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Johnny made a habit of sneaking around at ungodly times of the evening.
Whether it be a snack, or something to keep him at ease like turning on the television and watching a show, you'd wake up unpleasantly cold and the other side of the bed lonely.
You patted the mattress just to make sure, slowly rising from the bed as you stomped around the compound, looking for your boyfriend in his late adventures and random inquiries for things he definitely did not need at the moment.
Except this time- this time wasn't what you expected. He wasn't in the kitchen, living room, nor on the balcony.
He was cradling Franklin while exiting from Sue and Reed's shared room, cooing while rubbing his cheek with his, mumbling don't cry's, your favorite uncle's here now.
Your heart almost exploded. The sight stunned you so much so that you were very, very awake now. And very intent on watching the scene unfold in front of you.
Franklin's little fist was gripping onto a strand of Johnny's hair, giggling as he rocked him up and down while spinning slowly. He made little woosh noises like he was flying, gently raising his hands up and down to simulate it.
When he made the full 360, he met your eyes and immediately stood straight, stopping in his tracks with Franklin following, also just noticing your presence.
"Hey..! Baaabbe.." unsure of how you'd react to him being up so late while also bothering the baby had beads of sweat already collecting on his forehead, trying to sweetly call your nickname like a persuasion into no lectures this time around.
Instead of a stern tone or a mocking phrase, you had simply replied with "You're insane, you know that?" Light and airy.
That stunned him even more- disbelief covered his features as you took a few strides towards him, disheveled appearance not sparing you any mind while you ran a finger through his soft locks, then cupped his head as you pressed a kiss to his cheek, then one to match on Franklin.
His ears immediately flushed, and he malfunctioned as you giggled.
"You're so cute- and lucky. Very lucky."
"wait" he whines, reaching for your wrist as he adjusts Franklin to a better position over his hip.
He pouts as he says it, "Proper kiss?" And perks his lips dramatically into a kissy face.
You huff out a laugh before your hand splays across his shoulder, finding yourself gently molding against him, smile wide and cheeky as his free hand cradles your neck to deepen it.
You slap his chest at that, "Johnny! The baby"
"He's doin' okay!" And almost on cue, Franklin starts to babble and cutely claps his hands, making Johnny swell with pride and both a satisfactory tendency to prove himself right.
"See?" He comments lowly, like saying I told you so in his own manner.
"Now, how are we gonna get the little one back to bed now that you've woken him up with all your sweetness and kisses, hmm?" He retorts,
"Bottle! On it ma'am" and you struggle not to let out a laugh as he almost trips down a step on the way to the kitchen to warm one up with Franklin still in hand.
"Here, pass em" you're doing grabby hands towards him when he lifts Franklin obediently over to you, letting you kiss his cheek before you follow in his footsteps by cooing in the baby's ear and poking at his sides.
You take a seat on the couch to wait as it heats up, both fatigue and sudden exhaustion creeping slowly into you.
"Such a cute little one, aren't ya?" His tiny fingers are grasping for your cheek, one attempting to hang on and feel the skin while the other stays by his side in rebellion.
"My wife" you hear whispered from behind you, and you whip your head around to see johnny peaking over your shoulder at the sight of you and Franklin playing.
"W-what?" Franklins fussing a bit, so you have him in your hands while he jumps around to get his energy out, Johnny filing himself around the couch and maneuvering to sit next to you and hand the baby the bottle.
"seeing you like this.. it makes me- makes me feel it. Like everything's perfect, and you love them, love him just as much as I do. And that counts as a lot" is he sniffling? He's terrible at hiding the tears that threaten to drop at the soft sight, it always clenches his heart.
To see you, connect immediately and so earnestly while around his family that now they're basically yours too, and all of it is his to cherish. How you clasp his hand back, clammy or not and you hold it in yours as long as you can.
You help around the house even when he tells you that you don't have to, yet you persist because you don't want to be the only one doing nothing.
He's in deep, and what he's seeing right now is the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life growing old with.
"I feel like I don't tell you how beautiful you are." He says, almost smitten like it's a hidden confession he's waited off on.
"Johnny.." you mumble at his words.
"I love you, you know that right? I'd never trade it for the world" as he says that, you're already leaning in for a hug against his lean chest, met with the sturdiness of both him and his scent, feelings and all out in the open for you to know.
"I love you too, even when Franklin's chewing on my finger like it's his teething toy" he huffs out a laugh that cascades more tears down his cheeks, but it's okay, because he's happy- he's happy that you're happy, and Franklin's happy.
He's happy here, with you, sleepless nights where you put up with him obnoxiously and others where he sleeps like he's the baby.
And when Sue, Reed and Ben find the three of you cuddled up on the couch with Franklin coddled and protected safely in between the two of you like his own personal shield while a blanket rests on top, they all smile with knowing.
Because they're happy too.