A/N: This one is set just after MIK bonus chapter #5 "Father". Maybe go give that one a #rr.

Also, I feel bad for the title "funniest home video" because there's nothing really funny about this one but oh well.

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Canada's Funniest Home Video #3

Fee aged 1 • Luke aged 3 • Darcy aged 5

"Friend"

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The last couple months had easily been the most challenging of Dylan and Victoria's lives.

Getting to know three-year old Luke in the midst of Sandy's declining health and the ever-present knowledge that she would soon be gone was an ambivalent, bittersweet adventure.

They spent as often as possible together so that Luke could learn to bond with them and trust them with Sandy's guidance and support. They filled out and filed the adoption paperwork. Sandy insisted that Luke take Dylan's last name, if he wanted, because they'd be spending the rest of their lives together. Dylan agreed to compromise by keeping Sandy's surname, Wilson, as Luke's middle name.

They discussed anything and everything that Dylan and Vic might need to know as parents. Luke's daycare, his paediatrician, his medical history. Completely healthy. The only procedure of note was his circumcision just after birth, as Sandra's family had Jewish roots and she wanted to honour that.

It was overwhelming, to say the least. But at the same time, Dylan felt a sense of... balance, of purpose, in his bones—a strong awareness that this was the right thing, that they were doing the right thing.

Dylan never believed in love of a first sight until the first time he set eyes on his son, that sturdy, beautiful toddler with dark eyes and dark hair just like his.

Victoria was taking it with an incredible amount of grace and understanding. She and Dylan had been dating for just over three years before they received the news. In fact, they had kept joking with each other about finally tying the knot, but neither of them had been in any sort of rush. Victoria's whirlwind, failed marriage when she was in her early twenties had always left a bitter taste in her mouth, so she and Dylan were happy to take it slow.

But if they were going to be parents to Luke, they wanted to do it right. And, marriage made the adoption paperwork easier. They sealed the deal in a simple, unpretentious ceremony late-March and agreed that given the circumstances, they weren't in any hurry to plan a honeymoon or anything like that. Frankly, there were more important things to worry about.

It was early April, and with the blooming flowers and budding trees also came a keen awareness of the fact that Sandy's neurological functioning was soon to begin rapidly diminishing. She didn't have a lot of quality time left with Luke, and by the end of the month she expected to be in hospice full time. Her doctors gave her a prognosis of only a couple months to live after that.

It was a complicated and strained relationship. Sandy's deception and all the moments Dylan had missed from Luke's early life was the second elephant in the room, right next to Sandy's illness.

But they all knew that there wasn't time or need for holding grudges. There was nothing helpful that could come from that.

She was already starting to have crippling migraines that left her incapacitated and reeling. Luke was spending more time at Dylan and Vic's apartment. They were beginning to the search for a house, in the same part of town as Melanie and Gavin.

Tonight was a big step for everyone. Victoria and Dylan were keeping Luke for the entire night. They already had a room for him set up at their place, with his favourite toys, comfortable decorations and brand new clothes.

It was also a special occasion because they were taking him to Melanie and Gavin's house for the first time, to meet them and their kids.

Sandy was happy to learn that Dylan's close friends had children Luke's age and lots of parenting experience to share. Really, Gavin and Melanie would have met Luke sooner had Sandy, Dylan, and Victoria not agreed to keep the adjustments as gradual as possible. There were a lot of big, crazy, quick changes in the three year-old's life that he couldn't begin to fully understand.

They were all trying their best, and followed the advice of a child psychologist recommended by Luke's paediatrician to make sure the transition was as healthy as possible for Luke.

At least it didn't take long before he was comfortable with Dylan and Vicky. He was a sweet, trusting, happy child by nature and Victoria was, ironically, a natural parent who charmed Luke effortlessly. From the beginning, they were told by the psychologist that it was important to keep their titles consistent. Luke learned to call Dylan "daddy". Sandy was and always had been "mommy". It took a lot of discussion with their shrink before they eventually decided that Victoria could be called, simply, "mum", because having an established maternal figure after Sandy's passing was going to be really important for him.

It was just after four in the afternoon on the first Friday of April when Sandy dropped Luke off at Dylan and Victoria's apartment with a big hug and a kiss and some soft words of encouragement.

They agreed to call her if there were any issues but they were all hoping for a smooth, uneventful evening.

"Hey, little man," Dylan greeted, mussing his son's hair. He scooped the boy up into his arms and Luke happily complied. Before Dylan came into his life, Luke didn't have any men he was close to. Certainly no one that looked or smelled or sounded as big and strong and masculine as Dylan. Luke quickly shifted from wary to enamoured.

"Hey, Luke," Victoria cooed, poking playfully at his tummy. "How's our big boy doing?"

Luke gave her a soft, adoring smile and burst into giggles as she tickled him all over.

