Sebastian stepped into the apartment and dropped his bag. He felt so tired, he barely had enough energy to walk to the couch and sit down. He had another long day, another difficult exam and he could just hope that he succeeded. With all the trouble he had had around the babies, the adoption and his relationship with Dave, he hadn't had enough time to learn for his exams. He knew he needed the best notes, so he could ask for a scholarship and maybe finish his year at Dalton, but he didn't have enough strength to learn like before.
He lay down and closed his eyes, not noticing that he fell asleep almost immediately. He woke up hours later when Dave got home.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were asleep" Dave said as he put his things down.
"No problem. I have to wake up anyway" Sebastian said, rubbing his back. Falling asleep on the couch wasn't his best idea.
"Can I help you?" Dave asked and stepped closer, putting an arm around Sebastian to support him. He smiled as Sebastian leaned into the touch.
"Yeah. I'm dead tired" Sebastian said, swaying on his feet.
"God, are you okay?" Dave asked in concern and forced Sebastian back onto the chair.
"Just want to sleep, that's all" Sebastian said and tried to smile.
"When did you eat the last time?" Dave asked, seeing how pale Sebastian was.
"I don't know... maybe this morning" Sebastian answered.
"What?" Dave asked and he jumped up immediately. "Stay here. I will order pizza."
Sebastian was about to tell Dave to stay calm and come back but Dave disappeared in the kitchen with his phone. He came back a few minutes later, smiling.
"I ordered a pizza with meat and extra cheese. I know you and the babies like it" Dave said and flopped down beside Sebastian.
"That's right" Sebastian nodded.
They kept staring into each others' eyes for a few minutes before Dave come up with a new topic.
"So how was your exam?" he asked.
Sebastian groaned and hid his face behind his hands.
"It was horrible. I don't think I passed" he said.
"It's gonna be fine" Dave said. "You're clever. I know you did it."
"I hope you're right" Sebastian sighed.
"Do you want to watch a movie tonight?" Dave asked after a minute of silence.
"Yeah, it would be great" Sebastian said.
Their pizza arrived soon, and they sat down with their plates in front of the TV. Dave let Sebastian chose a movie which appeared to be a romantic one. Dave raised an eyebrow when he saw the title but Sebastian snapped him up immediately.
"Pregnancy hormones, okay?"
"Okay, okay. I haven't said anything" Dave said hastily and pressed the 'play' button.
They finished their dinner in silence while watching the movie. Dave felt sleepy after the first ten minutes and yawned a few times but he tried to hide it from Sebastian. It was easy since the pregnant boy seemed to be lost in the movie.
"What are you doing? He loves you, you stupid bitch" Sebastian muttered.
Dave bit his lower lip when he felt a smile appear on his face and he was afraid he would do any noise. He had never seen Sebastian like this.
"I can't believe she said that" Sebastian sighed, watching the woman on the screen as she walked away, leaving a stunned man behind.
"You're crying?" Dave asked in disbelief as he looked at Sebastian.
"No" Sebastian answered instantly, wipping his face quickly. "Just... my contact lenses."
"You don't have contact lenses" Dave pointed out.
"Oh, shut up" Sebastian hissed.
At one point, Sebastian snuggled up to Dave, putting his arms around him. Although it was't the most comfortable position they could have had, Dave was happy to have Sebastian so close to him. He put an arm around the pregnant boy's shoulder and pulled him closer to him.
"You know they will make it up and live happily together, right?" Dave said reassuringly.
"Of course I know" Sebastian rolled his eyes.
A little later, when the couple on the screen came back together and kissed, Sebastian sighed in relief, causing Dave to laugh. He had never seen Sebastian so emotional and it was kind of funny. It didn't mean the pregnant boy didn't slap his shoulder again, though. Sebastian didn't find it funny at all.
"I will shut up" Dave promised, raising his hands.
"You better" Sebastian said.
He leaned his head back onto Dave's shoulder and inhaled deeply. There was something new in Dave's scent, something that he liked.
"New after shave?" Sebastian whispered, running a finger down Dave's jaw.
"What? Well, yeah" Dave said as a blush appeared on his cheek.
