(BL)Alpha Made
Chapter 190: So that’s where he gets it from

Chapter 190: So that’s where he gets it from

"Oh, are you back? I’ve been keeping track since you took your medication to see how long it takes to work. That’s pretty quick." Richard said, pulling out his phone and making a few notes. Andrew felt his face flush as Maxwell continued to pat his thigh under the table.

"It didn’t appear to be that bad of a reaction. He’s had worse ones before, but thankfully I was around this time. Andrew does find the most relief when he smells my scent." Maxwell told him and Richard nodded.

"Do you think it was a trauma bond?" Richard asked, and Andrew flinched and Maxwell froze. Richard realised what words had left his mouth and he jerked up, his eyes widening. "Oh! Sorry, I wasn’t-it’s just a common question we ask during trials. Sorry." He muttered, clearly embarrassed but Andrew swallowed.

"It’s not that." Andrew stated firmly, leaving no room for discussion. He was never going to let anyone, especially Maxwell, even consider for a moment that the feelings he had for him were because of trauma. He was never going to let it stand. Andrew hadn’t searched for Maxwell out of a damn trauma bond. He’d searched for him because he knew he would be safe with him.

That was what kept his feet moving after everything that had happened to him. He had wanted to give up. Of course he would have wanted to give up. It had been hard, it had been cold, and-

Andrew took a few, deep breaths, without needing anyone to prompt him to calm down. He knew he was on the cusp of freaking out again, and May reached out and grasped his shoulder.

"You’re doing great." She told him, her tone no nonsense, but Andrew could tell she meant it. Choking up, Andrew nodded, grabbing Maxwell’s hand on his thigh and giving it a squeeze.

"Okay...so not a trauma response. Interesting. Did he show any signs beforehand that he smelt anything from you?" Maxwell hesitated.

"Is this...something you want to discuss over dinner?" He asked carefully and Andrew started laughing.

"Maxy, I know you looked into everyone, so let me just put it into terms for you to understand." Andrew, laughing at the way everyone was staring at Maxwell blankly. He pointed to Richard. "Nerd." He pointed to Ford. "Nerd." He pointed to Rose. "Financial nerd." Rose gave a thumbs up at Andrew getting it correct. He pointed to May. "Also a financial nerd, but also a baking nerd. They are going to love to hear about facts and research notes and other things. This is a perfect conversation, even if I’m embarrassed. I don’t mind them knowing these kinds of things. In fact, Ricky would probably love to see Michael’s notes from our lessons." Richard perked up and Maxwell blinked, before he relaxed.

"Is speaking about it going to help you?" He asked and Rose groaned from across the table.

"God, stop being so perfect for him. You’re going to make me throw up." Rosie made a disgusted face and Maxwell seemed a little shocked by her outburst before Richard burst into laughter.

"You’re going to be even worse when I find someone I love." He teased and Rose turned to Jordan, burying her face in his shoulder.

"Jordie, comfort me. My estranged brother came back home with the love of his life who’s too fucking nice to him. I’ve only heard that he’s a mean shark, and instead he just loves my damn brother." Maxwell flushed, seeming to be embarrassed about that, but Andrew perked up.

"Isn’t he perfect? He’s so good at his job." Andrew bragged and Maxwell coughed, covering his face with one of his free hands.

"Oh yeah? My partner is perfect too!" Rose countered, and May, sensing they were about to get into an argument, cleared her throat loudly.

"None of that matters, since my partner is the most perfect. Now shut up and let Ricky ask his science questions." Since neither of them could argue about Ford being perfect, they shut up. While Ford beamed at his alpha wife from across the table, a little shy. May blew him a kiss.

Andrew, Rose and Richard groaned, before the trio shared a look and started laughing. The worry that had filled him thinking that they were going to be mad or upset with him was slowly fading, and Andrew’s trepidation about telling them what he had been up to while he had been out of their lives was slowly fading.

Richard kept asking questions about Andrew’s condition in regards to the medication he was taking and mostly Maxwell answered since he paid more attention to his condition then Andrew did. It was a little hard for him to do so as the one taking them, while Maxwell had a more objective look to it. Richard appreciated it, and told them that he wasn’t going to put in any research, but Maxwell gave him a confused look.

