Note: I rewrote the first chapter, it's not vital if you read it again but you can if you please. I just wanted to warn you that I changed Conrad's eye colour from blue, to a thing called 'heterochromia iridum' which results in his having one blue eye and one green (just because I can – sorry).


The sun filtered through the orange leaves early that morning, as the cold night's fog hung to the grass and leaves. He was sitting on the porch steps, steaming cup of coffee sat beside him as the cold nipped at his nose. He watched the dogs run as he kept an eye on the grey sky above them, the gentle sunshine telling fragile lies.

He thumbed through the newspaper in his lap, Winston sitting faithfully by his side as the morning ticked on. He was surprised to find Alana Bloom's car pulling into his driveway, condensation stuck to her car in the early morning glow. He had offered for the boy to visit, Will didn't actually think Alana would make good on the late night offer.

Will watched quietly from his place on the steps as she got out of the car. Two of the dogs ran over to investigate the woman as she move for the backseat and opened the door. It was quiet, well-mannered Winston who barked loudly at the car's contents before bolting toward him. Will jumped up, adrenaline flooding his system as panic towards his dog's behaviour caused him to chase after the animal. Conrad shrieked as Winston pushed past Alana and climbed into the car, greedily licking the boy's face. Reaching Alana Will let go of a breath he didn't know he was holding.

Leaning a little too close into Alana's side Will reached into the car to pull Winston out, muttering apologies as he did so. Nonchalant, Conrad wiggled out of his car seat and slipped past the adults, his feet moving as fast as he could while the pack of dogs greeted him with familiar fondness.

"Sorry." Will mumbled again as he stepped away from Alana, his feet pulling him back towards the house. With her hands wrapped around a warm travel mug, Alana followed behind, her head shaking even though Will couldn't see her. "I don't know what overcame him."

Blowing on her steaming mug Alana smiled. "Believe it or not, I trust your dogs, Will. I doubt they would hurt him."

"I think they're scared of you." He mumbled back, lazy smile on his face. Alana Bloom was always an image of cool control, Will saw it in her, but knew enough not to be worried. His dogs on the other hand saw a woman willing to lead, and they were best off to behave.

"I think Conrad has begged Benji for a dog since he knew what a dog was." Will watched her fight sleep, as her head sagged against the porch column. A small smile tugged at her lips before it was momentarily replaced with a flash of pain in her eyes. "Thanks for humouring him." Sipping on her coffee Alana contently watched her son play in Will Graham's yard.

Leaning against the opposite rail Will watched her tired face relax. By the time she had carried the little boy out to the car the night before the hour was ticking in the early morning. Decent sleep was definitely something she was suffering deprivation from. "You can go sleep inside if you want." Alana shrugged before shaking her head and thanking him for his offer. The coffee would kick in and the cold would nip at her cheeks enough to keep her alert.

"Thank you for inviting him over. I don't think I've heard him talk about anything this much since he discovered LEGO." Alana laughed softly, cup poised at her mouth as she continued to watch her little boy roll and tumble with his eager new companions.

They watched Conrad quietly, birds chirping and dogs barking as the morning progressed. "Mis-t-er Gra-ham!" On the other side of the yard, dogs at his feet, Conrad broke up Will's name as he called one hand cupping the side of his mouth while the other beckoned him over. Eyes wide Will turned his head to Alana, surely the little boy wanted his mother more than the strange man he met the night before.

"What are you waiting for, Will?" Alana teased, smile on her face as she calmly put her hand on his shoulder. "I trust you." She added as he moved to stand just because she felt he needed to hear it. Here was a man she mostly avoided being alone with and she was letting him play with her kid. If anything Will was anxious.

He picked up a small jog as he moved across the yard, the little boy still calling out his name. "Do your dog's know any tricks?" Conrad asked once Will had crouched down in front of him, Sadie nudging at his hand. Will responded in the positive, commenting that they knew how to behave and that was trick enough with seven dogs. Conrad shook his head. "No." He whined. "Actual tricks!" He jumped on the ball of his feet, his hands facing the sky. "Can they get the newspaper?" Will shook his head. Well, they could, but he never really commanded them to do so and it usually ended up in clumps of drool and shredded articles. "Play Dead?" Again, Will shook his head. He trained his dogs to behave, to respond to simple command, he never got around to the 'Play Dead' trick. Conrad clicked his tongue, his blue eyes rolling like a sea of disappointment.

He didn't know exactly how the child managed to make him feel guilty, but looking at the boy whose face resembled the masculine and yet childish resemblance of Alana Bloom, Will Graham felt immensely guilty for not having trained his dogs to the child's proper expectation. "Would – would you like to train them?" He asked hesitantly, eyes on Sadie as his hand's fidgeted in her fur.

