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As Kaoru had only older sisters; he tended to enjoy and play with more 'feminine' toys and games. Most importantly, he loved playing House but it was always hard to look after your baby doll when he had to do all the other 'work' around the house.
Being a single parent and looking after his baby whilst having to cook food (plastic) and sweep the floor was hard work and that's why he jumped down the stairs and towards where his mom was sitting at the table.
"Mommy!" Kaoru exclaimed, "Can Nagi come over tomorrow?"
With a pout, his hands clamping together and widening his eyes, "Please! Please, please!" Kaoru begged.
*
"Kaoru!" His mother shouts up the stairs, "Come down, there's someone here to see you!" Kaoru's head instantly lifts up and he's quick to close his toy box and make his way to the top of the stairs.
He looks down to see a small boy with long grey hair that's tied up in a ponytail and is shyly standing behind his mom. Kaoru is quick to recognise his best friend - of course he is!
"Nagisa!" Kaoru cries and Nagisa looks up with his thumb in between his lips to see Kaoru running down the stairs towards him which makes Nagisa drop his finger and smile wide at Kaoru.
Kaoru almost trips down the stairs multiple times; the speed at which he's going down the stairs along with his small legs don't match so he's close to stumbling but he's too excited to care as he soon reaches the bottom and wraps his arms around Nagisa.
"Nagi! I missed you!" Kaoru pants and he's slightly out of breath from running but it doesn't stop the excited giggles from erupting out of his mouth.
Nagisa wraps his arms around Kaoru back and cuddles into Kaoru's neck; leaving his hair to tickle which makes Kaoru giggle more.
"I missed you too, Kaoru," Nagisa says softly and they do miss each other - despite it only being two days since they last saw each other; but it's forever when you're a kid.
"Okay, let's play! I cleaned everything and I have so many toys! Nagi, we're going to have so much fun," Kaoru says and Nagisa is more than happy to follow him up the stairs.
As they're halfway up the stairs, Kaoru's mom shouts up from the kitchen, "I made cookies by the way! They're panda-shaped."
Kaoru turns to see Nagisa's eyes practically sparkling and he knows how much his best friend loves cookies especially ones shaped as pandas as they're his favorite animal. Plus, his mom is like, a total master of cookie-baking! They always taste so good.
"Deliver them later, Mommy!" Kaoru shouts back; he and Nagisa have work to do right now!
*
When they finally reach the top of the stairs - which feels like a mountain, by the way - they make their way to Kaoru's room and Kaoru is quick to make his way to his toy box again and exclaims, "Nagi! Let's play House, okay?"
Nagisa is looking curiously over at him from the doorway,
"...House?"
Kaoru nods and digs through the toy box to find outfits for both of them, "House! I will be the Daddy," he says as he takes out a t-shirt and a tie with a floppy hat that are all way too big for a child Kaoru's size but he excitedly puts them all on anyway. The arms of the shirt go way past Kaoru's hands and Nagisa finds it hard to contain his laughter at how silly he looks.
"What are you laughing at," Kaoru fake pouts but he's quick to dive back into his toy box to retrieve a dress (that his older sister gave down to him so they were all able to play Dress Up together) and pulls it out, "This is for you! You can be the Mommy!"
"I almost forgot!" Kaoru says as he opens another box that was much bigger and deeper than the previous one - so much so that his toes almost lifted off the ground as he tried to reach what was inside.
When he re-emerges, there's a baby doll in his hand and Nagisa is looking over at him curiously.
"A baby?" He asks, "What is his name?"
"His name is Baby!" Kaoru says and he's gently bouncing the baby as he rubs it's back, "You have to be quiet now! Baby is sleeping."
Nagisa nods and slowly moves forwards with his arms out - a sign he wants to hold the baby but Kaoru is quick to turn away and gently place Baby on his sports car bed.
"You can't hold him!" Kaoru whisper-yells, "You aren't Mommy yet, you need to dress up. See! I'm Daddy because I'm dressed!"
