thinking out loud

brett asher goldstein. twenty seven years old. preschool teacher & toddler wrangler.

[brettgoldstein]

ethangoldstein​:

Ethan could swear this really had to be the happiest day of his life. He hated to admit that he fell into that cliché but it was so much more than becoming a parent or seeing his son for the first time. At that moment, he had everything-absolutely everything he ever could’ve dreamed of. Watching Brett hold their son, his husband, his family, part of him could barely believe it all to be true. And Brett looked so happy, the happiest he’s ever seen him. He couldn’t look away. He wanted to remember this moment forever. “I—” Ethan stuttered for a moment, almost as if he was caught off guard, clearing his throat with a nod. “Yes.” He had held so many babies, his many nieces and nephews, others during calls. Holding Henry was different. Ethan tried to pick up every detail, counted every finger and toe, made sure his breathing was right. He was so careful, so worried he’d hurt him or hold him the wrong way. He was so tiny in his arm, and so perfect. Ethan looked at Brett, tears welling up in his eyes. “You know he’s going to turn our hair gray, right?” He teased, leaning into his husband as his eyes turned towards his son. “He’s still a Henry. Right, buddy? We’re in for a wild ride.”

Watching Ethan hold their son only makes more tears fall down Brett’s cheeks,  gazing back at the two of them with blurred vision. “I don’t care. He’s totally worth it.” He murmurs after composing himself, letting out a quiet breath. Every moment had been worth it because all of the waiting had given them Henry. Their beautiful baby boy. He was perfect in every way and Brett couldn’t stop staring at him. “I can’t believe we get to take him home with us. We’re dads now! We’re responsible for this tiny person.” Their lives had been changed forever since the moment they first found out that they were expecting. But now that Henry was here and in their arms, everything felt a thousand times more real. “He’s perfect though. Our little Henry.” 

[brettgoldstein]

ethangoldstein​:

Ethan feels his husband squeeze his hand and finds comfort in the gesture. They were both equally anxious and excited to meet their son, and once the doctor returns with an update, it’s Ethan’s grip that tightens around Brett’s. He listens carefully, memorizing every detail the doctor is sharing almost as if he was on a call, nodding in acknowledgement. “When can we see him?” He asked, his words escaping him and looking at Brett almost immediately as if realizing what he just did. He wasn’t sure how these things went. With his nieces and nephews, the family waited outside by the wait room but usually his sisters’ husbands were with them during labor. They’d bring in the news. They had seen their babies already, held them even. He knew their experience was different and that even if it weren’t, it being their first time would make them feel a little lost and overwhelmed regardless, but he was nervous. He wanted everything to be right. He didn’t want to do or say anything that would have someone take their baby away from them. It was an irrational fear. The doctor still smiled, explaining how the baby was being cleaned and weighed and registered, but a nurse soon followed with a little one bundled up in her arms. Ethan didn’t move. At that point, he completely froze in place though his eyes wouldn’t leave their child. He feels Brett moving, the nurse carefully transferring the baby from her arms to his husband’s and his heart is beating so hard and so fast he swears it’ll explode with a love stronger than any he’d ever felt. He moved closer, just a step behind Brett, his hand softly touching his back as he took a better look at their boy. With all his ten fingers and toes. Pouty, pink lips parting in a small yawn. Henry. “He’s perfect.” He whispers, his voice threatening to catch at his throat, smiling through watery eyes. “He’s perfect.” He repeats, looking at Brett.

It all happens so quickly, but also in slow motion at the same time. Brett can hardly believe that the screaming baby that’s being born right before their very eyes is theirs. Henry Asher Goldstein. He’s perfect. He’s perfect and he’s theirs and Brett can’t keep the tears from falling down his cheeks as he’s handed to him. “Hey, Henry. We’re so happy to finally meet you.” The brunette whispers, bouncing the baby gently in his arms. Looking back at Ethan, Brett grins, knowing that he’s absolutely beaming. “He really is, isn’t he? Do you want to hold him?”

