[open - baby meeting!]

[just_another]

Dane has been home for exactly thirty-seven hours and a few minutes, give or take, when Joel looks at the clock on the wall as he paces the length of the library, the baby in his arms. He's been fussing today, more than he has yet, and he and Spencer have been taking turns walking with him around the house once they've established that he doesn't need to be changed and he isn't hungry. They've been given their space after the initial invasion, his parents choosing to stay at a hotel for the duration of their time here rather than taking over the house. As much as he loves having his parents here, as much as he's loved seeing them with their grandson, he's also extremely grateful for it.

Ellie, though, had called that afternoon and suggested Joel try flipping Dane over onto his stomach. She'd said something about colic, told him that holding the baby on his stomach might help, and since then Joel has been carrying a peaceful Dane around the house, his little cheek resting against Joel's wrist. He's fast asleep for the time being and Joel can't imagine putting him down. He's a warm, comforting weight on Joel's arm and although he's tired, although he knows there's still a lot of adjusting to be done, he's also never been this happy.

Spencer is napping. At least he hopes he is. Joel had all but forced him to go upstairs and lie down. They sleep when Dane sleeps, that's the way their lives are meant to go now, and now that Dane actually is sleeping, Joel is debating heading upstairs and joining Spencer. The thought of crawling into bed with his husband, settling Dane comfortably on his chest and just lying there for a little while is somehow even more appealing than actually getting to sleep.

If he sleeps, he's bound to miss something, and Joel doesn't want to miss a moment of this.

That's exactly what Spencer is thinking as he lies wide awake in their bedroom. He'd tried more than once to close his eyes and keep them shut, force himself into a sleep that just won't come, but for once he's not being kept awake because of the nightmares he fears might plague him; it's because he knows that just downstairs are the two people he loves more than anything else in this world.

It's only been a day and a half since they've been allowed to bring Dane home, since they'd been overly careful in placing their baby, their tiny, beautiful baby, into his car seat for the drive home while Erin and her husband tried to hide their laughter behind their hands as they'd watched.

"Definitely brand new parents," her husband had commented, and it hadn't been with any ill intent. Spencer had only smiled and shrugged, as if there was nothing that could be done about it and really, there can't be. He's a father now, he's partly responsible for someone's life for the rest of his own, and as daunting as that may be, Spencer has never been happier. The only comparison he could possibly make would be to the day he and Joel had gotten married, and it's with that thought that he finally gives up and rolls out of bed to join his family.

They'd texted friends earlier in the day to mention when a good time would be to drop by to meet the baby. It's getting to be just after noon now, and he's absolutely exhausted, but the promise of getting to see Dane again gives him a burst of happy adrenaline. He'd be happy to stay this way for the rest of his life, at home with just his husband and their child; but he supposes having company over wouldn't be so bad.

After all, there's something appealing about being able to say that today, he and Joel are going to be introducing their son.

[Time to meet the baby. Tag Joel or Spencer or BOTH, but just indicate in your tag what you'd prefer. If both, the order will be your pup, Joel, Spencer.]

Comments

[louise_abasi]

'You made a present of a book to a librarian and a book shop owner.' Louise had just looked at her father and wondered if he was a participant of this world. Her father had protested that he hadn't heard complaints. Louise had declined to explain to him how a baby took over your brain fast enough to not think about anything else.

It made her almost embarrassed enough to not visit, but not visiting wasn't possible either. With the excuse of a lunch break (had she eaten anything today, work was vicious), she walked the familiar route to the Waters-Baker house. If she was visiting at a bad time, it would be convenient for all of them.

Even with the book, Lou wanted to bring another present, and knowing that neither Spencer or Joel would allow a personal chef in, had Gaston make a month of gastronimal dishes. Hopefully the family had a large enough freezer, her basket was huge.

[just_another]

When Spencer had come back downstairs without having slept at all, Joel had scolded him and tried to get him to go back to bed, but it had all been half-hearted, knowing there was no chance Spencer was going to give up spending time with their baby. He's still new enough that they're willing to forget how tired they are, and when there's a knock at the door, they both freeze for a moment, waiting to see if Dane will wake up.

He doesn't, thankfully, and Joel goes to open the door, the baby still asleep on his arm. Right now he's afraid to put him down in case it wakes him up and he smiles when he sees Lou on the porch.

"Hey," he says, his voice soft. "Come on nt."

