"So, I'm a dad," Arthur said when his dad was out of ear shot. It seemed the weight of the situation was finally starting to sink in. "Damn."
"Yeah," Lydia said, feeling similarly about him finding out. "You know, I wasn't planning on you finding out about this the first week we were here. I was gonna eventually find you to tell you, but I wasn't really expecting to be telling you so soon."
"I can believe that." Arthur turned so he was leaning against the dock railing before asking, "So where are you guys living?"
"Those crappy apartments near the bar," Lydia answered, trying not to voice her distaste for the place. "Not exactly where I wanna be, and the twins have to share a room, but it's better than nothing."
"Once we get everything squared away with my dad finding out and you telling the kids you should move in here," Arthur said immediately. "Not that I'm around much – sometimes I try to do a few good things here and there – but I know dad would enjoy the company. He seems to like them."
"You know I couldn't possibly impose like that," Lydia said without missing a beat. "That's a pretty small house."
"It's got four bedrooms, though. Arthur and April wouldn't have to share a room."
It felt strange saying the kids' names, and knowing they were his kids.
"The school bus doesn't come way out here. I don't even have a car."
"There's an extra truck sitting around here that still drives."
"That piece of junk you used to drive?" Lydia asked with a smirk.
"That piece of junk was my baby," Arthur said defensively. Lydia only chuckled, remembering how she used to ride to school with him every day when he got his driver's license, having never been able to afford her own car. The truck was a stick shift and as old as Lydia.
"I can't believe that truck still runs."
"Yeah," Arthur said, looking down at Lydia. "I took care of that thing, if you recall. Still do when I'm home."
Lydia smiled up at Arthur, more than happy that they were able to continue their friendship like nothing had ever happened. She couldn't help but stare at him for a moment, wondering how he ended up so handsome. Arthur caught her staring and smirked, but she didn't look away despite the blush creeping up her cheeks. Neither could look away from the other, and Arthur leaned down, just to see what would happen. When he kissed her it didn't last long, but she definitely kissed him back. That was enough for him to be adamant about them staying at the lighthouse for good.
"How about, I'm gonna go talk to my dad, explain the situation to him. Arthur and April can stay down at the dock if they want. Not sure if you wanted to be there when I tell my dad or not," Arthur said when Lydia stayed silent.
"Um," she started, her brain feeling like it short-circuited for a moment. "Yeah, sure."
Arthur smirked again as he started walking down the dock, Lydia following him.
"Hold on," Lydia said when they were about halfway down the dock. "If there's only four bedrooms there's not enough room for us."
"Sure, there is," Arthur said with a conspiratorial smile. "I can crash on the couch while I'm not saving people or something."
"Do I want to stay in your bedroom?" Lydia asked sarcastically. Arthur shrugged, trying not to laugh at Lydia.
"Hey, dad," Arthur said as he approached his father and the kids. "I need to talk to you for a minute."
Tom furrowed his brow briefly but followed Arthur, leaving Lydia with the twins. They were dipping their feet in the water and splashing each other, laughing while they played. Lydia sat next to her daughter, sitting cross-legged to avoid getting splashed.
"Hey," she said, bumping April's shoulder. "I need to talk to you two."
"Uh oh. We aren't going home yet are we?" Arthur asked, sounding genuinely concerned that he would have to leave the lighthouse.
"No, bud, not yet," Lydia said with a smile. "What I need to tell you guys is pretty important. I was kind hoping we'd be here longer before I told you about this, but now seems like a pretty good time." Lydia looked to both of her children with a fond smile before continuing, "Part of the reason I wanted to move us here has to do with your father. I hope you two know that he would've been in your lives this whole time if he'd been able to."
"We know, mom," April said.
"Well, now you'll get to be around your dad after all."
"Really?" Arthur said, sounding both confused and excited.
"Yeah," Lydia said with a nod, trying to find the right words to ease her children into this new information. But it felt as if there was no way to ease them into the situation. She would just have to tell them and hope they didn't resent her for not telling them about their father before now. "Well, back when I still lived here, I was really good friends with Mr. Curry's son, also named Arthur as you know. And, well, things just happen a certain way sometimes. Arthur Curry is your father, meaning that Mr. Curry is your grandfather, of course."
Lydia was initially worried about the silence that followed what she told April and Arthur. They looked at each other, having one of those silent conversations they had sometimes, before looking at their mother. They both grinned and exclaimed, "Awesome!"
It was a huge relief to Lydia that they reacted as well as they did. As a family they didn't have a lot of times where things were tense, or negative, so it was nice that they didn't feel that way about that.
"There's something else, too," Lydia said after the three of them stood up, the twins practically bouncing with excitement. "Arthur's offered to let us stay here, with him and your granddad. If both of them are okay with it.
"Yes!" Arthur exclaimed as they started walking back towards the house, pumping his fist in the air.
Hi there! I hope you've been enjoying this story so far. It is also posted on AO3! Please do let me know if you do really like it, and thank you to the person who's left a review so far (so sorry I forgot your name!). Anywho, my timeline in posting these chapters is basically nonexistent, so sorry about that. But I promise I haven't totally abandoned this fic, even if it will take me a while to write the whole thing.