Andrew didn't call for a car. He just…walked to the Beckett estate up the road because he wanted to get some fresh air, and it was nice out.
He only walked past another estate as he walked, and it only took a few minutes. He knew that every security guard watched him with confusion, but no one stopped him. He just knew that they would have an interesting story to tell their team later.
When Andrew got to the gates, the security there was surprised to see him without a car, but they let him in. It wasn't as if he wasn't Andrew, Maxwell's fiancé, he had just come in a way that surprised him.
When he was let in, and he was at the front door, Andrew didn't even have a chance to open the door before it was flung open and Amir was there, wrapping his arms around him and giving him a squeeze.
"Oh Andy! You came back so soon! Are you alright?" Amir's concern washed over him and Andrew felt his body melt and relax. Andrew buried his face in the throat of Amir, taking in the family scent there and felt his whole body relax.
"I'm better now that I'm around my family." Andrew said softly and he heard Amir suck in a deep breath.
"Was it that bad?" Ben asked from behind Amir, and Andrew raised his face. He was felt a moment of embarrassment wash over him, but Ben didn't appear upset at what Andrew was doing. It might have to do with the fact that he was holding his daughter in his arms, but from the way that Ben was looking at them, Andrew didn't think that was it. Andrew had forgotten in that moment that this could be viewed as something that crossed the line and was thankful that both Ben and Amir didn't take offense.
"They tried to lead me to a room full of omegas in heat." Andrew said and Amir's grip on him tightened and Ben's expression tightened.
"What?" Ben was outraged for his sake and Andrew felt his lips curl up in a smile.
"I'm fine. I caught on right away. Kim also warned me, but I still can't believe that that was where they would lead me right away. No hesitation. They also used their oldest, probably, servant to do it. Like I would trust him more or something." Andrew let out a shaky breath. "Fuck. It is okay if I hug you more, Amir?" Andrew asked and Amir chuckled. He patted Andrew's back.
"I think Maxy will understand. Have you told him you're here yet?" Andrew blinked at Amir's question, before he felt his face warm.
"I…forgot." Andrew admitted and Ben let out a laugh.
"I'll let him know you're here. I'll probably pass the phone over to you to speak to him. You're okay to do that?" Ben asked and Andrew nodded, holding onto Amir. He had thought that he hadn't been affected by the smell of the omegas, but from his body's reaction, he was wrong.
"Thank you Ben, and of course that's okay. I feel terrible for making him worried an extra minute." Andrew muttered and Ben chuckled.
"He probably didn't think you were out of there by now, and given the slightly deranged look in your eyes, I think you'll be forgiven." Ben told him warmly. "Mom and Dad are out, grabbing lunch for everyone. I asked them to leave to give Amir and I an actual moment with our daughter. You are excluded from that ban, alright? Make sure Amir takes a rest." Ben ordered as he raised his phone to his ear and wandered into a room just off of the foyer. It was probably an entry room or greeting room.
It was only shortly after that that Andrew felt enough like himself that he could take a step back from Amir. Amir smiled up at him warmly, reaching up and adjusting Andrew's glasses, and with a smile, Andrew did the same to him. It was a happy moment. Filled with familial love. Andrew was happy to have it after the nightmare, or self fulfilling prophecy that had been his meeting with the Proctors.
"Is it a bad thing that I wanted them to be different from what Kim told me?" Andrew asked the man who had never brought up his parents since Andrew had known him. Amir's eyes softened, filled with sympathy and an understanding that made Andrew's heart ache.
"There is nothing wrong with thinking that, Andy. It's their fault for letting you down." Amir's words rang with a truth that made Andrew want to comfort the other man, but he didn't have time. Ben came back into the room, his daughter in one arm, his phone pressed against his ear.
"Why would I lie about that? Look. Your precious Andy is right here." Ben said and Andrew felt his eyes crease as he smiled.
"He's right. I'm right here." Andrew called out loud enough that his voice could be picked up on the phone. Ben rolled his eyes, sighing dramatically as he made his way towards Andrew.
"He doesn't even want to talk to me. He only wants to talk to you. How fucking rude. I'm your older brother." Ben complained, but his heart wasn't in it. Andrew took the phone, stepping into the small room that Ben had just left.
Small was subjective. It was a vast open space, with soaring ceilings, large windows, and colour. It had to be the same size as the room that he had been in when he was with the Proctor's but it was so completely different that it took Andrew a moment to realise that.
"Andrew?" It was Maxwell's voice. Where holding Amir had relaxed something inside of him, actually hearing Maxwell made it feel like he'd made it to the finish line. Andrew hesitated for a second before he sat down on one of the couches in the room, tilting his head back as he sighed.
