twenty
Milton sits on the picnic blanket out on the grass, dressed in an undershirt, long-sleeve shirt, two jackets and a too-big beanie on his head.
Callum sits behind him, legs either side of the boy as he holds his small plastic mug of hot chocolate with a soft silicone sipping lid.
So far, Milton hadn't managed to get a whole mouthful without some slipping down his chin, but Cal is always quick to wipe it away, encouraging Milton to practise drinking from a somewhat normal cup.
Dr Perin sits with them with his own thermos of what smells like sweet coffee, his hands dressed in fingerless gloves and his head adorned with a sig-zag patterned beanie.
"When you asked me to come over, I thought you wanted me to check up on Milton." Dr Perin asks, cheeks flushed from the cold air.
Cal smiles. "I do; we do. I just thought a bit of fresh air might be nice before we get into anything more... serious."
Milton grimaces at this, hands shakily lifting the cup to his lips, Cal guiding him to make sure the cup doesn't fall.
"I didn't think it would be this cold so soon."
Cal hums in response, thumb wiping a small dribble of chocolate from Milton's lips. "Aldric thinks winter will come a little earlier this year. Something about the change of winds or something."
His husband was off in a meeting with Henry to discuss Lucille. Callum had wanted to go with him, but the man refused. Milton needed someone to dote on him after the day he had. Having both sitting in Henry's little office, surrounded by growly men would not have been a good start to the day.
So instead, a picnic was the next best thing, Milton happily agreeing with the hopes of seeing another wild wolf in the area.
"So how are you both?" Dr Perin asks, blowing at the steam rising from his drink.
Cal sighs. "We're okay. Milton has been having more difficulty swallowing, I think."
Milton frowns but doesn't make a noise of protest. He had been a bit more drool-y as of late.
"Any reason why you're more concerned?"
Cal bites his lip, looking down at the boy in his lap who is distracted by a leaf gently blowing past their picnic spot out the back of the pack house. "He's been drooling a lot more, not just when he's asleep, but just in general. I've noticed he's been struggling with the bottles more now too."
Dr Perin looks at Milton with a soft smile, the boy's face turning pink at the conversation. "Have you had any trouble breathing or find yourself choking at all?"
Milton shakes his head.
"That's good. It's not unexpected but if it does get worse, we can discuss your options."
"I don't need to be worried?"
Dr Perin lifts a shoulder. "It's not uncommon for those with traumatic brain injuries to have trouble with excess drool. It's called sialorrhea, but I don't think Milton's exhibiting an extreme case of it. I want you to keep monitoring it for now and we can look at it again if it gets any worse."
Callum nods with a sigh of relief, giving Milton a little squeeze. Milton offers half a smile, lips wobbly with the action.
"But" Dr Perin starts with a firm tone. "I don't believe you brought me here just to discuss sialorrhea. Did something else happen?"
Dread forms in Milton's gut, a frown making its way onto his face as he leans back into his carer's arms. He doesn't want to discuss this, but Callum was right. Maybe Dr Perin would help with his... accidents.
"We had another wet bed yesterday. Last time Milton had woken from a nightmare, but this time I'm not sure there was any real... trigger, so to speak."
The doctor hums, taking another sip of his coffee, squinting at the pair as the sun peeks out from beneath a cloud.
"No bad dream?"
Milton shakes his head. He didn't think there was a bad dream, but if there had been, he didn't remember it.
Dr Perin leans forward, gently patting Milton's hand in comfort. "I know it's a tough conversation, but if we can figure out the cause, then we can put an action plan in place to stop it from happening again."
Milton nods hesitantly, swallowing back the small lump that's beginning to form at the back of his throat.
"For now, it's important that you note when you go to the bathroom and how long it is between each bathroom trip. These incidents could be caused by a few different things. Do you remember having trouble before you came to stay with the Wrights?"
Milton shakes his head. He didn't remember much before waking up in hospital.
"That's okay. Let's monitor your bathroom habits a little closer before we make any assumptions."
Callum hums in agreeance, leaning to press a kiss to Milton's head.
"Is there anything else you wanted to chat to me about?"
Cal smiles at the human. "How's your week been? I know we only saw each other the other day but... h-how are you?"
Dr Perin blinks, a little surprised at the question as pink rises to his cheeks, but he clears his throat with a hesitant smile.
"I've been well. It's been a bit quieter at the clinic, but I expect things to pick up once winter hits."
"Is winter the busiest season?"
Matthew shakes his head, poking his round glasses back up his nose. "No, surprisingly. Springtime when everyone gets a little, uh, rowdy."
Callum laughs. "That makes sense."
Spring was when the wolves stretched their legs after bundling up for winter.
Young teenagers would puff their chests and square up in friendly competition while the adults ran around chasing tail – or chasing after their mates.
It was a joyful season, celebrated with festivals, birthdays and packhouse parties.
One or two wolves would take their tussles a little too far and young children would find themselves taking too big a risk as the sunshine and buzzing activity sends their wolves into overdrive.
Milton doesn't understand, but he ignores the two men as they begin to chat, the words turning to white noise as he keeps his eyes peeled on their surroundings in hopes of spotting a wolf or two.
Much to his disappointment, the only thing he sees is a wayward beetle of some kind in the nearby grass. It's shiny black back catches his attention before it wiggles away beneath the grass. He pouts at this, sniffing back snot as the cold air tints his nose pink.
Cal diligently helps him finish his hot chocolate as they continue to converse, wiping his mouth once again as a little dribbles out.
Milton makes a frustrated noise in the back of his throat when it happens again, receiving a kiss to the top of his head in consolation.
Matthew looks at his phone as a message buzzes through. "It's been lovely spending time with you both, but I have to get back to the clinic."
