Chapter Text
Chimney didn't know what the issue was. His own daughter was four years old now (and oh god, he was old ), and making her laugh when she was a baby had been easy. Pull a silly face, a little peek-a-boo, and Jee-Yun would laugh her tiny butt off. And frankly, maybe girls just liked him better. After all, Emily was happily laughing and cooing and clapping her chubby little hands while bouncing up and down in her high chair, her dirty blonde locks flying all over the place.
No, the issue here was Benji. Benji, who sat next to her in his own seat. Benji, who was perfectly still and simply watched his sister going nuts with what could only be called an outright disturbed look on his face. Benji, who reacted to Maddie and Chim laughing at Emily's antics with a turn in their direction and a small gurgling noise, as if to say 'What's up with her? '
Benji, who refused to react to anything Chimney did with anything other than indifference.
Chimney narrowed his eyes on his nephew. Buck and Tommy had dropped the babies off this morning because they were on a cake testing crusade. The wedding was in four months, meaning they were cutting it close with the cake as is (Granted, they were blindsided by an earlier date opening up at their chosen venue). But hey, Chim and Maddie loved being on babysitting duty. At least in theory, because Benji's resistance to the Chimney Charm™ admittedly kind of hurt Chim's pride (and also because taking care of two babies and a four-year-old was… tough).
Maddie pocketed her phone (When did she even take it out? Was he this out of it over a baby not laughing at him?!) and simply sat there watching him with their niece and nephew. Chimney was right by them, pulling funny faces to make them laugh. It worked like a charm on Emily, who kept laughing like a crazy person, but Benji simply directed his 'What the hell are you doing?' look at him now.
"Tough crowd," Chimney mumbled, standing up straight. He crossed his arms and looked down at Benji, who now seemed in awe that his uncle had somehow grown taller. "You are quickly losing your spot near the top of Uncle Chimney's 'favorites' list, young man!"
Benji tilted his head a little to the side, almost as if he was contemplating the threat before he, with all the audacity of a six-month-old, blew a raspberry at Chimney. "Okay, see now you're just insulting me!" Chim shook his head, but Maddie just laughed.
"Maybe he's just a little Daddy's boy," she suggested with a teasing smile. "Who knows, being stoic might be genetic in Tommy's family."
Chimney sighed, leaning back against the kitchen counter, watching the twins. Maddie had a point. Maybe Benji was just a little too much like his father, with that uncanny calmness that Tommy often exhibited, even in the most chaotic of situations (fake mouth static at the fire chief while flying into a hurricane notwithstanding). Man, that Tommy's so cool!
"I make Tommy laugh all the time, though!" he exclaimed and threw his hands in the air. "Like, there's two people who turn the man into a goofball, and that's me and Buck! How can I not crack a baby?"
Maddie laughed, a sound that always felt like sunshine to Chimney. "Well, babies are like puzzles sometimes," she said, getting up to walk to the fridge. "I'll get started on dinner, can you handle the twins for a bit?"
"Yeah, sure." Chimney looked down at Benji, who was still observing everything with a calm, unbothered expression. It was almost eerie how un-baby-like he seemed. Chim squatted down to Benji's level, trying to see the world from his perspective. "C'mon, Ben, give it to me straight. What do you need me to do?"
Chim really would have appreciated it if Benji had simply broken into a fifteen minute lecture about what kind of humor he liked, but instead he just kept staring with his mouth in a thin line. Chimney sighed. Maybe he should just give up for now.
"Papa!" And there was the perfect distraction from his complete and utter failure. Jee, fresh and energized from her afternoon nap, rushed into the room, her shiny black hair flowing like a cape behind her (she insisted on growing it long, much to Maddie's chagrin, but frankly, who were they to deny their daughter her wish?) and practically threw herself against Chimney's legs, almost throwing him off balance. "Papa, can I play with Benji and Emily?"
With a fond expression, Chimney quickly bent down to scoop her up in his arms and spun her around, to Jee's own delight, before putting her back to the ground and nudging her toward the living room. "Sure! Go ahead and roll out their playmat, will you?"
Jee-Yun beamed and dashed off to the living room with a loud cheer. (Why yes, Emily did get more happy and bouncy upon hearing it, and Benji did have no reaction to it whatsoever, why do you ask?) Chimney glanced back at Benji and Emily, who were still in their high chairs. He unbuckled them one by one, setting Benji on the ground first. He immediately began crawling towards the living room without even really thinking, which had Chimney raise an eyebrow. Buck and Tommy had mentioned that their son had started crawling sometime last month, but he hadn't expected him to be quite this fast yet. Shaking his head, he turned back to Emily.
