(BL)Alpha Made
Chapter 177: All babies are cute

Chapter 177: All babies are cute

"Well, that may be true, but I haven’t really spoken to many of them recently. Nor have they tried to reach out while I’ve been going through this." Maria gave Andrew a look, her gaze contemplative.

"Did you tell anyone that you were going through a hard time?" She asked and Andrew flinched.

"Uh, no?" He said and she nodded slowly, staring at him.

"How are they supposed to know to reach out to you if you don’t tell them that you need help, Andy? We aren’t mind readers! Gosh, you’ve always been like this. You never tell anyone when you’re going through a hard time, and then disappear for weeks, sometimes years, and then show up like nothing has changed. I don’t hate that about you, but you need to get more honest. I hope you tell Max about when you’re having problems or else that man is going to eat you alive." Andrew laughed. He already knew that.

Andrew remembered what had happened when he’d almost had a stroke. At least, he was pretty sure that was what had happened. Michael had explained it a little bit better after he’d calmed down, and that was the closest example that he could give.

"You don’t have to worry about that, Maria. Max has already forced me to change some of my habits." She made a thoughtful noise in the back of her throat.

"So you’ve already been scolded, huh?" She said and Andrew couldn’t make eye contact with her. He glanced behind her, noticing a small cup up on the counter.

"Oh look! I think Hewett’s milk is up!" Andrew said and Maria gave him a pitying look. She sighed, shaking her head but she did turn and check the order. Maxwell joined them at that time, tucking his wallet back into his coat.

"Ah, did Hewie’s milkies come up first?" Maxwell asked, and Andrew and Maria stared at him. Maxwell gave them a strange look. "What? Did I say something wrong?" He asked and Maria shook her head.

"No, I just never expected that series of words to ever come out of someone like you’s mouth." She said and Maxwell laughed.

"Well, if you stay around, Maria, you’re going to have to get used to it. I’m going to be an Uncle sooner rather than later, so I better get used to this kind of talk. I know Amir is going to be all for it. It would be a wonderful thing if I was better at it then Ben." His smile took a slight malicious turn and Andrew felt his shoulders relax.

Maria handed Hewett his milk, and he took it with both hands. He was eager, almost desperate for the milk he was handed. He spilled some of it on Andrew, and Maria started apologising immediately. Andrew brushed it off, Maxwell coming to the rescue to dab the warm liquid up.

"Oh Hewie. I can never take you out." Maria sighed, while Maxwell chuckled.

"It’s a kid’s job to be messy. I was the worst around, I hear. A true terror to any nanny. My Mother said it was because I was so cute, I always tricked them into thinking I was never up to anything bad. I think Hewie is going to be the same." Maxwell had such a soft smile on his face that Andrew was having a hard time breathing.

Not noticing that Andrew was in such a state, Maxwell glanced around, before he found a table for four free.

"Shall we go grab a seat? Are we waiting for your husband, Maria?" Maxwell asked and Maria, who was also shocked, shook herself before smiling.

"He’s rushing over as we speak. Just finished up a meeting." Maxwell’s lemonade was put on the counter and called. Maxwell grabbed it. Maria looked over the pair, Andrew still holding Hewett, and she sighed. "You two go sit down. I’ll bring over the remaining drinks. Andy looks like he might pass out if he remains standing any longer."

Andrew was a little offended that she said that, but Maxwell seemed to agree with her. He reached out, cupping Andrew’s cheek in his gloved hand and Andrew flushed. Maxwell was never this openly affectionate with him. Was he showing off? Bragging?

"Hmm, you do look a little pale. Come, let’s sit. Are you alright with that Hewie?" Maxwell asked, and everyone looked at the little boy. He was still making a mess, smacking and licking his lips as he held the cup in his hand. He nodded when he met Maxwell’s gaze and Maxwell smiled.

Maxwell reached out with the same hand that had cupped Andrew’s face, ruffling the top of the child’s hood.

"Good boy." Maxwell said and Andrew felt a flood of embarrassment fill him. He wasn’t sure if Maxwell had done it intentionally, but he had treated the two of them the same. At least, in his mind.

Andrew looked towards Maria, and found that she had her mouth open, her hand covering it. So he wasn’t alone in thinking that he had been treated the same.

