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Tommy was nervous.
That was something that had been happening more recently, especially this weekend.
This time, however, it was Monday morning, and Tubbo and Ranboo wanted Tommy to come with them to pick up Michael.
Normally, this wouldn’t be a big deal for Tommy. He loved Michael, taking up the role of the zombie-piglin’s “Mimi,” as Michael had dubbed him.
Normally, Tommy would be vibrating with excitement at seeing his nephew!
But this weekend hadn’t been normal at all, now had it? Tommy was technically engaged to Michael’s dads. Would that make Michael his son as well? Tommy didn’t know how to be a father!
And it wasn’t like he had a plethora of adults to ask for help from.
Phil was never around when Tommy was a kid, leaving a ten-year-old Wilbur to raise three-year-old Tommy on his own. And even though Wilbur now had a kid of his own, he hadn’t been the best example either, what with the whole blowing up L’Manburg and coming back certifiably insane.
BadBoyHalo was a dad, sure, but these days he was so obsessed with the Egg that Tommy didn’t even want to go near the demon-hybrid.
Schlatt was long dead, and he had been a shit dad to Tubbo anyways. Tommy would never go to him for parenting advice.
The only other person Tommy would view as a parental figure—and no, he was not counting Puffy, she was his therapist, for Prime’s sake!—was Sam.
Sam, who showed Tommy how to work basic redstone, and gave him hugs Tommy didn’t realize he needed. Sam, who wasn’t affiliated with one group or another, and had provided stability for Tommy. Sam, who helped Tommy so much, going as far as to lock Dream up in prison for the rest of his life.
Sam, who left Tommy in the prison with Dream. Sam, who let Dream beat Tommy to death with a fucking potato, of all things.
Sam, who avoided him like the plague.
Yeah, Sam wasn’t really an option anymore.
So who on Earth did he turn to?
A knock sounded on the bathroom door and Tubbo’s voice filtered through. “Tommy?” he called. “You about ready to go?”
Tommy took a deep breath, pulling himself together before opening the door and flashing Tubbo a grin.
“Yep! Just fixing my hair. Looks these good don’t come naturally, you know,” Tommy said, grinning.
Ranboo, who was also in the bedroom, snorted. “Your hair looks atrocious.”
“Hey!” Tommy shrieked. “It does not! Tubbo, defend me!”
Tubbo hummed. “I don’t know, I think he has a point.”
Tommy stuck his tongue out at the shorter boy, but the goat-hybrid only laughed, the sound bright and cheerful. It lifted Tommy’s mood immediately.
Ranboo chuckled as well. “I’ll meet you guys downstairs, okay?”
Both Tommy and Tubbo nodded. The Ender-hybrid left the room, a few purple particles drifting after him. Tommy left the bathroom, moving to the closet to grab a sweater. He threw it on over his usual shirt, realizing only after he had put it on that it was Ranboo’s. Oh well.
“Aw, Tommy, you look so small in Ranboo’s clothes!” Tubbo giggled.
Tommy grinned, racing across the room to pull Tubbo into a headlock. “Take it back, you prick! I am not small, I am a big man!”
“Never!”
Tommy tightened his hold ever so slightly, ruffling Tubbo’s hair with his other hand. “Surrender now, while you still have the chance!”
Tubbo just stuck his tongue out at Tommy, grinning.
Tommy rolled his eyes, though he was smiling. Prime, he was so lucky to have both Tubbo and Ranboo. Tommy suddenly let Tubbo go, wrapping the smaller boy in a hug.
“Whoa, what’s with the sudden affection, boss man?” Tubbo asked, though he didn’t protest the hug, choosing instead to reciprocate it.
Tommy shrugged, still not letting go. “Just felt like it,” he admitted. It was nice to be able to hug someone whenever he wanted, without any fear.
Ranboo stuck his head in the door, probably to check what was taking the other two boys so long. “Hey!”
