Why Do You Love Me,Grandpa?
Victor Bennett's heart was breaking and it wasn't because he missed his late ex-wife or his eldest daughter.
No, it was the sound of his youngest grandson ,little Henry Mitchell Jr and the agony in his tiny 5 -year -old voice , asking him why he loved him, that was shattering this old man's heart into pieces.
He'd come into the conservatory from the backyard where he'd been romping around with the rest of the Halliwell kids to find Junior playing on the floor with his superhero figurines , trying desperately not to cry.
"Hey squirt! What are you doing in here, all by yourself? Don't you want to come and play with your cousins, sisters and I?" asked Victor.
Instead of answering the question, Junior had looked up at Victor with those sad, big brown eyes and asked earnestly: "Why do you love me, Grandpa?"
Victor paused for a minute, taken aback for a second by the nature of the question. "Why would you ask me that, buddy? You're my grandson and I love you, always, no matter what."
"I know that, Grandpa, but why? I can't orb like Wyatt or beam like PJ and Mommy says someday Tam and Kat will have Auntie Piper's powers. I can't do anything, I'm not special … so why do you love me?" said Junior, a little forlornly.
Victor looked at his youngest grandson, feeling a bit powerless himself for a second. He'd been the one to convince Henry Sr to keep the child when Paige had brought him home and insisted on adopting him and though he'd known there'd be moments like these, having to explain to his mortal grandson why he was as special as his magically endowed siblings and cousins was heart wrenching.
He was going to have to handle this sensitively. Instead of answering Junior immediately, Victor scooped the little boy up into his arms and settled them both on one of the comfy wicker chairs.
"Junior, you know how Mommy can orb and heal people because Grandpa Sam is her real dad and I'm not? Well, sometimes that makes me feel sad too, but then I remember that just because I didn't help to make Mommy doesn't mean I don't love her or that she doesn't love me too and that's the way I feel about you. You don't have to have powers like the others for me to love you with all of my heart.
Junior looked up at his Grandpa for a while, not saying a word. Victor decided he needed one more trick to seal the deal.
" Do you want to know a secret, Buddy?" Junior nodded his head quickly, eager to hear what his granddad had to share." I rather like having someone in the family just like me and I'm glad it's you."
Junior smiled at that and hugged his Grandpa really close for a minute before rushing off to find the rest of the kids.
Victor couldn't help but laugh at the little guy's resilience and was about to follow his grandson to the backyard when he saw Paige standing in the doorway between the conservatory and living room.
"How long have you been eavesdropping?" he asked her. "Long enough to say I love you too… Dad", said Paige softly before kissing Victor on the cheek and heading out to check on the children.
=End-