Chapter Text
"No! No, no, no, I'm not tired!!" Simon whines weakly, his stubborn wriggling and kicking unwavering in Prices hold. "Noo!" Hiccups started up this time, and Price could feel his heart break a little. Bed times were never a favorite time for littles, but for Simon, it was even harder to get him to rest.
Nightmares and awful panic attacks plagued him when he tried to rest, and it often made him more cranky and fussy than anything else. Still, Price and Keegan were working hand in hand to get more rest into the little one, especially since when he was little, he had much better rest.
"Papa!! No!!" Simon shrieks bloody murder, kicking hard in Price's chest. The older man grunted in pain, rolling his soiled diaper up and tossing it aside.
"Ah! Got quite a leg on ya, huh?" Price sighed in pain, standing up and rubbing his chest in pain. Simon looks back at him, startled but still stubborn about his impending bedtime. Price could see the pacifier bobbing underneath the soft baklava they got just for his little space and those big blue teary eyes. He looks so small, desperately hoping for some love and understanding from Price.
"Shh buddy... don't you cry." Price soothes, reaching back down and stroking a few tears away. "You want Kee? Mm? Would he make you feel better?" Price asks gently, moving to rub the hiccuping boys chest and stomach.
"Kee!" Simon gasps, another shaky whimper escaping him. Price smiles fondly, shaking his head slightly as Keegan comes into the room. He'd just managed to get Soap down for the night, despite him also throwing a little tantrum. "Keee!" Simon whines a little, his hips wiggling in protest as Price put a fresh diaper under his bum.
"Hey buddy.. hey hey, what's with all the fussing?" Keegan hums softly, walking over to Simon's changing table and stroking Simon's face. "You're so sleepy, hmm?" He coos, trying to soothe his little one.
"Noooo!" Simon sobs weakly, slamming his fists to his changing mat, but he was becoming quieter and more sluggish. He was losing the fight on his own sleepiness, huffing and hiccuping behind his pacifier.
"Oh bug.... shhh, let's breathe, okay? Papa will get you a bottle, I'll read you a bedtime story. Everything is gonna be okay." Keegan whispers, the soft tone forcing Simon's tears to quiet down since he wanted to hear his Bubba. Price had finished applying baby powder and diapering him up, kissing Simon's knee as he picked up the sniffling boy.
"Goodness buddy... you're so precious, huh?" Price coos softly as he passes him to Keegan. "Do you want some chocolate milk?" He offers. He knows it's a little late for sugar, but the sparkle in Simon's eyes at the offer made it worth it. Simon grunts sweetly, nodding eagerly as he presses his face into Keegans' warm skin.
"I think that's a yes, huh? I'll pick out a book and rock him a bit.. do you have the sleepy time spray?" Keegan asks as he keeps rocking Simon gently in his arms. Price easily hands him a bottle of the lavender spray before going to the kitchen. Keegan sprays Simon's crib bed and a little over the two of them before he settled in the rocking chair.
Simon was finally, finally calming down for the night, his eyes heavily blinking as he looked up at Keegan. "No sleep.." Simon sniffles softly, rubbing his cheek into Keegans' night shirt. "Please? Don't want to." He sniffles, letting Keegan move his baklava to clean his face. He blows his nose, huffing at Keegan a little when the mask is lowered again.
"I know it's scary, baby boy... want me to stay with you tonight?" Keegan offers as he picks out a book for Simon's bottle feeding. He decided on If You Give A Moose A Muffin, which Simon eagerly strokes the cover of, rubbing his fingers over the soft cover.
"Kee sleep." Simon demands sweetly, leaning his head into Keegans shoulder as he traces the picture on the cover. He looks up at Price when he comes in, a soft coo leaving him when he spots a nice full bottle of milk. "Papa!!" He whines sweetly, making grabby hands for the requested item that Keegan takes.
"Open up, bug!" Keegan encourages, raising Simon's baklava and gently easing the nipple of it into his mouth. Eager suckling noises fill the air, Price smiling fondly at the sight and leaning down to kiss Simon on the forehead.
"Goodnight, baby boy... I'm gonna check on Rudy and Alejandro. Rudy is little still and fussing with him." Price says, chuckling softly as Simon gets his fill of milk. Keegan nods at him and begins softly reading to Simon, rocking the chair softly and slowly.
"If you give a moose a muffin.." He begins, one of Simon's hands tangled in his shirt, the other holding onto Keegans hand. He took slow, steady pulls from the bottle, listening to Keegans' soft voice as the chair rocks. It was so relaxing, and though he wanted to keep fighting sleep, it's difficult when he's pampered so well.
Keegans' soft voice lulls him closer and closer to sleep. The warm milk makes his stomach full, and soon, he feels his eyes slipping shut against his will. Keegan could feel the last little bits of tension leaving his little Ghost, patting his diapered bottom in a soothing rhythm.
When the book was over, Simon had suckled his bottle dry and was mouthing at it instead now. Keegan switched it with a pacifier, and Simon softky fusses when he realizes he's being moved to his crib. "Don't you worry, little one. I'm gonna sleep with you, remember?" Keegan whispers softly as he slides into the crib with the bundle of baby.
Keegan didn't dare turn off all the lights, leaving on two bright night lights and a string of Christmas lights. Simon got very attached, too. The room was lit in a soft glow, Simon's breathing calm and his pacifier bobbing peacefully in his mouth.
"Oh my little bug..." Keegan whispers softly, patting his bottom again, which always worked in getting him to sleep. "My good little bug. I'll be here when you wake up." He assures a sleepy sweet coo leaving the baby boy who is quickly snoring after.
The mobile above Simon's crib softly chimes. The music was soothing enough to Keegan as well, glancing out toward the hallway. No noises except Price making his final walk through of the dorms and returning to his own room to sleep. With a soft sigh, he places another kiss on Simon's forehead and slowly eases to sleep.
..........
Keegan stirs before Simon wakes up with a small hum, rubbing the sleeping boys back. No nightmares it seemed, and when he gently pats Simon's bottom he can tell the diaper is wet. At least it didn't leak this time, Keegan thought, softly easing out of the crib and carrying Simon out with him. It's much easier to get him changed when he was sleeping or sleepy, Simon doesn't like laying still for them.
Soft whines leave the baby when he's set on the mat, but with a kiss to the tummy and a soft hushing, he settles right back down. "That's a good boy... shh be over before ya know it." He murrmers to his sleeping form. After a quick diaper change, Keegan watches as Simon starts wriggling and waking up.
"There's my sweet boy... morning bug." Keegan coos as Simon's pretty eyes flutter open. "Ready to start the day? I bet Soap is still little." He grins, cradling Simon onto his hip and bouncing him softly.
"Foap!!" Simon squeaks behind his pacifier, pressing his face into Keegans neck. He loved how Keegan smelled, it was like a soothing blankie.
"Yes yes, Soap. Let's get breakfast started, I'm sure he still needs to wake up." Keegan hums, carrying him toward the kitchen. He could hear Alejandro dealing with a still fussy Rudy, he felt bad since Rudy was only fussy because he was healing from an injury. "We'll make something good for breakfast, yeah? Want some milk?"
"Mmhms! Please." Simon softly lisps, leaning back and looking up at Keegan. He was smiling under his mask, which warms Keegans heart, feeling Simon's fingers tugging at his shirt.
"I love you, kee." Simon coos quietly, Keegan kissing between his eyes.
"I love you too, Simon. Let's get breakfast started baby." Keegan says softly, setting Simon more securely on his hip before beginning to get food started for the morning.