The Dispatcher and the Cop

Chapter 5

"What are everyone's plans for the weekend, and the upcoming week?" nana asks as we sit around the table to eat.

"Nothing much really, I'm just gonna relax this weekend, and then work during the week," Blaze answers with a shrug of his broad shoulders.

"Um, the boys and I are having dinner Tuesday evening with a co-worker and his family," I admit nervously.

"Oh, how nice! nana happily replies with a grin. "I didn't know you made a friend at work, Adrian?"

Shrugging my shoulders, I nervously say; "He isn't really my friend, nana. I went to lunch with him and son yesterday."

"Oh, then why don't you seem excited about this since it sounds like you're becoming friends?" nana curiously asks as I hand Addy his bottle filled with milk, and Andy his sippy cup filled with milk.

Shrugging my shoulders as I reply in a low voice; "Mr. Storm and his son were silent, and had blank expressions on thier faces when I admitted I am a male carrier."

"Did you give them a chance to explain themselves before you put your walls up and running?" Blaze gently questions - ah, yes, how he knows me so well.

"No, I went to the bahtroom to cry and collect myself, got a to-go container, paid my share of the bill and tip, and went back to work to eat alone at my station," I softly admit with my entire body flushed in embarressment. "Mr. Storm was insistant yesterday at workto have dinner with him and his family as an apology, and to explain something to me, too."

"Adrian, it's okay to let people inside your walls, and not think the worst of everyone around you," nana softly scolds. "You can't expect everyone to react like your parentes did."

"I know, nana, but it's hard not to worry that people will react simarly as they did," I murmur tearfully.

"Papa, you k?" Andrew asks with a sad expression as he stops eating to look at me worridly.

"I'm okay, baby, thank you," I instantly answer, reaching over to swipe his fluffy blond hair off his forehead with a soft smile.

He is sittiong on his booster seat next to me while Addy is in his highschair between nana and me.

Miles P.O.V. - Tuesday, 5:55 p.m.

"When are they supposed to be here?" I ask papa again for probably the tenth time in the last five minutes that we have been seated at the cafe.

We are seated at two tables that have been placed together to hold eight people, located near the entrance. Two of the chairs have been removed, and replaced with highchairs for Adrian's boys.

"They are supposed to be here at 6 p.m.," papa says again with an eye roll as daddy and Mylo snicker behind their hands at me.

Frowning at them, I turn my attention to the door when the bell above it dings. I instantly smile as Adrian enters carrying a small boy with an older boy holding onto his left pant leg of his dark blue jeans. Once they are clear of the door, Adrian olds the older boys' hand as Adrian's eyes search the customers for us.

When he notices us, he walks them over to us with a tentative smile. The older boy, Andrew I think whimpers when he notices the four of us are starrting at them. Adrian steps them off to the side where he squats down to say something softly to his son with a reassuring smile. The boy smiles widely at his father, who picks him up to settle him on his hip before he walks them back over to us.

"Hi Adrian, and boys," papa warmly greets before introducing daddy and Mylo to him. "This is my husband Markus, and our youngest son, Mylo."

"Nice to meet you both," Adrian nervously replies as his eyes hold fear for a second as he looks at daddy - different.

"Um, this is Andrew, and Addison," Adrian introduces his children as he points to each child as he says their name with his head.

"Hi Andrew, hi Addison," we greet warmly, and Andrew digs his head into Adrian's neck with a small whimper as Addison gives us a toothy grin.

"Sorry, Andy is a little shy until he is used to new people," Adrian explains as he places a kiss on Andrew's right temple before he places the boys in the highchairs.

"It's understandable and fine," I reply with an encouraging smile.

"Andy, his name is Andrew, too," Adrian tells his son with a smile as he motions toward papa with his head.

"Weally, papa?" Andrew asks with wide eyes as he turns his wide blue eyes that are almost idential to Adrian's to my papa.

"Really, Andy," Adrian promises with a huge grin at his son.

"You Andy, too?" little Andrew asks papa with wide, curious eyes.

"Yup, I'm Andy, too," papa confirms with a grin and a wink causing the little boy to giggle loudly.

Little Andrew asks papa to color with him on the paper children's menu placemate which papa does happily, and I notice Adrian relax slightly. While we eat, papa decides to tell Adrian why he and I reacted like we did to his news last Thursday.

"Um, so the reason Miles and I were shocked into silence at your being a male carrier," papa starts off, gaining Adrian's full attention. "I am a male carrier, too, and Markus and I are Miles and Mylo's biological parents, and you know how rare it is to meet another male carrier."

Papa kept his voice gentle and honest as he stares intently into Adrian's pretty blue eyes to let him know the truth behind his words, and how sorry he is for being quietly shocked the other day. Adrian's jaw drops in shock while he stares at papa with wide, tearfilled eyes as if he is battling himself in how to answer papa's statement. I can see haunted memories flashing through his beautiful eyes, and hopefully he doesn't panic.