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]

Having had his cast finally removed, Alfie was practically hyperactive to be back at work. Which probably seemed weird to most people who hated the idea, but it meant getting to see all his co-workers and being able to drive. He hardly had any better plans for New Year’s Eve in State so he was happy to be where the people were. Although he’d had to promise a variety of college friends and his sister that he’d visit once they made it in 2015. Maybe if he won the lottery or something, Alfie wasn’t exactly struggling for money for flying or driving to about 5 states in the space of 12 months was cutting it fine.

Either way Gerry had told him he wasn’t on the desk tonight; lifting cases was too much of a risk right now as far as he was concerned. If he didn’t want to put Alfie out of action for another few weeks. ‘Bring a bowtie suit’ had been the instruction, ‘I want you on meeting and greeting duties.’ Which was basically code for, make sure everyone gets safely in, do what you want for a while and then make sure they can get back to cabins/in cabs.

Jessie had hugged him for a good minute or two and he’d complimented her dress. She’d fussed that his tie needed work and straightened it before they set themselves up either side of the entrance. Small desks with boxes for tickets and guest lists. So now it was just a case of greeting the guests as and when they arrived.

[bachjones]

"lfie!"

Isaac clearly didn't know about showing your cards all in one go yet. Not that Bach had talked about Alfie non-stop, he just had to explain to his kid the difference between the cat and the man. And that humming his song around him might make him giddy. So that if Isaac wanted to get a message across, he was going to open his mouth and use any word he knew.

"Alf, man, hey. You're wo- I knew you were working, else I wouldn't know about this stuff. Guess who's going to experience his first New Year's Eve?"

"Isaac!", Isaac piped up, looking at the sky with eyes wide. "Eve!"

[alfiehaywood]

He’s putting a line through several tickets to void them for reuse when he hears his name. Of course his first instinct is to look up and instantly makes eye contact with Bach. It throws him for a second, mainly the suit and short hair which he is still getting used to. And that’s when he looks down, seeing Isaac looking at him and his chest tightens at how flipping cute that was. “Hey Isaac!” He replies with a wide grin, making sure he doesn’t say anything stupid like ‘look how handsome you both look’.

But then Bach is talking again and he can’t help watching them interact with a ridiculous fondness. No doubt Jessie is taking note and will be quirking an eyebrow at him later. But he pushes that aside, enjoying that fact Isaac is so damned excited about New Year’s Eve. And it’s horrible that this is the first time he’s aware of it – but at least it’s now and not even further down the line. “Are you planning to stay awake all the way until 2015? Cause that’s pretty impressive.”

[bachjones]

"No, dude, I don't know if he really understands about years following and what New Year's Eve is precisely. I mean, he nods along a lot but I don't have a clue about what sticks to his mind."

Isaac takes his hand, and angles for Alfie's one. "rychristmas?"

"That's what I mean. No, no, Isaac." Bach squats in front of him. "This is with the numbers. This is 2014 and from tomorrow on it's 2015. It's only useful for people that use diaries and have schedules and stuff, but I'm sure right now we can stick to fireworks, right?"

The kid's face blank and his hand is still grabbing the air close to Alfie, but maybe that's okay. Bach doesn't know. "And I think there's going to be candy."

Of course that's the magic word. "Daddy?"

"Yes, yes, tonight we're going to have some candy. I promise. It's a special night, after all. Right, Alfie?"

[alfiehaywood]

Alfie nods because he’s not quite sure how to explain years to a kid, or even at what age that kind of knowledge sticks in your brain. He’d always assumed he wouldn’t have much input in the lives of any kids until his sister had children and then she could tell him how it worked. As it was, Bach was muddling through and he tried to input anything he could.

He’d made them dinner that night Bach came back, and had he not been so busy the last few days he’d have probably done it again. Although he still had no idea if Isaac had actually like the food or not. At least presents seemed to go down alright.

