Best Friends With Benefits... Or More?

The Babysitting Club

I had promised to watch the baby for my cousin so she could go out for a few hours.   I called him a baby but his name was Hayden and he wasn't really a baby anymore, but to me he was.  Mandy had joined us on some of our excursions in the city, or just came over and hung out while the guys were over.  Hayden would be with her, but most of the time he was occupied in my extra room which had some of his things in there to play with.  He also had extra clothes and pajamas for times like this.  We'd play cards or just make some drinks and order in.  Depending on who was hanging out determined how much Hayden played with his toys or colored, staying to himself, or how much he interacted. 

Sebastian and Chace had grown attached to Hayden and vice versa. They would call him every name but his own because he'd laugh so hard so it became their thing.  He also realized Sebastian was Bucky Barnes, so of course his favorite character quickly became the Winter Soldier.   He had the toys, the shirts, the Funko's and the costume.  Sebastian would even bring him new things here and there when he could get them, that's why Hayden had quite the collection.

Once they knew I was watching him for a bit, they jumped at the chance to visit.  He hadn't been with me long before they showed up with take out.  The minute they walked in, my own flesh and blood turned on me and darted straight for Sebastian. 

"Sebby!"  He adapted my nickname because that's what he'd hear him called, and when he'd say Seb's full name, he'd have a hard time pronouncing it.  Seb caught him in the air before starting their game.

"Hey Julio, how's my big guy doing?"

"I'm not Julio."  Hayden's giggles began filling the air in my apartment.

"That's right."  Sebastian looked as though he was pretending to think, then spoke up again.  "Oh, I remember now!  Your name is Pedro."

Chace reached for his turn to hold him, Hayden holding his arms out as he called out his name for Chace. "Chacey!"

Now it was Chace's turn to play. "Seb, I told you his name is Francis."

They all laughed, making their way to the table  for dinner.  Of course they brought him his own special cookie from the bakery down the street, but told him he'd have to eat his dinner first.  We all caught up and played story time with Hayden while we ate. Hayden giggling half the time he was sitting there. He wanted to know if Sebastian could introduce him to Loki, because he was his favorite bad guy. Chace apparently found this as a good time to question a few things.

"But Hector, isn't The Winter Soldier a bad guy?"

Hayden stared him down for a minute, causing Sebastian to almost spit his water out from a laugh. The sincerity this little boy already had for Seb's character was adorable, and he let Chace know. "Chacey, Bucky isn't a bad guy. Those bad people were the bad guys. They switched his brain and used his body to do bad stuff. Wakanda fixed him. He's a good guy."

We all chuckled at his rebuttal. Sebastian put up his hand for a high five from his little comrad.

After dinner, Hayden asked if he could take a picture of Sebastian with my phone.  That way I could send it to his mommy so Hayden could remember what he looked like when they were apart. 

I laughed at him as I handed my phone over.  "Hayden, baby, you have the toy you can look at.  You have a poster with him on it."

"But that's the Winter Soldier one.  I just want my friend, Sebashawn."  Sebastian loved the way Hayden said his name, always causing him to put his hand on his chest when he heard him say it.  Seb kneeled down so Hayden wasn't looking straight up at him with the phone.  He proceeded to make funny faces and be his normal self with all kinds of expressions as he posed.