Author's note: Gird your loins for adorablness! Also, there is some Italian and French spoken in this chapter. I got it from my translator app, so if they are saying something completely wrong, please correct me.
Happy reading!
Chapter Twenty
"Another pretty dress for Katie." Dave gushed as he took the new piece of clothing out of the package and held it over their daughter. "That should work all the way through summer."
"Yes, it should. Look at these rock star pants for Jimi." Sebastian showed them off. "Going to look sharp."
"This next one is from me." Paul said. "And it's not clothes. Some assembly required." He handed over a large box and sat it between his son and son-in-law.
They tore into it. It was a baby play mat with a piano on the end and an arch of animals dangling over the top. Another picture showed another baby sitting at the piano, the arch of creature toys lying flat.
"I found the one with music." He said happily. "And they can use it laying down now and when they start to sit up on their own. I only got the one so they can learn to share early. Here," he handed over another box, "this is another one to share."
"A baseball mitt rocker!" Dave said when they opened it. "It's so cute!"
"Of course that's one you'll have to watch them on for a few months, but I saw it and thought you'd appreciate it. And I wanted to spoil my grandkids." He kissed each of the dozing babies on their small faces.
Mel handed over a couple more packages. "These babies are making out like bandits. These are for the daddies."
Dave opened up a shirt that said, "Papa Bear." He laughed. "This is the best!" He pulled it on over his other shirt. "Look at me! I'm the Papa Bear."
"You are an adorable Papa Bear." Sebastian said, pressing a kiss to his cheek. Then he opened his own package and found a shirt that said, "Dad x2" with a pair of babies on it. "This is so cute! Thank you, Mel. These are adorable." He put his on too.
"I'm not entirely done. I went on a bit of a shopping spree. Here you go, Paul."
He opened his own shirt that said, "Proud Granddad of Twins." He smiled and nodded his approval. "Thank you, Mel."
They exchanged several more gifts. They handed the babies rattles as they started to come more awake. Dave and Mel retreated into the kitchen to make brunch while Paul and Sebastian fed the twins.
"Thank you for everything, Paul." Sebastian said after a while.
"No problem." He smiled down at Jimi who smiled back up at him. "No problem at all." He looked over. "Have you talked much to Bailey?"
"We talk at least once a week. She mentioned that you two have been hanging out."
"We have been. She wanted to be here, but her time off is so limited and she has family all over Ohio who want her to be there. She's desperate to meet these guys." He bounced the baby in his arms.
"We'll come to you next time." Sebastian said. "The twins should be well enough to fly by Thanksgiving."
"Would it be okay with you if she and I started dating?"
Sebastian smiled. "I think that would be great. Dad's been gone for a while. Your wife has been gone even longer. You both should have a chance to be happy."
"Thanks, Sebastian. That's what I needed to hear."
Gregory arrived early that afternoon. He handed over a six pack of beer.
"You are a god, Gregory. Thank you." Sebastian took the back from him. "Come on in. Dodge the massive amount of toys our twins hauled in. This is my father-in-law Paul." He said as they walked into the kitchen. "My husband Dave. And this is his best friend in the whole world, after me, Mel. And this is Gregory."
He greeted everyone and then asked, "Where are your babies? I haven't officially met them yet, either."
"They're napping away from the chaos, but they are super adorable when they're sleeping." He deposited the beer in the fridge and then waved him toward the back of the house.
"Oh, they're even cuter in real life." Gregory leaned over the crib. "They look a little too big for this arrangement."
"Almost. We put them in separate beds at night." He looked over to his friend. "So, what do you think of Mel?"
"She's cute." He straightened. "And she is single?
"Yes. With a string of bad relationships behind her."
"Hm." Gregory leaned against the wall. "I don't want to jump into anything. I've had my share of bad relationships."
"So just hang out today and don't think of her as a potential date. Think of her as a potential friend. If it becomes anything else, that's up to you."
He nodded.
"Hey, babe, where should I put this stuff?" Dave appeared at the door with an armful of toys.
"Just pile it on our bed. We'll sort it out later. Unless you have a better idea."
"Nope, that seems like the best." He walked off.
"I need to help clear that up. Come get to know the others."
