Hey guys! I'm back with another fic yes. This is actually just a rewrite of my other fic Watching Her Grow. So it's similar but i'm going to change a lot. Anyway I hope you like it, and please review!
Jeff never really thought about having kids. But ever since he got a job in a children's Hospital and moved to Chicago, it was all he could think about.
Every day he worked with children, mostly infants. He hated it at first, seeing all of the kids being deathly ill, but after a while he realised that, he, was making them better. Jeff felt awful when they passed, they hadn't gotten to experience life, and they haven't seen the world. Fortunately that happened rarely, but when it did, the whole floor were on the verge of tears.
Today, a father came in with a 5 year old girl. The girl's name was Lizzie, and looked like a real life Snow White, pale skin, dark black hair, and rosy cheeks; the only difference was she had brown eyes. She had apparently broken her arm in a gymnastics accident. Jeff had been in the break room, drinking coffee and reading the Chicago Tribune. When he got there, the little girl was crying softly clutching her arm, refusing that Jeff could X-ray it. She was shaking violently, in both of being scared and in pain.
"Sweetie, I promise I won't hurt you, it will take 5 seconds." Jeff smiled at her, trying to reassure her.
"Pinky promise?" She held out her good arm and Jeff wrapped his pinky around hers.
"Pinky promise."
Things like this made Jeff want his own baby more. He wanted to make a child his, make them happy. He never brought it up though; he kept it inside of him, in fear of rejection. The major problem was time; he worked the day shift, from 6 to 3, and his boyfriend Nick worked from 9 to 6. Jeff really didn't want his baby to stay at a daycare, but he didn't want either of them to quit work. But he assumed they'd manage.
Nick worked at the Shedd Aquarium. He was one of the Marine Biologists, he cared for the mammals mostly, made sure they were healthy, eating right. During the spring he taught teenagers about Marine Biology and had them help him around the aquarium. Everyday he'd come home and go on and on about how one of the Belugas had a baby or the newest dolphin learned his routine. Nick loved his job; he wouldn't change it for the world.
Back at Dalton, Nick and Jeff had gotten together in their junior year. Before that everyone knew they were meant to be, and had been ecstatic, that after being completely oblivious about each other's feelings, they finally got together. Ever since then, they broke up twice and got back together, went to college in the same state, and moved to Chicago.
After a while of living in a one bedroom apartment, they moved to the Gold Coast and lived on the 10th floor with two other couples on the same floor. The adopted a kitten a month in May, whom they loved dearly, named Athena. (The kitten had long fur and was gray all over) They weren't married, they could if they wanted to, but they didn't feel the need to. They were both happy. Jeff felt as if he were missing something though, the baby.
He decided, on the way home, that he was going to ask Nick if they could adopt. Hopefully, he'd say yes.
When Jeff got home he decided to make their evening special. He cleaned every room in the house (It wasn't that bad really, just Nick's stuff was everywhere). He spent most of the time in their bedroom, picking up Nick's dirty clothes and putting them in the hamper. He organized their books, made the bed, and opened the light blue drapes which revealed the balcony and lake. It was a nice day out, people where riding bicycles and walking, kids played with volleyballs and jump ropes. People were out on boats and the water looked nice. He smiled to himself and continued. He fed Athena and started dinner. The sun began to set around 6 and Jeff finally finished cleaning and making dinner, singing while he cooked.
Nick opened the door to his floor and walked down the hall to his home. He smiled when he heard the faint sound of Jeff's singing through the door and opened it. He was greeted by Athena jumped down from the couch with a meow, and the salivating smell of chicken. Nick took off his coat and set his bag in the closet, he gently toed his shoes off and picked Athena up.
Jeff must have heard the door open because he poked his head from the kitchen's doorway. He smiled at him and beckoned him over, "Hey sweetheart, have a nice day at work?"
Nick set Athena on the couch and walked over to the kitchen. He pecked Jeff on the lips and leaned against the doorway, watching him cook. "Oh it was amazing! I held a program for 10 year olds; they were so excited when Annie did a trick for them. And then I got to see one of the seals, Fred, and he's doing well, the illness is almost gone!"