[brettgoldstein]

ethangoldstein​:

Right. Of course. They should wait. Ethan didn’t really know what to do, what to expect. He had a hard time breathing and his emotions were all over the place. Brett was definitely the one keeping them both sane, centered, but there was still that thrill of the moment rushing through their veins, shining through their eyes. “Hm?” Ethan tilts his head towards his husband, still quite unable to follow his advice as he tries to take a deep breath, his features softening at the touch. His first instinct was to dismiss Brett’s words, but he knew better. He knew what they meant to him. To them. His hand moves over Brett’s, threading their fingers together. “Thanks you for waiting for me.” After all, that’s what it all came down to. Brett’s faith in him, in them; his patience. His love. He didn’t give up on them, not even when it didn’t seem like there was a way for them. Ethan didn’t mean to hurt him. He didn’t mean to hurt anyone. Right now, this moment, their life together, their son. It made all the pain, the struggle, worthwhile. “I love you more than I’ll ever be able to say, and our kid, even if he ends up taking after me instead. I’m sorry in advance if that’s the case. You’re stuck with us. For life.”

Brett’s already feeling pretty emotional, and he knows that feeling will only grow as soon as they get to meet their son. He’s already teary eyed just thinking about it, his gaze focused on Ethan to keep himself from completely losing it in the waiting room. “For you? Always. Forever.” The brunette finally murmurs, clearing his throat softly. “However he turns out...he’ll be perfect. All that matters is that he’s ours. And I can’t wait to meet him.” Hopefully it wouldn’t be too long now. Brett knew it couldn’t be rushed, but he was anxious and nervous and excited to meet Henry. Thankfully the doctor appears and Brett lets out a sigh of relief, squeezing Ethan’s hand in anticipation. This was it. After nine long months of waiting, they were finally about to meet their son. 

[brettgoldstein]

ethangoldstein​:

It was hard to breathe and not only because he had rushed all the way to that waiting room. Ethan tried to catch his breath at his husband’s request but still shrugged a silent apology when he couldn’t help himself, chest still rising as he nodded at the updates, his eyes trained on the wide doors leading to the maternity wing. He was itching to know, to make sure everything went well during labor, but for now, he couldn’t do anything but wait. His attention is brought back to his husband at the touch, the kiss managing to finally calm him down for a moment, his heart still pounding as he smiles. “This is it.” He echoes, and in an instant, his arms wrap around Brett, holding him in a tight embrace for a moment. This was the last time it would be just the two of them and their pets. From this day forward, they would have a little person who depended solely on them and whom their entire lives would revolve around. It was an overwhelming emotion. He was happier than he could ever imagine being, as he was terrified. “We need to tell our parents.” Ethan says after a moment, still not fully letting go but much more calmed and collected than before. “I brought the bag. Everything should be there. I don’t know how long we’ll have to stay here with him but we should be okay for a few days.”

"We can call them once we get the update from the doctor. Let’s wait until we have something to tell them.” Brett murmurs, trying to stay at least a little bit on the logical side. He really was buzzing with a mix of adrenaline and excitement, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. “We’ll know more soon. Let’s just...breathe. Or something. I don’t know.” Chuckling nervously, Brett shakes his head, taking his own advice and taking a deep breath after a moment, letting it out slowly. “Hey, Ethan?” Brett asks, gazing back at Ethan once he’s calmed down, brushing his thumb over his husband’s jaw lightly. “Thanks for making me a dad.” Their journey to fatherhood hadn’t been an easy one, but it was all worth it. Brett was sure of that. “I love you so much.”

