Kaden couldn't keep the scowl off his face as he pushed open the door of the overly expensive restaurant in the city.

Seeing his parents was never something he enjoyed. Since he had started living mostly on his own, his parents made him go to these stupid dinners once every couple of months to "catch up" or some shit like that.

Really, it was just so they could keep up appearances with their rich friends.

Scanning the restaurant with annoyed eyes, he made his way over to where his parents sat, their eyes regarding him the way one would regard an old acquaintance. Not the way one would regard their own son.

Big time lawyers, Carol and Michael Rivers were considered socially important amongst the community. Two people who liked the idea of having a child, but never knew how to actually raise the child once they did.

His mother had straight blond hair falling to her shoulders, his father with cropped hair, slightly darker.

They weren't bad people at heart, Kaden knew that. Sure, they cared a little too much about the family name and appearances, but they weren't cruel.

They just weren't cut out to be parents. They were kind and understanding to their friends, but when it came to dealing with an actual child, they were way out of their depth.

He flopped into his chair, giving them both a curt nod. He could see his parents smiles become strained as he sat sloppily in his chair.

"Kaden dear, it's nice to see you." Carol said, patting him hesitantly on the shoulder.

He had stop calling them Mom and Dad years ago.

"Yeah," Kaden replied awkwardly, not quite sure what else he could say.

"How's school going?" Michael asked in an attempt to break the awkwardness that had settled over them once again.

Kaden fought against the urge to roll his eyes. Of course the first question his father asked would have to be about his education. Can't have their son become a drop out, what ever would the neighbours think?

"Yeah, good." Kaden said, picking up the menu and scanning it with his eyes.

His parents mimicked his actions, also plucking up their menus and reading through the options.

"I'm top of my class in maths," he blurted out a second later, instantly regretting it.

He hated that need that he felt to impress them. He hated that no matter how much they disregarded him he still felt this need to make them proud.

Their smiles should mean nothing to him. He felt anger bubbling up inside of him. Anger at his parents, but mostly at himself. He was an idiot, always trying to prove himself to them, as if their fucking opinions even mattered.

"That's great honey." Carol said with a smile, while Michael said "Well done kid, " at the same time.

He hated that his mood slightly lifted at this, and forced himself to remember who exactly he was talking to. The people who had abandoned him, who had chose a life in the city over a life with their son.

He felt tears of anger burning in his eyes, and decided to excuse himself before they spilled over.

"I'll be in the bathroom." He said as he stood up, fighting to keep his voice steady. "If the waitress comes just order me whatever."

His voice came out slightly deeper as a result of his attempts to keep his choked tears at bay.

His parents just nodded, as he all but hurled himself towards the bathrooms. He locked himself into the stall, glad that he was the only one in the bathroom as he let out a muffled sob of frustration.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, punching in Farren's number.

He answered after the first ring, and Kaden breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of his boyfriends voice.

"Hey Kaden."

"Farren," he replied, and Farren must have heard the tremors in his voice.

"Kaden, what's wrong? Is it your parents?" Farren asked, concern seeping in through the phone.

Kaden slumped down on the floor of the bathroom, the occasional tear spilling over and running down his face. "Yeah."

"What's up? Did you come out to them?"

"Not yet." Kaden laughed bitterly, he had almost forgotten about that. "It's just.. fuck. I don't know Farren but I feel this fucking urge to make them proud, and I hate it because I hate them. Well, not them but what they did to me. Abandoned me."

There was silence at the other end for a moment before Farren replied thoughtfully.

"I know you don't understand it Kaden, but I guess at the end of the day that need to impress them is always gonna be there. I know they don't deserve to know a single thing about you, and in time you'll be able to move past it."

"You think?" Kaden breathed, thanking God for sending him someone as understanding as Farren Milton.

"I do Kaden. I really do."

"What did I do to deserve you?" He asked, and he could almost feel Farren's smirk through the phone.

"Cute." Farren teased, and Kaden found himself blushing.

"How did things go with your family?" Kaden asked, suddenly remembering that today was the day Farren planned to come out to them.

"Great," Farren admitted happily. "Rowan wasn't there, but I thought we could come out to her together, considering she frickin' adores you."

"Sounds good," Kaden said, smiling as he imagined Rowan's reaction to the news.

They chatted aimlessly for another minute or so, until with a sigh Kaden decided to end the call. "I guess it's time I went back out to them."

"You sure? I can come collect you if you're not feeling up to it."

Kaden almost considered this, but he knew he had to face them. "No, this is something I need to do. If I don't come out to them now, I'll just be lying to myself for their sake."

"Okay, if your sure." Farren said.

"I am."

Both of them went quiet then, words unsaid hanging in the air between them.

