Fandom Tale of Two Survivors { The Last of Us 1x1 with icedthemoon }

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Exhausted. “Sleepy,” Nate answered with a tired grin. “Are you hungry?” He was hungry. He had not really eaten the night before. Though, he was not sure how much he would be able to make himself eat this morning either. “We can go get breakfast if you’re hungry.” Alex needed to eat. He caught how that might have sounded though. That was answering his question without really saying it. He pulled himself up. “Let’s get breakfast.” Even though he really did not want to. ​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex chuckled, seeing that tired grin, and sighed softly, hearing him. "Okay beautiful, let's get some breakfast. Did you want to wash up first?" He asked, standing from the bed and holding a hand out for Nate. He didn't know what was going to happen in Jackson but he was hoping that things would be better now, and maybe.. maybe they can heal from this pain. ​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Wash. He had not even considered that. It had been so long since that was something that was normal for him, and even then, it really was never normal. They traveled so much that it was a luxury to get to do that. He stared at the wall for a moment remembering. “That… That actually sounds really nice. But… I don’t know if I have anything clean to wear. Seems kind of silly to clean me if I just wear dirty clothes.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex smiled, looking at Nate as he heard him and he thought about that for a moment. He walked over to their packs, he'd set them on the floor near the door the night before. "Remember that abandoned town? We still have a pair of clean clothes each remember?" He asked before the memory of the town came back. Carlos in his dress and helping Kaleb get in his wedding clothes. The wedding they'd never have. Alex's body trembled for a moment as they came full force and he pushed it away. He grabbed a change of clothes for both of them and he stood up, heading back over to Nate. "You'll need to cover that cast though."​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Did they? He thought about that, trying to remember. Anything he could remember settled back on Kaleb and Carlos. They were there too, laughing and smiling. As he thought about them, he saw Max and Ben too. He thought about how they would have loved to meet Kaleb and Carlos. He thought about how they could have been this big family. His eyes moved back up to Alex who was suddenly in front of him again with the other clothes. He looked down at his cast and swallowed. “Right. Okay. No, I can do that. It will be- fine.” He moved from the bed and picked up the pair of clothes. He looked at Alex, and for a moment, he thought about trying to smile for him. He should be strong for Alex. He couldn’t. So instead he walked out of the room and searched for the nearest bathroom.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex looked at Nate when he came back and heard his words, though he bit his lip, sighing softly. He watched him look at him then walk out of the room. Alex was torn and he grabbed his clothes before following after Nate. He stepped out into the farmhouse and slowly walked downstairs. He took in the area for the first time but when he reached the ground floor, he peered into one of the rooms on the first floor and froze. Inside were paints, canvases, coloring pencils, and other painting and drawing supplies. Alex sunk to his knees, just inside the doorway and for the second time in twenty four hours, he cried. He buried his face in his hands, elbows on his knees and cried, quietly.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

The last time that Nate had a bath, they were laughing about whether or not they would recognize each other. Him and Alex. And Kaleb and Carlos. They were in that little house in that little abandoned town. They should not have left. It was so close to a place where they did not want to be, but they could have made it. Fortified it maybe? He didn’t know. They shouldn’t have left. He bathed slowly as he thought about that. Cried as he sat in the tub full of water. It sat so long that the temperature mellowed. He kept his arm hanging over the side, wrapped in a towel just in case. Every time he thought about that, he cried some more. He hated that he was crying over his wrist. But it was like he was losing everything that made him who he was. Finally he pulled himself out of the water and dried. Pulled on the clothes. He sank to the floor and just sat there for another ten minutes. He had been gone for a while now. Eventually he pulled open the door and walked out of the room to search for Alex. ​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex did not know how long he was there, and at some point he'd stopped crying but he was still sniffling. Tears stained his cheeks as he stayed there, his body hurt from the sobs that had wracked through him. During his session, his cries had gone from quiet to loud, small trembling to full body shakes. He hadn't cried like this since he lost his youngest brother. He'd shed tears when Ezekiel, Eli and the rest had left, but this.. this was something he hadn't done in years. As he closed his eyes and breathed, head still in his hands, he saw the plumes of smoke, smelled the explosives and he was stuck there again, listening to Nate screaming and Carlos yelling.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

