And so a new life had begun. Charlie Preston Kirkland-Jones was born on September 29th at 3:45 AM; seven pounds and five ounces. The little sprout of hair on his soft rounded head was the color of wheat while his eyes were the same endless blue as the skies. It was almost amazing- the resemblance between the new born in his father Alfred. Even with the boy's young age and youthful baby face it was definitely apparent which parent had won the gene battle, but the naming battle had been won by Arthur. But it was no matter who he looked like or who named him little Charlie was loved greatly by both of his fathers.
It was now October first- two days since Arthur and Alfred had welcomed there new son into the world. After a few tests and some days for the baby to adjust to his new life on the outside the doctors had given the thrilled couple the okay to take the infant home. After a few days of well deserved rest and adjusting to life without another one within her Mary Jo was also given the okay to return home and to the life she had previously lived before the Kirkland-Jones' fell into her life.
To say the very least Mary Jo seemed depressed by the fact she would most likely be separated from the other three for what most likely would be forever. It was really just what happened when a surrogate's duty was finished. Arthur noticed the blonde girl's eye glistening when the five prepared to part ways and return to their respective places. She smiled sadly down at Charlie wrapped cozily in his blankets; gently tickling his cheek as she said her goodbye. "Alright Charlie… you be good for your papa's now, okay? They love you a whole bunch and I hope you know it." She spoke quietly. The baby burbled and squirmed a little; smacking his perfect pink lips in a futile attempt to smile even though he was still too young to. Mary Jo's lip quivered lightly as she struggled to keep her smile and not let her emotions get the best of her. "Bye baby, I hope you live a happy life."
Arthur looked down at Mary Jo and the baby in his arms. He exchanged a glance with Alfred who only gave him a small smile and a nod. In truth Alfred and Arthur had never really discussed what Mary Jo's place would be in Charlie's life. Would she just go away entirely or join Alfred and Arthur as they watched their son grow up? Alfred trusted Arthur's decision on what to do and would let the Briton decide what the oakie girl's role would be. Arthur took in a small breath before he spoke, "Mary Jo," He said. "Actually Alfred and I were hoping that you would be a part of Charlie's life. You've done so much for us these last several months… it'd be horrible if you didn't get to see Charlie anymore especially after everything that's happened." In actuality Arthur and Alfred had grown quite close to Mary Jo in the time span they had known each other. It's be saddening to them both if they never saw her again and as long as Nathan kept himself pleasant and friendly the couple wouldn't have a problem with him being around as well.
It was amazing how much the girl's face lit up when Arthur said that single statement. "R-really? I-I mean I don't want to get between y'all and Charlie o-or anythin'…"
"It's fine, really. We want you to be part of his life." Arthur assured her.
"Yeah, you did a lot to get him here so you should be able to watch him grow up." Alfred also assured her, flashing the girl one of his wide grins.
A smile tugged up on the corners of her mouth and her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm at this new found information. It really paid to see her so happy when she discovered that this wouldn't be the very last time she saw Charlie. Arthur and Alfred assured her that she could feel free to visit their home anytime to see little Charlie and after exchanging farewells and goodbyes Alfred and Arthur strapped their newborn son securely into his baby seat and climbed into the car. The couple was fully prepared and ready to fall into their newly hectic lives if it meant being able to finally hold their long awaited son in their arms.
Arthur sat in the back keeping the newborn happy and occupied seeing as how he barely ever seemed to sleep for more than an hour at a time. The little bundle of joy was- for the most part- full of energy and curiosity as he gazed upon his new surroundings. His blue eyes especially focused on the world rushing by outside the window. "So curious the little lovie is." Arthur chuckled warmly as he tickled the boy's chubby belly. The little boy burbled with joy and squirmed around in his seat.
"Well then he's just like me as a kid if what my ma is telling me is right." Alfred said from his place in the driver's seat.
"Oh what your mother must've had to go through to deal with you not to mention she had Matthew to deal with at the same time." Arthur laughed lightly, not taking his eyes off little Charlie who continued to look around with wide blue eyes.
Alfred paused for a few moments, "Yeah… speaking of my parents… I invited them to come over for Charlie's welcome home party…" he flinched forward against the steering wheel, half expecting to have a bottle or a shoe thrown at his head but the American was luckily met with nothing like that.
