“Luke!” Hunter practically shouted as Luke entered the room.

His entire body ached. His head felt swimmy, his midsection felt like it had been ripped open, and his back felt like it must be covered in bruises. Despite these aches and pains, however, two burning desires had taken root in his chest.

He threw out his arms, gesturing for Luke to come to him and pulled him into a hug.

“You have no idea how happy I am to see you,” said Luke softly.

“At least as happy as I am to see you,” said Hunter.

Melinda was sitting near the foot of the bed with a book in her hands. When Hunter and Luke parted, she was smiling softly.

“I’m just happy to see you two together,” she sighed. “I’ve always said that you two were meant for each other.”

“Where’s Leonard?” asked Luke, glancing around the hospital room.

“He went home. He’s got work in the morning so he’s going to get some sleep. I already told the nurse there’s no way they’re kicking me out while my son is in the hospital.” Melinda looked proud of herself.

“Never mind that,” said Hunter, somewhat rudely. The other burning desire in his chest would not be silenced. He needed answers. He needed to know the truth. “Luke? The baby. How is our baby. They said he was fine, but I need you to tell me. Be honest with me.”

Luke sighed and glanced towards Melinda. She too looked eager for news.

“The doctor in the NICU said he’s relatively healthy. He doesn’t have any other complications besides being extremely premature,” continued Luke. “He said it’s going to be a long road ahead and keeping the baby healthy is going to be a challenge, but without any other complications he’s confident that he can survive.”

Melinda let out an audible sigh of relief. “That’s a load off of my mind. That’s wonderful news, Luke.”

Hunter, however, felt his heart tighten at each of Luke’s words. He hoped his burning desire would be quenched by a report, but if anything it had been fueled to even greater intensity.

“I need to see him, Luke,” said Hunter, throwing back the blankets on his hospital bed and starting to rise. “I need to see him.”

Pain tore through him as he moved, but he was willing to endure it. He needed to go to where that baby was being kept. This overpowering desire he couldn’t name and hadn’t expected, was making him almost irrational. He needed to see his baby and nothing else mattered.

“Hunter, Hunter, wait, wait!” Luke laid restraining hands on his shoulders and forced him back down onto the bed. “Just wait. Okay? The NICU’s pretty far from this wing. You’re never going to make it in your current condition.”

“I have to see, Luke! I have to go see my baby.” Hunter felt tears welling in his eyes. He didn’t care if he couldn’t walk. He would crawl if he had to. Nothing was going to keep him away.

“Then just sit tight, okay?” said Luke. “You’ll see him, I swear, just sit tight and let me find a nurse. Just promise me you’re not going to get out of this bed.”

Hunter frowned and looked away. He didn’t want to make that promise. His eyes flicked towards Luke’s face and for a moment his heart went still.

The look on Luke’s face was one of fear. Fear that Hunter would hurt himself even more. Fear of loss. He hadn’t stopped to consider the pain, fear, and worry that must have been coursing through Luke in that moment.

Hunter clenched his fists, forcing himself to calm down. If Luke said the baby was okay, then he could take a moment to figure out a safe way to go see him. He just needed to force himself to try and remember he wasn’t the only parent in this scenario. He wasn’t the only one in emotional distress.

“Okay, Luke, I promise.” Hunter looked up at him and touched his arm. He forced a smile to try and reassure him.

“I’ll be right back,” said Luke. He pressed a kiss to Hunter’s forehead then turned and left the room.

***

HUNTER SILENTLY WILLED the elevator to go faster. He sat in a wheelchair and gripped the arms tightly. Luke was pushing him and Melinda was flanking them.

When they reached the NICU, a nurse regretfully informed them that only parents would be allowed into the hospital room. All other family would have to wait until the baby was stronger.

“Don’t worry about me,” Melinda reassured them. “I’ve got a good book. I’ll go back to Hunter’s room.”

It was still clear in her eyes, however, that she was disappointed that she wouldn’t be able to see her grandson.

Luke wheeled Hunter into the baby’s room.

As they approached the isolette, Hunter felt his heart begin to pound. The tiny little pink body lay quietly inside the plastic enclosure. His tiny chest rose and fell with each breath the ventilator fed him. Monitors beeped and hummed and yet, despite that, the room was quiet.

Hunter was entranced and afraid. This baby, his son, held his attention like nothing he could remember. He had never felt such powerful emotions towards anything. Was this parental love? The knowledge you would do anything and everything for that child? The hope that they would grow up strong and healthy? And the wonder as to all of the possibilities that lay ahead of them?

