Hayden chuckled. "Well that was interesting. And yeah, Lily is the baby. I'm sure Marta would love a call should you need a babysitter when the time comes. She has her own trauma's so we'll want to make sure everything's good on all sides." Hayden was a bit protective of the kids here. They were all trauma-torn, and all had different needs.
"We'll see who influenced who then I suppose." He laughed as he finished his plate.
There wasn't a long wait before footsteps headed in their direction. It could be anyone Sky would just let in without announcing it. "I think they are here." Nox was first up the stairs, he looked tired, but Hayden was pretty sure that was the usual look these days. There was no smile, no light in his eyes. He was just there trudging through life.
It wasn't more than a second before Liam was in front of him, whispering something to Nox and Nox gave the boy a half smile and hugged him. "I know what I'm doing. I'm fine." Liam handed Lily over to Nox and the first genuine smile spread across his face as she giggled and cooed up at the man she adored. And he adored her right back. The smile was fleeting, even if it remained on his face. The song on the playlist on shown on the TV screen changed and Hayden took note that Nox was broadcasting his feelings to the whole house -- on purpose. He wanted everyone to know he was alright. He wasn't in a bad place even if he looked horrible.
He was a bit too strong, which meant that he would be crashing later. "You should eat." he said to Nox who was walking past the kitchen.
"I need a shower."
Hayden noticed the blood on his hand and caught his arm "Clean up then eat." Nox's eyes went from Lily to his and his left hand reached across his body to his opposite hip. But it was when Nox's eyes darted to the hand that had automatically slipped just a little under the hem of his shirt that Hayden realized something else had just happened.
There was a smile on Nox's lip when his eyes returned to his. It wasn't a real one, not one that he'd given Lily, but it was a good one. Nox's hand trailed up his side and his thumb caressed the side of his face and over the slight growing stubble he'd have to shave in the morning. He was gentle with the mechanical hand. Hayden's eyes went wide. "You feel that don't you."
Nox nodded and whispered, "You staying?"
Hayden nodded. "I will. Go clean up." he said taking Lily from his hands and sending him off towards the back. Hayden turned his attention to the married couple who had just watched their exchange. "You are welcome to stay as long as you need. Make yourself at home. Nox isn't exactly the best host." He walked over and offered his hand to the man who'd helped Nox. "Hayden."
"We'll see who influenced who then I suppose." He laughed as he finished his plate.
There wasn't a long wait before footsteps headed in their direction. It could be anyone Sky would just let in without announcing it. "I think they are here." Nox was first up the stairs, he looked tired, but Hayden was pretty sure that was the usual look these days. There was no smile, no light in his eyes. He was just there trudging through life.
It wasn't more than a second before Liam was in front of him, whispering something to Nox and Nox gave the boy a half smile and hugged him. "I know what I'm doing. I'm fine." Liam handed Lily over to Nox and the first genuine smile spread across his face as she giggled and cooed up at the man she adored. And he adored her right back. The smile was fleeting, even if it remained on his face. The song on the playlist on shown on the TV screen changed and Hayden took note that Nox was broadcasting his feelings to the whole house -- on purpose. He wanted everyone to know he was alright. He wasn't in a bad place even if he looked horrible.
He was a bit too strong, which meant that he would be crashing later. "You should eat." he said to Nox who was walking past the kitchen.
"I need a shower."
Hayden noticed the blood on his hand and caught his arm "Clean up then eat." Nox's eyes went from Lily to his and his left hand reached across his body to his opposite hip. But it was when Nox's eyes darted to the hand that had automatically slipped just a little under the hem of his shirt that Hayden realized something else had just happened.
There was a smile on Nox's lip when his eyes returned to his. It wasn't a real one, not one that he'd given Lily, but it was a good one. Nox's hand trailed up his side and his thumb caressed the side of his face and over the slight growing stubble he'd have to shave in the morning. He was gentle with the mechanical hand. Hayden's eyes went wide. "You feel that don't you."
Nox nodded and whispered, "You staying?"
Hayden nodded. "I will. Go clean up." he said taking Lily from his hands and sending him off towards the back. Hayden turned his attention to the married couple who had just watched their exchange. "You are welcome to stay as long as you need. Make yourself at home. Nox isn't exactly the best host." He walked over and offered his hand to the man who'd helped Nox. "Hayden."