Fandomweekly Challenge 33 - Together but apart

[m_findlow]

Title: Together but apart
Fandom: Arrow
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG-13
Length: 1,000 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 33 - Family gatherings at fandomweekly
Summary: Tommy wishes he could spend Christmas at the Queen's instead of his own home.

Tommy waited patiently for his father to finish his glass of wine and to set down his napkin. It felt like it was taking an age, even though he didn't have his usual reports or newspapers in front of him to slow him down. They didn't really talk at mealtimes because his dad always had more work to do. Even today, on Christmas, he was still dressed in a sharp charcoal pinstripe suit, presumably because after this was all done, he'd head back to the office, or at least to his private study. Tommy couldn't remember the last time he'd been his dad wearing anything other than a suit. All he ever did was work.

Tommy waited until his father's gaze fell upon him across the table. 'Can I go over to Ollie's to play now?'

'You can visit Oliver tomorrow,' he replied. 'Christmas is for families to gather together. Oliver has his own family to spend the day with.'

At least he had something he could call a family, Tommy thought, keeping his eyes fixed on the empty plate in front of him, studying the swirls of leftover gravy. Ollie had a mom and a dad and his sister. Here it was just the two of them. He wished they could all have Christmas together so at least it wouldn't feel so cold and lonely. Even Tommy's nanny Consuela, who was also their household cook and cleaner, wasn't allowed to join them at the diner table, even though Tommy felt closer to her than he ever did his dad. Her husband, Ricardo, drove their limousine. Both of them were here at the house today and neither of them seemed unhappy about it. Perhaps he'd ask Consuela if Puerto Ricans celebrated Christmas.

'Go get your coat, Tommy,' his father commanded him. 'Meet me at the car.'

'Can't we have pudding first? Consuela said that if I ate all my vegetables, I could have extra pudding.'

'Consuela doesn't make the decisions around this house,' his father replied, his voice stern and unyielding. 'You visit your mother first, then we'll see about pudding.'

Tommy felt torn. He hated this part of Christmas most of all, having to go visit his mom's grave but he knew it was important to his Dad, and he didn't want to disrespect his Mom's memory. He just didn't know anyone else who went and visited graveyards on Christmas. Why couldn't they do it another day? Her birthday or something? Why did his Dad have to ruin Christmas?

He grabbed his coat and found the car already waiting for him, engine humming as he slid inside. He father was already there in his own dark coat as the limousine pulled out of their long driveway. The interior was silent as he did his best to avoid fidgeting whilst his father studied his phone.

Grey clouds had rolled in by the time they reached the cemetery. Maybe if it started to rain, they wouldn't have to go out there.

Ricardo opened the door and Tommy's Dad got out, not waiting for him as he began striding purposefully across the neatly clipped green lawns towards the memorial headstone. Tommy reluctantly followed.

Rebecca Merlyn's headstone took pride of place on the top of a small grassy knoll, overlooking the rest of the cemetery. Tommy tried to picture her in his head, but every year it got that little bit harder to remember what she looked like, how she sounded when she spoke. Photos around the house were few and far between, as if his father had made it his task to remove her memory from their lives except for this one day of the year. His father's own face was impossible interpret as he stood there in front of it, letting Tommy lay white roses.

'Merry Christmas, Mom,' Tommy said. He stood back up and felt his father's hand on his shoulder.

'Tell your mother all the things you're grateful for,' he instructed.

Tommy but his lip, trying to remember the things he'd said last year. It didn't feel like he had all that much to be grateful for. His mom was dead, and his dad was never around, always too busy. He couldn't remember the last time he'd heard his dad call her mom, or if he ever had.

'I'm grateful for all the Christmas gifts Dad bought me,' he said, having been told years ago by his father that Santa was just a story for children. And he was grateful to an extent. His Dad was distant and cold -nothing like Ollie's dad- but the tree had enough gifts under it for five kids. He only wished his Dad took the time to give them to him, rather than just leave them under the tree without a word.

'I'm grateful for my best friend Ollie,' he added, knowing he was having more fun than Tommy right now. Their house would be full of laughter and cheer like a proper Christmas should be.

'And?' His father's grip on his shoulder became so tight he almost cried out. He couldn't tell if it was intentional or not.

'I'm grateful for Dad always there taking care of me because you're not here anymore,' he lied.

His father's hand loosened its grip on him. 'Good. Your mother would be pleased to hear it.'

Tommy looked up at his father's stony expression. 'What are you grateful for, Dad?' If Tommy had to be grateful, surely his father should be too.

He seemed taken aback by the question. 'I'm grateful to draw breath every single day, so that I can begin righting the wrongs of this world. Every day brings us a little bit closer.'

'Closer to what?'

His father didn't reply, instead guiding him back to the car.

'Are we going home for pudding now?'

'You and Consuela can have pudding. I need to go to the office.' He cast his gaze back towards the grassy knoll. 'There's still more work to be done.'