When Romilly came back into the room, he had a bundle of clothes in his hand. The soft, cozy outfit was one Archer appreciated. He didn't want to be dressed up in a suit or anything. Not only would it disrupt his bandages, but he'd never really liked that sort of thing anyway.
Romilly moved slowly, giving Archer plenty of time to stop him as he grabbed the edge of the blanket and pulled it down. Romilly's nose twitched and he sucked in a breath, though hedidn't say a word. It wasn't an issue, because Romilly had Archer changed and into the new clothes before it could become one.
The minute he was dressed, Romilly scooped Archer into his arms and settled him on his hip. Archer held on tight and leaned his head on Romilly's shoulder as they made their way to the dining area. He was getting used to being carried around. It would be hard in his future, trying to navigate relationships where he wasn't spoiled the way Romilly was spoiling him. He'd have to try to be a good partner instead of a pouting mess, wishing that others were more like someone else.
Not that he was even dating Romilly. This was just different. He didn't have words for it.
In the dining room, the rest of the family was already seated at the table, food laid out for everyone. "Good morning, sweetheart. It's so good to see you," Mira called out as soon as she saw him.
Archer smiled and waved. "It's good to see you too."
Silas nodded, smiling around his cup of coffee. Hadrian and Eden were quiet, though Archer suspected it had nothing to do with him. They were focused entirely on the food in front of them, shoveling it in like they couldn't get enough.
Romilly eased Archer down into his chair carefully, making sure he was steady before pulling back and sitting down beside him. He shifted his chair over a bit so they were closer together, and Archer had to duck his head to hide the smile that came over him.
"How did you sleep?" Mira asked when no one else spoke.
"Good," he said quickly. "I feel better. Honestly, there hasn't been much pain at all."
Hadrian spoke then. "I imagine so. The healer was very clear that things should be fine with you."
Archer nodded as if he understood what the healer had actually done to him. In reality, he was as confused as ever.Who called doctors healers? And he still wondered why everyone deferred to Romilly?
He had a billion questions and no chance of getting answers… yet.
The food was delicious, as it had been the night before. Archer held back from moaning since it had caused such a stir before. Instead, he worked to savor every single bite, noting the different flavors and how they made him feel.
By the time he finished, the others were done and talking amongst themselves. Archer had zoned out, not wanting to be a bother, but also because the food had simply distracted him. Now that he was back in the moment, he tried to catch up on the conversation.
"I swear, if he doesn't come back with good news, I'm going to be so frustrated," Silas said, addressing Mira.
She clicked her tongue and shook her head.
"I'm sure it will all be fine, Father," Romilly said. "They sounded in good spirits. Besides, it's nice if we can come back with good news."
Eden snorted. "Speak for yourself. I'm good at changing people's minds."
The family made various noises of doubt in unison, which made Archer irrationally happy. This family was healthy and happy. They loved one another. While he wished he'd had something similar growing up, he could admit that being welcomed into one now made him appreciate it more than he might have otherwise.
The helpers came around and cleared everyone's plates from the table. "Would you like any coffee, little one?" Romilly whispered.
Archer bit his lip and shook his head. He'd been drinking water, but what he really wanted was milk. Romilly watched him carefully, clearly sensing there was more.
"What is it you want?" he asked. "Anything. It's yours."
"Milk?" Archer said, the question evident in his voice.
Romilly smiled, then waved for one of the helpers to come over. "Can you get him some milk, please? In a glass with a straw."
Archer was surprised at the specifics. He loved straws. They were fun to use. But he wouldn't have thought to ask for one here atthistable. It seemed childish when everyone else was being an adult.
Then again, not everyone was. Eden had a mug with a lid and a spout on it. Archer thought it was a sippy cup. The table was too large for him to get a close enough look.
Within seconds, a glass of milk was placed in front of him with a curled straw. It wasn't quite a silly straw, but it still made Archer smile. He wiggled side to side, then sipped at the drink. Romilly rubbed his back, thankfully not judging him. The big man just let him enjoy the happiness of the moment.
As he drank, he continued to listen and realized they were talking about various things, from the other sibling coming home to plans for upcoming trips that might need to be taken.
When Archer finished his drink, he pushed it away and sat back, rubbing his belly. He was full and he'd had a deliciously cold glass of milk. It was the perfect way to start his day, so long as he didn't think about the whole incident with Romilly walking in on him.
