Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
"Just stand there in front of him," Gale tells her out of listening range of their son. "He needs a target to ride to. That'll be you."
Madge chews on her lip and looks down at their son Max, who's on his knees looking at his bike without training wheels.
"I don't know, Gale," she sighs. "What if he falls? Maybe he's not ready to ride a big kid bike yet."
"Madge," Gale pulls her close. "You've strapped him in every safety device possible." Shin guards, elbow pads, knee pads, a helmet with extra padding. "If he falls he'll be fine. Besides, a little scrape never hurt anyone."
Gale nudges her toward the end of the street and offers her a smile, nodding his head reassuringly. He leans down to Max and helps his son up, considering the five year old can't get up on his own with all his extra protection.
"You'll hold onto the bike, right Daddy?" he asks.
Gale smiles. "For a bit," Gale responds with a nod. He's not going to lie to his kid, tell him that he'll always be holding on. "Gotta let go sometime if you want to learn, though."
Max frowns and looks toward his father. "But what if I fall?"
"Then you'll get right back on and try again. Right?" Max looks hesitant. He glances toward Madge at the end of the street. "You're a Hawthorne, Max," Gale tells him. "We're strong and tough, remember?"
"I remember." Gale holds the bike still as Max clambers onto it. "I just gotta ride to Mommy?"
"Yes sir," Gale nods. "She's not so far." Max nods slightly and grips his handlebars with all his might. "Can you do this?"
"I can do this," Max affirms. Gale looks down at his son, his dark hair sticking out from underneath his helmet, his blue eyes filled with determination. "I'm ready."
Max starts to peddle as Gale pushes the bike along forward as he does so. Madge at the end of the street tries her best to encourage her son forward but even from this distance Gale can tell she's worried as all get out.
Faster and faster, Max speeds down the street until Gale can't keep up anymore. Gale's hands slip from the back of Max's seat, and the little boy is flying down the road all on his own.
Madge's eyes light up as he continues to peddle his bike without his father's assistance. Gale smiles brightly at his son, looking toward Madge as if to say told you so.
"Max!" Madge laughs. "You're doing great! Just a little bit father!" Just as their son reaches Madge he turns his bike and attempts to make a circle to start peddling back toward Gale. Madge laughs again. "Where are you going?" she calls.
"I can't stop!" Max shouts.
His turn is off-balance, and the bike was moving too slow. Poor little Max and his bike tip over, falling onto the pavement. Madge lurches forward to help him up and Gale sprints down the street as well. Madge drops to the ground next to her son and Gale yanks the bike away from them.
"Are you alright?" she asks. "Max, are you okay?"
The small boy unlatches his helmet and lets it fall to the ground. He smiles toothily. "That was awesome!" Gale grins and reaches forward, messing up his son's hair. "Can I go again?"
Madge stares wide eyed as Gale helps the boy to stand. "Sure thing," he chuckles. Max gets on his bike without help and starts to peddle before Gale can even help him. He turns to Madge and chuckles, pulling the blonde into his arms. "See, told you there was nothing to worry about."