[brettgoldstein]

ethangoldstein​:

Henry’s arrival could be any day now. Both Brett and Ethan had made every arrangement they could think of or plan ahead of time. They each had a baby bag in their respective cards and a plan of action for when they received the call. It was both exciting and nerve-wrecking, the impending notion that he was going to be a dad. Still, when he received the call, no amount of planning was able to prepare him for what he felt. He could feel his blood rushing, his heart pounding, finding his Captain to let him know before he stormed out of the station. He called his husband from the car on speaker. “Did you get the call?” Of course he had. He could already tell by Brett’s voice, the slight breathlessness that told him he was also rushing somewhere. They’d meet at the hospital and take it from there, but no matter how he tried to keep his cool, Ethan lost it. He was going to be a dad. It never felt more real than at that moment, and he never felt more worried than now in the entire pregnancy term. They were so close to having their baby in their arms and there was so much that could go wrong. He didn’t want to think about it, running down the hallway with the bag over his shoulders, making out Brett’s silhouette. “I’m here. I’m here. I made it. I made it.” He tried to catch his breath, looking from the nurses to his husband. “Have we heard anything yet? Is everything okay? How are you feeling? Are you okay?”

@brettgoldstein​

Even though they had booth been expecting the call any day now, Brett’s heart had still nearly jumped out of his chest when he saw their surrogate’s name pop up on his caller ID. This was it. They were finally going to get to meet their son. He had practically sped over to the hospital, somehow making it there before Ethan. It took him a minute to find the right floor and ward, pacing around the small waiting area while he waited for Ethan to arrive. “Breathe, babe. You’re here.” Brett says reassuringly, giving his husband’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “The doctor’s in there checking how far along she is now.” He explains, having already gotten the information when he had arrived. Their birth plan was clear - they’d be in the room when Henry was being born. Brett couldn’t wait, even though he knew that it could also be a long night. “Everyone’s good though. They’re monitoring them both.” Brett adds, his hand moving to cup Ethan’s cheek instead, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “This is it. He’s finally coming. I can’t wait to meet him.”

[brettgoldstein]

ethangoldstein​:

Ethan didn’t push it but he still found it cute how respectful Brett was around his parents. “Babe, this is nothing compared to the kinda locker room talk he has to deal with at the station… but I’ll drop it. We can talk about it later just the two of us. Or not talk about it and just do it.” Winking in his husband’s direction at the words meant for only the two of them, he grinned and joined his father outside with Brett following close behind. Everyone was getting ready to meet Henry. Ethan was quietly freaking out, too. The weeks ahead were going to be busy ones with their families over, them getting used to having a baby in the house, missing some good night’s sleep. “This kid can’t be worse than Matt as a baby so I think we’ll be fine. That one made it to his teens now. I’m confident my kid will too.” Ethan adored his nephew but the kid didn’t only look like him, he took after him in personality too. It was a miracle he made it, really. Wrapping an arm casually around his husband’s waist. “He’ll be here soon and healthy. He’s already perfect.” Reassuring Brett, he kissed his cheek softly and smiled. “He’s the most perfect little boy in the entire world. He’s our kid. How can he not be?” 

Rolling his eyes at Ethan’s teasing, Brett chooses to sip from his iced tea instead of responding, knowing there was no winning this conversation. He’s happy to keep talking about their son though, excited and nervous about his arrival at the same time. “Soon we’ll be a family of three. I mean, three humans. The dogs and Slugger obviously count too. I wonder how they’ll feel about having a baby around...” Brett had been Googling the best way to introduce newborns to family pets. He could only hope that they’d love Henry as much as he and Ethan already did. Leaning his head on his husband's shoulder, Brett smiles up at him, giving the firefighter’s knee a light squeeze. “He’ll be great. We’ll be great. Remind me I said that when I’m sleep deprived and crying with the baby.” 

[brettgoldstein]

sxdiebxrr​:

“You’re not moving back.” Sadie wasn’t asking. She knew her cousin wasn’t ever going back to Brooklyn. She had known this even before the big news but the fact that he was now having a baby with Ethan made it all that much more official. Even if she hadn’t given it too much thought herself, she still thought she would move back at some point. After all, Brooklyn was home. It was just so easy to get lost in the city and Nashville had been, to both of them, a place they had gone to find themselves in a way. “I don’t think Ethan would let go of you even if Nashville didn’t suit you, B. Like it or not, you’d have to deal with it. Good thing you dig it!” Saide smiled, nodding softly. “I’m really glad I’m here, too. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this for the world!” Being part of Brett’s baby’s life, seeing him become a father, live his dream. The added bonus that she also got to meet someone like Vik and Lei was just the cherry on the top. “Well, I know I have… I mean, have you seen him?” Even if Vik wasn’t around, Sadie still blushed. “And I did have a good reason, Brett! I got too distracted at home and I was on a deadline!” Laughing, Sadie just sighs. “I know. I know. I will. We’ve just… we’re taking things slow, which is nice. Just, please, please try and keep Ethan from embarrassing me too much, yeah? I know there’s only so much you can do but, whatever you actually can do, do it!”

