New beginnings

Chapter 19

Today was the day. After weeks of waiting and battling in the courts he had made it. Tate had spent a total of two months away from his father but during his time at court he would pop in and spend time with his lil tater tot. Stanford had supported him the whole way sometimes hitting a few bumps but it was all worth it to wake up to his boyfriend beaming at him with a vibrant smile. Fiddleford honestly couldn't wait until 12 o'clock for the bus to arrive. He was so exact that his heart was almost palpitating with joy.

Stanford was sitting at the kitchen table when Fiddleford rushed in and struggling to put on his jacket whilst reaching for the keys. Stanford smirked at his odd display of rushed dressing. He got up from his chair and stilled Fiddleford by grasping his shoulders.
"Everything okay?" He raised a brow and stared deeply into his blue eyes. Fidd eased himself at the gaze and smiled.
"I'm just so excited, I mean this is the start of our own family" he clamped his fists and did a little jig of pure joy.
"Yes but Fidd how are we going to explain that to Tate?" He questioned and let go of his shoulders. Fiddleford just closed his eyes and made a look of complete confidence.
"My child is smart he'll understand and what's not to understand? We love each other and your going to help raise him, simple" Fiddleford said as he dusted some debris off of Ford's trench coat. "I will be back in half an hour, please don't get out anything that might be dangerous" he pleaded before backing out into the hallway to the front door.
"I promise and hey!" Stanford called out from the kitchen before following him into the hallway. Fiddleford looked at him a little confused until Stanford tapped on his cheek, reminding he forgot to kiss him goodbye. Fidd rolled his eyes before leaning in close to Stanford and softly planting a kiss in his cheek. Stanford hummed before whispering goodbye, Fidd smiled and then gave out another squeal of excitement before walking out of the door, thinking of the bright future ahead of him.

Half an hour later and Stanford heard the front door unlock and shoes begin to tread over the threshold. He perked his head up with a smile to greet his boyfriend and son into the property only to be greeted with a new face with them. It was a woman with brown  locks and eyes to match. This must be Sarah, Fiddleford's sister. He cleared his throat and stood up to greet the new visitor.

Sarah smiled at Stanford and extended a friendly hand toward him.
"Howdy, I'm Sarah .Fiddleford's sister" she beamed, extreme excitement must run in the family. Ford hesitated a bit before grasping Sarah's hand in his and shook it.
"Hello, I-I'm Stanford pines and Fiddleford's boss" he stuttered, her grip was amazingly strong. Fiddleford bounced Tate in his arms and rolled his eyes at Stanford before waking up to him.
"Honey"
"Hmmm?"
"She knows"
"Oh" Stanford relaxed slightly and with that she let go of his hand with a little chuckle.

Ford looked down at Fiddleford, who was now fussing over the toddler in his arms. Stanford then leaned in a little closer to get a better look at the child. Fidd gave a warm smile before looking up at Stanford.
"Tate, this is Stanford. Stanford, this is Tate" Fidd introduced them. Ford tried his best to smile in a non-threatening or intimidating way but it didn't work very well. Tate hugged his father tight and buried his head into Fidd's shoulder. Stanford's smile faltered slightly at the disheartening response. Fiddleford chuckled slightly to himself.
"Don't worry darlin' I'm sure he'll come around when he hears that you've got a whole jar of jelly beans in the cupboard" moments after Fiddleford finished his statement Tate peeked his head up, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he stared at Stanford.
"Told ya" Fidd whispered at Ford. "Oh you sure are gettin' heavy lil guy" he groaned as his arms strained at the extra weight. He couldn't hold him much longer before gently setting him down on the floor and ruffled his hair.

Sarah watched silently from the other side of the table with a wide smile on her face.
"Tea?" Fidd asked her as he walked toward the counter and snatched the kettle from the stove.
"Oh no thanks Fidd, I gotta be getting back to the bus stop. Just wanted to see how things were goin' and meet yer feller" she nodded at Stanford making him blush slightly and give a sheepish smile.
"Ok, well thanks for droppin' in" Fiddleford set down the kettle and gave her a hug. After parting she bent down to be eye level with Tate, who was sitting on the floor staring up at Ford with a puzzled gaze.
"Bye Tate, I'll be sure call" she smiled and patted his head. Tate giggled and scrunched his face into a cheerful expression. Fiddleford laughed, oh he had missed the sound of his son's cheerful laughter.

Sarah looked up at Ford who was watching the child on the floor with a gaze that was a combination of slight puzzlement and joy.
"And nice ta meet ya Stanford" she smiled at him whilst getting onto her feet.
"You too" Ford extended a hand and nodded with a grin. He wasn't quite prepared to be pulled into a hug by Fiddleford's amazingly strong sister.
"But break my brothers heart and  I'll make sure you're body will be harder to find than a grape in a pig pen" she whispered and squeezed him a little tighter.
"I'm not entirely sure what that means" he choked out as his body began to loose circulation.
"Sarah let him go, gee it's the first time ya met him and you're already trying ta kill him" Fidd chuckled as he prized Sarah's arms off of Stanford.
"Well best be goin', see ya'll later" she beamed and backed into the kitchen entrance.
"Wait don't you want me to walk you back to the bus stop?" Fidd asked as he walked toward her.
"Nah I'm fine, it's just down the path, I remember it" she nodded and reached for the door handle. "Bye!" She cheered before leaving the house.

Stanford heard the front door close and waited for Fidd to re-enter the room.
"You've got muddy boots" a small voice came from below him. Ford looked down at the child that was gawking at his muddied boots.
"Oh... yes I suppose I do" Stanford knelt down to be eye level with the child. Fiddleford walked in to the room but he went unnoticed as they man and child continued their conversation.
"Wow! You've got big hands!" Tate exclaimed in wonder as he grabbed one of Ford's hands. Stanford chuckled to himself as the child began to compare their hands. There was a long pause of confusion as Tate tried to find what was different between his and Stanford's.
"Dad!" The child exclaimed in a panicked tone.
"What?" Fidd responded from the sink as he filled the kettle.
"I've only got five fingers!" He cried.
"Well that the normal amou-I mean....well ya see, um"
"Fidd it's fine" Stanford reassured as he got up and walked over to the cupboard where he held the jar of jellybeans.
".....sorry" Fidd apologised as he set the kettle on the stove to boil.
"It's fine" Stanford stated as he set a jar of multicoloured jelly beans on the table, Tate's eyes widened and he gasped as he saw the jar that every kid dreamed of. The small child hopped to his feet and rushed to the table and stared at the beautiful jar. Ford smiled softly before plunging his hand in and retrieving a handful of jelly sweets for the child. Tate gasped in delight as he received such an amazing gift. 
"Thanks" he smiled before sitting on the floor and carefully choosing which sweet to scoff first.

"I'd savour them cause you won't be gettin' anymore for today" Fidd warned as he stirred the sugar into the tea. He then stood beside Ford and rested his head on his shoulder as they watched Tate shove his jellybeans into his pockets. Saving them for later.
"What did she mean by making my body harder to find than a grape in a pig pen?" Stanford asked the man to his right.
"Means she's gunna feed ya to the pigs. So you'd best not cross her" he chuckled and took a small sip from his tea. Fords smile faltered slightly before pulling Fidd closer to him.

This was the start of something truly great.