Look Right Through Me: 2009 (part 2)
Look Right Through Me
Author: heartsdesire456
Rating: up to NC-17
POV: 3rd
Pairing: Bob/Spencer
Summary:Spencer Smith meets a friend of a friend, Bob Bryar, the summer before his 19th birthday. What was meant to be a one time tryst changes his and Bob's lives forever.
Author's Note:MPREG ALERT!!! This is an MPREG that follows from 2006 to 2010. I'm going to (hopefully) post the fic in parts by year... HOWEVER some parts may be too big and require 2-part posts for a certain year. This is a completed fic at 45,779 words and it is unbetad, but I reread it to try and catch as may errors as possible. I'm posting what I can today and whatever else is left tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience if I can't post it all today!
2009 part 1
July 2009: Chicago
“Hi, um… I know you won’t let me see her or talk to her, but I wanted you to tell Maggie that- that I really miss her. I love her so much. The band split, but Brendon and I- we’re still going on tour in a few weeks and we’ll be gone for a little while but when I get back I really want to see Maggie. I know you- you still don’t trust me and I don’t blame you. But Bob- I love her. Imagine if I’d taken her away and you couldn’t even tell her that. You can hate me, and I hate that because we were getting somewhere that I- I considered the three of us a family. For real. And I’m sorry. I know I was wrong and I don’t blame you but I want to see my daughter. You can be there the whole time, I can just visit for a few hours, but when I come home I want- I want to see her. Just… Just call me when you get this. Or don’t. Whatever you want to do. I guess… well, bye.”
Bob just closed his eyes as he listened to the beep that signaled the end of the message. He hated how sad Spencer sounded. He looked over at Maggie, who was playing on the floor, and shook his head. He didn’t like hurting Spencer. One thing Spencer had said struck him, and it was that they had really reached a point where they were living like a family before it all fell apart. He wanted that for Maggie. He wanted her to have both of her parents. Truth be told, it hadn’t been much of a bother for him either, living like a proper couple with Spencer. Since he’d found out Spencer was pregnant with her, he’d always had a soft spot for the blue eyed boy and he hated having to cut him out of both of their lives.
He shook his head, however, as he turned off his phone and got up to plug it in to the charger. It didn’t change a thing with the fact that Spencer had missed his friends using and not only had Maggie been around it, but she had been hurt in the process. No sympathy, no amount of missing Spencer or the life they’d started to build together, nothing could make up for what had happened to Maggie and what could’ve happened if it had been any worse.
As Bob looked at Maggie with her sandy waves, bright blue eyes, and freckled cheeks, he knew that, even if Spencer loved her with all his heart…
It wasn’t enough to let him back into her life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 2009: Back Stage
Brendon watched as Spencer hung up, sighing. “Still won’t let you talk to her?” he asked softly.
Spencer looked up then shook his head. “No.”
“Who?” Pete asked, looking across the dressing room at them.
Spencer smiled. “My daughter,” he said sadly.
Pete hummed. “The one you had with Bob?” he asked and Spencer shot him a look.
“No, the one I adopted with Brendon,” he said flatly. “Yes, the one I had with Bob!”
Patrick frowned. “Wait, Spencer has a child?!”
Brendon and Spencer froze, sharing glances. “Um, shit, Pete’s the only one that saw her, isn’t he?” Brendon asked and Spencer groaned.
Patrick stared. “Bob who? And why do you have a child with another man? Aren’t you straight?”
Spencer cringed. “Not really. And Bryar,” he said. Patrick frowned. “Um, remember that time you introduced us and then a few months later I came to you to find out where he was?” he asked and Patrick nodded.
Pete grinned. “Bob knocked Spencer up! Spencer’s got a daughter who’s two.”
Patrick stared. “You’re only twenty-two!”
Spencer cringed. “Well, I was eighteen when I got pregnant with her.” He chuckled. “Bob and I had sex once that summer and then just after I turned nineteen, I let Bob know I was pregnant. She turned two in April,” he said with a smile.
Patrick hummed. “So, why is he keeping her from you? I mean, what the fuck?”
Brendon sighed. “Same reason we’re a two-some now,” he admitted.
Spencer shook his head. “I’m- I’m not fit,” he said weakly. “I let her get hurt this summer. I let- she could’ve died,” he said softly, standing up to pace some. “She was- Bob was meeting with someone, I don’t remember who, so he let me take her to a writing session and she got into some drugs somehow and nearly overdosed and in the process, tugged a lamp onto her head.” He shrugged. “Bob- Bob has the right to take her away. She’s been in his care primarily since she was nine months old because he’s been so much less busy than me. I’ll come spend some time with them between tours and stuff and then all the first half of this year we lived together in LA before that incident. Then he took her and told me he didn’t want me around her again because I wasn’t fit to care for her.” He sighed. “He won’t let me talk to her.”
Pete just cringed. “Well… that’s sort of unfair but I can see where he’s coming from,” he admitted.
Spencer nodded. “Yeah, I can too. If it were the other way around, I’d be the same way. It’s just hard because I miss her. I felt like we’d finally gotten close. She was finally calling me daddy, not just Bob.”
Brendon hugged him. “It’ll be okay. After tour you can go talk to Bob and work your way back into the mix.”
Spencer smiled. “I hope so. I just… I miss how things were before things went to shit. We were like… a family.”
Patrick just nodded. “I’m still just trying to figure out the whole ‘pregnant’ thing,” he pointed out and everybody laughed, grinning at his confused expression.
Pete smirked. “Well Patrick, when a mommy and a daddy really love each other-“
“Oh fuck you, Wentz.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 2009: Chicago
Bob smiled, catching Maggie’s hand as she reached for candy on the shelf. “No, Mags, you don’t need candy,” he said and she pouted.
“But daddy-“
“No, fruit,” he said, leading her to the produce section. “Come on, what do you want this week?” he asked, gesturing to all the fruits around them.
His phone rang and he pulled it out, humming when he saw it was Ray. “Toro!” he said brightly as a means of greeting.
“Hey Bob,” Ray said happily. “Look, we’re meeting up in LA Monday. We’re gonna start talking about maybe recording and stuff.”
