Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Jeff's Story
And here I am. Or rather, here we are—little Charlie and me. Alone.

We’re in this massive apartment in a high-end building in Bangkok. We never had the money to live in luxury, not when my parents were alive and not now; it’s not our money, but our uncle Pete’s. He is my father's only brother. On my mother’s side, we don’t have any uncles or aunts, and our grandparents are way too old to take care of anything.

I’d rather not give so much context, but it’s necessary. Exactly five months ago, my parents were in a car accident. My mother died instantly. My father spent some time in the hospital; I was the only one allowed to see him, since Charlie, being eight, couldn’t go in until it was time to say goodbye and put an end to the suffering of the man who had been our hero. On one of those days—I don’t remember which one and it’s not relevant—my uncle Pete showed up. My father, as best as he could, asked him to look after us.

I don’t hate Pete, and I don’t think he hates us; he just doesn’t care enough about us. He was always more interested in science than in family. It was even surprising when we found out two years ago that he had a partner, a foreign scientist named Chris. We only ever saw him at my parent's funerals.

Shortly after, they got a job offer in the United States and decided not to pass it up. That’s when Pete remembered he had legal guardianship over Charlie. After consulting with his lawyers, he made me a proposal: "You could have custody of your brother, and you wouldn't have to keep that part-time job. I’ll send you money every month to cover your university, his school, and medical insurance for both of you. This apartment is mine, and you can stay here without any problem."
He said more things and in more elegant language, but the bottom line was the same. It wasn’t a real proposal; if I didn’t accept, he was going to put Charlie in a boarding school in the U.S. I couldn't do that to the kid, especially not now when we have no one else.

Charlie was born when I was fifteen; at first, I didn't like the news, but over time I grew fond of him and now he’s my responsibility. He’s my baby.

I finished telling all of this to the psychologist the judge had assigned to determine if I’m fit to take care of my little brother. I just sat there staring at him, waiting for him to close his notepad once and for all.

Alan Story

"Come on, Babe, eat your breakfast or you'll be late for school and I'll be late for work," I warned him, but he seemed more interested in peeking through the peephole, standing on one of the chairs.
"Yes, Dad, it's just that there are new neighbors," he replied without getting down.
I had to go get him myself and tickle him until I finally got him to sit down in front of his breakfast.

"Fortunately, I had the privilege of being born into a wealthy family; I have my university degree and work at my parents' law firm, counting on all their love and support for both myself and little Babe, who today is a very spoiled grandson, but a deeply affectionate nine-year-old boy."

"I never fell in love again. Since Jay left, my time belongs to Babe and my work," I explained to Khun Mook, my new psychologist.
-I had looked for another option after crossing paths with a previous therapist who turned out to be quite homophobic- She jotted some things down in her notepad that I couldn't quite see. Then she looked at me intently and put into words what I didn't dare to admit:
"What I see, Alan, is that you are taking refuge in fatherhood and work to fill the void of solitude and distrust left by your ex-partner. I understand that raising a child alone is by no means an easy task, but that shouldn't stop you from forming romantic relationships with other men."
And so, we began to talk about what actually happened. Jay left us with nothing but a letter. When he showed up weeks later to pick up his things, he didn't even ask to see Babe who was just a little baby; he just took his stuff and walked away without giving any more explanations than what he had already written on that paper.

We talked about my fear of abandonment and, above all, my constant fear of failing my son.

Chapter Text

Babe was perched on the chair by the entrance, one eye pressed against the peephole. He had seen the moving boxes going into Apartment A days ago and knew a boy lived there. He hoped that, at some point, the boy would step out into the hallway to go to the park or school, but the corridor remained in absolute silence.
Ten minutes passed. Then fifteen. The impatience of a nine-year-old won the battle. He carefully climbed down from the chair, put it back in its place, opened his front door, and slipped out into the hallway without a sound, taking advantage of the fact that Alan was focused on a video call in his office. He walked to the door across from his and knocked three times—softly, but firmly.

The door opened almost immediately. Jeff appeared, dressed in comfortable clothes and wearing an expression of exhaustion that couldn't quite hide his youth. Seeing the boy standing there alone, he was surprised, but not annoyed. Babe, remembering his grandparents' etiquette lessons, pressed his palms together at chest level and bowed his head in a respectful Wai.
"Sawasdee krub Khun, I'm Babe. I live in the apartment across the hall," he said with a bright smile, pointing back with his small hand. "I've been waiting for the boy who lives here to come out and play, but since he didn't, I came over myself. Can he play with me?"
Jeff blinked a couple of times, impressed by the little neighbor’s manners and confidence. He leaned against the doorframe, relaxing his shoulders a bit.
"Hi, Nong. I'm Jeff," he replied in a calm voice. "The boy's name is Charlie. The thing is, he's quite shy around new people, you know? It’s not that he doesn't want to come out, he just finds it a bit hard."

"I'm not 'new people,' I'm the neighbor," Babe countered with flawless logic. "If we play, we won't be strangers anymore."

Jeff let out a small laugh; the first one in a long time. The boy's logic reminded him of the arguments he sometimes used to try and encourage Charlie.
"You're right. Wait a minute, I'll go ask him if he wants to come out and say hi. Stay right here."

Jeff went inside, and Babe heard murmurs from within: "Charlie, come on, it's just a kid from across the hall," "He's not going to bite, he seems like a nice kid," "Just come out and say hello." Finally, Charlie peeked his head out from behind Jeff. He looked small and a bit overwhelmed, but seeing Babe's smile, he took a step forward.
"Hi... I'm Charlie," he whispered, barely audible.

"Hi, Charlie! I'm Babe," Babe exclaimed, pointing a thumb over his shoulder. "I live right there. My dad is working, so we can play for a bit if you want."
Babe then noticed the toy Charlie was holding in his hand: a red Formula 1 car with flames on the sides.

"Hey, I like your car! It's a GT-500, right? I have the same one in blue, but mine is die-cast metal."
Charlie's eyes suddenly lit up, forgetting his shyness for a second.

"It's a racing model..." Charlie corrected with a slightly firmer voice. "I have a lot more inside. My Uncle Pete gave me a whole collection. Do you want to see them?"
Babe didn't need to be asked twice. He looked at Jeff, silently asking for permission, and Jeff, seeing the spark of excitement in his brother, nodded and stepped aside to let him in.
"Go ahead, go to the living room. But don't make too much noise, okay?"

Half an hour later, Alan closed his laptop with a sigh of relief. The meeting had been grueling, but he could finally focus on what he loved most: making dinner with his son.
"Babe? What do you want for dinner, champ?" he asked as he walked toward the kitchen.
There was no answer. The silence in the apartment was absolute—a terrifying contrast to his son's usual energy. Alan checked the living room, the balcony, and the playroom. Nothing. Panic, that old acquaintance that had followed him ever since Jay left, gripped his chest with violent force.
"Babe! This isn't funny!" he shouted, his voice cracking.

He ran to the entrance and noticed the door wasn't locked. His mind raced to the worst-case scenarios: a kidnapping, an accident on the stairs, Babe lost in the streets of Bangkok. With trembling hands, he dialed his parents' number as he rushed out into the hallway.
"Dad! Babe is gone! I can't find him anywhere..." he spoke fast into the phone, pacing back and forth across the landing.
That’s when he remembered what Babe had told him that morning about the "new neighbors." Without a second thought, he hung up and pounded on the door of Apartment A with frantic desperation.
Jeff opened the door almost immediately. He was met by a man who was visibly falling apart—pale, with bloodshot eyes. Before Jeff could say a word, Alan began speaking in a rushed, disjointed blur.

"My son... have you seen my son? He's a nine-year-old boy, short, wearing a striped shirt... His name is Babe. Please, tell me you've seen him. He’s disappeared!"
Jeff, seeing the man's state of shock, stepped forward and placed a firm hand on his shoulder, cutting off the torrent of words. His voice was slow, almost therapeutic.
"Take it easy, breathe," Jeff told him, looking him in the eye with a calmness Alan couldn't comprehend. "Please, come in. Your son is here. He’s safe."
Alan blinked, confused, and stepped mechanically into his neighbor’s luxurious living room. There, on a plush rug, he saw Babe and another boy surrounded by dozens of toy cars. Babe turned to look at him, grinning from ear to ear.
"Dad, look! Charlie has the whole collection of formula 1. It’s amazing!"
Jeff crossed his arms, watching Alan with a mix of curiosity and empathy.
"Nong Babe introduced himself a little while ago. They're getting along quite well," Jeff explained, lowering his voice so as not to interrupt the children. "I'm sorry I didn't let you know, but I assumed he had told you."
Alan sank into the nearest sofa, covering his face with his hands as the air finally returned to his lungs.

Chapter Text

Jeff returned from the kitchen with a steaming cup of linden tea and handed it to Alan, who was still trying to steady his breathing on the sofa.

"Drink this. It’ll help calm your nerves," Jeff said in that slow voice that seemed far too mature for his age.
Alan took the cup with both hands, feeling the comforting warmth.
"I’m so sorry, Jeff. Truly. I'm sorry for bursting in like that, it’s just... I lost my head for a second."
"You don't have to apologize for worrying about your son," Jeff replied, sitting in an armchair across from him. "It’s what anyone would do."

After a brief and cordial chat, Alan decided it was time to go. Once they crossed the hall and were in the safety of their own home, Alan turned serious—something that was always hard for him to do with his son.
"Babe, what you did was wrong. You can’t leave the house without telling me; you gave me the scare of my life," he scolded, though his tone was more of relief than anger.
"I’m sorry, Dad. It’s just that Charlie is great and his cars are the best," the boy replied, hanging his head, but curiosity soon overcame regret. "Did you see his collection? We want to play again tomorrow."

