dream's daughter walks into his office while he and george are working on a video :)
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"One second, George."
Dream pushes his headphones off one ear and turns toward the door, smiling softly at the girl peeking out of it.
She's in her Pokémon themed PJs (a gift from Sapnap), her hair tousled from sleep. or, her trying to, at least.
"Hi, baby. C'mere."
He opens his arms in invitation, always willing to drop everything for her.
Little socked feet immediately run over to him, and he doesn't hesitate to lift his daughter up onto his lap, holding her close.
"What're you doing out of bed, huh?" He asks softly.
"I woke up by accident," she mumbles, her face pressed to his neck.
Dream can't help but smile and tighten his hold on her a little. "That's okay, sweetheart. You wanna sit here with me for a bit?"
She nods and gazes with sleepy curiosity at the monitors on Dream's desk.
His editing software is open on one of them, and his call with George is on the other.
He pushes a strand of hair from Ava's face. "Hey, you wanna say hi to George?"
She blinks at him, lighting up. "George?"
Dream smiles. "Yeah, he's in here," he taps his headphones.
"I wanna," she starts reaching for them, Dream chuckling at her eagerness.
"Alright, let me help you." He pulls the headset off himself and adjusts them a bit before carefully placing them over her smaller ears.
A moment later, George's camera flickers to life on the screen in front of them, showing the brunet smiling.
"Hi, Ava," his voice sounds through the headphones, making the girl hurriedly hide away in Dream's arms, covering up her shy smile.
Dream chuckles and kisses her cheek. "Can you say hi, baby?"
"Hi," she mumbles her pointer finger having found its way to her mouth.
"I thought you were asleep," George accuses playfully.
At this, Ava gains back a bit of confidence, pushing herself up on the desk to get closer to George's webcam.
Giggling, she exclaims, "I'm awake!"
"I can see that!" George replies in the same tone, throwing her into a fit of laughter.
Dream holds her so she won't fall, smiling so fondly that his cheeks hurt.
"I can see you!" Ava counters, sticking a hand onto George's face on the screen, which Dream pulls off ever so gently.
"Bo, no, honey. No touching, alright?" He reprimands mildly, and he can hear George's little chuckle through the headphones.
"Okay, no touching," she echoes in understanding, returning to bouncing where she stands on Dream's thighs.
"What are you doing?" She asks George.
"Me and your dad are working on something really cool."
Ava tilts her head in thought, "A video?"
Her fingers gravitate to her mouth again while she talks, and Dream pulls them away like before.
"That's right!" George says, "We're editing a video. A Minecraft video."
Ava just giggles and George grins at her.
It's pretty clear to Dream that his daughter is way past overtired at this point, but he's not worried. It's Friday night, and they have all the time in the world.
"Now I could be wrong," George starts, tapping his chin with his finger thoughtfully. "But I'm pretty sure you're supposed to be in bed."
Ava shakes her head with a cheeky smile. "I don' think so!"
"No? Are you absolutely sure about that?"
"Yes," she giggles, leaning back into her dad's chest and shoulder.
"What're you two giggling about, huh?" Dream asks, poking her belly and making her laugh even more.
He grabs the mouse and makes it so the sound from the call moves to the speakers instead, before carefully lifting the headset from Ava's head.
"You're on speaker, George," he says, watching his friend nod.
"Okay," George replies softly. "Should we call it a night or what do you think?"
Dream turns to the girl in his lap with a lighthearted sigh. "You ready to go back to your bed?"
As a surprise to no one at all, Ava shakes her head. Dream smiles and holds her a little tighter.
"You wanna sleep here and have me carry you in?" He asks, quieter. It wouldn't be the first time. And to this, she nods, followed suit by a wide yawn.
"Good choice," George butts in, making Ava smile.
"Alright, let's get you all tucked in, then."
Dream pushes his chair closer to the bed behind him and pulls a crocheted blanket from it, one he got in his P.O. box a while ago.
Ava snuggles her face into it as he spreads it over her and adjusts her legs so she's in the crook of his arm.
He brushes some hair off her face, "Comfy?"
She nods with a happy sound and leans into him, looking about ready to nod off. Dream brushes her hair off her face and presses a kiss on her forehead.
He pulls them closer to the desk and reaches for his mouse again, using it to connect the call sound to his headphones before reaching for those, too, and placing them on one ear.
On his monitor, George is watching him with a soft smile. One that Dream knows is reserved for times like these.
Dream smiles, too
"I'm back," he says, hushed.
"Look at you being all soft," George teases.
"I know," Dream glances down at Ava who is dozing off in his arms already. He sighs, so full of affection for her, "I can't help it."
George settles back in his chair. "Hey dream."
"Yeah?" Dream's eyes flicker back up to him.
George looks so soft like this; all comfy, his cheeks dusted lightly with pink.
"I just– love you," he says, words tumbling.
Dream grins. He'll never not revel in flustered George. "What's gotten into you, huh? Baby fever?"
George shrugs, his smile unfaltering. "Maybe."
"I love you, too, George."
Dream can feel himself relax as he says it; knows how soft his voice goes whenever he talks to George. He has nothing but love for him – and for the little girl in his lap.
They let it settle for a few moments until George can no longer take it, letting out a quiet laugh.
"Okay, enough of this. We only have the thumbnail left, right?"
And Dream just smiles. "Yeah."
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