Work Text:
Carlos pulls up to the Ryders’ household, relieved to see they were saved a spot when the rest of the street is littered with familiar-looking cars. “Looks like the party is in full swing,” he comments as he turns off TK’s SUV. He usually prefers driving his own car but given the size of the present TK insisted on getting, his Camaro just wasn’t an option. “Lots of people.”
“Did you expect anything less for celebrating the birth of Luna Joy Ryder?” TK asks him from the passenger seat, grinning from ear to ear. “I can’t wait to see her little face light up when she sees her birthday present.”
Carlos lets out a snort, shooting him a deliberate look. “Don’t you mean you can’t wait to see Judd’s face as he fumes at you for upstaging him in the present department?” he asks, shaking his head at the grin TK shoots him back, his green eyes dancing with amusement proving his theory right. “You can’t fool me, Strand-Reyes. You are a shit-starter.”
“You could have stopped me,” TK counters with a smug look that Carlos just wants to kiss off his face. It’s not an unusual feeling. Three and a half years into their marriage, and everything TK does just makes Carlos want to kiss him senseless.
“Instead,” he grins at him playfully. “You insisted on us getting her the motorized Camaro over the Jeep so her toy car can match yours.”
“Luna loves her Uncle Carlos’ car,” he defends seriously. “I’m her favorite uncle,” he continues, proud of the title, having beaten Judd’s brothers, Paul, and Mateo for the honor as TK didn’t count since he was her godfather.
“And you call me a shit-starter,” TK says with fondness in his voice. He reaches over to touch his cheek, and Carlos turns his face to press a kiss against his palm, nipping at the meat of it, smirking when TK’s eyes darken.
“Don’t start,” he warns him, even though he doesn’t pull his hand away. “Last time we started making out in front of their house, Judd promised to call the cops on us the next time.”
“I am the cops,” he reminds him with a grin. He wraps his fingers around TK’s wrist, giving it a small tug, his smile growing smug as his husband comes across the dash, his mouth already seeking his. He moans softly into the kiss as TK turns it hot with a simple flick of his tongue. Letting go of TK’s wrist, Carlos cups his face, giving back the same intensity and love he feels TK give him. “Love you,” he murmurs into the kiss, his heart skipping a beat at the smile he feels against his mouth in return.
“I love you too, sweetheart,” TK tells him adoringly, pressing his forehead against his temple.
Carlos basks in the moment, years into their marriage, and he still has a hard time believing how lucky he is to be loved by one TK Strand-Reyes. He tilts his chin up, ready to kiss him again when there is a hard knock at TK’s window. Startled, they pull away from each other and look over to find the Ryder family standing outside their car. Luna and Grace smile while Judd scowls at them.
Exiting the car, Judd doesn’t wait to voice his displeasure with them. “You punks are really out here fooling around outside my baby girl’s birthday party?”
“They’re in love, Judson; cut them some slack,” Grace tells her husband before she turns to grin at him as he comes around the car to give her a kiss on the cheek.
“Hi, Gracie,” he says with a hug, handing her the flowers he and TK picked out for her. “Happy day, you beautiful mama.”
“My sweet boys,” she smiles at him and TK, her adorable dimples winking at them. “These are lovely, thank you.”
“We are in love too, baby, but we don’t slobber all over each other in public,” Judd continues to complain, much to everyone’s amusement. TK doesn’t pay him any mind as he holds out open arms for his goddaughter.
“My little moon!” he exclaims as Luna squirms out of her father’s hold, also reaching out for TK.
“My TK!” the little girl shouts back, wrapping her skinny arms around his neck. She lets out a high-pitch giggle as TK gives her a series of quick kisses.
“Happy birthday, moon,” TK says softly, hugging her closely.
“I’m four,” she informs him excitedly. “I get a toy?” she asks, batting her eyelashes at them, much to everyone’s delight. Luna Joy is already an expert at wrapping all of them around her tiny fingers.
“Well, I don’t know my moon,” TK starts with a teasing grin as he turns towards him with her in his arms. “Let’s ask Uncle Carlos – did we get Ms. Ryder a toy, babe?”
Carlos plays along, bringing a finger up to his lips, tapping it as he thinks hard. “You know, I believe there might be something with her name on it in the back, but I haven’t gotten a hug yet, and that’s the cost I’m afraid,” he says, holding out his arms to her, grinning as just as with TK she quickly reaches for him.
“Hola, Lunita hermosa. Feliz dia de cumpleaños,” he says as he hugs her. Per Grace’s request, Carlos makes it a point to practice Spanish with the little girl in the hope she’ll pick up the language.
“Hola, Tio, gracias,” she answers back adorably. “Toy now?”
TK snorts while Grace and Judd shake their heads at their little girl’s single-mindedness.
“One track mind with this one,” Grace says sarcastically.
Judd scoffs at the comment, pointing at them. “That’s because these two fools spoil her.”
TK rolls his eyes at the tired accusation from their friend. “We’re her godfather and uncle. It’s our job to spoil her.”
Carlos ignores their bickering to focus on the little girl in his arms. “Do you know how to say toy in Spanish, Lunita?” he questions, getting a shake of her head in return, her pretty soft curls whipping around. “It’s juguete,” he tells her, smiling as she repeats after him.
“What about a car, Luna?” TK questions, smirking when Judd shoots him a look. “Do you know how to say car in Spanish?”
“I swear if you got her a car, Strand….” Judd trails off menacingly.
“Strand-Reyes,” he, TK, Grace, and Luna all remind Judd with grins on their faces, a long-running joke among everyone who knows them. Since the start of their marriage, TK has made it a point to correct anyone that gets his last name wrong.
“Lord give me strength,” Judd rolls his eyes even as his mouth twitches upward.
TK looks over at Luna with a wide smile, pleased that she knew the correct response. He holds out a hand to her, and Carlos can’t help but chuckle as she high-fives him.
“That deserves a car,” he jokes, smirking over at their friend.
“Carro!” Luna proclaims, rolling her R’s longer than needed as she answers TK’s earlier question.
“That’s right!” he tells her proudly, giving her smiling face a kiss on one side just as TK leans in from the other.
“So good, Luna!” TK exclaims, earning a bright smile from the pretty little girl.
TK walks to the back of his SUV, and Carlos follows with Luna in arm – Grace and Judd right behind them. He shares a grin with his husband before he pops the trunk, his smile mixing with a wince as Luna realizes what her present is, letting out an excited shriek, chanting ‘car, car, car’ at the top of her lungs.
Looking over at her parents, he finds Grace barely holding back her laughter while Judd shakes his head.
“You just had to get her a miniature replica of the Camaro, didn’t you?”
“We got it custom-made,” TK answers smugly as he takes out the toy car, placing it on the ground.
Luna squirms in his arms, wanting to get to her present. Placing her in it, he helps her turn it on as TK pulls out a pair of baby sunglasses, putting them over her eyes.
“They see her rollin’, they hatin’,” TK sings off-key, grinning when it makes Grace let out a loud laugh.
“I hate you,” Judd mutters, following TK as they make sure Luna doesn’t speed away from them while TK keeps singing the song to annoy Judd.
He hangs back with Grace, watching after their husbands.
“Proud of yourself?” she asks with a grin that makes her dimples wink at him again.
“Sure, my man is happy, and my niece is happy,” he answers, throwing an arm over her shoulder. “So, I’m good.”
Grace shakes her head, but her smile doesn’t lessen for a second. “Come on, troublemaker,” she jokes, wrapping her arms around his waist, hugging him as they walk towards the house. “I got a bottle of wine with our names on it.”
֎֎֎
Carlos doesn’t actually get to sit down for that bottle of wine until an hour later. He first has to make the rounds saying hello, while Grace plays hostess to the children and their parents there to celebrate Luna.
It’s only after he catches her eyes when he’s making small talk with a mom of one of Luna’s pre-k classmates that Grace cuts in, dragging him away with the excuse that she needs help inside with the desserts.
Walking into her kitchen, he finds dozens of small plates and a large tub of thawing ice cream.
“Start scooping, Reyes,” Grace points at the ice cream. “Put those muscles to good use.”
Carlos lets out a huff of amusement, doing what she asks while she pours them each a glass of chardonnay. Her kitchen is quiet, while outside, little screams of laughter ring out among the adult chatter.
“Your husband is one big kid,” Grace tells him, shaking her head warmly as she looks out the window.
“What’s he doing?” he questions as he stabs at the ice cream, indeed putting his muscles to work.
“He seems to be playing helicopter with the kids and dragged the boys into helping him,” she laughs softly. “Judd’s back is gonna regret trying to keep up with him in the morning.”
Carlos smirks, knowing that it was more than likely TK’s idea in the first place. “He loves coming here to play with Luna,” he tells her even though he knows she’s aware. “It’s probably his favorite thing.”
“You are his favorite thing,” she counters with a smirk of her own as he blushes, her answer pleasing him.
She comes over with his glass, passing it over as he stops working on the ice cream for a moment.
“How are the foster and adoption procedures going?” she questions the way she usually does when they’re alone.
For the last eight months, it has been a source of frustration as he and TK jump through hoops to become eligible to be foster parents. Carving out time to take classes, fill out what feels like hundreds of papers, and meeting with their caseworker as they work towards fostering and hopefully adopting.
Today he smiles slightly. For once, he has good news. “We’ve been officially approved,” he says quietly, his heart beating faster as he lets the words out. They’d only gotten the news from their caseworker Neema just a few days ago and hadn’t had time to share it yet. His smile grows as Grace lets out a joyful noise, almost choking on her wine in surprise.
“Oh my god, Carlos!” she exclaims loudly, excited, putting down her wine in a rush to hug him. “Honey, that’s wonderful. Why didn’t you two say anything sooner? This is fantastic news!”
Carlos hugs her back even as he lets out a snort. “Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Approval doesn’t mean a kid, we’re still two men, and this is still Texas.”
Grace pulls back to look up at him with a fierce scowl on her face. “Screw Texas, this state will not stop you two from being dads and me from having a new god baby. Your future kid is mine; sorry in advance to your sisters,” she shrugs her shoulder, not sorry at all. “If I have to threaten every person at CPS in order to get you two a kid, I will.”
Carlos feels a familiar wave of affection for the small woman in his arms. “I’m pretty sure your character letter for us threatened them enough. Wasn’t there a part in there where you wrote ‘give these boys a baby or else’?” he teases, laughing at the proud smile Grace gives him back.
“I’m sure I was more tactful than that,” she answers, narrowing her eyes at his scoff.
“Barely,” he grins back, chuckling when she doesn’t deny it as she hugs him some more.
“You two deserve to be dads,” she says, looking up at him affectionately. “I see you with my little girl, how much you love her, how she lights up around the two of you, and I can just picture how much you’ll love the little angel that comes into your lives. He or she is going to be so loved and cared for by you two.”
Carlos swallows hard, overwhelmed by his friend’s faith in them, grateful as always for her and her friendship. “Thank you, Gracie,” he says softly, his voice catching.
Grace doesn’t mention it; she just gives his shoulder a squeeze as they go back to their wine and ice cream scooping.
֎֎֎
Carlos sits on his side of the bed, setting the alarm on his phone and running a towel over his wet curls when he feels a shift of the bed before a warm body presses itself against him.
“I think it’s safe to say we won the present wars yet again,” TK gloats, his words muffled as he speaks them against the side of his neck. “We had them all smoked.”
Carlos chuckles before letting out a shiver as he feels TK’s tongue collect a few drops of water that rest on his shoulder.
TK takes the towel from his hand and slowly starts to squeeze the excess water out of his hair, running his fingers through the curls to keep them loose. Carlos lets out a pleased hum, letting his body relax against his husband’s chest as he scratches softly at his scalp, giving his hair a slight pull. TK loses the towel, letting it fly across the room, and Carlos knows he’ll have to pick it up later, but right now, he doesn’t care. Not when TK is tugging on his hair harder, causing Carlos’ chin to tilt upward while he attaches his teeth to the meat of his shoulder, and his other hand snakes to Carlos’ chest, finding one of his nipples.
“You taste good,” TK whispers against his neck, biting down hard enough to make Carlos gasp, his cock quickly filling as a result of TK’s mouth on his skin and his hand currently teasing his nipple into a hard pebble. He lets go of his hair to bring his hand to Carlos’ other nipple giving it the same treatment causing Carlos to jerk his hips upward.
“You’re so sensitive, baby,” TK comments, and Carlos can’t see his smirk, but he can hear it. “I’ve barely started playing with you, and look, you’re already so hard and leaking.”
Carlos looks down at himself to find TK is telling the truth. His hard cock is visible through his boxer-briefs, their light grey color showing off a dark spot from his precum.
“Wanna pull them down a little for me?” TK questions, his breath hot and quickening against him. “Tease me with your pretty cock?”
Carlos feels himself go hot at the request, neediness coursing through him like a freight train. He does as TK asks, pulling his underwear down enough that his cock springs free, slapping against his stomach.
“Fuck, that’s hot,” TK moans against his throat as he looks down his chest. He gives his nipples another pinch, pulling a moan out of Carlos too. “Look how hard you are for me. I could spend the rest of the night just like this, playing with your nipples, watching your cock twitch. It getting wetter as you wait for me to let you come.”
Carlos makes a desperate noise in the back of his throat. They’ve barely started, but he knows for a fact he can’t take that type of teasing tonight. He wants – no, needs TK to move this along now.
“Shhh,” TK hushes him, smiling into his skin as he gives it a sweet kiss. “I’m only joking; there is no way I could hold out that long,” he assures him, pressing himself against Carlos’ lower back to let him feel how hard he is himself. “What do you need tonight?”
Carlos turns his neck to look at him, it’s awkward, but he catches TK’s eyes nonetheless, their mouths inches away from each other. “I want you to fuck me,” he tells him, feeling that familiar but always amazing swoop in his stomach when TK’s eyes darken at his words. “I want you to press me hard into our bed, cover me with your body, and fuck me so deep that I feel you all day tomorrow.”
TK lets out a low curse at his words, making Carlos feel smug in return.
“On your stomach,” he gets out, his voice rough and low, sending a shiver down Carlos’ spine.
He gets off the bed to push off his underwear. When he turns around, TK is there, inches away. He closes his eyes a second before he brushes his lips against his.
“Love you,” TK whispers.
“I love you,” Carlos whispers back, sighing as TK goes around him again, his fingers gliding over Carlos’ back and ass. He goes easily when TK gives him a soft push, laying on his stomach like his husband asked. He relaxes, resting his head on his arms as he waits for TK to get what he needs from the bedside table.
“Hips up, baby,” TK tells him, tapping his side, pushing a pillow under him.
Carlos does as he asks, waiting as patiently as he can for TK to get a move on. He lets out a sigh when he feels TK’s lips on the small of his back, his hands spreading him.
“You’re so beautiful, baby,” TK whispers, and Carlos shivers as he feels his breath on the most private parts of him. He waits, letting out a whine when seconds pass and nothing happens.
“TK – please,” he starts to say, only to let out a squeak when he feels TK give him a swipe of his tongue, chuckling against him as Carlos pushes back into his mouth.
