The horizon and the balcony

Chapter thirteen

John had adapted to little life almost immediately. Once they got home he immediately kicked off his shoes and plopped down on the living room carpet.

"I have my toy now?"he asked softly and crawled up to Hercules sitting at his feet. Hercules smiled and inwardly groaned at the twenty dollars he had lost. He bent down and picked John on sitting him on his hip.

"How about we get you in some more age appropriate clothes first? I don't think little boys like you wear button downs and jeans"he said. John giggled and shook his head dangling his feet.

Alexander helped Lafayette bring the bags in and took a seat on the couch watching the exchange go down. He wanted in on it bad but he didn't want to take the attention away from John, John needed this attention more than anybody.

"You know you can join in Alexander, there's two of us to take care of you two"Lafayette whispered in his ear. Alex nodded and closed his eyes taking a deep breath, he's been hiding this for so long it's like he's almost forgotten how to let go.

"Do you need some help regressing mon petit?"Lafayette asked rubbing his shoulder. Alex nodded shyly and was immediately pulled into Laf's lap, more or less so cradled against them then anything.

"What is your little age my sweet?"They asked rubbing his back.

"I...um...I think infant to like two or somethin like that"he mumbled.

"So that means you use bottles and pacifiers?"They asked.

"Mhm"he said.

Lafayette laid Alex back on the couch much to his confusion and kneeled down.

"Hop on"They said.

Alex climbed on and squealed in surprise as he was lifted with ease.

Lafayette chuckled and went into the kitchen pulling out a Mickey Mouse baby bottle from the target bag and held it up for Alex to see.

"Do you like?"They asked.

"I love!"Alex squealed.

"Good, it'll do for now until we can get you an adult one"They said. Alex tilted his head, they made bottles for adults?

Lafayette quickly washed and rinsed the bottle pouring in vanilla almond milk.

"Let's go back to the couch and I'll play you some cartoons"They said Alex nodded happily and rested his chin atop Lafayette's curls.

Hercules soon came out of the bedroom with John who was dressed in a blue striped shirt and overalls.

"Baby!"John squealed and pointed. Hercules followed his finger and smiled placing John on the ground with his toy car.

"It seems like our other little one has come out to play?"He said and took a seat on the couch.

Lafayette nodded and held the nipple up to Alex's lips who immediately latched on and sucked hungrily.

"Good job"Lafayette praised quietly and stroked his cheek. Alex balled up his fists and rubbed his eyes as he looked up at the now three men staring down at him.

"I like the baby!"John exclaimed happily and reached out to poke Alex's cheek. Alex scrunched up his face and curled up closer into Lafayette's chest.

"The baby doesn't like me..."John said his bottom lip starting to wobble.

"No no no it's okay, Alex is just a little sleepy"Hercules said.

"He sleepy?"John repeated.

"Yeah, I'm sure he'll wanna play more after he takes a nap"He said.

"Okay!"John said and crawled back to the carpet rolling the wooden car around.

"But we gotta remember to use or indoor voices okay?"he said. John nodded and mumbled under his breath as he crawled out of the living room rolling the car down the hallway.

"Good job putting out that fire Herc"Lafayette said.

Hercules smiled and shrugged bashfully.

"It's seems as though John and I have a certain understanding now"he said.

They heard a soft snore and looked down to see Alex fast asleep bunching his fists up in Lafayette's shirt.

"This is so good for them, look at how peaceful he looks"Laf said quietly.

"And look at so happy and carefree John is, I'm so proud of them for trusting us"Hercules said. He leaned over and kissed Lafayette's temple.

"And I'm even more proud of you for knowing exactly what he needed, you're a good caregiver sweetheart"he said.

"What can I say? I learned from the best"They said.

It was nice and peaceful until they heard a crash from the guest room.

"Uh oh!"John's voice cried out.

"Oh no, uh oh is never good"Hercules said and jogged down the hall.

Lafayette ran their hand through Alex's hair and hummed softly.

Just last month the two were constantly breaking down and arguing and now all they could hear from down the was John completely disregarding being reprimanded and saying how much he loved the baby.

"Yeah, this is definitely good for you two"