Chapter Text
Being in a relationship with a father was hard sometimes. Dream knew that Quackity must at all times be George’s top priority and he would wave him off whenever an emergency arose and he had to leave their dates early etcetera. Dream knew all that when he engaged in a relationship for as long as he had.
But those weren’t the hard parts of the relationship at all. What Dream considered to be hard, was the fact that he had gotten attached to Quackity as much as he had to George. The little boy was so happy to see him and it warmed Dream’s heart. It made life at work a bit harder, especially when his boss found out about the relationship. She had known that Dream was close with some of the parents, she knew that Niki went out to lunch with parents who she had gotten friends with, she knew Karl had an inside joke with almost all of them, but when she found out Dream had fallen in love and started dating one of the dads, she had been furious.
She had lectured him for approximately two hours about professionalism at work, and how incredibly unethical it was to date a parent. Dream had listened, and nodded along. He had not dared to speak up against it, or even defend himself even though he really really wanted to.
But when it came down to removing Quackity from the class, to prevent a “more than acceptable amount of favoritism” Dream had protested.
The boy was in safe hands, with at least two more teachers in the room, who were both highly skilled and professional. Dream pointed out that no one had brought up an unfair amount of attention he gave the child, and neither did any parent or colleague ever deemed his treatment overbearing or that of someone who was preferring a child over another.
“Alex had just gotten used to the class. He started talking more than a few words at a time and he is not crying when his dad drops him off. If we remove him from the class and the kids who are his playmates, then we would make a huge regression in those behaviors. It wouldn't benefit anyone. We might have to start from zero.”
The discussion was long but ultimately Dream won, under the condition that Karl and Niki would report back to her as soon as they found Dream unfit to be the child’s teacher.
They agreed but Niki had rolled her eyes once they were back in their classroom. “Ridiculous.”
Rules were rules, and they had to agree. Even though neither Niki nor Karl believed there ever to be a problem with his treatment.
Dream just waved it off as a precaution, and decided to not let it bother him or his job. It did, for a while, but after a week or two he bounced back into being the storyteller of the classroom, who always had something to say, and would cuddle up with all the students when they needed it. He was a good teacher, and no one could ruin that for him.
Another part Dream found hard was telling his mother. After their conversation before Christmas, Dream had decided he would tell his mother he was seeing someone. And he did. She reacted great, like he had expected. When he broke the news that he was seeing a guy, her enthusiasm wavered a bit but she smiled at him nonetheless and told him she was happy for him. Dream appreciated that.
As the night progressed and the initial shock subsided, Dream dropped the bomb that he was dating a guy with a child.
And that was what broke his mother completely. She had started her rant with how happy she was for him, and it did nothing to ease the tension from his shoulders. She continued about his age, saying he was still too young to settle with someone, especially if that person was undeniably bound to one place. She rambled about what if Dream wanted to get married and have his own children. She ranted about going to travel and seeing the world.
And again Dream took it, sitting in silence.
“I really like him.”
“Is that enough though? To bind yourself to this?”
Dream shook his head in a no. “Of course not. But it’s enough that I am willing to try and make this work. Mom, I chose this. I knew he had a kid. And Alex is one of the sweetest boys I have ever met.”
She sighed, dropping the subject. She clearly wasn’t fully satisfied with this. But it would have to do, because Dream’s opinion of George and Alex was not about to change just because his mother wanted biological grandchildren and a daughter in law.
She would have to come around, and when she did, he would love for them to meet.
But the scariest part of dating a father was meeting the parents. Dream was a great conversationalist. He was able to hold a conversation well, joke around and make compliments at the right moment. He had a respectable job and he was hardworking and kind. The parents of the girls he dated were mostly impressed with him.
But now the stakes were different, not only would he meet the parents of a guy for the first time, he would meet them as parents and grandparents.
Dream knew he would not only have to prove that he was a good partner for George, but also a good parental figure for Alex. And it scared him more than he would like to admit.
So when George brought up that his parents would fly over for a few weeks in the summer, and he would like Dream to meet them, all Dream could do was panic, pacing the living room, mumbling to himself quietly so he wouldn't wake up Quackity.
George watched him mildly amused from his place on the couch.
“You’re worrying over nothing, Dream.”
“I’m not! Your parents are important to you and Alex. We all know that their opinion is important.”
