Chapter Text
Sam opens the fridge and rolls his eyes for the millionth time since he arrived at Nate and Elena’s house. He doesn’t know if it’s possible for two people to own as many post-it notes as these two do. Tupperware containers and baby bottles line one of the shelves, labeled with times and instructions and he’s trying to be patient and not take it personally but Elena and Nate seem to have decided that he doesn’t know how to work a microwave or that he should be cutting up Cassie’s food for her, as if a 10-month-old baby could hold her own knife.
He thinks about making a grab for one of the beers just to see how red Nate’s face can get but the two of them were supposed to leave for their mini-vacation an hour ago and he’s starting to worry that they’ll never leave. He grabs a water instead and turns back to the couple.
Nate is leaned against the kitchen counter, brows knit as he adds a last minute reminder to the notepad while Elena explains exactly how to use the medicated eczema ointment for the third time. At this moment, Sam hates Sully for being allowed to play with Cassie in the living room while he is forced to deal with the anxious parents.
“You have to apply it right after her bath,” Elena is saying. “It’s worst on her knees, so you should—”
“Concentrate on there and don’t rub it in all the way,” Sam interrupts and Elena raises her eyebrows at him. “Guys, we got this. You act like we haven’t babysat her before.”
Elena bites her lip. “Not for a whole weekend. Not even overnight.”
“Everything is going to be fine.” Sam puts his hands on Elena’s shoulders. “I promise I’ll only let Sully give her one cigar.”
Nate narrows his eyes at him and Sam chuckles and claps him on the shoulder as he passes to join Sully in the other room. Nate and Elena watch as Sam sits down on the couch next to the old man, who is holding Cassie’s hands as she wobbly stands in his lap. Sam proceeds to scoop Cassie from Sully’s arms and Sully glares at him because once again, Sam is being a baby hog.
Nate looks back at Elena with a pained look on his face and she decides to be the strong one. “Nate,” she says gently, but firmly. “I’m gonna get our bag and then we should get going if we want to catch our flight.” She squeezes his hand and waits for him to nod before disappearing down the hallway to their bedroom.
“You kids headed out?” Sully asks when Nate walks over to the couch.
Nate nods as Sam lifts Cassie up in the air, grinning up at her. “You’re tired of boring old mom and dad, aren’t you?” he asks her. “Ready to party with your much cooler uncle?” Cassie babbles happily back at him.
Nate scowls at his older brother before turning back to Sully. “No smoking around her. Smoke outside,” he says, pointing an accusatory finger at both of them. “And change your clothes afterwards.”
Elena returns, wheeling their suitcase behind her and soon, Nate and Elena are shoving their luggage into the trunk and settling into the car, taking a second to double-check that they have their tickets.
Nate sets his hand on the steering wheel and looks wistfully up the driveway at the front door, where Sam is holding Cassie and waving her little hand. Elena reaches over to put her hand over one of his and squeezes it. “Stop worrying,” she says. “We trust Sam and Sully.”
Nate sighs. “I’m being ridiculous.”
Elena pats him on the cheek. “You’re being the amazing dad I knew you would be. But yes, a little bit.”
Nate nods and starts the car before turning to smile at Elena. “You packed that tiny white bathing suit I like, right?”
She returns his smile. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”