Chapter Text
Avery, darling, we really have to leave now or you'll be late for school', Henry tells their daughter as he grabs her coat.
A little girl with red hair and an angry frown crosses her arms from where she's sitting on the floor in her coat. 'How come Emanuelo doesn't have to go to school?" She asks angrily.
"I do, little bit, but biology class got canceled because the teacher is sick. So I get to spend the morning with daddy and then I'll go to school', her older brother tells her from where he's eating his breakfast at their dinner table.
Avery tilts her head curious. 'Does that happen a lot in high school?"
Emanuelo shrugs. 'Sometimes. Dad, can you pretty, please pick up some coffee on the way home?"
Henry rolls his eyes at his teenager. 'We're out of coffee already? I just bought some the other day.'
Emanuelo puts his hands up. "Hey, don't look at me, that was all your husband's fault'.
Henry snorts. 'I'm sure it was. I'm sorry, love, I don't have the time to go grocery shopping. I have a deadline due today and I'm not entirely satisfied with the state of my manuscript Yet.'
Emanuelo tilts his head curiously. 'Can I buy a take-out coffee then?"
Henry grabs five dollars from his wallet and smiles as his son runs toward him.
'Sure, but you're walking, because I need the car to bring Avy to school. And I'm sorry darling, but you're going to have to take the bus to school. Unless you want me to drop you off 2 hours early? Because I need the car for my appointment with my editor later today.'
'I could just drop Avy off at school, Dad? Then you can work on your deadline and I'll come back with takeaway coffee and tea?" Emanuelo offers as he takes a bite of his cereal.
Henry shakes his head. "No, love, Avy is in a mood and you're not her parent, you shouldn't have to deal with her attitude. Don't forget your bus pas, okay?"
Emanuelo shrugs. 'That's all good, dad. Is Papa picking me up from school?"
Henry nods. "That's right, love."
Emanuelo hugs him. 'Thanks for the coffee! Have a good day at school Avy!"
Henry caresses his hand through his son's afro. 'The new shampoo I bought works well, yeah?"
Emanuelo nods. 'Yeah, it's good stuff, thanks.'
Henry picks up Avery from where she's pouting on the floor. 'We really have to leave now, my love.'
'NO! I want to stay home with you? Can I please? You're going to be home to work on your book, right? Please, Daddy!" Avery whines.
Henry shakes his head. ''I'm sorry, love, but you have to go to school. It's the last day, tomorrow it's Saturday and we're going to the London aquarium like I promised, remember?'
"I don't want to go to school', Avery whines. 'I want to stay with you'.
Henry grabs her backpack, tells his son to have a good day at school and leaves their home with a crying toddler on his hip. 'I am sorry, love. I don't make the rules.'
He puts her in her car seat and starts to drive to school.
'I don't want to go to school. You can't make me!" His 5-year-old screams.
Henry sighs. 'I most definitely can, darling'
'You're so mean! Papa would never be so mean to me, Avery cries.
'No? Shall we see what Papa thinks?" Henry asks before dialing his husband's number.
'Hello, sweetheart, I'm busy. Is everything okay?" Alex asks, immediately sounding concerned.
"Everything is fine, dear", Henry reassures him before looking over at Avery who is pouting in her little car seat.
"Our daughter has a quick question for you if that's alright?"
'Oh, yeah, sure, what's up, Avy?" Alex asks
'I have a tummy ache, can I stay home?' Avery lies.
'You have to ask Daddy, he's the one at home, but if you have a tummy ache, I'd say yes. I really have to go now, but I'll be home in the afternoon, okay?" Alex asks her.
'I have to go, babe. Just trust your judgment', he then tells Henry.
'See! Papa thinks I can stay home!'' Avery yells after Henry puts his phone away.
Henry gives her a look. "Because you lied about being sick, love'.
'No, because papa loves me!' Avery protests.
Henry sighs. 'He does and so does daddy. But you know what we said about lying. Now be honest to Daddy, does your tummy really ache?"
Avery shakes her head with a sigh.