[louise_abasi]

"Oh. Aww. Oh dear."

She's terribly glad that her hands are full with picnic basket, and not only because she is unsure if she wants the hold the boy or run away screaming. How can a baby even be scary?

"I can just leave this here and return another time?", Louise whispers. "It was just - I should have gave you a warning in advance, it has been a very long time since I had to consider babies."

[bachjones]

Bach could honestly not remember when he gave Joel his phone number. Like, he gave his phone number to parents of Isaac's co-students or however you called the kids at kindie, Mrs. Gordon had his phone number and ..okay, some people he slept with. Joel was in neither of those categories.

He knew that this wasn't going to be worthwhile food to show up for - yesterday's fancy people brunch had provided for that anyway - but even though he was unsure about being Joel's friend, Bach felt like he should invest some more in a relationship that wouldn't make him doubt his sanity. As far as he knows, he never married Joel, and these days he can even ignore the urge to get really close to him and offer to massage his feet (REALLY, brain?). Essie was way too young for him anyway.

There was no need for another present, right? Bach rung the bell and immediately regretted it. Babies. Sleeping. He probably fucked this up before even getting inside.

[just_another]

When the bell rings, Dane stirs in Joel's arms, makes a soft gurgling sound and then seems to go back to sleep. Still holding his son, Joel goes for the front door and opens it, giving Bach a grin when he sees him on the porch. "Hey," he says, stepping back, holding the door open with one hand, Dane still sleeping on his arm. He's small enough now that he can hold him with just one arm, but even so, he's surprisingly heavy.

"Come inside," he says, stepping back.

[bachjones]

"Fuck,he's tiny." That's correct to assume right, if the kid's name, it's a boy? Had Isaac been so small, when Bach wasn't around to take care of him? That twists something inside him, and if he didn't know how he had taken his mother out, he would go back and hurt her again. And Isaac's mother, for not loving him. How could you not love.

"Hey man. You look pretty shit. Are you sure you want people around? Damn, he fits on your arm."

[davin]

Davin debated with himself for a while after getting the text from Joel. He didn’t know if it was a group text or not. He figured that it probably was, and that it probably meant that Davin was welcome, but he felt weird about it. This was a happy day for them, and Davin didn’t really know if Spencer could look at Davin and still feel happy. Davin is a walking and talking reminder of what they went through, and he doesn’t know if Spencer will necessarily want to deal with that today.

But he doesn’t want to be rude, and he does want to see the baby. He’ll stay extra aware and if Spencer seems uncomfortable, or anything less than the proud, overjoyed father that he deserves to be, Davin will politely excuse himself from the situation.

He wasn’t sure if he was expected to bring another gift, or what the etiquette was, so Davin just rolled with what he felt was right. They’re new parents and he’s sure they won’t want to leave the baby anytime soon, but eventually they’ll need a night to themselves. That’s what Davin decides to give them.

The envelope that he hands Joel when he opens the door contains a gift certificate for the movie theater, and another for one of the nicer restaurants in town, along with a handmade coupon for one night of free babysitting. It’s probably dumb, but Davin likes handmade gifts with a personal touch. If he can’t make them himself, he goes to Etsy. He just likes his gifts to mean something.

“Hey, this is for you guys,” Davin says as he steps into the house, sliding his hands into his pockets and giving him a small smile. He hasn’t seen much of either of them lately, and not at all since they got back from New York. Davin hasn’t really seen much of anyone really, what with the way he’s been keeping to himself. “Congratulations.”


[both, please!]

[just_another]

At the sound of the door, Joel shifts Dane slightly in his arms, then looks at Spencer with his nose wrinkled slightly. He's glad his husband has come downstairs now, because as much as he wants people to meet the baby, he hadn't really thought this part through, where he needs to open the door all without actually putting Dane down. He can't imagine putting him down, not when he's sleeping so peacefully in Joel's arms after a day of fussing.

But Spencer, as always, reads his mind and gets the door, which allows Joel to join them. It's Davin on the porch and he grins at the sight of their friend, stepping away as he comes inside. He shift Dane slightly so he can take the envelope from him, looking surprised, but pleased.

"You didn't have to bring us anything," he says, but he's smiling happily as he hands the envelope to Spencer so he can open it. "Come inside. Dane's asleep, but that's probably the best way to meet him."

