Ruddiger Family Values

Baby Makes 3

It had started as a simple question.

"Do you want kids?" Late one night Hugo Aetos-Ruddiger casually asked his husband, Varian, this question while they got ready for bed. Varian, who had been brushing his teeth at the time, had nearly choked on his toothpaste and leaned down over the sink to spit, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Sorry, what?"

"Do you want kids? I think we'd be good dads." It wasn't exactly a secret that Hugo had wanted to be a parent. He'd been subtly hinting at it for a while, but this was the first time he'd been straightforward with the question. Now, the blonde man was starting to regret asking. What if Varian didn't want kids. They had only been married for 11 months now. What if it was too soon? He was drawn from his thoughts when Varian spoke again, now exiting the bathroom and sitting down on the edge of the bed next to his husband.

"I mean, I'm not against it. I think we would be great parents too. Why? Do you think you're ready?" Varian's heart warmed at the way Hugo nodded his head so vigorously he almost got whiplash.

"Yes! Yes, I'm more than ready! And I want to adopt a kid. If you're ready, that is." Hugo looked at his husband with nervous, hopeful eyes. It made Varian's knees weak. He cupped Hugo's face and softly kissed him.

"We can visit the local orphanage tomorrow, if you'd like." Hugo's smile could have lit up all of Corona as he flung his arms around Varian's neck. That was when they both knew this was the right choice.

~~~

And so that's how the two men ended up heading to the orphanage early in the morning, only stopping to pick up the papers from Rapunzel. Hugo had been talking almost non-stop about how excited he was. They arrived at the stone building that was crumbling in some spots. That said a lot about the conditions the poor children were living in. Together, Varian and Hugo knocked on the door and waited while the headmistress opened it and let them in.

"You must be the Ruddiger family. I'm Headmistress Marie. Right this way." The couple followed the imposing woman inside the building. The sight nearly broke Hugo's heart. Children of all ages were running around in shabby clothes and bare, dirty feet. Many of them looked malnourished and sickly. And the bruises- Hugo could only imagine how they'd gotten there. Headmistress Marie continued explaining the ages they had and to come find her after they selected a child. Varian gave Hugo's hand a squeeze.

"Let's split up and meet some kids." Hugo nodded and kissed his husband quickly.

"Meet back here in an hour?" Varian nodded and smiled before heading off in the opposite direction. Hugo stood in the entry for a moment before going to interact with some kids. Many shied away and hid from him, but some stayed closer, curiously gazing at him. Hugo smiled and chatted with the ones who stayed for a while before his eyes landed on one child in particular.

He had reddish-gold curls that were matted and dirty. His feet were, like many of the other kids, bare. The sleeves of his too large shirt hang over his hands. He couldn't have been older than 4. Hugo slowly and carefully approached the toddler and smiled kindly at him, even as his heart ached at the way the boy flinched.

"Hello. What is your name?" The child stared at him while chewing on the sleeves of his shirt for a moment before speaking softly.

"My- my name is Elio." Elio shuffled his feet shyly, his big gray-blue eyes never leaving Hugo, who smiled warmly at the little one.

"Hello Elio. My name is Hugo." Elio raised one hand in a small wave. The poor boy was obviously very shy around adults. Hugo had a feeling this was the one he wanted to raise.

"May I sit with you?" Elio hesitated a moment before nodding. Hugo sat and reached into his pocket, pulling out Oliva. Elio let out a small gasp of wonder and shifted closer to see. Hugo giggled quietly.

"She's cool huh? I built her myself." Elio slowly held his hands out.

"Hold mousey please?" Hugo smiled and carefully set Olivia in his hands. Elio smiled as the small mechanical critter shuffled around in his palms. That is how the two stayed for most of the hour until Varian came back.

~~~

Varian walked back to the area he and Hugo had agreed to meet up, feeling a little discouraged. So many of the children he had tried talking to avoided him or ignored him. How was he ever going to be able to raise a child if no child wanted him to raise him. He was ready to give up when he saw Hugo and Elio. Elio was perched on Hugo's knee watching Olivia. The two of them were in deep conversation about something. When Elio took notice of Varian however, he froze and shyly hid his freckled face in Hugo's chest. Hugo smiled softly and murmured something to the boy before gently setting him down and walking over to Varian.

"Well, you certainly had better luck than I did." The ravenette remarked as he looked at Elio curiously. Hugo nodded and smiled.

"Yeah. Elio was pretty shy at first, but he really came out of his shell after a while. And.... And I think he's the one we should adopt." Varian looked back at Hugo before back at Elio, who caught his eye and waved with a small smile.

"Are you sure about this, Hugo?" Varian asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes. He deserves a childhood and a family more than ever." Varian smiled.

"Okay, I'll go get the headmistress." Hugo nodded.

"And I'll talk to Elio." The two went separate ways again for a bit. Hugo went back over to Elio and knelt down to the boys level.

"Elio, my husband, Varian, and I have been talking and we have a big question for you."

"Otay." Could this kid be any sweeter?

"Elio, would you like to come home with us?" Elio chewed his sleeves again thinking hard.

"Like- like two daddies?" Hugo smiled and nodded.

"Mhm, two daddies. We would love you and take care of you and- oh!" Hugo didn't get to finish his sentence. Elio had launched himself into his arms and buried his head in the crook of his neck, nodding vigorously.

"Yes! Yes, I want two daddies! I want to come home with- with you!" Hugo returned the embrace happily cradling the toddler close.

"Okay. Now we just have to wait for Varian to come back." Elio just bobbed his head again, tears running down his ruddy cheeks as soft cries wracked his small frame.

"Aww, buddy. It's okay. You're safe now I promise." Hugo cooed, rubbing Elio's back soothingly.

By the time Varian came back the papers had been signed. He looked at his husband and now, his son. He couldn't believe how lucky they all were. Elio pulled his face away from Hugo's shoulder, still sniffling a bit and looked at Varian and waved.

"Hi Papa." A surge of emotion passed through Varian at those two words. He was a dad. He had a son.

Hugo smiled. "Shall we go home?" Elio beamed and nodded.

"M'yeah! Home! With daddy and Papa!"

Varian smiled and quickly dried the moisture from his eyes.

"Yes, my dear's. Home." This was the start of an amazing family story.