If that was love then Hunter knew in that moment he felt it for that baby.

***

HUNTER WAS CHECKED out of the hospital the next day and sent home with instructions to rest until his stomach had a chance to heal. All he wanted to do, however, was wait at the hospital with the baby. He couldn’t think of anything else. Eating, sleeping, showering, the only thing in his head was his child and the fact that he couldn’t be by his side right now.

“If it’ll make you happy, I’ll drive you to the hospital in the morning,” said Luke. “I can’t stay, I’ve got to finish a few paintings for Allen, but I can come back for you later on.”

“You’re not going to try and force me to rest?” asked Hunter.

They were sitting at Hunter’s kitchen table eating dinner. Or at least, Luke was eating. Hunter was shoving food around his plate forlornly.

“You’re just going to go crazy if I try to force you to do that,” said Luke. “You seem to be getting around the house okay, and as long as you promise to be careful, sitting beside the baby shouldn’t be too hard on you.”

Hunter smiled but said nothing as he experimentally tried a bite of food. It felt dry and unappetizing, but he was certain that was just because of his lack of appetite and not because of Luke’s cooking.

“The nurse asked me if we’ve thought of a name yet,” said Luke. “She had some paperwork we needed to fill out and sign. I told her we were still figuring it out, but we’re going to have to get that done before too long.”

“I...” Hunter’s voice trailed off. He hadn’t thought about names. He’d always fully intended to let Luke name the baby when it was born. He didn’t have the slightest idea what might even be considered a good name. And what if the baby didn’t survive?

“I had always thought of naming the baby Mason if it was a boy.”

Hunter looked up at him. “Mason Morrison? Doesn’t that sound a little...I dunno...the alliteration is nice, but...”

“You want to give him my last name?” asked Luke.

“Well, yeah?” said Hunter slowly. He’d never imagined the baby with anything other than Luke’s last name. “I mean, I don’t know...”

“What about Mark?” Luke asked, moving on without questioning Hunter any further.

Hunter turned the name over in his head. Mark Morrison. It wasn’t a bad name.

“I’m going to take your silence to mean you don’t like it,” said Luke.

“No, no,” said Hunter. “I like it. It’s a good name.”

Luke smiled. “Good, we can get the paperwork filled out tomorrow then. Make him all official and everything.”

Hunter smiled at Luke’s excitement. Somehow, knowing they’d picked out a name had served to make things even more real. They were parents now.

***

THEY FINISHED THE PAPERWORK at the nurse’s station the next morning. Hunter’s stitches ached, but the painkillers he’d been given were keeping it from being unbearable. He knew once he sat down that his discomfort would be improved. He just needed to make it to Mark’s room.

Once inside, the familiar sense of quiet reverence settled over him.

Luke stayed with him just long enough to make sure Hunter was settled in the chair by the isolette. Then he peeked over at Baby Mark, blew him a kiss, kissed Hunter, and left the room.

Hunter was alone once more. Only the sound of the machines kept the silence at bay.

Lying there sleeping, barely moving, was his son.

At first, Hunter worried he would be bored. He hadn’t brought anything to do, but as he sat and stared at Mark, time began to slip away. Before he realized it, hours had slipped by.

“We’re going to have to ask you to step outside for a moment, Mr. Kilder,” a nurse said to him as she entered the room wearing a hospital gown and a surgical mask.

“What’s wrong?” Panic flooded Hunter.

“Nothing, nothing at all,” the nurse reassured him. “The doctor is going to do a routine examination and update your baby’s chart. We might take a little blood, but that’s it. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Hunter nodded slowly as he dragged himself out of his chair. His stitches ached, but he pushed through it. He left the hospital room and hovered out in the hallway. A few minutes later a parade of freshly scrubbed doctors and nurses filed into Mark’s room and shut the door. Worry prickled across his skin. If his C-section scar wasn’t so fresh, he might have even been pacing the hall. The world moved around him, oblivious to his worry.

“You must be the new neighbors,” a voice startled him from behind.

Hunter turned slowly to face a friendly looking man.

“I’m Rupert,” the man said, extending his hand to Hunter.

“O-oh, Hunter,” he said, somewhat uncertainly.

“My partner and I are in the room next door with our daughter,” said Rupert, “I was going to go get some lunch, but I saw you standing out here looking lost and thought I’d say hello.”

“Th-thanks,” said Hunter. He really just wanted to be left alone right now. He wanted to go back into Mark’s room as soon as the doctors were done.

“Listen,” said Rupert. “You don’t have to tell me anything. It’s really none of my business, but my partner and I have been here for a while. You need to lean on others for support. Especially others that know what you’re going through.”