Alan nodded, but his mind was already elsewhere. Before turning out the light, Babe surprised him with a loud kiss on the cheek.
"I love you, Dad. Thanks for letting me play with Charlie."
Alan’s heart melted in that instant. He stayed for a few minutes watching his son yawn before falling asleep, feeling that, despite everything, he was doing a good job.

The next day, after dropping Babe off at school, Alan arrived at his weekly session with Khun Mook with a firm theory.
"He’s a single father in his twenties, Khun Mook," Alan explained with conviction. "I saw his textbooks from the Economics faculty on the coffee table. He must be making a superhuman effort; so young, studying and raising a son..." he let out with a sigh.

In his mind, Alan recalled a moment from a few days prior. He had heard footsteps on the landing and, moved by a curiosity he couldn't quite explain, peeked through the peephole. He saw Jeff pacing in circles with his phone pressed to his ear and a look of absolute exhaustion. He couldn't help but overhear the conversation.
"Yes, Pete... Charlie's school tuition went up this month. I need you to send the money as soon as possible so I don't fall behind," Jeff was saying, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "No, don't worry, I’ll handle everything here. I just need the deposit."

Alan remembered the neighborhood gossip: the previous owner, Pete, had moved to the United States with his partner, Chris. It’s obvious, Alan thought. Pete had a double life with Jeff. Charlie is his son, and since Pete left with another man, he left the apartment to Jeff and pays child support out of guilt. Jeff is just a kid caught in the middle of it all.
"It’s a sad situation," he told the psychologist. "Pete went off to start a new life and left this boy alone with all the responsibility. I feel a connection to him, but Jeff is much younger. I feel like I have to help him."

Khun Mook remained silent for a moment, letting Alan's words float in the office. Then, she rested her notepad on her lap.
"Alan, don't you think you're projecting your own story onto your neighbor's?" she asked gently. "You've built a very detailed narrative based on a couple of books and an overheard phone call."
Alan shifted in his seat, slightly defensive.
"Maybe. But the facts are there. He’s alone, Khun Mook. And I know what that loneliness feels like."
"I understand," she nodded. "Regardless, helping him and becoming close to him could be a very kind gesture on your part. Perhaps, by looking out for Jeff, you can also learn to overcome your own fear of trusting others. Don't close yourself off to that possibility."

Meanwhile, in Apartment A, reality was far more suffocating. Jeff didn't have time for theories; he was dealing with a grief he hadn't been able to process because the weight of responsibility was absolute: Charlie. His little brother, clung to Jeff like a castaway.

That morning, Charlie had refused to let go of Jeff’s sweatshirt sleeve.
"I don't want to go, Phi. What if you're not here when I get back?" the boy had asked, his eyes red from crying.

Charlie was afraid to sleep alone and terrified of being separated from his brother. Jeff was seriously considering moving him to a closer school so he could spend more time with him, but he felt paralyzed. He didn't want to make a wrong move and, legally, he couldn't make deliberate decisions without discussing them with the court-appointed psychologist supervising the custody. He felt trapped between bureaucracy and his brother's pain.

Chapter Text

It was eight in the morning and the hallway was no longer silent. When Alan stepped out with Babe, he found the door to Apartment A ajar and the sound of distressed crying that made his chest tighten.
Jeff stood in the doorway, backpack over his shoulder, his face a mix of helplessness and exhaustion. Charlie, in his school uniform but with red and watery eyes, clung to Jeff's sweatshirt sleeve, refusing to take a single step toward the elevator.
"I’m late, Charlie. Please," Jeff whispered. His voice wasn't angry; it was an exhausted plea. Jeff’s university was in the opposite direction of the school—a commute impossible to coordinate when the child broke down like that.

Alan intervened; he couldn't help but offer his support, not when Charlie's face looked so scared and Jeff's so pale.
"I can take him if you’d like," Alan said, approaching calmly. "Charlie’s school is on the way to Babe’s. You won't miss your class, or at least you’ll make it to the next one."
Jeff looked at him, then at Charlie, who was now listening to Babe talk about a TV show.
"I don't want to abuse your kindness, Phi," Jeff said, looking somewhat resigned now.
"I already told you, it’s on my way. Besides, Charlie seems calmer now," Alan said, lowering his voice as he spoke about the boy. "Go ahead, Jeff. I can even pick him up when I go for Babe."
I saw Jeff’s eyes glisten, and suddenly, he bowed, pressing his palms together in thanks. I placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling, and then the four of us went down in the elevator. We exchanged phone numbers. Upon leaving the building, he said goodbye to Charlie with a hug and rushed off.

The car was quiet as we left the building, until Babe, watching Charlie through the mirror, decided to break the ice.
"My grandparents say going to school is important for being brave and learning a lot," Babe started, trying to cheer up his new friend. "Sometimes our parents have to leave to do their adult things, but they always come back for us."

Charlie looked down, clutching his backpack straps against his chest. His shoulders slumped a bit more.
"My dad isn't with us anymore," Charlie said in a small voice, filled with a sadness that didn't belong to a child his age. "He’s not coming back."
Alan, keeping his eyes fixed on the morning traffic, felt his stomach drop. He’s not coming back. In his mind, the pieces clicked together with a cruel logic: Pete was gone, he had erased his tracks, leaving Charlie with that sense of permanent loss and Jeff with a burden that wasn't his to bear.
Babe was silent for a moment, processing the answer. Then, with a naturalness that took Alan’s breath away, he reached for Charlie’s hand and held it affectionately.
"It’s okay," Babe said firmly. "Now you have me. And you have my dad Alan, too. We can share him."
Alan listened through the rearview mirror, feeling the weight of that unexpected responsibility. It wasn't just neighborly kindness anymore; now, in those children's eyes, he was becoming the anchor Charlie needed—the one that Jeff, in his youth and loneliness, couldn't provide alone. Charlie smiled at Babe and hugged him as much as his seatbelt allowed.

So cute, Alan thought, remembering the image of Jeff hugging Charlie before rushing off to university. There was something about Jeff and Charlie's fragility that made him want to look out for them—to show them that not all "fathers" left never to return.

In the afternoon, Alan picked up the children and brought them back to the building. He was in the hallway chatting with Jeff, thanking him for his trust that morning, when his phone began to vibrate with aggressive persistence.
It was an emergency from the firm. One of the senior lawyers had unexpectedly resigned, leaving a critical case that was due in court in just a few days. Alan listened through the receiver, rubbing his temple in frustration; the work was piling up, and Babe still had homework to finish and dinner to be made.
Jeff, observing Alan's expression and catching fragments of the conversation, stepped forward. He saw the opportunity to return the favor and, for the first time, took the initiative.
"Alan, leave him with me," Jeff suggested softly. "Let Babe stay at my place this afternoon. I'll make sure he finishes his homework with Charlie, and then I'll cook dinner for both of them. That way, you can focus on your case without rushing."
Alan looked at him, surprised. In his mind, Jeff already had enough on his plate with his own studies and looking after Charlie, but the young man’s gaze was determined and kind. The thought of his son being in good hands, just a few steps away, provided immediate relief.
"Are you sure, Jeff? I don't want to burden you with more responsibility," Alan said, though his tone already gave away that he was going to accept.
"It’s the least I can do," Jeff replied with a small smile. "Go on. They’ll be fine."

By the time Alan returned, it was almost ten at night. The children had already eaten; Babe had even taken a bath, and Charlie had lent him some pajamas. Now they were in Charlie's room, sleeping together like two little angels.
Jeff had done everything he said he would and more: he didn't just help them with their homework; they also played, cooked, ate, and went to bed without any trouble. Charlie, caught up in Babe’s energy, had run all over the apartment, and Jeff was able to hear him laugh in a way he hadn’t in a long time.
"I’m glad to hear he didn't cause you any trouble," Alan said, knowing that while his son isn't poorly behaved, he sometimes acts without thinking.
"He’s an angel, and he makes Charlie so happy—and that makes me happy. I wish he could be this happy all the time," Jeff sighed at the end, but then a small smile appeared on his face. "I hope you’re hungry, Phi; I made Pad Kaphrao."
"Actually, I am. I’m starving," I replied, returning his smile and helping him set the table for the two of us.
We talked about the kids, his studies, and my job; we avoided sad topics. By the time we finished eating, I’m sure he felt comfortable too, which is why we stayed at the table chatting and having tea. Eventually, it got very late; I picked up Babe in my arms—who didn't even notice the movement—and said goodnight to Jeff.

When the door closed and silence reigned once more in the apartment, Jeff leaned against the wood for a moment, letting the warmth of the tea still in his chest comfort him.
He was barely twenty-four, but sometimes he felt that his youth belonged to a remote past, as if he had aged decades in just a few months. However, tonight something had felt different. Recalling the dinner and the way Alan helped him clear the table, a light blush crept up his cheeks.

He couldn’t help it. Alan was attentive, calm, and had a smile that managed to completely disarm him. In any other situation, in a less complicated life, Alan would be exactly his type; the kind of man he could lose himself in without fear.
But then, the sound of a small sigh from the next room brought him back to reality. He shook his head gently, brushing the thought away. There was no room for romance or distractions. His absolute priority was Charlie, and as long as his little brother needed him, his own heart would have to keep waiting in the background.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Alan stopped by Apartment A with a simple excuse: to return the pajamas Charlie had lent to Babe. Jeff invited him in for a moment while he finished preparing breakfast.

