A Family (x reader)

Make it right

"I'm sorry."
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"Martinez, I need to ask something of you."

"And what's that?"

"If I could get the day off?" Ethan asks.

"And why should I, just like that, on such short notice? We still have lots to do and not enough people." He asks him.

"My family." Ethan says looking down in shame. "I've been so focused on work, i neglected them. I have to make it right before it's too late." He tells him.

Martinez frowns, looking down at the papers he was holding, thinking about his own family. After agreeing, Ethan thanked him profusely and left to run back to your room.

...

Reaching your room he finds you helping Parker get dressed for the day. He stands in the doorway, looking at the two of you interacting with love and adoration.

"Ethan?" You ask confused when you notice him, then you look worried. "Is something wrong?"

"I asked for a day off." He says coming into the room. You look at him with wide eyes.

"You're spending the day with us?" Parker asks hopeful.

"Yes." Ethan smiles happily.

Parker smiles brightly and looks between you. "What are we gonna do?"

"We can do whatever you want.." He says coming up to the excited boy. "But.. at one point during the day, whenever and for as long as she wants.." Ethan says and looks at you. "Yn can do whatever she wants.. alone."

Your eyes start to water as he says that, not having had a moment to yourself in weeks.

"Okay! Can we baseball?" Parker asks and Ethan smiles with a nod.

When Parker runs excitedly to his shoes on, Ethan turns and walk up to you, enveloping you in a hug when he sees you on the verge of crying.

"I'm sorry." He says, holding you tightly. Apologising for having deprived you from getting a break and a moment to yourself for weeks. Taken you completely for granted.

...

You're walking beside Ethan with Parker in front as you're heading outside to play.

"So, what are you going to do with your way overdue break?" Ethan asks you.

"I don't know, I haven't thought about getting a minute to myself in a long time." You say and Ethan looks down in shame.

"Yn, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for taking you and everything you do for granted. I promise I'm never gonna do it that again." He says looking up at you. You just give him a small smile, then you get an idea of what you want to do.

"I'm going to read.. Paula said she would let me borrow a book she has. I think I'm gonna do that and just sit in silence for a few hours, if that's okay with you?"

"Of course, for as long as you want. And I promise, I'll step up. It won't be the only time you'll get to read for yourself. I'll take Parker as much as possible. There's still a lot of work that I need to do, but I know I can make more time than I have. I'll do more with Parker.. and you." He then looks down unsure. "If, uh.. if that's what you want. I mean.. you spend most of your time with Parker. If you rather want to do something else.. with someone else.. when I can take Parker, I guess, I mean, of course, I.. I would understand that.." He mumbles the last part and looks back at Parker instead of letting you see how devastated he felt from saying that.

"You're my family Ethan. I'm never not gonna want to be with you two. I would love to hang out with the girls sometimes if that's what you mean. But other than that and to get some time alone, I prefer being with my family." You tell him and he feels his heart almost burst from his love for you.

The two of you now realises how close you actually are and Ethan can't help but glance at your lips. You notice and feel your heart beating faster. Just before you both start to lean in Parker speaks up and takes your attention.

"Mom, look!" He says and you look at what he was doing with a loving smile on your face.

Ethan stares at you in surprise, glancing at him you see his expression. Parker had asked if he could call you 'Mom' a few days ago, but this was the first time he had done it in front of someone else you realise. Ethan's eyes start to slightly water from the love he feels for his family. He wasn't jealous of Parker not calling him 'Dad', that didn't matter, Parker could do that if he eventually felt like he wanted to, all Ethan knew he wanted and needed to do was to be there for the two of you.

...

At night, after a great day together, plus you getting some alone time to read, Parker cuddles into Ethan. His arm is still open for you to join, he watch as you kiss Parker good night. He expectantly waits, hoping for you to move closer and into his arms, but you don't. You just lay beside the two of them, a small gap between, but you don't turn your back to him this time. As both you and Parker fall asleep, Ethan still stares up at the ceiling, in thought.

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