Chapter Text
As Luca sobbed into Shane on the couch, upstairs an unknowing Bood family went through the steps of getting Milo ready to wind down. He picked out his favourite pyjamas, fleecy and featuring Paw Patrol characters. Everyone brushed their teeth together, and Milo prepared his duvet by himself because he could and he didn’t need help (a proclamation he himself had made).
Usually after his attempt Bood or Cassie swooped in to straighten the fold on the corner he liked to flip over ‘so the bed was hugging him’. If it was crooked the bed wouldn’t hug him and there would be a crisis on a level requiring the RCMP.
It would have been story time, but because his uncles were over the concession had been made that he could watch a movie with them instead.
As Milo clattered down the stairs Bood pulled Cassie into a hug and swayed her a little. She pulled back, still in his arms, to search his face.
“What was that for?”
“Thank you for being the person who would come and get me if I was freaking out.”
Cassie looked at her husband with warmth.
“Always, big guy. Now come on or Milo will claim the best seat in the house.”
They made their way down together, only to find their son peeking around the door. He turned back to them with a furrowed brow.
“Uncle Luca is sad. Why?”
The moment was bittersweet. Bood ruffled his son’s hair.
“We’re not sure, little man.”
With all the certainty of being five years old Milo’s face resolved itself.
“You and Mummy will cheer him up. And…wait!”
He took off up the stairs, little legs a blur. Cassie and Bood looked at each other helplessly.
“Do we wait?” She whispered. Bood nodded.
They stood like animatronics with faulty programming until their little force of nature came barrelling back down the stairs, dragging his favourite blanket and stuffed penguin.
Milo presented his prizes like an auctioneer with a Ming vase.
“For Uncle Luca, so as he can not be sad.”
The trio made their way into the sitting room. Bood paused when he saw Luca curled into Shane’s chest, the sobs resolved to sniffles. Ilya sat next to them, looking at the two men with a fond, sad expression.
Milo, not quite understanding subtlety despite his parents’ best efforts, began Operation Cheer Up Uncle Luca. He walked confidently to the crying man and stuffed his penguin, Lottie, into the gap between Luca’s cheek and his shoulder. He fluffed out the blanket, flapping it dramatically, and laid it over Luca. He hopped up unselfconsciously onto Shane’s lap.
Then, in a manner heavily redolent of Bood’s own when comforting him and Cassie, Milo reached out his little hand and stroked Luca’s hair. Cassie felt herself start to tear up when her son started to console his uncle with the words she and her husband had whispered to him many a time.
“Is ok Uncle Luca. Is ok to cry. Get it all out. You’re safe. You can be as sad as you want to be.”
All the adults in the room had to choke back some form of emotion at that. Luca wiped his eyes and sat up. The blanket was in fact quite a nice addition. He carefully pulled Lottie from under his chin and handed her back to his tiny comforter.
“Thanks buddy. I feel much better now.”
Milo nodded emphatically. Operation successful. He saw his parents looking over, holding on to each other, and patted the spare part of the sofa next to Shane.
“Ok, now Frozen 2.”