"Have a seat, Phi. The coffee is fresh," Jeff said, gesturing to the small dining table.
While Jeff was in the kitchen, Alan noticed an open manila envelope on the table. He didn't mean to be meddler, but his lawyer’s eye caught words that set off all his alarms: "Guardianship Proceedings" and "Summons for Appearance: Parental Rights." Alan’s blood boiled. That bastard, he thought, referring to Pete. Not only did he abandon them, but now he wants to legally snatch his son away.
Jeff returned with two mugs, noticing exactly where Alan’s gaze was fixed. He tensed immediately, closing the envelope with a quick gesture.

"Jeff," Alan began, his voice laced with a protective authority that surprised the young man. "I saw the header. You don't have to go through this alone."
Jeff blinked, confused, clutching the mug between his hands.
"It’s... it’s just a formality, Phi. The court has to make sure everything is in order so Charlie can stay with me."

"I know. I know how these types operate," Alan insisted, thinking of Pete and his elite lawyers. "They want to scare you because you're young and alone. But Charlie is your son, Jeff. No judge with common sense would take him away from you to give him to someone who hasn't been there."

"W-what? No, Phi... he’s not my son. Charlie isn’t my son... he’s my little brother," Jeff said quickly, and both their faces were etched with deep confusion.
Alan let him speak without interruption. Jeff sat down beside him at a prudent distance and began to explain the death of their parents in the fatal car accident; he recalled his father in the hospital begging Pete, his only brother, to look after Charlie. Then, the custody agreement with Pete.
"That’s why we live here, but I still haven't been granted guardianship despite proving I can take care of Charlie and that Pete supports me financially. Pete isn't interested in having Charlie; if he wanted children, he would’ve had them by now—his life is dedicated to science. I know that if I’m not granted custody, Charlie will be sent to the U.S., and Pete will put him in a boarding school because he won't dedicate time to my brother. And Phi... I don’t want that for Charlie. Ever since our parents died, he hasn't left my side. He sleeps with me, and if he doesn't see me when he wakes up, he has panic attacks," I said, breaking into sobs, terrified of losing my little one. "I feel like everything is slipping through my fingers, Phi. I just want what's best for Charlie. I want him to be happy."

Alan’s arms surrounded me warmly until my crying subsided.
"I understand you’re in a difficult situation, a very difficult one, Jeff. But you have me; I can help you, and I want to. You are very strong, and you're doing a great job," he said, looking into my eyes as his hand gently caressed my cheek. When did we get so close? I didn't know, but I didn't want him to move away. I rested my head on his shoulder as his hand stroked my hair.
I could only hear him say:
"Rest, Nong. I’ll take Charlie and Babe to school; then I’ll come back so we can talk about the legal procedure. No one is going to take Charlie away from you, I promise."
Then, I fell into a sleep more relaxing than any I’d had in months; nearly six months, to be exact.

Jeff’s weight against him was light, almost fragile, as if exhaustion had dissolved every defensive barrier the young man had tried to maintain. Alan sat motionless for a few minutes, listening as Jeff’s breathing became slow and deep for the first time. It was the breath of someone who finally feels safe.

With infinite care, Alan slipped one arm under Jeff’s knees and another behind his back. He lifted him gently, surprised by how little he weighed for a twenty-four-year-old; it was clear that Jeff hadn't been taking care of himself while trying to look after Charlie and study at the university. He carried him to what he recognized as his bedroom and laid him on the bed. As he tucked him in, he noticed Jeff instinctively curl against the pillow, searching for warmth, letting out a small sigh in his sleep.

Alan stepped out of the room, closing the door with a nearly inaudible click, though deep down he would have liked to stay and appreciate the young man’s serene face for a bit longer.

—Charlie—he whispered, entering the kitchen where the boy was finishing his cereal.
—It’s time to go. Shhh, Jeff is resting for a bit. I’m taking you to school today."

Charlie looked toward his brother’s bedroom door, a trace of doubt in his large eyes.
—Is Phi Jeff okay?—the little one asked in a low voice.
Alan knelt to his level and playfully ruffled his hair.
—He’s doing great, Charlie. He’s just a little tired. I’m the one in charge today, okay?—Charlie nodded, trusting the man his brother seemed to accept, and took Alan’s hand. Alan led them toward the exit, but before closing the door to Apartment A, he took one last look inside. In his lawyer's mind, he was already mapping out a strategy. He wouldn't let a judge see an incapable student; he would give Jeff every tool to prove he was the best guardian Charlie could ever have.

And in his mind as a man, Alan felt a pang of something he couldn't quite define. It wasn't just pity for the brothers' tragedy; it was a physical need to protect Jeff and Charlie just as he protects Babe.

No one is going to take Charlie away from you, he repeated to himself like a mantra as he went down the elevator with the children. And no one is ever going to leave you alone again, Jeff.

The commute to school was unusually quiet. Babe, with his childhood intuition, seemed to understand that Charlie needed some space and simply held his hand the whole way. When Alan dropped each child off at their respective school, he made sure to speak with Charlie’s teacher, leaving his business card and notifying her that he would be the emergency contact for the day. Seeing Charlie enter the building with a firmer step, following the promise Alan had made in the hallway, gave the lawyer a strange sense of satisfaction.

However, instead of heading to his firm, Alan went straight back to the building. He had calls to make and emails to send, but he felt he couldn't stray too far from the door of Apartment A. Entering the apartment again with the key he had taken without asking—so as not to wake Jeff—silence greeted him.
He went to the kitchen, cleared the breakfast dishes, and wiped the counter.
Then, he sat at the small dining table, opened his laptop, and carefully pulled the documents out of the manila envelope Jeff had tried to hide. Hours passed. Alan worked in silence, alternating between his own urgent cases and a meticulous study of Jeff’s guardianship file. Every so often, he would get up to peek into the bedroom. Jeff remained in a deep sleep, unmoving, his face finally free of that constant tension that made him look older than he was.

By noon, Alan prepared something light to eat; the aroma of warm broth began to fill the small home. It was then that he heard a soft movement in the back room. Jeff appeared in the doorway a few minutes later, his hair tousled and his eyes squinting against the light. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Alan sitting at his table, surrounded by papers, with the afternoon sunlight bathing the room.

"Phi?" Jeff’s voice was hoarse, laced with a vulnerability that made Alan close his laptop immediately.
"Hey, Nong," Alan replied with a gentle smile, standing up to serve some broth. "You've slept for almost five hours. You needed it."
Jeff looked around, processing that the children were gone and that Alan had stayed to watch over him. A knot formed in his throat—not of sadness, but of a gratitude so immense it stole his words. And once again, he had to push away those romantic thoughts about Alan.

"He's just being kind," he told himself. But then, who wouldn't fall in love, even just a little, with a man like that?

They ate together in a peace Jeff hadn't experienced in months. Afterward, they went together to pick up the children from school. To cheer Charlie up and celebrate the good news, they decided to go to a nearby park. While Babe and Charlie played and ran across the grass, Alan and Jeff watched them from a bench, sharing a moment of tranquility.

Alan took advantage of the calm to speak about what truly mattered.
"I’ve been reviewing the case thoroughly, Jeff," Alan said, his voice calm but firm. "Don't worry. I even spoke with my father to get more information and seek his help; he has a lot of experience in these matters. Tomorrow afternoon we can talk more calmly about the details, but I want you to know that there is a way forward."
Jeff nodded, feeling an immense weight lift from his shoulders. The afternoon passed quickly between childhood laughter and quiet conversation, and as the sun began to set, they headed back to the building.

In the backseat of the car, the children were already dozing off, exhausted from the playing and the fresh air. Upon arriving, each of them took their child in their arms to head up the elevator. In the hallway, standing before their doors, Jeff stopped and looked at Alan with a sincerity that took the lawyer's breath away.
"Thank you, Phi. Truly, thank you for everything you’re doing for me... for us," Jeff whispered. "I’m at your disposal for whatever you need, anything at all."
Alan returned a warm smile, one that promised he wasn't going anywhere. They whispered their goodnights so as not to wake the little ones, and each entered their own apartment, leaving behind a hallway that, for the first time, didn't feel lonely.

Chapter Text

Afternoon was falling over the city, tinting the dining room of Apartment A with a warm, golden light. Alan had arrived punctually at four, carrying his briefcase and a determination that Jeff had never seen in anyone. On the table, the lawyer spread out several sheets, pointing with a pen to the critical points of the file he had been analyzing all morning.

"Listen, Jeff. I’ve analyzed the situation thoroughly, and the problem isn't Pete; his statement waiving custody in your favor is solid, and the monthly deposits are duly recorded. The real obstacle is the Child Welfare Report that the judge requested last month," Alan explained, pointing to a paragraph underlined in red ink. "The assigned social worker put a note of 'observation for potential instability'."
Jeff turned pale, gripping the edges of his chair until his knuckles turned white.
"Instability? But Charlie is fine with me... I study, I take care of him, he never lacks anything."
"I know, but the system is cold, Nong. The judge sees a twenty-four-year-old who has no income of his own, but depends on a relative abroad, and who also has a heavy academic load at the university. They fear that if Pete stops sending money or if you collapse from stress, Charlie will be left unprotected. To them, you're just a student trying to be a father."

Jeff looked down, feeling the weight of the world falling on him again. However, Alan leaned forward and, speaking confidently, said:
"That’s why I talked to my father; he has handled family law cases for thirty years and gave me the key: we don’t need more money, we need to prove that Charlie has a local support network. I am going to formally introduce myself as your legal counsel and certify that Charlie has a community environment here. Babe and I will be your witnesses, and I’ll try to get his teachers to contribute their truth as well. We are going to prove that Charlie doesn't just have a brother, but an extended family that stands behind him. I promise you, Jeff, that judge will have no doubt that his place is by your side."
The certainty in Alan's voice—the assurance that someone was finally fighting for him and not just sending money from another continent—overwhelmed Jeff. His eyes filled with tears, but this time they weren't from fear, but from a relief so pure it stole his breath away.

