Under his protection

Friends??

*Daniel*

Daddy has been babying me since yesterday, I can't even complain because it makes me feel so small.

Max and me haven't talked much since he got back, he tried but daddy said I was only little so I couldn't talk back which was true. I like being his little baby right now so I won't disagree.

"For fuck sake, MAXXXX" Lauren calls out as she picks up the remains of a clock max had broken only 10 minutes ago. He slowly walks in with his head faced down shyly. "Did you break this clock Maxwell" Lauren says through gritted teeth.

"Maybe?" Max shrugs with a cheeky smile. Lauren sighs and points to the stairs which he goes and sits on the bottom step which is the naughty step for him.

"That boy I swear" Lauren mumbles but im not listening to her, I'm reaching for the shiny glass because it looks fun. I whine as I'm lifted away from it... "Glass is not for playing Cutie. Let's get you some toys" Lauren smiles as she carries me away from the glass.

Which isn't fair, I just want to okay with it and it's probably not that dangerous... She puts me down and goes to get me some toys so I of course take this as a chance to go back and find the pretty glass to play with. I pick it up and it cuts my hand. I let out a loud whine then a cry, it really hurts. I shouldn't have touched the glass...

Dada comes running downstairs and swoops me up in his arms looking at my wound. "Poor baby, let's get a look at your nasty cut" he takes my hand and looks closely. I get sat down on the kitchen counter and he takes out some medical things. "This is going to hurt a little bit but you need to do it so that your cut doesn't get icky okay" I nod gently.

He starts with taking the small bits of glass from my hand which only hurt a little. I cried when he had to clean it with an alcoholic wipe, he had to hold my arm because I kept moving. I get a bandage put on my hand and I got a sticker. Dada said I was super brave and I even got to eat a whole chocolate bar.

"I'm sorry you got hurt Danny" Max shyly apologizes, you can see the tear marks on his face. Max has a hard exterior but like me he is just a lost little boy inside...

"Max. Friend" I hug his neck tightly. He gently hugs me back.

"Max your timeouts not finished" Lauren calls out but I don't let max go. Max tries to break free of my hold but I won't let him go. Lauren comes in and smiles gently at us both. "Max honey if you have said sorry you can come out of timeout now" he nods and climbs onto the couch next to me. 

"Danny are we friends? Are we really?" He sounds sad slightly I nod my head.

"Friend" He smiled at me and we watched TV together. As the day goes on I start feeling a bit bigger so daddy let's me play with Max. "How about we colour. Then your mommy and my daddy will have pretty drawings"

"She isn't my mommy but fine" Max reluctantly sits in the colourful chair at my play table. Daddy had lots of stuff brought to his apartment even though we are only here for a few more days. I draw a picture with me and Papa and Daddy. I also drew us with a million doggies because I LOVE dogs.

"DANIEL DO YOU WANT TO TALK TO PAPA ON THE PHONE" Daddy calls out. I feel bad leaving max but I really want to talk to papa.

"Hey bud, how's new York with daddy" Papa sounds tired..

"New York is so big papa with lots of light and food and it's so cool but I miss you heaps and heaps"

"Slow down there bud, you can tell me more when you get back home. Do you want to stay in new york?"

"I want to stay with Daddy" I giggle as daddy strokes my hair. Papa chuckles too.

"You really are a daddies boy aren't you. Well I miss you lots buddy, stay safe okay. Love you"

"I love you too papa, miss you buh byeeee" I hand the phone to daddy and run back to Max who was still quietly colouring where I left him. "Max what are you drawing" I ask as I look over his shoulder. It has two stick figures and one of them looks like me.

"It's me and you look, that's me and that's you" he points them out. I hug him.

"I love it, I can ask daddy to copy it so I can have one and you can have one" I say with a wide smile. Max writes something on the top and shows me. "B-best f-f-friends... Best friends" I read it with a smile, he wants to be my best friend...

"Can we be best friends Danny" Max asks me shyly.

"Yes, best friends forever And ever" Max smiles at me. Daddy photocopies the pictures while we eat lunch then he puts them in frames do we could have 1 each. Daddy takes me upstairs for my afternoon nap and he puts the picture on the bedside table before laying me down to change my diaper. "Daddy, me and Max are best friends now did you know that" I yawn softly.

"Wow sweet pea that's so cool. Let's get your comfy clothes on and you can lay with daddy for a nap" Daddy says in a soft tone as he changes my diaper and clothes.

"Daddy, I don't want a nap. I'm a big boy. Big boys don't have naps" I whine as he changes me.

"Why don't you just lay down then and you don't have to nap if you don't want too" Daddy finishes changing me and lays me on his chest. His steady breathing and soft scent of Cologne makes me sleepy and I eventually end up falling fast asleep in daddy's arms.