Chapter Text
Life is rarely easy for demigods. They say it becomes less of a struggle after 18, and in some ways that’s true. Many demigods can attest to the fact that they’ve had less life-threatening situations involving mythics and monsters, quests and prophecies. But what nobody prepares demigods for is the struggles and difficulties that life throws at you after 18.
One of the unforeseen difficulties in life for a specific cohort of demigods of both Camp Half Blood and Camp Jupiter, is the complexities and struggles of starting a family.
When Annabeth and Percy Jackson-Chase began their attempts to start a family some 7ish years ago, they could never have foreseen or been prepared for the battle they were in for, involving what felt like never ending doctors appointments, facing a possible infertility diagnosis, a diagnosis of one endocrine/metabolic illness/disorder and the diagnosis of a reproductive illness/disorder, thousands of dollars spent on fertility treatment, one round of IVF that resulted in 4 unsuccessful embryo transfers and only one successful one, followed by a complicated pregnancy, a pre-term birth, and weeks in the NICU, before finally getting to take their son home and begin their life as a family of 3.
And while the journey to getting pregnant with baby #2 just two years later was uneventful and felt downright miraculous, Annabeth’s experience carrying her was far from easy, as she battled with what she now knows was undiagnosed and untreated PTSD, not only from the years of infertility and a complicated pregnancy, but from everything she’s dealt with in her young life.
While Percy and Annabeth could never have foreseen how complicated their journey to parenthood would be, two people who have always known that starting a family wouldn’t be easy for them, are Nico di Angelo, and Will Solace, now both 25, married to each other for one whole blissful year.
After 10 years of parenting Nico’s cacodemon’s (still lovingly referred to as ‘The Coca Puffs’ or simply ‘The Puffs’) Nico and Will have for a while now, felt ready to parent an actual child together, to officially become dads, and start their own family.
But of course, being two cisgender men, that is a lot easier said than done.
Which both Nico and Will are reminded of on a warm Spring day at Camp Half-Blood, when Annabeth and Percy arrive at Camp for a visit, with their 5 year old son Luke and 3 year old daughter Silena.
The son of Apollo and the son of Hades are peacefully walking through the valley near the bottom of Half-Blood Hill, hand-in-hand, when they suddenly hear a familiar voice screeching their names in delight, and the next thing Will knows he is almost knocked off his feet, when a small blur of dark hair and green eyes knocks into him with all their might, flinging their arms around his waist and holding tight as if they never want to let go.
“UNCLE WILL!!!” 3 year old Silena screeches in delight. “UNCLE NICO!!!!” She yells just as loudly, reaching out to grab Nico’s hand, knowing that the son of Hades isn’t as big of a hugger as his husband is, and still looking at him with all the love and admiration in the world, which simply melts Nico’s heart.
“Woah!” Will laughs, placing a steadying hand on Silena’s back and sharing an amused grin with Nico. “Hey ‘Lena, how’re you?”
A scowl quickly replaces Silena’s elated grin, her eyebrows knitting in displeasure as she pouts at Will and glares at him like he committed the worst act known to man.
“I Si-lena! Not ‘Lena! Only Uncle Magnus call me ‘Lena!” The granddaughter of Athena and Poseidon firmly insists, reminding Will of the fact that A. Silena only lets a very few select people call her by any nicknames, and Will is not one of those people. And B. She is a girl who knows her own mind and she is not to be messed with, and Gods help you if you get on her bad side.
“Sorry, sorry.” Will quickly apologises, eager not to face the wrath of Silena, who is the embodiment of the quote ‘Though she be but little, she is fierce’.
“Where Coca Puffs?” Silena’s anger immediately melts upon getting an apology, and upon remembering the cute little furry creatures that follow her Uncles around, and who are pretty decent playmates. Even if they do make her feel big things she can’t always understand.
“Last I checked they were in The Big House, watching TV with Mr. D.” Nico replies with a grin, his heart warming at the thought of The Puffs glued to the sofa in front of the TV, situated all around the wine God, and thoroughly hooked on reruns of The Pitt, probably glad not to have Will there quick to point out any medical inaccuracies, or Nico who’s got a talent for guessing the plot twist and outcome of plotlines, and can’t help but voice it.
