After staying in the hospital for a week, Sebastian was finally able to leave. His morning sickness seemed to ease, he could finally eat and didn't need the infusions anymore. He didn't know how Dave convinced the doctor to let them go without Sebastian's parents being there, but his doctor didn't ask questions as she gave him his papers. Dave was there to help Sebastian carry his bag and they left in silence. They reached the car and Dave put the bag into the trunk before getting in the car. It was the first time he said anything.
"We need to go to the supermarket first. We don't have anything to eat" he said.
"Okay" Sebastian said quietly.
"What do you want to eat?" Dave asked as the car pulled away.
"I don't know. I'm not really hungry" Sebastian replied.
"You know you have to eat" Dave said after a short pause.
Sebastian sighed and leaned back on his seat.
"I know. I hated the hospital, I don't want to go back" he said.
"My dad will come over tonight" Dave said suddenly.
Sebastian felt like he might throw up again, just from the thought of meeting Dave's father. He pressed a hand over his mouth and tried to breath steadily.
"Are you alright?" Dave asked in concern.
"Does he know about the babies?" Sebastian asked.
"Not yet. I want to tell him about them tonight" Dave answered.
"Oh, God" Sebastian whispered, remembering his parents reaction.
"He's a good man" Dave said with a small smile. "He's fine with me being gay and I think he will be happy to become a grandfather."
"What if he won't?" Sebastian said quietly.
"Then we will figure out what to do. But I don't think my father would act like your parents" Dave snarled.
"We will see" Sebastian sighed and put a hand over his abdomen.
~ o ~
Sebastian couldn't stop pacing. Dave was in the kitchen, preparing their dinner, as they were waiting for his dad to arrive. Sebastian was nervous, he was afraid of meeting the man and how he would react. He couldn't take another fight because of the babies. What he had gotten from his own parents was enough for years.
There was a soft knock on the door and Sebastian jumped. Dave's father arrived, and the pregnant boy wanted to hide from him. He wasn't ready for this. But Dave gave him a reassuring smile as he stepped to the front door.
"Hey, dad! Come in" he smiled as he opened the door.
Sebastian watched as Paul Karofsky, a middle-aged man with grey hair and beard, dressed in a suit, stepped into the living room. He was tall and bulky, just like his son. He looked at Sebastian in confusion but before he could ask who he was, Dave closed the door and went to Sebastian.
"Dad, I want to introduce you Sebastian Smythe. He's a friend of mine" Dave said.
Sebastian could tell that the older Karofsky knew just from one look that there was more than friendship between his son and his 'friend'. But he said nothing.
"Nice to meet you, Sebastian" the man said.
"Nice to meet you too, sir" Sebastian said politely.
"Dinner is almost ready" Dave said happily. "You should come into the kitchen and sit down."
Paul nodded and followed his son into the kitchen. Sebastian stayed back for a few seconds, taking deep breaths, before he joined the others in the kitchen.
"I'm making roast chicken with a salad. I hope you will like it" Dave said conversationally.
"I'm confused" Paul said suddenly. "You never invite me over for dinner and I don't know any other friend of yours. Is there something I should know?"
Sebastian swallowed hard as he looked up at Dave. The boy was pale and looked scared, although he tried to hide his feelings from his father.
"There's something we have to tell you, dad" Dave said.
Paul sighed and rubbed his forehead, preparing himself for everything.
"Okay. What is it?" he asked.
"We... we have some news..." Dave started, finding his shoelaces really interesting. "Well... uhm..."
"I'm pregnant" Sebastian blurted out.
Father and son turned towards him at the same time and Sebastian felt the need to run out of the kitchen and hide in the bathroom for the rest of his life.
"You mean..." Mr Karofsky started quietly, pointing at Sebastian. "You mean that he's pregnant... with your child?" He moved his finger to point at his son.
"Well, something like that" Dave answered. "We're having twins."
The room fell silent again and Sebastian knew it was only matter of time before the older Karofsky would start shouting at them. He was too scared, he couldn't breath normally and he felt the urge to throw up.
"That's... that's unexpected" Paul said finally, surprisingly calmly.
Sebastian looked up at him and couldn't stop himself from asking:
"Wait, so you're not angry?"
Paul's eyes found his and the man smiled.
"I won't say I'm happy, but there's nothing I can do against it now" Mr Karofsky said.
Sebastian gaped at him. Dave's dad was nothing like his own parents.
"So you're okay with it?" Sebastian asked carefully.
"I'm not" Paul sighed and leaned back on his chair. "I know it will be hard for you and I don't want you to screw up your lives. There's a chance you would give up your studies and work in a fast-food restaurant for barely enough money to raise your child. It's not something a parent would wish for their son. But I guess you already decided to keep them or else we wouldn't be here now."
Both boys blushed, looking away. Dave's dad was right. They knew it wouldn't be easy but they wanted to keep the babies.
"What did your parents say?" Paul asked, turning to Sebastian. "Do they know?"
"Yes" Sebastian nodded. "But they don't want me to keep them."
"They wanted him to get an abortion" Dave said quietly. "So Sebastian moved in here with me."
"You know it can cause trouble later" Paul said.
"It won't" Sebastian said, shaking his head. "I will be 18 soon, they won't be able to force me to move back home."