In an impulse of pure emotion and gratitude, Alan reached out and, instead of just touching his shoulder, gently cradled Jeff's face, wiping away a stray tear with his thumb. The contact was electric; Jeff's skin was warm, and Alan allowed himself to hold him a second longer than professional courtesy dictated. For a moment, the outside world disappeared.
The moment, suspended in an intimacy that neither wanted to break, was interrupted by a curious Babe peeking through the kitchen doorway with his head tilted.
"What are you doing?" Babe asked, narrowing his eyes as he saw his father's hand still near Jeff's face.

Alan withdrew his hand completely, though with a slowness that betrayed his nerves. Jeff, for his part, cleared his throat and tried to hide the blush rising in his cheeks.
"Are you boyfriends?" Babe blurted out suddenly, with the brutal honesty only a child possesses. "Were you going to kiss like in the movies?"
Alan let out a clear laugh, trying to release the tension, while Jeff desperately looked for something to occupy his hands on the table.
"No, champ," Alan said, kneeling to be at his son's level. "We were just chatting about delicate adult things. But listen closely, Babe: I’ve decided that from now on I’m going to take care of Jeff, and you... you will have the special mission of taking care of Nong Charlie. Do you think you can do it?"
Babe’s eyes lit up like two flashlights. He adored his new best friend, and receiving an "official mission" to protect him was the best thing that had happened to him all day.
"Yes! I'm the oldest, I'll take care of him!" Babe exclaimed, striking a superhero pose. "No one will touch Charlie!"
Jeff couldn't help but smile. Seeing Babe’s determination gave him a strange warmth; it was as if Alan's circle of protection extended through his son.
"By the way, Pa..." Babe remembered, returning to his normal tone. "I came to ask if we’re going to eat yet. Charlie and I are very hungry."
Looking at the wall clock, both Jeff and Alan were startled. Time had flown by between files and confessions. They both stood up at the same time, bumping shoulder to shoulder as they tried to reach the kitchen to start preparing something.

"I’ll cook, Phi, you’re the guest," Jeff insisted, already looking for a pan.
"No way. You should rest a bit, although... I could share my culinary skills with you," Alan replied with a challenging but kind smile.
In the end, they decided to cook together, moving in the kitchen with a synchrony that seemed more like a habit of years. Babe, satisfied with the answer and his new mission, ran back to Charlie's room to keep playing until dinner was ready.
The kitchen was transformed. It was filled with laughter and the sound of knives chopping vegetables on the wood. Alan had taken off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, moving with an ease Jeff didn't expect from a lawyer of his caliber.
"Watch and learn, Nong," Alan joked, holding up a wooden spoon like a trophy. "My mother used to say that a good lawyer wins cases, but a great man wins hearts with a good broth."
Jeff let out a laugh, feeling the heaviness dissolve. At several moments, while they reached for the salt or spices, their hands brushed. They were brief, electric touches that made Jeff look down with a shy smile. Alan didn't just cook; every now and then, he brought the spoon to Jeff's lips for him to taste the seasoning.
"Does it need salt?" Alan asked, holding the spoon with one hand while the other barely brushed Jeff’s chin so it wouldn't drip.
Jeff tasted it, feeling the heat of the steam and Alan's closeness.
"It’s... perfect, Phi."

For Jeff, this relaxed atmosphere was a balm. It had been months, since his parents' accident, that he hadn't felt "alive," as if he were living on autopilot. And for Alan, seeing Babe laugh in the other room while he cooked with someone brought back bittersweet memories. He remembered the letter Jay left on Babe's crib when the boy was only a month old; he remembered the emptiness of that apartment when his ex-partner left after the divorce, leaving him alone with a baby they had planned so much for, in that apartment decorated with the tastes and memories of both, and with no more explanation than an "I'm not ready for this," as if he himself knew what to do. Alan had never been able to give Babe this kind of "complete home" he had dreamed of. Until today.
Dinner was noisy and warm. Babe fulfilled his "mission" as Charlie's escort, telling exaggerated stories to make him laugh, while Alan and Jeff shared looks over their plates. Without seeking it, they were healing each other's wounds.

When they finished, Alan helped Jeff clean up; there wasn't much conversation, both were tired and felt comfortable in the silence. Upon reaching the door to say goodbye, Alan lowered his voice, letting his hand rest an extra second on Jeff's arm, not wanting to pull away.
"It’s been a long time since I felt this good at a dinner, Jeff. Thanks for having us."
Jeff looked into his eyes, feeling the knot of loneliness in his chest finally loosen.
"Thank you, Phi. For bringing life back to this house, for helping us without expecting anything in return... I don't know what we would do without you," he said, trying not to cry. "Good night, Phi. See you."
"Good night, Nong. Rest and don't think about the trial. I promised you everything will turn out fine, and I never break my promises."
And so, with Babe in his arms, he turned around to go back to his apartment.

Chapter Text

Khun Mook’s office always smelled of jasmine, a scent that usually managed to soothe Alan’s analytical mind. However, today the lawyer shifted restlessly on the leather sofa, his tie slightly loosened and his gaze lost in the large window showing the Bangkok skyline.
—You seem... different today, Alan —Mook began, observing him calmly over her glasses—. There is a softness in your expression for the first time since we met; it makes me happy.
Alan let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration.
—It’s my new neighbor, Jeff. I told you about his brother’s guardianship case, but yesterday... yesterday something changed.
He fell silent for a moment, remembering the warmth of the kitchen, the children's laughter, and the way Jeff looked at him.
—We cooked together. We had dinner. The four of us. For a moment, while watching Babe play with Charlie, I forgot that Jay left us almost 10 years ago. I forgot the letter he left on the crib when Babe was barely a month old, the suffocating silence of the divorce, and that feeling that my house was just an empty building. Jeff brought a life into my home that I didn't know I needed so much.
Khun Mook nodded slowly, taking notes in her notebook.
—And what is it that disturbs you about that warmth, Alan?
Alan leaned forward, interlacing his fingers tightly.
—I confess that... I think I feel attracted to him. But it terrifies me not knowing if it’s a real attraction or if my protective instinct has spiraled out of control. I see him so fragile, so overwhelmed by that tragedy and trying to be strong for himself and his brother... and I see myself when I was left alone with a baby in my arms.
—Do you feel like you want to "save" him? —the psychologist asked softly.
—I want to be his shield —Alan admitted in a whisper—. But then, when our hands brush by accident or when I see him smile at me... it’s not just pity. It’s something physical, something that makes me want to stay in his apartment forever. And that makes me feel like an opportunist. If I’m only attracted to him because he’s vulnerable, I’m a man with a terrible hero complex. I don’t want him to need me just because I’m his lawyer or his savior.
Khun Mook set her notebook aside and looked at him intently, with that implacable wisdom that always disarmed Alan.
—Alan, sometimes the desire to protect is the gateway to love. They are not mutually exclusive feelings. The problem is that, because of your history with Jay, you are afraid that your value depends only on what you can "provide" or "fix." You fear that if Jeff is no longer in danger, you will stop being necessary to him. But protecting someone is also a way of telling them that you care. Don't analyze your feelings as if they were a contract, Alan. Let them flow.
Alan closed his eyes, feeling that Mook’s words hit the nail on the head of his greatest insecurity. It wasn't just a guardianship case; he wasn't just helping someone else; it was his own heart trying to learn to trust again after years of absolute loneliness.

Leaving the session with Khun Mook, Alan felt as if a blindfold had been removed from his eyes, but the weight in his chest was still there. He drove in silence, picked up the children, and, as he drove back to the building through Bangkok traffic, he limited himself to listening to the conversation in the back seat.
—It would be great if we all lived together forever! —Babe exclaimed enthusiastically, swinging his legs—. We would look like one of those families from the movies, Charlie. We could play until late and Phi Jeff and my dad would cook delicious things every day.
Alan looked through the rearview mirror, expecting a cheerful response, but what he saw made his heart sink. Charlie had gone rigid. His small hands gripped his backpack and his large eyes, behind the lenses of his glasses, began to blur quickly.
—No... —Charlie whispered, his voice cracking—. I don't want a movie family.
—Why not? It would be fun —Babe insisted, not yet noticing the change in tone.
—Because... because if we have a new family, my parents will be gone for good —Charlie said, and a solitary tear rolled down his cheek, blurring the edge of his glasses—. I don't want to replace them, Babe. I don't want them to be mad at me for being happy with other parents.
The silence that followed was deathly. Babe, realizing his mistake, immediately lowered his head.
—I'm sorry, Charlie... I didn't mean to make you sad. I didn't want to replace anyone.
Alan didn't hesitate. He looked for a safe spot and pulled the car to the side of the avenue. He unfastened his seatbelt and turned toward the back seat, stretching out his hand to gently take Charlie's trembling little hand.
—Charlie, look at me —Alan requested with that firm and protective voice he used to calm Babe's nightmares—. Listen to what I'm going to tell you, because it's very important. No one in this world, not me, not Babe, not even Phi Jeff, could ever replace your parents. They live in a place in your heart that is theirs alone, and nothing we do here is going to change that.
Alan carefully took off his glasses to wipe his tears with a handkerchief.
—Having new people who love you isn't erasing those who left. It’s as if your parents, from wherever they are, had asked us to take care of you while they can’t. We are not here to replace them, Charlie. We are here to be your team. So that you never, ever feel alone.
Charlie hiccuped softly, looking at Alan with a mixture of doubt and hope. Alan pulled him forward into a half-hug from his seat, stroking his hair with the same tenderness with which he cared for his own son. At that moment, Alan was a man who understood the pain of the void and was determined to help Charlie and Jeff be happy again.

