Gordon had never been one to coo and melt at the sight of a baby before.
But than again, he'd never had the opportunity to be holding his very first grandchild either.
Charlie, out of the blue, announced to him and Casey that he was adopting a child. It came as a surprise considering he wasn't even seeing anyone at the moment. However, he was not deterred. He had a stable job teaching at the local middle school, the same one he'd attended, and met all of the qualifications to raise one.
Around three, nearly four months ago, Charlie adopted Logan. He'd only been a few months old, and required lots of care and attention. He never complained. Rather, he was enthusiastic about it, adjusting well to parenthood.
Casey had been excited for him, as well as looking forward to meeting her first grandchild. She'd been dismayed initially when Charlie had gently informed her that he would be waiting to bring him over and not do it straight away. He wanted to make use of his paid paternal leave, using a couple months of that to ensure that Logan would get used to him before he introduced him to other people-including him, Casey and their extended Duck family. She'd understood, of course.
But he was here now. Casey had been over the moon when Charlie called to ask when it was a good time to come over. That call had taken place close to eleven at night and Gordon could confidently say that Casey would have probably invited him to come over then, had the option been available.
Gordon took pleasure in teasing her over this and her impatience since she was usually telling him or Charlie they needed to have patience.
"He's adorable, Charlie," Casey cooed. "I remember when you were that tiny."
Charlie was holding Logan, now six months old, in his arms. One of Logan's fists was currently stuffed into his mouth. Charlie chuckled as he pulled the hand away from his mouth. "Don't let him fool you, he's a handful."
"Just wait until he starts walking and talking," Casey laughed. "You'll cherish this time for sure."
Charlie grinned when she gave him a look. "Oh, come on. I wasn't that bad."
"Oh, yes you were," She retorted. "You used to hide food in the oddest places. No matter how much I corrected you, you thought it was a game."
Gordon was amused. "You never told me that."
"Be glad you never had to live through his toddler years," She said dryly. "Although," She gave him another look, "the teenage years were bad enough."
"Hey," He protested, "I was a good kid."
"Maybe," She conceded. "But that temper of yours-"
He rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. Glancing down at his son, he asked, "Do you want to see Grandma, Logan?" He handed his son over to Casey, who gladly took him. The little boy now realized he was out of his dad's arms, staring over at Charlie with such a comical expression.
"Well, he's not crying," Charlie looked thoughtful. "I wasn't sure how he'd take someone else holding him, you know? It's just been us."
Casey gently bounced him. "Oh, Gordon, look at him," She said adoringly. "Isn't he precious?"
Gordon had effectively avoided succumbing to baby fever, preferring to ignore the existence of children until he was stuck coaching. Even after conceding that they weren't that bad, it didn't mean that he was drawn to every young child out there.
But this was different.
Gordon didn't know how he got to be so soft but he didn't care.
Crap, this was really it, huh? He was a grandfather now. He had two special boys in his life, not to mention Casey.
Everything had fallen into place and he wouldn't give up this life for anything.
"Wanna hold him, Dad?" Charlie asked.
As if Logan understood somehow, he jerkily flopped his arm towards Gordon, causing his dad and Casey to laugh.
"I think someone wants you," Casey teased him.
Gordon coughed, feeling uncertainty wash over him. "Oh, I don't...I've never-"
"I was nervous when I held him too," Charlie chuckled.
Gordon stiffened slightly as Casey handed Logan over to him. With hesitation, he took the boy. Curious blue eyes stared up at him. Then, with a sense of mischievousness that he'd no doubted inherited from Charlie-impossible as that may be-Logan made a grab for Gordon's glasses-the very ones that he's been reluctant to get and wouldn't have gotten if it wasn't for Casey's exasperation.
Speaking of his wife, she laughed at Logan's antics. "Oh, how cute."
"Cute?" Gordon repeated as he gently tried to pry them from Logan's grip. It wasn't as easy as he would have assumed it to be, much to his astonishment.
Charlie finally came over to help him, poorly hiding his laughter. "Logan, let go," He told his son, voice slightly firm.
Logan listened, but not without giving them a toothy grin.
Charlie sighed fondly, ruffing his son's hair. "He likes grabbing things. Hair, glasses, anything."
"That reminds me of you too," Casey remarked. "You used to do the same thing."
With his glasses back on, Gordon copied Casey's actions by bouncing the little boy. Logan seemed to like it. He giggled happily, which caused Gordon to grin without even realizing it.
"See, Gordon," Casey said encouragingly, "you're a naturel."
He watched as Logan became fascinated with the buttons on his shirt. He adjusted the boy, freezing when Logan laid his head on his chest, still touching the buttons.
"Oh, how cute," Casey gushed. "Keep him right there. I've got a camera around here somewhere."
Charlie shook his head while Casey went off to the kitchen in search of that disposable camera. "He'll go right to sleep on you. He does it to me all the time." He glanced in the direction of the kitchen and said, "I'll go help Mom. I think I know where it is."
He left, leaving the two of them by themselves.
Gordon glanced down at Logan, rubbing a hand down his back. At one point, Logan lifted his head, meeting his eyes. "You know, you're going to have lots of people caring for you."
Logan made a noise.
He chuckled. "That's right. That includes me and Casey. I want you to know that you can come to us, to me when you need advice or your dad's being unreasonable. I...I love you, kid. You're one of us now. I know you haven't been here long but trust me, I know how it feels to be the new one in the family. It's not easy but it won't be so bad for you. You're young enough. You won't even know anything until your dad tells you anything."
Logan let out a yawn. He dropped his head back down, snuggling closer.
He heard a soft click.
Charlie lowered the camera. "Still hate kids?" He teased.
"Just you," Gordon joked.
"Ouch," Charlie remarked. He put the camera on a nearby table. "I can take him if you want." Logan was practically asleep, though he was trying to fight it.
"I've got him." Now that he had Logan in his arms, he didn't want to give him up quite yet.
"Okay," Charlie's smile was soft.
Gordon glanced down at the little boy, exhaling contentedly.
He could get used to grandparent life.