"Alright, little lady, let's go join your brother and cousin," Chimney said, lifting her out of the chair and placing her on the floor. Emily tried to take off after her twin immediately, but her legs went a little wobbly and she quickly landed directly on her belly after they slid away to the sides. Not one to give up easily (She really was just like her Papa), she got herself back into position and started out of the kitchen, with a few more belly flops on the way, though determination won, and she somehow made it without any help.
Chimney followed suit and made a beeline for the couch, where Jee-Yun had spread out the playmat. "Look, Papa! I made it all nice for them!" she announced proudly, her face lighting up with an almost blinding smile. And for good reason. Jee had not simply thrown the mat on the ground. She had, for all intents and purposes, built a little baby paradise. Stuffed animals were neatly set up in one corner, while a bunch of building blocks and stacking rings sat in another. On the opposite side, she had neatly placed three pillows, no doubt for herself and the twins to sit on while they played.
Chimney wondered if his heart could actually burst from love.
"You did a wonderful job, Baby Jee," he said, ruffling her hair before he plopped down with a sigh. Benji had already made his way to the mat, and Jee-Yun was now helping him sit down on one of the cushions. Emily, not one to be let down by her not-quite-as-proficient-yet crawling skills, had also almost made it, and Jee quickly fluffed up her cushion before grabbing a stuffed crocodile and handing it to Benji.
He took the plush, examining it with that same unflappable, almost lackadaisical expression. Emily, meanwhile, reached her destination and belly flopped onto the mat, beaming at her older cousin and drooling all over. Jee-Yun quickly helped her into a sitting position and handed her a brightly colored stacking ring. Emily clapped her hands and squealed in delight before immediately trying to shove it into her mouth.
Chimney watched this little scene with pride in his eyes and a smile on his face. Jee-Yun had been excited beyond belief when Buck had sat her down and told her she would have a little cousin soon. And then, when one little cousin turned out to be two, trying to get her to leave Uncle Buck and Uncle Tommy's house was almost impossible. She had kind of hyper fixated onto Emily at first, obviously, but she had quickly softened up on Benji, too.
And that had Chimney sigh again. Benji. Benji, Benji, Benji. Why could he not make that boy laugh, and why did it bother him so much? Well, the answer to that second one was mostly pride, but whatever. There had to be something he could do to tickle Benji's funny bone. The gears in his head turned and turned, and he found himself going over everything he knew had made Jee laugh when she was a baby.
Silly faces? Tried that, didn't work. Weird noises? Nope. Tickle Monster? That just made Benji angry.
While Chimney wrecked his brain about what to do next, he couldn't help but notice Jee-Yun's gentle way of engaging with the twins. She was careful and patient, not at all like the little tornado she usually was. She spoke to the babies softly, with an undertone of such unadulterated adoration that Chim figured would eventually kill him with diabetes. He leaned back on the couch, running a hand through his hair. Maybe he was overthinking this. Maybe doing things Jee-Yun's way and not stressing over how weirdly stoic (and obviously humorless) Benji was was the way to go. Because honestly, maybe Maddie was right, and he just needed to take his time to figure out the solution to this conundrum.
With another determined hum, Chim slid off the couch and sat down by the playmat, stopping shortly along the way to pick up a few colorful building blocks. With a bright smile, he waved them around in front of Benji's face. "See, Benji? We can stack these!"
Benji, his face still quite neutral, did start to focus on the blocks. He blinked at them and then up at Chimney, almost as if to ask what exactly 'stacking' meant. With a fond smile, Chim laid down the first block, and then the second, and third, building a small tower in front of the little boy, who's eyes grew and grew. Chimney decided that this was progress. At least he didn't stare like a robot anymore.
Benji's eyes were fixated on the small building. There was a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes, and Chimney could see that this might be the key. "Look, Benji," he said softly, adding another block to the precarious structure. "Isn't this fun? We're building something together."
Jee-Yun, not one to be left out, joined in with her own building blocks. "Here, Benji," she said, offering him a block, a fire engine red one. "You can add this one."
Benji reached out with a chubby hand, took the block, and, after a moment's hesitation, lifted it over his head and brutally brought it down on Chimney's tower, shattering the little building and sending the blocks flying left and right. Chimney was about to groan, but Benji was faster. Because he let out a little chuckle.
