Matt wasn’t as mad as they thought he would be. Both of the men thought he would be furious but he wasn’t. The only thing he was upset about was the fact that Val had tried to guilt trip them into taking such a big step. Two days had passed since they had talked to her. Brian decided he wanted Matt’s opinion and when he showed up with Matty Zack took him off into another room to discuss his opinion with his little brother.

“I think you should go see him.” Matt suggested to Brian as they sat in the living room; Jared was upstairs taking a nap. “Brian I know you want another kid. I can see it in your eyes every time you hold Kage. You miss having a baby in the house. You know what it’s like to have a young in your home but you also have to think about what Zack wants too. He’s never had a child, he doesn’t know what to expect. I think you should sit down and talk with him. Really discuss what it’s like having someone so little to take care of.”

“I know. Thanks Matt. This won’t bother you at all?” Brian raised his brow at his friend. How could he not be that upset?

“I’m looking at it this way; I’m here so often, growing up Kage will get to know his little brother and Jared will gain a brother and cousin. This kid will have a good life if you guys take him. I told her no because don’t think I raise another man’s child while the mother of the baby isn’t there with me. I am having enough trouble raising Kage right now. Zack’s brother is like a godsend he’s helping me so much. I forgot what it was like to be able to come home and relax a little.” Matt patted the baby’s back as he fussed.

Brian gave his best friend a hug led him outback to barbeque some burgers. Zack had started eating more meat as of recently but Brian decided to make a giant salad incase he didn’t want a burger.

Later that night after their guests had left and they put Jared and the pups to sleep Brian and Zack sat in bed talking. “Do you want a baby, Zack?”

“Would you hate me if I said yes?” Brian had Zack laying against his chest once again, stroking his back.

“No I wouldn’t. There are a lot of things you have to think of before diving into such a responsibility. We would be responsible for taking care of a human being; raising it, molding its little brain as it ages. One of us would have to quit working or switch hours, but if we switched we would barely see each other. A baby would cry when are sleeping, waking up who ever had just worked and making it so the one who has to go to work is exhausted.” Brian tried to reason with Zack but he knew it was mainly for himself. “We can’t just hand him back to his parent like when Kage is here and we don’t want to fuss with him.”

“I know all of this Brian and I’ve been thinking about it. I even talked to my boss about work. If we were to adopt the baby I could bend my schedule, I would be at home working from the computer except the days you have off, I would have to do house walkthroughs for a couple hours a day.” Zack looked up at his boyfriend. “Do you want this baby?”

“I don’t know yet.”

The next evening Brian surprised his boys when he told them they were going to the hospital. Jared had no idea what that meant but he went along with them. When they got to the right floor Brian and Zack walked down the hall; following signs until they reached a clear window overlooking a bunch of baby beds. They just stood there and watched the nurses and parents interact with the infants. Brian went to the door and knocked. A nurse poked her head out asking what she could door for them. “Mr. Thor sent us to see a little boy. I’m not sure what name he is under.”

“Oh I know exactly who you’re talking about. You are interested in adoption?” The nurse let them in the room, making each one of them put on an appropriate sized gown over their clothes.

“We are thinking about it.” The woman led them past all of the normal infant beds to one that was a bit larger and surrounded by glass.

“This is the little guy you are looking for. The records say neither of his parents wanted him and tried to self-abort.” The woman offered.

“We know the mother; she use to be married to my best friend.” Brian barely spoke as tears welled in his eyes from seeing the helpless little boy lying in the bed. He was way too small for his age and had all sorts of wires and tubes connected to him. “How is his health?”

“He is getting stronger by the day. Soon the oxygen tube can be taken out. We estimate two and a half weeks before he can go home unless his condition worsens.” The woman stated looking at the clip board. “I just wish I had a name to call him. I don’t like calling baby’s by anything other than their name.”

“He’s not named yet?” Zack wondered peeing at the little boy through the glass. Jared hadn’t spoken since they arrived; instead he gripped one of each of their hands and held on tight. Looking at the little baby in the warm incubator type machine scared him; he could tell something was wrong.

Brian and Zack turned to talk to the nurse, Jared let go of their hands and walked up closer to the baby bed. “No the mother never filled out the certificate. She said she would leave it up to the adoptive parents. He has been up for adoption since the day he was born.”

“She lied to us. She said that they were going to put him in a foster home until she got out or he got adopted.” Zack murmured only loud enough for the adults to hear.

“Maybe she was scared that you wouldn’t adopt him otherwise?” The woman suggested.

Jared tuned out the adults and pressed his hand to the warm glass. His big eyes were curiously peering at the baby. He began to whisper. “You’ll be okay, baby. I know you will. You’ll grow up big and strong like me.”

Little did he know; the adults were all watching his interaction with the little boy. Brian’s eyes filled with tears watching his son as he kept talking to the baby. After a few minutes of watching them Brian turned to Zack. “I want him.” Was all he simply stated looking into his boyfriend’s eyes. Silently pleading with Zack, hoping he hadn’t changed his mind over night.

“Me too.” Zack nodded with a happy but sad smile when he looked back at the weak little boy in the bed.

Brian walked over to the chair next to the baby’s bed, pulling Jared into his lap. He pressed a kiss to the little boy’s forehead. “What would you think about having him as a little brother?” Brian asked quietly so he didn’t disturb any of the parents or babies around.

“Would I still be your little buddy?” Jared cutely asked looking up at his dad.

“You will always be my little buddy.” Brian said softly to his son, rocking them a bit in the rocking chair.

“Then we can keep him.” Jared smiled up at his dad. Brian looked over his son’s shoulder when Jared hugged him and smiled at Zack. With a nod Brian finally let the tears fall. Fuck. Why was he crying? This is a happy moment not a sad one. But just as he wondered that he realized that they were tears of joy, of contentment.

The nurse smiled at the small family and went to fetch her superior so they could get the papers signed. A woman in a business suit, a lawyer greeted them a half hour later along with Mr. Thor. “I am glad you chose to adopt.”

They were led into a private office a few doors down the hall. Brian and Zack sat in the chairs. A nurse had taken Jared down to their child’s play area so the adults could take care of business. “This will be a relatively quick process. Vallary had requested you as the adoptive parent Brian. This will be an adoption as if the mother had just given birth and signed her rights over to you. That means no background checks are necessary and you can welcome him into your home as soon as he is healthy enough in order to leave the hospital Mr. Haner.”

“Actually it’s our home and we moved residences.” Brian spoke slipping his fingers between Zack’s.

“Congratulations; are you two married?” The woman asked.

“No we are not.” Brian fidgeted.

“Will you both be adopting or just you Mr. Haner?” The man wondered. Brian looked over at Zack who nodded in approval.

“We both will.” Zack responded. Papers were signed and the birth certificate was filled out by the two new parents. Bentley Lee Haner was now in their custody.

“Hey. Mr. Thor I was wondering if it would be possible to bring up an adoption record for my son.” Brian asked, the lawyer raised a brow.

“Are you looking to put him up for adoption?” Why would he adopt one child and give away the other in the same day?
“No but I know that Zack would like some legal standing as a guardian for him in case anything ever happened to me.” Brian looked over at Zack, his boyfriends eyes lit up at the suggestion. Brian knew he had wanted this for so long and he hoped it would be possible.

“Would you like shared custody over the boy or would you rather have a will made to where Mr. Baker would get custody if you were to pass on?” The man asked filing away the papers they had just signed.

“No I want him to share custody with me.”

It took some time but the documents were brought up and Jared became Zack’s legal charge.

Notes

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