[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

[doublethepain]

Spencer hears him, he really does, but Dane has just blinked his gorgeous eyes open before letting them fall shut again as he'd squirmed his way into a tiny stretch, and he doesn't know how he's supposed to look away from his son for any reason right now. He hasn't quite gotten used to it, that he and Joel have a son, even though it also somehow feels like the most natural thing in the world. They've waited to bring their baby home for so long and now that he's here, it almost feels like he's just living a fantasy.

What makes it all the better is that the fantasy is real, that he's not going to wake from this to find that he's alone. This is everything he'd never known he wanted, and Spencer has to keep reminding himself that he's not going to lose it.

Finally, he looks up at Joel with a sheepish, crooked smile. "Okay, I'm ready, I swear. Let's not keep her waiting."

[wakingwakewood]

She tried not to fidget, but more or less completely failed. She wasn't the most spiritual of witches and didn't go in for the whole aura thing, but she could swear the entire house glowed with happiness. Which was exactly how it should be in her opinion. A happy family, safe in their home with their child. She tried not to be jealous, reminding herself that a family was never something she wanted, no matter what that curse said and she mostly failed at that, too.

But those were thoughts for another time. Now it was baby time and she even brought presents for the daddies and the baby and when the door finally opened, she was grinning ear to ear at the look on Joel's face. "Dude, you were made for dad-hood. It totally agrees with you."

[just_another]

He's sure the grin he's wearing is bordering on stupid, but he can't help it. Since bringing Dane home, it's all he's been able to do between delicately touching the soft, dark hair on Dane's head or pressing kisses to Spencer's cheek whenever he passes by. Despite his parents being in town for this, it's been a relatively quiet few days and he's been quite happy with it, but it's nice to have the company now, too. They're ready for it.

He's ready to show off a little bit.

"Dane, meet Essie," he says, shifting the sleeping baby. "She takes care of at least one of your daddies when he's no good at it himself and when the other one isn't around to do it."

[wakingwakewood]

With her free hand, Essie reached out to touch the baby's hand as she spoke softly, welcoming him home. "Huānyíng huí jiā, Dane. And don't worry, Daddy's not as big of a mess as he pretends to be."

He was completely adorable. Of course he was, he was a baby and her friend's baby at that, but she liked to think that he was cute just on his own. She didn't have a lot of experience to tell, but she guessed. She wasn't surprised int he least at the stupid grin Joel was wearing as she looked up to address him. "I come bearing gifts, more than the toys I brought to the shower. Couldn't help myself, but I think you and Spencer will appreciate them."

[doublethepain]

"No, he's not," Spencer agrees, giving Joel a pointed look before softening back into a smile. No matter how difficult their lives get, no matter what obstacles they face, they always manage to come through it together. They don't always escape unharmed but Spencer will happily list all the reasons why he thinks Joel is so much stronger than his husband gives himself credit for, even if they do get help from their friends along the way.

He can't help but shake his head when Essie says she's brought gift, rolling his eyes fondly. "People keep doing that, you're all very ridiculous and wonderful."

In spite of his words, Spencer continues to be overwhelmed by the outpour of support they've received from those they consider their friends, and he's beyond grateful for the fact that he's been introduced to a life that no longer leaves something to be desired. He'd been able to count the number of friends he'd had on one hand before meeting Joel and now, they're having to shift things around the attic just to make sure they have enough room for all the things people are bringing them.

"And I think I speak for both of us when I say that we do appreciate whatever you've brought. And so does Dane, for that matter, even if he doesn't know it yet."

[just_another]

People have been so incredibly supportive and so generous, and most of the time Joel has no idea what he's done to deserve any of this. With people who are newer in town, people like Essie who have only known him after Spencer, maybe it makes a little bit more sense, but he's still not particularly social or outgoing. He doesn't try as hard as he perhaps should and yet somehow they've still found these incredible people who only want the best of them. The two of them alone had been little more than recluses for the most part, seemingly content to be on their own at all times, but that's changed. Finding each other had changed that and Joel still doesn't always understand how they've gotten here, but he wouldn't have it any other way.

"Thank you," he says, looking at Essie with a smile before he grins over at Spencer. It's like he can't stop smiling no matter what he does and it's getting to the point where his face sort of hurts.

"Do you want to hold him?" he asks. "He's been sort of fussy this morning, but I think he's calmed down enough that he won't be too much of a pain."

[wakingwakewood]

"Oh, god, I shouldn't. I don't want to be the person that drops him on his head or something." Besides, she had conflicted enough feelings about kids at the moment. Adding the change to actually cuddle one was probably not going to help.

"Besides, I should probably show you this stuff so you know what it all is." She'd actually spent sime time assembling the spells and things she needed to get the effects she wanted. She'd also tested them, on herself and on Dan which had been a complete success. "I have a card from a diner a few blocks away. They deliver and I've pre-paid about two week's worth of meals for you guys. Just call and let them know what you want and when. I also have a little fountain, something for white noice in the baby's room, but I've spelled some water you can use in it so that it's extra soothing, but it takes plain water. I have another solution you can add to his bathwater if he's fussy to help him calm down. I would have made some healing type things, but without knowing what I'd be healing, it wouldn't work as well." Setting the bag down she started to pull out all the pieces and bottles. "Actually, I probably should have made something for rashes, huh? Babies get those a lot, right?"