"No...I’m not.” Brett had realized that a long time ago. Even before meeting Ethan, he wasn’t sure about it. After meeting him and seeing their relationship bloom into what it was, Brett knew that going back to Brooklyn wasn’t in the cards for him. Nashville was his home now, and he was happy where he was and with his life. “I do dig it. The man even more, though.” That was no secret though. Everyone who knew Brett and Ethan knew how grossly in love they were. “I can't believe it. I’m gonna be a dad! I can’t stop smiling just thinking about it.” The brunette admits, shaking his head at himself. “Mhmm, I know Vik is very handsome. You’re pretty too! C’mon, give yourself some credit. And there’s nothing wrong with taking things slow either. As long as you two are happy, that’s what matters.” Brett says, giving Sadie’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “I can’t make any promises for my husband, but I’ll give him a talking to. I’m not above bribery. It’ll give me practice for baby Goldstein!”

[brettgoldstein]

ethangoldstein​:

“We’re having a baby. I think he might know a thing or two about how those come to be.” Ethan grins into the kiss. It was obvious him and Brett didn’t have a child the traditional way but that didn’t stop him from joking about it and all the practice it took to make the perfect baby. As terrifying and stressful as he was with the due date being just around the corner now, Ethan couldn’t wait to meet their son, and he knew their entire family was just as excited. “I think so. If anything changes, we’ll give them a call right away and I’m sure they’ll be here in the next flight from JFK to Nashville.” Brushing his thumb over his husband’s lips before parting ways once they joined his father in the backyard, Ethan smiles. “It feels like a lifetime and we still have 18 years to go—” Ethan was cut off by his father. “And if he’s anything like this one, it’ll feel twice as long, believe me, son.” Michael Henry was talking to Brett mostly, tilting his beer in Ethan’s direction. “Thanks, dad… hence why I’m hoping he takes after Brett. With his smarts and those eyes, my kid will be unstoppable.”

"Still, we don’t have to talk about our sex life in front of your dad!” Brett laughs, shaking his head. Not that Brett was a prude or anything like that, but still. He didn’t think his father in law wanted to hear about it either. “Yeah, of course. They’ll fly over as soon as they can if he ends up coming early.” Brett knew his parents were excited to meet their grandson. They had even been talking about moving to Nashville officially, which thrilled Brett to no end. Even though he talked to his parents often, it wasn’t the same as having them in the same city. “Ha. We’re ready for it. At least, I hope we are. We’re gonna find out!” Brett chuckles, giving Michael a smile. “I just want him here and healthy. Whoever he turns out like is just an added bonus.” 

[brettgoldstein]

sxdiebxrr​:

Sadie could imagine just how excited her aunt and uncle would be at the news and she was certain it was only a matter of time before they made the trip to Nashville not wanting to miss their first grandson’s birth, Reaching to give Brett’s arm a tender squeeze, she smiled. She knew how much he missed them, just as much as they missed him. Sadie had missed Brett so much when he left but understood that this was a journey her cousin needed to do on his own and deserved his space to heal. “I’m so happy for you, B.” She added softly and she meant it, too, wholeheartedly. “For everything you’ve made happen for yourself. I know you’re happy. Everyone can see it. I just hope you’re proud of yourself, too, cause I sure am!” But as the conversation lightened up, the blonde shook her head with a laugh and ended up playfully smacking the same spot on his arm she had just squeezed with love. “What do you mean finally?” Her relationship with Vik hadn’t always been intentional, not romantically, at least. While at first he was just a nice person she could talk with as she spent so much time at his bookshop, he later became someone she could also trust and spending time with him, and Lei, quickly became something she looked forward to. “He is.” Sadie agreed with a sigh and a smile impossible to hide. “It’s exciting but it’s not I’m having a baby exciting… although, if I were saying that, it’d still be far from exciting. I’d be terrified. I’d be panicking, let’s be honest. But anyway! Yes. That’d be fun. I’ll ask him. I don’t know if it’s too soon but he knows you. Ugh, Brett. I haven’t been in a relationship in forever! I don’t even know what to do!”

