[And he is. He wanted Niall to be happy, and he meant it. He's learned, as he's grown, that the red strings he saw aren't guarantees - relationships still take work and effort.]
That's always hard, especially with kids involved.
[He swallows a number of responses that he could say, all the first instincts are inappropriate to say in the middle of a secondary school play.
No need, he could say.
I'm right here, is another option.
But it's not just the location. It's the fact that it's been nearly fifteen years, at least and they're not the same people they were before. He can't just place himself back as an option, like nothing ever happened. Like nothing ever changed.
So he swallows all of those instinctive responses and manages a smirk instead.]
Well, we're closed for the holidays. But if that's still what you're looking for in the new year, my number's still the same.
[Maybe he could call him for other reasons too. The invitation's there. But with that, he catches sight of his mother over Niall's shoulder and takes a deep breath, and a quick:]
Incoming.
[Is the only warning Niall gets before Catroina's bright voice echoes in their ears. "Oh, Niall! Look at you, it's been so long."]
( Some of the family is still gathered at the front of the stage, but they are indeed interrupted by Catroina, herself. If only she'd held off for maybe five more minutes.
But, he does have Bradan's number. )
It has, Mrs. Ford. You're looking well, and Maeve is very talented.
( Why did he say that, she doesn't even want to be up there. She's only there because of his little rascal.
Callahan does look up then, finding the scene, eyes wide and locking his brother's gaze. Is he in trouble? He feels like he might be in trouble. Double for letting their mother abandon her granddaughter. )
[The look Bradan gives his brother speaks volumes only because Cal is his twin, and they communicate on a level that most other people don't. He's floundering and while he's good at patching that up so most people don't see it, Cal has a habit of seeing through him.
Catroina, on the other hand, is just greeting Niall with his smile, fortunately drawing his attention away from Bradan.]
You're being very kind.
[She says because she knows that this isn't what Maeve's after. She's just here for Cole. She takes him by the shoulders, looking him over.]
How have you been, love? Bairre mentioned about the divorce, and I'm so sorry to hear it. But sometimes these things just don't work out.
( A quick, 'Don't back down, stay in the game' look follows.
Catroina has the presence of a woman who keeps your attention. Bradan shouldn't be worried.
He smiles, knowing he's being very kind and then it's time for her once-over. He's in one piece! Intact! Mostly. )
Yeah, this was a long way out from working out. I'm on the other side. ( Not exactly thriving, but not cringing every time someone mentions it. ) It's all about Cole, really, and Cole is grand. Cole is the best thing I've ever done and I'll ever do. He's bright up there, isn't he?
[And he is, lovely. Catroina hasn't spent much time with him, but Maeve isn't so easily moved that she'll be friends with just anyone. If someone has become her best friend, they've earned it.]
I hear you two are coming to dinner? There's more than enough room.
[Bradan grimaces at his brother, before glancing over at his niece. "Ciara, you driving with me or with your dad?"
"Yes! Coming!" And the walking glitterball flies away from the rest of the group to come to Bradan's side. Maeve follows, amused at her sister's antics.
"You know you're not going to get that glitter out of your car for weeks."
Bradan smirks as he gives her a hug and congratulations. "Such is the burden we all bear."]
( Sometimes, in the three years he and Bradan were close, he let himself feel like Catroina was his own mother. She treated him like one of her own, insisted on second helpings, asked about his love life, schooling, wants, dreams - she was always encouraging - and somehow the one to find him when he would drink alone out back on their estate. She always brought a second bottle.
In another lifetime they could have been the friends.
He beams over his child, though, knowing that half of Cole is just Cole and he's a right lucky bastard, but, yeah, 25%, he did that. )
Ciara had to twist my arm, but I know better than to turn down a delayed invitation. Think the kiddos waited until the recital so I'd be Ado Annie.
( In not saying no, but why does that feel weirder in the proximity of her son. It's fine. Luckily, Bradan taks uncle reins.
"He still has sand in his car from that time we went to the shore, what's a little glitter," Quinn says, helpfully as she follows behind.
Cole weaves through the Ford's to his father's side, but halfway there, is Maeve, and he looks conflicted, as if he really wants to walk with his da', but also his best friend.
Niall slows down enough so that both can be done as he ruffles his hair and keeps him close by the other shoulder. )
My little man. I heard we have other dinner plans.
Speaking of, we should round everyone up and get back to the house. All that food isn't going to eat itself. We can talk more when we get there.
[Time to divvy up the children to the various cars and see how quickly they can get back before the roast dries out - which it never does in Bairre's house, but that's neither here nor there.
"Do I hear you volunteering to clean it?" Bradan teases Quinn as she gets closer. "You coming as well, or are you riding with your dad?"]
