"Why does your birthday have to fall so close to Christmas?" Sean grumbled good-naturedly as he loaded the dishwasher. "I can't buy any more gifts."
"What? You're tapped out of cash?" Orlando asked with a smile. "Need to borrow some from the big movie star?"
Sean snorted. "No, that's not what I mean. It's just that I hate going to store after store trying to find the perfect knick-knack for people."
"I don't want a knick-knack, Sean," Orli said, hugging his lover from behind.
"What do you want, love?" Sean turned around and kissed Orli gently on the lips. "For the big two-seven, I'll get you whatever you want."
"I want a Beanie baby."
The older man furrowed his brow in confusion, which made him look adorable, at least in Orli's estimation. "What? One of those plush toys? Are you saying that because they're called 'Beanie' or because you're now completely nutters?"
"No, Sean, I'm not talking about a toy," Orli said softly. "I want a Beanie baby." His tone was slow and deliberate, so there could be no misunderstanding.
The green eyes widened in comprehension. "A baby? Orli . . ." His voice trailed off. And then he remembered Orlando's demented sense of humor. "Good one, love." Sean chuckled. "Had me there for a second." As he walked towards the refrigerator, he heard a strangled noise, and turned to see a look of pure pain on Orli's face.
"Not a joke, Sean," he murmured. "Not a joke." Orli walked out of the kitchen, grabbing his coat.
"Love, where are you going?"
"Out." That was the only response he got before the front door closed loudly.
"Fuck," Sean whispered. Leaning against the fridge, he shook his head, then grabbed the phone, dialing a familiar number.
"Hello?"
"Um, hi Henry. It's Sean."
"Hey, what's up? How's the elf?"
"He's fine," Sean lied, twisting the cord around a finger. "Is
your dad there?"
"Yup. DAD!!!" Sean jerked the received away from
his ear as a teenaged shout threatened to detonate his hearing.
"Pick up the phone!!! It's Sean!!! So then wipe the paint off
your hands and pick up the damned phone!!!"
"Hello?" Viggo's gravelly voice came over the line.
"Hey," Sean said nervously.
"Okay, Henry, you can hang up now," Viggo said. "And watch your language." They heard a click signifying that the third party had left the conversation, and Sean relaxed a bit. "What's going on over in merry olde England?"
"Orli wants a baby," Sean said, the words rushing out before he could stop them.
Viggo chuckled. "And?"
"And what?"
"Do you want a baby?"
"Christ, Vig, I already have three daughters to take care of. A fourth kid . . . and Orli's so damned young."
"Sean, he's almost twenty-seven. That's just three years younger than I was when Henry was born. He's *not* twenty-one anymore; you know that. And besides, he's great with the girls, especially Evie."
"I know," Sean said. "It's just that this would change everything."
"Well, of course it would. For one, you'd both have to come out."
"See, that's the thing. I don't mind coming out; as long as my friends and family support me, I could give a damn what the rest of the world thinks. And with someone like Orli, all that shit is worth it. But he's just starting his career, and he's this hot young star. Coming out could –"
"Make him secure and happy," Viggo said firmly. "We both know that Orlando's impulsive, but he's not stupid."
"You're shooting down all my arguments," Sean said petulantly.
"That's because they're lousy ones," Viggo laughed. "Look, Sean, the only real issue here is do you want this? Do you want to have another child? To change diapers and soothe tantrums, to post finger paintings on the fridge and read bedtime stories? And do you want Orli by your side as you do all those things?"
There was a long silence. "Yes."
"Well, then tell him that."
"I laughed at him when he told me, Vig. I thought he was shitting me."
Sean could almost hear Viggo cringing. "Better work at making that up."
"I know. Listen, thanks."
"Glad I could help."
*****
Sean looked at the clock as the front door opened. One a.m.
As Orli got under the blankets, he turned and looked at him. "Orli,
I'm sorry about before."
"Forget it. I shouldn't have said anything."
"No, love, I acted –"
"Just forget, okay?" Orli turned away and closed his eyes.