George hummed and patted the space next to him, so Dream would sit back down. And then this smug asshole straddled his lap, putting his hands on Dream’s cheeks and squished, making sure they kept eye contact.
“Listen here. Because you’re missing three really vital parts. One. They will love you. You’re every in-law’s wet Dream,” Dream snorted slightly at the phrasing, “two, I am a grown man, and I can choose who I date. My parents live across the ocean, they have no say in it. And three, and probably the most important part, you’re missing: Alex loves you. And so do I.”
Dream smiled, regardless of his cheeks being sandwiched between to hands, regardless of the fact that he probably looked incredibly stupid right now.
“You love me?” He teased. It wasn’t meant to mean anything, just pick at the phrasing like he usually did with George. It was his inner author.
They hadn’t said I love you yet, always carefully treading around the words and in one heartfelt night George had said that those words scared him too much sometimes, and Dream shouldn’t take it personally. And Dream, an angel among men, according to George, just kissed his cheek and said “take your time.”
But the way George turned red and loosened his grip on Dream’s cheeks, made Dream’s smile grow.
“I do.”
Dream leaned forward, pulling the man on his lap closer by his hips and he kissed him. He kissed him, and let the anxiety of meeting his parents drain from him. He kissed him with the beautiful feeling of love and he just smiled against his lips.
“I love you, too.”
And they didn’t talk much after that, before heading to sleep.
The anxiety Dream felt that day had left him, until about three days before the planned dinner with George, Alex, and George’s parents.
He would sleep on Sapnap’s couch, panicking over whether or not he would make a good first impression.
Two days before he had a good day, going to work and dealing with the day like nothing was on the line. He met George that day, slept over and kissed him goodbye on the last day before the dinner.
He held onto his job as much as he could, distracting himself with doing every task on the list, not letting Niki or Karl help. The more he had to do, the less he would stress over it. He didn’t sleep that night.
And he got out of bed on the last day, completely exhausted and anxious. He was a mess. This was gonna be a fun day…
He had no work, because they both didn’t work weekends and George did not want them to stress even more before the dinner. And Dream had agreed that it was a good day, but right now he would like to shake his boyfriend for coming up with such a stupid idea.
He would spend the rest of the day on the phone with Sapnap, until his best friend came over and watched Dream stress over five different outfits.
“You’re more of a mess as when I tried to propose to Karl.”
Dream whipped around, glaring at Sapnap. “Don’t go there. I have not cried yet.”
“Yet. And damn dude you’re so close.”
Dream took the shirt he was holding and threw it at Sapnap. “Shut up.”
They went back and forth like that for a bit, until Sapnap made him settle for a dark sweater, a pair of jeans and a green dress shirt underneath.
“Now please. Just get changed. You’re just a nuisance to my life.”
“Right. Not like I regularly safe your ass and your stupid anniversaries. You know I have all of them written in my calendar, so I can remind you.”
Sapnap frowned, not bothering to turn away as Dream changed. “No you do not.”
“Wanna bet on that?” Dream grinned amused, lifting an eyebrow at Sapnap.
“Fuck off.”
Dream laughed at that, his chest feeling lighter than it had earlier that day. He was glad for Sapnap. And he knew there would be days where his best friend would need him like that, so he didn’t feel bad for freaking out. Sapnap had a wedding next year, there were more than enough occasions for Dream to shine and help him out.
Dream walked into the bathroom, to do his hair and see if he could do anything to fix the bag under his eyes.
He heard a phone ringing in the background, but he assumed it was Sapnap’s. The man answered the phone a bit after, and Dream couldn’t help but hear what was being said, the apartment was small and his bathroom door was open.
“Sapnap to your service.”
Dream snorted, what a dork.
“Is everything okay? ….. Yeah he is here, currently making sure he looks pretty.”
Dream rolled his eyes, splashing water in his face.
“You want me to give the phone over? ….. Okay. Yeah, I will let him know. ….. Yeah, see you.”
Dream popped his head out of the door and saw Sapnap hold a phone with a bright green phone case. “Was that for me?”
“It was Gogy,” a name Sapnap had lovingly given his boyfriend, George hated it, and it only encouraged Sapnap to use it more often, “I answered because it seemed important. He is freaking out. Asked if you could come over already to help him.”