[doublethepain]

It's been a few weeks since they've seen Davin, and Spencer has thought more than once that maybe they ought to get together since he and Joel had returned from New York, but he hasn't managed to muster the courage to do more than send a text or two to ask how his friend has been doing. So it's with a warm and welcoming smile that he greets Davin, and Spencer brushes his fingers over the baby's soft, dark hair before taking the envelope from his husband.

He opens his mouth to say something but before the words can come out, he's momentarily distracted by the huff that escapes the baby as he twitches against Joel's arm. Every time this happens, every time their baby makes a sound or moves or simply does this, simply exists, Spencer's heart skips in a way it never has before. There can't possibly be anything better than this, he thinks as his lips curve back into a soft smile. There can't be anything more incredible than being allowed this gift, this child, he's never seen anything more perfect or more beautiful. Their baby, their Dane, nobody could be more important than him.

With a sheepish laugh, he nods toward the baby before looking back up at Davin. "I hope you're prepared for a pair of unbearable friends for a little while," he says, smile widening. He slides his finger through the opening of the envelope, laughing again at the handmade coupon and the certificates to the theater and restaurant before fanning them out for his husband to see. "God, it might be long time before we're willing to actually use these, but they're going to come in awfully handy one day."

Spencer's expression softens then as he reaches out to place his hand on Davin's arm, squeezing gently. "I'm glad you were able to make it over. It's good to see you."

[astra_inclinant]

Mira hasn't properly spent time with Spencer, or Joel, since -- everything that happened. She'd dropped by at the hospital, and briefly since, but immediately after she'd been fussing over Davin (and now she feels bad for that, as though it was choosing alliances, when it was more assuming that Spencer and Joel wanted time alone), and since New York, not at all. It feels like the last several weeks have gone by in a blur with some very brief standouts.

This is a thing she doesn't want to be blurry.

She knocks, slightly tentatively, on the door. Oh -- she should have brought something. Do you bring something again after the baby's born?

Spencer and Joel's baby, she thinks again, and can't help smiling.

[just_another]

Joel is in the process of being completely obnoxious when he hears the knock on the door -- staring down at the baby sleeping on his arm with something akin to a starry-eyed expression, he's sure -- and he glances up at the sound, pleased that someone has stopped by to officially meet Dane. Between the two of them, he and Spencer have texted pretty much everyone they know to let them know they're happy to have visitors and he's not sure who's going to be on the porch, but he's pretty excited to start introducing Dane to people.

Even if the only thing Dane wants to do is sleep or pee or eat.

"Can you grab that?" he asks Spencer, though he's fairly certain his husband is already going for it. He's gotten awfully good at reading Joel's mind, especially over the last few days when it's just been easier to communicate by looking at each other than speaking and risk waking Dane when he finally falls asleep. "I'm pretty sure if I try to move my arms too much he's just going to wake up again."

[coopdetat]

Coop had seen Spencer's Instagram post on Friday and maybe--maybe--had overreacted when he'd immediately sent Joel two or seven texts in a row demanding all the details of how big the baby is and how well he's doing and how Erin's doing and how he and Spencer are doing, shit that he probably could have waited to send until at least a day after his friends had been able to hold their newborn for more than five seconds but hell, he'd been excited.

He's seen them here and there since Spencer and Davin had come back home, and it's admittedly been nice to see that Spencer has been keeping in good spirits since all that shit had gone down. The dream had been bad, really fucking bad, and he's not sure that Davin is handling it as well but healing is different for everyone. It's something to be grateful for, Coop thinks, that Spencer and Joel have each other to push through the rougher parts of life because it would have royally sucked, to say the least, to still be really suffering with the baby already here.

But he's not going to bring anything like that up because this is a good day. He hadn't dropped by the hospital even though he'd come extremely close, opting instead to let the new dads have their alone time before being bombarded with a million people knocking down their door to meet baby Dane, but now Coop's kicking at the door to be let in because he has a box in his arms full of baby clothes that his parents had sent down as a congratulatory gift. Which is weird because Coop is pretty sure the last time either of them even talked to Spencer was long before Coop had left for college but whatever, his parents have always had stupidly big hearts.

When Spencer opens the door, Coop's eyes drift past him to land on the tiny little body being cradled in Joel's arms, and he practically throws the box at Spencer's face before clapping his hands over his mouth as he steps inside.

"Holy shit," he whispers through his fingers, hovering carefully over Joel's shoulder. "Holy shit, that is the smallest living human I ever ever seen, are you sure he's real?"

