If I had kids, I would be afraid by that, which is stupid. So another good reason to not have kids, even if I love to write about them.
It was stupid. And even if it was true, it wasn't that bad. But (Y/N) was still hurt every time something reminded her of the obvious : Michael was their son's favourite parent.
From birth, Samuel cried when his father was away. His smile grew huge, radiant, as soon as Michael entered the room, then the little boy was fidgeting, making adorable little noises to be hugged by his father, and it seemed impossible to separate them afterwards. His first word was "dada". Growing up, he followed Michael everywhere, demanding his attention. In the evening, he refused to sleep until his father had read him a story and had his bedtime kiss. And when Michael was away, very busy with his work at the Cooperative, Samuel would turn his pleading eyes to (Y/N).
"Why ? Why is he not with us ?"
"It makes him very sad too, even sadder than you, but he has no choice. He will be home in a few hours."
"... He'll be home soon."
Unable to say no to her son, (Y/N) then called her husband, who was delighted to hear her voice and their little boy's, promising to come home early to cuddle them, which he always did. He didn't realize his wife's unhappiness at all. Because, even if he preferred Michael, that didn't mean that Samuel didn't love her. Just less. If he had been asked the question, either he would have answered without hesitation, or the poor child would have been embarrassed, not wanting to lie, but not wanting to hurt his mother either.
Although she was a little jealous, (Y/N) was not angry, neither at her son, nor at her husband. Michael's past was complicated. A dead mother, an absent father, a psychopathic grandmother. He had cried the day she told him her feelings, he didn't think he deserved her. Then she had offered him a child and he had been fulfilled, thanking her throughout her pregnancy, then during childbirth, and even now, from time to time. Michael hugged her, whispering that he loved her, that he was lucky to have her. Her response was to kiss him tenderly. To see him so happy with Samuel was a real joy. But (Y/N) was still hurt when their son jumped off her knees to run towards his father, not looking at her anymore, as if she hadn't been with him for hours, waiting, taking care of. him, as if she wasn't there at all.
So, to not break, she accepted the proposition that her friends made her, to leave for the weekend and have some fun. Samuel was five years old, a big boy who didn't need her all the time. When his father was at work, Miss Mead would watch him. The little boy didn't seem traumatized when he saw her go, unlike Michael who looked at her with sad puppy eyes, his angelic pout silently begging her to stay. The first day went well, she called in the evening to know if her two loves were going well and Michael reassured her. However, on the second day, she received a lot of messages, as she tried to relax in the pool at the villa her friends had rented.
I am tanning. And you ? Playing with Sam?
(Y/N) didn't know what to add. The sentence seemed innocuous. It was normal that the children sometimes did not want to play. But Samuel loved to play with his father, always. Whenever he got the chance, he wanted to do something with him. Today, he did not want. Why ? The messages continued until the call. Michael looked exhausted, and a little sad.
"I miss you. We miss you."
"Aw, honey, I miss you too. I'll be there tomorrow. But you are having men time, I'm sure you have lots of great activities that you normally can't do when I'm around."
"Michael, is there a problem ?"
"Was he so excited to be spending the weekend with you that he didn't want to waste a second ?" she laughed.
"No. He was asking where you were. He's worried. He thinks I've done something and he is mad at me."
It was unexpected. Samuel really didn't look upset when she said goodbye to him. It was only for the weekend. And when they were together, he called for his father, he had what he wanted, so why this whim ?
"Can't you come home tonight ? He's crying..."
"Michael, I don't know what's going on, but there must be an explanation. Do you want me to talk to him ? To tell him again that I'm with some friends and be back tomorrow ?"
"I'd like to, but he refuses to talk to me."
"Are you kidding me ? He refuses to talk to you ? To you ? But he adores you, you are his favourite !"
Michael's long silence was terribly awkward, for even though she couldn't see him, (Y/N) could imagine the look on his face. The incomprehension, the shock, the fear, the shame, the annoyance.
"Our son has no favourite." he finally said calmly.
"He does. But it doesn't matter. I know he loves me, I love him, I love you, you love me, you love him... In short, we all love each other, everything is perfect."
"That's why you decided to go and left us alone. You think that was what we wanted."
"I don't want you to go."
"I know, I left for myself, I needed to breathe. But I'm coming back tomorrow, and after that I won't be leaving."
It was going to be terrible and she regretted that conversation on the drive home, not waiting for the next day. Because she wanted their son to sleep tonight, but mostly because she knew Michael, often betrayed, often disappointed, who had trust issues, and now, even if she promised him, he would always be afraid to see her go, like everyone else, that she would leave him with their son, who would go through the same thing as him. It was absolutely not what she had wanted to do, what she wanted to do. When she opened the door, (Y/N) was expecting a cold welcome, but Samuel ran to her to hug her, crying as his father had said.
"Mommy ! You're here ! Never leave again ! I was scared !"
"It was only a weekend sweet bunny." she whispered, kissing him on the forehead, not seeing that Michael was approaching them.
"Yeah, but I don't like it when you're not around ! I want the three of us together."
"Really ? Did you not have fun with your father at all ?"
Michael stared at her with a sad smile. Their son wasn't having fun when he wasn't there, waiting for his return, but it was the same for her. Without his mother, he was lost. He wanted both of his parents at the same time. If he demanded his father so much, it was only because he was away more often, nothing more.
"He is like me." Michael said patting the head of the little boy who was hanging on to (Y/N). "He's not completely happy if we're not all together."
"Michael... I'm here. I'll always be there. I'll tell you every day if you want."
That seemed to be enough for him, if she trusted the passionate kiss they shared, as he hugged her and their son. It was the little boy who separated them, looking sulky.
"You are my favourite mommy !" he declared.
"Mine too." his father sneered.
"No ! I love her more. Mommy, who do you love more ? Daddy or me ?"
"Samuel, that's not a nice question." Michael said, looking strangely at (Y/N), as if waiting for her answer.
"... The journey was long, I'm tired."
"But mommy, you love me more, don't you ?!"
"With me." Michael pointed out proudly.
That night, the three of them slept in the same bed, Samuel between them, who didn't push his father, whom he loved and wanted near him, but who growled a little when Michael put his hand on (Y/N). After that, whenever he could, Michael stayed home to work and stay with them. As if there was a mini competition, Michael and Samuel were trying to spend the most time with her, which was as adorable as it was tiring. In the end, maybe it was better not to be the favourite parent.