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Aegon beams and Alicent realizes her son is quite easy to please, easier to please than what she always believed. All he ever wanted was to be her son the way Helaena is her daughter, the way Aemond and Daeron are her sons.
Aegon made her a mother.
Yet, she treated him in a way she loathes now and she hates herself for it.
She ridiculed him, abused him and still, he’s by her side today, delighted to be able to spend time with her. His joy, so simple and pure, at the idea of sharing one of his hobbies with her makes her realize he wasn’t difficult. Acting out was the only way he could communicate how unwell he was, how he needed her, how young he actually is.
And she thanks the Seven he made good friends.
She was wary of Eddard, of Martyn, of Leon, for many reasons and yes, they might not be the smartest kids around but they are thirteen, they still have to grow and when Aegon’s mental health seemed to break down, all three of them reached out to her out of concern.
“I’m sure you’ll love this game! You get to play an attorney, you conduct investigations… It’s mostly reading and using your logic!”
Sitting on the sofa by his side, a PS4 controller in hand, the young woman wonders what the old version of her would say, watching her and their boy bonding over something she spits on.
She isn’t that woman anymore.
She has divorced Viserys for how neglectful of their children he has been.
She took herself to therapy, to parenting classes to become a better mother and bit by bit, she becomes the parent her four children deserve.
“It sounds nice! How did you discover this game?” She asks
“It’s one of Eddard’s favourites! That and the Tomb Raider saga. He used to play with his mom before she passed away.”
“I didn’t know his mother was gone… Aegon. If you want your friends to come over and play video games, I don’t mind. Just let me know when.”
“You mean it?! Mom, you’re the best!”
Alicent gasps when her teenage son almost throws himself in her arms. She welcomes him, takes all of it in. She still has a lot to work on. But when she has her boy, her first boy, like this, it all makes it worthwhile.