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Auston knew Mitch was tired and fussy and ready to be home. The whole team was tired, the road trip was long and Mitch needed little time. It was hard on the road to find time for Mitch to be little. Even though they shared a room on the road both were too tired after the game to do anything. Auston was ready to get Mitch home and spend a day just the two of them.
“Aus.” Mitch whined. They were on the plane, currently, on the way to Chicago on their way to Boston, which was the last stop on the road trip before they were home in three days.
“I know Mitchy. Just a couple more days and we’ll be home.” Auston pulled Mitch into him as much as he could on the plane.
“Want baba.” Mitch mumbled into Auston’s neck.
“I know Mitchy. Sleep, we’ll be there soon.”
“Paci?” Auston looked around and quickly leaned forward and grabbed Mitch’s paci from his bag and slipped it between Mitch’s lips. Mitch immediately relax and before long was asleep on Auston’s shoulder. Auston wasn’t one to sleep on the plane and spent the whole plane ride making sure that their teammates didn’t see Mitch’s pacifier. Just before the plane landed Auston gently woke Mitch up.
“Time to wake up baby.” Auston gently shook Mitch’s shoulder. When that didn’t work Auston grabbed the front ring of the pacifier and pulled it out of Mitch’s mouth. Mitch whined and sat up. His hair was ruffled and he looked downright adorable.
“I know Mitchy. We’ll be at the hotel soon, then you can have it back and you can sleep.”
Auston slipped Mitch’s paci back into his bag and helped Mitch stand and exit the plane. Mitch clung to Auston’s arm the whole way from the plane to the bus. Once they were on the bus Mitch immediately cuddled back into Auston and started dozing again. Mitch tried, he really did to stay awake until they got to the hotel but it was so hard. He was sleepy and just wanted to be home with Auston, not on a bus with his teammates. Getting Mitch from the bus to their room was a lot of work. Auston ended up having to piggyback Mitch to their room while carrying both of their bags. Their teammates all laughed watching Auston struggle and refuse help. Getting the door open was another struggle, especially because Mitch was already asleep again, but Auston managed to get everything inside the room. Auston dropped their bags onto the floor before gently lowering Mitch onto the bed.
“Pa?” Mitch said, still mostly asleep.
“I’m here Mitchy. You just sleep, I’ll get you ready for bed.”
“Paci?” Auston quickly grabbed the pacifier from the bag and gave it to Mitch. Mitch immediately started sucking on it and soon was back to sleep.
Auston got Mitch out of his suit and into a diaper and pyjamas. He made sure that Mitch was tucked into bed and he pressed a kiss to Mitch’s forehead, he got ready for bed. Auston made sure their suits were hung-up nicely before showering. He had showered at the rink hours ago but after the plane and bus, he needed to clean up. When he got out and ready for bed, Mitch was still lying in the same place he left him. Even though Mitch was asleep Auston could see how exhausted he was, and how badly he needed little time. When they got back they had two days off, and Auston knew they were would two full little days. And honestly, Auston needed it as much as Mitch did.
***
“Papa!” Mitch cried.
“I’m right here baby. Shh, papa’s got you.” Auston bounced Mitch in his arms. It was just after 5 am and Mitch was done. He woke up crying 20 minutes ago and hasn’t stopped since. Auston tried everything he could in a hotel room in Boston.
“Ba-ba. Wan baba!” Mitch cried into Auston's neck.
“I know baby but I don’t have a bottle here. If you can calm down enough I can call down and see about getting some milk but I don’t have a bottle to put it in.” Mitch tried to stop crying but every time he started to stop he started again.
“PA!” Mitch was tired and just wanted a bottle.
“I know baby, how about a bath baby?” Auston rubbed Mitch’s back and started walking toward the bathroom when Mitch nodded.
Auston got Mitch out of his pyjamas and wet diaper while the tub filled with water. Auston dumped in the whole little bottle of body wash so Mitch had some bubbles as he liked. He didn’t have any bath toys but Mitch was content to sit in the bath with his paci, occasionally playing with the bubbles. Auston washed Mitch’s hair hoping to calm him down even more, which seemed to be working well. Auston used a warm washcloth to clean Mitch’s face from all the tears and snot.
