"I know," Joel says and he laughs softly again, careful not to wake Dane. "We were so involved and we were expecting it, but the first time I held him was possibly the most surreal moment of my life." It's so different than just waiting for it to happen. Having him here now is easier, he's already adjusted to this tiny presence being such a huge part of their lives together, but that first day in the hospital, those first moments of being able to hold their son, he remembers every last minute detail, but also feels like it was something out of the dream.

He's so perfectly content here, Dane asleep on his arm, Spencer's arm around his shoulders. It all feels so natural and he also sort of feels like he can't stop smiling, which isn't his default expression at all. Even with as happy as he is being married to Spencer, when it comes to most other people, he tends to look relatively neutral, but not anymore. It's impossible not to smile. He feels so much love in a way he'd never once expected.

"Do you want to hold him?" he asks, because he figures everyone wants to hold the baby. Then he grins over at his husband. "I might be persuaded to give him up for a little while, but I can't promise Spencer won't snatch him right back."