Daniel and Johnny were eagerly anticipating the arrival of their first child, Johnny, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness, found himself biting his nails to cope with his emotions.

The couple had numerous heartfelt conversations about their plans to grow the family. While they weren’t sure how many children they would have, Johnny definitely hoped for at least two; he didn’t want his kid growing up like he did, without siblings to play with. At the same time, he was determined not to be the kind of father Sid had been, so he felt he was already on the right path.

Their discussions led them to consider both adoption and surrogacy. They contemplated the idea of adopting a child and then using a surrogate for their next addition to the family. Johnny expressed that he didn't have a preference for the gender of their future children; their main wish was for their child to be happy and healthy.

While browsing through his Facebook feed, Johnny came across a post from his friend Jimmy, showing him and his wife Susana at the beach with their four kids. This sparked an idea in Johnny’s mind: he thought about contacting Jimmy for advice on the adoption process, given Jimmy’s successful experience in adopting three children. Johnny viewed this as a valuable chance to gain insights from someone who had been through it all, particularly as he and Daniel continued to navigate the complexities of adoption and surrogacy.

Just then, Daniel emerged from the bathroom, the soft rays of the morning sun illuminated his chiselled features, highlighting his rugged jawline and expressive eyes. Tiny droplets of water adorned his bronzed skin, reflecting the light like precious gems as he casually draped a towel around his waist. Watching him, Johnny couldn’t help but feel a surge of desire, imagining losing himself in passion with Daniel. However, as they were on the verge of welcoming a child into their lives and heading to the adoption centre that day, he pushed the thought aside.

“Look who’s finally up,” Daniel remarked, his voice filled with affection as he rummaged through the closet for his clothes.

“I’ve been awake for a while,” Johnny replied absentmindedly, his gaze fixed on the screen of his phone.

A serene silence filled the room, broken only by the soft clatter of drawers and hangers as Daniel rummaged through his wardrobe, searching for the perfect outfit.

“Yeah?” Daniel called out, poking his head from the closet, “Have you done anything other than stare at that screen?”

Johnny let out a sigh. “I needed to use the bathroom, but I was waiting for you since you take forever in the shower.”

Daniel laughed lightly. “Come on, Johnny, there’s more than one bathroom in this house. You could have easily used one of them.”

Johnny grumbled, “I know, but I'm feeling lazy,” prompting an eye roll from Daniel.

“And I would have missed the chance to see you in just a towel,” Johnny added with a mischievous grin, causing Daniel to playfully toss the towel in his direction.

After a few minutes, Daniel emerged from the closet, looking dashing in a light blue button-up shirt paired with well-fitted jeans held up by a stylish belt.

“Looking good,” Johnny complimented him.

Daniel playfully rolled his eyes again.“Just take a shower and get dressed, or I'm leaving without you.”

“You love me too much to leave me,” Johnny teased back as he headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

After a refreshing shower, Johnny dressed in a comfortable black t-shirt and shorts. As he glanced at himself in the mirror, he noticed light bags under his eyes, hoping it wouldn’t scare off any potential children.

As Johnny descended the stairs, he discovered Daniel in the kitchen, expertly preparing his renowned bananarama pancakes.

“Someone's in a good mood,” Johnny remarked.

“Of course I am, Johnny. We’re going to become parents,” Daniel replied, a radiant smile lighting up his face.

“Yeah, you're right,” Johnny agreed as he bit into his pancakes, savouring the burst of flavour from the juicy blueberries on top. “These are so good.”

“Do you think I should make some more to give to the kids?” Daniel inquired.

“Maybe,” Johnny considered. “We don't want to pressure them.”

Concern crept into Daniel’s expression as he sighed, his smile faltering. “Is this a good idea? What if I’m not meant to be a parent?”

Reaching for Daniel’s hand, Johnny reassured him, “Sunshine, if anyone is fit to be a parent, it’s you. You’re going to be amazing.”

“We both are,” Daniel affirmed, giving Johnny’s hand a gentle squeeze.

They finished their breakfast in a comfortable, reassuring silence before heading to the car. As the engine purred to life, they embarked on their journey to the adoption centre, filled with anticipation and excitement for the new chapter ahead.

**

As they arrived at Little Hopes, Johnny could feel the adrenaline surging through his veins, his heart thumping in his chest. Daniel, holding his hand tightly, mirrored his nervousness as they stepped into the building.

They were warmly greeted by a lady with a name tag that read, Elora. “Hi, welcome to Little Hopes! I assume you would like to adopt a child.” She said with a friendly smile.

“Hi, yes, we are!” Daniel replied.