"I'm here." Andrew told him softly and he could hear Maxwell shuffling around on the other side.
"That does not sound good. Are you actually okay? Ben said something about a room full of in heat omegas. Are you…" Andrew heard the other man trail off, and felt his lips curl up. He liked when Maxwell showed how much he cared about him like this. Even in this terrible situation.
"I didn't get close enough. Didn't go inside. I could smell it a mile away, but a little bit must have affected me. I gave Amir a long hug and now I'm feeling more of myself. I'm mostly just…disappointed." Andrew told the other man. Maxwell let out a soft sigh on the other side of the phone.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Maxwell sounded sincere. Andrew had a feeling he was already plotting how to ruin the family. Andrew chuckled.
"They brought my Mom's parents." Andrew told him softly. The sound on Maxwell's side of the phone stopped, like he had stopped moving. "Did I ever tell you? They never showed up to the funeral." That was one invite that would have not been forgotten. Andrew swallowed thickly, raising his hand and taking his glasses off, putting them to the side so that he could cover his eyes. The weight there felt good.
"Oh Andy." Maxwell's voice was full of emotion and Andrew let out a dry laugh.
"They didn't even apologise. Just looked like two deer caught in the headlights. Like they had all expected me to just bend over. I doubt they even watched the full interview. I also met a man that might be Kim's brother. I want to punch him the next time I see him." Andrew told Maxwell and Maxwell let out a breath.
"I won't stop you. Might be a lengthy legal battle if he tries to sue you." Maxwell warned.
"Hmm. Or I could make sure there were no cameras." Andrew countered and there was a pause before Maxwell laughed.
"I think I'm rubbing off on you too much. That's not very Andy of you to say." Maxwell teased, but he sounded happy. Andrew smiled.
"Hmm. You forget that I was a bit of a brawler in my younger years. I might not go to the extreme lengths that you go to, but I can fight." Andrew said proudly, and that only made Maxwell laugh more.
"So then I can only assume that advice came from your Mom then." Maxwell said, the warmth in his voice washing over Andrew. Andrew chuckled.
"Guess again. Not my Mom." Andrew teased and Maxwell shifted in his seat on the other side of the phone. Andrew could almost imagine him. The contemplative look on his face as he considered his options. He probably had his legs crossed too, one foot tapping slightly.
"Hmm. May?"
"Nope."
"Rose?"
"Wrong again." Andrew told him and Maxwell let out a sigh.
"I give up. It had to be one of the Gates. I doubt, given how your memory works, that it would be Kim or Jenny." Maxwell muttered and Andrew grinned.
"It was Ford who told me that. Turns out, he's soft only because he can be. Apparently he had to do a couple of fights to win May's attention." Andrew told him and Maxwell let out a startled sound on the other side of the phone.
"Ford can fight? Wow. I mean, he works physically intense jobs, I just would have-" Maxwell cut himself off, sighing. "I should have known better. He wears soft sweaters to hide it all, doesn't he? No wonder. You're almost an exact copy of him." Maxwell teased and Andrew couldn't fight his grin.
"Don't bring it up too often. He cries like I do too. The other two take after May." Andrew said. Maxwell let out a soft chuckle.
"Awe. We'll have to write a moving speech to him at the wedding. Just watch him bawl. I'll have one of the photographers watching him. I'm sure May would like those photos." Andrew was a little confused about why he would say that.
"Why would May like them?" Andrew asked and Maxwell chuckled.
"Because if you are like Ford, I must share some similarities to May, and I would want those photos." Maxwell told him. Andrew felt his face warm as Maxwell's warm laughter washed over him. "Are you okay, though? Do you want me to come over right now? Mr. Newman might be angry at me, but I can do it." Maxwell told him and Andrew melted.
The man had made sure he laughed, was in better spirits. He was so happy he was going to marry him.
"I'm so glad that you're my partner for the rest of my life." Andrew told Maxwell. He meant every word, and it seemed that he'd caught Maxwell by surprise.
"So…does that mean you want me there right now?" Maxwell asked and Andrew laughed.
"No. I'll be okay. Just hearing your voice has helped me. I can be a good boy and wait until you get off work. I don't want to get a scolding from Ellis." Andrew said and listened as Maxwell let out a loud, annoyed sigh.
"You were my excuse out of work, Andy." Maxwell complained and Andrew just laughed.
"You like working. Don't lie to me." Andrew countered, not buying it. Maxwell muttered angrily for a moment before he sighed, and the two spoke for another few minutes before Maxwell had to get going.
Andrew was relaxed and smiling when he left the room. He was glad he had walked here.