Chapter 5
Chapter
Five
“Grant, what are you doing?” Kieran had been watching Gwynny and Grant a lot, because apparently Samuel was quite sick with his pregnancy and quite grumpy about everything.
He understood, but Grant was kind of a special little dragon, who was currently sitting on top of the big wardrobe in Kieran’s room.
“The babies kept touching me.”
“Oh well, all right, but please be careful. Your father would be put out if you fell.”
He was not going to panic. This was not the weirdest thing he’d ever seen Grant do. Especially when he was feeling particularly frustrated, the little one could be a genuine challenge.
Lachlan told him that Grant had lost both of his parents when he was an infant and had been raised by his uncle. It seemed like that could cause real problems, but honestly Kieran just didn’t know.
He’d met Jake — he was very friendly, and obviously Grant was well-loved. Gwynny was the same age as Micah and little Kaden, and the amount of cuteness there was near unbearable.
So maybe Grant was also feeling a little… Older. Less cute. Getting less of the attention. “Would you like to play a game, sweetie? Your sister is napping now, and Micah is futzing with his mobile, which will keep him busy for a while.”
Grant’s eyes lit up, and he… jumped.
Kieran held out his hands and sort of prayed that he didn’t hurt this little boy.
Grant didn’t fall, though. He landed in front of Kieran, sort of appearing in front of him with a pop.
“Good job.”
Grant grinned at him. “What kind of game?”
Uh… “I bet your Uncle Lachlan has Candyland.”
Grant plopped onto the ground. “I like Candyland.”
“Cool let me call him.” Oh Lachlan, I hope you have Candyland.
He grabbed his phone, but before he could dial, he was totally stunned to hear Lachlan in his head.
I’ll bring it up. No problem.
You heard me.
I did. It was amazing.
His heart pounded. Grant’s being a little challenging. I think he’s jealous of the little ones.
I’m on my way with that and this neat barrels of monkeys game. There are lots of giggles involved with that.
Oh, thank you. Will you stay to play?
If you like. Lachlan sounded so pleased. He had to smile at that. He hugged Grant. “He’s bringing us games, my love.”
“Uncle Lockie is so cool.”
“He is a sweetheart.”
“He is friends with my dad and my Ammu.”
Kieran nodded. “I’m going to bet Uncle Lachlan is friends with everybody.”
Grant nodded immediately, as if to say that was absolutely true. “He got hurt real bad, so he was very sad. Uncle Bryant came here with him, and he felt better, but it was very bad hurting. We have to love him extra special hard.”
Kieran felt his eyes sting some a that. “How wonderful you all are, giving extra love.”
Grant grabbed his hands. “I thinks you need extra too. You look so sad.”
Kieran swallowed hard. “I am sometimes. But I’m trying not to be.”
“Papa says it’s okay to have all the feels. Even big feelings. Even when they make me cry.”
“Does he say that? Wow, it sounds like he’s a very good papa.”
Grant nodded. “And Ammu too.” Grant climbed up into his lap and hugged him. “You can feel it, and then throw it in the air; throw it in the air like this.” He threw his hands up and spread them wide. “Sometimes that’s what you have to do.”
“Feel big feels and throw them in the air?”
Grant nodded, and Kieran smiled and tried it.
Weirdly, he did feel better.
“You’re a very smart young man.”
“Uh-huh.” Grant said it with the total confidence of someone who had been loved his whole life. He had never doubted that people cared about him.
Kieran wanted that for Micah.
Lachlan knocked, and Grant chuckled.
“Come in, Uncle Lockie! We feel so much better!”
“Do you already? That’s wonderful.” Lachlan carried two games and a little carrier tray with some juice boxes, some soft drinks, cookies, fruit, and cheese.
“Uh-huh. I taught him to throw his sad feels up in the air.”
“Ah, yes, I have seen your father do that.” Lachlan acted like everything the little ones said to him was perfectly reasonable. It was wild, but so wonderful.
“Let’s play Candyland! Are those cookies?”
“They are, but first a little fruit and cheese.”
“Okay. I like fruit.”
Soon enough they were all three sitting on the floor, the game board between them, having snacks. Lachlan had filled a little plate for each of them.
“Can I be blue?”
Lachlan smiled at him. “Can you be blue…”
“Please.”
Lachlan nodded to Grant, laughing. “What color would you like, Kieran?”
“Purple.”
“Oh, no! That means I’ll be red. Like your dad, Grant.”
“Raaar! Ruby dragon!”
“Rawr!” Lachlan tickled the little boy, who giggled happily.
“Love you, Uncle Lockie.”
“I love you, Grant.”
“Love you, Kieran. So happy you’re here.”
Oh. Oh, goodness. “So am I, Grant. And I adore you so much.”
Lachlan gave him this intense yet gentle stare. “I’m glad you’re here too.”
“Me too.” I’m very glad. You’ve made me an amazing home.
I love that you’re here.
They set up game, and Grant played like a tiny shark, chomping his way through the game with a competitive streak a mile wide.
He would make quite the guardian someday.
I think so too. He’s amazing. Gwynny is way less intense.
She’s not really his sister, though, right? Biologically?
No. Grant’s mothers died. One was Jake’s sister.
I see. So maybe Gwynny gets it from Samuel…
It could be. Samuel is a gentle soul…unless he’s not.
But Jake is a guardian. Doesn’t that make him more fierce by nature? Kieran was very curious about how guardianship worked.
Only in some situations; you know as well as I do that an omega dad can be the most ferocious defender of their children on Earth. Lachlan reached out to touch his hand and fingers, just lightly brushing over the back of it.
He turned his fingers to grab Lachlan’s because he loved the press of skin on skin. The warm feel of Lachlan’s hand around his and the way Lachlan smiled when he did it sent electric shocks up his arm, but in a good way, not a bad one. Suddenly he wanted more touch, more of Lachlan against him.
Not that it mattered because he had three children in his apartment, one of whom was waiting for them to play their turn on Candyland.
He smiled at Lachlan, shaking his head slightly, and Lachlan laughed, raising his hand to kiss the back of it before letting go.
They played on and just about the time they finished up their game, he heard Micah in the other room fussing gently.
“I think he’s probably hungry. What do you think Grant?
Is your sister going to be hungry when she wakes up too?
” Micah had fallen asleep playing with his mobile.
The last time Kieran had checked on him, he had a piece of it still clutched in his hand.
His little face completely screwed up with determination even in his sleep.
Grant sighed. “She’s always hungry.” He grabbed another cookie and munched it down. “But they can’t have cookies yet so these are for me.”
“And for me.” Lachlan snatched a cookie and Grant laughed a full belly laugh, loud and happy.
“Yes for you too,” Grant said. “Do I need to help with the bottles?”
“No it’s okay. I’ll do it. You stay here with Uncle Lockie and play another game.”
“Are you sure?” Lachlan asked. “I can help. Grant and I can come sit by the kitchenette if nothing else and offer moral support.”
He smiled, climbing to his feet, caressing Grant’s hair as he went. “No I’m fine. I actually enjoy doing the feeding. Almost as much as I enjoyed playing with you Grant.”
That got him another belly laugh and he was so glad to hear it. Grant seemed much happier than he had earlier and Kieran was pleased to have been at least partially responsible for it.
It had to be so hard to be the older child and to know that there was yet another one coming and to be feeling left out a little bit.
Kieran would have to remember that if he ever managed to mate with someone and have another baby. He had always thought that was completely out of the realm of possibility, but these days he was beginning to allow himself to hope.