The Stone Knight (gay)✔️

8. Give and take.

Lucas lay awake for a long time thinking about family and what this meant to him. Madeleine had given him certainty, for now and for later, by adopting him. He was immensely grateful to her for the lifeline she had thrown at him in his hour of need. It was mainly Dylan's behavior that constantly made him doubt the correctness of his decision. With hands and feet tied, he had no choice but to sit out his time. The look Dylan gave him over the breakfast table made him sigh in the realization that it would be a very long year.
"What will you have me do next?" he asked, looking irritated at his watch. "I've got class in ten minutes."
He'd been busy for two hours with all kinds of petty chores. Apparently, Dylan planned to carry his pain not in silence, but to make him part of any discomfort he felt.

"Come to me as soon as your class is over. I have an appointment at Jacob's school and my mother told me that Noah has grown out of his clothes." Visibly laborious, Dylan lifted himself out of his chair. "Natalie donated Jacob's clothes as soon as he grew out them," he said apologetically. "So I thought it would be nice to go shopping for him."
Lucas looked at him through squeezed eyes. "Why are you suddenly so nice to me?" he asked suspiciously.
"Because I chewed him out," Madeleine responded laconically. "It seemed to me that you could help each other today," she patted his hand.
Her sad eyes smothered his protest.
"What's up, Madeleine?" he asked as soon as Dylan had lifted his heels.
"I still have hope that you can bond with Dylan." She raised her hand at Lucas' unspoken protest. "I know he doesn't make it easy for you, but if anyone can empathize with his grief, it's you, Lucas." Her hand was warm on his face. "So please, dear boy. Try to get along a little harder."

He tried to remember these words during the drive to Jacob's school. At a glance it became clear that here the elite went to school. The huge grounds gave way to a variety of buildings. From kindergarten to high school. If everything went as planned, Jacob would spend the next fourteen years here.
The kindergarten was situated in a separate building and despite the strict exterior it was warm and cosy inside. During Dylan's conversation with the headmistress, he looked around the spaces extensively. 'Jacob would definitely have a good time here,' he thought when seeing the extensive wooden blocks collection.

"How much further do we have to go? Dylan asked laboring behind him on crutches through the main mall.
"We're almost there," Lucas pointed to the Baby dump in the distance.
Dylan bit his lower lip to avoid a tantrum. He knew how sensitive Lucas was when it came to money and that he insisted on covering all expenses for Noah. The last thing he wanted was to mess up the good atmosphere. On the one hand because he had promised his mother to accommodate Lucas more and on the other hand because he respected the boy who had turned his life over for his little nephew. He still had to learn that accepting help did not automatically mean loss of face.

He would never admit it, but he enjoyed the casual fun on the face of Lucas looking through endless piles of clothes.
"You're picky," Dylan remarked teasingly, looking into the almost empty basket. "Noah quickly suffers from allergic reactions. He's bad with collars and ridges that rub against his skin. In addition, I don't just put anything on him," he laughed. "That also bothered Jacob when he was a baby," Dylan said looking around the store. "Natalie found a brand that took this into account and liked it."
"Sprout", they said at the same time.
Laughing, Lucas held up a diaper suit. "I'm familiar with the brand."
Dylan laughed back.
"Natalie also used a special cream. It helped great. Jacob doesn't suffer from anything anymore."
Despondently, he kept further remarks to himself. Lucas had set up his defenses again. He didn't interfere with the small pile of clothes that were placed on the checkout counter.

"While we're here, you can help me figure out which winter clothes to buy for Jacob. Normally my mom buys everything, but I have to go to the store to pick up the suit for his birthday party anyway."
Lucas looked at him with his mouth open. "Are you seriously planning to hoist that poor boy in a suit?"
Dylan furrowed his eyebrows. "Don't look at me like I'm mistreating my son by dressing him in tailored clothes!"
"You can dress him up nicely without making him a mini version of you," Lucas said pointing around the store. "Look, a neat pair of pants, a smooth blouse and a nice spencer," he plucked from the racks.
"Not good enough for an event of this magnitude," Dylan shook his head. "Wait here, I'll find someone who can help me."

