The Prodigal Son

" When the god of love returns, there'll be hell to pay. Though the world may be out of excuses, I know just what I would say." •Andrew Xavier Reed•

[andrewxreed-blog]

helenadraper‌:

“I’m sorry, I just — “ it was as if the alcohol was suddenly catching up to her. Funny how a single name could bring back an incredibly amount of painful memories that manifested themselves in her drunken form. “I don’t wanna start anything,” she hugged her arms into her chest, letting out a huff. Usually she’d be no stranger to badmouthing those who’d wronged her, finding solace in it, almost. However, now that her and Andrew had become friends, everything had become much more different, more complicated. Iris had been her best friend, her confidant, someone whom she assumed would be her ride or die until the very end, when push came to shove — but she was proven wrong. As fucked up as it was, she wasn’t exactly surprised that Jonah was one of the people to testify against her. Their relationship over the years had begun to falter, what with his resentment over spending most of his adulthood raising her instead of following his own dreams – it sucked, but it wasn’t as big of a blow as everything with Iris.

“It ain’t your fault,” she slurred slightly, shaking her head. “We grew apart a couple’a years ago for — uh, personal reasons, I guess,” Perhaps putting a pin in it right there would be enough to satisfy Andrew’s hunger for knowledge, not wanting to put him in the position of having to listen to her talk badly about his fianceé but hoping the answer for satisfy — or, at least, let him know that it wasn’t anything horrifying. At the question, Helena finally looked up at him, biting her lip slightly to keep herself from grinning. What a way to change a topic. “Oh — that was Ashley,” the blonde started. “He’s — we’re friends. Kind of. Somethin’ like that.”

Andrew hoped that he’d done enough to change the subject. It ate away at him still, a worry lingered in the back of his mind like a leaking tap dripping question after question about the woman’s past. Had Iris left Helena just as they had left him three years before? Had they really just ‘grown apart’? The man ignored it, focused his whole attention on the smile Helena was attempting to stifle. He’d hit a nerve -- a good one, this time. A nerve named Ashley.

“Ah,” Andrew said, lips pulling up into an understanding smile. “Something like that,” he parrotted, head nodding along slowly. He’d been there before. At some point in his past, Iris had been a friend -- or, as Helena had put it, something like that. Andrew knew better than most that that line was more a comfort for the speaker than it was the listener. “Well, friend or not, I’d get on that A-S-A-P. I’m strictly into ladies, but that man has me wonderin’ if that’s so true or not,” Andrew joked. He glanced at Helena, hoping the woman would relax back into her own skin. 

[fnl-forever-blog]

[andrewxreed-blog]

@iris-ashley-hart

[shittyrpmemes]

Send 💭 for one thought my muse has had about yours

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masonxmillcr‌:

                “I honestly would love that, because of my sleep schedule it’s kind of hard to get up and take him out for a walk which I know he needs.” Mason smiled gratefully towards Andrew, he enjoyed being an owner to a new puppy but that required a lot more work for him to take on. “Obviously,” he took the empty bottle and set it in the recycle bin before opening up another and handing it back to Andrew. 

“Alright,” Andrew said, smile blooming across his face, “then it’s a deal. I’ll come by to walk your dog, and maybe in exchange you can throw me a beer or two,” he joked. Andrew lifted his beer in a show of cheers before bringing it to his lips for a long sip. “Thanks, man. Anyways -- other than adding to the family, how’ve you been?” 

[andrewxreed-blog]

zakolton‌:

“Family’s here.” He responded after a moment, as he seemed to ponder over the statement, itself. Wilmington definitely wouldn’t had been his first choice had he been the one to decide. He simply just showed up here because that was where his family was. This was not to say that he didn’t like it, but as he got to travel more, he found that he liked a lot of other places to. “This is their current home, so I make it mine to, you know?” He commented, “You’re a native here, right?”

“Oh, no --” Andrew said, offering a shake of his head. “I just moved to Wilmington about six months ago. I lived in Oregon before that, and Boston before that, and I lived in Maine when I was a kid.” The other man definitely didn’t need all the details, but Andrew felt inclined to share. “I actually came here for the same reasons. My sister Harlow lives in town, and I came to be closer to her. Strange thing is that more and more people I know -- family or otherwise -- seem to be movin’ in to the area.”

[andrewxreed-blog]

alex-matthews‌:

   “I can relate guilt, self doubt and I are very close best and old friends,” he laughed shaking his head as he looked at the other. Alex knew that Andrew understood and for that it made it easy to talk to the male and it made it easy taking the advice from his best friend as well. “I am just learning how to take care of myself now honestly and I think the only reason I put up with everything is because of my sibling but, in a way I also want to prove everyone in my family wrong about taking over the family company.” 

