- You know... Nathan climbed onto his little bed, where father was already sitting, and placed himself right next to him. Da...
But Nathan stopped, didn't dare finish his sentence.
He didn't know if Goren would allow him to call him Dad, and if he would accept.
After all, they'd only known each other a few days.
When Goren saw his son lower his gaze to his nervously clasped hands, he realized that Nathan was reluctant to call him Dad.
So he put his hand on the boy's back and stroked him affectionately.
- You can call me Daddy if you like.
Nathan looked up at his father, surprised.
- Really...
Of course you can.
Nathan was his flesh and blood, and he was born of the love he had for his mother.
So why couldn't he.
Of course, he understood his son's hesitation.
They hardly knew each other, and so like him, Nathan might not know how to react.
- Do you really agree... His son looked into Goren's brown eyes, his hazel eyes shining with hope. I'll call you Dad.
Goren nodded.
- Yes... You can.
Yes...
He could.
Nathan was so happy.
He had been so reluctant to call him Daddy.
Afraid he wouldn't want him.
Or of being rejected.
But his mom had told him not to worry.
That his father would be very happy to be accepted by his son.
So his mother hadn't lied to him.
- I was afraid... Afraid that you...
So that was it.
Nathan was afraid of not being accepted by him, of being rejected.
But not at all.
Goren was very happy to have a child.
Of course, he hadn't expected it.
At first, he was surprised and, above all, destabilized.
But he never for a moment regretted that Nathan had been born.
And to think he'd had the same fear as his son.
The fear that he wouldn't want him as a father.
And he'd been wrong.
Good God...
In that respect, Nathan took after him.
And he was going to have to teach him not to worry too much about life.
- I was afraid you wouldn't want me too.
Pardon.
Nathan had trouble hearing his father's words.
Not wanting him...
And why.
His mom had always told him that his dad was an extraordinary person.
That you just had to get to know him to see the man he really was.
A deeply human, kind and generous man.
So why wouldn't he want Goren for a father.
In addition, Nathan enjoyed spending time with his dad.
And he wouldn't have wanted it to end for anything in the world.
And as he thought about those times...
- Dad... Nathan looked at his father with hope in his eyes. Saturday I have a baseball game...
- And you'd like me to go.
At his father's words, Nathan nodded.
Yes.
He'd love his father to come and see him.
Show him he was on a baseball team.
Even if his place wasn't necessarily the best, he wanted him to come and see him from the bottom of his heart.
- I won't promise you anything... Goren touched his son's ebony curls, stroking them affectionately. But I'll try to come.
Really...
His father would come to see him.
Or at least try to.
Nathan knew that, like his mother, his father couldn't necessarily be available when he wanted.
The work they did took up a lot of their time.
But Nathan understood.
His dad, like his mom, was protecting the city from the bad guys.
And that was the most important thing.
- I'll understand if you can't come... With Mom, you have to protect the town from the bad guys.
At these words, Goren's heart sank, but he was also proud of his son.
Despite his young age, Nathan was willing to take a back seat to his mother's work and his own.
Nathan should neither have understood nor accepted such a thing.
He should have been selfish, but he wasn't at all.
How could you not love a little guy like that and be proud to be his father?
- For you to tell me you'll try to come... That's already a lot for me.
My God...
How he loved that child.
This child who was none other than his son.
- What position do you hold, Nathan.
What position...
It wasn't the best position, but he liked it.
What would his father think.
Would he be disappointed.
Seeing that his son didn't answer him.
Goren realized what job his son had.
- You're a receiver.
Nathan nodded gravely, making a funny face.
So that was it.
Nathan was afraid of disappointing him.
Because Goren knew that was always the place for the smart kid.
And that for his son, receiver wasn't necessarily the most rewarding position for his father.
Whereas not at all.
Every position was important in a sport.
- Your position is as important as any other... Be proud of it.
His position was as important as any other...
And he should be proud of it.
So his father wasn't disappointed that he wasn't a catcher.
He had thought...
So he'd been wrong.
- I love my job.
At these words, spoken from the depths of his son's heart, Goren smiled.
- Nathan...
At his mother's voice, and the sound of the door closing behind her, Nathan jumped out of bed, rushing to meet his mother.
- Mommy...
Eames didn't even have time to settle down before her son rushed to greet her.
- You know... Nathan was jumping up and down, excited to tell her the news. Dad said he might come and see me Saturday at my baseball game.
So that's why his son was jumping all over him.
He wanted to tell him the news.
And what news.
When you saw the joy on his son's face, Goren couldn't have made him happier.
- But I know it's possible he won't be able to make it.
Eames smiled tenderly.
She brought her hand to her ebony curls, stroking them with infinite tenderness.
Good God...
How she loved her son.
Nathan was so understanding.
He took things in his stride, never complaining or interfering.
When she saw her son, she saw her father at times.
Nathan had inherited Goren's profound kindness.
Thinking of her son's father, Eames heard loud footsteps approaching them, which made her look up to see a Goren stopping just a few centimeters from them.
- I'll have to get going.
Already...
She'd only just returned, and he was already thinking about leaving.
Didn't he want to stay with them for a while.
Eames would have liked to enjoy Goren outside of work.
But she couldn't ask the impossible.
That he had accepted Nathan was already a lot.
Then to ask him for more...
- Said Mom...
Eames snapped out of his thoughts to see that his son had moved closer to Goren, and was taking his hand.
- Dad can stay and eat with us.
Stay and eat with them...
Goren didn't know.
Maybe Eames would prefer to enjoy her son alone.
And maybe she wouldn't agree to him staying.
After all...
Just because he was Nathan's father didn't mean Eames would want him to share her life.
- Mom... Said yes.
If only her son knew that what he'd just asked her was convenient.
She hadn't dared ask Goren to stay, for fear he'd refuse.
But her son had done it for her.
She'd have to thank her son later for his intervention.
- If Bobby wanted her to...
If he wanted to.
But he was dying to.
He'd been afraid of embarrassment.
Of not being welcome.
And his son made things easier for him.
But could he really stay.
Wasn't Eames agreeing just for his son's sake, not to spend time with him?
- Dad... Say yes.
At her words, and the way she tugged on his arm, Goren lowered his gaze to his son, who looked up at him, his big hazel eyes begging him to stay.
Very well, then.
Nathan had won.
He was going to stay.
And on the other hand...
He could take advantage of Eames.
So he didn't hesitate at all.
- I'm staying.