75 Danny's POV
In the morning, we discussed and decided to try and plan a picnic in the field behind the house. It wasn't that much, but it was a traditional family activity, and while it was close to the house, it was still far enough away that it would feel like an outing. Also, it was a change, one that Buzz would appreciate, and one that would put Tom out of his comfort zone, while still being at least a little safe. It was perfect, or at least a good idea for the moment, and if it went wrong... at least Tom would be close to the house, so he could go back to the place he felt safe quickly.
It was also decided that I'd be asking him, mostly because I seemed to have some effect on him. Even when sometimes it wasn't the most positive of effects, I sometimes got further than everybody else. Though after last time, I wasn't sure that this was going to be such a good idea... I didn't want to make Tom cry again, I wanted him to be happy, like when we'd written some songs together the other month... could I somehow convince him using song writing? No, this was supposed to be about him and Buzz, giving them time together, nothing to do with work... damn, that wouldn't work.
By the time that Harry and Dougie had left for a while with Buzz, I still had no idea on what to say, but I was going to have to say something. I had to get this asked before Buzz came home, so if it went south, he didn't get caught up in the freak out.
Okay, here went nothing...
"Hey Tom, got a minute?" I asked, leaning against the tumble dryer as casually as possible, while Tom sorted washing.
"Er, I guess." Tom stopped sorting washing, looking in my direction, though not meeting my eyes.
"You can keep on sorting that out, if you want." I didn't want him to be uncomfortable, or force him to look at me while we were talking, if he didn't want to.
"It's fine... is, do you have a problem?" Tom fiddled with a t-shirt nervously.
"No, no problem. I just wanted to ask something." I bent to his level, not feeling comfortable standing over him. It felt like I was trying to intimidate him, force him into what I wanted him to do, which was not my intentions in the slightest. I wanted Tom to agree to this on his own terms, without feeling pressured or forced into it. I wanted him comfortable, in any way he could right now.
"It's just that... we were thinking, Buzz spends most of his time in the house, or in the garden, and it could be good to give him a new experience. So, what do you think about taking him for a little picnic on Saturday? Just in the fields behind the house, so it won't be far, but still something new for him to explore." I asked as gently as I could, so I looked trustworthy. Even though Tom knew me well, and had trusted me in the past, he could possibly have had that turned on its head in the past few years.
"Er, yes, it... sounds good, it'll... it'll be good for him." Tom agreed, oh thank god.
"That's what we thought, and there's trees and stuff that he can climb over. And, it'll be nice, to get out of the house." I smiled, being careful to not mention too much how hard Tom was working himself.
"O-Okay, you... you can take him." Tom nodded, going back to washing... wait, that wasn't completely what I meant...
"Tom, you do know we want you to come with us, right? I meant it as an outing for us all, including you." He had to know that I meant that, right? He had to know that I meant him in this too, not just us.
"Oh, oh... I don't know. There's, I have to a lot to do." Tom hesitated, it was clear that he wanted to say yes, so badly. He wanted to join in, to come out, but he couldn't, thanks to everything his wife had shoved into his head.
"Ah, don't worry about that, there's more than enough time to do everything that's needed before then, that's why I asked in advance." I waved him off, "And anyway, didn't Natasha suggest that you have a break? Just for an hour or two a week, to spend time with Buzz during the day?" it was a low blow, but it was what Natasha had suggested...
"She did." Tom bit at his lip.
"Yeah, so how about if we start that? We'll be near the house, so you can come in whenever you want." Please say yes, come on, please say yes.
"Okay, I'll... I'll come too." Tom still didn't look sure, but we had gotten him to agree, and that was the most important thing. He'd agreed, and we would show him what it was like to have fun. We would convince him to take more breaks, I was sure of it.