“Ready to get out?” Mitch nodded and held his arms up for Auston. Auston got Mitch dried, redressed and back into bed in record time.
“Babba?” Mitch asked, hopeful.
“I’ll call the front desk and see if they can send up some milk, alright?” Auston quickly called the front desk and they said they could send up a cup of milk for them. Mitch was still sniffling when there was a knock at the door. Auston quickly grabbed the milk and quickly got back to his sleepy baby who was pouting while lying on the bed.
“Here’s your milk honey. Sit up so you can drink it.” Mitch leaned against Auston while Austin brought the cup to Mitch’s mouth. It didn’t take long before the cup was empty and Mitch was sleeping in Auston’s arms.
Auston laid down with Mitch still in his arms, making sure to slip his paci back into his mouth. After checking the clock he saw they only had a little more than an hour before they had to be awake. He let Mitch sleep while he stayed up on his phone. When his alarm went off Mitch woke up, already pouting with tears in his eyes.
“No papa.” Mitch turned over and buried his face in his pillow.
“I know baby. But if we don’t get up and go down to breakfast soon someone will come and get us. Let’s get up and get down to breakfast.” Auston stood up and got his and Mitch’s clothes out and ready.
“Sleep papa.” Mitch whined.
“Breakfast, practice then back at the hotel tonight before the game tomorrow. Then we’ll be back home. I promise baby.” Auston grabbed Mitch around the waist and pulled him up from the bed. Mitch pouted, glaring at Auston.
“Put that frown away Mr Grumpy.” Auston twirled around with Mitch clinging to his front. Mitch giggled and clung to Auston.
“Papa, stop.” Mitch giggled.
“Alright, now let’s get ready and get down to breakfast.” Auston sat Mitch down on the edge of the bed and started getting him ready for breakfast.
“Ready for breakfast Mitchy?” Auston asked once both were dressed and ready to go.
“Guess so Aus.” Mitch stood up and took Auston’s hand.
“Paci on the table mister.” Mitch whined but spit the paci out, leaving it on the bedside table.
“Hey you two, have a good night?” Willy said, coming up behind them and grabbing their shoulders.
“Willy get your head out of the gutter.” Mitch shook Willy off his shoulder and stormed off toward the buffet set up o the other side of the room. Auston took off after him, knowing that Mitch was in a pissy mood and would go off at anyone who talked to him.
***
Two days later they were finally back home. It was just after 10 am and they didn’t have any obligations for two days. Auston walked into their house with Mitch cradled in his arms sleeping. Zeus and Felix came running to greet their owners. Auston sat Mitch down on the couch and quieted them down. Zeus jumped up onto the couch and cuddled around Mitch who was still sleeping. Felix opted to lie on the floor beside the couch. Their dog sitter left after Auston paid him, and then it was just them and the dogs. Auston went back to the car and brought the bags in and started putting things away. He also put a grocery order in, they were away for almost a week so they’d need groceries and soon. Auston was glad that he picked up the tiny overpriced carton of milk from the airport; because all Mitch has asked for, for the last two days was a baba. Auston poured the milk into a clean bottle from the cupboard, emptying the carton. He put it in the fridge until Mitch was awake. Auston did a few more things around the house while waiting, Felix following him around wherever he went.
“Papa!” Mitch yelled, very disoriented. He fell asleep on the plane and how he was on the couch with Zeus lying on top of him.
“Hi, baby. Have a nice nap?” Auston came out of the kitchen where he was starting to put the groceries away.
“Yeah, bubba?”
“Sure Mitchy. I’ll warm it while we change your diaper then we have the rest of the day to do whatever you want.” Auston pressed a kiss to Mitch’s forehead. Auston picked Mitch up off the couch and quickly wrapped his arms and legs around him. Mitch laid his head on Auston’s shoulder while they made their way to the kitchen. Auston put the bottle in the microwave and carried Mitch to the bathroom where he changed his diaper. Auston sat down on the couch with Mitch draped across him, as soon as the bottle was between Mitch’s lips he finally relaxed. Auston ran his fingers through Mitch’s hair and hummed a lullaby his mom used to sing to him when he was a baby.
“Love you papa.” Mitch mumbled around the bottle.
“Love you too Mitchy.” Auston hugged Mitch close to him. He couldn’t wait for these next two days with just the two of them.