When Charlie had been born Alfred immediately decided that the little boy needed a party thrown in honor of his arrival. Arthur had watched his husband carefully to make sure he didn't go overboard with the preparations and the guest list. Arthur had allowed Matthew and his own brothers (Who would be flying in from the U.K. later that day) as well as a few neighbors and such, but Arthur never realized that Alfred had invited his parents. It wasn't as if Arthur had a problem with Mr. and Mrs. Jones it was just well… it was actually Mr. Jones he had the problem with. Mrs. Jones was a sweet as pie and we perfectly okay with her oldest son being gay and married to another man while Mr. Jones on the other hand was still very sensitive about it.
When Alfred had "come out" to his father he was angry and that was to say the very least. Alfred's father had always been one of the very strict military men type fathers who made their children call him sir. It was needless to say finding out he had a gay son came as a great and unpleasant shock to Mr. Jones.
"Really, Alfred?" Arthur breathed out an exaggerated sigh. "You know your father hates me."
"He does not hate you," Alfred replied.
"Of course he does. The only reason why he even showed up to our wedding is because you and your mother begged him to come and then for the entire ceremony and reception he just sat in his chair and bruited like a child."
"I-It wasn't that," Arthur shot Alfred a look through the rear view mirror. "…o-okay… yeah he did kinda mope around a bit…"
"A bit? Try a lot, love." Arthur scoffed as he turned his gaze back to Charlie.
"Well whatever, moping around at our wedding or not I think he has a right to see his first and only grandkid."
"I never said he wasn't allowed to see Charlie- I will however not tolerate him if he takes a single step out of line. I don't want our son exposed to such intolerable behavior." That was the last thing Arthur wanted. The Briton wanted his son to grow up to be a loving person who wasn't discriminate to other people especially gay couples seeing as he parents were indeed a gay couple.
"Don't worry; I'll make sure he doesn't get out of line. He'll only be around for a few hours tops." Alfred convinced his husband as he snapped on the blinker and turned onto the correct street.
"Well for your sake I hope so." Arthur shot back. If something went wrong on Charlie's first day home there would be hell to pay.
Soon the happy couple arrived home and Alfred was quick to whip out the video camera while Arthur carried the newborn inside. "Oh please love, get that camera out of my face." Arthur frowned lightly seeing as how his over excited husband had the lens shoved nearly against his nose.
"Not a chance. You're gonna be seeing this video camera a lot in the next several years." Alfred laughed as he continued to play with the focus button until the picture became clear and he turned the lens down to Charlie who eyes the giant thing curiously. Alfred wasn't going to miss a single moment of his son's new life.
"You keep it up like that and I'll throw that camera out the window." Arthur chuckled lightly as he tried to move around Alfred and his camera unsuccessfully. Quite frankly Arthur was still very tired from the whole adventure and really wanted a good few hours to just rest his head and sleep. Still the neither new baby nor Alfred would allow any such relaxation.
"But Artie, this moment will never happen again, ever. We have to take documentary videos now or we'll never have these years from now when we're old and reminiscing." Alfred argued in his defense, keeping his position with the electrical contraption firm. Arthur sighed heavily and shifted the baby in his arms.
"Oh alright, but only for a little while." Arthur always found it difficult to turn the younger man down even when it came to something as simple as camera usage. It was just that puppy dog face of his….
Alfred zoomed in on Charlie's face again. "Alright, this is Charlie's first day home! How're you
Feelin' little buddy?" Alfred asked the newborn excitedly, but was only met with more burbling. "Great! And what about you Artie, you excited about Charlie being home?" Alfred asked as he tilted the camera up towards the Briton's face.
Arthur smiled lightly, "I'm absolutely thrilled about the baby, not about you and that bloody camera." Arthur scoffed gently.
"Don't be such a stick in the mud; I'll turn it off soon." Alfred as he ran behind Arthur and began corralling him up the stairs. "I just wanna get Charlie seeing his room for the first time."
Arthur only sighed with a smile and allowed himself to be corralled upstairs by his over excited husband; baby Charlie still nestled securely in his arms. "See isn't a good thing we pick green now? It would be an embarrassment if our son had a girly yellow room." Alfred claimed as the three walked down the hall towards the nursery.
