Rhett and Link: Grandparents
If you would have told Rhett and Link that they would share a grandchild, they would never have believed you. Yet, here they stand just outside the delivery room, waiting anxiously to meet their granddaughter.
They would both switch from sitting down to standing up to pace the small waiting room. Jessie and Christy remained seated lightly sipping their coffee and watching their husbands move around the room. Lily sat sideways in a chair, her legs dangling off the side while she ate some chips and loosely listened to her mom and Jessie talk. Locke sat next to Lily, occasionally stealing some of her chips. Link sat down and watched as Rhett paced. He patted the seat next to him.
“Come sit down. You're makin' me nervous." Rhett sat down and wiped his hands on his knees. Lily and Locke watched them both and laughed. "Were you this nervous when we were born?” Lily spoke and motioned her bag of chips between her and Locke. Rhett and Link just looked at them with a dumbfounded look on their faces, which caused Lily and Locke to laugh even more. "No." Jessie looked at the two as they burst into laughter. "Listen. I've never really been on this side of the experience. I was in the room for all 3 of you and in there everything seems to go faster.” Link spoke and looked to Rhett for an add-on. "This is totally different.” Rhett spoke in a serious tone now. "We're talking about a surrogate. I'm nervous for multiple reasons. But mostly just excited. And impatient." Rhett looked to Link, they both smiled at each other. Rhett felt a hand on his leg, it was Jessie's. They all sat in silence for a moment before Rhett spoke once more. “Where is Lincoln?" he turned his body towards Link as he asked. Link looked at him and pushed his glasses up. “He said he was on his way a little bit ago." Link waved his hand and looked at his watch.
The group sat there for another 15 minutes before Lincoln finally arrived. "Well, hello there son." Link spoke as Lincoln sat down next to Locke. Lincoln responded with a simple, “Sorry”. Lily broke the silence after a beat by catching Lincoln up on the state of their father and his best friend. As they all laughed, Shepard came around the corner. He smiled as everyone raised to their feet. A nurse stood behind him. "You all can come back now.” Shepard spoke nervously. They all followed Shepard and the nurse.
They entered a regular hospital room, only this one had a crib, changing table, a chair and small couch. The nurse left them as they all entered the room behind Shepard. They were greeted by Lando, holding a baby girl while sitting in a small rocking chair. He looked up to see his family, he had tears in his eyes as Shepard came over and crouched next to the chair and place a small kiss on his daughter’s head. Lando looked up to his Rhett and Link who were, of course, at the front of the line to meet their granddaughter. Link held his hands up to his chin, and Rhett put one arm behind Link’s back as they slowly inched closer. They both went around to the back of the chair and looked down over Lando’s shoulder. Jessie and Christy watched with tears in their eyes. Anxious to get a turn holding the newborn. Lily, Locke, and Lincoln hung in the back, trying not to cry. Lily took a quick photo of Rhett and Link watching their sons with their newborn child. Rhett softly spoke through tears, “She’s beautiful.” He bent down and place a hand on Shepard’s shoulder and squeezed. Shepard put his hand on Lando’s as he held their daughter, brushing at her face every now and again. The room set quiet for a minute, the silence broken by small cries from Nora, their brand new daughter. She scrunched her nose and wiggled her arms up and down. Shep and Lando looked to her and watched their daughter try to open her eyes.
Link looked up for a moment to Rhett, tears pooling in his eyes. “Oh my gosh, Rhett.” He placed a hand on the taller man’s back and rubbed up and down. “When do I get a turn now Cmon?” Rhett spoke anxiously through tears. Everyone laughed and Lando stood up from the chair along with Shepard, who had been crouched on the floor. He maneuvered to the front of the chair and sat down, with Link remaining in his place, watching his son hand his granddaughter to his best friend, and other grandad, or papaw-as Rhett said he was to be called. While Link would be pappy. They both had big smiles on their faces, and Link bent down over Rhett’s shoulder to look at Nora better. Both of them whispered baby talk while watching her wiggle around. They even started whispering, “I can’t believe this,” and “Would you have ever imagined?” To each other. Eventually everyone got their turn to hold baby Nora. They sat in the room for the better part of 2 hours before a nurse came in and took Nora to be fed. Shepard sat in the chair with Lando loosely sat in his lap, with Rhett, Link, Christy, and Jessie sat on the couch. Lily, Locke, and Lincoln ended up leaving since it was midnight and they were very tired. The six of them sat in the room for about an hour, waiting for the nurse to bring Nora back. The two older couples gave their advice on taking care of a newborn, Link and Christy telling them about taking care of a baby girl. The boys listened and laughed tiredly along with them. They eventually fell into normal conversation when Shepard fell asleep, with his arms tight around Lando’s waist, who sat on Shepard’s lap, leaning against his chest. Lando slowly turned his head around then looked over to Rhett and Link. He smiled at them, and Rhett and Link watched the two for a moment as Lando settled back against Shepard and closed his eyes. Shep buried his face in the crook of Lando’s neck and breathed deeply. They both fell asleep peacefully, taking a small moment.