The first place Nate looked was the second room on the top floor. It was an empty bedroom. The emptiness felt heavy. Like someone should be there. He could think of so many who could fill it. He wandered to the first floor, walking slowly through the halls and rooms. Everything felt so bare. He always thought that it would be nice to have a home. A farmhouse. Somewhere with strong bones on which they cold build something beautiful. They. So many were they. He touched an empty table, and sank to a crouch. A table full of- Something from somewhere else crept through his mind. A muffled sound. He stilled, focusing in his own silence so that he could hear it again. It was so soft. He slowly rose and walked through the empty world. Empty home. Listening. He peered into one room. An empty bedroom. Someone should have been there too. As he reached the next, he could hear something so quiet. Like breathing. Like misery. He peered around the doorway, and the room full of art hit him like those arms could have. His eyes fell to the floor to find the hunched form of Alex. He was the source of the sounds. He thought they had been his own when he was upstairs. They mixed with his, so he hadn’t noticed. He sunk to the floor, and from behind, he wrapped his arms around Alex. No words.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex could almost smell the burning in his lungs, the fear and anger and terror in his soul and body. His heart raced and slowed, breathing picked up and almost stopped. He jumped at the arms around him before he stilled, then in one motion, he melted into the hug from behind. Tears fell down his cheeks as he choked on a sob, and Alex moved then, shifted so he could bury himself into Nate. His arms wrapped around his partner and he buried his face into his chest. He didn’t bother to hide anymore, the sorrow was there and there was nothing that could stop it from coming out anymore. He didn’t want to stop it anymore.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Instead of flinching at the jump, Nate wrapped his arms around him tighter. His arms needed to be around Alex, because there was nothing else there to keep him together. They had to be there to keep each other together. They lost too much. When Alex turned, he pulled Alex close to him, moving his legs out of the way to eradicate any of the space that plagued them. He could not let Alex be alone. Not with this. Alex worked so hard to be there for Nate, and now he needed that in return. In the beginning, Nate was able to hold it in and be strong, but that did not last. One tear fell and then another until he was crying into Alex’s hair, ruining absolutely everything. They had not cried together like this, and it felt strangely freeing to know that they were in this together. That they were falling with one another. Maybe that meant that they could keep each other up as well.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex felt the arms around him tighten when he’d jumped and the moment he turned, Nate pulled him closer. His tears flowed freely, soft sobbing came out as he held onto Nate, allowing himself to break. He’d tried so long to be strong and not break but it was time. He hadn’t broken like this since David. And somehow, he felt like this was exactly what needed to happen. He had to break to heal. He could feel Nate’s tears in his own hair. And after an indeterminate amount of time, Alex stopped crying, and though his throat hurt, he pulled his head away and swallowed hard. “Thank you.” He finally managed to speak, his eyes still brimming with tears that weren’t yet shed. “I.. needed that I think. I haven’t broken down like that in eight years.” He whispered, looking at Nate but also not. He was also looking at the dead bodies of his brothers, both his older ones and his younger one.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Time stopped meaning anything. They could have been like that for hours, but they also might have been like that for minutes. Nate didn’t know, and he was finding that he didn’t care. He wanted nothing more than to have this moment with Alex. He thought that he had to be stronger, that this was his fault for being so weak. Considering what they had both been through during their lives, maybe it was okay to be weak in the safety of each other’s arms. He did not bother to wipe his own tears away as Alex moved from his chest. He did not sniffle to pretend like he was fine. He sat there emotionally exposed. “Eight years?” Nate asked. “That’s… that’s a long time. I think…” He thought about it a while before finally saying, “I think I haven’t been like this since my mama died…” How long ago was that? Four years? He couldn’t think when his mind was like this.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex looked at Nate, seeing him so exposed and nodded at the question. He tipped his head to one side slightly as he heard him, his arms loosening enough so he could rub Nate's back gently. "I've lost someone really close to me when I was younger, eight years ago, and that was the last time I really lost someone until now." Alex admitted, thinking that Nate had shared so much of himself with Alex that it was only fair that he too shared everything, even the hard stuff.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Eight years ago. Alex would have been so young. Nate was not that old eight years ago. When he lost his mama, it was when he was older. How could Alex have been so young? But this was not a sorry moment. They didn’t have that to give. They could only be raw and open now. “Who?” He probably shouldn’t have pried. Nate could list the people he lost, and he had. “Like Ben and Max?” That was the easiest way to describe someone for him. They were the closest people to him for a long time. They were friends. They were best friends. They were brothers. They were family. Whatever someone else lost, they could be Nate’s equivalent. He wanted to know so that he could understand.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex had only mentioned David once since he’d lost him. And even then it was vague. And a bit of a lie. “Similar. His name was David. And he was my younger brother. We were three years apart in age. David followed me everywhere, he was my shadow. And my closest friend too. Juliet was his twin but he had attached himself to me.” Alex paused, sniffling as he gathered himself again. “One day, I was playing near the edge of the island, close to the main land, close to where the wolves patrolled. He followed me there and we were p- playing in the ocean when the current pulled D- David away, he wasn’t as strong a swimmer. I went after him, and we ended up on the main land of Seattle.” Alex paused his story again, swiping tears that had started to fall away

