For the first time in a long while, Max laughed properly. A warm, genuine laugh. "Ah," he said, shaking his head lightly. "You are such a sweet talker." Nathan smiled proudly at the compliment.
Beside them, Ethan suddenly climbed down from the tall hospital bed carefully. His tiny legs struggled a little, and Max instinctively stood up immediately to help him down safely.
"Easy," Max murmured, holding him gently by the waist until his feet touched the floor. Ethan grinned. "I can do it."
"I know," Max replied with amusement. The little boy hurried toward Nathan immediately and wrapped his arms around him carefully. "Are you okay, Junior?" Ethan asked softly.
Nathan nodded with a small smile. "Yes." The nickname made Max pause. Junior. His eyes moved between the boys quietly while they talked and smiled at each other.
The bond between them was obvious. Strong. Natural. Protective. Ethan adjusted Nathan's blanket as he had probably done many times before.
