DIFFERENT

38 -- Dad

Again, please play the video at your leisure, either at the beginning of the chapter, or at the end, or both !  Very appropriate to Larry's story right now. 

Darlingest Readers, 

Our two handsome Princes are happy, and with their Princess, have the beginnings of their "Happily Ever After".  But there is still one more thing that Prince Larry needs for his life to be perfect ...... 

You Are The Reason   ---   Calum Scott and Leona Lewis

There goes my heart beating, and you are the reason 

I'm losing my sleep, please come back now.

There goes my mind racing, and you are the reason

That I'm still breathing, I'm hopeless now

I'd climb every mountain, and swim every ocean, 

Just to be with you, and fix what I've broken.

'Cos I need you to see

That you are the reason.

There goes my hands shaking, and you are the reason 

My heart keeps bleeding, I need you now.

If I could turn back the clock, I'd make sure that light defeated the dark, 

I'd spend every hour, of every day, keeping you safe.

And I'd climb every mountain, and swim every ocean, 

Just to be with you, and fix what I've broken.

'Cos I need you to see

That you are the reason.

Larry sat nervously staring out of the windshield of the car, looking for a particular house a little further up the street, biting his nails.

"Stop it !"  ordered Laurent.  This habit had started when Larry was pregnant, and he had become anxious and nervous about all the interviews and press junkets they'd have to do.  It only surfaced when he was really anxious about something.  So here they were, a few doors down from Tony's house.  From Larry seeing his dad again for the first time in nearly 13 years.  Yeah, nothing to be nervous about there.

Laurent placed his hand on top of Larry's other hand, the one he wasn't chewing down to the nub.  He squeezed it a little more than gently, getting Larry's attention.  

"You have me and Michaela with you, you'll be fine "  he soothed.  Larry made an attempt at a weak smile, only then realising he was chewing his fingers, frowning at the realisation.

"Yeah, I know.  He wanted this meeting, right ?  It's our corner.  We have our corner."  he said, mantra like.  They both looked back over their shoulders at a sleeping Michaela.

"Shame to wake her, can't we just stay here until she wakes up ?"  asked Larry, hopefully.

"No.  Let's get it over with, Larry.  The first step is always the hardest.  Once you've looked into his face, the rest will fall into place.  He's just as nervous as you are, mon amour.  He has a lot more to prove."  Laurent was right, thought Larry.  He didn't have to say or do anything if he didn't want to.  He could just nonchalantly walk up and knock on the front door, have Tony explain himself, and then walk away, if that's what he really wanted to do.  But he didn't.  He wanted more than that.  Deep down, he wanted his dad back.