Shaking his head, Sean could feel his head aching. 'I'm such a prat,' he thought.
*****
Orli grinned as they walked back into the flat. "God, did you see Dom's face when he realized he had forgotten to zip his trousers? I mean, it's the oldest source of embarrassment in the world, but it's still sodding hilarious!"
Sean had to laugh at the memory of Dom's beet-red face as the young lady he was hitting on had informed him of his little faux pas. "I doubt Dominic will be living that one down anytime soon."
"Not if I have anything to say about it." Orli turned and kissed Sean gently. "Thank you for the birthday dinner, love. And having Dom and Billy and Ian there was so wonderful. Of course, Atti was insufferable."
"As usual," Sean laughed.
"I should call the others and thank them for their gifts."
"You can do that in a few minutes," the blonde man said as he kissed Orli's neck. "I have two more gifts to give you yet."
"Two?" Orli asked, gasping a bit as Sean's teeth scraped against sensitive skin. "Well, if you insist."
An hour later, Orli stretched in a very feline manner as he looked at Sean with a look of blissful satisfaction. "I somehow doubt that the second gift could beat the first," he practically purred. Yes, very feline indeed.
"I beg to differ," Sean said, kissing his lover. He reached into the drawer of the night stand and pulled out a brochure. "Happy birthday, Orlando."
Orlando looked at the brochure curiously before taking it. His mouth fell open a bit as he read the cover. "Adoption?"
"You wanted a Beanie Baby," Sean said nervously. "I was hoping you hadn't changed your mind."
"No," Orli breathed, his eyes shining with emotion. "But you obviously did."
"Orli, I was a complete tosser before, and I'm so sorry. But believe me when I'm saying that I'm not doing this to make you feel better. I realized that I love being a father, and that having a child would be a gift not just for you, but for everyone involved."
"Sean . . ." Orli was unable to speak as he fought back tears.
"You're going to be an incredible father, Orlando." He took his lover into his arms and kissed the moist eyes. "You have so much love and energy to give; it's why I fell in love with you four years ago, and why I'm still in love with you now."
"Northern nasty," Orli laughed, his voice a bit shaky.
"Southern softie." Sean kissed Orli's hair. "I shouldn't have laughed at you."
"I shouldn't have just walked out."
"Maybe it's good that you did. Left me alone with my thoughts. But Viggo's the one you should be thanking."
"What do you mean?"
"I called him; he helped me realize how much I really did want this, and erased the doubts."
"Sometimes I could kiss that man," Orli said with a grin.
"Anything I should be worried about?" Sean asked, but he was smiling broadly.
"Nah, he's not my type. Too broody. But forget about Vig, for a few minutes. Let's look at this brochure."
*****
A year later:
"I can't believe how well-behaved he is," Elijah marveled as he watched the little boy sit patiently in his high chair.
"He never cries," Sean said proudly as he put dinner on the table. All nine members of the Fellowship were there, plus Peter, Fran, and Atti, partly for Orli's twenty-eighth birthday, but also to spend some time with the newest addition to the Lord of the Rings extended family – eighteen-month-old Julian Matthew Bloom-Bean.
After making the decision to adopt, both Sean and Orli had come out publicly, with surprisingly little negative attention. Oh sure, they were tabloid fodder for a while, but nothing painful had come out of it. And when compared with the joys of parenthood, a little p.r. trouble was nothing. Sean's girls were thrilled to have a new addition; predictably, they adored Orli, and were happy for their father.
The adoption agency was wonderful, not caring that it was a same-sex couple, and giving them free books on how to make a child feel comfortable in a new home. Neither Orli nor Sean cared as to the baby's gender or what country it had been born in; they just wanted to give a child, *their* child a home. In late October, Orli and Sean flew to Ecuador to meet their son, and promptly fell in love. The irony of it was that he bore a striking resemblance to Orli in some ways, with dark hair and soft brown eyes. Although even Sean had to admit that not even Orli had as infectious a smile as the baby did.
