ato-the-bean:

Okay, I found a bit of the new Cleaving chapter that probably doesn’t give it all away. 

“There’s something I want to ask you… ask of you.  And I don’t know how.  It’s not fair.  I just can’t really think of an alternative.”

“Fair… I’m not sure what fair has to do with things.  Was it fair when Nathan and I invaded your home?  Was it fair when you hopped a plane to be with me at the meetings where I learned about him.  If you need something, you ask.”

Chris nodded, taking a deep breath.  “It just seems like neither of us has been happy the last few months, and we should make some changes.  And it’s totally my fault, and I know that.  I’ve accepted too many projects and I’m gone too much.  But my hands are tied; I’ve signed the contracts.  I can fix it as we go forward — I’ve already told Karen I don’t want any new scripts for a while.”  Zach had overheard something like that when Chris was talking to Melissa, but he he hadn’t been sure if Chris was just tired or if this was because of him. Guilt twisted in his stomach.   “But for the next year or so, I have limited options.  I have press for Hours, and filming for Trek and Wonder Woman and Hell or Highwater, and then press for all of that as well.  And after this I can try to limit myself to two projects a year, and try to make sure that one is reasonably local, but until then, I’m going to be on location a lot.”

Zach squeezed his hand.  Shit, that sounded like a lot.  Even without the pressures of planning a wedding or co-parenting, it was a hell of a lot to shoulder in one year.  But Hollywood was unforgiving, and when you were hot, like Chris was at the moment, it was really impossible to say no.  “Chris, I’m not asking you to cut back.  I know this is an important time in your career.”

“I know.  And it is.  And there’s still that voice in the back of my mind that says someday the acting police are going to take my card away, and I’d better work as hard as I can while they let me.  But it’s an important time in our lives, too, Zach.  And in Nathan’s.  I hate that I have to ask you what his favorite game is.  I should just know that.  I’m his dad, too.  And it’s also an important time in your career.  It’s one thing to take some time with limited producing projects so you can be with Nathan, but it’s a different thing when I’m the one asking.  I need to help you carve out time. I know you love producing, but you’re an actor.  A really good actor.   You need room to continue to grow in your craft.  I’m your partner;  should be helping you make time for that rather than sucking all the time for my own career.  I just… I let it get away from me.  And I don’t want to be like that.  My dad was always able to find a life balance.  He always fed his career and the other things that were frankly way more important: his marriage and his kids.  I’m not doing a good job of following his example.”