Bob nodded to himself. “That’s cool. Me and Maggie can make the meeting. Although, I’m not sure about recording just yet. I mean, it’s November. The holidays are coming up and that’s family time. Maggie deserves to see her dad during the season, and I’d hate to leave her with my grandparents for thanksgiving and Christmas and stuff.”
“Well, we’ll see. I mean, I’m sure nobody will have an issue with you having her with you if you need to have her there for recording and stuff.”
Bob chuckled. “Well I hope not, she’s kind of important, you know?” he joked and Ray laughed.
“Alright, well I guess we’ll hear from you then?”
“Yeah, man, I’ll get back to you.” Bob hung up and looked at Maggie. “Hey Mags, how do you feel about a little trip?” he asked, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
She looked up at him curiously. “To see daddy?” she asked and Bob paused, biting his lip.
“Maybe,” he said softly, leaning down to kiss her head. “We’ll see.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 2009: Los Angeles
Spencer was washing dishes when the doorbell rang. “Bren, will you get that?” he called, waiting until he heard Brendon thumping through the house for the door.
“Oh my God!” Brendon cried and Spencer frowned.
“Brendon?” he called, then dried his hands to walk out. As soon as he got down the step into the hall, he gasped.
“DADDY!” Maggie cried when she spotted him, holding out her arms.
Spencer beamed, rushing over to grab her from Brendon, twirling her around. “Maggie!” he cried, then clung to her. “Oh Mags, I’ve missed you!” he gushed, kissing her repeatedly. He looked up, beaming, and smiled at Bob. “Whoa, I didn’t know you were coming. Did you call me?” he asked.
Bob smiled, shaking his head. “Nah, we’re in town and she recognized where we were and asked if we were going to see Daddy and I couldn’t say no to her,” he said honestly.
Spencer just squeaked, clinging to Maggie. “Oh Maggie girl, I love you,” he said, kissing her cheek. “I love you so much.”
Bob just smiled. Brendon walked over. “Thank you. Spencer has missed her so much,” he said quietly.
Bob sighed. “She’s missed him. I don’t think she knows why he didn’t come home with us and it hurt to not be able to explain to her that…” he shrugged. “It’s just hard.”
Brendon nodded. “She got used to you guys,” he said.
Bob smiled sadly. “I got used to us. The three of us together makes so much sense… until it doesn’t.”
Spencer came over. “Thank you for bringing her,” he said earnestly to Bob, who just smiled. “Really,” Spencer said, giving Bob one of his most amazing smiles he could muster. “I’ve missed you guys.”
Bob smiled. “Well, how would you feel about watching her tonight?” he asked and Spencer perked up. “I’m going to meet with the guys to talk about recording and I was going to take her, but I think she’d have fun with you guys,” he said.
Spencer just bit his lip. “Really?” he asked softly.
Bob nodded, giving him a small smile. “You guys have some fun, okay?” He gave him a look. “I’m giving you a chance, Spencer. I know you love her. I know she loves you and you both miss each other.” He shook his head. “If you screw up again, I’ll have trouble forgiving you.”
Spencer just nodded. “Thank you,” he said, then leaned in, wrapping his free arm, the one not holding Maggie, around Bob as he leaned into his chest. “Seriously, Bob, thank you,” he said, looking up at him.
Bob just smiled, then looked at Maggie. “Mags, you gonna be good for your dad?” he asked, and she nodded.
“Yes! We gonna play a lot!” she said, and Spencer practically squeaked as he kissed her happily.
Bob nodded, pressing a kiss to her hair. “Alright, I’ve got to go for a little while, but I’ll be back, alright?” he asked, and Maggie nodded.
“Come back fast and play with us!” she said and Spencer smiled at the look on Bob’s face.
“Yeah, you’re welcome to come play with us when you’re done. No reason to run away when you’re through,” he said, looking almost hopeful.
Bob just nodded. “Alright, I’ll be back in a few hours at most.” He looked at Maggie. “Don’t you dare stay up for me.” He kissed her. “You know I’ll be back when you wake up, so don’t pull that,” he said and she just smiled at him. Watching them both smiling at him, it was amazing how much Maggie looked like Spencer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Bob got to Gerard’s place, he was arriving just at the same time as Ray. “Toro!” he said, and Ray beamed.
“Holy shit, dude, it’s been forever,” he said as they hugged before going inside. When they got inside, Bob was confused to hear shouting. He and Ray shared a look before walking faster towards the kitchen, where the shouting was coming from.
“What do you mean?!” Brian was shouting as Gerard and Mikey both stood, looking uneasy.
“No, look, we didn’t decide this-“ Frank was trying to argue back, but Brian was clearly pissed.
Ray and Bob walked in just in time to see Frank shaking his head, turning away. “Um, whoa, talk about a moment to walk in,” Ray said.
Brian’s head popped up. “Bob, dude, tell me you didn’t know this shit. I know you. You would’ve fucking called me up first thing-“
“What are we talking about?” Bob asked curiously.
Gerard cringed. “The label…” He looked down. “They want us to- to be moving in another direction.”
Frank sighed. “A Schecter-free direction.”
Bob just eyed him. “No way.” He looked around. “We’re not seriously going along with that,” he said firmly.
Mikey bit his finger awkwardly. “We sort of… don’t have a choice.”
Ray frowned. “There’s always a choice.” He shook his head. “Why weren’t Bob and I told?”
“We knew Bob would be pissed and we knew you would tell him,” Gerard said, looking apologetic.
Brian shook his head. “I can’t believe you,” he said, looking at the three who were telling him he was going to be left behind. “Especially you,” he said, looking at Gerard.
Gerard shook his head. “Don’t do this, Brian. I love you, man. You have done so much for us but this isn’t a choice I can make.”
Bob just shook his head. “Wait, seriously, this is not happening!” They were all quiet, even Ray ducked his head and stayed out of it. “Look, he’s half the reason we’re all here! He made you guys.”
“I know,” Mikey said weakly. “But… Bob we don’t have a choice! They’re hiring someone else already-“
Bob shook his head. “We have a choice. Let’s just…” he groaned. “Let’s all chill out, sit down, and just talk. Not about this, let’s talk about recording the shit we’ve got written. Maybe if we give them something they’ll ease up.”