“It’s probably all a little overwhelming, if he’s getting used to language still.” Really he tries to keep the fond smile off his face, but there is a hand offered to him and how the fuck did this happen? Somewhere Kyle was laughing at him, and Carly was probably rolling her eyes because he’d always acted entirely nonchalant about kids in general, as much as he’d always been good with them. But here he was melting over a 4 year old.

Of course he takes Isaac’s hand, even after the moment’s hesitation. His hand seems small in Alfie’s own as he gave it a gentle squeeze. Trying not to think how weird it must be for Bach to suddenly be called ‘daddy’. He couldn’t really imagine someone calling him that at all and he wasn’t sure how he felt about that anymore.

Smiling at Bach for a second, he turned his attention to Isaac. “Yeah, definitely a lot of candy and food in there. And there are some games as well if you wanted to play.” Gerry had pulled in the giant connect four and jenga sets along with several other things, but Alfie hadn’t had loads of time to examine the interior of the party. Not yet.

[bachjones]

"lfie!" Isaac looks at Bach, at Alfie, and at Bach again.

"It's the A. You should hear him try to say his own name, especially when he's excited about something. I don't know why he says it so often, maybe it's because he doesn't know enough words for other things yet."

"Food?"

Maybe Bach should have slept extra before getting here. "You can just point us, if you want to, man. I mean, you're working, he's going to be all-one-syllable for the rest of the night until he gets sleepy and I have to carry him around like a wet blanket." He messed up the kid's hair. "I think that's how it's supposed to go, at least."

[alfiehaywood]

It’s endearing. Incredibly endearing to have someone saying your name like it’s something exciting. Even if Isaac is only saying it because he lacks another word to say what he means. But he keeps hold of his hand as he replies to Bach, “He’ll get there. It’s not even been two weeks – and he’s saying more than he did when I last saw him. It’s probably still exciting to have a name. I mean I personally have never been without one, but when my sister got married she kept using her full name on things.”

Alfie’s smile dimmed a little at the reminder he was at work. He should probably stop imagining himself as a part of something when he wasn’t. Plus his break wouldn’t be for at least an hour when most of the guests would already be there. “Well, they’re to the left hand side of the hall. Opposite end from the bar I believe.” He answered, “I’m sure if you see kids, you’re probably in the right area.”

“Hey, um, if he’s asleep at midnight, and you wanna do toasts and what not. I don’t mind keeping an eye on him for you.”

[bachjones]

"Okay, right. Thanks, man. I'm sure we can find it. Did you hear it, kid? There's going to be other children to play with. Like.. people that understand when you start flailing around over something, you know? You understand? More kiddies."

Instead of getting some enthusiasm, Isaac moved back to Bach's leg, pulling Alfie along. He puts a hand up to catch him, because there's a surprising lot of force in that little body, especially when you don't expect it. "No", Isaac squeaks. "Lfie."

"Alfie will come later, right, Alf? Just play around with all the toys a little, to see how good you can build things? Right, Isaac? Show Alfie how good you are with those blocks, right? Come on, this is supposed to be fun, sweetcakes. Relax."

"Bch?"

"That's me, yeah." He looks at Alfie and mouths a 'sorry' at him.

[alfiehaywood]

Whilst Alfie doesn’t trip or even stumble as he’s pulled closer to them both, he is a little surprised at Isaac’s reluctance to go inside without him. It’s not like he’s been hugely involved in Isaac’s life thus far. Not even the portion in Siren Cove considering he hasn’t been in his flat a great deal other than to eat or sleep the last few days.

For a second he looks at Bach with wide eyes, considering that he should probably apologise although a little unsure what for exactly. The fact Isaac might pout or be a bit grumpy he supposed was what he felt bad about, but he didn’t completely know what he’d done to cause that. Bach seemed to be doing a good job of reassuring Isaac, but he felt he should try and help out a little bit. Since he was kind of delaying them both from going into the party.

