"You're going to have to do something. I believe in you though. You love Violet. How you love her, I'm not sure. But you do. And the fact that you're asking me now for advice shows that you care about what happens to this baby. You're going to be a great dad, whether you believe it or not," Parker assured him, and when Jack sent him a warm smile back, he continued. "And you have people there to support you. Violet's family, and Will and Dylan... if Dylan is able to."
                          
For some reason those words comforted the boy, and Jack felt more relieved just by hearing what his best friend had to say. No one had told him before that they had faith in his parenting abilities, but Parker just did. With no hesitation or apprehension, he told Jack that he had what it took to long after this baby. And he was right, he had the support of his friends and family. 
                          
"You've changed," Jack announced, catching his best friend off guard. 
                          
"What?" Parker raised an eyebrow. 
                          
"You seem lighter. You seem... happier, almost. A few months ago if we were having this conversation you would have told me that I was ridiculous. Now... you have hope. Fuck, you've been busy and spending time with your family. It's like you were with-"
                          
"Please don't," Parker gulped. 
                          
"Why?" Jack sighed, his eyes holding a look of nothing other than sympathy. "Why not talk about him?"
                          
"He's gone and it's my fault, Jack. I don't deserve to talk about him."
                          
"Parker you're happy again. Have you- have you met someone new? You know it's okay if you have," Jack reassured him. Just the thought of Parker loving someone like he did a few years ago was almost insane, something no one could comprehend. However the new glimmer in his eye and the reassurance he was giving about the baby was telling Jack that he was happy again. 
                          
"No. There's no one," Parker answered shortly, his eyes going a deeper shade of blue. "I-I wasn't in love with him. I'm not gay I-"
                          
"Hey, hey," Jack calmly interrupted. "I never said you were anything. That boy meant a lot to you, whether you loved him that way or not. I-I don't care if you're gay Parker. I know I've made comments in the past but I was stupid. I should never have said them," Jack admitted, an overwhelming feeling of guilt taking over his mind as he thought about possibly offending his friend. 
                          
"Jack I-" Parker stopped himself. 
                          
"Will came out to me yesterday. Wanna know why he waited so long? He thought I wouldn't accept him." Jack shook his head in disappointment at himself. His brother kept such a big secret from him, and for once he didn't blame him for his discretion. 
                          
"He-He did?" Parker asked, amazed. Happiness coursed through his veins at hearing the news that Will had finally told them his biggest secret. It was such a big part of him, but not something that needed to define him. 
                          
"He did," Jack confirmed. 
                          
"Wow," Parker let out a sigh of relief, almost. 
                          
"So Parker... did you love him?" Jack asked, his voice soft. 
                          
At just the thought of him, tears began to pool in his eyes but he wiped them away quickly. Normally he wouldn't have answered this question, but this time he felt like he had to. It was almost as if Will's confession pushed him to make his own. 
                          
"Yeah... yeah I did love him, Jack."
                          
-
                          
Ever since finding out Elliot was ill, Parker's mum had been working less and spending more time at the hospital to be with her son while he received his treatments. Therefore Parker had been picking up more shifts at the diner to cover the loss of funds going into the household. He knew that his mum didn't want him to do this, but there was no way he would be able to provide for both him and his family with just the occasional gig. Recently there hadn't been a lot of money being earned from his music career, and he was starting to give up hope on being able to make it as a musician. But he had no interest in anything else. He knew he would be no good at working in the corporate world.