'Then you're going to school, love', Henry says as he parks the car.
He undoes her seat and kisses her forehead. 'Have a good day, my love. Papa will pick you up from school, okay?"
'Good! I like him better!' Avery yells.
Henry closes the door behind her. 'Well I like him too, off to school you go'
Avery glares at him as Henry quickly rightens her red braid and then she runs toward her kindergarten.
'Careful, love', Henry yells as he runs after her.
** Avery's pov
Avery is drawing a mermaid when Dawn suddenly says, 'My mommy is mad at my daddy'.
Avery hums. 'I am mad at my daddy too. Why is your mommy mad?"
'He kissed another lady', Dawn whispers.
Avery frowns. 'And that made her mad?"
'Yes! My older sister said it's really mean! We're all mad at daddy now', Dawn explains.
That makes Avery look up curiously.
'So if my daddy kissed another boy my papa would be mad too?" She asks.
Dawn shrugs, 'I think so'.
Avery smiles as he goes back to drawing
***
A few hours later her papa appears in the class. 'Ready to go home, baby?"
'Papa, I missed you!' She yells as she hugs him.
He lifts her up. 'I missed you too, baby.'
Alex carries her to the car and puts her in the car seat.
He stops at the high school of Emanuelo.
'This isn't our house?' Avery points out.
'No, it's not. We're picking up your brother first if that's okay", Alex laughs.
Avery nods and then her brother yanks the other car door open and falls next to her kiddy seat into the backseat.
"My god, swim practice was hard, my bones hurt, I'm getting old', he whines.
'You're 16", Avery says confused.
Alex laughs. 'Guys, I haven't had a second of peace today, I could really use a cup of coffee. I am buying one real quick and then we're going home. What do you guys want?"
"Can I have a coffee with 3 espresso shots?" Emanuelo asks innocently.
Alex snorts. "You think your dad didn't tell me you already had a bootchy coffee today? We're married. We talk. You can have a latte. No espresso shots. Your dad would kill me."
Emanuelo laughs. "Okay, a latte with oat milk and vanilla syrup?"
Alex hums. "Sure. Apple juice for you, Avy?"
Avery grins. "Yes! You're the bestest daddy in the whole world."
"Don't you mean papa?" Alex asks curiously.
"No, I like you better than Daddy now, I've decided", Avery tells him happily.
Alex frowns. "That's not very nice, baby. Daddy loves you so much. Let's be nice to him, okay?"
Then he grabs his wallet. "Emy, could you please make sure your sister stays in the car? I'll be back 5 minutes tops".
Emanuelo looks up from his phone. "Sure thing, papa. Thanks for the coffee."
As Alex leaves Emanuelo turns to his baby sister and puts his phone away.
"So how was your day, Avy?"
Avery smiles. "It was okay. We listened to a story about a witch, we played outside, I made the biggest sandcastle, I drew a mermaid and talked with Dawn about daddy kissing another boy and-"
Emanuelo frowns. 'WHAT did you just say?"
Avery rolls her eyes at him. "A mermaid and-"
"No, about Daddy", Emanuelo says bewildered.
"Oh. Yeah. I uhm totally saw Daddy do that after he parked the car in front of the school", she lies, biting back a giggle.
"Will Papa get mad at him now?" Avery asks as she studies her brother's angry face.
Emanuelo scoffs. "Yes and so will I. But seriously? Right in front of the school? Where everyone could see? Surely he's not that stupid?"
"You can't say stupid", Avery reminds him.
"Yeah, well you can't fucking cheat either", Emanuelo groans as he rubs his face frustratedly.
"What's a cheat?" Avery asks confused.
"It's when married people who promised they'd only ever kiss each other kiss other people", her brother explains angrily.
"And then if they break that promise the other person gets mad?" Avery asks slowly.
"Yes very much so. Jesus Christ, they're probably going to get a divorce now", Emanuelo groans as he puts his face in his hands.
Avery gasps. "What? No! They can't get divorced!"
