Stuck In A Moment

Nope.

Laurens was out running some errands when he was visited by a familiar face.

"Henry?" He asked. "You know, I'm finding it pretty unnerving how you just find me at places." He took a step back from the shock. "Honestly I'm surprised I don't have a restraining order yet."

"I just wanted to talk again like we did last time." Henry suggested. "Please?"

"Fine, but I've got a dinner tonight at my parents house." Laurens explained.

"How come whenever I try to talk to you, your always going to some sort of dinner party?" Henry laughed.

"That's your fault for bad timing, just saying." Laurens turned back to his car.

"Nice ride. When did you get this?" Henry asked.

"Birthday present. After everything with Peggy, I got a lot of gifts this year to try and cheer me up. But now that we're back together," He finished loading everything he had been carrying and shut the trunk. "I still have a crap ton of stuff."

"Wait, Peggy? As in the one who was engaged?" Henry asked.

"Yep, long story." Laurens felt a chill down his spine just remembering what happened.

"Well, are you happy?" Henry questioned.

"Yeah, I'd say so. All things considered with my past at least." Laurens continued.

"That's good." Henry nodded.

"What's with the sudden interest in my life? I spend my entire childhood being afraid of you, then you left me on a street corner, then you came back and tried to take me from a good family, then you go to prison for abuse, then you break out and kidnap me, then you go into a coma that leads back to jail, get out for being mentally insane I guess, and now I don't even know what to think anymore." Laurens ranted. "You claim you're trying to do better, yet you still come to me of all people to talk about it."

"All of this. These little talks I've been trying to have with you. I want you to see I'm not just a monster." Henry explained. "I was a good man, and I fell in love with a girl who was unlike any other. And then I lost her. But instead of being grateful that I still had a piece of her left through you, I thought you were what took her away from me. And the pain drove me crazy."

Laurens didn't say anything. He figured Henry would continue, so he just waited for him to do so.

"I realize now that I made a big mistake. Many. But my greatest mistake, of everything I did, the greatest mistake I made... was leaving you on that street corner." Henry tried to not shed a tear. "All of it could've been prevented if I hadn't done that. If I had just realized then, I could've been a better father. Not just some guy you call Henry."

Laurens walked up and gave him a hug. "I'll never know why you did it, but if you can repent, I can forgive you."

Henry smiled and finally let that tear fall while wrapping him in a hug. "You're a great kid. And I don't deserve to be your father. And even if they may hate me, I'm glad you found a good family to take care of you."

"Thanks." Laurens looked at the time on his phone. "Dang it, I'm gonna be late."

"I'm sorry for holding you up." Henry said.

"It's alright." Laurens smiled. "This was actually... kinda nice."

Laurens got into his car and started the engine. He rolled down the window and looked at Henry. "And Henry? Thanks for trying. I know most people wouldn't care, but you do. And that's pretty cool." Then he was off.

He went to the Washington house to find his parents, both of his brothers, their spouses, and his girlfriend.

"Hey, finally decided to show up?" Alexander joked as he answered the door.

"I ran into someone at the store." Laurens answered.

"Someone I would know?" Alexander asked.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure you've met." Laurens brought everything he bought into the kitchen before beginning to unload it.

"Please tell me it wasn't Jefferson." Alexander stated.

"No, it wasn't Jefferson." Laurens rolled his eyes. "And even if it was, you're his rival, not me."

"Yeah, well. He's not your biggest fan either." Alexander said.

"Fair." Laurens agreed.

"If it's not Jefferson, then why do I get the feeling it's someone who doesn't like me?" Alexander questioned.

"I'd actually say vice versa." Laurens mumbled.

"So it is someone that doesn't like me?" Alexander smirked. "Everyone I don't has mutual feelings." 

"Why do you care so much? It doesn't matter." Laurens snapped at him.

"Relax, man. I'm just messing with you." Alexander said. "But if it's someone that gets you this worked up, I'd assume there's something you're not telling me."

"Fine. I ran into my father."

"Your father!?!?!" Alexander yelled. Laurens immediately placed his hand over Alex's mouth.

"You can't freaking yell that out load!" Laurens whisper yelled.

"You were late, you stopped to talk with him, didn't you?" Alexander asked quietly. "WHY DID YOU TALK TO HIM!??!" He got louder.

"Talk to who?" Washington asked.

Laurens turned to see that everyone was looking at him. "Umm..."

"Well go ahead. I'm not telling them." Alexander stated.

"I ran into my father at the store." Laurens admitted.

"Your what!??!" Washington went ballistic.

"George, calm down." Martha stated. "Laurens, please continue."

"He came up to me in the parking lot and..." Laurens was interrupted.

"I'm calling the police." Washington said.

"George! Calm! Down!" Martha glared at her husband.

"He just wanted to talk." Laurens finished.

"Laurens, are you sure he just..." Washington began.

"He just wanted to talk. He didn't hurt me, he didn't threaten me, he did nothing wrong." Laurens interrupted this time.

"Not this time, but need I remind you that your father is smart. He may be doing this just to get your trust." Washington explained. "What if all this is just another plot to kidnap you?"

"It wasn't." Laurens argued.

"You can't be sure!" Washington exclaimed.

"I am sure! This isn't the first time he's tried talking to me either!" He clasped a hand over his mouth.

"Great! So now the truth comes out. When were you going to plan on telling us?" Washington asked.

"Eventually."

"Laurens, I'm trying to be rational here..."

"No you're not! You don't even trust me anymore to make my own decisions! You still see this poor little kid who can't take care of himself, but I'm not!" Laurens yelled. "I'm 19, I can make my own decisions now without daddy Washington breathing down my neck!" Laurens finished ranted and stormed out.