Army Wives, Season 5

Roxy:
Whit says he's already finished the wiring and he says the duct work won't take more than a day tops.

[Trevor nods, Roxy is unsure of what to say]

Trevor:
[reassuringly] Babe, it's ok. It's all good between me and Whit. I don't want you feeling guilty every time his name comes up. Whit's a good guy. And just because he's Finn's dad doesn't mean he can't be a friend.

Finn:
[walked into kitchen unnoticed] Whit's my dad??

[Later]

Roxy:
[hands Finn a photograph of Whit] I was saving these for you. For Sunday. This is Whit from back when I knew him before. I met Whit when I was your age and we were best friends right off. Not boyfriend-girlfriend, just very close. And we stayed that way through high school.

Finn:
[looks at photo] Why didn't you get married?

Roxy:
Because we didn't love each other that way. Not the way you're supposed to love someone when you get married.

Finn:
Oh.

Roxy:
But we were lucky enough to have you. And I was happy to raise you by myself. Until I found a person who I did love in the right way. [looks to Trevor] But Whit is a good man. And he loves you very much. He loves you so much he let Trevor adopt you so that you could have a real daddy. You understand?

Finn:
[looks at Roxy] So, do I have to call Whit "Dad" now?

Roxy:
No. Trevor is your dad, same as always. Whit is just a friend.

TJ:
What about my father? Will I ever get to meet him?

Roxy:
Honey, I don't think that's gonna happen.

TJ:
Why not?

Roxy:
Because there were times when he wasn't so nice to me and I didn't want that happening to you. So I got away. To protect you. [TJ looks away dejectedly] I'm so sorry, but I think you're old enough to know the truth. And I would never let anyone hurt you.

TJ:
So why did you marry him?

Roxy:
Because I was young and I didn't know better.

Trevor:
People make mistakes, bud.

Roxy:
That does not mean that you are a mistake. You are the only thing that brought me happiness during those years. And I have never ever regretted having you. Not for one second. You understand? [takes out a photo] I saved this for you so you could see what he looked like. You want to talk about it?

TJ:
[looks at photo] May I be excused?

Roxy:
Sure.

[TJ gets up and goes out to the porch without saying a word]

[Later]

TJ:
It's not fair.

Trevor:
I know. [pauses] Look, I told you that I was adopted like you and Finn. But what I didn't tell you was that my natural father wasn't very good to me either. He wasn't good to anybody. In fact, he's in jail. And I haven't seen him since I was Finn's age.

TJ:
How come you never told me?

Trevor:
Because I didn't think it was important. Until now. [looks at TJ] I know how you're feeling, TJ. Angry, disappointed, embarrassed. It's hard. And that just doesn't go away. But I'll tell you what I figured out. You get two families in this life. The one you're born with and the one you choose. The one I was born with didn't measure up, but I love the family that I chose. And that means you, bud. I hope you feel the same way about me.

TJ:
[smiles] I do, Dad.