For the first eleven years of his son's life, Neal hadn't known Henry even existed. There'd been no chance to hear his first words or see his first steps, or feel tiny fingers wrapping around his hand. And for the rest of Henry's life after Wonderland, Neal's just going to be a memory; he's already dead for his son, with no chance of seeing him go off to college or get married, or have kids of his own one day.
No, there'd only been a painfully short time in their world, and Wonderland now. So as much as Neal hates this place, what it is and what it does, there are things he's also forever thankful for.
But Robin? Robin's got the opposite problem. At home he has a son who he loves more than anything, who he would protect above all else. Yet while they're all trapped in Wonderland, the guy has to go through the pain of that separation, comforting himself only with the screwed up way this world works--and Neal doubts that's much comfort at all. So when the whole mess starts with the rooms he isn't exactly surprised to look into that open door and see Roland. A younger version, sure, but the kid's eyes are the same, the way he smiles.
He also isn't surprised to find Robin there, watching, unable to tear himself away.
"Hey man." Neal walks up beside him, clasps a hand on his shoulder. He can't imagine all the thoughts that have got to be going through the guy's head, to have this memory on display and yet know it isn't real. Wonderland's the sort of place people don't wish on anyone, especially not their own kids. But Neal wouldn't blame Robin at all for wanting to hold his son, to have him be real and there and calling him Papa with that bright smile of his.
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No, there'd only been a painfully short time in their world, and Wonderland now. So as much as Neal hates this place, what it is and what it does, there are things he's also forever thankful for.
But Robin? Robin's got the opposite problem. At home he has a son who he loves more than anything, who he would protect above all else. Yet while they're all trapped in Wonderland, the guy has to go through the pain of that separation, comforting himself only with the screwed up way this world works--and Neal doubts that's much comfort at all. So when the whole mess starts with the rooms he isn't exactly surprised to look into that open door and see Roland. A younger version, sure, but the kid's eyes are the same, the way he smiles.
He also isn't surprised to find Robin there, watching, unable to tear himself away.
"Hey man." Neal walks up beside him, clasps a hand on his shoulder. He can't imagine all the thoughts that have got to be going through the guy's head, to have this memory on display and yet know it isn't real. Wonderland's the sort of place people don't wish on anyone, especially not their own kids. But Neal wouldn't blame Robin at all for wanting to hold his son, to have him be real and there and calling him Papa with that bright smile of his.