Spencer lifts his chin up in the air, purposely avoiding eye contact with Joel as he goes about his business, sorting onesies from books and toys and diapers as he catalogues each gift in his mind. Ellie has already made sure she writes down who had brought what gift, which is going to be incredibly helpful when they start writing their cards--rather, when Spencer writes the cards and forces Joel to sign his name to every single one--but even though they've already seen everything, he'd wanted to go through it all again. It's a nice reminder after their house has been thoroughly emptied of any lingering guests of just how many people care about them, support them in this enormous and life-altering decision they've made to become parents, and sorting the gifts into piles had been the only thing he could think to do in order to avoid bursting into an emotional fit of tears--the good kind, of course, but he still doesn't want to have to explain to his mother- and sister-in-law through hiccups that he's only sobbing because he's happy.

For a long time, he hadn't imagined he could ever be happy again. He's not even sure that he can say he'd ever been truly happy before last year, and it isn't that he'd been miserable but for the most part, his life has been quite ordinary. His mother and brother had been popular in the community, they'd had many friends and were so well-liked; but Spencer, he'd preferred staying at home where he wouldn't have to make small talk with people who likely wouldn't care what he had to say anyway. Dane's friends had been kind to him, for the most part--Coop included--but nearly all of them only spoke to him because they'd felt it impolite not to, and Spencer had never taken issue with that. He'd chosen a way for himself, and he didn't hold it against anyone else to let him continue on with it.

So to think that now, he has a husband who's been ready for a promised later so clearly eager to make Spencer deliver on the promises he'd made is as extraordinary as he could have imagined. He has an incredible life, one he wouldn't trade for anything, even after all the horrible things that have happened to lead him here. Joel makes him happier than he thinks he really deserves, treats him better than anyone, and Spencer's love for him surpasses anything he's ever felt before. This is true contentment, he thinks, this is the sort of relationship that people long for and envy because there's not even the slightest trace of doubt. Whatever arguments they might have are resolved within minutes, if that, and usually, they're more silly, teasing ones than anything serious.

How many versions of the same toy the baby really needs is one example, and Spencer holds up a Sophie that he'd placed an order on just yesterday with a snort. "I suppose I shouldn't have put this on the registry if I was just going to buy it myself, hmm?"

He sets the teether back down and finally turns to his husband with widening eyes, blinking innocently. "Oh, I'm sorry, did you say we've been given permission to leave? As if you'd want to take a single step away from all of this?" He gestures at the array of gifts that still need sorting, the decorations and plates and cups that have been left behind, and grins a bit devlishly as he trails a finger down his husband's chest and stops it right below his navel, tapping at the button of Joel's jeans. "I think I hear that libary calling for us again, don't you? Maybe we should turn on a bit of music. Have another glass of whiskey." He leans in for a kiss, a sweet one that speaks nothing of Spencer plans on doing to his husband as soon as they enter into the other room.

"And we'll have to make sure we lock that door."