Chapter 12; un-betad

Date October 2023

"Will the pair of ya just sit down for a moment. You're doin' my head in, pacin' like that." Chaz practically barked at Rhys and Aaron on the other side of the waiting room. Rhys' mum nodded with agreement, "She's right, you'll be doing plenty of standing once they let you back in there. They said it should only be a few minutes."

Both men slowly did as they were told, sitting just down the row of chairs where Paddy was quietly drinking his coffee. Rhys sat in anxious excitement for what was about to happen, while Aaron beside him was once again question what he let himself agree to. The light hitting something in Rhys' hand distracted Aaron away from his thoughts, "What's that?"

"Name books," Rhys explained, "We never did agree."

Confusion grew on Aaron's face, "But why'd you bring a Bible?"

"Well, my family doesn't really have a tradition with names, but your family," Rhys trailed off momentarily, "It just seemed like your family's baby name book is the Bible, so I nicked on the way out of my mum's house."

His explanation earned a slight laugh from Chaz and rolling of the eyes from Aaron. However, the books turned out to be the distraction the group needed. They managed to add a name or two to the already compiled list of possibility and were arguing over the name 'Moses' when the nurse appeared. "You can come with me." They followed, "Your sister is sleeping, but he's just gotten cleaned up and is in the nursery." They followed through all the protocol until they were standing over the newborn.

Smile plastered across his face Rhys commented, "I think we're going to be owing my sister endlessly for helping us."

Aaron's eyes still focused on the tiny form in front of him, "I helped."

They had originally planned on adopting a child, but when Rhys' sister had volunteered, pointing out it that with Aaron's donation the child would be as biologically close to the pair of them as they could get, so they had agreed.

The look Rhys was giving Aaron's direction told him that donating and carrying were far from the same thing, but Aaron never saw the look. His eyes were still looked disbelieving at the infant, their son. It was actually real now. Did this make it official, Aaron wondered to himself, had he finally grown up? Was he ready for this? He knew he kept telling Ryan and Adam this, but did it make it true? Everything he had done in his life it had taken him a couple of goes before he had gotten it right. Though it was hard for him to say, his biggest fear was messing it up. Ruining, or scarring this kid for life was the last thing he wanted.

Before he could get too caught up in his fears the nurse that had led them in reappeared, "Ready to hold him?"

Rhys volunteered first and Aaron watched as the pair rocked back and forth. Slowing standing up Aaron knew it was his turn, he nervously listened to all the instructions making sure the infant was laying correctly before they were left alone.

"How about 'Seth'?" Rhys suggested causing Aaron to look up.

"Why that one?"

A shrug, "The only one I remember right now."

"Alright," Aaron paused, "Seth Patrick." The mechanic watched as Rhys came around, putting a hand on Aaron's shoulder.

"How many times do you think Paddy'll protest before we can convince he its what we want?"

It was Aaron's turn to shrug, "A few dozen I'd imagine."

"Sounds like we've decided then." Rhys looked down to the infant in the other man's arms, "Well, Seth Patrick, we're your dads..."

Aaron's mind listened as the actor gave his little welcome and couldn't help but silently add its own sentiment; 'Good luck, kid.'

Alright, that might have been a tad too fluffly in my book, but oh well...Only two more chapters! Review, please would love to know what you think.