The Red Hair Finnigan -Family3

16th September 2059 - 1st January 2060

At his 34th birthday, Aden receives his ex-brother-in-law's visit.
Sam Westy comes in his apartment without invitation and acts like it's his house. He greets his (ex) nephew properly then spends the rest of the time...hitting on him?
"Sam, why are you here?"
"Celebrating your birthday, of course! Don't tell me you're gonna spend the whole day just the two of you."
"Well, Cal told me he's gonna pass at the afternoon with his husband and some of my friends will come."
"Oh. And now?"
"I'm gonna spend the morning with my son."
"Doing what? Come on, don't be a stranger."
"We're going out to the amusement park."
"Want some accompany?"
Aden just hesitates for a few seconds.
They spend four hours in the Asterix park in the Kentucky and Ciel is just lightly amused. Aden holds his hand like it's everything and doesn't release once, but he doesn't comment that Sam takes the other hands making them look like a gay couple. And Ciel doesn't say anything so it isn't a problem. At noon, they just eat some food in one of the park restaurants and play one more attraction before leaving. During the whole day, Sam was touchy-feely with him, it's little overwhelming for Aden because they aren't that close before. Before they track back home, Ciel wants to stop in bookshop for some reason and the two men benefit to talk.
"Why are you here, Sam?"
"I told you."
"But why? We aren't that close."
"I'm not here because of her."
Aden remains silence.
"Are you still mourning?"
"Is it why you're here? Asking me news?"
"Is it a bad thing to do so?"
"I don't understand your goal."
"What are the wrongs? People couldn't want to see someone without aim?"
"Why now?"
Sam's becomes suddenly more serious and he locks his eye on the ginger. Who breaks away.
"Are you still into her?"
"... You know, you could say her name, it's not like there is something... Supernatural could happen."
"I wouldn't be so sure."
Aden frowns but doesn't have the chance to deepen the conversation, his baby boy is here.
"Daddy..."
"Yeah, baby, you finish?" He smiles when a nod answers him then he notices something "oh, is it a candy cane?"
"Yes. The cashier gave me that, seeing me alone."
"Okay. Time to go home."
He takes the toddler hand and lead him to their house, their sanctuary where they're be protected. On their way, Ciel stops his progression and gives his sweet to a boy.
"He's very smart", Sam comments in background.
"Yeah, I think he inherited this from her."
The blonde doesn't say anything else. But when they reach the second floor, before entering in the Brooks' apartment, Sam wants to say something.
"Den?"
But Cal and his husband are here and with them a man that Sam hasn't seen before, dark hair with hazel eyes, taller than Aden and looking at him with emotion.
"Ju?" Aden exclaims.
And his eyes sparkle.
And if they were alone, he's sure that his first boyfriend would jump him and assault his with hard kisses.
"Are you busy?" The said Ju replies.
"Oh. Not really. We just come back, with Ciel and...hum, would you like to stay, Sam?"
The muggle actor looks at him then glances at the three other men, who don't seem to want him around, he turns back to his ex-brother-in-law and really want to have a word privately with him but doesn't say that. He shakes his head and smiles tightly at the ginger.
"No, I think I have to retreat. See you around."
"Okay, be careful in your way."
Aden feels quite awkward. It's not that he doesn't appreciate the young man, it's just he's still sour with his divorce and well, that's hurtful Melody doesn't even take the time to talk to him while his brother does.
Then he welcomes his guests.
"Hey, you're early."
"You're late, it's five pm."
"Really?"
"Yeah, daddy got sidetracked."
"How could you say that? You're the one who wanted to stop in the bookshop!"
"Because he's in education and need to be entertained while you're just a tad who just think about playing", Loan snaps.
"What? No, I thought we could spend good time just the two of us!"
"But you're together every time. Stop searching an excuse," Cal rolls his eyes holding his nephew in his arms.
"I'm not... Whatever. Come inside and make you comfortable. You too, Ju," he adds more bashfully.
He's glad to see him again. Especially for today.
"How're you going?" He asks softly.
Julian couldn't help but smiles at their behavior. "I'm going fine. I... Happy birthday, I brought you a present."
"Oh yeah?" His eyes gleams again. "You...?"
He holds himself at the last moment, before saying something inappropriate in front of his son. Julian always had this effect on him. And if he saw in the edge of his eyes his brother wiggles his eyebrows. He ignores that.
"I did. And I want to give you that...in privacy." He lays a significant gaze at the toddler in the room.
"I think the janitor closet is free," Ciel states.
Julian's brows furrow.
"Haha, you're so funny, baby. Come in my room, Ju."
The cop hides his eagerness by walking toward the said room. It's nice to see his (ex) lover's intimacy. But what he will give him may not be that nice, he tightens his fist around the bottle in his pocket and takes a deep breath.
"Here's your present."
"A...," the ginger hesitates.
"-potion, yeah," the American completes.
"Of what?"
"A revelation about what your organism got during the five lasts years."
"Oh. Why did you buy me this?"
"I didn't buy it. I...made it myself."
There is a blank, no one of both men talk again until the understanding makes in Aden. He knows this potion, he's potion teacher's son, thank you very much.
"I don't need this."
He's as surprise as his guest by his hard tone and quickly makes a catch up.
"I mean, what...why would I want this? It's not like someone could have tricked me magically."
He adverts his ex's pitiful gaze.
"So there isn't any problem to you to accept this, right? I...use some time to succeed, you could accept my effort."
"I do acknowledge your work and I'm really amazed by your progression but I- I really don't need -and don't want that."
"Why not, Aiden?"
There is a pang in the ex actor's chest. It misses him to be called this by that voice.
"Are you in denies? You know that...something's wrong, right?"
"No. Nothing's wrong. You're just paranoid with your cop function."
Julian nods at this argument. "Yeah, I thought so at first."
"What makes you change mind?"
"What makes you change your mind?"
Aden shakes his head in disbelief "...I don't know what are you talking."
"You retreated."
"Because it's... insane! I don't want this."
"You know that something's wrong with you but you won't admit it because you know that everything will change."
"Shut up."
"You know, don't you? Aiden, look at me, you know that you're not really in love with her. She gave you something."
And that's it, the bomb is released. Aden don't move for awhile then he shakes his head continuously.
"No."
"Aiden."
"No. It's not true."
"Aiden..."
"Shut up. You say nonsense. You're just jealous."
Julian stops his tracks. "Of course I am. What do you think?"
"What do I think? How could you tell me that now? All I want is to be loved and love without limit and you just come here after disappearing for years and tell me that? Just get out, vanish for another decade then come back again with a new pickup."
He doesn't even have to look at him to know he wounds his ex. Hurt him. Really bad.
Ju sucks a breath. "I... I didn't do that purposely! And you know that!
"Whatever, I don't want your present, you can go now."
"Don't shut me down, Aiden. Especially when you know as well as me that's something wrong."
"Nothing's wrong here. Just your feeling. Now, get out."
Julian parts his lips but doesn't say anything, he just stares at his love who doesn't even return his gaze and with his watering eyes he heads toward the door. Aden doesn't move when the main door locks with more noises than necessary, it just seems like something shatters loudly, in his heart.