As soon as they set foot in the building's lobby, they saw Jeff arriving from the university, carrying his backpack and with exhaustion reflected in his face and body. Seeing Charlie with eyes still tearful and in Alan's arms, Jeff's heart skipped a beat.
—What happened? Charlie? —Jeff asked, dropping his bag to the floor while Charlie desperately reached out his arms toward his brother.
Alan passed the child to him carefully, while he began to explain in a low voice what had happened in the car. Babe, with downcast eyes and feeling responsible, approached Jeff.
—Sorry, Phi Jeff... —Babe whispered—. I made Charlie cry by saying silly things. I didn't want him to get sad.
Jeff, despite his own concern, bent down a bit and stroked Babe's hair sweetly.
—It’s not your fault, Babe. You always make Charlie smile, really. It’s just that he misses our parents a lot today. Don’t apologize for wanting us to be a family.
Charlie, hiding his face in Jeff’s neck, muttered something that left everyone frozen.
—Can I... can I stay to sleep with Babe today? We want to watch movies.
It was the first time Charlie had tried to step out of his comfort zone, the first time he didn't need to be glued to Jeff to feel safe. Jeff looked at Alan, opening his mouth to say no, so as not to be a bother, but Alan beat him to it with a smile that accepted no refusal.
—It won't be any trouble, Jeff. Babe has been asking for a sleepover since they met.
However, Alan could see the flash of pure terror in Jeff's eyes. He knew what he was thinking: it was Charlie's first night away from him since the accident. Jeff feared the child would wake up screaming, that a panic attack would consume him in a strange place and that he wouldn't be there to hold him.
Alan, reading his mind like an open book, took a step toward him and lowered his voice.
—Let's do one thing —Alan suggested, looking at both brothers—. Let's have a sleepover for the four of us in my living room. We can move the sofas, order pizza and lots of ice cream. That way Charlie sleeps with his friend, but you'll be by his side.
Jeff felt the air return to his lungs. Alan's proposal not only protected Charlie, but it also protected him.
—Pizza and ice cream? —Charlie asked, peeking an eye over Jeff’s shoulder.
—And all the superhero movies you can handle —Alan confirmed, winking at Jeff—. What do you say, Nong? Do you agree to us taking care of them together tonight?
Jeff nodded, feeling a gratitude that almost made him cry again.
—I agree, Phi. Thank you.

They went up to the floor and separated only for just enough time to bathe and get the children ready. Minutes later, the doorbell of Department B broke the silence of the hallway. Babe, already wearing his blue pajamas with a cloud print, ran to open the door with inexhaustible energy.
There were Jeff and Charlie. Jeff was carrying a backpack with essentials and Charlie, wearing cute dog pajamas and his glasses well-adjusted, was holding a bag of snacks. As soon as they stepped inside, the children forgot about the adults; Babe took Charlie’s hand and dragged him toward his room, eager to show him his toys for the first time.
Alan and Jeff were left alone in the living room. Jeff paused for a second, surprised. It was the first time he saw Alan without a tailored suit or an impeccable shirt. The lawyer wore gray cotton pants and a somewhat tight black t-shirt that suited him more than well; he looked younger, more accessible... and dangerously attractive.
—Make yourself comfortable, Jeff. My home is your home —Alan said, as he began to move the coffee table to make room on the rug.
Together they began to set up the living room, placing blankets and plush cushions while they ordered the pizza and ice cream over the phone. Jeff approached Alan as he finished arranging a heavy blanket.
—Phi... thank you —Jeff whispered, drawing Alan’s attention—. Thank you for what you did in the car. For containing Charlie and explaining things to him like that. I got very scared when I saw him crying, but he looks much calmer now.
Alan straightened up and looked him in the eye, softening his expression.
—You don't have to thank me, Nong. I am very fond of Charlie, and of you too. We are a team now, remember?
Jeff nodded, feeling his cheeks warm up. They began to empty the snacks into several bowls, moving with a familiarity that felt strangely natural. They sat on the floor, leaning against the sofa, enjoying the peace before the children burst back into the room.
—How was your day at the university? —Alan asked, stretching his legs.
Jeff let out a small sigh, letting his shoulders drop.
—Boring, honestly. Today's classes were eternal and I had a hard time concentrating. Sometimes I feel like time isn't enough for me to be a good student and a good... brother-father.
Alan turned a bit toward him, subtly invading his personal space with a gesture of support.
—You have very little left to finish, Jeff. Don't give up now. Remember that you can always count on me; if you need to stay late at the library or simply study in silence, I can look after Charlie. Babe would be delighted and you could breathe a little.
Jeff looked at him, getting lost for a moment in the security Alan projected even in pajamas.
—Would you really do that?
—I would do that and much more for you —Alan responded with a sincerity that made Jeff’s heart skip a beat, just as the sound of the pizza delivery guy announced that the night was just beginning.

The night passed between laughter, slices of pizza, and the sound of superhero movies in the background. When exhaustion finally overcame the children, Alan and Jeff arranged the futons on the living room floor, creating a large nest of blankets. In the dim light, with Charlie and Babe sound asleep a few meters away, the silence felt comfortable, almost sacred.
At some point in the early morning, Jeff, accustomed for months to seeking Charlie's warmth to calm his own anxiety, turned unconsciously. His arms sought refuge and ended up surrounding Alan's firm torso. The lawyer, far from pulling away, let his body relax under the contact, protecting that embrace until sleep enveloped them both.
At seven in the morning, Alan's internal clock woke him up. Although it was Saturday and his only obligation was the building's gym at nine, his eyes opened out of habit. Upon trying to move, he felt Jeff's warm weight on him and an involuntary smile pulled at his lips.
Jeff woke up shortly after, confused by the soft touch of the sheets and the sound of the coffee maker in the kitchen. Alan was already on the balcony, watching how the sun began to tint the Bangkok skyscrapers pink. Jeff approached, still wrapped in the haze of sleep.

—Good morning, Nong —Alan whispered without turning but moving a bit to make room at his side.
They stayed in silence for a moment, watching as the city woke up beneath their feet.
—They behaved incredibly, right? —Jeff said, looking inside where the children still slept placidly on the futons—. I feared Charlie would cry, but it seems Babe's "mission" worked.
Alan let out a small laugh and turned toward him, leaning his elbow on the railing. His eyes shone with a spark of mischief.
—Yes, they behaved very well. Although... —Alan paused, moving a little closer—, were you very cold last night, Jeff? Because you hugged me as if your life depended on it.
Jeff felt the heat rush to his cheeks. He turned red immediately and looked away toward the horizon, trying to hide his embarrassment.
—I... I'm sorry, Phi. It’s the habit of sleeping with Charlie, I didn't realize... —he stammered, embarrassed.
Alan let out a soft laugh and, setting his coffee aside, reached out his hand to gently take Jeff's chin. With a firm but delicate movement, he forced the young man to turn his face back toward him. They were so close that Jeff could smell Alan's perfume mixed with the aroma of coffee.
—Don't apologize —Alan murmured, lowering his voice until it became a caress—. I liked it. I liked it very much, in fact.
Alan didn't let go of his face. On the contrary, his fingers moved up to stroke Jeff’s cheek while his gaze descended, stopping on the younger man’s lips. The air between the two became heavy, electric. Alan was notably taller, forcing Jeff to tilt his head up to hold his gaze.
—Jeff... —Alan whispered, his breath brushing the other’s mouth—. May I?
Jeff felt his heart skip a final beat. He closed his eyes tightly for a second and nodded just barely, with a thread of a voice that betrayed all his desire.
—Please, Phi... please.
Alan didn't wait any longer. He closed the distance with a slow kiss that began as a response to that plea and ended up becoming something much deeper. Without breaking contact, Alan guided Jeff backward until his back hit the balcony wall, enclosing him between the cold of the wall and the burning heat of his body. Jeff stood on his tiptoes, seeking more, while Alan cradled his face with both hands, losing himself in a kiss charged with trust and an urgency they no longer needed to hide.
Alan deepened the kiss, feeling Jeff cling to his shoulders with a mixture of surprise and relief. They separated just a few millimeters, just enough for their breaths to mix in the fresh morning air. Alan didn't let go of Jeff’s face; his thumbs stroked his cheekbones with a devotion that didn't fit the cold man of law he used to be.
—I like you, Jeff —Alan whispered against his lips, his voice loaded with brutal honesty—. I like you very much. More than I've shown.
Jeff let out a tremulous sigh, closing his eyes to enjoy the warmth of Alan's hands. The knot of anxiety he always carried seemed to have dissolved completely.
—The same thing happens to me, Phi —Jeff confessed in a brave murmur—. Since you entered my house that night... I haven't stopped thinking about you.
Upon hearing those words, Alan let out a soft sigh of satisfaction and pulled him closer to his body, pressing Jeff's hips against his own. Their movements were clumsy but urgent; it had been so long since either of them had allowed themselves the proximity of another body that, at that moment, they didn't seem like a lawyer and a university student or just neighbors. They seemed like two teenagers discovering the world for the first time, with hands desperately seeking skin contact and hearts beating wildly against their ribs.
The kiss that followed was different: more secure, hungrier. Alan pinned him against the balcony wall, enjoying the difference in height and the way Jeff had to stand on his tiptoes to reach him. In that sunrise over Bangkok, the past —with Jay’s abandonment and the tragedy of Jeff’s parents— felt miles away. Finally, after years of silence, their worlds were full of noise again.

Chapter Text

Alan left the balcony with his heart still racing, giving Jeff one last quick kiss before preparing to head down to the building's gym. Jeff, still processing that encounter, returned to the living room in silence. The children hadn’t moved. With a sigh of peace, Jeff slid back between Babe and Charlie. Almost by instinct, both children clung to him; Charlie sought his arm, and Babe rested his head on his shoulder, creating a small fortress of blankets and synchronized breathing.