Everybody agreed and, after having dinner, they got around to going over the material they had so far.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bob looked up from his spot talking to Brian, only to raise an eyebrow as he saw Frank, Ray, Mikey, and Gerard all sitting around the table, debating something that had them all clearly displaying their ‘I am such a nerd’ faces. The part that stood out, however, was the bottle of wine sitting on the table next to their glasses.
“Bob, are you listening?” Brian asked.
Bob nodded. “What the fuck is that?” he asked, watching as Brian glanced over at the table. Brian made a face. “What the fuck is that?” he asked again.
Brian cringed. “Well, team ‘glass half full’ has decided it’s okay for the glass to literally be half full because, and I quote-“ he screwed up his face. “‘The happiness in my life makes it different than before. I don’t need it, but I don’t need to fight it either. It’s like I never had a problem at all.’”
Bob just stared. “Are you shitting me?” he asked.
Brian sighed. “No, Bob. Basically since they started all getting together to hang out, it’s like this. No getting hammered or anything, but an ‘after dinner drink’ and social shit.”
Bob cringed. “This isn’t going to end well-“
“I know.” Brian groaned. “Trust me, Bob, I know better than anybody.”
He shook his head. “Tonight has really left too much information on my plate, Schecter. Between trying to get rid of you to five years of sobriety down the fucking toilet, I’m just… overwhelmed.”
Brian clapped his shoulder. “Go home, hang out with your kid, and leave it all to me. I know you’ve got my back on this, Bryar.”
Bob nodded. “I really do. You made them. Without you they would be nothing and this is how they wanna repay you? Fuck that.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Bob got to Spencer’s and Brendon’s place, he was let in by Spencer, who shushed him. “Brendon and Maggie both conked out,” he said, and Bob smiled as they walked in and saw them both lying on the floor asleep.
“I love that dude,” Bob admitted and Spencer grinned.
“Yeah, he’s great.” He gestured to the kitchen and Bob nodded, following him. “So, how did your band thing go?” he asked.
Bob groaned. “Stressful to say the least. I swear, it’s like someone flipped the world over and didn’t bother telling me.”
Spencer smiled sadly. “Oh I know that feeling.”
Bob cringed. “Shit, I forgot your band like… disintegrated. How are you guys doing with just you two?” he asked.
Spencer smiled. “Better. I miss…” Spencer shook his head. “I miss before. I’m doing this without the one person I never thought I’d ever be apart from, but me and Brendon… we’ve kinda always been here, you know?” he said. “Just me and him.” He sighed, shaking his head. “I’d be lost without Brendon. I have no clue what I’d be if he hadn’t been there through all this.”
Bob nodded, then gave him a look. “So… you two split off together… you bought a house together…” he trailed off and Spencer looked up, then shook his head. “Aww, why not? He’s great,” Bob said. He couldn’t, however, deny the odd feeling of relief at Spencer’s dismissal.
Spencer laughed softly. “Brendon’s my last piece of home. He’s my real best friend. I just… I fooled myself for so long I didn’t notice that Brendon’s always been just there. We’ve sort of… grown up together through the years, I guess.” He shrugged. “It’s not… that though.”
Bob nodded. “He’d be good for you,” he said softly.
Spencer sighed and Bob looked up. Spencer shook his head. “I-the things I want-“ he just slumped. “I know what I want. I know who I want. I know it won’t happen.”
Bob smiled supportively. “Come on, you’re Spencer Smith. Have you noticed your smile? Anybody who says no to that’s insane,” he joked helpfully.
Spencer looked up at him. “It’s not a matter of saying no,” he said and Bob could feel the meaning behind Spencer’s words.
Bob sighed, feeling a lead weight in his stomach. “I know,” he admitted. Spencer looked up and Bob shook his head. “We learned that lesson already.”
Spencer slumped, walking over. He leaned into Bob’s chest, pressing closer until Bob held him, arms falling around him. “I wish I could undo it. I was… happy,” he whispered softly.
Bob swallowed hard. “Me too,” he admitted, cringing as Spencer shook. He held him close, pressing his lips to Spencer’s hair. “Me too, Kid.”
Spencer sighed, pulling away just enough to turn and lay his head on Bob’s shoulder hands balled up against his shirt. “So, what all did you guys talk about that flipped the world like a big pancake?” he asked and Bob chuckled, knocking his chin against Spencer’s head.
“We get there first thing- by we, I mean I ran into Ray in the driveway on the way in- and Mikey and Gerard are doing that ‘I’m so not here that I’m TOTALLY here’ skulking around the edges of a conversation between Brian and Frank where, basically, it turns out the label wants us to have a new manager who isn’t Brian.”
Spencer frowned. “Isn’t he like… the closest thing to a best friend you have?” he asked.
Bob chuckled. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far, I don’t really do ‘best friend’s, seeing as I’m not a twelve year old girl, but he’s been in my life a long time.”
Spencer nodded. “Why do they want him gone?”
“Hell if I know. I convinced them that a fight wasn’t a good idea and we should talk about music. Maybe if we give them a song they’ll let us keep him.” Bob shook his head. “Although it seems like my radio silence has kinda left out a BIG chunk of my band’s lives,” he said softly.
Spencer sighed. “Well, I missed big shit and I was there the whole time, so don’t feel bad.” Spencer pulled back just enough to look up at Bob, letting his weight tug at Bob’s hands around his hips. “What happened?” he asked.
Bob chuckled. “Well, due to suddenly being ‘cured’ of addiction, the ENTIRE rest of the band was having after dinner wine,” he said, tilting his head. “Not sure if you know alcoholics, but it doesn’t-“
“Go away,” Spencer said softly. He cringed. “Ryan’s dad was… well it wasn’t good.”
Bob nodded. “I see this as a bad start. I mean… maybe now it will seem like they’re in control again. But when you and your brother both had addiction problems, it seems that’s not a good thing to just overlook because ‘it’s not a problem anymore’.” He shook his head. “It’s their lives, but I’ve spent five years watching Gerard being a fucking inspiration for overcoming that shit. I mean, I hear it’s even more addictive, but it was hell to try and stop smoking when Maggie was born,” he said, cringing. “I tried so many times before her and it took my daughter to make it stick.”
