Chapter 7: Being a Father

Andros woke up to the sound of his son's wails. He got up, knowing that Alisa would be there. "I'll get him, Alisa," he called out. He quickly went into the nursery. He wanted to be the father for once. He picked Alastair up from his crib and kissed his forehead. "Hey, calm down, son everything's going to be okay," he assured him. Andros bit his tongue, trying to figure out what Ashley did to get him to calm down.

"Try rubbing his stomach, Miss Ashley always did that," Alisa informed.

"Rubbing his stomach?" He asked.

"Yes."

"This is a child, not a dog."

"Trust me, my lord."

Andros sat down in the rocking chair in the corner and started to rub Alastair's stomach. In no time, the infant had calmed down. Alastair reached for Andros's index finger and put it in his mouth. "Oh! I see now, you're teething," he commented. Andros stood up, went downstairs into the kitchen.

Andros remembered Drisana using a technique when her and Zhane's son, Drace, was teething. He took a rag, put it under cold water, and he gave it to him. "There that feels better don't it?" He asked. Alastair let out his normal baby sounds. Andros smiled and kissed his son's forehead. He sat down in the kitchen knowing that this was going to be a long night. "You know, son, things didn't use to always be like this. Your mom and I were really close, we grew up together you know. We used to play together all day, to the point that our parents had to pull us apart," he commented. Andros sighed and looked at his son. "We'll see her soon, I hope," he murmured.

The next day, Andros was walking around outside with his son in his arms. Alastair was letting out his normal baby gurgles, Andros's red shirt was bunched up in his son's tiny fist. "I'm thankful it's my shirt and not my hair," he commented.

"What a sight," a voice commented.

Andros looked up to see Zhane standing there. "Hey there, Zhane," he greeted. Zhane grinned and walked over.

"Getting a hang of being a dad?" He asked.

"I've been a father longer than you," Andros replied.

"Yeah, but this is actually the first time I actually saw you interact with him."

Andros shrugged his shoulders slightly. "I've been working. Actually holding and seeing my son is great. Would be better if my wife was here," he answered. Zhane nodded his head slowly.

"I know," Zhane told him.

Andros was about to sit down when Alastair started whimpering again. "I really have to get him one of those teething things," he commented.

"He's teething?" Zhane asked.

"No I just said that because I felt like it."

"Very funny."

"Well you asked the stupidest questions sometimes."

Zhane rubbed the back of his neck. "How's Drisana and Drace?" Andros asked.

"Both doing beautifully," Zhane replied.

"That's great."

"So, have you convinced the council yet?"

"No, the day that happens is the day my parents come back."

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

Andros looked down at his son. "My son needs his mother," he commented. Zhane nodded.

"Understandable," Zhane answered.

"You're lucky, Zhane. Your wife didn't leave you."

"No…but my wife thought she lost me."

"Good point."

Andros let out a deep sigh. "I miss her, Zhane, it's driving me nuts every morning when I wake up and she's not there," Andros told him.

"Then why don't you go after her?" Zhane asked.

"She needs her space."
"It's been three months."

"Zhane, don't push it."

"Right sorry."

Alastair started to cry and Andros got up. "I should get inside and get himself to teethe on," Andros informed.

"I'll see you at work tomorrow," Zhane answered.

"Right."

Andros went inside and gave Alastair his teething rag. In no time, Alastair was asleep again. He set his son in the crib and found his wedding picture staring at him in the face again. "I need her back," he murmured. Andros bit his tongue. "But where can I find her?" He pondered. Andros sat down with the wedding photo in his hand, having no idea what to do. All he wanted was to have his wife back, he was going to do anything in his power to have Ashley back.