Chapter 188 - Ours

Lance.

We walk into the house and Ford has a goofy smile on his face. I have been excited all through the drive. His name is Arlo. He lost his mother to drug addiction. There isn't a lot on his file. He was found as a baby, so he never really knew his mother. He has lived in foster homes all his life. I guess he doesn't know anything but the homes he has had to live in.

I asked Char why we couldn't just adopt him instantly. It is not like he has a family that would want to claim him. She said this was just a test to see how we handle him. I guess they want to make sure he is not put in a terrible situation. I close the door and I see him flinch as he walks into the house. You have to imagine it. This cute tiny boy, terrified of a closed door. I go on my knee and he looks at me. He still doesn't know me, hell he doesn't even trust me. I am a stranger that took him away from his home. I want him to think of our home as his but I know it will take time. It is not like I expect immediate comfort.

I will make him feel at home. I will make sure he trusts me.

"So, Arlo, I want to welcome you to the family officially,'' I smile at him. The first step to making him feel at home is always giving him smiles every day.

He watches me with so much uncertainty. I know how he is feeling. We are basically strangers to him. it will take a while for him to even understand what this is.

"Come on,'' I stretch my hand out to him and he looks at it with hesitation before he finally takes it in his. I lead him up the stairs and into the bedroom we cleared out for him. There is just a small bed that I bought last minute for him. "This is your room,'' I tell him as I close the door behind me. Ford is next to me but I guess he is giving me the reigns on this.

"Mine?'' he manages calmly.

I nod.

He walks over to the bed and I let him go. There has been this goofy smile on my face all day. My heart has been racing with so much excitement. I don't know if I will be good at this. I don't know if I will suck but I want to try my best for him.

The bed is a tiny car bed. It is red, I didn't know what he would like. I didn't know if red is his favorite color. At some point, I was panicking because I want to make this perfect but Ford eas the calm to my storm. He told me that there is no need to panic. We will get to know him and all the things he likes. We have the rest of our life with him. 

I watch him as he sits on the bed, almost like he is feeling it. getting acclimated with it. I don't know if he likes it because he hasn't smiled since I met him. I don't know how I could possibly make him smile. I don't know the things that will make him happy. 

"do you like it?'' I ask him with a held breath. If he doesn't like it, I will go back to the store and get another one. I will do anything for this kid. 

He nods his head as he runs his hand over the sheets. His expression is still blank as he looks at me, there is a shine in his eyes. He doesn't want to show his excitement but I see it, I feel it as he answers me "I like it.''

My heart melts in my chest as my eyes dart to ford. He is smiling warmly. He feels the exact same way as I do. "Is this my new home?'' Arlo asks me meekly. My eyes shift back to him and I walk over to the bed "Yes Arlo, we are your new dads,'' I tell him as I go on my knees to be on eye level with him. 

"Two dads?'' he mutters confused. 

I don't know how aware he is but it seems like this is something that is weird to him. "Yes," I tell him with that same smile on my face. The one that tells him that he can trust me. he has nothing to worry about. I will always be here for him. 

"Do I have a mommy?'' he breathes out. His voice shaking. 

"No, you don't and that's fine. We will be all that you need and more. We will protect you to the point that you wouldn't feel like you missed out on a mom.'' 

He is watching us and with my explanation, I hope that he understands what I mean. Adopting a child as a gay couple can be difficult. There is the question of not having maternal instincts. Not being able to take care of the child the same way a woman would. I want to prove that we can do it the same way a woman would. I want to make sure I don't fail him in any way. 

"Okay,'' he manages and that answer is all I need to know that he will give this a chance. That he is ready to be in this family. No one is ever going to take him from me. he is mine and I will love him until my dying day. 

After settling him into the room, I put on the tv for him and we both walk out of the room with goofy smiles on our faces "He is ours,'' Ford mutters with this dreamy expression on his face. 

I giggle with all the excitement bubbling inside me and grab him in my arms in the middle of the hallway. Everything happened so fast, we haven't even told his dad and my mom. When we mentioned adopting a child. They were in support of it. anything that would make us happy. Right now, I am the happiest I have ever been and it has just been a couple of hours. He pushes me to the wall and I smile as I look into his eyes. They are bright and very engulfing. 

"We have a son,'' he exclaims. 

I nod. 

"Our son,'' he adds. 

I nod again. 

His lips smash into mine and I welcome him wholeheartedly. We kiss and it almost seems like a silent promise. 

He is ours.