Waiting for Aiden’s cell phone to ring with the call from the shelter Alex bit down on his bottom lip, an action he hid with his right hand. In an attempt to keep from fretting he plopped down on the living room couch and glanced about, as if something might just happen or the dog might just appear. Damn it, he hated feeling like this but he wasn’t going to tell Aiden either - he wanted to surprise him when they got there.
“Are you okay?” Aiden asked. Hair still damp from his recent shower he glanced up from his book quizzically. “You’ve seemed a little jumpy all day.” He then added per his earlier observations. Even when they were out in his greenhouse potting the new plants he had gotten his partner for Christmas, Alex kept glancing at his phone as if they were expecting company anytime soon.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He answered, a bit too quickly but it was true. He was ok he was just anxious...nervous even and he had every right to be, not that Aiden knew this. “I’ll be fine.” He added after a moment, glancing to the other. He’d be fine once his phone rang and they could get to the shelter, he really was nervous about the call and when it would come.
Shifting he moved toward the kitchen, intent on getting a drink, his blue eyes glancing back to the living room. His phone was there waiting...and silent. He wished it would ring, wished he could make it ring. Aiden’s gift had been amazing, more than he could ask for, and he’d had to tell Aiden his gift was on the way. It was...sorta but not, since it wasn’t moving and headed toward them but they would be going to get it - soon...he hoped.
Biting down on his bottom lip he poured his drink, some juice he didn’t notice, and took a sip as he headed back to the living room; eyes on his phone.
“Hey, while you’re in there could you bring me a glass of ice water please?” It wasn’t until he had heard the refrigerator door open that he realized how thirsty he had been. Come to think of it he hadn’t had anything to drink for the better part of the day.
A few seconds later, Aiden heard the sound of a phone vibrating on the coffee table. “Alex? Your phone is ringing.” He leaned forward to pick it up and hand it to his boyfriend. “Local area code but an unknown number.”
In the middle of getting a glass for Aiden he heard the other's voice, his phone! Finally! ”Can you answer that?” He called out to the other. Instead of a glass, which he was putting back, he grabbed a cold bottle from the fridge. “Just see who it is.” He already had an idea, anyone who needed him even the phone and tv company had their numbers stored on his phone, but he could always be wrong. There was a chance, low as it was, that it was a wrong number or something else.
While he waited he went to get a container to pour his juice into and seal it, the now empty glass going into the dishwasher. He was ready in case the call was what he expected it to be.
Aiden did what was asked of him and swiped his finger across the screen. “Hello?”
The woman’s voice on the other end was hard to hear over the loud sounds in the background “Hello, Mr Evans? This is Jennifer from the animal shelter down on 5th avenue. We spoke a few days ago.”
“Sorry, Alexandre is in the other room at the moment, can you hold while I go get him?” Already out of his seat and rounding the corner of the couch Aiden held the phone out to his partner to take. “A woman named Jennifer. It’s hard to hear her over all the barking. Is there something going on with Cadha?” He asked worried there might be something wrong with the little white dog.
“Nope, nothing wrong with Cadha.” He said taking the phone and cradling it with his shoulder. “Jennifer, it’s good to hear back.” He’d been nervous all day, and now he felt relieved. Did she have any clue? Her voice was the best thing to hear in all honesty, well aside from Aiden’s but that was a given.
“We’ll be down in a few….say fifteen minutes - give or take depending on traffic.” And if he could get away with speeding, which Aiden didn’t allow him to get away with really, Aiden also didn’t let him go through yellow lights unless stopping would mean breaking really hard.
When he hung up he pocketed his phone, for the moment, and turned to the other. Pressing his lips to the others. “Come on, we’re going out for a bit.” Picking the water bottle up from the countertop and offering the ice cold bottle to the other. “I’ll drive.” Well, maybe he would.
Aiden quirked a brow when Alex passed by him to grab his set of keys from the hook. “Uh.. okay?” Confused yet with nothing else to do he wasn’t about to complain but it seemed rather abrupt to just up and leave so suddenly. “I’ll go get my shoes and meet you in the car.”
It took a few minutes for him to find his wallet and jacket before going outside and locking the door behind him. At least the large SUV had heated seats and the chains were still on the tires from their grocery store trip a few days prior. “Man when it dumps it dumps.” He commented at the several inches of snow that covered the sidewalks and front yards in a blanket of white.
It was indeed abrupt but he’d been waiting all day for it, so he was prepared. He had yanked on his shoes, a coat and scarf, and was waiting in the suv for Aiden. The heat on and the seat warmers also, he tended to get cold rather easily, so when Aiden got in the car he was already warmed up and able to pull away from the curb and head for the shelter.
