Living Together // DNF

19

"I'm really happy to see you again, Clay."

Dream let the words hover between them, eyes narrowing just the slightest bit as he asked, "you...you are?"

He saw the hurt expression that crossed his father's face, but he didn't really feel guilty for asking, not when his father hadn't even bothered to contact him once over the past few years, or bothered to answer his phone call just days ago.

His father's face softened a bit, a small smile replacing the hurt expression as he answered, "of course I am."

Dream nodded, but he felt a lump forming in his throat, his hands still unsteady as he quietly responded, "oh...it's just that I haven't heard from you in so long, so I wasn't sure. And I tried calling you before we flew out here, but you didn't answer or call me back."

He let his eyes settle on his father, and he saw that he seemed just as nervous as Dream felt, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as he answered, "ah, I got a new number a while back. And I know we haven't talked in a long time, but I'd like to try and explain everything if you'd give me the chance."

Dream inhaled slowly, still feeling unsure about the whole situation. But he had come all the way to Florida for this, it would be pointless to back out now. So he nodded, giving his father a small smile as he quietly answered, "sure, I'd like that."

His father returned the smile, and then his arms were reaching out and pulling Dream into a hug. Dream held back at first, not used to the show of affection from his own father, but then he let himself melt into it, his arms lifting to hug him back.

The embrace didn't last long before Dream was pulling back, eyes cast down as he awkwardly shoved his hands into his pockets. But his eyes lifted quickly as he heard his father ask, "who's this, Clay? You brought a friend?"

Dream's eyes followed the path of his father's gaze, resting on George as he swallowed nervously, heart fluttering in his chest as George looked up at him, his expression worried and unsure. He had never brought anyone home to meet his father before, and he had certainly never considered bringing home another guy.

He felt his face heat up with nerves, green eyes flickering back over to meet his father's questioning gaze as he exhaled a quick breath. He hoped his father really was as different as he seemed, because Dream already knew that when it came down it, he would choose George over just about anyone.

And this thought alone was enough to calm most of the nerves as he looked back over at George, giving him a reassuring smile and reaching to slide their hands together. George smiled as soon as Dream's hand made contact, and the feeling made Dream feel even more calm as he gently pulled George closer to his side. He looked back over to see his father's eyes dropping to watch their hands, an eyebrow raised questioningly.

"This is George," Dream finally said, "we're actually engaged. That's part of the reason why I'm here, I wanted to tell you in person."

He looked over at George to see his face light up with a smile, and then back to his father to see that he was wearing an unreadable expression. He held his breath as a silence hovered for a moment, but then his father was extending a hand to George, his voice warm and kind as he said, "wow, well congratulations to the both of you. And I'm very happy to meet you, George."

Dream watched George mirror the action, his hand extending to meet his father's for a quick handshake, his voice quiet and soft as he responded, "thank you. And I'm happy to meet you as well."

Dream exhaled a breath of relief, not even believing how well things were going so far, it almost felt surreal to him. But it also felt good, like maybe there was hope for a normal relationship with his father, which was something he never would have imagined happening.