#and then you're awake in the night sitting next to their crib watching them sleep and it's all that matters

[wisteryuu]

sometimes I look at media with a single parent who loves their kid so damn much and I'm just hit with the realization that I could probably raise a kid if I found myself in the situation

[serickswrites]

Hi there I hope you are having a good day! I have a request if you don't mind. It's specific. So you don't have to write it if you don't want to but: Female Hero x Male Villain. So Hero has a child, a few months old or a year but very young. With juggling hero-work and raising a child she is very tired. So one day she comes home and collapses on her bed, until she realizes her child is strangely quiet and her babysitter has come to talk to her. So Hero goes into their child's bedroom and finds Villain standing in the room cradling her child. She demands to know what he's doing and he asks who's the child's father. Hero is very confused and asks him why he needs to know. Villain explains that he has been watching her since the day he figured out she was pregnant and the Father of her child had never once been there for her. He demands to know who the Father is and why he is not taking responsibility for this beautiful child and the lovely Mother of his child. Hero stares at him silently, before just bluntly says: "You're the Father." Meanwhile The Babysitter is sitting in the closet tied up listening to all this drama.

Hello! Anon, this is super interesting! Definitely something I can write. Requests and asks are always open! Unless it's a squick, generally I can write it. So please, ask away! And you can also ask continuations!

Please, enjoy!

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Nanny heard the front door to Base open and shut. They rose to meet their boss, but Hero waved them off as she stumbled to her bedroom. Nanny could see the dark circles under her eyes. Hero needed to rest. They'd let their boss get a few hours sleep before waking her for dinner and time with the baby.

Nanny heard Hero's baby fuss in the next room and so they headed to check on their charge.

Hero collapsed on the bed without showering or even removing her clothes. She'd do that later. Right now all she wanted to do was sleep. She flicked on the baby monitor on the night stand. She liked to fall asleep to the sound of her baby. The soft little snuffles, coos, and even Nanny's soothing voice.

But no sound came. Hero's heart started racing and she was instantly awake, exhaustion long forgotten. She jumped out of bed and ran to the nursery. She froze in the doorway as her worst nightmare was a reality.

Villain stood over her baby's crib, her infant tucked safely in his arms. His face was soft, warm even. Something Hero had never seen before.

"What are you doing here?" Hero demanded, cursing herself internally for not bringing a weapon.

"Who's the father?" Villain asked, ignoring Hero's question. He rocked the infant gently in his arms.

"Does it matter?" Hero's voice was flat, cautious. She didn't want Villain to hurt her baby.

"When I first noticed you were pregnant, I wondered who it could be. You have no love life to speak of," he smirked. "We're too busy with work, you and I, for things like that. But no man appeared. Not when your belly grew big and round. Not when you took yourself to the hospital. Not even when you came home. What kind of man could abandon a child? Such a beautiful, lovely baby."

Villain looked up at Hero. "You can't surely plan to do this alone." He continued to rock the baby. The baby fell asleep in the crook of his arms. Hero relaxed a little as she saw her baby was safe.

"I'm not alone. I have Nanny."

Villain frowned. "I saw that. They weren't very useful in protecting your baby."

"What did you do to Nanny?" Hero feared the worst.

"Closet, taken care of."

"Did you kill Nanny?"

Villain flinched in horror. "I know you hate me, but I'm not a monster, Hero. Besides having a nanny isn't two parents. It's not the same. A child should have both parents in their life. Where is the father? I could persuade him to come back. What kind of man could do that?"

Hero sighed. "You," she muttered.

Villain's eyebrows shot up. "Pardon?"

"You are the father, Villain."

If Nanny could have gasped around the gag in their mouth as they knelt in the darkened closet, arms tied behind their back, they would have. Hero had never disclosed the father of her child. And for the father to be Villain, well, that was something else.

[lokifantasies]

We Need a Break (Loki/Reader)

You refuse to let Loki back in so easily

Taglist (let me know if you want to be added!)

@radicallyred @holdmytesseract @mm2305 @nms224 @clockblobber @missdforever @winchestersgirl222 @sallymagnoliaposts @darkacademictrash @yellowballoon @1marvelnerd3000 @lynnsthoughts @imliketotallyclueless @itsybitchylittlewitchy

Early the next morning, you check out of the hotel that you and Mia had stayed in, and you manage to get the courage to return home. You know that the longer you hide from the issues, the more painful it will be to solve them. The living room light is on when you pull up into the driveway – you really hope that Loki isn't the one awake. You carry Mia, who is sound asleep, into the house and carefully open the front door – trying to sneak your way inside.

Loki looks up from his book that he's reading while lounging on the sofa. His eyes are bloodshot – you can tell he's been crying, but you refuse to give him a second glance. You walk down the hallway to put Mia in her crib, and to your surprise, Loki doesn't follow. You know that you need to talk to him, but it's a conversation that you don't want to have to have. Seeing if he'll come to you, you go into your bedroom and close the door. Moments later, Loki quietly opens it, walks into the bedroom, and stands with his hands in his pockets as he looks down to the floor – keeping his distance from you by standing at the foot of the bed while you make yourself comfortable.

"Can we talk?" Loki asks – his voice sounding tired and filled with hurt.

You shrug. "What is there to talk about?"

Loki chuckles. "So, that's it then?" he questions – the tears beginning to fill his icy blue eyes once more. "You leave in the middle of the night, take our daughter away from me, hide out god-knows-where, and then just come back and pretend everything's alright?"

"I've said what I needed to say," you scoff. "Words aren't going to fix this."

Loki shakes his head and takes a deep breath. "Then why'd you come home?"

"For Mia," you answer through your clenched jaw. "It wasn't fair to take her from her home." You leave out the part about how much Mia missed him – how she wouldn't stop crying. "I didn't come back for you, if that's what you're asking."

You words sting his heart – causing more tears to fall from his eyes.

"Are we...?" Loki begins nervously.

"Together?" you finish his question, and he nods his head. "No...I told you...we need a break."

Loki chuckles in disbelief. "So...we're breaking up," he concludes. "You do know we have five children together, yes?"

"We don't have to be together to raise our kids," you shrug. "If you want the bedroom, I'll go sleep on the sofa."

"Absolutely not," Loki refuses quickly – shaking his head and staring towards the ground before looking back up at you. "I love you."

"I know you do," you answer – throwing another blade through his heart by not repeating his words. "But...Loki...I can't do this anymore – us – it's – we're...toxic, and that's not the kind of family I want our kids to grow up in."

Loki tsks as he hears your words. "Why are you so determined to end us?" he suspiciously asks – searching your eyes for an answer. "You've been looking for an out, haven't you? What? And now that you've found it, you're sticking to it?"