Nagisa turns around and makes his way to the pile of fabric on the floor. As he's putting it on, he realises how big it actually is. When making his way back to Kaoru, the dress is so long he almost tripped about three times when taking five steps.
Nagisa stands there a little awkwardly after putting on the flowery dress but Kaoru babbles about how pretty he looks and how great of a Mommy he would be so the tips of Nagisa's ears go slightly red and he says Kaoru would also make a good Daddy.
When Nagisa sticks his hands out again he asks, "Can I hold him now?" and Kaoru lifts Baby up from his bed and places him in Nagisa's awaiting arms.
"Be careful with him," Kaoru sternly says - or, as sternly as he can sound when he's only a five year old.
"Yes, I will."
Nagisa's never held a baby before so he's almost holding it like a dog with Baby laying on his tummy.
"No! You're doing it wrong, Nagi. You have to hold him like this," and Kaoru adjusts Baby so his arm is under it's head. "See, you have to support Baby."
"Oh, right," Nagisa says, "Uhm, Kao, what do I do now?"
"Hmm... You have to be a Mommy and stay home! You have to look after Baby and I have to work to get us lots and lots of money!"
Nagisa nods - it seems easy enough for him; being a Mommy doesn't seem too bad.
That's until he realises he doesn't even know how to feed Baby and panics, "Kao! How... How do I feed Baby?" He asks, shyly and slightly embarrassed. He's supposed to be a Mommy and yet he doesn't know how to feed Baby, his lips start to tremble slightly and Kaoru notices.
"It's okay Nagi! I'm smart and I know all about this stuff! I'll teach you all about it," he boasts and it reassures Nagisa - Kaoru is a good Daddy.
Kaoru runs over to his toy box again and reaches in to grab a milk bottle - it's almost like magic as it disappears when it's tilted.
"Okay," Kaoru states, "when Baby is hungry, you just hafta get this 'nd you put it in his mouth! It's really simple!"
"Okay," Nagisa says, "I will be a good Mommy and look after Baby whilst you get money."
Kaoru grins, "Baby is hungry, you should try to feed him now, Nagi."
Nagisa looks nervous - he's never done this before and he wants to be a good Mommy. He also doesn't want to make Kaoru mad by doing it all wrong.
He carefully reaches over to the bottle and directs it to Baby's mouth where he tilts it and watches with an open mouth as he sees the milk disappear.
"YAY!" Kaoru shouts, "You're doing it, Nagi! You are a good Mommy for Baby."
Nagisa beams at Kaoru; happy to know he's doing well at being a Mommy.
"What now, Kao?" Nagisa asks.
"I have to go to work now! I'm going to be late, I hafta get money for Baby and Nagi! So we can have lots and lots of money and lots of sweeties!" He exclaims.
Before Kaoru goes to work (read: Walks out of his bedroom to make snacks for him and Nagisa) he leans over to Nagisa and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
Nagisa goes red,
"Kao, what was that for?!"
Kaoru only beams,
"You are Mommy! My Mommy and Daddy kiss all the time. We are Mommy and Daddy so I hafta kiss you!" Kaoru says and Nagisa nods - it makes sense.
"I'm Mommy?" Nagisa asks and reaches over to grab Kaoru and quickly kisses the corner of his mouth. "Mommy's give kisses right? So I hafta kiss you!"
Kaoru is now the one to turn red and Nagisa places Baby down as he directs Kaoru out of the door,
"You need to go to work now! We need money for our family!" Nagisa explains and Kaoru waves before exiting and running towards the stairs.
Nagisa looks back between Baby and the Dress Up box. Baby is currently naked so maybe he's cold, Nagisa thinks. Nodding his head, he makes his way to the Dress Up box and finds small overalls that fit the size of Baby.
He goes onto his tip-toes to reach in and it hurts to lean on his tummy to reach it but Baby is cold so he has to do this to keep Baby warm!
