Damiano had been buzzing since sunrise, pacing around his room with that stupid excited grin he only ever showed when something really mattered. “Come on, we’re gonna be late,” he called out, tugging on his jacket while Jacopo rolled his eyes and grabbed the car keys.

You slipped into your shoes, still half-asleep, still trying to keep up with the whirlwind of emotions around you. With a boyfriend like Damiano it all felt like living inside a firework—loud, bright, a little overwhelming—but in the best way. And today? Today was different. His mom had given birth that morning. A tiny baby boy. A new David in the world.

“You okay?” Damiano asked, reaching for your hand as the three of you headed out the door. His fingers were warm, grounding. “I want you there with me… when I meet him. I mean, you’re part of this. Part of us.” His cheeks flushed a little as he said it, and Jacopo nudged him with a smirk.

The drive to the hospital felt like forever, Damiano bouncing his knee the entire time, squeezing your hand every minute like he needed to make sure you were real. When you stepped into the maternity hallway, everything softened—white lights, quiet voices, that faint smell of clean linens.

Damiano’s dad waved you all over with a tired smile. “He’s inside. And he’s tiny,” he whispered like it was a sacred secret.

Damiano walked in first, almost tiptoeing. His mom was sitting up in bed, glowing with exhaustion and happiness, a small bundled baby resting in her arms. “Meet Leo,” she said softly.

Damiano froze. You’d never seen him look like that—wide-eyed, breath caught, shoulders trembling just a little. “He’s… wow,” he breathed out, stepping closer. “Hi, little man.”

Jacopo laughed under his breath, arms crossed. “Look at him. Already obsessed.”

Then Damiano turned to you, eyes still shining. “Come here,” he murmured, tugging you gently to his side. “I want him to meet you too.”

You leaned in, and Damiano wrapped an arm around your waist, the other brushing his fingertips carefully over his baby brother’s tiny hand.