Matt whined and shoved his head further under the pillow. When the monitor squawked again, Matt groaned. Didn't Aidan know he wasn't feeling well?
The answer was no. Not that he cared if Matt spent another night with his friends. The first six months of his twenty-first year were mild if you didn't count Aidan, but now that he was back home and reunited with his old friends, he was making up for it, hard. As hard as one could go when you still had to feed your kid dinner and get him to sleep.
Brad was generous, but Matt still had to do the legwork. Dinner, bath, putting Aidan down for bed. Those were Brad's rules. Matt also had to worry about the mornings.
The Excedrin sat on the nightstand, so close, yet it felt so far away as he peaked out from under the pillow. He painfully reached for them. He just needed a few minutes for it to kick in before Aidan's patience wore out completely.
No dice.
Matt cried as he rolled out of bed and slowly made his way to Aidan like a troll emerging from the shadows of his bridge.
There he was, standing in his crib, trying to break the railing like a baby Hulk. The poor kid had one giant tear hanging from his bottom lash. It was adorable, but not as adorable as the way he perked up when Matt walked in.
"
Mah!
" Aidan called out. His little hands went into the air, waiting for Matt to pick him the fuck up.
"You only love me because you can't do anything yourself."
Aidan didn't argue, just kicked his legs and gibbered away. Aidan's diaper had soaked through his jammies. It was horrendous. Matt didn't think urine had ever smelled so strong. He took a few practiced breaths, not using his nose as he changed his brother. After a quick bath and new clothes, they went to the kitchen for breakfast.
Even Aidan's formula smelled worse than normal. Being hungover with a kid was no joke. Matt wasn't sure it was worth it. It wasn't like he enjoyed the taste anyway. He only wanted to be twenty-one and make memories with his friends.
Him and Aidan usually fought over TV, but Matt would let his brother watch anything if it meant they could lie on the couch in silence. Aidan was content with his show and his bottle. He was a little squirmy for Matt's current condition, but not enough to complain about it.
He sent Seamus a text, just a little something to say '
hi'
and '
give me a call when you're not busy
with work'
, which had been the case lately. Matt had been home for three weeks and they'd seen each other. It just hadn't worked out. They talked every day, though. As much as Matt enjoyed his free time and enjoyed his friends, he
really
missed Seamus. He was homesick for his boyfriend in a bad way. He knew he could go see him any time he wanted, but Seamus had been busy and Matt didn't want to bother him. Which was stupid, of course. He knew Seamus would welcome him any time.
It wasn't until later that day that the decision was made for him.
Matt was showered and feeling better. He'd skipped breakfast but managed a late lunch. Aidan was over the whole
lying low
thing and was pulling himself up on every piece of furniture he could find.
House was playing in the background. Matt was half watching the how and half watching Aidan as he stood by the ottoman, smashing toys together. It was cute. Matt liked listening to Aidan talk gibberish to himself. What the kid was thinking? Typical boy stuff he guessed.
Aidan kept looking back at Matt, making sure he had his big brother's undivided attention. Then he smiled that two-tooth smile that lit up the room and made his blue eyes sparkle. Sometimes, he held up a toy as if explaining to Matt what he was doing. Matt would talk back to him, '
oh really? That's so cool!'
Aidan would get all excited. One time he got so worked up he lost his balance and fell over. At least Matt didn't have to rush over. Aidan could finally pull himself back up.
Aidan kept holding out his toy for Matt to see.
Matt waved him over. "Bring it to me?" he challenged. Aidan smiled. That seemed to placate him and he returned to what he was doing.
When Matt looked at his brother again, the little guy was facing Matt, smiling, and holding two toys. One in each hand.
He wasn't holding anything.
He wasn't leaning against the ottoman for support.
He was standing on his own.
Aidan smiled brightly, took a step, and wobbled. Matt jumped off the couch and snatched Aidan off the floor.
Oh no. No no no no no
, Matt thought.
This can't be happening.
With Aidan safely on his hip and not on the floor walking, he swiped his cellphone off the arm of the couch and called Seamus.
"Hey, sorry, I've been swamped all day with work," Seamus said in a way of greeting.
"No worries. Aidan and I have been lying low today. Being lazy. Watching tv and sleeping."
"You went out again last night, huh?"
Matt laughed. He couldn't hide shit, except Aidan walking. Hopefully he could hide that. "Yeah, we went out. I don't regret it."
"I didn't think you did. What are you two up to? Are you going out again tonight?"
"Actually, I was going to see if you were busy? Maybe you'd like some company? Aidan and I were thinking of going for a drive."
"You'd come visit me?" Seamus asked with definite hope in his voice.
"Aidan's being persistent about it."
"Just Aidan?"