"I am, I am. I mean, if you asked me about any of this a few years ago...I probably would’ve laughed in your face. Leaving Brooklyn...it was never part of the plan. But I needed to. I always thought I’d move back, but...life had other plans. I can’t picture Ethan living in a brownstone in Brooklyn either, so good thing Nashville suits me.” Brett chuckles, shaking his head. “It suits you too. I’m really glad that you’re here, Sadie. I think a certain bookstore owner is too.” He says teasingly, smirking back at his cousin. “Oh, c’mon. We both know you two have been crushing on each other for a while. There’s no other reason for you to go hang out at a bookstore nearly every day when you have a perfectly good home office to write in.” Brett points out with a chuckle. “For sure. I’ll check with Ethan about his schedule but we’ll work something out. Just be yourself! He likes you for who you are. The rest will fall into place.”

[brettgoldstein]

ethangoldstein​:

The baby’s room was starting to take shape and with it, the anxiety of waiting for his arrival grew. Ethan had to laugh at himself and his dad as they tried to figure out how to put the crib together mostly because he thought such things only happened in the movies. His dad jumped at the offer of a break before he could, shaking his head in amusement as he watched his old man squeeze Brett’s shoulder on his way past him. “If your kid’s anything like this one, you won’t catch a good night’s sleep anytime soon, bud. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.” Ethan waited for his dad to be out of earshot, though, as he approached with husband with a smirk on his face. “If only he knew I still keep you up all night every now and then he would know that warning is useless.” He teased, folding the instruction sheet and leaving it near his tools as he walked after Brett. “We’re almost done now. Once the paint dries we just need to give it a couple of days for the smell to clear and it’s all set. We’re ready to welcome this kid now. I don’t know how I feel about that.”

"Babe! Not in front of your dad.” Brett teases with a chuckle, leaning in to press a kiss to his husband’s lips. Taking Ethan’s hand, he leads him out to the backyard, taking a seat in one of the chairs they have out there. “I know. Crazy, right? My parents are hoping to fly in a week before his due date as long as everything’s still good with the surrogate...that should be enough time, right?” He asks, though he knows babies come whenever they’re good and ready. Due dates were really just an estimation. “It’s exciting though, isn’t it? Our son’s almost here. It feels like we’ve been waiting for him for so long.” 

[brettgoldstein]

sxdiebxrr​:

“How did they react? On a scale from 1 to packing our bags already, how excited are they?” Sadie didn’t expect any different from her aunt and uncle finding out they were going to be grandparents. They all were, really. This was such good news for their family, she was still unable to stop smiling. She was sure she wouldn’t for a while and that was perfectly okay with her. With a smile, the blonde nodded at her cousin tenderly. It wasn’t fair for her to complain to him about age and child bearing because he was a married gay man that made it happen so, really, she didn’t have to worry so much yet. She wasn’t even worrying about it, though, but she knew it was only a matter of time before her mom started bugging her even more now that Brett was having a baby of his own. “I was just gonna say!” Sadie laughed, her thoughts back to the conversation, shaking her head when Brett said he didn’t want the baby’s room to look like the Fourth of July because that’s exactly where her head had been going as he spoke. “I’ll start a Pinterest board ASAP. We got this.” She almost blushed at Brett’s question, hoping she could’ve dismissed it but knowing nothing she said would work in her favor. Instead, she decided to rush her words. “I’m dating Victor Tanaka, Lei’s dad, the bookshop owner. Vik. It’s a thing. I think. I mean, we did say we were so it is a thing. Anyway, your news are more exciting!”

