Friend, Please

                                    

                                          
It was a few months before Ruby was born, it was Christmas, both Tyler and Josh decided to spend the holidays with their own families, so Tyler went to spend them on his childhood home—his family surprisingly accepting of him, asking about Josh and how much they've progressed in the relationship—while Josh went with his family to Canada.
                          
But ever since he came back from the trip, Josh wasn't the same, his eyes didn't light up, only when they talked about Tyler's daughter, for the rest, he seemed off.
                          
Tyler remembers that, one night, right before dinner during a small skype chat while they were having. Josh had told Tyler that he was going to come out to his family, Tyler had no other option than say his best wishes to Josh, and the next day Josh had told him that the coming out went amazing, that his parents accepted him and that everything was going great, but he wasn't smiling, and he hadn't gone to visit his parents ever since he got back to the trip, Tyler tried to know what had happened by calling Josh's brother, Jordan, who he had grown attached to during those few months of them dating, Jordan had told him that things didn't go as smooth and that his parents didn't really accept the idea of Josh dating a man, told him that that family trip to Canada was going to be the last one they would have with him and that he better forget them. 
                          
Tyler tried to bring up the matter in different occasions, but Josh simply changed the subject every time. Tyler was getting preoccupied, but Josh wasn't opening up to anyone nor letting someone get close, so there was nothing anyone could do, but that didn't mean that Tyler went restless, getting worried every single passing day as he saw the man he loved being closed in by sadness. 
                          
Tyler thought Josh had finally changed after that small they had of Tyler having to have happiness for himself, he seemed a lot happier, still a bit sad once in a while, but after a month, it all faded away again, closing himself in, the shine in his eyes gone.
                          
It was when Ruby became eight months old that she had finally said "momma" it was when Jenna had gone to Josh and Tyler's house, the three of them playing with the little girl and discussing Ruby's first birthday party ("isn't it a bit too early to think about it?" Josh asked, but both Tyler and Jenna waved him off as they stated "it's never too early"), Jenna had called Ruby, two patterns for the table cloth on her hands, she asked "Ruby, which one do you like the most?" Ruby turned her head, her small brown hair in a pretty yellow hair band, a small toy in her hand, and she said "momma", smiling at Jenna, the three of them froze, watching Ruby go back to playing, smacking Josh's leg with the toy, before they all started laughing out of joy, asking her to say it again, a string of happy "Momma! Momma! Momma!" coming out of her lips.
                          
Tyler smiled as he saw Josh's face with a beautiful grin on it, his tongue poking from a corner of his mouth. Ruby truly was a blessing as everyone told them. 
                          
After Jenna and Ruby had gone back to their house, both Tyler and Josh staying together in the living room, staring blankly at the turned off TV, Josh had his arm wrapped around Tyler's shoulders, while Tyler's head was laying on Josh's shoulder. 
                          
-I wonder when she will finally say your name- Tyler said out of the blue, seeing his reflection staring back at him from the black glass from the TV. Josh tensed a little, his hand grasping Tyler's shoulder a bit harshly, he immediately looked at his boyfriend, rising an eyebrow as Josh's face looked saddened and scared—is everything alright?- Tyler asked worriedly, Josh nodded, giving him a faux smile. 
                          
-Yeah, just, it's a bit scary, I'm going to be part of her life, you know?- Josh said looking at Tyler's eyes, admiring them.
                          
-Yeah, I know- Tyler answered, not believing what Josh was saying—it's scary at first, and sometimes I feel like I'm being a bad dad, not being there for her every time she needs me, but then, who knows how to be a parent? Who knows how to be with a toddler without them getting angry at you, throwing fits or anything like that? You're going to be and amazing stepdad for her, she loves you more than she loves me and Jenna together and...yeah...don't be scared of anything, life's amazing, you know?- He was trying to go into the subject of what was actually making Josh sad, hoping he could help, he wanted Josh to vent to him, or anyone for that matter, to just tell what was happening, what was making him sad.