Chapter 36

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WARD

WARD HAD never made it through the grocery store so fast.

Charlie visibly tensed the moment they stepped inside. Then he became impatient when people blocked the aisles. At one point, he got distracted by something he wanted and wandered off.

After Ward found him—following the sounds of a brewing fit—he put Charlie in charge of pushing the cart, telling the boy to keep at least one hand on it at all times. Charlie could point if he wanted something, but he wasn't allowed to leave Ward's side.

And the boy obeyed.

Thank goodness . He'd told Skylar that he could handle this, and he was determined to follow through. Still, Ward kept a close eye on Charlie as they continued to rush through the store.

They got eggs and fruit and vegetables. Then Charlie found the coffee creamer he wanted, the last one remaining of that kind. He pointed emphatically until Ward snatched it down. They skipped almost every other aisle, the various boxes, bags, and cans not interesting Charlie in the least. The only time they slowed their pace was when they reached the cookie aisle. Charlie stopped there, head tilted, eyeing one of the shelves.

“You like those?” Ward asked.

Charlie scowled and shook his head. Junk , he signed. After a pause, he added, My Sky like .

“Yeah? We can get those for him,” Ward suggested. He waited while Charlie considered that, then added, “He's had a rough day. How about we spoil him just this once? Then he can eat some good, healthy stuff tomorrow. How's that sound?”

Charlie rolled his head, let out a little chirp , and grabbed the bag.

They headed down the canned soup aisle next, and Ward slowed, fully expecting Charlie to stop and point. When the boy didn't so much as glance at the shelves, Ward put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. “Hey,” he murmured. “You wanna get some hungry soup while we're here?”

Charlie shook his head. No space , he signed.

Ward frowned. “No space?” Charlie shook his head again but didn't otherwise explain. “Why don't we get one can–”

No space! Charlie insisted, then started off again.

Ward could only shrug to himself and follow.

Despite Charlie's pickiness, Ward couldn't help smiling. He'd forgotten just how pleasant this could be, sharing such a simple, domestic experience with someone.

They went through checkout, and Charlie insisted on bagging the groceries himself, needing to make sure it was done right. Then they got back into Ward's truck and headed to the restaurant they'd picked for lunch. Ward had let Charlie choose where to go, deciding that would be easiest all around, and they'd called in their order as soon as they got to the grocery store. It was probably just about ready.

Ward took Charlie inside with him, gave his name, and paid. He was just about to grab the bags and walk out when Charlie insisted they had to check to make sure everything was there. Without waiting for a response, Charlie opened the bags and unpacked everything, right there on the counter.

Charlie took the time to make sure Skylar's burger didn't have tomatoes on it, then checked his own to make sure it did. They were holding up the line, but Charlie was oblivious. He checked the next container, giving a quiet chirp of approval, but then stopped at the one after that. Charlie rocked on his feet and whined, jabbing a finger at the box.

It wasn't the side that Ward had picked for his meal. Charlie stood there, rocking incessantly, right up until they brought out the correct item. Then Charlie gave a long, drawn-out squeak , only to cut off abruptly and duck his head, eyeing the people all around them.

“Hey, buddy,” Ward murmured. “It's okay.” He watched as Charlie quickly repacked their food into the bags and snatched them off the counter. “You ready?”

Charlie gave a quick nod and made a dash for the door.

Ward hurried to follow him. He unlocked the truck and waited while Charlie got the bags situated, then made sure the boy was buckled before he got in and headed for home.

Back at the apartment, they carried everything inside, and Charlie immediately took over, putting the groceries away. Ward left him to it and went to check on Skylar.

He found the boy curled up on the bed, hugging his bag. Skylar had his eyes squeezed shut, his little body tense.

“Sky? Hey, baby. You okay?”

Skylar slowly opened his eyes. “I got this horrible feeling you guys were never coming back.”

Ward's heart clenched. Geez . He knelt down on the floor and shook his head. “We're here, sweetheart. Everything's fine.” Ward paused. “Did you sleep at all?”

Skylar grimaced. That was all the answer Ward needed.

“How about you come eat something? Then we'll all take a nap on the couch.”

“Charlie doesn't nap,” Skylar said.

“I don't either,” Ward admitted. “But maybe we can put on the TV real low and just relax. Sound good?”

After a slight hesitation, Skylar said, “Okay.” He paused, eyeing his bag, then slowly sat up, still clutching it in his arms.

“It's safe, baby. I promise.”