“A patrol of wolves came by and we ran, but they chased us and fired at us. I survived, b- but D- David didn’t. And I brought him back to the island. I lied and told them that I found his body on the edge of the island, because I would’ve gotten into a lot of trouble for leaving the island and I was already upset and scared and didn’t want to be in trouble too.” Alex tucked his head into Nate’s chest as he cried for a moment then looked at him again as he pulled away. “It was my f- fault that D- David died and I led us to Washington so it’s my f- fault that we lost our older brothers too.” Alex finally laid everything out, how he felt, and the echoes of his past. Tears fell down his face like rain as he knelt there, watching his partner.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

It was not quite like Ben and Max. Nate did not have them at such an early age. They weren’t his shadows. They weren’t his younger brothers who looked up to him like that. This was different. This was harder. Nate listened, rubbing Alex’s arm and his back. His own tears started slowly and silently again as Alex told his story. It hurt to hear. No wonder Alex was so wary about these wolves. No wonder he was afraid. They killed his brother for no reason. He was just a little boy. “No.” Nate rubbed at Alex’s cheeks now that he finished. “It’s not your fault. You did not kill your brother. Those people did. You did not kill our brothers.” He swallowed. “I did.” He ran a hand through Alex’s hair. “You guided them to where I wanted to go. They would have stopped. They would have turned around. They would have traveled anywhere else. I wanted to go, because I… I was desperate.” He made a decision to lay it all out. No more pretending. “I had everything I could ever need. I had you and them. We were a family. And I still wanted more. I wanted to find a way to help. To save the world. But I couldn’t save them.” He closed his eyes. “I should have been able to save them.” Instead, he let them die. What kind of a healer was that? “I should have been able to save Max and Ben.” He lifted his arm with the cast. “But I can’t save anyone. Not just because of this. I couldn’t before either. Not really.” They learned that. He saw every person he killed instead. The wolves he downed to save Alex. It was only fitting that the world punish him this way. He turned his attention back to Alex. “Don’t blame yourself for faults that are not your own.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex felt Nate rub his arm, and his back. He felt the rub on his cheeks and heard Nate’s words. He did though, they should’ve never been playing near the ocean. The look on his parents face when they saw his brother had hurt, and they’d refused to have any more kids. The Elders had tried to insist as each of their kids were excellent at something. Alex and his older brother Derek were warriors, and his younger sister Juliet was a healer. David, like his siblings, had great promise as a warrior. He’d been trying to mimic Derek and Alex. Alex was broken from his thoughts when he heard Nate, and he brought his hands up to Nate’s cheeks, rubbing them. “No. You wanted to change the world. Save it and give us all a better life. That is no fault. And what happened to our brothers could’ve happened to any of us. This life is not easy and we all know that. And same with Max and Ben, and David. Life is crazy, life is different and with our lives… anything happens. I won’t blame myself if you can try and forgive yourself.” Alex whispered, leaning forward and kissing Nate’s forehead. “And yes, they would’ve followed us anywhere but we also could’ve lost them here, or in Montana. So we both have to learn to let our fears and faults and blaming ourselves go. Because it’s not fair to us and they wouldn’t want us to sit here and wallow in that.”​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

