The Pappases
Prompted by 'aphass', this is a one-shot covering a few moments from Chris' last few months on the show that we didn't get to see between Chris and his parents.
22nd January 2015 (Chris telling his parents about Lucy's offer)
Chris' mobile phone lay in the centre of the table in the back yard, whilst Chris wandered around the garden, glancing at it hesitantly every few paces. The young man was pondering how he was supposed to break the news to his parents that he was going to have a baby with Lucy. A million different scenarios played in his head, making Chris increasingly nervous. However, he stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted Sheila standing by the back door, watching him with a bemused expression.
"At this rate you're going to wear down the grass if you carry on like that" she joked
Chris smiled coyly, "Sorry, I'm just thinking"
"And you need to walk around to think?" she questioned
Chris shook his head, "Not normally" he replied, "But I'm trying to avoid my phone until I've decided what I'm going to say"
Sheila was confused, "Say to who about what?"
"My parents" Chris replied, "I need to tell them that Lucy and I decided to have a baby together"
"Hang on, they don't already know?" Sheila asked in surprise
Chris shook his head, "I don't know how to tell them" he admitted, "And I'm scared of how they might react"
Sheila sighed, "Isn't that the same excuse you used for not telling them about your relationship with Aidan? Or about Hudson being in prison?" she pointed out, "You were worried that they'd take it badly, but they didn't"
Chris nodded sombrely, "Yeah, I know" he exhaled, "But it's different this time. We're talking about creating a whole new person, not about my love-life"
Sheila folded her arms, "Your parents have always been your weakness, haven't they?"
Chris shrugged, "Kind of. I've never had a great relationship with my dad, and my mum's always been overprotective" he replied, "I mean, how am I supposed to tell them that their gay son is helping Paul Robinson's sister have a baby?"
Sheila grimaced, "Well now that you put it like that, it does sound weird" she remarked, "Maybe leave moneybags out of it"
Chris nodded grimly and Sheila held his gaze sympathetically, "Why don't you call them and ask them to meet you so that you can tell them in person?" she suggested, "That way you'll have more time to figure out what you want to say, and you won't be able to back out of it"
Chris considered this and Sheila continued, "If you want, you can invite them over here for lunch this afternoon and I'll cook something for you"
Chris was taken aback, "You'd really do that?" he asked, genuinely moved
Sheila nodded, "Just as long as you uphold your end of the deal" she replied
Chris nodded, "I will, thanks"
Sheila smiled at him before turning around and heading back inside. Chris watched after her thoughtfully before slowly wandering back to the table and picking up his mobile. He scrolled through the contacts until he reached 'Home' and stared at the number for a few moments, unsure whether he was going to call or not. Eventually he pressed on the green phone icon, and he managed to get through to his mum who agreed that she and George would meet him for lunch at number 26 in an hour's time. After he hung up, Chris let out a deep breath before chasing after Sheila to let her know that his parents were coming over.
xxx
Chris and his parents sat at the kitchen table in silence for a while. George and Patricia ate politely, but glanced up at Chris every few mouthfuls, noticing that he was just poking his food with his fork – which was unusual for him. There was nothing wrong with Sheila's cooking; in fact, Chris was probably the biggest fan of her meals and was usually the first person at the table whenever she made dinner. However, he had spent hours mulling over how he was going to break his huge piece of news to his parents, and even with them sitting across from him he was still unsure so he was too distracted to eat. Chris' parents wondered what was going on, because their son never acted like this unless he was anxious about something.
"How's Nate?" Patricia finally asked, breaking the long silence
"He's fine" Chris murmured
Patricia smiled, "I'm glad" she replied, "He's still seeing his counsellor then?"
Chris nodded and another silence overcame them. He had filled his parents in on Nate's background quite soon after they had gotten together, and they had both been intrigued by Nate and eager to meet him. However, Patricia had been rightfully concerned after Chris had suffered a brain injury a few months earlier and Nate was struggling as his carer, but had been reassured by Nate's commitment to her son. Chris had also told them about Nate almost burying Susan alive, and his guilt for not realising how serious Nate's PTSD really was. They had tried to convince him that he shouldn't feel guilty about it, and that Nate was seeing a qualified therapist in order to recover properly, and were glad that their relationship had strengthened as a result.
George quickly realised that Chris had some kind of secret that he was reluctant to share through his experience of Chris hiding news from them in the past, "Well, we take it that you haven't just invited us over for a spontaneous lunch…" he began
Chris glanced up at him, "How did you guess?" he asked nervously
"Because we know you" George answered, "What's going on Christos?"
Chris held his gaze momentarily, "There's something I have to tell you, and it might come as a shock"
George and Patricia shared a look. Quite a lot of Chris' confessions over the years had come as quite a shock such as coming out, his relationship with Aidan, Hudson being in prison, changing his statement about the coward-punch as well as the seriousness of his relationship with Nate. They stared at him expectantly, wondering what this piece of news could possibly be.
