“I’ve asked nicely. I’ve been patient. I’ve offered dinner. A lovely dinner, too! Not just some little sandwich somewhere. A proper dinner. Candles, beautiful music, the whole thing.”

His voice softened, though the exhaustion was still obvious. “How can I help? Do you want me to take Paris for a minute, or do you need me to get the bags together?”...

He paused, choosing his words carefully. “I know you’re tired of moving. I know you want your own room and your own things. I’m trying, baby. I promise you, I’m trying.”

“I know you have someone. I know you’ve built a life with him. I know I have absolutely no right to come back into your life after all this time and ask you to reconsider everythi...

“You’ve been doing this for too long. You can’t just decide to scare me like this and expect me to pretend I’m not upset.” His eyes lowered “I don’t like seeing you here.”

“You didn’t like my rules. You thought I was too strict. You thought your siblings got treated better. Okay. You’re allowed to think that.”

“But then you started to leave...” His fingers tightened gently around theirs.“And I didn’t want you to.”

“Well, I was going to continue talking about short films...” He glanced at the screen, then back toward them with a fond little laugh. “But apparently I’ve been distracted.”<...

“This is what I have to deal with every day. Always walking around, always keeping busy, never saying hello to their father.” Michael shook his head dramatically before turning th...

“Don’t look now, but apparently everyone has figured me out except you.” He offered his arm. “Come on, darling. Dance with me.”

"Those men and women your age could probably learn a thing or two from me." He immediately laughed at his own statement and raised both hands defensively. "I'm joking. Mostly.”

He stepped closer, his smile growing. “After five months away... I was expecting to come home to an empty house and go straight to bed.”

“I’m not angry.” Another pause. “Well...” He glanced around at the destruction.“I’m trying very hard not to be.”

Chris studied him for another moment.“So you don’t like them anymore?”

Michael paused. His eyes briefly drifted back toward them.“I didn’t say that.”

“You’ve been captivating people since we were children.” A quiet chuckle escaped him. “I remember when you used to perform for me in the living room and insist I was your audience...

“It’s what you deserve. Please don’t refuse it.” He lifted their hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it.

Father x Troublemaker

Michael sighed,“And apparently, everyone thinks you’re hilarious.”

“Do you think...” he began hesitantly. ”...would it be inappropriate if I introduced myself backstage?”

Actor/Actress x Admirer

“I just think they’re extremely talented.”

“It’s just...” His voice softened “You’ve become part of this family.”