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“That was Mary, the kids will be here in half an hour.” Stede says.
“Half an hour, right, I can do this.” Ed replies, taking a deep breath.
Stede knows how nervous Ed is, this will be the first time he’s met the kids. He knows they’re going to adore him, but that doesn’t help Ed’s anxiety around the situation.
“It’s gonna be fine darling, we’ll take them to the aquarium, stuff them with pizza, and send them back to Mary.”
Ed huffs. “Sounds easy when you say it like that.”
“It’s not always easy, but it’s rewarding, and a lot of fun, they really are great kids.”
“I’m excited to meet them, I’m just worried about what they’ll think about me.” Ed sighs.
“They’ll probably think you’re the coolest person they’ve ever seen, just like I did the first time I saw you.”
“Flatterer.” Ed smiles, giving Stede a kiss.
Stede knows he’s biased, but he really does think they’re great kids, and he can’t wait to introduce them to Ed. He’s in constant awe of their little personalities as they continue to get older. His eldest, 6 year old Alma, is a perfect mix of Mary and him. She has a strong love of books and the theatre just like Stede, even attending a weekend stage school. But she’s also incredibly artistic which can only be related to Mary, as well as being incredibly strong willed and independent.
Stede can also see a lot of similarities in his younger child, Louis, the 4 year old is a lot more reserved than Alma ever was, something Stede can relate to. The boy prefers to spend his time alone playing with Lego, and is always very quiet especially around new people.
Ed seems to have calmed slightly by the time the doorbell goes, but Stede can still see how worried he looks.
“It’s going to be fine, darling, if you need help with anything or something gets too much, just talk to me okay?” Stede assures him.
“Okay.” Ed confirms. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful.” Stede compliments, before going to answer the door.
“Daddy!” Alma and Louis shout in unison as they run up to him, wrapping their arms around him.
“Hi my darlings.” Stede replies, leaning down to kiss them both on the top of their heads.
Louis freezes when he spots Ed hovering in the hallway, quickly moving to hide behind his dad’s leg. Alma however, is a lot more social, another trait she gets more from Mary.
“Is that Ed?” Alma asks.
“It is. Kids, this is my boyfriend Ed, Ed this is Alma and Louis.”
“Hi.” Ed says, waving awkwardly.
Alma waves back whilst Louis remains hidden.
“Right kids, go say bye to mommy and then we can go.”
Whilst the kids are occupied with Mary, Stede uses it as an opportunity to check on Ed.
“You okay darling?”
“Do you think they like me?” Ed asks.
“Of course they do, don’t mind Louis he’s just shy.” Stede assures him.
“Maybe he’d feel more comfortable if I wasn’t here.” Ed says sadly.
“Well he probably would, but you’re my boyfriend and he’ll have to get used to you being around. It was the same when Mary started seeing Doug, but he soon warmed up to him, and the same will happen with you, I assure you.”
Ed nods, “okay, let’s do this then.”
Stede occasionally glances at Ed as he drives to the aquarium, offering the man a reassuring smile when they make eye contact. He can tell Ed is still unsure on how to interact with the kids, fortunately just like Stede, Alma is a chatterbox.
“Ed, did you know there’s going to be jellyfish at the aquarium?” Alma asks. “They’re daddy’s favourite.”
“Is that so?” Ed replies. “I can see why, they’re very pretty. Are they your favourite too?”
Alma thinks for a second before replying, “no, I think the seahorses are my favourite.” She decides.
“That’s a very good choice too.” Ed agrees.
Stede’s heart warms at the interaction between two of his favourite people.
There’s a short silence before Alma asks “What’s your favourite, Ed?”
“Sharks.” Ed replies almost immediately, “I just think they’re so cool.”
“There’s sharks at the aquarium.” Alma reassures him, excited that Ed can see his favourite creature.
“What about you Louis?” Ed asks, trying to involve the young boy in their conversation.
Stede replies for him when he realises Louis is too shy to reply himself. “Louis loves turtles, don’t you bud?”
Stede glances in his rear view mirror to see Louis nodding lightly, “yes, like Crush.”
