Chapter Text
A child was something that had never crossed the lover's mind. No matter how much they loved children and their adorable chubby cheeks, Dream and Karl were far too busy to add another weight upon their shoulders. They feared leaving the child unattended as they work on their jobs and people on the internet.
It really didn't help that their jobs were something that had eyes set on them every move they make. All the late-night streams were too much of a burden especially if there were a child with them. So, they never took one in. Never accepted any adoption offers nor even thought of it. The answer was clear, they didn't need a child. They already have Patches to fill the void of another member needed in the family.
Well, that was until they stumbled upon a small child.
"Dream! Dream-" Karl hurriedly spoke, tugging on the jacket worn by his lover.
Dream turns to him with a confused look, "What?" he simply answers.
"It's- it's a child" he replies, pointing at a small figure of a child. The small boy looks around, looking for someone perhaps. Though, he pouts, crossing his arms, all alone. "What's a small child doing all alone like this?" Karl speaks, getting disheartened at the situation.
"I- should we?-" Dream cuts himself off, knowing Karl already knows what he meant.
With nervousness, the couple made their way towards the child. They tried to look as friendly and gentle as possible, not wanting to look like a threat.
They slowly approach him as they put on a kind aura. A welcoming expression covers Karl's face as he speaks, "Hi little one! Wh-" He starts, getting cut off.
"No! Mommy told me not to speak to strangers!" The kid yells, slapping away Karl's extended hand. The kid looks away, pouting. Before Karl could say anything else, the child chants, "Stranger danger! Stranger danger!" whilst running away.
Dumbfounded, the two slowly chase after the kid. Not wanting to scare him more while making sure he stays safe. They thought carefully though, they went to the mall to finally have a nice date where there wasn't anything in their way. And yet, here they are having some sort of goose chase with a child.
But, that didn't matter, their hearts were already far too soft for children.
"Oof" The child blurts, bumping to a great-looking Canine. A Doberman Pinscher, so it appears. The kid stutters, stumbling over his words. "I- I- hello"
"Hello there! Do you like my dog?" The old lady owning the canine smiles, "Why don't you go ahead and pet it! He likes new friends!" The old lady grins, extending her arm to move the canine forward towards the kid.
"Ah- uhm-" he nervously giggles, about to burst into tears. "He- he-" his words tremble off of his tongue, hand shaking to read for the big dog. The dog turns its head facing the kid, looking at him with a glint in its eye. He flinches, crying. "Waaaaah!" He wails, running away. "Oof-" he blurts again, this time bumping into Karl and Dream.
"Awh, are you ok little guy?" Dream asks, wiping the kid's tears. He crouches to meet eye to eye with him.
"I- *hiccup* no- dog- scawwyyyyy" He cries louder, hands falling to his sides.
"Shhh, it's ok, the dog is gone now" Karl coos, rubbing circles on the child's back as he whispers a tune. The kid clutches on the sleeves of the couple, shaking. He weeps, and the two just comfort him best they could as they wait for him to calm down.
"Reawwy?" he wipes his tears, finally calmed down. His lips quiver, having hiccups.
"Yep"
"You sure?"
"Mhm!"
"A 'undred pewcent?"
"A hundred percent!" the lovers smile.
The kid blinks, shaking his head violently, wiping his tears aggressively. "Uhm.. You are still stranger danger but, I want my mommy," he says, getting up from the floor. "So, take me to my mommy!" he points, yelling but his lips still quiver.
The couple share eye contact, clicking to themselves as they follow the child's motion to get up. "Alright but first, let's get you some water, yeah?" Dream smiles, holding out his hand as an invitation.
The kid sheepishly nods, placing a delicate hand above Dream's calloused one. Karl makes sure to softly grab the free hand of his lover.
"So, what's your name?" Karl asks the small child, tilting his head to see him. He smiles nicely, not wanting to frighten him. "Mine's Karl and this is Dream" he takes first to introduce.
"Umm.. I'm Jamie" he waves a hand, smiling for the first time.
Karl giggles, nodding, "Hello, Jamie! I'm Karl and this is my beloved Dream!" Karl chuckles, giving his lover a side hug.
"Hello.." Jamie greets bashfully. "Anyways! I want to find my mommy!" He pouts, "Let's go to my mommmyyyyy!!" He pulls on Karl's hand, eyebrows furrowed.
"Okay, okay" Karl giggles along with Dream. "Let's go find your mommy" He smiles.
