Dayton

Chapter 35

By 5 p.m. the next day, the entire family is at our home, including Orion's grandma, and my baby niece Arwen. My niece's full name is Arwen Maree Valentino, and she looks almost identical to Arabella except she has Dakota's hair color.

"Hi uncle Dakota," Orion murmurs in greeting because he has noticed that Arwen is sleeping in Dakota's arms as the boy sits down on the couch next to his uncle.

"Hey Orion, how are you?" Dakota murmurs with a smile.

"I am good, how are you?" he answers, and I am loving the interaction and bond Orion has with the family after the last six months of him being around us on weekends, and Orion tells him that he is good, too.

"O?" Darien asks Orion, tapping the older boy gently on his left leg.

"Yes, D?" Orion sweetly answers with an equally sweet smile towards his little brother.

"Pway, p'ease?" Darien requests, pointing at the toy box that is in the corner of the room.

"Sure," Orion agrees, and that is exactly what they do until dinner is ready an hour later.

"Are you looking forward to starting school next week?" Arabella asks Orion during dinner.

He looks between Ajax and me with a horrified expression; "Do I have to change schools? I do not want to leave my friends! Please do not make me move to a new school!"

"Hey, hey, it is okay, bub," I quickly reassure, trying to calm him as I stand from my chair to squat down in front of him. "No, you will not be leaving your school, or your friends. I promise you are not moving schools. We live in your school district, okay?"

Orion stares at me for several, silent seconds before slowly nodding; "You promise, right, dada?"

Swallowing down the sudden tears at him calling me 'dada' as I nod at him with a bright smile; "I promise, Orion, and thank you for calling me dada."

He gives me a toothy smile as he leans forward quickly to wrap his arms around my neck to give me a hug which I return instantly with my arms around his waist.

"You are one of the three best people who are in my life," I murmur into his right ear with a soft smile. "You know I love you, right?"

Orion lowly hums as he sniffles against my neck as he mumbles against my skin; "I know, and I love you, too."

"Now that we have that settled, let's continue to eat, okay?" I wetly chuckle as we pull apart, and I stand to move back to my seat.

Ajax catches my gaze, and he gives me a warm smile that I instantly return. I feel a little guilty that Orion has not called Ajax papa, or anything like that yet. I am sure Orion will do this when he is ready to do so, and I know Ajax and I will never force this topic with Orion either. I wonder if this is a typical, or 'normal' child behavior with the child being closer to one parent over the other, or is it not?

Hours later after my family have gone home, and both boys are asleep in their rooms, Ajax and I are cuddled together in our bed while we watch a movie when I am surprised by Ajax's question because he has been quiet during the movie thus far.

"Do you think Orion does not like me?" he murmurs, and I lift my head off his shoulder to look at him in surprise.

"What? What makes you think this? Has Orion said something to you about this?" I curiously asks while searching his face and eyes for signs of how he is feeling.

"No, he has not mentioned that he does not like me, or anything like that," he murmurs with a frown. "I think this is because he called you 'dada' earlier at dinner, and he has yet to call me papa. I just am wondering if he does not like me because he seems to like you better, and seems more attached to you than me. I am not complaining that he likes you better because I think every kid has a parent they like better over the other parent."

Frowning at him as I gently kiss his lips before saying; "You are right, I think it is normal like you said for kids to be closer to one parent over the other. But they still love both parents. Please give him time, and I am sure he will call you papa sooner rather than later."

He lets out a soft sigh as he kisses my forehead; "Thank you, baby. I promise I will not let this deter me from being the best dad I can be to him and Darien until the end of my days. I also promise I will not force this on him either."

"I know, baby," I murmur, giving him a gentle smile as I continue to caress his cheek with my thumb. "You are an amazing person and dad to our boys."

"Thank you, love, I think I needed to hear that right now," he whispers with a tiny smile in appreciation.

"Anytime, and I will always be here to remind you, baby," I assure him while giving him another soft smile and kiss before we settle back in our spots to continue watching the movie.

I guess my thought from earlier was correct, and I hate that I was right, but I will trust that Orion and Ajax will eventually become closer, and be completely comfortable with each other. I have no intentions of stepping into this topic, unless it becomes necessary.

"Hey, I got a serious question for you, and I want you to be absolutely honest with me, okay?" I ask, horrified of what his answer might be.

"Of course I will be honest with you, Day," he answers with a serious tone.

Swallowing quickly before asking my question; "Did I push you into adopting Orion, or the adoption process entirely?"

He moves my face slightly back to frown down at me; "No baby, I promise you did not push me into any of this. I wanted to do this, and I regret nothing."

"Okay," I murmur, believing his answer. "Thank you for your honesty."

"Always, baby," he murmurs, kissing my forehead.