whichisit | locked to Honest

It wasn't his intention to break the man more. Not his will or his heart. He just wanted to spread the news, the happy, happy news to someone he considered a friend.

Another letter would come, about hte child. Joyous news. And then a few more simple updated. But form there the letters would come as often as Henry sent letters himself. Until the day he sent one, this time form Washington.

H.

I am in Washington at the moment with the family. I had hoped to stop in and see you and David, to see how the two of you are doing. I'll be in New York within the week, if you are able.

Write back swiftly, if you would care to meet.

A.

Abraham,
I have found myself missing your company, and I am sure David will be pleased to see you. We can do dinner and perhaps a trip to the book store, David needs a few things for the coming term. He is on holiday at the moment.
Yours
H

He sends the letter and moves into the parlor to speak with David. "Abraham is coming to visit... we shall be having supper with him, well you shall dine and I shall watch." Henry chuckles a little hiding his pain.

David has become fairly good at noticing when people hide their pain though. He might not be great at it, but one who does not speak as much as he pays attention notices these things. It bothers him more, not only that Abraham left them, but that it seems to upset Henry so much.

He hides his own dislike fairly well, giving a simple nod to this. "Alright." Though he thought better to not say anything, he couldn't help but speak up. "Wouldn't it be better if you just sat and spoke with him? Have a drink and short conversation? Dinner shouldn't be needed." And that was as much as he dared to speak on this topic, for what Henry wanted he got. But he didn't have to like the idea of this visit, did he?

"David, you need to eat as well. We shall all be going to dinner, do you not wish to speak with Abraham?" He asks sitting across from the boy.

He was excited to see his friend again, but his communications where becoming less and less, only when Henry had a job for Abe, or when Abe had some great news on his family.

He looks at what David had been working on and smiles. "You have almost filled another sketch book, we shall have to get you another soon." While yes he missed Abe, he loved David like a son, and at lest Abe had given him that.

David thought of Henry as father, and thought he had not called him that yet, he had thought it many of times. He had almost edged in on saying it time and time again. It had come to his lips often, but he had a small fear that it would be unwelcome. That he shouldn't push his luck. He had everything too good now as it was. He knew that much. As young as he was, he knew he had life too good.

He thought of Henry as his father and he wanted him to know that, but he still worried, once in a while. For now, he was still Henry, though he told other students that it was his papa, for sure. He had just never said it to the man yet. It was times like this that he wanted to, however.

He shifted and didn't look at Henry. He didn't like to lie to his face after all. "I will speak to him."

He shaded a few more lines in on his drawing, frowning at it. At the moment it was a bird on a stone wall. Something he saw in a dream and not a book. "But maybe he'll be too busy for a long visit. I can eat. He can eat before he comes to visit. No reason to make you watch him eat."

Henry is quiet for a moment watching the boy draw with fondness before he speaks. "None of this David my boy, what is troubling you, do not fear speaking with me, no ill will come it, I promise you." He says picking up one of the pencils and spinning it along his fingers.

"No matter what you have to say, my caring for you will never change, dear child, I do not wish for you to hold back things that trouble you."

David paused, rubbing his nose then shrugging. He knows better then to shrug, as that's not proper manners, but it happened anyhow. Still not looking at Henry. He would never lie to his face, but he didn't want to see Abraham. He hadn't seen him in so long and the man just... just up and LEFT them. Left and found some one else and has a son of his own now. Why would he want to see him?

He said nothing, going back into silence, but he did move. Pushing his unfinished sketch to the side, and shifted so he was beside Henry. He still refused to look at him, but he kept moving, shifting to slide into Henry's lap and wrap his arms around him. Silent still, yes, but giving the love and hugs the man deserved. That any father deserved.

That is when it dawns on Henry and all he can do is wrap his arms around David and press a kiss to the top of his head. He lets them sit in quiet like that for a long time, he's never forced David to talk and never will.

But he hadn't thought Abraham's leaving would hurt David as much as it had, but then that was foolish on his part. Of course it would, he would not burden the boy then.

"We shall make it a quick meal, but he is still our friend and we shall be polite... but I will not make you stay longer then you have too." He promises.

"Be polite to guests." He said softly, giving a small nod to this. He didn't want to see Abraham. He didn't want Henry to see him either though. He didn't want him to have that look in his eyes when the man left again. The look he was worried he got in his own eyes. These aren't thought a child should have. But he does.

He snuggled Henry a bit tighter and hid his face in his shoulder. "When will he be here?"

"In a day or so, I do not know how long he is staying." Henry says keeping his voice low and relaxed. "But it will be a good thing to see him, trust me." He says still holding David.

"Now your sketch book is almost full..." He says trying to lighten the mood a bit. "Since we have company coming, we should go to the shops today... perhaps pick up some new books as well." He smiles. Getting out of the house would be good for both of them. Henry could use something new to read as well.

David does trust Henry, fully and with all his heart, so he nods to this and decides to trust that it will be nice to see Abraham as well. He only nods though and doesn’t reply to it. He’ll be on his best behavior for sure. As best as a 9, nearly 10 years old can be that is.

“Can I pick one?” David asked, looking up at Henry when he said they could get a sketch book as well as books. It would be something he would read himself, but also something he would think Henry would read to him, so if you say yes, he can pick one, you might be there at the store for some time letting him find the perfect new addition to the book collection.

