[From the mouths of babes, and suchlike things]

Joe came downstairs, his hair still wet from the shower. Chris had gone first, as he needed to get ready for work. The smell of fresh-brewed coffee hit his nose as he walked into the kitchen.

Toby was sitting at the table. Chris was at the stove. Joe could hear sizzling.

"Breakfast?" Chris asked. There were two coffee cups on the counter next to him.

"Thanks. What is it?"

"Scrambled eggs and toast. You like them soft, right?"

"Yeah. Can I grab a coffee cup?"

Chris pointed at one of the cups on the counter. "Yours. Light, two sugars, right?"

Joe gave Chris a hug from behind. "Right. You like yours black with sugar."

"This is going to take some getting used to," Chris said.

"Think of it as getting the awkward bits of dating out of the way," Joe said.

He leaned in and whispered "have I ever mentioned I find a man who can cook really sexy?"

"Really?" Chris asked. He sounded surprised.

"Really," Joe said. He was tempted to give Chris a kiss, but he wasn't sure if Chris was up to that yet, not in front of Toby. Joe wasn't sure it was a good idea, either. He wanted them to work, but if they didn't he didn't want Toby to wonder why things had changed so much.

"Morning, Toby," Joe said. He sat down at the table next to Toby.

"Hi Uncle Joe. Can you do toast glasses?"

Joe smiled. "Maybe tomorrow," he said. "Your Papa's got to go to work soon."

"Don't you have to go in?" Chris asked.

Joe shook his head. "No. I took the week off. I wasn't feeling too good Monday afternoon, so