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WARD

WARD WATCHED Skylar as he got ready to take Charlie home.

Something was wrong. He'd felt it last night, and it had only gotten worse that morning. Then again, it didn't help that none of them had gotten enough sleep. Ward was tired himself, having been kept up late by Charlie's fidgeting and then having that loud awakening that morning. Poor Skylar had to be in even worse shape. The boy had recovered from his surgery, but he still wasn't one hundred percent back to normal.

And no wonder Charlie had thrown a fit. Everything had been piling on between the long car ride yesterday, the overwhelming connection they'd all shared last night, and then having his sleep interrupted by noises. All of that capped off with his morning not starting off the way he was used to? It made sense that the poor boy wanted to go home. To go back to what was comfortable and familiar.

But Skylar clearly didn't want Charlie to go.

Ward didn't, either. That was the very last thing he wanted. He wished both boys would stay there forever. Just his luck, though, that was never going to happen. And trying to force them to stay would probably only backfire. Charlie couldn't handle his routine or his needs being interrupted. And as for Skylar? The poor boy had endured enough force over the years. Ward refused to add to that. Skylar deserved to be his own man. To have control over his own life.

“Sure you don't want to come with us?” Ward asked Skylar. He'd already asked once, right after they'd all finished breakfast, but he couldn't resist asking again. Just in case Skylar changed his mind.

But Skylar firmly shook his head.

“Okay,” Ward murmured. He reached out and tucked Skylar's hair behind his ear. “Try to get some rest, okay? And call me if you need anything. I'll pull over,” he quickly added. “I promise.”

Skylar slowly nodded. “Okay.”

Charlie strode by and set his bag down by the front door.

“You all set, little mouse?” Ward asked.

Charlie nodded.

“Okay.” Ward turned back to Skylar and wrapped his arms around the boy. “I should be back in time for dinner, but I'll let you know if I get held up in traffic or something.”

Skylar nodded and hugged him back.

Ward paused. There was something desperate in the way Skylar held him. More so than any other time Ward had made this trip. He waited, letting Skylar be the one to pull away first. Ward studied the boy's face. There was something off there, but Ward couldn't put his finger on it.

Then Skylar yawned.

Ward breathed a laugh. That had to be it. The boy was just tired. Hell, they all were. Ward grabbed a travel mug that he'd filled with coffee, knowing he'd need it for the road. He set it by Charlie's bag and pulled on his boots, watching as the boys embraced.

Skylar visibly tensed the moment his arms went around Charlie. Ward frowned, watching them. The hug lingered, just like it had with him.

This time, Charlie pulled back first, rolling his head and rocking on his feet. He turned away and picked up his bag.

“Okay,” Ward said, resting a hand on Charlie's shoulder. “We're off.”

Skylar nodded. “Drive safe.”

“Will do,” Ward promised, then turned to Charlie. “Come on, buddy. Let's get going.”

Charlie gave a little chirp , then waved at Skylar before he walked out the door.

Ward looked back at Skylar, seeing a strange tension on the boy's face. “I'll lock the door, sweetheart. You'll be safe.”

“Okay.”

“Get some rest,” Ward suggested again, then gave Skylar a smile and stepped outside, pulling the door shut behind him.

He locked the deadbolt, then did the same with the security door. Ward paused there. He felt a sudden, clawing urge to go right back inside. To insist that Skylar come with them. Or to insist that Charlie stay, after all. But he couldn't force them. He knew that.

Ward turned away and got into his truck.

Charlie climbed into the passenger seat and set his bag on the floor. He fussed with the seatbelt for a moment while Ward started up the truck, letting the engine warm. As soon as Charlie seemed satisfied with the way he was sitting and the placement of his bag, Ward pulled out of his parking spot and turned onto the road.

They got onto Spring Street and followed it north. It was the straightest, simplest way to get to a northbound freeway on-ramp. Ward idly looked around as he drove. Downtown Paso Robles was quiet and empty, being Sunday morning. Very little was open yet. A few diners were packed with people getting Sunday brunch, but otherwise, there was hardly any traffic to speak of.

All around, Christmas decorations were already going up even though it wasn't quite Thanksgiving yet. Ward found himself smiling. He couldn't wait for Christmas. To share it with his boys? He couldn't imagine anything better. That was assuming Charlie would get to come down again for the holiday, though. Ward thought of last Christmas, when they all went for a tour of Vine Street. Maybe they'd get to go to the Showcase itself this year. It would be crowded as hell, which Charlie would hate, but maybe the boy would find something to enjoy. The lights? The music? They could get hot chocolate and watch Scrooge's performance. That never failed to entertain.

They could go to one of the local Christmas parades, too. Those were always fun. And a little bit different. Instead of riding in a sleigh or on some kind of traditional float, Santa rode on top of a vintage firetruck, painted green and covered in strands of lights. The crowds always loved that.

Ward grinned. He'd have to see if he could convince the boys to go.

At the northernmost end of Spring Street, the road transitioned seamlessly into the freeway on-ramp. Ward pressed on the gas pedal, getting up to speed. Paso Robles slipped away in his rearview mirror as they merged into the sparse traffic and settled in for the long drive.