Tommy jumped back. Oh no, Ranboo was mad. He had decided he hated Tommy and he wanted his husband back to himself. Tommy knew it. He’d have to pack his things and leave by tonight. He knew it was too good to be true, this weekend was just a dream, and now he had to wake up to the nightmare he called his life.
Ranboo grinned. “I want in on the hug too!”
Tubbo giggled, holding his arms wide open. Ranboo all but ran into them, pulling both Tommy and Tubbo to his chest.
Oh. Okay, so maybe Tommy was overreacting a little.
He let himself relax, chuckling when Ranboo only pulled him closer, burying his nose into Tommy’s hair.
“If we’re going to pick Michael up, we’ve got to get a move on,” Tubbo noted, pulling away.
Aaannnnd there went Tommy’s good mood.
Ranboo pulled back from the hug but didn’t stop the burst of laughter when he saw Tommy’s outfit. “Is that my sweater?” he asked, still snickering. “Aw, you look so small!”
Tommy flushed. “Shut up,” he mumbled.
“That’s what I said too, big man!” Tubbo chimed in.
Tommy whined. “What’s with you two and teaming up against me?”
Tubbo just shot Tommy an innocent look, smiling nicely. Tommy, having been Tubbo’s best friend for years, knew better than to believe it. “What ever do you mean, dearest Tomathy?”
Tommy smacked Tubbo on the back of the head, then bolted before the older boy could process what had just happened.
“Abuse, abuse!’ Tubbo cried, chasing Tommy out of the room. “This means war Tomathy Innit!”
Tommy ran through the halls of the mansion, cackling.
——————————————
The walk to Puffy’s house was nice. It wasn’t too cold outside, and though it had snowed the night before, as it usually did, the snow wasn’t too deep, making their path fairly easy.
The three boys joked the entire way, laughing, pushing each other into snowbanks, and subsequently panicking when Ranboo got some snow on his skin.
The tallest boy just brushed it off, assuring the other two he was okay, but Tommy and Tubbo still fretted about it the rest of the way to Puffy’s.
And then the reason for all of Tommy’s fears that morning was staring him right in the face.
Tubbo and Ranboo’s faces both lit up when they saw Michael. The toddler, who was already chattering away at his parents, reached his arms out for them.
Puffy chuckled. “He’s been waiting for you all morning,” she said, handing the zombie-piglin over to Ranboo, who immediately hugged the little boy and peppered his face with kisses.
“Hey, Michael! We missed you so much!” he said, grinning widely.
Tommy couldn’t help the small smile that slipped on his face as he watched Ranboo.
Tubbo stood on his tiptoes, reaching up to tickle Michael’s side. “We did! Were you good for Puffy? Huh?”
Tommy’s heart melted at the sight. Prime, Tubbo and Ranboo were such good parents. Michael was going to have such a happy childhood. They would make sure of it.
Tubbo turned to Puffy. “He was okay, wasn’t he?”
Puffy smiled. “He was great, other than being an energetic toddler. I don’t know how you three keep up with him. You’re all great parents.”
Ranboo and Tubbo both chuckled, but Tommy was stuck on the fact that Puffy had included him in that.
He wasn’t a good parent though, he didn’t even know how to parent. How could he be a good parent when he didn’t even know what to do? He was just a kid himself!
Tommy could feel the panic rising in him, and he tried to take a few calming breaths.
“Tommy?” Tubbo asked, voice soft and concerned.
Tommy snapped out of his thoughts, turning his attention to the goat-hybrid. “Yeah?”
“Michael just wanted a hug from his Mimi!” Tubbo said, holding the little piglin out to Tommy.
Normally, Tommy would scoop the boy up into his arms, maybe fly him around the room, getting Michael to giggle and beg for Tommy to do it again. Normally, he would let the kid pull at his blond hair, the piglin’s fascination with gold transferring to Tommy’s golden locks.
