World Tour

Brisbane: I

¨Belle is picking us up, right?¨ Brett asked, as they waited for their suitcases to come around the conveyor belt. 
¨Yeah!¨
Eddy was very glad she was. It had been way too long since he'd seen his sister.

Clearly Belle was excited too, because as soon as they walked out into the arrivals hall she flew into Eddy's arms.
¨Brother! How was it!¨
Eddy could feel himself beaming as he pulled away to look at her. ¨It was awesome, Belle, we were sad to leave.¨
She smiled, that glint in her eye. ¨Cool. I hope you didn't get pregnant on your honeymoon, hey?¨
Eddy laughed, but then he saw Brett and he stopped. Brett was smiling, but there was something to his smile. 
It hit him like a ton of bricks then. Shit. This off-hand comment by his sister meant something to Brett! 
He followed Belle to her car, keeping up conversation and telling her about all they'd done in the Maldives. She cringed when he told her how they'd gotten lost in the jungle. 
¨My God, brother, you could have been lost forever! Don't do anything so stupid again, huh?¨
He smiled, because she sounded just like their mother for a moment. 
He also smiled at the things about the jungle he decided not to tell his sister. 
¨I won't, don't worry. Once was plenty, thank you very much!¨

But as they sat in the car, driving home, and all the stories had been told, the thoughts came into his head like an unstoppable force.
The simple fact was: very obviously neither of them were pregnant, or would ever get pregnant. Having a child would not be an easy thing for them. He'd never really given this any thought, but judging from Brett's face he had...
Shit! He did not want to be the one to stop Brett from having a family! He'd have to man up, and talk to Brett asap.
Oof. 

So as soon as they had walked in their door and put their suitcases in the bedroom Eddy went into the kitchen to make some green tea. He sighed deeply, trying to calm himself down. He was very nervous suddenly. 
When he walked out of the kitchen, mugs of tea in hand, Brett was sat at the table, looking at him curiously. Of course, he'd long since realised something was up. 
¨You okay?¨ Brett asked. 
¨Yeah fine...¨ Eddy said, trying to find a way to broach the subject as he put the mugs of tea on the table and sat down on one of the chairs. 
¨Errr... Belle made a comment.¨ he said, eventually. 
Brett's eyes widened slightly as he suddenly understood what this was about. 
¨Oh God, Eddy, I didn't mean for you to see that.¨ he said, softly. 
¨I know. But that's fine. I want to talk about it anyway.¨
Brett just nodded. ¨Okay.¨
¨So, is this something that's on your mind? A family?¨ Eddy asked.
Brett nodded again. ¨Sometimes... Look, I'm sorry. I don't want to do anything to make you feel like you're not enough, because you are.¨
¨I know that, don't be silly. Wanting children is a normal thing, Brett. It's nothing to be ashamed about and it doesn't mean you love me any less.¨ Eddy said. 
Brett was silent for a bit, processing this.
¨Had you thought about it at all?¨ he asked then, peeking up through his lashes. 
Eddy thought for a moment before he answered. 
¨Hmm, I guess I'd always seen myself with a family at some point in the future.¨ he said. ¨I guess I'd not thought about it much since we'd been together. But that doesn't mean I don't want to.¨
Brett's eyes lit up at his words. ¨It wouldn't be an easy thing though, for us...¨ he said. 
¨No. We'd have to look at adoption or surrogacy, I guess.¨
¨Both of those things take a lot of time.¨ Brett said, so softly that Eddy could barely hear him. 
Eddy smiled. ¨Yeah. I know.¨
He got up and walked around the table to stand next to Brett, putting his hand on his shoulder. ¨Hey. Does that mean you'd like to look into it soon?¨
A dam seemed to break suddenly, as the words flowed out of Brett all at once. 
¨Maybe, Eddy, I don't know. It's just... I had always seen myself as a dad some day but I was in love with you and I just didn't think it would ever happen for me. And now we're here and we're married and suddenly, who knows, maybe we could, but then I feel ungrateful for even wanting more, because you've given me the world already, and it's confusing me.¨
Eddy nodded. ¨I don't think you're ungrateful at all. And I think you'd make a fantastic dad, as well.¨
He put his arm around Brett and pulled him close.
¨Hey. I'm open to the idea, okay? I'd love to have a family with you some day. Let's just start with the second wedding preparations and do some research? Is that good?¨
Brett snuggled into his chest, and when he stroked his face he could feel the tears on his cheek. 
¨Yeah. That sounds awesome.¨ he said, his voice thick with emotion. 
¨Come here, silly¨ Eddy said, pulling him even tighter into him. ¨It's all good. I love you.¨
¨I love you too, more than you'll ever know.¨