"So would Grandfather," Alex hiccuped, holding tightly to his uncle. "Not right away, but soon..."
It felt weird, this hug from his uncle, the uncle he'd hated since he was old enough to think he was something impossible to live up to. But he wasn't all that. Wasn't something so fantastic that nothing could touch him...
He was a son without a parent. Not so much older than Alex himself...
He wiped at his eyes, sitting back but not relinquishing all of the touch, and squeezed Fred's hand. "Maybe we can figure it out together, and help Dad," he said softly, then looked up at Fred. "Because I'm really scared for him."