That was one of the reasons that Andrew was taking it, and Michael was taking notes so that they could be added to the research about the drug he was on. It wouldn’t be a problem if they both took notes on the same research subject, and Andrew wasn’t going to object to it.

When Richard looked to Andrew for confirmation, Andrew smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

Dinner finished shortly after, and May brought out dessert after Rose and Jordan cleared the table while Ford brought out the gift that Maxwell had brought. It was clearly eating him alive since he hadn’t even opened the bag. It was clear that this was his dessert, while everyone partook in the blueberry pie that May made. Ford had never been one for desserts.

"So, where did you get this? And how did you know?" Ford asked Maxwell and Maxwell glanced at Richard.

"Well, both Richard and Andrew told me of your love for bonsai, and since I have inherited my grandmother’s gardens, I thought this was a perfect time to call in a favour from my groundskeeper." Maxwell told him, and watched as Ford’s face went white. He fiddled with the thermal bag, furrowing his brow before he eventually turned to Maxwell and asked his question.

"Could you tell me the name of the groundskeeper?" He asked and Maxwell smiled warmly.

"Yes. When I mentioned that I was planning to gift it to Ford Gates she was more than happy to help me. She runs a small team, but has been tending to my grandmother’s gardens for about 15 years now. Dr. Laura Bailey?" Everyone watched as Ford seemed to go through several emotions before he stood up, began to pace, before he started laughing.

"Dr. Bailey knows my name?" He asked, floating, and Andrew glanced at May to find the fork in her hand bending.

"Is this the woman you have a work crush on?" She demanded and Ford nodded enthusiastically. May growled. Maxwell began to panic.

"Was this the wrong thing to do?" He asked and May growled more.

"No, I’m just pissed that he gets this excited over some damn other woman." May said and Ford stopped, before he rushed around the table to comfort his wife. He covered her face in kisses, which was an odd behaviour for Maxwell to witness since he’d never seen his family do the same, but Richard, Rose and Andrew didn’t even flinch.

Maxwell was beginning to realise some things as he witnessed the Gates’ family interact. Some very Andrew shaped things.

"You are my only love, May. I promise. I am just shocked. I’ve only written a few things as a hobby, I didn’t expect her to even know my name." Ford said, glancing at Maxwell with warmth in his grey gaze. "So? What did you select? Or what did she send you?" Maxwell straightened.

"Well, I know you have probably seen quite a few different varieties, so I selected one that my Grandmother liked to show me when she was still alive. While it might be a more common bonsai tree, it was something that held meaning to her. My grandfather got her this variety when he was courting her, and it has remained a staple in her greenhouse ever since." Interested, Ford gave his wife one last kiss before heading back to the thermal bag.

Everyone held their breath as the bag was opened. Inside was a beautiful tree, the branches bear since it was winter, save a lone leaf that had managed to hang on. It was slightly strange to Andrew, as he wasn’t that confident when it came to identifying plants. A narrow, five pointed leaf that was trimmed in a vibrant red shade, fading into a golden shade to the stem. It was pretty, and wrapped in wire already.

Ford seemed speechless, before he looked up at Maxwell.

"A common bonsai?" He repeated and Maxwell shrugged.

"She had a lot of them, so I just assumed so. That might have also been because it was the first plant my grandfather gave her. She liked Japanese maples a lot." Ford laughed, shaking his head. He touched the trunk and branches, which were wrapped in a bright red wire and he shook his head.

"It’s gorgeous. I haven’t gotten any golden falls because there weren’t any that I saw that really interested me, but this is such a deep contrast that I can tell this has been expertly maintained. Thank you, Maxy. This is a very nice gift." Maxwell beamed, happy to be told that he got something right.

"But now it is time to tell us what’s going on." May said, and Andrew gulped, turning to meet the brown gaze of the woman beside him. "Andy, what exactly did you get up to while you were gone?" She asked, putting down the fork she had mangled and Andrew gulped.

This was going to be awkward on so many levels.