"Oh my god, they’re so excited. My mom cried, of course, and I’m pretty sure dad got a little teary too. They definitely want to come visit after he’s born, maybe a little before his due date so they can be here for us. It’s still some time away, obviously, but...” Trailing off, Brett shrugs, knowing Sadie knew how much he missed his parents. Leaving her and his parents behind when he left for Nashville had been one of the hardest things he had ever done. It had been some sort of miracle that it had all worked out in the end. “You and Vik? Finally!” Brett laughs when Sadie tells him her news, grinning back at her. “That’s amazing. He seems like a really good guy.” He didn’t know the other man too well outside of him being one of his student’s fathers, but he seemed like a really involved dad. Brett trusted Sadie’s judgement too, so if she knew him well enough to be dating him, then he was good in his book. “You two should definitely come over for dinner sometime soon. Ooh, we can double date! Your news is equally exciting!” 

[brettgoldstein]

ethangoldstein​:

Time went by much faster than either of them realized. There were only a few weeks left before the due date and the baby’s room still needed to be put together. Ethan had been working more doubles than usual, trying to gather as much overtime as he could before Henry’s arrival, which didn’t give him a lot spare time to do much around the house. He had recruited his father’s help that weekend to put the crib and other pieces of furniture together. He knew, once everything was said and done, he’d look back at this moment and feel emotional about it. At the moment, though, they were both very focused and tired with the tasks at hand. “Who knew putting a crib together would be this hard?” He half joked, drying the droplets of sweat forming on his forehead with his forearm as his dad picked up the instructions sheet again, cursing quietly before he disregarded them. They could probably do without the instructions, to be honest, but Ethan was trying to make sure they wouldn’t walk into a crying baby with a crib collapsed over him in the middle of the night, so he reached for them again as his husband walked into the room. “Is the crib really that necessary? He can always sleep with us, right?” Ethan joked, looking at Brett. 

In a few short weeks, they were going to be parents. Brett was equally excited and nervous to bring their son home from the hospital, knowing they still had a lot to do before he arrived. They were lucky to have the help of Ethan’s parents, dividing and conquering tasks. That day his husband and father in law were working on putting together Henry’s crib while he worked on the finishing touches of paint in the nursery, Needing a break from the paint fumes, he exits the room to get drinks for everyone, offering the two men a couple of beers while he sips on his own iced tea, snorting quietly at his husband’s question. “I draw the line at co-sleeping. We need a crib, babe.” Brett says with a shake of his head, eyeing the instructions in Ethan’s hand.  “Why don’t you take a break and come back in a little bit with fresh eyes? Let’s sit in the backyard and enjoy our drinks.” 

[brettgoldstein]

sxdiebxrr​:

“Oh, he’s definitely a Goldstein, he’s too cute!” Granted, there was only so much they could tell from a sonogram but Sadie wasn’t going to be persuaded to think otherwise. “Did you tell your parents yet? Oh god… the pressure now will be real!” She both laughed and groaned, shaking her head as she thought how her own parents would certainly bring it up at some point considering how she was still very single and still very not quite ready to be a mom herself but Brett was having a baby! Well, at least half of that was true. She was dating, at least, even if it was true for just a few hours since her date with Vik. “Is it blue? Because that’s so predictable!” Sadie teased, grinning as she stole another bite from the brownies. Her eyes began tearing up again when Brett shared the name, looking again between both of the men. “Henry.” She repeated, sounding it out. “Henry Goldstein. It’s perfect. I love it.” She truly did. “At least you have a few months to think on middle names but you gotta promise me if you have a girl, my name is a good middle name, you know?” 