“They wanna play?” Silena hopefully asks, looking up at Nico with her big pleading grey eyes, framed by long dark lashes that really help with that ‘puppy dog’ look.
“We can go see. Where’re your mom and dad, and Luke?” Nico asks, looking around for the familiar faces of their friends and nephew, doubtful that Annabeth and Percy would be best pleased if they just left with Silena without telling them where they were going.
Before Silena can answer, Nico looks up to see the three people in question at the bottom of Half-Blood Hill, making their way over to Will, Nico and Silena.
“Silena Sally Athena.” Percy addresses his daughter in the most stern and serious tone either Nico or Will have ever heard him use before. “What have we said about running off?”
Silena huffs and turns to face her parents, her gaze locking on her dad as she puts her hands on her hips, leaving Nico and Will holding their breath in anticipation for the sass Percy is no doubt about to receive.
“I big girl now daddy!” Silena protests, holding her chin high in pride and holding her father’s gaze, as if she’s about to tell him to ‘Try me’.
“Big girls still need to stay in sight and not run off like that.” Percy replies in the same stern and firm tone, though with a slight wobble to his voice as he no doubt bites back laughter, as Silena stands there with all the gumption and sass she can muster.
“Aunty ‘Stell doesn’t.” Silena argues, thinking of her Aunt who is only 9 years older than her, not quite a kid like Silena and Luke, but also not quite an adult, like Estelle's parents or brother.
“Aunty ‘Stell is 12, she knows how to keep herself safe and to always let a grown up know where she is, when you’re 12 you’ll be allowed to do stuff Aunty ‘Stell does.” Percy calmly tells her.
He should’ve anticipated Silena would use Estelle as a comparison, she idolises her Aunt and thinks she’s the coolest person in the world, and wants to be just like her. It’s totally adorable and heart warming, and Percy loves that Silena is so sure of herself and confident, but sometimes she does seem to forget that she’s not a pre-teen like her Aunt, though she certainly acts like it at times.
“I just excited to see Uncle Will and Uncle Nico! And The Puffs!” Silena then pivots to justifying her actions, instead of trying to argue that she didn’t break any rules in the first place.
“I know, guppy.” Percy’s voice softens as he sinks to one knee and addresses his daughter by her pet name that he’s used for her since Annabeth was pregnant with her. “But when you run off like that you could end up getting hurt, and mama and I wouldn’t be able to see or get to you quickly to help you. I know it’s really hard to wait and be patient, and it's ok to run ahead a bit, but you gotta stay where we can see you and make sure you’re safe, ok? Next time you can ask mama or I to run ahead with you, I bet Luke would’ve loved to race you down the hill, so next time just ask, or tell us you wanna run, ok?”
Watching Percy speaking so lovingly and respectfully to Silena, holding her little hand in his and taking the time and patience to explain why her behaviour wasn’t ok, is a heart warming and inspiring sight to Nico and Will, and even more heart warming for Annabeth, who is just a few steps behind her husband, with Luke on her hip, still groggy from his impromptu nap in the car on the way over here.
“Ok, sorry.” Silena pouts but nods her understanding, offering an apology to show she understands her dad’s point, her pout quickly turning into a smile and a giggle when Percy reaches out to lightly tap her on the nose.
“Thank you guppy.” He then stands up and swoops Silena up into his arms when she reaches for him, settling her on his hip as Annabeth joins him at his side and kisses him on the cheek.
“Ewww!” Silena exclaims with a giggle. “Straight people!”
All 4 adults burst into laughter, exchanging incredulous looks of disbelief.
“Excuse you?” Annabeth laughs. “Where’d you hear that, little ma’am?”
“Aunty Alex!” Silena exclaims, as if this is the most obvious thing in the world. Which to be fair, it’s not exactly surprising, it’s definitely something Annabeth has heard her cousin-in-law (as Alex has dubbed herself over the years) say.