Julian doesn't manifest for awhile.

However, Sam comes everyday, like he couldn't let them alone.
"Why are you here?" Aden asks him again after three months of hanging out together.
They're alone in the redhead living room, talking things and others, just the two of them because Ciel is sleeping. Aden has small smile on his lips and can admit that he enjoys his presence but he really wants to know why. The thing is it's not like he's here every time even if he comes when he could but when he didn't because of his job they feel little abandoned.
"Because you're worth it."
Aden freezes.
"Aden, I- I want you to listen to me until the end. Do you remember the day when I came to the park with you?"
"Quite hard to forget, it was the beginning of your daily show up."
"Well, before I'm gone, I had something to tell you, remember that too?"
"... And you're gone away pretty fast. I thought there's nothing important."
"Uh... It's important, I guess. But I had to wait some time before to come to you and... talk."
"Why do you want to wait? And for what?"
Sam pursues his lips. "Do you believe in magic?"
Aden tenses.
"You know when you said her name could be something cursing...well, you could never guess that you were that close."
The blonde pauses and look at his ex-coworker with intensity then he sighs.
"If you guys are separated it isn't because of her work, well maybe not altogether. She...my sis' Melody used a love potion to date you."
Something breaks in Aden.
"Your love isn't genuine," Sam concludes.
"No, it couldn't... And Ciel? What about him?"
"I'm sorry, man. Mel may love you but since your love was a fake, she's tired... I guess."
At first he thinks it's his heart but now it's his whole universe.
"Aden? Oh, fuck, I didn't mean to upset you. I thought you should know this, you have the right. Please, say something."
But everything goes black in his mind.