Emanuelo groans. "Yeah, well papa is stubborn as all hell. He's certainly not staying with a cheater. Ew. I could never see Dad do that, in like a million years. He's always so sweet to Papa and he's such a good person. Are you 100% sure the man you saw was daddy?"
Avery shakes her head. "No! No it wasn't. I lied. I am sorry."
Emanuelo sighs. "Avy. Come on. You didn't lie. You wouldn't just randomly say that. We have to tell Papa."
Avery starts to cry. "NO. You can't tell papa. It's not true!"
Alex's pov
Just then Alex opens the door. "What can't you tell Papa? What's wrong?" He asks worriedly as he hands them their drinks.
"I'm going to tell him", Emanuelo sighs.
"No! No! You can't!" Avery cries.
Alex frowns. "What's wrong?"
"Fuck. Papa. I don't know how to say it", Emanuelo groans.
Alex gives him a look. "Baby, stop swearing in front of your 5-year-old sister. And you can tell me anything."
Emanuelo plays with the lid of his to-go coffee. "Avery says she saw Dad kiss another man this morning. I'm so sorry."
Alex's eyes snap toward his youngest. "What?" He asks bewildered.
"No! No! He's lying! I didn't see anything!" Avery cries.
"You wouldn't just randomly say that, Avy", Emanuelo groans.
Alex frowns.
"Are you okay, papa?" Emanuelo asks
Alex nods slowly. 'My husband wouldn't cheat on me", he says then. He's sure of that.
"He didn't. I lied. He didn't", Avery cries.
Emanuelo frowns. 'I don't buy it. You're only saying that because I said they'd get a divorce."
Alex sighs.
This is exactly not what he needed on top of the shit day he's already had.
He turns to his son to assure him. "No one is getting a divorce. I'm sure Avery just saw someone that looked like daddy. She's run-up to the wrong man in the grocery store like 5 times. Or maybe he kissed someone on the cheek. My baby wouldn't kiss someone else.'
He's sure of that.
Emanuelo nods. 'You're probably right."
Alex sighs again. "Are you two okay for 5 minutes? I just want to - get some air"
Emanuelo nods. "Yeah, sure."
He looks at his oldest. "I know you're not her babysitter. I'll pay you. I just-"
His son waves him off. "Papa, it's cool. I get it."
Alex closes the door behind him and groans. His day was stressful enough without this bullshit.
He walks around the park for a few minutes, his mind is racing, but he's still unable to think of any scenario where Henry actually cheated on him.
Plus Henry is not stupid.
He wouldn't do it in front of their kid and an entire school.
Everybody knows elementary school parents tend to gossip.
But then why would Avery lie about that?
She did say she was mad at her daddy.
He drowns his coffee and throws the cup away before walking back to the car and driving his kids home.
He tries to get his mind off his daughter's confession as much as possible.
****
A few hours later, after they've already eaten dinner, Henry comes home.
At the exact time, he said he would.
Because it's Henry.
"Hey, baby, how did your meeting go?" Alex asks from the couch.
Henry smiles. "Wonderful.'
Emajuelo awkwardly waves at his father from where he was watching a movie with his papa. "Hi. Dad."
Henry walks over to hug him and then to kiss his husband.
Alex shakes his head. Henry frowns. "What's wrong, love?"
"Can we talk first?" Alex asks.
Emanuelo shoots up. "I'll be in my room".
He runs out of the living room, leaving a confused Henry behind.
"What is happening?" Henry asks slowly.
"Can you sit down, babe?" Alex asks.
"Is something wrong with Avery?" Henry asks concerned as he looks around the room.
Aled shakes his head. "No. Nothing is wrong. I don't think. Look I want to start off by saying I trust you, okay?"
Henry frowns. "Why wouldn't you trust me? We've been together for twenty years. We're married with kids. Our eldest is 16."
Alex nods. "I know. I was there when we adopted Emanuelo from an orphanage in Uganda when he was 5. I was also there when we adopted Avery from foster care when she was 2. Plus at our wedding. And I just said that I do trust you, babe.'
"But?" Henry asks sharply.