“So needy,” TK taunts, his thumb pressing at Carlos’ opening as he gives him feather-light licks that aren’t nearly enough for him.
“Goddamn tease,” Carlos shoots back, letting out a moan when TK gives him another lick, finally pushing his tongue inside him. “Fucking hell, your mouth, Ty,” he groans out as TK fucks him with his tongue.
“Your ass,” TK counters as he pulls back to pour some lubricant over his hole. He can hear the smirk in his husband’s voice. “I could spend the whole night eating you out.”
Carlos lets out a huff of laughter, sighing when TK presses two fingers at his rim, pushing in slowly. “You have, cariño,” he reminds him. “More than just a night.”
TK lets out a sound of his own. “Ah, the last time we took some days off together. Good times,” he says with a dream-like tone in his voice. “We need to use some more personal time real soon. We have the days.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Carlos agrees readily, turning to give TK a look, feeling his stomach clench as TK grins at him in return. The last time they took a week off, they locked themselves in the house with enough lube and food to ignore the outside world. They were more tired after their vacation than when they started, but it was completely worth it. “But for now, can you just get in me already?”
TK lets out a snort, curling his fingers inside of him, smiling victoriously when Carlos lets out a shout as he presses on his prostate. He crawls up Carlos’ body, covering it with his own like he asked him to, pulling out his fingers once he’s prepped him enough. TK doesn’t let him mourn the loss as the head of his cock nudges at his hole. “You’re so bossy,” TK teases against his ear, biting it a bit as he sinks into Carlos until his hips are flushed against his ass. “And so fucking tight,” he groans, grinding himself into Carlos’ backside.
Carlos wants to answer but can’t. His whole body burns red hot from being so full. All he can do is reach back and grab TK by the back of his neck, holding him in place as TK sinks his teeth into the meat of Carlos’ shoulder and starts to thrust into him hard and deep.
“Yeah,” he breathes out as TK holds his hips tightly, keeping him in place as he fucks him into the mattress. “Just like that, baby, fuck me harder,” he eggs TK on, clenching around him, pride coursing through him as TK moans into his ear in response.
“Fuck,” TK hisses out; he pulls Carlos up to his knees, snapping his hips forward at a brutal pace. Carlos brings a hand down to his cock, stroking it in pace with TK’s thrusts. He comes with a shout all over his hand, his vision whitening out for a moment from the strength of his orgasm. Behind him, Carlos hears TK let out a groan of his own as he comes inside him moments later.
TK covers him again as they drop back on the bed, both all but boneless from satisfaction. Carlos lets them stay like that for a moment, enjoying TK’s warm body over his as he softens inside him.
“Okay, off,” he mumbles, already half asleep, wanting nothing more than to drift off, but he knows he needs to get up and clean himself up if he doesn’t want to wake up feeling all gross.
TK grumbles something about the afterglow but does as he says, rolling off him.
Standing up, Carlos shoots him a fond look before he makes his way to the bathroom, quickly taking care of business. When he comes back into the bedroom, he finds that TK has already stripped the top layer of their linen off and thrown it in the hamper. He throws TK a warm wet washcloth, snickering when it almost hits him in the face.
“You’re such a brat sometimes,” TK mutters under his breath as he runs the cloth over himself before it joins the dirty sheets. “But no one believes me.”
Carlos laughs again as he slips into bed.
TK’s annoyance doesn’t last as he joins him, coming over to his side of the bed as he wraps an arm over Carlos’ waist, resting his head on his chest. He lets out another sigh of satisfaction, running his fingers through TK’s hair as they settle in. He’s more than ready to go to sleep when his phone beeps on the side table. Reaching for it, he smiles when he finds a text from Grace with a few pictures of the party. He lowers his phone to show TK, feeling him smile against him.
“That’s a good one,” he comments, warmth coloring his voice as he looks at the picture of them with Luna in the middle, the little girl beaming from ear to ear, their own smiles matching hers. “She’s so cute,” he sighs out.
Carlos nods, swiping to another picture, this one of Luna and her parents. Judd and Grace both beaming with joy.
“I love all three of them so much, but sometimes, I get so jealous of them,” TK says softly, his voice no more than a whisper, while the guilt rings out loudly. “Is that wrong?”
Carlos doesn’t say anything for a moment. Instead, he puts his phone away. When he turns back to him, he scoots down until his face is lined up with TK’s, and he can look into his troubled eyes. “No, baby,” he tells him, his voice gentle. “You just want to have what they have. That’s normal. It doesn’t mean you love them any less.”
“I’m so happy with you, Carlos,” TK rushes to say as he tries to assure him. “It’s not that I’m not – “
Carlos touches his face, hushing him gently. “I know that,” he tells him. He presses his forehead against TK’s, kissing the tip of his nose. “I know, but you want a kid.”
“Yeah,” TK whispers at him with a sad smile.
“Me too,” Carlos smiles back, even though his heart hurts for them. “It’s going to happen, amor mio. I don’t know when, but sooner or later, a kid is going to come into our lives.”
TK smiles, this time not as sad as before; instead, it’s hopeful.
“And when it finally happens, we’re going to love them just as much as we love each other,” he promises, and TK beams at him.
“You’re going to be an amazing father,” TK tells him, the complete faith he says it with causing Carlos’ heart to squeeze. “That child, whoever they might be, is going to be so lucky to have you, just like I am.”
Carlos cups TK’s cheeks, kissing him softly. Wrapping his arms around him, he brings TK flushed against him. “They will be the luckiest kid in the world to have you as a dad,” he answers as they start to drift off to sleep.
֎֎֎
“Do you have time for coffee, babe?” TK asks as they pull to a stop on the side of the firehouse.
Carlos gives him a nod, they both already had a cup at the house, but he’ll never say no to spending a few extra minutes with TK before their shifts start.
Exiting his squad car, he goes around, taking TK’s hand as they walk through the firehouse’s bay doors. A few members of the alternate 126 crew shout their greetings as they try to quickly wrap up their chores before the next team starts. He lets TK guide him into the station’s kitchen, finding most of their friends already there.
“Good morning,” he greets them, taking a seat next to Marjan, watching as TK playfully hip-checks Nancy, getting an amused eye roll in return from his partner before she moves to the other side of Marjan, passing her a cup of coffee with a sweet smile on her face. While Judd, in the corner of the kitchen, scowls at them something fierce.
“Do you want to guess how many times my baby girl has run over my foot with that damn car since yesterday?”
“Well,” TK starts with a grin. “Seeing as Luna Joy is a perfect queen-in-training who has never done a thing wrong in her life. I’m going to say zero, and you just keep getting in her way,” he finishes, high-fiving both Marjan and Nancy when they hold up their hands to him.
Carlos lets out a quiet snort, unable to hide his amusement in the face of his husband’s childishness.
Judd opens his mouth to answer back when the medical alarm goes off. He frowns, muttering about TK being saved by the bell while Nancy gets up, pressing a kiss against Marjan’s cheek and waving him goodbye. Carlos does the same before turning towards TK.
“So much for that cup of coffee,” TK pouts at him even as he slides him the cup he just finished getting ready for him.
“Later,” he promises, knowing that if he has some downtime during the day, he’ll more than likely make it back to the firehouse. “Be safe out there.”
TK smiles at him, leaning in to give him a quick kiss. “Right back at you, babe,” he answers when he pulls back. He waves at Marjan and Judd before heading in the same direction as Nancy, leaving Carlos alone with their friends.
He takes a sip of the coffee TK left him, smiling down at the cup as it’s to his exact liking.
“Grace told me the news,” Judd comments, coming closer to stand in front of him across the kitchen island. “Congrats, brother.”
“Thanks, Judd,” he answers with a smile. Seeing Marjan’s curious look, he turns toward her to explain. “TK and I have met our requirements with CPS. We’re officially eligible.”
“That’s awesome, Carlos,” Marjan answers with a bright smile. She leans into his side, giving his arm a squeeze. “I know how much this means to you two.”
“Thank you,” he says again before clearing his throat. “But like I told Grace, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
Judd snorts in response. “Yeah, Grace said you said that too, but don’t worry, man. It’s gonna happen. First, because Grace is ready to stage a full-scale attack if the state of Texas doesn’t give you a child, and if anyone can do it, it’s my wife.”
Carlos chuckles at Judd’s comment and how true it is. “Is there a second reason?”
“The second reason is you need a kid so I can pay you and that brat you call a husband back for the toys you get Luna,” Judd answers with a mean smirk that makes Marjan let out a bark of laughter. “My time is coming,” he threatens him evilly. “And when it does, get ready for the most obnoxious toys ever.”
֎֎֎
After having his coffee and being threatened by Judd with future annoying toys, Carlos gets on with his day, checking in at the station before going on patrol with his partner. They answer calls to a house break-in, a fight at a department store, and a purse snatcher before noon. They’re in the middle of putting in a lunch order when their radio comes alive with a car accident.
‘Any available units, we have a collision on West Anderson Lane & Shoal Creek.’
Carlos’ partner Mitchell sighs, and Carlos grabs the radio as she pulls out of the drive-thru. The address is less than three minutes away from where they are.
“363-H-20, responding,” he says, waiting for confirmation.
“Copy 363-H-20. EMS and Fire are on route,” Grace’s voice comes through the radio. “Be advised, witnesses say one of the drivers is stuck in the vehicle.”
“Copy.”
Mitchell pulls up to where the streets intersect, letting out a low whistle. “Damn.”
Carlos can’t help but agree as he takes in the elevated black Ram truck and how it has crushed the driver’s side of a beat-up Ford Fiesta. There is a small crowd already gathered.
“Check the Ram,” he says to Mitchell as they get out of the squad car, noticing that the door of the truck is open but no one is inside.
Mitchell gives him a nod while he goes around the Ram to the Ford.
“I’m going to need all of you to clear the area and get back on the sidewalk,” he says to the people looking on.
“It’s an older man and his grandson,” a woman with short red hair tells him as he gets closer from the passenger’s side, the driver’s side utterly inaccessible by the Ram. “He was awake for a moment, said his name was Roberto, and the little boy is Luca before he passed out. We wanted to get the boy out – he looks to be okay, but we figured we should wait for you guys.”
“You did the right thing, ma’am,” he reassures her, hearing the concern in her voice. “EMS is minutes away, and we don’t want to move them, now please get off the street.”
The woman gives him a nod, and Carlos turns his focus back to the car as the crowd does what he asks and moves. He bends down to look through the window, swearing softly as he takes in the driver. An older man, probably in his mid-seventies, he’s pale, and Carlos spots blood staining his shirt around his belly. His chest is slowly rising, which is a plus, but Carlos can see how shaky it is even from this side of the car.
“363-H-20 on the scene, I need an ETA on EMS,” he says into his radio. “We have a critical injury.”
“Thirty seconds, Officer Reyes.”
“Copy,” he answers back. He turns to look in the backseat when he hears a slight sniffle to find a little boy, no older than three, in his car seat looking at him with big brown eyes. He’s thankfully not crying, but going by his tear-stained cheeks, he has been. “Hey, bud,” he says in what he hopes is a soothing voice. “Luca?” he questions, remembering the name the woman gave him.
The little boy stares back at him.
“Does anything hurt?” he questions, pausing for a moment to think of an easier way for the child to understand him. “Anything ow?”
Luca points at his head, pressing a small hand against his brown curly hair.
“Your head?” he questions, getting a nod in return just as Carlos spots a bruise forming on the side of his face. “Okay, bud, okay, you’re okay,” he reassures him quickly, hoping that, at the very least, his tone is comforting. He lets out a sigh of relief as he hears the sirens get louder – his relief growing when he spots the familiar number on the ambulance rig.
“Abuelo?” Luca asks, his voice tiny and squeaky. “Okay?” he pushes against the straps of his car seat, trying to look at his grandfather.
“Luca, don’t move,” he says immediately, not raising his voice but stern enough that the little boy actually listens to him, looking back at him with a trembling bottom lip. “It’s okay, darling, but you need to sit still for a little bit,” he continues, his heart aching at the look the little boy gives him. “Can you stay still for me?” he asks, letting out a breath when Luca gives him a cautious nod.
He looks up just in time to see the 126 coming out of their respective rigs, equipment in hand.
“Carlos, what do we have?” Owen calls out to him.
“Two victims, an older man, probably in his 70’s by the looks of him, hasn’t spoken or regained consciousness since we arrived but was alert earlier and told a witness his name is Roberto. His grandson is in the back, awake.”
Carlos watches as his father-in-law quickly looks over the car. “We need to pull the Ram back if we want to access the driver’s side. Captain Vega?”
Tommy comes forward, and Carlos moves out of the way as she looks in through where he’d been talking to Luca. Turning, he finds TK behind him, looking in on the little boy.
“He’s alert,” TK says, and Carlos realizes it’s because Luca is following him with his eyes as he moves.
“His name is Luca,” he tells his husband. “He said his head hurts, and he seems to have a bump forming.”
TK’s expression softens as he looks into the car from the back seat, opening the door as Tommy gets into the front to check on the older man. “Hi, Luca,” TK says in a gentle voice. “I’m TK, buddy. I’m going to check you out, okay?”
Carlos watches from outside as TK crawls into the car, gently checking Luca over. He winces along with him when TK touches his head.
“Oh, buddy, I’m sorry,” he hears TK murmur. “It hurts – ow?” he asks, pointing at his own head, getting a nod back from Luca. “Cap, what are we doing? I can get the baby out, he’s a little banged up, but it seems mostly superficial.”
“Get him out and examine him over by the bus,” Tommy answers, her voice severe and sad. “He shouldn’t have to watch this.”
“Critical?” TK asks, concerned but hopeful, and Carlos holds his breath, waiting for Tommy to answer, his stomach dropping when she does.
“Very – likely fatal.”
Shit.
TK unhooks the car seat, taking Luca out with it. Carlos takes a step back to give him some room, sharing a look with his husband over the toddler’s head. He follows behind them, letting Owen and the crew get to work on getting the man out and hopefully saving his life. He stands back as TK places the car seat in the back of the ambulance, only moving closer when TK waves him forward as he climbs up to get what he needs.
“Can you unhook his seat belt?” TK asks as he climbs back down. “He seems to like you.”
“How can you tell?” he questions, doing as he’s asked, surprised when the moment he does, Luca reaches for him, almost tipping forward if not for his quick reflexes, taking him into his arms.
TK grins at him. “That could be a clue,” he answers, chuckling softly. He moves the car seat to the floor, tapping the edge of the rig with his hand. “This might work better if you hold him while I look him over. Is that okay, Luca? You want Carlos to hold you?”
Luca looks at TK and then tips his head up to look at him. “Car-yos,” he says with a look of concentration on his face as he says it.
“That’s right, he’s Carlos, and I’m TK,” he says brightly, pointing at himself, smiling when Luca repeats with a Tee-k.
“You’re so smart, Luca!” TK continues cheerfully, distracting the little boy as he examines him, fingers probing gently at the bump on his head. “Do you know how old you are?”
He moves his hand to show him his fingers. “Two, three?” he questions, hoping the boy understands. He smiles when Luca looks down at his own hand before showing them three fingers.
