father, and his friend. Seriously, full house. )

( She doesn't have him blocked. She couldn't block the father of her children, the man she thought she knew before everything, the only other person who could speak to her remaining son's whereabouts.

She fiddles with a matchbook in her hands when her phone sounds.

What are the odds her son and husband are so close.

She feels like she already needs a cigarette. )

You're in Star City?
I'm in Star City
What are you doing in Star City?

why is it you always get to sit in the shade

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