Will's POV

'Emma, Emma slow down'. I was struggling to keep up with her as she hastily sped up, swinging the front door open with full force,

'Emma!'

She turned round with James resting on her shoulder, her eyes bloodshot and black traces of mascara clinging to her porcelain cheeks, 'she hated me', she mouthed.

'Emma, she did not hate you, she just, she just needs a little time to get her head around things, around-'

'James. She didn't like James.'

'Emma I-'

'Please, I know what I heard'. Her voice spat. In all honesty, I was fighting a losing battle. I had heard just as clear as she had what my grandmother had said and I couldn't blame her for being upset, or angry.

'Sweetie, I know what she said but she was drunk, she didn't mean it. Everyone else was fine-.'

Wrong thing to say. Shit. She was glaring at me with venom. Think fast think fast. 'What I'm trying to say is that maybe we took it the wrong way'.

'How? How can 'when are they going to have a 'real child of their own' be taken the wrong way Will? Please tell me because right now I'm so darn confused'. I saw her wrap her arms around James tighter as she spoke, her hands getting laced into his blonde locks.

'Emma, I'm not trying to defend her, all I'm saying is that maybe it was the drink talking. I'm not condoning her behaviour tonight but she's 89 for Christ's sake, in her day, adoption was hardly something people did, I just don't think she really understands the whole process'.

'So that justifies what she said does it? That because she's old and because she's had a drink then it's ok to ask when she can expect her 'first real great grandchild' because 'let's face it, he doesn't really count as family, does he'?'

'Emma'

'I'm going to put James down'. She snapped, turning on her heels and disappearing into the bedroom as I sunk into the couch, wishing it would swallow me whole.

Half an hour had passed and still she had yet to emerge from James' bedroom. We had begun living together for a little over 2 months now and this was the first time we had properly argued and I hated it. I hated confrontation, even though I had gained much experience when it had come to Terri. I knew then when to leave well alone and when not to talk but with Emma, it was different. It was rare she ever raised her voice and when she did it was never at me. No. I didn't know how to handle this one.

The process to legalise James as my own was taking its time and in all honesty, it was stressful. I had never seen so many forms and had so many checks carried out upon me. I had confided in my parents shortly after Emma had asked me and despite their initial shock, they had readily taken to James and Emma. My father, in particular had been amazing with it all, often offering me his 'pearls of wisdom' as he liked to call them about his handy tips concerning fatherhood.

But maybe I had been too hasty to introduce them to the entirety of the family. With most of them, I only ever saw them at important events; weddings, funerals, family parties so most of them didn't even know about Emma, let alone James. Of course though, my mother had to have a drink and as soon as she opened her mouth to her sister, everyone knew within minutes about everything; Emma, James, the adoption. I had been angry at my mother, receiving some drunken slur of apology at some point during the night. Why should it have mattered if James was adopted or not? James was their child. Theirs. Emma had practically raised him since he was born, taught him how to talk, to walk, to eat, and now I was getting the chance to experience being his father.

I got up, sliding open the door to see Emma curled up beside James as she rested her hand protectively over his stomach.

'Em?' The way she twitched told me she was wasn't asleep so I slid onto the other side next to James, placing my hand over hers. 'Emma'.

'Is this what it's going to be like? People treating him differently just because we're not his biological parents?' Her voice was strained; a clear attempt to stifle anymore tears from falling.

'Emma. James is our son. All we can do is be there for him if anything happens to him and make sure he is ok.' I knew the way the school system worked, both of us did. I saw on a daily basis the torment one kid or kids gave to another because they were somewhat 'different' to others.

'I don't want him to be singled out just because he's adopted Will, he's my baby boy'.

'Is this what got you upset, you thought my grandmother hated him because he is adopted?'

'She said he wasn't a 'real' grandchild, like he was some sort of imposter to her. How can anyone say that about him Will? About our son?'

Despite loving my grandma, I had never wanted to shout at her so much as I did now. Her words had been insensitive to say the least and I knew, talking to Emma about it several times about her fears of what could happen when he grew up and started asking questions.

