'Ash hurry up get the camera' I screeched.
Austin was 4 months old. I'd been with Ashton for 3 amazing months. We'd fooled around but we still hadn't done the deed, although I must admit I felt ready. Ashton had more or less moved into my apartment, he got up for night feeds, now I'd started to express milk more. We were just about to film Austin's first ever taste of food. All 6 of us, my 3 best friends included were gathered around the table, their were various requests as to what we should feed him, Kale wanted lemon, and Caleb horseradish sauce, both got equally painful smacks about the head. In the end I'd opted for some baby rice, nice and simple.
'ASH HURRY UP.' I screeched once more making the other 3 wince and Austin giggle madly.
'BABY, DON'T SHOUT. I'M RIGHT BEHIND YOU.' Ash bellowed in my ear. I elbowed him in the gut, instead almost getting his balls. 'oooh baby, be careful or we'll never have more babies.' he squeaked in fright.
'Ok, Ash honey are you ready. Is the camera on? Guys you have cameras right.?'
'YES' they hollered in unison.
Ok, so may have been a little fussy, but this was my sons first taste of food, I wanted to capture everything.
'Ok, open wide Austin, look what mommy's got for you' I held the spoon towards his mouth. He obediently opened up and stuck his tongue out to taste a bit. Obviously liking his first taste, he squealed and made to grab the spoon. We all cheered when he grabbed the spoon and stuck it in his own mouth, munching.
'Can I have a go baby?' Ashton whispered in my ear.
'Yeah sure, here take this, and don't give him too much at first because you might make him sick, or choke or he'll throw it at you.' I moved out of my seat allowing him to sit down and passed him the bowl. He wrestled the spoon from Austin and carefully placed it near his mouth
'Open wide for daddy, little man' Ashton asked sending Austin into fits of giggles. I quickly indicated that AJ should take a picture of the two of them together.
I couldn't help it, it was too much, I could feel the tears coming even though I squeezed my eyes shut, willing them to stop. I rushed out of the room wiping my eyes on my sleeve.
I could hear Ashton address the others 'Guys could you keep feeding him, make sure one of you carries on filming.' He followed me to Austin's room, where I was standing facing my sonogram, that I'd had mounted. He leant against the door frame watching me.
'I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called myself Austin's daddy. I won't do it again, I can be an uncle or something.' his voice wobbled.
I made no move to turn to him instead staring straight ahead at the sonogram. 'You know when I told him I was pregnant, he laughed in my face, I'd had to follow him and confront him in the canteen, in the end I just blurted it out, in front of everyone. He told me that I was a whore and that there was no way in hell he fathered the whore's baby. I swore that day, I'd do this on my own, I'd be everything he'd ever need without a having a father.............then I met you and I was wrong.'
'I don't understand baby'
'My son needs you, I just realised how lucky we were to find you, a man already going through shit, who's willing to be a father and provider for a little boy that he didn't create. You may not be his father but you sure are his daddy, and I couldn't have wished for better. You're what we dream of. I just can't believe how lucky we were to have found you.'
'Oh thank fuck for that.' He breathed a sign of relief. 'I thought that was it. I though you were angry at me. You guys will never have to be alone again. Let's get back to our baby.'
We both burst out laughing as we walked back into the kitchen. The 3 of them were absolutely covered in food, Austin lay back in his highchair chuckling. They passed me the cameras as they passed.
'He is a little demon. He gets that from you dear brother.' AJ shot as she walked out wiping baby rice from her hair.
'That's my boy' Ashton walked over to pick him up. Kissing his nose. He wrapped his messy little body in his huge frame. 'You're mine aren't you little dude. I'll never let you go.'