Once getting the overalls, he pulls them out and begins to dress Baby. He's sure to be extra careful in doing so as he doesn't want to hurt Baby and Kaoru might be bad if he made Baby upset.
As soon as he finishes getting Baby dressed, there's a knock at the door and he turns to see Kaoru standing there with sandwiches and another plate of the panda cookies.
"Kao! You're home! Did you get lots of money?" Nagisa asks and Kaoru grins as he takes out $10 from his t-shirt pocket.
"Wow!" Nagisa says and his eyes are wide and shining, "That's so much money!"
"I worked extra hard with Mommy!" Kaoru exclaims, "Now we have lots of money for our family!"
Nagisa places Baby back into his bed and runs to hug Kaoru - his arms wrapping around Kaoru's shoulders and he squeezes him gently, "You are a good Daddy!"
"Be careful of the food, Nagi!" Kaoru says and moves towards his bed where he puts down the food, "Let's eat and then we can go to the store and buy lots of sweeties for us. And for Baby, of course."
"But Baby can't eat food, he doesn't have teeth yet," Nagisa explains, "What about toys instead?"
"Hmm..." Kaoru thinks, "Good idea! You are a smart Mommy, Nagi."
Nagisa nods and his small hand reaches out to grab onto Kaoru's whilst the other grabs a sandwich and he begins to take small bites from it.
"I am Mommy and you are Daddy," Nagisa starts, "It means we are married! So we hafta hold hands lots!"
"Yes, I want to always hold your hand, Nagi," Kaoru says and Nagisa agrees and says so back.
"How did you get a lot of money anyway, Kao?"
"I am a chef!" Kaoru says (Read: only knows how to make sandwiches), "And I am a famous one too so I always get a lot of money!" (Read: he only makes sandwiches for his actual Mom and Dad as well as his sisters).
Nagisa 'ooh's at this - Baby's Daddy - Nagi's husband - is so smart!
When they finish the sandwiches, Nagisa is staring at the panda cookies and Kaoru gets his empty hand and picks one up for him but doesn't drop it into Nagisa's hand.
"Open wide, Nagi!" Nagisa opens his mouth and bites down on the cookie, crumbs sticking onto his face and all over Kaoru's bed.
"We are married, we have to feed each other!"
Nagisa nods and follows Kaoru's lead - Nagisa doesn't really understand what he has to do but Kaoru seems to know everything so Nagisa is more than happy to obey, listen and agree with what Kaoru is saying.
"My customer (read: Kaoru's Mom) today asked why I was in such a good today!" Kaoru starts, "I said because I have a wife now and Baby has a Mommy! I also said Mommy gives me kisses when I go to work so it made me Super Duper Happy today!"
Nagisa ducks his head but then smiles softly at him.
Kaoru looks at him wide-eyed before asking, "Will you always give me kisses when I go to work?"
Nagisa shrugs.
"Can I give you kisses when you aren't at work?"
This makes Kaoru smile brightly, "We are married! You can give me kisses whenever you want to, Nagi!"
This makes Nagisa reflect the smile on Kaoru's face and he goes to lean in to give Kaoru another kiss but then suddenly gets pushed back.
"Not in front of Baby, Nagi! We can't kiss in front of Baby!"
Nagisa blushes and mumbles a 'sorry'.
Kaoru then yawns and his eyes begin to droop slightly.
" 'm tired," he draws out and lays down on his bed. As his and Nagisa's hands are still connected, he pulls Nagisa down with him.
"You were a good Mommy for Baby. I'm so happy you are his Mommy, Nagi," Kaoru sleepily says before facing the other way and falling asleep.
Nagisa squeezes his hand and follows after; being a Mommy sure is tiring.
Whilst they're both fast asleep, their door opens and both Nagisa's Mom and Kaoru's Mom peek in to see the both of them still holding hands and Baby is laying in between them.
They laugh quietly and shut the door behind them.
