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“Daddy! Daddy!” he called in his sweet little voice and Lightning could hear his little bare feet running across the floor. There was silence for a moment, perhaps the little boy struggled to climb onto his parents’ bed and Lightning opened his eyes a little bit in wonderment as to where he was. But the next moment something jumped on him with the cutest giggle.
“Daddy Daddy! Wake up!” Lightning’s son said and Lightning groaned as the clock showed just 6:04 a.m. He pulled the blanket over his head but couldn’t help but grin as the little person continued to jump on him like on a trampoline. Only three years old and already so much energy. Maybe that’s why. The smaller the more energy. Lightning was definitely not a morning person. But apparently, his child was.
“Why don’t you go wake up Mommy?” Lightning asked, yawned, and tried to turn over again to go back to sleep. Off-season used to mean that he didn't start the day before 11 a.m. But he wouldn't have traded this little bundle of joy for anything in this world.
"It's your turn," Sally whispered and Lightning could hear the grin in her voice. She was right. Yesterday he was allowed to sleep a little longer and Sally had taken care of him. Today it was his turn.
Lightning grinned now too. "Just don't miss the pancakes I'm going to make," Lightning said quietly, turned onto his side to face Sally, and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"I'll be there on time," she said and Hudson jumped excitedly on Lightning again.
"Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes," he called excitedly. Sometimes Lightning wondered how the little one could have such good ears. He had really only said it quietly to Sally.
When he turned on his back to get up, the bundle of joy landed on his stomach. He was a heavy bundle of joy. After a huff and an attempt to breathe after the air attack, Lightning grabbed his son, got up, and spun Hudson around. Loud giggles filled the quiet room and the biggest smile appeared on the kid's face.
His son's laughter was one of the most beautiful things there was for Lightning. Every time his heart was enveloped by this warm soft feeling and the urge to keep the kid laughing.
After Lightning had helped Hudson get dressed - of course, Hudson's favorite shirt, the fabulous Hudson Hornet fan shirt with the 51 on it, and the Lightning McQueen cap in addition to black pants - they went into the kitchen.
It was raining outside and it was always particularly cozy in here on rainy days.
Hudson stood on a chair so he could watch Lightning make breakfast. He was a little bit away so as not to be near the stove but he knew he wasn't supposed to touch it anyway.
"Daddy?" Little Hudson asked with his big blue eyes widened expectantly.
"Yes, buddy?" Lightning said while trying to flip a pancake in the pan. He used to be absolutely unable to cook. Sally had already taught him a few things, but the pancake ended up crumpled in the pan. Lightning frowned at the pancake but let it go. Pancake pieces were okay too.
"You telled me I come from Mommy's tummy," Hudson began.
"Yes, exactly," Lightning confirmed and tried to somehow save the pancake with a spatula.
"How I getted there daddy?"
Lightning almost dropped the pan but held on tight to the grip. That question of all questions caught him off guard.
"How did you get there?" Lightning repeated to gain time.
"Yes," Hudson said and looked at him expectantly.
"Well, why don't you ask Mommy, huh?" Lightning said. Good tactic. Sally definitely knows the better answer.
"Mommy is in shower," Hudson's reply came.
Bad timing Mommy.
He's too young for the bees and flowers topic.
"Remember how we planted a little seed in a flowerpot and now it's already a tiny plant?" Lightning asked, putting the shredded pancake on a plate.
Hudson nodded.
"Good, and you grew in Mommy's tummy in a similar way. First, you were little and then you grew into a wonderful baby. Does that answer your question?"
Please, please.
"No," came the honest answer and Lightning sighed.
As if on cue, the doorbell rang at that moment. Excitedly, Hudson climbed down the chair and rushed to the door. Next to the door was a window and underneath was a bench that Hudson then climbed onto. And when he saw who was at the door he squealed with joy. "Grandpa Doc!" he called excitedly and jumped up and down on the bench.
Lightning chuckled as he went to the door and opened it. Before he could say anything, Hudson slipped through and jumped into Doc's arms. Lightning's mentor laughed, spun the boy around, and then hugged him. "Morning Huddy, my buddy," he said and Hudson then pushed himself off Doc when he realized how wet he was from the rain.
