[He understood from select conversations that abandonment was a sore topic for the pair of them. Perhaps it was why he didn't elaborate in case it triggered his lover, and perhaps the moment itself couldn't be explained well in words without a considerable amount of very private backstory.

He nodded his head, accepting the explanation without judgement. He could claim to have held exactly zero babies in his life, and he wasn't looking for any opportunity to do so. His daughter had been fully functional when he had first held her there on the wet ground with the rain pouring on them. He had promised to protect her then.]

I doubt that's uncommon where I'm from either. It seems to me that men tend to get in the way for such events. [He credited Richard for holding the newborn at all. He expected they were small and fragile; it was probably some manner of sick joke or miracle he and Richard had survived infancy.

He regarded Richard, considering the question and shrugging.] No, it's not. Besides, being a father is more than impregnating a woman. [If Richard could produce children, then he expected that Richard couldn't carry a child. Just as well, as the younger man leaned more heavily on that male side. Who was he to judge for it?]