#bergen_county

"Are.... not." Adam lifts his face. "You're my dad."

"Yes... but I"m not been a good one. I got caught in on scamming others and told myself it was to put bread on the table. Not good when table is about to collapse from neglect. We won't even get into the other stuff. Son... I love you, and maybe sometimes I don't realize how lonely you feel in this big world that's new to you still....you have friends but I know you you... you want in the thick of it. And you've worked hard to impress them, and then you're mother and I are part of it too and we're putting some restraints on you. I can't apologize for that. Parents are basically guard rails for 18 years of your life... it's our job to try to find the right spacing but we don't remove them entirely. But I do sympathize. ANd I wish we'd explained some rules to you better before rather than cracking down on them after. I... I'm not sure I'm good at this, and I'm sorry."

Adam, feeling empty, pulls himself to his feet against trees. "Don't.... don't have to be. Good. Just.... you love me?" SNUFF. "That's enough, right? That's.... everything." Tears well up again.

His father rises next to him "Do I love you? With all my heart. Doesn't matter how tall I am" He puts his hand on his son's shoulders, "Or how bad ass you get, you'll always be my boy.. I want you to have a better everything than I did and I think , you will become a better man. I love you for who you are now, and I love you for the child you were, and though I haven't met him yet, I know I will love who you will be"

Adam wraps his arms around his father (as much as he can) and squeezes. "Love you, dad....." muttered damply.

"Then I must be doing something right" Kyle says in the embrace

"Kyle? Adam?" Brenda's voice searching

SNUFF.

"Overhere. "

Brena comes in "is everything okay?" She says "Oh my, it's not. Kyle you look faded and Adam? What's..."

Kyle says "Our son clobbered a monster" he adds "With help"

Brenda moves over the crunched egg shells and mud and ..hugs Adam as well

"Mom......."

The boy hugs back.

"Hey... rough night huh?" His mom says

Snuff, and nod. "Yeah. Bad."

"I'm sorry it happened. I love you so much, Adam. I do. Let's get home, okay? "

"Kay." Quietly.

And they head home... Brenda and Kyle will talk privately later, but right now they're going to hold that conversation for when they're son is..okay

And Adam agrees that he might need a shower but.... would, after, like to watch a movie with them. On the couch. And.... well, he even misses Lily.

Agreed.. showers, PJs... and the family's favorite Christmas movie... Die Hard

Nevermind it's Easter time

"Just.... no one asked me." Half asleep.

"Asked you what, honey?" Brenda says gently

He didn't exactly curl up in her lap, as he did when he was a small child, but there's still some contact as he sprawls across the couch.

"..... love......"

"Well, I love you" Brenda says "Your dad loves you. And.. I hope you love us too," A squeeze

".......love you." He affirms.

"And.. if we miss somethings, some questions we should ask, we'll.. it doesn't mean we don't care. I promise you that" she says

And they family, waiting for that wonderful moment where the bad guy falls to his death

(End Scene)

Kerri approaches the Thomas house.

A deep breath, and she knocks on the door.

The door opens..dogless

And it's Kyle, the blue gray troll says "Kerri? I..didn't expect you this morning." he has a few scratches on him, his mein a bit faded

"I can understand that. And I'm sorry to be here so early....Kyle? Are you okay?"

"Few Scratches, major embarrasment.. but nothing as important as the concerns I have over my wife and kids. I..."

And hoofsteps "Kyle, who is..." She hears an apology coming out, sees WhO her husband is talking to, "Oh no, not again" Brenda charges and somehow pushes her much bigger husband to the side. Kerri recognizes that look... protective wife mode

She's worn the look herself at times

Kerri takes a couple of steps back, hands in front of her, picnic basket rocking perilously on one forearm. "Truce! Truce! I come bearing an apology and breakfast!"

Brenda stops. Then lets a bit of her own embarrasment show "Well, this is awkward .I was.. in the kitchen making an apology pie to you. "

Kerri takes a breath and hazards a grin. "Well...I don't want to interrupt pie progress, but...can we all talk a few minutes?"

She nods "Well, please, come in"

Kyle already has made room, and they all head to the kitchen

Kyle asks "Do I need to step out of this one ? "

"No, Kyle, please. I'd like you both to be here. I mean...easier to say it once, you know?" A bit of lavender. "Here let me just..." she sets out the plate of pastries and the carafe. "Mimosas," she explains, "with a bit of glamour in there. And frankly, it looks like you could both use a bit."

"My horns do feel somewhat wilting" Brenda says

There is a pleasant smell coming from the oven

"Oh, that smells lovely, Brenda. So...." She stops, takes a breath, squares her shoulders, and begins. "I know I was very confrontational yesterday. I accused, I got in your faces, and I pushed hard. I offended you and I hurt you. That wasn't the goal or the intent, but it was the effect, and for that I'm sorry."