He Will Be Loved

"daddy? Daddy. Say it with me. DADDY." He enunciated every syllable.

Austin crinkled his nose up, looking at Blake. "Daaaaaa..." He cooed.

Blake grinned at the child.
"c'mon, say daddy before he was a seizure." He chuckled.

Austin simply refused, and no matter how hard Rick tried, nothing could get that baby to speak, even weeks later.

Blake had been trying for Rick. Trying to practice with the young child. He just wanted this family to welcome him.

Right now it was early, eight o'clock. Mike had made breakfast and Biddy was with him trying to help, leaving Austin to sit with Blake at the table. Kevin was feeding Jr and everything was normal...

Blake was tickling Austin lightly, being careful to be gentle so not to hurt him.

Austin giggled brightly, waving his arms around.
"Buwahahua!!!"

Blake laughed at him as he kissed his nose.
"Eskimo kiss!" He beamed, rubbing their noses together.

Austin squealed, his face scrunching up as he raised his arms, clapping his hands.
"DaaaDaaa!!" He giggled loudly.
Biddy dropped the spatula he had in his hand.
"D-Did he just?"

"I-I think so...." Blake blinked at the child.
Rick had heard. He had just been walking in to help with breakfast.
"Rick I'm sorry I..." he turned to the baby. "No baby, that's dada"

Austin just giggled as Biddy bounced up and down.
"Say it again Austin, talk to me." He cooed excitedly.
Austin looked at Blake and squealed.
"DAADAA!!!!!"

Blake couldn't help but smile.
"Rick I.."
"It's fine Blake." He sighed, shaking his head.

Biddy kissed his baby's cheek.
"Oh my GOD! HE SAID DADDY!!"

'Yes he did!" Blake grinned widely at Biddy

"Now momma! Say momma." Biddy cooed to the child but Austin just blew a bubble with his slobber.

"I'm special." Blake giggled cooing to the child.
Rick left the room.

Biddy groaned, getting up and going after him.
"Rick baby come on...."

"Biddy don't bother. Please. Go be excited with your child..."

"Our child Rick, mine yours and Blake's....." Biddy took his hand and pressed a kiss to his shoulder.

"I'm not even daddy Biddy. Your momma, Blake's daddy and I am the guy who sneaks in his room and plays with him at night. That just makes me sound like a pedofile."

"Rick....He is a baby, he dont know any better and you...You see him at night...Blake is with him all day. Blake feeds him, plays with him, changes him, bathes him and dresses him. He lays him down and put him to bed, tucks him in and rocks him when im not doing it. You dont....But your his real daddy so you get love either way."

"I'm sorry I'm not as good of a father as Blake." He shook his head. "It's fine Biddy."

Biddy took Rick's face in his hands.
"I love you Rick, you know this....And your just as good of a daddy as him...You just cant father Austin because of Kevin."

"I was going to try despite what Kevin wanted. But Blake had already replaced me." He sighed.