The next time he's up, the first thing he thinks is : "Ciel!"
Where's his son? Where's the baby he got with his wife born in non-common method?
"Den, you had to calm down."
It's his brother, there is only him to call like this. Or maybe also him, but he's not here. Not now. 
"Cal, where's my son?"
"Just next to you, calm down, Den."
But he couldn't, because everything is dark around him. He opens his mouth to say something but holds himself back when he feels a tiny hand against him.
"Ciel? Is it you?"
Only the silence replies him.
"What happen here? Why Ciel isn't here?"
The tiny hand takes his hand and bring him against something smooth, then his fingers are lay on soft hair and he recognizes his son.
"Oh, Ciel, are you okay?" He feels the head against his hand nods and he lets himself sigh relievedly.
"And you, Den? Are you okay?"
Aden lifts his gaze up without seeing his brother, but now his son is next to him, he isn't worry anymore.
"I'm fine."
"But you're blind."
Blank.
"Indeed, I can't see anything."

There is noise out of the room but nobody moves inside to shut it off.
"Who's there?"
"Almost everyone," Loan says.
"Really?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
"Because you hate me."
He hears Cal sucks a breath but doesn't say anything.
"I do not."
"You totally are. You never forgive me that I have a special spot in his heart."
"You're my twin brother!" Cal replicates finally.
"Yeah, the one who is as important as him. Do you remember your guys' first fight? Because of me?"
"How do you know that?!"
"I have my ways," Aden turns down when he feels Ciel grabs his collar "I'm sorry, baby, shouldn't I say that?"
"No, I just want to hear about this story."
"Oh, well, I was twenty two and a close friend of mine passed away. At this time, your uncles are already married for one year to each other and Loan has applied them a spell burn to not touch someone else. But Cal stood up and had a feud with his beloved to untie the charm and once did, he came and comfort me!"
"That's... Awesome."
Aden couldn't see his baby face right now but he could easily imagine his expression, he holds his kid tighter and sighs happily.
"Yeah, he is."
"I'm still here."
"And you're all red, right Ciel?"
"Yes, daddy."
"I'm also here."
"And you're glaring at me, still right baby?"
"Yes, daddy. It's amazing how you're right."
"Aha, that's because I know you so well!" He leans to kiss his baby's hair but misses this of two inches, his boy moves lightly to fit at his try to let him think that he hasn't miss but too late. Aden just giggles stupidly and cuddles his child, loving him more.

"So, he's just blind?" Eileen asks once the elder couple of the descendants is out of the room.
"Yea, it seems that didn't bother him if it doesn't bother Ciel," Cael replies, head toward the closed door.
"Even if he doesn't know how to deal with this shit."
Cael stares at his husband and is ready to say something but then his gaze lay on a blonde hair man.
"So let me rephrase," Nina tones facing Sam. "You and your sister Melody Westy had some crush on our friend Aden, thought that you could use some...magic stuff to make him feel the same about you and after a competition, the elder won and she used a love potion. So their love isn't true, neither is the child and now he's blind."
The actor isn't like one anymore, he's looking around him, surround by wizards, and feels awkward by their hard gaze. He could barely squirm before nodding at what the squib said. Cael tightens his fist but huffs heavily and makes his way to the kitchen to loosen his tension. Eileen looks wanting to do the same but she shakes her head and sits in front of the muggle.
"Okay. I think now you know who we are, right?"
"...wizards?" Sam tries uncertainly.
"Correct, and we won't hesitate to use some magic stuff to you if you tell someone what you saw today, understand?"
"Like you did to our friend and the result could be horrible," Paige adds.
"Yeah, ok, it's clear."
"Good. You can go, now."
Seeing that no one wants him here anymore, he stands up and heads to the door, but he stops in his track, looking really stress but also concerned "how could we help him heal?"
"We're dealing with this."
"And what about the potion that we- I buy in the occult shop?"
"We're gonna deal with this," Cal repeats fiercer.
"Can I see him?"
"Why? He couldn't even see you, we call this voyeurism, don't you know?"
Everyone in the room frown or furrows their brows at Selena's comment but no one say something to help the muggle.
"I think it's time for you to go," Eileen says eventually.
Sam looks one last time to the ex-actor door before nodding and heading to the exit.
"Apparently, she's not that pretty," Reed says looking at Paige.
"She's worst, at least Elena shows her true face whereas Melody hides that under acts."

