FATHERS AND NEW FRONTIERS

AN: Only TWO more days! Because I'm completely stoked, I couldn't resist a tad more fluff.

"Well. If it isn't Walter himself. It's been a minute since we've talked," Sean O'Brien's face appeared on the genius's laptop.

Even though their relationship had improved along with his EQ, Walter still had to take a breath and count to five trying to quell his instant defensive response. It had been ingrained in him from years of resentment and misunderstanding starting from a very young age. Paige would tell him his father didn't mean the statement of fact as criticism. It had been a while since he'd contacted his parents.

Thinking of his girlfriend had the desired calming effect and he was able to respond without a hint of irritation. "Uh, hello. It has been some time. We were stranded on that island for three weeks and since then it's pretty much been back-to-back cases."

There was a beat of awkward silence before Walter added, "So… How is the condensation catcher doing? I wanted to tell you I've got a couple of ideas to improve the overall functionality."

Before his father could answer, Louise's smiling face peeked around the corner of the screen. Sean looked at his wife indulgently before budging over so she could talk too. "Ah! There's my boy!" She said, "And how are you faring after that ordeal on the island? I bet you're really glad to get back to the civilized world again."

"Oh, I'm fine, thanks. And yes, I'm very glad to be back."

His father chuckled and said, "You've probably never appreciated indoor plumbing more…"

His mother playfully swatted her husband's shoulder before saying to her son, "We heard from a little bird you are seeing that pretty Paige. Is it true?" Louise was positively beaming as she asked in a conspiratory whisper.

Walter sighed. Well, crap. He'd already lost control of this conversation not even three minutes in. "Yes. And was that little bird actually my big mouthed brother Sly by chance?"

"Such a lovely boy. And yes, it was Sylvester. He calls us every week to keep us caught up on everything important going on in that garage of yours," his mother replied.

"Paige? Wasn't she dating that Tim fella when she was here before?" Sean asked, looking confused.

The younger man bit his lip counting to ten this time before saying, "They broke up several months ago, but yes, she was."

His father looked at him sourly with one eyebrow raised. "She's not the kind to go around with everyone at work is she?"

Walter ground his teeth and hid his clenched fists in his lap under his desk before gritting out in a tight voice, "No, Dad. It's not like that."

Louise frowned sidelong at her husband before saying, "Of course she isn't. Don't worry with his nonsense, Walter. He doesn't mean anything by it." She paused for a second before continuing, looking delighted, like Christmas arrived early for her, "So tell me. Is it serious with you two?"

"I don't know what you mean, Mother." He really wanted to slam his computer shut and pretend he'd never contacted his parents.

"Ohhh. Don't be shy about it, now. Do you see yourself with her for a long time, maybe?" She winked at him.

"About that condensation catcher, Dad…" The genius pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Ah, no you don't, boy-o. Answer your mum. There's a good lad. We just want to see you happy, don't you know." Sean was smirking at him.

Walter wanted to bang his head on the desk. "I'm very happy, thank you. And I would like nothing more than to see this become a…permanent situation. As for Paige, I don't know. We haven't discussed it. Yet."

Louise clapped her hands together under her chin, her expression ecstatic. "And she has that sweet little boy, doesn't she? What's his name again?"

The younger man shook his head as he barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes. The privacy ship had apparently sailed, so he replied, "His name is Ralph. He's not so little any more. He's closer to thirteen than twelve now. And smarter than me on my best day." In spite of himself, Walter's face relaxed into a proud smile at the thought of Ralph.

"Oh, would you look at that, Sean? Our son is in love and he loves that boy too. What a perfect little ready-made family you have there. We're ever so pleased for you."

Walter felt the heat creeping up his face. He had never discussed things like this with his parents. Not once. But in some ways it felt… right. He hoped it was appropriate when he added, "It's still early stages. Honestly, though, I'm a little… scared to mess things up with her. With him. This is all new territory for me."

To his surprise, it was his father who gave an encouraging answer. "I guarantee you will mess up. I know all about that. I messed up plenty, heaven knows. But if it's the real thing, you will forgive each other and work it out together. Take it from someone who knows, don't let the problems fester. Talk to her. Talk to him. Ask questions. The only way to know how to get better is to ask. I had trouble admitting I was wrong and asking for help. Because of that, you and I didn't talk for a lot of years. I regret that."

Walter was too astonished to respond and he was shocked to feel tears prickling his eyes. He was finally able to choke out, "Me too," around the lump in his throat.

Luckily, before things could get too weird, Louise piped up, her expression all eager hopefulness, "Since Paige already has that one little boy, do you think she'll eventually be wanting to try for a baby girl? A granddaughter would be such a blessing."

Oh, boy.

AN2: I tried to make Sean and Louise as Irish as possible as a completely American idiot can. I hope it wasn't too much.