Rhett looked over to where Christy and Jessie sat on the opposite end of the couch, they had fallen asleep as well. Link leaned his head on Rhett’s shoulder and they fell back against the couch. Link grabbed onto Rhett’s arm, and Rhett returned the favor by rubbing Link’s arm and up and down. They sat a talked for a moment before falling into silence. Both of them thinking of their two boys, and their journey. Here these two were, an almost spitting image of Rhett and Link, with a child of their own. Rhett and Link still remember when they told them they were going together.
Rhett had just came outside the pool where he was grilling steaks for Shepard’s graduation party from high school. Link was already by the grill, cleaning it for his best friend. It was a small party, just them and some of Shepard’s friends from school. While Rhett already knew Shepard was gay, Shep had never been in a relationship. It was actually a topic of conversation for Rhett and Link that day while they cooked and prepared for the graduation party.
“I just hope he knows that, we completely accept him. And I don’t want him to be afraid to get into a relationship.” Rhett spoke to Link, they were still outside by the grill as they watched their wives decorate the outside area. “I hear ya. I feel the same way about Lando. I don’t want him to feel like he’s not accepted or wanted. He is, and your boy is too. I mean, I’m extremely proud of their bravery.” Rhett didn’t respond to Link, but only started laughing to himself. “Could you imagine our boys going together?” He paused what he was doing and turned to look at Link, he whispered it almost but laughed. Link smiled at him, “Wouldn’t that be something.” They both laughed and continued cooking. “I bet you,” Rhett paused for a moment, “I bet you, a dollar that they are going together.” Link looked up to Rhett and pushed his glasses up his face, stepping to the side so Rhett could block the sun from his eyes. “A whole dollar?” Link said sarcastically serious, which caused them both to laugh. “So, if they aren’t then you give me a dollar? And if they are, I give You a dollar?” Link questioned. “Yeah. Deal?” Rhett held out his hand, Link shrugged his shoulders, then shook his friends hand.
When the party wrapped, the Neals stayed behind to help clean up. They all settled in the kitchen, sparking conversation amongst each other while Shepard waved the last of his friends goodbye. Shepard came into the kitchen and sat down next to Lando on one of the bar stools, he leaned forwards with his arms on the table, same as Lando. They leaned forward, their heads hung down, staring at the kitchen counter, their elbows grazing each other’s. Rhett, Link, Jessie, and Christy stood in the middle of the kitchen, leaned against the counter and frame. Rhett silently nudged Link’s arm, and motioned with his head to their boys sitting next to each other at the counter. They both watched them rub their elbows microscopically together. Link thought to himself, “just like we did back then.” He smiled at them slightly, hearing them giggle with one another. The boys eventually looked up when the realized the room had gone quiet. They were greeted with their parents staring at them smiling. Shepard and Lando moved away from each other and looked away from their parents’ stares.
Link smiled as he rested his eyes against his friends shoulder, enjoying the memory of seeing their two boys together, cut to now, them sleeping peacefully together in a hospital room awaiting their daughter’s return. Rhett’s arm fell limp against Link’s, he knew he was asleep now. He sat there, taking in the moment, trying not to think too hard about Rhett, and imagining what their sons have. Cause once upon a time ago, in a different universe, this was Rhett and Link. Both of them had talked about it over a few drinks, how the multiverse was real and there’s no way in hell that they weren’t together in at least one of these universes. Link pondered the thought for a moment before nestling deeper into Rhett’s side, letting his head move against Rhett’s rising and falling chest. Link then let his hand fall to Rhett’s hand, that has fallen down to Link’s leg. He spun the ring on Rhett’s finger, and it brought him back to when Shepard proposed to Lando, and their -eventful- wedding.
Shepard and Lando had been dating for 3 years now, even planning on finally moving in together not far from their homes in California. But now it was Fourth of July, which meant they were back home in North Carolina. Shepard had been planning it for months, but it had been on his mind for pretty much the entire time him and Lando had been together. He remembers talking to his dad about it, and letting the words, “I’m gonna marry him one day.”, slip from his mouth without even thinking. So, when Shepard felt they were ready, he started planning it around their trip to North Carolina. He told his dad about the plan, and of course, he spoke to Link.
Link was welcomed into the McLaughlin household where he sat down with Rhett and Shepard at the dinner table for an “important discussion.” Rhett explained to Link that Shepard had something to ask Link. Of course it didn’t hit Link right away, but just hearing Shepard say, “Mr. Neal.” Link knew right away, which of course the name made him laugh and cry almost instantly. Rhett was doing the same, watching his son express his love for his best friend’s son, and asking for his hand in marriage, as a man should. Shepard cried through the whole exchange and smiled along with Link and his dad. When Shepard was finished with his “proposal” to propose to Link’s son, Link stood from his seat and hugged Shepard tightly. “Of course, son.” He spoke while he hugged the boy in front of him. Shepard was the same height as Link now, clearly he was now a man. They proceeded to tell Link of Shepard’s plan. Link made sure to keep the exchange quiet- not even telling Christy until a week before they were to leave for NC.