Dream nodded slowly. “Did he say why or what’s up?”
Sapnap shook his head. “I just heard crying in the background, really.”
Dream nodded again, more understanding this time. “Of course. Sure. I’ll go over there now.”
Dream walked over to put on his shoes and his coat, humming a melody to himself to try and calm his nerves. He did feel better than this morning, but that wasn’t too much of an accomplishment. This morning he felt like the walking dead, filled with anxiety, now he just felt the anxiety in his veins instead of the zombie part.
Sapnap followed. “Karl has Niki over…” he mumbled and Dream laughed softly.
“I knew there was a reason you came over so fast!”
Niki and Sapnap got along just fine, and Dream knew he liked her, but he tended to feel awkward and a bit out of place and usually escaped to Dream’s if Karl had friends over he didn’t know too well.
Dream grabbed his wallet and key, ruffling Sapnap’s hair. “You have keys. Just make sure to lock up when you leave.”
“Aye Captain. Now save your damsel in distress.”
Dream shook his head, closing the door behind him and rushed down the stairs to his car. He grabbed his phone and texted George that he would be there in 10.
He started his car and started singing along to the music on the radio. He didn’t know all the songs, but some of them stuck with him whenever he drove. His car wasn’t necessarily old, the radio was though, and so Dream couldn’t listen to music from his phone. He would change that sometime, but now was not the time. And he hated driving in silence, so radio music it was.
He sang along, parking his car a bit away from the building and walked the rest. The door downstairs was open and so he walked up the stairs until he stopped in front of George’s apartment. He knocked and heard the tapping of small fast feet run towards the door. And then louder, heavier ones followed.
“Alex! I told you to not run to the door!” George grumbled at the child, as he opened the door, holding the toddler against his chest. “You never know who is waiting!”
Alex looked less than pleased with the development and started wailing loudly. George took a deep breath and looked at Dream, he stepped inside without another word and Dream left his shoes at the front, taking in the state of the apartment.
It was a downright mess. Toys and clothes everywhere. Behind him, Alex was still crying loudly and George looked like he was close to tears as well. He moved Quackity up to bounce him on his hips, looking apologetic.
“I’m sorry I called you over already. I just… He has been crying all day and has been driving me nuts. And I don’t want to yell, you know?”
Dream nodded, smiling at George. “I know. No problems. Gives me something to do, instead of anxiously pacing my apartment,” he half joked.
George would have normally cracked a joke or at least commented on what he said, but he looked so distracted by the whole situation before him, that he could only give a weak smile. For the first time Dream figured maybe George’s whole bravo about the dinner was just played up, to make him feel better. Well, Dream was here now, and so he did what he did best, and took Quackity from George’s arms. The boy looked confused at first, not crying for a bit, telling Dream that he most likely wasn’t actually crying in distress and more in a way of gaining attention. That was something Dream could deal with.
He looked at the boy. “Hey buddy!”
“Dream!” Quackity squealed and hugged the teacher. Dream squeezed him back.
“I heard you have been a bit naughty all day.”
Quackity’s eyes widened and he quickly shook his head. “No! No, Alex was good!”
Dream nodded, wiping the tears from the boy’s cheeks. He heard George sigh behind him and saw him retreat into the kitchen over his shoulder. Dream had got this and he would deal with this.
“Okay Q. Daddy has to cook dinner. And you and I have to clean up a bit.”
“No.”
“Yeah, look. All your T-Shirts are in the living room! I thought they have to be in the closet.”
Quackity huffed. “Not closet. Wardrobe!”
Dream smiled amused, so George was teaching the boy some British words, whether on purpose or not, it was interesting.
“Oh. Of course. The wardrobe. Will you show me where it is?”
Quackity shook his head. “No. Want to play with daddy!”
Dream’s smile fell a bit by that, Alex was probably just in need of some quality time with his father, who was stressing over a dinner, that shouldn’t be as scary as it felt. He nodded at the toddler.
“I know. How about this, the two of us clean up, and we can go to the playground downstairs for a bit?”
Quackity looked at him, biting his lip. “Daddy, too?”
“We will ask him, okay? But first we gotta clean up.”
Quackity nodded, and struggled to get down to the floor. Dream followed immediately and set the boy down, who grabbed his hand and led him into his bedroom. “Wardrobe!” He pointed at the blue closet in his bedroom, right next to his bed.
