The Things That I Know || George Michael

ten - too tired to appreciate

"Did you enjoy your hot chocolate, guys?" Levi asks the children once the family are settled back into their hotel room; he's sat observing their tired eyes and sleepy mannerisms adoringly.

"It was good," Gemma answers, placing her empty mug on the table next to the drink machine; she has light chocolate staining around her mouth, which amuses her fathers. "Can we ask the lady at the desk for some more?"

"Tomorrow," George informs her. "I think it's time you went to sleep now, young lady."

"I'm not tired," she protests, in spite of the very obvious nodding off she's doing; and the slight fatigued slurring of her words.

"Of course you're not," Levi chuckles. "Well, it's eleven o'clock now. Let's see if you can make it to midnight without falling asleep."

"Easy peasy," Kieran chimes in, resting his cup next to Gemma's. "I could stay awake all night."

"Oh, absolutely," George agrees, simply playing along with his son's innocent bragging. "We'll see about that, won't we?" He then turns to his side, grabbing his overnight bag from the bed next to him; he rummages through it, producing some wipes. "Come on now — you're covered in chocolate, both of you. Clean yourselves up."

Gemma takes a single wipe from her father, and so does Kieran; they both then messily rub them over their mouths to rid the brown residue from their faces. George's eyes flit between the two of them in turn, paying attention to how successful they are with this task.

"Am I done?" Kieran interrogates, after a few seconds.

"Perfect," George praises, before his daughter catches his attention.

"Did I do it right, Daddy?" Gemma asks, presenting her head to George playfully. "Is it all clean?"

"You missed a spot," George chuckles, prising the wipe from her hand to finish the job for her. After a moment, he checks her over, to ensure all signs of the hot chocolate are gone. "There. Much nicer."

"Now that both of you are all clean," Levi begins, taking the TV remote from the desk, "We'll put something on the TV, and we'll see how long you can stay awake for."

• • •

"I knew they'd be asleep before midnight," Levi whispers, finding the fact somewhat funny. "They really thought they'd be pulling all-nighters."

"Yeah." George smiles mellowly at the sight of his two children sleeping in their twin beds opposite where he lays with his husband.

"Are you feeling okay?" Levi questions softly. "I know it's been a long day today."

"Fine, yeah," George dismisses quickly; he doesn't feel like having another lengthy conversation regarding the way he feels, for he has had numerous already today. "Yourself?"

"You know I'm fine," Levi answers, though with an expression of genuine concern. "Other than the fact I worry about you."

"You don't need to do that," George reassures him, pulling out his diary from the bedside drawer; he has kept it here so the kids don't find it. "Go to sleep. You look tired, my darling."

"Make sure you get some sleep too, though," Levi pleads considerately, as he leans in to give George a goodnight kiss. "Don't stay up all night writing in that silly book of yours."

"I won't. Promise." George nods, watching as Levi turns over to get into a more comfortable position to sleep in. "Goodnight, Levi."

Levi returns the farewell with a hushed tone. "Goodnight. I love you. Always."