Chapter 35 – A Little Family Time

“Where ever body go?” Blake asked, rubbing his eyes, yawning wide as he looked around him. 

“They went home,” Braylin explained, lifting his son up into his arms. “Remember before you went to bed you hugged them goodbye?”

“This home. No bye.” Blake’s voice rose “they stay here. Here home.”

“This is our home,” Braylin paused, hugging the little boy in his arms. “They’ll come visit again,” deciding that an explanation wasn’t needed, just the promise that he’d see them again. 

“Oh,” Blake blinked up at him, satisfied for the moment with the answer. “Down. Down,” he demanded, squirming In Bray’s arms.

Smiling Braylin knew the bundle of energy that was his son wouldn’t allow for an extended amount of time for cuddles. “Hold your horses,” he mumbled, setting his son down on the floor and watching him toddle towards his toy box. He knew within seconds the tidy room would look as if a tornado had hit it. Whoever said terrible twos had not met his three year old son. He’d gladly take his two’s over his constant motion and curious nature. 

Shaking his head he turned to the door, stopping long enough to check the baby monitor before leaving to find Trebor. He had a hunch that Trebor would be missing his family and would need a little TLC. Going down the stairs he found Trebor in the living room, “hey babe,” he announced his presence so that he didn’t startle him and spark a full on panic attack which had been known to happen.

Turning at the sound of Bray’s voice, Trebor smiled “is the twirling derby awake?”

“He’s awake and already missing all his extra playmates,” he regretted his word choice as soon as he saw the sadness cloud Trebor’s eyes. “Are you okay? Do you need me to stay home tomorrow?”

Giving his head a little shaking, sniffing “no I’ll be alright. Thanks for offering though.”

“You know I don’t mind,” he pulled Trebor close, burying his nose into Trebor’s soft, messy hair.

“Hey,” he cried “you’re going to mess up my hair,” Trebor complained although he did nothing to prevent it.

“How can you tell?” Bray chuckled at the wounded look Trebor gave him. “I thought you had the night off anyway.”

“I do but I…” he bit his bottom lip as if he were unsure how Braylin would take his next sentence. “The Director of Medicine called wanting me to see him tonight.”

Frowning, Braylin put a finger beneath Trebor’s chin and gently lifted his bowed head. “Is anything wrong?”

“I don’t think so,” it sounded like a question like he wasn’t sure if there was or wasn’t something wrong. “It could be a performance review. I missed the last one because Blake had the flu.”

“I suppose he didn’t give you an idea why he needed to see you,” Bray asked, watching Trebor closely for the slightest signs of stress.

“No,” he pushed away from Braylin to take a couple steps away. “He just asked if I could come in around eight.”

“It must not be anything too urgent then,” Braylin surmised, glancing at his watch. “We still have time to go to the park.”

“Yeah we do,” Trebor grinned, relieved that their plans weren’t completely destroyed by the unexpected meeting. “I have everything ready.”

“I guess that leaves me to get the tornado ready,” he moved towards the stairs refusing to give in to the need to tell Trebor to relax. He knew from experience that would often trigger anxiety which was the opposite of what he wanted to have happen.

***

Thirty minutes later they were the picture perfect family strolling through the park. “Swing,” Blake pointed, squirming to get down.

“Hold your horses,” Trebor chuckled. “We’re going to eat first.”

“Swings,” Blake cried, flailing his arms and legs as they walked past his favorite thing to do at the park. 

“Ow,” Trebor put a hand up inspecting his nose that felt as if he’d been smacked in the face by a baseball. 

“That’s enough young man,” Braylin set the picnic basket down so that he could take Blake from Trebor’s arms. “You can play after we eat or not at all.”

Blake’s bottom lip came out in a pout but he knew better than to argue when Braylin used the tone most parents acquired when they’ve had enough and their word was final. 

Picking up the picnic basket, Trebor suggested “why don’t you take him to the swings while I get things ready for us to eat.” 

Shaking his head, Braylin followed Trebor to their favorite picnic site. “I think he’ll have plenty of time to play later. He needs to learn to listen to you as well as to me.”

Nodding Trebor let out a small sigh. He was much too soft and Blake had already figured out which of his parents was the easiest one to get what he wanted. “You’re right. I need to be firmer with the little rascal.” He gave his son a fond smile “it’s just so difficult when he gives me those big sad puppy dog eyes.”

“You mean the ones you use on me?” Bray teased leaning down and planting a kiss on Trebor’s cheek. 

“I do not,” he huffed, giving a pretense to being offended as he set the basked down and began to unpack their lunch. Even though the sun was shining brightly there was a definite chill in the air and the leaves were showing the first tinge of red.”Blakes jacket is in that bag. Do you mind putting it on him?”

At the sight of the red jacket Blake began to whine. “No want,” he cried running from Bray.