Two hours later, Alan returned. He entered the apartment, his body still warm from exercise, but stopped dead in his tracks upon reaching the living room. The morning light bathed the scene: Jeff asleep with an expression of absolute serenity, flanked by the two little ones who hugged him as if he were their center of gravity.

Without being able to help himself, Alan took out his phone and captured the moment in a photo. As he put the device away, a certainty pierced his chest: he wanted to wake up and see this every day for the rest of his life. It wasn't just a wish; it was a silent promise he made to himself; he would do everything possible and more to achieve it.
With a smile, Alan went to shower, and when he finally stepped out of the bathroom, the aroma of fresh coffee, orange juice, and toast flooded the air. Jeff and the children were already sitting at the table eating breakfast. Jeff looked up and almost choked on his juice. Alan was walking toward the kitchen shirtless, wearing gray cotton pants that hung low on his hips. His hair was wet, dripping slightly over his broad shoulders, and his face was freshly shaved, highlighting his strong, masculine features.

Jeff felt his face burn. "My God," he thought, unable to tear his eyes away from the trail of water running down Alan's toned abdomen. The image was so absurdly sexy that Jeff felt overwhelmed. He thought about what it would be like to have that man by his side every morning, seeing him both this relaxed and powerful at the same time. At that moment, Jeff felt he could kiss his feet and build an altar for him right there, just for existing and for having brought the light back into his life.
"Did you sleep well, Nong?" Alan asked with a lopsided smile, perfectly noticing the effect he was having on the younger man.
Jeff could only nod awkwardly, hiding his blush behind his coffee cup, while Babe and Charlie continued watching cartoons, oblivious to the electric tension vibrating over their heads.

Alan finished dressing quickly when he heard the doorbell. Upon opening it, he was met by the imposing but kind figure of his father, Pakorn. Babe, seeing his grandfather, dropped his toast and ran at full speed to the door.
"Grandpa!" Babe shouted, throwing himself at him.
Pakorn received him with a laugh, lifting him in the air. After his grandmother, Pakorn was the one who spoiled the little one the most, and the adoration was mutual.
"Careful, champ! You’re getting heavier every day," the man laughed, giving him a kiss on the cheek before greeting Alan with a proud nod. "Good morning, son. I see you have company."

Babe, still in his grandfather's arms, excitedly pointed to Charlie, who was watching the scene curiously from the table.
"Grandpa, look! This is Charlie, my 'bestest friend' in the whole world," Babe declared solemnly.
Pakorn set the child down and approached Charlie with a warm smile.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Charlie. I’ve heard a lot about you."

Jeff stood up from his chair, suddenly feeling self-conscious in the presence of the legendary lawyer Alan spoke of so much. Alan stepped forward to make formal introductions, but Babe, with that mischievous spark in his eyes that so resembled his father's, beat him to it.
"And he’s Phi Jeff, Charlie’s brother," Babe said loudly. Then, he leaned into his grandfather’s ear and, in a whisper that was perfectly audible throughout the room, added: "And he’s my daddy’s boyfriend."

With that, Babe let out a mischievous giggle and ran off to his room before Alan could react. A deathly silence followed. Jeff turned a shade of red so intense it looked like he might catch fire, looking down at his feet. Alan, for his part, froze, feeling the heat rise up his neck while his father arched an eyebrow, looking at him with a mix of surprise and contained amusement.

"Well..." Pakorn commented, breaking the silence with a voice thick with irony. "It seems I’ve missed a lot in these last twenty-four hours, haven’t I, Alan?"
Alan cleared his throat, trying to regain his elite lawyer composure, though his wet hair and loungewear weren't helping much.

"Dad... I... Jeff is my client... and my neighbor..." he tried to explain, though the word "boyfriend" still vibrated in the air.
Pakorn wasn't just a brilliant lawyer; he was a father who had seen his son turn into a fortress of ice after Jay's abandonment. Seeing Alan like this—disheveled, in loungewear, and with a look of panic that had nothing to do with the courtrooms—gave him back a hope he thought was lost. Mr. Pakorn let out a deep laugh that made the living room walls vibrate. Instead of the professional reprimand Alan feared, his father walked toward the table and placed a heavy, affectionate hand on his son’s shoulder.
"Relax, Alan. If I’d known the 'guardianship case' came with so much life, I would’ve come sooner," Pakorn joked, winking at Jeff, who was still trying to disappear inside his own t-shirt.

Pakorn sat at the table with enviable naturalness, ignoring the tension and centering his attention on Jeff.
"So you are the famous Jeff. My grandson hasn't stopped talking about how much fun he has at your place, and my son... well, my son isn't the type to invite someone to sleep over at his house unless they are someone truly special."

Alan finally managed to relax his expression, feeling the knot of anxiety in his chest loosen. Seeing his father accept the situation with such lightness took a weight off him that he didn't even know he was carrying.

"Dad, it's... it's recent," Alan managed to say, sitting next to Jeff and seeking his hand under the table to give him security.

"Being recent doesn't take away the obvious, son," Pakorn replied, turning to Jeff with a softer gaze. "Jeff, I’m very happy to meet you. Alan has been very lonely for a long time, and seeing Babe so happy with Charlie... well, that’s all a grandfather needs to know to be in favor of whatever is happening here."
Jeff looked up, finding in Pakorn’s eyes the same protective warmth he saw in Alan.

"Thank you, Phi... I mean, Khun Pakorn," Jeff whispered, sketching a small smile. "Alan has been incredible to us. I don't know what we would have done without him."
"Call us a team, Jeff," Pakorn insisted, taking one of the leftover pieces of toast. "Because that’s what we’re going to be in that hearing. We’re going to show that judge that this child already has the home he needs, and we’re not going to let anyone break it."

Alan looked at his father and then at Jeff. For the first time in four years, the apartment didn't feel lonely. It felt, finally, like the home Babe and Alan deserved and the refuge Jeff and Charlie needed.

The atmosphere in the dining room turned purely professional for a moment, but with a nuance of hope that Jeff had never felt. Pakorn, with his vast experience, broke down the prosecution's weaknesses and how the "support network" they were forming was an unbeatable argument.
Jeff, hearing the two best lawyers he knew talk with such confidence about his future with Charlie, felt a weight of tons lift from his shoulders. He relaxed in his chair, letting out a long sigh, while Alan, caught up in his father's brilliance and Jeff's closeness, spoke with vibrant emotion, gesturing passionately about the legal strategy.

"Grandpa! To the park!" Babe exclaimed, breaking the professional moment. "We want to go to the park with Charlie!"

Charlie, though still a bit shy before Babe’s energy, nodded softly, looking at Jeff for approval. Mr. Pakorn stood up and looked at Jeff with respect.

"Is that okay with you, Jeff? Just a few hours. I promise to bring them back tired and happy," the grandfather asked with a smile.

"Yes, Khun Pakorn... that's fine. Charlie needs some fresh air," Jeff replied, giving his brother a kiss on the forehead before the three of them headed out the door amidst laughter and promises of ice cream.

As soon as the door closed and absolute silence reigned in the apartment, the energy changed. Alan turned toward Jeff, his eyes shining with the adrenaline of the case and the excitement of knowing they had a real chance to win. He couldn't contain himself anymore; he took a long step and wrapped Jeff in a protective and possessive embrace, lifting him slightly off the floor.

"We’re going to win, Jeff. I promise you," Alan whispered against his ear.

Their faces sought each other by instinct, joining in a kiss that no longer held a trace of the morning's shyness. It was a hungry kiss, charged with the tension of the last few months and the electric attraction they had both tried to repress. Almost without breaking contact, Alan guided Jeff toward the large leather sofa. They sat down, and in one fluid motion, Alan pulled him until Jeff was sitting astride his lap. The contrast between Jeff's softness and Alan's firmness was intoxicating.

Jeff, losing all sense of shyness, tangled his fingers in Alan's still-damp hair, pulling gently to deepen the kiss, letting out a low moan that only fueled Alan's fire. The lawyer's hands moved down Jeff's back, marking their path until they stopped at his waist, pulling him closer. Alan moved his hands decisively to Jeff's rear, holding him firmly and helping him rub gently against his lap. The friction, the heat of their bodies, and the security of being alone turned the living room into a sanctuary of pure necessity. No longer witnesses; just two men who desired each other with an urgency that threatened to consume them right there.

The atmosphere in the living room grew dense, charged with an electricity that seemed to make the air vibrate around the leather sofa. The kisses became deeper, wetter, punctuated by the soft moans Jeff let out against Alan's lips. Alan, losing control due to the proximity and the heat of Jeff's body, lowered his face to his neck. His lips traced the sensitive skin with an almost religious devotion, leaving burning but careful kisses, making sure not to leave any marks that could betray them to the children. Jeff tilted his head back, exposing himself completely, while his fingers buried themselves tightly in Alan's back.
In the midst of the frenzy, Alan's hand descended decisively down Jeff's hip until it brushed the button of his pants. It was an instinctive move, charged with a desire that had been building for weeks. Feeling the touch, Jeff tensed slightly and placed his hand over Alan's, stopping the motion.

"Wait, Phi..." Jeff whispered with ragged breath, searching for Alan's dark eyes. It wasn't a rejection, but a request to go slow, to protect what was just beginning to bloom between them.

Alan stopped immediately, breathing with difficulty. He looked Jeff in the eye and nodded with a mixture of respect and tenderness.
"Yes... I'm sorry, Nong," Alan replied, his voice sounding deeper than usual. "You're right. I got carried away."

