(BL)Alpha Made-Chapter 500: A Knox won’t give up
Andrew found that the holidays went super smoothly after the recovery day for Maxwell. Apparently, everyone was having a rough day the next day, even the pregnant members of their motley crew of a family. Jordan had terrible acid reflux, Ellis was just sick across the board, and Mehar was inconsolable after Amir and Ben got home.
It was small stuff, but Andrew liked to know that everyone cared enough to let him know that they were suffering.
Maria and Dr. Cox face-timed Andrew on Christmas Eve to wish him and Maxwell a Merry Christmas from their combined family. Dr. Cox looked a little embarrassed to be in the video call, but at the same time she had this infectious smile that wouldn’t leave. Especially when her daughter ran by giggling and screaming with joy, her face smeared with icing and wearing a headband with two ornaments dangling off of it.
Andrew and Maxwell felt a particular kind of way about it, or at least, Andrew did. He remembered his conversation with Maxwell, but he hadn’t brought it up to Maxwell yet to see if he remembered it. Andrew was just happy to see that all the children around them were happy.
Noah video called in with Nicole and Elijah on Christmas and it was about the time that a delivery of Christmas food and treats was set to arrive from the Beckett’s and Andrew. It caught them completely by surprise as the knock sounded on the door and the delivery men, dressed as Santa, showed up with all the food.
Nicole’s face had lit up at it, while Noah and Elijah seemed surprised. Andrew had no idea why Noah was surprised. This was typical treatment for anyone from the Knox family. He better get used to it. Nicole seemed to be adjusting well even if Andrew hadn’t had a conversation with her about their plans yet.
Elijah seemed suspicious of the act, but still receptive. Andrew couldn’t exactly blame the man. He had seen what Nicole’s family had done to her previously. He had every right to be suspicious. However, Andrew wasn’t going to back down. He was going to prove to the cautious, careful man that this time, Nicole was safe and was making the right decision by staying by Andrew and Noah’s side.
Christmas was good, with Kim and Jenny throwing a party similar to the year before, only everyone was invited this year. The Beckett’s, the Gates, and anyone else that Andrew and the Proctor’s had gotten close to.
Which meant that the two days weren’t all that different. While Kim and Jenny didn’t do a formal sit down dinner and it was more like passed canapes and a buffet style meal, the attendance wasn’t that different from who the Beckett’s celebrated the holidays with.
Either way, Andrew was just happy to be with everyone during the end of the year and the festive season before he would have to hunker down and get serious. Nicole was video called both days, keeping it going until she had to leave because her phone died or some test related reason and Andrew was glad to know she was happy and felt included. Next year, both her, Elijah and Noah would be there in person. Noah refused to come, but Andrew knew it was because of guilt.
He’d get him next year, no ifs ands or buts.
~
Andrew was grateful that for New Years everyone decided to gather together for a nice dinner at Andrew and Maxwell’s home. Andrew was glad to be able to use his kitchen and dining room for everyone else, and was happy to have all the littles running around, the parents laughing, and the people he cared about him around him.
Unspoken was the tension underneath everything. The police had come by the day before to let Andrew know that they hadn’t been able to find traces of the Abrahams in the city. Andrew didn’t believe for a second that they weren’t here, which was the same for Maxwell.
Maxwell was angry on his behalf, and the poor officer who had been tasked with telling that information was clearly worried about how Maxwell would respond. Andrew, however, just placed a calming hand on Maxwell’s shoulder and simply shrugged.
"There are only so many places cockroaches like them can hide." Andrew had told the police officer. Andrew felt how Maxwell had tensed at his words, but also how he had calmed down upon hearing them. It was clear that the smaller man agreed with Andrew, but he was still pissed that the people who had hurt him, Noah and Nicole, were still at large.
That wasn’t even about the research lab that they found under the house.
When Andrew asked about that, the police officer had looked awkward and told him that he wasn’t able to speak about something so sensitive out in the open. He would be happy to tell Andrew about it if he came down to the station and could ensure that the information wasn’t being recorded by an outside source. Andrew knew that was a big inconvenience for him, so he waved off the suggestion.