"Good, see I told you he'd get better," Jeff said, cutting the chicken into pieces.
"Hey, in my defense I've never seen what he had. I thought he was going to die."
Jeff placed the food in the plates and walked to the dining room. "Nick, out of the Jell-O," he said setting the plates on the table. Nick let out a loud groan and shut the fridge. Jeff chuckled and walked back into the kitchen. Nick was leaning against a counter, Athena rubbing her flank against his legs. Jeff raised an eyebrow at him and went to the cupboard; he grabbed two cups and began to pour iced tea into them. "Nick, eyes up, and don't even think about it." After knowing Nick since 3rd grade, he knew all of his ways and tricks.
Nick chuckled and wrapped his arms around Jeff's waist. He rested his head on his shoulder and shut his eyes. "Do you have eyes on the back of your head or something?"
"Yes, I see everything," he turned around and wiggled out of his grasp, "Mm, you smell like fish." He wrinkled his nose and walked off towards the dining room.
"Yeah well you smell like… lemon wipes," Nick followed him to the table and sat down. "And I had my first show today. I got to swim with Georgina today. I could of died!"
"I cleaned the house, something you refuse to do," he replied, daintily eating a spoonful of corn. He have him a disbelieving look, "don't say that. You guys are running a wonderful place, all the animals are happy and won't do anything bad."
Meanwhile, Nick shoveled food into his mouth and let out an obscene moan at the taste, "Jeffy, your cooking is getting better and better."
Jeff rolled his eyes and blushed, "I got the recipe from your mother."
Nick raised an eyebrow, "She calls you, but not me?"
"She just wanted to see how we were doing, and you didn't answer."
Nick sipped his iced tea, "Still not a reason not to call her own son," he looked up at jeff lovingly. "How was work?"
Nick shrugged, "It was slow, thankfully. But I had a little girl come in with a broken arm. She's going to be fine."
After dinner, Jeff allowed Nick a piece of JELL-O, while he put the dishes in the dish washer and took a quick shower.
When he came out he put on his pajamas and lay sideways on the bed. Athena jumped beside him and sat on his chest. Jeff pet her softly and cooed.
"Hi kitty, " Athena purred, leaped off of him, and curled up into a ball on his pillow. He pet her head, "such a pretty kitty." Jeff heard the shower running and suddenly felt his heart race, this was it.
A while later Nick toweled himself dry and put on his pajamas (well they're Jeff's but he doesn't know that) and made his way to their bedroom. Jeff was already asleep, lying across the bed. The drapes were opened so the moonlight seeped in, making the room light up. Jeff looked so beautiful, even more so now. Nick silently walked over to the bed and shook his shoulder.
"Sweetie, wake up. You're going to be sore if you sleep like that," Jeff groaned and sat up. He rubbed his eyes and looked up at Nick. Jeff remembered his question and sat up.
"Nick, I need to tell you something."
Nick took his hands, in his own, "Okay..."
Jeff took a deep breath, "I want to adopt a baby."
Nick opened his mouth and then shut it. "Oh..." He managed to choke out.
Jeff blushed for the second time that day, "I just, want to have the joy of raising a person, with you." He looked down at his lap, "It's okay if you don't want to, I understand."
Nick cupped his face with one hand, "I'd love to. We're going to do whatever it takes to get you a baby, us a baby."
Jeff gasped and smiled, he tackled Nick with a hug that nearly sent them to the floor.
Two Years later
"Hush, Nicky, you're going to wake her," Jeff whispered as Nick shut the door to their home behind them. Nick whispered a sorry and followed him to the nursery. Jeff cradled the bundle in his arms and turned to look at his boyfriend. "She's all ours, Nicky, can you believe it!"
Nick looked at the girl in his arms and chuckled wetly.
"Nicky, are you crying?"
"No, allergies," he said wiping a tear from his face.
Jeff unwrapped the pink blanket and set the girl in her crib. He pulled the rocking chair towards the crib and sat in it. Jeff sat on the stool and took Nick's hand.
"I love you so much."
Nick smiled, "I love you too."
