"It is a family tie that binds."

[agentsullivan]

Who: Ali and Andrew Connor, Mark Campbell and Gen Hart
What: Long overdue double date
Where: Casa de Campbell, NYC
When: Saturday night

Things were changing, but it finally felt like they were moving in the right direction after a lot of pain and heartache. When Mark's parents offered to babysit Jamie and Jack for the night, Ali and Andrew jumped at the chance to have dinner with Mark and Gen. They were a big crazy unconventional family, and Gen just had to take the time to learn the hard way that together was better than alone. Ali still loved Gen, because she knew she made Mark happy.

And the ironic part was, Mark had done exactly the same thing Gen had done years ago when his world bottomed out from under him. Gen might not have turned to the bottle like Mark did, but he had run away and tried to bury his head in the sand when he couldn't deal with it. For awhile there, Ali truly believed her baby girl would never have her real daddy in her life. She had been so angry back then, it was easy to feel hurt and betrayed. But everyone had grown since then, especially Mark, who was now one of the best dads the world had been graced with. Ali knew this fresh start with them was because Mark empathised with Gen's bad decisions, and he wasn't holding them against her.

All the kids were away at a Pride party, and Max had jumped on board and gone along for the ride with them. Ali was glad he was getting out again. Being ill had knocked some of the light out of him for awhile, but he was back to his normal funny and bright self. Ali smiled as she brought a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling wine to the table with the champagne flutes between her fingers. "I knew you two would eventually get your acts together. We have one very happy little girl excited about being a flower girl, you know. You're pretty much going to be Elsa v2.0, Gen. It's good to see you both content again." She sat and took Mark's hand, giving it an affectionate squeeze.

Comments

[paramedically]

One thing Andrew truly cherished was how close Ali and Mark had continued to be, despite their painful past. It meant Jamie didn't have to grow up feeling like she was torn or stuck in the middle of conflict. It meant family was whatever definition you needed it to be. It meant there was an automatic support network, regardless of what happened. Things had been messy for awhile now, but they managed to shield Jamie from a lot of it, especially when Mark and Gen's marriage broke down. It took courage and a lot of guts to try a relationship for a second time around. It wouldn't have been without facing a lot of demons and finding strength to sort it out.

What was the most painful part of all this was Mark's illness, because it was hard to explain something like that to a child. She was smart, though, and had taken it as well as she had understanding her big brother sometimes got sick in his head. Jamie was a little nurturer with a big heart. Andrew was so proud of all their kids. "I think it's brilliant. How are you guys feeling about it all? Probably emotionally exhausted. Any date set yet?" he asked, where he was serving up the lasagna.

[aussielawyer]

"Tired," Mark confessed with a laugh, but he knew it wouldn't bother Gen. Little by little, the more and more time they spent together, they talked shit out. The lines of communication were strong now, and he could see she was making an effort in every aspect of her life. She now knew everything that was going on, even Paris' health, and had reached out to Amarlie to make amends, and apparently they ended up having a really sweet mother-daughter day together. Justin would always be another story. You had to wait until he reached out to you, because if you pushed him too soon, it could trigger a meltdown. He would get there, Mark knew that. And Gen not only remembered it now, but respected it.

He shook his head. "No date yet. We need Jus to be involved in that process, and so far, he's still stonewalling. We have to wait for the process. He's been distracted with prom and Pride. He's caught up in his relationship with Sasha, and that's okay. It makes him happy. He needs to be happy. We can wait. There's no rush. I'm not getting hitched when I'm like this, that's for fucking sure. I'll leave all the girly princess dress shit up to you lot. If I tried to have input, Paris would probably pay to have me executed."

[asskickingblahniks]

Gen took the seat beside Mark, rested her hand on the nape of his neck and stroke his hair. "Very tired. I'm leaving a path of wiped out destruction in my wake, but I knew if I didn't get my finger out immediately, all chances would be lost. Mark was the easy part in comparison to Justin and Paris, but I expected that. Expected just wasn't quite prepared for being on the end of hurt bitchglares, but I have to wear that with everything else. Amarlie asked about a date too, but I think the best call is to just wait until Justin reaches out. He will, but it was never going to happen overnight. Hell, it might not happen for weeks. I haven't even seen any prom photos. He unfriended me on Facebook weeks ago. Not that I didn't deserve it."

It was an okay-ish day for Mark today. Better than he had been since Gen came back, though he still tired easily. Dinner wouldn't be strenuous, and they had the place to themselves with all the kids out at the Pride party. Gen still hadn't officially moved back in. She was going to get some stuff over during the week, but Sasha had been battling a migraine, and it would've been too disruptive. It was a juggling act, but she was learning to get back in the swing of things. "Elsa? Kind of fitting considering I had everyone believing I had a heart of ice for awhile there."

[agentsullivan]

Ali knew that if things hadn't rekindled between Mark and Gen, Mark would never seriously date or marry again. For one reason, and one alone - Justin. As much as he probably wished for the company and companionship, Mark's kids were his priority. Jamie was easy. She was a typical little Disney and princess loving girl with a lot of intelligence for her age. Ali and Mark were both highly educated and professional, so she probably got that through her genes. She was happy, playful and bright. Mark didn't have to place her care on as higher and more intense level as Justin's. On the contrary, Sunshine liked to help Mark take care of Justin when she had her nights over here. Knowing Justin's past, bringing another stepparent into the mix just wouldn't be something Mark would have done when push came to shove. "Don't worry, I get it. Shit was hard when Sparky and I were trying to reunite for the sake of Sunshine all those years ago. Whether you want it to be or not, it's emotionally-draining. Justin's still probably stinging from the aftershocks of all the shit that crashed and burned."

