Summer Bonding

"Levi? Leia?" Stiles calls out to his five year olds.

They come running down the hall, giggling. "Hi Daddy!" they chorus.

He quirks an eyebrow. "Did you clean up your toys?" They nod and Stiles smiles. "Then I think some time in the pool is in order. What do you think?"

The squeals of excitement make him laugh as he helps them change into their swimsuits.

"Daddy?"

"Yes Levi?"

"Um we get to play in the big pool, right?"

Stiles finishes putting Leia's hair into pigtails and grabs their towels having already changed himself. "As long as Daddy or Dad is there it should be okay."

Levi grabs Leia's hand and they hurry to the back door. Stiles shakes his head fondly knowing Theo is already in the backyard. He sighs happily, looking forward to their afternoon. The kids will head to summer camp in a couple weeks, well their older two will but he loves these moments with the twins. They're growing up way too fast.

When he walks downstairs with the towels in hand, he sees their thirteen-year-old on the couch in her swimsuit but completely zoned in on her phone. He taps her shoulder. "Clara? Come on outside."

She sighs and tips her head back. "Do I have to? Tyler invited me to a party and–"

"No. You are too young for parties. We talked about this. I know that since you're older you want to spend more time with your friends but right now, today, is for family time. You know Levi and Leia miss spending time with you and I for one know that I've missed your pretty eyes because they're always focused on your phone."

"I'm growing up Tata."

Stiles smiles wistfully. "I know. You all are. If you're going to hang out with a boy, Dad or I need to meet him first. Now let's go."

She sees the look in her Tata's eyes and sets her phone aside. She plants a kiss on his cheek and heads outside. "Hey Levi! Hey Leia!"

"CLARA!!!" the twins shriek and run over to her.

Theo looks up. "No Running! You could fall and hit your head."

The twins, properly chastised, walk the rest of the way to their older sister. Stiles walks out with the towels and Theo watches for his favorite moment. When his husband steps off the porch the sun catches on his hair giving it an almost reddish tint and then catches his eyes and Theo feels like he's staring into the sun. There will never be a day where he won't find Stiles the most beautiful man on earth.

Stiles makes his way over to Theo and pecks him on the lips, not resisting when Theo pulls him in for a deeper one.

"Daaaaad!" their eight-year-old Reese complains. "Kissing is so groooooss."

The two dads laugh and Stiles checks that the kiddie pool is full before helping their three-year-old, Violet, in. Then he takes a seat next to Theo. They watch as Clara plays with the twins in the shallow end of their pool and listen to the giggles as Reese cannonballs in. This is what every day should be like.

Stiles lays his head on Theo's shoulder and Theo sighs contentedly. "They're growing up so fast," Stiles whispers.

Theo nods. "Too fast."

"Clara asked to go to a party with a boy."

"Nope."

"Don't worry. I told her no. It's family time right now. Plus, she and Reese have summer camp in a few weeks. I want all my babies here for as long as I can keep them here."

Theo grins and kisses his husband's temple. "Me too."

Things are peaceful and relaxing until about a half hour later when Levi ends up sprawling in a mud puddle. Stiles sighs and Theo chuckles. "He's so your son," Stiles mutters.

Theo kisses Stiles and grins cheekily. "Hey. The clumsy is all you, the getting dirty is all me," he teases as he gets up to grab their son who starts squirming, getting mud all over Theo.

"No dad! I'm sorry I got dirty but I'm a big kid now. I can clean myself!"

Stiles smiles fondly and watches as their son picks up the hose.

After a few tries he looks over at Stiles and pouts. "Daddy? Can you help me?"

Stiles looks at Theo whose pout is identical to their son's. "Sure sweetheart."

He walks over, kneels down and gently helps wash the mud off. "Now go play in the pool." Stiles stands back up and side eyes Theo who is wiping the mud off. He smirks and flicks the hose at his husband.

Theo gapes and splutters when Stiles does it again. "Hey!"

Stiles cackles. "Oh, but you're so dirty baby. Can't have that."

He sprays Theo with water again and Theo smirks. "Yeah well, I always thought you loved me dirty. Very dirty."

Stiles's cheeks heat up and when Theo goes to kiss him Stiles sprays the water in Theo's mouth. Theo coughs and pouts until Stiles kisses him and then he tosses Stiles over his shoulder. "Theo? What are you–" he starts but doesn't finish because Theo dumps his husband into their pool.

Stiles comes up spluttering and scowls at his husband. "Not cool!"

Reese is over playing with Violet in the kiddie pool while Clara is trying not to laugh at her parents. Stiles pouts until Theo leans down to give him a kiss, falling for the oldest trick in the book when Stiles backs up and Theo falls in.

The twins start squealing loudly and giggling as they kick their feet in the water while they sit on the side. As Theo and Stiles gaze into each other's eyes Clara may or may not have retrieved her phone to take a picture. She smiles at the image. Her Tata and her Dad are still so in love after fifteen years of marriage and as she admires the picture, she hopes that one day she'll find a love like that for herself. Tyler has never looked at her that way.

She looks around at her siblings who are enjoying the first day of summer and understands the importance of spending time with her family. So, she puts her phone away and focuses solely on playing with her siblings and spending time with her dads.

Leia is on Theo's shoulders and Levi is on Stiles's shoulders as they splash and giggle. Clara holds Violet on her hip as she wades in the shallow end and Reese lays on a floaty tube.

Home. Happy. Family. Summer.

Kids: Names & Ages

Clara Stilinski-Raeken ~ (13)
Reese Stilinski-Raeken ~ (8)
Leia & Levi Stilinski-Raeken ~ (5)
Violet Stilinski-Raeken ~ (3)