"What is it?" Patricia prompted
"You know my friend Lucy?" Chris began
George nodded, "Mayor Robinson's sister?" he clarified
Chris nodded, "Yeah" he muttered before taking a deep breath, "We're having a baby together"
His parents stared back at him in surprise. That was one of the last things they had ever expected to hear from their son.
"I'm sorry, what?" Patricia questioned
Chris exhaled, "Lucy and I are trying for a baby" he repeated
"Are you serious?" George asked in bewilderment
Chris nodded and Patricia looked confused, "But isn't Lucy your friend Andrew's aunt?" she questioned
"Yeah" Chris replied awkwardly, "I know the whole thing sounds strange, being the same age as my child's cousin, as well as all the other stuff-"
"Wait, how does the topic of having children come up between you and a woman who's double your age?" George cried
"She was helping me organise Kyle and Georgia's wedding, and we were looking after Nell for Sonya and Toadie when the subject just came up" Chris explained, "It was just before I met Nate, and we were both single and lonely, so we became really close"
"So close that you decided to have a baby together?" George clarified
Chris shrugged, "Lucy was desperate to have a baby, she still is" he continued, "I asked her to give me some more time because it was a huge decision that needed more than twenty-four hours to think about"
Patricia nodded, "Well at least you didn't rush into it" she noted
"That was the point" Chris replied, "I needed to think about every eventuality, and I have now. After everything that happened with Josh and being with Nate, it's made me realise how much I want this too"
"When did you decide to do it?" George asked
"Yesterday" Chris responded, "I wasn't sure at first because Nate doesn't want kids and I didn't want to upset him by going along with it, so I said 'no' to her-"
"Wait, you can't sacrifice what you want because of Nate" Patricia pointed out, "No matter how much you love him"
Chris sniggered, "That's kind of what Nate said. But he promised that he'd support me with whatever I decided, regardless of how he feels about having kids"
George nodded, "That's really mature of him" he murmured
Chris smiled, "I know, and I love him even more for it" he breathed, "But I eventually decided that I needed to do this. I mean, this could be my only chance to have a child"
"That's not entirely true" Patricia interjected, "There are lots of ways for you to do it"
Chris nodded, "Trust me, I know" he chuckled, "But I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have a baby with than with a friend like Lucy. She'll make a brilliant mum-"
"And you'll make a brilliant dad" Patricia interjected, then glanced over at George – who had been rather quiet – and covered one of his hands with one of hers, "Won't he, George?"
George just nodded with his eyes averted and Chris' heart fell, "Thanks" he breathed
"So you've thought this whole thing through, and Nate's on board with it" Patricia clarified, "What's next?"
Chris let out a breath, "We get started" he replied, "Lucy's ovulating so she wants to get going straight away"
"And you've waited until now to tell us?" George demanded, "Even though she suggested it months ago?"
Chris nodded slowly, "I wasn't sure how you'd react" he admitted
"How we'd react to having grandchildren?" Patricia asked
"Yeah" Chris replied, "I mean, you must have given up hope of having any after I came out"
Patricia shrugged, "The thought did occur to us" she confessed, "But there are loads of ways for anyone to have kids, and now we'll have grandchildren who are genetically part of the Pappas family"
"Well, the Robinson-Pappas family actually" Chris corrected her
Patricia rolled her eyes, "You know what I mean"
"So you're really okay with this?" Chris asked, referring to his dad in particular
Patricia glanced at George, "Yeah, we are. Aren't we?"
George nodded again, "Well you've already made up your mind so it's not like we can stop you, is it?"
Chris glanced away awkwardly, "I would have been upset if you weren't on board with this" he murmured, "But you're right, it wouldn't have stopped me from going through with it"
"So do it" George instructed softly, "If you really want this and you're ready for whatever lies ahead, then go for it"
Chris smiled in surprise, not expecting his dad's change in demeanour, "Really?"
George nodded, "Really" he replied, "As long as this is what you want"
"It is" Chris replied quietly. Although he was telling the truth, the gravity of the situation had suddenly hit him now that his parents had given him their blessing
"We'll be here for you one-hundred percent" Patricia assured him, squeezing her son's hand with her free hand
"Thank you" Chris whispered, touched by their support.
Followed by his parents, Chris stood up and they hugged each other as a group. Chris let out a deep breath: this was the beginning of the rest of his life. Although the future was unknown, with the support of his friends and family Chris was ready and willing to face whatever life was about to throw at him.
28th March 2015 (Chris' parents taking him to the airport)
Chris barely said a word from the moment he arrived at his parent's house to the moment he got to the airport. He was too consumed in his own thoughts of Lucy, the baby, Nate and New York to even comprehend what was going on around him from one minute to the next. Patricia and George were worried about their son, who hardly touched his food at dinner or breakfast but they understood that he had a lot on his mind. The drive to the airport was a long silence, with Chris checking his rucksack over and over again to ensure that he had everything he needed for a couple of weeks in America to try to distract himself. They both helped Chris with his luggage once they arrived at the airport and Patricia reminded him to let them know if he needed more of his stuff sent out to him whilst he was there.