They sat there on the floor, bodies tangled together as they clung to each other like they depended on that for survival. Nate’s hair was still damp from his bath, and a droplet of water slowly moved down from the top of his had and mixed with the tears that still burned on his cheeks. Could they set aside all of their guilt? They had so much. There were so many mistakes that they both made. One loss after another and another. Alex almost losing his life. Finding his mentor and his sister where they were broken too. Nate losing literally everyone but Alex. He still had Cameron though. That was unexpected and good. Alex had Ezekiel. Theo. Kaiden. They had people like Jacob and Hayden who smiled at them like parents might. It had been a long time since Nate had a parent. He missed his mama. Everything changed after that. Nate pushed his arms under Alex’s and gently wrapped them around him. The cast made it difficult, but everything was difficult. What was one more thing? He pressed his cheek against Alex’s. “We can try.” He could not promise anything like that. He could not promise that he could forgive himself for the bodies in his past. In his wake. He was not sure he could find that same hope. Alex could be his park. He could be the light in the darkness. After what could have been an eternity, he did not move, but he spoke. "Did you want to bathe too? It's nice not to be so grimy."​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex felt Nate press his cheek against his own and he could feel the tears from both of them mixing on his skin. “That’s all we can do is try. And that is all I’d ever ask of either of us.” Alex said as he stayed there for a few more minutes. Then he heard Nate’s question and chuckled softly. “I would love to bathe.” He said, moving his head to kiss Nate gently. “I’ll see you soon beautiful.” He said, hugging Nate before he managed to untangle himself from his partner. He kissed Nate’s head before disappearing down the hall with his clothes and disappeared into the bathroom. He didn’t take long to bathe, only enough to get as clean and fresh. He changed into new clothes and soon was out, looking for Nate. He made his way to the art room where he saw him last.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

And then he was alone. He sat there for a while on the floor amongst the remains of the emotional chains that they discards. He stayed for a while, unsure what to do now, and had decided that he was going to stay there until Alex came back when the sound of a knock at the front door made him jump. He sat there another moment, pushing aside the fear that came with being so vulnerable and open, and stood up to see who was there. To his surprise, it wasn’t who he thought it might be. Of everyone they came across and met yesterday, the smiling man with the weary eyes - just eye, holding a box in his hand was not the one he expected. Hayden bowed his head to the older man. “Good morning,” Hayden greeted. Nate, stunned and stumbling, blinked before finally being able to say “uh, good mornin’, sir.” He turned his head back wishing Alex would be done soon. It wasn’t Hayden’s fault. He probably would have been like this with anyone who showed up. He tried not to look so emotionally raw and spent, but Hayden already saw. He smiled anyway.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex was searching for Nate when he heard voices at the door. He walked through into the living room and saw Nate talking with Hayden. Alex walked over to Nate and placed an arm over his shoulder. “Good morning Sir. How are you today?” Alex asked as he smiled at him.

