Chapter 32 The Process and struggles

After the honeymoon in Barcelona, Barry and Liam meet the couple Zanjin and Philip constantly and discuss some matters about In-Vitro fertilization IVF. Zanjin and Philip were both Reproductive endocrinologists or REs. Doctors working in an IVF laboratory.

The technology is changing rapidly, and at some point, gene-splicing also progresses to the point where DNA from two men could be combined and used to fertilize eggs.

Barry and Liam have gone through many difficulties in the process until they finally succeed in fertilizing eggs. They tried so many times, but they always failed. There are times that they wanted to give up and chose another method of surrogacy which is they will ask for egg donors from the female and choose which of them will be the father. However, the couple seemed not happy about the idea. Liam and Barry want their children to carry both their blood and DNA. Hence, they tried and tried until they succeeded to fertilize eggs and embryos after so many hardships.

9 years ago

"I'm sorry Mr. Fraser's but the first trial failed to fertilize eggs," the Doctor Announced. Liam and Barry held hands.

"Let's try again," replied Liam and Barry, and the Doctor proceeded.

"Congratulations Mr. Liam and Barry Fraser, we succeeded in fertilizing the ovum." The Doctor cheerfully announced the good results.

"That's good, good!" Liam and Barry were so happy. However, the egg dissolved in the process of fertilization of the embryo.

Liam and Barry request another ovum fertilization for the 3rd time, and the Doctors succeed. However, they failed to fertilize an embryo. Liam and Barry got depressed and the Doctor advised them to take a break.

"Maybe it isn't the right time yet for you to have a baby," Victoria said.

"When is the right time mom?" Liam replied in frustration.

"Why not you two take a break and go for a vacation," advised Charlie. Liam and Barry went silent. They didn't expect that it would turn out to be this hard having a child. They spent too much time, effort, and money, but it didn't matter at all. Liam and Barry just wanted to have a child. But because of constant failure, the two almost lost hope.

"Maybe it's our destiny, maybe having a baby is not true for us." Said Barry, sadness evident in him. He rose from the seat.

"I'll take my leave first," Barry then left the living room. Liam left as well, he took his car key and drove.

Lauren, Charlie, Victoria, Jonas, and Lily left the living room. They all worried for the couple.

It's midnight already, Barry was walking back and forth outside the gate of their mansion for almost an hour now. He was waiting for Liam as Liam didn't respond to his text messages and calls.

Barry was on the verge of tears, his mind was filled with undesirable thoughts. What if Liam abandoned him as well, what if Liam finds a woman who can fulfill his desire to have a child? Barry couldn't possibly accept that. Just by the thought of those Barry wants to cry already.

"Sir, you might get sick if you stayed here any longer," told the guard.

"I'm fine, I'll wait for Liam," replied Barry.

"Sir, the weather tonight is colder since the snow will fall anytime soon. Please get inside sir, I'll notify you as soon as sir Liam arrives." Insist the guard.

Barry has no choice but to get in, indeed, the air is getting frigid and it pierces through his knitted sweater and to his skin.

"Alright, please wait for him and notify me as soon as possible," Barry said and the guard promised him.

"Hey, go home now, your husband is calling you multiple times. At least answer his call and tell him you're alright." Said the bartender Liam was in. Liam went to his friend's bar after walking out earlier.

Liam stared at his phone, “20 missed calls, 15 messages.” Liam turned off his phone.

"Why can't we have a child?" grumbles Liam, downing the booze. Garry, his friend patted his back. "That's enough, I'll drive you home." Said Garry, removed his apron, and then dragged Liam to his car after instructing his employees to close the bar since it was almost 3 at dawn.

When the guard spotted Liam's car, he called Barry, but Barry wasn't answering his phone so he helped Liam instead. Liam walks groggily but still manages to thank Garry for driving him home.

When Liam enters the house, he collapses on the floor seeing Barry curling on the couch whilst holding his phone. Liam held his hand and kissed it.

"I'm sorry baby," Liam mumbles. "I'm just so… because–" Barry stirred and got up hearing Liam's voice.