“Great! You'll get to meet them soon, but first, can I have your paperwork?” Elora requested.

Johnny retrieved their paperwork from his bag and handed it to Elora.

“Perfect! Is there a specific age group you’re interested in?” She inquired.

“Maybe younger kids, like below ten?” Daniel replied, stealing a quick glance at Johnny.

Johnny nodded in agreement. “Yeah,” he muttered softly.

“They are very popular,” Elora mentioned, causing Johnny to flinch slightly. The remark made their choice feel more like selecting toys from a store rather than choosing a child.

If Daniel noticed, he didn’t show any reaction. “Can we go meet them?” He asked, eager to continue.

“Of course, let’s go,” Elora said, leading them to a smaller room. Inside, a group of little kids were scattered about, each engaging in different activities.

“Children!” Elora called out, capturing the kids' attention. “We have some parents looking to adopt one of you, so please be nice,” She said with a warm smile.

“I'll let you guys get to know them,” She whispered to Johnny and Daniel. “Come to me if you find someone to adopt,” She added before leaving the room.

“Hey guys,” Johnny greeted the children, feeling a bit awkward as they all stared curiously at him and Daniel. However, Johnny didn't mind one bit.

A little boy, perhaps four or five years old, approached them. “Hello,” he said. “My name is Liam. Nice to meet you.”

Johnny couldn't help but swoon; Liam was absolutely adorable. He could hear Daniel let out a quiet “aww” behind him.

“Hey there, little guy. Our names are Johnny and Daniel,” Johnny said, gesturing to both of them.

“Are you going to adopt me?” Liam asked, making Johnny fight the urge to immediately say yes and take him home. There were more kids they needed to meet first.

“Maybe,” Johnny replied gently.

“‘kay!” Liam giggled and darted back to where he was playing before.

Johnny and Daniel finally had the chance to meet most of the kids in the room. They found them all to be cute, but none of them seemed to catch their attention. However, that all changed when they noticed a girl sitting at the back of the room. She was playing by herself with what appeared to be Barbie dolls.

Wanting to engage with her, Johnny softly guided Daniel in her direction. The moment Daniel spotted the little girl, he appeared completely smitten.

“Hey there,” Johnny said, crouching down to her level, causing the girl to startle.

“‘ello,” the girl whispered almost inaudibly.

“What’s your name?” Daniel asked, crouching down as well.

“I’m Sam,” She replied.

Sam was adorable, with a pink dress and a matching bow tying her luscious brown hair. Her large brown eyes reminded Johnny of Bambi, just like Daniel’s. She seemed to be no older than four years old.

“That’s a beautiful name,” Daniel complimented.

Sam beamed, “It’s short for Samantha, and I’m...” She paused to count on her fingers, holding up three. “I’m three years old!”

Johnny’s heart swelled at the thought of having her in their lives. ‘She's the one,’ he thought. It was obvious that Daniel felt the same way.

“We were wondering, how would you feel about us becoming your parents?” Johnny asked, brimming with anticipation.

Sam wore a blank expression. “You want to adopt me?” she asked in surprise.

“Yes, would you like that?” Daniel gently inquired.

Johnny had anticipated a burst of joy or a beaming smile from Sam, but to his surprise, she vigorously shook her head and exclaimed, “No!”

“No?” Johnny turned to Daniel, puzzled by her reaction.

“Need Robby!” Sam cried out, her tears on the verge of falling.

“Who’s Robby?” Johnny asked, bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

“I’m not sure. Let’s ask Elora,” Daniel suggested, as they turned to seek out Elora for more information.

They brought Sam with them, but by then she was crying; she kept on saying “Need Robby” over and over again. As they stood pondering, Elora spoke up, “It seems like you’ve found a child to adopt. Sam is the cutest.”

“Yeah, but she keeps on saying she “needs Robby.” Who’s Robby?” Daniel inquired.

“Oh, Robby is her brother,” Elora explained.

Eagerly nodding her head, Sam repeated, “Yes, need Robby.”

“I’ll get him now,” Elora said as she left, her high heels tapping on the floor all the way. It was just a few minutes before she emerged with a boy by her side. The resemblance between the two siblings was apparent, with their matching brown eyes and hair. He looked to be around eight or nine.

“Robby, meet Daniel and Johnny,” Elora introduced.

Robby grumbled a hello under his breath, hinting that he might need some time to open up.

As Sam rushed over to Robby, she wrapped him in a hug, prompting a smile from Robby as he asked, “So you’re the ones looking to adopt my sister?”

