Five weeks before their wedding and a month before his adoption, Elliot and Liv wanted to surprise Noah. They didn't want to make breakfast since that was Elliot and Noah's special ritual, but Elliot went and got fresh bagels then came back and made hot chocolate. Liv, who had let Elliot take over anything that required standing while her ankle healed, sat in the kitchen and kept him company while he made coffee and hot chocolate.
The smell of chocolate drifted out of the kitchen, and Noah walked in rubbing his eyes. His eyes widened when he saw the hot chocolate, the bagels and the present on the table.
"It's a month until adoption day," Liv reminded him. Noah beamed.
"Elliot, can I call you Dad after you adopt me?"
"Of course you can," Elliot said, hugging him. "You can call me Dad now if you want to."
"Will your other kids mind?" Noah asked nervously.
"No, do you remember what they told you?"
"That they were really excited to have me as their little brother," he said shyly. "Especially Eli, because he's never had a younger brother or sister. But the rest of them were excited too."
"They are all excited," Elliot said.
"Can I open the present?" Noah asked.
"Of course," Elliot laughed.
Noah opened the box excitedly. "It's a dance bag," he said, "that's not pink. A real dance bag!" He said excitedly. Noah used a gym bag because he didn't like that most dance bags were pink.
He hugged Elliot. "Thank you, Elliot," he said. He looked at Elliot hesitantly. "Thank you, Dad."
"I love you, Noah," Elliot said, hugging him.
Mom," Noah said, "why are you crying?"
"Because I'm happy," Liv said, hugging Noah.
"Is that a mom thing?" Noah asked, curiously.
"Yes," she answered laughing, "but sometimes it's a dad thing too. Look," she said, showing Noah that Elliot was misty eyed too.
"It's a dad thing too," Elliot confirmed, smiling
