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Melanie frowned at Connor, moving away from him and crossing har arms. "You're not a kid but you're my kid, I'm going to help you as long as I am able to." She told him firmly. "I'm not siding with Eric, I said you're both right to feel as you feel." She said, feeling her own temper rise. She...

Melanie was glad she had a lot of practice staying calm, she didn't want this to escalate. But maybe arguing was easier for Connor right now, and maybe it would still let them talk about things. "Butting into your life is my job, get used to it." She frowned. "Don't talk about your brother that...

Melanie frowned. "Connor, it's not like I didn't guess that was going on. I was going to tell your brother to stop giving you a hard time anyway." She said with a frown. "No, you're not little kids. But take it from me that you don't magically stop needing your parents at seventeen." She said...

Melanie felt relieved as Connor finally let more than a few words slip. She nodded, listening. "I see." She said. "I can talk to him about not making you feel bad for wanting to have a dad." She told him, then hesitated. "But he's allowed to feel about his dad the way he does. I'm not going to...

Melanie sighed softly. "To you or to him?" She asked quietly, fighting hard to keep her own feelings out of this.

Melanie nodded. "Yes, but he still visits a lot." She said quietly. "What are you two fighting about?"

Melanie kept her arm around Connor and waited a few beats before speaking. "I don't think we're done here." She said quietly. "You've been fighting with your brother a lot."

Melanie nodded, squeezing his shoulder. "They do, but even if things changed and you now suck at school... so what?" She asked him. "Then you'll find something else you're good at. Or you'll work twice as hard to get there anyway." She said. "You're talking to someone who never even did their...

Melanie let Connor create a bit more distance between them, but didn't let him go entirely. "I did." She said calmly. "I also saw your grades every other year you were at school, and I know you went through a lot your final year." She told him evenly. "So I know objectively that you don't suck...

Melanie nodded as Connor spoke, even though he wasn't looking at her. "Uh-huh." She said. "Alright, that's a start." She added, clearly waiting for more. "What else?"

Melanie took a deep breath. Maybe this was more like dealing with Eric than she had thought. Maybe her kids really weren't all that different. "I know you're not." She said, voice steady and firm. "But you're upset. I'm not going to leave you alone, so you can either tell me or we can both just...

Melanie squeezed his shoulders. "Sorry honey, everyone has to feel things." She said, soft but firm. "And you're not weak for crying. It is good to let those feelings out. It's much better than keeping it all in, I promise." She said, stroking his hair back. "It's just me here." She repeated...

Melanie could hear the emotion in Connor's voice and tightened her arm around him. "It's okay." She repeated. "I know you want to be strong, but it's okay to let yourself feel things." She whispered. "I'm the only one here, and it's okay." She added, kissing the top of his head. "I love you...

Melanie watched Connor and pushed down her own feelings of frustration. He needed her to stay calm now, even if it would be easier to snap back at him. Though, maybe that would snap him out of it. She knew how to deal with Eric when he got like this, but Connor was new territory. Melanie scooted...

Melanie held up her hands defensively as Connor snapped at her, face twisting a bit as he said his dad was great. That hurt more than it should have. "Alright, that's good." She said, losing her patience a bit. "Connor, I'm trying to help you." She added with a frown. "Please just talk to me."

Melanie sighed again and reached over, putting a hand on his knee as she met his eyes. "Talking about it will help." She said softly. "Even if it feels like it won't, believe me." She said, giving him a sympathetic look. "I wish I could just make it all better with a hug and a kiss like I used...

Melanie let out a small sigh as Connor sat down as far away from her as possible. She gave him an unimpressed look, then poured him a cup of tea and sliding it over to his side of the table. "You don't seem fine." She said softly. "You know you can talk to me, right?"

Melanie sighed at her son's hesitation. "I just want to talk, sweetie." She said softly. "And cuddle you while I can still fit my arms around you." She added with a fond roll of her eyes. "You've gotten so big." She added softly. "Please?" She added, giving him a pleading look.

Melanie immediately noticed Connor looked like he had been crying, and it hurt her heart. She sat down on the couch and patted the spot next to her. "Come sit with me, honey." She said gently. "Let's have some tea and chat for a little while, alright?" She asked, searching his face. Connor had...

Melanie wasn't oblivious to the tension between Connor and Eric lately, which was slightly helped by Eric moving out but only slightly. She also wasn't oblivious to Connor's... less-than-perfect mental state lately, which worried her. At first she thought it was just graduating and getting used...