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Kakyoin sat at the dinner table with Jouta in his lap while Holly and Jotaro stood in the kitchen with Jolyne. Holly rolled out a sheet of cookie dough while Jotaro and Jolyne deliberated over what Christmas-themed cookie cutters to use next.
Christmas music flowed through the air. A feeling of contentment consumed Kakyoin. Judging by the way that Jouta wriggled and cooed in his lap, he felt content as well.
“This is my mother’s special recipe,” Holly explained to Jolyne as she rolled out the dough. “Once the cookies are baked and have cooled off, then we can all frost them together. How does that sound?”
Jolyne jumped with excitement and hugged her grandmother close. “Is Jouta going to help, too?”
“Unless the recipe calls for slobber, I think Jouta’s going to have to sit this one out,” Kakyoin called from his spot at the table. He had been trying to get Jouta to eat some baby food, but he had been far too fussy to have more than a bite or two. After putting up a good fight for several minutes, Kakyoin decided to give up. Jouta was proving to be even more stubborn than Jolyne had been as a baby. It was an impressive feat.
“Maybe next year,” Jotaro added.
Holly got Jotaro and Jolyne started on pressing the cookie cutter shapes into the dough and gently setting the newly formed cookies onto a baking sheet. She then made her way over to Kakyoin.
“Kakyoin, dear, you go over there and spend some time making cookies. I’ll give you a break from the baby.”
Kakyoin smiled but he already felt exhausted from what was about to unfold. “Holly, you know that’s not a good idea,” he whispered. “I’m fine sitting here with him and watching.”
“Nonsense! You’ve been sitting with him all day! You need to get up and eat some cookie dough!”
Kakyoin sighed. “Holly, please-”
Holly reached down and gently pulled Jouta out of Kakyoin’s arms while cooing at him. Jouta smiled at her and happily cooed back.
Holly was an expert. She has proven capable of helping out with their kids even during their most nightmarish phases. Kakyoin felt a burst of hope in his chest.
He slowly moved out of his chair while Holly distracted Jouta by blowing raspberries at him. Jouta giggled with delight.
The lovely scene was interrupted when Kakyoin's chair made a small screeching sound as it scraped against the floor.
It caught Jouta’s attention.
Jouta looked at Kakyoin. Then, he looked at Holly. Then, his head snapped back towards Kakyoin. Kakyoin could see the gears turning in his infant son’s head. Jouta’s eyes filled with tears and his mouth opened in a long gasping breath. Kakyoin winced in anticipation of what he knew was coming.
Jouta let out a long, loud cry of deep distress. He lunged in Holly’s arms toward Kakyoin.
It was something Jouta had started doing a few weeks earlier. Whenever he saw Kakyoin empty-handed, he burst into tears and screamed at the top of his lungs. He screamed until Kakyoin caved and picked him back up.
It had been a long three weeks, and Kakyoin was nearing the end of his rope. He loved his son dearly but he could only hold him for so long. At some point, he had to put him down, whether it be to shower, use the restroom, cook, or just have some space.
But the screams were awful. Kakyoin could only stand them for so long. They had him close to tears at times.
They had called and visited the pediatrician. There was nothing physically wrong with Jouta. He had developed separation anxiety from Kakyoin. It was a phase that many babies went through around 6 or 7 months of age. He would grow out of it eventually. They did everything they were told to try to reduce the separation anxiety. Sometimes, it seemed to be working. Other times, Kakyoin was ready to rip his hair out from the stress.
Kakyoin got to his feet and took Jouta back into his arms. He gently shushed him and bounced him in his arms until Jouta’s cries quieted to whimpers.
“Kakyoin, you’re exhausted,” Holly whispered. “You need to take a break.”
“I can’t listen to him scream,” Kakyoin whispered back. “It’s fine. He’ll grow out of it soon.”
Jotaro approached them. Jolyne stayed at the counter and cut the cookies into shapes while singing along to the Christmas music.
“I’ll hold him,” Jotaro told him. “You two should go make cookies with Jolyne.”
Kakyoin shook his head at him but Jotaro insisted. Kakyoin felt himself tear up from the stress as he passed Jouta over to Jotaro.
Jouta looked confused as he changed hands again but he quickly began to realize what was happening. He made the big gasping face that always came before a big scream.
Jotaro spoke to him before he could start screaming. He had been doing so ever since they went to the doctor and were advised to talk to Jouta about what they were doing.
“He’s going to make cookies with your sister,” Jotaro murmured to Jouta as Kakyoin took a step back further. “He’s only going to be across the room. He won’t be far away.”
Holly ushered Kakyoin toward the kitchen and Kakyoin hesitantly walked with her as he waited for the screams to start back up again.
However, the screams never came. Jouta tearfully grumbled against Jotaro’s chest as Jotaro spoke to him.
It was something that they had tried many times over the last few weeks but this time, it seemed to finally be working. While he wasn’t pleased with Kakyoin being away from him, Jouta wasn’t screaming or crying. His little fist clenched Jotaro’s shirt. Jotaro placed his much larger hand over his and continued to whisper to him.
Kakyoin made cookies with Jolyne and Holly. He savored not having a baby attached to him. He felt his shoulders relax after being tense for what felt like forever.
Jolyne rolled up a piece of cookie dough and held it out for him. “Grandma said that you can’t get Cinderella if you only eat a little bit!”
“Do you mean salmonella?” Kakyoin laughed. “I don’t know if that’s true but I think I better do what grandma says.” He opened his mouth and Jolyne placed the ball of cookie dough on his tongue.
He chewed on the cookie dough as he looked at his husband. It wasn’t always easy but Kakyoin wouldn’t trade his family for the world.