TK Strand's growing up years- but what if he wasn't an only child? Here's the fic...
So I told myself I was going to write a fic covering TK's life from when he's a kid to the now, with the au addition of if his parents had another kid before they split- it starts when his sister is born when TK is five years old and in the most recently posted chapter, TK is fifteen and his sister is ten- also I fixed the spacing so it's more readable now and thus I want to share it on here (shoutout to the mutual who told me about this; I genuinely didn't know it was a thing)
This first excerpt is from one of the more fluffy chapters; I also included one of the more angsty chapters (also might coming up; an excerpt from one of the injury chapters; if there is one thing I believe, its that any and all Strand children are danger magnets and agents of chaos-
“Now that I’m worried about”. Owen muttered as TK joined them.
“What?” Gwyn asked. “TK, eat your cereal”.
“TK on ice skates”. Owen said quietly. “I’ve seen him slip on wet grass and narrowly avoid cracking his head open. I’m worried about the odds when the ground is literally made of ice”. He glanced at his son, but TK wasn’t paying attention to his parents. TK was taking the fruit Gwyn had put in front of him and was trying to move it in front of Sophie as quietly as possible.
“He’s been in the PeeWee hockey league for almost two months”. Gwyn replied. “You just haven’t gotten to see him skate yet. He’s pretty good. TK, I put that grapefruit down in front of you, not your sister. Please eat it”.
“Do I have to?” TK whined. “It tastes so bad”.
“It’s good for you, TK”. Owen told him. “I’ve finished mine already”.
“You can have mine, Dad”. TK suggested eagerly.
“TK, you have to have more than that”. Gwyn said firmly. “You don’t have to finish all of what I put in front of you, but I need to see some of it gone, or you can forget about going anywhere today”. TK stomped and grumbled to himself, but he started slowly eating the grapefruit.
“Would this have anything to do with that fact that you can’t skate?” Gwyn asked Owen quietly.
“Oh, I am hurt”. Owen said, clutching his hand to his chest dramatically. Across the table, Sophie giggled. “I can too skate”. Owen said.
This, TK had heard. “Dad you can skate with me today!” he said excitedly, swinging his feet. “You haven’t seen me skate yet”.
“I know bud,” Owen said. “I can’t wait to see you skate”.
“Can Sophie try to skate?” TK asked as he moved his fork around his plate. “She can walk better now”. He turned to his sister. “Sophie, are you going to skate today?”
“Teek,” Sophie said, reaching for TK’s cup. They hadn’t gotten her to say “TK” yet, she either called him “Tee” or “Teek” which sounded more like a squeak.
“She’s still too little, sweets,” Gwyn said. “They wouldn’t have ice skates that would fit her feet”.
TK nodded. “Mom, can I go turn the TV back on?” He held up his plate. Almost half of the grapefruit was gone.
“Okay”. Gwyn said as she took his plate. “But only for a half hour, TK”.
And now for the angsty chapter-
“I just don’t understand why you wouldn’t tell me about this”. Owen sighed.
“Do you want the list of things I don’t understand?” Gwyn replied. “For instance — I don’t understand why you’re making a big deal out of this. So your son saw a therapist. Off all people, I would think—”
“For the thousandth time”. Owen pinched the bridge of his nose. “It isn’t that he saw a therapist. It’s that you didn’t tell me that he was seeing a therapist. In all the time it took to decide he should, and then to find one—”
“Keep your voice down, Owen”. Gwyn hissed. “I know this isn’t a place you’ve been frequently, but your children live here”.
“Goddamn it Gwyn”. Owen was trying to stay calm. Key word being trying. He breathed through his mouth slowly. “You didn’t answer my question”. He said as evenly as he could manage. “Why wouldn’t you tell me about this?”
“Which part?” Gwyn asked. “I’m being serious. Which part didn’t I tell you about? About our son having nightmares — cause I know I told you about that. The three times I told you that the school psychologist wanted to meet with us; as in both of us, because we’re both his parents? Or when I showed you the drawing that TK did with the title, “What My Daddy Sees When He Closes His Eyes?” Because I did show that to you after I went to the meeting. By myself”. She turned on her heel and walked into the bathroom connected to their bedroom. Owen followed her and leaned on the doorframe.
“You know where I was,” he said. “I wanted to be there. I don’t think that’s very fair”.
“Owen Strand, do NOT talk to me about what is and isn’t fair”. Gwyn said sharply. “That is something you don’t get to do”. She punctuated this by angrily shoving the drawer on the bathroom counter closed.
(Also I promise the story doesn't entirely take place in January; it just worked out these were the two that I picked).
This fic is ongoing- read more here-
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