Spencer nodded. “And now he’s just… come off the wagon because he doesn’t think he has a problem now?”
Bob shrugged. “I don’t understand addiction to alcohol. That was the major issue he had, even if it wasn’t the one that was killing him when I first met the guy. All I know is, it’s shitty to see someone who spent so much time and effort getting their life turned around, all cold turkey, start easing into it again. Maybe he didn’t fall off and go on a bender after five years sober, but a slow start won’t always be slow, you know?” he said softly.
Spencer nodded. “When we were little, Ryan’s dad was sober for two years once. After that, he got pissed and went off on a major bender, and it is different, but still… two years of work thrown away,” he said. He shook his head. “And the second time around was worse. That’s when he started hitting.”
Bob chuckled. “I just hate that it’s coinciding with them getting rid of Brian. Or trying to. Brian is the only reason that dude is alive. Nobody else recognized the problem until it was nearly too late. Brian called me in to be their sub and they just kept me, but that was after he’d helped save the man’s life. And this is how they repay him… firing him and taking up drinking again.”
Spencer sighed, pulling away. “They claim they’ve disproven the ‘addictive tendency is hereditary’ theory but look at Ryan,” he said softly. “And then you said both those brothers had problems… so who knows.”
Bob chuckled. “Gotta make sure Maggie never tries smoking cigarettes then, cause I’ll tell you now, that shit was hard,” he said. “I haven’t had a cigarette since she was born and still every day I wake up and itch for it,” he admitted.
Spencer bit his lip. “About that. Are you… are you gonna stay or are you gonna take Maggie and go?” he asked softly.
Bob smiled. “If you got nothing to do in the morning, I’ll say,” he said.
Spencer just sighed, smiling in relief. “Even if I did, I’d cancel,” he said, practically vibrating in place. “Thank you!” he squeaked, rushing over to fling his arms around Bob’s neck, wiggling happily. “Thank you so much for bringing Maggie. I had so much fun with her tonight and I missed her and I missed you and I love having you guys here again!”
Bob just smiled, kissing the side of his head. “We missed you too, Kid. I promise.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 2009: Chicago
After the visit with them, Bob started letting Spencer call again. He tried to call every night, but still didn’t manage all the time. Bob still wasn’t sure about Spencer being the parent he needed to be, but he was happy to note that Spencer was trying his hardest to be Maggie’s father the right way.
The word that Brian was really gone was coupled with two things: The annoying new manager who Bob couldn’t remember the name of to save his life, and realizing that it was really very hard to play, even nearly a year after his surgery. He’d wrapped his stick, he was trying his hardest, but it still wasn’t as easy as it once had been.
Most nights when he and Maggie video chatted with Spencer, he spent the whole time with a bag of ice on his wrists while they talked. He knew Spencer noticed but didn’t say anything, for which he was grateful. When it got near Christmas, Bob started thinking and made a decision.
Maggie had gotten down after saying goodnight to Spencer and ran to get in bed. “Spencer,” Bob said softly and Spencer nodded, looking nervous. “Would you like to come here for Christmas?” he asked.
“YES!” Spencer cried, then blushed. “Sorry, I was hoping you’d ask. I’ve been hoping all week. Oh my God, yes, Bob, I’ll be there,” he said with a bright smile.
Bob chuckled. “Well, I figured Maggie would want you here,” he said softly. “I kind of want you here too,” he admitted, fighting the squirming feeling in his stomach and the ‘don’t do it’ playing in the back of his head.
Spencer flushed and ducked his head but smiled. “Um, me to,” he said softly, before quickly saying goodnight and signing off.
Bob just shook his head, hoping this ended well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Years Eve 2009: Chicago
Bob smiled, listening to Spencer talk to Brendon on the phone. After Christmas, Spencer had decided to stay until after New Years before he rejoined Brendon in LA. They weren’t working and Bob was willing to let him stay and be with Maggie for the week. It was clear Bob was still cautious, but was slowly and surely letting Spencer back into their lives.
Bob chuckled, looking down at Maggie as she watched a New Years special on TV. “This is the first time I’ve let her stay up late and she’s still gonna pass out soon,” he said, and Spencer smiled.
“Well, she’s only a baby,” he allowed.
Bob smiled. “And I’m officially old,” he said, and Spencer perked up.
“Oh my God! That’s right, it’s your birthday!” He frowned. “Why didn’t you have a party? Or at least a cake?” he asked. “Or at least told me so I could say ‘happy birthday’ this morning when I was making breakfast,” he added.
Bob shrugged. “I’m thirty now. I’m way too old for parties.”
Spencer just blinked, then snickered. “God, you’re thirty.”
“Only eight years, Kid,” he said, slinging an arm around Spencer’s shoulders as he looked at him pointedly. “Use them well.”
Spencer just grinned. “So, when you were the age I was when I got pregnant with Maggie, I was ten,” he said, and Bob groaned. “Dude, ten!”
“Yeah, I know,” Bob said, then scrunched up his nose. “Don’t remind me how barely-legal you were.”
Spencer shrugged. “I was nearly nineteen, and besides, eighteen is legal no matter how old the babydaddy is,” he teased.
“SHUT UP!” Bob whined, covering his face as he groaned.
Maggie was asleep by ten and Spencer by ten-thirty. It was only a few minutes before midnight that Spencer woke up when Bob moved to turn down the television. When the clock on the receiver box read midnight, Spencer smiled, turning to Bob, who was barely paying attention.
“Hey Bob,” he said and Bob turned.
“Yeah?”
Spencer bit his lip, then leaned in. “Happy New Year,” he said softly, before pressing his lips to Bob’s.
Bob leaned into the kiss, smiling when it ended. “Happy New Year,” he replied gruffly. Spencer looked into his eyes and Bob couldn’t resist, kissing him, sliding his fingers into Spencer’s hair as they kissed.
Once their ‘celebratory’ kisses had drawn to a close, they fell asleep on the couch, Spencer lying snuggled into Bob’s chest in front of the flickering lights of the television.