“Ward–”

“Hey, I know. I understand.” Ward ran a hand through Skylar's hair. “You're untethered again. But this time, you actually have a safety net,” he added, resting a hand on Skylar's bag. “I get it. You're afraid to lose it. But it's not going anywhere. We're out of the city. The front door is locked. The windows are locked. Charlie and I won't let anything happen to you. Or to this,” he added, tapping on the bag. “It's okay, baby. You're safe.”

It took a long moment, but Skylar slowly let go of his bag. “Can we still go to the bank tomorrow?”

Ward nodded. “First thing, I promise. I'm gonna call John and let him know I need the day off–”

“But–”

Ward held up a hand. “I can miss a day of work, Sky. Then we'll go do whatever you need. Okay?”

Skylar looked away, blinking rapidly like he was going to cry again, then finally gave a nod. “Okay.”

“Good. Now come eat something.”

Skylar took Ward's hand and slid off the bed, following him out to the living room. “So,” Skylar quietly began, “how was it? Shopping with him, I mean.”

“It was fine,” Ward assured him. “Although, I asked him if he wanted some hungry soup, but he said, 'No space.' I'm not sure what that means.”

“Oh.” Skylar chuckled, and the sound filled Ward with relief. “Hungry soup has to have its own spot in the cupboards. Everything does, really. He doesn't like having things just crammed in at random. Everything has to be in neat rows with gaps in between. And your kitchen is very small. If the cupboards are full, there's no room for it.”

“Ah.” Ward nodded to himself. Maybe they could rearrange a few things to make space. But that would have to wait. First and foremost, he needed to get the boys fed, settled, and comfortable.

Charlie had the groceries put away, and he was setting their lunch out on the coffee table. He pointed for Ward and Skylar to sit, then came back with glasses of water for all three of them.

Skylar started out picking at his food, but hunger must have eventually caught up with him because he wound up eating every bite, including a few of the cookies Charlie had gotten at the store.

Once they were done, Charlie jumped up and started clearing away their trash.

Skylar sat quietly, his eyelids drooping.

“Come here, kitten,” Ward murmured. He turned and stretched out on his back on the couch, holding out his arms.

Skylar hesitated only a second before he dove on top of Ward, cradled between Ward's thighs, his head resting on Ward's chest.

“That's it, baby,” Ward murmured, rubbing his back. “Just relax.”

Charlie came back into the living room and stopped beside the couch. He rocked on his feet, eyeing the two of them. After a moment, he carefully stepped up onto the couch between their tangled legs, moving with a dramatic slowness, almost like a cat picking its way carefully through a series of obstacles. It took a while, but Charlie managed to settle himself down between Ward and the back of the couch, wedged in on his side. He put his head on Ward's shoulder, then curled an arm around Skylar's waist.

Ward smiled. “You got your Sky?”

Charlie nodded.

“Good.” Ward looked from Skylar to Charlie and back. Charlie hardly blinked, watching Skylar with a protective intensity. As for Skylar, the boy lay there with his eyes closed, his little body slowly but surely relaxing.

Within moments, Skylar was asleep.

Ward carefully released a sigh of relief. It was about time the poor boy got some rest.

He no sooner thought that than he heard the knob rattle on the security door. Shit! He couldn't get up. Not without disturbing Skylar. But he needed to stop his brother from bursting in and startling the boys.

The security door squeaked. A key slid into the deadbolt on the main door, then the knob twisted, and the door nearly flew open.

Vaughn stepped inside and opened his mouth.

Ward swung out an arm, waving to get his brother's attention. When Vaughn looked at him, Ward made a cutting motion across his throat before holding up a finger over his lips.

Vaughn snapped his mouth shut, his eyes going wide as he took in the scene. “What the–” he gasped.

“He just fell asleep,” Ward murmured. “So help me, if you wake him…”

Vaughn held up his hands. He turned and quietly shut the door, then took a step towards them.

“Shoes off,” Ward said. When Vaughn paused, cocking an eyebrow at him, Ward said, “New house rule.”

“Okay,” Vaughn said slowly. Still, he took off his boots and left them by the door before padding quietly across the living room. He stopped beside the couch, looking down at them.

Ward felt his cheeks go hot under Vaughn's scrutiny, but there was no way he was going to disturb the boys by getting up and pretending this wasn't happening. Their comfort was too important. Especially now that Skylar was actually resting. Still…

What was his brother thinking as he looked at them?

“So this is new,” Vaughn finally whispered.

Charlie fidgeted. “ Hhnn? ”

“Hey, shhh ,” Ward murmured. “It's okay. This is my brother, Vaughn. Vaughn, this is Charlie. And that's Sky.”

“Hey, Charlie,” Vaughn replied.

Charlie eyed him for a moment, then gave a little chirp and went back to watching Skylar.