[just_another]

There's something literally kicking their door and Joel doesn't know how he knows, but it has to be Coop. He finds himself grinning before the door is even opened and yes, it's Coop, his arms full of a giant box that he all but throws at Spencer before heading over for Joel. There's a second where Joel thinks Spencer might actually drop the box, but he manages to get a hold on it, then sets it down in the wall and Joel grins at his husband in relief. He would have hated to start this day by needing to rescue Spencer from under a giant box.

"Pretty sure," Joel says in response to Coop's question. "He has a heart beat and everything." Which Joel listens to about a dozen times a day. It isn't even in response to any anxiety -- though he's had moment like that already and he's doing his best to try and shut them down before they begin -- it's simply that he wants to hear their son's heart beating. It beats so quickly, like a tiny butterfly beating its wings inside his chest and Joel knows that's completely normal, that newborns simply have a much quicker heart rate, but it had taken some getting used to all the same. And now it's simply the best sound Joel has ever heard. Maybe second only to his breathing.

"Do you want to hold him?" he asks. "He's pretty quiet right now, but we had a bit of a rough morning with him. Getting him like this is probably best for everyone." As long as he doesn't start to fuss again as soon as they make the transfer, Joel is pretty sure he'll just settle back into Coop's arms and fall asleep.

[aoife_coombs]

Aoife already had an excuse card and a 500 dollar Baby Bjorn at hand when Joel had sent her a text. It said that he hadn't been entirely sure if he had already invited her, but the both of them knew better: Joel that she was trying to get out of it for reasons he didn't understand, Aoife that she had been caught in the act. Not showing up was not an option right now.

The envelope, cradled to her chest, was a flimsy harness to support herself by. She'd knock real quietly, once, and disappear if there was no reply.

[just_another]

The knock is so quiet that Joel barely hears it at all. It's only because he's passing by on the way to the kitchen, Dane still sleeping against his forearm, that he realizes there's someone at the door and when he goes to answer, he break into a bright smile at the sight of Aoife on the porch.

"Hi," he says, holding the door open wider for her to come in. "I'm glad you came." And he really is. Whatever her reasons for not wanting to come, he doesn't understand them, and he doesn't want to have pushed her, but she's a friend and he would very much like for her to meet Dane.

[callmeemily]

Her phone'd beeped at exactly the right time. Raleigh'd been about to shove her phone into her back and get to work; she wanted to get batches of dough to proof, but that beedle-deet of her phone got her to get her shit together and nevermind that she usually was open-- she closed the bakery without really worrying about it, because she had a baby to meet.

She'd stopped at home for the casserole she'd put in the fridge - they'd just have to stick it in the oven for twenty minutes and it'd be good to go, and... yeah. They're only two houses down, and she's been sort of cooling her heels in general, since she didn't want to intrude. Now, though? Now she can meet Dane, and there's no way she'd miss it for the world.

Her knock's quiet in case the baby's sleeping - even if he is, she wants to see both Joel and Spencer, because it'd finally happened. They'd come so far since she'd met them both, it was something to celebrate.

[just_another]

Raleigh probably should have been called to come over earlier and Joel had entirely meant to, especially when Charlotte was here buzzing around, but it had just slipped his mind. He's not usually forgetful like that and he doesn't know if it's due to the fact that he's tired -- he feels like he hasn't quite caught up on sleep since the night Dane was born -- or if this is just something that happens to parents, they forget everything that isn't the baby, but either way he feels a little guilty about it.

But there's a knock at the door and Joel has only just settled onto the couch with Dane in his arms, so he looks up at Spencer with a sheepish sort of grin. They'll be trading off duties all day, he's sure of that, but right now he's the one with the sleeping baby on his arm and he's only just gotten comfortable, so he offers the cutest face he can possibly muster -- which he realizes probably isn't all that cute, he probably looks more like he's sick than anything -- and looks at Spencer sweetly.

"Can you get the door?" he asks. "I'm far too lazy to get back up again right now."

Honesty is key, he thinks. Honesty is the way to get what he wants, even though he's sure Spencer would open the door or do anything for him right now without a second of hesitation.

[writtenby_caden]

Caden had been waiting for the all clear to come meet the baby, but he still makes himself wait a bit before heading over, wanting to give them all time to settle in.