2010
Author: heartsdesire456
Rating: up to NC-17
POV: 3rd
Pairing: Bob/Spencer
Summary:Spencer Smith meets a friend of a friend, Bob Bryar, the summer before his 19th birthday. What was meant to be a one time tryst changes his and Bob's lives forever.
Author's Note:MPREG ALERT!!! This is an MPREG that follows from 2006 to 2010. I'm going to (hopefully) post the fic in parts by year... HOWEVER some parts may be too big and require 2-part posts for a certain year. This is a completed fic at 45,779 words and it is unbetad, but I reread it to try and catch as may errors as possible. I'm posting what I can today and whatever else is left tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience if I can't post it all today!
2009 part 1
July 2009: Chicago
“Hi, um… I know you won’t let me see her or talk to her, but I wanted you to tell Maggie that- that I really miss her. I love her so much. The band split, but Brendon and I- we’re still going on tour in a few weeks and we’ll be gone for a little while but when I get back I really want to see Maggie. I know you- you still don’t trust me and I don’t blame you. But Bob- I love her. Imagine if I’d taken her away and you couldn’t even tell her that. You can hate me, and I hate that because we were getting somewhere that I- I considered the three of us a family. For real. And I’m sorry. I know I was wrong and I don’t blame you but I want to see my daughter. You can be there the whole time, I can just visit for a few hours, but when I come home I want- I want to see her. Just… Just call me when you get this. Or don’t. Whatever you want to do. I guess… well, bye.”
Bob just closed his eyes as he listened to the beep that signaled the end of the message. He hated how sad Spencer sounded. He looked over at Maggie, who was playing on the floor, and shook his head. He didn’t like hurting Spencer. One thing Spencer had said struck him, and it was that they had really reached a point where they were living like a family before it all fell apart. He wanted that for Maggie. He wanted her to have both of her parents. Truth be told, it hadn’t been much of a bother for him either, living like a proper couple with Spencer. Since he’d found out Spencer was pregnant with her, he’d always had a soft spot for the blue eyed boy and he hated having to cut him out of both of their lives.
He shook his head, however, as he turned off his phone and got up to plug it in to the charger. It didn’t change a thing with the fact that Spencer had missed his friends using and not only had Maggie been around it, but she had been hurt in the process. No sympathy, no amount of missing Spencer or the life they’d started to build together, nothing could make up for what had happened to Maggie and what could’ve happened if it had been any worse.
As Bob looked at Maggie with her sandy waves, bright blue eyes, and freckled cheeks, he knew that, even if Spencer loved her with all his heart…
It wasn’t enough to let him back into her life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 2009: Back Stage
Brendon watched as Spencer hung up, sighing. “Still won’t let you talk to her?” he asked softly.
Spencer looked up then shook his head. “No.”
“Who?” Pete asked, looking across the dressing room at them.
Spencer smiled. “My daughter,” he said sadly.
Pete hummed. “The one you had with Bob?” he asked and Spencer shot him a look.
“No, the one I adopted with Brendon,” he said flatly. “Yes, the one I had with Bob!”
Patrick frowned. “Wait, Spencer has a child?!”
Brendon and Spencer froze, sharing glances. “Um, shit, Pete’s the only one that saw her, isn’t he?” Brendon asked and Spencer groaned.
Patrick stared. “Bob who? And why do you have a child with another man? Aren’t you straight?”
Spencer cringed. “Not really. And Bryar,” he said. Patrick frowned. “Um, remember that time you introduced us and then a few months later I came to you to find out where he was?” he asked and Patrick nodded.
Pete grinned. “Bob knocked Spencer up! Spencer’s got a daughter who’s two.”
Patrick stared. “You’re only twenty-two!”
Spencer cringed. “Well, I was eighteen when I got pregnant with her.” He chuckled. “Bob and I had sex once that summer and then just after I turned nineteen, I let Bob know I was pregnant. She turned two in April,” he said with a smile.
Patrick hummed. “So, why is he keeping her from you? I mean, what the fuck?”
Brendon sighed. “Same reason we’re a two-some now,” he admitted.
Spencer shook his head. “I’m- I’m not fit,” he said weakly. “I let her get hurt this summer. I let- she could’ve died,” he said softly, standing up to pace some. “She was- Bob was meeting with someone, I don’t remember who, so he let me take her to a writing session and she got into some drugs somehow and nearly overdosed and in the process, tugged a lamp onto her head.” He shrugged. “Bob- Bob has the right to take her away. She’s been in his care primarily since she was nine months old because he’s been so much less busy than me. I’ll come spend some time with them between tours and stuff and then all the first half of this year we lived together in LA before that incident. Then he took her and told me he didn’t want me around her again because I wasn’t fit to care for her.” He sighed. “He won’t let me talk to her.”
Pete just cringed. “Well… that’s sort of unfair but I can see where he’s coming from,” he admitted.
Spencer nodded. “Yeah, I can too. If it were the other way around, I’d be the same way. It’s just hard because I miss her. I felt like we’d finally gotten close. She was finally calling me daddy, not just Bob.”
Brendon hugged him. “It’ll be okay. After tour you can go talk to Bob and work your way back into the mix.”
Spencer smiled. “I hope so. I just… I miss how things were before things went to shit. We were like… a family.”
Patrick just nodded. “I’m still just trying to figure out the whole ‘pregnant’ thing,” he pointed out and everybody laughed, grinning at his confused expression.
Pete smirked. “Well Patrick, when a mommy and a daddy really love each other-“
“Oh fuck you, Wentz.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 2009: Chicago
Bob smiled, catching Maggie’s hand as she reached for candy on the shelf. “No, Mags, you don’t need candy,” he said and she pouted.
“But daddy-“
“No, fruit,” he said, leading her to the produce section. “Come on, what do you want this week?” he asked, gesturing to all the fruits around them.
His phone rang and he pulled it out, humming when he saw it was Ray. “Toro!” he said brightly as a means of greeting.
“Hey Bob,” Ray said happily. “Look, we’re meeting up in LA Monday. We’re gonna start talking about maybe recording and stuff.”
