[Have Plenty]

Have Growth

The last three months had probably been their most difficult to come. With Florian having to leave the state for a six week work obligation, and Delaney going back to work only days after he returned, they barely had time to spend quality time with each other, aside from the brief phone calls and text messages.

Alex never missed a moment though. He called Florian every night and Florian answered every time. He'd tell him about his day and other miscellaneous topics that only they cared for before Alex would fall asleep. Sometimes, Florian would stay on the phone just a little longer to hear his light snoring. He wasn't shy about telling Alex he missed him, just as he told Delaney. He loved him and the first time he said it, Alex's eye lit up like a Christmas tree. Now, Alex never let Florian and Delaney go anywhere without telling them or them telling him. He was love drunk and that was perfectly acceptable.

Despite the small victories, the Munteanus were in desperate need of a family day. For the first Saturday in a long time, Delaney and Florian both had the day off in the same location so they decided to go the beach. It'd be a first for Mateo(naturally) but for Alex as well.

Delaney, being the sentimental parent she was, sat on her large beach towel, shielded by her large blue umbrella– with Mateo in her lap as she recorded her husband and oldest son running up and down the beach then running to shore, close enough to get their toes wet in the ocean.

They had matching red swim trunks; a given being that Alex liked Florian's style. Delaney knew he'd flip out when Florian gave him a gold chain to match his for Christmas.

"You want to learn how to swim?" Florian asked, as they both let the water splash up and cover their feet.

Alex hesitated, looking out at the water to see how far it went. He wasn't exactly a fan of large bodies of water. He'd never been around something so vast and he was leery about the unknown.

Florian placed his hand on Alex's shoulder.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you, I promise. I gotchu." He guaranteed.

Alex was still nervous but he nodded anyway.

"Here. We'll do it like this." Florian picked Alex up, keeping him close to his side as he started walk further into the water. Alex held onto Florian for dear life as the water rose from his knees to his waist. Luckily, Florian stopped, letting them both wade in the calm waves for a moment.

"You ready? You have to let go of my neck." Florian chuckled.

"I'm not going to let you drown. Do you trust me?"

Alex's response was loosening his grip on Florian and cautiously moving away from him, while Florian held him under his arms.

"Ok. I'm going to put you on your back." He did so and just barley supported Alex from underneath as his light body floated on the water.

"Relax. Just float. Go with the wave."

Florian smiled, watching Alex's body give in, limb by limb before he closed his eyes. His large hands no longer shadowed under Alex.

"You're floating by yourself, man." He said proudly as he circled him.

"I can hear the water. Is that normal?" Alex asked turning his head to one side to give his left ear some relief.

"Yeah, it's fine." Florian chortled.

Delaney was back on the shore, an emotional mess as she watched the moment from a zoomed in camera lens.

"Ugh, this some cute shit." She sniffled, wiping tears from her cheeks. "Damn these hormones." She shook her head, looking down at Mateo who seemed completely over the beach– pouting and balled up in his carrier.