Chapter Eight #2
They laughed and joked more about mundane things as Aiden marveled at the cold wind stinging his cheeks.
They glided over the ice at speeds high enough that he knew if Daddy hadn’t bundled him in a hat and scarf his hair would be blowing.
Aiden wouldn’t say the thrill of gliding in the rink was better than the thrill of riding his bike, but it was an altogether kind of rush.
After they’d returned their burrowed skates, Daddy led him to a nearby vendor selling hot chocolate with every imaginable topping and coffees of all types.
Something to warm up skaters after all the cold wind.
Despite his gloves, Aiden’s hands were freezing, so he was more than happy to warm them with a nice hot cocoa, with marshmallows and peppermint chips of course, while Daddy did the same with his plain black coffee.
While they sipped their drinks on a bench and watched other skaters on the ice, Aiden felt that prickling of his skin.
So many people had come in and this area of the park was getting crowded.
The noise levels had risen and he noticed a difficulty focusing on his conversation with all the background buzz.
“I think I’m ready for my ear plugs, Daddy.
” Part of him was still embarrassed that he needed these things to do normal activities but Daddy had been slowly teaching him that needing help wasn’t a bad thing, but suffering in silence was.
Daddy immediately reached into his pocket and produced the little container with the plugs in it.
As soon as Aiden had placed them in his ears, Daddy tilted his head until he was looking directly into Daddy’s eyes and could see beyond a doubt the honesty as he said, “I’m so proud of you for asking, baby.” Daddy placed a light kiss on his lips and it encouraged him even more.
“Could I, umm…” He started shyly, “possibly get the sand, too?”
“Absolutely,” Daddy answered, with even more pride shining in his eyes as he handed the baggy of sand over.
After a minute of him playing the kinetic sand, Aiden’s anxiety started to come down. Sensing the shift, Daddy held out his hand and helped Aiden up. They wandered around the park for a bit longer, stopping at a vendor and getting a bag of roasted chestnuts to share.
As they found themselves back at the entrance waiting to get a cab, Aiden couldn’t help but think, best day ever.
Rocky
As they climbed into their ride to the next place, Rocky was glad Aiden kept the plugs in.
With the driver having the radio a bit louder, Rocky knew following their conversation would have been hard for Aiden without them.
He loved music but had trouble with it being too loud when he needed to focus on other sounds.
Besides, he was bound to need them more in their next location.
There didn’t seem to be any time of day when Times Square wasn’t bustling with people.
Rocky should know, he’d been watching it every chance from their room to try and plan when to go based on foot traffic.
There didn’t seem to be any time when the square wasn’t crawling with foot traffic.
He wasn’t sure how much his baby could handle, but Rocky was determined to help him say he shopped there, if nothing else.
As they approached the square, Aiden couldn’t contain his excitement, wiggling in his seat and bouncing a leg in anticipation.
He also couldn’t hide his nerves from Rocky.
Aiden slipped his hand in the pocket with the sand, seeking the comfort of his favorite texture.
Rocky knew he had trouble with crowds, but he hoped that Aiden could do at least a few things in the square before he got too overwhelmed.
Rocky had instructed the driver to get them as close to a famous pizza place.
Aiden needed lunch and no one should leave New York City without trying some New York style pizza.
The driver pulled to the curb only a block from their destination and was nice enough to point them to where they were going as Rocky paid.
Aiden’s hand was in his pocket fiddling with the sand again.
Gently, Rocky extracted Aiden’s hand and reached in for the sand.
It seemed Aiden was about to argue but before he could, Rocky tucked the sand into his other pocket and guided the other hand after it.
No way was his baby walking closest to the traffic.
Taking Aiden’s free hand, he headed down the block distracting Aiden with talk of their friends at home.
Aiden had made a few calls to the other Littles in the found family, letting them get a glimpse of the wonder of New York City at Christmas.
They both agreed that while this was amazing fun, they were starting to miss everyone back home.
When they reached the pizza place there was a line but Rocky kept Aiden occupied as well as he could until they’d ordered a few slices and made their way outside to eat as they wandered.