Bob nodded to himself. “That’s cool. Me and Maggie can make the meeting. Although, I’m not sure about recording just yet. I mean, it’s November. The holidays are coming up and that’s family time. Maggie deserves to see her dad during the season, and I’d hate to leave her with my grandparents for thanksgiving and Christmas and stuff.”
“Well, we’ll see. I mean, I’m sure nobody will have an issue with you having her with you if you need to have her there for recording and stuff.”
Bob chuckled. “Well I hope not, she’s kind of important, you know?” he joked and Ray laughed.
“Alright, well I guess we’ll hear from you then?”
“Yeah, man, I’ll get back to you.” Bob hung up and looked at Maggie. “Hey Mags, how do you feel about a little trip?” he asked, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
She looked up at him curiously. “To see daddy?” she asked and Bob paused, biting his lip.
“Maybe,” he said softly, leaning down to kiss her head. “We’ll see.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 2009: Los Angeles
Spencer was washing dishes when the doorbell rang. “Bren, will you get that?” he called, waiting until he heard Brendon thumping through the house for the door.
“Oh my God!” Brendon cried and Spencer frowned.
“Brendon?” he called, then dried his hands to walk out. As soon as he got down the step into the hall, he gasped.
“DADDY!” Maggie cried when she spotted him, holding out her arms.
Spencer beamed, rushing over to grab her from Brendon, twirling her around. “Maggie!” he cried, then clung to her. “Oh Mags, I’ve missed you!” he gushed, kissing her repeatedly. He looked up, beaming, and smiled at Bob. “Whoa, I didn’t know you were coming. Did you call me?” he asked.
Bob smiled, shaking his head. “Nah, we’re in town and she recognized where we were and asked if we were going to see Daddy and I couldn’t say no to her,” he said honestly.
Spencer just squeaked, clinging to Maggie. “Oh Maggie girl, I love you,” he said, kissing her cheek. “I love you so much.”
Bob just smiled. Brendon walked over. “Thank you. Spencer has missed her so much,” he said quietly.
Bob sighed. “She’s missed him. I don’t think she knows why he didn’t come home with us and it hurt to not be able to explain to her that…” he shrugged. “It’s just hard.”
Brendon nodded. “She got used to you guys,” he said.
Bob smiled sadly. “I got used to us. The three of us together makes so much sense… until it doesn’t.”
Spencer came over. “Thank you for bringing her,” he said earnestly to Bob, who just smiled. “Really,” Spencer said, giving Bob one of his most amazing smiles he could muster. “I’ve missed you guys.”
Bob smiled. “Well, how would you feel about watching her tonight?” he asked and Spencer perked up. “I’m going to meet with the guys to talk about recording and I was going to take her, but I think she’d have fun with you guys,” he said.
Spencer just bit his lip. “Really?” he asked softly.
Bob nodded, giving him a small smile. “You guys have some fun, okay?” He gave him a look. “I’m giving you a chance, Spencer. I know you love her. I know she loves you and you both miss each other.” He shook his head. “If you screw up again, I’ll have trouble forgiving you.”
Spencer just nodded. “Thank you,” he said, then leaned in, wrapping his free arm, the one not holding Maggie, around Bob as he leaned into his chest. “Seriously, Bob, thank you,” he said, looking up at him.
Bob just smiled, then looked at Maggie. “Mags, you gonna be good for your dad?” he asked, and she nodded.
“Yes! We gonna play a lot!” she said, and Spencer practically squeaked as he kissed her happily.
Bob nodded, pressing a kiss to her hair. “Alright, I’ve got to go for a little while, but I’ll be back, alright?” he asked, and Maggie nodded.
“Come back fast and play with us!” she said and Spencer smiled at the look on Bob’s face.
“Yeah, you’re welcome to come play with us when you’re done. No reason to run away when you’re through,” he said, looking almost hopeful.
Bob just nodded. “Alright, I’ll be back in a few hours at most.” He looked at Maggie. “Don’t you dare stay up for me.” He kissed her. “You know I’ll be back when you wake up, so don’t pull that,” he said and she just smiled at him. Watching them both smiling at him, it was amazing how much Maggie looked like Spencer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Bob got to Gerard’s place, he was arriving just at the same time as Ray. “Toro!” he said, and Ray beamed.
“Holy shit, dude, it’s been forever,” he said as they hugged before going inside. When they got inside, Bob was confused to hear shouting. He and Ray shared a look before walking faster towards the kitchen, where the shouting was coming from.
“What do you mean?!” Brian was shouting as Gerard and Mikey both stood, looking uneasy.
“No, look, we didn’t decide this-“ Frank was trying to argue back, but Brian was clearly pissed.
Ray and Bob walked in just in time to see Frank shaking his head, turning away. “Um, whoa, talk about a moment to walk in,” Ray said.
Brian’s head popped up. “Bob, dude, tell me you didn’t know this shit. I know you. You would’ve fucking called me up first thing-“
“What are we talking about?” Bob asked curiously.
Gerard cringed. “The label…” He looked down. “They want us to- to be moving in another direction.”
Frank sighed. “A Schecter-free direction.”
Bob just eyed him. “No way.” He looked around. “We’re not seriously going along with that,” he said firmly.
Mikey bit his finger awkwardly. “We sort of… don’t have a choice.”
Ray frowned. “There’s always a choice.” He shook his head. “Why weren’t Bob and I told?”
“We knew Bob would be pissed and we knew you would tell him,” Gerard said, looking apologetic.
Brian shook his head. “I can’t believe you,” he said, looking at the three who were telling him he was going to be left behind. “Especially you,” he said, looking at Gerard.
Gerard shook his head. “Don’t do this, Brian. I love you, man. You have done so much for us but this isn’t a choice I can make.”
Bob just shook his head. “Wait, seriously, this is not happening!” They were all quiet, even Ray ducked his head and stayed out of it. “Look, he’s half the reason we’re all here! He made you guys.”
“I know,” Mikey said weakly. “But… Bob we don’t have a choice! They’re hiring someone else already-“
Bob shook his head. “We have a choice. Let’s just…” he groaned. “Let’s all chill out, sit down, and just talk. Not about this, let’s talk about recording the shit we’ve got written. Maybe if we give them something they’ll ease up.”
