Fighting for their son…
Samuel stood inside Dr. Banyon’s office. 101 sat in the waiting room. Samuel could see the boy through a crack in the door, sitting beside his father. “I think he might be autistic.”
“Shifters don’t struggle from the same disorders humans do,” the doctor said.
“After all Zed did to him in the lab, how can we be sure of anything? He doesn’t like to be touched. He doesn’t show emotion. He self-soothes himself by rocking. He’s brilliant. He can solve puzzles meant for children three times his age within seconds. He reads endlessly and remembers almost everything he reads.”
“That could be effects of being kept in the lab all his life.”
Samuel sighed. “And if it’s not? Just because bear cubs typically aren’t one thing, can you suspend a little disbelief and consider the possibility?”
The doctor sighed. “I haven’t done much research on autism because I’ve never encountered it here, nor did I anticipate having to. Let me talk with him for a little while and then do some reading on the subject. We might have to reach outside the limits of Bear Mountain and get some help if it appears you’re right.”
A wry smile rose on Samuel’s lips. “We just want to understand this world of his. And maybe help him better handle the world he’s now a part of. He’s never seen love. We can’t hug him or show him in other ways—so if fighting for him is the only way we can, then damnit, we’re fighting.”
Dr. Banyon smiled. “That boy’s lucky to have a passionate champion in you. We’ll see what we can do to make things a little easier, whatever we find is the root cause. Bring him inside and let’s all chat.”
Samuel walked from the inner office and looked at the quiet little boy seated on one of the waiting room chairs beside his father. It was then that Samuel saw the hint of the resemblance. Both of them were reading, lost in the books they held. They had the same tilt to the head, the same slight frown on their faces.
Samuel smiled, seeing the man he loved in the child. “101?”
When the cub looked up, his eyes…
They were glowing.
Samuel gasped. He’d never seen the child’s eyes glow, not even when he was having his fit over 102. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” 101 said before closing his book. He slid off the seat and walked closer.
And wrapped his little arms around Samuel’s waist.
The hug wasn’t tight, nor did it last more than a split second, but it was enough to produce a huge smile on its recipient’s face. Cal rose from his chair, his mouth dropping open—and then a smile spread across his face.
101 walked on into Dr. Banyon’s office and took a seat. Samuel turned to Cal. “You coming in?”
“If fighting for our boy gets us hugs, you’re damned straight I am.”
“Our boy?” Samuel asked.
Cal pressed a kiss to Samuel’s lips. “Our boy.”
* * * *
Introducing Cameron…
After their session was up, 101 seemed a little lighter. Cal was sure of it. The cub hadn’t shared all that much, but there was definitely some kind of impact on the boy. Or maybe it had been Samuel’s loving protectiveness that had softened 101.
“I think I’ve decided on a name.”
Cal turned to 101. “I thought you didn’t need a name.”
“No one in Bear Mountain has a number for a name. You told me names were important, so I need a name. I’ve chosen one.”
“And it is?” Samuel asked as they walked along the village sidewalk.
“Cameron.”
“Any particular reason for that name?” Cal asked the boy.
“I’ll be named after my fathers.”
“How so?” Cal asked, frowning.
“The nickname for Cameron would be Cam. Sounds like Sam. But starts with the same letter as Cal.”
Cal looked over at Samuel, who lifted his stare, as well. They held each other’s gaze a moment. Cal hadn’t been sure about bringing 101… Cam home. He’s been so afraid of losing Samuel without ever truly realizing what they all had to gain… “I like the sound of that,” Cal said as he looked down at his boy.
“Me, too. Do they have an ice cream parlor in Bear Mountain?”
The ever shifting focus of a five year old mind.
“They have a diner that sells ice cream,” Cal said.
“Can I have some ice cream?”
Cal glanced at Samuel. “Sure. Right, papa?”
“Sure thing, daddy,” Samuel said with a grin. “But before we go, I want to check in at the clinic real quick.”
“Because of the baby?” Cameron asked.
“What baby?” Samuel asked, frowning.
“The one growing inside you.”
Samuel froze and turned to Cal. Cal’s heart beat a little faster. Cal met his mate’s stare, the air sucked from his lungs.
“I don’t have a baby,” Samuel said, his face a bit pale.
“Yes, you do,” Cam said as he stopped and turned to look at Samuel. “You’ve been pregnant since I first met you.”
Cal took a step closer and scented his mate. “That’s impossible. It’s only me. We needed two.”
Samuel lifted his gaze. “After what Zed did to you… maybe the normal shifter rules don’t apply to you, either.”
Cal felt his heart throbbing in his chest. It was then that he noted the slight change in Samuel’s scent. His human was pregnant. He leaned in to kiss his mate.
“I really want ice cream,” Cameron said. “You can save the kisses for later, after I go to bed.”
Cameron turned and started walking away.
“We’d best get going before he leaves us behind,” Cal said.
Samuel chuckled. “We’ll stop at the clinic for two things and then ice cream.”
“Fine,” Cam said ahead of them, a hint of exasperation in his tone.
Cal wrapped an arm around Samuel’s shoulders, a smile spreading across his face.
They’d have their family after all.