Claude Bianchi arrives at the flat complex. He is feeling unease with the news he discovered. He hasn't seen his ex in 18 years and now suddenly his children invite him to their home.

Children. As in plural. He is so confused and wants answers just as much they do.

Soren is not very happy with the news. He feels like this whole situation is unfair. He doesn't feel the need to see a father that abandoned him 22 years ago and never heard anything about him.

Where was he when their mother died? Nowhere. And he feels even more betrayed now that they don't need help anymore thanks to Lars.

Atila may seem happy about seeing his father, but he's not. He doesn't do it because he wants a good son father bond, he just feels like there always has been this big question in their home about their father.

And maybe when him and Soren finally know, they can move on a bit. Maybe they will keep him in their life but it's not something that needs to necessarily happen.

Atila sees Lars as his new family just as much as Soren sees it.

And Soren will always be his number one. Always.

*

Claude rings on the bell waiting to be let in. He climbs the stairs with a bottle of wine in his hands. He felt awkward going with empty hands, but he also doesn't know what to give to someone whose basically a stranger.

The door is opened by Lars. Claude is thinking with one of his sons is that but he doesn't look neither like HIM neither like Ella (their mother).

"I'm Lars Bonnet, Soren's boyfriend." He introduces himself.

Claude blinks shocked. Not because he would be homophobic, but he simply didn't expect his kid to have a boyfriend.

"Oh, yes. I'm Claude Bianchi. Ehm, ... the father?" he says embarrassed.

"Right." Lars eyes him up and down. Claude feels strange that this younger mad makes him scared of him.

He must be good fifteen years older but still.

"I brought wine. For nerves." He hands it to him.

"That's a good idea, Claude." Claude doesn't know whether that was irony or not, but he nods. He follows Lars to the kitchen and see two boys, looking one like other.

But most importantly, like Ella. They look at each other not knowing what to do.

"I'm Lorenzo. Lars' assistant. I helped ... find you." Another man approaches him.

"Ehm, okay. I'm Claude."

Soren rolls his eyes and walks to him. "I'm Soren. The older one."

"I know." Claude nods happily. "I know you're Soren but I don't know ...." He looks at Atila, "you."

Atila looks at him a bit hurt.

"Why don't we sit down and talk about it? We are so excited to hear your story." Lars points to the table, "I'll make coffees."

*

Claude knows no body in this room probably likes him and that he has nothing to loose with telling the truth.

" ...Well, we met when I was in . Me and Ella. It was that kind of love on the first sight.

But you know , when young, you think everything's perfect. It's nice at the moment, but it's not something you want for the rest of her life.

I was and she was . She was so much mature than me, but I didn't know back then.

I thought we were on the same page. I really liked her, . But I was a high schooler and I guess I wanted different things in life.

One day, she ... told me she's pregnant. I was only I didn't want a child.

felt like a child, and I knew it would be a disaster If had one. I begged her to get abortion.

I'm sorry, if it hurts you Soren." He looks at him, "but I really wasn't ready. I begged and begged, I told her I will give her money for it.

She She just wanted a baby. She was and felt like having one. I didn't know what to do.

I didn't leave. No , I ... stayed. But I never really felt happy. Our relationship was very reckless.

The sparkle was disappearing every day. I never wished to raise a child young, and I didn't have money, because I was young.

We were in a relationship you could say, but ... I wasn't loyal.

I know I should be ashamed, but I . I was nineteen, twenty. I wanted to feel free again.

So, she found out I was a cheater and we argued for long. We kept the relationship for two years.

Then I started to drink heavily, and she didn't like that. It was a struggle every day. But we still kept going.

I met a women, amazing one, I kind of fell in love with her. Ehm, Ella pretended like it was nothing, but one time she just couldn't handle it anymore.

She got so jealous and told me that if I ever see another women again, I will ... never see her and Soren.

But, ... I didn't love Ella anymore. She nice to me. The love we had, it wasn't there anymore.

And Soren, I just didn't have the fatherly love at time. I wasn't a good father. Or a father at all.

Then I left, after the years. I found another woman, my wife. But- but I didn't know she was pregnant again.

I didn't know Atila existed at all until yesterday. If you never called me, I would never know." Claude sighs, "I was just ready for anything, but I did send Ella money.

For Soren. I paid a child support. Her lawyer send me the number every month and I paid , until Soren's eighteenth birthday. Then he said, ... I don't have to care anymore."

"I didn't know you paid her." Soren says shocked.

"I did. I also tried to see you again when I got older. Just ...see you and talk, but she said it was too late and I don't deserve you.

My new wife and I, we don't have kids , we chose to just focus on ourselves. We aren't kids type.

I'm sorry, I don't think I have it in me. Being a father." Claude shrugs. "I know you wanted to hear something else, but this is the truth."

"We didn't want to hear anything else. We wanted to know the truth, "Soren says, "...dad." He whispers.

Claude nods. "Hm. I can't really change the past and ... I don't think I would acted much different if I could. I would probably just left sooner. Where is Ella by the way?"

"She died. A year ago." Atila say, "heart attack."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Claude suddenly doesn't know how to feel about the news. His heart still aches a bit, even thought his feelings are long gone.

"Well, we can't really blame you." Soren fidgets his fingers, "You didn't want kids so .." he shrugs, "nobody should be forced to raise kids."

"I tried. Four years with you. I- I have some pictures but I guess you don't remember."

"I don't." he shakes his head.

"Well, sorry then. Atila." Claude looks at him, "I didn't know. Maybe if I did, I would ... try a little harder."

Atila shrugs. "It's ... okay."

"I can leave now, if you don't want me here. I understand."

"No body wants you gone." Soren says, "we just wanted to know. You can stay for a meal."

Everybody in the room feels strange, but all of them are thinking that Claude isn't that bad. He just got into a situation that wasn't for him.

Soren feels sympathy for him. Atila feels mad, but not at him, at his mother. For never mentioning his existence, he was always the second choice for her after all.

*

"This is my wife. Monica." He shows them a photo on his phone, "we are the same age. Soon forty one." He smiles happily, "we have a dog. Asterix. He's crazy, but listens when you need him to."

"I always wanted a dog." Atila says.

"You can see him some time if you want." Claude says not even thinking about it. Atila just looks at him and smiles. He was a good person in a wrong time.

---

Here you go with the truth. 😅 but don't expect the dad to show more. Just because he explained himself , doesn't mean he's suddenly the best dad and they want to see him every day 😅.