Work Text:
“Papi, look at me!”
Alex looks up and smiles at his son, squinting against the sun. Benjamin waves wildly at him, before he tucks his chin into his chest and does a somersault in the grass. He lands flat on his ass, his legs spread out wide in front of him, and giggles loudly. His entire body shakes with it, and the apples of his little cheeks turn red. His blonde, shaggy hair is getting long and falls messily over his forehead.
Alex laughs along with him and pumps his fist in the air. “Good job, champ!” He watches Benny fall back into the grass and reach blindly for a dandelion. The wind blows away its pappus as he holds it up into the air. Alex thinks his heart can’t possibly expand any further, but then it does, creating more space for a love that has existed for six years and yet continues to grow.
Spreckles Lake is calm and the sky is entirely clear. It’s probably one of the last beautiful days of summer, but most people have gone back to work by now, so Golden Gate Park is quieter than usual. It feels like bliss. Alex cherishes it silently.
He rolls onto his side and supports his head on his hand, his elbow digging into the soft grass below him. Glancing down at his husband, Alex lets his eyes roam over pale skin, rounded muscle, and soft, blonde hair. Henry’s shirt is rolled up beneath his head, serving him as a pillow, and his eyes are closed. He is not asleep, though, because when Alex’s eyes land on Henry’s face, a small smile tugs on the corners of his mouth.
“I can feel your eyes on me, darling.”
Alex’s heart skips a beat, the way it has always done in Henry’s presence. He’d check himself into a hospital for a full physical if it ever stopped doing that. Christ, he’s so hopelessly in love with this man.
“There’s a lot to look at,” he whispers, reaching out with his free hand to run his fingers through the golden strands of Henry’s hair that fall over his forehead. Then - gently, so as not to wake her - Alex strokes the back of his first finger over Avalee’s cheek.
Their little girl, only nine months old and already feistier than they had prepared for, is taking her afternoon nap in the crook of Henry’s arm, her small, olive skinned hand resting on his chest. Her long lashes flutter against her cheek and she squirms briefly, before settling down again with a happy sigh. Alex has to blink against the tears.
Henry reaches up and runs a hand through Alex soft curls, free from any product. “I know, love,” he whispers, always able to read Alex’s mind, whether it’s running at full speed or calm and collected, like it is now.
Alex takes Henry’s hand and brings it to his mouth, pressing a gentle kiss to each of his knuckles. “We’re rich,” he says, throwing a glance over his shoulder to make sure that Benjamin is still there. Benny waves at him again, before attempting a cartwheel and failing miserably. It never dims his joy.
When he looks back at Henry, his husband bites down on his bottom lip to hide a wide smile. “Quite,” he agrees, before letting the smile break though anyway.
Alex leans in and kisses it. “And to think we’re about to do this parent thing all over again, once the paperwork comes back…”
Henry keens in the back of his throat, widens his smile against Alex’s lips, and then pulls him closer by the back of his neck.