Work Text:
“Can you pass me the wrench, Cobnut?”
Mav waits a second, trying not to smile as the eight month old pup looking very snug in a cup cake onesie and pale yellow blanket blinks at him, before Milo giggles and waves his pudgy little arms around, grabbing absolutely nothing, and definitely not the work tool Mav needs to tinker with the engine of the 1970 Chevrolet currently in pieces in his garage.
A soppy grin blooms across his face, but Mav can’t help it. His and Bradley’s son is just the cutest. Mav calls him Cobnut because he kind of reminds Mav of a hazelnut in it's green dress-like leaves that form its outer protection, especially when Milo was bundled into a mint-green blanket one day and it poofed up all around him where he was laying on the bed in between Mav and Bradley looking adorable, and it's a silly nickname, but Milo smiles every time Mav calls him it, so he's not going to stop.
Milo was an unexpected baby; the result of a heat that came out of nowhere and had left Bradley begging Mav to help soothe the ache inside him.
Mav had tried to resist because Bradley had only just come back into his life after so long estranged, and this thing between them - this different kind of love that was more romantic and sexual than it had been before but no less intense - was still so new. But he'd never been good at denying Bradley anything he wanted, so he'd given in with very little resistance.
He'd be more ashamed of how easily he'd given in to Bradley batting those big cow eyes at him, if he wasn't so besotted with the results. A chubby-cheeked pup with hazel eyes, Bradley’s copper curls and Mav's own smile. Milo has the softest skin and he's endlessly huggable. Mav's arms are often filled with his son when they're not filled with Bradley.
It's a part of life Mav never thought he’d get to experience, but a welcome one all the same.
Mav picks up the wrench himself and smacks a wet kiss to Milo's forehead; grabbing his little hand and waving it back and forth. "Thank you, Cobnut. You're a very helpful assistant."
Milo giggles again. It makes Mav's heart squeeze something fierce knowing his son is a very happy baby.
"Don't go giggling too loud now. We're letting your mama get some extra sleep remember?"
Milo ignores him and continues to giggle; tiny little fingers curled around Mav’s thumb, grip tight because he never wants to let go of his daddy.
Mav swallows thickly; eyes always a little misty since he became a father. "Okay, no, you're right. Giggles should not be policed. Carry on." He buries his nose in Milo's downy curls and breathes him in. "Can I have my hand back, Cobnut?"
His son blows a raspberry at him, and okay then, guess that answers that then.
Mav sets down the wrench, resigned to not getting anymore work down, and lifts Milo out of the hole in the engine bay he'd been slotted into for fun and lifts him up making whooping noises, bringing him close to pepper kisses to his cheeks, before swinging him back up again.
The pup giggles and wiggles in Mav's grip, kicking his little feet in his onesie, the blanket that had been wrapped around him half falling onto Mav's arm.
"God, I love you, kiddo."
A lot of Alphas left the pup rearing to the Omegas, but Mav wasn't going to miss out on spending time with his son and watching him grow day by day. Mav had had his own childhood of not having parents, losing both of them before he was six, he's not going to subject Milo to that kind of pain just for the sake of societal expectations. His dad hadn't been one for conformity either, Mav clearly remembering being wrapped in his big strong arms, his woodsmoke scent enveloping him, making Mav feel safe and loved. It's what he wants Milo to feel always.
Him and Bradley are a team. That's why when Bradley hadn't been able to stop yawning last night; overcome with tiredness from multiple feedings throughout the days and nights and just having to care for a young pup, Mav had made the mental decision to let his Sweetheart sleep in this morning.
The Omega had woken briefly when Mav had slipped out of bed, Milo just starting to snuffle himself awake, but Mav had kissed Bradley’s temple and told him to go back to sleep. Bradley had drifted off again between one breath and the next, a soft smile curving his mouth under his moustache.