“No surprise there.” Will laughs, also by now very familiar with Alex’s sense of humour and personality. She is by far one of his favourite people to ever visit Camp, and someone he considers a good friend by now.
“Not in the least.” Percy agrees with a laugh. “So what’s this I hear about a playdate with The Cocoa Puffs?”
“Uncle Nico says they inside, wif Mr. D!” Silena cheerfully informs her father, pointing to the Big House in the distance. “Maybe Mr. D play too!”
Annabeth and Percy share an amused look. A few years ago they would have whole heartedly believed Mr. D would sooner serve another century as Camp Director, than play with and entertain two small children. Now however, they’re not so sure about that. Dionysus seems quite fond of Luke and Silena, never complaining too much when they’re around, even sometimes telling the kids stories, playing go-fish with them, etc.
“Maybe he will.” Annabeth agrees, smoothing back stray wisps of hair from her daughter’s face.
Luke, what do you think? Percy signs to their son, who is now a little more awake, his head laid on Annabeth’s shoulder as his grogginess begins to fade away. You wanna play with the Cocoa Puffs? And maybe Mr. D?
As Percy knew it would, Luke’s face lights up at the mere mention of Mr. D, who he seems to be particularly fond of, and looks up to. He always enjoys spending time with the wine god. Everyone finds it humorously ironic that someone as calm and laid back as Luke is so fond of and idolses someone as boisterous and chaotic as the God of parties.
Yeah! Luke responds enthusiastically, his gestures animated and excited, his eyes twinkling with delight. Coca Puffs and Mr. D! When Annabeth sets the little boy down, Luke quickly darts forward towards the Big House (Though not out of sight, like Silena had).
Silena quickly hurries after her brother, giggles of excitement filling the Spring air, a sight and sound that sends joy and gratitude through Percy and Annabeth, who thought they may never have this moment of parental joy, but which stings a little for Nico and Will, who are now the ones fearing that they will never get these beautiful moments of parental pride and joy.
When the kids are a few feet ahead of their parents, Silena taps her brother on the shoulder to grab his attention, before signing something to him that none of the four adults can quite make out.
Whatever it is though, causes a look of irritation to flash across Luke’s face, and he lets out a huff of irritation, as Silena had earlier, before turning back to face his parents and Uncles, fixing them with a displeased look, while Silena stands at his side, mouth set in a pout, hands on her hips and a ‘Don’t mess with us’ look, that makes the adults want to laugh at how funny it is to see that kind of look on a little 3 year old, barely out of toddlerhood.
Daddy! Mama! Luke signs in quick and precise motions, his brow furrowed in irritation. Come on! We want to see Cocoa Puffs and Mr. D! Hurry up!
“Yeah! You be borin grown ups later!” Silena adds, which is when Will has to bite his lip and hide a laugh and grin behind his hand, having no doubt that if Silena sees him laughing at her attitude and sass, he’d also end up in her bad books.
“Ok ok!” Percy laughs. We’re coming, hold your horses! “We better go, catch you guys later?” Percy then addresses Nico and Will, slipping his hand into Annabeth’s, as Luke looks confused and confusedly asks Silena about what horses their dad is talking about.
“Of course, we’re here all week too, we’ll probably see you at dinner this evening.” Will nods, hoping that they will indeed get a chance to spend some more time with the Jackson-Chase family before the 4 of them leave for Manhattan, where they’ve lived since they moved out of New Rome when Luke was a baby.
“Definitely, the kids are usually a little less feral once they have food in front of them.” Percy jokes, earning a light punch to the arm from Annabeth, though she agrees that the kids can certainly be rambunctious and unpredictable at times, especially Silena, but in all the best ways possible.
“See you then.” Will agrees, waving them off as they head down the path, before they get sassed out by their 5 and 3 year old again.
As the Jackson-Chase’s make their way towards the Big House, Will and Nico join hands again and resume their casual stroll towards the mess hall, usually a nice, quiet place to sit and chat, when meals aren’t taking place.