“Blake come back here,” Trebor called after him. “Don’t run away from us.” His voice cracked as his hands clenched the sandwich he was holding, smashing it between his fingers. 

“Don’t worry,” Bray assured him “he won’t get far.” Braylin hated leaving Trebor alone with the first signs of an anxiety attack coming on but he had no choice. It’d be worse if Blake became lost or someone, god forbid, took him. The part was full of strangers and perverts. He knew Trebor well enough that he’d rather struggle alone than to run that risk.

By the time Braylin caught up with the runaway Blake was happily slung over one of the swings with his feet moving it back and forth. For a moment Bray watched him, admiring his tenacity. “He gets that from Trebor,” he murmured to himself. 

Hearing Bray’s voice Blake looked up with a dazzling smile as bright as any diamond glistening in the sun. “Swinging,” he announced, pleased with himself.

“I can see that,” Braylin shook his head glaring down at the boy. “It’s time to eat.” he gently bent to pick up the little boy knowing he wasn’t going to part from the swing easily.

“No. I swing,” Blake’s little hands grabbed for the chains, refusing to let go.

“I know you want to swing but do you deserve to swing,” he asked, watching the puzzled expression grow on his son’s face.

“Yes,” Blake nodded, “want swing.”

“Deserving and wanting something are two different things.” Braylin said grunting as the boy’s hold on the coveted swing loosened enough for him to pull him loose. “You were told you had to eat first. Then you ran away from us. I don’t think you deserve to swing.”

“But I want…” Blake’s bottom lip quivered “I like swing.”

“Yes I know but you have to learn to listen and be a good boy…”

“I good boy,” he mumbled as large tears rolled down his cheeks.

“Most of the time, do good boys run away when they know they are supposed to stay close to their parents in the park?”

Blake considered his answer before finally shaking his head “no,”

“Only good boys get to swing,” Braylin said. He watched as understanding filtered into Blake’s awareness. 

“I listen now,” he said “I eat then swing.”

“It doesn’t work like that,” Bray let out a little sigh “you need to listen all the time. Now because you didn’t you don’t get to swing.”

“I’m sorry,” Blake said certain that he would get what he wanted.

“I know you are but are you sorry because you made daddy scared or because you don’t get to swing?”

“I fine,” he pointed at his chest. “I not get lost. I big boy.”

“You’re not that big,” Braylin watched as the enormity of his plight sunk in and large tears rolled down his cheeks. 

Trebor took Blake from Bray’s arms as soon as they joined him at the table. He squeezed his son in his arms “don’t ever run away like that again. You could have been hurt.”

“I sorry,” Blake kissed him back.

***

It took some work but Trebor convinced Braylin to let Blake enjoy a little swing time after lunch. “He did apologize,” he inserted when he felt Bray was about to put his toes in and refuse.

“He did but has he learned his lesson?” He wondered aloud “or will he do it again? It’s not going to hurt him not to be able to play on the swings.”

“I know…”

“Oh no,” Bray shook his head “don’t give me that look. It’s bad enough Blake gives it to me.”

The delighted squeals from his son broke through his thoughts. It was worth it just to hear how happy it made him. Trebor knew he needed to be more strict with him but it was so difficult when he knew how close they had come to not having him. If it weren’t for Wally risking his own life to save both him and their son neither of them would be here to enjoy this day. Sighing a little he wished he had the chance to thank him….

“Boy am I tired,” Braylin announced as he plopped himself down beside Trebor “you might need to carry me home.”

“Oh no I’m not,” he chuckled, shaking his head “the only person I’m carrying home is our son. He’s already half asleep now.” They both looked over to where Blake’s head was lolling to the side, his eyes half shut, held in place by the swing made specifically for toddlers. Standing Trebor chuckled “we better head home before he falls asleep.”

Groaning a little as he followed, Braylin reached Blake first “I’ll take him. That way when we get home you can get ready for your meeting without worrying about him clinging to you if he wakes up.” They both knew that Blake liked to cuddle when he woke up and often refused to let go of whoever was holding him until he was ready to be set down. 

“Oh…” he gasped. He had tried to not think about his pending job performance review all day. 

“Worried?” Bray asked, putting an arm around his shoulders. “You’re going to do just fine.”

“I hope so,” he couldn’t hide the worry and doubt he felt. It hadn’t been easy the last few years with everything that had happened but the hospital had worked with him to help him continue his residency. Leaning into Bray he sighed a little “you’re amazing you know that? Always worrying about me. One day you’re going to get tired of me.”

“Never,” Braylin shook his head as they began to walk home.

“Oh sure, you say that now but everyone has their limit…” his next words were muffled by Braylin’s mouth over his.

Pulling back Bray grinned “you’re not even close,” he squeezed Trebor’s hand that he was holding. “We need each other. I can’t imagine nor do I want to imagine that ever changing.”

“Neither do I,” he leaned in close, planting a kiss on Bray’s cheek.