Cailen had to leave to go get Ezekiel from school, make him dinner and make sure he did his homework before Noah came over to watch him while Cailen came back to the hospital so it was sort of convenient that Asher had fallen asleep.
He was avoiding bringing Ezekiel down to the hospital because Asher truly wasn't very sociable and he didn't want Asher getting upset at Ezekiel over anything because the boy might take it to heart.
Even the guy’s visits have been sparse because Asher couldn't handle socializing with so many people right now- his head still hurt, he was still feeling a bit nauseous sometimes, and it all made him very irritable.
That family coming to visit was proof enough that Asher wasn't ready.
The only person Asher would allow for any length of time was Cailen, and he was certain that was only because Cailen didn't really give him an option.
Asher said countless times how he hated letting Cailen see him like this, he hated having Cailen waiting on him hand and foot, and he hated how he couldn't even control his emotions sometimes and snapped at Cailen when he was trying to help.
Cailen assured him he could handle it and didn't let him kick him out, ever.
Cailen left Asher's hospital room and made his way down to the front.
It was still a little difficult to leave Asher there alone but with each day, it became easier, just another part of his day that he would have to get used to for the next little while.
He waved goodbye to Madeline on the way out, the older lady smiling back but not able to do much else because she was talking with someone at the desk, and soon, he was in his car and pulling out of the parking lot, on his way to Ezekiel's school.
When he got there, he was a bit early so he got out of his car and leaned against it, facing the school so Ezekiel could see him when he came out.
There were other parents doing the same as him, all lined up along the road waiting for their children.
Cailen smiled at the closest to him politely but looked over at the doors when he heard the school bell.
It was a couple minutes before the doors opened and then kids of all heights were pouring through, some of them talking with their friends, others looking out in search of their parents.
Cailen smiled when he spotted the brown mop of hair that was his son talking to that Tripp boy. He was smiling and talking pretty animatedly, Tripp laughing at something he said and Cailen couldn't have been happier.
Ezekiel had obviously accepted Tripp as a friend and he was smiling now which was better than the frown that had seemed to be permanently etched onto his lips lately.
When Ezekiel glanced over and spotted Cailen, his face brightened even more.
Cailen smiled and waved at him. He watched as he said goodbye to Tripp and once the boys parted ways, Tripp heading in another direction, Ezekiel took off at a run towards Cailen.
Cailen couldn't help the chuckle that left his mouth, he was just so amazed at the turn around Ezekiel has had.
He's so much more open and comfortable now and it made Cailen a bit giddy when he thought about it.
Cailen bent down as Ezekiel neared him, holding out his arms for the boy to run into.
Ezekiel did, wrapping his arms around Cailen's neck as he shouted 'Papa', something Cailen was never going to tire of hearing.
Cailen wrapped his arms around his tiny frame and stood, resting the boy on his hip.
This was something else Ezekiel was growing more accustomed to, being picked up. He used to hate it, he used to claim he didn't like being treated like a baby, but he hasn't been complaining recently and Cailen was happy about that.
Though Cailen didn't think he was going to be able to do this much longer- the boy wouldn't stop growing.
As it was, Cailen was having difficulties. He's definitely grown since they brought him home. He's gotten both taller and wider, though he was a scrawny little thing in the orphanage, so Cailen thought this was a good thing.
His hair has definitely grown, so much so that Cailen was constantly having to push his hair back out of his eyes. He also seemed happier lately, maybe not all the time with him worrying about Asher, but in the moments when he was distracted, Cailen could see it in his eyes.
He looked less dejected and more comfortable and happy, like he hadn't given up already.
Cailen was happy they made him look like that and hoped they could continue making Ezekiel look like that.
"How was your day, love?" Cailen asked, shifting Ezekiel on his hip so he could reach up and push his hair back out of his eyes.
"Good. Tripp wants me to go over to his one day." Ezekiel informed him, looking quite pleased about the invitation.
"Yeah? That sounds like fun. I'll have to talk to his mom." Cailen told him.
"Are we going to see Dad?" Ezekiel asked suddenly.
Cailen tried to keep the frown from his face at the question, instead opting for a small apologetic smile.
"No, love. He's not to have any visitors yet. I'm sorry." Cailen truly was sorry but Asher wasn't in any shape to deal with a kid at the moment.
Ezekiel frowned at this, looking down at Cailen's feet and Cailen really didn't like that look on his face.
"But Noah is coming over and he's bringing his guitar. You guys will have fun with that, yeah?" Cailen said excitedly, reaching up to push his hair out of the way, again.
Ezekiel nodded at this, looking a bit disappointed but still happy to be spending the night with Noah and his guitar.
Cailen was thankful for his friends right now, they were being great about helping him out and looking after Ezekiel when he needed.
They would take turns looking after him, though Matthew and Hazel took less turns because of Aariyah.
Cailen sometimes felt bad for always asking them but they always assured him it was fine, Noah even saying he preferred it because it kept his mind off Camille.
"Can we get ice cream on the way?" Ezekiel asked quietly.
Cailen debated this, not sure if he could really disappoint the boy twice in a row and he was pretty sure Ezekiel knew this if the way he was biting back a smile was anything to go by.
"Alright," Cailen sighed, defeated, then an idea popped in his head.
"But first, how about a haircut?"