The Prince

Part 8

"Skye?" Raymond tried again to speak to him, but he seemed to be purposefully avoiding him. Opening his bedroom door, he saw that his bed was made and that he'd already left the house. This couldn't go on any longer. It was like living with a stranger in their home. A stranger whose anger was boiling silently, waiting for an eruption.

Leaving them may have been a mistake, but he'd already signed the contract and there was no way of getting out of the investigation. Sighing, he sat on Skye's bed, looking around. His room was neat and tidy as if he didn't sleep there at all, with framed family pictures on his desk. Noticing that he was missing from the display, he unhappily walked out to find Jackson.

"Hey Josh, you know where the other two are?"

"Hi, Ray. They left early this morning. Something about an event at the bakery that they have to prepare for."

"Okay." Why would Jackson not tell him that he was leaving early? Was he being pushed out of the family? He felt frustrated because it seemed as if there was nothing to do but wait.

Making his way to the office, he set his bag down and went to find Damon.

"Hey, Pops. It's good to see you again." He smiled, taking a seat.

"Hey son, you seemed to have finished early. We weren't expecting you back for another month."

"I think if I'd stayed another month, then I'd be out of a family." His mouth turned down at the corners.

"Hmm, Jackson came to see me quite a few times," he said. "But they should be fine. Gillie's been checking up to make sure that they eat properly and get out," he chuckled. "But you look like something is bothering you."

"Well," he started slowly. "It does seem like I'm Skye's least favourite person in the world. He's been avoiding me since I got back and almost doesn't acknowledge me. Was I wrong to leave them?" He was filled with doubt at the moment and couldn't see which way was forward.

"Give him time, Son." Damon leaned forward. "You've all been through a lot, so things are bound to take time to get back to normal. You have to remember that it was only the two of them for over two months, so they will depend on each other more." When he saw that Raymond wasn't entirely convinced he continued,

"Why don't you speak to Kelley? She's bound to have some idea of how to handle this."

"Maybe I should," he sighed again, getting up. "I'll be taking some time off since the case is closed."

"Of course. Go and sort out your family and bring them over sometime. Skye has been avoiding us as well." Waiving him out, Damon sadly shook his head. His family had always been so happy and close, but after the year that they'd had, he wasn't much surprised that Skye would try and avoid them.

--

Getting out of the car, Raymond hoped that he'd find Jackson at the bakery. Once he opened the door with its light jingling bells, the smell of baked goods had him taking a deep, appreciative breath. 

Maybe one coffee and a slice of cake while he was waiting, he thought but was interrupted by a waitron hovering nearby.

"Do you know if Jackson is around, perhaps?" He asked after placing his order.

"He's not waiting on tables today, so won't be able to come out."

"Oh? Would you tell him that his husband is here to see him, maybe that'll work." He smiled gently as he watched her surprised expression.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't realise it was you," she profusely apologised. "I'll go get him for you immediately."

He watched as she rushed to the back of the bakery, shaking his head. Jackson not working the front of the house was unusual, since he enjoyed being around people so much. Was he baking? That didn't seem like his husband.

"Hi, my love. It's nice to see you slumming it with the rest of us working folk," he grinned giving Raymond a kiss before sitting down. "Is everything okay? You don't usually leave the office in the middle of the day."

"I've taken some time off to be with you and Skye. He's still avoiding me, which doesn't feel that great."

"Give him some time, my love. He needs to figure things out in his own time. Kelley said we should be there to support him and help him cope, but if we push him, then we run the risk of losing him. And I don't want to lose our  son." He said quietly.

"I suppose you're right. Has he been seeing Kelley while I've been away?"

"No idea. I don't interfere. I only try to distract him or to get him interested in the world again." He grabbed Raymond's hand. "I know it's frustrating for you because of the way he is, but let's not push too hard." When he saw Raymond's brow crease, he quickly added, "I'll have a chat with him tonight."

"If you think that would help, then I won't say no." He didn't expect much to come from the talk, but at least it was a solution to his problem. "Why are you working in the kitchen?"

"Skye and I learning to bake," he said matter-of-factly. "It's going well so far, but I think the little devil is cheating somehow. He always gets it right the first time!"

"You are?"

"Yes, we started a while ago. I still go in to sort out the company, but this is much more fun than business meetings and reports."

"Is Skye here?" He should be in school, but they did come to the bakery together.

"He left just before school. When he has time, the two of us normally go in early to get started on the bread."

"Oh," he said quietly.

"Don't worry, love. Before you know it we'll be on the right path as right as rain!" He could see that Raymond was worried about their home situation, but there was very little to do other than forcing Skye to open up and participate, but that was a road he wasn't prepared to go down.

"Well, I guess I'll get going now."

"I'll see you at home?" Jackson got up and gave him a kiss before walking him to the door.

In the car, he sat and wondered if he should pick Skye up at school so that they could have some time alone. After a moment's thought, he decided not to, in case he got murdered by his son's stares of death.