“Three?” TK questions again, getting a nod and a small smile from the little boy. “Three it is. Alright, buddy, I need to listen to your heart,” he says, holding up his stethoscope.
Luca leans away when TK goes to touch him with it, his eyes wide, causing TK to stop.
“No need to be scared, Luca,” TK says in a gentle voice. “Look,” he continues, holding the device against his own chest. “See? It doesn’t hurt; it’s just to hear my heart, ‘Babumbop, babumbop.”
“Try it on me, so he can see there is nothing to worry about,” he offers, opening the top three buttons of his uniform, turning Luca on his lap so he can look at him.
TK presses the stethoscope against his chest with a smile, letting it rest there for a moment as he listens to his heartbeat. “Very good ‘babumbop, babumbops,’ Officer Reyes,” TK grins, reaching out to run a hand over his cheek.
“Your turn, Luca?” he asks, holding up the device, giving the boy a smile when he doesn’t move away again.
He stays quiet while TK listens to Luca’s heart, letting out a breath when he nods at him that it’s all good. TK starts to pull his hand away, only for Luca to reach out, grabbing the end of the stethoscope.
“Do you want to hear?” TK questions, already taking it off. He places it gently on Luca’s ears before pressing the end to the toddler’s chest. They share a smile when Luca looks up at them with surprise and chuckle when he takes the end of the stethoscope and tries to press it against Carlos’ chest.
He reaches for his hand, making sure it’s placed right for him to hear.
“Good ‘babumbop, babumbops,’ right Luca?” TK asks, his eyes crinkling at the corners with pleasure at the little boy’s happy discovery.
Luca turns towards TK, reaching out for him.
“Oh, mine too?” he asks, laughing. He leans in, covering Luca’s hand just like he did to help him out.
“TK has the best babumbop, Luca,” he says softly into the boy’s ear, earning a loving look from TK.
“Babumb,” Luca tries to say, getting twisted on all the b’s. It makes them both chuckle.
“He’s okay,” TK proclaims, reaching out to run a hand over Luca’s soft hair. “I still want him checked out at the hospital, but he’s okay.”
“That’s good,” he starts to say. He goes to say more, but suddenly there’s commotion behind them, and Tommy is screaming out for TK.
“Take him to your squad car, babe,” TK says quickly, already walking away, heading back towards the scene. “He shouldn’t see this.”
Carlos nods, standing up with Luca in his arms, taking the car seat with him. He makes sure that Luca is facing away as TK and his team place his grandfather on a gurney and load him onto the ambulance, leaving the rest of them behind.
“It fast.”
Carlos looks at Luca to find that he still has TK’s scope on his ears, and he’s holding it against his chest again.
“Babumb, babumb, fast,” he repeats innocently, too young to understand why Carlos’ heart is racing.
“Yeah, buddy,” he says softly, holding him closer to his chest. “It’s beating fast.”
֎֎֎
Carlos doesn’t see TK again for the rest of their shifts. The car accident takes over most of his day. He and Mitchell have to write up the report that includes the person responsible for the accident fleeing the scene. They end up picking him up at his home – some asshole who couldn’t even stick around and call 911 after causing a tragedy with his reckless driving. It makes Carlos angry when he thinks about little Luca clinging to him. The soft whimper he let out when CPS took him away will haunt Carlos for a while.
The only relief Carlos has about the situation is that it was Neema who showed up. He and TK have gotten to know her well as she helps them navigate Texas’ foster system. He knows how kind and compassionate she is and that she’ll make sure to find Luca’s relatives as quickly as possible.
Walking into the house, he finds TK on the couch in one of his old hoodies, knees up to his chest, and while he’s facing the TV, Carlos knows he’s not paying attention to a word of it. He walks over to the couch, opening his arms to his husband.
TK crawls into his lap, mindful of his sidearm. “I hate losing people,” he whispers into his neck, his voice low and miserable. Carlos tightens his hold on him. He knows how hard TK takes on losing every person he and his team can’t save. It worries Carlos sometimes, but he also knows that it’s just how TK works. He cares about everyone. It’s one of the most beautiful things about him.
“I know, darling,” he answers as he rubs a comforting hand up and down TK’s back.
“I keep thinking about Luca,” TK continues, pulling back to look at him. It hurts Carlos to see the sadness in his eyes.
“Neema came for him,” he answers, knowing what TK is asking. He watches as he lets out a relieved breath. “She’ll locate his family, hopefully already has, and they have him back.”
“That’s good,” TK nods, distracted, something hesitant in his expression. “Neema is so good.”
Carlos studies him for a moment, taking in the way TK is biting his lip nervously, his hands resting on Carlos’ shoulder, tapping continuously.
“What’s up?” he questions gently, knowing there is more TK isn’t saying.
“I can’t get him out of my head,” TK confesses quietly. “I know it’s always more intense when kids are involved in an accident – we all feel it.”
Carlos nods.
“But this time it felt more personal,” TK continues, frowning like he doesn’t quite know what he’s feeling himself. He sighs as he lets the rest out. “I took one look at Luca and felt everything inside me scream to keep him safe. I just want to know he’s gonna be okay.”
Carlos stays quiet for a moment. Leave it to TK to put into words what he has been feeling for hours since he had to pass Luca from his arms to Neema’s. This restless, wrong feeling. Feeling like he failed Luca by not staying with him.
He pulls TK closer, pressing his lips against his temple. “I know exactly what you mean,” he says softly against his hairline, feeling TK’s body lose some of its tension as he continues. “I’ll call Neema in the morning for an update on him, okay?”
“Yeah?” TK questions quietly, giving him a small smile when he nods. “He’s probably home with his parents like you said,” he reasons to himself and Carlos.
“No harm in checking in,” he says, knowing TK needs the reassurance.
“Okay,” TK answers softly. He wraps his arms around Carlos, tucking his face into his neck. “Thank you,” he whispers into his skin.
Carlos doesn’t say anything. Instead, he just holds his tenderhearted husband, offering his love as solace for the emotional day.
֎֎֎
He doesn’t get the chance to talk to Neema till noon the next day as he pulls up to the firehouse to have lunch with TK. When he greets her, she sounds knowing and a little amused like she’s been expecting his call. He asks her about Luca and can instantly feel her lose her good humor. He listens, his heart hurting as she explains that they have located Luca’s records through his grandfather’s information.
Every word Neema says feels like a dagger to his chest – deceased mother before his 2nd birthday, no father to be found. His grandfather – his only living relative, now gone. Luca is barely three, and he’s all alone in the world.
He aches – he aches for a little boy he held in his arms for less than an hour, innocently playing with TK’s left behind stethoscope, pressing it on any surface he could, hoping to hear more than heartbeats.
He asks before he can stop himself where Luca is currently and in the next breath if he and TK can see him.
Neema lets out an exhale that once again sounds, if not amused, fond, as she says she knew he would ask. He holds his breath waiting, only letting it out when she gives him the address of the care center where Luca is currently staying, telling him she can arrange a visit for the next day if he and TK want to meet her there.
The word yes is out of his mouth before she even finishes her sentence, and this time Neema doesn’t hide her kind chuckle. He hangs up with a thank you, promising to be there at six like she suggested.
Getting out of his car, he walks towards the bay doors of the firehouse, finding TK leaning against it with a curious expression on his face that tells him he’s been watching him, waiting for him to finish his call.
“Hi, my love,” he says, pulling him into a tight hug. He hears TK let out a surprised noise, but he quickly returns his hug when Carlos doesn’t let go. He feels TK’s hold on him tighten more securely, his hand cupping the back of Carlos’ neck as he offers him silent comfort.
“I spoke to Neema,” he says quietly against TK’s shoulder, feeling him tense up instantly. “He has no one,” he continues, his throat tightening as he speaks the words.
TK lets out an audible breath, pulling back to look at him with concern in his eyes.
“His grandfather was his only living relative,” he tells him, repeating what Neema shared with him. “He’s been his guardian after Luca’s mother passed away over a year ago.”
TK’s expression crumbles, and Carlos can see the same pain he feels reflecting on his husband’s face. “The father?”
“There doesn’t seem to be any,” he says, shaking his head, the impotence he feels frustrating him. He knows it’s not logical or that it would have even been legal, but he feels like he shouldn’t have let Luca out of his arms the day before. “It was a family of three, that went down to two, and is now just a little boy, all alone.”
TK blinks away the wet sheen his eyes have taken, his lips going into a firm line as he squares up his shoulders. “What do we do?” he asks.
“Neema says we can visit him tomorrow,” he starts to say, getting a quick shake of TK’s head.
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it, babe,” he says quickly, raising an eyebrow at him. “I mean, how quickly can we get him out of the care center?”
Carlos inhales sharply as TK gives voice to his thoughts once more. Still, it’s not a decision to enter lightly. “Sweetheart – “ he tries, but TK shakes his head again.
“He’s a little boy, a sweet, scared little boy who is all alone,” TK reminds him, his bottom lip quivering for a moment. “I know you felt it yesterday too – a need to keep him safe. He needs us, so we’re going to help,” he continues, his words coming out in a rush, choked by emotion.
“Okay, okay,” he says quickly, calming him as he pulls him back into another hug, rubbing his back as TK slightly shakes. He holds him until the trembling subsides. When he pulls back, he cups TK’s face. He hates the distress he sees and presses his forehead against his. “I’m with you,” he whispers, not needing to say anything else as TK exhales softly. He knows he understands him because, as always, they’re on the same page.
One way or another, they’re going to be there for Luca.
֎֎֎
They arrive at the care center 15 minutes to 6 the next day. He picked up TK at the firehouse, holding his hand on the drive over to keep his fidgeting to a minimum. He gets a grateful smile from him as TK plays with his fingers before he brings the hand up to his mouth, pressing a gentle kiss against Carlos’ knuckles. It causes Carlos’ heart to thunder with love at TK’s ever-constant tenderness towards him and anyone else he loves.
Walking through the doors of the center, they find Neema waiting for them by the front desk.
“Hello boys,” she says to them with a kind smile, her dark eyes sparkling with the same helpfulness and sympathy she has expressed towards them since she was first assigned to them. “It’s good to see you both.”
“Hi, Neema,” TK greets her back, extending his hand to quickly shake hers. She raises an eyebrow at him, her expression filling with humor that lets him know she feels the nervous energy coming off TK.
“Relax, TK,” she says, her lips curving upward. “You’re not under review.”
TK blushes a soft rosy color, and Carlos can’t help but wrap his arm around his shoulder in support. “We’re a little anxious to see Luca,” he explains.
“How is he doing?” TK asks, biting down on his lip when Neema sighs.
“He’s a lovely boy,” she starts to say, reaching for a folder on the desk before walking them over to a set of chairs. “But he’s scared, of course, in this new environment. He’s asked for his grandfather.”
TK’s expression twists, and Carlos knows he’s quietly blaming himself for not being able to save Roberto.
“Did you tell him what happened?” Carlos asks, wondering how impossible it must be to tell a young child that his grandfather is dead and have him understand.
“We did,” Neema says with a sad smile. She tucks a lock of her black hair behind her ear. “When we told him, he asked if his grandfather was in heaven with his mom,” she pauses for a moment when TK makes a hurt sound in the back of his throat. Carlos reaches to take his hand, feeling it too.
“It seems that the grandfather took Luca to visit his mother’s gravesite often and spoke about her with him. We met with his neighbors and looked at medical records. Luca’s mother, Angelica, died a few months before Luca’s second birthday. The records say she had a complicated pregnancy and was left with a weakened heart as a result. She was up for a possible transplant, but it gave out before it could ever happen.”
Neema pauses, and Carlos is reminded why he liked her from the moment they met her. It’s so obvious she cares about every child under her care, each case being more than just a file number.
“The neighbors say Roberto was there for his daughter and grandson every step of the way. First taking care of her and then when she passed, taking care of Luca.”
“Jesus,” TK whispers, letting out a low breath at the heartbreaking story.
“What about Luca’s father?” Carlos questions, remembering what Neema had mentioned on the phone.
“Angelica never put anyone down on the birth certificate, and one of the neighbors said that the moment she got pregnant, he was out the door wanting nothing to do with it. We’re trying to track him down now, but who knows if he would even care.”
TK squeezes his hand, and Carlos can see the anger on his face.
“Is there no one else?” he questions Neema, only to get a shake of her head.
“It was a tiny family,” she answers. “Luca only had his mother and his grandfather, and now – “
“They’re both gone,” he finishes for her, getting a nod in return.
“Can we see him now?” TK questions, and this time when Neema smiles, it’s not as sad.
“Yes, of course,” she says as she gets up, leading them down a hallway. “We told him you were coming,” she pauses in front of a door, her smile widening. “He got excited about it.”
“He remembers us?” TK questions hopefully, and Neema’s smile is kind in return.
“It seems like he did,” she says, opening the door to a bright room with couches and toys in the corner – a visiting room. In the middle sits Luca playing with a set of colorful blocks.
“Hello, Luca,” Neema says softly, drawing the little boy’s attention as he looks up at her. “There are some people here to see you if that’s okay.”
He and TK step forward when Neema steps to the side, letting them in. They hold their breath for a moment, waiting to see what his reaction, if any, will be.
“Hi, Luca,” TK says just as softly as Neema, going to sit on the floor. “I’m TK, remember me?”
Luca looks at him quietly before he gets up, coming towards him. “Tee-k,” he says, a wide smile taking over his face that matches TK’s before he puts his hand on his chest, tapping on it.
“Babumbop, babumbop,” TK grins, letting out a soft laugh as he gives Luca a nod, reaching out to lightly tickle him under his chin. “That’s right. You’re so smart, Luca.”
Luca lets out a giggle, squirming but not moving out of TK’s reach.
TK looks over, lifting a hand out to him. “Come here my love,” he says adoringly, looking back at Luca when the little boy turns his head towards him. “Luca, do you remember Carlos?”
Carlos walks further into the visiting room, barely sitting down on the floor before he has an armful of the sweet little boy.
“Car-yos,” he says happily into his shoulder, and Carlos feels his heart slam against his chest. He hugs Luca gently to his frame, looking at TK over the little boy’s shoulder to find his husband looking at them with the softest expression Carlos has ever seen on his face.
He smiles at him, a little shaky but loving and wise. “I told you he liked you,” he whispers, growing amused at the amazed expression on Carlos’ face.
֎֎֎
It’s hard to leave Luca behind. They play with him for well over an hour, first with the blocks, stacking them up high before they tumble down, enjoying the shrieks of laughter Luca lets out as a result. They count the blocks first in English and then in Spanish, sharing smiles over his head at how well he does.
Neema offers them a book of fairytales, and TK reads it to them, making funny voices while Carlos holds Luca in his lap. The little boy looks up at him with a smile on his face before looking back at TK, giving him his undivided attention. The visit is over before either of them would like, and even Neema seems surprised at how quickly time has passed when one of the aids comes to collect Luca.
He doesn’t cry when it’s time to say goodbye, but he goes quiet when moments before he had been lively, talking up a storm, a sweet combo of words and baby babble.