Swallowing, he crouched down – which was probably a bad decision in suit pants but he’d risk it. Making himself more eye level with Isaac so he didn’t appear to be talking down to the boy. Still holding his hand, he explained “Hey Isaac, I can’t play right now because I’ve got a really important job to do first. But in a little bit when I’m done, I can come and play with you, ok? So you should go and have some fun first, yeah?”

[bachjones]

Bach is hurting. Bach is hurting because a large part of his brain is just giving him messages about how Alfie looks right now, instead of being focused on his kid. Now he knows how women feel when they see a man with a child, it's just so good to see someone care about who you care about as well.

"Fuck."

"No, no, don't repeat that word, Isaac. Hear that? Alfie's going to come along later. Am I that bad to be around with?"

The grip on his leg tightened. "I'm joking, I'm joking. I'm going to be there for you always and ever, until you're - stop squeezing, Isaac, please."

He looked at Alfie. "And maybe let go of Alfie's hand. Alfie can't always be around, kid."

"Play? Lfie?" Isaac frowned a bit more. "Play?"

"That's what he said, Isaac. Sorry about that, man."

[alfiehaywood]

Unaware of the emotional trauma he was causing Bach on the inside, Alfie just blinked at the spoken curse word. For a second he wondered if he’d said it out loud because it was the word that had echoed loudly through his mind at Isaac’s unhappy expression. But apparently he wasn’t to blame for the cursing. Thank God. He stood up straight to avoid damaging his pants.

Still, with how Isaac was holding his hand tightly and frowning, Alfie couldn’t help wondering how actual parents ever left their kids anywhere. It hurt on a molecular level to think he was somehow causing Isaac to be so unhappy. So he couldn’t imagine what Mums and Dads went through when they took their kids to playgroup or kindergarten and they cried. His little brother had always been really skilled at that when they were kids.

Behind Bach he could see Jessie glancing over with soft eyes and he knew she had a kid at home. So clearly this was generally a universal thing that happened with young children. “I promise that I’ll play later. Cross my heart.” He paused a second, before looking at Bach, “Guess he doesn’t know that saying huh…”

Still. His heart hurt and it sucked.

[bachjones]

"Neither do I."

Okay, maybe a little, but he never understood why it had to be so super dramatic. And if Bach kept Alfie talking, someone of his colleagues might give up and tell him to be free for the night. Isaac would be so much easier to be around with with Alfie around.

"Play?"

"It means that he promises to, Isaac. Come on, I'm going to play with you, am I not good enough to play with? I can build things, you know. And you can do piggy back, I can drive you to the room? Yes?"

Isaac looked from one to the other, dropping his hand from Alfie's before attempting to climb into Bach, creasing his suit left and right.

"I guess I'm not that bad for a second option."

[alfiehaywood]

The sentence throws Alfie, because he forgets. He forgets that everything Isaac is struggling with is exactly the same as what Bach was raised in. Because Bach is an adult and free of it, and Alfie doesn’t feel the need to protect in quite the same way he does with Isaac. If only because Bach always seemed like he knew what he wanted to be doing whilst Alfie’s still in the ‘how do I as an adult do this?’ stage of life.

It’s weird because Alfie is used to Elsie muttering about how their parents tried to screw them up with all the overly zealous ‘religious crap’. But he’s always understood that his mother and father genuinely thought and still think that those things would give them the best in life. That by cutting him out of their lives he will change and safe himself. Doesn’t make it any easier really, but it isn’t like Bach’s Mom seeing dollar signs and thinking about herself first.

An urge to hug both Bach and Isaac briefly overwhelms him but he quashes it with an awkward small smile. Still at work.