They walked into the living room. A football game was on the TV and Mel and Paul were discussing a recent play.
"There's always sports on this damn TV." Sebastian complained as he gathered some presents in his arms.
"Your husband put it on." Paul said quickly, putting his hands up in the air.
"I bet he did." He gestured to a chair, "Make yourself at home, Gregory." He walked toward the back of the house.
Dave caught him around the waist in the hall. "I haven't kissed you properly since you gave me my present."
Sebastian chuckled. "Did you like it?"
"I did." He pressed a hard kisser to Sebastian's mouth. "Mel thinks he's very handsome, by the way." He mumbled as he kissed Sebastian again.
"Yeah, quite handsome. I don't know how I get any work done." He laughed and moved away. "We have company, you can't fondle me in the hallway. Especially when my hands are full."
Dave grabbed a handful of his ass as he walked away. "I'll do what I want in my own house." He smirked and walked away.
Sebastian laughed as he made the rest of the way back to the bedroom.
When he walked back into the living room, Mel and Gregory were sitting close together on the couch having a very animated discussion. He looked to his husband as he sat down on the arm of his chair.
"Books." Dave said in explanation.
"Nice." He pretended to lose his balance and landed in Dave's lap. He pressed a kiss to his lips before he got up and moved to the other side of the room.
Mel and Gregory were inseparable for the rest of the day. They kept up a long string of conversation on every subject that came to them. They kept everyone else well-entertained when they started talking about Gone with the Wind. Sebastian joined in at that point with his own brand of fangirling.
"We should have a Gone with the Wind party." Mel suggested. "Everyone dresses up and we make all the food they like in the South and put on the movie and just make a night of it."
"I'm totally all for that." Sebastian said.
"Of course you are." Dave shot his way with a teasing smile.
"I'd show up." Gregory said timidly, smiling at Mel.
"Make sure it's scheduled for after I'm back in Lima." Paul said.
"I wish I could go with you, Dad." Dave stood and picked Jimi up out of the swing as he had started to squirm and fuss. He sat down on the floor with him as he put him on the piano matt his father had given them.
He pushed his feet against the keyboard at the end and the baby paused in his fussing when he heard the music. He looked around him and kicked his feet and waved his hands. There was more music.
Dave sat back and watched him as he continued to move around, his feet in just the right place to continue to hit the keys and make noise. The rest of the room watched in silent adoration for a moment.
Katherine started crying in her swing and Dave got her out, moving Jimi over and squeezing her in beside him. It was a tight fit. Their arms got tangled together and Katherine started crying even louder. Dave took her out of the contraption.
"Okay, Sweet Pea. You can have a toy to yourself." He sat her in a bouncy seat with toys to kick.
She smiled as the seat rattled when she kicked.
"There you go." He rocked her in the seat as the conversation ion the room resumed.
There was a knock on the door and Sebastian got up to answer. Mitch and Sasha stood on the threshold with boxes in their arms. "Merry Christmas!"
Dave shot up. "Buon Natale!" He kissed Sasha's cheeks and then pulled Mitch into a tight hug. "What's going on? I thought you were out of town."
"We came back a bit early. And we thought we'd bring your gifts over." Mitch explained.
"Well, thank you. Come on in. Watch out for the kids." He introduced them to Gregory.
"Oh, they are getting so big." Sasha gushed, sitting down on the floor between the twins.
Katherine smiled the instant she was given more attention. Jimi, on the other hand, turned his face away and looked at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Si flirtare con me, Jimi?" She gushed, leaning over him and tickling him.
He started laughing.
"Oh, it's so cute." She said with a laugh.
Mitch sat down beside her. "We brought you and your brother presents, Katherine. I bet you've had plenty of those today."
"Oh, yes. Mostly clothes." Dave commented.
"Well, baby clothes are just so cute." Sasha said. "Propio come questi bambini."
"I think they're starting to understand the Italian." Dave commented. "Sometimes Sebastian talks to them in French, too."
"You didn't tell me that." Paul said. "Are you trying to confuse my gandbabies?"
