The horizon and the balcony

Chapter twenty-one

The next day went smoothly, It was Lafayette and Hercules day off. Alexander walked into the living room and pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. He was dressed rather smart for the usual business casual of his workplace.

Lafayette raised an eyebrow as they bounced John on their lap.

"You look handsome"They said. He was wearing a long sleeved black turtle neck tucked into a pair of grey plaid trousers tapered at the ankle. On top he wore a long black blazer paired with his nice oxfords.

"What is the occasion mon amour?"They asked. Alexander leaned down and pressed a hasty kiss to their cheek.

"I've got a lunch meeting with Washington today, rumor has it he's been generous with promotions lately"He said wiggling his eyebrows with a dopey grin on his face.

"Well I wish you the best, you should get going"They said. Alex shook his head and sat on the couch grabbing John and pulling him onto his lap.

"I've got some time, I need a snuggle from my little man first"He said. John smiled and reached up batting around Alex's ponytail.

"G'mornin papa"he mumbled.

"G'mornin to you too"he teased and ruffled up the littles hair. John squealed and pressed his face closer against Alex's chest.

"Has he eaten anything yet?"Alex asked.

"Not anything solid but I did convince him to take a bottle of almond milk"They said.

Alex nodded and checked the time placing a kiss on John's temple.

"I've gotta go, I should be back before dark"He said sliding out from underneath John. John furrowed his brows and reached for Alexander.

"John go too!"he insisted and slid off the couch grabbing Alex's hand. Alex sighed and shook his head gently.

"I'm sorry baby but you gotta stay here today, you get Doudou and Dada but papa's gotta go to work"he said slowly giving John a second to process every single word.

"Papa don't love me?"John croaked. Alex's eyes widened in bewilderment as to where he got a notion like that before he remembered. Abandonment issues. Alexander stroked his cheek and shook his head rapidly.

"No no no my dear boy, papa loves you so much"he said gently.

John sniffled and rubbed at his eyes whimpering sadly, he looked like a kicked puppy but he was listening.

"Papa wouldn't lie to you about where he's going, I'll be back super soon I promise"he finished and held out his pinky for John.

"O-okay..."John said warily and linked their pinky's. John wrapped his arms around Alexander and hugged him tightly savoring every single moment.

Alex held him for a few moments before pulling away and placing a kiss on his forehead.

"You be good for dada and doudou and I'll bring you back a treat, how does that sound?"he said. John perked up and it's like the reason for his tears were forgotten.

"I be good!"he shouted and jumped back on the couch. Alex chuckled fondly and shook his head, pretty soon they would have to teach John the concept of an inside voice but not yet.

Lafayette stood up and cupped Alexander's cheeks placing a lingering kiss on their partner's lips.

"Thank you for putting out that fire Alexander"They whispered. Alex grinned and stroked their arm.

"That's what I'm here for babe, tell Hercy I said good morning when he wakes up. I'll see you later"he said and with that he was out the door.

Lafayette grinned and bit their lip flopping back down on the couch.

"So mon petit bébé, what do you want to do today!"Lafayette exclaimed trying to keep the energy high, anything to keep their darling boy happy.

John shrugged and laid against the fluffy pillows.

"We could watch a movie? Or color? Or bake?"They suggested. John passively waved a hand and sucked on his fingers. Lafayette rolled their eyes, what a diva.

"Maybe you would like someone else your age to play with, hm?"They asked. John perked up in his spot and crawled closer to Lafayette intrigued.

"I know a girl about your age who loves play dates"They said. John nodded and listened closer.

"Her name is Peggy, I think you may have met once or twice when you were a big boy"They said and pulled out their phone showing him a picture.

"Peg!"John cried out in realization.

Lafayette chuckled.

"Yeah peg, would you like me to set something up for later mon petit?"They asked. John nodded his head rapidly and pounced on Lafayette's lap.

"Yes yes pease pease je veux doudou je veux!"He pleaded clasping his hands together and giving puppy dog eyes jutting out his bottom lip. Lafayette wasn't sure what made them more soft, his baby talk in French or his pouty little face.

"Of course my darling, there is no need to beg"They said.

"What's with all the shouting at 9:00am?"Hercules croaked staggering down the hallway.

"I play date!"John cheered and stood up running up to Hercules and lifting his arms up bouncing on his heels.

"You...what?"he said in confusion scooping the boy up in his arms.

"I may or may not be setting up a play date for him today"Lafayette said looking up from their phone reading Hercules face carefully.

"So we'll be in charge of two littles?"Hercules said raising an eyebrow. Lafayette didn't answer looking down at their phone for a few moments.

"Um...three?"They squeaked out. Hercules sighed and shook him head slinging John over his shoulder as he walked into the kitchen.

"The more the merrier"he said finally.

"Thank you mon amour and be careful with him! He is not a sack of flour"Lafayette scolded.

"If we're going to be having two other littles here this afternoon I'll toss him around however I want"he grumbled.

John giggled and clapped his hands.

"Again!"he squealed.

Lafayette put their worries aside and smiled as he watched Hercules put John down and toss him over his shoulder again.

"And trust me sacks of flour are heavier, before I was a tailors apprentice I was a bakers"he said with a wink.

John soon whined and started to squirm which was a clear indication that he wanted to be put down. Hercules put him down and watched as John crawled to the linen closet pulling out a blanket. He crawled back to the living room and rolled onto the carpet covering himself with the blanket.

"G'night!"He said and closed his eyes. Lafayette and Hercules looked at each other in bemusement.

"Goodnight?"Hercules said checking the clock. 9:07am

"What time did he get up this morning?"he asked.

"As soon as he realized Alexander wasn't in bed so I would say about 5:00am"Lafayette said. Hercules nodded in understanding and watched as John curled up sucking on his fingers.

"Do you think we should move him to the bed? At least give him a pillow?"Lafayette said in mild concern.

Hercules chuckled and stole another glance at John who was fast asleep.

"Nah, I think he's good"

🌼translations🌼
mon petit bébé-my little baby
je veux-I want