THEO AND REED'S BABY FEVER : Book Three

Chapter One

Washington D.C.

May 2019

If anyone had ever told forty two year old Theodore Walton - Fisher that he would be experiencing this much sorrow and loss over losing his and Reed's surrogate son he might have laughed at them. But sorrow and loss he did feel when their twenty one year old surrogate son Winston " Winnie " Palmer moved out of their three bedroom apartment to live with his boyfriend Dennis Davis. Theo felt a definite loss. He would miss the young man.

Winnie's singing of Lady GaGa all over the apartment.

Winnie's lively gossip.

Winnie's innocent sometimes naive sweetness that could be lost beneath the brittle and sarcastic shell he had build around himself as protection.

Yes. They were losing their baby , Theo thought as he and Reed stood outside on the sidewalk before their apartment building on this lovely Spring day in Washington D.C. They waved off Winnie and Dennis as they drove off in Dennis's car.

" Oh , stop with the awful long face , darling , " Reed Fisher teased. " Winnie is only going to College Park , Maryland. Not the moon ! It's a short drive or Metro ride away. It's the same amount of time for you to burn water. "

Theo wriggled his rather large nose at the tall lean Black man. How could someone so gorgeous and loving and sexy and caring and brave also be so damn annoying at times ?

Reed's unusual green eyes twinkled as he leaned down to kiss his much shorter husband.

" One time. One time I burned water and you never let me live it down. You're as bad as Grace. That's grounds for divorce you know. "

" You'll never divorce me. You could never afford the alimony I'd demand. Even with your good investments. "

" Bitch , " Theo retorted but there was little sting in it. No. He was never freeing this man who he had married in 2018 on a day that was both wonderful and horrifying. The day that Todd Deets , Reed's once best friend , had shot and nearly killed Reed. That memory still lived in Theo's memory and his nightmares. Todd was dead at the hand of Theo's pistol packing twin sister but he would never forgive the man for ruining what should have been solely the happiest day of their lives. Of course their niece , Grace's daughter , Theodosia Reed Van Owen had also been born that day. Dosie had been premature that day though and a bit underweight but she had pulled through to be spoiled rotten by her parents , five brothers , grandparents and uncles. She was ten months old and they had just mailed her a Washington Wizards onesie. Some good had come that day. They got married. Dosie. Yet it was still slightly marred. A shiver came over his small slim body.

" Cold , Theo ? , " Reed asked as he pulled him close. He was still a bit protective of Theo after his experience with leukemia. Theo was understanding of his need to protect him. To a point. As long as he didn't take it too far. Theo was a man like Reed not a fragile child or some wilting always in danger damsel in distress.

" I'm fine , sweetie. Let's take a walk. It's too nice to be cooped up in the apartment. We can walk to Matt and Saint's and see the baby. Maybe have an early dinner with them. "

They both smiled at the thought of seeing the new addition to their young thirty something friends' lives. E.R. doctor Zack " Saint " St. Austin and his chef husband Matt had recently had a baby of their own. A little girl named Olivia Faye St. Austin. She was basically a test tube baby. Her father was Saint and her mother was a New York based Black nurse friend of the couple's Talisa Sams. Talisa visited her often and Matt had recently adopted the baby as well. Olivia was adorable with her headful of jet black curls , big green eyes and tawny brown skin. They joked that the dads would have their hands full when she started dating. Saint swore that would not happen until she was forty.

Theo smiled wistfully as he hooked arms with Reed and they walked down the sidewalk of their fairly quiet , usually crime free tree lined neighborhood toward the park they liked to picnic in on Sunday afternoons. When Theo had seen the baby girl with her vivid green eyes he was reminded of Reed. He wondered what their baby would look like if they could actually have a baby. If they went the same route they'd have to use Reed's sperm. Nobody deserved Theo's DNA. These bad eyes and big nose and terminal clumsiness should only live on in himself. How much would their baby look like Reed ? He would hope a lot. Not that he fancied a surrogate mother type situation. He was too selfish to share with a biological mother. If they had a child he wanted to be the sole mother. Ummm. Father.

" Penny for your thoughts , Mr. Walton - Fisher ? You're awfully quiet. You're not really that upset over Winnie moving out , are you ? We can visit him. And vice versa. "

When they got to the park they sat together on a nearby bench and watched children playing on swings , mothers and nannies walking with baby strollers , people walking dogs and the rude expensive suited man arguing with a food cart man over the culinary taste of his half smoke.

Theo said , " No. I mean yes. Yes , I will miss Winnie. It's better for him to live with Dennis. Its's closer to the college where he's studying....... something. What is it this week ? Art History ? They really care for each other too. Although if the man hurts Winnie I'll get Matt to bake him a laxative drenched chocolate cake. I do look forward to having just you in the apartment. "

Their eyes met and they leaned forward to kiss. The food cart man waved his bony old arms and shooed off the annoying customer who was now kicking the cart and demanding his money back. Reed smiled at his husband.

" But you'll still miss him ?"

" Yes , " Theo sighed.

" It's ok , darling. So will I. The boy is like an acquired taste. Like oysters. Or a flu shot. "

Theo laughed.

" And you want to adopt a baby. "

Theo was silent. He watched Reed quietly. Then he answered honestly.

" Yes. I want to adopt a baby. I want us to have a baby of our own. Dosie and Olivia need a playmate. "

Reed's smile grew. " Good. So do I. "