"I called you, didn't I?"
Seamus laughed. "When can you be here?"
"When do you want us?"
"Three weeks ago."
Matt smiled.
Aidan was watching like he knew who Matt was talking to, so Matt put it on speaker. "Tell Seamus what you've been talking about all day."
Aidan said nothing, just looked at Matt like he was an idiot.
"You gonna come see me, Super Thighs?" Seamus said. "You miss me?"
Aidan's eyes widened. He stared at the phone in wonder.
"I miss you," Seamus continued through the speaker. "I bet you're so big now. You better not be walking. Are you walking?"
"Nope," Matt interjected. "Not walking. Not even one step. Isn't that right, Aido?" Matt looked at his brother, who now had a death grip on the phone. Matt laughed. "Keep talking, Seamus."
"We could go out for dinner. What do you think about that? You feel like eating at a restaurant? Getting all the attention from the wait-staff? Or would you rather eat in? We could get pizza for your me and your dad and I'll make you sweet tadas you like so much. Not that jarred crap your big brother feeds you. We can watch a movie and then you can go to bed early."
Matt laughed. "Don't be gross in front of the kid."
Aidan grabbed the phone with both hands. He held the phone in front of his face and watched it with wide eyes.
"When can you guys be here?"
"We could head up in a bit. Be there before dinner."
"Okay, text me when you're leaving and I'll meet you at the loft. Is Aidan still there?"
"Oh yeah, he's waiting for you to manifest out of thin air."
"Oh, poor guy. You come see me, okay? Tell your brother to step on it. I miss you bunches."
They said their goodbyes and Seamus disconnected the call. Aidan wouldn't let Matt pry the phone from his fingers. He was waiting for Seamus to come back. When Aidan realized that wasn't going to happen, he started breathing hard. His blue eyes swelled and his bottom lip quivered, but he never looked away from the phone.
Matt picked him up and hugged him. "Hey Chubs. We're gonna go see Moose right now, okay? I know you must miss him so much."
He managed to send quick text to Seamus and then Matt was packing their stuff. No need to wait. Matt was desperate to see Seamus.
The drive took no time and Aidan perked up as they made their way through the lobby. He knew where they were. The closer they got to the door, the more excited he got. Aidan kept looking around, waiting for Seamus to be there, waiting for him.
"Are you excited to see Moose?"
Aidan started fidgeting in Matt's arms, anxiously kicking his legs. Matt laughed and unlocked the door. The second Aidan saw Seamus walk into the living room, he started crying. Matt couldn't pass him off fast enough for Aidan's liking. With Seamus there, Matt meant nothing. Aidan's entire focus was on his nanny.
While Seamus wrapped Aidan in a big hug and swung him back and forth, Matt stood there, stunned. He didn't realize how much he missed Seamus until he saw him. Watching him reconnect with Aidan, smiling and talking happily, made his chest tight and his stomach tingly. The feeling was foreign and overwhelming. It was a first and he had no idea how to react, so Matt grabbed their bags and put them in the room.
An hour passed. Matt still hadn't gotten the proper hello he was eager for. His fingers itched to touch him but Aidan still wouldn't let Seamus go. At this rate. Matt didn't think he'd be able to get Aidan back in the car seat when it was time to go home. His brother was a smart cookie. He had let Matt drive off once. It probably wouldn't happen again.
"Looks like I might have to extend our stay," Matt joked.
"That's okay with me." Seamus leaned back on the couch with a tired Aidan on his chest. "I miss having you guys around."
"Yeah, but I bet you're getting a ton of work done without us to look after."
"It's not worth the tradeoff. I'd rather tote this guy around all day and then come home to you."
Matt blushed. He'd never been with someone like Seamus. Months later and it was strange, but he quite liked it. Matt leaned over and kissed Aidan's head, then Seamus's cheek. His life had changed so much in one year.
Matt laid his head next to Seamus. "I've missed you."
Lips pressed against the top of his head. "I've missed you, too."
They hung out for the rest of the evening. Seamus ordered pizza like he promised and Aidan got those yummy yams he loved so much. Matt tried to get Aidan to walk, but Aidan didn't trust that Seamus wouldn't disappear if he let go of him. So, they watched TV while Aidan filled his Seamus tank.
When it came time for bed, Aidan refused. Seamus pouted like it was such a hardship that Aidan wouldn't let go of him. Matt wasn't fooled. It didn't upset Seamus one bit. The pout turned to a smirk as he carried Aidan like a trophy to the master bedroom.
Matt's chest swelled as he watched the two snuggle into bed. They took turns looking at Matt to see if he was watching them. Aidan looked proud that he had his Seamus again, and Seamus was content to have his Aidan back. But Matt was the real winner.
