CHAPTER 15 PARENTAL INVASION

One morning, Henry walked into the kitchen, drawn by the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. He saw Alex sitting in the kitchen, sipping his coffee and staring intently at his tablet. Henry noticed the furrowed brow and the look of restlessness on Alex's face.

Quietly, Henry approached Alex from behind and wrapped his arms around him in a comforting hug. "Good morning," he whispered, resting his chin on Alex's shoulder. "What's got you so deep in thought?"

Alex sighed, his eyes still fixed on the tablet. "Morning. It's just... some really bad articles i read."

Henry's heart sank as he saw the worry in Alex's eyes. "What kind of article?" he asked gently.

Alex hesitated for a moment before turning the tablet towards Henry. The screen displayed several articles filled with hateful comments and insults directed at them and their unborn baby. The words were harsh and cruel, cursing their family and questioning their right to happiness.

Henry felt a wave of sadness and anger wash over him. "How can people be so cruel?" he whispered, his voice trembling.

Alex reached up and took Henry's hand, squeezing it tightly. "I don't know, Henry. It hurts to see this, especially when it involves our baby."

Henry took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions. "We can't let their words get to us, Alex. We know the truth about our love and our family. That's what matters."

Alex nodded, his eyes softening as he looked at Henry. "You're right. We have to stay strong for each other and for our baby."

Henry kissed Alex's cheek, offering him a reassuring smile. "We'll get through this together. We have so much love and support around us. That's what we need to focus on."

Alex smiled back, feeling a sense of relief. "Thank you, Henry. I needed to hear that. Oh yeah, Speaking Of support, my dad and mom are already at their hotel and will be here this afternoon."

Henry hugged Alex from behind. "sounds good"

When the doorbell rang, Alex rushed to open it, his face lighting up as he saw his parents standing there with warm smiles and hands full of gifts. "Mom! Dad!" Alex exclaimed, stepping aside to let them in.

"Hello, sweetheart," his mother said, wrapping him in a tight hug. "You look wonderful."

Alex's father nodded, patting his son on the back. "It's good to see you, Alex. And where's Henry?"

Henry appeared in the doorway, looking slightly flushed but smiling brightly. "Right here. It's lovely to see you both again."

Alex's mother approached Henry and hugged him gently. "Henry, you look radiant. How are you feeling?"

"A bit tired, but mostly good," Henry replied, his hand instinctively resting on his belly. "We've been really looking forward to your visit."

As everyone settled into the living room, Alex's father glanced around, taking in the cozy atmosphere. "You've done a great job with the place, Alex."

"Thanks, Dad," Alex said, beaming."

His mother smiled warmly. "We're just happy to be here with both of you. And we can't wait to meet our grandchild."

Henry's eyes sparkled with emotion. "Neither can we. It's going to be an incredible journey." He then turned to Alex's father, his expression softening. "And how are you feeling?"

Alex's father smiled reassuringly. "I'm doing much better, thank you, thanks for asking Henry."

Henry nodded, visibly relieved. "That's wonderful to hear. We've been thinking about your condition a lot."

Later evening, the dining room was filled with the aroma of a delicious home cooked meal, and the air buzzed with laughter and joy. Everyone gathered around the table, sharing stories and savoring the delightful feast.

"This is amazing," Alex's mother said, taking a bite of her meal. "You two really outdid yourselves."

"Henry's the one who did most of the cooking," Alex admitted, grinning. "I'm more of a sous chef."

Henry laughed. "Alex did plenty, believe me. But I'm glad you like it."

As they continued to enjoy their dinner, Alex's father stood up, a mischievous glint in his eye. "We brought something special with us," he said, heading toward the hallway. He returned carrying a large, well-worn box and placed it on the table.

"What is this?" Alex asked, eyeing the box curiously.

"Open it and see," his mother said, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

Alex lifted the lid and peered inside. His face lit up as he saw the contents. "Oh my gosh, is this...?" He pulled out a tiny, knitted sweater. "I remember this! I wore it when I was a 4 or 5 years old!"

Henry's eyes widened with delight. "A box of your baby and childhood stuff! This is amazing!"

The box was filled with mementos from Alex's early years: baby clothes, childhood drawings, photos, and little toys. Each item held a memory, and Alex's parents took turns sharing stories behind them.

"Here's the blanket we wrapped you in when we brought you home from the hospital," his mother said, gently unfolding a soft, faded blanket.

"And this," his father added, holding up a small toy car, "was your favorite toy when you were two. You took it everywhere with you."

Henry listened intently, his hand resting on his belly. "These are such wonderful memories. I can't wait to make new ones with our little one."