At the back of the store, he secured himself a spot where he watched Lucas slowly drift to the baby department and discover the Sprout collection. His hands slid longingly over the beautiful winter clothes. He stopped at a winter jacket and visibly pulled away when he saw the price tag.
"Lucas? They have the suit ready at the cash register. Do you want to help me with the rest?" he asked nonchalantly.
Dylan had already given instructions to have the entire winter collection delivered in Noah's size. Now he watched approvingly as Lucas effortlessly picked out clothes for Jacob. At no point did he look at the price tags. Because it was too much to take with them, everything would be delivered the next day.

"Does Jacob already have a bag?", Lucas suddenly stopping looking at a window display.
"He doesn't need that," Dylan replied, continuing on.
"But how would he carry his fruit snack or juice. His cuddle?" Lucas wondered.
There was an apologetic smile hanging around Dylan's lips.
"Everything is taken care of by school and he's getting too big to take his cuddle with him. By the way, the rules clearly state that cuddles are not allowed." "Really?" he absorbed the information with an open mouth.
Lucas couldn't imagine this ridiculous rule and decided he'd come up with something anyway.

Because of his sprained ankle and the persistent bad weather, Dylan decided to work from home the next day. He was immediately screwed when the clothes were delivered. An angry teenager stormed into his office and stopped trembling in anger in front of his desk.
"The only reason it still stands here is because the delivery man had been instructed not to take any returns. Not even on explicit request!" cried Lucas seething.
Dylan touted his lips sparingly and looked at the boy. "Most people say, 'thank you', when they get something," he defiantly remarked.
Green eyes shot fire.
"Okay, sorry," he immediately surrendered. "But think of Noah. He grows so fast and needs the clothes."
Disgruntled, Lucas smacked his lips at each other.
"Now you're just like Madeleine. She always uses the Noah card if she wants me to do something against my will," he impatiently blamed. "Let's see if you like it," he challenged Dylan.
"I'll accept Noah's clothes if Jacob gets to wear the clothes I picked for him on his birthday."
"And if he prefers to wear his suit himself?" asked Dylan.
"My point is that he gets to choose," Lucas clarified.
"If I agree, will you accept the clothes?" said Dylan, happily leaning back.

Lucas bit his lip. "I have another condition. This one is a bit sensitive." He waited for Dylan to nod before moving on. "Since he can't bring his cuddle, I'd ask you to find something that belonged to Natalie together that he can take with him."
Lucas could see his suggestion hit like a bomb.
"How did you come to make such a request?" stammering Dylan, dismayed.
Lucas had thought carefully before he decided to ask the question and was convinced that he was acting in the best interests of young Jacob.
"Jacob is entering a new phase of life and although his mother is not physically present, I think it is important for him to carry a part of her with him."
Dylan felt put in his place as a parent by Lucas' words. "His cuddle was a gift from Natalie," he nodded. "It's appropriate to find something else."

Dylan opened a drawer in his desk. "Here's a key."
Lucas raised his hands. "Isn't this a father-son action?"
Time seemed to stand still as Lucas waited for an answer that didn't come. Maybe that's a little nudge....?
"Then the deal....", he began.
"Can you fucking take my feelings into account?" exclaimed Dylan. With two hands on his desk, he looked at him angrily.
Lucas did not avoid his grey eyes begging for understanding. He tied right in. "Tell me how best to do this."
Green eyes full of endless patience watched Dylan slump in his office chair.
"After Natalie's death, all her belongings were moved to her dressing room. I haven't had the heart to step in." He shook his head. "Please don't ask me to do this now."
Lucas watched the key being pushed over the desk to him.
"How about a compromise? With your permission, I can search for something suitable for Jacob on this occasion. Then you can take him as soon as you're ready." Dylan observed him closely before nodding. "Deal."

The dressing room was adjacent to Dylan's bedroom. Even though he had permission, it still felt like he was trespassing. Dylan had said that all of Natalie's belongings had been brought into her dressing room and he could see that in the bedroom. Every presence of a woman was obliterated. He crossed an exclusively male sleeping room. Everything was new.
At his request, Dylan waited sitting on his bed as he walked into the hallway to the dressing room. He didn't expect Dylan to agree, but rightly noted that he would feel uncomfortable entering his private space without a chaperone.
Lucas walked past Dylan's dressing room followed by a luxurious bathroom to finally come to a stop in front of a closed door.
After a deep sigh, he stuck the key in the keyhole and unlocked the door.