The three of them head to some guards who were on standby. "Excuse me, we have a lost child with us, I was wondering if um'' Dream trails off, glancing at Karl who is attending to Jamie's wants. "Um, wait sorry, uh." He stutters as the guard raises an eyebrow. He tugs on Karl's sweater, "Hey, ask Jamie what his mom looks like'' Karl nods in response.
"Hey, Jamie.." Karl smiles at the kid, holding his tiny hands in his.
"What?" Jamie answers sharply, cheeks puffed up. "Whatcha want?"
"Uh, you love your mom right?" Karl says gently, caressing his hands. Jamie nods slowly. "Okay, can you tell us what she looks like?
"Okay.. Mommy has umm, hair like mine.. And- and she has blue eyes!" Jamie describes her with fondness and care.
"That's nice" Karl smiles, "Can you tell us what she was wearing today?"
"Uhm, she is wearing umm Purple! Her shirt is purple and her pants are like-, black!"
"That's good! Thank you for cooperating, Jamie" Karl speaks softly, ruffling the hair of the kid, who pulls away. He nudges Dream to know if he had heard what he said.
"Okay, umm, you're welcome" Jamie returns the smile hesitantly. He looks at the guard with big doe eyes, "Did you find my mommy now?" He asks, tilting his head.
"Well, we will try kid" the guard answers. "Hmm. Well based on your description.. I do remember a lady like that." The guard lowers his voice, he motions the lovers to lean closer "It appears, this child is er- how do I say this? Abandoned.." He whispers.
Dream and Karl's eyes widen. They took a glance at Jamie, looking around innocently as he gently held Karl's hand. How could a person do such a thing? "What do you mean?"
"The woman specifically told me, this child wasn't hers.. She said, he'd be waiting for his parents.. In which, I assume, someone who would be nice enough to take him in.." The guard sighs as he comes to a realization.
"Ahh.." Karl muttered, looking sadly at Jamie, who tilted his head in confusion. "Jamie, uh" Karl kneels down to meet Jamie's eye level, "Your mommy, she's uh, she's on a vacation right now.." He lies. It hurts him to lie to a child so small but, not all lies are meant to be bad.
"Vacation?"
"Yeah," Dream too, kneels down next to Karl, the guard eyes them. "We don't know when she will be back but, do you want to stay with us first?" The guard places a hand on his shoulder.
"Excuse me but, I don't think that would be okay.." The guard raises his eyebrow, glaring at them.
"Ahh, umm. Sir, I promise we're not-"
"Atatatatat! Shhht! Do you really think I would let this child be with you?" The guard glares at them, eyebrows furrowed deep.
"Well, Sir, if we are gonna uh, do what you think we're gonna do, do you really think we'd do it in front of you?" Dream snaps back, glaring back as he stands up.
Karl places a hand on his shoulder, "Dreamie, I don't think that's- sir, we really have we no ill intentions.. Do you really want this child to be left alone here?"
"Well, yes, instead of losing another child!" The guard yells, harshly grabbing Jamie's hand.
"Owie!!!!" Jamie cries, trying to pull away from his grip. "Waaaahhhhhh! Sttttooooopppp!"
"Sir! We would not!" Dream snaps, getting irritated. "Sir, if we were to do that, don't you think we would have done it earlier when you weren't around?!" Dream yells, pushing his index on the guard's shoulder.
"Dreammiiieee" Karl whines, trying to stop his lover. He tries to pull Dream off of the guard but, fails.
"Psh!" The guard glares, pushing the blond off of him. He takes Jamie's hand and shoves it to their faces. "If I hear another death report coming from where you two live, I swear" The guard scowls, handing the two a piece of paper and a pen. Presumably to write their address on.
The couple hesitated, we're they really about to give their very secure address for a child they haven't even been with for 24 hours? That question, though, dissipates as they glance at Jamie's crying face. They knew they couldn't do such a thing as leaving this poor child alone.
So, they wrote it down. The address they had made sure to keep secure for years. All for this child. All for Jamie.
______________________
Jamie doesn't quite understand what was happening. All he knows is that these lovely friends are going to help him find his mommy. He is expectant and he knows his expectations would be filled.
Karl and Dream take the young boy home, to their humble abode. They chose this, to take custody of this young child. It's their choice and decision, despite the busy lives they currently have. They could always make room for another one in their family. Karl and Dream want to find the woman who gave birth to this child. They won't have the heart to explain anything to him.
"Well, buddy, here we are! To our nice house!" Dream exclaims, a little too loudly for his liking. It doesn't startle the child though.
"Where is mommy? Is she still at a vacation?" Jamie asks, fiddling with the hems of his cute dinosaur hoodie.
"Well, yes, Jamie, we just have to wait ok?" Dream reassures, rubbing the knee of the kid as comfort.