“Oh my gods, those two kids areso cute.” Will sighs to Nico as they walk, laughing as he thinks of Silena’s adorable and hilarious sass, and the unbearably sweet way Luke clung to Annabeth like a baby Koala, looking up at his mom as if she is the greatest woman to ever set foot on earth. A feeling he has in mutual with Will, who is also his mother’s biggest fan and supporter.
“They are.” Nico grins, his heart squeezing with affection and joy at the thought of their honorary niece and nephew, the first kids of their friend group, the most popular guests and visitors at both camps.
“I kinda wanna go see them with The Puffs, Coca Puffs plus Silena and Luke would equal a lethal amount of adorableness.” Will gushes, perfectly able to picture the way the little fuzz balls of personified emotions would have the time of their lives with Silena and Luke, he thinks The Cocoa Puffs would really enjoy hide ‘n’ seek, which is currently Silena and Luke’s favourite game.
“Ugh they absolutely would.” Nico agrees, a surge of ‘cute aggression’ washing over him, making him look down and inside his jacket to check that Aggression hasn’t actually managed to appear somewhere on his person without him knowing or realising.
“Gods I’m so broody right now, I wanna be a dad so bad!” Will exclaims, feeling his throat tighten with emotion as he’s reminded of how complicated starting a family will be for he and Nico, and how there is simply no easy, simple solution for them.
“I know, me too.” Nico sympathises, rubbing his husband’s back soothingly as they sit at a table in the mess hall, his heart aching with longing as his mind conjures up an image of a baby, a baby with Will’s tanned complexion, perfect and adorable nose and smile, and his big blue eyes, along with Nico’s dark hair and facial shape, and his eye shape.
Before Will can respond, the two of them hear someone call out to them in greeting, and look up to see a familiar figure with wild red hair approaching them with a friendly smile on her face, wearing a white t-shirt over a burgundy jacket, with paint-splattered blue jeans and high top shoes covered in stickers and drawings.
“Hey love-birds.” Rachel teasingly greets as she sits opposite the son of Hades and the son of Apollo. “Did you see Annabeth and Percy are here with the kids?” She asks, taking her paint-stained hands out of her pockets and folding them in front of her.
“Yeah, we just saw them, it’s always nice when they come to visit.” Will nods, his smile more sad than happy, as he tries to not let envy for his friends take hold of him. It’s not like it was easy for Annabeth and Percy to start their family either, to get either of their kids. They know all too well the pain of desperately longing to be a parent, but for one reason or another having to really, really fight for it.
“How wild is it that Luke’s starting kindergarten this year? How is he 5? Feels like just yesterday Annabeth and Percy told us Annabeth was pregnant with him.” Rachel sighs, her tone bittersweet as she thinks of how fast time is going, and how quickly the babies of their friend group are growing up.
Not only does it just feel like yesterday that Annabeth and Percy announced their pregnancy with Luke, it feels like just yesterday that Rachel and Percy made an awkward attempt at romance in their teens. She loves Percy dearly, and Annabeth, but only as friends, and now over 10 years later, she is so glad that she and Percy didn’t work out as a couple.
“I know right? Time goes by so fast, too fast sometimes.” Nico agrees, feeling like time has flown by so quickly, and it was only last week he was clumsily attempting to hide his crush on Percy, shoving his shame at his sexuality deep, deep down. His heart also gives a squeeze of sorrow as Nico thinks about how it’s now been over 10 years since he lost Bianca, and since the harrowing loss of Jason.
“Silena is all Percy, that kid has more personality and sass than anyone else I’ve ever met.” Will chimes in with a laugh.
“She’s hilarious, and Luke is too, it’s always the quiet ones you need to look out for, I say.” Rachel laughs lightly, still picturing Luke’s smile when he asked Percy if electricity had been invented when he was a kid, knowing full well that it had of course, but wanting to tease and poke fun at his dad, and make his mom and sister laugh, and Rachel too.
“Ugh they make my baby fever so much worse, they’re so cute and wonderful!” Will exclaims with a heavy, weary sigh.
