All the things she said 🧡

"Dad? Daaaaad."

Woods gives a deep groan, burying his head under his pillow to block out the sound of David complaining. It's not even 7am yet, David is Mason's to deal with at this time in the morning.

David, however, decides to leap on top of Woods, leaning over to yell down at him. "Dad! I'm hungry!"

"There's two of us, go bother your other dad kid." Woods grumbles, not removing the pillow.

"I tried but he ignored me. He's having coffee downstairs." David sighs heavily.

David's words make Woods glance at the clock. Mason was up way too early and he was ignoring his son? That was not a good sign.

"Okay, stay here for a moment, okay? If you stay here I will take you to burger town." Woods tells David, who nods eagerly at his words. He loved going to burger town with Woods.

Reassured that David won't follow him, Woods heads downstairs, finding Mason just staring at the kitchen window with a cold mug of coffee in his hands.

Woods approaches him carefully, very slowly touching Mason on his shoulder. "Al? Are you with me?"

Mason blinks slowly, seeming to come out of a trance of some kind. It takes some time for him to realise who is in front of him. "Frank?"

"Yeah, it's me." Woods tries to smile gently. "Your coffee is getting cold, David said he tried to get your attention?"

Mason seems to blink slowly. "Did he? I- I don't remember that."

"What's going on?" Woods tips his head to one side, looking at Mason quizically.

Mason seems to want to bullshit for a moment, but then he sighs heavily and his shoulders slump. "I dreamed of Reznov. I woke up and was confused where I was."

Woods nods, trying not to show his concern. "You know he is dead?"

"I do, but for a moment, it felt like he was still here." Mason admits quietly.

"Well he's not, it's just you and me and David." Woods tells him, gently gripping the back of Mason's neck in a grounding touch. Sometimes it helped.

Mason nods, closing his eyes as he lets Woods place their foreheads together.

"You are safe at home, with me." Woods tells him softly, opening his eyes to look at Mason. "You with me?"

Mason nods softly and he looks into Woods' eyes, silently pleading for a kiss.

Woods leans in to kiss him, the tender moment ruined by David yelling from upstairs.

"DAD CAN WE GO TO BURGER TOWN YET?"

Mason gives Woods a questioning look and Woods sighs heavily. "Just don't ask, Al. I will take him."

"I would like to go with you."

"Are you sure?" Woods questions, cupping his cheek tenderly.

"Yeah, I know how much you and David love burger town, plus I could use the distraction." Mason admits.

"Well, okay. So long as it's not too much for you." Woods tells him gently.

"It won't be, I promise."

Woods really hopes he is not making a mistake.

----

An hour later, all three of them are crammed into a booth at burger town, with David and Woods demolishing the breakfast rolls while Mason has a small pancake stack and another coffee.

Woods keeps everything lighthearted, making David laugh and its the best sound in the world. He can see the way Mason relaxes at the sound of his son's laughter and it makes something in his chest loosen. He sneaks his hand under the table to hold Mason's hand and he can feel the younger man squeeze it in his own.

Woods smiles softly at Mason and then turns back to David, happily letting the young boy tell him all about the new show that he loves.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Mason finally relax against the back of his seat and he thinks he finally knows what peace feels like. This moment right here, sat between two of the most important people in his life. Mason finally cracking a genuine smile as he listens to David talk.