It's Not For Everybody, But It's Important For Some (tf)
by MS_alberta
Joshua Rider had done everything a gay man could do in this life. He had come out in high school and from there he had lead the ideal gay life. He partied in college and graduated with honors. He was a successful business man, garnering millions for the stock company he worked for. He was active in the gay community, marching for rights and recognition. And he had kept his body in amazing shape, even at the ripe old age of 25, which to a gay man, can qualify you for the early bird special at your local IHOP. And yet, he still felt incomplete. He decided to go to his best friends’ house outside of the city and in suburbs.
Mike and Kevin had been together for quiet a few years now, and it seemed if any relationship could last, it would be theirs. The three men sat in the living room, drinking coffee and trying to identify this gap that was gnawing at Joshua.
A loud crash and a series of giggles traveled through the house. Mike and Kevin gave each other a look so filled with patience and love that an epiphany hit Joshua like a ton of bricks.
Mike and Kevin got up off the sofa and made there way to the back of the house, with Joshua trailing behind them. Joshua watched on as his two best friends opened the door to revel two flexing boys.
"Patrick. Connor," sighed Mike. "I know you two boys love rough housing but we've told you before to keep it down." The two boys looked down at the ground feigning regret but soon erupted in giggles. Mike and Kevin descended on the boys, each man taking a boy in a bear hug. They followed through by dragging the boys to the floor where they proceed to tickle them while their arms flailed and their legs kicked the air until tears streamed down the sides of their faces and they begged their dads for mercy. The boys were released and instinctively drew near to each other, lying shoulder to shoulder and bending their necks so they could touch temples. Between labored breathes, they promised they'd try and keep it down. Joshua saw the look that passed between the family and he felt that familiar pang in his heart.
The three men walked back to the family room. Joshua began asking the couple how they had ever managed to adopt. Mike and Kevin traded glances. Kevin picked up his husband's hand and gave a squeeze. "Alright, we'll tell you."
Three months later Joshua found himself at a gated lab near a lake, staring at a donkey.
This wasn't exactly what he had in mind, to be honest; he didn't know what he had in mind, really. What the couple had told him seemed so out there, but so plausible. Then again, those things were easy for a man to come up with if he were desperate enough. A young woman walked up to him, and introduced herself as one of the many technicians that would be aiding in his adoption. She began chattering away on the techniques used and what kind of memories he's like his son to have. She finally caught his attention when the word "side effects" dropped like a rock.
"I'm sorry, what side effects?" Joshua asked.
"As I said Mr. Rider", said the lab tech. who was fine with having to repeat herself, as she had to with most new parents, "Most... well, all of our adoptions so far have resulted in homosexuality. Now I assume you're fine with this aspect seeing as how if you weren't, you wouldn’t be here in the first place."
"Now, why would you say that?"
"Because of our use of gene therapy and genetics, most of our clientele tend to be liberal, very liberal, in fact. May I continue?"
"Please."
"As I was saying, most of our adoptions result in homosexuality, elevated hormone levels, and what many of our families have described as a certain "playfulness", if you get my meaning, Sir."
"I do. When do you think I'll be able to take him home?"
The lab Tech went on to explain that with all the research and experimentation done on their sister lab off the coast, adoption would take only a matter of days. The memories would be implanted and all the new documents would be created. The days passed by quickly and Joshua stood by his son every step of the way. On the final day, his son was so exhausted from his adoption that he slept the whole car ride back past the city and into the suburbs. Mike and Kevin had suggested before he left that he come back to their place with his new son and give the boy a chance to make some friends with other boys who had been adopted. Joshua carried his lanky slumbering boy inside and told the family he had decided to name him "Shawn", as he gently laid him on the sofa. That night Joshua, Mike, and Kevin had been kept up by the ruckus coming from the boys' room. Each knew that those three boys must be having a good time with each other, and each decided not to interrupt.
The next morning the men were awoken by loud splashes and yelps as Connor and Patrick dove bare skinned into the pool. The men stepped outside to watch the boys swim and chat when the boys climbed out of the pool and shushed them, as they picked up their dad's camera. They could hear bare feet slapping against the tile. The boys suddenly blocked the door way and held up the camera. Shawn had just enough time to take his hat off and make himself decent for the shot, well at least his lower half was decent, his hands were left up for discussion.
END