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Wei Wuxian grimaced as he watched Jiang Cheng being corralled into holding little A-Ling by their A-Jie. He looked both terrified and enchanted at the same time as the tiny newborn settled into his arms.
Wei Wuxian moved over to stand at Jiang Cheng’s back and look over his shoulder at their nephew.
“Don’t be so nervous, A-Cheng,” Jiang Yanli was saying to him, “The most important thing is to make sure you support their heads and necks, you’ve got him perfectly.”
“He’s so small. I’m so scared I’m going to drop him.”
“I wouldn’t advise you do that,” Wei Wuxian said, lowering his chin to rest on his brother’s shoulder, and Jiang Cheng shot him a look.
“Helpful, thanks,” he snarked, then looked back as A-Ling made a little noise in his throat.
Wei Wuxian smiled softly, watched as Jiang Cheng, having turned his attention back to A-Ling, placed one of his fingers in his nephew’s hand; which closed around it in reaction. Jiang Cheng smiled.
Wei Wuxian could almost hear all three of their hearts melt in their chests in unison at this softest of moments.
Although the three siblings had vastly differing personalities, Wei Wuxian knew the very centre of every one of their lives was their family. And while they’d all grown up, and were growing their own extended familial units, this here, the three of them, was still sacred. He hooked an arm around Jiang Cheng’s chest from behind, then scooped Jiang Yanli close with the other as she moved in to wrap her arms around the both of them.
Jiang Cheng put up with the hug for as long as he could without comment, but eventually he could hold his tongue no longer.
“Why are you both like this in public? So embarrassing.” he muttered; he didn’t pull free though.
Eventually they separated, and after a while longer spent bonding Jiang Cheng handed A-Ling over to Wei Wuxian for more uncle cuddles.
He was beautiful. Wei Wuxian ran a tender finger over the soft black hair on his head.
“It seems so surreal, that you’re both married and have kids now, like you’re real grown ups or something,” Jiang Cheng commented, and Wei Wuxian laughed.
“How baby do you think you still are, A-Cheng?” he asked in amusement, and Jiang Cheng frowned.
“You might both have kids, Wei Wuxian, but I am still baby.”
“A-Cheng’s right, A-Xian, he’s still our baby,” Jiang Yanli patted his hair gently.
“See?” Jiang Cheng stuck his tongue out at Wei Wuxian, who was powerless to retaliate due to the soft bundle of sleepy baby in his arms.
“OK, Chengcheng,” Wei Wuxian agreed, which nearly caused a curse. The other recalled where he was in time to kill it on his tongue though.
Even Jiang Cheng was aware a joint baby shower/adoption party wasn’t an acceptable place to curse.
“You’ll probably have all this yourself in a few years, A-Cheng,” Jiang Yanli told him, and the look of genuine surprise on his face caused something like unease to settle in Wei Wuxian’s chest.
“Me? With a family beyond you guys? Who’s ever going to put up with me? Why would I be irresponsible enough to breed?” he tapped the side of his head indicatively, and Wei Wuxian was so enraged at his attitude to himself he almost attacked right there.
He would have if it hadn’t been for Lan Wangji’s brother and his partner walking over then with a gurgling A-Yuan in his arms. Wei Wuxian had to swallow what he had been about to say, and he could see the same look of discontent on Jiang Yanli’s face, but the moment had been lost to the new arrivals.
Jiang Cheng’s lack of self-confidence and borderline hatred of himself destroyed his siblings, but there was only so much they could do, where therapy hadn’t even helped.
Lan Xichen greeted them, “I’ve come to offer a swap, as I know an uncle who’s desperate to have a cuddle with his nephew.” He nodded at Jin Guangyao, his partner, and coincidentally Jiang Yanli’s brother-in-law.
“Of course, Xichen-ge.” Wei Wuxian moved over to pass A-Ling into Jin Guangyao’s arms.
“Wanyin, would you like to hold A-Yuan?” Lan Xichen asked, and Jiang Cheng looked extremely uncomfortable momentarily.
“Uh...yes, please, thank you.” He sounded stilted. The handover was awkward, and they seemed to get tangled up a little. “Ah, I’m sorry, I’m so scared of dropping them, I’m not very good at this kid thing,” he muttered as they managed to disentangle themselves.
“I know what you mean. But I’m sure we’ll both have plenty of practice before much longer,” Lan Xichen said good naturedly.
Jiang Cheng smiled back at him, but it was something tight and uncomfortable, with his lashes lowered over his eyes to hide their expression.
Wei Wuxian read what he thought in that look, and felt a stirring of sympathy. Damn, but Jiang Cheng never made things easy on himself.
Still contemplating, Wei Wuxian relaxed into the arms of his husband as he felt the hug initiated from behind him.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji murmured softly in his ear, and they both watched Jiang Cheng bond with A-Yuan. Wei Wuxian felt like his heart was too big for his chest here, surrounded by everyone who was important to him, especially this new, recently-adopted addition to their life.
“Honestly, I would never have agreed to this baby shower/adoption party if I’d known I’d have to let everyone else hold A-Yuan,” he complained in jest, but the sentiment was real; he genuinely hadn’t gotten past the need to constantly cuddle their son himself yet.
“Mn,” Lan Wangji agreed in his ear.
“Tough, it’s uncle and auntie hours now,” Jiang Cheng told him, before handing over A-Yuan to a Jiang Yanli who was practically vibrating at the need to snuggle with him.
They were joined by Jin Zixuan, who put a gentle hand against Jiang Yanli’s arm, then bent to give the smiling A-Yuan some attention.
“He’s such a happy baby,” Jiang Yanli said, stroking his cheek softly, “It’s so wonderful that A-Ling and A-Yuan are around the same age, they’re going to love growing up with each other.” Jiang Yanli turned to Lan Wangji’s brother then, “Have you two thought whether you might look to have children together eventually?” she asked.
Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao glanced at each other briefly, “We haven’t really discussed it yet,” Lan Xichen waved a hand in the negative, and Jin Guangyao agreed.
“Yes, we have plenty of time to think about that in the future.”
“Of course,” Jiang Yanli agreed.
Wei Wuxian, now he was watching for it, saw the expression that crossed Jiang Cheng’s face before it was ruthlessly squashed.
Jiang Cheng never cut himself a break. If Wei Wuxian’s guess was right, and it usually was when it came to his didi, he’d gotten himself a proper unrequited crush. On the worst person imaginable.
Not because there was anything wrong with Lan Xichen, but because he was most definitely spoken for. And because the Lan’s were unswervingly loyal.
It was the one dark spot on an otherwise happy day for Wei Wuxian. He wanted Jiang Cheng to be as happy as he and Jiang Yanli were. He genuinely believed there was someone who would make him feel as loved and special as Lan Wangji did for Wei Wuxian, if that was what Jiang Cheng wanted. He’d find them eventually if so.
He held on to Lan Wangji’s arms and rubbed the side of his face against Lan Wangji’s cheek.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji murmured again, and pressed a kiss against Wei Wuxian’s ear.