dad!will
Will has wanted to be a dad for as long as he can remember. Truly saw it as his purpose. He's not sure what started it, or how the idea became so engrained in him, especially when his career took off and became such a huge part of his everyday. He loved working and got a kick out of the life he was building for himself, even though in the back of his mind, he knew it was taking him down a path not conducive to family life. Working late nights and being away for extended periods never bothered him until he met you.
It was only your second date when you brought it up. He'd been unconsciously checking his emails when you teasingly asked if there was somewhere he'd rather be.
You'd said it so lightly, grinning as you watched him shake himself, not realising that he was internally answering your question. No. There absolutely wasn't anywhere he'd rather be.
That was how quickly things shifted for him. He hadn't expected it but he'd secretly been wanting someone to come along and wrangle him. Someone to pull him out of work and force him into a balance. That was you, with your bright eyes and unwavering charm. You turned his world upside down and he was so grateful.
You're everything to him. His biggest supporter at every turn. You love how passionate he is. Seeing him work so hard to get what he wants is one of the things that first attracted you to him. Especially when it became abundantly clear that what he wanted was you.
He was besotted with you from the start, everyone could see it. Especially when he started researching engagement rings a few months in, just for when the time came.
When you'd first discussed having kids, Will's heart had been in his throat. You were so perfect, everything he could ever want or need, that if you had told him that it wasn't something you wanted, he'd consider giving that dream up. He really would have. But your eyes had lit up, and you'd talked so animatedly about wanting to be a good mum that he'd fallen in love with you all over again. He couldn't wait to raise some little hellions with you.
You'd started trying shortly after the wedding, nothing too serious, just no more late-night condom runs.
You hadn't expected anything to happen as quickly as it did. Three months after you'd gotten married, to the day, you'd taken that fateful test. Will was abroad for a video, you were a few days late and honestly, just a bit bored at home. If you'd actually thought sincerely that you were pregnant, you would have waited two days for Will to be there with you. But those two lines had taken you by surprise.
You wait until he's home to tell him. Draping a little, homemade 'Welcome Home' banner across the kitchen island, a small gift bag sitting on top.
He's already grinning when he walks through the door, so excited to be back home with you. He's bowled over when he sees you waiting in the kitchen with his surprise, telling you that you're adorable as he kisses you and hugs you tight. When he spots the gift bag he starts laughing.
"What are you doing woman? I've been gone a week."
You just shrug, biting your lip as he peeks into the bag and sees the test.
"No!" He gasps, a grin instantly beginning to spread across his lips as it sinks in. "Really? Please don't tell me this is a joke because my heart won't handle it. Are you really? Oh my god. Are you?"
He's a shocked and excited mess as he wraps his arms around you and doesn't let go until you've told him several times that you aren't joking. You're pregnant and he's going to be a dad.
From that moment on, he takes the title very seriously. He comes to all of your appointments. He reads every book he can get his hands on. He listens to every podcast. He asks for advice from his dad friends, as covertly as he can, i.e. not at all. You can't even blame him when he accidentally lets it slip to yet another person, just too excited to keep it to himself and desperate to do a good job when the time comes.
When it's safe to start telling people, on purpose, you've both had plenty of time to think about it. You both like to keep your private life to yourselves, as much as is possible with his career, so a big announcement doesn't feel right. Instead, you settle on an idea he had in the middle of the night; a video trying pregnancy cravings with James.
You hadn't told him yet and weren't showing so much that you couldn't cover it with a baggy shirt. So when you rock up to the shoot, you tell him you're just popping in early to meet Will for lunch. You watch from behind the camera as plate after plate of unhinged combinations get put in front of the duo. It's James' nightmare, all the mixtures of flavours and textures and he's crashed out so many times by the time the last plate is placed on the table.
"I can't do any more." James complains, turning his nose up at the blueberries covered in cinnamon sugar.
"Come on, last one." Will says, popping one in his mouth, a grin tugging on his lips as he swallows. "This one is special, viewers. It's actually one of my lovely wife's."