"I like it" Sebastian replied.
"Really?" Dave smiled.
"Yeah. It's sexy" Sebastian winked.
He leaned closer, keeping a hand on Dave's cheek. The other boy smiled down at him but when Sebastian pressed a soft kiss onto his lips, his eyes widened. Dave didn't pull away, though, after a second of hesitation he closed his eyes and melted into the kiss.
It didn't last too long, though. Sebastian pulled back gently, keeping his hand on Dave's cheek.
"Would you... would you go out with me? As a date, I mean" Dave asked hesitantly.
"Yes" Sebastian smiled.
~ o ~
They decided to go out and have dinner the night after Sebastian's last exam, so they didn't have to worry about anything. Dave was excited to plan their first real date and he chose a small Italian restaurant. It was near to the college and he had eaten there a few times. They made the best pasta in Ohio. Before going home, he went to buy flowers for Sebastian. He wanted this evening to be unforgettable for both of them.
He sighed and raised the bouquet in his hand as he knocked on the door. Sebastian opened it seconds later and smiled as he saw Dave standing there.
"Did you lose your key?" Sebastian asked.
"No. But I want to be romantic" Dave said. "These are for you."
"Thank you" Sebastian said as he took the flowers from Dave.
"Are you ready?" Dave asked as they went into the living room.
"One minute" Sebastian replied and disappeared in the bedroom.
He came back soon after that with his jacket in his hand. Dave helped him pull it on and then took Sebastian's hand hesitantly. The other boy smiled at him and let Dave open the door for him.
"What a gentleman" Sebastian said as he sat onto the passenger's seat but there was no sarcasm in his voice.
"Always" Dave replied.
Dave drove them to the restaurant and when they got there, he opened the door for Sebastian. The boy smiled as he stepped out, taking Dave's hand. The waitress led them to a table in the corner and left them with the menu card.
"This is nice" Sebastian said as he went through the menu.
"Yeah. I like coming here. The place in peaceful and the food is delicious" Dave smiled.
"I hope it is. I'm hungry" Sebastian said.
They ordered their food and drinks and then they were left alone again. They stared at each other in silence, none if them knowing what to say.
"Uhm... Anything new from the school?" Dave asked, breaking the silence.
"No" Sebastian sighed. "I have to wait for the results but I want to try that scholarship."
"You will get it" Dave said.
"I hope so" Sebastian replied. "I don't want to transfer schools for these few months."
"I understand" Dave nodded.
Their food arrived soon and they started eating in silence. It was strange. Before the babies, they had had long talks but they had been mostly about their problems. Now that their most important topics were the same, they didn't know what to say.
"You're quiet" Sebastian said suddenly.
"You too" Dave replied.
"I know" Sebastian said, putting down his fork. "It's weird, isn't it? Before the babies, we talked about everything. And now we can't find a damn topic to talk about."
"Well, you could tell me about your exams" Dave smiled. Sebastian looked up at him with a raised eyebrow and the boy shook his head. "Okay, it was just in idea."
"I've found the perfect parents for the babies" Sebastian said quietly.
Dave's eyes widened. He had completely forgotten that they wanted to get the babiesadopted. Okay, not completely forgotten, he just didn't want to think about it and decided to act like they didn't have to do it.
"Oh" he muttered quietly, looking down. "You didn't tell me."
"I'm telling you now" Sebastian said.
"And-and what are they like?" Dave asked.
Sebastian was silent for a few seconds, considering how much he should say. He didn't want to ruin their date but he couldn't be silent about it any longer. A woman from the agency had called him earlier that day and they wanted to know if the boys had found somebody, so they could make the next step.
"It's a gay couple from Westerville" Sebastian said, searching in his bag. He kept the folder there, waiting for the best opportunity to show it Dave. "Jason is a dentist and Ethan is a teacher in the local public high school. They're willing to adopt siblings and I don't think that they would have a problem with us being gay."
"Probably not" Dave said carefully, looking down at the picture of two young men. They looked happy and nice, but it didn't make Dave feel better.
"We should meet them" Sebastian said.
Dave didn't know what to say. Although he knew they had no other options, he didn't want to give their children these men. He wanted to keep them.
