Chapter Text
The arrangement was simple. Hobie and Arcadia get Mayday 2 weekends every month. This deal came about when they dropped by Peter B's and MJ's place one time to visit them and Mayday. The younger couple noticed how tired the other two were and offered to watch her, seeing how both of them were great with kids. Was the idea a bit far-fetched? Yes, 100%, absolutely. I mean, would you trust your toddler with a couple of barely surviving 20 something year olds?
Short answer: No.
Long Answer: Peter and Arcadia convinced MJ that it's a fantastic idea. And it went a little something like this.
"Oh, honey, please. Mayday will be fine with them," Peter explains as Hobie webs Mayday off the ceiling and into his arms.
"Yeah, we got this!" Arcadia reassures, taking the squirmy toddler, "I had 4 younger siblings that I babysat constantly! And Hobie- " She pauses, looking up at her lover, "Well, kids love him."
"But she's a lot of," MJ pauses, trying to explain her side, "Energy. And I don't want to push her off onto you two."
"It'd be beneficial to you," Arcadia explains as she bounces Mayday, earning a delighted giggle from the toddler, "You and Peter could go on date nights again, without having to worry about a babysitter."
Hobie chimes in as he rests his arm around Arcadia's shoulders, "You don't even have ta' pay us. It's like two, three days out of the month?"
Peter hears date nights and immediately perks up, "See, honey, they have a point."
"I don't know."
MJ is still hesitant. She hasn't seen them interact with Mayday much outside of their scattered visits to bring gifts and such. Meanwhile, Peter is more than willing to let them watch May. He may or may not have dropped her off in their dimension more than once when he couldn't find a babysitter in the past. But, that's their little secret, and MJ most certainly does not need to know that her trust has most definitely been breached.
"Come on, MJ," Arcadia pleads, "Just give us a shot. One night. You and Peter can go out and have a nice dinner," She drops her voice to a muffled whisper, "Maybe even do a little more," Shifting May over to her other hip, she raises her pleading voice, "And we can watch her for those few hours! If we fuck up that's on us! We won't ask again if we do!"
"But we won't," Hobie adds on smuggly, "Kid's got spunk, but she's just a toddler who can climb on ceilings. Nothing we can't handle."
After a moment of very deliberate hesitation and consideration, MJ finally sighs, "Fine."
This leads us back to the present day, about 8 months later. The two couples have fallen into a steady routine. During the second and fourth weekends of every month, Mayday stays with Hobie and Cady in their universe. It's only for a day or two, but it's enough for MJ and Peter to take a break and recharge. This particular evening, the couple were going to be out of town until sunday, giving Hobie and Cady almost three whole days with the toddler.
"She has enough changes of clothing-?" MJ's voice can be heard through the portal that opens in the small apartments living room.
Out comes Peter, who's definitely a little worse for wear this time. He has May in her usual blue carrier. Plopping down a bag of May's clothing, diapers, baby food, and other various baby items, he looks to Hobie, who is just chilling on the couch. He offers Peter a worried but sympathetic look, which is returned with a wide-eyed yet exhausted gaze coupled with a shrug.
"Yes, honey, she's fine," Peter shouts back through the portal as he sets Mayday down on the couch.
She immediately makes a bee line for Hobie, who welcomes her with open arms. The pair watch the exhausted father go back and forth for a moment with his wife before he sighs. Closing the portal, Peter ultimately decides to deal with all of that later.
"Sorry about that," He groans as he looks around for Arcadia, "MJ's really freaking out since this will be the longest Mayday will be away from us, let alone in another universe."
"Nah, mate, I totally get that," Hobie nods, still offering sympathy, "But don't worry, May's gonna be just fine."
"I know," Peter smiles as he stretches and takes off the baby carrier. He sets that down with the rest of May's stuff before asking, "Where's Cady?"
Hobie motions to the slightly ajar bedroom door, "She's working on one of her projects. She'll be out inna' moment," He pauses before shouting, "Oi, babe! Your favourite lil' anarchist in training is here!"
"One second!" Arcadia calls back.
Peter looks to the door, then back to Mayday, and Hobie, "Thanks again for taking her for the weekend. You don't understand how much-needed this little mini-vacation is."
"Nah, mate," Hobie shakes his head with a smile, "I can see it. You look exhausted, man."
Peter half laughs as he nods, "It's been a long week, that's for sure."
They chat for a moment before Arcadia appears with a bright purple scrunchie looking thing. Except, it's absolutely tiny, baby-sized. She's quick to head over to the couch and take Mayday's hand, sliding this scrunchie contraption over her partical stabilizing watch.
"There," She announces, scooping up the toddler, "Now no one will know that you're not from around here."