"And it's like that since then?" Colton asks his half-brother Cael, eyes not leaving Aden.
The blind is trying to make some sweets to spend times but mostly to accustom at his kitchen again. But Corey is stucked at his side no letting him do anything alone.
"Come on, Corey! I can handle myself!"
"No, you couldn't!"
"Well, not if you still here, next to me!"
"Let me help you! You were always behind me when I was younger, let me return the favor!"
"It's very nice to you but I'm not fifty-"
"Yes, you are!"
"Geez! Thank you! You really are the one who actually age me!"
While everyone is rejuvenating him.
"Yeah, since a week. We're relaying each of us to keep after him and Ciel."m
Colton lays his gaze on his brother's apartment looking for his nephew who's playing with Loan.
"Did you... Find a cure?"
"Yeah, it needs a true love to give him sight again, to heal the 'love makes blind' proverb."
The doorbell rings and Corey runs to open it before Aden couldn't make a move. Sam is here.
"Since then, he keeps coming, hoping he could be the lover who will give him sight again."
"Even if he's the one who caused that?"
"Well, we couldn't let someone who doesn't know his real face to woe him, right? And people who like him are either Hogwarts students either our group of 30 legends descendants..."
"Who are like his little siblings and we have enough incest within the true blood so no, thank you?" Colton completes.
"Kinda."
"And what about Julian?" Corey asks Cael letting the ginger and his pretending alone.
"Uh... We didn't have any news since Den told him get out on our birthday."
"It's been three months."
"Yeah."
"Okay."
"And he was wizard as well." Corey says suddenly, knowingly.
Colton doesn't say anything but he thinks that there's still many things they don't know about their brothers.
Like what he told to Sam this day, because the blonde doesn't show up anymore. Not as often anyway.

At Christmas, Eileen invites the two Brooks to dinner with her family. Aden's all smiling and enjoying the meal as does Ciel, but Eileen isn't really sure about it since the boy is taciturn like stone.
As the night comes, the toddlers are sent to bed, Ciel and Juline sharing a bed sleeping each in coddlers even if they passed the age (4 and 5), Lev's dealing with his twin Emmett and Steven (8) because they love when their father read them story and Eileen is alone with her best friend in the kitchen. She makes the kettle heat and waits before making them hot chocolate (because this shit is really drugging when you first try it and with three children, the Lingtren is quickly accustomed with this drink).
"So? What happen with the blond?" She asks what she wanted to talk with him. 'Cause she couldn't say something like this in front of the others and since she's the bestie, Aiden will say everything.
"Hm? Which one?"
Well. Maybe not everything. Because Aiden is secretive and prefers live with his own problems instead of annoying others.
"You know yourself. Sam. Why isn't he hitting on you anymore?"
"He knew that he couldn't stand a chance."
"Why not? It's not like you have someone in mind. Not after what you discovered."
Aden stays silent.
"Don't tell me you still have some feelings for her."
"Now you're talking about it, I think I never really liked her."
"So what?"
"Just miss the feeling to be loved."
Eileen opens and closes her mouth like a fish. "I don't understand, he likes- loves you, right?"
"Yeah... he may say that but he didn't stay long."
"What did you tell him, Ai?"
"... He began first. He said that if Melody didn't use the love potion, he would have use at her place. That he was young and wild and that I couldn't notice him if neither of them did something. I told him that's not true. I told him that I couldn't fall in love with someone. That I like the feeling to be loved but I just couldn't return the favor."
"Oh, pumpkin..."
"That's true!" He cuts her abruptly. "Ju loved me, he told me that he didn't mind if I couldn't return the feeling, I was grateful but also guilty. Who am I to hold him with me while he could have better somewhere else? And now that nobody loves me I just regret to be loved. I want people love me but I couldn't do the same thing ! I'm sorry to be abnormal!"
Two arms wraps around him and Aden feels tears falling on his cheeks.
"Pumpkin, no. Don't say that. No one is normal, neither am I. Why hurting yourself? I am sure you'll find someone who could accept you."
"No, there is no one. And I'm fine with that, I have Ciel and it's enough."
"It's not and we both know that."
There isn't anymore word.