“Perfect,” Dream said, sitting down on the floor. He looked at Quackity who looked right back, with his hands on his tummy.
“Can you bring me the clothes? So I can fold them and make it all pretty again?”
Quackity nodded enthusiastically, now eager to get outside and get rid of some of the excess energy he had. Dream could see the door from where he sat and watched the small boy gather as much clothes as his small arms allowed him.
He ran back to him and placed them in Dream’s lap.
“Have to go more!”
And he ran off again, making Dream smile. He started to fold the clothes in his lap.
Quackity ran three more times before he sat down next to Dream, his hand on Dream’s thigh, as he watched the man fold his clothes.
“Why did you take the T-Shirts out of your wardrobe?” He asked, looking at Quackity, who was looking sad at his feet.
He shrugged and wiggled his feet before himself. Dream nodded, rubbing his back.
“You don’t know?”
“Wanted to help daddy..”
Dream smiled at the boy, folding his shirts and socks. He handed Quackity the socks and pointed to where they belonged and the three year old followed his direction easily. Dream put the shirts and pants to what was still left in the closet. He let Quackity close the doors and smiled down at the boy.
“Well done! Now only the toys in the living room, and we can go play.”
Alex nodded quickly, pulling Dream by his hand to the living room. The boy grabbed the boxes of his toys and without waiting for Dream to help, and he was running from one spot to the other to put all his toys in the box.
Dream smiled. “I will ask your daddy if he can come with us okay? Let’s see who is faster.”
Quackity nodded and Dream looked into the kitchen, seeing George hunch over a cookbook. He walked up behind him, putting his hands on his hips and pulling in closer. George jumped but relaxed quickly.
“You scared me.”
“Sorry, you looked so concentrated, I couldn’t help myself.”
George sighed again, turning around in his arms, and Dream pulled him a bit closer, so he could rest his hands on the small of his back instead.
“We’re almost done cleaning. Come down to play with us?”
George put his hands on Dream’s chest, playing with the fabric under his fingers. “I really wanna make this special.”
“Just make pasta.”
“You don’t understand, they will expect something big!”
Dream shrugged. “You’re a grown man. And you have a life of your own. Just make something fast and easy and play with your son.”
George looked up at him, “thank you for cleaning up…”
Dream shook his head. “Q did most of it.”
“You look really good. I don’t think I told you yet.”
Dream smiled, nodding to his words. “Sapnap chose it. Said I’m being pathetic and whiny.”
George laughed, and it was still Dream’s favorite sound in the world. If he could hold onto something it was George laughing in his arms. He would go to the ends of this world, to make him happy.
Dream leaned down and kissed him quickly. “Make pasta.”
“I’ll make pasta with white sauce and chicken. It only takes a bit longer than pasta,” George bargained, standing his ground for a fancy meal.
Dream hummed and stole another kiss. “Deal. But now you swing your ass down and play with me and your son.”
“With you, too?” He smirked, leaning away to look at his boyfriend with a cocky grin.
Dream groaned and let go of George, pushing him off, making the man stumble, but instead of being offended, George laughed loudly.
“Let’s just go.”
Quackity poked his head into the kitchen at that point, walking to Dream and tugging his pants. “Finish!”
Dream beamed at the boy. “Yes? Well done! And you know what?”
“What?” Qauckity asked excitedly, looking up at the two men.
“Daddy is coming down to play with us!”
Quackity’s face lit up and he rushed to George and hugged his leg tightly. Before George could react at all, the boy turned around and ran to the door to get his shoes and coat. Dream laughed and followed Quackity into the small hallway of the apartment. George stayed back for a while, and came out as Dream balanced Quackity on his lap, to help him tie the knots of his shoes. He was able to put them on by himself now, but tying a tie was obviously still out of question.
Quackity stayed on Dream’s lap as the older one put on his own shoes, only getting down to get his coat. “It’s too warm for a coat, buddy.”
Quackity dropped the coat on the floor and nodded. Dream shook his head. “Please hang it up, Quackity.”
Alex kneeled down and picked the coat up, to hang it up. George stood behind him, smiling. “I wonder sometimes what I would do without you.”
Dream turned around, handing him his shoes. “Not stress over stupid dinner plans?”
George laughed, shrugging. “Maybe.”
