Baby you are fireworks

[bachjones]

 Fifty dollars were kind of a lot of money if you didn't know when you were getting the next amount of bills. It was especially a lot of money if you had to feed a kid and a cat and keep them comfortable and healthy. Bach was glad that Isaac at least didn't need diapers any more, because those were way too expensive to be right.

 

So he hadn't really felt like going to this thing, except for the part that saw it as free food, free booze, free sex (Bach hadn't had sex since he had found his mother a month ago. His body felt numb).

But there was Isaac. Isaac that Bach was going to work for, to have a normal, happy life. Bach had only always performed or slept at NYE, but this was something parents did, didn't they? Take them to innocent party-like things?

 

In the end, Alfred had cried more about being left behind than Isaac had shown any enthusiasm. He had allowed Bach to help him into his new dark jeans and black and white striped shirt, all the while keeping his eyes on his father. Bach had tried to explain about party's and fireworks and seeing Alfie again, giving up when Isaac started humming Alfie's song.

 

And now they were here. Bach in the suit Grant had some day gotten him for some reason (now there was someone he kinda missed as well, where was Grant?), and his kid looking pretty sharp as well for as long as it lasted. And hey, he even had a <i>car</i> to drive them home later. Bach was cleaning up.

Comments

[alfiehaywood]

“Yep. One of the stupidest things I ever witnessed and I went to college so…” He shrugged. Now seemed the sort of time he’d wander off and have a cigarette, if he wasn’t technically at work. Because at this point he’d pretty much given up on the fact he was actually doing his job. Most people had arrived at this point anyway to make the most of their tickets or to get drinking as soon as possible.

Offering a small smile, Alfie couldn’t help noticing that Bach seemed to accept and be alright with that. He wasn’t freaking out at the idea of his kid getting attached, which was good. Really good. Alfie just had the eternal love of his two pups that were no doubt getting angry at fireworks, even though he’d left some loudish music on for them and closed all the curtains.

“Well. I’m sure you’d have to do something drastic to make a ‘super bad mistake’. But considering we’re – you’re not surrounded by child experts. Probably not a bad thing to prepare a little. Upside is that he’s big enough to tell you if he’s hungry or cold or any of those things that make babies super terrifying.”

[bachjones]

"Oh man, I hope so. I wouldn't mind him talking my head off as long it's about things he needs. I really think that she drove the point home that needs to be silent when she doesn't want anything from him so .."

"That needs to be changed, although I will probably regret it when he starts chattering full time. Kids can be pretty loud, right?"

Bach shifts, moving the weight of Isaac a bit lower. "You know me, I'm really good at super bad mistakes, just saying. Good thing he has you around. For safety from a normal person."

[alfiehaywood]

He hoped that wasn’t true. Letting out a small sigh he tried to resist frowning at thinking about it. Hopefully Isaac was perhaps just a little shy but would come out his shell more with time. It simultaneously angered and upset him to imagine anyone emotionally abusing a kid as sweet as Isaac like that. But then this was Bach’s mother, and Bach had been raised by her so he’d know.

“They can be. When they’re really excited – or very angry and upset. Guess he’s probably a little old for temper tantrums though, so you might be ok. But kids aren’t always loud. He may just always be a quieter one.”

Alfie can’t help a small laugh at such a statement, “I don’t think many people would call me completely normal. So God help him if we’re using me as some sort of indicator of normalities. Anyway, sometimes really good things come from mistakes. Hmm.”

[bachjones]

"That's going to be super weird, I'll always have to assure that he's still around, or something. I'll see, I guess that's the thing I'm going to say and think a lot: I'll see. Because I just don't know better."

His shoulder is getting wet. "Could you maybe eh ..lift him off, for a second? I'm sure there's a couch around here, or something? I don't want to disappear in toddler drool."

[alfiehaywood]

Alfie can’t help a small smile, “I think that’s a general parent trait. Try it and see. Anyway, he might not stay as quiet as he is now. I just mean he might never be a really loud person. Just got to make sure he knows when he needs to speak up and that he doesn’t need to keep quiet if he doesn’t want to.”