They each take turns hugging him, promising they’ll see him again soon, and when he looks up at them with those big brown eyes of his, whispering ‘promise?’, it takes every rational thought he has to remember he and TK can’t just take him home.
There are rules and steps to follow. Paperwork, so much paperwork, Neema already has ready for them, handing them stacks of them with a smile on her face when they look momentarily stunned.
She smirks, reminding them she has been doing this job for years and knows what they want. Her expression softens as she comments that while Luca has been so easy to handle while staying in their care, this is the first time he’s lit up.
She promises she’ll do everything in her power to help them take him home, saying, ‘No child should stay here for long when loving people are eager to look after them.’
They don’t tell anyone yet; maybe it’s superstition or fear, but it’s such a tentative situation, and neither wants to speak too loudly for fear it will cause the bubble they seem to be in to burst.
Neema gets back to them a few days later when they have the Ryders’ over for dinner. They’re in the living room eating some peach pie Grace brought over, helping Luna with a puzzle when TK’s phone rings.
“Sorry, one second,” TK says with an apologetic smile at Judd and Grace as he stands, touching his shoulder as he walks away to fetch it.
Carlos looks at him for a second before turning back to their friends; he’s ready to ask them about their last visit with Judd’s father when TK lets out a gasp.
“Are you sure?” he asks, and even from the couch, Carlos can see he’s shaking. He stands up too, alarmed when TK turns to face them, and he sees tears running down his face. TK shakes his head at him, a wide smile on his face despite the tears. “Thank you so much, Neema,” TK says into his phone, and Carlos feels his heart slam hard against his chest as he realizes what the call is about. “Yes, yes – thank you. We’ll see you Saturday. Thank you again.”
“Saturday?” he questions, his voice barely above a whisper, afraid anything higher will break his hope.
“He’s coming home on Saturday,” TK whispers back, letting out a wet laugh as more tears run down his face.
Carlos crosses the room pulling TK into his arms, laughing and crying with him. “Saturday,” he repeats in awe. Just three days away, and they would have Luca here with them. “We have so much to do,” he says in a rush as he pulls back to look at TK. “We have to get his room ready. We need a bed, clothes, and toys.”
TK takes his face in his hands, his green eyes shining from happiness and tears. “Babe, take a breath. We’ll get it all done before he gets here.”
“Who is coming?” asks Luna, her voice curious, and when they turn around, they find her and her parents looking at them expectantly.
He looks back at TK, finding that he’s already looking back at him with a supportive smile on his face as he gives him a nod.
Carlos takes a breath, holding it for a moment before letting it out in a loud exhale. “We’re getting a foster child. His name is Luca,” he barely gets out before Grace and Judd are on their feet, exclaiming, rushing forward to hug them.
“Oh my lord, why didn’t you boys say anything sooner,” Grace asks as she hugs him for dear life, Judd doing the same to TK.
“We didn’t want to jinx it,” TK answers, crinkling his nose adorably, and Carlos can see he wants to vibrate out of his skin with excitement.
Grace gives them a fond but exasperated look. “So tell us about him,” she says as they all retake their seats.
They look at each other again before TK speaks. “Well, Judd here has already met him,” he starts to say, getting a confused look in return from their friend. “It was that car accident last week, the one with the Ram, there was a grandfather and his grandson in the other car,” he says, prompting Judd.
They can tell Judd remembers when he closes his eyes for a moment. “That poor little boy. Tommy told me you guys did everything you could to save his grandfather.”
Carlos reaches out to take TK’s hand as he nods softly, sadness coloring his expression.
“CPS came for Luca,” he continues for him. “They found that Roberto was his sole guardian. His mother passed away the year before, and the father isn’t in the picture though they are trying to track him down.”
“And in the meanwhile, he’ll be staying with us,” TK says with another smile. It’s not as bright as before, probably remembering that it’s a temporary thing while they find Luca’s dad.
“You getting a little baby?” Luna questions. She abandoned the puzzle in the excitement, watching them as they spoke, obviously understanding enough to ask her question. She looks at them with curious eyes, going a little shy when everyone’s focus turns to her.
TK smiles softly at his goddaughter, extending a hand for her to take, bringing her to sit on his lap as he opens his phone to a picture they had taken the day they visited Luca. He knows for a fact TK has spent a lot of time looking at it, just like he has with the copy on his phone.
“He’s not really a baby,” he says to her, showing her the picture of Luca smiling shyly at the camera. “He’s only a little younger than you.”
Luna touches the screen, studying it with a serious look on her face like she’s trying to form an opinion on it. He shares a look with TK, Grace, and Judd. All of them look in amusement as Luna leans in closer to the screen, squinting her eyes.
Finally, she lifts her head up, looking at her godfather first. “He’s pretty,” she proclaims, earning a startled sound of protest from her father and a loving grin from her mother. “Will Luca and me be friends, Tio Carlos?” she questions, turning towards him with a hopeful look.
Carlos smiles, as always endeared by the sweet little girl. “I think you two will be the best of friends, darling,”
Luna beams at him in response. “I’ll share my toys with him.”
TK hugs Luna to his chest, looking touched by her innocent words. “Thank you, little moon. I’m sure he will like that.”
֎֎֎
They spend the next three days getting the house ready for Luca and putting in requests at work for PTO. Tommy and Owen gladly approve TK’s time off, and his own captain, who is just surprised he’s even asking, gives him a kind smile when he tells her why and wishes him the best.
They paint Luca’s room sky-blue, deciding to hold off on a theme since they don’t know yet what the little boy likes. They shop for furniture, clothes, books, and toys, and Carlos is grateful they’re both usually not big spenders because they put a dent in their savings with all the purchases. Carlos hesitates for a moment, but seeing TK’s face light up with each new item is worth it, and he can’t think of a better use of money than to give Luca all he deserves and to make TK happy.
Saturday morning arrives with both of them getting up early. Carlos watches TK from the kitchen as he cooks breakfast, amused while slightly worried as he keeps rearranging their place.
“TK, baby,” he calls out to him as he turns off the stove and serves his veggie egg scramble onto two plates along with avocado slices and toast. “Come here,” he says as TK looks up at him from the dining room table, where he’s wiping it down for the third time this morning.
TK gives him an apologetic look. “I’m acting crazy, aren’t I?” he asks as he walks over to him.
Carlos shakes his head as he wraps an arm around TK, pulling his husband towards him. He feels TK let out a sigh as he leans into him, hugging him back.
“You’re anxious, not crazy,” he reassures him. “We’re about to take a huge step; our lives are going to change today. It’s okay to be nervous.”
“What if I’m not good at taking care of him,” TK whispers into his ear, and Carlos tightens his hold on him for a moment before he pulls back to look at him.
“Not possible, my love.”
He reaches up to cup TK’s face, brushing his thumbs over the high of his cheeks. “You are the most caring person I know. It’s in your DNA to look after people you care about, to provide for them, and I know you already care about Luca so much. You’re gonna be great with him.”
“You really think so?” TK whispers, his voice hopeful.
“Yes,” Carlos assures him, knowing it’s true. He presses a kiss against TK’s brow. “And I’m here. We’re in this together, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make this a smooth transition for all of us.”
TK smiles softly at him. “I love you so much,” he says lovingly. “Thank you for taking this leap with me.”
Carlos pulls TK into another hug. They hold each other, neither in a rush to let go as they take comfort and reassurance from their embrace, only letting go after a few minutes. Taking the plates into the dining room, they eat and try to act like they aren’t waiting for a knock on their door to change their lives. They’re in the middle of cleaning up the kitchen when that knock comes.
TK looks at him, his green eyes wide with anticipation, and Carlos has to smile at how nervous but happy he seems. “Go, I’ll follow,” he says softly, kissing him once more before giving him a gentle shove.
TK all but skips towards the door while Carlos takes a deep breath calming his own nerves. He dries his hands on a dishtowel, leaving the kitchen to find TK has guided Neema and Luca into the living room. He stops at the entrance taking another breath as he finds TK is on his knees, giving Luca a hug.
“We’ve missed you, Luca,” he hears TK say to the little boy and smiles softly as Luca says he missed TK too.
“Hola, Luca,” he calls out gently, causing everyone to look at him. Luca turns from TK, giving him a big smile before he looks at TK again, questioning.
“Go ahead,” TK tells him, seeming to understand Luca’s silent question already. Luca walks away from TK to walk over to him with his arms out. Carlos leans down, lifting the little boy to his chest like he had with TK earlier, hugging him close. Over his shoulder, he can see Neema and TK smiling at each other.
“I told you he likes you,” TK reminds him with a teasing smile that shines with his joy. “You’re probably his favorite,” he continues, his expression going soft. “He’s got good taste.”
Neema nods in agreement, looking happy herself. “I think this is going to be a good fit.”
֎֎֎
Neema leaves their home in the late morning after letting them know she’ll be in touch and to not hesitate to call if they need something. She gives Luca a hug, whispering he’ll be okay before she walks out the door.
Luca waves at her, going quiet once it’s just the three of them. TK looks over at him, at a loss as to what happens next.
“Why don’t we show Luca his room first, and then maybe you two can color while I whip up some lunch?” he says helpfully, smiling when TK lets out a relieved breath.
“Yes,” he says, nodding quickly, turning towards the little boy. “You want to see your room, Luca?”
Luca looks at them, biting down on his lip nervously. “Okay,” he finally says, lifting his arms for TK.
TK smiles softly, and Carlos can see how happy he is that Luca is comfortable enough to be held by him.
Carlos leads the way up the stairs towards the converted guest room across their own, stopping in front of the closed door for TK and Luca to bring up the rear. They look at each other, smiling as Luca looks at the letters on the door spelling out his name. They watch as the little boy’s eyes widen, delighted that he recognizes the word.
“That’s me!” he says happily. He leans out of TK’s arms to touch the letter L as TK quickly readjusts his hold, getting him closer. “L-u-c-a,” Luca spells out the letters.
“So good, sweetheart!” TK says proudly, earning a shy smile from Luca. He turns to Carlos nodding towards the doorknob.
Carlos opens the door for them, letting TK and Luca walk in first. He leans against the doorframe as TK puts Luca down and then steps back towards him, wrapping his arm around his waist as they both watch the little boy walk around the room, touching things here and there.
“Do you like it, nene?” he asks softly after Luca has circled the room a few times before sitting on his bed, tracing the cartoon dinosaurs on the covers with his fingers.
“For me?” Luca questions, looking up at them with big brown eyes that shoot Carlos right through the heart. Turning to TK, he can see they do the same to him.
He gives Luca a nod as they come into the room and sit down on the floor beside the bed, wanting to be closer to the little boy. TK gives him an encouraging look that Carlos appreciates as he takes a deep breath before speaking.
“Luca, your abuelito – “ he starts, pausing, not sure how to even begin. Luckily or heartbreakingly, Luca is too wise for a three-year-old, simply pointing a small finger up to the sky.
“En el cielo,” he says softly, a little sad but calm. “With Mama.”
Carlos looks over at TK, finding his expression crushed, his eyes glossy with pain for the little boy.
He clears his throat, swallowing around the lump of emotion that has formed. “Yes, he is,” he says softly. “You need someone to take care of you like your abuelito did,” he continues. “That’s why you’re staying here with us. So we can take care of you.”
Luca looks back and forth between them and then around the room. “I stay?”
TK inhales sharply, his eyes finding his again, and Carlos can’t help but worry for them and where they will be if that is not the case. He pushes that worry down, giving the little boy a reassuring smile. “Yes, darling, you’re staying with us.”
֎֎֎
Carlos makes them a simple lunch of grill cheese sandwiches and chicken noodle soup. He comes out of the kitchen into the living room with a food tray to find TK and Luca on their bellies drawing on the doodle mat they purchased earlier in the week.
“He’s got talent,” he comments as he puts down the food on the coffee table and takes in the surprisingly well-drawn shapes.
TK grins up at him. “Your sister is gonna want to mentor him,” he teases.
Carlos smiles as he thinks of his artistic sister. “We’ll have to tell her when she comes to town,” he comments, agreeing with him. “She’s going to want to be his favorite and want to buy him a whole art store. You know how Lola gets.”
TK smiles again, and Carlos knows that it’s because while TK loves all of his sisters-in-law, he and Lola have a special bond over both being troublemakers.
“They’re all going to love him,” TK says softly as he reaches out to touch Luca’s curls, getting a quick smile from the boy before he goes back to his scribbling.
“We’ll introduce him to them as soon as Luca settles in and is comfortable,” he promises. “We don’t want him to be overwhelmed.”
TK gives him a nod. “Yeah,” he agrees, even as he shakes his head. “Though everyone wants to meet him. Dad has been texting me, asking how it’s going. You know he’s itching to come over. Grace and Judd too. Grace says Luna keeps asking when she can meet her friend,” he says with fondness in his eyes as he talks about his goddaughter.
It makes Carlos smile. “I love that little girl,” he says honestly. Luna is exactly like her parents, full of kindness, just like them. “Maybe we can have them over in a few days – better someone Luca’s age he can make friends with than just adults intimidating him.”
“That would be nice,” TK says softly. He touches Luca’s shoulder as he tells him it’s time to eat. They sit around the coffee table with Luca between them. It is a slower meal than usual as they feed the little boy, but he seems to enjoy it, slurping on the noodles. He seems to like them too. He doesn’t shy away from answering random questions they ask him, like his favorite colors, blue, pink, red, favorite fruit, strawberries, and bananas.
They watch a movie in the evening, followed by bathtime, where they discover Luca is part fish, loving to splash in their big tub. He watches from the door of the bathroom, feeling warm all over as Luca lets out a giggle when his splashes soak TK.
“Oh, you think that’s funny?” TK questions before he flicks some water back in Luca’s face, causing the little boy to squeal with laughter, and Carlos can hear the smile on TK’s face though his back is to him.
They let him splash around for a few more minutes before pulling him out, charmed by the pout he gives them as TK dries him off.
“You can take another bath tomorrow, pescadito,” he tells him as he helps him into his pajamas.
“What’s that?” TK questions and Carlos has a sudden realization that he has someone in the house who understands Spanish. He looks at Luca with a playful grin.
“Luca, TK no habla español,” he explains, getting a curious look back from the boy. “Quieres ayudarme ha enceñarle?” he continues, asking if Luca wants to help him teach TK Spanish. TK has picked up some in the years they’ve been together but is nowhere near fluent.
Luca’s eyes light up, and he nods up and down quickly, causing his wet curls to shake.
“Okay then,” he says with a grin. “Do you want to tell TK what pescadito means?”
“A fishy, Tee-k!” Luca answers, excited as he looks back at him for approval.
“That’s right, a little fish.”
TK makes an ‘O’ face, exaggerating his eyes wide. “That seems accurate,” he agrees easily, his green eyes twinkling as he looks over at him. “Okay, time to brush those curls, which I’m going to leave to the expert,” he continues, passing him the comb and detangler. “I’m gonna jump in the shower real quick.”
He gives TK a smile as he sits behind Luca, ready to work on his hair. He stops when TK puts a hand on his shoulder. Looking up, he finds TK smiling down at him. He leans into TK’s hand when he places it on his cheek.