Time square had the feel of a bazaar. Crazy crowded, busy, with attractions sprinkled in with shops and restaurants. It seemed a person could find almost anything there. He’d even made a few discreet purchases, and Aiden had found a couple things as well.
They hadn’t even explored a quarter of what was available by the time he noticed Aiden fidgeting in that nervous way he had.
When he stopped being able to follow the conversation they were having, Rocky knew it was time to call it on this adventure.
Aiden tried to argue, still wanting to see more and not wanting to admit to his limitations.
It was a good thing Rocky had an ace up his sleeve.
“Remember what you said last night? Santa can’t leave presents if he doesn’t have a tree to leave them under.” Aiden’s eyes lit up at the idea of finishing his LEGO tree. Rocky knew it would be a good incentive.
“That’s right!” Aiden checked the time and said “Oh man, how’d it get so late? Let’s go Daddy! I have work to do!”
Thankfully they weren’t far from the hotel. So, when Aiden took his hand and started pulling him in that direction he didn’t argue. They’d get there faster if they walked.
Aiden
Aiden was so thankful for his Daddy. He knew Rocky had mentioned the tree because he knew Aiden’s disability was overwhelming him.
Honestly, he was thankful for it. He’d been ready to argue more, not wanting to be the inconvenience that made them leave early, but Daddy never considered him inconvenient.
One day, he hoped that thoughts like those never intruded in his head, but after a lifetime of rejection it wasn’t going to happen overnight.
Daddy had offered him the perfect out. One that made him happy and excited, leaving feelings of inadequacy in the dust.
As they entered their hotel, Aiden practically ran for the living room, happily noting that housekeeping hadn’t messed up his system.
As he got closer, he found a note in Daddy’s handwriting that explained it.
Daddy had thought to leave a message asking housekeeping to leave this area alone. He really was the perfect Daddy.
It wasn’t long before Aiden was completely immersed in the task of creating the perfect Christmas tree.
Rocky
Rocky busied himself with menial tasks, gathering up their used clothing and putting it in bags to go home, hiding his purchases, and picking up.
He knew that after the crowds from the day out Aiden would need some time in undisturbed quiet.
He loved his boy and wished Aiden didn’t have the struggles he did but Rocky was glad that he was able to provide Aiden with the safe space he needed when those struggles became too much.
There was no telling when Aiden would be ready for the company of another human being. So, when Rocky had done all the tidying he could do, he turned on a Christmas movie quietly in the suite’s bedroom and lay back on the bed to watch and wait.
A movie and a half later, during which he’d peeked in on Aiden no less than a dozen times, he finally heard the words he’d been anxiously waiting for.
“Daddy! Come see!”
Rocky shut the television off and made his way quickly out to see his boy’s handywork. Aiden was truly an artist when it came to LEGO creations. He never did anything simply and had the kind of mind that worked out ways to accomplish things with the bricks that Rocky couldn’t even have fathomed.
Take this tree for example. The tree set came with everything needed.
It was a standard set that, if directions were followed, would look like every other out there.
However, his Aiden was not the typical LEGO enthusiast. No, he was a DaVinci of LEGO.
So, of course, his tree looked absolutely nothing like the generic tree on the box.
Sure, the green part was very much the same, but it was obvious now that all those random shapes and sizes of bricks he’d chosen for his custom box were chosen with purpose.
He’d created his own custom decorations with them.
There were white birds Rocky guessed were doves, yellow stars, red poinsettias, and colored balls.
There were even brick lights that actually lit up.
“Wow, baby,” Rocky breathed as he walked around the four foot creation, “This is absolutely stunning!” He meant it too. He’d never get over the things Aiden could do with LEGO bricks. It was just shy of a miracle.
“Do you think Santa will love it?”
How could Aiden sound so nervous? Like Santa could possibly be anything but in awe of what he’d managed to accomplish with a bunch of plastic bricks.
“Baby, I’m more worried about Santa stealing you away to the north pole to build LEGO toys for him than him not absolutely adoring the tree you made for him.” There was no way Santa was getting Aiden though, Rocky planned to keep Aiden forever. Maybe even longer.
Aiden