Cal smiles. "We understand. We're just happy you could come to such an impromptu picnic. Aren't we, Milton?"
Milton nods, Squeezing the cup in his hands.
Dr Perin always makes him feel a little calmer. He doesn't really understand why, he barely knows the man, but it's nice getting to spend some time listening to his soothing voice as he lays cuddled in Cal's arms.
The men make quick work of packing up the picnic blanket and the odd couple of pillows, Matthew helping them carry everything back to the house since Callum's arms are full of Milton.
"Have you spent much time out of the apartment?" Matthew asks as they climb the stairs.
Callum shakes his head. "N-no. I know we should, but I think I've been a bit nervous about introducing Milton to everyone."
Milton also finds it nerve-wracking. Who exactly is 'everyone'?
Matthew hums. "You don't have to go down and sit with all the families at dinner or anything, but maybe just visit the pa-, uh, main kitchen for a snack? Pick a time when there aren't many people around. Ease both you and Milton back into socialising."
Callum bites his lip as they continue to climb, Milton snuffling into his shoulder. "I guess..."
Matthew smiles up at the wolf, gently knocking him with the throw pillow in his arms. "I'm not saying to go now but think about it. It may be nice to chat to people other than your husband and doctor."
Callum smiles at him. "You're also a friend."
Matthew shrugs, a little playfulness poking through as he offers a boyish grin. "A friend who's now privy to your bathroom schedule."
Milton blushes at this, but he smiles as well, cheek resting comfortably on Callum's shoulder as the doctor reaches out to brush a strand of hair from his face.
He didn't mean anything by it, if anything, Milton appreciated the light-hearted take to his condition. It made it feel a little less humiliating.
"I'll think about it – we'll think about it."
Matthew nods, fixing the beanie on his head as they make it to the correct door, Callum unlocking it with a pin-code rather than his physical key before ushering the doctor inside.
Matthew quickly drops the pillows off on the couch and makes his way back to the door, Callum following him out.
"I mean it." Callum says as they make it to the front door.
Matthew tilts his head in confusion, making the wolf blush. "I-I mean, you're a friend. I'm not just saying it. I mean it."
It's Matthew's turn to turn red, the shorter man looking down at his brown boots as his ears change colour. "Thanks."
They say their goodbyes and Callum locks the door behind him, Milton now half dozing in his arms, legs having gone limp in Cal's hold.
Heading to the couch, Callum lies sideways, armrest behind his back and Milton settled on his chest, drool already beginning to moisten the front of his sweatshirt.
He lets the boy fall asleep with a pout on his lips and instead digs out his phone to call his love.
It rings only twice before Al picks up, the sound of Henry talking in the background making Callum purse his lips. "Did I call at the wrong time?"
Al sighs. "No, my love, if anything it's perfect timing. Need me to come home?"
He looks down at the sleeping human, not really needing anything but... he did miss his mate a little. Aldric had left early in the morning after all.
"Only if you're free to come. I'm on the couch with Milton."
"I'll be there in five."
Cal hums, listening to his mate on the other end as he tells Henry he's leaving, the sound of the office door opening and closing making the curly-haired man laugh lightly into the phone.
"You could have finished your conversation first."
Al scoffs. "No. Our conversation was well over, the man is going on a tangent. The council wolves are apparently getting on their flight today."
"That's much earlier than we expected."
Aldric hums, a hint of a growl rumbling through his voice. "Yes. The bastards think they're being smart by calling last minute to let us know their change of plans. I told Henry to leave them at the airport for a day or two to teach them a lesson about manners."
Callum rolls his eyes at his grumbly love. "I take it he didn't like your idea."
There's a brief pause before the apartment door rattles and Aldric enters, Callum ending their phone call at the sight of the large man huffing and puffing from his speed walk over.
"No, he did not." His mate says this with a toothy grin, one Cal knew meant trouble.
Sometimes Aldric couldn't help himself when it came to 'stirring the pot' so to speak.
"You think it's wise to upset the Alpha when we have councilmen breathing down our necks?"
Al tilts his head in consideration as he slips his shoes off and pulls his knitted sweater over his head. "No, but I'm tired of people disrespecting our boundaries."
He stands at the back of the couch, leaning over to press a kiss to his love's lips and smile lovingly down at the sleeping human.
"How did it go with Dr Perin?"
Cal sighs, running his fingers through Milton's hair. "We don't have any definite answers yet. It's a bit too soon to really know what's going on with our boy. For now, we have to monitor toilet breaks – it'll give us a better understanding of what might be the cause."
Aldric hums, fingers kneading at the couch before he turns to the kitchen. "As long as it's nothing that can't be fixed."
Cal frowns. "What if it can't?"
Aldric picks up the kettle to fill it, realising his mistake a little too late.
"I didn't mean it like that, my love. I just hope it's nothing serious. That's all. I want Milton to be happy and healthy."
"So do I."
As the kettle is flicked on to heat up, Aldric returns to the couch with a soft, guilty smile.
"Sorry. I wasn't thinking. If it is something serious, then we face it together."
Cal nods at his mate, a crease still between in brow as the words tumble through his mind. What if it was something serious? What would they do? What could they do?
"Hey," Aldric leans over once again, a hand caressing his husband's face. "We don't need to worry yet. If Dr Perin was concerned, he would have said so."
"I know, I know."
His husband presses a kiss to his lips once again, a low rumble in his chest an attempt to sooth his mate's rattled thoughts. Callum smiles at the sentiment, leaning up in a silent request for another kiss.
"Want to move this nap to the bed?"
Callum laughs, Aldric smiling as he chuckles as well. "I meant that to sound more endearing. I promise, all I would like is a cuddle with my two boys in bed with a good cup of coffee."
Cal nods, sweetly smiling at his handsome mate. "Sounds lovely."