Still, he's practically bouncing with excitement by the time he's ringing the bell. He's just so incredibly happy for them, and he knows that they'll be wonderful fathers. Their baby will be incredibly loved, not to mention incredibly spoiled, and Caden is just honored to be able to witness it.

"Hey, pops!" Caden says with a laugh as Joel opens the door. He holds out the gift he brought, a huge value pack of coffee pods, with a cheeky grin. "Something tells me that you're going to be needing these."

[just_another]

By this time, Joel has passed Dane off to Spencer and left the sleeping baby in his husband's arms instead. Of course, he hadn't been able to just walk away, because once Dane's cheek had been resting against Spencer's wrist, lying face down like he seemed to like best at the moment, Spencer's long fingered hand stroking down his tiny back, he hadn't been able to resist taking a picture. Or a dozen pictures. His phone is already holding more than double the number of photos it had the day before Dane was born and Joel is suddenly very pleased he got the one with the most storage.

Even so, he's going to have to start transferring these soon. And picking out the ones they'll want to print out and frame.

When he finds Caden on the porch, Joel smiles brightly and steps back to let him in, even as he take the huge amount of coffee being handed to him. "Thank god, you are a saviour," he says with a laugh, because it's true, they're certainly going to need all the caffeine they can get over the next several months until Dane is managing to sleep through the night.

[asharpertongue]

Lara had gotten the all clear to come over while she was out shopping for little Dane. She had an armful of babygrows and way more tiny booties than the baby would be able to use before he grew out of them. Levi was going to mock her mercilessly when he found out, but she didn't care.

Paying for the clothes, she dashed to her car and straight over to see Joel and Spencer and the baby.

It doesn't take long to get there and she's grinning as she approaches their house, knocking on the door quietly.

[just_another]

Joel has passed Dane off to Spencer when he hears the knock and it takes him a moment to tear himself away from his husband and baby, but eventually he manages it. It's just that they look so sweet, Dane sleeping on Spencer's arm, his tiny lips pursed slightly. He had been eight when Charlotte was born and he remembers how small she'd been, how tiny and delicate, but it's different. She had been his sister and he had loved her blindly from the very first moment he met her, but this is just different.

"Hi," he says when he opens the door and finds Lara on the porch. "Come inside. I'm glad you came."

[lesparker]

Les is at home when his phone beeps with Joel's text message. He is expecting it to be Raleigh or probably even Corry letting him know she was home from working over at the Waterhouse, but when he sees that it's Joel telling people that the baby is home, he gets a huge grin on his face. It takes him awhile to head over to Joel and Spencer's house. He has to discard the potion he's working on and take a shower so he doesn't meet Baby Dane covered in green gunk from his spell.

A couple hours later he rings the bell once and waits for someone to answer.

[just_another]

The ringing of the bell wakes Dane and for a second Joel freezes, staring down at their tiny son. He stirs in Joel's arms, blinking sleepily for a moment, then yawns and stretches out one little arm, waving his fist. When he seems like he isn't about to cry, Joel gets up from where he's sitting on the couch and shoots Spencer a grin as he heads for the door. The baby might be awake now, but he's still relatively quiet and for that Joel is grateful.

"Hi," he says when he opens the door and finds Les on the porch. Stepping back, he pushes the door wider and says, "Come in."

Both? If it's not an imposition?

[wakingwakewood]

Essie didn't knock so much as she tapped the front door with her fingertips and sent a text to the inhabitants that simply read, do I have 2 huff n puff? 'cause that'll wake the baby, i'm sure. And a smiley face, so they knew she was joking, not that she thought for a moment either of the new Dads would ever think that was serious. But she didn't want to do anything to disturb that tiny little bundle of potential awesome she'd seen in the pictures. Between Joel and Spencer's happiness and her own lingering memories, she totally got it why people lost their marbles around babies.

Humming a lullaby, she waited patiently on the stoop for someone to let her in.

[just_another]

Joel has passed Dane off to Spencer by now, has gone into the kitchen to make the both of them a cup of tea and warm up some formula as Dane has started to fuss a little bit and he'd like to have it ready if he wakes up and really started to cry. It's been a few hours and it's definitely getting close to time to eat again.

He doesn't hear the sound at the door, but he does get the text and he grins when he sees it's from Essie. Turning the kettle on, he puts the bottle on the counter and heads for the door so he can let her in.

"Spencer, Essie is here," he calls, his voice soft, still taking care not to wake Dane.