The festivities were like every other year, setting fireworks off on the dock of the lake. They sat on the grass, the yard lit up with explosions of light coming from the sky. Shep and Lando sat upon a blanket on the grass, with Shep’s arm around Lando, leaning close together as they watched the fireworks. When the show ended, Rhett casually suggested that they all take photos on the dock before heading inside. He and Link lit up the dock with torches and watched as Shep held onto Lando’s hand and let him down to the dock. Christy and Jessie guided the “photo shoot” making sure to get a few good photos before the proposal. They both moved over to their husbands, and watched as the boys turned to face the lake. Their fingers interlocked, Lando could tell Shepard was nervous, but took it as nervousness from both their parents staring at them. Which of course, their parents eventually hung back a little further form the boys, towards to edge of the grass leading to the dock, to give them space, but just close enough to hear. They all watched as Shepard turned and hugged Lando, Lily was set with the job of taking photos and recording- Lincoln and Locke set with the task of setting off fireworks when the proposal happens. The boys stood swaying for a moment, Lando planting a quick kiss on Shepard’s lips. Shepard held Lando’s hands in his, looked into his eyes, and spoke.
“Lando.” Shepard’s voice was shaking and tears were already forming in his eyes, as well as everybody else’s. “I hope you know how much I love you. And I’ve wanted to be with you for such a long time. I don’t know how we went so long without going together. Because now, I don’t even want to spend another minute without you by my side.” Shepard held onto Lando’s hands tight, swaying them with emphasis on his words. “There truly are no words to describe how I feel about you, and you know I’m not one to get too sappy or emotional. But all I want, is to spend the rest of my life making you as happy as you make me happy.” Shepard looked to Lando, who was now crying and laughing. Shepard paused for a beat before releasing his hands from Lando’s, and reaching into his pocket where he pulled out the ring. Lando put his hands to his mouth, and pulled on his shirt collar. Shepard bent down and got on one knee and opened the ring box.
The video played at the reception while everyone enjoyed their meals. Shepard and Lando sat at the front of the room, watching the video. They both smiled, looking upon that memory and listening to their families reaction. Not realizing what they were even saying during that moment. Of course their parents had to throw together a video for them, putting embarrassing photos of them as babies and videos of them spending time together. The video ended, then Rhett and Link stood from their seats and went to the stage, where two mic stands and a guitar awaited them. Rhett spoke into the microphone first while putting the guitar strap around him.
“Hello everybody. Uh, I’m Shepard’s dad. If you didn’t know that-why are you here?” Link laughed along with everybody else. “I think they know that.” Link spoke and waved his hand to the crowd. “I’m Lando’s dad by the way.” Link spoke, imitating his friend. Everyone laughed once more before Rhett spoke, “Anyway. Link and I,” Rhett turned his head to look at Shep and Lando, who were sat at their table, just by the stage. “We wanted to perform your ‘first dance’ song. We hope that you like it-if not, don’t tell us that.” They both laughed as they stood and walked to the middle of the dance floor. “Yes, please just- pretend to like it boys.” Link spoke before he turned to Rhett and they counted to start playing. Shep and Lando started dancing when Rhett started strumming his guitar, then Link started with the first verse.
“You give me chills on a summer day. When were laying still but you make my heart race. Gonna keep me young when we’re old and grey. I know that time moves on. But some things don’t change.” Both Rhett and Link joined in for the chorus. “I won’t stop getting butterflies, I get em every time I look into your eyes. You won’t stop running through my mind for the rest of both our lives. You give me butterflies.” The guys continued to alternate and play on while they watched their boys have their first dance, trying to remain steady and not cry while watching and singing. The song came to a close and the boys ended their dance with a kiss. Everyone cheered.
The sounds seemed to be fading out and away from Link’s memory. He suddenly jolted awake to see Rhett’s face. “Cmon man. It’s late let’s go.” Rhett stood over Link. He held out a hand, which Link took and raised up. He looked over to Lando and Shepard who were no longer asleep, but holding their baby girl, swaying her to sleep.
“I’ll talk to you boys tomorrow morning, love you both.” Link walked over to them and place a hand on their shoulders before leaning down to place a small kiss on Nora’s head. “See you tomorrow miss Nora.” Link whispered and gave them a small smile before meeting Rhett in the hallway. Jessie and Christy had already left. Letting Rhett know before hand, but decided to let Link sleep just a little bit longer.
“You sleep good, bo?” Rhett nudged Links elbow with his while they walked down the hallway.
Link smiled at Rhett and reached down to hold his hand, “yeah.”