Shortly after lunch, and the whole debacle and conversation, Amir and Ben retreated so that Amir could get some rest. They were planning to head out on their honeymoon the next day, with one day of rest in between so that Amir could be fully ready, have a check in with their Doctor, and get a full bill of health before leaving.
His grandparents were planning to leave shortly after the new husbands left. They had taken time out of when they were usually checking in on their mines and workers this time of the year to attend the wedding. Of course, they never said it was a bother, but that some things were just ingrained into their lives after doing them for so long.
It was apparently a good time of year to do so, and it also helped them set the trends for the next year. It wasn’t something that Andrew had ever considered, since it wasn’t on his radar, and he was fascinated to hear about it from them.
It was cute how both of them lit up when he asked questions about mining, jewelry, and the next trends for the season. Amir’s grandfather pulled out a heavy binder full of designs, jewels, and suppliers and had Andrew look over them and give his feedback. It was cute.
They clearly appreciated that Andrew cared to ask them about their work, and that he seemed genuinely interested. Andrew was a sponge, always had been. He loved to learn for learning’s sake. It was how he was able to still manage getting decent grades in school while his Mom was ill, and how he’d received his scholarships.
Amir’s grandparents seemed to be about two steps away from demanding to adopt Andrew, and it was a wonderful kind of feeling. No one spoke about how Amir’s parents weren’t around. Andrew felt that it probably would have been less awkward if they had died, but it was clear that they hadn’t. They were just jerks, Andrew guessed, or worse.
Like his father.
Maxwell took the time that Andrew was speaking with Amir’s family to compose himself and also speak to his Father about the next steps he was planning to take with his company. It wasn’t quite the end of the year since Christmas hadn’t happened yet, but it didn’t hurt to speak business with his family in a relaxed capacity. Ben probably would have liked to be there as the next head of the company, but Andrew felt like they would loop him in.
Andrew found it a bit strange to be roped in with Maxwell’s Mom, and Will’s fiancé, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable feeling. He enjoyed being a ’partner’ of the Beckett family boys. It gave him a warm feeling in his chest. He felt included in a way he wasn’t sure he would feel with Kim and Jenny, but he would never be able to tell them that.
Speaking of them, he was a little disappointed that they didn’t say goodbye before they left, but was easily soothed when he found that he had received a text from them when he and Maxwell returned to their room. Andrew, like for the wedding, had left his phone behind. He wasn’t one to be attached to it, ever since his Mom had passed.
It had burned a hole in his pocket after she had died. He’d spent so long constantly checking it that after she was no longer here, he needed to leave it behind to have a small bit of peace of mind. He’d actually used to have to collect phone numbers on pieces of paper when he was out drinking during that time.
Man, maybe he should reflect on what he’d been like when he was younger. He could tell that it bothered Maxwell a little bit when they talked about it, but they hadn’t had a conversation about why it bothered him yet. Andrew didn’t think here was when they should talk about it, and it didn’t seem urgent enough that they needed to confront it right away.
They could wait a few days. As long as Maxwell could wait a few days.
All in all, Andrew was feeling like even though they had discussed quite a few topics that made him feel a little sensitive and his skin prickle, things had smoothed over nicely. He thought that the wedding had been a success, and he was looking forward to being able to start work next week.
As long as Michael gave him the all clear again, he was set to start his ’orientation’. It wasn’t anything crazy. Maxwell wanted to ease him into working again slowly, and everyone agreed.
Andrew was the only one who was impatient. He knew this. He hadn’t taken a break like this, ever. A break to take care of himself? Andrew had barely done that. He’d been forced to do so by Maxwell, and even then, he wasn’t sure if he had done enough by his standards. By anyone’s standards, even his own.
Not by Michael’s, but he was ignoring that one. He had a feeling Michael was quietly planning to ambush him at some point, hell, he probably had Maxwell roped into it. They’d done it to him once already, and given his track record, they’d probably have to do it a few more times.
But Andrew thought he was doing a good job. He hadn’t freaked out too much when his teeth had come in, or when he’d grown in height and width. He might not have talked to Maxwell about it right away, but he was doing good. He hadn’t had another of those fits since, and he didn’t flinch every time someone called him a true alpha.
He wasn’t happy with it, but he wasn’t as fearful of himself anymore. This was a big step.
And that big step meant he could begin to work again.
They hadn’t fully discussed school even if they brought it up with everyone who asked. Well, if Andrew was honey with himself, he was a bit fearful to ask Maxwell because he was sure that he had it all planned out.
Maxwell was a planner. He liked to organise things, and have everything put away in its perfect place. Andrew didn’t hate that about him, he was just worried about what it would reveal when Andrew looked at Maxwell’s plan for him. What would it say about the way Maxwell viewed him? God, that terrified him.
Either way, Andrew had worried that he would have felt out of place in Maxwell’s life and family environment, but that wasn’t the case. Everyone went out of their way to make sure that he felt included.
That also included Will’s fiancé, who Andrew finally learned the name of. They were from another huge business-related family. The Dolphs. Their first name was Rue, and it took a great amount of control on Andrew’s part to keep his act together as he realised that this small, pretty omega with big green eyes, a splattering of freckles across their cheeks, and slightly curled blonde hair was named Rue Dolph.
Andrew wondered if his family liked him, were practical jokesters, or had truly chosen the name because they liked it.
Either way, it was clear from Rue’s hesitancy to tell anyone their name that they knew what reaction he normally got. Andrew did his best not to live up to that expectation and treated them like a normal person.
They were soft spoken, their accent more pronounced when they got excited, and Andrew couldn’t help but find that they were the same type of adorable that Amir was. The Beckett’s certainly had a type, and Andrew wondered how he fit into that.
He wasn’t small and cute like Amir and Rue were. He was...tall, wide, and without his glasses he looked scary. Like an alpha. Which most people found scary.
He knew that Maxwell found him...cute, at least, and that was all that mattered, but he did wonder how he fit in with the lineup.
Either way, it was nice to spend time with everyone and watching over Maxwell as he sobered up. Listening to Maxwell speak with his Dad, and Andrew realising that he was softening as he spoke to him. Andrew didn’t think he could repair their relationship right away, but Andrew didn’t want Maxwell to believe that they didn’t care about him.
It was so clear to Andrew that they loved Maxwell quite a bit, but Maxwell, like Andrew said, liked to make plans. He also judged people harshly, and in fairness, they had repeated the same mistake over and over. Andrew didn’t mind being the bridge that connected them back together, but Andrew hoped that they understood how much courage it took on Maxwell’s part to reach out.
Even if he wasn’t aiming for repairing their relationship at the time, and instead was just discussing the business, it was a big deal. Andrew couldn’t tell them that either, they were going to have to figure that out on their own. Because ultimately, Andrew did want them to be in Maxwell’s life, but if Maxwell decided against it, that was it.
Andrew would respect Maxwell’s wishes, and if it came to that, they could be each other’s family. That was also an acceptable reality.