“Crush is the turtle in Finding Nemo.” Stede adds in case Ed isn’t a Disney fan.
“I knew that, love that film me. Is that your favourite film, Louis?”
“Mhm.”
Stede doesn’t miss the small smile that graces Ed’s lips, happy with his accomplishment of at least getting a reply out of Louis, albeit a small one.
As they enter the aquarium, Stede is suddenly quite aware that this is their first family outing, he finds himself smiling as they all walk through the lobby. He takes Ed’s hand as they walk under the tunnel, the kids already running off to closely observe the schools of fish swimming around them.
Ed joins Alma who is eagerly watching the seahorses, whilst Stede checks on Louis.
“Daddy, look it’s Nemo!” Louis exclaims, pointing at a small clownfish weaving in and out of some coral.
“So it is, hi there Nemo,” Stede greets, kneeling down beside his son.
“Can we go see Crush now?” Louis asks.
“Sure bud, lead the way.”
Louis rushes over to Alma who’s in charge of the map in hope that she’ll help him find the turtle exhibit. Stede assumes it’s successful as they’re soon running off again. He takes Ed’s hand once again as they follow after them.
“I forgot how lively kids can be,” Ed admits.
“They certainly keep me on my toes,” Stede replies with a smile.
It’s not long before they come to a standstill again, Louis’ face pressed up against the glass as he watches the turtles in awe.
“Can you see Crush?” Stede asks.
Louis nods enthusiastically, “mhm, it’s that one.”
“Oh right of course, I should know that, seen the film enough times.”
“Don’t knock it, it’s a great film,” Ed interjects.
“It’s fine the first fifty times,” Stede replies sarcastically.
Alma joins them with the map in her hands, obviously taking her job seriously. “Ed, I found where the sharks are, do you wanna go see them?”
Ed smiles at her, obviously happy to be included. “Thanks Alma, let’s wait until Louis’ had enough time with the turtles first, yeah?”
Alma nods, “okay.”
But it seems that might be easier said than done, as Louis is not keen to move away from the turtles.
Ed kneels beside Louis, wincing slightly as his knee twinges. Stede watches from a distance, not wanting to interject unless necessary.
“The turtles have to go to sleep now buddy, but we can come back another day to see them.” Ed says gently.
“They do?” Louis asks, his attention turning to Ed before averting back to the turtles.
“Yeah, and if they’re anything like me they’ll be real cranky if they don’t get enough sleep, we wouldn’t want that would we?”
Louis shakes his head, “no.”
“Good boy, why don’t we say night night to them?”
“Night night Crush, night night other turtles, see you soon.” Louis gives them all a little wave before slowly moving away from the tank.
Stede gives Ed a hand up. “Thanks for that,” he whispers.
“I hope I didn’t overstep.” Ed admits.
“Not at all you were great with him, takes me a lot longer normally to coax him away.”
“Ed, look!” Alma exclaims, pointing at the tank of sharks now in front of them.
Stede watches with a smile on his face as Ed joins Alma, helping her identify the species of shark. Louis stays close to Stede’s side, slightly unsure of the looming sea creatures.
“You okay buddy?” Stede asks, kneeling down to comfort his son.
Louis nods but he still doesn’t seem sure. “They’re quite big.”
“They are, but they’re very friendly sharks.”
“They are?”
“Yeah, look how calm they’re being with Ed and your sister.”
Louis follows Stede’s gaze to where Ed and Alma are still standing by the shark tank, currently laughing at one of the sharks that is currently up close to the glass.
“I like Ed.” Louis says, taking Stede by surprise, it’s very rare that he warms up to someone so quickly.
“He likes you too sweetheart.”
Louis takes a few tentative steps towards the pair until he’s by Ed’s side, seemingly feeling braver about the sharks after Stede’s reassurance. Stede continues watching from afar, he takes his phone out to sneakily take a photo of the three of them as they continue to enjoy the exhibit.
“Can we get pizza now?” Alma asks as they leave the aquarium.
“Actually, I was just gonna use the bathroom before we go, if that’s okay?” Ed interjects.
“Okay darling, we’ll meet you in the car.” Stede replies.