Everybody agreed and, after having dinner, they got around to going over the material they had so far.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bob looked up from his spot talking to Brian, only to raise an eyebrow as he saw Frank, Ray, Mikey, and Gerard all sitting around the table, debating something that had them all clearly displaying their ‘I am such a nerd’ faces. The part that stood out, however, was the bottle of wine sitting on the table next to their glasses.
“Bob, are you listening?” Brian asked.
Bob nodded. “What the fuck is that?” he asked, watching as Brian glanced over at the table. Brian made a face. “What the fuck is that?” he asked again.
Brian cringed. “Well, team ‘glass half full’ has decided it’s okay for the glass to literally be half full because, and I quote-“ he screwed up his face. “‘The happiness in my life makes it different than before. I don’t need it, but I don’t need to fight it either. It’s like I never had a problem at all.’”
Bob just stared. “Are you shitting me?” he asked.
Brian sighed. “No, Bob. Basically since they started all getting together to hang out, it’s like this. No getting hammered or anything, but an ‘after dinner drink’ and social shit.”
Bob cringed. “This isn’t going to end well-“
“I know.” Brian groaned. “Trust me, Bob, I know better than anybody.”
He shook his head. “Tonight has really left too much information on my plate, Schecter. Between trying to get rid of you to five years of sobriety down the fucking toilet, I’m just… overwhelmed.”
Brian clapped his shoulder. “Go home, hang out with your kid, and leave it all to me. I know you’ve got my back on this, Bryar.”
Bob nodded. “I really do. You made them. Without you they would be nothing and this is how they wanna repay you? Fuck that.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Bob got to Spencer’s and Brendon’s place, he was let in by Spencer, who shushed him. “Brendon and Maggie both conked out,” he said, and Bob smiled as they walked in and saw them both lying on the floor asleep.
“I love that dude,” Bob admitted and Spencer grinned.
“Yeah, he’s great.” He gestured to the kitchen and Bob nodded, following him. “So, how did your band thing go?” he asked.
Bob groaned. “Stressful to say the least. I swear, it’s like someone flipped the world over and didn’t bother telling me.”
Spencer smiled sadly. “Oh I know that feeling.”
Bob cringed. “Shit, I forgot your band like… disintegrated. How are you guys doing with just you two?” he asked.
Spencer smiled. “Better. I miss…” Spencer shook his head. “I miss before. I’m doing this without the one person I never thought I’d ever be apart from, but me and Brendon… we’ve kinda always been here, you know?” he said. “Just me and him.” He sighed, shaking his head. “I’d be lost without Brendon. I have no clue what I’d be if he hadn’t been there through all this.”
Bob nodded, then gave him a look. “So… you two split off together… you bought a house together…” he trailed off and Spencer looked up, then shook his head. “Aww, why not? He’s great,” Bob said. He couldn’t, however, deny the odd feeling of relief at Spencer’s dismissal.
Spencer laughed softly. “Brendon’s my last piece of home. He’s my real best friend. I just… I fooled myself for so long I didn’t notice that Brendon’s always been just there. We’ve sort of… grown up together through the years, I guess.” He shrugged. “It’s not… that though.”
Bob nodded. “He’d be good for you,” he said softly.
Spencer sighed and Bob looked up. Spencer shook his head. “I-the things I want-“ he just slumped. “I know what I want. I know who I want. I know it won’t happen.”
Bob smiled supportively. “Come on, you’re Spencer Smith. Have you noticed your smile? Anybody who says no to that’s insane,” he joked helpfully.
Spencer looked up at him. “It’s not a matter of saying no,” he said and Bob could feel the meaning behind Spencer’s words.
Bob sighed, feeling a lead weight in his stomach. “I know,” he admitted. Spencer looked up and Bob shook his head. “We learned that lesson already.”
Spencer slumped, walking over. He leaned into Bob’s chest, pressing closer until Bob held him, arms falling around him. “I wish I could undo it. I was… happy,” he whispered softly.
Bob swallowed hard. “Me too,” he admitted, cringing as Spencer shook. He held him close, pressing his lips to Spencer’s hair. “Me too, Kid.”
Spencer sighed, pulling away just enough to turn and lay his head on Bob’s shoulder hands balled up against his shirt. “So, what all did you guys talk about that flipped the world like a big pancake?” he asked and Bob chuckled, knocking his chin against Spencer’s head.
“We get there first thing- by we, I mean I ran into Ray in the driveway on the way in- and Mikey and Gerard are doing that ‘I’m so not here that I’m TOTALLY here’ skulking around the edges of a conversation between Brian and Frank where, basically, it turns out the label wants us to have a new manager who isn’t Brian.”
Spencer frowned. “Isn’t he like… the closest thing to a best friend you have?” he asked.
Bob chuckled. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far, I don’t really do ‘best friend’s, seeing as I’m not a twelve year old girl, but he’s been in my life a long time.”
Spencer nodded. “Why do they want him gone?”
“Hell if I know. I convinced them that a fight wasn’t a good idea and we should talk about music. Maybe if we give them a song they’ll let us keep him.” Bob shook his head. “Although it seems like my radio silence has kinda left out a BIG chunk of my band’s lives,” he said softly.
Spencer sighed. “Well, I missed big shit and I was there the whole time, so don’t feel bad.” Spencer pulled back just enough to look up at Bob, letting his weight tug at Bob’s hands around his hips. “What happened?” he asked.
Bob chuckled. “Well, due to suddenly being ‘cured’ of addiction, the ENTIRE rest of the band was having after dinner wine,” he said, tilting his head. “Not sure if you know alcoholics, but it doesn’t-“
“Go away,” Spencer said softly. He cringed. “Ryan’s dad was… well it wasn’t good.”
Bob nodded. “I see this as a bad start. I mean… maybe now it will seem like they’re in control again. But when you and your brother both had addiction problems, it seems that’s not a good thing to just overlook because ‘it’s not a problem anymore’.” He shook his head. “It’s their lives, but I’ve spent five years watching Gerard being a fucking inspiration for overcoming that shit. I mean, I hear it’s even more addictive, but it was hell to try and stop smoking when Maggie was born,” he said, cringing. “I tried so many times before her and it took my daughter to make it stick.”
