(At the sa ti, Planet Ixtal, Amanda's POV)
While Leo spent the day unwinding with Su Yang as though nothing had happened, Amanda spent hers in quiet unrest, waiting for Alia, who arrived on Ixtal in haste after receiving her urgent ssage.
"What's going on? Why did you call here so suddenly? Is everything alright?"
Alia asked the mont she stepped inside, concern evident in her voice as she took in Amanda's red eyes and strained expression.
Amanda tried to offer a small smile, but it faltered almost imdiately, her fingers twisting together tightly in her lap as she gestured for Alia to sit beside her on the bed, the weight of unspoken frustration and hurt lingering heavily in the room.
"Woah, woah, woah!
You look like you've cried all night.
That's so unusual for you, love.
What happened?"
Alia asked, as Amanda spontaneously broke into tears once more, unable to process the bulk of emotions she was feeling at this mont.
*Sob*
*Sob*
For a while, she said nothing as she simply cried her heart out, before finally mustering the courage to form words, as she said-
"I had a big fight with Leo yesterday.... Probably the first one we have ever had.
And I don't think my words got through to him at all.
I don't understand Leo sotis, or how his head works.
Because, it's like he's always looking for that one big mistake, that one reason that led to being unhappy.
Whereas, it's never just one incident for .
It's a routine problem.
What bothers is not the fact that he is going out to train one hour a day again.....
Hell, one hour is actually a lot less than I'd typically expect him to run off for.
However, my problem is with that one hour also consuming the remaining 23 hours of his day.
Because whenever he starts training, it's almost like even when he is with , he's not....."
Amanda began, her voice feeble as she looked into Alia's eyes for
reassurance.
"Go on...."
Alia said re-affirmingly, her expression focused, as she encouraged Amanda to go on.
"The mont Leo starts to train, it's like the training consus all of his mind, and this is not a new phenonon.
I know this, because I've known him since we first t on the Arc Ship, and although it's one of his many endearing qualities, sotis I just hope he would choose his family over everything else...."
"The one hour a day he goes off to train, it wouldn't bother if he was actually present here ntally and emotionally for the remaining twenty three, however, because I know he's incapable of doing that, I tried to push him to quit his training, and now I feel bad for trying to manipulate him...."
Amanda admitted, as her eyes darkened with sha.
"However, I did not do it for .
I myself am fine with however little attention he gives .
However, I want nothing but the best for the kids.
Especially since they look up to him like he's their idol.
For them, I want him to be the best father he can be, and right now, I
just feel like he's not quite there yet.
He's trying.... Sotis.
But he's definitely not there yet.
And I'm not happy."
Amanda explained, as Alia let out a deep sigh.
Being married to another Skyshard herself, she perfectly understood Amanda's struggles at this mont, however, she could also see her flaws.
What Amanda wanted from Leo was not wrong, however, her thod to achieve it definitely was.
"In the end... I threatened to take the kids away and leave if he didn't clean up his act.
Because I'd rather the kids grow up and have a perfect image of him.
Then let them be around the real him and grow up with a tarnished
image of a man they don't respect or idolize.
For them right now, he's a man who can do no wrong
And I would much rather it stay that way."
Amanda concluded, as Alia finally opened her mouth to intervene.
"You know honey, when I was raising Leonardo, I faced much of the
sa issues.
Luke never had a father growing up.
And hence, he did not understand the role of a father in a kids life
when we had Leonardo.
He did not understand when he was supposed to be strict.
And when he wasn't.
He did not understand how to show affection.
And when to punish the kid, as he had no first hand experience.
So naturally, there were a lot of monts where I was disappointed in
him.
However, over ti I just realized that I was disappointed because of my own expectations, versus what he actually did.
Because, although clueless, in his own way Luke was in fact always
trying his best to raise Leonardo.
And although it was not the way I wanted it to be, he still managed to
be a great father to him.
So, my only advice to you is, trust Leo as well.
It may not be the way you want.
But in his own way, he will raise the kids the best he can."
Alia explained, as Amanda listened to her words with her head down
in sha.
She hated fighting with Leo.
She hated how it made her feel.
She understood perfectly that what he brought to the parents
dynamic was completely different to what she did, and yet, sohow she couldn't help but be greedy and want even more, just because she
knew he was capable of giving more.
*Sigh* "I guess you're right.... I guess I should maybe apologise...."
Amanda accepted, as Alia giggled at her words.
"Apologise? Oh no no no honey.
You never apologise to Skyshard n, or you'll just inflate their nearly
empty heads even more.
What you should do is take Caleb and Mairon away on a short two day surprise vacation, and give Leo a mini heart attack.
By the ti you're back, he would have reflected on stuff he would
never otherwise think about, and when you're back you can just tell
him about how life without him feels wrong, and he will just lt all
over again....."
"Do it right, and not only will your marriage be perfectly healthy
again, but so will your night life."
Alia said while winking, as it was only now that Amanda found out as
to how devious his sister in law really was.
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