But now, Tommy hesitated, doubt clouding his mind, making his hands shake and his eyes go fuzzy.
Ranboo frowned, picking up on this abrupt change. “You okay Tommy?”
“Me? Oh, yeah, yeah I’m fine! I’m—”
Tubbo, Ranboo, and Puffy were each giving him looks that ranged from skeptical to disappointed. Even Michael looked displease with his Mimi, which was a feat, considering he was a zombie-piglin with only one eye and ear.
Tommy sighed. “You’re all the worst.”
“Maybe so, but we talked about this, Tommy,” Ranboo said gently, taking one of Tommy’s hands into his own. “We were going to be honest with each other. Remember that conversation?”
“ I remember, but I’m surprised you did Ranboob!”
Tommy’s joke fell flat.
“Well,” Puffy interjected. “I think this is something the three of you need to discuss. Tommy, I’ll see you tomorrow still?”
Tommy nodded a little numbly, and Puffy sent him a warm smile. “Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need anything before then, Tommy.”
Tommy nodded again, giving the Captain a tight smile before turning around and all but fleeing the house.
He could feel the eyes of the married couple on his back as he hurried away through the snow.
They exchanged a few more words with Puffy that Tommy didn’t catch. He could vaguely hear Ranboo calling after him, but he paid it no mind, hurrying back to the mansion where he could wallow in peace.
The walk back to the mansion seemed to take forever. Near the end, Tommy all but broke into a run, slamming open the front doors to the large estate and barely pausing to take off his shoes and coat.
Tommy made his way to the living room, dropping onto one of the multiple couches and tucking his feet underneath him.
The tears came then, all at once. Prime, all Tommy had been doing this weekend was crying. Tubbo and Ranboo must be getting so sick of him by now.
It took a few minutes, but Tommy eventually heard the little family come in through the front door.
“Tommy?” Tubbo called out into the mansion. “Where are you, love?”
Tommy debated not answering, but decided against it, remembering some of the conversations they had over the weekend.
“In—” Tommy’s voice cracked, and he cleared his throat, trying again. “In the living room.” There was some shuffling near the door, and Tommy could hear Tubbo talking to Michael as he helped the little boy take off his mittens, hat, coat, and shoes.
They went over each piece of clothing, Tubbo naming it in common and having Michael repeat it back to him. Michael giggled delightedly when Tubbo praised him after every word, and Tommy almost started sobbing at Tubbo’s soft voice.
Prime, he was such a good dad.
Tommy could never compare.
Ranboo entered the room ahead of the other two, only bothering to slip off his coat and shoes before looking for Tommy. When he spotted the boy, hunched over on the end of a couch, trying his best not to cry, the Ender-hybrid’s face softened in concern.
Tommy hated that he and Tubbo were so understanding.
“Tommy, what’s wrong?” Ranboo asked, crossing the room to kneel by the couch where Tommy was curled up. “We can’t help unless you tell us.”
He wiped frustratedly at his eyes. “It’s stupid,” he ground out, hiding his face in his hands.
Ranboo sighed softly, pulling Tommy’s hands away with one of his own large hands, the other reaching up to wipe the tears off of the other boy’s face.
Tommy tilted his head back, away from Ranboo. “Stop,” he said. “You’ll burn.”
“I don’t mind, Tommy,” he said, voice soft and impossibly fond.
“Well, I mind, Ranboob,” Tommy fired back. “If we’re going to take care of each other, we also have to take care of ourselves, remember that?” He parroted Ranboo’s own words back to the Ender-hybrid. “You already got snow on you once today, I don’t want you touching my tears.”
Ranboo smiled, holding his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. You win. Will you tell me what’s wrong now?”
“I’m just…” Tommy looked down fiddling with his hands. Huh. It seemed he had picked that up from Ranboo. “You and Tubbo are such good parents to Michael, and now that I’m engaged to you guys, does that mean I have to be Michael’s dad too? I’m so afraid I’m going to fuck him up.”