Ward set the cruise control, then glanced at Charlie. The boy was oddly still. Charlie sat with his hands pressed between his thighs, his head not even moving. Ward frowned with concern. He'd gotten so used to Charlie's wandering gaze, it was unsettling not to see it.

They were about an hour out of Paso Robles when Charlie suddenly pointed.

“What's up, buddy?” Ward asked. When Charlie groaned and then pointed more insistently, Ward asked, “Pull over?”

Charlie nodded.

“Okay.” Ward glanced ahead, unable to slow down in time for the upcoming exit. “Hang on, buddy. We'll get the next one.”

“ Hhnn! ”

Ward spotted another exit. He put on his turn signal and got off the freeway, then pulled into a nearby parking lot. Ward picked a spot away from other cars, then left the engine running so they could keep the heater on. “You okay? Hungry? Need a bathroom? There's a restaurant right there–”

Charlie shook his head. Miss Sky .

Ward sighed. “I know, little mouse. I wish he could have come with us, but you know he's afraid of the city.”

Charlie gave a solemn nod. No want Sky afraid .

Ward smiled. “You're such a good boy, you know that?”

Charlie scrunched up his face in a grin and gave a little chirp in response. Then he turned serious again and signed, Want stay longer.

“I know you do.” Ward paused. Did he dare even hope? Just wanting more could completely backfire on him, but after what they'd shared last night—and after the difficult, tense parting that morning—Ward knew he had to try. “How about this? Next time you come down, if you're up for it, we'll go look at places to rent. Maybe we'll find one where you feel comfortable. Somewhere less noisy.”

Charlie perked up. New house?

“Yeah. It can be exhausting,” Ward warned him, “touring different places, but if we find one you like–”

New house! Charlie squeaked and bounced in his seat. With trees? Our Sky like trees.

“Yeah,” Ward began, then paused again as a grin took over his face. “Our Sky?”

Charlie blushed and ducked his head, covering his eyes with his hands, then he sat up again and grinned. Our Sky! Our Sky!

Ward hesitated. “Charlie? Just because I said that last night—that he was ours, I mean—doesn't mean you have to say it, too.”

Our Sky! Charlie insisted. Yours and mine . He squeezed his eyes shut and gave Ward a big grin.

Ward couldn't help grinning back. “Okay,” he said with a joyful laugh. “Yes. Our Sky.” Ward grabbed Charlie's hand and gave it a squeeze, unable to resist repeating, “Our Sky.”

It sounded so good.

Charlie bounced excitedly again. We go now?

“Go where?”

New house!

Ward's eyebrows went up. “You want to go back now? Are you sure? I'll still take you home if you want–”

Now! Charlie insisted. I stay. We find new house! Our house. I stay always! Charlie paused, his smile fading. I stay always?

Ward laughed. He couldn't help it. Charlie wanted to stay! “Yes,” he gasped, pulling the boy close so he could give him a kiss. “You can stay always. Are you sure? Is that really what you want?”

Charlie gave a long, drawn-out squeak , then kissed him back before bouncing in his seat. New house! I stay, I stay, I stay! Our Sky! Always.

Ward chuckled. “Okay, little mouse.” He put the truck back in gear. “Let's go get our Sky.”

Charlie beamed at him.

They turned around and got back onto the freeway, heading south. Ward didn't stop smiling the whole way. He couldn't wait to get home. To tell Skylar that Charlie wanted to stay for good. They wouldn't be able to go looking at any rentals until next weekend, but that would be fine. While Ward was at work, Charlie and Skylar could browse for listings and decide which places they wanted to go see. Ward didn't care where they wound up. He'd live anywhere, so long as his boys were comfortable.

He told Charlie as much, hoping the boy could stay patient while the week progressed.

Charlie was silent for several minutes, rolling his head while he processed it all. In the end, he seemed to accept Ward's plan. Charlie and Skylar could look at pictures of places, and Skylar could make phone calls to set up appointments.

Ward said he'd start, though, by calling John to see if his house was still available. Charlie insisted that Ward do that as soon as they got back. Ward grinned. That was a promise he could easily make.

They finally got back to Paso Robles after what felt like hours. The same distance seemed to take so much longer now that Ward had so much to look forward to. He headed back down Spring Street, turned into his apartment complex, and led the way inside.

Ward paused at the security door, realizing it wasn't locked. When he tried the main door, he found the knob itself was locked but the deadbolt was not. Ward frowned. Maybe Skylar had walked somewhere and hadn't felt the need to set the deadbolts when he got back?

They stepped inside, and while Charlie went directly to the bedroom, signing that he was going to unpack, Ward stood there in silence and glanced around.

The apartment was too quiet.

“Sky?”

Ward waited, getting no response. He took off his boots and left them by the door, then started moving through the apartment.

A piece of paper on the kitchen counter stopped him in his tracks.

Ward felt his entire body run cold. He picked up the paper and found a stack of cash beneath it.

Then he read the words.

This is almost everything I have left. I know it probably doesn't cover what you've spent on me, so I'll try to send more when I can. I'm sorry. –Sky

Ward strode into the bedroom, clutching the note in his fist. He found Charlie standing in front of the closet, holding a shirt in one hand and a hanger in the other, staring at an empty space where Skylar's clothes had been. Ward sank heavily onto the end of the bed, feeling all his dreams shatter at his feet once again.

Skylar was gone.