They didn't separate. Alan simply wrapped his arms around Jeff's waist again, keeping him in his lap, and dedicated himself to slow, chaste kisses on his forehead and the tip of his nose. The fire was still there, but now it was contained by an affection that ran deeper than simple desire.

"I like you so much it scares me, Jeff," Alan confessed, resting his forehead against the younger man's. "It was so hard for me to accept this feeling. After what I went through with Jay, I swore my heart would be under lock and key forever. My traumas... the idea of failing as a partner again kept me distant."

Alan let out a dry, almost disbelieving laugh as he stroked Jeff's cheek.

"But it was impossible. Seeing you every day, seeing how you care for Charlie, how you smile despite all the pain you carry... it was torture trying to contain myself. Every time I saw you in the hallway, I just wanted to do this. To be this close."

Jeff looked at him, moved by the vulnerability of the man who always seemed to have all the answers. He leaned in and gave him a short kiss, almost a brush, full of a silent promise.
"Thank you for not containing yourself anymore, Phi," Jeff whispered, hiding his face in the crook of Alan's shoulder, feeling—for the first time in years—completely safe.

The tension in the park turned icy, contrasting with the afternoon sun. Mr. Pakorn felt a pang of pure aversion as he recognized the silhouette of his former son-in-law approaching with that artificial elegance that had always seemed like a mask to him.

"I thought I made it clear that you are not to my liking," Pakorn snapped, without even turning his head, keeping his eyes fixed on the children.

"You did, but I heard some interesting rumors—too interesting," Jay said with a languid smile, sitting on the bench with an insulting familiarity.

"Well, I have no interest in you being part of the case," the elder lawyer stated with a voice of steel.

"Oh, don't worry, I won't. I didn't come as a lawyer. I just wanted to see how much things have changed."

"Are you calling your own son a 'thing'?" Pakorn asked, looking at him with a disgust he no longer bothered to hide.

"You know what I mean..." Jay shrugged, brushing it off. "Oh, how tall Babe is," he mentioned as if he actually cared. "And I assume the boy with glasses is his new step-brother."

Pakorn frowned, his patience running thin. "What are you saying? Are you still consuming narcotics?" the elder attacked with those matters from Jay's past.

"Mr. Pakorn, don't take me for a fool. I've only had to listen and connect the dots. It seems my ex-husband is very interested in winning the guardianship case and helping his dear neighbor... good for him. Although, what a coincidence! How that 'poor soul' managed to crack Alan’s walls," he said with a grimace of false tenderness. "Will the neighbor be lucky enough to make a successful lawyer fall in love and help him, or will Alan want something in return? I even have another idea: Alan wants to give Babe the family he always dreamed of. Aww, how sweet, don't you think, Mr. Pakorn?"

"Jay, I don't know what you want, but I don't want you near them," Pakorn warned, setting aside formal vocabulary and standing up, his imposing figure casting a shadow over his former son-in-law.

"Oh, Mr. Pakorn, I remind you that Babe is my son. I could approach him whenever I want."

"You would only hurt him. That’s the only thing you know how to do."

Jay's gaze hardened for a second, but he quickly regained his mask of indifference.

Pakorn didn't wait for him to say another word."I’d like to say it was a pleasure to see you, but with you, it never has been."
He walked toward the swings with a firm step, interrupting the game.
"Babe! Charlie! It's time to go," he called with authority.

The children, obedient to their grandfather's unusual tone, jumped off the equipment. Pakorn took one hand of each, squeezing them with a mixture of urgency and protection.

Without looking back, ignoring Jay's presence as he sat on the bench like a crow, they headed to the car. The silence in the vehicle on the way back to the building was tense. Pakorn drove with his hands gripping the wheel, processing Jay's veiled threat. He knew Alan and Jeff were in a moment of vulnerability and happiness in the apartment, and the mere thought of Jay appearing to destroy that peace made his stomach churn. He had to warn his son, but first, he had to get the children to safety.

Chapter Text

The atmosphere in the apartment had shifted from electric passion to an attempt at domestic calm in mere minutes. Alan, after receiving his father's message, had taken it upon himself to transform the main bathroom into a playground paradise for the children: the tub overflowed with white foam, toys floated about, and fluffy towels waited on the marble counter.

When the door opened, Babe and Charlie shuffled in, cheeks flushed from the sun and exhaustion peeking through their eyes.

"Straight to the bath, champs," Jeff said with a soft smile, guiding them down the hallway. "Phi Alan prepared a mountain of bubbles for you."

While Jeff tended to the children—closing the bathroom door to immerse them in warm water and laughter—the silence in the living room grew heavy. Alan turned to his father, who stood by the window, still in his coat, wearing an expression Alan hadn't seen since the darkest days of the divorce.

"Dad, you scared me with that message. What happened at the park?" Alan asked, crossing his arms, feeling the morning's peace begin to crack.

Pakorn sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose before looking his son in the eye. His voice was low, ensuring the sound of splashing water and the children's play muffled his words.

"I ran into Jay, Alan."

Alan froze. His ex-husband's name fell like a block of ice in the room. He remembered, like a painful flash, the months Jay was pregnant with Babe; Alan hadn't left his side for a second, watching every glass of water, every outing, becoming his shadow to ensure Jay stayed clean. He had loved him with a desperate intensity, believing the miracle of life Jay carried inside would be enough to keep him away from drugs. But Jay had only stayed sober under his strict watch; as soon as the baby was born, the "devoted father" mask shattered along with his will.

"What was he doing there?" Alan began, jaw tight and fists clenched. "He's not allowed... The judge was firm in the divorce: a man who prioritized his addictions over the safety of his own pregnancy and his child’s first months is not fit for even supervised visits. Jay lost that right the day he chose that life over us."

"He appeared out of nowhere. I was sitting on a bench near where the kids were playing, and he approached," Pakorn continued, moving closer to his son. "He knows about the guardianship case, Alan. He knows about Jeff. He hinted at disgusting things... said you were using Jeff to give Babe the family you 'dreamed of' or that you were collecting your legal fees in an... unethical way."

Alan felt a wave of nausea mixed with blind fury. The thought of Jay—the man who was never there for Babe—daring to tarnish what was blooming with Jeff made him want to break something.

"He mentioned he can approach Babe whenever he wants because he’s his father," Pakorn added gravely. "Alan, that man doesn't show up by chance. If he knows so many details about the case, it’s because someone is informing him or he plans to use this information for his own gain. I only hope whatever he wants has nothing to do with Babe." The elder sighed with a grimace of annoyance.

Alan knew it was legally impossible, but a chill ran down his spine. Jay was an expert at manipulating the cracks in the system, and the idea of that man now wanting to "claim" something made his stomach churn.

Alan looked toward the ajar bathroom door, as Jeff’s laughter echoed in response to the children’s antics.
The contrast was painful: the purity of the family he was building against the toxicity of a past returning to claim something that no longer belonged to it.

"I won't let him get near them, Dad," Alan declared, his voice regaining that lethal tone of a lawyer who never loses a trial. "Not after what he did. If Jay thinks he can use them to get to me or Babe, he has no idea who he's messing with."

Pakorn nodded, but his gaze remained worried.

"Be careful, son. Jay has nothing to lose, and now, you have everything."

While the storm of the past threatened to break in the living room, the bathroom atmosphere was a mix of steam, the scent of vanilla soap, and a childish curiosity that had Jeff cornered.
Jeff was kneeling by the large tub, sleeves rolled up, helping Charlie wash his hair when Babe, submerged up to his nose in a mountain of foam, dropped the question that changed the entire mood.

"Phi Jeff… are you my Daddy’s boyfriend?" Babe asked with the naturalness only a nine-year-old possesses.

Jeff felt the bathroom temperature jump ten degrees instantly. His hands froze on Charlie’s head, and a blush spread from his neck to his hairline. Before he could utter a coherent denial, Charlie—who until then had been silently processing the information—widened his eyes.

"If Phi Jeff and Phi Alan are together…" Charlie murmured with the relentless logic of an eight-year-old, "then they’re going to have a baby. And if they have a baby… I’m going to be an uncle!"

Charlie's excitement was the fuel Babe needed. The little boy sat up in the tub, splashing foam onto the floor, and pointed a chubby finger at Jeff’s stomach.

"Do you have a baby in your tummy, Phi?" Babe asked in awe. "And how did the baby get in there? Did you eat it?"

Jeff closed his eyes for a second, wishing the floor would swallow him whole. The mention of a baby was a delicate subject.

Alan had always kept Babe in a glass bubble. Following the trauma of Jay's abandonment, Alan decided his son wouldn't know anything about the "adult" world ahead of time. He never explained how he himself had been born, nor the details of male gestation; to Babe, babies appeared through wish and magic, or perhaps, as he now suspected, through something as simple as a hearty dinner.

I’ll have to tell Charlie to avoid this conversation with Babe later. It’s Alan’s place to have it, Jeff thought.

"No! No, no…" Jeff stammered, completely red, trying to regain control. "There is no baby in my tummy, really. And nobody eats babies, Babe!"

Jeff began rinsing Charlie in a hurry, avoiding the inquisitive stares of the two children who watched him as if he were guarding the universe's biggest secret.

"Come on, come on, hurry up," Jeff urged, his voice slightly higher than usual. "The water is getting cold, and if you don't get out now, you'll get sick. Out of the tub, right now!"

The children laughed, enjoying Jeff's evident nervousness, while he wrapped them in giant towels, trying to ignore how fast his heart was beating. Not just from embarrassment, but from the strange, sweet pang he felt at the thought of what Charlie had said.

Outside in the living room, Alan heard the echo of laughter and splashing, unaware that inside the bathroom, they had already made him a father for the second time in the children's imagination.

