Henry is in the kitchen, cooking breakfast before he heads off for work. As usual, he's making enough for everyone in the house. With Kat on her mission in Sector 673 for the last week, Henry's only making food for the guys, though he'd whip something else up if Kat gets back early.

He's missed being able to talk to her these last couple days. She's always been able to help him figure his own thoughts and feelings out.

He pours the batter into the waffle-iron and closes it, frustrated.

(Reply) (Thread)

Coming out of the bathroom, Josh adjusts his tie and heads for the kitchen. He'll need to be heading to work too but he needs breakfast first too. The healer's been in a very down mood lately, more quiet and reserved than usual.

"Morning..." he greets softly.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Ava doesn't particularly plan to go downstairs. He's too busy fighting off another panic attack and finally flops back into bed and covers his head with the pillow. All the negativity in the house makes it hard for him to function.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Henry hasn't gotten dressed himself yet, still in his boxers, as he closes the waffle iron.

"Morning, Josh," Henry replies. "Blueberry waffles this morning. Made the whipped cream fresh."

He goes to the fridge and pulls out a bowl of blueberry compote and another of whipped cream.

He hands them to Josh and goes to retrieve a plate for him. "Sleep well?" he asks.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Josh accepts the bowls and moves to sit with them. He looks up to where he senses Ava and sighs. "Not really," he admits honestly. "What about you?"

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Henry shrugs. "Eh," he replies. He opens the iron and takes the fresh waffle out, a green construct carrying it on its plate to Josh's seat. He pours another one out, and leans back.

No, he hadn't slept well. He hadn't slept well in two nights, truth be told, and it was starting to show under his eyes.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Josh knows how Henry's slept, sensing it easily. He's just gotten a lot better about not mentioning every little thing he senses.

"Maybe you could call in sick to work..." he suggests softly, worried.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Just about that time, Ava feels compelled to try and get out of the house. Of course he knows that he can't just leave and so sits up in his room for a bit as Josh and Henry speak, fretting over what to do. Eventually he realizes that he's going to have to go down stairs and face the Breakfast Club if he hoped to be able to get out without hurting more feelings.

Dressed in a loose tshirt and a pair of jeans, Avalon grabs his dance bag and scrapes his fingers through his hair several times before he finally skews up enough courage to go and face Henry and his frustration and hurt.

He comes down the stairs quietly, looking a lot more confident than he feels. "Hey..." he says softly once he makes it into the kitchen.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Henry shakes his head at Josh's suggestion. "I'll be fine," he says dismissively.

Upon Avalon's appearance, Henry takes the fresh waffle out of the iron, puts it on a plate, and hands it to Avalon.

"Hey," he replies. "There's fresh whipped cream and blueberries on the table." And he proceeds to pour more batter into the iron.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Josh gives Henry a look. "Henry..." he trails off. Sensing Avalon, Josh glances over quickly. "Morning Ava..." he greets.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Ava just looks overwhelmed. He mumbled some sort of thank you to Henry and then finds himself settling at the table so that his knees won't give out. Thankfully there are waffles and blueberries, which in all honesty, are a bright consolation to the heavy emotions in the room.

Perched on the chair, Ava just scoops some cream and berries onto his waffle and starts poking at it. Though he seems more interested in the toppings than the waffle it's self. Plus it gives him somewhere to look, and a fork to toy with.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

When the third waffle is done, Henry puts it on a plate. "Either of you want more?" he asks.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Josh is quiet, just eating. After a few moments of awkward silence, Josh sets his fork down a bit hard than intended.

"This has gone on long enough."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Avalon just winces when Josh sets his fork down, and slides his eyes over to the tall man sheepishly. He presses his lips into a line and then draws in a deep breath before he says softly, "There isn't really a lot left to say, Josh. There's more I'd like to say, but I.. don't want to cause more harm than I already have."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Henry sits quietly and puts his blueberries and whipped cream on top of his waffles.

"Go ahead, Blue," Henry says, almost resigned in tone.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Josh squeezes the fork and ends up bending it out of shape.

"No. There's more to say. A lot more..." he takes a few deep breaths. "And I can't take this anymore," he goes on, eyes actually tearing up a bit.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Obviously nervous, Avalon sets down his fork and draws his knees up under his chin and hugs around his shins as he looks at his plate. "I.. uhm.." he finally says, before he draws in a shaky breath. "I never meant to trick you; I really did think you understood. I'm sorry for.. for assuming too much."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Henry looks over at Avalon, his face softening. "Avalon, I was too young to really accept what was offered." He shrugs. "Maybe it was for the best. If I understood then... maybe we wouldn't be here now."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Josh stays quiet, watching both Lanterns carefully. He wants things to be good again.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Avalon sneaks a look towards Henry, and then squeezes his arms around himself a bit more tightly. "I'm really unsettled." he then admitted in a whispered rush, his expression rather confused.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Henry considers a long moment.

"Avalon... I... don't buy into the fate that you consider so important. I simply don't. We create our own fates. So if you came to me and told me that we were fated to be together...?" He shakes his head. "I don't think I would have believed it, and I would have fought against it. But I never understood what it is that I agreed to."

He reaches across the table to take both Avalon and Josh's hands. "But if I was made the offer now... to share my life with you as my partner... I wouldn't blink."

He looks at Avalon straight in the eye. "Avalon. You are my Inubit'sot. And I am... deeply honored to be yours."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Josh jumps when his hand is taken but squeezes Henry's. Almost reflexively, he reaches for Ava's free hand but keeps quiet.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Ava, admittedly was starting to steel himself for the worst, given the start to Henry's words. When Henry reaches out to take his hand, he looks decidedly almost ill, and certainly pale. His attention is drawn up though and he finds himself drawing in a sharp breath then at the last little bit.

At first, he's not quite sure what to say, but after he gives a squeeze to Josh's hand, he rounds the table to stand next to Henry and gives his hand a squeeze too. "What we share is.. that which my world revolves around." he then says softly. Ocean-eyes slide to Josh, and he says "All of what we share.."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"I was surprised, Avalon. That's all. That doesn't mean I regretted it." He looks at Avalon intently. "I have never regretted us being together." He turns to Josh. "I have never regretted any of us being together."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Josh finally smiles again when the others look to him. He wipes his eyes quickly and then nods. "It's the same for me. I've never regretted any of it," he says.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)