Father son day
Louise asked for a oneshot of…a read and see story.
Charming couldn't deny that he felt a little crushed when Neal had politely declined all his offers for their annual day together. He made lots of excuses, Charming pretended to understand. He knew Neal was getting older and going fishing or hill walking with his old man wasn't exactly the coolest thing to be doing, but they'd done it every year on the fifteenth of March since Neal was a baby. It was their special day together. Now he was fifteen and decided they didn't need it anymore, that the spent plenty of time together and there was no need to set a particular day aside. Charming felt differently, but he couldn't drag Neal along. He would just have to accept that his son was growing up, however hard a pill it was to swallow. Especially when he found out the real reason: Mason Davis was having a house party. Charming had never liked that boy. His parents were rich so he thought he didn't have to respect authority. He was rude, arrogant and a downright hooligan at times. Charming hadn't wanted Neal to attend at all, but since he'd been honest about the party Snow and he had decided he could go, but his curfew was eleven thirty. So Charming hadn't been expecting a phone call at ten fifteen. When he saw it was Neal calling him, he couldn't deny feeling worried.
"Hey son." Charming answered him. "Everything ok?"
"Yeah kinda." Neal sounded quite distressed. "Could you come pick me up early? I'm outside Mason's house."
"Yeah sure, Neal, are you ok?" Charming said, already getting his jacket on.
"I'm fine dad, I promise. I just don't think this party is really my scene. I'll talk more when you're here."
"Ok buddy. I'll be there soon." Charming promised him before hanging up. He got ready as quickly as he could and sped off to get him, wondering what had happened.
Neal got into the front passenger seat and it was immediately clear someone had upset him.
"Ok, what happened?" Charming asked, knowing it was best to take the direct approach when it came to Neal. Neal sighed.
"You know Mason's annoying friend Wyatt? The one who acts like he was dropped on his head shortly after birth?"
"Yeah." Charming chuckled.
"He was out to annoy me from the get go. He kept calling me the piglet and making oink noises." Neal explained. Charming nodded sympathetically. He knew it was hard for Neal sometimes that his dad and big sister were the sheriffs. "He just wouldn't let up, and when I wasn't giving him a reaction he started saying that you were a lousy sheriff and that you were nothing more than a shepherd who had gotten too big for his manky field boots." Neal growled. "I may have lost my temper and told him that at least my dad didn't need to take his 'manky field boots' off to count past ten. I left before things got physical and called you."
"I think you made the right call Neal." Charming said proudly. "I know it's not easy for you, with us being on the force, but you don't have to take stuff like that. Just walk away like you did. That annoys them more in the long run." Charming promised him.
"Yeah." Neal sighed. He felt really stupid. He had ruined their special day all for the sake of hoping to jump up the social ladder. "I'm sorry I ruined everything today." He said quietly as they pulled up in front of their house. "I feel really stupid now."
"Don't." Charming said, squeezing his son's shoulder. "It's no big deal."
"I think it is." Neal piped up. "I love those days. Can we do it tomorrow?" he asked hopefully. "We can do whatever you want this year even though it's my turn." Charming smiled.
"I have an idea." Charming said, knowing just what they'd do. "Something relaxed. You want to go see that new action movie, right? How about we go see that? Popcorn, soda, the lot. My treat." Charming offered. Neal grinned.
"Sounds great dad." He said as they both got out the car. Neal wished he could turn back time and just not have gone to that stupid party in the first place, but he supposed this would do. At least he was getting their day back. That's what really mattered.