“Yeah, if you’ll let us,” Johnny joked, attempting to lighten the mood, but it didn’t seem to have much effect.

“Whatever, I guess,” Robby grunted.

Looking between them, Sam asked, “Robby, you come as well?”

Robby sighed and gave Sam a kiss on her cheek. “Sorry, Sam, I can’t come.”

Feeling a tug at his conscience, Johnny couldn’t just leave Sam’s brother there, as it was obvious that Sam wanted him to come. Not one to split up a family, Johnny found himself saying, “We can adopt you too.”

Robby’s mouth fell open. “Are you sure? You don't have to.”

“No, we want to. We want both of you,” Daniel reassured, letting Johnny know that he was okay with adopting two kids instead of one.

Robby’s shoulders loosened. “Oh, um, okay. Thanks,” He mumbled.

As they prepared to leave, Elora handed over the kids' files and informed them that they could take them home that day, but they would have to come back for their other belongings the next day. She also mentioned that she would visit their home at the end of every month until the adoption was finalised, a process that was expected to take around three months. At the end of the period, they would reassess whether the kids still wanted to be adopted.

In the midst of all the overwhelming information, Johnny found comfort in knowing that he and Daniel could manage it together. He was thankful for his decision to suggest including two beds in the children's room.

“Okay, we’ll see you tomorrow,” Johnny said before the kids appeared out of nowhere.

Daniel held Sam’s hand while Robby walked beside her, and Johnny accompanied him. As they reached the car, Robby stopped in his tracks.

“No way, you have a BMW!?” Robby exclaimed.

“Yeah, cool, right?” Johnny responded.

“Cool? This is epic!”

Daniel chuckled. “Let's get you guys home.”

**

As they made their way back home, Daniel and Johnny decided it would be a great idea to give Sam and Robby a thorough house tour. The house was spacious, and as they showed them around, they could hear Sam and Robby expressing their amazement at every room.

When they arrived at their destination, Daniel unlocked the door to the children’s bedroom. The room was a peaceful oasis, with walls painted in a soothing, pastel blue hue that provided a serene backdrop for the lively decor. Playful, vibrant artwork adorned the walls, featuring whimsical scenes of animals, rockets, and imaginative landscapes, infusing the space with boundless energy and creativity.

At the heart of the room stood a set of durable, wooden bunk beds, radiating a warm, natural allure. Stacked one atop the other, the beds were connected by a sturdy wooden ladder, with the top bunk secured by a protective railing to prevent any accidental tumbles. A snug, starry night-themed quilt cloaked the top mattress. A small, round window was cut into the side of the top bunk, adding a touch of adventure reminiscent of a ship’s porthole or a castle tower.

The bottom bunk was draped with a velvety forest green blanket, complementing the starry theme above. Both bunks had their own sets of pillows, fluffed and inviting, with pillowcases that matched the quilt patterns.

Next to the bunk beds, there was a small, wooden nightstand with a smooth, polished surface. On it sat a nightlight in the shape of a friendly owl, casting a soft, warm glow across the room when turned on. A few books were stacked neatly beside the nightlight, ready for bedtime stories.

The floor was covered with a thick, plush rug that felt soft underfoot. The rug was a cheerful mix of colours, featuring playful patterns of stars and moons, tying together the celestial theme. Scattered around the room were a few toys: a teddy bear perched at the foot of the lower bunk, a toy train set assembled in one corner, and a basket filled with building blocks near the door.

In one corner of the room, there stood a beautifully crafted, spacious wooden chest, painted in a striking and vibrant shade of red. This chest provided ample storage space for toys, extra blankets, and would soon have the children’s cherished possessions. Situated above the chest, a carefully curated row of shelves graced the wall, showcasing a diverse collection of books, games, and several intricately designed miniature action figures. 

The window, elegantly dressed with transparent, sky-blue curtains, allowed an abundance of natural light to flood the room during the day, creating a joyous and welcoming atmosphere that enveloped the entire space. The kids stared at the room in awe.

“What did you guys think?” Daniel asked after a brief silence. 

Sam dashed over to him and threw her arms around his legs, giving him a big hug.

“Thank you so much!” She mumbled against him, and Daniel scooped her up in his arms. “Of course, sweetheart,” he replied.

Sam then darted to Johnny, who lifted her up and planted a kiss on her head.

“Yeah, thanks a lot,” Robby said, managing a small smile. 

“No problem, Rob,” Johnny responded, trying out the nickname. Robby didn’t seem to mind, which made Johnny feel a rush of warmth. 

“Do you guys want to go to bed? We have an exciting day lined up for tomorrow,” Daniel said.