Rose patted his shoulder. "I'm not angry with you. Not anymore. Maybe I was never really angry with you. I just wish..." She put her hand to her forehead. "We could all stop arguing..."

Elijah nodded. "I wish I wasn't fighting with Ben so much. As you are all growing up, you're having a chance to make choices. There's so many he doesn't or might not approve of. I want to stand up for you guys but it's just making him angrier and reminding me that it's not my place..."

Rose took his hand and squeezed it lightly. "He... has one way of doing things, and he... is terrified of us doin' som't else... I know you are trying to help, Elijah. And I appreciate it. I really do. I wish I knew a way of talking to father without makin' him angry when you disagree, but..." She shrugged lightly. "I suppose we've just learned not to get into trouble with him at all."

Elijah frowned and looked to her. "That makes you prisoners to him basically though."

"He is our father..." Rose defended him.

He looked at her sadly and frustrated. "I know. I'm not saying you should ever stop loving him. But it won't get better. What will happen when you and your siblings are ten years older and he is still telling you what to do? Is telling your children what to do?"

"He won't be able to, Elijah. We'll live under our own roofs, with our own husbands. Even I have some freedom now that I don't live under his roof. Anyway," she frowned and her mouth twitched. "I don't think he'll live another ten years..."

Elijah shook his head. If all of the children left, Ben would certainly die of loneliness he was certain. "You may be right. I guess I don't think about this.." He didn't have parents to live under their roof and his grandparents died while he was away in York. He sighed and leaned back feeling confused and uncertain.

Rose patted his hand. "He wants the best for us, just like you."

He nodded but looked no happier.  "You're right. I am sorry, Rose. I feel like an ass."