'I know what she said Emma, and I'm sorry'.

'You have nothing to be sorry about Will, it's just, this is what it's going to be like isn't it? People treating him differently because he's not our 'real child'.' Her voice was laced heavily with anger as she spat the last two words out, her hand tightening around his stomach.

'He is ours Emma. Mine and yours. Just as much as any other child we will have in the future'. Shit. What was wrong with me? How had I managed in the same night to have a case of verbal diarrhoea so many times? 'Emma I didn't mean, I just meant that, if we, I-'

'You think about it? Having a baby?'

'I-I, I guess, a lot'. I was being sheepish and I could tell she knew by the way her hand moved to wrap around mine, 'all the time'. I confessed.

She suddenly sat up with intent as my eyes followed her, 'is it important to you that if we were to have another child, that it was, you know, yours? As in, we created the baby?'

'I-. No'.

'Will.' Her tone was meaningful and strong, much stronger than I was feeling right now.

'Ok. Yes. I've just always envisioned you carrying my child. I don't know Em; I love James, so much. He will always be my first born but I've dreamed about you carrying my baby, you know. I want to watch him, or her, grow inside of you, to feel them kick for the first time. But if you don't want that, I understand. Honestly. You know, I'd just be as happy adopting another child with you Emma, just as long as it is with you'.

'Will' she sighed.

Her muscles were tense as my hand ran along her spine. It felt as though all the stress was knotted into one unmanageable mess in her shoulders.

'Sweetie, I mean it. Whether we adopt or decide to be completely wild and have a baby ourselves, that child will always be ours and we will always be that babies parents, no matter what anybody says, ok?'

She paused for a while and I felt her back tense even more if possible, 'Emma?'

'I'm just worried that if we have a baby ourselves James will resent him or her when he's older'.

'Why though?'

'Because, kids can be cruel Will, you and I know that better than anyone. All it takes is for one kid to say something to him and to plant that seed of doubt in his head and then it'll escalate and-'

'Baby'. I brought my lips to her forehead as her breathing accelerated, 'if that happens, we will sort it. He'll never not feel loved Emma. Gosh, you would kill anyone who ever hurt him'.

'They'd never escape'. She muttered into my hand as I laughed, kissing her forehead as she stroked a few blonde hairs out of James' face.

'I can't wait to see you handle it when he starts dating. I fear for the girl's safety'.

'I'll be fine'. She whispered as I snorted, earning myself a punch, 'Will?'

'Hmm?'

'I do'.

'Excuse me?'

'Want a baby with you that is. I mean I'm not ready now, but your right, I can't let the thought of what someone might think get in the way. I want what you said; I want to carry your baby.'

'Really?' Was I hearing right?

'Yeah. I guess what your grandmother said really panicked me but-'

'Hey, no, I don't want to think about that anymore, and I don't want you to either.'

'I know,' she whispered, moving closer so James' face was tucked under hers. His hands somehow sensed his mother's distress because they wrapped around her chin.

'He's our little boy Emma, and when the times right', there now wasn't a maybe, 'he'll have a little brother or sister and he'll love them and protect them. We won't need to worry about anybody else Emma because we are his parents, always. Nothing will ever change that. I promise.'

'I know.' She smiled for the first time properly that night, 'Can we stay here for a little longer? I just want to be closer to him for a while. I could tell he knew something was wrong tonight'.

'He's a smart boy, gets it off his mum' I winked, wrapping my arm over her stomach so James was cocooned in the middle.

'My family' I whispered. Mine.

'I love you Will'.

I could feel her drifting off as I pulled the spaceman covers over our bodies. I laughed silently at the sight of us crowded into James' small single bed knowing that I should wake her up and migrate back to our room but she was so content wrapped in the arms of our son that I didn't have the heart to. I shifted slightly, my leg falling out of the covers. So what if my back hurts tomorrow, it would be worth it.

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