Alex sighs. "There isn't a but. I just want to tell you what happened."
Henry nods slowly. "Alright. I'm listening."
Alex groans. "Okay. So when I picked up the kids from school Emanuelo told me that Avery told him that she saw you kissing another man at the school this morning. Of course, I do not-"
Henry stands up so fast he knocks over their lamp. "You've got to be fucking kidding me!" He yells out.
Alex sighs. "Babe. Avery is asleep. And it's 9 pm, the neighbors will get mad."
Henry clenches his fists. "Oh, I am sorry that I am a little taken off guard that my bloody own daughter is trying to sabotage my marriage because I told her she had to go to school."
Alex sighs again. "Babe, our marriage is fine, I just-"
"Oh. Yes. I'm sure it is. That's why you believed an angry five-year-old over your partner of 2 decades!" Henry screams.
Alex stands up now too. "Babe, I never said I believed her. I-"
"Don't you babe me!" Henry screams.
"Wow. Hey. There is no need to get this angry. I never said I believed her", Alex says calmly as he tries to walk toward Henry.
"Don't bloody touch me", he hisses.
Alex groans. "Jesus. Babe. I wasn't even accusing you of anything!"
Henry scoffs. "Oh yes. That's why you wouldn't let me kiss you. Because you don't believe her."
Alex sighs. "Babe, I hardly think it's such a crime to want to talk to my husband."
Henry rubs his face frustratedly. "Well, I hardly think it's such a bloody crime to tell my daughter she has to go to school. But apparently, I am now a monster! I don't know who I feel more betrayed by. My husband for even considering I may have cheated on him this morning or my daughter who told him I did. She already told me that she liked Papa better when I said she had to go to school and now she's also trying to ruin my life apparently!!
Alex raises an eyebrow at him. "Damn, are we raising a psychopath?" He asks teasingly.
That, surprisingly makes Henry laugh despite it all.
Alex smiles as he opens his arms. "Come here, babe, I'm sorry."
Henry groans but walks over to his husband and lets him hug him.
"You really didn't believe her?" Henry asks softly.
Alex sighs. "Of course not. I know you. But it did catch me off guard. I didn't believe you'd do that to me, but it also didn't make sense to me that she'd lie about seeing you kiss someone. I didn't even know she knew what cheating is."
Henry groans. "She's 5! What is she going to do when she's 15 and gets mad at me? Hire an assassin to have me offed?"
Alex laughs as he drags him to the couch. "I'd protect you, babe", he promises.
***
Ellmanuelo walks into Avery's bedroom and kneels next to her bed. "Hey, little bit, are you okay?" He asks his little sister as she continues to cry.
"I am a monster", she hiccups.
Emanuelo crawls into the pink bed and hugs her to his chest. "Of course not, Avy."
"Daddy is super mad. He's yelling! He never yells!"
"You did the right thing, sweetheart", Emanuelo says sweetly.
"No. You don't understand. I lied", she cries.
Emanuelo frowns. "No you didn't. You're just saying that because I said they'd get a divorce. But it's okay. They're probably not getting a divorce. Papa trusts Daddy. And I actually do too. He's such a love-sick fool and a sweet man there is no way he cheated. Papa thinks you saw another man that looked like Daddy. That's probably what happened. I'm sure there are many blonde, 6 6-foot men, walking around in London. That doesn't make you a liar though. You thought you saw Daddy."
"No. No I didn't. I was just mad at him", Avery cries.
Emanuelo raises an eyebrow at her. "What do you mean, Avy?"
Avery groans as she climbs out of her bed. "I was mad at Daddy! And Papa always tells me I can't be mean to Daddy! He's always like if you want to be mean to someone be mean to me. So I thought if Papa was mad at Daddy too he would let me be mad at him! I didn't know the kissing thing was such a bad thing! It was just a little lie."
Emanuelo climbs out of the little bed too. "Hold on so you didn't see daddy kiss another man? You just said that because he made you go to school?"
Avery nods as she continues to cry.