“Be right back,” he says softly as he leaves the room.
Carlos turns his focus to Luca, working softly through his curls. The little boy shifts from foot to foot but lets Carlos work through the knots. “There we go, nene,” he says as he finishes, combing in a last bit of product into his curls. “Que guapo,” he grins, getting a toothy grin back.
He helps Luca into his bed and is mid-way through one of the many books TK insisted on getting when he comes back, rubbing a towel over his hair. Carlos stops for a moment, only to be waved to continue by TK as he leans against the door to watch them. He finishes one story and starts another before Luca’s eyes start to droop. He lowers his voice, coming to a stop when the little boy’s breathing evens out. Slowly he gets up, careful to not wake him, joining TK by the door after bringing the covers up to Luca’s shoulders.
He takes TK’s hand in his as they watch over Luca for another moment.
“Is the monitor on?” TK whispers.
“Yeah,” he answers, tugging on TK’s hand as he turns off the lights to Luca’s room, leaving only the nightlight on. “We’ll hear him if he needs us.”
֎֎֎
They do hear him. About three hours after they leave Luca in his bed, a little after midnight, he and TK are woken up from their sleep to soft cries coming through the monitor.
He starts to sit up, a little groggy, when he feels TK’s hand on his shoulder stopping him from moving further.
“I’ll go check on him,” he says, already standing. Carlos gives him an absent nod as he reaches over to turn on the bedside lamp as he rubs the sleep from his eyes.
He’s fully awake by the time TK comes back to bed with Luca clinging to him.
“He had a bad dream,” TK answers his questioning look, rubbing Luca’s back as the little boy tucks his face into his neck. He sits down on his side of the bed, not letting go of Luca, holding him close as he offers him comfort.
Carlos reaches out, touching Luca’s head gently, running a thumb over the little boy’s ear. It makes Luca turn his face towards him, and Carlos hurts at the sight of his glistening eyes and tear-stained cheeks.
“Nene, lindo,” he says softly and sympathetically. “Are you okay?”
“Abuelito,” Luca whispers, his bottom lip visibly trembling.
TK makes a wounded noise, and when Carlos looks up at him, he finds himself looking at a sight he hates. TK with tears in his eyes.
He shifts over, pulling TK and Luca to him, circling his arms around both of them. “My boys,” he whispers sadly as they both settle into his arms.
He doesn’t know how long he holds them. It also takes him a while to realize he’s started humming a melody he thought he’d long forgotten, one his mother would sing when he or his sisters were sad.
Slowly he realizes the weight of TK and Luca has gotten heavier against him, and when he looks down at their faces, he finds both of them with their eyes closed. It causes his breath to catch in his throat as both TK and Luca have their faces tilted up to him. Luca’s head resting on TK’s shoulder, while TK’s rests on his.
The picture they make sears itself onto his heart, and he realizes with frightening clarity that it’s only taken one day of Luca being with them for him to love him just as fiercely as he loves TK.
He moves them out of his hold gently and quietly. Softly pushing TK back on the bed with Luca still in his arms. He holds his breath as they settle, and he has to smile at the way Luca clings to TK even in his sleep, his little fingers curling around TK’s t-shirt.
TK’s arms are the safest place Carlos knows, and it seems that Luca agrees.
“I understand, little one,” he whispers as he presses a kiss into his curls, bringing his body close to keep Luca snug between them as he reaches out, placing a hand over TK’s rising and falling stomach. “You’re safe now.”
֎֎֎
They settle into a bit of a routine with Luca over the course of the week. He and TK each took ten days off to help him acclimatize to being with them. It’s easier than either of them expects – sure, there are still more nights than not where Luca ends up in their bed, snuggled between them, but for the most part, he’s a happy little boy who seems to enjoy being with both of them.
When he’s cooking, Luca and TK join him in the kitchen, sneaking tastes when it’s something sweet, giving him matching grins when he catches them. They play in the backyard, turning on the sprinklers on hot afternoons – much to Luca’s delight as he runs barefoot on the wet grass, giggling happily as he gets soaked. In the evenings, they usually watch some animated movie with Luca babbling to them about what’s happening on the screen before it’s bath time and a story before bed.
As they get closer to the end of their days off though, Carlos can see TK is getting worried. They have daycare ready for Luca while they’re at work, something Neema helped them out with, but when TK gets his schedule for the new week and sees that his first day back is actually a 24-hour shift, he swears under his breath, biting down on his lip anxiously.
“It’s going to be fine,” he assures him when TK tells him. “I’m getting off early these days. I’ll pick Luca up from daycare, and we’ll facetime you. It will be fine, I promise.”
TK gives him an absent nod, reaching out to take his hand as he looks over at Luca, who is currently playing with the firetruck Owen dropped off in the middle of the week, unable to stay away a moment longer.
It was amusing to watch his father-in-law with Luca, getting down to play with him and the truck, explaining the functions of a real fire engine to a three-year-old who was more interested in the loud sounds. Luca warmed up to Owen quickly though, asking him to come back to play with him when the fire captain was ready to leave. Owen’s expression had been spellbound by the little boy, showing that Luca wasn’t just quick to win them over, but others. His father-in-law had hugged them both, whispering how happy he was for them. When they reminded him that they were just fostering Luca and nothing has been decided yet, Owen simply smiled at them fondly, like they amused him with their words.
‘Sure,’ he’d said with a grin before turning back to Luca, asking him if it was okay to hug him, squatting down when the little boy stepped into his space, allowing the hug and returning it sweetly.
Now, a day before they’re due back at work, Carlos prepares dinner, not just for them but for Judd, Grace, and Luna. He makes spaghetti and meatballs, knowing the kids will eat it too – they’ve discovered Luca is a noodles fan in general – while in the living room, TK and Luca play a card matching game. He smiles as he hears TK praise Luca every time he puts the correct ones together. He thinks about how just a week and a half ago, they were waiting for Luca to arrive, and TK was worried he wouldn’t be good at caring for him. He hadn’t worried for a moment, knowing TK’s caring nature, but to see how quickly and easily his husband has taken to the role of foster parent fills him with even more love than he already has for him. He’s so lost in that thought he doesn’t notice TK and Luca come into the kitchen until they’re basically next to him.
“Where did you just go?” TK questions him with a curious look as he holds Luca to his hip, holding him back when Luca tips forward, trying to look into the pot of sauce. “Careful sweetheart, that’s hot.”
“I try?” Luca questions with an innocent smile that makes them both grin. The little boy has become Carlos’ official taste tester, and he takes his job very seriously.
TK gives him a fond smile, looking over at him as he asks if it’s ready for them to try it, picking up a clean wooden spoon when he answers yes. He stands back, watching them interact, his heart squeezing from the picture they make as TK blows on the sauce before making an airplane noise as he brings the spoon to Luca’s open mouth.
“What do you think, nene?” he asks him as Luca licks his lips. “Is it good?”
“Yummy, Car-yos,” Luca proclaims, opening his mouth again when TK dips the spoon into the sauce once more.
“Well, you got the ‘Luca’ seal of approval,” TK teases as he gives the sauce a taste too, letting out a soft moan. “And mine, baby, this is delicious.”
“Delicious,” Luca repeats, bobbing his head up and down, earning a laugh out of both of them.
“You’re so cute,” TK tells the little boy, blowing a raspberry on the side of his face, causing Luca to let out a shrieking laugh as he squirms around in his arms. He leans forward, pressing his lips to TK’s cheek, trying to give him a raspberry back only to drool on him.
TK laughs and groans at the dribble running down his cheek.
“Can you get me a napkin, babe?” He asks as he places Luca on the counter, offering him a piece of cucumber from the salad he has ready.
Carlos grabs a napkin. Instead of handing it over, he wipes gently at TK’s face. “This is what I was thinking about,” he says softly as he drops the napkin in favor of running his thumb over TK’s cheekbone. “I was thinking about how good you are with Luca. How good a dad you are.”
TK’s breath catches, his eyes going wide as they shift from him to the little boy on their counter munching on his cucumber, watching them with curious eyes.
“I’m not his dad yet,” TK answers finally, his voice no more than a whisper, afraid that anything louder will ruin the bubble they’re currently in. Carlos gets it; the last ten days have been like a dream. A little world where it’s just the three of them, and it works. Every morning he wakes up to TK’s smile or Luca’s little giggles, and he knows it’s the sights and sounds he wants to wake up to every day.
“Not yet,” he answers, agreeing with TK. He watches as his shoulders drop and reaches out to touch his husband again, tipping his chin upward towards him. “Not legally anyway, but in the ways that matter, TK, in the way that you want to be his dad. You already are.”
“It’s too soon to think about this,” TK tries to reason, and Carlos has to smile. Before Luca even came to live with them, they knew that this is what they wanted. Since their first visit to the care center, at least.
TK rolls his eyes fondly at his smile, knowing what he’s thinking. He opens his mouth to say something when the bell rings, signaling it’s their guests.
“To be continued,” TK says with a wry smile. He picks Luca off the counter, placing him on his hip again, starting to head for the front door. Carlos stops them before leaving the kitchen, placing a kiss on Luca’s brow and then TK’s.
“Me too, TK,” he whispers softly. “We’re on the same page here,” he pauses to look at Luca, finding him watching them with a happy expression on his face. “I love him too.”
֎֎֎
It takes precisely sixty seconds for Luca to fall in love with Luna, and the four adults gathered around them get to watch it happen.
They open the door to the Ryders, exchanging greetings while Luca is held by TK and Luna by Judd. Luna allows it for a breath before she demands her daddy put her down. TK follows Judd’s lead, putting Luca – who has gone shy in the face of the Ryders, down too. He tips his head up to stare at Judd with wide eyes.
“He probably thinks you’re a giant,” TK teases their friend, earning a huff from the older man and a giggle from Grace. They both give Luca soft hellos before Judd reminds Luna she has something for Luca, causing the little girl to light up as she turns to her mother, making grabby hands at her.
She turns back to Luca, holding her hand out. In it is a small soft-blue stuffed bunny.
“For you, Luca,” Luna exclaims happily while Grace tells them that Luna insisted on bringing something for Luca, picking the bunny out herself.
Carlos melts, and he’s not the only one as Luca hugs the bunny to his chest, giving Luna a smile and a soft thank you before asking her if she wants to play with his fire truck.
They watch as Luca takes her hand, leading her to where the fire truck and other toys lay around in the living room.
“Kids are amazing,” TK says with awe as Luca and Luna get to playing like lifelong friends.
He and TK lead Grace and Judd into the living room, offering them a seat and ice tea he’d readied before their arrival. They all watch the kids play a few feet away from them, even as Luca keeps holding on to the bunny.
“He’s a cutie,” Grace says with a fond smile before turning towards them. “So, how are you boys doing?” she questions kindly. “Are you sleeping okay?”
He and TK look at each other, sharing a chuckle as they each shrug. “He has dreams about the accident, so most nights, he ends up in bed with us,” he explains, getting a sympathetic sound from both of their friends. “But for the most part, he’s a happy and engaging kid.”
“He’s so smart, you guys,” TK jumps in, gushing as he tells their friends about the educational games they have been playing with Luca and how advanced he is with letters and numbers.
He smiles at TK’s enthusiasm and sees he’s not the only one as Grace meets his gaze with amused fondness twinkling in her eyes.
Judd isn’t as subtle, letting out a laugh as he smirks in TK’s direction. “You’re such a proud daddy,” he teases, earning a blush from TK as he tells him to shut up.
“Not nice, TK,” Luna calls out to them, and when they look over, they find that she and Luca have stopped playing and are watching them.
TK blushes again, shooting Judd a glare as he snickers before agreeing with his goddaughter.
“How about we eat?” he questions before Judd and TK can get into their typical brotherly bickering.
“Yes, I believe that’s best,” Grace agrees with a grin, knowing how their husbands can turn into children, poking at each other on a dime.
Calling the kids, they all head into the dining room. The room is full of laughter and clinking plates as they eat and watch Luca and Luna make a happy mess as they slurp their spaghetti.
“Thank god Luca likes baths,” TK mutters dryly as more sauce finds its way to the boy’s face and hands.
“You’re back on shift tomorrow, right?” Judd questions as Carlos tries to discreetly shake his head at their friend, but it’s too late. TK’s smile drops, his eyes shifting towards Luca.
“Yeah,” he says quietly, biting down on his bottom lip.
“TK is nervous because he’s starting off with a 24-hour shift,” he explains, reaching out to take TK’s free hand. “But I have already told him that everything is going to be fine, and any minute now, he’s going to start believing me,” he says lovingly but pointed, getting a soft laughing huff out of his husband.
“Sorry, sweetheart,” he answers, bringing their joined hands to his lips, giving the back of his hand a light kiss. “You’re right, of course.”
“Hey man, we get it,” Judd says kindly and with understanding. “It’s hard to leave Luna behind every day we go to work.”
Grace nods. “You know I took the year off after she was born before going back to work,” she reminds them. “I cried every day for the first month back.”
“That’s different – “ TK starts to say, stopping when Judd and Grace give him a look.
“How is it different, honey?” their friend questions with a tilt of her head. “She’s our little girl, and he’s your little boy.”
“Legally – ” TK tries again, and Carlos feels his hand squeeze his involuntarily.
“That’s just paperwork, kid,” Judd answers with another kind smile on his face. “All night, your eyes have gone from Carlos to Luca and back. Usually, we’re used to you just staring at your husband’s unfairly handsome mug,” he continues, grinning as TK rolls his eyes at him. “Now you have added a new love to the roster.”
“You don’t need a piece of paper to tell you what you already feel in your heart, TK,” Grace says softly. She looks over at him, offering him a smile of his own. “You’re both his dads.”
֎֎֎
Judd, Grace, and Luna leave about an hour after dinner, much to the displeasure of the kids. They stand around them as the two hug tightly before the Ryders head to their car.
Carlos gets to tackling the dishes while TK heads upstairs with Luca for bathtime. Rinsing and setting the dishwasher, Carlos heads upstairs, making it just in time to hear Luca’s question as TK dries him off.
“What’s a dada?” he hears the small curious voice, coming to a stop at the door. TK meets his eyes with a startled expression, at a loss for words.
“A dad, nene?” he asks gently, swallowing hard when Luca gives him a nod. He makes his way into the room, kneeling in front of Luca, with TK behind him, both looking at him with wide, trusting eyes.
“Well, Judd is Luna’s dad,” he starts to say, trying to gather his thoughts. “And Owen, you remember him. He’s TK’s dad.”
Luca looks back at TK and then at him. “What is it?” he asks again.
“A dad is someone who loves you, takes care of you, keeps you safe,” he explains, feeling his words are not enough to truly explain.
Luca frowns hard, trying to make sense of it. “Dadas play with you?” he asks quietly.
“Yes,” he nods, smiling as it makes Luca look back at TK again.
“They let you play at bathtime?” Luca continues to ask, and Carlos’ smile grows when TK inhales sharply.
“They do,” he whispers conspiringly with Luca, causing the little boy to smile, and Carlos knows he understands.
