We Found a Baby on the Subway. Now He Is Our Son.

In the summer of 2000, Michael was 34 years old. He lived in New York City. He had a good job in social care. He also had a boyfriend named Pete. They had been together for three years. Becoming a father was not something Michael thought about.

One evening in August, Michael finished work late. He was hurrying to meet Pete for dinner. He ran toward the turnstile at Union Square station. Then he noticed something in a corner. It looked like a bundle of clothes. He saw it move. He stopped walking.

He walked over and pulled back a dark sweatshirt. Underneath, he found a newborn baby boy. The umbilical cord was still attached. The baby was alone. Someone had left him there.

Michael did not hesitate. He picked up the baby and called for help. Emergency services arrived quickly. The baby was taken to a hospital. He was healthy, but very new to the world.

Michael and Pete visited the baby in the hospital. They felt a strong connection to him. At the time, same-sex couples could not easily adopt children. The legal system was complicated for gay parents. But Michael and Pete did not give up.

They worked with social services for months. They fought for the right to care for the child. Slowly, things moved forward. The couple became the baby's foster parents. Later, they were able to adopt him legally.

They named him Daniel. He grew up with two loving fathers. Michael says Daniel always knew his full story. They never hid anything from him. Daniel knew he was found. He also knew he was deeply wanted.

Daniel is now 26 years old. He lives in New York, not far from his parents. He has a job and his own apartment. Michael and Pete are still together after all these years.

Michael says finding Daniel changed everything. "We were not looking to become parents," he says. "But life had other plans. And we are so grateful."

Their story shows that family can begin in unexpected ways. For this gay couple, it began in a subway station on a warm August night.