"For fucks sake, Avy!" Emanuelo groans before running down the stairs toward his parents.
"Papa! It was a false alarm! Avery didn't see-" he interrupts himself when he arrives in the living room to find both his fathers cuddled up on the couch.
He rolls his eyes at them. "I should have known it would take more than a lie from an evil 5-year-old to break up you love-sick fools".
"I don't think I like our children very much", Henry complains from where he's lying on Alex's chest, making his husband and Emanuelo laugh.
Their son walks over to his fathers and throws himself on top of them.
"Christ. Why did we have kids again?" Henry asks dramatically as he tumbles to the floor with his son on top of him.
Emanuelo laughs as he hugs his dad. "I'm so sorry for believing Avery."
Henry smiles. "It's alright, love. I'm not mad at you."
Emanuelo nestles his head into Henry's chest. "I'm still sorry, I should have known better. I love you dad."
"I love you too, darling", Henry promises.
Alex throws the blanket on top of the puddle of men on the floor making them laugh.
"I'm so glad you guys aren't getting divorced. This is the only loving household I've ever lived in', Emanuelo sighs.
"Never. Although your sister sure as fuck tried to change that", Alex laughs.
As if on cue tiny footsteps hiver down the stairs.
'Speaking of the devil", Alex whispers jokingly before he gets up from the couch to walk toward the stairs.
He lifts Avery up and carries her to the living room.
She's still crying.
"What did we say about lying, Mija?" Alex asks as he rubs her back.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know it was illegal to kiss other boys if you're married!" She yells out.
"It's not illegal, it's just very mean", Alex explains.
Avery lifts up her little head to look at Henry. "Do you hate me now, Daddy?"
Henry sighs. "No, darling."
"But you were. yelling! You never yell", Avery cries.
Henry nods. "I was mad yes. But I don't hate you, my love. I could never hate you"
"Promise?" Avery asks quietly.
Henry gets up from the floor to take her from his husband's arms.
"Don't drop me because you're mad!' Avery yells out.
Henry sighs loudly. "Avery, can you stop acting like Daddy is a monster?"
Avery climbs further into his arms. "I am sorry."
Henry nods. "I know. But you have to stop lying, darling."
"Do you forgive me?" Avery asks.
Henry kisses her little head. "If you stop lying, then yes."
Avery holds up her pinky making Henry laugh who mirrors her.
"And say sorry for being mean to Daddy when he just brought you to school", Alex says.
"I am sorry, daddy. I wanted to stay home with you", Avery whispers.
Henry smiles. "It's alright, darling."
"But no aquarium tomorrow. As a punishment", Alex tells her.
"No! Daddy promised me", Avery cries.
"Yes, but you were super mean to Daddy today, baby", Alex reminds her.
"It's okay, Alex. She said she was sorry", Henry tries.
Alex rolls his eyes at his husband. "Yes, babe. I heard her. And she's forgiven. But we can't let this behavior go unpunished. It's really dangerous if she just walks around lying about everything. Who knows what kind of trouble she will cause? What if the next time she's mad at us she lies about one of us hitting her and social services comes to take her away? We have to stop this behavior while we're still ahead."
"I will never ever do it again, Papa", Avery cries.
Alex nods. "That's good, mija. But the punishment stays."
"But you're not even home tomorrow! I was going to go to the aquarium with Daddy! So he gets to decide if we go!" Avery cries out.
Alex shakes his head. "Baby, Daddy and I are both your parents. We both raise you. And I say no you're not going. You were mean to Daddy and there are consequences for that."
"You're always so dramatic when someone is mean to Daddy!" Avery groans.
Alex walks over to them to kiss Henry. "Yes, someone has to stand up for him. We all know he's not going to do it so That's my job as his husband."
"I want someone to love me as much as y'all love each other when I'm older", emanuelo sighs.
"You will love. Come on, Avy. Back to bed", Henry says as he carries her toward the stairs.
"But emanuelo is still awake!" She protests.
"Yes, it's Friday night and he's 11 years older than you", Alex reminds her.