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Dream hums as he glances between the list of items in his hand and the aisle before him full of bags of sugar. His gaze travels upwards, catching on his prize at ah, of course, the very top shelf. A smirk works its way onto Dream’s face as he imagines George was the one tasked with this week. The image of him huffing unable to reach it makes amusement and fondness swirl deep in Dream’s chest.
Well, this time around is his turn. Dream places the list down in the cart. He removes his gaze to smile down at his son who fidgets while holding his hand. Tommy has a tendency to get…distracted by certain things which can lead to him disappearing from sight. For some reason he tends to do this with Dream more than George. So they have a policy when it comes to being in public, always hold hands.
However the sugar requires two hands to properly transfer from the shelf to the cart. Dream removes his hand with hesitation, eyes lingering on Tommy, “Just give me a second buddy.”
Tommy shifts on his feet nodding, a smile clear on his face now that he has a bit of wiggle room.
Dream reaches up to grab the bag. He checks the expiration date and frowns. It takes about two more bags until he finds one with an expiration date far in advance. With success he turns around to place it gently into the cart along with the rest of the groceries. They’re almost done. In the home stretch. Just the colds are left.
Dream reaches his hand out absentmindedly to grab onto Tommy’s hand once again. However he finds there’s no small hand to interlock with his own.
Dream’s eyes dart downward to the place his son occupies. Correction, was occupying. Dream’s eyes widen as panic rises in his chest. Tommy’s nowhere to be seen.
Dream’s breath quickens as he mumbles, “Shit.”
His gaze darts down both directions of the aisle. He comes up empty handed. No one else is in the aisle except for him. At the realization at the situation that is rapidly progressing Dream decides to completely abandon the cart in efforts to find his son.
He moves quickly checking the next two aisles pleading with anything and everything that blond curls and giant huge blue eyes will fill his vision. He’s sure he looks like a mad man as he tears through aisle after aisle. His mind is clashing with thoughts of turmoil. Where could Tommy be?
Dream brushes a hand through his hair as sweat beads against the back of his neck, “George is gonna kill me oh my god.”
He needs to refocus. Scrambling around aimlessly isn’t helping anything. So, Dream closes his eyes trying to recall if there was anything they passed that could have caught Tommy’s eyes.
But it’s hard to focus. Hard to focus when he imagines a stranger approaching his baby with a friendly face and devious smile hiding true intentions ready to whisk him away. Dream would never forgive himself if something happened to Tommy. Never.
Dream shakes his head as his pulse thrums like a jackhammer interrupting his sheer panic. His pace quickens as he full out sprints between aisles, he begins to shout, “Tommy!”
His breathing is heavy as he comes to a pause. Something pokes at his consciousness. Dream’s chest heaves. His eyes widen as a crazed smile dances along his lips. That’s it. That’s gotta be it.
Dream retraces his steps hellbent on a mission. If he remembers correctly, which he’s positive he is, earlier they passed an aisle with a section full of stuffed animals. And if there’s one thing Tommy loves, it’s his stuffies. No matter how many he has.
Dream runs full force. As his eyes catch the sign over the designated aisle in his mind his feet come to a screeching halt.
There his baby stands. On his tippy toes, eyes zeroed in onto something as his small arms reach forward hands trying to grasp something just out of reach.
Relief floods Dream like it never has before.
In a blink of an eye he goes from standing at the entrance of the aisle to scooping Tommy up in his arms squeezing him tightly to his chest as if afraid he’ll evaporate into thin air. He buries his face into Tommy’s soft curls breathing in heavily so relieved to hold Tommy close. To guarantee he’s in his arms. No longer missing. No longer in danger. Alive and safe.
Tommy doesn’t even try to squirm out of his hold. Instead he slowly wraps his arms around Dream’s neck. His small voice is tinged with a mixture of guilt and confusion, “Daddy?”
Dream breathes a shaky breath only clutching Tommy tighter. That was terrifying. They haven’t had a scare like that in ages. Finally once a calm washes over Dream that Tommy is truly safe he pulls away, met with wide confused blue eyes staring into his own. Dream smiles good naturedly, brushing hair out of Tommy’s face with some worry still lingering underneath his words, “Baby you gotta stop doing this.”
Tommy frowns guiltily. His lip jutting out in what can only be described as an adorable pout, “Mm sorry.”
Dream can’t bare to place him down. Looks like it’s time to have this talk again, “It’s dangerous to run off on your own.”
Anxiety fills Dream’s chest at the notion, “Remember how Papa and I taught you about bad people?”
Tommy nods his head, scared himself remembering his parents’ warning, “Yes daddy…”
Dream can’t stay angry for long but a huff of exasperation does escape his lips at the thought of his husband learning of this affair, “Not to mention your Papa would have my head.”
Dream brings Tommy forward to hug him again, needing further reassurance, “You scared me half to death.”
Tommy mumbles lowly, “Just wanted stuffy…”
Ah. Dream adjusts Tommy to comfortably rest on his hip. He turns them both to face the line of stuffed animals, “Alright, show me the culprit.”
Tommy sniffles as he extends his finger to point at a stuffed animal resembling what Dream presumes is a raccoon.
Dream hums, reaching forward to grab the raccoon. He inspects it turning it this way and that with furrowed eyebrows. It’s one of the stranger stuffed animals he’s seen. And he’s seen quite a lot since they’ve been raising Tommy. He prompts for an answer redirecting his attention to Tommy, “This little guy?”
Tommy breaks out into a smile. The tense air dissipating as he’s reminded of what he so desperately desires, “Raccoon!”
Dream smiles gently, shifting Tommy in his hold, “Yep bud. That is a raccoon.”
He glares at the stuffed animal mumbling under his breath, “A troublesome one.”
Dream really really doesn't want to place Tommy back on the ground but he knows if they want to finish up this little trip, which he does after that panic session, it’s a necessary evil. So with very very reluctant motions Dream places Tommy down. Instantly Tommy’s small hand finds Dream’s own. It’s grounding. Dream squeezes it lightly, “If you promise to stay by my side maybe, just maybe, Mr. Raccoon can come home with us.”
Tommy brightens, toothy smile wide on his face as he’s clearly ecstatic by the proposition, “Really!”
Dream’s eyes crinkle as he smiles staring down at his baby, “Yes baby.”
Tommy bounces up and down with glee as he swings their conjoined hands making Dream laugh at his bundle of joy. And they continue like that, hand in hand.
Dream’s thoughts are soothed with Tommy by his side. Well except, his smile twitches slightly. George is gonna kill him. Dream’s eyes find Tommy who’s holding his new raccoon eyes shining bright. He can’t fight the smile, as long as Tommy’s happy he can face his husband’s wraph. Everything'll be okay.