this love (AU)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

A crown of sunlight flows through the leaves outside the windows of the Swift household. Rays of the pearly glow rest on Joe's face. The air is fresh and warm, fitting perfectly for the start of a new day. A tiny boy walks out of his bedroom with a sleepy yawn. His sleepy eyes brighten up as he notices Joe on the sofa. He lets out a cute giggle as he runs towards him.

He frowns and stares at Joe sleeping peacefully. Henry takes a step closer and brushes Joe's hair. He smiles and keeps ruffling his blonde soft hair. He pats Joe's chest gently and lays on it, hoping to wake him up.

Joe rubs his eyes and squints his eyes at the sunlight, he yawns and notices Henry laying on him, slowly patting his chest.

"Morning buddy, how did you sleep?" Joe sits up and grins with a toothy smile. He caresses Henry's chubby cheeks and stands up to fold the blankets. Henry has grown quite attached to Joe in merely a few hours, he clings to Joe's leg, refusing to let him go.

"Good-"Henry murmurs with his high-pitched cute voice. A grumbling growl that comes from his stomach interrupts.

"You're hungry. Why don't we go get ready and make breakfast together for your sissy and mommy?"Joe finishes folding the blankets. He kneels at the same height as Henry, Joe smilingly suggests. Henry nods in reply and follows Joe to the bathroom. Joe helps Henry brush his teeth and uses a toothbrush Taylor prepared from the previous night to brush his own.

"Joeyy! Can-can we have bread with jaaam?''Henry wraps his hand around Joe's finger as he suggests with a beaming smile. They walk from the bathroom to the kitchen after brushing their teeth.

"Do you know where-" Joe asks as he helps him to reach the bread from the high cabinets.

"Here. The three of us like marmalade, just like Pudding Bear."He babbles as he attempts to climb on top of the counter.

"You mean Paddington bear? It's a nice flavour...You want to sit on the counter?" Joe immediately lifts him as soon as he notices the little boy is struggling.

Henry becomes Joe's assistant and later five jam sandwiches are made. Hermia steps into the room with a yawn while Joe and Henry are on the sofa enjoying their food.

"Morning! Oohh marmalade bread-" She cheers. Henry tears the bread corner which he usually doesn't like to eat and forcefully stuffs it into Joe's mouth.

"Joeyy helped me-" Henry claps with joy.

She grabs one of the sandwiches and joins them on the sofa. Without asking, Henry climbs onto Joe's lap and Hermia follows, leaving Joe speechless with a grin on. The twins laugh wildly as they lay backwards, their heads resting on his chest and under his short unshaven chin.

"You tickle!" They chuckle as Joe lowers his head, having his short beard tickle them even more. The laughter dies down as they run out of breath from laughing too hard.

"Morning...what are these?" Taylor steps into the room with her hands on her hips. Curious to find out the sweet yeasty aroma that flooded the house, she dramatically sniffs as she prances towards the sofa. She sits down and hugs the twins.

"Aww, you made marmalade bread for me-" Taylor's hands land on Hermia's cheeks and squish them.

"Yours is over there, at the kitchen counter. This is mine!" She announces bossily. Taylor fakes a frown and goes to collect her sandwich.

"Joeyy helped me-"

"You made these, with Joey?" Taylor takes the seat next to Joe, who is struggling to balance the two kids constantly bouncing and moving on his lap. She giggles with a blush like a high school girl with a crush.