"Wet!" he called and Doc let him down. Lightning got a pat on the shoulder.
"Hey, rookie."
"Hey, Doc. You came just in time," Lightning said.
"For what?" Doc asked, went inside, and took off his wet coat.
Little Hudson had run off in the meantime and came back with a towel. He proudly held it out to Doc, who then took it to dry his wet hair a bit. "Thanks, buddy," he said and Lightning wondered where the towel came from. He hoped it wasn't from the dirty laundry pile. But he didn't say anything. Doc had already dried himself with it.
"Difficult subject," Lightning whispered.
"Oh, that one?" Doc asked with a wink.
"Yes, that one. He's all yours," Lightning answered, watching Doc picking up Hudson and going into the living room while Lightning went back to the kitchen and finished the pancakes.
Luckily, Doc didn't live far from here. They had only moved a few streets away from Doc's house. Radiator Springs was too beautiful to ever leave and rarely a day went by when they didn't run into Doc in this small town.
"Stickers," Sally said as she came around the corner, freshly dressed, hair wrapped in a towel.
"Hey darling," Lightning said and they kissed while Lightning still held the pan.
"How are your pancakes?"
"Had seen better days," Lightning said and Sally chuckled when she saw his attempt. "Is Doc there?" she then asked, having heard him in the living room.
Lightning nodded. "Yeah, keeping munchkin busy while I'm cooking."
And the next pancakes went better. Sally showed him a few helpful moves and soon enough they had a good amount of pancakes on a plate.
Not long after, they set the table with everything they needed and called the two Hudsons to the table.
"Grandpa Doc said I'm a cake," little Hudson said proudly and climbed onto the chair at the kitchen table.
"Did he, sweetheart?" Sally asked and sat down next to him.
Hudson nodded. "And you and Daddy maked me together like cake," he said.
Lightning, who was sitting on Hudsons’s other side looked at Doc in confusion. "Care to explain?"
With a grin, Doc joined them at the table. "I told him it works like a cake recipe. But you only need two ingredients. Mommy and Daddy are crucial. Everyone adds an ingredient and voila... little cake," he said and gestured to little Hudson.
Lightning raised his eyebrows. He wasn't sure what to think about that but he was glad Doc handled that conversation with Hudson. And the kid seemed to be content now, even though it was still explained vaguely.
"Good, then we've cleared that up. Enjoy your meal,” Sally said and they ate pancakes with syrup, chocolate, and fresh fruits.
Hudson's questions brought Lightning back to the day Hudson came into their life. Lightning remembered it as if it were yesterday. In the middle of one of the most crucial races, Sally went into labor. It wasn't even anywhere nearby. Far away in Florida, Sally had to go to the hospital because she had been watching Lightning's big race. Hudson came a week early but Lightning stopped the race and arrived just in time.
“Let me tell you something,” Lightning said when he had finished eating. Hudson was still eating and looked at his father with big expectant eyes. He loved stories and Lightning started. A warm feeling came over him as he remembered.
"Stickers," Sally said when she saw him. Relief could be seen on her face.
"I'm here," Lightning said as he took her hand and kissed her forehead. Sally was in the middle of labor. Everything was going well, the baby was on the way. Doc stood a little to the side, always ready if he was needed.
With each contraction, Sally squeezed his hand as hard as she could and Lightning tried to encourage her.
He was a wreck. Emotionally drained.
Even though Sally did most of the work, Lightning was shaking and sweating. Everything was more extreme than he had imagined. Sally was breathing fast and Lightning copied her breathing. Suddenly he felt dizzy.
He didn't even realize at first that he fainted and Doc caught him before he could fall on the ground.
"Easy there, son," Doc said as Lightning opened his eyes again and looked around confused. Lightning was lying on the floor, his head on Doc's lap.
"It's okay. Sometimes the soon-to-be-dads pass out during birth," Doc said to calm him down. He probably saw Lightning's confused face. Lightning frowned when he saw Doc trying to suppress a grin. And Sally laughed. She couldn't stop.
"Hey come on," Lightning said in defense but also had to smile.
