Homeward Bound//Sam Kiszka x OC!Layla

The Kissing Hand

   Dread filled him as he stared at the ceiling. He knew today would come at some point, especially with her turning five on their last birthday, but why now? He glanced over at his wife's sleeping form, brunette hair thrown into a messy bun, eyelashes laid across freckled cheeks. Why wasn't her brain wracked with dread and anxiety like his was? This wasn't pre-K, this was the real deal. His girl was going to kindergarten. Ever knowing, Layla reached a hand out, cupping his cheek, stroking it with her thumb, "Sleep, Sammy." "What if she's scared and I'm not there to help her? What if she doesn't like what they have for lunch? What if she falls at recess and gets hurt? What if her classmates are mean?" She turned his face softly, gray eyes finding his chocolate ones in the dark, "She's brave, and smart, and full of love. She's going to do great because she's our girl." She pressed their foreheads together, "You aren't usually this anxious. Even before tour. What has you so upset?" "She's growing up," he answered, barely above a whisper, "I want her to be our baby forever." She smiled softly, kissing the tip of his nose, "If we raise her right, she always will be. But you need to sleep."

    He had drifted off, not getting decent sleep, really tossing and turning most of the night. His eyes shot open the second he felt the bed shift. Layla was sitting on the side of the bed, an old tour t shirt hanging off her frame. Her arms lifted in a deep stretch, letting out a groan, "You want coffee, Francis?" "How did you know I was awake?" She glanced at her phone, putting it down, "We're soulmates, remember? Truly, I can feel you staring at my back." "Can we cuddle before we have to get our girl up?" She glanced back at him, him giving her puppy dog eyes in return. "I think we have ten minutes to spare." He beamed, opening up the blankets and accepting his wife's warmth. She wrapped both hands around his cheeks, cradling his face, rubbing her thumbs on his cheeks. He'd always been the biggest sucker for this position. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead and then his forehead to hers. Their cuddle session lasted around ten minutes before he heard the garage door open and Rosie take across the house. He sat up protectively, but she seemed unbothered, sighing, grabbing her shorts on the way to the bathroom.

    He walked down the hall, being greeted by his best friend and his wife. Danny had his mess of black curls thrown up into a bun on the top of his head, sunglasses propped up on his head. His t shirt was one he and Juniper had made together with matching tie dye. She had asked him a couple weeks back if he would tie dye a shirt with her, and without question, he took her to the store to get every color way she wanted. Ivy stood next to Danny in a black maxi dress, black hair in a braid that laid across her shoulder, expression half dead. Sam could tell it was an early morning for her, her job never required her to get up earlier than 8:00, and a quick glance at his stove proved it to be 6:15. "Coffee?" He greeted, walking into his kitchen. They both groaned out a "yes please," as he pressed the button on the coffee machine. He needed Danny more than he thought he did at this moment. His best friend's strength that was a normal radiation was something Sam was feeding off of when he handed them their mugs. The three of them worked around each other at the coffee bar, each making their perfect cup. Danny leaned against the counter, smiling at Ivy into his cup, "So, where's our girl?" "Sleeping still. Without Atlas here, she sleeps funky. He slips into her room a lot at night and it's almost like she expects it even when he's not here. I think Layla's getting her up."

    His wife rounded the corner, freshly showered, smiling at her best friend, "It's Daddy's turn to wake the monster," she said sitting down at the bar next to Ivy. Was Juniper arguably grouchy as all hell in the morning? Absolutely. He'd take her half asleep cuddles over anything, though. Sam would never tell Layla, but he was thankful she told him to do it this morning. Any extra time he could delay her start for school was a godsend. He handed her a cup of coffee on his way past her, kissing her temple. He padded down the hallway towards Juniper's room, passing Atlas's door. He and Layla had chosen to have him stay at Jake and Savannah's the night before so that they could give Juniper their undivided attention on the morning of her first day. He cracked open her door, being greeted by a mess of constantly darkening blonde waves spread over a floral pillowcase. His heart swelled with love as he watched her sleep for a minute. She rolled over, the left side of her face beet red from it being pressed into her pillow. She inhaled deeply, beginning to stretch as he made his way to her, crouching down. Her chocolate eyes greeted his, "It's my first day, Daddy." Her voice was sleep laden, but full of excitement. "I know, and Uncle Danny and Aunt Lily are here to help you get ready."