The watch has always been a dead giveaway since none of them could really figure out how to make it less bulky and 2099-ish. Sure, they managed to make it small enough for her little baby arm, but it was definitely clunky and pretty obvious, to say the least.
"I was just thanking Hobie," Peter explains as he taps away at his own watch, "But I have to thank you two, again."
Arcadia smiles and shakes her head, "It's no problem, man."
Reaching out for Peter, May wants a hug before he leaves. He happily obliges as the portal forms behind him.
"I'll see you in a few days, Mayday," He explains in a hush voice, kissing her forehead. "You be good for your aunt and uncle, okay?"
May giggles and nods as she gets handed back to Cady. Peter steps back into the portal and thanks them one last time before heading off, the portal closing as fast as it appeared.
Then chaos almost immediately follows. The young couple are always ecstatic to have the toddler around. She's really a rebel in the making, and they may or may not be nurturing that trouble making skill. Arcadia heads back over to the couch and plops down next to Hobie, happy that she gets to play the role of 'mom' again. But Mayday has other plans. She's immediately squirmy and wiggling out of Cady's arms.
"Aye, where do you think you're going?" She asks, watching Mayday crawl across the couch.
They both trust that Mayday can at least not injure herself gravely, but the couple are immediately observing for that, just in case. May's quick to use her webslinger, grabbing onto the wall and exploring the apartment that she's already seen plenty of times before. Arcadia would be lying if she said her heart didn't drop when Mayday went flying across the room, but she knew deep down the kid was smart.
"Oi, what are you doin'?" Hobie asks May as he eyes her from the couch.
He voice is soft and playful like it always is when he speaks to her. He earns a giggle followed by babbling with broken word attempts from the toddler. Then she tries to stand while gravity is against her, causing her to lose her grip and Hobie webbing her back to the couch.
"Try standin' on the floor next time, love," He says calmly, cradling the toddler.
Mayday giggles and babbles as she rolls out of his arms and onto his lap before getting down to the floor. She's off again, and Arcadia can't help but compliment her partner's reflexes, "Nice save, babe. Maybe you can show her how to walk up walls?"
"And give her more of a reason to torment us in public?" He asks, his eyes shifting from her to the adventurous toddler, "Y'know, that's not the worst idea. Certainly ain't the best either."
"I think it'd be a fun little trick to show Peter when he picks her up on Sunday."
"Fine."
He pushes himself off the couch and plucks Mayday from the floor. Taking her over to the wall, Hobie crouches down and helps her stand and walk a bit on the floor before looking to the wall, "You ready for the big leagues, kiddo?"
Mayday looks at him then to the wall, the wheels in her little brain turning and piecing together the silliness that's about to happen. She laughs and reaches out for Hobie, who in turn picks her up and walks up the wall a bit. Crouching down on the wall, he looks back at Arcadia, sensing that she might be recording this.
"Cady," He warns, seeing the phone in her hand.
She looks up at him from behind the device, "What? I wanna show Gwen and Pav!"
He sighs and shakes his head before setting May on his chest, "You hearin' this, Mayday? Absolute madness spewin' from 'er mouth, I'd say."
Mayday laughs and sets her hands on his cheeks, giving him her own thoughts in her babbles.
He chuckles and moves her away from his face before looking back at Arcadia, "See? Even the kid agrees with me."
Arcadia rolls her eyes and shoos them on from the couch, "C'mon, Hobie."
He returns the eye movement before setting May, above him on the wall. He keeps his hands near her as she wobbles a bit. Mayday reaches out for him and he offers his hands for her to hold onto, which she promptly takes. Wobbling a bit more, she eventually gains some confidence as she steadies herself and takes a singular step. The gravity tries to weigh her down but Mayday is a real trooper. With a little help, she walks back down the wall and into Hobie's arms.
"Good job, Mayday!" He cheers holding her above him in triumph. She giggles and squeals from the excitement before she placed back on the wall for round two.
They do this a few more times while Arcadia watches and records from the couch. She can't help but feel proud of the accomplishment. That warm and fuzzy feeling wraps itself around her heart again, making it's home there as she cheers them on. It's a giggle filled experience as both partners cheer on the toddler. Mayday babbles and squeals with joy everytime she succeeds. It's just an all around pure and wholesome moment.
"Alright," Hobie brings Mayday back to his chest, laughing right along with her as he hops off the wall, "I think you got it."
Mayday giggles and squeals, her little hands tapping away at his chest and shoulders with glee as he takes her back to Arcadia. He notices the soft look on her face as he sets Mayday down next to Arcadia. He gives his partner a questioning look as he grabs May's bag off of the floor and setting it on the coffee table (it's usual home).
