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"Daddy, why is Papa doing that?"
Henry had to hold back a laugh. Ana was only 5, but she knew the art of sarcasm and roasting very well and used it against both of her fathers often. Too often if you ask Alex.
"Well sweetheart, Papa seems to think that it's a rite of passage for a father to build his child their first treehouse."
Ana screwed her face up with confusion. "But I don't want a tree house. I want a pony."
"I know, dear, I know." Henry reached out and patted his daughter’s head, making her giggle.
"You both know I can hear you, right?" Alex looked up from the piece of wood he was hammering a nail into and glared at the pair of them.
"Yes darling, we know, but thank you for checking."
Alex let a few Spanish phrases fall from his lips as he refocused back on the wood and Henry could've sworn there were a few choice insults included but couldn't be too sure.
A few minutes passed, Henry and Ana observing as Alex attempted to make any progress with the treehouse.
"Papa, why is that piece crooked? Isn't it supposed to look like the one next to it?"
"Fuck." Alex stood up and put his hands on his hips.
"Alex!" Henry hissed, pointing at their daughter. She'd taken to repeating any words they said to anyone who could listen at the exact wrong times.
"Shit, sorry, sweetie, you didn't hear that!"
"Alex!"
"Fu….dge! Baby, I'm sorry! You know it takes a lot of effort to hold in the f bombs and I'm kinda in the middle of something."
"Kinda? Alex, our backyard looks like Home Depot exploded their lumber section back here."
Alex crossed his arms in front of his chest and shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Well, I needed to make sure I'd have everything I need!"
"I think you have a lot more than what you need, dear." A smile broke out on Henry's face despite himself, and he shook his head.
Alex held a finger up to his lips before turning back to the board. "Shhh, go back to talking about me like I'm not here."
A few more minutes passed when -
"Daddy, does Papa know that those two pieces are supposed to be the same length?"
Henry looked at his daughter with amusement and gave her a fake look of confusion. "You know, my love, I'm really not sure he does. Maybe you should tell him."
"PAPA!" The screech from Ana's mouth could've woken the dead and Henry winced.
"Ana, please don't yell at me when I'm right in front of you. And I already heard you, you don't need to tell me."
Ana looked at Henry, who gave her a sly smile and a small nod.
"Papa, did you know those two pieces are supposed to be the same length?"
Alex groaned and threw the hammer down in frustration. "Yes, Princessa, I do know that. I'm doing some creative restructuring of the plans."
Henry snorted and threw his head back with laughter. "Creative restructuring? Love, that's a load of bollocks."
"Daddy, what's bollocks?"
Henry's head shot to look at his daughter, then quickly back at his husband, a look of horror on his face. "Help me." He mouthed to Alex.
Alex crossed his arms in front of his chest and grinned his most shit eating smile at Henry. "Yeah, babe, what are bollocks?"
Henry's mouth opens and closes once, twice, three times, before he hops to his feet and claps his hands. "Who wants ice cream?!"
"Oh, me, me, me!" Ana sprang up and ran for the house, shouting out which flavors she wanted as she went.
"That was masterful. You need to show me your powers of smooth segue ways."
Henry strode over to Alex and wrapped his arms around his waist as soon as he was close enough, slipping his hands into his back pocket and pulling him close. "I'll show you my powers any time, sweetheart." He breathed hot into Alex's ear, then gave him a faint kiss on the cheek and pulled away. "Well, time for ice cream! Are you joining us?"
Alex has a faraway look on his face, clearly still in the moment Henry has so rudely ended. It took him a second, but finally he shook himself out of it and nodded. "Uh yeah, ice cream. Sounds good babe."
"And you'll find a contractor to build this tomorrow?"
Alex groaned but nodded. "This isn't me giving up, for the record. This is me putting my daughter's safety as my top priority."
"Sure, sure dear, whatever you say.