Chimney's jaw dropped. The little sound was like the song of angels to his ears. It was a tiny, soft little giggle, but it was there, and he would never let go of it. Benji's lips curled into a small smile, and his eyes sparkled with delight. Chimney felt a surge of triumph wash over him, and he jumped up with a triumphant shout. With a cheerful laugh, he bent down to grab Benji and twirl him around.
"See, little man, that wasn't so hard, was it?" he cried, hugging Benji close to his chest. Benji went back to just staring at Chimney for a few seconds before his eyes fell on the block he was still holding in his hand. His gaze went back and forth from the block to Chim's face for a few seconds before he smiled again. Chimney could only bask in the glory of it all for a moment though before Benji chose violence.
With an impish grin, he lifted the block high and smacked it down onto Chimney's head, the impact making a dull, but harmless, thunk. Chimney winced, but the sight of Benji's delighted expression was worth the minor pain. He laughed, the sound echoing through the room.
"Okay, okay, I get it!" Chim said, rubbing the spot on his head. "You're a little bit of a sadist. I can work with that."
Jee-Yun, seeing how Benji's action had made him laugh, joined in with a giggle of her own. She picked up another block and handed it to Benji. "Here, do it again!" she encouraged to Chimney's horror.
He began to protest, but Benji, now emboldened by his success, gripped the block tightly. He looked at Chimney with that same mischievous grin and raised his arm once more. Chimney braced himself, closing his eyes slightly, but he couldn't stop the smile spreading across his face.
Thunk! The block made contact again, and Benji let out a peal of laughter, louder this time. Chimney laughed too, despite the slight throbbing on his head. The room filled with their shared joy, and for a moment, everything was perfect.
Still chuckling, Chim put Benji back on the mat and pushed all the blocks toward him, and without missing a beat, the baby grabbed one in each hand and began smashing them together wildly and loudly, cheers upon cheers. Chimney couldn't help but chuckle. Buck's child, an agent of chaos. Should've known, honestly.
He was pulled from his thoughts when Jee tapped him on the shoulder. "Papa, what's a sadist?"
*
"Dad! Hurry up!" Christopher's voice rose above Benji and Emily's cries. "They're really hungry!"
"Yes, I'm coming, just try to calm them down, please!" Eddie yelled as he took the bottles out of the microwave. He quickly put the formula in and threw the nipples on, and then cursed under his breath when he tried them and realized they were too hot. Why did he think he could do this? He had been in Afghanistan until Chris was four. The short amount of time he'd been home between his first and second tour, Shannon had handled most of Christopher's tantrums, and the few times Eddie had tried to sooth him, he had completely and utterly failed. Just like he was failing now .
Buck and Tommy had dropped the twins off for date night not even an hour ago, and they were already screaming their tiny little lungs out. Eddie quickly grabbed a tray of ice cubes from the freezer and threw them into a mixing bowl, before setting the bottles into it. He leaned against the counter and took a few deep breaths, trying to drown out Benji and Emily's wails.
He had fought in a war, had been shot at, had even earned himself a Silver Star. Then, as a firefighter, he had survived burning buildings, a well collapsing over him, and being shot in broad daylight by a sniper just because of his job (and frankly, what kind of lunatic hated firefighters this much?! ). How the hell was it a pair of babies that did him in?
"Dad!"
"Yes, yes! iAy dios mío!" Eddie muttered under his breath, quickly turning back to the bottles. He tested the temperature again, and thank the Lord, they were finally cool enough to give the babies. With several more celebratory prayers on his lips, he hurried to the living room, where Christopher was attempting to soothe the twins with his patience already stretched thin.
"Finally! What took you so long?!" he cried out and snatched one of the bottles out of Eddie's hand. Eddie would usually scold him for his tone, but he really couldn't blame the kid right now. (Plus, what would scolding even help against a fourteen-year-old?) Christopher held the bottle under his armpit and then reached into the playpen to take Emily out. Eddie was about to offer his help, but it wasn't necessary. Chris, slowly, carefully, slipped his hands under his honorary baby sister's arms and pulled her up and against his chest. Being in his embrace alone seemed to calm the little girl down.
Once Chris had settled down on the couch and Emily was happily sucking her food, Eddie turned back toward the pen. "Don't worry, mijo, I got you," he whispered as he took Benji, still hysterically crying and flailing his bunched up little fists around, out of the pen and held the nipple of the bottle to his mouth. The little boy seemed to refuse it though. He turned his face away from the nipple and hit his hands against the bottle, almost as if he was refusing it. "Come on, Ben, work with me here."