They didn’t dive deeper into it, because Quackity was trying to open the door and George rushed over to stop him. “Alex, we talked about this!”
Dream opened the door and George took his son’s hand, leading him downstairs to the playground that was located right around the corner.
As soon as George let go of Alex’s hand the boy ran to the playground. He slipped on the way, falling down face first. George was ready to rush over, but Dream took hold of his wrist and they both watched Quackity get up and continue running towards the slide on the playground
“You don’t always have to react, unless he does.” Dream hummed and locked their hands together. He guided them to a bench, sitting down to keep their eyes on Alex.
“But if he hurts himself?”
“Then he will tell you. Trust me.”
George nodded softly, looking down. “I don’t want him to get hurt.”
“I know. But falling down is okay. If he actually hurts himself, you will know. He will cry or come over.”
George nodded, leaning against the back of the bench, his eyes on Quackity who was trying to climb up to the slide, crawling on all fourth to get there.
Dream never let go of George’s hand, squeezing it gently. “You’re a good father.”
George turned his head to look at Dream. “I-”
“I can hear you think from here.”
“Oh..”
“You’re protective.”
“Of course I am! I don’t want him to get hurt or worse!”
Dream smiled, squeezing his hand once more. “I know. It’s not a bad thing. But certain things you have to let go. If he falls and gets back up? Let him. If he cries at night, let it happen before you walk back in. A lot of kids cry out in their sleep and turn around and go back to sleep. He’s allowed to feel things. He is allowed to get scratches, and cry. Kids need to feel the emotions before they start to understand him. Don’t take the ability to learn from him.”
George looked down again and Dream felt like he had overstepped a line. It was one thing to tell parents in the nursery a few things about what was good for their children, during parent evenings. And even then most of them didn’t appreciate the tips, even if Karl, Niki and himself deemed the conversation necessary for the development of the child.
“I… You’re right. I will try and let go a bit.”
Dream smiled, leaning over and placing a gentle kiss to George’s cheek. “You’re a good father. And Alex is lucky to have you.”
“Thank you. I try my best.”
“I know.” He grinned.
Dream was all about ignoring the stares they got for the public display of affection. It was a damn kiss to the cheek. He didn’t start making out with him on a playground, all those parents needed to get their sticks out of their asses.
He watched as one mother grabbed her daughter, eyes glued to Dream and George and walked away from the playground. Welcome to the future, the bright tolerant and accepting future. He thought to himself and rolled his eyes.
He couldn’t feel too bad about it, because the next thing that grabbed his attention was Quackity standing on top, bouncing on his legs up and down and calling out “daddy!! Dadddyyyy!!”
“I’m looking silly!” George called and Quackity sat on the slide and slid down, giggling loudly to himself, like the two meters long metal slide was the most fun he has ever had. And watching that spectacle of the small boy running around to get another round on the slide, just made him too happy to think about the stupidity around him.
He witnessed Quackity climb up the slide several times before he checked his watch. He was currently standing at the end of the slide and attempted to catch the boy to throw him up once, his eyes catching the time. He grabbed a sliding Quackity and threw him up once, catching him with ease and pulling him against himself.
“Again!” Alex exclaimed and Dream shook his head.
“No can do, buddy. We have to go upstairs. Grandma and Grandpa are coming over for dinner.”
Alex’s eyes never dimmed and he nodded instead, holding onto Dream’s neck.
He called out for his daddy to follow them upstairs and George hummed amused as he walked behind them.
“Do you not have legs, Q?”
Quackity shook his head. “Dream’s strong!”
George hummed. “I know.”
“He carry you, too?”
“No, honey. No he doesn’t.”
Alex was satisfied enough with the answer and rested his cheek on Dream’s shoulder.
And George never told Dream, but those were the moments he knew Dream was the right person.
And Dream never told George, but when he was holding Quackity like that, he knew he never wanted to leave again.
Dream took Quackity to wash his hands, while George went to make food in the kitchen.
After they were done, Dream sat down on the couch and read a story to the boy, who was now a little less energetic than he was before.
They were reading until the doorbell rang. George rushed over and let the visitors in. Dream scooped Quackity up, slowly approaching the door. Quackity clung to Dream, understanding that his dad was busy, but Dream was there to play with him.
