sorry this set sucks

sorry this set sucks by ssaarah

"Mr Lindsell?" I heard a knock on my door as I frowned at my computer, going through the schedule of the press tour for my new movie but when I looked up I grinned as I saw my son standing in the doorway.

“Mr Lindsell, come in." I replied seriously with a smile. Ben stepped into the room and closed the door behind him before sitting down in the chair across from my desk.

"Did you want to see me?" he asked, running his hands through his hair. I just nodded as I looked back at him, trying to read his mood.  “Why?" I let out a small laugh as I clasped my hands in front of me, straighten my posture as I looked back at my son. I swear every time I saw him I couldn’t believe how grown up he was.

"Do I need a reason to see my son?" I raised one eyebrow.

"I don't know, do you?" he teased back. I shook my head.

"No." I paused before speaking, knowing the potential mood change my subject could have on my private son. "But I wanted to talk to you about something-"

"See?" Ben cut me off before I could say more. He loved to mess with me. At least now he was also a successful man and a great father. Eventually also a great husband when he realized what he had. Damn I sounded like his sister.  "This was a trap." I laughed again,

"Yeah you caught me."

"I'm listening." Ben replied as he leaned back at the chair.

"They want you on GQ." I started and he blinked, probably wondering why I was telling him this and not his agent, or his mother for that matter. "Shoot and interview." And there it was. Ben made a face, never liking interviews even when he was a kid and Chloe was thrilled to tell everyone her favorite color and movie, and food and juice flavor? Ben mostly just smiled for the camera weakly.

"I think I'll pass." he said quietly but I wasn’t finished yet.

"You wouldn’t be alone. I'd be part of it too." I said seriously as he leaned into him from across the desk. Ben laughed,

"Really?" he asked, since the last time I had posed with any of the family for media was probably back when he was a kid.

"They want to write an article about the Lindsell men." I explained with a shrug, used to the attention and not loving that it was also on my family but also knowing their chosen careers made them just as much of a target.

"I don't know, I have to think about it." he said quietly though at this point I’d convinced him. Unfortunately I wasn’t done yet.

 "They want Gabe too." I added, my lips pursing because I knew what was coming next.  

"No." he said immediately, shaking his head. "Never."

                                                                                                                            

“Okay.” I nodded holding my tongue.

“What?” he asked, probably reading my facial expressions. I shrugged.

“It’s fine by me Ben I'm not going to push you.” Ben folded his arms over his chest and glared at me.

“You’re not saying something.” He said, his lips pursed and he looked so much like his mother at that moment I had to laugh.

“You’re a smart man.” I replied, pulling out a few tabloids and opening one to a page marked “Fun with mom and dad” There were plenty of semi-famous babies on the page but there was a full spread of his son at the park with him and Cami, the article even questioned whether they were together or not. “You can’t protect him from this.” I said seriously as I handed it over and watched as his eyes widened and then his jaw hardened.

“Who cares about this stuff so much?!” he asked, a pained look on his face that killed me. I shrugged.

“They cared about you when you were little too. Sometimes it’s better to give them what they want under your terms then let them find it themselves and have you not knowing.” Ben ran his hand over his hair.

“You never did. We weren’t in magazines as kids.” He replied. “Chloe started modeling as a teenager but only because she begged you.” I winced.

“Yes I remember.” I nodded.

“So then why should I have to exploit my son? God don’t people have their own children to worry about?!” I felt my grin widen as I saw what an amazing father my son was. Better than me when we’d first had him. I’d run to Ava on more than one occasion making sure that the bump on his head hadn’t caused irrevocable damage, or that he wasn’t dying whenever he sneezed.

“Probably. But Gabe is the cutest.” I offered, knowing that would make him smile. And it did.

"He really is." Ben nodded in agreement. "Thanks to Camille." he added,  making me give him a look I'm sure he was sick of. I understood his self-preservation when it came to his ex. People told Ava and I for years that we should be together and we ignored it. The smartest thing I ever did was admit that I loved her. To her and myself…..and the world actually but that wasn’t the part that mattered.

“You take no credit?" I asked, still grinning.

"He looks a lot like me too." Ben shrugged and dismissed the subject quickly as he dropped his eyes back on the magazine before tossing it back on my desk.

"How come mom has folders on us but didn't tell me about this? Her little spying game is neither fair nor useful." I gave my son a serious face, something I didn’t do that often since I always thought parenting should be more about rewards than discipline.

"Give her a break, she's just trying to look out for you two." I defended her like I always did and I always would.  It was their own fault they didn’t share anything about themselves to their mother and I. And I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t done some investigating on my own. On Ben more than Chloe. With my daughter I was pretty much in denial. But admitting that was a good step right? Ben sighed and ran his hands through his hair once again,

"I know I know." He said flatly as he stared at me, "But if it happens again? Please tell me since she clearly won't.".