After the children were bathed and they all ate lunch together, silence took over the apartment as soon as Alan’s father left and the kids ran to Babe’s room. Alan led Jeff to the dining room. His face was marked by a seriousness Jeff immediately recognized as his "lawyer mode," but with a shadow of personal fear he had never seen before.

"Jeff, I have to warn you about something," Alan began, lowering his voice. "My father ran into Jay—my ex and Babe’s father—at the park. He’s lurking; he knows about the case... He’s a man who only knows how to destroy what others build. I don't want you to go near him, nor let Charlie do so," he said, looking at him worriedly as he pulled him into a protective embrace.

Jeff felt a sudden chill, but before he could respond, quick footsteps echoed in the hallway. Babe, who had gotten up looking for something to eat, had frozen behind the door, eavesdropping on every word.

In his nine-year-old mind, Babe connected the dots in an amazing way: his other father (whom he had only heard about when eavesdropping on his father and grandparents), Jay, was upset because Alan had a new boyfriend and they were starting a family. And for Babe, "new family" equaled "baby on the way." In his logic, Jay wasn't jealous of Alan, but of Jeff, because Jeff had something Jay no longer possessed: the place of a "daddy of a baby."

Without a second thought, Babe ran from his hiding spot and threw himself at Jeff, wrapping his arms around his waist with protective strength.

"I won't let Jay hurt Charlie or my little brother!" Babe cried, pressing his cheek to Jeff’s stomach like a human shield.

Alan stood speechless, blinking in confusion. He looked at his son and then at Jeff, trying to understand at what point the guardianship case had transformed into a secret pregnancy in Babe’s head. He knew his son had a vivid imagination, but this surpassed any movie script.

Jeff, his face burning again but moved by the gesture, placed his hands on Babe’s shoulders to gently pull him away, though the boy resisted.

"Nong Babe... you shouldn't listen to adults' conversations; it’s bad manners," Jeff scolded gently, though his voice trembled slightly.
"Besides, I already told you in the bathroom: I don't have a baby in my tummy. No one is going to hurt anyone, and there is no little brother in there."

Babe looked up, his eyes bright and determined.

"Daddy Jay always makes Papa and Grandma and Grandpa feel bad, but not this time. I’m going to protect everyone, especially the baby. Daddy, tell him you’re going to protect them too!"

Alan sighed, kneeling to be at eye level with his son. The weight of the word "family" had never felt more real than in that desperate hug from Babe to Jeff.

"Of course I’m going to protect them, champ," Alan said, stroking Babe’s hair while looking at Jeff with a silent promise in his eyes. "All of you. No matter what happens."

Chapter Text

The computer screen illuminated Alan’s tense face in the office that morning. Beside him, Jeff shifted, visibly nervous, as his lawyer prepared to make the call that could change everything. After several rings, the image of a man in a lab coat and glasses appeared. Behind him, a whiteboard filled with chemical formulas came into view.

"Jeff? It’s three in the morning here. I hope Charlie is okay," Pete said in a monotonous, almost clinical voice.

"Uncle Pete, hi. He’s fine, but... things got complicated with the legal process for the guardianship. This is Alan Hemmawich, my lawyer. Well, our lawyer."

Alan leaned forward, regaining his professional poise, though Jeff’s presence made him feel more protective than usual.
"Pleasure to meet you, Khun Pete. I am Alan Hemmawich, representing Jeff in the guardianship case in Thailand. We have a problem: the assigned social worker does not consider a university student with no income of his own to be fit for guardianship, despite the financial support you provide. Your presence at the hearing is fundamental."

Pete sighed, rubbing his eyes. It wasn't a lack of affection or hatred toward his nephews; it was a total absence of paternal instinct. To him, Charlie was a responsibility he had "delegated" so he could focus on his true passion.

"Listen, Counselor. Jeff has the apartment, he has the money I send religiously, and Charlie is in the best school. What more do they want? I’m in the middle of a polymer research project with my partner that I cannot abandon. We’re barely sleeping."

Jeff intervened, his voice trembling but firm:
"Uncle, if you don’t testify that I am the person my brother chose and that you fully support me, Charlie could end up in an orphanage... or in the United States with you, something you know wouldn’t work."

Pete fell silent, observing the determination in his nephew's eyes. If he traveled to Bangkok the following week to resolve the issue, his life could finally regain the scientific peace he so craved.

"Fine. If it’s the only way for Charlie to stay where he belongs and for me to continue my work... I’ll be there as soon as possible. Just tell me when I need to appear."

While Alan and Jeff celebrated the small victory, oblivious to the storm brewing outside that office, the gears of a much darker machinery were already in motion.

In the Child Care Department building, not far from there, Jay slid a fountain pen across an electronic file. Jay was not a lawyer for loud courtrooms; he preferred the silent power of bureaucracy. Despite his history of addiction—issues that should have disqualified him from working in Social Services—having a wealthy and influential family had opened doors that should have remained closed. Even the judge might still remember Jay’s cold words in court nearly ten years ago: "I don't care; I don't even like children." That statement had cost him joint custody during the divorce, but now, it was he who held the files in his hands.

When Alan Hemmawich’s name reached his desk weeks ago, Jay knew fate was handing him a gift. He still didn’t want Babe; the idea of diapers or school meetings repulsed him. But the hatred he felt for Alan was a much more powerful force. Jay knew Alan’s professional trajectory by heart. It was strange, even suspicious, to see him here. Alan didn't do guardianship; he was a shark of high-impact criminal cases. Seeing him represent a young student like Jeff in a custody battle seemed like a direct invitation to disaster.

To top it off, fortune seemed to be smiling on him: several social workers in the department owed him favours, giving him the influence needed to tip the scales. Nine years ago, Jay thought Alan—the man who watched him closely but loved him madly—would forgive his addiction as a mere "illness." Instead, Alan had unmasked him and stripped him of everything.

"So you want to play happy family with a college brat, Alan?" Jay whispered. "Let’s see what the judge thinks when my report says Jeff is emotionally unstable and that his lawyer has a sexual conflict of interest with the client."

The information network Jay had been weaving began to tighten with suffocating precision.

For weeks, he had dedicated himself to dissecting Alan’s life with the patience of a predator. Alan wasn't just Jeff's lawyer; he was his neighbor, his protector, and most incriminatory, Charlie’s emergency contact at school. They behaved like a functional family, united by bonds Jay was determined to present as a network of manipulation.

However, what truly infuriated Jay was seeing his own son, Babe. While following them, he watched from a distance as Pakorn took the children to the park. He saw the imposing figure of the old man head toward the swings with an urgency that betrayed his fear. Jay smiled, adjusting his sunglasses. Pakorn had always been predictable: a wall of ethics designed to protect the Hemmawich legacy, but even the highest walls have cracks.
To Jay, the icy conversation they had shared under the afternoon sun hadn't been an attempt at reconciliation, but a reconnaissance mission. By mentioning Charlie as Babe’s "new stepbrother," he was testing Pakorn’s reaction. The old man’s immediate attack on his past addiction was the confirmation he needed. If there were nothing to hide, Pakorn would have simply laughed.
But what Jay couldn’t stand was the expression on Babe’s face. His son looked radiant. That happiness was a personal affront. Jay felt that if he were condemned to the void, Alan and Babe should share that fate. It was unbearable to see Babe grow up as if the man who brought him into the world, after carrying him for nine months in his womb, were just a shadow erased by Alan’s constant presence.

"So you replaced me with a student and someone else’s child, Alan?" Jay whispered, clenching his fists as he looked at the photos taken from afar. "If I can’t be part of your life, no one is going to have that 'happy family' you brag about."

Jay watched Babe obey his grandfather without looking back. That obedience burned him inside. That child was supposed to be his link to the Hemmawich fortune, but now Babe was nothing more than a pawn in Alan’s game.

"Babe, Charlie... how pathetic," he whispered, watching them leave.
While lighting a cigarette, hidden from the view of the park guards, Jay mentally reviewed his report. A renowned criminal lawyer meddling in someone else's family case, living door-to-door with his client, and acting as a father figure. In his twisted mind, destroying Jeff’s guardianship was the first step in dismantling Alan’s security. If he could prove Alan was using his power to "buy" a family, the judge would doubt even Alan’s fitness as Babe’s father.

Jay stood up, smoothing his suit with predatory elegance. He was leaving with his hands full. He didn't need to get close to Babe to cause harm; he only needed a sheet of paper, a pen, and the favors of his colleagues.

Inside the Child Care Department building, silence was his greatest ally. Jay preferred the invisible power of files. He opened the physical folder for Jeff and Charlie, savoring the word "fitness." To a judge, it was about moral stability and the absence of undue external influences. Jay began to write in impeccable calligraphy:

"A concerning lack of technical objectivity is observed in the defense. The attorney, Alan Hemmawich, has overstepped the boundaries of the attorney-client relationship. This 'excessive proximity' suggests inappropriate conduct and a possible sexual conflict of interest, subordinating the minor's welfare to the attorney's personal interests toward the petitioner."

Jay leaned back in his chair, watching the ink dry. He only needed one more signature for the report to be official and unappealable.
"Do you think you can use your influence to buy yourself a new life, Alan? In my department, I am the law."

He smoked near the open window, contemplating the city. Tomorrow, the notification would arrive at the Hemmawich firm. Tomorrow, Alan would discover that the man he despised now held the power to snatch away everything he loved.

Jay adjusted his watch and smirked. The net was closed. If he couldn't have Alan, and if he couldn't get his son back, he would ensure Alan Hemmawich’s world was reduced to ashes.
"Let the trial begin," Jay thought, closing his office door with a heavy thud.