The Wilsons [NovaHD Family AU]

Apologies

"Joe?" I ask softly as I push his bedroom door open and I peek in to see Joe face down in his bed, sobs wracking his small body

"Joe honey it's okay" I assure him as I walk over to his bed, sitting down gingerly beside him I start rubbing his back soothingly "You didn't do anything wrong"

He sits up and leans into me I cradle is head and let him work out his emotions. He stains my shirt wet with tears and snot but I continue to rub his back. His breathing becomes more even, he pulls away from my chest looking utterly defeated

"Are you alright now?" I ask quietly

He nods yes and lays back down onto his pillow

"I'm going to lay down for a bit" he says, voice scratchy from heavy yelling and crying

"Change out of your uniform and wash your face before okay" I tell him as I stand up off his bed "Just leave the jersey on your desk I'll wash it after"

He nods at his instructions and I leave him to do it, closing the bedroom door behind me. Stepping into the hall I walk a few steps to reach Stephanies door, I knock on it once and she faintly tells me to come in. I open the door a crack and step in, she's sat at her desk in the far corner of the room with papers and art supplies spread across it.

"How're things holding up in here" I ask as I shut the door behind me

"Fine" she says curtly, the sound of her pencil on the paper becoming harsher

"Stephanie" I sigh walking up behind her

"Dad needs to get his crap together" she spits dropping her pencil, I'm shocked at her venom and suddenness

"He has a lot on his plate right now" I try to persuade her, Aleks' large projects have become frequent now a days

"Doesn't excuse him neglecting us" she says still staring down at her paper and burning holes through it with her stare

I'm at a loss of what to say, she isn't wrong. Aleks barely leaves his study to use the bathroom, being absent from the house for more than a month now leaving a tense atmosphere. He's missed more than two of Joe's games, parent teacher night and to many dinners to count. he uses the same excuse of 'I'm just really busy right now' when I try to talk to him before we go to bed at night 

"I know" I whisper rubbing her down the arm, breaking out of my thoughts "I love you"

"I love you too" she says, I lean down and kiss her on the top of the head leaving a mess of hair after I ruffle it.

"Any suggestions for dinner?" I ask on my way out of the room, trying to distract her from the 

"Spaghetti" she says turning round in her chair to face me, excitement apparent in her eyes

"Spaghetti it is then" I say ruffling her hair once again before heading out of her room , into the hall once again Aleks meets me face to face

"what do you want?" I ask bluntly, tilting my head to the side with annoyance 

"I was going to go talk with Joe" He tells me trying to push past, I extend my arm out and stop him from going any farther 

he steps back and gives me a look of utter disgust, the nerve of this man I swear to the lord. we stand awkwardly for a few seconds, he stares me dead in the eyes with severe annoyance. he tries to step forward to get past me but I step to the side, blocking his path 

"He's laying down right now" I tell him "Please don't disturb him"

"It's only 5:30" he tells me, folding his arms across his chest