Maxwell slid his gaze up, meeting Andrew’s gaze with a dancing blue one. Andrew swallowed. Okay, maybe he wasn’t going to get upset about that if Maxwell was going to look at him like that. Maybe he was easy, but whenever Maxwell was in a good mood, Andrew was also in a good mood.

Andrew took initiative and made his way towards the table that Maxwell had pointed out first. He could hear Maxwell say something to Maria behind him, but he purposefully tuned him out. He turned his attention to the little boy in his arms.

"How are your milkies, Hewie?" Andrew asked carefully and Hewett tilted his head back to look at him, before giving him a wide, toothy grin.

"Good." He said, and Andrew melted. He was a disaster, a mess all over his face, but he looked so cute with his chubby cheeks and blonde curls peeking out from under his hood.

Maria certainly knew how to create cute babies.

Andrew reached out with his hand, wiping at a corner of his mouth and Hewett giggled.

"I’m glad you like it." Andrew told the baby in his arms, a soft smile on his lips.

"Hey, stop trying to seduce a baby." Maxwell’s voice accused over his shoulder and Andrew turned, watching Maxwell approach. He had his lemonade in one hand, and a pack of wet wipes in the other.

He looked a little ridiculous given he was still in his office wear and leather gloves. At the same time, it was a rather cute look, and Andrew felt he fell a little more in love with him in this moment.

"I am doing no such thing. And if anything, I should be accusing you of the same thing." Andrew said with a sniff and watched as Maxwell’s eyes went wide. He seemed shocked. Well and truly.

"Me? I’m not the one who Hewie is attached to." He accused and Andrew didn’t believe that for a second.

"I bet Hewie would let you hold him if I offered." Andrew said and both men turned to look at the baby. "Hewie? Would you let Max hold you?" Andrew asked and Hewie nodded. He thrust the milk in his hand towards Andrew, clearly suggesting to Andrew for him to take it. Andrew did so, before Hewie turned and held his arms out.

Maxwell stood there, hesitant, clearly unsure what to do. He had never anticipated this outcome, and Andrew was feeling a little smug that he was right. Maxwell held out his arms and Andrew could feel that Hewett wanted to jump to Maxwell, but he didn’t let him.

He carefully handed over the small child, coaching Maxwell on how to hold him. Maxwell was nervous, and it was cute to see him so worried as he tucked Hewett against his hip. He looked flustered, but strangely proud.

Hewie demanded his milkies as soon as he was settled, and Andrew handed it over with a chuckle, before stepping back and admiring Maxwell holding the baby.

He looked good. Really good, actually. Holding the baby made Andrew’s head spin with all kinds of thoughts, and he found that suddenly, wearing the jacket felt like a little too much.

Clearing his throat, Andrew set about pulling off his jacket and hanging it on the back of his chair before sitting down and pulling out the chair next to him. Maxwell hesitated, clearing unsure if he could sit down with the baby in his arms.

"Hewie is resilient. He can adapt easily. Come, sit Maxy. You’re the one who suggested it. If you sit, you can drink your lemonade." Andrew said. Unlike Andrew, Maxwell had to use both hands to hold up the baby. He just...wasn’t as big as Andrew.

"Well, if you say so." Maxwell murmured before hesitantly sitting down. Hewie had not a care in the world, and Andrew took the wet wipes that Maxwell had brought over and began to wipe up his face. Hewie scrunched up his face, clearly not pleased, but he didn’t make more of a fuss than that.

All cleaned up for the moment, Maxwell sat back, watching the small human he held in his arms.

Andrew watched him watching the baby.

"Wow. I can practically see the nursery already." Maria said as she came back with three drinks. She’d grabbed a tray, setting it down in the middle of the table before she passed over Andrew’s sweet concoction that Maxwell got him, and slid the other two towards herself.

Both Andrew and Maxwell flushed.

"We’re too new in our relationship." Andrew told her, and Maria gave him a strange look.

"How new are we talking?" She asked.

"About a month?" Andrew suggested and Maria started coughing. Andrew got up, helping her until she was able to compose herself.

"A month? There’s not fricking way. You’re lying, Andy Knox. You do not behave like a couple who’s only been together for a month! I was expecting like, six months, a year? Not a month." Maria said, huffing as she finished speaking, before taking a big sip of her drink. She hissed. "Ow, hot!"