Chapter 20
Erik, Charles, Hank, David, and Peter all sat at the table eating their breakfast. The sunlight poured in through the window, casting a warm glow over the room but not blinding. The soft clinking of silverware against plates mixed with the occasional sound of pages turning as Hank read through a newspaper between bites of toast.
Honey sat quietly in the corner, simply watching her owners with a wag of her tail.
Charles sat with David on his lap, patiently feeding him spoonsful of strawberry and banana baby food. David eagerly opened his mouth each time, kicking his little feet in excitement.
“He really loves that stuff,” Peter commented, watching as David let out a delighted squeal.
Charles chuckled. “He does. Though, I think half of it ends up on his face rather than in his mouth.” He used a napkin to wipe away a stray smear of fruit puree from David’s cheek.
Peter smiled at the scene, but it wasn't long before David decided to be messy.
David grabbed a handful of his baby food, and before Charles could even stop him, he launched it straight at Peter and Erik.
The sticky splatter landed on Peter’s shirt and speckled on Erik’s cheek. For a moment, there was silence. Then, Peter burst into laughter.
“Oh, man! This kid’s got an arm!” Peter said, shaking off bits of puree. He grinned down at David, who was giggling in his highchair, clearly pleased with himself.
Hank looked up from his newspaper, clearly holding back a laugh.
Charles, too, was trying to suppress his amusement as he took in Erik's expression.
Erik had never been one to tolerate mess or being particularly dirty, and having a child hadn’t changed that—though, it had gotten slightly better.
Finally, after Erik wiped the baby food off his cheek, he said, "Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that."
Charles could no longer hold back and burst out laughing.
Erik gave Charles a pointed look, but even he couldn't help but laugh as well.
He never would have imagined his life turning out this way. He couldn’t have imagined his mornings and nights being like this—and yet, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
----------
Later that afternoon, Erik, Charles, and David found themselves in the nursery.
They were all sitting on the floor, with David in the middle.
Erik and Charles were carefully stacking blocks, building a tower for David.
David watched them excitedly, but before they could even finish, he knocked it down with a delighted squeal.
Erik let out a sigh. "Again, mein Schatz? We've built this tower three times now."
Charles smirked, teasing. "Seems like he got the destructive side from you."
Erik turned to look at Charles. "I..." He shook his head, glancing back at David as he muttered, "You're not wrong."
Charles chuckled.
Charles moved the blocks aside and instead reached over for some different toys that David could play with.
For a while, Charles and Erik sat in the peacefulness of the nursery, playing and talking with David.
After a while, David leaned forward, placing his hands on the ground. Charles and Erik watched as David slowly lifted himself into a standing position.
Erik reached a hand out, not quite touching him.
They both watched as David suddenly took one step, then two steps.
Charles and Erik held their breath, watching with pure excitement and joy as their son took his first steps.
David took another couple of steps toward them before falling back on his butt.
Erik and Charles immediately started clapping for David.
"Good job, David!"
"Amazing!"
David laughed and stuck his hands out to his dads as they continued to praise him.
Charles pulled David into a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. Erik joined in, wrapping his arms around both of them.
During the beginning of his pregnancy, Erik had thought he would be by himself, taking care of a baby. The thought of raising a child alone—no partner, no support—had weighed heavily on him. He’d been consumed with doubts, wondering if he could even provide the stability a child needed. And yet, here he was.
It had taken a lot of mental probing, a lot of resistance, and even more courage to come back to this place. But now, as he held David in his arms, as he felt the warmth of Charles beside him, Erik knew. He had made the right decision in coming back.
With Charles, with David, he was no longer just a man on his own, fighting through the world. He was part of something more. Something better.
He glanced at Charles, who was smiling at him with an expression of quiet understanding. And David, in Charles arms, was the living proof that despite all the struggles, everything had led him here, to this moment.
Erik couldn’t help but smile back, his heart swelling with a tenderness he had never thought possible.