Chapter Text
March 2032
"You're worse than I ever was," Nancy groans.
"This is the second try," Chuck whines. "What if it's just not meant to happen, Nance?"
"Chuck," Nancy says sternly. "It'll be fine. It's the second try. We're going to the doctor's tomorrow."
Eileen is cheerful, absolutely over the moon that she's going to be pregnant again. She and Raleigh discuss pregnancy cravings and come to an arrangement regarding who's going to be running out to Maccas at one in the morning when she wants a Big Mac and a shake. Of course Raleigh's not sweating it. Of course he's the one taking it all in stride, because why wouldn't he be? Raleigh's a God damn child-rearing wunderkind. He builds a crib by hand in the garage, fitting joints and sanding and staining for hours.
When the doctor confirms that there's been implantation, Chuck is sort of struck dumb. A baby that's genetically half his is going to be growing in one of his best friend's uterus. They celebrate with a pizza party at Herc's place. Raleigh drinks one last beer before promising not to touch a drop for the duration.
"Seems only fair," Raleigh says.
"You'll pardon me if I don't share the sentiment," Herc grouses good naturedly. He's excited, Chuck can tell. Even after all these years, there's still a low-level Drift connecting him and his father. It's not apparent all the time, usually only popping up when they've spent a good chunk of time together. Chuck's been so nervous that he's been at Dad's a lot lately, taking Hunter by to see his Gramps and trying to shake out his anxiety.
"So," Nancy says, playing with the crust on her plate. "You guys thinking about names yet? Hunter came with his, right?"
"He did," Raleigh says, messing up Hunter's hair. It's so thick now that sometimes Chuck thinks about shaving it off, since Hunter will hardly let him comb it out. Raleigh won't let that happen, though.
"Papa," Hunter whines.
"Angela," Chuck supplies.
"Hm?" Nancy asks.
"The name," Chuck says. Dad looks over at him, mouth twitching in a way that Chuck can't quite interpret. "Angela. Or Yancy, if it's a boy."
Raleigh and Dad both blink back tears and slap each other on the back, not wanting to admit how touched they are. Stephanie is completely mortified by the entire going on; she plays with her food and tries to ignore the adults at the table. Stacy, ever the tactful one, asks if this means that Chuck had sex with mama and Raleigh falls off his chair laughing.
August 2032
Chuck is nearly paralyzed with happiness.
"Angela," Raleigh says as he wraps himself around Chuck, pressing their foreheads together. "Little Angela."
Chuck starts crying and doesn't even try to play it off.
December 2032
For all the work that Raleigh put into that crib, Angela probably only sleeps in it once. The rest of the time, Raleigh's got her swaddled up and balanced on his chest, looking comically small in his huge arms. They take naps together on the couch and he sings Ben Howard songs to her as lullabies. It's always fallen to Chuck to take the pictures in the family; for the first month of her life, there are probably only two pictures of her and Chuck together. Angela's eyes follow Raleigh wherever he goes, even when Chuck is holding her.
"Playing favorites, huh?" Chuck laughs, kissing her chubby little cheek. "Rals, you're just doomed to be our children's favorite forever."
"That's not true," Raleigh says.
"Daddy, I love you," Hunter pipes up, standing up on the couch so he can be closer to Chuck's face. "It doesn't matter that Angel likes papa better."
"Her name is 'Angela', kiddo," Raleigh laughs. He picks Hunter up. "Do you love your little sister?" Hunter nods enthusiastically. "Do you love daddy and papa?"
"Yes!" Hunter screeches, throwing his arms around Raleigh's neck. He's starting doing this weird thing where he chews on the collars of their shirts when they hold him. Nancy tells them to just let him do it or he might have some issues later in life. Herc says it's nothing a swat on the butt won't cure. They figure it's not hurting anyone, and four year olds are really strange little things.
"Look at us," Raleigh laughs as Hunter rubs his face all over his shirt. "Can you even imagine if someone had told us we'd be this happy when we first met?"
"Don't push it," Chuck says. "Sometimes I still want to punch your lights out."
"No hitting," Hunter scolds. He twists to look at Chuck. "Daddy, no hitting. Papa always says no hitting."
"I know, munchkin," Chuck says. "I helped make those rules, remember?"
"No," Hunter says gleefully.
"Man, sometimes I really think he's got some Hansen genes in him somewhere," Raleigh laughs.
"Nurture over nature, I guess," Chuck says. "What do you boys want for dinner?"
"Hunter?" Raleigh asks.
"What does Angel want for dinner?" Hunter says, tugging on Raleigh's ears.
"Angela drinks milk. She's a baby," Raleigh explains. "Do you want pancakes?"
"That's breakfast," Hunter says, wrinkling his nose.
"Sometimes it's dinner," Chuck says.
"Woah," Hunter says, eyes widening.
"God, if only I could be so excited about anything anymore," Raleigh sighs.