Spencer nodded. “And now he’s just… come off the wagon because he doesn’t think he has a problem now?”
Bob shrugged. “I don’t understand addiction to alcohol. That was the major issue he had, even if it wasn’t the one that was killing him when I first met the guy. All I know is, it’s shitty to see someone who spent so much time and effort getting their life turned around, all cold turkey, start easing into it again. Maybe he didn’t fall off and go on a bender after five years sober, but a slow start won’t always be slow, you know?” he said softly.
Spencer nodded. “When we were little, Ryan’s dad was sober for two years once. After that, he got pissed and went off on a major bender, and it is different, but still… two years of work thrown away,” he said. He shook his head. “And the second time around was worse. That’s when he started hitting.”
Bob chuckled. “I just hate that it’s coinciding with them getting rid of Brian. Or trying to. Brian is the only reason that dude is alive. Nobody else recognized the problem until it was nearly too late. Brian called me in to be their sub and they just kept me, but that was after he’d helped save the man’s life. And this is how they repay him… firing him and taking up drinking again.”
Spencer sighed, pulling away. “They claim they’ve disproven the ‘addictive tendency is hereditary’ theory but look at Ryan,” he said softly. “And then you said both those brothers had problems… so who knows.”
Bob chuckled. “Gotta make sure Maggie never tries smoking cigarettes then, cause I’ll tell you now, that shit was hard,” he said. “I haven’t had a cigarette since she was born and still every day I wake up and itch for it,” he admitted.
Spencer bit his lip. “About that. Are you… are you gonna stay or are you gonna take Maggie and go?” he asked softly.
Bob smiled. “If you got nothing to do in the morning, I’ll say,” he said.
Spencer just sighed, smiling in relief. “Even if I did, I’d cancel,” he said, practically vibrating in place. “Thank you!” he squeaked, rushing over to fling his arms around Bob’s neck, wiggling happily. “Thank you so much for bringing Maggie. I had so much fun with her tonight and I missed her and I missed you and I love having you guys here again!”
Bob just smiled, kissing the side of his head. “We missed you too, Kid. I promise.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 2009: Chicago
After the visit with them, Bob started letting Spencer call again. He tried to call every night, but still didn’t manage all the time. Bob still wasn’t sure about Spencer being the parent he needed to be, but he was happy to note that Spencer was trying his hardest to be Maggie’s father the right way.
The word that Brian was really gone was coupled with two things: The annoying new manager who Bob couldn’t remember the name of to save his life, and realizing that it was really very hard to play, even nearly a year after his surgery. He’d wrapped his stick, he was trying his hardest, but it still wasn’t as easy as it once had been.
Most nights when he and Maggie video chatted with Spencer, he spent the whole time with a bag of ice on his wrists while they talked. He knew Spencer noticed but didn’t say anything, for which he was grateful. When it got near Christmas, Bob started thinking and made a decision.
Maggie had gotten down after saying goodnight to Spencer and ran to get in bed. “Spencer,” Bob said softly and Spencer nodded, looking nervous. “Would you like to come here for Christmas?” he asked.
“YES!” Spencer cried, then blushed. “Sorry, I was hoping you’d ask. I’ve been hoping all week. Oh my God, yes, Bob, I’ll be there,” he said with a bright smile.
Bob chuckled. “Well, I figured Maggie would want you here,” he said softly. “I kind of want you here too,” he admitted, fighting the squirming feeling in his stomach and the ‘don’t do it’ playing in the back of his head.
Spencer flushed and ducked his head but smiled. “Um, me to,” he said softly, before quickly saying goodnight and signing off.
Bob just shook his head, hoping this ended well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Years Eve 2009: Chicago
Bob smiled, listening to Spencer talk to Brendon on the phone. After Christmas, Spencer had decided to stay until after New Years before he rejoined Brendon in LA. They weren’t working and Bob was willing to let him stay and be with Maggie for the week. It was clear Bob was still cautious, but was slowly and surely letting Spencer back into their lives.
Bob chuckled, looking down at Maggie as she watched a New Years special on TV. “This is the first time I’ve let her stay up late and she’s still gonna pass out soon,” he said, and Spencer smiled.
“Well, she’s only a baby,” he allowed.
Bob smiled. “And I’m officially old,” he said, and Spencer perked up.
“Oh my God! That’s right, it’s your birthday!” He frowned. “Why didn’t you have a party? Or at least a cake?” he asked. “Or at least told me so I could say ‘happy birthday’ this morning when I was making breakfast,” he added.
Bob shrugged. “I’m thirty now. I’m way too old for parties.”
Spencer just blinked, then snickered. “God, you’re thirty.”
“Only eight years, Kid,” he said, slinging an arm around Spencer’s shoulders as he looked at him pointedly. “Use them well.”
Spencer just grinned. “So, when you were the age I was when I got pregnant with Maggie, I was ten,” he said, and Bob groaned. “Dude, ten!”
“Yeah, I know,” Bob said, then scrunched up his nose. “Don’t remind me how barely-legal you were.”
Spencer shrugged. “I was nearly nineteen, and besides, eighteen is legal no matter how old the babydaddy is,” he teased.
“SHUT UP!” Bob whined, covering his face as he groaned.
Maggie was asleep by ten and Spencer by ten-thirty. It was only a few minutes before midnight that Spencer woke up when Bob moved to turn down the television. When the clock on the receiver box read midnight, Spencer smiled, turning to Bob, who was barely paying attention.
“Hey Bob,” he said and Bob turned.
“Yeah?”
Spencer bit his lip, then leaned in. “Happy New Year,” he said softly, before pressing his lips to Bob’s.
Bob leaned into the kiss, smiling when it ended. “Happy New Year,” he replied gruffly. Spencer looked into his eyes and Bob couldn’t resist, kissing him, sliding his fingers into Spencer’s hair as they kissed.
Once their ‘celebratory’ kisses had drawn to a close, they fell asleep on the couch, Spencer lying snuggled into Bob’s chest in front of the flickering lights of the television.
2010