He began rocking Benji gently, all while still trying to get the bottle to his mouth, but to no avail. The pup refused, and Eddie grew more and more exasperated by the second. He shot a look over to Chris, who seemingly was a baby whisperer or something, because Emily was happy, and calm, and actually feeding in his arms. "How?" Eddie asked. "How are you doing this?!"
"It's an Omega thing," Chris shrugged with a smirk. He was clearly enjoying Eddie's plight, and Eddie wondered when exactly his son had developed such a strong sense of Schadenfreude. (Puberty, probably.) "You're too Alpha to get it."
Eddie rolled his eyes, a gesture more out of habit than any real frustration. Chris had presented about three months back (Which was fairly late. Most people presented between 10 and 12.), and he had had his first heat shortly after that, and to say he had hated the experience was an understatement. If there was one thing here Eddie could be happy about, it was Chris getting more comfortable with his designation. He adjusted his grip on Benji, trying once more to offer the bottle, but the baby continued to resist, his cries becoming more frantic. Which is when Eddie wondered if Benji was hungry in the first place? What if he wasn't? What if something more serious was going on, and Eddie was missing it?
Christopher's smirk faded as he saw the worry lines deepen on his father's face. "Dad, try talking to him," he suggested, his tone now softer, more understanding. "He can sense that you're nervous, and it's making him nervous."
Eddie nodded, trying to recall how Shannon used to handle moments like this. He took a deep breath and began to speak in a soothing, low voice. "Hey, Benji, it's okay, mijo. Tío Eddie's here. We're all here. You're safe." He rocked Benji gently, continuing to murmur reassurances, feeling awkward but determined to keep trying.
The wails slowly turned into whimpers, and Benji's little fists relaxed. Eddie seized the moment to offer the bottle again, and this time, Benji latched onto it. Relief washed over Eddie as the baby started to drink, the tension in his tiny body easing with each swallow.
"There you go, little guy," Eddie whispered, his voice barely above a breath. He sank into the armchair next to the couch, cradling Benji and feeling a strange mix of exhaustion and triumph. He glanced over at Christopher, who was now cooing softly to Emily, and felt a surge of pride. His son had grown up so much, and Eddie felt a pang of regret for all the moments he had missed.
"Thanks, Chris," Eddie said quietly, meeting his son's eyes. "I couldn't have done this without you."
Christopher shrugged again, but there was a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "No problem, Dad. We're a team, right?"
"Yeah," Eddie agreed, his heart swelling and warming up. He looked down at Benji, who was now drifting off to sleep, and then over at Emily, who was similarly content in Christopher's arms. His godchildren were a handful, like any baby, honestly, but they were worth it. As Benji's soft little snores started ringing through the living room, Eddie put him back into the playpen, shortly followed by Emily, who he took from Christopher's arms. Watching the twins' peaceful faces as they slept, Eddie smiled and let out an exhausted, yet happy sigh. "A team."
*
"Okay, little ones," Bobby smiled as he settled down into the armchair. He had one twin in each arm and quickly adjusted them (which couldn't be an easy task. The pups were seven months old now, and they squirmed around a lot ) before he opened the book in his hands. "You wanna hear a story? Cause Grampa's gonna read you a story."
Athena smiled from the couch, where she had settled down with a glass of wine. She had always known that her husband was very much a quintessential Omega, even if he didn't look it. Because behind the height, and strength he somehow had managed to keep up at almost sixty years old, and his stern demeanor out on the field, Bobby was a nurturer. He thrived on caring for people, on feeding them, on making sure they're cared for and settled. The stark contrast between Bobby's exterior and his personality threw many people off, but it had drawn Athena to him. She absolutely loved that her Omega was theoretically capable of picking her up and throwing her around, yet far too kind hearted to actually do it. (Unless she told him to do it, but that was a different matter altogether.)
Seeing her Omega with babies ignited something primal in her, and if it wasn't for the fact that he had already gone through menopause, she'd be putting not just one pup, but a whole litter into Bobby tonight. (She'd still try after Buck and Tommy had picked up the kids. For science, as Harry would say.)
"So, let's get started," Bobby said, once again making sure Benji and Emily were secure and safe in his arms before he opened up the book. "Okay, let's see. Oli, the little red dragon, lived high up in the mountains of Draketopia.'"
Athena tuned the story Bobby read out. She took a sip from her glass and simply watched Bobby interact with both the kids and the story. From his exaggerated facial expressions as he did the voices of the characters, to the crinkles that never left the corner of his eyes, Athena felt her heart grow inside her chest. It was moments like these that reminded her of why she had fallen in love with him all those years ago. The way his eyes lit up as he read to their grandchildren, the soft, melodic tone of his voice, and the way he cradled them with such care and tenderness… It was a sight to behold.