"Loki, I never -,"

"Is it Thor?" Loki interrupts – his anger beginning to boil over. "Has my brother somehow weaseled his way back into your pants?"

Once again, his harsh words break your heart – tears starting to roll down your cheeks.

"No," you quietly deny. "I never said I wanted to break up forever, Loki. Of course, I love you," you remind him – watching as the anger in his face turns to guilt. "But thanks for proving my point."

"I'm...I...don't know why," the God of Mischief mumbles quietly to himself – walking towards the bed to sit on the edge of it. "Why do I do this? Why do I sabotage everything good and beautiful in my life?"

You hate hearing him say these things about himself, but you both know it's true. Whatever it is, there's something inside Loki that seems broken. "I don't know," you answer softly. It's the truth, though – you don't know why he does this. "That's something you need to figure out."

"Alone?" he questions – looking over to you and his eyes pleading with you. "Please don't do this...help me, Y/N...I need you by my side...you – our kids – make me stronger."

"I'm sorry," you apologize. "I wanna get some sleep, Loki. Mia should be waking up soon."

You pull the blanket up and curl up in it – finding a comfortable position to sleep in. You hear the sound of Loki sighing, getting off the bed, and walking out of the bedroom. Finally, you let your tears pour down your cheeks. An hour and a half later, Mia begins to stir, and Loki makes his way to her bedroom from the living room where he's been all day.

"Hi, my sweet girl," Loki smiles at his baby daughter – picking her up from the crib and holding her to his chest. "You have no idea how much I missed you, Mia." Loki changes the infant's diaper and puts her into a fresh onesie before going into the kitchen to get a bottle of breast milk for her. After putting the bottle in the microwave for about five seconds, he makes sure it's not too cold and not too hot for his baby before walking over to the couch and sitting down with Mia – smiling as he watches her eagerly grab onto the bottle's nipple. "Daddy's messed up big time, Mia," Loki begins to talk softly to the three-month-old. "Mommy's really upset with me, but...she has every right to be..."

Loki continues to speak to Mia as she feeds, and you quietly creep out of the bedroom and peer into the living room without Loki seeing you – your heart smiling at the sight of Loki with the baby the two of you created together.

[druigsfavwitch]

Russian Lullaby- Natasha Romanoff x Daughter! Reader

Warning: kidnapping, angst, sad! Natasha, mom! Natasha, fluff, Stockholm Syndrome 

Summary: When you were 3, you were kidnapped and raised to believe that your kidnapper was your mother but you find out the truth when you were 16 and find out who your real mother is but you just can't forget about your past that easily

Word Count- 2493

(this is a request from my Wattpad)

~~~~~~

Natasha remembers the exact day she gave birth. It was a grueling 12 hours of labor but it was all worth it when she heard your cries. They cut the cord and gave you to her. She cried happy tears. "Hello, моя любовь. I'm your mom. I promise to protect you as long forever. It's me and you, моя любовь навсегда." She hugged you closer and kissed your head. You grabbed her hand with your little finger and smiled. She looked down at you with pure adoration. 

As you grew up, your mom taught you Russian as your second language. You knew the meanings of simple words like "my love" and "bed".

You lived in the compound along with the other avengers. They really didn't mind because you almost never cried at night at all. You would just sit up and play with your stuffed animals until either Jarvis alerted your mother you were awake or she came in to check on you. Sometimes, Tony would stop in and peak his head into your room to see if you were awake. One time, you were just staring at him sea green eyes. He smiled and walked over to your crib. "What's up, little assassin?" He held his hand out and you gave him a high five. He smiled and picked you up. "Let's go annoy Bruce since he decided not to let me work on my projects." He walked with you in his arms to Bruce's lab. 

Bruce turned around when he heard footsteps. "Tony, if you have come to bother me about not helping you with your project again, please leave me alone." He turned around and saw you in Tony's arms with your fist in your mouth. He smiled and put down the syringe he had in his hand. He walked over and carefully took your hand out of your mouth. You smiled at him and waved. "Hey, y/n? Why are you up?" You just stared at him and shrugged. Tony and Bruce then kept you down in the lab until your mom got up. She walked to your room and saw a note pinned on your crib. She was internally freaking out until she read it. "Trip down to the lab to go to bed- Stark :)." She rolled her eyes and walked down to the lab. She approached around the corner and saw you in Tony's arms. She smiled a little. You turned around and saw her and smiled so big, you could see the few teeth you had. "Mama!" Tony and Bruce turned around to see Natasha standing in the door, smiling at you. Tony looked like he was going to crap his pants. Natasha walked over with her hands out and took you into her arms. "Hello, моя любовь. Did you have fun with uncle tony and Bruce?" You smiled and shook your head yes. She smiled and kissed your cheek, causing you to start a chorus of laughter. Natasha remembers those days and oh, how she missed them.

~~~~~~

All the happiness changed when Natasha put you down for a nap one afternoon. She sung you a song called "Russian Lullaby." She walked with you, half sleeping into your room. She gently placed you in your crib and started humming. 

"Every night you'll hear her croon

A Russian lullaby

Just a little plaintive tune

When baby starts to cry

Rock-a-bye my baby

Somewhere there may be

A land that's free for you and me

And a Russian lullaby"

She tucked you in and kissed your head. She watched as you closed your eyes and fell asleep. She smiled and quietly shut the door. But, that nap was different than all the others. A women had been watching you and Natasha for weeks. Her name was Ella. She saw Natasha when she arrived at shield one day. Ella worked there and overheard Natasha talking to fury about you and how she was blessed to have you. Ella got jealous because she was infertile. She's always wanted kids and she could never have any of her own. She thought Natasha was too but by a miracle, she had a baby. A gorgeous, green eyed one. Ella had a plot to get what she finally wanted. She would sneak into the compound and take you.

Ella set her plan in motion the moment she temporarily disabled Jarvis. She found the vents and climbed through them. She knew she had to be quick. Jarvis could only be temporary disabled for 7 minutes. She followed the vent until it was right about your room. She carefully opened the vent and quietly landed. She walked over to your crib and looked down at you. She smiled and brushed a piece of hair out of your face. "Hello, my child." She carefully picked you up and quietly climbed back into the vent, leaving the compound.

When Jarvis came back on, he alerted everyone that someone had disabled him. Everyone got antsy. How could someone break into the compound without being spotted. Natasha had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. She made a beeline for your room, with everyone following behind her. When she reached, she pushed your door open and her heart dropped. In your crib, where she had left you no more than 10 minutes ago, was nothing. It was completely empty. She rushed over to your crib and started flipping blankets over. She checked every inch of that room and then the realization kicked in. You were kidnapped. Her knees buckled and she almost completely fell if Steve was not behind her. She sobbed and hit her hand on the floor. 

~~~~~~

Meanwhile, when you woke up, you were in a different crib. You looked around and realized that your room was completely different. You got scared and started to cry. Ella ran in and picked you up. "Aw, it's ok. Mama's here." You cried even more and screamed. "Mama!"

