Chapter Text
Pope Leo XIV was at his desk, poring over the agenda for his next meeting when he heard a-- was that a baby’s squeal? He looked up from the papers in his hands, looking from left to right. There weren’t any babies in here, and he was sure that no one had their phones on loud over here. So where could that be--?
He checked his watch, and he realized it was close to the meeting he’d be having with the three cardinals from the Philippines. Cardi Three, he had once seen them being called so on Twitter. He shifted his gaze towards the door, where he was sure Edgard would open it, and usher in his guests.
He wasn’t expecting, however, hearing the younger man’s laughter followed by yet another squeal. Why would there be a baby here? Who would bring a baby here of all places?
The door opened, revealing a smiling Edgard, followed by Cardinals Advincula who looked amused as well, David carrying what seemed to be a diaper bag on his shoulder, and Tagle with a baby girl in his arms. Bob was sure that he had a dream like this once, him and Chito with a little girl, enjoying food in Peru, or a sunset in the Philippines. No responsibilities for them besides parenthood, and a whole life together full of love and-- wait. A baby?! Here, in his office? He surely wasn’t dreaming, right? Right?
Leo, no, this was Bob right now. There was no way he could be anyone else but himself now. This was something beyond Leo's purview, that he knew for sure. He gave himself a moment, took his glasses off, and wiped it clean with his handkerchief, making sure that he was seeing right. Indeed, one of his cardinals was carrying a baby, and the other two cardinals with him seemed to think that this was a normal thing. This was definitely not normal.
“There’s a baby in my office. May I know why we have a baby here, Eminences?”
“It’s kind of a funny story, really,” the eldest of the three cardinals, Jose Advincula-- Joe , Bob had heard Chito call him once.
“I sincerely hope that no one has committed a crime here.” Bob looked at the three, no, he also included Edgard in the mix, lingering slightly on Chito and the baby.
“Oh, no. No, Holy Father,” Chito was quick to say, “we assure you that no crimes were committed. No sins either.”
“Or, rather, at least we didn't commit them,” Joe muttered under his breath. That didn't reassure Bob one bit.
“Except for the sin of pride, probably.” Shot the youngest of the three, Pablo David, Ambo, earning him a dirty look from Joe.
“Alright, alright. Please, we are all grown men here,” cut Bob, placing his hands up and intervening. Right, five men and a baby. He’s pretty sure there’s a movie about that. “No need to argue. Before we start, I would like to know how a baby came into the care of three of my cardinals.”
“It’s a long story…” Chito began, his eyes flicking from the baby in his arms to the Holy Father standing behind his desk.
“And I think we have the time,” Bob said.
The three Filipino Cardinals look at each other, as if making a silent conversation. Bob looked at Edgard, quirking up an eyebrow as if asking do you know what happened? The younger man simply shook his head before they both turned their attention to the three other men with them.
Bob watched as the baby in Chito’s arms played with his pectoral cross. It was in her mouth, and she was sucking on it-- yet the man didn’t seem to mind it one bit. It was rather cute. Edgard must have thought it was, too, since he noticed the young priest taking pictures from his periphery. He would have to ask him for those pictures later.
Silent conversation now done, the three Filipinos looked back at their Pope.
“It started like this…” Joe began, explaining how they were waiting for a package for one of the younger priests in the Colegio. What arrived instead of a box, however, was a baby carrier and a fully stocked diaper bag beside it. There was no note on the carrier, and not even the baby's name. They only found out the baby was a girl when she started crying, and they had to change her.
“She didn't have a name when we found her--” Chito then continued from where Joe left off.
“Have you given her a name?” Bob cut in.
“-- And I thought that it would be nice to honor a mother, as well as maybe name her after you too but you know, a bit more lowkey. So I thought of-- Agnes Francesca.” It was sometimes a marvel how one Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle can say so many words in just a single breath.
Bob sucked in a breath, when he realized who the baby was named after. Him and his mother . Or maybe Pope Francis and Bob’s mother? Don’t be silly, the back of his mind shot back. The girl is obviously named after you Prevosts. “You named her after-- “
“-- if it’s alright with you, of course!” Chito exclaimed. The two other cardinals glanced at each other. Edgard wondered how these two, the Holy Father and his beloved Cardinal, were such perceptive people yet somehow so oblivious. Life was truly a mystery. Likewise, Joe and Ambo were having similar thoughts on their Cardinal brother. The two of them realizing that their feelings were, in fact, mutual and reciprocated would be nothing short of a miracle.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” Bob met Chito’s gaze, and held it for what seemed like minutes. But it was just merely a few seconds, very awkward seconds for the three other adults in the room. Baby Agnes seemed content with slobbering all over the Cross.
Joe cleared his throat. Ambo looked like he was trying to bite back a smile. Edgar looked like a child at Christmas.
“This little lady here has been with us for just a short while and already has her favorites, Holy Father! Every time she cries, only our Chito here can calm her down,” Ambo told Bob and Edgard, grinning. This just got him yet another glare from Joe, and a chuckle from Chito, who in turn, wordlessly passed Agnes to Joe. Just to prove Ambo’s point, Bob assumed.
And poor little Agnes began crying when she was transferred from one adult to the other. Poor little girl. Chito was just about to take her back when Bob suddenly asked, “May I?”
Joe was more than happy, to say the least, to hand her over to the Holy Father. And to everyone's surprise-- even Chito’s, she stopped crying. Edgard quickly whipped his phone out yet again, and wasn’t ashamed to take pictures of the Pope carrying a baby. Chito made a mental reminder to ask the young priest for those photos later.
“I'm finally going to be a big brother!” Edgard excitedly said, as he continued to take pictures in every angle he thought was flattering to both baby and Pope. The comment earned him confused looks from both Bob and Chito, and laughs from Joe and Ambo.
Brother? Yes, Edgard is like my son, and technically little Agnes here is also my child in Christ but-- oh. Bob felt his ears heat up at the realization, the implication. He had known of his feelings for some time now, and had never, ever thought of acting on them. Liar, liar, pants on fire. Bob would have to confess that at some point-- no, the lie, not the feelings.
“A sister to Edgard!” Chito made that chuckle when he felt things were getting a bit… awkward? Was the situation awkward right now? Bob didn’t know, but he knew that this was far from how he expected his afternoon to go. “Did you want to co-parent little Agnes, Your Holiness? Wait. No. Co-parenting wasn’t the right term. I meant care. I would need some help caring for Agnes, since Cardinals Advincula and David will be returning home soon.”
Bob knew himself well enough that there was no way he was saying ‘no’. Bob was screwed.
“Yes, of course. I would love to help you, Chito.”
Judging by the knowing looks he received from Cardinals Advincula and David, and even Edgard himself, they also knew that he was so screwed.