""Oh, not the sea serpents!' cried Oli's father, Peter.'"
…
…
…
Athena had no clue what the hell was going on in that story. Maybe she should've paid attention. She decided to shrug it off. If Bobby wanted her to pay attention, maybe he should try to be less pretty.
Bobby continued, each character getting their own distinct voice, much to the twins' delight. Benji let out a small gasp, as if whatever Bobby had just read was the biggest plot twist in history. Athena couldn't help but smile. Bobby was always a beautiful man, but ever since the twins had been born, he was positively glowing. The man had clearly been born to be a grandfather. And to think he thought he'd never be one for years on end until Athena, and May and Harry, and especially Buck came into his life… Athena could hardly hold back the tears that shot into her eyes.
"'Oli, you must be brave,' said Peter, his scales shimmering in the moonlight. 'The fate of Draketopia rests on your wings.'"
Athena took another sip of her wine, her gaze softening further as she observed the tender scene. Bobby's nurturing nature was one of the many reasons she had fallen in love with him, and watching him now, with their grandchildren (Were they her grandchildren too? She and Buck hadn't really talked about it.) nestled securely in his arms, she was reminded of the depth of their bond.
As Bobby continued the story, Athena's mind drifted back to the early days of their relationship, professional, platonic, romantic. She remembered the first time she met him, when he had shoved a rooster into her arms before leaving with a wide smirk, his team trailing behind him. She remembered how he had spotted the foul play at Guillermo's just like she had, which tipped her off to just how intelligent he was. She remembered how welcoming he was whenever Hen brought her to the 118 for lunch or dinner. And she remembered how broken up he was after the call with the motorcycle accident, how the sheer thought of that poor man not making it home to his son had brought him to tears, and how he had to sit down on the sidewalk for a moment.
She remembered when he told her what happened in St. Paul, around three months into their relationship. How he had thought that she would leave him for' murdering his own family,' as he had put it. The thought ached her heart, almost as if she'd been stabbed. It had been an accident. Bobby hadn't planned to burn down an apartment building, and in Athena's opinion, the owner of the building was far more to blame. He had broken every protocol in the book. He had turned that building into a death trap. Had he done his job, Bobby's mistakes would never have been as disastrous.
Of course, Athena was old and mature enough to admit she was heavily biased in her husband's favor. Technically, Bobby had still committed 148 counts of manslaughter that night, including his wife and children, and the Sergeant Grant part of her brain knew that. The Athena Grant-Nash part refused to entertain it though. Bobby had atoned by suffering, as far as she was concerned. He had dedicated his life to save 148 people, one for every life lost in that fire. And he had planned to end his own life after. And that was the part that still terrified her.
"'With a mighty roar, Oli took to the skies, his wings beating strongly against the wind. Below him, the sea serpents writhed and hissed, their scales gleaming menacingly in the sunlight.'"
Athena had often wondered if he had truly given up those plans. If she, and the kids, and the 118, and Buck had helped him heal enough to understand that his life, in spite of his past, had insurmountable value. But now? She knew he was fine. Ever since Buck had announced (failed to hide it more like), she had seen just how light his steps truly were.
And then the twins had been born. Bobby, with moist eyes and as much pride as was humanly possible, had embraced Buck, and Tommy, and he had thrown himself into the grandfather role with such gusto that Buck and Tommy had (in jest, of course) accused him of trying to steal the kids away from him.
Athena was lucky to have him. And she was more than happy to tell him as much whenever she could.
"'Oli swooped down, dodging the serpents' snapping jaws. He breathed a stream of fire, driving them back into the depths of the ocean. Draketopia was safe once more, thanks to Oli's bravery.'"
…
…
…
Seriously, what even was this book?
Bobby's voice softened as he brought the story to a close, his eyes twinkling with the satisfaction of a tale well spun. He looked down at Benji and Emily, who were now blinking sleepily, their excitement giving way to the inevitable pull of slumber.
"And that, little ones, is how Oli the red dragon became the hero of Draketopia," Bobby finished, closing the book gently. He kissed each of the twins on the forehead, his expression tender and loving. "Sweet dreams, little dragons. You're gonna be heroes, too, some day."
With that he got up and, with a loving glance in Athena's direction, made for the former guest room they had turned into a nursery when they had learned about Buck and Tommy's little surprise, Athena right on his heels. Once there, she gently took Emily out of Bobby's arm and placed her in her crib, Bobby doing the same with Benji. As they watched the pups drift off to sleep, Bobby and Athena simply stood by the door, watching them, Bobby's arm securely around Athena's shoulders.