~~~~~~

Eventually, you got used to Ella and started to call her mom.

Time passed and everything seemed to be good for Ella. Natasha, however, was so upset. As soon as you were missing, she called Fury and he had a huge search. Then, all the avengers searched individually, but they could never find you. It's like you just vanished off the face of the earth and that's what hurt Natasha the most.

~~~~~~

You quickly grew up. By this time, you were nearing your 16th birthday. It was a huge deal. You hoped this would be the day that your mom lets you get a phone or social media or something. Maybe even enroll you in real school. 

That night, you had a dream that you'd been having for as long as you could remember. You would be laying in bed and hear humming. Then, a red haired lady would come in. She would be singing a song that sounded so familiar. 

"Every night you'll hear her croon

A Russian lullaby

Just a little plaintive tune

When baby starts to cry

Rock-a-bye my baby

Somewhere there may be

A land that's free for you and me

And a Russian lullaby"

She would brush the hair out of your face, kiss your forehead and say "Goodnight, моя любовь." Then that would be the end of the dream. You never told your mom about the dream because it just seemed so weird.

~~~~~~

On your birthday, your mom went out to get you a cake. You took this chance to explore. You always loved yo explore. You were looking in her closet to see if she had hidden any presents. You pulled something and a box fell on the floor, the top coming off. 

In the box was pictures of you being held in this red haired woman's arms. You couldn't see her face in that picture so you looked into the book for more. You saw another and almost screamed. It was the same lady from your dreams. Now that you had a clear look at her face, she looked so much like you. You continued looking in the box and saw a file folder. It had the same logo your mom used to have at her old job before she got transferred. You opened the file and started reading it. "Natasha Romanoff. Spy, avenger. Children- one." You saw your name. "Wait..." you flipped the page and saw a baby picture of you." Your mouth dropped open. "That lady in my dreams is my mother? But then who's the lady here?" You decided to find her and find out yourself. You saw the address as Stark towers. You packed a bag, grabbed a map and a few dollars. You walked out the door and waited for the bus. When it came, you got on. 

~~~~~~

It didn't take very long for you to reach Stark towers. There was a man leaving the building. He looked fancy. He had on glasses and a fancy suit. He must know who this Natasha is. You walked up behind him and tapped his shoulder. "Um, hello. Do you know where Natasha Romanoff is? I need to talk to her?l he turned around and his jaw almost dropped. He just stared at you, in shock. He then snapped back into reality. "Yes. Yes, I know her. Um, follow me." He walked towards the building again and held the door for you. When he walked in, a voice greeted him. "Welcome back, mister Stark. I thought you had a meeting." He waved them off. "I have a more important matter, Jarvis. Tell Natasha I have to talk to her. It's important." The voice responded. "Right way, Mister Stark." Tony sat you down on the couch. "Can I get you anything kid? Water, apple juice, milk?" You shook your head. "No thank you." You gave him a shy smile. Just then, you heard the elevator ding from behind you. "What do you want, Tony?" You turned around to see that lady from your dreams. She looked up from her tablet and looked at you dead in the eye. She dropped the tablet in shock and quick ran over to the seat next to you. "Y/n?" You smiled. "Hi." She started to cry. Tony smiled and slipped out to tell everyone else. "Where have you been? Are you ok? Are you hurt?" You shook your head. "No, I'm fine. I just wanted to ask you a question." She shook her head. "Of course. Ask away." You pulled out the picture of you in her file. "Are you...my mom?" She looked at the file and back at you. "Yes. Do you...not remember me?" She seemed to look sad. You felt bad. "No. Well, I mean, I see dreams with you in them. And you're singing this song." Her face perked up. "Well. It's true. I'm your mother. You were kidnapped 13 years ago." You're eyes went wide. You were kidnapped. The lady that raised you isn't your real mother. She stripped your real mother of her kid. You audibly gasped. "I know it's a lot to take in. We can take it slow." You smiled at her. "Thank you. So, can I stay here?" Natasha smiled. "Yes. I'd like that very much."

~~~~~~

Over the next few days, you got to know everyone at the compound. You had gotten word from Natasha that they had arrested your mother and put in a shield facility prison. You felt sorrow deep down for her. I mean, you thought she was your mother your whole life. 

You were trying to sleep one night but you just couldn't. Your brain was on overload trying to process everything. You started to cry. Then, there was a knock on the door. Natasha poked her head through and gave you a shy smile. She saw your tears and carefully walked over to your bed. "What's wrong?" You sniffled. "I know you're my mother but she raised me. I went this whole time thinking she was my mother. I don't know if I coude ever forget her." Natasha tried to give you a hug but you pushed her away. Her face turned sad as she gave you a sad smile and walked towards the door. "Goodnight." 

~~~~~~

You had started to go on missions a few months into moving in with the tower. 

Your latest mission was was to go and retrieve a file from an abandoned hydra building. Steve and Natasha were tasked to go with you. You guys took the quinjet and arrived after a short drive. 

You could tell Natasha was keeping her distance but also keeping an eye on you. After you pushed her away, she didn't seem to push you anymore.

The mission didn't go as planned. It wasn't abandoned. It was a trap. You guys were ambushed. Two agents got you. They shot you 3 times; two in the chest and one in the leg. Natasha and Steve then took them down. After taking them down, she ran over to you. "Y/n? Can you hear me? Keep your eyes open." You tried to hard but your vision just went black 

~~~~~~

When you woke up, you saw Natasha sleeping in the chair next to you. You grunted as you tried to find a comfortable spot. She stirred as she heard your movement. She opened her eyes and sighed. "Oh, thank god. I'm glad you're awake." She leaned over to kiss your forehead but then remembered. She gave you a shy smile and started to stand up. "I'll let you be by yourself for a while." As she was walking to the door, you called out to her in your hoarse  voice. "Can you sing the lullaby?" She turned around to look at you, confused. You gave her a small smile. She walked back over with a smile on her face and sat down next to you, cuddling close. She started humming. 

"Every night you'll hear her croon

A Russian lullaby

Just a little plaintive tune

When baby starts to cry

Rock-a-bye my baby

Somewhere there may be

A land that's free for you and me

And a Russian lullaby"

When she finished, you had cuddled next to her and looked at her lovingly. "I love you, mama." She started to cry happy tears. "I love you too, моя любовь." She then started humming the lullaby again.

