Gus watched them through the mesh of his playpen, eyes wide with sudden interest. Brian gasped, mouth open with shock, a pantomimed uh oh gesture, for his son's benefit. The kid giggled, bouncing happily on his diapered butt. He babbled, the way he had been for weeks-- no longer just noises to himself, but an actual conversation he seemed to expect Brian to understand.

A lot of dee dee dees and muh muh muhs.

He'd pulled himself up, again, and was reaching over the edge of the playpen, his little fists opening and closing in Brian's direction. With a sigh, Brian got to his feet and crossed the room, lifting his son into his arms.

As far as he was concerned, the conversation between Max and himself was over.