Isaac releases his hand and it’s both a blessing and a stab to the chest. Gerry is a fantastic boss and he keeps making hints of promoting Alfie. But he wouldn’t be impressed by Alfie disappearing into the party whilst meant to be on greeting duty. “My break is in…” he glances down at the watch on his wrist, “Just over 40 minutes. And then I’ve got a little while til I’m back on. So I can find you both inside?” The question is directed at Bach, considering he might not actually want Alfie latching on to their evening. He might be meeting people inside or something, he genuinely doesn’t know.

“I’m sure you’re really first pick. But grass always seems greener and all.”

[bachjones]

"I don't know, man. He started yelling 'papa' when he saw Robert Flynn, like a little dog finding its owner. I'm sure that's something my mother did somehow. If I wasn't so sure, I'd call the b- I'd call her a witch for the things she did and does and still gets out alive all the time."

Isaac puts his head on his shoulder and his arms around his neck, humming the little lullaby he picks when he's comfortable, even though Bach isn't.

"I'm sure we can entertain ourselves for a while. It's a new place, new people, new toys, no doubt ..it's fine. And hey, there's this thing at twelve o'clock so no matter what, I'll see you there, right? Need to get my money out this."

[alfiehaywood]

“Robert Flynn?” It takes Alfie a second - he didn’t really know Robert in any sense other than perhaps seeing his name in The Cove before. It’s only when his mind connects the degrees of separation and it clicks who he is, “Oh right your… yeah. Sorry. Maybe it’s a genetic thing that he’s sensitive to? Or if he’s particularly sensitive to songs?” Alfie might have done some reading on Sirens. But he was still in no way an expert on the subject. Still, he offers a sympathetic smile when Bach starts talking about his mother.

Isaac starts humming, and whilst Alfie can’t really hear it clearly enough to work out what it is, it’s a nice tune. He can see why Isaac likes it. It brings up a whole new question about how many nursery rhymes he has been exposed to. Maybe he’ll have to get a cheap disk player and some CDs…

Either way, keeping his mind on topic he nods in reply to the question. “Yeah, don’t worry I think everyone will be there for that. Staff included. Because people have all those New Year’s Eve traditions like shaking hands or kissing their spouses and stuff, so Gerry wouldn’t want to stop that. Either way, I’ll be around.”

[bachjones]

"Yes, my uh. He wants to help with paper work and legal things and maybe even money. That's the least I'm going to accept from him, especially because he's not really good with the family thing."

Is that a snore coming from Isaac? "But he knows things I don't. And it's super obvious that songs are his things as well, that's how I recognized him first, knew that my mother wasn't lying about him being mine. You can't fake your own song like that."

"Maybe I can shake a lot of hands", he winks. "That's probably going to be all of the actions I'm going to get."

[alfiehaywood]

“I guess he’s… trying to help? But obviously it’s your call on how much or how little he’s involved.” Alfie didn’t want to really offer any opinion on Bach’s Dad. He didn’t know how he’d feel if there was a man suddenly show up as a father figure when he’d never had one. He’d possibly punch his own Dad in the face if he suddenly showed up now – but then maybe he wouldn’t. A bit of a soft touch when it came to family after all.

Well, that saves on a wait for a paternity test. Maybe Sirens should start a business matching people by their songs. It’s again that he finds himself forever curious what exactly his own song sounds like. It could be a horrible sound that no one in the Siren community can be around as far as he’s concerned. Maybe he should see if there is a Siren working at the lodge who can tell him. “Guess after the shock it must be sort of comforting. Having something you can share even when you’re not right next to each other.” Obviously he could be wrong, but he thinks it sounds reassuring. And Isaac looks adorable all curled up with his head pressed again Bach’s shoulder. He’s probably doing that fond smiling again, which he really needs to stop doing.

“Like you couldn’t find someone if you wanted to.” Alfie replied with a slight shake of the head and a resolute stance not to acknowledge the wink at all.

[bachjones]

"I'm just going to wait it out, you know? Our first meeting wasn't like fireworks and teary hugs, just him admitting that he didn't know about me."