It had taken two years, they had gone through a lot, but they never gave up. Finally they were able to adopt a baby girl. The girl's father had disappeared after her mom got pregnant and her mother put her up for adoption. Nick and Jeff had read her description and asked to see her; they knew she was the one. Her name was Azaylah; it's what her mother had named her. After tons of paperwork, they brought her home. Azaylah was healthy and it seemed as if she was going to be tall when she was older. She had a lot of loose, short, brown hair and bright green eyes, she was absolutely adorable.
Jeff had taken the first month off from work and Nick the first two weeks. They were completely prepared for her, they took parenting classes, baby proofed the whole house, read the books, bought all the things they needed and set up her own room. Azaylah's room was smaller than their bedroom, but still large. The walls were painted yellow and pink, with little owl and flower stickers on them. Her crib was white and Nick had made sure it was completely safe when he bought it. There was a baby blue rocking chair and stool in the corner of the room. Winnie the Pooh stuffed animals sat proudly on a shelf. There was a dresser, which was filled with baby clothes, with a lamp on it and a closest filled with toys and things they had received from friends and family. The carpet was white (though Jeff was sure that wasn't going to last long).
They ended up falling asleep (Jeff in the rocking chair and Nick sprawled out on the carpet) after a while. They woke up at 8 am, to Azaylah's giggling. Jeff had woken up and shot to his feet immediately. He looked around for a moment before remembering the crib. He pulled the side down and picked her up, he began to rock her. Nick groaned and sat up, everything was aching from sleeping on the floor. Azaylah made a gesture to her mouth and looked up at Jeff.
"Yes, daddy will get you your food," Jeff said setting her on the ground. "Nick, can you?" Nick tapped Azaylah on the nose, kissed Jeff, and left the room to make breakfast. Jeff made sure Azaylah was okay before going through her dresser and picking out a cute yellow dress with a cap. He turned to see her playing with a piece of the rug. He felt his heart beat quicken, she was helpless, her life depends on Nick and him.
"Azaylah, how about this?" He held the dress up and she made a content sound and clapped her hands. Jeff changed her diaper and put her in the dress and tied the strings of the hat underneath her chin. Azaylah giggled and pointed up at Jeff.
"Da," she said her eyes wide. Jeff picked her up and carried her to the kitchen. She was looking around with curious eyes, planning what she was going to look at first. She wrapped her arms around Jeff's neck and rested her chin on his shoulder. Nick smiled at them when they appeared.
"Oh Jeff, she looks adorable!" Jeff set her at her chair in the dining table and walked back to the kitchen.
"I still can't believe it! We're finally parents!" Nick said leaning over to hug him. Jeff kissed the top of his head and smiled.
"I know, I can't wait until she starts walking, and then we can teach her how to ride a bike, and how to drive… She's going to grow up so fast."
Nick picked up the bowl of yogurt and slices of banana and carried them to the table, his boyfriend racing behind him. They sat around Azaylah and smiled at her. She looked at them expectantly and put her hand in her mouth. Jeff spooned the yogurt onto the spoon. He made invisible hills towards his baby until it was close to her mouth. She reached a fat hand towards the spoon and grabbed at it.
"Me, pzzz," she gurgled. Jeff glanced at Nick who shrugged, he handed the spoon. She stuck it into her mouth and swallowed the yogurt. She gave the spoon to Nick, "Da!" Nick laughed and put more yogurt on the spoon. She took it and ate it greedily. After a few spoonfuls, she dropped the spoon and it landed on the tile, causing yogurt to splatter on the table's legs. Azaylah looked between them, "Uh oh," And began to howl with laughter.
"So you think that's funny don't you?" Jeff said getting up and bending over to clean the mess. Azaylah looked down at him and stopped laughing. She was gazing into the living room.
"Da!" She waved her arms at Nick and pointed towards the room. Nick picked her up and walked her over to the living room. He sat against one of the couches and pushed the coffee table against the wall. Azaylah sat across from him and looked around the large room. She got onto her hands and knees and began to crawl around, looking under the couches and on top of them.
Jeff finished cleaning and sat beside Nick; he leant his head on his shoulder and twined their fingers together as they watched Azaylah. Jeff finally had what he longed for, a family.