A/n: ok, wow. i love this. anyways here's the song i found. i hope you like it:)

Translations- 

моя любовь навсегда- forever my love

моя любовь- my love

Tag List (open) - @emmaloo21 @ssebstann @llmarvelettezll​ 

[xxisxxisxxis]

Gateway Drug | Part Ninety-Four [PT.1]

Words: 3.1k

Warning(s): explicit language, mentions of substance abuse

Tag List: @unknownoblivion  @edwardtriggerhandzz  @haileynicoleseavey17  @cierrasixx19  @oskea93  @mgkobsessed  @sharon6713  @itsametaphorbriansblog  @miriampraez  @allie-mcginn @xpoisonousrosesx  @rebeccaphillips14  @nicholeh7 @lilmou5ie  @emariehorror  @divaanya  @6ixx6ixx  @ratedrkohardychick91  @floregrohlssard  @oldschoolimagineblog  @abaldboi  @liith-ium ��@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels  @ytwahsog  @scarecrowmax  @random-internet-user-4471  @solohqrry  @sparxx27  @kaitieskidmore1  @cruecifymesixx    @meetthesixxter    @arianareirg  @gingerspicetalks

@fancywasmyname1  @teller258316  @ggorehorror  @blowinmeupwithherlove  @xrosegoldwolfx  @mylifeisjustafeverdream  @redlipscrystalskies14 @str4nge-haze @reigns420 @sixxseconds2love @leatherandheels @dogmom2014 @allyouneedislove-mp3 @n0-self-c0ntro1 @viinceneil

LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO BE TAGGED

NIKKI 

"My wife doesn't tell me she's having an important surgery done, no, no, she just tells her girl friend Sharise who tells Vinnie and I'm the last one to fucking know about it." I tell Amber. 

"I didn't wanna stress him out." Vivian insists, raising her brows. 

"No, you just don't wanna keep me in the know just to piss me off." I argue. 

"Nikki, go to hell." She tells me. 

"You're not talking to him like that in here," Amber scolds her. "Just like he's not talking to you like that. We aren't doing that anymore. That was the issue last week. I didn't stop you two from talking trashy to each other and it got you where you are right now." She states. "Vivian, why didn't you tell Nikki about your procedure?" 

"I didn't even tell the father of my kid I was having it done--I'm just a private person." She tells her. 

"Duff doesn't even know?" 

"No, he doesn't, and he's not going to." She looks at me. 

Note to self: call Duff when she leaves. 

"Why haven't you him?" Amber asks her next. 

"Because I was freaking out over it enough as it was. I didn't need more people freaking out over it." She says. "So I just told Sharise because she was the one driving me home from it."

Amber just raises her brows and thinks for a second, her lips pursed. 

"You see what I have to deal with?" I ask as I motion to Viv. 

"Nikki, please." Vivian rolls her eyes. 

"And she wonders why I won't fuck her. She doesn't deserve it at the moment." I add. 

"Your dick isn't made of gold, Nikki, it's some trophy I should have to earn--especially when you clearly have no qualms tossing it around like a hot potato from one pussy to the next." 

"That's not how you were acting last week." I argue. "

"But you won't fuck me because I'm not Vanity." She says back. 

"I won't fuck you because the thought of screwing a pregnant chick makes my skin crawl." I admit. 

"You'll go down on me while I'm on the rag but me being eleven weeks pregnant--barely showing--is where you draw the line?" 

"Right, sorry, 'I won't fuck you because the thought of screwing a pregnant chick makes my skin crawl when she's pregnant with a baby she cheated on me to conceive,' there, that's better." I correct myself. 

"At least I know the lovechild I have, exists. Do I even wanna think about the girls you've probably knocked up across the globe the last several years?" She accuses me. 

"Unlike you, dear, I know how to fucking use condoms." I cut back at her.

"Gee, can't imagine where I learned to hate condoms in the first place." She sarcastically adds. 

"Fuck if I know, you were telling me to take the damn thing off the first time we even had sex, little miss, 'I'm a virgin', 'this is my first time,' which looking back now is so obviously bullshit." I scoff. 

"I was until you fucking corrupted me." 

"My apologies, I didn't realize I was creating a cum monster whose main ambition was to procreate." 

"And I didn't realize I was creating a codependent junkie." She doesn't hesitate to throw back at me and we're both silent just enough for Amber to cut in. 

"I am going to give you two homework." She says, sighing, glancing at the clock. 

We're out of time. 

"I want you two to write each other a letter, one that doesn't involve putting one another down, and I want you to pick a time--any experience or memory with on another--that you consider the happiest you've been with each other, and I want you to mail them to each other, and next visit you'll read each other's letters back to one another to remind that person what they wrote. Sound easy?"

We just look at each other, not saying a word. 

I didn't want to waste my time writing something for her that she'd just rip up without reading, and I knew she would, and I could see she didn't want to do that, either.

I'm great at song writing...but love letters? 

I think back to the last love letter I wrote for Viv...the one in the back of her Bible I gave to her. 

It kind of hurts that one of the last physical confessions of love I gave to her was practically a suicide note. 

I close my eyes and groan, rubbing my forehead. 

Fuck.

I try to think back to my happiest time with her over the last years. 

Like flicking through the index of my mind--as best as I can, at least…

I let out a heavy sigh as I flip from channel to channel, chewing my gum, getting frustrated when I can't find anything interesting to watch. 

"Are you gonna find a channel and stick to it or are you gonna keep flipping through the same channels and expect programming to change in a matter of seconds?" Vivian asks in a borderline snap, getting aggravated with me. 

I just roll my jaw and turn the T.V. off, tossing the remote onto the coffee table. 

"I didn't say turn it off, Nikki, you can watch T.V., just pick a channel and stick to it." She sighs, her Bible still in hand, the pad she's using to take notes in, in her lap. 

"No. You just read your shit in peace and quiet. Sorry for the interruption." I reply, passively. 

"Nikki, turn the T.V. back on and watch it." 

"I'm good." I state. 

"Ugh, you are such a whiney baby." She mumbles and I raise my brows, looking at her. 

"I'm a what?" I ask, and she looks at me. 

"A whiney baby." 

"A whiney baby?" 

"Yeah." She says it surely. 

I'm grabbing her socked foot that's in my lap, making her squeal, her Bible and notepad falling in the floor when she kicks at me as I start tickling her foot. 

"Nikki, stop!" She laughs out, sitting up and trying to fight me off of her. 

"No, I'm a whiney baby remember?" I remind her, letting her foot go, getting on top of her, my hands moving to her waist, making her laugh again, trying to push me off of her. 

I lean down and kiss her exposed neck, and stop tickling her, instead wrapping my arm under her, pulling her against me, settling between her legs. 

She sighs and kisses me when I lean down to her. 

Once we pull away for air, I run my thumb over her lip and she blinks up at me, slowly. 