"What's with the look?" He finally asks, eyeing Cady.
"What look?" Now she's toying with him.
He shakes his head and sits next to her, Mayday making her way under the table and into the bin of toys they had for her there.
"I got eyes too, love," He wraps an arm around her, bringing Arcadia closer to him, "I saw that look."
She laughs and looks at him, they're faces only inches apart, "I just thought you were cute. That's it."
"Yeah, uh-huh, sure," His eyes narrow as he tries to read her.
Arcadia sticks her tongue out playfully before looking around for May. Spotting her playing with the toys she smiles contently and rests her head on Hobie's shoulder. That warm and fuzzy feeling creeping back into her. She could get used to this. Wait.
Mayday babbles to herself as she plays with an old Spiderman figurine. Somewhere along the way, she crawls back out and stands at the couples feet, babbling away. She holds up the figurine and shows them while going on about whatever she's trying to convey.
Leaning forward, Arcadia looks at the figure then back to May before hyping her up, "Really? He said that to you?!" Squealing babbles erupt from Mayday as Cady continues, "And you put him in his place! Good job, girl!"
Mayday, squeals and giggles as she starts playing with the figurine on the couples knees, babbling along like she's trying to explain the storyline. Arcadia keeps hyping her up as Hobie watches, proud smile creeping onto his lips. Then that feeling hits him too. Warm and fuzzy yet longing for the real thing. His smile drops for a moment as he looks away trying to process the sudden longing. He's never once felt this in the past when they babysit Mayday, but know all he can think about is how good Arcadia is at this.
"And what was his name?"
Arcadia's playful question brings him back to current time.
Mayday stutters a bit as she looks at the figurine before giggling and showing him to Cady. She struggles for a moment before squealing out, "Dada!"
Both Arcadia's and Hobie's eyes go wide as they realize that she actually said a word.
Hobie is the first to speak, "Did she just?"
"I think she did," Arcadia's smile only grows as she asks Mayday to say that again, "Who is that, May?"
Cady points at the Spiderman figurine and Mayday hands it to her before repeating herself, "Dada!"
Then pure, unadulterated chaos breaks loose. Arcadia jumps up, scooping Mayday up with her. Both of the girls giggle and squeal in celebration, another little milestone being hit while she's here. Arcadia points at herself and asks, "Can you say, Cady?"
Mayday tries and gets the 'kay' part out before the pair go back and forth. Arcadia's nickname is thrown out into the air a few more times before Mayday finally starts to get it.
"Kaaay-deee," Arcadia sounds out her nickname one last time.
"Cady!" May echos with a giggle.
"Hobie, did you hear that?!" She looks to her partner who's watching them fondly from the couch.
He nods with a chuckle as Mayday reaches for him.
"Is that your uncle Hobie?" She asks as she hands her over.
Then she does it again. Mayday squeals his name as he holds her "'Obie!"
Both of them could melt on the spot right there and then. This was definitely not in the cards tonight, but it's definitely a welcomed surprise. There's a silent excitement between the couple as they trade a look. They both can't wait to tell Peter and MJ about this.
Settling back on the couch, Arcadia watches Hobie entertain Mayday, who is enraptured with his many piercings. She usually doesn't grab them but today in particular she's trying to grab his snake bite. To which he pulls on it lightly and explains that it's attached to him and that she cannot have it. Mayday goes for his ears next, the shine of the metal from the light drawing her attention to the piercings.
Holding her out in the air, Hobie exclaims, "Alright, enough."
Arcadia can't help but snicker, "Did you just put May in air jail?"
He glances over at her, "Perhaps."
Mayday can't help but laugh and wiggle a bit while she's in the air. She doesn't seem to mind her predicament too much. She doesn't stay in the air too long though. Soon, May is back on the floor with the toys while the couple get comfy on the couch. Arcadia and Hobie tend to let Mayday do whatever she wants, within reason of course. If she ever pushes it or does something stupid Hobie is quick to web her back to them. They usually stay in the apartment for this reason alone. They like letting her run free and explore but don't want people to see her obviously. So, for everyone's safety, they stay in.
Turning on the TV, the couple try to find something that's kid friendly but not mind numbingly boring. They try to adhere to MJ's rules of kid friendliness but there's been plenty exceptions to the rules. Finally settling on a newer movie that's directed towards older kids, the couple snuggle on the couch while Mayday plays with the toys on the floor. Their ultimate goal is to wear her down enough to where bedtime won't be a hassle. They're already pretty close to the early bedtime that they do on these weekends.
"We should really get a crib for her one of these days," Arcadia off-handedly mentions about 30 minutes into the film. Her eyes flick from the movie to Mayday who's beginning to tire a bit.
