nerd alert

freddie roberts: dad to isaac, boyfriend to rowan, avid coder, and consumer of energy drinks.

[freddiecodes]

“You laugh, but that would be fun for me. Not as much fun as puppies, though.”

Isaac sat in his seat, looking out the window and every once in a while kicking Rowan’s seat to ask where the train that would pass the car once in a while was going and if he could ride it “one day,” as if he needed to be a certain height to ride public transportation. As they arrived at the destination, Isaac found the magic button that turned his train on. “CHUG A CHUG A CHUG A CHOO CHOO” it called out, as Rowan shot a look over at Freddie – silently asking if they could turn back time and buy the silent train.

“We’re here!” Rowan exclaimed, unbuckling herself, getting out, and then taking Isaac from the car and holding tight to him and meeting up with Freddie at the front of the car.

“Of course you can go on a train one day,” he told Isaac and grinned. He made a note that they should take a day trip and ride the train one day soon. Suddenly, Isaac found the button on his toy that turned it on, and he looked over at Rowan with wide eyes. It was all over...

He heard Isaac shriek with joy when Rowan got him out of the car. “Alright, buddy, ready t’ go in an’ pick out your other birthday present?” He grinned and they walked into the shelter. It only took a few moments before Isaac was scrambling out of his mum’s arms to look into the cages. “Isaac, stay near mummy and daddy please...” 

[freddiecodes]

“That day I’m headin’ for the hills and joining an Astronomy cult or something. You’re on your own, kiddo,” Rowan pulled a face. “I’m kidding of course. I wouldn’t leave, I mean, I’m pretty much committed to this by now – as appealing as joining a cult for Astronomers is.”

“I’ll go collect the kiddo,” Rowan disappeared for a minute, returning with a squealing Isaac clutching his brand new toy train in one hand and Rowan’s hand in the other. “A’venture? Mummy say A’venture,” Isaac looked at Freddie, half interested – half more interested in going back to playing with his train collection.  

“You think he’s too cute t’ leave him,” Freddie laughed. “Oh yeah... incredibly fun...”

Freddie smiled at their son when Rowan came back with him. “That’s right! We’re goin’ on an adventure. Do you want mummy or daddy to put you in the car?” Isaac looked up at Rowan and hugged her leg. “I guess that settles that,” he laughed and got in the driver’s seat and started the car as Rowan put Isaac in his car seat.

[freddiecodes]

“I’m still glad he hasn’t figured out the train makes noise yet,” Rowan laughed. “And I’m truly hoping nobody teaches him – please, nobody teach him. Because that train will never not make noise again,” she shook her head. 

“Oh he’ll try to help. Will he actually help? Probably not, but he’ll try. He can at least learn how to feed the puppy now.”

He nodded in agreement. “Lord help us if he ever figures it out.”

“Yeah, he can learn how to feed it. Our little boy is always sweet an’ willin’ t’ help. We’re really lucky.”

[freddiecodes]

“It’s not late – we gave him a train to open on his birthday it’s fine,” Rowan sounded flustered – their busy schedules hardly allowed for the perfect second birthday for their son, Isaac. “But – I do think that’s a great idea. I mean, two is a big birthday. Considering he’s talkin’ and causing trouble and all that.”

“And just a reminder, this puppy is for Isaac. It’s not our puppy. I mean, we’re gonna take care of it now, but once Isaac gets older – we’re going to use it to teach him responsibility.”

Freddie chuckled. “I know, I know. An’ he loves the train. We did really good with that.” He felt bad they didn’t have time to plan him a proper party. They had a few people over for cake, but that was about it. “I think so, too. It’ll be good for him.”

“O’course, yeah. His puppy, not ours. He’ll probably try t’ help out now.”

[freddiecodes]

"I know it’s a little late for a birthday gift, but do you want to go to the shelter for a puppy for Isaac?”

@rowanfitch

[freddiecodes]

“Shut up. You’re a baby. I refuse to believe you’re 23. You’re officially 13 forever,” Charlotte reached up to pat Freddie on the shoulder. “You wanna know a secret? She almost certainly does it because it’s easier than doing laundry,” Charlotte chuckled. “Laundry is the worst.”

“That’s an actual nightmare of mine. Being 13 forever,” he chuckled. “I don’t mind that. She works incredibly hard, and sometimes we hold off on laundry longer than we should.”

