Today is the day

It had taken him a long time acknowledge Ansem the Wise as an uncle.
Longer still to allow the title of father.
He had become the orphaned apprentice at the age of two and a half.
A silent shadow who took turns being around Ansem and all of the apprentices lingering in the halls of Radiant Garden.
Causing mischief with his fellow young peers all looking and taking to a number of familiar, beloved, and frightening traits that the adults into frenzies of worry.
It had been at four when Mister Ansem became Uncle Ansem or sometimes simply Uncle.
The father title came much later.
How could you teach a young child that a father was not the man who helped create you?
Although he disliked and despised his own father for leaving him, he would not take away that title.
At some point it clicked. Slammed into place while trying to delicately practice honing his Dark Fire magic.
He never forgot the lecture.
Nor the ending of calling Ansem, Father for the first time.
He may of also used it to get out of trouble.
At the very least he's never stopped using it.