Josh had gone over to Soren and Jacob’s and knocked on the door. He needed help bringing the rest of the boxes up to the farmhouse. Jacob heard the knock and woke up, slipping off the bed and getting dressed real quick. He headed downstairs and opened the door, letting Josh in and asked where Hayden was. Once Jacob knew, he took one of the boxes and got ready to head up to the farmhouse.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Hayden was up before the sun and also his husband. He so often was when his mind was at work like this. His analytical mind was often overwhelmed by the emotional part, and there were issues he simply could not ignore. Like young Alex and Nate. All he did was thinking about them as he went to bed. And while he tried to sleep. And when he woke up. No one could stop him when he was on a mission, which was likely how he got so much done with the WLF. It was also how he got himself into so much trouble. He picked up a box he thought he could carry easily with his leg, though it was thankfully doing much better today than some other days. He also prepared a breakfast just in case they were not feeling up to joining the entire town. He would make sure to send work to Kaiden if he felt like he wasn’t going to be able to make it to breakfast.

Nate was so utterly thankful for having Alex that he wasn’t sure how to express that other than to cling to him. He used to be so much better at people. It was not like he was out of practice. They used to be so many. Used to be. It wasn’t even that long ago. Hayden smiled warmly which was a little disarming. “I’m good, thank you. I thought I would come by and check on you. I know it’s a little… overwhelming.” He looked over his shoulder towards the gate. “I also wanted to come before everyone else came with things.” He held the box in front of him. “A bit of a welcome present? And!” He readjusted so that he could hold the box in one hand and reached in. He pulled out a little container. “Breakfast? So you don’t have to go if you don’t went.” Nate nearly lit up at the thought of not having to go back to that cafeteria just yet.

Soren didn’t even bother putting on his pants as he went to check who was at the door. This early usually meant one of his favorite neighbors. He slipped on some easy clothes and hefted a couple of boxes as well. So he may have gone a little overboard on what to give them. They could always give back what they didn’t want. Besides, Soren could get more for him and Jacob. Plus, Hayden was starting on his need to parent thing again, which meant it was better to give them more now than when Hayden came demanding additional necessities. “Alright,” he began as they moved that way. “How long do you think it’s gonna take for Hayden to adopt them? It didn’t take long for Cameron and Emmett.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex smiled at the check in, and he had to admit, he didn’t see the side of Hayden that Kai had talked about. The overwhelming side. “I’m glad to hear that. And thank you.” He said, though he wouldn’t admit that he was rather sad to have breakfast brought to them. He wanted to see his brother again but he also understood, this was a lot. Alex didn’t want to overwhelm his partner so he kept quiet about breakfast.

Josh and Jacob both looked at Soren and chuckled. “It won’t take long. But I might have to steal Nate.” Jacob commented, looking at him. “How would you feel about that?” He asked his partner, watching ahead of them as they headed for the main gate. Josh was surprised, but also curious about Soren’s answer as he glanced over at him.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Sometimes it made Hayden sad that Kai no longer really needed him. Some of his best memories were of taking care of him. Being his father. Now Kaiden was all grown up, and that made Hayden feel a bit like he didn’t have much of a purpose. Sure he worked with Jacob on medicines, but that was never his first love. It wasn’t even his second or third. It was simply what was close enough. His first he always thought was sharks, and it was chronologically. However, it wasn’t what was most important now. He smiled warmly as Nate reached out to take the container of breakfast. Nate didn’t care at all what it was. He was just happy that he didn’t have to be somewhere where it was so loud. The noise never bothered him before. He stepped back to take it into the bare kitchen. He pointed back with one hand. “We appreciate the things. Do you want to bring it in so we can… look at it all?” He felt a little better, though he was still wary. Or maybe he was weary.

Soren eyed his husband curiously. “Are you forsaking our promise to forever have an empty nest for a boy who had some medical knowledge while you fixed up his wrist?” It was an interesting turn of events. They never had been the types to have children. Not like Josh and Hayden. Specifically not like Hayden. “I’m shocked we don’t have more.” He grinned teasingly as they walked. ​