It was time for a much needed vacation for the Toro family. Mikey had been stressed out of his mind with Ray returning to work after paternity leave, Mikey being left at home with a newborn and a five year old girl, Ray felt guilty as hell for leaving them. And thats why, when Mikey felt like he was going to snap, he decided to surprise him and the kids with a surprise vacation.
"No Mikey! I'm not telling!" Ray giggled.
"Cmon! Are we going on a plane?"
"Road trip."
"Can i guess, daddy?" Grace asked.
"Yeah hon, where do you think we're going?"
"Uncle Gees house! Its so much fun with Uncle Frankie! He makes cookies, he plays with the Nerf guns! I love Uncle Gee and Frank!"
"We're not going to Uncle Gees. Its somewhere so much better than that! You're gonna love it! I'm not telling till we get there, okay? Now go with mommy and pack. We'll be there for a week, so make sure you have plenty of clothes, bring some toys for the ride. Remember your bathing suits too."
Mikey grimaced at that idea. His body wasn't what it used to be, he thought. Having two kids from being incredibly skinny...he had given birth three months ago and hadn't bounced back yet. He could just wear swim shorts and a tank top. He had always been self conscious, it had gotten worse after his first pregnancy. His second one was the worst, it had gotten so bad that he would refuse to let Ray see him naked, he preferred to go to his scans alone, he didn't want Ray to see how "gross" he had gotten.
"No more dresses, thats enough. We're going for a week, not a year." Mikey said to his eldest daughter, Grace.
Grace was five years old, and was a perfect mix of Mikeys and Rays facial features. She had a big, poofy afro, that Ray always helped her to style. She was very good at guitar for her age too, Ray loved to sit down and play to her, and she picked the skill up quickly.
"Is Rowan coming too? Or is she staying with Uncle Gee?"
"Shes coming too Grace! You really think i could make it a week without her? When you were a baby, i would never leave you alone, even with daddy! I had to be with you otherwise i'd just get so stressed out."
"Where are we going?"
"Hm, daddy won't even tell me. You have to be very well behaved or i'm gonna be upset, okay? You don't be disappointed when we get there, you say thank you to daddy. You be very well behaved for both of us."
"I know mommy. I'm good anyway."
Mikey smiled and kissed Graces forehead, "I know you are. You're the sweetest."
~
Grace was fast asleep in bed when Ray and Mikey were awake. It was around four in the morning, Ray wanted to make sure they arrived early so Grace would have time to play all day. Mikey still hadn't the slightest clue as to where Ray was taking them.
"Theres Graces bag." Mikey whispered, scared he would be too loud and wake the kids. He wanted to get them into the car while they slept so they wouldn't get fussy. "I'll change Grace real quick, get her to sleep and if she gets hungry later then you'll have to pull over or something."
"Mikey, relax. Wow, you really need this break huh? You're exhausted. Go get Grace in the car, you can nap in the car and i'll take care of the kids and the bags."
Mikey shook his head, "If Rowan is hungry...its fine Ray. I'm okay."
"Nu-uh. Relax, papa Ray is all over this."
"Rowan-"
"If you're really that concerned, go prepare some...y'know.."
Mikey furrowed his eyebrows. He knew Ray was kinda awkward about this kind of stuff. He was pretty weirded out and shocked that Mikey could feed a baby like a woman could. He didn't judge though; the bond between a mother and their child is a beautiful thing and Ray couldn't tell Mikey not to feed their baby.
"You can just say it Ray." Mikey giggled.
"Use the...pump."
"Wasn't so hard, was it? And how are you gonna warm it up on the road?"
"I'll boil some water and put it in a travel mug, then just do what you do and run the bottle under the hot water. I got this Mikey. Just go do what you gotta do."
Mikey giggled. He left a kiss on Rays cheek and headed off to their bedroom, locking the door behind him. Ray chuckled to himself slightly, then walking upstairs and into their eldest daughters bedroom. Sure enough, she was fast asleep in bed, hair all crazily poofed all over the pillow, mouth hung open.
He gently lifted her up into his arms, shushing her as she began to mumble. She remained fast asleep. He gently carried her downstairs, grabbing a blanket off of the sofa and wrapping it around her so she didn't get cold. He left her on the sofa until they were ready to leave.
Then he took Mikeys task of changing Rowans diaper. She got very fussy when it came to changes, but thankfully, she was calm and just stared up at her dad. Rowan definitely looked more like Mikey, Grace more like Ray. Ray had always been fascinated by that.
"C'mon Row, we're going on vacation because your mommy needs a break." He whispered. The baby just stared back at him, "Mommys strong, but he needs a rest sometimes. He won't admit when he's tired. We just don't want mommys depression to come back, do we? No, we don't. So you gotta be a good girl for him, okay?" Rowan giggled, reaching her little hands out for Rays face. "Yeah, of course you're gonna be good. You and Grace are everything. Back to sleep now, okay? You want books?"
Ray carried her over to the little rocking chair in the corner of the room, sitting down and grabbing a book from the shelf. He didn't get very far into the story before she dozed off in his arms. There were certain moments with his family that made him realise how lucky he was to have someone like Mikey, and two wonderful little girls. He truly had the sweetest little family.
"I'm done." Mikey whispered, opening the door to the nursery. He walked over and hovered over the beautiful scene of his husband holding the small baby, smiling so lovingly at her. "Isnt she beautiful?" He marvelled. "I got enough for two feeds. Two bottles."
"Damn Mikey, thats a lot." Ray giggled back.
"I know. Most i've gotten out of a single pump. I'm pooped."
"I'll get the girls into the car, and you're getting in too. You three are gonna get some sleep."
Ray carried Rowan out to the car, while Mikey scooped Grace up into his arms. She wearily wrapped her arms over Mikeys shoulders, burying her face into his neck. He smiled, while carrying her and a bag of baby clothes out to the car. He left the bag on the backseat in between Rowans car seat and Graces booster. He did as Ray said, climbed into the passenger seat and buckled himself in.
"Get some sleep babe. I'll wake you up if Rowan needs her bottle." He smiled, covering Mikey up with a blanket and putting a travel pillow around his neck.
"Mhm. Love you."
"I love you too Mikey."
~
"Grace, can you please try and calm Rowan down?" Ray half yelled.
"Yes daddy. Wheres the bottle?"
"In the bag next to you. Just try and get her to stop crying, mommys trying to sleep."
Mikey had been peacefully sleeping for the full two hours they had been on the road. Grace had woken up an hour ago, and had been colouring in a book for the time being. Rowan had just woken up hungry.
Grace found a bottle of milk in the grey backpack, taking the lid off and placing the mouth piece into Rowans mouth. She immediately stopped crying, guzzling down the full bottle, all while Mikey remained blissfully sleeping.
Ray was excited for Mikey to wake up. Still neither Mikey or Grace knew where they were going. Grace was very convinced they were going to see Rays parents, but that wasn't right. Ray was sure that Mikey and Rowan would absolutely love where they were going.