"Our family's a blessing," he said with a smile. There was an undercurrent of sadness in it, too. Of course there was. Athena knew he'd never forget Marcy, Brook and Bobby Jr., wasn't sure what the hell she'd do if he ever did. But, for what it was worth, she knew he was, in fact, happy . And that was all that matters.
"It is," she smiled. "It really is."
*
"Okay, flowers are sorted, the seating chart is done, cake is ordered, the venue is booked," Evan muttered from somewhere behind where Tommy was sprawled out on the floor on his stomach with the twins in front of him. Emily was on all fours playing with a small ball, Tommy making sure it never rolled too far away from her. Meanwhile, Benji sat around two feet away, gleefully smacking his Duplo blocks against each other (He and Emily were way too young for Duplos, but it was a cute animal themed set, and Tommy hadn't been able to help himself.) Benji had originally sat closer to Tommy and Emily, but after he had gotten whacked for the sixth time, Tommy had simply put some distance between them. (Emily had been spared from Benji's destructive glee. Tommy wondered if he explicitly hated adults.)
Emily now belly flopped onto the floor with a delighted laugh, pushing the ball in Tommy's direction. He caught it and quickly hid it against his chest while giving Emily a sheepish expression. "Uh-oh, Emily," he said, playfully widening his eyes. "Where did the ball go? Did it disappear?"
Emily giggled, her bright eyes sparkling with mischief. She crawled closer to Tommy, reaching out with her tiny hands, eager to retrieve the hidden ball. Benji, sensing the excitement, threw his Duplo blocks to the ground and made his way toward Tommy and Emily, his curiosity piqued. The moment the two reached their father, they began clawing at his arms and face with their tiny, little paws in an attempt to get the ball back.
"No! Mercy!" he laughed as Benji started pummeling his eye (Should he and Evan be worried?) with the smallest fist known to mankind. Benji's own delighted giggles rang like music to his ears, even if he lowkey hoped that the violent tendencies were just a phase
Evan chuckled from his position at the table, momentarily distracted from his wedding plan clipboard. "Should I be concerned about the state of your face when we walk down the aisle?" he teased, glancing over at Tommy, who was now playful 'defending' himself from the twins.
Tommy laughed, gently capturing Benji's tiny fists in his own, and leaning in to give Emily a quick peck on the forehead. "Don't worry, I'm pretty sure I can withstand the twin terror squad until the wedding," he called back, flashing a grin at Evan before he revealed the ball and rolled it away, both Benji and Emily gaping and crawling after it immediately.
As they scampered off after the ball, Tommy got up and stretched. His back was killing him (44 isn't that old, Kinard, it isn't! Just repeat your mantra!) as he straightened up. He glanced over at Evan, who had returned his focus to the clipboard, diligently checking off items on their endless list of wedding preparations. Evan's brow was furrowed in concentration, a lock of hair falling over his forehead. Tommy couldn't help but smile at the sight, a rush of warmth spreading through his body.
"Hey," Tommy said softly, walking over to Evan and placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're doing a great job. We're almost there."
Evan looked up, his eyes softening as he met Tommy's gaze. "I know, I just want everything to be perfect for our day."
Tommy leaned in and kissed him gently. "It will be. Because it's our day. And no matter what happens, as long as we're together, it'll be perfect."
Evan smiled, the tension leaving his eyes. "You always know what to say."
"That's why you're marrying me," Tommy said with a wink, drawing a laugh from Evan.
Their tender moment was interrupted by a loud crash, followed by the high pitched wailing of both twins. Tommy and Evan both snapped their heads towards the source of the commotion, their moment of calm abruptly shattered. The twins had managed to topple over a small vase that had been precariously placed on the edge of the coffee table. Now, the vase lay in pieces on the floor, and the twins were sitting in the middle of the mess, tears streaming down their faces.
"Shit," Tommy muttered under his breath, quickly moving towards the twins. "Alright, no big deal. Just a vase, right?"
Evan followed, his face contorted in worry, yet with a hint of a smile. "Great, they got my chaos-magnet genes." The joke fell flat, but Tommy didn't have the time to worry about joke's right now anyway. He quickly strode over to the twins, who were surrounded by a sea of shards, seriously hoping that they hadn't cut themselves.
Tommy scooped up Benji, who was still crying, and started rocking him gently while checking for any kind of cuts or bumps. "It's okay, buddy. No one's mad. We'll just have to be more careful, okay?"