“Tommy, what made you think you wouldn’t be a good dad?” Tubbo’s voice came from the doorway of the living room. Tommy looked up to see him leaning against the doorframe, Michael perched on his hip.
“I don’t know, maybe the fact that literally every single father on this server has been awful? Maybe the fact that I was raised by my brother since our dad was too busy adventuring with Techno? Maybe the fact that I have no idea what I’m doing!”
Ranboo laughed softly. “You think we have any idea what we’re doing either? Tubbo and I are just trying to take things one day at a time. With him, with you, with everything.”
“Tommy, you’re already so good with Michael. I don’t think you need to worry about being a dad,” Tubbo pointed out. “Besides, you don’t have to step into that role right away. You’re just his Mimi. Always have been, always will be.”
“Michael calls Tubbo and I Bee and Boo respectively,” Ranboo chimed in. “Sure, we’re his dads, but he doesn’t address us as such. It’s the same for you, Tommy.”
“I just don’t want to be like Phil!” Tommy exploded, throwing his hands into the air in frustration. Why couldn’t they see that he was going to be just like his adopted dad?
Michael, who had been watching the entire interaction with a wide, curious eye, had begun to tear up, and his lower lip was wobbling.
“Michael?” Tubbo asked, bouncing the toddler slightly. “You okay, bud?”
Michael shook his head, burying it in Tubbo’s shoulder before letting out a heartbreaking wail. “Mimi,” the zombie-piglin proclaimed, along with the word in piglin for hate.
Tommy felt his heart drop. “No, no, bubba, I don’t hate you!”
He stood up from the couch, rushing over to where Tubbo was still cradling the toddler.
This was Michael! Tommy loved the little zombie-piglin, he couldn’t have Michael thinking that Tommy hated him when the absolute opposite was the truth.
Tommy adored Michael, as much, if not more, than Tubbo and Ranboo.
Tommy swept the little boy up into his arms, cradling him close to his chest. “Oh, Michael, bubba, you didn’t do anything wrong,” he murmured, once in common and another time in broken piglin.
He hushed the child, gently rocking both of their bodies. The little piglin’s cries began to lessen as he clung onto Tommy’s shirt, his tears soaking into his shoulder. Tommy couldn’t find it within himself to care, not when it was Michael.
When Michael finally stopped crying, instead sniffling pitifully every few seconds, Tommy slowed the rocking motion. He rubbed Michael’s back gently.
“I’m sorry, bubba, I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Tommy said, settling the toddler on his hip and wiping away the piglin’s tears. “What can I do to make it better?”
Michael babbled something, using a combination of piglin and common words. Tommy was able to piece together that he wanted to cuddle.
“Why don’t we just spend the day watching movies, how does that sound, bubba?” Tommy asked, grinning at the little boy.
Michael visibly perked up at that, beginning to chatter away in both common and piglin again.
Crisis averted.
Tommy went about gathering blankets for the impromptu cuddle session, nodding his head and listening to Michael babble the entire time, occasionally responding with a few words or hums.
As he went to drop the stack of blankets off on the couch, Tommy caught sight of both Ranboo and Tubbo watching him with fond eyes.
“What?” Tommy asked, scowling.
Tubbo just shook his head, smiling. “Nothing, boss man. I’ll go get us some popcorn.”
Tommy narrowed his eyes after the goat-hybrid, turning his gaze onto Ranboo, who was still sitting on the couch.
Ranboo raised his hands placatingly. “What he said!”
“Mmm-hmm.” Tommy dropped the stack of blankets on Ranboo’s head, causing the tallest boy to squawk indignantly. Michael giggled in Tommy’s arms, and the youngest boy couldn’t help but lean over to press a kiss to Michael’s head.
So maybe Tommy didn’t need to be a dad just yet. He could handle being Michael’s Mimi for now, and maybe one day, he’d be ready to fully join the family.