Alex's mother smiled warmly. "And you will. Every moment is a treasure, even the challenging ones. Parenthood is an incredible journey."

Henry with continue to eat. "Tomorrow morning, Alex and I are going to see Doctor Zach for a another check up, and we'd love for you guys to join us."

There was a moment of stunned silence before "This is wonderful, Henry! We would be honored to join you".

The next day dawned with a crisp chill in the air, Henry, felt a flutter of excitement and nerves as he and Alex made their way to Doctor Zach and Sean’s house, which was conveniently close to their own. Today was the day of the another check up, and they were accompanied by Alex’s parents.

As they entered the cozy, Henry could feel the warmth radiating from the welcoming smiles of Dr. Zach and his partner, Sean. After a round of pleasantries and a comforting cup of tea, they settled in the examination room.

Doctor Zach, with his kind eyes and gentle demeanor, prepped Henry for the ultrasound. The room was filled with a soft hum of conversation and the occasional rustle of clothing as everyone found their place.

“So” Dr. Zach began with a playful grin, “are you two absolutely sure you don’t want to know the gender of your baby?”

Henry and Alex shared a look, their silent agreement palpable. “We’re sure,” Alex replied, squeezing Henry’s hand reassuringly. “We want it to be a surprise.”

Alex’s mother, Ellen, couldn’t help but let out a small, disappointed sigh. “You know, I was really hoping we’d find out today,” she said, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. “Doctor Zach, can you just give us a little hint?”

“Mom,” Alex interjected, his tone firm but loving, “we’ve already decided. No spoilers.”

Ellen pouted playfully but relented. “Alright, alright. I’ll respect your wishes. But you can’t blame a grandma-to-be for being curious.”

The room filled with soft laughter, breaking any remaining tension. Doctor Zach focused back on the screen, showing Henry and Alex the grainy yet magical images of their baby. The awe in the room was almost tangible as they watched the tiny movements and listened to the rhythmic heartbeat.

As the examination concluded, Doctor Zach cleaned up and handed them a printout of the ultrasound images. “You’re all set,” he said warmly. “Everything looks perfect. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and I’ll see you at the next appointment.”

On a warm evening in the living room was bathed in the soft glow of the television screen. Alex, Henry, and Alex’s parents sat comfortably on the plush couches, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation together. The show they were watching was a lighthearted comedy, but the real entertainment was unfolding in their conversation.

Ellen, ever the curious and doting soon-to-be grandmother, couldn’t help but glance over at Henry, whose pregnancy had become the family’s newest obsession. She sipped her tea and tilted her head thoughtfully. “You know,” she began, her tone playful yet probing, “I’ve been wondering… have you two thought about finding out the baby’s gender soon? I mean, how are you going to prepare everything if you don’t know whether it’s a boy or a girl?”

Alex, lounging with his arm draped over Henry’s shoulders, chuckled softly. “Mom, we’ve been over this. We’re sticking to our plan. No spoilers.”

Henry nodded, his hand resting gently on his growing belly. “Exactly. We’ve decided to keep it a surprise. It’s more fun that way, don’t you think?”

Ellen raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Fun, sure, but practical? How are you going to pick out clothes, toys, or even decorate the nursery without knowing? I just want to be prepared to spoil my grandchild properly!”

Oscar, sitting beside her, smirked and added, “Yeah, and how am I supposed to buy the right kind of sports gear? A soccer ball or a ballet tutu?”

Alex rolled his eyes but grinned. “We’re going neutral, Dad. Green onesies, yellow blankets, that kind of thing or maybe white and anything else. We don’t need to know the gender to get everything ready.”

Ellen leaned forward, intrigued. “Oh? And How about choosing a name, have you prepared that?"

Henry exchanged a glance with Alex, who nodded encouragingly. “We know exactly the perfect name for our baby,” Henry said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “One for a boy and one for a girl.”

Ellen’s eyes lit up. “Well, don’t keep us in suspense! What are they?”

Alex laughed, shaking his head. “Nice try, Mom. You’ll find out when the baby does.”

Oscar chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “You two are killing us with this secrecy. But I’ll admit, I’m impressed. You’ve got it all planned out.”

Ellen sighed dramatically, though her smile betrayed her amusement. “Fine, fine. I’ll drop it for now. But you better believe I’ll be the first one at that hospital when the time comes.”

The room filled with laughter as the show continued playing in the background, the warmth of the night and the love in the room wrapping around them like a cozy blanket. Alex and Henry shared a quiet look, their hands intertwined, knowing that no matter the gender, their baby would be surrounded by love and a few too many curious grandparents.

- To Be Continued -