Still, Luca’s next words cause his heart to squeeze with so much love for the other two beings in the room. He never thought he could love anyone as much as he loves TK, but now he knows his heart has room for one more true love.
“Tee-k is dada!” Luca exclaims happily, obviously proud of himself for that conclusion.
Carlos looks at TK, watching as his husband’s eyes well up at the little boy’s innocent words and the hope behind them. He knows they need to be more cautious. They haven’t had more than a few phone calls with Neema. She’s still trying to locate Luca’s biological father, and they don’t know if he will want to take him now that Luca has no blood relatives left. They shouldn’t even be thinking of adoption before that is settled, and yet in his heart, he knows Luca is meant to be their son. He knows it, and nothing can change his mind.
“Yes, baby,” he whispers. His eyes on TK as he makes a silent promise to him. “TK is dada.”
Luca lights up; he looks back up at TK with a grin. “Dada?” he questions, and TK can’t stop the small sob that escapes his throat as he pulls Luca to his chest.
“Yes, sweetheart,” he says as he holds him. “I would very much like to be your dada.”
Luca looks over at him once TK lets him go with another slight frown on his face. “Car-yos dada too?”
Carlos startles at the question as TK smiles smugly at him. His eyes are still wet but amused now. “Ha, your turn to be hit with a ton of emotional bricks, babe.”
He rolls his eyes at his words, but he can’t stop smiling. “Yes, Luca,” he answers him. “I would also be your dad,” he replies, his smile softening when Luca still looks confused. “How about, Papa?” he asks, switching to Spanish for the little boy. “Es dada en español.”
Luca returns his smile with a sweet one of his own as he reaches out to him, patting his cheek softly, agreeing to the term. “Papa.”
֎֎֎
They’re barely out of Luca’s room and in theirs before TK wraps his arms around him, his whole frame shaking from excess emotion. Carlos holds him through it, rubbing his back gently, whispering his love for him into his skin.
“You okay?” he asks softly as he guides TK to their bed.
“How can I be so in love with him already?” TK questions him, his green eyes large as he looks at him for an answer. “It’s only been two weeks since he’s been with us. It’s too soon to be this attached to him.”
Carlos smiles at the question. He takes TK’s face in his hands, caressing his cheeks with his thumbs. “Baby,” he starts lovingly. “You loved him from the moment you met him, and so did I. That day was horrible, and Luca lost so much, but we both took one look at him, at that sweet little boy being brave beyond his years, and we loved him. It’s okay.”
“What if we can’t keep him?” TK whispers, his eyes filling up as he voices his fears. “What if his father wants him now?”
Carlos swallows hard at the thought. It has been a constant in the back of his mind since being approved to foster Luca, and he can’t deny that it would break his heart if it comes down to giving Luca back. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” he says instead. “For now, all we can do is make sure Luca is happy and safe with us,” he continues with a gentle smile he hopes reassures TK.
TK lets out a sigh, nodding softly at him before leaning in to give him a gentle kiss. Carlos returns it, his eyes fluttering shut and his breath catching as it always does when TK kisses him with so much love, it seems to come off him in waves. TK lets out a soft moan, shifting to throw a leg over his lap, rubbing himself against him as the kiss goes from comforting to frantic.
“I love you,” TK murmurs against his lips as Carlos helps him out of his shirt. “I love you so fucking much that I can barely stand it sometimes,” he continues before sucking on Carlos’ bottom lip.
Carlos’ stomach clenches at the words and the heat that spreads through him as TK starts to make his way down his throat. TK pulls his lips off him long enough to strip him of his shirt, throwing it away in a rush as he attaches his lips to Carlos’ chest.
“Hmm, baby,” he gets out as TK slides off his lap, kneeling between his legs. He sucks on the skin below Carlos’ belly button as his hands go to the drawstrings of his sweats. “Get back up here,” he tells him, groaning when TK shakes his head and instead tugs on his pants.
Carlos leans on his elbows, lifting his ass off the bed long enough for TK to pull them down his legs.
“Hello, handsome,” TK says happily, and it takes Carlos a moment to realize TK is talking to his hardening cock.
He lets out a laugh that makes TK look up at him with a twinkle in his eyes and a smirk on his lips.
He reaches out, cupping the side of TK’s face. “You’re ridiculous, and I love you,” he says fondly, his words trailing off into an appreciative sigh as TK answers by laying his tongue flat against the underside of his cock before licking at the head, lapping up the pearl of precum that has already collected.
Staying on his elbows, he watches through hooded eyes as TK takes him into his mouth. The wet heat of TK’s lips around him causing him to let out a deep groan as his whole body lights up. TK stares up at him through his eyelashes as he takes Carlos’ cock in deeper.
“You’re so damn good at that,” he grits out through a clenched jaw, holding back a shout as TK licks at him, sucking him into a tight hold that has Carlos seeing spots behind his eyelids. It takes almost zero time for TK to get him right to the edge. His stomach is quivering as he tries to hold back, and he tries to warn TK to pull off, but his husband doesn’t listen. Instead, he hollows in his cheeks, pulling Carlos in as deep as he can as he comes apart.
TK swallows around him as he comes, licking at him softly when Carlos is spent, his legs feeling like jelly even as he sits on their bed. When he’s done, TK presses a gentle kiss to the tip of his cock, and Carlos is once again flummoxed by the contradicting creature that is his husband – hot and tender, a tease, and the most loving man he knows all rolled in one.
“Come here,” he says again, pulling TK off his knees and onto his lap once more before rolling them over to get TK under him. “Your turn,” he mutters as he gives him a soft kiss, licking at TK’s bottom lip, tasting himself on it.
TK gives him a slow-growing smile, his eyes bright with anticipation. “Have at it, babe.”
֎֎֎
The following morning goes better than Carlos expected. He makes breakfast while TK readies Luca, and Carlos feeds the toddler while TK showers and changes into his uniform. They explain to Luca that he’ll be at daycare while they’re at work, and Carlos will pick him up as soon as he’s done. Luca’s eyes go a little wide and a little worried, but he doesn’t cry when he gives them a slight nod. Carlos hopes it means he understands that they aren’t leaving for good. At any rate, he handles it better than he and TK, and Carlos already knows that they’re both going to be checking in on him during their breaks.
Carlos is sure the daycare workers are gonna hate them and their hovering, but he doesn’t care as he plans to find lunch close to the daycare.
They drive TK to work first, and Carlos can tell his husband doesn’t want to get out of the car for a moment. Reaching over, he gives TK’s knee a gentle squeeze, silently reminding him that everything is fine.
TK gives him half a smile, leaning over to give him a kiss. “See you in 24-hours,” he whispers against his mouth before kissing him again.
He gets out of the car only to get into the back seat to give Luca a kiss of his own and to gently tell him that he won’t see him at bedtime, but he’ll see him in the morning after that.
“Be good, sweetheart,” he says softly as he pushes Luca’s curls back to press one final kiss on his forehead.
“Be safe,” he calls out to TK as he shuts the back door. TK gives him a loving look, echoing his request before heading inside the firehouse.
“Okay, buddy, you’re next on drop off,” he says, more cheerful than he feels. Logically he knows he and TK couldn’t stay home with Luca forever. They have jobs that are important to both of them, and when they started talking about fostering or adopting, they decided they would find a way to make it work. Carlos realizes now that neither had given it much thought on how hard it would be to leave their kid with someone else as they go do their jobs.
He walks Luca into daycare and is relieved that more than scared; Luca looks curious by all the other kids and the colorful room. They’re greeted by a friendly-looking young woman with long brown hair and kind eyes. She addresses Luca first, which Carlos likes, introducing herself as Ms. Jane, telling him she’s very excited to have him and they’re going to have so much fun.
Luca gives her a shy smile before turning to look at him. “You go?” he questions him quietly.
Carlos kneels down to be at eye level with Luca, touching his small shoulder, needing the contact probably more than Luca himself. “For a few hours, yes,” he nods, his chest squeezing as Luca bites down on his bottom lip nervously. It reminds him so much of TK, and Carlos wonders if he’s picked up the habit from him or if it’s just a thing he does naturally. Either way, it causes Carlos’ protective instincts to kick in the same way they do with TK. “But if you don’t like it or something happens, you tell Ms. Jane here,” he says, pointing at the young woman. “And she will call me, and I will come get you, okay?”
“Promise, Papa?” Luca whispers, his brown eyes trusting as he looks at him.
Carlos nods as he pulls him into a hug to hide how Luca calling him that affects him. He doesn’t think he’ll get over it anytime soon. “Promise, nene,” he whispers in his ear. “If you need me, I will come.”
֎֎֎
Ms. Jane and Luca don’t call him.
Instead, he calls them, and the poor woman has to spend five minutes assuring him that Luca is fine and is having fun. She makes it a point to let him know his husband called too. He feels his face go red and starts to apologize only for her to kindly let him know it’s okay; she understands how hard it can be for parents the first time they leave their child in daycare.
His partner, Mitchell, teases him for most of the day, calling him a papa bear, telling him how adorable it is as he shows her his camera roll full of pictures of Luca.
“It used to be that your phone was an ode to TK’s face. Now you have a new subject to add to your camera roll,” she jokes before her grin goes from teasing to affectionate as she tells him she’s happy for him and TK, and she’s rooting for it to all work out for them in the end. “That little boy would be fortunate to have you two as his parents. I really hope it works out, Reyes.”
He thanks her for her words and then thanks her again when she offers to finish up his paperwork so he can cut out early to pick up Luca.
The little boy is excited when he arrives at pick-up, talking a mile a minute about playing with slime Ms. Jane made, asking if they can make some at home.
“We can try,” he promises, wondering if there is a youtube tutorial for slime.
Luca grins at him from the rearview mirror, kicking his feet happily as he continues to tell him about his day. That excitement only lasts until they get home, and Luca realizes TK isn’t there. He searches for him around the house, pouting when he can’t find him.
“Buddy, TK is still at work,” he says, gently reminding him.
“When he come home?” Luca asks, his frown deepening as he explains it won’t be until tomorrow, and he won’t see him until after daycare.
Carlos pulls out his phone, dialing TK on facetime, smiling when TK answers with a happy smile of his own.
“How are my beautiful boys?” he questions, his eyes going from him to Luca. “Did you have fun at daycare, Luca?”
Luca starts recounting his day again as he leans back on him, using him as a comfortable chair.
TK listens intently, making excited noises when Luca tells him something the boy thinks is particularly good. The conversation continues until the alarms go off in the firehouse.
“I have to go, sweetheart,” TK says regrettably as he gives them a wave.
“Be careful,” he tells him as Luca gives TK a quiet bye. “Love you.”
“Love you too,” TK answers with a smile as he looks at him before he looks at Luca once more. “Love you both.”
Carlos ends the call, feeling as sad as Luca looks now that TK is no longer on the screen. He cuddles the little boy to his chest. “How about we make something yummy for dinner,” he asks him when he pulls back. “Want to be my special helper?”
Luca’s expression loses some of its sadness as he agrees to help him. He secures him into his high chair as he gets to work. Keeping it simple, he makes skillet cheeseburger mac and cheese. Luca makes a face when he spots pieces of broccoli on his plate but eats it without much fuss at the promise of a pudding cup as dessert. They watch a movie before bathtime, and if Luca is extra clingy, hanging to his side, Carlos isn’t about to complain.
He doesn’t put Luca in his own bed at the end of the night. He takes him instead to the bed he shares with TK, knowing that’s where Luca will end up anyway, hoping that maybe it will mean they actually get some sleep.
It doesn’t work. He stays quiet, hoping the silence of the room will drift the little boy off to dreamland. Instead, Luca twists and turns, sitting up every few minutes looking around the dark room. Carlos lets it go on for a while, figuring Luca will eventually tire himself out, but finally gives up when he hears a soft sniffle next to him. Sitting up, he turns on the light on his side of the bed before turning around to face his foster son.
“Oh, sweetheart,” he says softly as he finds him looking at him with big wet eyes, barely holding back his tears. “You miss TK?” he questions, getting a slight nod and a quivering bottom lip in response. He opens his arms for him, cradling him to his chest when Luca crawls into his lap.
“It’s okay, nene,” he whispers into his hair as he presses a few kisses on the top of his head. “We’ll see him in a few hours. He’s coming back.”
“I wanna see him now,” Luca mumbles miserably into his shirt. Carlos lets out a small sigh. He understands the feeling. It doesn’t matter how long he and TK have been together; the nights he has to spend at the firehouse are always the worst.
Looking at the time, he sighs once more when he sees it’s close to midnight and makes a decision.
“Okay, nene,” he says, getting up from the bed with Luca still in his arms. “Let’s go see TK,” he continues, ignoring the voice in his head that says this is a ridiculous decision when Luca lights up at his words. He readies them quickly, changing into a pair of sweats and adding shoes and a hoodie to Luca’s PJ’s before heading for the car.
The streets of Austin are pretty quiet this late, and he makes it to the firehouse in no time. Carrying Luca inside, he smiles when he hears him let out a gasp as he sees the 126 fire engine in all its bright red glory.
“Do you like the truck, nene?” he questions, smothering a laugh when Luca whispers in awe that it’s cool.
“Carlos?”
Carlos turns around to find his father-in-law dressed down for the night, looking at them in surprise.
“And Luca,” he continues, quickly making his way over to them. “Is everything okay?”
Carlos smiles at his father-in-law’s concern. “Hey, Owen,” he starts. “Yeah, everything is okay, it’s just that this little man couldn’t go to sleep without seeing TK in person, so we decided to come over for a bit.”
Owen’s expression softens as he looks at the little boy, a kind smile taking over his face as he reaches out to rub Luca’s back. “You missed TK, bud?” he questions gently.
Luca, who has gone shy, tucking his face into his neck, gives Owen a soft nod. “Wanna see dada,” he says quietly, causing Owen to gasp, his eyes widening as he looks over at him in surprise.
“Yeah, that’s a thing now,” he answers, blushing a bit as he quickly explains why Luca started calling them dada and papa.
Owen’s expression softens further. “I have always wanted this for the two of you,” he says, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. “I’m happy for you both.”
“Thank you, Owen,” he says softly, knowing his father-in-law means it.
Owen smiles again. He tips his head up toward the second floor of the firehouse. “TK is upstairs,” he tells them. “We came back from a pile-up a little while ago, so most of the teams are still up; go on. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you both. He’s been moping for most of the day without you two.”
Carlos thanks him again as he heads upstairs, with Luca waving at Owen. Climbing the stairs, he finds part of the team sitting in the common area. Marjan and Nancy spot them first, and he quickly raises a finger to his lips, stopping them from drawing TK’s attention, who has his back to them. He keeps his finger on his lips as he looks at Luca, smiling when the little boy mimics him, smiling sweetly behind his hand.
Coming up behind TK, he gives Luca a nod that causes the boy’s eyes to light up.
“Dada!” Luca shouts happily, giggling when it causes TK to jump and spin around, his eyes going wide as he takes them in.
“Luca?” he questions, shocked, quickly taking hold of him as Luca leans out of his arms, reaching for TK.
