Conditional Love

Chapter 30

The sun is high in the light blue sky as Alec paces across his living room. Today is the first day he's been granted hours alone with his godson, and he can't help but be nervous. Holly had given birth to a beautiful baby boy five and a half months ago, and to Alec's wonder, they'd named the baby after him, at least for the middle name: Ethan Alexander Morgenstern. Sometimes Alec still can't believe it. Then again, what has him more perplexed is the great change in his parents since the the opening of Amedeous' restaurant six months ago.

Alec has a very tentative relationship with Maryse. They basically have dinner twice a month, and... she's coordial enough, though she still sometimes throws in snide comments about his sexuality. He's not even sure if she realizes that she's doing it. Magnus doesn't like her and only goes with Alec for moral support. Alec doesn't let her homophobic slurs bother him anymore; he knows that she's never going to change.

Alec's thoughts are interrupted by the doorbell. Rushing to get it, Alec sees Jon standing there, carrying a seat with a sleeping infant in it.

"Now, he's just been fed, but I've packed some formula for him," Jon says. "And don't forget you can call either of us if you need anything."

"Got it," Alec smiles. "Anything else."

"Yeah, just make sure the kid's still alive when I get back," Jon laughs. Alec has to resist the urge to hit him. He is after all carrying a baby.

As the door closes, Alec is faced with four hours alone with Ethan. And of course today is also the day he agreed to cook dinner, so it's four hours alone with Ethan, plus food prep to do. With Ethan currently asleep, Alec decides it's best to start that now, rather than wait and run out of time after he wakes up.

Alec starts chopping and mixing the herbs he needs for his lemon garlic sauce for the chicken dish he's making tonight. As Alec is working, he thinks about how his relationship has been with his dad so far.

Robert has dinner with them at the Morgensterns' every Sunday, and also joins them for dinners with the Bane's about every other week since their dinner dates are inconsistent due to Alec, Magnus and Asmodeus' work schedules. He calls or texts Alec quite often, almost daily, and is always interested in even the smallest detail of what's going on in Alec's life. Robert really has stepped up to the plate these last six months. Due to Maryse's confession at the launch party, Robert ended up serving Maryse with divorce papers a week later. She bought Robert out of his half of their law practice. Robert went on to Blackthorne-Penhallow and Associates and became a partner with them, taking all of his previous clients with him. He seems to be extremely happy at their practice, and Asmodeus is still his client. Robert now lives in a loft in Brooklyn, which he said was to be closer to his kids and work, leaving Maryse the house in Manhattan.

As Alec is finishing up the prep work, his phone rings. Quickly answering it without checking the caller ID, Alec makes sure the baby doesn't wake up from the noise. There would have been a time when answering this number without checking first would have made for a very stressful afternoon, but as it is, Alec welcomes the voice on the other line.

"Hey dad," he whispers.

"Is everything okay? Why are you whispering?" Robert asks.

"I'm babysitting Ethan today. He's napping and I don't want to wake him up." Alec softly chuckles, "What's up?"

"I wanted to ask you a question." Robert says nervously.

"Ask away." Alec tries to keep his voice neutral, not giving away that his dad's tone is making him anxious.

"Okay," Robert lets out a breath, "You know how I allowed Isabelle to set me up with a facebook account?"

"Mhm." Alec is intrigued as to where this conversation is going.