The Baby Favor

5.

"Would you like dessert?"

Jason looked at him and shook his head

"Not only am I full enough to burst, but this one is about to pass out in high chair."

They both glanced over at Luna, her eyes were getting heavy and she was weaving steadily in her seat. It was a late night for her. Dinner had been nice, but it hadn't been a fast process. He hadn't really considered that when he chose this place. They'd never attempted to come here as a family before with Elijah, so it hadn't really been a factor he'd consider. Thankfully, Luna hadn't fussed once. She was happy in her chair with a bottle, some finger nibbles and her favorite stuffed bunny.

"I bet she's going to be asleep before we leave the parking lot," he said," if she last that long."

Micheal paid the tab and, when they were ready, lifted Luna up out of her high chair. She curled against his chest, resting her head on his shoulder. On instinct, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. She had the baby smell he remembered from giving Evan baths-a distinct mix of milk and baby shampoo.

It reminded him that he hadn't really spent that much time caring for Luna. Carroll was doing most of the work, with Jason filling in for her while she was sick. Thank goodness Jason had stepped up. A nanny was nice, but they couldn't be there every second, as this bout of flu has proven. Jason had been the one to take on most of Elijah's care while he worked long hours expanding his business into Chicago. He didn't know a thing about babies, really. He didn't know what he would've done without him.

Hopefully, Carroll would continue on with him once they moved out to his lance in the Hills, but he would need to work on a secondary backup option, as well. Jason wouldn't always be there to bail him out. He might be doing okay with a happy, sleepy baby, but a cranky one, a fussy one, or basically any other ailment that caused a baby to scream or spew fluids....he'd be thoroughly clueless.

He stopped just as they reached the front door and found Jason watching him with a curious look on his face.

"What?" He asked," is she drooling on my lapel?"

"No, your suit coat is fine. You two just look sweet together. She's so comfortable there that she's already fallen asleep in your arms," Jason said as he propped open the door and they stepped outside the restaurant

"I always had a way with the ladies."

"You put them to sleep?" Jason asked with a grin

"Pretty much" Micheal answered making Jason laugh and shake his head. "But you on the other hand away though, so I married you."

"So that was the determining factor huh? I though it was my sparkling personality."

Jason opened the door so Michael could place Luna in her car seat. Micheal shut the door and turned to look at him. Jason was leaning against the driver's side door with his arms crossed surveying him. His wavy hair was lose aprons his shoulders, and the button up showing his neck due to the top buttons left undone. For some reason, he looked younger tonight. More like the boy he'd fallen in love with at the beach. That Jason never looked at hijo with disappointment in his eyes the way his husband Jason did.

It took everything he had not to reach out and touch him. He wanted to brush a strand of dark hair from his eyes, run his fingertips downs his arm and kiss him against the side of his Range Rover. His brain couldn't seem to convince his body that Jason wasn't his anymore.

"Your sparking personality certainly helped," he leaned into him, bracing his hans in the roof of the car," So did the fact that you were beautiful, talented, smart and yet stupid enough to be attracted to me. I had to jump on that before some other guy snatched you up."