“Is everything okay?” he asks as he looks Luca over and then at him with so much concern; Carlos instantly feels bad for not warning him earlier they were coming.
“Yeah, baby, everything is fine,” he says quickly to reassure him. “Luca just – “
“You not home,” Luca says before he can explain. He gives TK a severe frown and pout. “Miss you.”
Carlos has to bite down on his lip to keep from smiling as he watches TK all but melt at Luca’s words. “Yeah, that,” he says gently as TK turns to look at him with his big beautiful green eyes full of love. “Seems like I’m not the only one who can’t sleep when you’re not home.”
TK lets out a sniffle, hugging Luca close. Luca seems to understand that TK needs comfort and wraps his slim arms around his neck, hugging him back.
“Well, this is the most precious thing ever,” Nancy comments from the couch where she sits with Marjan next to her, leaning into each other as they look at TK and Luca with fond looks on their faces.
Paul, who’s come in from the dorm rooms, nods from behind the girls. “You gonna introduce us to the little man, TK?”
“Oh!” TK says softly as he turns to face their friends. He reaches out for Carlos’ hand, bringing them all to the empty sofa across his teammates. “Guys, this is our foster son Luca,” he says happily before turning his focus back to Luca, who sits on his lap looking curious and only a bit shy at all the attention that is on him. “Luca, these are dada and papa’s friends,” he says softly into the side of Luca’s face when he goes even more timid. He points at each of his crew, introducing them. “They’re very nice.”
“Hi Luca,” Nancy says softly, giving him a smile and a wave, Paul and Marjan echoing her.
Luca looks at them, biting down on his bottom lip for a moment before he gives them a small wave back, finally whispering hi to them before he turns his face into TK’s chest.
“Damn,” Paul says softly, smiling wide. “He’s really cute, you guys.”
The proud smile TK gives their friends probably matches his own at the compliment.
Their friends stay in the common room with them a bit longer, trying to draw Luca into the conversation until the little boy loses some of his shyness around them before they all get up, heading for bed, hoping for some sleep before the next call. When they say goodbye to Luca, the little boy waves at them with a smile on his face before letting out a yawn.
“I should probably get him home,” he suggests, though he doesn’t bother to get up. He smiles when instead of agreeing, TK shifts, leaning into him, resting on his chest as Luca sleeps on his.
“Stay a little longer?” TK questions, already closing his eyes, his face tucked under Carlos’ chin.
“Okay, my love,” he says softly as he brings his arms around both of them. His back will probably hate him in the morning, but if the choice is some back pain but getting to have TK and Luca in his arms or going home and leaving TK behind, the choice is a no-brainer.
֎֎֎
It gets easier after that first night. TK talks with Tommy and Owen about reworking his schedule to keep him off night shifts for a while, and Luca settles more as days turn into weeks. He loses his shyness around their friends as he and TK bring him to the firehouse often, whether TK is on shift or not. He grows fond of Grace and Judd, smiling happily every time they come over – though Luna remains his favorite of the Ryders, lighting up with joy when he gets to play with her.
They all share smiles, happy that the kids get along as well as they do. A new generation of Strand-Reyes’ and Ryders’ Judd says with a grin, missing the hopeful look he and TK exchange at the thought that maybe soon Luca might share their last names.
Neema comes over on both scheduled and surprise visits, checking in on them. TK is a nervous wreck during the first one, convinced one wrong move will cost them Luca. Carlos has to remind him to breathe, that Neema only wants the best for Luca, and she’s not out to trip them up. Neema is kind and patient through it all, telling them they have nothing to worry about because she sees how well cared for Luca is with them.
It helps ease their tension, even if she’s not entirely correct. Almost four months into Luca staying with them and Neema still hasn’t found his biological father. The mystery man and their lack of knowing if he wants to be a father to Luca hangs over their heads. It weighs on Carlos, and he knows it weighs on TK too.
Carlos pushes it aside for now. He nor TK can do anything about it but wait and hope for the best as they treasure their time with the little boy. Like now.
A pleasant Saturday afternoon, both of them off-shift, lazing away on the couch with Disney plus on after a day of chores and playtime.
“How do tacos sound for dinner?” he questions, smiling to himself when TK and Luca ignore him in favor of watching Stitch make a mess of everything on the screen. “My loves,” he says again, reaching out to poke the two of them, his smile growing when it causes both TK and Luca to squirm. The two of them being ticklish will always be something he takes advantage of. “Tacos?”
Luca and TK turn to look at him with large eyes, one pair brown, the other green.
“With gua-amole?” Luca asks, an impish smile on his face.
TK matches the look, pointing down at their foster son. “What he said.”
Carlos grins, amused by their antics. “We don’t have avocados,” he reminds them. “You’ll have to go to the market while I start cooking if you two want guacamole.”
“There’s the cupcake place next to the market,” TK comments slyly with a bright smile on his face when Luca lights up.
“Rainbow cupcakes!” he says excitedly, bouncing up and down on the couch, the movie forgotten in the face of possible sugary treats. “We go, dada?” he questions, bringing his hands together in a prayer motion. “Please.”
“Those eyes,” TK mutters, shaking his head. “Of course he’s learned to do your cow eyes,” he throws him an accusing look.
“Me?” Carlos points at himself incredulously. “That is pure ‘I’m TK Strand, and I always get my way’ face.”
“Strand-Reyes,” TK corrects him with a smirk while Luca lets out a giggle. He leans over Luca to give him a kiss, keeping his mouth lightly pressed against his when he talks. “Fine, he’s taking lessons from both of us on how to get his way.”
“He’s outsmarting us,” Carlos agrees fondly, and he can feel TK smile proudly against his mouth.
“Okay, I’ll go get the avocados,” he says after giving him another kiss before turning to Luca. “Wanna come with dada?”
“Cupcakes too?” Luca asks, hopeful, making them both chuckle.
“Cupcakes too,” TK agrees as he stands. He picks up Luca in the middle of his happy dance, throwing him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, much to Luca’s delight.
“Be careful,” Carlos reminds them as he starts to head for the kitchen to get started.
“We’ll be back before you know it,” TK calls out from the door. “Love you,” he shouts.
“Bye, Papa!” Luca shouts too before they close the door behind them.
Carlos shakes his head fondly. He hears the car pull out of the driveway as he begins to gather what he needs for dinner. Washing his hands before he gets to work, he decides on steak, chicken, and veggies as options for fillings. He cuts the pieces smaller than usual, a habit he’s gotten into since Luca came to live with them.
He’s in the middle of browning the meat when there is a knock at the door. He frowns as he checks his watch. TK and Luca have been gone for over thirty minutes, and it could very well be them, but he wonders as he heads for the door why they would be knocking.
“What flavor cupcakes did you get – “ he starts to ask as he opens the door, stopping short when he finds his partner Mitchell there in uniform with a serious look on her face. “Hey, chica,” he greets her, confused as to why she would be at his doorstep in the middle of her shift. “What brings you by?”
“Reyes –,” she starts to say softly, regret clouding her features, causing his stomach to drop. “Carlos – there was a car accident.”
“Are they okay?” he asks with his heart in his throat, instantly knowing who she’s there about. “Are – are they alive?” he forces himself to ask, his eyes becoming unfocused, his chest tightening.
If TK and Luca are hurt or worse…Carlos knows he won’t survive it.
“Yes, Carlos, yes,” she rushes to say, her hands reaching for him as he slumps into the door. “God, I’m sorry,” she blurts out, swearing under her breath as she holds him up. “Yes, they’re okay, they got hit on the driver’s side, and it sent the car into a spin, but both were awake when they got taken to the hospital.”
“Oh god,” he whispers, bringing a shaky hand to his chest. “They’re okay?” he can’t help but ask again, his voice cracking.
“I think so,” Mitchell answers, trying to reassure him. “Some bumps and scrapes, shaken but mostly okay. TK asked me to come get you. He didn’t want you driving to the hospital alone.”
“Of course he did,” Carlos says quietly, feeling his heart finally start to calm down a bit. “Let me turn off the stove, and we can go.”
Mitchell gives him a soft nod, letting go of him slowly, waiting to see if he still needs her support. He gives her a faint smile, grateful for her concern.
Turning off the stove, he quickly makes his way back to her by the front door, grabbing his keys and wallet as he goes.
The drive to the hospital is a quick one, they live only fifteen minutes away, yet it feels neverending as they’re delayed by street lights. Mitchell tells him everything about the scene – the car was wrecked, but luckily it seemed to absorb most of the impact.
“Do you want me to go in with you?” she offers as they pull up to the hospital's main doors, not wanting him to be alone.
Carlos shakes his head, knowing she’s still on shift. “Thanks, but I’m okay. I’ll call TK’s father after I see them,” he tells her, getting a nod back from his friend. “Thanks again, Mitchell.”
“Anytime, Reyes,” she smiles back at him as he steps out of the car. “Keep me updated?”
“I will,” he promises as he closes the door. He gives her a quick wave, making his way inside the hospital. He steps up to the front desk, feeling his nerves come back with a vengeance.
“I’m here to see my husband and foster son?” he says to a young man sitting behind a computer. “They were in a car accident.” He gives them their names, tapping his fingers nervously on the counter as he waits for the clerk to look them up.
“Your husband is still being treated for injuries, but your son is down the hall in room C,” he points down a long hallway. “You can see him.”
Carlos absently thanks him, already turning towards the hall. He makes his way to room C quickly, pulling back the curtain when he gets there.
“Luca,” he breathes out as he finds the little boy sitting on a large gurney, making him look tiny. He and the nurse applying a bandage over Luca’s brow look up at his voice. Carlos crosses the distance between them in a flash, his arms going around Luca before the little boy can finish lifting his arms towards him, his tears landing on Carlos’ neck as he starts to cry loudly, shaking in his arms.
He holds Luca close but gently, not wanting to squeeze too hard for fear of hurting him. Looking over his small shoulder, he finds the nurse looking at him with a kind look on her face. “Is he okay?” he questions, letting out another breath when she gives him a nod.
“He bumped his head against the side of his car seat when the car spun, and there is a cut as a result,” she tells him. “But he’s okay, mostly just shaken up and wanting to see his dad.”
“Dada got hurt,” Luca tells him, sniffling as he pulls back to look at him with tears clinging to his eyelashes. “He okay?”
“I’m sure he is, sweetheart,” he tries to reassure him, even though he’s not sure, only having Mitchell’s recount of the accident to go on and that TK was alert when she saw him.
“No cielo,” Luca continues, his eyes filling with tears again, looking scared, older than he should in his grief. “Not with Abuelo and Mama.”
Carlos is speechless for a moment, fear and heartbreak twisting him inside as he realizes Luca is afraid he’s going to lose TK like he lost his mother and grandfather.
“No,” he whispers, his eyes stinging with his own tears. He hugs Luca close again, not wanting him to see them. “No, Dada isn’t going anywhere, Luca. I promise.”
֎֎֎
It’s another half an hour before he and Luca are allowed to see TK; in the meantime, Carlos calls Owen, Judd and Grace, and Neema. He assures them they’re okay. Owen and the Ryders promise to stop by with food when they get home, and Neema tells him she’ll check in with them on Monday.
A doctor in green scrubs comes looking for them, telling them TK has a fractured arm and a mild concussion but is otherwise okay, and they can see him now. With Luca on his hip, he follows the doctor towards TK’s room, walking in just as TK demands to see Luca.
“I want to see my foster son now,” he says tightly. “I have been patient enough.”
“Mister Strand – “
“Strand-Reyes,” Carlos and Luca call out, correcting the nurse. It causes Carlos to smile for the first time since hearing about the accident to know Luca has heard them all say it enough times in the months he’s lived with them to learn the correct response.
TK turns to look at them in a rush, letting out a shaky exhale as his eyes run over Luca frantically, no doubt categorizing even the slightest bruise. “Is he okay?” he whispers pleadingly as his eyes find his.
They don’t stop staring at each other even as the doctor and nurse leave the room.
“He’s fine, cariño,” he assures him, getting closer to the bed he’s sitting in when TK motions them over. “Gentle, Luca,” he says softly as he places the little boy next to TK.
Luca listens to his instruction, placing his small hand softly over TK’s encased arm. “Hurt, Dada?” he questions, his brow worried as he looks up at TK.
“A little, sweetheart,” TK admits as he reaches to touch the bandage over Luca’s brow with his thumb. “What about you? Are you okay?”
“He has a small cut over his eyebrow, but the doctor who looked him over says he’s fine,” Carlos answers as he touches TK’s face, caressing his cheek when he leans into the touch. “What about you? The doctor said you have a concussion.”
“It’s a mild one,” TK answers as he turns his face to press his lips on the inside of Carlos’ wrist. The gentle gesture drains Carlos of the last of his energy.
He pulls up a chair next to TK’s bed, collapsing into it, leaning forward to press his forehead into TK’s thigh. “I was so scared. I thought I lost you for a moment,” he admits, his words slightly muffled as he tries to take deep, steadying breaths to calm the nerves that have left him trembling and overwhelmed. He feels a hand run through his hair followed by a smaller one, and when he looks up, he finds Luca’s face inches away from his, looking at him with a small frown.
“We’re okay, my love. We are right here with you. Right, Luca?” he hears TK say as Luca bobs his head in front of him.
“Here with you, Papa,” Luca parrots, patting his cheek gently, unaware of the comfort it brings Carlos.
֎֎֎
They spend Sunday getting quick visits from family and friends, each bringing food as they check in on them, signing TK’s cast as they go. Luca spends most of the day with a sticky face from eating bites of every dish, and marker-stained hands from Luna and him leaving their own art on TK’s injured arm.
TK keeps Luca close to him, and Carlos keeps both of them even closer still, unable to take his eyes off either of them for long. He barely sleeps through Sunday night, keeping an eye on the two sleeping figures next to him through the late hours.
He’s grateful when Monday comes, and they can all sleep in – with TK on medical leave until his arm heals up and Carlos off for the next few days to take care of him. He wakes up with a weight on his chest and brown eyes staring at him closely.
“I hungry, Papa,” Luca tells him, his little face inches from his.
Carlos chuckles through a yawn, circling his arms around the tiny body on top of him, rolling them over as he tickles Luca, earning himself some high-pitched giggles. He gives the little boy a series of kisses, blowing raspberries into his neck, smiling as his laughter gets louder.
“Starting playtime without me, I see.”
Carlos looks up at the comment, finding TK on his side, looking at them with a sleepy smile, his green eyes only half-opened.
“Mr. Luca is hungry,” he answers, smiling up at his husband as his smile grows.
“Better feed him then,” TK answers as he lets out a yawn, rubbing his eyes. “I’ll help.”
Carlos lets out a snort, earning a pout from TK in return. “Baby,” he says sweetly to remove the sting of his amusement. “Even when you have two good arms, all you do in the kitchen is stare at me as I move around it.”
TK gives him a dirty smirk that has Carlos blushing before he even opens his mouth. “I just like the way you move that body, husband,” he tells him, his smirk growing. “Especially your – “
“Little ears,” he says loudly over TK, interrupting him. “Little ears, Tyler Kennedy Strand-Reyes.”