“You can prove that you’re capable in more than one way,” Andrew offered, hoping he could bring Alex any type of comfort in this tumultuous time. “If you want to show that you can run a company, then run your own company. One you’re passionate about. Trust me -- you perform better when you’re actually passionate about what you’re doing.” He stopped to take a sip of his drink, then continued on. “I think you should take time before making any decisions. Think about you want. Not what anyone expects from you, not what you think would look best -- just what you want.” 

[andrewxreed-blog]

penelxpebradley‌:

She had thought that her words would have hit home and he’d have just left, avoiding any reprises of their previous run ins. He surprised her though, he stayed, sitting opposite her, and after a brief pause she looked up from her slumped position, eyeing him with a cautious, guarded gaze. “I meant more because I’m sleep deprived and uh…rambling but…” she trailed off, casting her gaze down to the stains on the table, following the patterns of coffee rings that had been etched in over the years of patients and parents waiting in the hospital cafe. She thought about them for a few moments, the hoardes of people who had spilled coffee onto the table, who had ran for news in one of the other wards, who had left their coffees to chill because they simply had to escape. She thought of them, and slowly her thoughts cleared. Sure, she might have preferred different circumstances, but she was in the hospital out of minor inconvenience. Andrew on the other hand…well she didn’t want to think. 

She thought she understood him pretty well, but for a man who had to energy to think or do anything, he was doing an awful lot of talking whilst she just sat there silently, watching him warily. The words he was saying – they were words she wanted to hear, apologies for the years of silence, and for the insistence of forging something in the recent months. She wanted to hear them. Or she thought she did. But when he spoke about their past, about the friendship that had died along with their relationship, she suddenly found that there was something lodged in her throat, making it difficult for her to breathe. She hadn’t thought about them in so long, not as friends. Her anger and her rage, that had been over the way their relationship had ended. That had been righteous and just. She had never found the strength to consider how losing his friendship had inflicted even deeper pain. When she thought of it, how they’d lost those years, how he had been the person that she’d reached to whenever something funny had happened, or the hours they had spent just lolling around doing nothing but talking…well it was enough to break her all over again.

But if that was what he thought – that she hated him…well that was entirely on her, and she knew it. She’d been awful to him, had twisted the knife more times than she could count, and no matter how many times she’d tried to justify it, she’d known that she had only been lashing out because she didn’t know how else to be around him. But it didn’t make it acceptable. It didn’t make it right. “I-” she started, sitting up straight, catching his gaze as she did. This, sitting in the cafe of New Hanover Medical Centre was not how she’d imagined this playing out, but it was neutral, and neither of them were holding up their weapons. “I don’t hate you Andy. Believe me…it would be a lot easier if I did”. 

He’d blame the exhaustion if you asked him about it. He’d blame the emotional journey of taking Sophie through medical test after test, trying to find any solution that might bring the child some peace. He’d blame the bad hospital coffee. No matter who or what shouldered the blame of it happening, Andrew was tearing up. Andrew didn’t acknowledge it, and the man hoped to God that by just not blinking, he’d avoid the inevitable falling of tears. It seemed to work for him, but the wet glassiness of baby blue eyes was hard not to notice. 

“Oh,” he said.  I don’t hate you. The phrase played over in his head in Penelope’s icy sweet voice, followed by the dark voice in the back of his mind replying, why not? He ignored the loop the best he could, instead Andrew vigilantly watched the clock hanging off in the distance, somewhere over the redhead’s shoulder. Finally, he blinked. By the grace of God, not a single tear fell. 

“So then ... what do we do?” Andrew asked. “How do I keep out of your way enough that we can both be okay here?” 

[andrewxreed-blog]

iris-ashley-hart‌:

As they laid there, clad in the thin material of that hospital gown, they watched him. Blue hues sweeping over his features as he’d speak, catching each shift to that face—each moment of interest and confusion. Each light of excitement. In that moment Iris found themselves not focused on the paper-like thing that sat swaddled around their body, or how odd and uncomfortable that cold table was. No, there, seated between his words, the blonde found themselves transported back through time. To the first time they’d been through this. To Sophie. As with their first, Andrew seemed excited, a genuine want within his features or so they believed—yet this time was far sweater, for the worry over things such as mistakes and timing failed to even touch their subconscious. That moment was perfect. He was more so.

“You look so happy,” they’d tell him at his question, lacing their fingers with his as their eyes fell to meet their joined digits. Thumb absentmindedly rubbing the smallest of patterns against his flesh as he pressed a kiss to their knuckles. Utterly perfect. “Deja vu,” they murmured again, looking up at him as he’d speak again. His question having their shoulders lifting to meet their ears, “I’m okay either way,” they’d say then with an encouraging nod, “What do you want?”