Little Julian had adapted fairly well to the drastic change, and was overall a very happy, well-behaved toddler. Sean had put his career almost on hold to be a father, not just to Julian, but to his girls as well, and was enjoying every minute. Orli was shooting his next movie in the spring, but it was filming just outside of London, so he wouldn't be away from home. At first, Orli had been all nerves with his son, but Sean helped him immensely, easing his fears and giving him confidence.
And now, Orli was surrounded by family and friends – his birthday wish this year. The proud father kissed Julian on the head and sat down between Sean and the high chair. "This looks wonderful," he said as he looked at the meal in front of him.
"Thank God Viggo can cook," Sean laughed.
"Thank God he can cook *vegetarian*," Orli amended.
"Dig in," Viggo urged, passing around a Chinese tofu dish.
"So is he talking yet?" Lij asked.
"Not yet, but he's almost there" Sean said. "He tried to mimic
me the other day when I called him Jules."
"I hate that nickname," Orli said.
"I know, love," Sean laughed. "That's really the only child-rearing conflict we have, is what to nickname our son. Orli calls him bobo. I have no clue why."
"He looks like a bobo when he scrunches his face up," Orli protested.
"It could be worse," Sean A. assured them. "I flipped out when Christine suggested that Ally was old enough to get her ears pierced."
"Well, if I have anything to say about it, I'll make sure Julian has a piercing hanging from every appendage," Atti said cheerfully.
"And that is why you're never babysitting my son," Orli told him with a grin.
"I wanna babysit," Lij said earnestly. "I'm really good with kids."
"Hey, if you pay your way over here, you're more than welcome to babysit," Sean informed him.
"I just can't get over how much he grew since November." Dom looked at the little boy. "I didn't know kids grew so fucking fast." John coughed pointedly and Orli shot him a *look*. "I mean, so . . . quickly."
Ian laughed. "I never thought I'd see the day when Orlando Bloom would be upset by foul language." That elicited a chuckle from everybody, although Orli just blushed.
"So are you guys gonna do a commitment ceremony or something?" Lij asked as he spit out a hot pepper.
"Lovely, Elijah," Sean said dryly. "And no. We don't feel the need to validate what we have with a ceremony, or rings, or anything like that. I'm not good with that kind of thing," he said self-deprecatingly.
"Oh, sod off, Sean" Dom told him. "You're doing just fine with the elf."
The conversation was broken from a Scottish-accented screech. "Oi!" Billy yelped, as he wiped tomato sauce out of his eye. "The kid's got good aim."
"Julian," Orli sighed. "What am I going to do with you?" The little boy just laughed and threw some more sauce, this time landing on Viggo's shirt.
"Oh, man, I just bought this," Viggo groaned.
"Don't worry, Vig," Sean consoled him. "You can just add some mustard and jelly and say it's a new painting." Even Viggo had to laugh, although he good-naturedly tossed a piece of eggplant at his friend, grimacing as he missed and hit Orli.
"Human scum!" Orli growled.
"You're not going to kiss me this time, are you?" Viggo laughed.
"Thanks for the offer, but just being exposed to you freaks is enough trauma for Julian for one night," Orli sniggered.
"That's no way to treat your guests, Orlando," Pete said with a grin.
All talking ceased as Julian began laughing suddenly. "Something on your mind?" Ian asked the child with a smile.
"Blades!" Julian said triumphantly.
Billy's eyes widened. "Did he just say Blades?"
Sean was grinning like a fool. "Say it again, Julian. Come on, sweetie."
"Blades!" Seeing he had everyone's attention, he launched into a stream of babble before ending on "Blades!" once again.
"What have you been teaching him?" Dom asked Sean accusingly.
"Um . . . nothing," Sean lied.
"Christ, Orli, your son's a Sheffield fan!" Dom exclaimed.
"Mmm," Orli said with a grin. "Don't really care that much right now."
"Sean looks pretty pleased," Viggo pointed out.
"Well, it's taken me three weeks to get him to say that!" Sean told everyone.
"You really are nuts, Sean," Orli laughed.
"But you love me anyway."
Orli responded with a kiss. Everyone groaned, except Julian.
He just laughed.