"Don't distract your wife," the nurse said smiling. "Keep pushing sweetie."
“You falled to the ground?” Hudson asked.
"Yeah, you could call it that. I fell asleep," Lightning said. "Do you remember what Doc said about fainting?"
Lightning could almost see the little wheels turning in Hudson's head. "Yes, Grandpa Doc said it's… in... inlovon... invlolontawy sleeping."
Lightning chuckled at the cute attempt to say involuntarily. "That's Right. Involuntarily sleeping. I was so excited about your arrival that I landed on the ground."
"He remembered that word," Doc said, smiling. "Good job buddy!"
Hudson smiled proudly and looked back at his father to listen to the story.
Sally finally calmed down and Doc slowly helped Lightning to get up.
He went back to his place and held Sally's hand. But this time Doc held Lightning steady on both of his shoulders. Lightning never thought he would need support.
It was a quick birth, thankfully. The next moment they could hear a baby crying and the little one was lying on Sally's chest.
Lightning stared at the little human in awe. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
Doc still held him tightly by the shoulders because Lightning was so unstable.
He reached out and gently stroked the few hairs the baby had. Lightning's heart was racing fast. Everything felt different. A feeling he had never felt before.
“I’m so proud of you,” he whispered to Sally and she looked like the proudest mother in the world.
The little boy in Sally's arms was beautiful. His little fingers, his little feet. He was perfect. His little face with the sweet wrinkles.
“Congratulations,” Doc said to Lightning and Sally, his gaze never leaving the baby.
The little one was briefly examined by the doctor and nurse and was given a wooly hat. Red, like Lightning's color. He was a healthy little boy and that was the most important thing. Lightning could hardly believe his luck. That was definitely the best day of his life.
Sally held the boy in her arms and after he had his first meal, Lightning was allowed to hold him.
He took him in his arms.
It was as if the world around him was no longer there. Only him and his son. Everything else didn't matter. Lightning looked into the sweet face and tears ran down his face. Even after the very few seconds, their bond grew so strong that Lightning would've protected this little one with everything he had.
"Hey buddy," he whispered. "You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen... I love you so much."
And he never wanted to give him away again. It was his. His and Sally's.
"He looks like you," Doc said quietly and Lightning looked at him. Doc was standing next to him. He hadn't even noticed.
Lightning carefully gave the little boy to Doc. He should also feel the happiness of holding his grandson.
Doc held the boy in his arms and smiled so brightly. He sat down on a chair and felt a warm feeling in his chest. "I think..." Doc started to say with a trembling voice as he looked at Lightning, "You have to share your number one place in my heart from now on."
Lightning chuckled. "I'm okay with that. Hey, did you see his name?"
And Doc looked at the hospital ribbon around the baby's wrist.
Hudson McQueen
Doc couldn't take it anymore. Now tears were running down his cheeks as he looked at baby Hudson and held him tightly in his arms. It was such a great honor for Doc that the little one carried his name. He couldn't even describe it. A quick look at Sally and Lightning told him that they were both happy.
This was one of the most beautiful moments of his life - without a doubt.
"Again!" Hudson said as Lightning finished the story.
"Again?" Lightning chuckled and tapped Hudson's cute little nose with his finger. “Maybe later. You should eat your pancake.“
Hudson nodded and tried to lift the pancake with his fork. He failed and took the pancake with his hands instead. Liquid chocolate dripped all over the fabulous Hudson Hornet shirt and Lightning was already thinking about which one they were going to change into after breakfast.
Sally looked at him with that look he loved so much. Lightning sat next to Hudson and Sally sat on Hudson's other side. Lightning reached out behind the kid and took Sally's hand in his, squeezed it a bit, and smiled at her.
And a look at Doc revealed to him that his mentor was so touched by the story that unshed tears glistened in his eyes. Lightning knew Hudson's birth had been emotional for Doc too.
They exchanged a knowing glance and Lightning felt happy - this was his family and he couldn't help but feel contentment deep inside as he watched his little perfect family.
"Love you, Daddy," Hudson whispered to him, mouth full of pancakes, and Lightning's heart melted.
"Love you too my boy," Lightning whispered back. "Love you too."