“Your hands, baby,” TK continues, his eyes dancing with amusement. “I like watching your hands as you prep. What did you think I was going to say in front of our child?”
Carlos narrows his eyes at TK as he stands with Luca in his arms. “Don’t act innocent with me,” he says, pointing a finger at him. “I have known and loved you too long. I know better than to buy it.”
TK laughs long and hard from the bed, earning a laugh from Luca. Even though he doesn’t know why TK is laughing, he seems happy to join in.
Carlos smiles at the two of them ganging up on him even as he shakes his head at them. “I’m going to brush Luca’s teeth and then head downstairs to make breakfast. Do you need any help up here?”
TK waves him off as he sits up, letting him know he’s got it and will shout if he needs help.
Carlos nods in agreement, and after he and Luca brush their teeth, he heads downstairs with the little boy in his arms. Checking the time, he sees it’s well after 10 a.m.
No wonder Luca is hungry.
“How about huevos rancheros, nene?” he questions, figuring he can turn breakfast into brunch. He sets Luca in his highchair with a few cheerios and blueberries to hold him over until the food is ready.
He’s halfway done with cooking when TK comes downstairs, still in his pajamas like them but with a washed face.
“Huevos rancheros?” he asks as he comes into the kitchen, smelling the beans. He turns towards Luca, opening his mouth when the boy offers him a blueberry. “Mmm, thank you sweetheart, that’s yummy.”
“It’s almost ready,” he says, stopping short when the doorbell rings out, causing both of them to frown at each other.
“Did anyone say they were coming this early?” TK questions, already heading for the door without waiting for his answer.
Carlos lowers the heat, picking up Luca as he follows TK, coming up short when he sees Neema at the door.
“We’re so sorry, we’re having a late morning and haven’t changed yet,” TK tells her, pulling nervously on his nightshirt with his one good arm.
“Don’t worry about it, TK,” she answers with an easy smile. “How are you feeling?”
TK shrugs his shoulder. “A little banged up, but grateful it wasn’t worse and that Luca is okay.”
Neema nods in agreement, her smile growing as she spots them. “Hi Carlos, hi Luca.”
“Good morning, Neema,” he says softly, holding Luca a little tighter as Luca looks back at her shyly, giving her a tiny wave. “We were about to sit down for breakfast. Would you like to join us?”
“I wouldn’t want to intrude,” she starts to say, stopping when TK waves her off.
“Carlos’ food is magical,” he tells her. “You have to try it, we insist.”
Neema lets out a chuckle as she agrees. “Well, with an endorsement like that, okay,” she grins. “That way we can talk about the news I have for you two.”
“Nothing bad, I hope,” he asks, sharing a nervous look with TK.
Neema gives them a small smile, shaking her head. “Just some developments and what it means for the two of you and Luca,” she says mysteriously, not exactly easing their concerns. “Why don’t I stay with Luca here while you get the food. That way, he and I can catch up for a moment,” she offers though it doesn’t really sound like a suggestion, leaving Carlos no choice but to pass Luca over to her.
She sits down with him on her lap as he and TK head back into the kitchen.
“She’s gonna take him away,” TK whispers the moment they’re alone. “She found his dad, and he’s going to take him,” he says in a rush, his breath coming out fast and hard, sounding on the verge of a panic attack.
“Baby, look at me,” he whispers back, placing a hand on TK’s good shoulder to keep him still. “Breathe for me,” he continues when TK does as he asks. “We don’t know anything yet, okay?”
“She can’t take him away,” TK answers, his face twisted in anguish at the thought. “We love him, and he loves us.”
Carlos’ heart aches at TK’s words, and fear grips him, but he pushes it down, focusing on him for the moment. “We don’t know anything yet, Ty,” he repeats. “Let's not jump to conclusions.”
“Tell me it’s going to be okay,” he pleads, his green eyes wet but trusting as he looks to him to make it better.
“It’s going to be okay,” he promises as he pulls TK to his chest, hugging him as tightly as he can without hurting his arm. “No matter what happens next. It’s going to be okay, and we’ll get through it together. I promise.”
TK lets out a shaky breath, but Carlos feels his body lose some of its tension, and he’s grateful for that.
They quickly serve the plates of food onto a tray to carry it all out, and Carlos gives TK a quick but hard, reassuring kiss before they step back into the dining room. They find Neema and Luca murmuring, the older woman listening intently with a slight smile on her face.
Passing plates around and glasses of juice, Carlos takes Luca back, placing him in his booster seat between them, a small colorful plate and spoon in front of him. They help him here and there, but they have learned Luca is independent when it comes to eating, preferring to feed himself, no matter how messy it gets.
Neema digs into her food, commenting on how good it is as she takes a bite. Carlos thanks her while not eating much himself. Looking over at TK, he sees him playing with his food too. Neema takes notice, pausing mid-bite.
“You two aren’t going to eat until we talk, are you?” she questions, looking at both of them knowingly. “Did you go through worst-case scenarios in the kitchen?”
“Yes,” TK answers honestly, surprise coloring his expression as he looks at her. It makes Neema chuckle.
“I have been doing this a long time, boys,” she reminds them. “You’re not the first foster parents terrified that I’ve come to take their kid away, and you're not the first that I’ve had to do that too.”
TK inhales sharply at her words, and Carlos reaches for his hand, holding it tightly under Neema’s watchful eye.
She’s quiet for a moment before her expression softens. “Let's rip the bandaid off before you two have a meltdown,” she says bluntly, taking a breath before she speaks. “We found Luca’s biological father. His name is Aaron Haynes, and he has been informed that Angelica and Roberto are gone, and Luca has no biological family left other than him.”
“What did he say?” he questions as he looks over at Luca just in time for the little boy to give him a smile around his mouthful of food.
“Yummy, Papa,” he says happily as he picks up a black bean, stuffing it into his already full mouth.
“Chew, nene,” he says softly, aching as Luca gives him another smile. He wonders if this will be one of the last times he gets to hear Luca call him that.
“Does he want to take care of Luca?” TK questions, steadier than Carlos expected after the kitchen.
Neema looks over at Luca for a moment, her expression going soft as he smiles at her too.
“He does not,” she answers with a look that says she doesn’t think much of the man in question. “He told me he told Angelica he wasn’t interested in being a father, and that hadn’t changed just because she or Roberto aren’t around anymore,” she recounts, giving them a shrug. “Between you and me, he’s kind of an asshole, but an honest one at least. He admitted he would be the worst situation for Luca and that Luca deserves better than him.”
“He doesn’t want him,” Carlos questions faintly, still not believing anyone could not want Luca in their life.
“He does not, and he has signed a document stating so,” she continues, her lips pressed into a line. “I also told him Luca was being taken care of by a lovely couple, looking to adopt,” she pauses to give them a smile. “He said to tell you both thank you.”
TK inhales loudly as he bites down on his bottom lip, nervous and hopeful.
“And I just asked Luca if he would like to stay with you two permanently,” she continues, her own smile looking wobbly, reminding them just how lucky they are to have gotten such a kind social worker assigned to their case. “He answered that he loves you both, his Dada and Papa.”
Carlos can’t stop the sob that passes his lips. He feels TK grip his hand tightly, and when he looks at him, he sees similar tears in his eyes.
“So I guess the only question I have left to ask you two is,” she grins at them, chuckling softly as she wipes away a tear of her own. “Should I get started on the adoption papers?”
֎֎֎
Four months Later
Carlos parks the car outside Oakwood Cemetery before looking over at the passenger seat where TK sits in a cream-colored shirt with daisies, matching with the two bouquets in his lap.
“Ready?”
TK gives him a small smile and a nod, turning his head to look in the back seat. “Are you ready, sweetheart?” he asks Luca.
“Can we get ice cream, Dada?” Luca answers instead, causing them to chuckle.
“You’re going to have ice cream later, nene,” he answers for TK, looking at Luca through the rearview mirror. “At your party, remember?”
Luca looks back at him thoughtfully, tilting his head to the side as he considers his words. “Then can we have ice cream two times today?” he finally asks, his face the picture of innocence.
TK snorts, and when Carlos looks at him, he finds his green eyes sparkling with enjoyment. “Your son,” he says with a grin, shaking his head.
“Our son,” Carlos reminds him, loving the way the words cause TK’s expression to go soft with happiness. They had started the paperwork that very day when Neema stopped to visit them after TK and Luca’s car accident. Even so, it still took months to finalize everything with the courts before they were finally able to sign the adoption papers a week ago, just in time for Luca’s 4th birthday.
“Our son,” TK repeats softly, his smile a little wobbly at the corners, his eyes shiny, though luckily, there are no actual tears now.
There have been a lot of them in the last few months. Some tears of fear, some of frustration at a process that felt painfully slow when all they wanted was to call Luca theirs, and finally, tears of absolute happiness when they signed the final adoption papers, and the judge in family court congratulated them on their son.
Seeing Luca’s name with their surnames added to it had been an emotional moment for both of them.
Luca Strand-Reyes.
Carlos had broken down in a way that had surprised even him. TK held him as he cried, whispering how much he loved him as he also cried quietly. Their little boy had looked distressed when he’d been allowed in the room, frowning as Judd held him in his arms, squirming to get down and get to them.
‘Papa and Dada are sad?’ he’d questioned, his frown deepening as he looked around at the other adults in the room, obviously coming to the conclusion that they were to blame for their tears as he glared at them.
It had made more than one adult in the room laugh nervously in the face of a four-year-old’s angry expression.
It was only after they explained it was happy crying because they were his dads now that Luca had rolled his eyes at them – something Carlos maintains he learned from TK. He followed the eye roll by exhaling loudly before saying, ‘Duh, you are Papa and Dada. You are mine.’
They had been left speechless for a moment before Judd roared with laughter while Grace covered her smile behind Luna’s curls as she held her daughter on her hip.
‘A smartass son,’ Judd hooted even as Grace slapped his shoulder over the curse word. ‘That’s what you two deserve. Oh man, this is gonna be fun to watch.’
“Babe?”
Carlos turns at the pet name to find TK giving him a curious look.
“Where did you go?” he asks, tilting his head like Luca had moments ago.
“Nowhere,” he says with a smile, unbuckling his seatbelt before opening the door. He moves to the backseat door, opening it to get Luca out. “Listo, nene?” he asks, giving him a quick kiss.
Luca nods with a smile of his own as he lifts the picture he’d drawn the night before. “For abuelito y mama,” he says, showing him and TK the drawing. “It’s us!”
TK smiles as he looks down at the picture. He places his free hand on Carlos’ back as he gives the side of Luca’s face a kiss of his own. “That’s beautiful, sweetheart,” he says softly, his smile growing as Luca glows under his praise.
They walk into the cemetery, making their way over a small hill to a familiar pair of simple headstones with Roberto and Angelica's names on them. They’ve made it a point of bringing Luca to visit them a few times a month, content with standing back as Luca rambles about his life. Luca talks to the tombstones the way he’d learned with his grandfather when the two would visit his mother. At first, they had worried it would upset the little boy to keep coming, but now it was obvious he found some type of comfort in the tradition.
Luca’s therapist had encouraged the activity, easing their concerns.
He and TK didn’t want Luca to forget his relatives. Luckily, Neema had recovered items from Luca’s grandfather’s home for them, including pictures and even a few videos of the small family. They have those pictures framed around the house now.
Even though they didn’t know them in person, they know Angelica and Roberto loved Luca just as much as they do, and that made them family.
“And we lost you again,” TK says softly, leaning into his side while Luca sits in front of the tombstones, telling them about painting the sidewalk with chalks Lola gave him the last time they had dinner with his mother and sisters.
“Just thinking,” he says as he wraps his arm around his husband, pulling him closer.
“Care to share with the class?” TK teases him with a grin that makes Carlos smile back.
“They are our family too,” he says, pointing at the graves. “They loved him – I guess I just hope they think we’re doing a good job with him.”
TK gives him a soft look, leaning in to press a gentle kiss on his cheek. “I think they do,” he says quietly. “He’s happy and safe, and if they are looking down on us, then I think they know how much we love him.”
Carlos nods slowly, looking back at Luca for a moment. He’s moved on to the subject of his birthday party in a few hours, talking excitedly about the presents already waiting for him back home, not realizing so many more are to come as everyone who knows Luca is competing for best present.
“You’re a good dad, my love,” TK whispers, startling him. When he looks back at him with wide eyes, TK gives him a serious look back. “The very best dad Luca could have,” he smiles again, love pouring out of it in that uniquely TK way. “Just like I always knew you would be.”
“Thank you,” he whispers, his voice cracking from feeling overwhelmed by TK’s absolute faith in him. Clearing his throat, he smiles back at his husband. “We’re going to have to share the title of best dad, though, because you’re an amazing one and an even better husband.”
TK blushes under the compliment even as he rolls his eyes teasingly. “I love you,” he says fondly, resting his head on Carlos’ shoulder.
Carlos’ smile grows, feeling warmed as always by the declaration. “I love you too, baby,” he murmurs softly.
“ – and Uncle Judd says he has a present for me too, mama,” Luca exclaims, breaking the moment between them with his excitement. “He said I’m gonna love it, and then he laughed like a supervillain.”
Carlos groans softly while TK raises an eyebrow at him questioningly. “He got him an electric drum set,” he whispers, nodding as TK lets out a groan of his own. “Grace warned me about it.”
“I hate him,” TK mutters, rolling his eyes once more.
Carlos shrugs a shoulder, not surprised by the gift their friend got their son. He did warn them months ago. “Payback for Luna’s car.”
TK grumbles, but it doesn’t wipe the smile from his face. He, just like Carlos, loves how taken with Luca everyone in their lives is. The little boy before them didn’t just steal their hearts, but also everyone else's.
He calls out to Luca, telling him it’s time to go if they want to be ready in time for the party. TK pulls away from him as Luca stands, placing the flowers he’s been holding on each grave.
“Bye mama, bye abuelito, see you soon,” Luca waves cheerfully before taking TK’s hand.
“Coming, babe?” TK asks when he doesn’t move from his spot for a moment.
“One sec,” he says softly as he steps up to the graves. Crouching down, he places a hand on each for a moment as he says a silent prayer.
“We’ll keep taking good care of him,” he whispers, looking at Angelica’s headstone. “You can rest easy.”
“Papa, it’s party time!” Luca calls out to him.
Carlos looks over his shoulder, the sudden melancholy he feels falling away in the face of the two loves of his life looking at him with expectant smiles on their faces. Walking over to them, he picks Luca up, throwing him in the air and catching him as he lets out a shrieking laugh, asking him to do it again. Shaking his head, he gives Luca a smacking kiss that makes the little boy giggle.
“I love you, Luca,” he tells him before he throws an arm around TK’s shoulder, giving him a kiss of his own. “I love you, TK.”
TK shares a mischievous look with Luca before they both lean in from either side, giving him kisses of their own.
“Love you too, Papa,” Luca says sweetly, resting his head on his shoulder as he carries him.
“What he said,” TK says from his other side, a beautiful smile on his face, those green eyes Carlos is madly in love with shining as bright as their future. “We love you so much, Carlos.”
THE END