Chapter Text
The Event At The Toy-Store
It was June, the weather was nice, and Aaron thought they could both do with a day off. Liv was due back tomorrow, and since he was planning on keeping an eye on her, he just wanted to spend some quality time with Seb. That and... seeing how Paddy was painting the nursery before.... it just made him want to cuddle up Seb more.
“So, where to?” - asked Robert after Aaron mentioned the idea.
“I don't know, a walk in the park, an afternoon in Hotten? Anything.” - he smiled as he picked up Seb.
“What brought this on?” - asked Robert.
“It's just... he's gonna grow up so fast, I wanna make the most of it.” - he said kissing Seb's head.
“Alright then. Let's go to Hotten.”
They didn't need any further plans, they just hopped into the car and that was it. They never really planned out anything, it was a joy wherever they went as a family.
They had lunch in a not too posh place, where there was a playroom in the corner for kids, not that either of them would let Seb out of sight. Plus he was perfectly fine with Aaron making funny faces at him. He didn't need much, just the attention of his daddies, and he got that.
They ended up in a toy-shop. The idea was somewhat mutual, because they always found something cute, and immediately thought how Seb would like it. So they tried to make him pick his choice himself. He liked pointing at stuff anyway.
Alex thought this day will be better than any other before. He was due to a party tomorrow. His nephew turned 1 a couple of days ago and the whole family's gonna have a party. He just needed the perfect present. That's why he thought it's gonna be a great idea to go to the biggest toy-store in Hotten.
He regretted that decision when he heard a familiar voice.
“No, no Robert just hold him, and I pick out the teddies.” - said Aaron with a little laugh. Alex didn't see them, he was standing an aisle away, but he could look through the shelves. He saw Aaron with two big teddies in his hands. Then he heard a baby giggling. Must be Seb he thought.
He decided to get a better view, because no matter how awkward the situation was, he just wanted to see it.
He got to the end of the aisle and stuck out his neck to get a little peek. His heart shattered the minute he saw them. The three of them, together. It's not like he didn't knew that they were together, but to see them? As a family? It was more than awful. He saw Aaron leaning closer until he kissed the little boy's head, then poked his nose.
“Come on, just pick one.” - said Robert. He was always so arrogant, he thought. Why couldn't he just wait for a minute. Aaron deserves so much better. He was busy slagging off Robert in his head, until he realized that Aaron wasn't annoyed one bit. The opposite. He started laughing. Like really laughing. It was a happiness he never really saw on his face.
“You just wanna have an ice cream already.” - he said to Robert before he looked at Seb – “Your daddy has a sweet tooth, but we're going nowhere until you choose yourself a new friend alright?” - he winked at him. Alex was close enough to hear everything and he genuinely wondered how could they make it work. But then he recalled the times when Aaron was babysitting for Robert.... willingly, and he decided he must have loved that child from the first time he saw him. Because no matter how painful it was to admit, Aaron always loved Robert, and since he came with a kid in a baggage Aaron must have accepted that. It certainly seemed so from where he was standing. Well not standing.... more like halfway hiding behind a big Lego figure, with his jacket in his hand, praying that they won't recognize him. They didn't seem like they care about anything but their family though.
Alex was so focused on getting out of there as fast as he could, that he didn't see how close he was standing to a big pile of toys. His jacket caught in one of them, and that made a massive noise, as the boxes fell down and all over the floor. Of course people looked right at him. He kept apologizing as he tried to pick most of them up.
“You alright mate?” - shouted Aaron. They were at the other end of the aisle now, from a good distance away, so they didn't really see his face.... at least Aaron didn't.
“Yeah. It's fine.” - he said, hoping they didn't recognize him. He put the boxes back in their places faster than getting ready for an operation, then he just left. He decided to get his present from another toy-shop. Preferably one without his ex and his family in it.
“Wasn't that.... Alex?” - asked Robert after he heard the man's voice. It sounded familiar.
“Who?”
“Erm... Alex? Your ex?”
“Don't know.” - he shrugged – “Anyway, how about I hold him, and you make him choose. If you want your precious ice cream today, that is.” - he smiled.
They didn't even care about the man anymore. Was it Alex? It didn't matter. At least not to them.