Farren was the first one to break the silence. "Well, I guess I'll see you later then."

"Yeah." Kaden said, clearing his throat. "Bye."

The call ended and Kaden left the bathroom stall. He rested his hands on the counter and looked at himself in the mirror. Those last few seconds on the phone with Farren, that silence that stretched between them. Words hung in the air, and Kaden knew exactly what three words it was he wanted to say.

Was it too early to say it? Probably.

Was it too early to know? Definitely not.

He loved Farren, there was no doubt about it at this stage. He had been falling in love with Farren from their first moment together, and the realisation wasn't exactly shocking. It was like he already knew in the back of his mind, but he was just coming around to thinking it.

Taking a deep breath, he left the bathroom and made his way back to where his parents were sitting.

Taking his seat across from them, he met their curious smiles with newfound determination.

"We ordered you the lasagne, is that okay?"

"Yeah fine, thanks." Kaden said distractedly. For once, food was not the first thing on his mind.

"Mom, Dad, there's something you should know." He said, the words Mom and Dad sounding foreign to him.

They seemed to be surprised too, used to him addressing them by their first names.

"Is everything okay?" Michael asked, and either he was a good actor or he genuinely cared because this was one of the first times Kaden had heard what seemed like genuine interest in his father's voice.

"Everything's good. Great, actually." He paused and took a deep breath before continuing. "I've met someone."

"You've met someone?" Carol asked, "like a girlfriend?"

"Not exactly." Kaden said, looking between the two of them awkwardly. "More of a boyfriend."

He could hear his mother's sharp intake of breath, and his father's cough of shock.

"A boyfriend? Does that mean-"

"I'm gay. Yes." Kaden cut his mother off, suddenly very interested in the tablecloth pattern.

"Are you sure?" Michael asked once he regained his composure.

"I love him." Kaden said, finally saying aloud what had been playing subconsciously in the back of his mind for a while.

Having it out there, out in the open made it all the more real. He loved Farren. He was in love with Farren. Kaden Rivers was in love with Farren Milton.

It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. Simultaneously like a warm fire and a bucket of ice water. Everything all at once.

"Love.. love is a strong word Kaden." Carol spoke softly, and Kaden couldn't read her expression.

"I know." He said defiantly, sticking his chin out.

"Well if you're sure then I guess.. I guess we're happy for you." Michael spoke, and Kaden felt his jaw drop in surprise.

"You're not mad?"

"Well, it's not exactly what we expected, but if it's who you are, then who are we to make you feel bad about it?" Carol spoke softly, a conflicted smile spread across her face.

Kaden felt weird. It was strange for them to act all supportive when they barely payed any attention to him most of the time.

As if reading his thoughts, his mother broke out in a sad smile. "Look Kaden, there's no point in sugar coating things. I know we haven't been the best parents, and I know we never gave you the attention you needed. But if, and only if, you're willing to give us a chance, we'd like to change that."

If Kaden was surprised before, he was floored with shock at this stage. "You really mean that?"

"Of course son. When we had you, we didn't realise we weren't cut out to be parents. But we've been doing a lot of thinking lately, and if it's okay with you we'd love to get to know you properly. It won't be easy for you, and we understand that. If you're completely against the idea, we'll accept your decision. But we really hope you'll at least consider the offer," Michael spoke, Carol nodding beside him in agreement.

Kaden thought about it for a minute. Did they deserve a second chance? His first answer was no, but looking at them now he realised that they weren't bad people, just lost.

"Okay." He said simply, shrugging his shoulders.

"Okay you'll consider it?" Carol asked hopefully, a smile lighting up her face.

"Okay I'll give you guys a second chance. But you have to be serious about this. If you're not willing to commit then you need to say it now, because next time there won't be a second chance."

"Of course honey. It means a lot to us that you're willing to look beyond the past. We're really going to try, I promise. First things first, how do you feel about us staying in the house on a more permanent basis?"

Kaden thought about it. Was he ready to have them in his life to this extent? "I mean.. I guess it wouldn't be a bad place to start."

His parents smiled with grateful delight, and Kaden felt a wave of happiness wash over him. They were really serious about this. They were actually going to put in an effort, and the thought of having a real family was warming him.

He wasn't stupid and neither were they, they all knew that things wouldn't be easy, and that it would take a long time for them to ever possibly even resemble a regular family. Put if they were willing to put in the effort, he was too.

They would have to take things slow, but maybe one day he would get back to calling them Mom and Dad. Maybe one day he would really love them.

A whole bunch of maybes, but it was a risk he was willing to take. Just this once.

XXXXX

I'm not too sure I like this chapter but oh well, had to be written sometime ://

Qotc; Do you have/want any piercings?

Love y'all!!

Xxx

-A