“Okay, I’ve been ready for this. First, I need to get the camera, then set up Connor’s bathtub in the kitchen sink.”
He was running back and forth from upstairs to the kitchen making Creed a bit dizzy. “I think he’s lost it,” he said, looking down at Connor.
When Creed walked into the kitchen, everything was all laid out for Connor’s bath. Winter was standing by the sink that had the bathtub, then rolled up his shirtsleeves before dipping his elbows in the water. Baby blankets and towels lined the table along with a few other things.
“Okay,” he said, taking Connor from him. “Let’s do this.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Take pictures while I give him his bath.”
“Why?” He was seriously confused.
“Because it’s one of the firsts, we have to take pictures for every monumental moment as he grows up, for his baby album. Oh, and we need to take pictures of the stump too and mark the date too.”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“Nope,” he answered not paying much attention to Creed, concentrating more on Connor while taking off his clothes. “Okay, sweetie, I know this is going to be scary, but your uncle Creed and Winter are here.” The second Winter set Connor down in the water he let out an ear-piercing scream. “Oh no, Connor, please don’t cry.” He tried soothing the baby, but nothing he said helped. Creed could tell that his mate was about to break down if he didn’t do something quick.
“Take a deep breath and try putting him in the water again. Remember, you prepared for this,” Creed said.
He didn’t want Winter’s doubts to creep in, not when he was so excited. He watched Winter calm down and put Connor back in the bathtub. Connor screamed louder that time, but Winter didn’t pull him out of the water, and Creed was proud of his mate.
“It’s okay, Connor,” Winter soothed.
Creed stepped to the side, holding the camera and taking pictures. “You’re doing good,” he told his mate. Connor calmed down when Winter started washing his hair and speaking to him in soft tones at the same time. He was careful with not getting soap and water in Connor’s face.
“Do you want to get him dressed while I get his bottle ready?” Winter asked, looking at him.
“Um…sure, but that means I’ll have to put the camera down.”
“That’s all right. We can take more pictures when Conner's dressed to mark our special day. Plus, you are a part of this moment too.”
“Okay,” Creed told him before putting down the camera and getting one of the towels that wasn’t already spread out on the table.
Grabbing another one, he went and stood next to Winter and couldn’t help the smile that crossed his lips. Creed knew Winter loved Connor, but seeing the special care he showed the baby made him fall hard for the man in that moment.
Fuck, Riley is right. Love at first sight is real.
* * *
“You guys are doing so well,”Karen said to both Winter and Creed, putting down the baby album on the table.
It was a couple of days after Connor’s first bath, and Creed had gotten home from picking up some groceries and heard his mate laughing. He’d followed the sound and found Winter in the kitchen speaking with two people he’d seen in pictures hanging on the walls in their home. He’d started considering Winter’s home his since they were mated.
Creed took over paying a few of the bills and took over some of the cooking, proudly showing off to his mate that his skills were just as good in the kitchen as they were in the bedroom. He liked Karen and Edward, in the little time he’d spent with them, and it made him realize how much he missed his adopted parents. Creed also figured out that the alpha he’d scented the night he and Winter finally mated was Karen.
“Thank you,” Creed told her, standing at the stove while adding the finishing touch to the meal.
“So, have you two been out on a date?” Edward asked.
“Dad, we are mates. I think doing the whole date thing is not that important, now. Besides, who are we going to leave Connor with?”
“Dinner is ready,” he said, cutting off Edward before he could speak again. He’d gotten an idea that they needed a night out for themselves. He loved Connor, but he also needed moments with his mate that weren’t baby related.
“What are we having?” Karen asked.
“Beef ramen,” Creed said proudly. Growing up Roe had taught him and Richard how to make authentic Japanese food.