"Ariel's her favourite Disney Princess, but I think you might just be safe from asking you to wear a fish tail," she laughed, pouring the bubbles for everyone. "So, no date. Any ideas for location or colour schemes. Fuck, it's taking me back to my wedding day. I didn't want a piece of any of that shit, but got caught up in it regardless. But it's going to be a lot more than a wedding, you know. Not just for you guys, but the kids, the family, re-solidifying everything back to a place it fits."

[paramedically]

"Well, look at is this way, Gen. Some of us turned into alcoholics when things got tough. You just ran away. I don't think that makes you more of a villain than us. Plus, knowing Justin as we do, I think he just needs to re-adjust. Life's changed a lot for him recently. He might still technically live under this roof and need constant care, but he's moved in with his boyfriend now. He works really hard, loves being involved in charity, and he cherishes all his friends. He just needs to remember again what it feels like having two loving parents there for him. That seems like a piece of cake, but his issues are a stumbling block. The hardest part about being a parent is giving them the reigns to make their own choices. He loves you, though. That's why this is hard." Andrew knew there was no point here not addressing the giant elephant in the room, because both Gen and Mark would need to talk it through. If they couldn't do that with their closest friends who just happened to be family, who could they?

He laughed, because he remembered well that Ali really wasn't the wedding sort. She hadn't wanted the dress, or the big fuss. Andrew liked the idea of the wedding, but not the big massive hoopla of a frilly white wedding. They found a perfect balance. It was a simple ceremony, simply decor, and the reception was just a party with their friends and family. Neither of them would have changed it for the world. "Was that why Justin was so hurt when he thought the remarriage was being shafted? That you were depriving him of those special things? Because they're important. Actually, that's really what it's all about it. Plus, you make awesome memories."

[aussielawyer]

Mark snorted with a laugh, amused at Andrew's analysis. "True, that. Not a fucking day that goes by right now that I don't want a drink, but my kid's life is more important than that. I have no idea where he would be right now if he hadn't met Sash. That kid has been a fucking miracle right when we needed one. They don't make a lot of kids like him these days. When you're a parent, all you want is your kids to be loved and taken care of. I was so fucking worried Justin would get hurt again. That if he tried to date again, it would all crash and burn as badly as it had the last time. If push came to shove, and kids couldn't handle it like they promises him they could. False promises to him can be deadly. Because if he gives you his trust, it's a priceless gift. That's why it's easy to second-guess everything when you try to care for him, because you're so fucking conscious how fragile his emotions are. But he's a forgiving kid. Fuck knows how, though. He should barely be functioning."

He nodded, though he paused and gave Andrew's question some deeper thought. "I think it was that in part. Mostly it was that Gen's resistance made him feel like he didn't belong in the equation. Like, she valued a trashy wedding neither of us actually remember over doing it right with him there. Which I think is a mistake Gen probably can't ever make up for. She didn't consider enough back then the painful impact it would have on him, and didn't pause to understand why it was as important to him as it was. Mostly, he trusted our word and we said we would do it. When he was met with resistance, he's not equipped to reason, he just sees all the bad signs and warning bells. He can't help that, it's because he's a survivor. It immediately loops back on himself and he sees himself as a dirty catalyst of misery."

[asskickingblahniks]

"And he's adorable with Sasha. I didn't think he would ever let anyone that close to him, yet he has and Sasha's obviously got his complete trust. The enormity of that isn't lost on me. But everything has changed so much here to how it all was when things were working for Mark and me. Justin has more friends who all adore each other, he has a new boyfriend, there's Amarlie, Mark's ill, Paris has cancer. I know there's no just picking up where we left off because where we left off doesn't exist anymore. I just know this isn't a fresh start or a second chance. None of that shit is relevant. It's starting again, in a different way. I mean, fuck, I have to re-learn my husband, my son and my brother. Only, I realise they haven't changed as much as I assumed they would have. I'm the one that changed, and I changed the goal posts without warning. That's not on them to clean up. It takes juggling when Justin's not settled and stable. The last thing I want to do is make anything worse for him." Gen knew she could trust Ali and Andrew unconditionally. She had their confidence, and she really appreciated their support to get shit right.

She shook her head, knowing Mark was en-point with his deduction. She knew that not long after it all crashed and burned, but it had been too late. Justin's trust was already gone and he was withdrawing. It had been a rapid descent then from all that hitting the fan to him nearly losing his life in Australia with a quick succession of suicide attempts. "I didn't. I didn't think about us as a unit and just saw that a remarriage was like admitting failure or something. But I was also intimidated by the actual big wedding itself. And this is the one part I hate myself the most for. For not seeing how badly it was going to trigger his CPTSD. It kills me to know I made him feel like that. I'm not even sure I can fix it. He's holding me at a distance, but at the same time, he's not outright telling me to fuck off and never speak to him again. Which is what I expected."