"I know it's frustrating, but it's the price to pay when you're a successful model." I said offering a smile.

 "I just want to protect Gabe from the world." he retorted weakly, looking defeated.

"Now you see why your mom still has your folders." I pointed out and this time he groaned, still not liking the idea.

 "Can we drop that please before I go to mom's office and I burn them myself?" he asked,  probably only half joking. I smirked,

"Fine." I agreed, staring at him for a few seconds and wondering what went through his head all the time. He was a devoted father, but I wondered if he let himself ever be more than that. "Let me know when you'll decide about the interview." I said eventually.

"I have to talk to Cami first anyway."

“On the vacation you’re taking her on.” I replied, not being able to help but smirk at the thought.

“Maybe.” He nodded. “You’re going to say something about it aren’t you.” I shrugged.

“It’s pretty weird.” I admitted and Ben made a face.

“You’re too old to use the word weird.” He said seriously making me laugh out loud.

“I’ll remind you of that when you’re my age.” I replied. “Still as nice as it is that you and Cami have developed a friendship? Going on vacation together sounds like more than friends.”

“I just want my family to be together.” He said, probably annoyed of us all pestering him about it. Probably his sister the most.

“Sounds like you want more than a vacation then.” I pointed out before turning away from him to let him know I wouldn’t push him any further.

“Mmm…” he trailed off, looking lost in a thought, probably of how to get away without anymore parental questions.

“Have you eaten yet?” I asked he shook his head.

“Good, I'm starving and Ava says she’s at Chloe’s for a girls night.” I shook my head. “They’re doing that a lot lately.” I said seriously, furrowing my brow as I shot my wife back a quick text.

“Huh.” Ben said, running his hand through his hair which was a sign I knew all too well.

“Do you know something?” I asked, raising a brow. “Is my wife trying to beat me as Chloe’s favorite parent?” I teased, knowing she loved us both equally but loving to tease my love anyways.

"You know what, instead of going to dinner with me you should join them, cover your daughter with kisses, compliments, rose petals and maybe even a tiara." he said, smirking wide.

"Ha Benjamin, hilarious." I retorted flatly, only making him grin wider.  I admitted I spoiled my daughter, but I spoiled Ben just as much, but in different ways he maybe didn’t realize.

"Princess Chloe will love it." he went on as he ignored the expression on my face.

"She will always be my princess, no matter how old she is." I shrugged, not mentioning that he would always be my little boy too, no matter how mature he got or how many years he was. "When and if you'll have a daughter you'll understand what I mean and you'll tell me I had been right."

 "Thank god I have a son instead." he kept my smirk in place even though he was right, having a daughter was much harder than having a son in my opinion.

"And an adorable one." he nodded in agreement.

“You should give me the keys." he said out of nowhere.

"Uh?" I muttered unintelligently, furrowing my brows.

"Unless you want me to break in your own home." he shrugged and smirked at me, liking being silly instead of serious.

“Ahh yes.” I pulled a key off my ring and handed it to him. “You know there are only two bedrooms right?” I reminded him and he glared at me.

“Why would you buy a place with only 2 bedrooms?” he shook his head and I shrugged.

“Ava and I only ever needed one.” I winked and my son groaned as he got up.

“Are we eating  please?” he asked. “Before you ruin my appetite completely?” I laughed and slapped my son on the back. I was proud of him, I was a little concerned about his life, but he was a great father, and I’d always be proud to call him my son.

“Where to?” he shrugged.

“Somewhere without press.” He groaned under his breath. I winced since even though my children were semi-famous for their own careers, I was followed by press much more often, especially with my latest movie coming out.

“So maybe to your place then?” I offered. Ben sighed and I shook my head. “How Ava and I managed to have a son who hates the limelight? Is beyond me.” I admitted as I shook my head.

“You made up for it with Chloe.” He smirked and I nodded.

“But now I have two extremes.” I teased back. “A drama queen and a hermit.” I was teasing, especially since Ben was a model he had to not mind the spotlight all the time, he had no reason to do it anymore unless he got something out of it and Chloe? Well she wasn’t much different from her mother at her age. Which both made me proud and scared the shi.t out of me.

"At least the hermit won't give you any problem." Ben grinned, knowing that it wasn't exactly like that but still. I sighed and shook my head as I opened the door of my office, heads turning once we walked down the hallway.

"Getting your 17 year old girlfriend  pregnant was enough for a whole life." he glanced at me from the corner of his eye and pursed his lips together. I hadn’t reacted in the best way back then, mostly because I’d been reckless at his age with girls and still managed not to knock any of them up but the truth was I had been lucky, especially with Ava. I was hard on him, but he stepped up and became an even better man.