It not only hurts a little to see Silena and Luke, but it also hurts when Magnus Chase and Alex Fierro come visit occasionally, with their kiddo Robin, who’s every bit as adorable and wonderful as their cousins.
But Will can’t help but think, if it’s somehow possible for two undead demigods to have a baby, to unintentionally conceive, without any need for magical or medical intervention, why isn’t it possible for Nico and Will?
Of course Will knows why, all the necessary ‘ingredients’ for making a baby were present for Magnus and Alex, they just didn’t think said ingredients were functional, as they usually aren’t for Einherji.
In Nico and Will’s case, they are missing a pretty crucial required part for making a baby, two crucial parts actually. But still, logic doesn’t make him feel any less frustrated or upset with how difficult it will inevitably be for he and Nico to become parents.
“Ugh me too.” Rachel expresses, a hand over her heart as she glances towards The Big House, her own heart strings tugging as she thinks about her own situation and complicated feelings.
“I didn’t know you wanted kids.” Nico admits with a tone of surprise to his voice.
He had never really considered how something like being the host of the Oracle of Delphi would impact Rachel’s future decisions on things like family planning. Of course that hadn’t been the biggest thing on Rachel’s mind when she became the host for the Oracle, as a teenager. But he should’ve guessed that it would be something she at least thought about over the past decade or so.
“I was unsure for a while, especially after becoming the Oracle, but I’ve thought about it a lot over the years and realised I really do want to be a mom someday.” Rachel confesses with a light shrug, as if this is no big deal, and not something that she deeply, deeply desires, but is unsure if it can or will ever happen.
“Is it… safe? With you being the Oracle and all?” Will hesitantly asks, treading the fine line between concern and not minding his own business.
“I don’t see why it wouldn’t be.” Rachel again shrugs, doing her best not to show how deeply frightened she is that the answer might be ‘no.’
“I spoke to Apollo about it, he said that usually the Oracle would be required to sever all ties to family and self and a previous life, to give themselves over entirely to him and the power of prophecy. But I’ve never done that, I still have contact with my family and friends, Percy and Annabeth were my friends before I became the Oracle.
“But at the same time, no one’s ever had a kid while hosting the Oracle, so we can’t say for certain whether or not it impacts fertility at all. Apollo said if I want to try, it’s my choice, he won’t stop me, but if I try and end up without a kid in the end, and it’s shown that I’m otherwise healthy and abled, then…I guess we’ll have an answer.” By the time Rachel finishes her explanation her voice has taken on an uncharacteristic tremor and shake, her vocal cords tightening with emotion as she thinks of all the ways an attempt to start a family could go wrong.
“Anyway, I don’t have any interest in a romantic relationship or anything like that, so it’s not like it was ever going to be simple for me anyway.” Rachel adds, throwing in a shaky laugh to try and come across as more put together and calm than she’s really feeling.
“What about you guys? Any interest in making The Puffs big…Brothers? Sisters? Siblings? Do they even have genders?” Rachel then turns the attention onto Nico and Will, suddenly filled with philosophical thoughts about gender and how Nico’s personified emotions experience (or don’t experience for that matter) the gender spectrum. Are they male, like Nico? Agender? Fluid? Bigender? Something else altogether?
“I have no idea, I tend to refer to them as masculine, like people defer to calling most dogs ‘good boys’, and mainly because I don’t wanna call them ‘it’.” Nico summarises, now also thinking and fretting about if he’s accidentally misgendered his Cacodemons. They may not communicate verbally, but the little fuzzballs aren’t shy about communicating in other ways. Frankly Nico suspects the Puffs couldn’t care less about what pronouns Nico and others use to refer to them, as long as he keeps the snacks and cuddles coming.
“But to answer your question, yeah, we really want to have a kid together, but it’s not exactly plain sailing for us either.” Will explains, also trying to come across as less invested and afraid, despite being so big on ‘feeling your feelings’, he doesn’t want to burden Rachel with his own problems and complaints.
