Work Text:
5:15 am
When Santiago wakes up, he’s alone in bed.
The room is a hazy grey, hinting at the fact that the sun hasn’t started to rise yet. He’s about to grumble and call out to you but he hears whimpering. The whimpering noises and high pitched cries echo through the hallway and into the bedroom so he knows you must be on the other end, tending. Santiago gets up and doesn't even bother to put on a shirt since he plans on dragging you back to bed once he finds you.
Walking quietly down the hallway the whimpering gets louder and it’s when he finally sees you, he falls in love all over again.
You’re in the pop-up crib with your dog and her new puppies. She must have given birth in the middle of the night and you, of course, had to sneak out and tend to your ‘baby girl’. Five newborn pups, your dog and you all crammed into a pop up crib you convinced him to buy the week prior, just in case.
“Baby,” Santiago whispers, “come back to bed. Luna looks like she's got it covered.”
“Hmm.” Your head jerks up at the sound of your fiance's voice; his eyes still closed and a sleepy smile painted across his lips.
Santi’s carefully kneeling next to the crib with his head in his arms, leaning on the edge of the crib and peering down at you. Sleep still heavy in his eyes as he looks at you lovingly.
“You’re a grandma now,” he says.
Now that makes you laugh.
“Guess what that makes you grandpa, hm?” You pause. “What time is it?”
“Hmm, guess so.” Santi peers down at his watch and squints at the hands. “It’s almost 5:30 babe. Let’s let the new mom do her job, the babies look well cared for.”
“But Santi-”
“None of that sleepy, come on.” Santiago reaches towards you and gently rubs your thigh, encouraging you to get out of the crib.
Looking down at your girl, you just know she’s adjusting well to motherhood. And while it is in their nature, you couldn’t help yourself but to be there for her while she pushed and even cleaned her up when she finished.
Santiago helps you up and over and once you’re out of the crib he just holds you in his arms for a few moments, nose buried in your neck.
“Santi, you’re cold”
“Well my personal heater decided to leave me for our dog this morning.”
You lightly smack his chest, “Maybe if you had more than boxers on. Plus, my baby needed me.”
“And you did good but now, I need you to come back and keep me warm.” His voice is hoarse and muffled against your temple and the soft kisses he leaves feel like heaven as he gently guides the two of you back to your shared bedroom and into bed. Facing each other, your arms tuck under his and his breathing slowly lulls you back to a light sleep when he speaks.
“I love that about you by the way.” It’s out of the blue and quiet but you hear him clearly.
“What?” You prod him, needing to hear it again.
“You care for everyone and everything in this life with little question. I love that about you.” His voice is soothing and sincere as he rubs your back, fingertips trailing along your spine. “Seeing you with Luna made me realize how above and beyond you’ll be with our future kids.”
“You want multiple kids with me Santi?” You ask as you pull away to find his eyes and lock gazes.
“I want everything with you. Babies, more dogs, a house. Everything.”
Tears prick the corner of your eyes and you notice they do in his, too. The two of you had discussed a future before but something about this early morning confession feels different.
“You getting sappy on me Pope?”
He chuckles and closes his eyes again. “I’m gonna blame the early morning.”
“Yeah, yeah,” you laugh with each other and eventually they turn into steady breaths and close cuddles.
It had to be around 6 something-- the sun was starting to make itself known through the small crack of the curtains, and you’re thankful neither of you have any real plans for the weekend.
Little does Santi know though, you’re planning on another big surprise this weekend. He was not only a new grandpa to your puppies, but the positive pregnancy test you took earlier in the week confirmed he was also a soon-to-be daddy.
You hold onto him extra tight. The sounds of your new puppies nursing down the hall and Santi’s soft snores are enough to cradle you back into a peaceful sleep.
Your entire lives were about to change and you couldn’t be happier.