Four years before, almost exactly, Iris and Andrew had been in the same position. That time, Andrew had been much more nervous. He’d felt his heart in his throat, and his brain quickly dripping out his ears. Four years ago, he wasn’t a father -- not quite. He was nothing but a nervous man holding tightly onto the woman he loved. Now things were different. Good different. This time, Andrew felt he had a clue what was going on, felt more excitement than he did nervousness. Some things were still the same. He still held on to Iris tightly, just in the same way he always had. 

“Deja Vu,” he agreed, nodding his head enthusiastically. Andrew watched Iris’ shrugged at his question, the simple action eliciting a chuckle from the man. “I guess I’m the same way,” Andrew said. “I think it would be cool to have one of each, you know? But at the same time -- I see how close my sisters are to each other, and it’s kind of inspiring. It’d be nice for Sophie to have that. “More than anything, I just want a happy baby. Like Sophie.” Andrew glanced off into the distance, remembering the easy, lovely days of his newborn daughter’s life. “Do you remember how quiet she was? Like she was just ... taking everything in so intently. She always just seemed content.” 

Just then, there were two soft knocks on the door. Almost immediately after, it swung open to reveal the couple’s OB-GYN. “Hi, Doctor Powell,” Andrew said, reaching out a hand to shake the doctor’s hand. She smiled back at Andrew, and made way to sit on a wheelie-stool located beside the ultrasound machine. “How’s everyone doing?” Doctor Powell asked. “How have you been doing since I saw you last, Iris?” 

Andrew glanced at his fiancée, curious about the answer himself. 

[andrewxreed-blog]

You don't really care about those you've hurt, because you feel it's worth it in the end for your own personal happiness

“ ... No.” 

LETS PLAY THE ‘YES’ OR ‘NO’ GAME: ASK ME QUESTIONS AND I’M ONLY ALLOWED TO ANSWER WITH 'YES’ OR 'NO’

[andrewxreed-blog]

Marrying Penelope would have been easier?

“No.”

LETS PLAY THE ‘YES’ OR ‘NO’ GAME: ASK ME QUESTIONS AND I’M ONLY ALLOWED TO ANSWER WITH 'YES’ OR 'NO’

[andrewxreed-blog]

You have a favorite sibling.

“Yes.”

LETS PLAY THE ‘YES’ OR ‘NO’ GAME: ASK ME QUESTIONS AND I’M ONLY ALLOWED TO ANSWER WITH 'YES’ OR 'NO’

[andrewxreed-blog]

Would you give up everything you have and every relationship you hold dear now, to have your father back?

“No...no.”

LETS PLAY THE ‘YES’ OR ‘NO’ GAME: ASK ME QUESTIONS AND I’M ONLY ALLOWED TO ANSWER WITH 'YES’ OR 'NO’

[andrewxreed-blog]

Do you wish your life could be different?

“... Yes.” 

LETS PLAY THE ‘YES’ OR ‘NO’ GAME: ASK ME QUESTIONS AND I’M ONLY ALLOWED TO ANSWER WITH 'YES’ OR 'NO’

[andrewxreed-blog]

You’d marry Iris tomorrow if you could.

“Yes.” 

LETS PLAY THE ‘YES’ OR ‘NO’ GAME: ASK ME QUESTIONS AND I’M ONLY ALLOWED TO ANSWER WITH ‘YES’ OR 'NO’

[andrewxreed-blog]

You feel trapped

“No.”

LETS PLAY THE ‘YES’ OR ‘NO’ GAME: ASK ME QUESTIONS AND I’M ONLY ALLOWED TO ANSWER WITH 'YES’ OR 'NO’

[andrewxreed-blog]

You are prepared to have another child

“Yes.” 

LETS PLAY THE ‘YES’ OR 'NO’ GAME: ASK ME QUESTIONS AND I’M ONLY ALLOWED TO ANSWER WITH 'YES’ OR 'NO’

[andrewxreed-blog]

alex-matthews‌:

   “Let’s hope that his trip does not make him stressed,” he said looking at the other. “I don’t know…in a way if I decide not to take over, I feel like I will be letting my grandfather down. The one who started everything before he you know….I promised him I will take care of the company and watch out for my siblings,” he added with a sigh. “My dad is always a surprise because you never no how he is going to react.” 

“That part I’m a lot more familiar with,” Andrew noted, “guilt and I are old friends.” It was hard for the man to think of his father. Even now, decades after the man’s passing, Andrew still felt the weight of his father’s eye on his back at all times. Andrew felt deep to his core that for the most part, he’d been nothing a disappointment. Marshall Reed wouldn’t have approved of his son’s behaviour in his youth, or the way he’d treated Penelope, or the way he’d up and left Atlas Banks without a single thought to the generations old legacy.  “I think -- part of taking care of your siblings includes taking care of yourself, you know? If you’re not going to be happy working your life away in your father’s company, then don’t put yourself through that. I’m sure you can all find someone who would bend over backwards for that job -- the company can be taken care of without you as captain,” Andrew tried, “even if you feel it’s all on your shoulders.”