After a few rounds of peek-a-boo and some bribery that involved a new Thomas the Train toy-set, Victoria and Dylan sat on the floor with Luke in his bedroom and explained their plans for the evening in cheerful, bubbly voices. "We're going to meet some new friends," Victoria shared, ghosting her fingertips teasingly over his nose as she said the word 'friends'. "They have lots of fun toys. There's a boy named Darcy, and a teeny baby named Ophelia. Or you can call her Fee."

"A baby?" Luke repeated. At three years old his speech was exploding and he was so curious about everything in the world around him. "I'm not a baby, I'm a big boy."

Dylan chuckled. "Yes, you are a big boy. A very clever, handsome boy."

They had planned an early dinner and some play-time before. So at quarter to five, they strapped Luke into his new carseat and began the brief drive to Gavin and Melanie's house. Luke liked to sing songs like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the ABCs so the entire drive, the car was filled with the sound of three very different voices harmonizing to children's music.

Luke curiously and attentively took in the new neighbourhood, new houses, new driveway and front porch as they walked up the path and rang the doorbell.

Gavin answered the door right away, with five-year Darcy close against his side.

Once everyone took their coats off, Gavin crouched down to Luke's height. "You must be Luke. It's nice to meet you. I'm Uncle Gavin."

Luke hid his face shyly against Dylan's jean-clad thigh as Gavin introduced Darcy.

"Hi, Luke," Darcy greeted politely, extending a hand towards him, his blue eyes quick and inquisitive. Darcy was going through a grown-up phase where he thought he was the most important person in the room. "My name is Darcy."

After a second's hesitation, Luke took his hand and gave it an awkward shake.

"Do you wanna see my toys?" Darcy offered, nodding his head in the direction of the rest of the house.

Dylan suspected Gavin and Melanie had already coached Darcy about how to politely welcome their new guest.

Luke nodded. After looking towards Dylan and Vic for reassurance, he followed after Darcy to the living room where the five-year old was building legos.

As everyone made their way into the living room, Melanie came to join them with little Fee squirming in her arms.

Luke looked up from the selection of colourful blocks towards the newcomers.

Melanie lowered Ophelia, clad in a little pink short-sleeved onesie, onto the carpet where she rapidly crawled over towards where Darcy and Luke were sitting in front of the coffee table.

Luke's eyes widened as he watched the little girl racing on all fours towards him, babbling.

"That's my sister Fee," Darcy explained to Luke matter-of-factly. "She's one year old."

Melanie stood a few feet a way, gazing, captivated, at the tiny Dylan she'd heard so much about. The boy looked like he was gonna grow up into a heartbreaker just like his dad.

Ophelia was not a shy baby. With big, curious eyes she watched this new little boy who was also watching her. She crawled right up to him and rested her hands on his legs, toppling awkwardly into his lap with a little gurgling coo.

"She's a baby," Luke observed, bringing a cautious hand up to touch her shoulder softly.

"Mhm, she's adorable, right?" Darcy stated. "Except she's really annoying when she cries."

Ophelia was patting and grasping her chubby infant hands all over Luke, who sat on his bum with his legs out in front of him, tentatively reaching out to touch her. He was looking at her like she was some kind of novel, fascinating creature. Soft and pink and squishy and tiny and loud.

She planted one of her palms on his cheek and he gasped. "She's so little," Luke murmured, running a gentle hand down her back.

Victoria chuckled. "I think they're in love."

It was when Fee decided to try and take a big bite out of Luke's forearm that Melanie swooped in to save the situation. "That's enough of that, pumpkin. Let's leave Luke alone."

Melanie pulled Ophelia into her lap and sat in front of Luke, gave the boy a friendly, reassuring smile. "My name is Aunt Melanie. It's nice to meet you, Luke." She stroked a crooked finger over his cheek and he gave her a shy smile.

"Can I hold her again?" Luke asked quietly, eyes set on Fee.

Melanie's heart melted. "Of course you can. We just have to be gentle with her, okay?"

Luke nodded vehemently, reaching his arms out towards her. She crawled back into his lap, stretching up so her stubby little fingers clawed at his shoulders and her wobbly head fell forward against his chest. Luke brought his hands up to her back to keep her steady, blinking and flinching as he felt her wet slobber smear all over his neck. And why was her bum so big and squishy and fluffy?

"She's so soft," he observed, stroking one of her arms and marvelling at how smooth and soft her skin was.

Wait a second. What was that smell?

"Ew." Luke wrinkled his nose and shook his head. "There's a yucky smell."

Melanie reached for Ophelia and lifted her up so she could sniff her behind. "Yuck. She has a stinky diaper. I'll be right back after I change her, okay?"

Luke watched as the pretty lady stood up and took the cute baby away, disappearing down the hall.

"Is she my friend?" Luke asked Dylan, who was sitting on the couch a few feet away.

Dylan gave his son a grin. "Yes, lad. Fee and Darcy are your new friends."

Luke liked his new friends a lot, he decided. This was a nice house with friendly people and lots of cool toys.

He liked it here.

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A/N:

My ovaries are exploding.

Yes, I skipped #2 but I'll go back and write it for after chapter 20. Already have something in mind.

Flashback ideas?

XOXO Ami

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