“I agree, and I think we’re in for more snow.” He said shuddering a bit. “I think the news said three inches tonight.” He didn’t mind the snow, winter was perfect in a way, but it was damn cold.
“Gross. And because I live walking distance from work I’ll still be required go in since I’m willing to bed a few people will be calling out.” Aiden stifled a groan, rubbed his hands together as he waited for the heaters to kick in. “So where exactly are we going?” He asked since he had missed what the woman on the phone had said.
“I’ll drive you in so you don’t need to walk.” Assuming people called out and Aiden got called in for work. He did dislike how people took advantage of it but he also understood it, not wanting to travel a distance in bad weather or with unplowed snow on the ground. But to ask someone else to come in, even if they lived closer, it was still dangerous.
“And we’re going to the local shelter.” He answered as he looked over to the other, watching him work on warming his hands. The heaters were good, quick to warm, so Aiden’s hands should be nice and warm soon.
“We have a bit of shopping to do after the shelter, one place I promise, but you’ll understand.” He said, they would need things for the new dog. He would be leaving the purchases up to Aiden, since it was his dog, but they would be needing to get that done today especially if the weather tonight wasn’t going to be good. He wanted to get things done before the weather turned, and that honestly sounded like his mother or father...damn.
Unsure what was going on Aiden merely let it slide. If Alex wanted another animal that was fine, it was his home. But he did find it odd to be bringing another pet into the house especially since he just brought Katya home about about a year ago or so. She didn’t seem like a feline who cared to have “friends” as people often said, Cadha maybe but not the cat.
Katya didn’t seem like the sort to tolerate other animals, and she typically wasn’t, he knew people would wonder but he also had talked to her about this. She knew what he was doing and knew his stance on it, there had been a long talk while Aiden had been at work. She was going to deal with it, accept it, because it was how things were going. So while most would be worried - he wasn’t...because Katya was no normal cat.
When they did reach the shelter, almost twenty minutes later he parked, right up front, and got out before going around to hold the door open for Aiden. “Remember how I said your christmas gift was on the way? What I really meant was...we had to go and pick it up. Your gift is inside...I think I got it right.” He said somewhat sheepish, small hands clasped in his lap as he stood there.
Aiden paused just before shutting the car door. His face devoid of a concrete expression looked at Alexander with a mix of confusion, disbelief and hesitation. Words of thanks were definitely held in reservation until they got inside to meet this new addition. There were unfortunately too many ways this could go wrong but if the animal and him didn’t get along he had a feeling it would break his partner's heart. While his intentions were in the right place there was no knowing how the first encounter would go.
“Okay, well umm let's go see who you picked.” He motioned with his hand towards the entrance indicating that Alex should lead the way.
He thought it would go well, he had tried his best, he figured he had a good idea on his partner and what would suit him. He just hoped he was right, he really did. Moving ahead of Aiden he reached out for the glass doors handle and pulling it open he held it for Aiden. Once the other was inside he let the door close and moved to the reception desk to talk to the one who had called, the same person he’d dealt with the other day.
Greeting her softly, leaning forward the sign a log in book, he asked for the dog to be brought out so they could see their new addition to the family. As she smiled and went to do so, only giving the two of them a glance over, he made for Aiden’s side and stared up at him. “I think I did good….he’s just around a year old, so a good amount of energy but trained.” So no housebreaking the dog or worry about him not knowing hot to sit or come on command - he knew them. “His breed loves water...and are good swimmers.” He had thought about it, had tried to find a good match - he just hoped he was right.
Turning away, eyes on the door which led to the back room where there were hallways lined in kennels, he bit down on his bottom lip.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make you so nervous. I’m sure you picked the perfect one, especially if it likes swimming like you said. I’ve dealt with shelter dogs before, a few years ago one of the co-workers at my previous job brought hers in and forgot to mention that he was scared of men. Needless to say I got stuck cleaning up a puddle in the entryway when I came up to pet it.” Granted she didn’t quite realize the extent of the fear or if it was an age thing since the dog seemed fine with her elderly father.
“It’s just best to make sure that personalities mesh or there is no underlying fear before committing to something like this.” Shelter or rescue dogs were not the same as getting one from a breeder, there usually was a story or history behind why they were there. Normally they were pretty good with being upfront with such information but sometimes the families that drop them off tend to ‘forget’ those tidbits of important information.
