Rachel Houlihan

For 20 minutes, it's just John and Travis. He holds his baby and takes it all in. Then he remembers the very full waiting room.

For 20 minutes, it's just John and Travis. He holds his baby and takes it all in. Then he remembers the very full waiting room.

The mother recovers, and then slowly, with family support, the two begin the next stage of their life together. Parenthood. John settles in as a new dad, and his friend Delano watches him embrace his new role.

The mother recovers, and then slowly, with family support, the two begin the next stage of their life together. Parenthood. John settles in as a new dad, and his friend Delano watches him embrace his new role.

The two friends don't see each other much anymore, but Delano understands.

The two friends don't see each other much anymore, but Delano understands.

A family man with a lot of support from his own mother, who's now a doting grandmother.

A family man with a lot of support from his own mother, who's now a doting grandmother.

Even with help from family though, becoming a new parent is hard. And for John, in his casual situationship that became so unexpectedly serious, well, the cracks reveal themselves quickly and the couple breaks. I did the best I could, John tells me. And without pause adds, she did the best she could too. When Travis is around five months old, the fighting becomes too much.

Even with help from family though, becoming a new parent is hard. And for John, in his casual situationship that became so unexpectedly serious, well, the cracks reveal themselves quickly and the couple breaks. I did the best I could, John tells me. And without pause adds, she did the best she could too. When Travis is around five months old, the fighting becomes too much.

She moves in with her mother, John moves in with his. That starter home, once so full of hope and expectation, sits dark and empty. The two try, and for a while succeed in sorting out an informal co-parenting arrangement. But then come the negotiations over who gets the firsts. The first Halloween. The first Thanksgiving. And then the deal breaker. The first Christmas.

She moves in with her mother, John moves in with his. That starter home, once so full of hope and expectation, sits dark and empty. The two try, and for a while succeed in sorting out an informal co-parenting arrangement. But then come the negotiations over who gets the firsts. The first Halloween. The first Thanksgiving. And then the deal breaker. The first Christmas.

They agree John will take Travis to his family's celebration on Christmas Eve. And in pictures from that night, it's clear the baby is the star, front and center in family photos in his festive red and white striped onesie. But John lingers and stays way later than the two had agreed, leaving Travis's mother waiting and waiting. There's an explosive, ugly fight that night.

They agree John will take Travis to his family's celebration on Christmas Eve. And in pictures from that night, it's clear the baby is the star, front and center in family photos in his festive red and white striped onesie. But John lingers and stays way later than the two had agreed, leaving Travis's mother waiting and waiting. There's an explosive, ugly fight that night.

The next day, Christmas Day, John calls in the hopes of seeing Travis, but she is still furious.

The next day, Christmas Day, John calls in the hopes of seeing Travis, but she is still furious.

So John quickly hires a lawyer and files for custody.

So John quickly hires a lawyer and files for custody.

John has one short visit on New Year's Day. The next one is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11th at 6.30 p.m.

John has one short visit on New Year's Day. The next one is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11th at 6.30 p.m.