Any worry that Spencer might be experiencing truly has nothing to do with Erin, there's absolutely no doubt in his mind that she'd support any choice they make in terms of what they want to do with their own child. She's carrying the baby for them, yes, but she's never once spoken like she's entitled to seeing the baby on a regular basis and any parenting tips hadn't come with a condescending tone but a friendly one, the kind that has always made Spencer feel like he'd be able to call her with questions without having her resent the fact that she's not the one raising the baby she's given birth to.
He does want Erin to feel like she can come by anytime, though, and he knows Joel feels the same way. Spencer doesn't know much more about her husband than what she's mentioned here and there, and he's never met her children; they're not going to be the families that see each other during the holidays; they're not going to call her with constant updates about each of the baby's milestones; but she will always be welcome in their home, her entire family would be if she wanted to bring them, and Spencer isn't afraid that one the baby arrives, she'll be hesitant to let him or her go. Erin is here because she'd been the best fit for them, the right fit, literally the only fit so to doubt her at all now would be doing her an enormous disservice. Even through the stress that must comes with going into labor, she beams at them from her bed, a smile so warm and kind that it's enough to convince Spencer that there's nothing about this night that could possibly go wrong.
He and Joel had started out the evening by attempting to celebrate a lost first date, a night that had brought them so much closer together in many ways anyway, and it still feels so surreal to know that they've ended up here. A year ago, the possibility of a real future with someone had only just started to cement itself in his mind and heart. Accepting that he'd found someone who genuinely cares for him, who genuinely wants him, had seemed daunting at first but then, Joel had made it so easy. Joel is what makes standing here slightly less intimidating, slightly less terrifying. Joel is what makes Spencer believe that he just might not mess this up because it's not as if he can ask for a do-over on parenthood.
When they hear a voice from behind them, Spencer actually jumps, gripping Joel's hand tighter because he'd been so lost in thought, so soothed by Erin's words, that he hadn't noticed anyone coming into the room. He smiles when he sees Jason, and they've only met a few times at the beginnings and ends of meetings with Erin, but he's a good man. He would have to be, Spencer supposes, considering he's been so supportive of his wife giving birth to a child for two people she'd never bet before in her life.
"To be fair, it's a very important task," Spencer tells him, taking a coffee with a grateful smile. "You're doing more than we are right now, anyway."
"Well, you're the expecting papas," Jason answers, shooting them both a wink as he hands Joel a cup before crossing the room to Erin's side. "You're going to need all the rest you can get before this baby comes. Isn't that right, honey?"
Jason squeezes her shoulder and leans down to press a soft kiss to the top of her head, and Spencer can't help but smile at the obvious love and affection between them. He hopes that what people see when he and Joel are together but then he thinks that of course it is. Not a second goes by when he's not looking at Joel as if for the very first time he'd realized just how much he loves him.
"He's not wrong," Erin adds, giving Spencer and Joel a pointed look. "There are chairs in here, you know, and the baby won't be here for a few hours yet. You're allowed to sit down and relax for at least five minutes, I promise."
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He does want Erin to feel like she can come by anytime, though, and he knows Joel feels the same way. Spencer doesn't know much more about her husband than what she's mentioned here and there, and he's never met her children; they're not going to be the families that see each other during the holidays; they're not going to call her with constant updates about each of the baby's milestones; but she will always be welcome in their home, her entire family would be if she wanted to bring them, and Spencer isn't afraid that one the baby arrives, she'll be hesitant to let him or her go. Erin is here because she'd been the best fit for them, the right fit, literally the only fit so to doubt her at all now would be doing her an enormous disservice. Even through the stress that must comes with going into labor, she beams at them from her bed, a smile so warm and kind that it's enough to convince Spencer that there's nothing about this night that could possibly go wrong.
He and Joel had started out the evening by attempting to celebrate a lost first date, a night that had brought them so much closer together in many ways anyway, and it still feels so surreal to know that they've ended up here. A year ago, the possibility of a real future with someone had only just started to cement itself in his mind and heart. Accepting that he'd found someone who genuinely cares for him, who genuinely wants him, had seemed daunting at first but then, Joel had made it so easy. Joel is what makes standing here slightly less intimidating, slightly less terrifying. Joel is what makes Spencer believe that he just might not mess this up because it's not as if he can ask for a do-over on parenthood.
When they hear a voice from behind them, Spencer actually jumps, gripping Joel's hand tighter because he'd been so lost in thought, so soothed by Erin's words, that he hadn't noticed anyone coming into the room. He smiles when he sees Jason, and they've only met a few times at the beginnings and ends of meetings with Erin, but he's a good man. He would have to be, Spencer supposes, considering he's been so supportive of his wife giving birth to a child for two people she'd never bet before in her life.
"To be fair, it's a very important task," Spencer tells him, taking a coffee with a grateful smile. "You're doing more than we are right now, anyway."
"Well, you're the expecting papas," Jason answers, shooting them both a wink as he hands Joel a cup before crossing the room to Erin's side. "You're going to need all the rest you can get before this baby comes. Isn't that right, honey?"
Jason squeezes her shoulder and leans down to press a soft kiss to the top of her head, and Spencer can't help but smile at the obvious love and affection between them. He hopes that what people see when he and Joel are together but then he thinks that of course it is. Not a second goes by when he's not looking at Joel as if for the very first time he'd realized just how much he loves him.
"He's not wrong," Erin adds, giving Spencer and Joel a pointed look. "There are chairs in here, you know, and the baby won't be here for a few hours yet. You're allowed to sit down and relax for at least five minutes, I promise."