[Bradan leans against the hood of his car and Ciara's hand is already on the back handle, leaning off it with her all her weight like she's waiting for him to unlock it. Maeve hangs closer to Cole because of course she's going to go with Cole.
It's just up to Quinn, and Bairre looks over at his oldest with an eyebrow raise.]
Up to you, love. If not I'll enjoy that nice quiet car all to myself.
Hold on, why are the grandparents out of this. We'll let you play whatever you want, kiddo.
( He makes his best offer to Quinn, who hedges, looking back between her dad and grandparents. But, where her grandparents go lie questions and lore and conversation.
"I'll go with dad," she says, finally. Sorry, glitterbomb. )
That does get her a warm smile from her dad, though, and he tucks his arm around her shoulders once she's close enough and they head back to the car. Everyone else shuffles off into their respective vehicles and they fall into the post event traffic, waiting for them to make their way back out into the streets.
Bairre will give it a gentle beat before bringing up gently:]
Danny came in the bakery the other day. Seen him much since he got back?
( Fatherly affection is allowed several times a year, it's Christmastime, she'll allow it. )
And his girlfriend, but between her English assimilation and his coventry, our time together has been light. Much more there, than here. But I take what I can get. You like her?
[So yes, he does like her, if their one off conversation is anything to go by.]
I think she's sweet. And I think he is very sweet on her. And if my eavesdropping skills are anything to go by, she may be becoming more of a permanent fixture not too long from now.
[Sometimes it can feel like lightning striking, and sometimes, once the person has been in your life long enough, your space feels strange without them in it. Like someone's stolen your favorite armchair.
It's that part that he's been wrestling with over the last few months.]
( She squeezes him in closer. He would know. She's never felt it. Maybe she's never let herself. She has an uncle that can't ever let himself feel anyone and one who connects people but not himself. And then her younger uncles. )
Then it's serious. More than a winter fling. Spring fling? What happens in winter. A flaking. I did. Like her.
[She was his first child, remembers the day the doctor put her in his arms and he can't believe she's nearly an adult already, but he's always been proud of her, and he's always known this was coming.]
But you're going to have to go eventually. You're almost at the point where you're going to have to start figuring the world out for yourself.
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[And he is. He wanted Niall to be happy, and he meant it. He's learned, as he's grown, that the red strings he saw aren't guarantees - relationships still take work and effort.]
That's always hard, especially with kids involved.
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( Or, hasn't he seen Charlie O'Daire on his show. )
We were happy, like all couples. And then we weren't. Why, you thinking about giving me the friends and family discount, Bray?
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No need, he could say.
I'm right here, is another option.
But it's not just the location. It's the fact that it's been nearly fifteen years, at least and they're not the same people they were before. He can't just place himself back as an option, like nothing ever happened. Like nothing ever changed.
So he swallows all of those instinctive responses and manages a smirk instead.]
Are you in need of a matchmaker, then?
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( But, he doesn't want a matchmaker. Maybe he'd want this matchmaker. But not to make his match. To be his match.
But he can't say that here, can he.
No. )
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[Maybe he could call him for other reasons too. The invitation's there. But with that, he catches sight of his mother over Niall's shoulder and takes a deep breath, and a quick:]
Incoming.
[Is the only warning Niall gets before Catroina's bright voice echoes in their ears. "Oh, Niall! Look at you, it's been so long."]
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( Some of the family is still gathered at the front of the stage, but they are indeed interrupted by Catroina, herself. If only she'd held off for maybe five more minutes.
But, he does have Bradan's number. )
It has, Mrs. Ford. You're looking well, and Maeve is very talented.
( Why did he say that, she doesn't even want to be up there. She's only there because of his little rascal.
Callahan does look up then, finding the scene, eyes wide and locking his brother's gaze. Is he in trouble? He feels like he might be in trouble. Double for letting their mother abandon her granddaughter. )
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Catroina, on the other hand, is just greeting Niall with his smile, fortunately drawing his attention away from Bradan.]
You're being very kind.
[She says because she knows that this isn't what Maeve's after. She's just here for Cole. She takes him by the shoulders, looking him over.]
How have you been, love? Bairre mentioned about the divorce, and I'm so sorry to hear it. But sometimes these things just don't work out.
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Catroina has the presence of a woman who keeps your attention. Bradan shouldn't be worried.
He smiles, knowing he's being very kind and then it's time for her once-over. He's in one piece! Intact! Mostly. )
Yeah, this was a long way out from working out. I'm on the other side. ( Not exactly thriving, but not cringing every time someone mentions it. ) It's all about Cole, really, and Cole is grand. Cole is the best thing I've ever done and I'll ever do. He's bright up there, isn't he?
