separation//[t.j.]

oh boy.

a week later

a little over a week passed, and we were finishing up our last show in boston.

ever since riley had their kiss with jace, they seemed a lot happier. it wasn't obvious but i could definitely see a change in their happiness. hence the kiss, the two decided not to date yet and just wait until they know each other a bit better.

they were still so adorable.

however, since my kiss with tyler, things have been slightly off. we still got along and we still acted the same, we just didn't flirt with each other any more. it kind of bummed me out, but i knew it was my choice. it was what was best for everything that was going on and i didn't want to overwhelm riley by dating their dad.

i knew i could just talk to riley about it, but that was the thing. i wasn't just doing it for them. no matter how much i wanted to push it away, a part of me was still scared that tyler would leave. even if i trusted him again, it didn't matter. i was still terrified of him leaving me.

the last show we had in boston, riley seemed a little bit off. they were biting and picking at their nails and checking their phone a lot often than normal. they were anxious and i could tell. i just didn't know why.

"does riley seem a bit off, to you?" i asked tyler, wondering if maybe it was just in my head.

"yeah, they seem anxious. have they said anything to you?" he replied. i shook my head.

"let's go talk to them." i decided.

tyler and i went over to the couch in the dressing room and sat across from riley.

"hey kiddo, are you alright?" tyler asked them.

"you seem anxious. is something bothering you?" i added. they looked up at us.

"what? me? no i'm not- i'm fine." they tried to assure us. but we could see right through them. tyler and i looked at each other and then back at riley.

"you know you can tell us anything. did something happen with jace?" i asked them.

"mom, i'm fine. well, i'm not- it really doesn't matter, okay? it doesn't matter." riley snapped. i sighed.

"riley, you matter. we're your parents and we're here for you and we always want to help you when you're going through something or you're anxious." tyler told them. riley took a shaky breath and shook their head.

"i'm not going through something. i've just learned something and i'm finally going to start accepting it." they started. "i mean, i've kinda known this for a while but i didn't really know how to accept it. i want you guys to know that i'm still me and i really hope you guys accept me, okay?"

"what is it?" i asked, but i had a feeling i knew what was coming next.

"i-" riley looked up and tyler and i with tears running down their cheeks. "i'm a boy."

"oh riley," i said, rushing to pull him into a hug. tyler quickly followed suit, hugging our son with me.

"you don't have to cry, kiddo. we still love and support you. we always will, no matter how you identify yourself." tyler assured riley. i rubbed riley's back.

"your dad is right. we still accept you as our son. we'll always love you no matter what." i assured riley. he looked up at us and wiped his tears while sniffling.

"really? you guys support me?" he asked us.

"of course we do! you're our son and we love you so much." i told riley.

"i love you guys so much." riley sniffled. we pulled him into a big hug again and he giggled.

"i was so anxious when i was waiting to tell you guys. i told jace first and they assured me you guys would accept me. i guess she was right." he told us.

"no matter what happens, we'll always love and be there for you kid. always." tyler said. riley smiled.

"i know. that's why i love you guys. you've both truly given me everything a person would want."

that was my goal. ever since i had riley my goal was to give him the best life possible. to see him so happy with what he had was truly blissful. like a breath of fresh air that assured me i didn't fail as a mom.

"so what are your official pronouns now?" i asked riley, to be 100% sure.

"he/him. that's definitely for sure." he replied.

"are you changing your name or keeping what you have now?" tyler asked.

"i think i'm keeping riley. it just fits me and it's gender neutral anyways." riley informed us. tyler and i nodded.

"noted. i don't know about you but i have a show to get ready for." tyler said with a chuckle.

"okay, can i tell debby, josh, and mark my new pronouns?" riley asked.

"of course. you can tell anyone as long as you're ready." i told him. tyler nodded in agreement.

"then i'm gonna talk with them about that now. i love you guys." riley told us, then disappearing.

"we have a son." tyler said. i nodded.

"i love him so much. i'm so proud of him." i replied. tyler just wrapped his arm around me.

"so am i."