I can tell she's thinking, "what the hell is this? What are we doing? We aren't dating, we're not just friends, though, so what are we, Sixx?" 

I don't know, either. 

I'd tell her that but I don't want to freak her out or something. 

I like her, a lot...more than a lot…

"What is it?" She asks me, and I realize I've just been staring at her. 

"I, uh...I'm not really seeing anyone else anymore, you know?" I say, hoping she gets the hint, and she raises her brows a little. 

"Oh." She replies.

"Not that it's a big deal or anything." I add. 

"I wasn't thinking it was." She shakes her head a little...but I can practically see her doing little mental cartwheels and screaming out with joy. 

I just smile at her, kissing her again.

I wrinkle my nose at the memory, not quite sure if that's when I was at my happiest with her. 

I just decide to keep digging through more of my memory--what's left of it, that is--until I'm grabbing my pen, and writing away at the paper. 

"Shhh, shh, you're gonna wake her up!" Vivian whisper yells at me as she holds a sleeping Skylar, the little baby wrapped up in a thick blanket, pacifier in mouth, knocked out cold.

"It's nearly 5:00a.m., what the hell are you doing up?" I ask her, trying to talk straight after a night of booze and blow. 

"She hasn't slept since midnight. I've been trying everything but she just dozes for a few minutes and then wakes back up and whines." She explains.

She looks tired...exhausted, really. 

"You want me to hold her and you go to bed?"

"She doesn't like you, the second she gets the feelings you're holding her, she'll wake you screaming." She reminds me. 

"She likes me." I argue. 

"Nikki, she purposely pees on you anytime you change her diaper, she gets antsy when you hold her--not to mention the amount of times you weren't paying attention and put her clothes on backwards or inside out and she pitches a fit." 

"Hey, trying to dress a squirmy kid is military-grade patience training. If you try to perfect whatever it is she's wearing, she gets irritated and just wants down and starts moving around more and making it more difficult to get some clothes on her." She just chuckles a little and gets quiet in the light of the little reading lamp, her eyes closing slowly. 

"Viv," 

"Hmm?"

"Go put the baby in the little crib thing Sharise brought over and go lay down." I tell her, quietly. 

"I'm fine where I'm at." She insists, but I know she's not. 

I take the chance and gently pick Skylar up, causing Vivian to say, "Nikki, don't wake her up," and I carefully make sure not to wake her as I carry her to the guest bedroom and put her in her playpen on her back like Sharise drilled into mine and Viv's heads to be sure of. 

She doesn't wake up, and when I get back to the living room, Vivian's asleep in her chair, cuddled under the blanket she had Skylar under. 

"Alright," I nudge her awake and she hums, furrowing her brows. "C'mon," I say to her, and she reaches her hands out. "What is it?" I ask her. 

"Can you carry me?" She asks and I sigh out. 

"Yeah, baby," I don't tell her, 'no,' despite not knowing whether or not we'll get to the bedroom because I'm tired and I know she obviously is, too, and she's not light as a feather--which will just make me more tired by the time I head to the bedroom. 

I scoop her up and make it to the bed, only nearly dropping her once due to losing my footing--which that's not her fault. That's just the evidence of my night out. 

When I lay her on the bed and pull my clothes off, crawling in beside her, she's snuggling up to me under the covers.

"You smell good." She mumbles to me. 

"I don't know how. I smell like cologne, sweat, and booze." I mumble back, my eyes closed. 

"You smell good." She repeats it. 

"You do, too." I reply. 

"I showered. You should try it some time." She says. 

"Okay, Sixx, don't make me whoop your ass at five in the morning." I tell her, keeping my eyes closed, and she giggles, pressing her lips to my cheek, and my jaw, her nails trailing down my chest to my abdomen, deliberately running over the trail of hair leading down to my…

"It's five in the morning." I groan out, biting back a moan when her hand wraps around me, another kiss being pressed to my cheek. 

"We can be done in a couple minutes." She tells me. 

"I thought you were tired." I reply, trying to wake myself back up being that a certain part of me is up and alert. I rake my hands down my face as she straddles me, before looking up at her. "You're like those spiders that wait for the males to be vulnerable then they fuck 'em and kill 'em." I add, despite my hands running up her thighs to her waist…

"You always complain about early morning sex but then by seven o'clock you're the one not letting me tap out." She reminds me. 

I just grab her hips and push her off of me before getting on her, making her laugh before my mouth catches hers, my teeth bitting at her lip before my tongue smoothes over it, making her moan softly. 

By the time we're finished and satisfied, I'm getting off of her with deep breaths, the both of us gasping for air, covered in sweat--even our hair. 

We don't hear Skylar down the hall which is a good sign that she's still asleep. 

It's weird having a baby in the house. I know it's temporary, until Vince and Sharise get back from their little Florida getaway, but it's odd taking care of someone else aside from Vivian.

I wonder what it would be like if Viv would've actually been pregnant when we got married like she thought she was. 

We'd have a two year old by now. 

How fucking bizarre would that be raising a kid in this life at the moment. 

Sure, Vince is doing it, but that's because Sharise is solid as a fucking rock. 

I'd take a bullet for Vivian--fucking die for her--but she's not solid like that, not right now, at least. She used to be. 

I mean she's still sober as shit but sobriety doesn't help much when you're wired even though you don't have a drop of anything in your system.

Look at me, like I'm one to be talking about dependability.

I look over at her, she's passed out, damp red hair across her pillow, covers pulled over her shoulder…

I reach over and run my fingertips across her cheek, the palm of my hand moving up to smooth over her hair as rays of sun start to filter through the small parting in the blackout curtains.

I'd love to have a kid in a couple years--maybe even within the next year--it just depends on the band, whether we're where we need to be by then or not...whether me and Viv are where we need to be or not, too. 

Which as of right now, we're great. 

We're more than great. 

We haven't argued in two weeks. 

Two fucking weeks. 

Who the hell goes that long without arguing? Certainly not us, but here we are. 

We weren't fighting as much because we were having sex like bunnies. I'm talking at least twice a day--Twice. A. Day. For two and a half weeks. 

Looking back, I know it's because she was in the wake of a miscarriage, I was in the wake of Vince and Razzle's tragedy, we were both craving a quick fix and I guess sex is how we were illusioned into believing we were healing. 

In reality we obviously weren't solving anything, just brushing it under the rug, but it was honestly the happiest I had been with her for our marriage. 

It was peaceful. We weren't at each other's throats. We weren't at war. We looked forward to seeing each other and spending time with each other, and it was the closest we got to being how we were when we were just dating...so that, for me at that time, was the happiest I remember us being.

The next day I'm taking my enveloped and stamped letter down to the mailbox in the hall near the recreation room, passing by Amber on my way, seeing her nod at me in acknowledgment before I'm halting myself and coming back to see her. 

