5
Avery
Avery laughed as he tossed another fish in the dolphin Petey’s mouth. He’d already fed the penguins and a snake. He glanced over at his shoulder to make sure that Jace was watching. He didn’t need to worry though. Jace was taking pictures of him. Avery grinned wide.
“Okay, that’s enough for Petey,” Mary, their super sweet guide, said. “He’d let you feed him all day.”
“He is a good dolphin,” Avery replied seriously. He loved Petey. The penguins and snakes had been cool but they hadn’t interacted with him like Petey.
“Can you give him one last pat so he knows he did good?” Mary asked.
Avery was more than happy to comply. “Thank you for hanging out Petey. You are a good boy.”
Mary clapped her hands before giving a signal to Petey that had him swimming away. So cool.
“Thank you for your help Avery,” Mary smiled at him. “I have to say you have been one of my favorite guests of all time.”
Jace was chuckling as he joined them. “Avery loves all animals.”
“It shows,” Mary agreed.
Avery blushed. He really did love all animals. Animals didn’t mind that he was awkward and liked to be little. Animals didn’t judge him.
“I have a surprise for you,” Mary said before he walked away.
“I wonder what it is,” Avery whispered to Jace.
“I don’t know,” Jace admitted. “Did you have fun with your special pass?”
“It was awesome!” Avery exclaimed. “Do we have to leave now?”
“No, we still have a few hours. I thought we’d walk around a little more.”
“Great!”
Mary started back over to them with her hands behind her back. “Petey had his own show for awhile and we have some stuff let over. I thought you might like this.” She whipped her hand back around to the front and showed him a stuffed dolphin that looked exactly the real Petey.”
“Can I have it?” Avery started to reach for it but quickly dropped his hands. It was rude to grab things.
“I think Petey would want you to have it.” Mary passed over the stuffie.
Avery couldn’t help that he bounced a little. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“It was my pleasure. Let me show you out so the two of you can enjoy the rest of your afternoon.”
“We really appreciate all you did for us today,” Jace said.
“Yes, Avery agreed. Thank you.”
“I really enjoyed having been assigned to the two of you. Follow me.”
Jace held his hand as Avery clutched to Petey Jr with his free hand. He had a brand new stuffie and he couldn’t wait to introduce Petey Jr to Jared, Buster Brown, and Albert.
Mary waved to them as Jace led Avery back to the main section of the zoo.
“Would you like a snack?”
“Yes please.”
There was a food court that had several choices. Avery was still tired from the day before and his feet ached from all the walking. Even though he was having fun and didn’t want to leave he needed a break.
“Come sit at this table and I’ll go get us something,” Jace said.
Avery followed him and gratefully sat down. He watched as Jace strolled over to one of the counters.
When Jace had started coming into the coffee shop Avery would never had guessed that one day they’d be on vacation together. He hadn’t known about being a little back then. He’d been s stress ball on the edge of a nervous breakdown. He still didn’t know how he got so lucky that Jace noticed him, wanted him, but he would never take Jace for granted.
Jace was smiling as he headed back to the table.
“You look very content,” Jace said as he sat next to Avery.
“I love you,” Avery said sincerely. “I don’t know if I tell you that enough but I really do.”
“I love you too boy. You are the absolute perfect partner. Everything I could ever ask for.”
That made Avery proud. “Kiss?”
Jace grinned as he leaned closer to Avery. Avery lifted his face and received the softest, sweetest, kiss.
“Thank you boy.”
Avery sighed. Jace was wonderful.
“I got you an apple sauce cup,” Jace told him.
“Yay!” Avery wiggled as Jace got his treat open. His Daddy had gotten himself fruit cup but Avery was sure his was much better. Who wanted to eat healthy on vacation? Not him for sure.
“Is there anything specific you want to see before the zoo closes?”
“Can we just walk around the enclosures and see what animals are out?” It was so hard to choose. He loved all of them. Some were cute. Some not. Like snakes. Snakes weren’t cute. But Avery had still really enjoyed learning about them. Although he refused to feed the dead mouse to the snake. He just couldn’t do that.
“I think that’s a good idea.” Jace opened Avery’s apple sauce and Avery ate it quickly. They shared a bottle of water. Avery would have preferred juice but he understood that he needed to stay hydrated. Jace had told him enough times.
Once they were done and cleaned up their table Jace took his hand and led him back to the walkways. Avery might not have a preference but he was happy to be headed back into the African exhibit. Jace had enjoyed the lions the day before. Avery had loved seeing Jace get as into the animals as he did.
They were the perfect match, his Daddy and him. Just perfect.
Jace
Jace walked out onto the balcony where his boy was star gazing. The suite was so magnificent and even though he had help Jace was pleased that he could offer Avery something so memorable for their first vacation.
It was their last night in San Diego and after another long day at the beach and shopping it was late. Avery hadn’t been ready to go to bed though. He’d wanted to stay up and enjoy the time they had left. Jace didn’t see any harm. Avery would be tired for the plane ride home but he could nap.
Soon they’d be back in their house and life would keep them