Shaking his head he smiled up at Aiden. “It’s fine, I’ve been nervous all day to be honest.” Which was the cause for his pacing about the house, and his need to do things- anything. He’d been nervous and had far more energy than he knew what to do with, as he didn’t want to get invested in doing something about the house and not get the call or be able to leave quickly. “Ohhh, the poor dog - and you.” He felt for the dog, wetting the floor at the job, but also for Aiden having to clean it. The owner really should have said something, at least the dog hadn’t been the sort that got vicious with people when scared. The idea that Aiden could have been attacked was unsettling, but he was glad it hadn’t happened.
“They did say no noted fears and passed the exams on personality. No aggression noted.” He couldn’t have that in his house with people in and out at times, plus Cadha and Katya. He’d done his best and now he just had to hope his best was good enough for Aiden and for their family.
A few moments later they were led through the closed door where the young pup was waiting on a short leash held by one of the staff. It had a beautiful reddish brown coat with curious brown eyes and tilted its head in the most adorable way. Nervous it seemed, the retriever looked up at the staff member like a wary child before rising to its feet unable to remain seated overlong especially with it’s tail wagging enough to sweep the floor completely clean.
“Hey there…” he shamefully glanced down for the briefest of moments, “boy.”
“We could have had him sooner but he had to get fixed.” He whispered for Aiden to hear. “I have to set up an appointment for the stitches to get removed and a check up, the normal basic things.” He was happy to see the pup didn’t seem scared, rather the opposite if that wagging tail was any indication. “Yours to name.” He added after pressing his lips to Aiden’s cheek. “But I think we should get you to sign the last of the paperwork and head out of here before you pick a name.” There was the car ride and the rest of the day for that, and even longer if needed.
Claws that had not been trimmed in a few day tapped against the concrete floor excitedly as the pup pulled against the leash when he bound forward to greed Aiden. The staff member however held fast and approached slowly. Again the little one lunged forward bopping his head against the side of his face knocking him on his rear to make him more accessible to the fervent kisses. A bit overzealous but Aiden didn’t seem to mind and instead stroked the puppy’s head and side until it calmed down enough to sit, even if it was only for a few seconds.
“He’s definitely not shy that’s for sure.” He commented as the young retriever continued poking him with its nose. Aiden then held his hand out for Alexandre to help him to his feet.
“No, he wasn’t shy when I visited either.” He said between bouts of laughter. Watching the over zealous puppy knock Aiden onto his butt had been both cute and humorous, he could see it happening more once they got home, it was something they’d have to work on. They would have to train him to not knock people over so easily, and some of that would likely come with settling into a proper home, but training would likely be needed. He doubted either Aiden or himself needed to have the puppy knock children over while out walking, as children were prone to approaching strange dogs to pet them.
Taking hold of Aiden’s hand he helped the other to his feet, smiling up at him.
“May I?” Aiden asked the staff member once he dusted off his palms, indicating that he’d like to hold the leash which was relinquished to his care fairly readily. “Could still use some training but I think you picked well.” Granted he would be supporting a few welts here very soon but there was an instant connection he felt when the puppy sat beside him and leaned heavily against his leg. Aiden leaned over then to pat his head in a praising manner.
“He will, but I think he’ll do well with it. We can arrange training lessons as soon as possible.” Maybe they’d have information, at the pet store, on local trainers. They typically knew where to go for various things like that, or boarding and other things.
“You do realize he’s going to drive Katya up the wall right?” or curtains… or anything that’ll keep her out of reach.
“Of course, I’m aware of that and I take full responsibility for that. I thought it was time for another dog - one who you’d have a connection with.” One that was his in a sense, he just hoped Aiden understood how he meant it...as it was hard to put into words really.
“We just need to do some pet shopping now.” And since he’d last seen his bank card in Aiden’s possession, after his bout of holiday shopping, Aiden would be holding the reins on this shopping trip and honestly he was ok with this.
“Thank you,” One strong arm reached out to pull Alex close. “This is definitely the best Christmas I’ve ever had.” With a mostly absent father who was married to his work, the holidays always felt like they were lacking in some way. But this- this was the first time in a long while that everything felt whole.
Aiden pressed a kiss to his partner's forehead and smiled when the leash around their legs tightened when his pup circled their legs a second time. It took a moment to untangle themselves but when they did he leaned over, taking the retrievers face in both hands and gave him a kiss as well. “Ready to go Riley?” He asked, once the papers had been finalized, patting the dog's side as he stood back up and was rewarded with a high pitched bark that made him wince.
“Lets go,” with the papers signed, the three of them exited the shelter; both young men side by side while the newest addition to their family tugged the taller male along with the taut leash. Not the first time the staff had the pleasure of seeing one of their residents find a forever home and definitely not the last.
Sleet Tempest Snape