"Hey, Doc, I need a word." I tell her. 

"Can it wait, Mr. Sixx, I'm running late for a meeting?" 

"I wanna know why having sex with my wife is a bad thing?" I ask, and she stops and looks at me. 

"It's not. Nobody said it was." She tells me. 

"You told me it might jeopardize our progress if we move too fast." 

"Because it very well could. You both have co-dependence intertwined in your sex lives." She explains.

"Well, I don't know if you've been paying attention to the last couple sessions but my wife has needs right now. And not having sex with her right now is jeopardizing our progress because she thinks something's wrong with her." 

"But you've told me, and her, you don't desire her because she's currently carrying another man's child."

"I've been thinking about it and I told her I'd work this out with her and how I've acted towards her is kinda contradictory to that." I admit. "And I can't go home and screw her into next week because you've got me paranoid about messing things up, now." 

"Have you told her my opinion on sex in your relationship as of now?" 

"No."

"Well, then, tell her about it and I'll take the blame for it." 

"I don't want you to take the blame for anything, I want you to 'ok' me banging my wife." 

"If you want to, 'bang,' your wife, then you can do that. There's not a law in the universe barring you from getting intimate with her."

"Sure as shit feels like it." I argue. 

"Tell you what, you talk to her about it--tell her my opinion--and we'll touch on it in the next session." She suggests. 

"Pun intended?" I ask and she furrows her brows, looking unamused. 

"...Okay, nevermind." I mumble. 

"I'll see you Friday for your session with the boys, have a good day." She tells me, giving me a nod before walking away. 

I just shake my head a little, irritated, and drop my letter in the mail box, heading to the payphone to try to call Vivian. 

"Hello?" She answers on the second ring and I clear my throat. 

"H-Hey, it's me," I say, and she's quiet for a moment. 

"Hey," she finally answers and I let out a breath of relief. 

"Do you wanna visit tomorrow? I need to talk to you about something." I tell her. 

"Is this where you tell me you're filing for a divorce afterall?" She asks and I rub my lips together. 

"No, Viv, it's not. It's about our sex thing." I struggle trying to define it. 

"Can we even have a sex thing if we aren't even having sex?" 

"Ha. Ha. Smartass." I state. "Seriously, you wanna come?" 

"More than you know." She replies and I can't help but laugh. 

"Pun not intended." She adds. "I'll be there around nine o'clock, if that's okay? I have another appointment to check on the baby since the surgery and then I'm gonna try to go shopping for some decently healthy things because I'm gaining too much weight at the moment." 

"You're pregnant--that's your excuse to eat whatever the fuck you want, when you want it, isn't? Like a chick liberation thing or something." 

"I'm eating too much junk, I don't want to pop out a fifteen pound baby. My pussy will rip to my ass." She says and I get a horrifying image. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, Nikki, I gotta go." 

"Alright, see you then. Bye, baby." 

"Bye." She replies softly before hanging up.

I pick at the inside of my lip with my teeth, another thought coming to mind...and my eyes shift to my pinky ring on my right hand...the same one I'd proposed to Vivian with back in '83.

[justsomefluff]

Hey I love your work and I hope you're having a good day I just wanted to know if you could do a Ateez reaction to finding their wife and new born cuddled together in its crib

Thank you, my day is going well and I hope yours is too <3 AND Awww Ateez as dads though I cant :’(

I wrote this so that you both woke up in the middle of the night and you go check on the baby bc they were crying

Hongjoong:

Pretty much as soon as you said you’d be the one to go check on the kid he’s like zzzzzz

But if you’re gone for more than five minutes his body forces him awake

He just cant sleep right if you’re not there bc it’s like somethings missing

Immediately remembers that you went to soothe your crying baby and heads to the nursery

finds you kneeling on the ground next to the crib

you’d slid the one side of the crib down, and had your arms curled around your baby

your heads were touching just slightly

Joong goes so soft so fast

but he’s also so torn

like he’s got 3 things he wants to do

#1 being that he wants to get the camera to keep this moment forever

#2 he wants total you back to bed because you’ll definitely wake up stiff if you stay there all night

#3 he wants to sit right down next to you and join the family sleepover

so he takes care of the first option, snapping about a thousand pictures from several different angles

and then he resolves to sit with you for a while to enjoy the peace and intimacy of the moment before waking you up so you could head back to bed

Seonghwa:

Ateez as moms edition

every time you offer to be the one to go check on your baby in the middle of the night he feels so bad

like you’re home all the time and must be so exhausted from all the work that newborns take

but you know he’s exhausted from his own work and

to be honest, even if it is tiring, being with your baby is your favorite thing in the whole world (even in the not so fun moments)

But anyway, this time Seonghwa decided that he was going to go with you to the nursery

after a little snack and some soft cooing, the babies were out like a light

Babies? Plural? you may ask... yeah Seonghwa totally fell asleep too

and after a while you’d fall asleep too, leaning comfortably against the side of the crib, your pointer finger being squeezed tightly by your infant

after a while, Seonghwa will wake up just because being on the floor is uncomfortable

but he’ll see you and your baby sleeping so peacefully and he gets a little teary bc he feels like he’s witnessing the most beautiful thing in the world

overly at peace, and when he makes the decision that it’s time to carry you back to bed

he’s so reluctant because he could have honestly stayed there forever 

Yunho:

okay Yunho is such father material like they all are but I just get such “he’s gonna be a great dad” vibes from him

BUT ANYWAY

anytime your baby cries at night; it’s like the bat signal for him okay

like Superdad to the rescue!!!

but you always end up needing to go with him bc... I’ll just say your kid can EAT alright

like no matter the gender, they’re gonna be big like their dad okay

usually he leaves you two alone when you’re doing your thing because he gets too soft and he wants to cuddle you guys while your feeding your baby

but your kid’s also definitely got a favorite parent... spoiler alert: it’s Yunho

so he is no longer allowed in the room for feeding time bc the baby won't even pay attention if they see daddy awww

after a little while he comes back in to check on you

could actually explode when he sees you, sitting on the edge of the crib with your head tilted downwards cradling your baby in your arms

and Yunho’s the type to decide he’s bringing you both back to bed with him

and that’s exactly what he’ll do

and he stays up the whole night watching you because he’s too full of love and he can't sleep because of it

Yeosang:

Yeosang as a dad... can you hear me sobbing???? I mean seriously-

so he knows how hard it is for you to parent while he’s at work right?

