Chapter Text
“So what is it that you wanted to talk to us about?” Michael asked, taking a seat down on the brown leather couch.
It wasn’t often that his parents called family meetings. It was usually never a good circ*mstance either. The last time a family meeting had been called, William announced that his dad had died. Though, none of the kids were affected by it. He lived in England, and they knew he wasn’t the best to their dad growing up, so it was something that was probably for the best anyways.
“We just wanted to talk to you guys about something.” Henry smiled a little. Sammy and Charlie went and sat down on either side of their dads, Elizabeth took the chair across from them, Evan sat near Michael on the other couch.
“What is it, daddy?” Evan asked
Charlie smiled. “Yeah tell us!” she shouted happily.
Henry and William looked at each other before turning their attention back to the kids.
“Well…” Henry started and William took over. “You guys are gonna have a baby sibling! A little brother or sister!”
Michaels jaw dropped and he sat there almost stunned. Evan, Sammy, and Charlie looked ecstatic almost immediately.
“A baby!” Sammy said with a smile.
“Is it a boy or a girl?” Evan asked, leaning forward in his seat.
Both Henry and William chuckled. “We don’t know yet. We won’t know for a few more months.” William answered.
Michael took a little to process what they had said, but eventually he smiled, his black braces showing through his lips. “Another baby, huh?”
Henry smiled and laughed a little. “Yes. Another baby. I know it may seem weird, but we want it.”
Evan smiled. “It’s not weird! I love babies!”
Charlie giggled. “Yeah! I want a baby of my own!”
Williams eyes widened a little and he shook his head. “No sweetheart. Not right now you don’t. Maybe in 20 years.” he laughed softly.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying this. Celebrating the new addition to their already perfect family.
There was only one kid who looked unhappy about this. Elizabeth.
She was biting her lip, doing her best to stop herself from crying.
It wasn’t long before they all noticed how quiet she was being, and they looked over at her.
“Lizzie, are you alright?” Henry asked.
Michael scoffed a little and looked at his sister. “Come on, Libs. Don’t be such a little brat about this.”
Her brothers comment seemed to break her even more and she went to the bathroom, shutting and locking the door as she started to sob.
The other kids sat there, stunned silent. They weren’t sure what to say, or why she was even so upset.
William immediately got angry. He couldn’t believe his daughter was acting like this. Not when this is something he, his husband, and the rest of the family seemed to really want.
He was about to stand up when Henry set his hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, Will. I’ve got it.”
Henry stood up and walked to the bathroom, knocking gently on the door. “Lizzie, sweetheart, can you open the door please?”
There was no answer, just cries. So Henry tried again.
“I just want to talk. No one else is here. Just me and you, okay?”
There was a click that signalled the door had been unlocked, and Henry slowly cracked it open, immediately being met with a teary eyed Elizabeth.
“Please don’t hate me. Please.” Lizzie said, starting to cry again.
Henry pulled her into a hug, gently cradling her head against his chest. “No, Lizzie, no. I could never hate you.”
Elizabeth kept crying, staining her step fathers tears with her shirt. “Daddy’s gonna hate me. I know he does. I just know it.”
Henry cut her off a little. “Daddy doesn’t hate you either. We just want to know why your so upset.”
“because. I like our family the way it is now. We don’t need another baby. You and Daddy won’t be able to pay attention to us. I’m scared you’ll forget about us.” Tears were steaming down her face.
Henry kissed her head, sighing a little. “Elizabeth, we could never forget about you. Ever. Yes babies take up time. And no, they aren’t easy. But we will still dedicate time to you, okay? I will personally guarantee that you won’t feel left out,”
Elizabeth nodded a little, pulling away to look at Henry “Pinky promise?”
Henry chuckled and laced his pinky with hers. “Pinky promise. Hey, what if me and you, and sometimes daddy if he wanted too, went out every week? Once a week. And we did whatever you wanted to do. How would that sound?”
A small giggle came from Elizabeth as she used her sleeves to wipe the tears away from her eyes. “I would like that.” she said
“Yeah?” Henry said with a smile, slowly letting go of her. “I’m glad. Now do you wanna go back out there with everyone else?”
Elizabeth nodded, stepping out of the bathroom and joining the rest of the family.
William glanced over at Henry, making eye contact with him. “You got her to stop acting spoiled? How?”
Henry said a little. “she’s not acting ‘spoiled.’ Her whole world is about to change and your sitting here saying how much of a brat she is.”
The other man sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m just upset. I wanted her to be happy about the baby.”
“And she will be.” Henry said. “Just give her time to adjust.” A small smile appeared on his lips.
William nodded, leaning in and pecking Henry on the lips.
A bunch of little ‘ew’s’ came from the children sitting next to them.
Sammy had his nose scrunched in disgust. “Don’t do that.”
William chuckled. “Do what? This?” He leaned in and pecked Henry’s lips again.
Sammy made a noise of disgust. “Yes, daddy! that! Thats gross!” He said
William laughed, pecking Henry on the lips one last time for good measure. “You heard the kid, Hen. Your gross. Guess I can’t be with you.”
Henry laughed and rolled his eyes. “Good thing i’ll love you no matter what then, huh?”
