You watched from a distance as your lover, Charles sat on his haunches beside Jack, John's little boy. He held some brittle, tiny bones in his hand, showing them to the young boy with a small smile on his face.

"Bird bones..." Charles says with a gesturing nod. "And how do we know that?" he asks Jack, testing the knowledge he had taught him.

"Uh... I don't know. I can't remember," Jack says, eyebrows furrowing in slight shame.

"Oh, c'mon, you know this!" Charles says, patting Jack's back. "They're hollow, remember?" he reminds him, his voice gentle, playful... so perfect to interact with a child.

You felt your heart swell, seeing the man you adored so good with children. It led your mind to soft dreams, sweet thoughts of the future... of him as a father. A woman could only hope.