"We did. Don’t be mad, but we told them first. We just wanted to make sure the little guy was okay and let the news sink in before we told anyone else.” They had told his parents first, then Ethan’s. And now Sadie knew too, and Brett was so excited to share the news with her. “C’mon, there’s no pressure from anyone, don’t be silly. You do things at your own pace, okay?” Brett says reassuringly, giving Sadie’s arm a quick squeeze. “It’s not blue, no. We’re still deciding, but Ethan won with the baseball theme, so we’re gonna go with red and white and maybe some touches of blue. I don’t want it to look like Fourth of July though.” He muses, shrugging his shoulders. “Enough about my news though. You said you had something to tell me too, what is it?”

[brettgoldstein]

ethangoldstein​:

“Babe, considering that kid is potentially half Henry, trust me, we will need the baby proofing. Everywhere.” Ethan was only half joking. The last thing he wanted was to have to use his emergency training at home because their son decided to climb the fridge and hit his head or breaks a bone, all which, in Ethan’s own experience as a child, were perfectly possible. It made him smile, though, just talking like this with Brett, making plans, concrete plans, real plans. Their baby was not an idea. He was real. They were going to be parents and just that thought made him smile and freak out at the same time. Ethan laughed between bites, their conversation easy now that he let all the feelings out unexpectedly only minutes ago. Nibbling on a crust, the firefighter shrugged. “I mean, if baseball isn’t it, we can definitely decorate the room with a pizza theme too. That’d be cool. And original. It’ll also make me crave pizza in the middle of the night when we have to feed him so, maybe, on second thought, we should definitely stick to baseball.”

"Well we’re both CPR certified, so we’ll be ready for anything.” They both had to be for their jobs, not that Brett ever hoped they’d have to use their training on their own child. Henry. Brett can’t believe that they’re really having a baby. “Maybe we should stick to one theme then.” He chuckles, considering their options. A baseball themed nursery could be really cute. He could work with that. “We can start looking at paint and décor and stuff later. We have some time to get things ready for him. The hardest part will be trying to keep Slugger out of the crib!”

[brettgoldstein]

sxdiebxrr​:

It’s impossible not to burst out with happy tears at the news. Sadie cannot control her reaction, overjoyed and excited for her cousin and Ethan, for their little family, for everything, really. She remembered when Brett left New York, how worried she had been, how selfishly sad, that he had decided to move so far away. She didn’t understand what made him choose Nashville but it was clear to her now just how it had all been meant to be. Looking between both men, Sadie smiled so wide that her cheeks hurt, hugging her new mug now close to her chest. “I’m going to spoil that baby boy rotten!” She admitted matter of factly. “He’s going to be the most precious baby ever, I already know. Look at that face!” Sure, you couldn’t really see many details on the sonogram yet but what she saw was enough to let her know she was saying the truth. “You’re going to be the best dads, this kid is going to be so lucky! Even you, Ethan!” Sadie added the playful jab at her cousin’s husband though they all knew she was just teasing him. She loved Ethan. She loved him for loving her cousin so much. She loved him for giving her cousin a second shot at this, at love, at having a family of his own, at pure happiness. “Have you been thinking about names yet? When is he due? What color are we painting his room? Oh gosh, I can’t wait to spend a small fortune on Etsy for all of this!”

"Ethan says he looks like him, but I think I see a little bit of Goldstein in there!” Brett laughs, shaking his head. Not that it mattered to them who was the biological father. They were both his dads no matter what. Brett already loved their son so much and he wasn’t even born yet. “He’s not due for another few months. Nursery’s still pending, but I think we’ve almost picked a paint color.” He says with a shrug, still grinning. Brett couldn’t keep the smile off of his face, he was so happy and so excited. He knew Sadie would be happy for them too, but seeing her reaction made his heart swell. She really was going to be the best aunt to their boy. “Henry. His name is Henry.” Brett says after a minute, knowing the significance of the name wouldn’t get lost on his cousin. “Middle name’s still pending, but he’s definitely Henry.” 