“Oh? Do you mind if I ask why? Apart from the obvious, that is?” Rachel asks, seeing the sadness on her friend’s faces and in their eyes, wondering if maybe there’s something she can do to help them, even if it is just lending a listening ear and/or a shoulder to cry on.
“Well, the thing is - and this might sound odd - we’re not entirely comfortable or okay with the idea of going through an egg donor bank or an agency to find a surrogate, we want to know the person carrying our kid and the person providing half our kids DNA. And not just know stuff like their medical history or what they look like, we want more than can be provided in a profile, ya know?” Will starts to explain, hoping that he’s getting his point across in the right way.
He’s usually a pretty smooth talker, being the son of the God of poetry, and all. But when he gets emotional and touches on a sensitive topic like this, it can be hard to express himself the way he usually can.
“We want our donor and/or surrogate to be around and involved in our kid’s life, it’s been said and shown time and time again that a known donor is best for the kid, someone who will be involved in their life and can help them with any identity problems a lot of donor conceived and surrogate born kids can have.” Nico continues, thinking of the hours of research he and Will have poured into exploring their options to have a family. The interviews they’ve read with donor conceived and surrogate born people, studies they’ve read, etc.
As demigod children who both spent a lot of their life and early years not knowing one of their parents, and who only really developed a bond and relationship with said parent in their teen years, Nico and Will are very aware of how not knowing the identity of one of your parents can affect you, how it can make you feel as if maybe you weren’t wanted, maybe you’re not good enough, etc. And if they can avoid making their own child feel that way, they will.
“I think that’s totally understandable.” Rachel nods. “In fact I think it’s great, not a lot of people put as much effort and thought into having a kid as you guys are. It’s a big deal to bring another life into the world, and choosing the person who’s gonna provide half your kid’s DNA and be the one to literally carry them and give birth to them, that’s a big deal too, and not something that should be taken lightly.” she continues, glad to hear her friends taking this part of life so seriously and putting serious thought, time and effort into it.
So many people just have a kid because they’ve always been taught that that’s what adults do, that’s a part of life. Not many put much thought into the fact that it’s a choice, it’s an optional part of life, and should never be entered into lightly.
“Exactly, that’s exactly how we look at it too.” Will agrees, glad that Rachel not only clearly understands their point but supports them too. One other thing Nico and Will are both aware of as children raised by single mother’s, support is key when it comes to raising kids.
Their fathers may not have been in the picture from the beginning but Naomi and Maria respectively both still had help. Nico and Bianca were raised in part by their neighbours in Italy, very good friends of Maria's, and who Nico still remembers warmly and fondly to this day.
And Will was raised with a lot of help from his Aunt, Naomi’s sister Audrey, who had and has a close relationship with her sister, and often accompanied her on tour, eventually stepping into a nanny/care-taker role for Will while he and Naomi were on the road. Will has so many happy and wonderful memories of being held by his Aunt Audrey and watching his mother’s performance, while Audrey bopped and swayed and moved to the music, while Will watched his mother in awe, having the absolute time of his life.
So while they both absolutely want their child to know the people or person who A. Provides half their DNA, and B. Carries them and gives birth to them, they also want their child to have other grown ups around to love them and care for them, to be involved with them. Just like Will and Nico are loving Uncles to Silena and Luke, they hope that Percy, Annabeth, Rachel and all their other friends and loved ones at both camps, can and will be involved in their kid’s life.
“And we know we could ask Kayla or Hazel, but they’ve both already told us they aren’t comfortable or okay with that, they love and support us, but egg donation and carrying a kid is a huge deal and it’s not something either of them want to do.” Will clarifies, having had a few people in hopeful same-sex parent support groups, suggest that he and Nico ask their respective sisters to make this huge sacrifice for them.
“Understandable.” Rachel sympathises, completely able to understand where Hazel and Kayla are coming from. She’s not sure she would be onboard for egg donation and/or surrogacy either.