Mav had scooped Milo from his crib, changed his diaper, bottle fed him and put him in a fresh onesie, and then figured getting out of the way was best, so padded to the garage in his sweatpants and tatty old t-shirt, only making a detour to shove his socked feet in a pair of sneakers. Milo had been happy to tag along; little fingers fisted in Mav's hair and wrapped around his dogtags, making Mav purr in Alpha satisfaction knowing his pup is safe and cared for, and the Omega he loves more than anyone else was getting the rest he deserved.
"We're not getting very far with this engine, are we, baby?" Mav murmurs; rocking Milo in his arms. A streak of engine grease transfers from Mav's arm to his pup's cheek and he wets his thumb to wipe it away. "Sorry, Cobnut. Perils of being in the garage I'm afraid."
"Ba ba," Milo gurgles. "Ba! Baaba."
"Mm. Exactly. Silly dada."
Mav cuddles Milo to his chest while he walks around the garage; smoothing his palm up and down his back as he hums to him. He's been trying to fix the engine on the Chevrolet since before Bradley had given birth, but it's a slow project. Keeps getting distracted by something infinitely more interesting.
He's stroking Milo's hair when he hears Bradley call through the house.
"Mav! Mav!" The thundering sound of the Omega’s large feet running through the house follow. "Mav!"
"What is it, Sweetheart?" Mav calls back, covering Milo's ears so it's not too loud for him.
Bradley almost crashes into the garage doorway; chest heaving with panting breaths. He's wearing an old t-shirt and pair of shorts, copper curls all over the place and his handsome face still soft with sleep, and Mav wants to ravish him. "I've lost Milo." He gasps in a breath; scrubbing a hand over his flushed face.
"What?" Mav bites back the urge to laugh. It's obvious his Omega is still exhausted and hasn't spotted their pup in his arms.
"Our son, Mav! He's not in the crib and unless he's started walking properly, which I don't think he has then he's gone and I don't know where he is." Bradley sniffs back tears. "I can't lose him, Mav. That's our baby boy."
"Hey, hey," Mav croons; crossing the garage to pull Bradley into him. "It's okay, darling. Take a breath. We don't need to panic, it's alright."
"But, Mav! Milo is missing!" Bradley’s chest stutters up and down and Mav knows he's going it burst into tears in a moment.
"Shh, shh. Here, I have something that will help."
Bradley pulls back from where he’d tucked his face in the crook of Mav's neck and wipes his nose on the back of his arm. "What?"
Mav hands him their son and Bradley immediately cuddles him close. "Here."
"Oh, hey, Milo," Bradley murmurs automatically. Blinks. Gasps. "Milo! Oh, pickle, I thought we'd lost you." Bradley buries his nose in Milo's hair and kisses him over and over. "Had me worried, pup."
"Sorry," Mav says, rubbing his nape. "I wanted to let you sleep in, so took him. Didn't think you'd panic so much, but just realised it's probably the first time since he arrived that you've woken up with him not there...sorry."
Bradley huffs fondly. "Don't apologise, Mav. You did nothing wrong. I was just being an idiot, my brain not quite woken up yet. He's our pup not just mine. You can lovingly steal him whenever you want."
Mav smiles and kisses Bradley on the mouth; enjoying the way he softens for him and melts into the kiss like he does every time. "Did you get a bit more sleep than usual though?"
"Mm. I did. Thank you. You didn’t have to though."
"I did. I like pampering you." He kisses Bradley again and then smooches Milo on the cheek. "Why don't you go lay on the couch with our little Cobnut and cuddle while I make us some breakfast, hmm?"
"French toast?" Bradley asks hope thick in his voice.
Mav laughs softly. "Sure, Sweetheart."
"Yes! Love you, Mav."
"Love you more."
Bradley kisses him again before shuffling into the living room and Mav waves at Milo peeking over his mama's shoulder, and then washing his hands and forearms, Mav gives up on the tinkering for the day and sets about making breakfast for the man he loves, their gorgeous son distracting them as he should.
He doesn't stop smiling the whole time.