(COMPLETE) Love Isn't Conditional

The Man in the Park

Hi guys and thanks for reading this work so far! Just a few PSA's:

Remy is mentioned (yes he's Roman and Remus' other parent) but he doesn't actually appear at all in the book. He just exists and is mentioned once or twice.

Also in this AU I imagined Virgil as black/mixed race - so tell me if any of his descriptions are wrong or offensive. Logan is not biologically related so Logan I can imagine is just typical white dude.

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Roman walked into the kitchen to make his and his son lunch, acting as though he was in his own house to avoid confronting the reality that he walked out on his five year long relationship. The relationship he thought would last until his death in the retirement home, and that he'd have his perfect 3 kids and white picket fence family with. Patton, his only yet most loved child, was sat at the dining table with his Uncle Remus, playing with his play-doh bakery while Remus ate. Roman gave a nod to his brother and began cutting bread.

"What you eating Uncle?" Patton asked curiously, pouring play-doh from one container to another and keeping his eyes on Remus. Remus looked up and tilted his head midway through eating, a small mischievous smile appearing as he ruffled his dyed green hair.

"Pickles and ice cream, want some?" He said, dipping a pickle in the vanilla ice cream and reaching forward so the disgusting phenomenon of chaos was in Patton's grasp. Patton luckily wasn't feeling adventurous and just glanced at his dad confused, not touching the mixture.

"Pattoncake's about to have sandwiches. He can have ice cream for dessert."

Remus glanced at Roman in shock as if that sentence was some kind of alien concept. Roman knew at that age he would have definitely eaten pickles and ice cream with his twin brother for lunch but he hoped to make his son's life less chaotic. That didn't mean Roman was the best at mealtimes, sometimes he'd create a weird concoction for a meal and share it with Patton – Crofters tomato soup was their favourite. Sometimes they would have their meals at weird times too, Roman wasn't at all organised and Janus – the ex-fiancé who was good with time management – was mostly absent. "Hey, kid, can I eat some of your play-doh once it's done in your oven?"

Of course Remus wanted to eat play-doh.

"Do you want to go to the play park after lunch Puffball?" Roman asked his son to interrupt his brother being poisoned, squishing Patton's cheek and placing sandwiches in front of him. Patton nodded excitedly and began to eat, making Roman chuckle softly. Remus rolled his eyes at the lack of play-doh given to him by the 3 year old. "Good, just don't eat anything Uncle gives you bud, and don't give him play-doh."

"You're such a Dad bro. It's boring." Remus sighed, leaning back in his chair. Roman laughed, watching his son eat and play, feeling like the luckiest man in the world with his little adorable toddler.

After a few hours Roman and Patton finally made it to the park. He knew this park like the back of his hand, spending way too many hours on the swing set as a teenager and hours upon hours of his childhood in the play area. It was also extremely scenic and peaceful, the benches were shaded by trees and faced the play park, and birds always chirped sweetly especially in the current season of summer. He remembered when it was autumn and the leaves were falling on the benches. That's where he had his first kiss with Janus, sitting on a bench, skipping college classes for a date. It was such a romantic moment that seemed like an alternate timeline. It seemed impossible he'd be kissed like that again.

"Daddy can I go play?" Patton's voice interrupted Roman's memories of the 'good old days' that were slowly being corrupted. He nodded, making sure it was safe first of course, and the toddler ran off towards the play area. Roman kept his eyes on him, staying standing on the stone path for now instead of sitting on the bench. The benches held too many memories, and he wasn't disturbing many people by standing. Patton played happily, talking and joining in with other kids like he'd known them for years. It seemed just like Remus and Roman were as children, playing in the same play area and making friends that had likely moved to the city or across state. Roman could never just absorb a friendship after a few minutes, it took at least a day unlike Patton's power, Roman was always proud of his son's endless enthusiasm.