that means he’s always gonna volunteer to be the one to do certain things when he is home

like even the super unpleasant stuff like diaper changes or if the baby burps up; he’s like I GOT THIS

he tries really hard to be a good father and a good husband at the same time

but sometimes, you tell him it’s okay to let you take care of the unpleasant stuff

so you decided it would be your turn to go check on the baby this time during the regularly scheduled 3am waterworks

but after 3 minutes, Yeosang’s like I GOTTA GO HELP

even if it’s a one person job, he’ll find a way

he’ll walk into the nursery just as you’ve finished swaddling your baby after a diaper change

you’re smiling softly and letting your infant play with your fingers, laughing sweetly every time your baby gurgles with joy

Not wanting to disturb you, but also having an intense need to be a part of the action, he heads towards you

wraps his arms around you from behind and sways you slowly from side to side until you both decide your baby is fast enough asleep that you can retreat back to your own room

San:

I think San is probably the most excited of all of them to be a parent; and again I’m sure all of them would be happy I just get a stronger vibe mkay

so with him, he’s never gonna not get up and check on the baby when they cry

if you hear any noise at all over the baby monitor and start to get up, he’s already running down the hall

like we’ve all seen that he hates waking up but he’d sacrifice his sleep for his kid any day

on the rare occasion that you do beat him to the nursery though, he’d literally be smiling as soon as he saw you

always asks, “How are we?” because he loves to emphasize that you’re a complete family now uwu

“We’re all good, Sannie” is his literal favorite thing to hear

especially if he’s had a bad day, hearing that is really his light at the end of the tunnel 

and that combined with the sight of the two loves of his life? 

his idea of perfection come to life

could honestly cry about it, he really could

and sometimes he does, he’s just too touched

constantly tells you how grateful he is to have you

I also feel like San is the kind of man to thank you for agreeing to accept a baby into your lives

like you really make all his dreams come true

Mingi:

don't get me started, if the baby cries in the middle of the night he’s like UGH NOT AGAIN

like he loves the little gremlin but homeboy also loves his sleep lmao

totally feels guilty when you get up and go so he pretty much always pulls himself out of bed and practically crawls down the hall to help out

always makes you laugh when he finally makes it and just faceplants into the carpet mumbling, “I did it”

and he’ll look up you through glossy, half-lidded eyes with just the dorkiest smile on his face

literally looks at you and your baby like you’re angels

and, to him, you really are :’)

and he always makes sure you know it

no matter what you guys have to do to get the baby to go back to sleep

he’s gonna be peppering you both with kisses the entire time

will also casually pass out with his head on your shoulder

whenever people ask you how many kids you have, you’re like “two, including my husband”

but that’s okay, he’s always allowed to be your baby

Wooyoung:

literally obsessed with seeing you and your baby together

he’s dramatic about it too, like screaming about how someone needs to put you two in the Louvre and a bunch of cheesy nonsense

but can you really blame him?

and at nighttime, when he’s sleepy, he gets especially soft

and whenever he finds you snuggled up with your newborn he literally squeals and you’re like “SHHHHHHHHHH”

“whoops, my bad”

like no matter the circumstances, you can bet he’s still gonna be loud lmao

but anyway, he tries to be casual about his staring

it doesn't work though and you catch him just totally lost in his head looking at you and your baby

his eyes are so big like have you ever seen the cartoons where hearts like literally come out of someone’s eyes bc that’s Wooyoung

if you have your baby cuddled to your chest, he’s gonna put his head there too

but it’s so cute because you get to hold both of them and he gets to kiss your baby which is his favorite thing to do

Jongho:

okay Jongho is always gonna do that like shy smile, you know the one?

like where he’s so happy that his body cant even get it all out through a smile so he just sits there with his heart going BOOMBOOM

but he’s someone who I bet is kind of quiet in his affections

so he’ll just kind of sit and watch, but not in a creepy way more like in the “I don't want to interrupt” kind of way

but the second you invite him to join in the bonding moment with your baby he. is. THERE.

like to sing to both of you super softly because he’s just cute like that

will sit down with you and lean against the crib and just watch you and your baby slowly fall asleep together

smiling the entire time like that’s what a truly happy man looks like

like he’s so in love with both of you ugh

just makes him think about how he’d literally do anything for you whenever you need it

he’s ready to PROVIDE okay

like he’s got this protective instinct that just intensifies in moments like these but it makes him feel proud of his family

[ai-suru-hito-yo]

Daddy's Home!

As a thank you to @bohemian-rhapsody-slash for setting us safely off to sea aboard this ship, I give you some modern AU Deazzello! I hope you like it, babe. Thanks for all the great content you give us.

Pairing: Joe Mazzello/John Deacon, established relstionship

Warnings: implied smut, mostly more tooth rotting fluff, POV switch (sections clearly separated)

Summary: John comes home from Queen's first tour of Japan, exhausted but dying to see his husband and newly adopted daughter. Joe has stayed home, on a break in his own career, to take care of little Christine, and did not realize just how much he'd missed John.

Author's Notes: This is a modern AU. The timeline for the band is still the same, in that John joined Queen when he was 19 and things progress at the same pace, it's just that in this AU that happened in 2014 instead of 1971. He met Joe shortly after, who at the time of this story is 28, and they have been married for just shy of 3 years. They both now live in London.

John twirled the rings on his fingers, leg bouncing in the back of the cab that was currently taking him from Heathrow to his London townhouse. His husband had offered to come pick him up himself, but John had not replied to the text that awaited him upon landing. He was sure wrestling a 14-month-old into a carseat for such a short amount of time would not be worth it. He could survive a 15 minute cab ride on his own.

God, John was regretting it, now. He missed his family dearly. He missed Joe's warm eyes and thick auburn hair. He missed Joe's long fingers and soft lips. He missed sleeping next to his husband at night. While the hotels Queen stayed in on their Japanese tour were comfortable enough, John found he simply could not sleep as well by himself anymore.

He missed little Christine as well. Seeing the Japanese children gather around them, fascinated by the tall Westerners with their long hair and pale skin, left an ache in his heart for his own little one. She had only been theirs for a year now, and she had them both wholly wrapped around her little finger. With her big, dark eyes and soft brown ringlet curls, one look at either of them had their hearts absolutely melting. And now John had been away for three months. Would she even remember him? Sure, he had gotten to see her a few times over FaceTime, but being so young, she could not quite associate Joe's phone screen with her daddy, and lost interest quickly.

John looked out the window at the rainy London streets, trying to pinpoint exactly where he was. Only about 5 more blocks, now...

---------------------------------------------------

Joe sighed as he stared out the kitchen window into the soggy back garden. John was due home today, and Joe had kept his phone all but glued to his side, awaiting a message that his husband's flight had landed and he was ready to be picked up. No such message had come in, and Joe was starting to grow worried. Just as he picked his phone up to try calling his husband, he heard a cry over the baby monitor.

"Papa!"