It throws him for a second, but he nods his head, “Course I can, let me just…” Alfie can’t claim to be an expert at taking a sleeping kid off someone, but the golden rules tend to be carefully and keep a hold of the head so they don’t wake up in a panic. Sliding an arm between Isaac and Bach, he makes sure he’s got a secure arm around the little boy. Gently cupping Isaac’s head he moves him from Bach’s hold into his own. Resting Isaac against his chest and placing his head on his shoulder, shushing his gently when he stirs a little. There’s a moment when he worries Isaac might wake up but thankfully doesn’t. “I can’t sing at all, just to throw that out there. So lullabies are definitely your domain.”

The weird thing is that he expected Isaac to be heavier than he is. Somewhere behind him, he’s sure Jessie is waiting for a moment when she can interrogate a situation that she’s completely got the wrong end of. But for now he’s trying not to smile at how adorable the soft little huffs are.

[bachjones]

"He's a skinny little thing, I want to visit a doctor as soon as I have the birth certificate and stuff, so no-one can take him away from me or something. If that happens." That sounded super dramatic. " I don't know if that happens."

Isaac is all limbs in Alfie's arms and Bach worries about how he likes this picture. He really needs to get laid soon, before he starts to think in emotions and feelings.

"He drops off anywhere any time. I can do that as well. Super handy when you're traveling and never know where your next bed will be."

[alfiehaywood]

The small hum of agreement Alfie makes is more because he’s distracted thinking about what kind of food he should make for gently fattening purposes and less because he isn’t listening. Either way, he’ll have to teach Bach some basic cookery, if only for his own peace of mind when he’s out of State to see his sister or college friends. “I… guess if his Mom left him with you and the DNA matches, they wouldn’t be able to take him away? I don’t know how that all works if I’m honest. The only people I knew with a surprise kid were a couple at college so it was all very straight forward in that sense.”

Isaac stirs a little, just for a moment so Alfie instinctively begins rubbing small circles on his back. Back in Arkansas he’d babysat a handful of times for his nephew Todd. Even though he’d only been a baby, Todd didn’t sleep particularly well but he responded well to having his back rubbed.

“You can have sleep offs when he’s older then.” Alfie replied with a small grin. With the exception of a couple of years during puberty, Alfie had never had difficulty sleeping. He just didn’t do it excessively, felt too much like he was wasting time. And Lord knows Penny did not appreciate him having a lie in when she could be going for a walk. “How’s that going? The sleeping arrangements?”

[bachjones]

"I took him from my mother, if she'll ever discover it I'm sure she's going to fight me on it. Or try to get another kid out of me. She wanted to start young, after all."

Isaac's like a limp fish in Alfie's arms now and Bach really needs to start thinking of valid excuses to get him babysitting. "I need sex" probably won't count, just because Alfie won't understand.

"The - oh, I got him a little bed. And a big bed, for myself. Right now we're still in the same room because he has these dreams and I rather have him crawl into my own bed than wake me screaming. But I think he's still learning that I won't hurt him when he has nightmares, one night I - one night I found him with his fists in his mouth, sobbing for God knows what reason. Took me a while to calm him down."

[alfiehaywood]

Alfie doesn’t know much about the law. His family all like to see themselves as big rollers but no-one has braved the law yet. So unlike doctors, politicians, computer programmers, professional sports stars and pilots he knows nothing about how anything but the obvious works. So he replies with more confidence than he actually has in his knowledge, “You’re the Dad. Unless they have a strong reason to believe you are unsuitable or his Mum suddenly tries to claim him back, they aren’t going to take him back to your Mum.”

“Not with a decent lawyer anyway.” It’s not going to happen whilst they’re his neighbours. No way. Bach may not be the kind of person expected to be a natural parent, but he’s trying and that definitely counts for something. The little boy asleep with his head on Alfie’s shoulder has clearly already bonded with his Dad so he can’t imagine that child protection would want to interrupt that. Considering Isaac couldn’t have had any proof of existing whilst living with his grandmother. Not if he didn’t even have a name.

