Work Text:
You would've loved him.
That's Donald Uris' first thought as he sees his son call out bullshit at his bar mitzvah.
How his baby brother would've loved him.
Don knows he's going to reprimanded his boy, no matter how much his feelings are justified the rabbi hoped his son would know about proper time and place.
And yet…
And yet seeing those dirty blonde curls and attached at the hip with a motor mouth brought Donald to remembrance and regret.
Why were his last words to his brother so harsh? So dismissive? Cleary the boy was right to be worried.
Donald is past the point of wishing it was him instead, he has Andrea and Stan. The two brightest spots in his world.
But he can’t lie and say that, that thought didn’t plague him for longer than it should’ve.
And seeing Teddys spirit rise out of Stan, even if just for a moment, was enough to let the rabbi be at his peace.
Wherever Teddy is, he is safe. Wherever Teddy is, his spirit is not chained, not confined.
His soul is free. And that’s all that matters.