HE WANTED TO BE A DAD??? WHY?? NOW?? WHY???

—is what he asked himself, and so did others too, but he had a gut answer somewhere; he had brotherly love, he had no interest in romantic love, and he's certain that he might do parenting the best way possible. Probably. He hopes.

The matron guides him to a room full of children when he enters the orphanage, who for some reason stopped playing when he entered the room.

".. mornin', little ones.." he awkwardly muttered, and paused his steps, not sure how he made such a startling intrusion, or why everyone was frozen stiff all of a sudden.

A tugging at the knee of his jeans seizes his attention, someone shy, and small, standing fearlessly before him in their little tattered pajamas.