Christine was awake, and quickly becoming distressed to find herself alone in the nursery. She must still be groggy. In that in-between state, she often became panicked if she did not see a familiar face upon waking. Joe quickly ascended the stairs, and turned the corner into the nursery as another distressed cry of, "Papaaa!" reached his ears.

"I'm here, little one," Joe soothed the babe, reaching into the crib to pull his daughter into his arms. "Sshh, Papa's here."

Christine leaned back in Joe's embrace, watching him speak, before reaching out to grab at his lips.

"What do you need, baby?" Joe asked her, trying to encourage her to communicate. She was exceptionally smart, and had picked up the baby sign language he was teaching her with ease. However, she had yet to start standing on her own or walking at all. The pediatrician assured Joe at her one year check-up that it was nothing to worry about, some babies simply learn to walk later than others.

Joe watched as Christine raised her tiny hand so her thumb rested against her forehead. Joe's heart melted.

"Daddy will be home today. Soon our family will be whole again, and you will have nothing to fear, my little star," Joe kissed his daughter's forehead and started to move towards the stairs with her, bringing her favorite stuffed monkey along. Joe felt a tiny hand tug at his hair, which was his daughter's unfortunate way of gaining his attention when he was within arm's reach. Christine pressed her closed fingers up to her lips, and Joe headed toward the kitchen and set her down in her high chair for a snack.

Once Christine was finished with her Cheerios and waved her hands signalling "all done!" Joe brought her into the lounge to sit on her mat and play while they waited to hear from John.

When Joe finally did hear the front door open, he sat up straight in the armchair he was occupying and set aside the book he'd been pretending to read. He's home, he's finally home, Joe thought.

Joe rose from the chair just in time to see John come around the corner from the foyer. They each froze, simply taking in each other's appearance for a moment. John looked so soft in a dark hoodie with Freddie's Queen logo on it, and his favorite jeans which left nothing to the imagination. More than anything, though, Joe drank in the sight of his husband's face. John looked even more beautiful than Joe remembered. His eyes were squinty with a soft smile and lack of sleep, his hair mussed from the flight and framing his pouty lips in the most delectable way. Joe' blood flow started to redirect itself south at the memory of what that mouth could do.

Oi, get it together, man. Your daughter is right there.

"John--"

Joe was cut off as John crossed the room in three strides and smashed their mouths together.

---------------------------------------------------

John paid the cab driver and thanked him again before pulling his bags out and looking toward his front door. God, it felt good to be back already, and he had not even crossed the threshold yet. John practically ran up to the door, fumbling for his key and nearly dropping it in his haste to get it in the lock. Once the door was open and he had abandoned his bags in the foyer, John listened for a moment for signs of life. He could hear Christine babbling happily in the lounge, and the rustling of fabric shifting as he walked around the corner.

John froze.

God, that's MY husband? He's so beautiful.

John drank in the sight of Joe looking relaxed and casual in dark jeans and a cotton, long sleeve shirt in the most delectable cream color. He clearly had not shaved that morning, and his hair was slightly mussed at the front, as if someone had been grabbing at it. His warm eyes were shining with emotion, and John saw a flash of pink as Joe's tongue darted out to lick his lips.

"John--"

John did not let Joe finish as he moved quickly to his husband, took his face in his hands, and kissed him, hard, hoping to relay in one simple movement how much he had missed the other man. John relaxed a little, softening the kiss as he felt Joe's hands tangle into his long hair. His own hands settled on Joe's slim hips, teasing a little at where Joe's shirt had ridden up above his waistband.

"John, oh my god, John. I missed you. I missed you so much. I can't believe you're here!"

"I'm here Joe, yes, I'm here. I know, I missed you, too. I could hardly sleep and I missed your touch and your smell and your warmth."

They dove back in for another kiss, and just as John was opening his mouth to let Joe in, he felt something fairly solid smack against his leg. He pulled back and looked at Joe for a minute, slightly disoriented, before he heard an excited screech from the floor.

"DADDY!"

John looked down to see little Christine holding onto his leg, wobbling as she tried to stay standing on her unsteady feet.

"Oh my god. Oh my GOD!" Joe exclaimed as John bent down to pick his daughter up. "Oh, Christine! My baby!" Joe lunged forward to wrap them into a hug. John was overcome with emotion at the fact his daughter remembered him. And apparently she was walking now? Another milestone he had missed.

He turned watery eyes to his husband, only to see hot tears sliding down the other man's face. He lifted his free hand from Joe's back and swiped at his cheeks.

"Joe, my love, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Oh, John, nothing's wrong. Nothing at all!

"Then why are you crying, honey?"

"John, she's never done that before! Those were her first steps!"

John turned to look at Christine in awe. She was preoccupied with babbling nonsense about her monkey, oblivious to the fact that her fathers' world was in an uproar. "Wh-what?"

"I've been working with her for a good month, now. Trying to get her to stand on her own, trying to get her to walk with me. She would not do it. I thought something was wrong, even though the doctor said she's probably just a late bloomer." Joe leaned forward to kiss his daughter's short curls.

"You mean I didn't miss her first steps?" John whispered as he felt the tears spilling over.

"No!" Joe cupped John's face and wiped at the tears with his shirt sleeve. "Oh, no, John you didn't. She was saving them for you. She was waiting for her daddy."

John buried his face against Christine's onesie and shook with silent sobs. Joe wrapped them both in an embrace, and John held on as tight as he dared, until Christine became restless and started squirming. "Papa! Daddy!"

John straightened up before suddenly lifting Christine toward the ceiling, eyes crinkling with laughter as the baby giggled with glee.

"Careful!" John could hear the laughter in Joe's voice. "She just had her afternoon snack, get too silly and she might throw up on you."

John laughed again. "I don't even care! I'm just so happy to be home again! I'm so happy to have my man and my girl in my arms again."

---------------------------------------------------

Later than night, after a quick dinner and hasty clean-up, the whole Deacon family settled down together on the sofa for a cuddle. John held Christine against his chest as she dropped off to sleep, while Joe tucked his legs under him and leaned against John's shoulder, at the perfect angle to watch his daughter's face soften in slumber as she rose and fell with her daddy's breathing.

"Is she asleep?" Joe felt more than he heard John's voice.

"Yeah. She is," he whispered back, tucking a loose curl behind the sleeping girl's ear.

"Mmm. Well then, Mr. Deacon," Joe felt a shiver at John's low voice calling him by his married name. "Let me get this little one tucked in, and then let me give you a proper greeting."

Joe looked up at John, a sly smile spreading across his pink lips.

"Only if I get to give you a proper 'welcome home', husband."

John stood with a grace and speed Joe had never seen the man use before, and was halfway up the stairs, Christine still asleep, before Joe even knew what happened.