I had the idea of Alfred absolutely abhorring the kids calling him "grandpa" or "gramps" or alluding to him being their grandfather in any way. Not because he doesn't love them, Alfred would carve out his heart if it would please those children who are so dear to him, not because they aren't blood related, those children are related not because he doesn't want to think of himself as old, he know he is, he feels it in his bones but...
That's Thomas. Thomas is their grandfather, he's their "gramps/grandpa". He would be their grandfather only if... But Alfred knows that if Thomas had lived, none of the children would be in the house or would even be known to him. His guilt doesn't make sense and he knows it but it doesn't prevent him from feeling the guilt that washes over him every time one of the kids hugs him tight and calls him "grandpa" or brings him a card on Father's Day. Alfred feels like an imposter, as if he's somehow betraying Tommy's - Thomas' - memory because it's Alfred who is here to watch his son grow into an extraordinary man and watch him raise an amazing batch of talented, smart and great kids. It's Alfred who is here, despite all of Alfred's vows to keep Thomas and Martha and Bruce safe. He can't hear the titles that he knows Thomas would have delighted in without remembering his greatest failure.
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