Emily, still sitting in the middle of the broken pieces, reached out for her Papa, her sobs making her body shake. Evan picked her up, carefully brushing off any remnants of the vase, before hugging her close to his chest. "That was the one my Mom gave us. She's… probably gonna be passive aggressive about it," he said with a sigh, trying to soothe Emily.
Tommy really didn't care much. He had hated that vase anyway. As much as he appreciated Margaret and Phillip for sending it as an engagement gift (along with two tickets for an MMA fight. Phillip was obviously significantly better at buying gifts for others than his wife), that vase had been the ugliest, most ancient looking thing in existence. It hadn't fit with anything else he and Evan had in their apartment and stuck out like a sore thumb. Good riddance to the stupid thing, honestly!
He shifted his focus then and scanned the mess the twins had made, and let out a sigh. The pieces of the vase had spread all the way over to the toys when it shattered. They'd have to clean and wash all of those now before giving them back to the kids, just in case there were any micro shards on them. Emily in particular had a thing for shoving her toys into her mouth, and Tommy really didn't want to deal with her swallowing a piece nobody saw.
"Playpen, clean some of the toys to give them, then bigger cleanup," he mumbled to himself, already moving over to where the pen stood folded up against the wall.
Evan nodded and followed suit. He gently shifted Emily over to his left side once it was set up, her body trembling less and less as she watched Tommy's movements with wide, tear-filled eyes. Tommy handed Benji over to Evan and quickly picked up a bunch of blocks, a rattle, and a toy car and took the toys to the kitchen to quickly rinse them off.
Evan gently rocked the twins, Benji was still crying his little eyes out, though Emily had thankfully calmed down somewhat. Tommy was vaguely aware that Evan had started murmuring to their son, but it wasn't until Evan began to calmly sing to the twins that Benji's cries subsided.
" Come stop your crying, it'll be alright. Just take my hand, hold it tight. "
Tommy began to methodically clean the toys, though his eyes repeatedly wandered over to the kitchen door, through which he could see his Omega taking care of their children. Tommy didn't believe in the old, stereotypical gender hogwash, not primary, not secondary, but he couldn't help but wonder if he, as an Alpha man, would ever be as good a father as Evan was.
" I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don't you cry. "
Tommy's heart swelled at the sight and sound of Evan comforting their son. The tenderness in his voice and the softness of his touch were things Tommy had fallen for long before the twins had come into their lives. It was in moments like these, both the chaos that seemed to follow them wherever they went and the warmth that that same chaos would always inevitably turn into.
" For ones so small, you seem so strong. My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm. "
As if to emphasize the lyrics, Evan tightened his embrace on the pups, and they practically melted into it. Tommy's eyes started burning as a small smile played on his lips. Those were his humans. His partner, and their children. A quiet sob escaped him as he reached up and wiped at his eyes.
" This bond between us can't be broken. We will be here, don't you cry. "
Evan shot a very pointed look over at Tommy at that one, and Tommy couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. Of course Evan had clocked that he was feeling insecure. He gave him a grateful smile before turning back to the sink to finish up with the toys with a sigh. Bobby once said that he was a natural at reading Evan, and Tommy had taken a lot of pride in this. After all, who knew Evan better than Bobby, right? But the truth was that Evan was just as much a natural at reading him.
" Cause you'll be in our hearts. Yes, you'll be in our hearts. "
Having finished cleaning the toys, Tommy turned off the sink and grabbed a dish towel to quickly dry them. Evan's voice, raspy, and soft, and just the sweetest sound Tommy had ever heard, filled the whole apartment with a sense of home-safe-love that Tommy had craved since he was just a kid. It had taken a long time, many more downs than ups all the while, but now… now he was here. Now he had Evan and the kids. Now he had the rest of the 118, and Harbor Station.
" From this day on, now and forever more. "
"I love you," Tommy smiled as he leaned against the doorframe, toys in hand. The kids had both calmed down now and nestled their heads against Evan's chest, their hands grabbing at his shirt. Evan simply smiled at him with a twinkle in his eyes, a wordless answer that spoke more than a novel ever could. Tommy walked over and pulled Evan into a quick kiss before he took Benji from him and put him into the playpen. Evan quickly followed suit and placed Emily next to him. "Let's get this mess cleaned up."
