Work Text:
four year old michael is coloring a drawing when his dad is saying goodbye to his mom before he's going to work. daryl gives her a peck on the lips and says 'see you later, my love' and then kisses michael's forehead and mutters bye, mikey before he reaches to gently muss up his hair and leave the house.
"mom?"
"what is it?" she asks him.
"why does dad call you my love?"
karen laughs at his son's question. "it's like a sign of affection, mikey. that's what people say sometimes when they love each other a lot."
michael thinks about it for a second then smiles and enthusiastically, he says "i love luke a lot, so... he's my love?"
"maybe," she says, hesitating. when he sees michael's smile getting bigger, she adds "if you want him to be your love."
"hello, my love." it's the first thing michael says when luke opens the front door and greets them. karen laughs quietly when she sees luke's confused expression.
"hello, karen! hi, michael!"
"it's my love, luke, you have to call me my love."
"my love?" luke asks, raising his eyebrows.
"my love." he nods. "you are my love and i'm supposed to be your love."
luke doesn't seem to completely understand what michael means but he goes on with it anyway because he can see how excited his best friend is about this. "okay, my love, come in. you have to see the new toy my dad bought for me!"