Sebastian laughed. "We just started recently. Only a few things here and there. We want their first words to be in English. But we agree that knowing a second or third language only helps. Dave's read all the books." He winked at his husband. "Et je viens d'aller avec elle."
"Mi piace quando si parla francese." Dave commented, perching on the arm of Sebastian's chair.
"Je l'aime quand vous parlez italien." He kissed Dave's hand.
Mel gagged. "Stop it, you've been married almost two years now. Get over yourselves."
Dave laughed. "Whatever, just wait until you marry the love of your life. You'll be all over him."
"I'm sure." She cut her eyes nervously to Gregory who was watching her intently.
Sebastian said, "So how else are our babies being spoiled in this, their very first Christmas in existence?"
Sasha laughed warmly and handed the box she held to them. Mitch did the same and they tore into them just as eagerly as they had earlier in the day. Each package contained a small blanket with a stuffed animal head in one corner: one an elephant and the other a rabbit.
"Oh, these are so cute!" Sebastian said.
They both got up and moved toward the babies. Sebastian draped the rabbit blanket over Jimi and then waved the animal close to his face. "Hi, Jimi." He said. "I'm Mr. Rabbit."
He cooed and waved his hands, grabbing the blanket clumsily and bringing it straight to his mouth.
"He likes it." Sebastian said, sitting on the floor with him.
"And Katie likes Elephant. Thank you, guys. Thank you to everyone. It's been a great Christmas."
"It has." Sebastian agreed. "Does anyone need a drink or something? It's about time for these two to have a bottle." He rubbed Jimi's stomach, causing the baby to giggle.
"May I feed one?" Sasha asked.
"Sure, no problem."
Dave took a list of drinks while Sebastian went off to the kitchen to prepare bottles for the babies.
He handed a bottle to Sasha as she reached for Jimi. Gregory offered to feed Katherine when Sebastian started unstrapping her from the bouncy. Sebastian handed her over.
He promised, "I have nieces and nephews, I won't drop her."
"Good." He gave his friend the bottle.
Katherine started crying as soon as she spotted it.
"Sh, give me a minute." Gregory said as he situated her.
Jimi cut his eyes toward the sound and then back at Sasha to comment on the situation.
She smiled. "I thought you knew what you were doing, Gregory." She teased.
"I said I wouldn't drop her." He said as he finally put the bottle in her mouth. "I never said I was perfect at the whole crying thing."
They all laughed.
Sebastian noticed a silent exchange pass between Sasha and Mitch.
"Sasha and I have some news." Mitch finally said.
"News?" Dave asked. "What news?"
Sasha beamed. "We're adopting a little girl. Her name is Francesca. She is Italian. We've been looking all over for the child who would be ours perfectly. We saw her picture…Destino. She was ours."
"Congratulations!" Dave said. "How old is she?"
"Almost two. I will fly to meet her next week. Mitch has a game."
"I'm sorry." Dave told his client.
He shrugged. "It's all happening so fast. We just got the call yesterday. She booked the flight. I'll meet her when she gets here."
"At least the game will be local. That'll help with your nerves."
"I told him to just focus on the game and let me handle getting Francesca here." She rubbed his arm.
After a short time, Gregory stood and announced that he had to leave. Mel nervously said that she would walk him out.
"Goodbye all." He said, passing Katherine to Paul.
Dave watched as the pair left, walking very close. As soon as the door shut he got up and walked to the window.
"Davey, don't do that." Sebastian admonished.
"You know you want to know, too." He watched. "They've got their phones out for the number exchange. She giggled. He giggled. And now he's leaning in…Oh, denied!" He laughed. "She's coming back." He moved away from the window and sat back down, trying to act normal.
"We've got a date planned for New Year's Eve, Mr. Nosypants." Mel said, plopping down on the couch. "Don't think I didn't see you watching from the window."
"Yay, Mel has a date with a hot guy!"
"A nice hot guy. Thank you, Sebastian. I know I've said it a few dozen times, but I really do have a good feeling about him."
"Well, I hope it's a true good feeling this time." Her best friend said.
"Me too. I really liked that guy." Paul said as he burped Katherine.
After putting the babies to bed, Mitch and Sasha left. Mel was convinced to stay another night and the adults began the cleaning process.