Conrad threw himself at Will, his arms wrapping around the man's neck as he squeezed as tight as a little boy could. "Oh please, can I?" His voice was muffled in Willi's shoulder but he heard the boy all the same.

Stiffly Will wrapped an arm around the little boy's back and returned the embrace. He couldn't help the smile that tugged on his lips, warm little body hugging him lovingly. "It takes a lot of patience." He warned, noticing Alana's alarmed look from across the yard. Conrad nodded with vigour as he took in Will's words, his whole body shaking with his excitement. "But only if your mom says it's okay." Nodding, Conrad detached himself from the man allowing free flight so he could run towards his mother, six dogs following in his steps. It was Winston who stayed behind, he had been the first to follow the little boy but now chose his master's side.

"What do you think, Winston, will you let him teach you?" The dog nudged his hand.

They watched from their place as Conrad flew across the yard and climbed easily into Alana's lap his little face eager, his eyes begging. Will watched the contemplation on Alana's face, the worry and the surprise. She wanted to say no. But she couldn't. Conrad's arms wrapped around her neck, the boy visibly squeezing his mother with excitement.

"Mr. Gra-ham!" Conrad called, now standing beside his mother. "She said yes!"

It took them twenty minutes to load the little boy's pockets with dog treats, his head filled with rules before he was allowed to join the dogs. The adults watched on from their place on the porch, coffee replaced with a new batch.

Conrad was standing before three eager dogs, the other four inside the house as to not overwhelm the boy, his hand tucked into the pocket full of treats. "Roll over." He commanded to eager brown eyes. No one moved. Pausing briefly Conrad fell to the ground before rolling over, his pocket scattering treats across the grass. The animals were on him in a second, cold noses nuzzling across the grass and then his face.

The boy cried out playfully as the dogs lavished him with greedy attention. His laughter mixed with the cool morning air, lulling the world into lazy happiness.

"Alana?" Will's voice tore through their lazy morning, the hesitation making the hairs on the back of Alana's neck stand up. She looked at him softly, an answer in her eyes. "Did you know his father?" He asked on a stutter, he didn't want to ask and yet he didn't know what had come over him in that moment, watching the little boy play happily as though he belonged in that moment, forever rolling on the grass with Will's dogs.

Alana gave him a shaky nod before she turned back to the little boy, deeming the conversation over.

Conrad's exhaled vexation could be heard from their silent existence on the porch, his grunt and continued grumble tickling the ears of the tense adults. It was Will who unnaturally reached first, jumping down the small steps he reached Conrad and the bundle of distracted dogs.

"I give up!" The boy sighed, his hands smacking his sides as his face scrunched up, displeased. "It's stupid, dogs are dumb." He continued to whine, his mix matched eyes boring into Will's as his bottom lip trembled.

Will shook his head. "No, no. Don't think like that. I told you it would be tricky. Just, we'll give it another go."

"They ate all the treats." Conrad sighed, his brow crinkled as he looked at Will with defeat. The older man grumbled something about greedy animals before he told the little boy they would put another two dogs inside. Sadie and Rufus went willingly as their master lead them back up to the house, little boy following in tow glumly.

They returned to the grass, Will holding only a small handful of treats while Winston remained the only dog outside. It had been Conrad's idea that Will teach the dog first. Holding this close fist out above the dog's head Will told him to 'sit', regardless of the fact that Winston was already doing just that, his tail wagging with anticipation. Will held it for a moment before dragging his arm down and telling Winston to 'lay down'. Winston followed Will's hand, the smell of his treat tickling the animal's nose. With Winston in the second position Will rolled his hand commanding clearly 'roll over' when the dog did as he was asked Will rewarded him with his treat and a scratch behind his ears.

Conrad beamed. "Is it my turn?" Will nodded, dropping a treat to the boy's hand he stepped back, letting Conrad take control of easy Winston. He repeated Will's actions and words carefully, his face tense with concentration. His face exploded with joy when Winston rolled over completely. "I did it!" He shouted, shock resinating from his face. "I did it!" He looked to Will and then his mom, pride glistening in both of their eyes as he stood there in disbelief.

Without any warning Conrad threw himself at Will giving the man no other choice but to pick him up and hold the boy on his hip. "Thank you." The child beamed, his smile permanently fixed to his face. Will grinned back, the boy's pride contagious.

"Now, it'll take him a while to understand the command without a treat, but now you know how to teach him." His eyes were on fire in the sunlight, his excitement only fuelling the flame. Putting the boy back on his feet, Will handed over the remainder of the dog treats. He didn't go back to the porch immediately, instead he stayed standing behind the boy, watching guard, making sure his confidence continued to grow. Winston behaved himself, eagerly following the motions of the little boy's hand to complete the trick over and over again.

When he did return to Alana on the porch he was followed by a tired, messy haired little boy and his scruffy, obedient four legged friend.