"Dave, please, say something" Sebastian said quietly. It wasn't easy for him either but one of them had to be strong.
"You're right" Dave nodded finally. "We should meet them. If they will adopt our babies, I want to get to know them as soon as possible."
"Thank you" Sebastian replied.
~ o ~
Sebastian knew that he had ruined their date. Dave hadn't talked to him after the dinner and they had gotten home in complete silence. And it hadn't gotten better after that. Dave had come home late every night as if he had been angry with Sebastian. The pregnant boy had enough of it and decided to talk to Dave that night. He had called the agency earlier that day and made an appointment for them. He just had to talk about it with Dave.
Dave didn't appear till 10 that night. Sebastian was waiting for him in the living room, reading the folder of the possible adoptive parents over and over. He couldn't convince himself that he made the right decision but they had to start somewhere. Maybe meeting Jason and Ethan would help.
"So you're still alive" Sebastian said as Dave stepped inside. "Good."
"Is everything fine?" Dave asked and made his way towards the kitchen.
"Yeah. I called the agency today. We're going to meet that couple I was talking about tomorrow" Sebastian said.
Dave's hand froze on the fridge's door.
"So soon?" he asked.
"Yes. They want to meet us as soon as possible. Helen said that they were really excited" Sebastian said.
"They should be" Dave smiled weakly.
"Yeah, not everybody can have our perfect children" Sebastian winked.
"So... tomorrow?" Dave asked.
"Yeah. At 11" Sebastian answered.
"Fine. I will come home around 10.30 and pick you up" Dave said.
~ o ~
The two boys were sitting nervously in Helen's office, looking at the two men in front of them with wide eyes. After a short talk with Helen, the woman let them alone to give them privacy. It looked like Jason and Ethan were just as nervous as Dave and Sebastian. They were holding each others' hands, and Sebastian noticed that Ethan squeezed his boyfriend's hand way too often.
They seemed likeable. They were both handsome and tall, Jason with dirty blond hair and bright blue eyes and his boyfriend with dark hair and eyes. Sebastian knew from their file that they were in their late 20's but they looked younger. Possibly because of their clothes. Or their shy smiles. But they looked nice and that was all that mattered.
"So... you're both in high school?" Ethan asked hesitantly.
"No" Sebastian shook his head. "I mean I am, but Dave graduated last year."
"I'm in college" Dave said.
"Oh, I understand" Ethan nodded.
"Can you tell us why you choose the adoption?" Jason asked carefully.
Dave and Sebastian looked at each other before Sebastian answered the question.
"We were thinking about keeping them" he admitted. "But we don't have enough money to raise two children. It's barely enough for the two of us."
"We know that it's a hard decision you have to make" Jason said. "But I have to tell you, we're really grateful to have this chance to meet you. We've been waiting for a very long time for somebody to give us a chance."
"Yes, and we know you have plenty of time to choose the right parents for your babies and it's not sure you will pick us, but it's the first time we have the chance to finally become parents. So... I just want to thank you" Ethan said.
"And-and you can ask anything you want to know, of course" Jason continued. "You can come to visit us in our home and see the place. Anything you need."
"Can I ask something?" Dave asked quietly and continued as the men nodded. "You said it's the first time that somebody wanted to meet you. Why is it so?"
"David, we're a gay couple" Jason smiled.
"There are plenty of people out there who still can't accept us" Ethan said quietly.
"The same here" Sebastian said. "Some people wouldn't even give us a chance to talk because we're gay. They don't want the babies because of us."
Jason and Ethan looked at them sympathetically.
"Look, if you need somebody to talk about it, you can always call us" Ethan said. "We've been through a lot since we moved in here. We understand how is it like living here when you aren't like the others."
"Yeah. You should come over sometime" Jason agreed. "We could have a barbecue night. I think our garden is less frustrating then this room. What do you think?"
The boys' eyes met briefly but they thought the same. Ethan and Jason were nice, maybe even the right couple to adopt their children.
"It would be great" Dave said and took Sebastian's hand as the other boy nodded. They wanted to get to know these men better and it was a good opportunity to see if their home was good enough for the babies.