When he was put down, he looked out of the door, and rushed over to his grandma as soon as he spotted her. She lifted him up and hugged him close. “Hello, Alex!” “Grandma!” He squealed happily, hugging her close. And then he bounced to be handed to his grandpa.
Dream laughed softly to himself. The boy was one happy social boy. He hoped it would stay that way.
George ushered them inside and then hugged his mother, kissing her cheek. He hugged his father as well, and Dream felt the anxiety from earlier return as he was observed up and down from George’s mother.
He cleared his throat and walked closer, offering his hand. “I’m Dream… I mean Clay.”
“Clay. What a lovely name. I’m Clara.” She cooed, shaking his hand.
George’s father was not as inviting as his mother, but took his offered hand, grunting out a “David” and that was it.
The attention was shifted onto the child in the room who pulled his grandparents to the couch so he could show them the new toys he had gotten, and the old ones he said were new, but only because children do not understand object permanence and he probably forgot it existed.
Dream did not stick around, he walked into the kitchen and helped George set the table.
“Your dad is scary,” Dream admitted, making George laugh loudly.
“No. He just isn’t very talkative.”
“I dunno, Georgie…”
“Don’t worry. Talk to him a bit about football and he’ll love you. My mom is a different story. But I meant it. They’ll love you.”
Dream sighed, resting his head on George’s shoulder, his hands hovering over his hips.
“If you’re sure.”
“Hmmm, very sure. Now put the glasses on the table and let me finish the food, or I’ll kick you out,” he joked.
Dream huffed offended, pressing an obnoxiously loud kiss to his jaw, because he knew George hated it when he did that. “For that your short legs would need to reach me first.”
“You’re lucky I love you, you know that? Or I wouldn't accept your bullying.”
Dream beamed, gathering the glasses and stealing a kiss from George. He loved doing that, because with busy schedules, and a toddler around, it was sometimes the only way he would get to kiss George at all during the day. The first time he did it, George turned bright red and complained about the lack of warning. It made Dream determined to make George flustered as many times as possible. And he still sometimes succeeded. “I love you, too.”
George just mumbled under his breath and returned to the food. It wasn’t burned, and that was already better than most food the two of them attempted to make.
Dream filled the glasses with water and walked into the living room, to look at George’s parents. “Can I offer any of you a glass of wine.”
Clara nodded. “Please.”
David simply nodded, and Dream took that as a yes, walking back and filling three wine glasses, and one with watered down juice for Quackity.
George eventually told everyone to gather around the table and the four adults sat down, after George sat Quackity down in his highchair.
Normally the boy would now sit at the table with a normal chair and a simple booster seat, but George did not have enough chairs, so that was the solution for the night. For what it was worth, Quackity did not look bothered.
George filled plates and Dream complimented the food, smiling at his boyfriend, to reassure both of them.
The conversation at the table was pleasant. He told them what he did for a living, what he liked to do as hobbies, and then he steered the conversation to sports and football and basketball, talking to George’s dad, most of the dinner. David was talking a lot when it came to sports but barely said a word outside of that topic. It was fine, he didn’t mind the lack of conversation on that part, he saw the appreciative nod from George’s dad and felt the squeeze on his thigh from George. He was doing good.
They finished the plates and George went to give Quackity a quick bath, because besides the fact that he was more than capable of eating with a fork, he decided that his forehead and arms had to eat along with his mouth.
George scooped him up and Alex waved goodbye at the three, despite the fact that he would be coming back at least once to say goodnight.
When the three were alone, it was time for Dream to feel nervous, so instead of facing his fears, he got up and cleared Alex’s plate and everything else that was unused from the table.
Clara watched him, not hiding the fact that she had her eyes on him the whole time.
“You’re a nice man, Clay.”
Dream stopped, straightening his back and turned to her, drying his hands.
“Thank you.”
Clara nodded, taking a sip from her wine. “And you’re still pretty young.”
Ah, there it was. He had been dreading this conversation for a while. It was one thing to fight with his mother about this, a whole different scenario for when he had to defend himself coherently in front of two strangers.
“I am,” he agreed, letting her lead the argument, the discussion that was undeniably about to follow.
“George will not agree, but he will always be my little boy. And I want to keep him from harm, if possible.”
“I’m sure he appreciates that a lot.”
