Queer Bedtime Stories - Malec oneshots

Bedtime Stories 3 - Peas and carrots

NOTES: 

I know I promised short, simple stories, but this bedtime story got out of my control and ended up at 4.4K words. 😁

"Listen sweet pea, don't cry. It's not ugly, and no one will make fun of you at school. But without it, there could be serious trouble."

"But Dad, what about swimming? How am I going to swim with this?" the 8-year-old girl pointed tearfully at the device attached to her lower abdomen.

"Sweetie, come here." Alec sat the little girl on his lap. Remember what Dr. Loss said? You could even be an Olympic champion swimmer, like Gary Hall Jr. He also has diabetes, still, he's an Olympic champion. You gotta pay more attention to a few things. That's all."

"You will help me, won't you?"

"I'll always be here for you, sweetheart." Alec said to his little girl as he hugged her tightly, wiping the tears from her tiny face with his big hand.

Alec's life was turned upside down 6 years ago when his best friend Aline died. That's when he became a father. Alec was 26 at the time. He adored Fran and took care of her usually when Aline was working. Alec was a writer and worked from home. Usually at night, thanks to his insomnia. Aline had no relatives. Fran was born of a one-night stand. She never regretted keeping her, even if it was hard as hell sometimes. But Alec was always there for her. All her life and after she died. When they knew the cancer was going to win, she and Alec agreed to get married so they wouldn't have to fight the authorities for custody of the child and she wouldn't end up in the system. Alec had just broken up with his boyfriend, so this was not a problem for him. When he buried Aline, he was heartbroken.

He saved Aline's inheritance for Fran's university studies. He didn't need it. His second book has also become a bestseller. Fortunately, he had no financial problems. But at 26, suddenly taking on fatherly duties wasn't an easy task. Learning to change diapers...He had no idea a tiny baby would need so many diapers. He will never forget the panic when Fran first got sick. His mother, who lived in LA, kept him sane by phone. He loved to go to the playground with her, sit in the sand and build sandcastles. It was then he realized how attractive single fathers were to babysitters and single, and even married mothers. He could hardly stop them. Because he needed anything but women. And that's when he realized how hard it is to find a man who doesn't run away when he finds out he has a child in his life. On that he was adamant. Fran will always be the first in his life. That's why, apart from a few one-night stands, who knows how many years ago, he had no one in his life. Anyone who couldn't live with the idea of a baby from the beginning was doomed. And there is no way to deny it, Fran was a little vibrant ball of energy. It took patience and a string of nerves of steel. She was smart. She asked questions all the time. Alec hadn't been on a date in a while. The two of them were pretty good for each other. Like peas and carrots.

Then came diabetes. Alec was scared to death. He knew nothing about it at that time. But he learned everything. He read a stack of books, went to parenting groups, and last but not least, Fran's doctor, Dr. Loss, helped him a lot. And now Fran has her first insulin pump. Yeah, well, it takes some getting used to.

However, Alec promised Fran that the kids at school wouldn't bully her about it, kids can be cruel sometimes. Alec had also spoken to Ms McKinley, Fran's teacher. But the kids are still cruel. The first time Fran came home crying, Alec ran into the school. Then three more times. At the next check-up, he asked Dr. Loss how others were handling it. She said the children are cruel, there was nothing he could do about it. But support makes a difference. She told him how much it made a difference to one of her little patients when her mom and dad had insulin pumps tattooed on them.