They worked in a silent, practiced tandem, Tommy grabbing a broom to clean the mess in the living room, while Evan threw the affected toys into a box and headed to the kitchen to rinse them off. Tommy kept shooting glances at Benji and Emily in their playpen as he swept, and his heart grew a little every single time. They had abandoned the rattle and the car and were now building a tower with the blocks, animatedly chatting with each other along the way. Tommy wondered if their cooing and babbling actually meant anything to them, or if they understood each other without understanding each other. The second option, he felt, was almost even more beautiful.
Eventually, just as Tommy finished disposing of the vase's remains, Evan came back from the kitchen, the box now filled with clean, shard free toys, ready for the twins to play with. He dropped it on the ground by the playmat that was prominently sprawled out in the corner of the living room before heading over to where Tommy stood and wrapping his arm around his waist. Tommy simply leaned over and softly kissed him.
As they stood there, the twins' laughter filling the room, Tommy felt a sense of peace wash over him. Despite the chaos, the broken vases, and the wedding preparations, everything felt right. He pressed his lips to Evan's again, this time with a lingering tenderness, before pulling away and looking into his eyes. "Let's get the twins ready for bed," he said with a smile. "And then I'll show you just how much I can't wait to be married to you."
"Oh, I like the sound of that ," Evan grinned knowingly. He walked over to the playpen, swinging his hips far more seductively than necessary. With a satisfied growl on his lips, Tommy went after his Omega. The faster the pups were put to bed, the faster they could go to have their own fun.
*
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!" Tommy yelled as he got up from the breakfast table. It was eight in the morning. Who the hell just showed up at eight in the fucking morning?! He seriously hoped this wasn't anything too long winded, he was about to leave for a 48-hour-shift, Evan was about to start a 24-hour one, and they still had to get the twins ready for daycare. They had just enough time for a relaxing breakfast, but that had now been cut short.
Tommy opened the front door and came face to face with a tall, elderly man. He seemed to be somewhere in his late sixties, with a mop of black hair, gray on the sides, and piercing blue eyes that had some bells going off at the back of Tommy's head, though he had no idea why. Despite the signs of his age, the man's body showed he must've worked hard on it when he was younger (and maybe even to this day?), and as proud as Tommy was of his own, he couldn't help but be impressed. (And wonder if he should plan more gym time.)
The man's eyes widened at Tommy, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. The old guy seemed… awestruck, somehow. As if he had a hard time believing where he stood. And in a way, Tommy got it, because he felt it, too. He didn't recognize this man, but he knew that he knew him.
"Hel…lo?" Tommy said eventually, snapping both of them out of their trance. "Can I help you?"
The man shook his head before clearing his throat. He opened and closed his mouth several times, his eyes never stopping to scan every inch of Tommy's appearance, and… were those tears pooling them? "I'm sorry," he eventually said, bringing up his sleeve to wipe his face. "I haven't seen you since you were eight. I wasn't ready."
The sensation in his brain grew louder at both the voice, and that statement. Since you were eight . Tommy's brows furrowed. It hadn't been a mistake then, he did know this man. But how? Who the hell was this? Why did his head buzz more than a whole swarm of bees? "I'm sorry, who are you?"
The guy chuckled, and something about it suddenly set Tommy's chest on fire and tightened it like a burning corset. The audacity, the buzzing in his brain suddenly roared. How dare he?!
"Yeah, it makes sense you wouldn't remember me, Tombo."
The world froze around Tommy, the nickname feeling like a punch to the jaw. His breath hitched at the back of his throat, and he grabbed the door frame to not fall when his knees buckled. No. This couldn't be. Not now, not after all these years.
"C'mon, Tombo, I'm gonna teach you how to ride a bike!"
His chest tightened further, the air he knew he was breathing not reaching his lungs. He gasped short, rapidly fastening puffs of air that couldn't get past the ever tightening rope around his ribcage.
"Don't worry, Tombo, it was just a nightmare."
Tears started burning in his eyes, but Tommy's arms felt like lead, too heavy to lift up and wipe them away. He started biting his lip, desperately trying to keep the bile that threatened to crawl up his throat down where it belonged-.
"You wanna help me do some strong-people-stuff, Tombo?"
A sob escaped his mouth as sorrow and wrath clashed in his chest. Sweat started beading at his forehead, and he felt both a cold shiver run down his back, and an unbearable heat rising to his face.
"I know it's hard when our friends move away. That it feels like everyone's leaving you. But I want you to know one thing, Tombo."
The world went from frozen to spinning way too fast in a matter of seconds, and Tommy feared he might actually collapse and vomit all over the ground. He started clawing at the door frame, frantically trying to stay in this reality, to not get swept into his own mind.
"I'm always gonna be here, okay?"
"Dad?"