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She’s one month old, still pink in the face and has enough dark brown hair that it curls on her little head. Her eyes are hazel, she has a button nose like her daddy and tiny lips that are always in a pout. Eve, meaning “to live”, and James surely found that the little person swaddled up in his husband’s arms was something to live for. Will’s been ogling her since she was born. Said she was the most perfect thing he’d ever laid his eyes on even when she was screaming and crying in the hospital cot waiting for skin-to-skin contact and that’s how James knew he was going to be a great father. Knew even before, when he kept checking with their surrogate if she was doing okay, or if she was having an off day, if the baby was well or if she was taking care of herself right.
Always worried about something until suddenly there was a baby girl in their lives and everything seemed to click into place. Will’s carding his hands through baby soft hair and James is gently touching smooth cheeks and he almost wants to cry. He hasn’t gotten used to a baby in their shared flat yet but by god he adores her. She clings to Will like a koala but their midwife said babies have stages of favoring different parents and James can’t wait to have time with her alone. A coo sounds from Eve and Will looks over at James with a giant grin, she’s vocal. Has been since the day they brought her home and they both love it. She doesn’t take pacifiers but will shove her fist in her mouth any chance she gets. In one month James has come to love the little things.
“Will y’take her? I ‘ave to piss.” Will’s got a silly glint in his eyes. He just wants James to hold their girl and James falls for it holding his arms out for the tiny human he helped create. He’s careful, holds her head with precision and lightly caresses her half-asleep face. “Hi… it’s daddy, not papa anymore, still just as warm tho, huh?” James remembers learning it was important to speak to your babies for their development. So he does what he does best and talks. “I think besides Will you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me… Not even my music could top the creation of you, darling Eve.” James watches her eyelashes flutter and smiles. He keeps his voice soft as he talks. “You and your papa have changed my life in such amazing ways… don’t know what’d I’d do without even the thought of you babygirl.”
There’s comfortable silence and the weight of a warm baby against his chest and then Will pipes up. “You’re gonna make papa fuckin’ cry, James.” Will’s eyes are watery from where he stands in the connected kitchen of the flat. “You’re supposed to talk to them, it’s just what’s on my mind. I’m lucky, Will.” Will grins at him and kisses his head over the top of the couch. “I guess ‘m pretty fuckin’ lucky too.” James laughs, careful not to disturb the infant in his arms. “You keep swearing like that and her first word will be ‘fuck’ instead of ‘papa’.” Will shrugs, makes his way back over to his spot on the couch beside him. “She’d be the coolest baby ever if she was going around sayin’ fuck.”
James rolls his eyes, “Do you wanna hold the sleeping beast while I make dinner or do you want to help and put her in the boppy?” Will smiled, “Wanna help you.” and with the snap of fingers the tired baby was coddled by a full body pillow secured by the sofa and James was off chopping chives for bolognese. He listened idly as Will prepped a bottle and put it in the bottle heater for later. Pasta was boiling and Will wrapped his arms around James’ waist hugging tightly before pulling away slightly and pressing a kiss to the younger’s mouth. He still tastes like coffee and sweets and love that Will can’t find anywhere else.
“Will Marriott-Lenney, you are the love of my life.” Will giggles lightly at the man's words and hums, “James Marriott-Lenney, you are the love of my life. Even if you made me hyphenate my name.” If the pasta’s overcooked Will doesn’t say anything, just allows himself to enjoy food for once while Eve sleeps on the sofa. And when they return to the living room Otto has wrapped his senior bones around Eve’s little body and cuddled up to her like a live pillow. “My first baby and my second.” James wants to cry. In the end he doesn’t, he just strokes Otto gently and then presses a gentle kiss to Eve’s forehead.
Domestic bliss is easy to come across in the Marriott-Lenney household, everyone wakes up when the baby does, light pink painted nursery awaiting a happy infant who giggles when greeted. Guitar sounding through the house when James needs to practice and Will carries Eve around the house while speaking on the phone to investors, asking them to “Please excuse the baby talk, I have a new daughter.” with a big grin on his face. Through the day there’s conversations and idea planning and at night there’s routine. Bath time, bottle, daddy reads a book while papa picks an outfit for tomorrow because James doesn’t know baby fashion. Eventually when Eve is tucked away in a sleep sack Will and James find alone time to do whatever. Tonight James draws shapes on Will’s bare back and thinks of luck.
He’s lucky to have his daughter and his husband in his life. He stares at the printed out birth certificate on the wall opposite their bed and grins. The creation of Eve.
EVENGELINE JUNO MARRIOTT-LENNEY.
DATE OF BIRTH: MAY 14TH, 2031.
SEX: FEMALE.
PLACE OF BIRTH: BRIGHTON AND HOVE, EAST SUSSEX.
WEIGHT: 3.6KG AND LENGTH: 51CM.
Oh, baby! You are so loved already!