“And he has a son. Someone he will always prioritize over you. I just need to make sure you’re aware of that.”
Dream nodded. “With all due respect, I know all that. Nothing you could possibly tell me right now, would be new information, or able to throw me off. When I started going out with him, I already knew he had a son. And I knew Alex would be his number one priority. I know I will be second or third on his list, and believe it or not, I am okay with that. Because I am here for Alex as much as I am for George. I love George. And I love Alex.”
Clare hummed thoughtfully, emptying her glass of wine. “That’s great. But this is a forever commitment, if you decide to stay.”
“I know.”
“Do you know?”
“I am young, but not as naive as you may think.”
Clara looked like she wanted to argue, but Quackity emerged from the bathroom, hugging his towel and making his way to Dream, hugging his leg.
Dream pulled him up, ignoring the looks George’s mother sent him. He wrapped the towel tighter around the boy to keep him warm and to dry him off more.
“Where did you leave your daddy, Q?”
Quackity giggled, leaning closer like he was sharing a secret. “In the bathroom!”
Dream gasped, rubbing the towel in slow circles over Quackity’s head. “Really? No way!”
Quackity nodded. “Hmmh!”
George came out of the bathroom as well, his shirt all wet. “I’ll change, I’ll be right back!”
Dream shook his head. “Did you make daddy all wet?”
Quackity nodded with pride, and then he yawned, making Clara coo from beside them.
“Aw, is little Alex tired? Should we get you dressed and to bed?”
Alex looked at her and held onto Dream’s shirt. The boy loved his grandparents and he loved Sapnap and Karl and Niki, but besides George no one was allowed to put him down to bed. Dream was still working his way up the ladder himself.
Dream stroked his hair out of his face, tapping his nose. “It’s fine. We can wait for daddy to come back.”
Quackity nodded and leaned closer, resting his head against Dream’s chest, like he had done so many times already. And Dream smiled down to him, holding him close to himself. He really loved being where he was, screw Clara’s opinion. George had been right, what was important was that George and Alex loved him, and they clearly did.
He rubbed Quackity’s back, until George came back, taking his son back.
“Say night night, Q.”
Quackity waved. “Night night Dream! Night night grandma and grandpa.”
As George put Alex down, Dream moved to clean up the kitchen, he felt Clara and David stare holes into his head, but he did not feel an ounce of anxiety anymore.
This was his family, and he would stay, whether they like it or not.
George came back just a few minutes later, smiling at Dream. “You didn’t have to clean everything up.”
“No, but I wanted to,” Dream explained and opened one arm for George to come and lean against him. George put his arms loosely around Dream’s waist, leaning his head against Dream’s shoulder, and Dream leaned his head against George’s head.
“I love you,” the taller man whispered.
“Me too,” George hummed back, peeling himself off, to entertain his parents.
Dream joined for some polite conversation, not feeling like indulging Clara’s japs and taunts at him or his age. He did not answer the question if he planned to travel, he held George’s hand where she could see, and he might be acting like an asshole, but she had no right to question his relationship or his intentions like that, not when he had been open and honest about intending to stay.
As it got late, David decided it was time to leave. George and Dream walked them to the door. Clara hugged George, whispering into his ear.
David took Dream to the side. “I’ll talk to her. You’re a good one.”
Dream almost felt tears prickle in his eyes, the man said it with such conviction and honesty, Dream had no doubt that he meant it.
“I’m glad they have you.”
Dream smiled, shaking his hand. “Thank you. I’m glad to have them, too.”
Clara shook Dream’s hand, and the two walked back to their hotel.
George closed the door behind his parents and let out a deep breath, like he had been holding it the whole evening. He turned around and hugged his boyfriend. “She’ll come around.”
“Well, I’ll stay, either way,” Dream hummed, his fingers running through George’s hair.
“Yeah?”
“Of course. I like being with you. Your mother disliking me won’t change that.”
“She doesn’t dislike you. She is just worried.”
Dream pulled away, lifting George’s chin up with his finger. “Are you worried?”
George bit his lip. “I was. But I’m not anymore.”
Dream nodded, his thumb tracing George’s jaw.
Dream placed a gentle kiss to George’s lips, letting it linger longer than they did throughout the day.
“Stay the night,” George hummed, taking Dream’s free hand into his own.
“I’ll stay as long as you want me.”