darker_london | Superheros (Julian, Joe) (Reply)

Julian had been waiting up for his father when Joe finally came home on Saturday morning at 6 am. Julian jumped off the sofa and ran to the door, which made Joe jump a foot and a half in the air, but he didn't scream, thankfully. "Jules! What are you doing up?"

"I was waiting for you." Julian hugged his father fiercely, glad to see him. Now that he was living away from his father for five days of the week, he really missed him. "I didn't want to go to bed until you were back. I wanted to see you."

"Oh, kiddo..."

"Are you hungry? I can make you breakfast?" Julian pulled his father's jacket off for him and he hung it up. He knew Joe was spending a great deal of his time taking care of Lavinia, and it was only right that now he have someone take care of him. And who better than his gay son?!

"Starved." Joe gave Julian an appreciative look. "Shouldn't I be the one making you breakfast?"

"No! Come!" Julian pulled his father into the kitchen of their new home and he pushed Joe gently into a chair. "What'll it be, Sir?"

"Just toast is fine..."

Julian raised his eyebrows at Joe incredulously. "Don't joke. I'm making you eggs benedict, don't argue."

Joe chuckled as Julian set about finding the ingredients. "Thanks, Kiddo."

"You're welcome. How's gramma?"

"Not so good, Kid. I hate seeing her like this. She was so happy a few days ago and now...it's horrible." Joe rested his head on his hands and he gave Julian a weak smile. "I can't understand where he could be."

"Poor gramma..." Julian pulled out the mixer and then he frowned. "Dad? You don't think it's Amaris, do you? I mean...she's after Uncle Thomas. What if we did such a good job protecting him that she got angry and took Mad Dog as bait or something?"

"Yeah." Joe sighed heavily. "I don't want to believe it, but I'm pretty sure they're looking into that possibility. I just...I hate to think of him in the clutches of that woman. I hate to think of what she would do."

Julian poured his father a glass of juice and he carried it over to him. "Here. Whatever she does, we'll make right. If he's bait, he's alive. I survived being bait, of a kind. Mad Dog will get through this too. Drink."

Joe caught Julian's hand before he could re-enter the kitchen and he pulled Julian back towards the table where he was sitting. "I love you, Julian."

Julian smiled and he nodded. "I know, Dad."

"I missed you this week. I'm so sorry we had to leave Bristol...I hate that this happened because I-"

Julian reached out and he used his fingers to smoosh Joe's lips together so he couldn't finish his sentence. Joe looked quite shocked and then he glanced up at Julian questioningly. "No apologising, Dad. It's necessary. And kind of tiresome..." Mostly because Julian was more than aware that it was his fault his father lost his job in the first place over a year ago, and every time Joe blamed it on himself, Julian felt guiltier. "It's okay. You also did what you had to when you had to to keep us from being homeless, which is pretty fucking awesome. I missed you too."

"How was Aislinn?"

"She was great." Julian's grin grew because his daughter was definitely his favourite topic. "She copies the sounds I make and it's hilarious. And she makes these faces at Damon...they're adorable together."

"And...Adam?"

"Heh.." Julian laughed. "I think having a baby and two teenagers around is something he'll need to get used to, but we'll be okay. We will, Dad, really."

"I believe you." Joe gave Julian a tired smile.

"Now stop distracting me, or you'll never get your eggs!" Julian danced back into the kitchen, full of energy despite being up all night. "Hey, Dad?"

"Yes, Julian?"

"Never forget you're a superhero, okay? To me, to Gramma...to everyone. Just don't forget that. Everything else doesn't matter. Only what's on the inside."

Joe smiled again and he gave his son a grateful look. "Alright, Kiddo. I won't forget."