Vaughn sat down on the coffee table, looking from one face to another. “Jesus, Wolf. Are they even real ? They're stunning.”

Ward couldn't help smiling a little at that.

“I mean,” Vaughn went on, “this is what it looks like, right?”

“It is,” Ward admitted.

“Is this what's been going on with you this whole past year?”

“Yeah. I mean–” Ward glanced at Skylar, who was still fast asleep, and Charlie, who was watching him. “It's a long story. It was just curiosity at first, but now…” He trailed off, eyeing his brother. “Is this weird?”

“Why? What do you mean?”

“You're not saying anything. Teasing or condemning or…”

Vaughn cocked his head to one side, eyeing the boys, then looked straight at Ward. “I just have one question.”

“Okay.” Ward braced himself.

“Are you happy?”

Ward smiled, all the tension vanishing from his body. “Yeah. Yeah, I am.”

“Then that's all that matters.” Vaughn's serious expression gave way to a smirk. “Just keep a close eye on them, okay? Because otherwise, the hubs and I might have to borrow them for a night.”

Ward narrowed his eyes.

“Kidding,” Vaughn said with a chuckle, holding up his hands. The mirth faded from his face. “Wolf, you know I'm kidding, right?”

Ward sighed. “Yeah, I know. Sorry.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, being careful not to jostle the boys. “Just don't ever say that when Sky can hear you, okay? I mean it. Promise me.”

Vaughn must have heard the underlying hint in his tone because he turned completely serious. He glanced at Skylar, and Ward could tell his brother understood enough without him having to spell it out. “Promise,” Vaughn swore.

Ward gave him a nod.

“Have you told Mom and Dad yet?” Vaughn asked. Before Ward could answer, Vaughn breathed a laugh. “No, you couldn't have. Mom would have been calling me two seconds later to pass on the gossip.”

Ward chuckled. “You're probably right.” His laughter faded. Their parents had been supportive when Vaughn came out as a teenager, but that was years ago. In the time since, they'd gotten used to seeing Ward date only women. Hell, they'd been heavily involved in planning the wedding with Kelly. What were they going to think if they found out both their sons were attracted to men? And, in this case, not just to one man, but two? Ward swallowed hard. “What do you think they'll say?”

Vaughn snorted. “Are you kidding?” He gestured at the three of them, then leaned back on his hands. “Two seconds after that —after Mom passes on the gossip to any and all extended family and friends—she'll start planning your wedding, no matter how serious or not you guys are.”

Charlie lifted his head, a look of confusion on his face. Wedding? he signed.

“He's joking,” Ward assured him.

Charlie's expression turned wary. My Sky?

“Yeah, sweet boy,” Ward murmured, running a hand through Charlie's hair even as a pang hit him square in the chest. “Your Sky. You've got nothing to worry about. He's not going anywhere. I promise.”

Charlie's gaze wandered for a moment, then he seemed to accept Ward's answer because he put his head back down.

Vaughn cocked an eyebrow.

“He has autism,” Ward explained. “He's non-verbal, but he does sign when he wants to.”

“Oh.” Vaughn gave a nod. “That's cool.” He stood up. “Well, I should get out of your hair.”

“Seriously?” Ward asked. “You never leave this quickly.”

“Yeah, well, gotta get home and tell my man that we need to start learning sign language, don't I?”

Ward couldn't help grinning at that.

Vaughn strode over to the door and pulled his boots back on. “You guys have a good night,” he said, waggling his eyebrows. “Love you, bro.”

“Love you, too.”

Vaughn quietly let himself out, locking the doors behind him as he went.

“ Hhnn .”

“Hey, buddy,” Ward murmured. “You okay?”

Loud , Charlie signed, pointing at the door.

Ward chuckled softly. “Yeah, he can be.” Even when Vaughn was being quiet, he definitely had what the boy would consider a loud presence.

Charlie rolled his head, glancing all around. After a moment, he rested his head back down, his gaze intent upon Skylar.

Ward smiled, looking at them. Despite all the tension of the morning—despite knowing the reason for Skylar's current exhaustion—Ward couldn't help thinking that this moment was perfect. The kind of quiet intimacy he'd always wanted with someone.

He soaked it up while it lasted, which wasn't long. After about an hour, Skylar woke with a start, looking lost and confused. Once he relaxed, he got up and rushed away to relieve his bladder. Charlie followed him, waiting his turn to do the same.

Ward used the opportunity to grab his phone and call John.

“Hey, it's Ward,” he said when the man answered. “I'm so sorry to bother you on the weekend, but I need a huge favor…”