He was curious, but he was going to be doing an interview soon with the police. He could wait until then. The officer had looked relieved when Andrew had told him that, and Andrew was glad to at least make his stop a little less stressful.
Andrew thanked him for coming, offered him some baked goods for his trouble, and sent him on his way.
That was the day before New Years eve, and now that the rest of the people who he cared about were brought up to speed, they were all stewing together.
For some silly reason they had all latched onto a third party recording their updates but Andrew totally agreed with the police. This was a sensitive case, Andrew completely understood why they were being cautious. Even with someone like him who was potentially a victim in all of this.
Andrew knew that he was, probably, but he didn’t want to think the worse of others. Even if there was this feeling in his gut that told him that he didn’t need to doubt anything. That was his name, that was him in the files, and it was his ex who was involved.
She had known what she was going to do the whole two years he was dating.
Andrew sometimes found himself with those kinds of thoughts, but when he did, he would just go to Maxwell and tuck the man against his chest and hug him tightly. Maxwell never fought him when he came over and turned him around to hug him against him. Most times he didn’t even stop talking, he was just a little more muffled in his conversation for a moment.
Maxwell just took Andrew’s slightly odd behaviour as it was and didn’t try to change him. Andrew had wondered for a moment why he was letting it pass, and even had a moment to eavesdrop on someone else asking Maxwell the very question he wanted to ask him.
Maxwell had let out a soft laugh before he answered.
"Why would I discourage him from doing something so cute?" Andrew felt his face warm at that answer and then felt bad for listening in on his conversation with someone else. He had returned back to the kitchen, his face warm, and continued working away while Jenny and May helped him put the final touches on a few of the foods he was making.
Andrew thought that maybe he got away without Maxwell thinking that he eavesdropped on him, but that was quickly cleared up when Maxwell stormed into the kitchen, 30 minutes later and went directly to Andrew with this strange look on his face. Andrew had just taken some puff pastry snacks out of the oven when Maxwell held up his arms to him.
Confused, but not going to question Maxwell much, Andrew reached down, tucked his hands under Maxwell’s bottom and lifted him up. Maxwell’s strange expression melted into a sweet, victorious smile.
Andrew glanced around, confused as Maxwell leaned in to kiss him on the cheek and Maria scowled at Andrew and Maxwell from the doorway of the dining room.
"You win." She complained bitterly and Maxwell chuckled and stuck his tongue out to him.
"Of course I win. He’s mine." Maxwell declared pointedly and Andrew had no idea what was going on.
"What’s going on here?" Andrew asked, confused, and Maxwell leaned in and kissed his other cheek.
"We were just testing what you would do if I stuck my arms out like that. I said you would scoop me up, Maria over there said you would just lean down for me to wrap my arms around your neck. I won, of course." Maxwell said confidently and Andrew nodded slowly.
"Of course. You pounce me when you want your arms around my neck." Andrew said without a hint of embarrassment and Maxwell turned to grin smugly at Maria, who was scowling more. She even crossed her arms, looking annoyed at the couple.
"You disgust me. You really let this man push you around, huh?" Maria asked and Andrew nodded in agreement.
"Of course. He deserves it." Andrew said and May let out a muffled laugh.
"Not you deserve it?" Jenny asked sweetly and Andrew shook his head. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
"Nope. He does. He spends so much time not always getting what he wants, he should have a partner who can provide that for him and more, no?" Andrew said, as if it was obvious. Maxwell kissed Andrew on the lips then, grinning as he pulled away.
"I would reward you more, but we have guests." Maxwell whispered as Andrew felt his face warm. A big, warm smile touched his lips as he squeezed the ass in his hands.
"I’ll wait patiently." Andrew told him and leaned in to nuzzle his forehead against Maxwell’s, his glasses getting in the way. They both laughed and Andrew could feel how some of the tension in the room faded.
He was just happy to have the people who he cared about around him. He was sure his Mom was looking down on him as another year passed and thinking that things could only go up from here.