The Boxing Day, while Eileen takes the children out, Aden receives a guest at her house.
"Told you you were blind."
His heart races up. "Julian?"
"Why are you still calling me with my entire name?"
After been sure that's really him and understands that Eileen traps him, he answers softly.
"Because it's your name. Or do you like Eve better?"
"Well, I wouldn't say no for this entire name. Everett is more male."
"And Julian's not?"
"French people used to pronounce it like a girl name."
Aden doesn't respond but his smile lets know that he grants him a point.
"Did you have a good Christmas?"
"It's not over."
"Really? Is that how you considered?"
"It's how American see."
"I see. Wanna drink something?"
"Sure."
Aden moves to let his ex come in. Neither of them says anything but Julian closes the door behind him without making the ginger move. Aden didn't shout offendedly that he's assisted because he's always that passive with Julian, because he could give him his life to be honest. But he won't say that because he want to live and he's the one who can take care of Ciel.
Once they have drink, Aden sits on the kitchen chair while the cop just look at him.
"How're you doing?" Aiden asks when the stare becomes too much.
"I'm still in the police department."
"Officer? No grades up?"
"'Don't want to."
"Why not?"
"'Cause that means I won't have spare time for myself."
"Oh, and what are you doing during?"
"Looking after some blind man."
The redhead stills.
"And you? How're you?"
"Fine. I'm totally accustom with all the darkness."
"Don't you want to recover?"
"...is it why you're here?"
"And I want to persuade you to drink my potion."
"Oh, come on! You're still on that?"
"That was my feelings, Aiden. And you know that I have difficulties in potion, so I really struggled to make this. Why don't you trust me?"
"I trust you. Of course I did, that's why I didn't take your potion."
"So why are you in denies?"
"Why now?" Aden counters. "I divorced two years ago and you show up just now? What's the matter?"
There is beat of silence and Aden feels like at their teenhood.
"Cael comes to me to ask me what's my aim."
This fucker.
"And what is it?"
"I don't know."
"... Well, I didn't neither. Mine is to look after Ciel."
"Quite difficult since you couldn't see anything."
"Ok, wrong verb. But I could make that."
"No, you can't. It's not healthy for him."
"As if it matters to you."
"I didn't, but Cael does and he threatens to kill me if I don't do something."
"Alright, you did, it doesn't work. The end."
"Would you accept my potion now?"
Aiden doesn't answer.
"Merry Christmas, Aiden."
There is a light kiss on his cheek and then the door claps meaning the cop left. Not knowing why or what, Aden extends his arms on the kitchen table and his hand meets a bottle and without seeing it, he knows that's the potion.
This night, after kissing goodnight to his son, he drinks the potion and comes to dream.

Seems that the potion doesn't content only the revelacio, Aden saw everything happening at Melody's side after he drank the love potion. So there is also a spin-off of a revelation potion.
Two years after he's under the love potion, Melody is totally in heaven because she's in love with a gorgeous man who made her pregnant. Sam is jealous. Especially when he learn that his sister knew his family that he didn't introduce any of them, except Cael.
She was shining at her wedding.
And she was glowing at her first birth.
But two years after her bad decision, everything came again to blow on her face. The baby she gave is a monster. It's not her son anymore, it's the devil who possess him to punish her bad behavior.
This is why she was so scared in front of Ciel.
And even if Sam told her that she will regret, the siblings never thought that's because they're wizard. Well, Sam knows now so he won't do the same mistake, but Melody has her memories modified... Well, Sam will deal with this.
Now he knows that there isn't any chance to make Melody do her mother work. And it makes him sad because Ciel doesn't deserve that.

After his realization, Julian appears more in his life again and Aden genuinely considered to let him in.
On the Christmas Eve, Julian Lambert comes to Reed and Emelie's party. The following morning, he takes him alone to somewhere outside. The winter breeze was really cold.
"What do you think to take me at your side again?"
"What do you mean by 'again'?"
"What the word means. I want to be part of your life, Aiden. I want to live with you, but not like ten years ago where we're together just for the pleasure's sake! I want to be your partner, for the eternity if possible. I want to be your last mate until the death, so please go out with me once again."
Aden remains silent. For awhile there's just the wing and their breath and the ginger is just in his mind. He wants too, he really does but he's still sour about the last wooer who gave up. However it's Julian, the one man who just keep coming to him even if it's every ten years. Without him paying attention, there is some light at his eyes.
"And you won't go and let me in two years?"
"No. And if you're honest with yourself, I never let you alone by myself. Every time you're the one who made it end."
That's true. At their boyhood, Aiden broke up implying he can't keep up with a long-distance relationship. At their late twenties, Aden fools around with others before he set up with this bitch. And... Now. Aden will never admit it but he feels a curious heartbeat.
"Yeah, well, if you think you could make me change my mind, why not?"
"I will. Because my feelings never changed about this. I love you."
There's definitely a wild heartbeat. He lays his head in the cop's shoulder and says something that almost make Julian's heart races up.
"No need to say, the first sunrise of the year is the most beautiful."
Ju's hand finds blindly his and he twines their fingers before whispers hoarsely.
"As you are."
Smelling the man's scent, Aden tightens the grip and whispers 'thank you'.
He never says for what and secretly, he admits that at this same moment, he really wants to say those three words too.

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(Initially posted : 11 Septembre 2017 à 21:06)