"That hasn't been the wiser thing I had done, but it turned out being the best one." he shrugged, and I stopped a second to look at him and smile.

"I agree." I said eventually, deciding not to go down the route that let him know Gabe could be his life and he could have his own too but I knew it would be useless.  "Maybe you grew up too fast, but you became a good man."

"Thanks." he smiled back at me genuinely.

"It could have been worse, it could have been Chloe." he added, being silly instead of serious again. I smirked but shook my head.

“You and Chloe have much more in common than either of you like to admit.” I told him and he blinked at me.

“Oh? Have I been wearing tiara’s in my sleep?” I laughed again and ruffled his hair, knowing he’d hate that.

“No Ben though I'm sure you could pull it off.” I said trying not to laugh at the thought. And failing.

“Right.” He rolled his eyes. “Then what do you mean?” I shrugged.

“Well look at you. You both love the same people, family or not, you’re both driven, but aren’t really living your life the way you thought you were going to. Both a little too vain for your own good.” I teased and Ben laughed.

“We got that handed down from our parents.” I chuckled.

“I'm afraid you’re right about that.’ I nodded. “You’re both stubborn and smarter than anyone gives either of you credit for.”

“You’re making us sound better than we are.” He said with a side grin as we walked down the street. I shrugged.

“You’re also both a little lost. But you’re too damn proud to talk to anyone.” Another trait they got from me. Ben looked up at me, a wide eyed look on his face that was really a shocking mix of Ava and I.

“Are you calling your kids broken?” he asked me and I wrapped my arm around his shoulder as I pulled him close to me.  

“Not broken. Never.” I squeezed him to me even if he was probably too old for that now. “You’re a much better man than I was at your age Ben. I cared only about money and girls and I didn’t see the big picture that was life. You found it when you were still a teenager. I barely deserve you as a son I'm so proud.”  Ben grinned wide again before he spoke.

"I'm not sure if I'm getting this right." he teased and I finally pulled away as we start walking like normal people again,

"Which part?"

 "The part where your son is better than you."

"Did I say that?" I asked and furrowed my brows in an attempt to make a straight face.  Even though I was bad at hiding my feelings with my family.

“I think you did."

 "Huh." I paused before finally breaking into a big grin again.  "That must be the part you got wrong." At that Ben chuckled.

“I feel as if Gabriel is already better than me." he said once he composed myself again. "He's so smart, so-"

"He must get it from me." I cut Ben off before he could go on with the list.

"I hope it's the only thing he got from you." He retorted,  "You cared only about money and girls." Ben ended with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, using my own words against me.  

"You knocked up a girl when you were 19." I reminded him, though I was still teasing.  

"Oh well, no one is perfect." he shrugged and grinned at hme.

"Let's hope he will be."

“He’s doing well so far.” Ben grinned, a full smile that showed all of his teeth like he did when he was a kid.

“They grow up fast.” I smirked, remembering the day Ben was born and how crazy and wonderful and overwhelming that had been.

“I know.” His eyes were wide and he ran a hand through his hair as he shook his head.

“It’s too bad you only see half of that…..” I trailed off and Ben snapped his head in my direction.

“Dad.” He warned and I held up my hands.

“I'm just saying….I would have hated it. I hated leaving you and the girls whenever I’d film and that was only for a few months.”

“And you flew us to your set every time anyways.” Ben said nodding his head. “This is why I'm taking him and Cami on vacation. I want us to be a normal family.” I shook my head.

“You’re not. No family is normal. Hell our family is far from normal.”

“But you’re happy.” He said in a way that told me my greatest fear. That he wasn’t.

“I am.” I nodded, wanting to shake him, wanting to save him from everything the world could throw at him. Wanting to tell him what was right and wrong and force him to make the decisions I wanted him to. But I knew better than that. He’d made better decisions most his life than I did and I knew eventually he’d find his path in life.

"You're lucky." Ben said quietly, trying to sound casual but failing and sounding kind of sad instead. I offered him a smile knowing that he would find his way eventually.  

"You are too, and you'll get even luckier sooner or later." I paused, "You're 25 and you already have a son who's all your life, that's pretty amazing, uh?"

"Yes, I'm thankful for Gabe." he agreed, "I love being a dad, despite all the responsibilities. Only I always have this feeling, that no matter what I give to him I think I could give him more. More happiness, more love, more...everything." Spoken like a true father, I thought with a grin.

"You're not the only one who feels like that." I said seriously, "Even if you're a grown up man with a son on your own I still feel the need to protect you, or tell you what's wrong and what's right, I worry about you and your sister constantly. I don't think it will ever go away."

"How is that supposed to make me feel better?" He joked. I laughed and shook my head,

"Being a father is the hardest job on earth." He grinned back at him.

"The best one too." Well, I couldn’t argue with that.