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“Tell me, Y/N. Am I too harsh with Alex?”
Ben was looking through the window as his daughter ran outside after she slammed the door. It was only after he asked the question that he turned himself towards his partner. For the first time, they could see how much he was lost and clueless. He was good for leading people, sure. But being a father and bearing that role was not something innate to him. Although Y/N had come to the island in 1998 – a decade after he first adopted Alex, they had still been able to witness how hard the man struggled.
“I don’t think you’re too harsh, Benjamin.” Y/N was trying to weigh every single word coming out of their mouth before speaking. Each word employed mattered with their significant other. “She’s a teenager now, and it gets more difficult. “I just think… She needs to feel understood. You need to be there for her.”
“I’m already doing that.” He looked a bit shocked and attacked by this.
“I know, but I don’t think that to her, it’s enough.”
“I can’t afford that much time, I need to make sure the whole group does what it’s supposed to do, Y/N. I always need to talk with Richard, to the different stations and to Jacob.”
Ben looked so convinced of what he was saying that Y/N wondered if he truly started to believe it as well. They knew he deeply cared for the island and its inhabitants, but Jacob? “Ben. You can play make-believe with them, but not with me.” They tried to sympathise as much as they could.
“We’ve talked about that already.” He instantly looked more reserved. “You don’t question this while we’re here. Not on the Island.”
“I’m sorry, I know.” Y/N paused. “But still– my point stands, I know you have so many responsibilities, but you need to learn to entrust some of them to others. Richard is a very capable man, so is Tom, Ethan and hell – even Mikhail.” They looked at Ben with sadness. “Your daughter needs her father figure – a parent figure.”
“But you’re here.” He was split between emotions.
“I know you mean well, but it’s far from enough. We’ve been together for almost 5 years now. She doesn’t see me as her parent, she doesn’t even see me as a babysitter, she merely sees me as an annoying roommate she has gotten used to living with.”
“Don’t say that… She appreciates you.” Ben felt sad for Y/N, he knew that they loved the kid like she was their own.
“I know she does, in her own way. But what I said is only the truth.” They sighed, they had accepted that fate of being the stranger in the house a while ago. “And I also need you more, Ben. We barely have the time to look at each other, and when you have some free time on the island, you go to the mainland to find more recruits. You should bring Alex at one point.”
“We’ve already talked about that. It’s too dangerous for her, they’re the real hostiles.” Ben walked around to calm down. “I will only bring her when she is ready. Only when she will be a proper adult, after she’s eighteen. I don’t want her to wander and get lost in that world.”
“I respect your decision.” Y/N went for a hug which he gave instantly.
“I will make up for all the time lost. I promise.” He said in a sweeter tone. “Will you help me to plan things with Alex? I’m not sure this time I can do it on my own.”
“Of course. I’m here for you.” Y/N was moved to see Ben’s vulnerability.
They then went for a kiss, Ben kissed them back. It was intimate, soft and they both felt their reciprocated love.
“What could I do without you?”
“I’m not sure I know.” Y/N allowed themselves to tease their partner. They knew during these romantic moments, he did not feel as insecure and that was what they loved about him.
“I love you, Y/N.”
“I love you too, Ben.”
They both kissed again. Y/N was enjoying every single second, after all it was a rare instance when Benjamin Linus allowed himself to profess his love first.
“To our family?” Ben questioned, waiting for Y/N’s answer, this time there was no fierce leader to be seen, only a father and a partner.
“To our family.”