"She's gonna outgrow that soon," Hobie replies, absentmindedly playing with her hair, "'Sides we don't got room for one, let 'lone a toddler bed."
"Fair," Arcadia reaches down and plays with one of the toys for a moment, drawing Mayday's attention over to them, "But we can't keep making one outta' webs."
"She can sleep in the bed with us like she used to."
"That's not safe."
"And?"
Arcadia looks up at Hobie with an unamused look, "MJ won't be happy."
He rolls his eyes, "What MJ doesn't know won't hurt her."
Looking back down to May, Arcadia notices that she's quieted down and looks tired. Humming to herself, Arcadia gets up and scoops up the toddler, cradling her, "I'm gonna get her washed up and changed."
She grabs the baby bag and heads into the bathroom. Setting down a towel on the floor, Arcadia sets Mayday down on that while she runs the tap in the tub. Setting the bag on the sink counter, she looks for the soap that they usually send with May. Sure enough, it's tucked away in a smaller bag that has lotion, baby powder, etc. She takes out that whole bag, knowing that she'll need it.
"Alright, Mayday, c'mere," Kneeling down, Arcadia undresses May before plopping her into the tub.
Bathtime was quick tonight, seeing as May was nodding off the whole time. About halfway through, Hobie came in to tell Cady that he was going to make the makeshift crib again. But, instead, he ended up staying to watch Arcadia effortlessly take care of May. He was always fascinated by how easy care-taking came to her. Especially during the late nights when he'd come home bloodied and bruised, and she wouldn't even hesitate to get up and tend to him. Even when he'd beg her to go back to sleep, she'd always shut him up and continue on tending to him. He loved that about her. Always so caring. She'd be an amazing mom. Wait..
"Alright," Arcadia buttons up the last button on the onesie she put May in and picks her up, "I think someone's ready for bed."
Mayday rests her head against Arcadia's shoulder as she dozes off. Stopping at the door, she earns praise from Hobie.
"You're so great at this, baby," He leans down slightly and gives Arcadia a quick kiss, "You'd be a great mom."
Arcadia's heartbeat picks up slightly at that last line. Her cheeks burn as she pushes past him and towards the bedroom. She'd be lying if she said that the thought of them having kids didn't seem nice. She was beginning to mull it over herself when she noticed the lack of crib. She sighs to herself and just climbs into bed, keeping Mayday on her chest. Hobie came in a moment later and settled in next to them. Propping himself up on his side, he looks down at the scene beside him lovingly. His mind wanders back to the same warm and fuzzy place as before. Now he's really considering it.
"I meant it," He whispers, his free hand rubbing small circles into Cady's hip, "You're so insanely good at this."
"You're not half bad yourself," She teases.
He rolls his eyes with a smile and lays down. Snaking his arm around the top of her hips, he returns the playful energy, "You tryna' say you're better than me at this? 'Cause you kinda are."
She laughs quietly, "You're just as good as I am. Maybe even better 'cause you can get her down from the ceilings, I can't."
"I mean you can," He offers, his hand rubbing over her hip, "You'd just need a ladder."
"Yeah, I'd much rather just catch her."
Mayday stirs a bit, causing the couple to hold their breaths momentarily. Luckily, she's still fast asleep. Letting out a relieved sigh, Arcadia takes the initiative, "I think that's our cue to try and go to sleep."
"I think you're right," Hobie agrees in a whisper.
"I'm always right," She teases.
Letting out a quiet chuckle, he replies, "Try always wrong."
Feigning insult, Cady gasps and whispers back, "Damn, tell me how really feel!"
"Tell you how I really feel, eh?" He sits up and brushes some of her hair back, "Well, I feel like I love you. Is that feeling still mutual?"
"It's always mutual."
Leaning down over Arcadia and Mayday, He whispers, "Say it then."
"Okay, Mr. Intimidation," Cady can't help but tease him a bit more before she gives in, "I love you too."
Hobie leans in and gives her a brief kiss, being very mindful of the sleeping toddler between them. Pulling away, he still longs for more but settles for tonight.
"God, I love it when you say that."
"The intimidation thing or the I love you part?"
"The I love you part, duh."
"Fuckin' sap."
"Don't act like you aren't one as well, Cady," He mumbles the next bit, still in a teasing manner, "Sappiest bitch I know."
Arcadia rolls her eyes playfully, "Oh, fuck you."
Hobie can't help but to take the opportunity he's been presented, "Oh, I know you want to. But you don't have to announce it when there's a child present."
She starts sputtering, the initial shock smacking her hard. Eventually, she sighs, "Just go to sleep."
"Nah, you should go to sleep."
"Hobart."
"Aight, chill."
"Go to sleep."
"Yes, Ma'am."