“Okay..” Jamie answers begrudgingly.
They get out of the car, welcoming Jamie into the huge house more than enough for three people.
“Woow!” Jamie exclaims, eyes twinkling with excitement. “Your house is sooooo biiiggg!!” He shouts, giggling as he runs around. “I wish my house was big like this..” He says, poking at Patches as the two lovers watch him fondly. “Who is this?”
Karl giggles, walking towards him as Dream locks the gates. “That’s Patches!” Karl replies, taking the cat into his arms. “And she’s a cat” he smiles, moving her forward to Jamie’s reach.
“Aahh!! She is cute!” Jamie giggles, “So soooffttttt!!” He wrinkles, small hand of his stroking the cat’s soft, soft fur.
“She seems to like you a lot” Karl grins, Patches had leaned towards Jamie, absorbing the heat coming from the child.
“She does?!” Jamie asks rather loudly, excitement flashing through. “I like her too!” He smiles widely, “Can I pleassseeeee holddd herrrrr?” He drags out, giving Karl the look of pure cuteness he can’t possibly say no to.
“Okay, just be careful okay?” Karl gently passes Patches into the arms of Jamie. To which Jamie immediately hugs her. Karl softens even more at the sight.
“He’s just like you when you first visited me” Dream chuckles, embracing Karl from behind. He leaves small kisses going unnoticed as he hears Karl’s giggles of agreement.
“Ummmm..” Jamie interrupts, “I'm hungrryyyyyy!” He whines, cheeks puffing up.
“Oh, alright. Why don’t you go play with Dreamie first while I go make something for you two?” Karl carefully says, making sure he understands.
Jamie frantically nods, “Okaay!”
Karl heads to the kitchen while he leaves the three in the living area.
“Umm, Dreamie?” Jamie speaks out.
Dream, a bit caught off guard, chuckles. “What is it?” He croaks out.
“Your name is a bit weird..” Jamie flats out, “Why not Dream instead?” He suggests, smiling as he tilts his head.
“Well, that is my name..” He mutters, still making sure the kid hears him.
“Yeah, but, Karl calls you that.. He said your name is Dream but, he calls you Dreamiieeee!” Jamie talks, flopping down on the couch.
“Ah well, it’s just a nickname” Dream smiles, explaining. Jamie raises his eyebrow in confusion, “It’s um a thing that people use when you’re close to them I guess..”
“Oh! Okay! My mommy never uses umm nicknames. She always just call me Jamie! I think we’re close though..” Jamie pouts, sitting up again.
“Well, not everyone likes nicknames” Dream explains, chuckling. “Do you like nicknames?”
“I guess so.. My friend umm, Zia, calls me Babe.. She says it’s because I'm her boyfriend and she said she sees her mom call her boyfriend like that” Jamie explains, giggling at the thought of his friends. Dream wheezes, catching his attention, “Are you ok, Dreamie?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine- a- Your friend uh, Zia, do you like her?” Dream questions, containing his leftover laughter.
“Yes! She’s very nice and she’s a good friend” Jamie beams, giggling. “Just like umm, Karl! He’s your friend right?” He asks.
“Well, yes. He’s.. Hmm.. How do I say this..” Dream mumbles, thinking of a way.
“I’m his lover!” Karl exclaims, walking towards them with bacon and egg sandwiches. Sitting next to them, he explains further, “Just like your mom, you have your dad right?” Jamie nods. “He and your mom love each other verrry much! And they're uh, together! And they’re married... Except we aren’t in the marriage part yet- Just like- before that. I think? How do I explain engagement-”
Dream chuckles, “Yeah, what he said, and you don’t have to explain that part yet” Dream reaches out for one of the sandwiches. It was simplest, it made his insides feel all warm and happy at the thought that Karl had cooked it. It seemed that anything he did, made everything better. “Also, how’d you cook this so fast?”
“Yeah? I speedran it, I learned from the best after all.” Karl giggles, placing his head on Dream’s broad shoulder. He smiles and reaches out for a sandwich when he sees Jamie’s face of confusion. “Is there something wrong Jamie?”
“Huh? Umm, no! It’s nothing, ” Jamie giggles nervously. The couple read the room and decided to ignore it for now.
The three ate their sandwiches peacefully. The saltiness perfection of the sandwich made Dream’s guts twist in happiness. He could tell Jamie’s did too. And he was glad for that, he would be more than happy to have someone appreciate Karl as much as he does. And truly, he, no, they don’t know what lies ahead of them but, they’re more than willing to take care of Jamie for how long needed.