“And then can we get pizza?” Alma asks again.
“Yes and then we can get pizza.” Stede assures her.
“Yay!” Both kids celebrate in unison.
When Ed returns to the car, Stede can’t help but notice the gift bag in Ed’s grasp. Stede gives him a questioning look.
“I hope this is okay.” Ed whispers, “I just wanted to get them both a little something.”
“That’s really kind of you darling.”
Ed takes the first object out of the bag - a plushie turtle which he hands to Louis. The young boy takes it with a large grin on his face.
“Crush!” Louis exclaims, holding the plushie close.
“What do you say buddy?” Stede prompts.
“Thank you Ed.”
“You’re welcome bud.” Ed replies.
The second item is a plushie seahorse which Alma accepts enthusiastically. “I love her, thank you Ed.”
“No problem.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” Stede whispers to his boyfriend.
“I know.” Ed replies.
“Pizza, pizza, pizza!” The kids chant as Stede pulls up outside the restaurant. Ed chuckles beside him, obviously amused by their antics.
“Don’t encourage them.” Stede chides, but he’s laughing too.
The four of them slide into a booth, Stede and Louis on one side, and Ed and Alma on the other.
“You might want to order your own pizza I’m afraid, we’re a family of pineapple on pizza lovers here.” Stede admits sheepishly.
“You’re kidding?” Ed replies.
“Afraid not, Mary always teased us for it, but I don’t see how her olive pizza is any better.”
“I love pineapple on pizza.” Ed says.
“Really?” Stede asks.
“Yeah, my mate Izzy always makes fun of me for it, but I stand by it being the best pizza topping.”
“Hawaiian pizza all round then.”
The four of them happily munch through their pizza, making small talk in between bites of sweet and salty goodness. It just feels right, like they’re just another family having a meal together. Stede looks to Ed, their eyes meeting across the table as they share a smile. He’s in awe at how easily this man as slipped into their lives in such a short time, it’s like a glance into what their future could look like.
By the time they arrive at Mary’s, both kids are overtired, clutching their new plushies as they try to fight sleep.
“Say bye to your father, kids.” Mary prompts them.
“Bye daddy.” The kids say in unison, giving him a large hug.
“Bye my darlings.” Stede replies, squeezing them back.
This part was always the hardest, as tiring it can be having kids, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Go inside kids, I’ll be right there.” Mary says.
Alma and Louis nod, giving Stede one more hug before they head up the path, turning to wave bye to Ed who’s sat in the passenger's seat.
“So, how did it go?” Mary asks as soon as the kids have gone inside.
“It was really good actually, Louis was shy at first but he really warmed up to Ed, and Alma was her usual chatty self.”
“I knew it would, Ed’s a great guy Stede, you two are made for each other.”
“Thanks Mary.” Stede replies, giving Mary a small hug.
“Go enjoy the evening with your boyfriend.” Mary teases.
Stede looks to where Ed’s sitting in the car, wondering how a man can look so beautiful just sitting there. “Oh I will.”
Stede’s relieved when he can finally sink into his plush sofa, Ed sits next to him, wrapping an arm around Stede’s shoulder.
“You didn’t tell me that looking after kids was so exhausting.” Ed sighs as he sinks further into the sofa.
“I’m pretty sure I told you plenty of times actually.”
“I dunno, can’t remember you mentioning it. But seriously, I had a great time today, thank you for letting me be a part of it.”
“Thank you for being so amazing with them.” Stede replies.
“They’re great kids.”
“That they are.” Stede confirms.
“Ooh I nearly forgot.” Ed picks up the gift bag that Stede had assumed was now empty. “I got you this.”
Ed picks out a little jellyfish plushie and hands it to Stede who takes it gratefully, holding it close to examine it.
“Oh Ed, I love them thank you.”
“I just wanted to show you how much I appreciate you letting me be a part of today, and I hope that maybe I could join you again in the future.”
“Of course you can, today was amazing, the kids and I adore you, we’d love to have you join us again.”
Stede snuggles up to Ed, clutching his jellyfish plush to his chest, it really had been a very good day.