"Yellow is a perfectly gender neutral non girly color." Arthur shot back as they approached the door only to bet met by the excited mewling of two certain little fur balls. Ace was meowing loudly while he jumped and padded around the couple happily. Bromsley gracefully padded over to Arthur; purring loudly as he affectionately rubbed his tiny head against the Briton's legs.
"Hey there little kitties!" Alfred said excitedly as he angled the camera down to the little fur balls. "You guys wanna meet your new brother?"
Arthur held his baby tightly in his arms. "Oh Alfred… I don't want them to scratch him." He hadn't been a parent for more than a few days and already the over protective instincts were kicking in. Arthur was sure the cats were harmless, but still one couldn't be too careful. The couple had only been these cat's owners for a few days and Arthur was still worried about their behavioral habits.
"Don't worry Artie. If it'll make you feel better I'll hold them so they can't reach Charlie."
Arthur was reluctant at first, but soon he slowly lowered himself onto his knees and held the baby out a little so the kittens could examine him. "Ace… Bromsley… this is Charlie." Arthur spoke softly. The kittens eyed the baby curiously and Charlie did the same thing- blue eyes sparkling wonder. Arthur smiled at the boy's curiosity as Ace squirmed his way from Alfred's grip and padded over to the baby. Arthur felt himself tense up as the kitten approached; afraid of what the small fur ball might do.
"Calm down Artie. He's not gonna hurt him." Alfred soothed. Arthur pressed his lips together, but still remained ready to pull back Charlie if the cat even looked like he was going to scratch him. The kitten brought his fuzzy head down close to Charlie's head, sniffing him briefly before the cat gave him a swift affectionate lick causing the baby's small sprout of hair to stand up. The little boy burbled happily and causing his loving parents to laugh. "See they love him." Alfred grinned broadly.
Arthur merely laughed as he tried to smooth down Charlie's stuck up locks. "Oh love, now you look like you have a Mohawk." Arthur cooed as fixed the baby's hair as best as he could save for the single rebellious strand.
"It makes him look hip." Alfred laughed as he scooped up Ace and rubbed the space between his ears; the cat in turn purring loudly and rubbing his head against Alfred's hand.
It seemed as though all these new exciting things to see had really worn poor little Charlie out for the baby opened his little mouth wide and yawned as his blue eyes fluttered closed. "Oh I bet you're tired, aren't you pet?" Arthur cooed as he stood up and gazed down fondly at his son in his arms.
"Little guy must be tuckered out." Alfred added as he came and stood in front of Arthur, gazing down at Charlie and gently brushing one of his chubby cheeks.
"Let's put him down for a nap. He should sleep for awhile before people start coming over." Arthur suggested to which Alfred agreed and the couple brought their little sleepy baby down the hall to the nursery. Arthur gently laid the baby down in his crib; covering him snuggly with a blanket the Briton had made himself. Charlie nearly instantaneously cuddled down into the blanket and closed his blue eyes as he stifled another yawn. "Sweet dreams, love." Arthur whispered softly as he bent down and gently kissed Charlie's smooth round head.
"Night little buddy; we'll see you soon." Alfred followed suit, gently placing a kiss on the Charlie's head. Alfred switched off the camera (which he had someone managed to keep going this whole time) and placed it over on the dresser before he came back to stand by Arthur's side; snaking his arm around his husband's waist as they gazed down at their little wonder.
"… I still can't believe he's finally here…" Arthur breathed out quietly; not taking his liquid emerald eyes off of Charlie.
"I know, but isn't it so great that he is?" Alfred asked.
Arthur snuggled up against his beloved husband's side; wrapping his arms around his. "It's the most wonderful feeling in the world." He sighed happily. The happy couple stood fawning over their new born baby for a few more minutes before they headed off to the bedroom. They would also need a little sleep if they intended to stay awake for the party.
So I haven't updated for awhile and I have two excuses,
I was working on another one of my stories and I had to get it out of my system before I started working on this one again.
I was actually having some writers block with this story at first, but I got over it as you can tell.
I know it's a kinda boring chapter, but the next one will be more eventful with the party ;) and I'll let you in on a little secret… there will be some Franada involved 3
Well in any case thanks for all the love and support guys! Reviews are still greatly appreciated!