Henry laughs softly and nods. "Yes, you may. Now go get your coat." He says sliding the boy off his lap and standing. He moves to get his own coat and hat slipping on his sunglasses. "Go on now." He smiles at David.

"Yes, sir." He said, moving to stand, gathering his book and pencils and putting them up first, because he is a grateful kid and keeps this things in order. He likes order, which is strange for an artist.

Grabbing his coat he pulls it on, coming up swiftly beside Henry.

Henry pulls on his coat and hat and smiles a little more shaking his head slightly.

It's a pleasant out even with the light dusting of snow on the streets it's still busy out. He'd already collected the boys christmas presents but he couldn't let the boy go with out drawing paper now could he.

"Where shall we go first my young one? Books? Or to get your sketch book?"

He pulled on his coat proper as well and followed close to Henry, looking around their city. He liked it here, really. It was much better then where he was born and raised. This was much more interesting to him.

"Books." He said simply, though he'd want to get his sketch book as well. The one he was using had but few pages left and he could fill those by morning.

He taks David's hand as they cross the street letting go when they are back on the sidewalk and heading into the shop.

"Alright David, go a head pick something out." He smiles removing his hat as he starts to look around at the different books as well.

In the book shop he took off, moving carefully over to a shelf and looking things over. He never touched unless he was very interested and he was always careful and respectful of the books. It would take him some time to find the right one, but when he did he pulled it from the shelf, carried it in his arms carefully and brought it over to Henry, silently holding it up to him with a questioning look.

At this age he didn't speak in public. Not often at least. He always seemed a bit worried that someone would hear him, especially in stores. So yes, he was silent as he asked if this one was okay, and if Henry would get it for them. A book on pirates and multiple adventure stories about pirates. One he had not seen before.

Henry takes the book and looks through it keeping his expression schooled, it's a game for them.

He looks it over reading a bit of it and nods. "Very good choice." His face opens into a wide grin.

He walks over to the clerk and places the book on the counter. He looks down at David and smiles again "This all for today?"

David says nothing for a moment, just nodding as he was asked if that was all for today. He would let it be that, only...

As they were at the counter, there was a little blue book of poems that had caught his attention. He tended to never ask for more then one book, especially if they were already going to go pick up a sketch book.

But this book was pretty and caught his attention well. It was impulse, but he reached out to it, picking it up, hearing Henry talk to the man at the counter. He looked through it a moment, then reached his free hand out to tug on Henry's coat. Generally he would just hold it up with a questioning look, but this time the questioning look was fallowed by...

"Can I have this one as well, father?"

The name sounded strange to him but not. He had said it in his head often enough. He looked mildly startled and a little worried, though that could be taken as he was worried he was asking too much and not because he called him father. Henry however, would know that wasn't the case. That it was the new title he bestowed upon the man that had David worried. Was it okay?

Henry looks down at him, eyes going wide for a moment before a smile quickly spreads across his face big and bright.

He kneels down and takes the book, and looks through it before nodding. "Another good choice I don't see why not, my boy." Something warm unfurls inside his heart and he knows he will never deny his boy anything.

He sets the book with the other and has the clerk wrap them as he pays.

The worried look left as Herny smiled. The clerk would see this as a father and son having a moment over a book. A greatful child who asked for one too many things and a father who could not deny him anything. In part, it was truth. But in real truth it was just a firming of a bond that would last for years.

When Henry said it was another good choice, D avid looked happy, but he was more so happy because Henry was happy. As long as Henry was happy, David would do no wrong to the man, or try not to. He gave a firm nod, and the smallest, most whispered "Thank you." once again going back to not speaking in public. He was staying close to Henry as the man paid, almost hiding in his side, watching the clerk wrap the book.

Henry wasn't upset. It was okay. He looked happy no less, so he might try using it again, because it made him feel good as well.

Henry thanks the clerk and tucks the books inside his coat and takes David's hand as they head bac outside.

"We shall go get your sketch book, then get some lunch into you." He smiles down as they walk. "You may call me what you did in the shop as frequently as you wish David... I very much view you as my son." He says softly.

David seems to smile even larger then before, looking up at Henry with that smile. The man was alright with it and didn't mind? Good, because he liked how it felt. He gave a small nod to all this, seeming to bounce a bit in his step. "I... wasn't sure if you would be okay with it." he spoke, voice very soft, knowing only Henry would be able to hear him.

"I would always be okay with it David, now you know it is not something you do not have to worry about, so fret no longer... my son." He says the words for the first time and his heart could almost beat again.

He leads them to another shop, with pens papers, paints, all kinds of art supplies. The city suited them both well, very well.

He felt warm. All his grumps and concerns about Abraham were forgotten as he heard him call him son. It had been a while, it seemed, since he heard 'son' and even then it wasn't spoken by a man but his old mother. His mother he was slowly going to forget anyhow, and he didn't seem to mind at the moment. That would kick in later, but for now... now he had Henry.

He reached out to take hold of Henry's coat, just holding on and trailing behind him, seeming much more happy now, thought not saying much, like normal. David never really spoke much outside of the house, though he spoke more around school, because he had to.

For him, this was all he needed. He didn't need Abraham to come in and bother them. So yes, he could be good and eat dinner with Abraham, but he knew where his place was now.

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