[freddiecodes]

“For someone who looks about 13 seems like you’ve been busy,” Lottie laughed. “See, I can’t wear ‘em to work, so maybe that’s why they’ve fallen out of favor. I do sometimes steal whatever t-shirts my husband leaves in the clean laundry pile if he doesn’t fold his own laundry quick enough. I didn’t doubt you had grown up clothes though, kiddo.” she chuckled. “I’m a sweaters and leggin’s kind of gal.”

“You’re off by a decade. I’m 23,” he laughed. “My girlfriend steals all of my jumpers, but that’s okay because she looks better in ‘em than I do.”

[freddiecodes]

“Is Rowan your wife? Girlfriend? Best friend? Sorry, I don’t believe I’ve met her before, so I’m just gonna guess them all until I get one right,” Lottie smirked. “Events like this are the only time we can wear these sorts of shirts in public – I mean tee shirts with jokes on them, not shirts about pride. I’m not big on shirts with words or slogans on them.”

“Sorry, girlfriend, yeah. An’ mother of my son, Isaac,” he grinned. “Oh, I like shirts with words on them. But I’m allowed to wear them at work an’ around. I mean, I have grown up clothes, too. But I’m a t-shirt an’ jeans type.”

[freddiecodes]

“It’s nice, isn’t it? I mean, considerin’ how other parts of the country are – it’s like we live in a nice little corner where we’re isolated from all that – shite,” Lottie smirked a bit. “Nice shirt by the way. You must have gotten it at the same place my sister-in-law got me mine.”

“It’s incredibly nice. ‘Specially because Rowan and me are both on the ace spectrum. It’s nice to feel welcome,” he grinned. “Thank you. I really like yours, too! Rowan’s around here somewhere, and she’s wearing a funny shirt, too.”

[freddiecodes]

“I just really love how accepting this town is.”

freddie is wearing this shirt because he’s my demisexual son

[freddiecodes]

“He’s so cute though. Maybe he’ll get extra credit for being adorable from his teacher in school for his accent.”

“Oh, he’s feckin’ adorable. Our son is the cutest in town. Maybe he will.”

[freddiecodes]

“We’ve mastered the whole fake it ‘til you make it deal,” Rowan grinned. “My accent is not funny. I mean, it kind of is, but wouldn’t you rather a baby who says funny things in a funny way than a baby who says normal things in a normal way?”

“Your accent isn’t funny, no. But our baby sounds half-American, half-Irish. Imagine how silly he’ll sound trying to pronounce Gaelic words.”

[freddiecodes]

“That sounds great! We can find him that sweet, fluffy dog he always talks about,” she grinned. “But, I already think he thinks we’re the best. I mean, he’s told me several times that we’re the best, or as he says ‘da bez’, so I think we should take that at face value from a nearly two year old.”

“I love our son so much. He makes me think we know what we’re doing with him,” he laughed. “He also has a silly accent because he says certain things the way you say them.”

[freddiecodes]

“Goldendoodles! Gran has a friend who has a friend who has one. I’ve seen many a photo – they’re adorable. We should look into adoption centers in the area? Or do you know any, since you grew up here. Otherwise – Google. We can take Isaac together this weekend.”

“There’s a shelter off of Crawford Road. They rescue animals from puppy mills and such. And the adoption fee isn’t too high,” he grinned. “Isaac is going to think we’re the best mum and da’.”

[freddiecodes]

“Something fluffy, because he loves that. We should adopt, definitely. There’s plenty of dogs who need good homes, plus sometimes they’ve got better temperaments than dogs from breeders.”

“Definitely something fluffy and soft. Maybe some sort of poodle mix because they’re hypoallergenic and they don’t shed, really. And we should definitely adopt.”

[freddiecodes]

“Gentle is not exactly his…skill set. I’m just happy the dogs in town are happy enough to get attention to not really care,”

“No, it’s not. Which is why we’d have to get a dog that doesn’t give a fuck if our kid tugs on it’s tail, ears, and legs.”

[freddiecodes]

“I wouldn’t say no to a dog either. I mean, Gram and Gramps have had a dog since I was a little kid, at one point there were two of them. I mean, I’m kind of used to dogs. It’d be really nice to have a dog for Isaac to grow up with, kind of like a little friend he gets to live with and grow up with.”

“Exactly! And it would be something he can cuddle with and learn to be gentle with.”