“I appreciate the offer,” said Hunter. He knew Rupert was just trying to be nice, but right now he just wanted to ignore him.

“Have you eaten today?”

“I had breakfast,” said Hunter rather abruptly.

“Okay, yeah, that’s good. But it’s already one. You should probably get some lunch too.”

Hunter frowned and glanced at a clock hanging on the wall. It was actually about a quarter to one, but more time had passed than he’d realized.

“I know, it’s easy to get caught up in watching them sleep. When our daughter was first admitted to the NICU my partner and I both struggled to remember when to eat. Thankfully, there was a kind couple who took us under their wing and kind of helped us get into a routine,” explained Rupert. “I’d like to do the same for you and your significant other, of course if they’re around.”

“H-he’s working right now,” said Hunter.

“Yeah, that’s the other side of the coin,” sighed Rupert. “It can be really hard to coordinate work and schedules. My job was pretty understanding for a while, but after the first couple of weeks I had to start coming in again or risk my position. But why don’t we go grab some lunch and we can talk while we eat?”

“I appreciate the offer, but I need to be here...” Hunter’s voice trailed off as he looked back towards the closed door.

“They’re going to be in there for a while,” said Rupert. “But your baby is under constant supervision. Nothing’s going to happen to him while you’re refilling your fuel tank. One of the most important things to remember is to take care of yourself. If you don’t then you’re going to get sick and there’s no way they’re letting you anywhere near your baby if you’re sick. So staying healthy needs to be your number one goal.”

Hunter felt his heart sink a little, but he knew in the back of his mind that Rupert was right.

“Okay, let’s go have lunch.”

***

RUPERT TOOK HUNTER to the cafeteria. It was much more expansive and well portioned than he’d expected a hospital cafeteria to be. There were so many selections it was almost mind boggling.

“I don’t eat here every day,” explained Rupert as they looked for a table. “Even if you’ve got a good salary, it’s going to get expensive after a while. You might want to talk to your SO about packing lunches. You can’t eat them in the rooms, but you can bring them along as long as you take them somewhere else to eat them.”

They grabbed one near a window with sunshine spilling across the surface.

Rupert held out his hands in the sun’s rays and sighed. “Those rooms are kept dark because the babies are super sensitive to light. I like to try and soak up as much sun as I can between visits. It’s important to make sure you’re getting your vitamin D. Humans aren’t mushrooms after all.” He chuckled to himself.

Hunter picked at his sandwich momentarily before biting into it. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until now.

“So, what’s your story then?” asked Rupert, casually eating a few French fries. He clearly wasn’t in much of a hurry to get back.

Hunter swallowed hard. “I fell,” he said. “The fall apparently jostled the baby and sent me into preterm labor. They had to perform an emergency C-section.”

“That’s rough,” said Rupert. “Still, I only saw your baby admitted yesterday. You’re up walking around this soon?”

“I needed to see him,” said Hunter with a shrug. “What about you?”

“Tim, my partner, got an infection. They were trying to treat him with antibiotics, but it wasn’t going away. It was getting really bad, and eventually they were forced to perform a C-section to rescue Mary, our daughter. After she was safe, they were able to use some better drugs on Tim and he recovered pretty rapidly. It’s been a long road, but we’re almost in the home stretch now. They’ve said if Mary continues to improve at this rate she’ll be able to go home in the next week or two.”

Hunter frowned. “How long have you been here?”

“She was about eight weeks premature,” said Rupert. “Because of the infection and a few other bumps along the way, we’ve had to stay a bit longer. It’ll be ten weeks as of tomorrow though.”

“Ten...” Hunter swallowed. He hadn’t realized it would be quite so long.

“I guess no one explained it to you then.” Rupert shook his head. “Your baby has developmental milestones. If everything progresses normally then your baby is ready to go by roughly 40 weeks, right? Anything within a month of that then the baby is usually okay and considered full-term as far as development. Once you start going back further than that, you start running into problems.”

“The doctor said Mark was a micro-preemie,” said Hunter with worry. “I was only twenty-four weeks. So I guess he was sixteen weeks early.”

“That’s rough.” Rupert shook his head. “You’re going to be here for at least that long then unless the doctor says otherwise. It may be longer depending on the situation.”

“But don’t worry too much,” said Rupert, patting Hunter’s shoulder. “Tim and I will look out for you guys. I’ll introduce you to him when he comes by later.”

“Thanks,” said Hunter trying to force a smile. “I feel like we’re going to need all the support we can get.”