Mr Karofsky sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"I think you should talk to them again" he said. "They had time to calm down and think. I'm sure they changed their mind."
Sebastian laughed humorlessly.
"They didn't. They don't care about me, they only want the abortion to avoid a scandal" he rolled his eyes.
"You should give them a second chance" Paul said quietly.
"Dad, I met them. They're nothing like you or any other normal parent" Dave said.
"Well, hopefully they will change and support you" Paul replied. "And you have me if you need something. I'm not rich but maybe I can help you pay the hospital bills and buy clothes or diapers."
"Thanks, Dad" Dave smiled. "I still have my scholarship and I have enough free time for a part-time job. It has to be enough."
"Dave, you have no idea how much two babies cost" Mr Karofsky said. "Your salary won't be enough for their diapers and food. But I can help you with the rent."
"What do you mean?" Dave frowned. He knew his father didn't have enough money to pay their rent.
Paul sighed and stood up.
"You remember the fortune I inherited from your grandmother, right?" he waited for Dave to nod before he continued. "That money's still on my account. I didn't need it then, and I thought about giving it to you when you move away anyway."
"Dad, we can't accept it..."
Dave was silenced with the pointed look of his father.
"Yes, you can. Consider it as a present for my grandchildren" Paul said. "It will be enough for a small apartment, so you won't have to pay rent. And I will ask Mary if she could give you some baby clothes."
Mary was Paul's neighbour, a kind lady in her 30s. She had three children and she didn't want more. Dave remembered her complaining about the large amount of baby supply they had in their basement.
"That would be great. Thanks, Dad" Dave said and went to hug his father.
~ o ~
Later that night, after Dave's dad had left, Sebastian was standing in the bathroom, staring at his still non-existent baby bump. Dave watched him from the doorway, leaning against the hard wood.
"What are you doing?" he asked quietly.
"I'm gonna have a bump soon" Sebastian said and turned away from the mirror.
"Of course" Dave nodded.
"And my clothes won't fit much longer" Sebastian sighed. "I will have to buy new ones."
"I know" Dave replied.
"God, how can you remain so calm?" Sebastian asked, his sudden anger causing Dave to step back. "We won't be able to do this."
He shook his head and rushed out of the bathroom with Dave following him closely.
"What do you mean?" he asked as they stepped into the bedroom.
"We won't be able to raise them" Sebastian sighed and sat down.
"It will be fine. We will buy a small apartment and work" Dave said easily.
"What if we won't be able to earn enough money? I never worked. I always had what I wanted and I didn't have to worry about money. I'm not sure I will be able to live like this" Sbeastian said.
"So... you want the abortion?" Dave asked carefully and tried his best to hide his hurt expression.
"No" Sebastian said quietly. "We made a mistake and we're responsible for our act. I won't take the lives of these babies because we weren't careful enough."
"I don't understand" Dave shook his head. Maybe it was just because of the pregnancy hormones but he didn't understand what Sebastian meant.
"I want to go through the pregnancy" Sebastian said. "But I'm not sure if we should keep them."
"Okay, I still don't get it" Dave replied.
"Have you thought about adoption?" Sebastian asked quietly, looking away.
Dave's eyes widened in realization.
"You-you want to give them some strangers?" he asked in disbelief.
"Not some strangers" Sebastian smiled sadly. "We could meet the future parents, we could get to know them. We would have a choice."
"Why are you telling me this?" Dave asked and started pacing. "I told you I would stay with you. I-I would find a job. We would buy our own place and raise them there. We can make it!"
Sebastian shook his head slowly.
"Let's face it, we're too young to keep them" he said. "Even with your dad's help, we don't know if we can make it. And I want the best for the babies. I want them to have a happy childhood and parents who actually love each other. They deserve better than us."
Dave pressed his lips together and shook his head.
"I can't understand you" he said. "I showed you that I would do everything for you and the babies and I want us to become a family. I believe that we can make it."
"You're blinded my your emotions" Sebastian replied. "You can only see the better side of having children. You don't think about possibilities like losing your job or your scholarship. Would you let them starve? Would you say them 'no' every time they want something and we can't give it them?"
"Where the hell do these things come from?" Dave shouted. "You were fine with keeping them so far. What changed?"
"I started thinking" Sebastian said quietly.
What he didn't tell Dave, he had found a few pamphlets about adoption in the hospital and he had read them. It was an option he hadn't thought about earlier. And as the time had passed, he became more and more certain it would be the right decision. The only problem: he had to convince Dave.
"Do you know what I think?" Dave asked, stepping closer. "You're afraid of losing your comfy little life. You never cared about others' feelings, the only important person for you is yourself. You're a selfish, spoiled, rich brat. Your parents would be proud."
Dave shot a last angry look towards him and left the apartment, slamming the door behind him. Sebastian looked after him with a stunned expression. Dave had never talked to him like that. Dave was always calm and kind, and Sebastian had to admit, it hurt to hear him say those things. And he didn't deserve them. It really wasn't his own convenience that made Sebastian think about the adoption. For the first time in his life, he was only thinking about the babies and not himself. He wanted the best for that two in his stomach and he really believed they would have a better life without their real parents.
But he still had to convince Dave to accept his decision.
Please, don't hate me...
