Chapter Text
He saw it early on. Rodney looked nothing like the rest of the Trotter family. He doesn't say anything. At first because by the time it is noticeable Joan was sick. Dying, he didn't have the heart to speak it not then. It wasn't as if Reg was faithful to Joan or even treated her well. He understood why she looked for love and comfort elsewhere.
After she dies, he doesn't say anything because Reg has run off. His son has left him, Del and little Rodney to fend for themselves. Violet is dead. He doesn't speak to his only living brother. All he has is Del and Rodney.
Del is too young to be playing parent, but he does. The way he stepped up, Ted was so proud. If Del noticed the older Rodney got the more he looked like Freddie The Frog, he doesn't speak it out loud. So Ted doesn't either.
In the end it doesn't matter. The blood part. Blood may be thicker than water but love was thicker than anything. He loved Rodney as much as he did Del.