Pas de Trois

Chapter 17: "We have to talk about that."

Slade wasn't sure if he really liked New Year's or if he just felt that much better once he'd gotten to sleep in for a few days in a row. What he did know was that he loved being around Chloe's huge family once they were all back from California. It was a nice change from how quiet things were living with just Carol and Danny.

Chloe's cousin Wes and his husband Luke were in town with their baby - the one Hannah had given them. If Slade thought it was crazy that Hannah could have given birth to a baby before it was crazier seeing her next to him - they didn't look much alike.

"You're cute anyway," Slade told baby Logan. Wes asked if he wanted to hold him and Slade couldn't think of a reason not to. Logan was a lot heavier than Slade expected him to be. He kept giving Slade a crazy wide-eyed look.

"Oh, Slade, have you ever held a baby before?" Carol asked, smiling at him.

"No, I don't think so," Slade couldn't remember ever being around little kids, at least not ones who were too young for ballet. "Why, am I doing it wrong?"

"You're fine," Brent wiped the drool off Logan's chin. "Isn't he, big guy?" Brent did something to him and Logan giggled.

"How'd you do that?" Slade asked, wondering where the magic button was.

"Hm, should we tell him?" Brent was asking Logan. He took one finger and wiggled it under Logan's chin. "What's so funny?" he asked when Logan giggled some more.

"Got it," Slade had to admit he was impressed to see a big guy like Brent was actually kind of a sucker for a baby. "Let's see," Slade tried tickling Logan and was rewarded with more giggles. "You like that, don't you?"

"What are you doing?" Danny demanded. Slade turned to see Danny and Chloe both staring at him from the doorway, like they'd just walked in. They had the same stunned look on their faces.

"Have you met Logan?" Slade asked. He tickled Logan again.

"I know that look," Brent grinned. Slade glanced at him. Brent hadn't spoken very loud, like he only wanted Slade to hear him.

"What's that?" Slade asked.

"Pretty sure they both just fell for you all over again," Brent said. Slade looked again. Danny and Chloe did look a little dreamy. He laughed.

"I swear, I'm careful," Slade remembered right away he was talking to his girlfriend's father.

"I'm not worried," Brent narrowed his eyes. "But you could always keep your hands to yourself."

"Okay," Slade handed Logan to Brent before things could get any more awkward than they were.

"I didn't know you liked babies," Danny accused.

"I don't think I've ever met one before," Slade admitted.

"Stick around, this family doesn't stop spitting them out," Chloe snorted. "Come on, I want to see if Uncle Adam got Colin's new Xbox to work."

"What new Xbox?" Slade frowned.

"Oh, Dad got it as a gift from the company, they want to know what he thinks or something," Chloe shrugged. "It happens sometimes, usually with clothes but like Apple sends stuff all the time."

"So what you're saying is that Xbox sent over a brand new, unreleased version so your brother can test it out and tell them how to make it better?" Danny looked like he was about to pass out.

"Yeah, that's why I want to go try it," Chloe said.

"I can't believe you just live like this," Slade ran into the family room. "Oh my god, look, it's beautiful!"