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Matthew jumped up and down, attempting to peer over the kitchen island to see what his father was baking. His father giggled, ruffling his hair with a free hand.
“Would you like to help Mon amour?” Francis asked gently.
Matthew nodded rapidly, his little head bouncing with excitement in a way that sort of reminded Francis of a turtle.
“You’ll be careful?”
Matthew nodded again. “Mhm! I’ll be super careful papa. Promise.”
“Of course you will, but do you remember what we need to do before we bake?”
“Uhhh, wash our hands?” Matthew supplied after a minute.
Francis beamed down at him. “That’s my clever little boy.”
Matthew giggled and rushed over to the sink. Once he was done he rushed back over to his father, waiting eagerly at his heel.
Francis smiled down at the toddler and pulled in a little step stool, helping Matthew onto it. The three year old’s eyes glistened as he could now view the once obscured table. It was like he was seeing an uncovered mystery, and not just a few bowls and a carton of eggs.
“What’cha making?” Matthew babbled, looking down into Francis’ mixing bowl.
“Chocolate cake for Alfies birthday.”
“That’s silly papa, Alfie's just a baby. Babies can’t eat cake.” Matthew giggled.
Francis booped Matthew on the nose. “He’s turning one, which I think means he deserves him own cake. You got one for your first birthday.”
“Did I?” Matthew tilted his head.
“Mhm. You sure did.”
“Woah.”
He looked back up at Francis with big eyes.
“What flavor was my cake?”
Francis tapped his chin and hummed for a moment. “Hmm, I suppose it was chocolate too.”
“Hey wanna be a big help and stir the batter?”
“Mhm!”
Matthew happily stirred the batter while Francis retrieved a bag of chocolate chips from the cupboard.
“Now, how many should we use?”
“All! All of em.” Matthew squealed, reaching for the bag.
Francis laughed, shaking his head slightly.
“We can’t use an entire bag of chocolate chips in one cake, mon cherie.”
“Why?” Matthew pouted.
“Because then we won’t have any for your muffins.”
“It’s ok. I don’t need choco chips in my muffins.”
“And why is that?”
“ ‘Cuz Alfie would probably like lots and lots of choco chips and it’s his birthday.” Matthew insisted, still reaching for the bag.
Francis’ face softened, heart practically pooling in his chest. “Hm, how about this. We use half the bag now and if you feel like it needs more we’ll put more. Sounds good?”
“Mhm. That sounds good.”
Francis helped him pour in the chocolate chips, then fold them into the batter, discretely mixing a little more to fully incorporate any stray flour.
He pulled out a pan, and placed a circle of parchment paper at the bottom.
“I wanna pour it in!”
“It’s pretty heavy, mon cherie.”
“I can do it.” Matthew persisted, looking very determined.
“Ok, you can pour it. But Papa’s gonna help. Just a little bit.”
Matthew nodded and happily placed his hands on both sides of the bowl as best he could. Francis chuckled and poured the mixture in, Matthew’s hands really just sitting there. But even so, after the batter was poured, Francis turned back to his son, sparkling with pride.
“Wow, how strong you are. My little hercules.”
Matthew giggled. “You helped a little too Papa.”
Francis smirked a little to himself. “Just a little. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
They popped the cake into the oven and then sat at the kitchen table.
“Where is Alfie anyway, it’s Saturday.”
“Oh, your brother is at the doctor with your father.”
Matthew gasped.
“Papa is Alfie sick? Did I get him sick? Is he ok?”
Francis rubbed his back gently, waiting a second for the toddler to calm down.
“No mon cherie, Alfie is perfectly fine. He’s just there for a checkup and to get some shots.”
Matthew deflated. “Oh ok. Shots still suck though.”
“That they do.”
Matthew perked up again and looked up at his father.
“Hey Papa?”
“Mhm?”
“Can we have pancakes for dinner?”
Francis smiled. “You can have pancakes for dessert.”
“Hm ok. Mac and cheese for dinner then.”
“Ok mon cherie, Mac and cheese for dinner it is.”