[Open - Gathering - Baby Shower]

[just_another]

They're actually having a baby shower.

Joel is fairly certain his mother wouldn't have let them get away without something, even if he had insisted it be small and consist only of family, but for some reason he and Spencer have allowed themselves to be talked into a real shower. With invitations and food and little baby themed games to play. It's sort of strange, looking at it from his position, given that Erin is the one who's going to be giving birth and therefore is the one in the glowing pregnant woman position at this entire gathering.

She'd sweetly agreed to attend and had even whispered to Joel that she would take the brunt of the attention if she could manage it. He had whispered back that he knew they had picked her for a good reason.

But here they are. Several weeks have passed, the invitations have gone out and the decorations have been put up all over Joel and Spencer's living room. He had agreed to lift the enchantments on the house for the extent of the party, which means that anyone can open the door to their guests, they don't all have to be invited in by either Joel or Spencer, and it makes him a little nervous, but he understands the usefulness of others being able to answer the door. At least for today.

It's the decorations that keep getting to him. Sweet little ducks and zebras and monkeys, little jungle animals all over the walls. The bottle and rattle shaped cookies are pretty cute, but those aren't going to be left when the baby gets here. The animal theme, though, is fairly close to the nearly finished nursery Joel has been working on upstairs and he can't help but grin at the decorations.

Spencer, on the other hand, can't stop coming back round to the center of the living room to stare at the enormous sign that's been strung up above a table already stacked with gifts when a majority of their guests haven't even arrived yet. He'd been worried this morning that the day would overwhelm him, that knowing so many people would be coming into their home would be daunting when just a year ago, he'd never even once invited company over before meeting Joel; but so far, he feels calm, in spite of having had to watch Joel remove the enchantments that act as their security on the house. If someone wishes to crash a baby shower--which he doesn't imagine will happen anyway--then they'll have to face not only the wrath of a room that will be filled with witches and sirens, but the wrath of his mother- and sister-in-law, as well. That's not a sight Spencer thinks would be very pretty to witness.

Still, he feels light, perhaps a lingering effect of the having the chance to fall in love with Joel a second time during the spell that had taken over the town. Certainly, a great deal of his contentment has to do with the fact that he won't have to worry about losing his husband in a crowd but even beyond that, he's excited.

So much has changed in the course of the past year and weeks from now, they'll be holding their newborn in their arms for the very first time without another care in the world but for who they've been looking forward to meeting since they'd decided to take this journey together. There's something a bit strange about realizing that it's all coming to a head, that the waiting will soon be over and they'll be fathers at last, but when the first knock on the door comes, Spencer can't help but smile.

[Baby shower for Joel and Spencer's wee one. Erin, their surrogate, is present and is currently 31 weeks pregnant. If you're even a little friendly with either of them, Joel's mother sent an invitation, but the enchantments have been taken off the house for the event and so it's not an impossible party to crash. If anyone wants to crash a baby shower...]

Comments

[wastelandflower]

"Oh no, I'm the one who's gate-crashing," Rian says, putting on a calm, easy smile as though they've been neighbors their whole lives. "But I'm still figuring my way around fatherhood, so don't ask me for much advice."

[just_another]

"She's very sweet," Joel says, looking at the little girl with a smile. He's still awkward around new people, doesn't often know what to do, but it's easier when there's children involved. "You said you have a shop?" he asks, looking up again.

[wastelandflower]

Rian nods, shifting his grip again to secure his squirming daughter. God, what's he going to do when she learns to run?

"Orpheus Music, yeah. Near the college."

[just_another]

It sounds familiar, possibly just due to Cosette's interest in music, but Joel nods all the same. "Yeah, I think I know where that is," he says, then indicates the living room. "Do you want to sit down with her? She looks like she's about ready to jump free."

He says with with a smile, though, and he realizes he can't quite wait for the day he gets to hold his child like that.

[wastelandflower]

He laughs and nods, stepping through the door and setting his gift on the table. Only barely settled and Sophie tries to lurch off his shoulder, trying to grab a brightly colored biscuit to gnaw on. "Sophie, love, that's very rude," he says gently.

"This is what you've got to look forward to," he warns with a laugh.

[just_another]

"You know, I'm sure there are days when I'll feel like I'm ready to give up, but at this point I honestly can't wait," Joel says with a fond smile. This is something he wants. With Spencer. He wants to have a little son or daughter to hold against his shoulder and scold when they try to grab things that don't belong to them. All his life he'd never imagine he could want something as badly as he wants this.

[wastelandflower]

"Waiting to be surprised on the gender?" Rian can't blame him, smiling easily. "My ex-wife couldn't wait to find out what Sophie was." And then the glimmer had worn off.

"Would you like to hold her? Or...well. Try to?"

[just_another]

"No, we have no idea," Joel says, looking toward Erin briefly. "Our surrogate keeps making guesses and last I heard, she was leaning toward a girl, but I think she's just hoping for that since she has two boys of her own already."

Then he looks back to Rian and Sophie and nods. "If she's alright with that. Is she not shy around strangers?"

[wastelandflower]

"God no," Rian says with a laugh. "She's a little ham. Loves attention. Takes after me." Or the way he'd been. These days, Rian doesn't crave the spotlight like he used to.

Easily, he transfers Sophie over and she immediately reaches for Joel's beard.

[just_another]

"Tell me I'm not going to have to shave this off," Joel says with a grin, thought it really doesn't hurt that bad when she grabs it. He's considered that he might have to, that he and Spencer will both have to cut their hair given that they've both let it get a little long, but he hates the idea of having to shave off his beard. It's a little like a security blanket.

[wastelandflower]

"You could, but the kid will find something else to grab onto. They always do." Beaming, Sophie drapes her arms around his neck and leans against him, babbling happily.

"She's not talking yet, but she has a lo to say."