“Of course, and we obviously love and respect them and their boundaries and decisions, and we appreciate all the support and love they’ve given us since we let them know we’re trying to figure out how to start a family. I wouldn’t want to go through this without our friends and family.” Nico expresses, the gratitude and love clear in his voice when he talks about his sister and sister-in-law, two of the only people so far to know about he and Will’s journey and hopes at starting a family, as well as their dilemma and barricades to doing just that.
Whatever happens in the future, whether he and Will become parents or not, Nico will forever be grateful for Hazel and Kayla and their endless love and support through this time. He only wishes Bianca could be here too, he could really use her big-sisterly-advice right about now.
“I get it, I’ve been considering donor conception too, and I know I would want to go with a known donor as well. Here at camp, I see all the time how not knowing one of your biological parents can really mess with a person, especially a kid. Everyone has the right to know their own backstory.” Rachel explains, also having put a lot of time, thought and effort into this decision she’s facing.
She has no problem being a single mom, but there are a lot of things that factor into her being undecided on going down the solo-parent-by-choice route. The cost of fertility treatment alone is a big factor in the decision, and is one of the main things leaving her on the fence about it all.
“I kinda wish I could have kids like Athena, through thought.” Will jokes, leaning his forehead against Nico’s, and wondering if that’s a sacrilegious and disrespectful joke to make, and hoping Athena won’t smite him down for it.
“You and me both.” Rachel agrees with a laugh. “Or if I could do it on my own without a second biological parent. I wish they would teach us in school that having a kid isn’t always as simple as they make it out to be. Just glance at a man and you’ll end up with a bunch of kids. I don’t even want a bunch, I just want one, maybe two.” She then jokes, thinking of the intense health education she received at private school, where a huge emphasis was put on the perils of unplanned pregnancy. Too bad they never talked about how difficult it can be to plan a pregnancy.
“I know, right?” Will agrees with a laugh. “I’ve always wanted at least 2 kids but damn, at this point I will be more than happy with just one.”
“And I never even thought I could be honest about my sexuality, let alone that I could have kids. One would feel like a miracle, let alone two.” Nico smiles sadly, feeling so much sorrow for the scared little closeted and frightened kid he once was. He likes to think that little Nico would be proud of the man he’s become today.
Rachel hmms in agreement, and the three friends sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes.
At some point Nico becomes aware of the pensive look on Rachel’s face, of how she twirls a ringlet of hair around her finger like she tends to do when thinking deeply about something. He can practically see the gears turning in her mind, as she processes whatever it is she’s considering and thinking about, before she starts to psych herself up to put that thought into words and voice it to Nico and Will.
“I… have a bit of a wild and… unconventional idea.” Rachel eventually announces, after a while of thinking, a nervous shake and laugh evident in her voice as she anxiously bounces her legs and picks at the skin around her fingernails.
“Oh?” Will prompts, exchanging a curious glance with Nico, wondering what this ‘wild’ idea is, and why it’s making Rachel so nervous.
“Ok so… I mean… obviously you guys can say to this if you want, like I said it’s kinda out there, but it might solve both our problems, but there’s no pressure either way…” Rachel quickly assures her friends, unsure herself if she’s just stalling, or if she really thinks she needs to clarify this to Nico and Will, if it’s not plainly obvious that they always have the choice to say no.
“Ok? What is it?” Nico asks, leaning in as he slips his hand into Will’s underneath the table, completely unaware of how this one simple sentence and question is about to change his entire life.
“Ok…” Rachel takes a deep breath, briefly closing her eyes and mentally hyping herself up to put this thought into words, before opening her eyes again and holding Nico and Will’s gaze, despite her deep desire not to, almost afraid to see their reaction.
“So…” Rachel continues. “What if the three of us team up together and have a kid together? We could use my eggs and whichever one of you wants to be the biological father, we could use your sperm, we could conceive through artificial insemination or even IVF, and then… we could raise the baby together? As a platonic parenting triad?
“It would solve both our problems with not wanting an anonymous donor and/or surrogate. The baby would know both biological parents, they would know and be loved and raised by all three of their parents, and know their own backstory and how they came to be. I know… I know it’s a really outlandish idea, but…. It could work, it could work really well.
“What… what do you guys think?”