[brettgoldstein]

ethangoldstein​:

Ethan slowly recovered from whatever it was that got into him at the pizza shop. He was so unbelievable happy at that moment he couldn’t really explain why he was crying. He knew they were happy tears but he had never been very comfortable crying, much less in public. He still smiled at his husband, Brett’s support and love was something he could never take for granted. This was their happily ever after and it just kept getting better and better each day. “Luckily my sisters and their million kids can help us when it comes to knowing which baby brands are better than others because I have no idea where to start looking for cribs!” The firefighter let out a raspy laugh, clearing his throat as he recovered from the crying. “Is it too early to call a baseball theme for the room?” He teased, grinning as he looked at his husband. “I mean, our first date was at a baseball game, it’s only fair…” He knew how Brett felt about sports, though, so he wasn’t really holding his breath. It just came to him at that moment that he would have his own son to play with now after so many years coaching little leagues. He’d love the kid no matter what his interests were, Ethan was sure of that, but he really, really wanted to be able to share that with his son. “Babe, that kid will be the safest kid in town, trust me. The entire house will be. You might not even be able to lift the toilet seat without having to unlock a thousand child locks.” 

"You’ll look pretty sexy putting together a crib though.” Brett teases gently, hoping to lighten Ethan’s mood a bit. He couldn’t believe that this was really happening for them, that they were going to be parents. It was something that Brett had always wanted, a dream come true for him. He only chuckles when Ethan suggests a baseball themed nursery, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Mm, maybe. You might be able to convince me.” Brett says jokingly, nuzzling Ethan’s neck for a moment before he gets up to go back to his own spot at the table, just in time for their pizza to arrive. “God, I hate those things! We have them on all of the cabinets at work. We’ll have to go through the house and babyproof it, but I’m sure we’ll be alright.” 

[brettgoldstein]

sxdiebxrr​:

There was no way Sadie would spill her beans first. “Not unless you just spit it out, Goldstein!” She repeated, narrowing her eyes as she looked at her cousin for a moment, considering if she wanted to comply by closing her eyes or not. “What are you up to, B?” Sadie closed her eyes reluctantly, pursing her lips as she tapped her foot expectantly until Brett told her to open her eyes. Her eyes fell on the mug placed in front of her, frowning as she tried to make sense of it, tilting it carefully in her hands. Her lips parted softly, looking at Brett before reaching the ultrasound print, holding both things in each hand. “Are you serious?” She asked, her eyes starting to well up with tears. Then again, her voice a little higher. “Are you serious?” It happened all at once, then. She put the mug and the ultrasound back on the counter as she let out a loud, excited shriek, walking around to where her cousin was, crying and laughing and crying some more as her arms wrapped around Brett, jumping excitedly with the news. “I’m going to be an aunt!” She repeated. “You’re having a baby!” She knew what this meant for her cousin. She knew just how much Brett had wanted to be a dad. Above all, she knew how much he loved his husband and how badly he had wanted to make a family with Ethan and now his dream had come true. Maybe it was the loud shriek or all the commotion that had Ethan running into the kitchen, a puzzled but worried look on his face. Sadie just ran to him and hugged him, too before coming back to her mug and the ultrasound, unable to take her eyes away. “It’s a boy? You’re having a little boy? He’s so perfect. I’m so happy. I don’t even know what to say. I’m just so happy for you, B!”

"Of course I’m serious!” Brett laughs, grinning at his cousin’s excitement. He knew Sadie would be thrilled for them. She was like a sister to Brett and she of all people knew how much becoming a father one day meant to him. Soon they’re hugging and Brett squeezes Sadie tightly, his own cheeks wet with happy tears. “You are! We’re having a baby!” He says happily, wiping his chees with the back of his hand. Ethan comes rushing in a moment later, confused by all of the noise, but then the reason becomes clear, catching his breath when Sadie goes to hug his husband. “Yep, it’s a boy. We found out at our last appointment. Don’t be mad I didn’t tell you sooner, we were waiting to make sure everything was going well and the baby was healthy.” Which he was. Brett honestly couldn’t believe that the little baby on the ultrasound was theirs. It was a dream come true for him. “Thank you.” The brunette finally says, giving his cousin’s arm a light squeeze. “I’ve been absolutely dying to tell you. You’re gonna be the best aunt.”