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[And he is, lovely. Catroina hasn't spent much time with him, but Maeve isn't so easily moved that she'll be friends with just anyone. If someone has become her best friend, they've earned it.]
I hear you two are coming to dinner? There's more than enough room.
[Bradan grimaces at his brother, before glancing over at his niece. "Ciara, you driving with me or with your dad?"
"Yes! Coming!" And the walking glitterball flies away from the rest of the group to come to Bradan's side. Maeve follows, amused at her sister's antics.
"You know you're not going to get that glitter out of your car for weeks."
Bradan smirks as he gives her a hug and congratulations. "Such is the burden we all bear."]
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In another lifetime they could have been the friends.
He beams over his child, though, knowing that half of Cole is just Cole and he's a right lucky bastard, but, yeah, 25%, he did that. )
Ciara had to twist my arm, but I know better than to turn down a delayed invitation. Think the kiddos waited until the recital so I'd be Ado Annie.
( In not saying no, but why does that feel weirder in the proximity of her son. It's fine. Luckily, Bradan taks uncle reins.
"He still has sand in his car from that time we went to the shore, what's a little glitter," Quinn says, helpfully as she follows behind.
Cole weaves through the Ford's to his father's side, but halfway there, is Maeve, and he looks conflicted, as if he really wants to walk with his da', but also his best friend.
Niall slows down enough so that both can be done as he ruffles his hair and keeps him close by the other shoulder. )
My little man. I heard we have other dinner plans.
"We're the special guests!" )
Aren't we always.
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[Time to divvy up the children to the various cars and see how quickly they can get back before the roast dries out - which it never does in Bairre's house, but that's neither here nor there.
"Do I hear you volunteering to clean it?" Bradan teases Quinn as she gets closer. "You coming as well, or are you riding with your dad?"]
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( Even if they're two tweens, they at least aren't her giant family. Though, she'd prefer to ride with her uncles, than her dad and Ciara. )
What's your offer?
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If you do, you're riding in the back with the glitter bomb. So no offer, just know that you're doing so at your own risk.
[Bairre comes up with his father close behind and shakes his head with a smirk.
"All that effort to raise 'em and they abandon you for any other adult they can get."]
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( He jokes, but he and Catroina were beside themselves when two of their kids up and disappeared. )
I wouldn't worry in Cal's hands, but I don't know this Mr. McNally.
( "A hello to you, too, Mr. Ford," Niall says, behind him as everyone shuffles along into the parking lot. )
Alright, everyone. Who is riding with who. Last call.
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It's just up to Quinn, and Bairre looks over at his oldest with an eyebrow raise.]
Up to you, love. If not I'll enjoy that nice quiet car all to myself.
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( He makes his best offer to Quinn, who hedges, looking back between her dad and grandparents. But, where her grandparents go lie questions and lore and conversation.
"I'll go with dad," she says, finally. Sorry, glitterbomb. )
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That does get her a warm smile from her dad, though, and he tucks his arm around her shoulders once she's close enough and they head back to the car. Everyone else shuffles off into their respective vehicles and they fall into the post event traffic, waiting for them to make their way back out into the streets.
Bairre will give it a gentle beat before bringing up gently:]
Danny came in the bakery the other day. Seen him much since he got back?
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And his girlfriend, but between her English assimilation and his coventry, our time together has been light. Much more there, than here. But I take what I can get. You like her?
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[So yes, he does like her, if their one off conversation is anything to go by.]
I think she's sweet. And I think he is very sweet on her. And if my eavesdropping skills are anything to go by, she may be becoming more of a permanent fixture not too long from now.
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( But she knows her father doesn't do that, not unless he has to. She's heard stories as he perfected and avoided his family power. )
You're describing her like lighting or furniture.
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[Sometimes it can feel like lightning striking, and sometimes, once the person has been in your life long enough, your space feels strange without them in it. Like someone's stolen your favorite armchair.
It's that part that he's been wrestling with over the last few months.]
But she was talking about transferring to Oxford.
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Then it's serious. More than a winter fling. Spring fling? What happens in winter. A flaking. I did. Like her.
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[That she likes her.]
If she does move here, she's going to need friends. And I think he misses you.
[If the frequency that he shows up at the bakery is any indication.]
Trying to make up for lost time.
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( She'll miss him and her sisters. )
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[She was his first child, remembers the day the doctor put her in his arms and he can't believe she's nearly an adult already, but he's always been proud of her, and he's always known this was coming.]
But you're going to have to go eventually. You're almost at the point where you're going to have to start figuring the world out for yourself.
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