It takes a second for James to register what he's said, still toying with the fruit. Then he thinks Will's joking.
"Don't mess with me like that." He chuckles, then when Will doesn't say anything and just grins as he pops another berry into his mouth, he looks back and forth between us desperately. "Fuck off... No, actually, fuck off. You're joking."
Will just breathes a laugh and reaches into his wallet for a copy of the latest sonogram, softly saying, "No mate. You're actually unc for real now."
And then they're hugging and James runs behind the camera to hug you too. You show him your bump and he freaks out even more, as if it finally hits him. Then, after the shoot, when you ask him to be godfather, he breaks down completely.
Will can't believe his luck.
He loves seeing you pregnant. He already doted on you but there's something about seeing you carrying his child that has him on his knees for you. He'll tease you as you get bigger, jumping up when you sit down on the sofa, only when he knows it will make you laugh. But he can't get enough of you. When a heatwave strikes and he sees you walk into the kitchen in a bikini top and linen trousers, hot and swollen, he wishes he could get you pregnant again right now.
By the time you go into labour, Will is an expert on everything you could possibly need. Timing your contractions, he's already on it. Want your shoulders rubbing, he's researched pressure points. The drive to the hospital, he's already timed it. Three times. He's packed everything you could want. He's made a playlist of your favourite songs. He's on top of all the correspondence with your family. He thinks he's got it sussed; being the best birth partner. That is until he hears your baby cry.
It's as though the second your son is born, every ounce of self-control drains from Will. He's sobbing. Quietly of course, because you've literally just given birth and you don't need him to be a babbling mess. But he can't help it when he sees that tiny little boy get placed on your chest. He's perfect. You're perfect. This is his dream, actually coming true before his eyes.
He knew that his heart would grow when his child came into the world but he hadn't realised that his love for you would double as well. You are the most incredible woman. He's trying his best to tell you but the words are coming out watery. Fat teardrops fall from his cheekbones and his shirt is ruined from the way he keeps wiping his face. Every time he manages to pull himself together, he remembers that his baby is in the world now and you brought him here, and he's a mess again.
It warms your heart and makes you laugh in equal measure, muttering conspiratorially to your son, "Told you daddy's a huge softie."
When you ask if he wants to hold him, he nods but stares up at the ceiling as he tries to dry his eyes. He shakes out his wrists, trying to pull himself together.
"Not having my boy think I'm not the happiest man on Earth right now."
You try and explain that the baby won't hold a grudge but Will doesn't listen, too focused on meeting his child.
Then, when he takes the baby in his arms, it's like a switch is flipped and he can't stop smiling.
"Hiya mate." he whispers, tears welling but not falling as he beams down at the little bundle.
Will is an absolute goner for his little boy. Any chance for skin-to-skin and he's doing it. You can't remember the last time he wore a shirt around the house. Any chance Will can be with his boy, he will be. Even volunteering for every night shift, wanting to have these moments with the baby even though they're hard and you're both so tired.
You catch him in the middle of the night, hand dangled into the crib and lying on his little belly, whispering to his sleeping son. "Me and your mam love you so much, do you know that? Even when you're screaming your head off."
You tuck in behind him, hand wrapping around his stomach and joining in. "We really do, little fella."
It's not the only time you catch him talking to the baby. He's always chatting away to him, walking him through making coffee in the morning, going through every item he's packing up for your trip around the block, showing him his outfit and telling him, "I wore this shirt on my second date with your mam."
He's heartbroken when he has to go back to work and leave his favourite people. You two wave him off in the morning, and he replays the imagine in his head over and over. He checks the baby monitor on his phone constantly when he knows it's nap time. It's a default and he doesn't even notice that whenever there's a quiet moment, he finds himself tapping on the app.
He picks up flowers for you on the way home, grateful that he gets to come home to you both. Grateful for you and everything you've given him. It becomes a routine occurrence, picking out flowers for you and telling you 'Happy Mother's Day' every time he gives them to you.