Chapter Text
The delightful and melodious laughter coming from the children's room was so loud that it effortlessly echoed in the atmosphere, breaking the cold morning silence. It clearly was an effective way to bring their parents out of their sweet slumber.
Sky ignored the fit of loud giggles the first time he heard it, thinking the laughter of their children would die down soon. The sun hasn't completely risen yet, which he used as an indicator that they have a little more time to sleep. Well, the blizzard last night would certainly allow the sun to sleep some more, Sky found no reason to get up so quickly. So he snuggled closely to his husband, hoping he could connect to sleep once again.
On the other side, Nani leaned and melted into the warmth that Sky's body emitted from his tight embrace. It was such a wonderful way to start the day. Maybe even better and more peaceful if their children would tone down their voices while talking, because how can their boys be up at this hour? The angry red in the digital clock screams 6:13.
Oh, right.
It's Christmas.
"Sleep," Sky softly whispered, voice a little hoarse from sleep and it's one of Nani's favorite sounds in the world. "We still have time to sleep."
"I wonder what the boys are laughing about," Nani mused once he turned around, now nuzzling his nose on Sky's jaw while his leg wrapped around Sky's hip.
Inevitably, a fond smile began to tug on Sky's mouth. It's as if he is seeing their children at the back of his closed lids.
"The twins are probably being clowns again, or they are just genuinely excited about their gifts," was what Sky had said, smiling, while Nani lightly smacked his chest, chuckling at the thought of their rambunctious kids. "But watch us never go back to sleep again in this state."
And it held nothing but the truth, because they would be lying to themselves if they would say that they actually found sleep every time the ringing of their children's laughter would burst early in the morning. Nio, Nue (their four-year-old twins), and Saki's (their six-year-old eldest) bodies are basically a whole factory of laughter and happiness.
Eventually, the sound of the loud gaiety of their children suddenly became faint and was replaced by the sound of their tiny feet stomping on the wooden floor, getting near to the master's bedroom.
Despite the tight embrace of his husband, Nani managed to reach their video recorder on top of the nightstand to bring it to life and to start filming his little monsters. They loved capturing their moments every day. This way, they would have so much to watch together in the future—something the husbands could reminisce about and for the kids to remember.
And as if on cue, the door swung wide open with the three loudest children in their abode. Nani successfully caught it on camera.
"Merry Christmas, little ducklings!" Nani lovingly greeted their children while Sky whined a little close to his neck—he didn't want to let go of Nani just yet. However, as much as Sky wanted to get some more sleep and cuddle with his husband, it's quite impossible now that the three little monsters are up to their bed and jumping.
Merry Christmas, Dada! The trio shouted in unison.
Really, having three loud kids is easily the most effective way to shake off the sleepiness that's stuck like glue in their system. Sky and Nani's alarm clock is basically useless now. They probably needed to throw it away since it's no longer doing its job.
Nani is now laughing behind the camera. It's always nice to film his little family getting all chaotic like this even in an early part of the morning. The twins kept on jumping while Saki tried his best to pull away the comforter his father had wrapped himself under.
The four of them love to play like this, while Nani does the recording. Hide and seek is one of their favorite games to do during playtime.
"Boys," Nani started again after his laughter had died down. "Where's Papa Bear?"
Nio jumped his way to his Dada and settled on his lap, now fiddling with the lense of the camera. "Papa Bear is under the blanket, he's so strong!" He told Nani, voice covered in awe. And the way his eyes glow in amazement and turn into crescents when he smiles resembled Sky's smile a lot.
"Nio, you gotta help us find Papa Bear!" Nue shouted as he straddled their Papa Bear's torso, while Sky was still not letting go of the comforter, happy to play along with his boys.
Nio finally came to help his brothers, and that was the time when Nani decided to pan the camera to where his oldest son was. Saki has always been the mischievous and strategic one out of the three, maybe it's because he's the oldest. However, Saki has always shown such qualities ever since he was very young.
A small aha! came out from Saki once he saw a potential access to get to his father under the covers. Nani giggled. His eldest has outsmarted his father once again.
There was a small opening from Sky's left foot which wasn't safely tucked under the comforter, and Saki took the advantage to pull it with his tiny hands and made his entrance to greet his father.
Sky playfully screamed when he felt a set of tiny hands patting his leg, causing the twins to shout too.
Nani stood to finally move to his swivel chair to get a full shot of what's happening before him: Sky as a huge lump under the covers, Saki successfully breaching his father's hiding place, and the twins are both straddling Sky's torso making some car engine sounds while using their Dada's pillow as a steering wheel.
My best boys. Nani couldn't help but say, because, well, they are his best boys.
"Twins! I found Daddy!" The excitement was so evident from Saki's sudden announcement, which also bubbled up the same emotion from the twins' bodies upon hearing it.
Nio and Nue hurriedly crawled off of their Papa Bear's torso to go under the covers. Then Saki's head now popped out from the comforter and finally pulled it down a bit to claim that he's defeated his father. His tiny fists were up in the air, screaming for victory.
Inevitably, Sky laughed heartily and Nani wanted to melt. His four favorite boys are now laughing together. And Sky accepted his loss.
The little monsters are now a giggling mess as their Papa Bear gathered them all in his strong arms with a loving embrace. He then peppered kisses to the apples of their chubby cheeks. Truth be told, the boys enjoyed getting all their kisses from their parents, and both Nani and Sky are always happy to give them that. They will have to take advantage of that until their boys are older and embarrassed enough to be kissed on the cheeks by their parents. Honestly, they don't want to keep thinking about it.
"Dada, we won!" Nue began to cheer and waved his hands in front of the camera. Nani zoomed in a little just to emphasize how cute his youngest is at the moment.
"Dada has to claim his kisses from Papa Bear too, right?" The boys nodded in sync as a response to their Papa Bear's question.
Who was Nani to say no to that? He's a huge enthusiast of Sky's kisses, too, and he wouldn't ignore the invitation. So he walked towards the bed, camera still in his hand, and finally leaned in to lovingly press his lips against Sky's plump ones. It wasn't caught on camera but Nio's cheek squished on the pillow.
"I love you, honey." Nani said, voice incredibly soft and so loving. And god, he is still head over heels with Sky even after all these years, he could melt into a puddle any time soon. "And you." A kiss to Saki's cheek. "And you." A kiss to Nio's forehead. "And you." A kiss to the tip of Nue's nose.
The kids looked so happy after receiving their morning kisses from their Dada, that they couldn't help but let their appreciation burst from their tiny bodies by saying how much they love their Dada, and of course, so as their Papa Bear.
"So who's excited to open their gifts?" Nani happily asked. "After breakfast," he had to add.
The kids answered in chorus, delighted at heart, and raised their tiny hands. "Me!"
"Me too!" Sky shouted, mimicking his children's responses and Nani couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head in endearment. Sometimes he thinks he's raising four children instead of three.