"You don't think I have enough for a fortnight or so?" Chris asked, suddenly out of his stupor and answering questions with more than just monosyllabic responses
Patricia glanced away, "Just in case you decide to stay longer" she murmured
"What makes you think I'll be doing that?" he questioned suspiciously, "Or do you want me to stay away?"
"Of course not" George argued, "We hope you come back, but we're not naïve enough to actually think that you will"
"What happened to me saying that I'm getting away for a few weeks to clear my head and help Lucy set up for the baby? Why have people got it into their heads that I'm never coming back?" he asked, confused as to why people were making assumptions about him. It wasn't so nice when the shoe was on the other foot, Chris realised as he remembered Nate complaining about him and Lucy making decisions regarding his future without letting him have a say in it.
Patricia's head dropped to the side, "It's New York, Christos" she began, "Your child is going to be raised there, your whole life will be there soon enough and you'll forget about Erinsborough"
Chris shook his head, "I'll never forget, not after everything that's happened there"
Patricia nodded, "And nobody will forget you" she assured him before taking his hand in one of hers and holding it up to his heart, "But I think you know in here that you won't be coming back any time soon"
"Why do people keep saying that?" Chris groaned, "First Nate, now you two?"
Patricia glanced to the floor, "Maybe he's right" she murmured
Chris scoffed, "If it wasn't for Nate I wouldn't even be here" he growled, surprising his parents and himself. He didn't think he would have any resentment towards Nate after everything that they had been through together, but all of the tension of the past few hours had brought out the worst in him
Patricia shook her head, "Nate said that he'd support you no matter what, right?" she began, "But a lot of the time, those kinds of things are easier said than done"
Chris nodded and sighed in realisation, "I was really unreasonable" he muttered, "I expected him to give up his life to live mine, a life that he never wanted"
Patricia and George gazed at him sympathetically as he continued, "I knew from the moment I told him about Lucy that he wouldn't want a part of it, but I got so caught up in the excitement of it all that I assumed he was as enthusiastic as I was"
"Not everyone wants kids" Patricia interjected
Chris shook his head, "I know. And I knew he wasn't in the right place in his life to do any of this" he added, "He was still struggling with his demons but had found stability for the first time in ages in Erinsborough, yet I was trying to force him away from it"
"It's a big commitment to make, no matter how long you've been together or how deep your love for each other is" Patricia pointed out
Chris nodded, "I always rush into these things, making out that the relationship is more serious than it actually is, and thinking that Nate and I could compromise"
George was confused, "How do you compromise on this?"
"I suggested that we do three months in America and three months in Australia" Chris replied, blushing at his own stupidity
"Do you even need us to point out how ridiculous that idea is?" Patricia asked, "A trainee manager of a hotel and an assistant at a garden centre are hardly going to be able to afford to commute halfway across the world every three months"
Chris sighed, "I know, it was a crazy idea but I was desperate to hold on to Nate, even though he couldn't compromise that much"
Patricia nodded in understanding, "I'm sorry it didn't work out between you two"
Chris nodded sombrely, "So am I" he whispered tearfully
"But if it's meant to be, it'll happen" she assured him, "And if not, you'll find someone who will be everything that you deserve"
Chris gulped, "I don't know what I deserve" he admitted quietly, "I'm such a mess"
George stepped forwards and pulled his son into a hug, "You're not a mess. You're our strong, amazing son"
Chris let the tears fall at his dad's words, but George stepped out of the embrace and wiped his son's tears away, "I know I don't say it much but I am so proud of you" he told him, "You've flourished from an insecure little kid to a fearless young man"
Chris shook his head, "I'm not fearless" he argued, "There's one thing I've never stopped being scared of… you"
George's face fell and Chris continued, "Getting approval from you guys is all I've ever wanted, but I've been so scared of failing you that I kept secrets from you, I lied and shut you out instead of being honest"
George glanced at Patricia and nodded, "Then we're also to blame, but especially me" he replied, "I made things harder than they needed to be, I couldn't accept you for who you really were and that caused so many problems that I regret every day. I told you on your nineteenth birthday that I was proud of you and of everything you do. And nearly three years later it's even more accurate, I couldn't be more proud of you if I tried and I'm sorry it took so long for me to say it out loud"
"It's ok" Chris breathed, wiping the remaining tears away, "I love you guys so much"
"We love you too" George replied before letting go of his son properly.
Chris gave them a shaky smile before slinging his rucksack over his shoulder, "I guess I should get going now" he began, "But I'll see you in a couple of weeks, hopefully"
Patricia and George nodded, still convinced that Chris wouldn't be returning any time soon, "Call us as soon as you can, ok?" Patricia insisted, "And every day after that as well"
Chris chuckled, "Yeah, I will" he agreed before giving them one last wave as he headed off. His parents watched after him, keeping their emotions in check as his figure got smaller the further he walked. Neither George nor Patricia knew what was going to happen to their son, but knew that they would always be just a phone call away if he ever needed them.
Thanks for reading, and thanks 'aphass' for the prompt; this was so much fun to write and I hope this was somewhat close to what you had in mind. Anyway, if anyone has any ideas for one-shots, then please let me know. In the meantime, reviews are always welcome!