The moment the adoption agency worker placed the boy in Nathan's arms, it was all clear to me that Nathan didn't think this through. Where did he get the idea about it anyway? And what made him think it was a good move?

When he first mentioned this to me, I thought it was a joke. He never expressed anything related to having a child, let alone adopting one. I thought about it a lot and I bet it was his drink that planted the idea in him. I only went to the bathroom real quick and Nate already had these eyes I recognised from my childhood whenever he came up with a prank. The last time I saw it, the neighbour threatened to sue us.

I tried to imagine how people would react to the news. The only one who'd believe from a first would be our Mum. May would scoff pompously, Dad would fill the phone call with silence and Patty...

I wasn't sure I was ready to tell her I just saw my brother, her unrequited love, holding his official son. I didn't want to see her reaction, just imagining it was painful enough. Maybe how she's gonna react wasn't what scared me the most.

All the doubts from the past have returned, after all the reassuring speeches and actions. How many times did Patty have to tell me she chose me because she loved me? And how many times I had to hold myself back from telling her I was only her rebound when her relationship with Nate failed and didn't prove to be successful?

Both always claimed they broke up because they were incompatible, but I didn't believe them. I still don't. I clearly remember the nights when she crashed at our place and, of course, slept in Nathan's room. I could vividly and fully recall their loud laughter and moaning. It always came down to one of these two possibilities and knowing that they were together for almost three years, nobody could tell me their affection for each other just suddenly faded. I knew it hasn't.

Speaking of Nathan and sex or his love life, as I prefer to say it - how in the world did he think he could combine it with women? I saw his point. Women love babies and combining one with Nathan, his charms and good looks, he'd become a living women magnet, as if he wasn't that before. I didn't know if he was possible of forming such a strange plan, but would Nathan actually do it for... Getting more women? I hoped not. I hoped he wasn't that lost and that comfortable with himself. And I hoped for the sake of the boy, who'd be turned into Nathan's advertisement. I didn't want to believe it, but among all the possibilities that could lead to Nathan suddenly warming up for family life, this one was the most rational one as bad as it sounds.

Nathan still cared for Patty, he told me so loud and clear, but he convinced me she wasn't a part of his love or sex interest anymore. The only problem, the only flaw of Nate was just that he's been a knight in a shining armour without being aware of it.

It was hard to reach his level, I've tried and always failed. I wasn't a rebound from the very start, at least I believed so. I was a good irritation - disappointed and angry girlfriend finds love, satisfaction and happiness with your own brother. I think I still work as a reminder what Nathan could have had.

A family. Everything started with such a mundane and magical thing that is constant and inconstant in our lives. First, our family had to fall apart. That threw Nathan in a whole different direction and so he brought us to this situation. Him adopting, ex-marrying the brother etc. But truly, all Patty wanted was to have a family, a child or two, and Nathan protested. It was then when I was noticed.

However, she loved me. Still does. If she was ready to kiss me and introduce me to her parents after we've been together for only a short period of time, she must've felt a spark between us or at least find me attractive. She grew to love me very deeply very quickly and I knew it was true. But before she did... Before she did, I was constantly fighting a war with my brother within.

"You know, Nathan stood up for me."

"Nathan was always careful and had a backup condom. It's really not that hard to buy a pack."

"Really? As a child, you liked to watch original Ben 10? It was good to watch, but I prefer Spiderman, like Nathan."

"You really know how to cook, but maybe ask Nathan for an advice about the salt."

There were bitter memories for sure and when we argued I often brought it up, but now we got past that. Patty, Aidan, the baby and I were a happy family, despite all of the things we've experienced. I loved Patty and she loved me, but it didn't put my mind at peace. 

I was often teased by May and my friends what's the feeling like to be with your brother's ex. I learnt to cope with it, to just shrug them away, give them back a smile and go back to my work. But when it first started to happen, images from the past sprung back to me. Mostly I remembered them being sprawled on the couch, which always led to more intimate, lusty and desirable stuff. 

Then there was a memory of Patty crying, screaming, swinging with her hands around her whenever Nate tried to come closer to her. They were arguing really bad and it resulted in Patty scratching Nathan's hands when he nearly held her for her arms, then pushing him over the coffee table and throwing one of the plants we had in the living room at him. Then she stormed out and that was how their relationship ended. 

As far as I know, they never talked about it. They didn't mention it like it never happened. Nobody told me more about the fight either. The only thing Nathan and Patty told me was that she wanted to make their relationship steady and serious and he wasn't up for it. But to me... Her reaction seemed exaggerated unless that wasn't all that's happened that time. 

But Nathan still had a baby at home, right now. He hasn't called, he hasn't texted. Nothing. Maybe he was doing good as a father to a toddler, or he already gave the baby boy back to Sue and backed off from the deal. Who knows, he could already be in a bed with a girl, few others standing in front of the bedroom, waiting in line for him. 

I knew Patty wouldn't do that, but I began to wonder if she'd try to leave me after finding out Nathan became a family man, exactly what she had always wanted. She wouldn't, I was hundred percent sure, but still... Would she flip? Would she be horrified? Would she regret anything - like Nathan probably will in the next days in the near future?

"Daddy, why are we sitting in a car?" Aidan's voice cut through the silence and I realised I've parked the car before our house without being aware of it. I was so lost in my thoughts, thinking about this parade show Nathan prepared for us, I almost stopped functioning. 

After giving him a comforting smile, I got him from his seat and together we went to the front door. Music was playing and I could only guess Patty was cooking and was in a good mood. That only brought me back to the question. Should I tell her right now or wait until later? 

I was Nathan's younger brother and because he won the genetic lottery, I ended up with what was left, but May still got some of the bad ones too. I walked in like a robot on a mission, stopped when Patty looked at me and I blurted "Nathan has a baby." 

Patty was glaring at me, then she slowly lifted one of her brows. The grimace turned in a suppressed smile and I knew this was going to be bad "Danny, you're a hopeless joke teller. Or just too excited one."

"No, Patty... I was with him right now and... He adopted... A baby."

A/N: I thought I'd try to spice things up by showing few things from Daniel's perspective. Do you think I nailed it? How does it make you see Nathan, Daniel and Patty now? Do tell, I'm really curious - also worried about my writing xD

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~ Blackie