He feels Isaac grow heavier on his back and carefully shakes his head. "I think my plans changed. He's sleeping, isn't he?"

"I don't know, man. I'm just so used to it, you know? Almost everyone sounds like something and it almost hurt when that was gone for a second. But yeah maybe, maybe it's like something binding is together. But don't tell Lara I told you that."

Bach rolls his eyes. "I've got a kid with me, Alfie."

[alfiehaywood]

“Yeah… well not everything can be happy sailing with families even at happy times. My older Uncle punched my Dad in the face over flowers for his daughter’s wedding once. And they’re real close.” Looking back is was hilarious but at the time it’d been like some ridiculous scene out of Dallas. Thankfully it wasn’t at the Wedding or even the same day, but they’d not been on speaking terms for a few weeks afterward.

Taking once further glance at Isaac’s face, he nodded his head, “Completely knocked out. You alright holding him like that?”

He can’t help a small laugh at that, “As I said, I don’t know Lara so I’m in no rush to go rooting her out to spread anything. But I guess you’re right, it’s just what you’re used to. If I suddenly started hearing sounds all the time it’d probably freak me the hell out.” Swearing probably wouldn’t matter whilst Isaac was asleep, but knowing his luck the little boy would probably wake up just in time for swears.

“I would argue some would find that endearing,” he began, “But I’m just saying if there was someone. I could watch Isaac.”

[bachjones]

"Flowers? How do you fight over wedding flowers, were they dead or something?"

Bach feels behind him until he found Isaac's legs and pulls them forward, making the weight a bit more comfortable. A small part of him is freaking out the entire way, because how can he somehow be used of this already, why can't he drop the kid and run, or at least find the kid's mom and tell her that no matter how fucked up or afraid she is, Isaac's better off with her.
But she was the first to dump him. Bach's mother was the second. Bach can't be the third.

"Most of the people I know don't even know I'm back, Alf. And thanks for offering, but I don't know what's going to happen when he wakes up and I'm gone, you know? I mean, even at our house he wakes crying when I'm out of the bed for a piss. I don't want that, and I'm pretty sure you don't want that either."

[alfiehaywood]

“Wish I could say it was something as logical as that. Cut a very long story short, my cousin Brittany married into some serious money.” Really, if all else failed in Alfie’s life he could at least write a biography about his family. It’d probably sell well. “My Uncle thought my Dad was trying to sabotage the wedding because the groom had dated my sister for a few months in High School. But basically she wanted white roses and they ended up with the normal red kind which ‘ruined the colour scheme’. Stupid as hell right?”

Alfie nods because he’s not trying to force the point. He just is very aware that Bach got thrown in at the deep end and he doesn’t want either Isaac or Bach to burn out too quickly from all the sudden changes. Considering Bach didn’t exactly have a great deal of specific responsibilities beforehand.

Either way, Isaac’s behaviour whilst a little unusual, doesn’t seem that shocking considering. “He’s probably forming an attachment.” Alfie suggested. He’s sure he covered this in High School or possibly just read it at college once. “Babies do this whole thing when they’re forming attachments to parents and one stage is that they rely a lot on one particular person and don’t like strangers. Maybe he’s just forming a secure attachment a little later in life. Or y’know it’s a big thing moving and everything being new. Might be a little overwhelmed.”

[bachjones]

".. I guess family isn't everything either. Yes, that sounds stupid enough."

"That would be nice." And the worst thing is that Bach means it, that he wants to be loved on some primal level, without having to make sure what he says or does or thinks is completely okay for the other person. For such a very long time he only recognized himself by the people around him, and 'father' is definitely something new. But it's different with Isaac. Isaac demands attention, but only because he has been missing so much of it. There are no deeper plans, no plans to trap Bach for anything.

"It's been like only three weeks, so you're probably right. I guess I should really start looking up those parenting books, right? To make sure I don't make super bad mistakes?"

[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."