"Babe?" Barry embraces him ignoring the nasty smell of alcohol.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" Liam mumbles repeatedly.

"Babe, that's enough, let's talk tomorrow, get up I'll help you clean." Barry then helps Liam sit on the couch.

"Stay here. I'll get you new clothes." Barry then went to the bathroom first and got a basin of warm water and a wet towel. He pulled on a pair of pajamas but Liam was already asleep when he got back.

"What should I do with you?" Barry then begins stripping Liam and wipes his whole body with a wet warm towel. After changing Liam's clothes, he tried lifting Liam to their room upstairs. But Liam is too heavy. So they ended up sleeping on the couch.

When morning comes, Liam wakes up with Barry snuggling on him while shivering in the cold. Liam embraced him and felt sorry for what he did to his baby last night. He kissed Barry on the forehead and promised not to do it again. He's just so upset last night and he didn't know how to face Barry after the multiple failures of fertilizing embryos. He truly wants to give Barry a child.

***

After taking the Doctor's and their family's advice, Liam and Barry went for a long vacation. They traveled to many places and countries. Met various people and learned some new things regarding family matters. They've met a few couples like them who are struggling as well to have a child. They also met people like them who failed multiple times but then succeeded in the end. And thus gave them strength to not lose hope.

Some people advise them to take the easier process which is the natural surrogacy where they have to ask for female donors to donate their eggs. Liam and Barry considered the idea but then, they seemed to not be one hundred percent happy about it. So in the end, they have decided to stick to the original plan.

Liam and Barry came back home and decided to give it another try.

With the help and support of their families and friends, Barry and Liam decided to try again if they want their children to have both of their DNA and be the biological father and mother of the children.

After four years of hardship, finally, they managed to fertilize two eggs. The eggs and sperm were processed through IVF fertilization in the laboratory and finally succeeded in fertilizing embryos and finding a surrogate for the twins.

***

"Are you ready Mr. Liam and Barry Fraser?" Dr. Zanjin Liu asked. He was the one monitoring the babies in the surrogate womb and also became a friend of Liam and Barry.

Liam and Barry holding a pin ready to pop burst the two balloons hanging on the ceiling in the garden pavilion. There were also banners and streamers congratulating them. Liam pulled Barry giving him a short yet passionate kiss.

Everyone shouts at the two and asks to reveal the children's gender first.

"Oh, come on bro, you can have your husband later; please. I want to know the gender of my nephews." Jonas impatiently lambasts his horny cousin. Everyone laughs.

"3…2... 1…" everyone counts and shouts after Liam and Barry popped up the two balloons. A rain of pink and blue confetti. It's a boy and a girl.

"Babe!" Barry embrace Liam

"Baby!" Liam cries for the first time in front of everyone; so does Barry. Everyone greeted them.

"Congratulations, Barry and Liam," Said Lauren. She was so happy for her son and so excited as well about becoming a Grandma.

"Congratulations!" Victoria and Charlie embrace them. They were so happy for their son's growing family.

"Congratulations little brothers," Lily embraced.

"Congratulations as well, sister Lily," Barry gently touched Lily's baby bump. She is currently three months pregnant with Jian. She and Colby's son.

After the party, Liam and Barry celebrated as well privately with wine and candlelight dinner.

"I'm so happy babe," said Barry, staring at the ultrasound results on his phone.

"Finally, our family is growing," replied Liam before arising from his seat and striding toward his husband claiming his lips.

"I love you so much, baby."

"I love you too, babe." Barry reciprocated his husband's kiss.

After the announcement of the children's gender, gifts for the twins came flooding into Liam and Barry's mansion. Gifts always came in pairs, such as blue and pink electric cars for toddlers. Set of toys, sets, pairs of designer toddler and baby clothes, and shoes. Pairs of life-size teddy bears and many more. Although Liam and Barry can afford every luxury for their children, they still accepted all of the gifts. It only shows how their family and friends support them and their love for the twins.

Liam and Barry were so happy by the love and support their family and friends showed them. However, their faith was tested once again.