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Elijah had grown into his terrible twos phase far too quickly for Sebastian and Ominis to prepare themselves for. It felt like just yesterday they were bringing the babe home, swaddled in a knit blue blanket, his tiny fists waving sleepily in the air.
"Can you believe how little he is?" Sebastian had cooed into the bassinet beside their bed, his fingers tracing over Elijah's soft hair as if afraid he might disappear.
Ominis had only smiled, rubbing slow circles into Sebastian’s back. His heart swelled at the realization that this was their family now, small and perfect and entirely theirs.
As the months passed, Elijah quickly outgrew his swaddles and the bassinet, moving into the nursery’s crib. But despite that, Ominis often returned home from work in the evenings to find the little one curled against Sebastian’s chest, both of them fast asleep on the couch.
The brunette always held Elijah securely, even in slumber, one hand cradled his head, the other against the diapered bottom. Sebastian would rest his head back against the cushions, mouth slightly parted. Theo, in turn, clung to his father, fingers clenched tight in the loose fabric of Sebastian’s shirt, warm and safe in the place he knew best.
Ominis would pause in the doorway, the scene so familiar and dear to his heart. His fingers would sweep Sebastian’s curls back and press a soft kiss to his husbands forehead.
"Come on, bug," he murmured, barely above a whisper, before gingerly gathering Elijah into his arms.
The infant would stir, a little whimper catching in his throat, but Ominis would hum a gentle, soothing note and Elijah would settle right back down and sleep through the night.
It was perfect. Elijah was an easy baby. Until he wasn't.
~~~
Ominis knew something was wrong from the moment he stepped through the door one early spring evening. The sound of Elijah’s relentless, heart-wrenching screams filled the air, rattling the walls. Then came the sharp clatter of something, most likely a toy, being thrown across the next room over.
He heard his husband let out an exasperated groan. “Elijah, mate,” Sebastian pleaded with the barely two year old, his voice thick with frustration. “I am begging you. What do you want?”
More wailing. More pounding of tiny feet against the floorboards.
Ominis exhaled slowly, clearing his mind of the difficult day at the Ministry. He could rant to Sebastian about it later. Right now, the two people that mattered more than anything else needed him.
He followed the familiar path down the hall and into their small sitting room, guided by the sound of his husband's heavy breathing. “Sebastian,” Ominis murmured.
Sebastian turned towards his voice and Ominis felt the way everything seemed to soften around them, even just for a moment.
“Ominis,” Sebastian breathed out, relief flooding into his voice before quickly morphing back into frustration. “He’s been like this all day.”
Ominis tilted his head to the side, listening. Elijah’s cries were a touch softer now, hardly noticeable but he could tell the toddler was teetering on the edge of exhaustion by stubborn defiance. Ominis wondered where he got that from…
Turning his attention to the man in front of him, it was clear his frustration was teetering on the edge of a full breakdown.
“Come here,” Ominis reached out with a soft voice, as if not to startle either of them.
Sebastian huffed. “Ominis, I really don’t-”
“Love, come here.”
Sebastian hesitated for a brief moment, glancing down at their son still sobbing face down on the floor. Not a second later, he was in his husband's arms. Ominis pulled him close, pressing the other’s face into the crook of his neck. Sebastian inhaled deeply and practically melted into the touch.
“You’re shaking,” Ominis observed, pressing his free hand over Sebastian's heart.
“Yeah, well-” His voice cracked slightly, words muffled against Ominis’ woolen jumper. “He’s been screaming at me since you left this morning, Ominis. I’ve tried everything! I fed him, I changed him, I played with him! I even took him outside for a bit, and do you know what he did? He screamed louder.” He let out a sharp, humorless laugh into Ominis’ neck. “I swear he’s just angry at the air today. I don’t…” He swallowed hard. “I don’t know how to fix it.”
Ominis rubbed his palm over Sebastian’s chest. With his other hand, he combed his fingers through Sebastian’s unruly curls, massaging the scalp with his nails.”You don’t have to fix it,” He pressed his lips to the shell of Sebastian’s ear. “You just have to breathe.”
Sebastian let out a slow, shaky exhale and pressed deeper into Ominis’ shoulder.
Ominis pressed another kiss into his curls. “You are doing so well, love. Take a break. I can take over.”
Sebastian pulled away slightly, shaking his head. “I don’t want to just… just leave him like this.”
“You are not abandoning him,” Ominis said firmly, his hands finding the other’s shoulders. “But right now, you need a minute.” He trailed his fingers down the toned arms to the hands he knew like his own. Ominis brushed his thumb along the smooth wedding band. “Go outside, take a walk. Breathe in the cool air. Let me take care of him now.”
Sebastian nodded slowly. “Alright,” He turned his head, pressing a kiss to his husband's jaw. “You’re right, you’re right… Thank you.”
Ominis hummed and returned the kiss. “Always, my love.”
They shared another gentle kiss before Sebastian stepped away, retreating to the front door. As the door latched shut, Ominis knelt to the ground and reached out for their son, pulling him to his chest.
Elijah’s tiny hands flailed, striking against Ominis in tearful frustration. His sobs still loud and raw as he fought stubbornly. Ominis barely reacted, letting him let it out, his hands smoothing through his hair like he had just done to the babe's other father.
“I know, bug,” He whispered, voice soft and soothing. “You’ve had a big day, haven’t you?”
Their son only whimpered in response, his round cheeks damp against the jumper.
“Shh, it’s okay darling,” Ominis soothed, standing upright. Elijah still felt small in his arms. Yes, he was growing, a mile every day it felt like, but right now, he was still their baby, tiny and overwhelmed and so tired.
Ominis walked them to the nursery, shutting the door behind him and settling into the rocking chair, adjusting the toddler slightly. His breathing was uneven, still caught in the remnants of an overtired fuss but he was soon melting into his fathers chest. Like father, like son.
Ominis traced his fingers along Elijah’s back, drawing soft shapes as he began to sing, softly.
“Close your eyes, have no fear…”
The rocking chair creaked slightly as he moved it, his voice barely more than a whisper. Elijah let out a tiny sigh, fingers curling into the material of Ominis’ jumper as he started to relax.
“The monster’s gone, he’s on the run…”
The door creaked open slowly and Ominis turned his head to where he know Sebastian was standing in the doorway.
“And your daddy’s here…”
Sebastian felt a lump forming in his throat as he stepped closer. Ominis alway had such a lovely singing voice, smooth and gentle. It had changed over the years, settling into something deeper. But when he sang to Elijah, it was filled with adoration and love, raw and unguarded.
Ominis pressed a kiss to Elijah’s soft curls, another trait he inherited from his father.
“Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful…”
Sebastian knelt next to the rocking chair, fingers brushing over his husbands arm before finding Elijah’s tiny hand that instinctively wrapped around his pointer. He kissed Ominis’ temple, who exhaled at the touch still humming softly.
“Beautiful boy~”
Elijah let out a deep sigh, his body finally going completely limp, surrendering to sleep at last.
Ominis stilled for a moment, holding him close, pressing another lingering kiss to their son’s head.
Sebastian smiled, eyes soft with love. “You’re so good with him.”
Ominis pressed his forehead to his husbands. “So are you, my love. Even on the hard days.”
Sebastian’s breath caught in his throat, tears welling in his eyes as he wrapped his arms around his two favorite people. Then, carefully, he leaned down, brushing a kiss to Theo's head.
"Beautiful boy," he whispered.
And in that quiet moment, with his family safe in the hush of the nursery, Sebastian knew everything was exactly as it should be.