Bach’s final statement feels a little like a physical slap to the fact and if his hold on Isaac tightens the slightest fraction, it can only be considered reasonable. When he’d adopted a rescued Herb, the puppy used to whimper and hide in corners. But people can do that kind of stuff to animals and not seem to care. Isaac’s four years old, how the hell someone could let their grandchild get to a point where they tried to hide their distress rather than help… It doesn’t mean he’ll forgive their current treatment of him, but part of Alfie is quietly thanking his family for how he was raised. It could have been so much worse. Alfie’ll admit he’s probably pretty screwed up but 23 years on planet Earth is pretty much guaranteed to do that. He wants to say something. But he genuinely has no words.

[bachjones]

"If you're sure ..thanks, man. I don't want to be running or hiding for a long time. Definitely because he's going to be better with just having to call one place home. I think, at least. I'm not that far into the books yet." He grimaced. "It's heavy stuff, you can do tons of things wrong."

Isaac mumbles something before turning his face against Alfie's chest and Bach's going to drink so much alcohol later to forget about this. "Do we know any decent lawyers?"

[alfiehaywood]

“Well, it’s always good to have some structure and familiarity…” Alfie trailed off a little, because in the back of his mind he can just reply Bach saying they’d only come back to see Lara. As far as he knows Bach is going to try the whole ‘settling down’ somewhere completely different and far away. Alfie can’t leave Siren Cove for his own mental health at this point, it’s the first place since college where he feels accepted and there are people around who care for him exactly as he is. Not for some false projection of Alfie Haywood.

With a small smile, Alfie replies, “I know a lot of people who know a lot of people. So I really wouldn’t be surprised if there were some lawyers in there. I’ll have to start digging.”

A cool breeze slices through the air, and Alfie’s suddenly aware that he’s been holding Bach and Isaac up outside when all the interesting stuff is in a well heated lodge. Of course Gerry had provided them with thick coats and portable heaters if it got cold but that was essentially just enough for him and Jessie. “Hey. You should probably head in. Don’t want Isaac getting cold out here – plus you’ve paid to enjoy the stuff in there. You can talk to me for free any time.”

[bachjones]

"I guess so ..still need to get used to that stuff myself."

He waved it away. "Take your time. I know I have to be the responsible one now, so don't feel like you have to do stuff for me. Unless you like it." Bach tried to read Alfie. "I always like people doing things for me willingly."

Isaac yawns and Alfie's right, they need to start making some sweet memories here. "Give him to me, and we'll see you near the toys later, right? Blame me for being late if your boss is an ass about it."

[alfiehaywood]

“You’ll get there eventually. Maybe.” Although it was true some people didn’t ever really settle in one place. Some of his college friends got very antsy if they didn’t travel regularly and had drawn up long lists of places they wanted to live. Alfie liked to travel but he enjoyed a permanent home base.

Alfie wasn’t entirely certain if that was intentional innuendo or if Bach just naturally made everything sound like that. He was used to innuendos, he knew Les for a start. But it was an entirely different thing from a friend and from someone you had a crush on – at least he was starting to get more used to it. “I think being responsible for a kid is enough stuff for you to worry about for the time being. So I really don’t mind.” He probably needed to look into lawyers in case that journalist came back anyway.

“Nah, boss won’t mind. I think he wants to adopt me for company inheritance anyway. Although I didn’t say that, obviously.” Moving over to Bach, he carefully helped him take Isaac back. With a grain he added, “And I promise I’ll come and find you both later when I can.”

[bachjones]

"Your boss is going to adopt you?" He cocked an eyebrow, "That's weird."

Isaac mumbled something into his shoulder, and Bach was tempted to just keep him asleep. He deserved that, right?

"Think you can bring drinks? Nothing too much, just like a beer, or something. And for him.. he loves apple juice, I think. Starts smiling whenever he sees it, so that's good, I think."

"Say goodbye to Alfie now, sleepyface."

Isaac only turned his face further against his chest. "See you later, Alf."