Parents.. with different treatment

Pain..

"Daddy, do you love me?" Xander asked, his voice soft and uncertain as he stood in the doorway of the living room.

Colby looked up from where he was sitting with Victoria on his lap, his eyes widening slightly at the question. He set Victoria down on the floor, and her little hands reached out for a toy nearby. Turning his full attention to Xander, Colby's heart sank when he saw the look on his son's face—a mix of vulnerability and doubt that he hadn't noticed before.

"Of course I love you, buddy," Colby said, quickly getting up and walking over to Xander. He crouched down so they were at eye level. "I love you more than anything."

Xander fidgeted with the edge of his shirt, his eyes downcast. "It's just... you're always with Victoria and Xavier, and..." He hesitated, swallowing hard. "Sometimes it feels like you don't see me."

Colby's chest tightened, realizing in that moment how much Xander had been holding inside. He reached out and gently placed his hands on Xander's shoulders. "I'm so sorry, Xander. I know it must feel like that sometimes, especially with how busy everything gets around here. But I see you. I always see you."

Xander's lip quivered, and for the first time in a long while, he let his emotions show. "I just want to know that you still care about me too," he whispered.

Colby pulled Xander into a tight hug, holding him close. "I do, Xander. I care about you so much. I'm sorry if I've ever made you feel like I don't. You're such a strong, smart, and amazing kid, and I'm proud of you every single day."

For a moment, Xander didn't say anything, but Colby could feel the tension start to leave his small body as he hugged him back. "I love you too, Dad," Xander whispered, his voice muffled against Colby's shirt.

They stayed like that for a while—just the two of them in the quiet room, finally breaking through the invisible barrier that had kept Xander feeling unseen. It was a moment of connection that Colby vowed he would never let slip away again.