The Treehouse [BxB]

nine

Mickey's fingertip traced the rim of the wine glass as he zoned out of the conversation flowing around him, bored, restless, his leg twitching. He wanted to go home. play video games with River, share a cigarette, and dream about Riley Barnett. But instead, he was here, sitting in a fancy restaurant whilst his Father bombarded him with countless questions about his future.

"I'm not sure." Mickey finally replied, his gaze snapping up to meet his Father's pale eyes. Ian Hunt was a tall man, with a rugged beard, and dewy white skin. He looked nothing like his son; Mickey had inherited most of his genes from his Mother's side. "I haven't thought about university very much." He continued.

Ian sighed, "Son, don't you think it's time you started to consider these things?" He pressed. "You'll be starting to make applications soon."

His wife, Haley, placed a hand on his shoulder, "Honey, let him enjoy his summer holidays." She told Mickey's Father, "He doesn't need to worry about university yet."

Ian nodded, brushing a strand of dust off of his clean suit. They were sitting on the terrace of an expensive restaurant, beneath the afternoon sun, drinking wine and pretending to be a happy family. Mickey's Father had brought his wife along with him; young, blonde, lots of makeup, and closer in age to Mickey than his Father. Luckily, they hadn't brought the twins this time; they were a couple of spoilt little brats. "So..." Ian cleared his throat, "How have you been spending your summer holidays?"

Mickey shrugged, taking a sip of a red wine, "With River, mostly."

"And how is he?"

"Good." Mickey shrugged, "He's gay."

Haley giggled at the bluntness of Mickey's words, and Ian sat up straight, "Well, that's...Uh..." He poured himself another glass of wine, "Good for him. I always liked that boy."

"Are you seeing anyone, Mickey?" Haley asked suggestively. She was always trying to 'connect' with him; become the cool step-Mother who could relate to all of his problems. It would never happen. It's not like Mickey disliked her - she was nice - but they had nothing in common.

"No." He replied plainly, turning back to face his Father, "Audre would love to see you, Dad."

He stiffened slightly, "Yes, well...I'll try my hardest to find a time when I can see her."

"You could've invited her today." Mickey challenged.

"This restaurant isn't appropriate for children, Mickey, you know that." What he meant to say was that it was too posh.

"You could have picked a different restaurant." Mickey suggested, "And she's not a baby; she's ten years old now. She can handle a fucking restaurant-"

"Mickey."

Mickey leant back in his chair, downing the rest of his wine. His Father knew just how to get under his fucking skin. "You never see her." He added quietly, "She thinks you don't love her."

"That's absurd-"

"Is it?" Mickey snapped. His Father left them a month after Audre was born. He never took the chance to get to know her; he never even tried. He was too busy building a new family with his hot new wife to think about the one he left behind.

"Mickey, darling..." Haley smiled sympathetically at him, "Your Father loves both you and your sister very much."

"Sure." He said dryly.

"Son..." Ian sighed, "I invited you here because Haley and I had something we wanted to discuss with you." He took his wife's hand, and gave it a squeeze, "We've decided to have another baby." He announced.