Wintumn- The Baby Bundle

Never Grow Up

Prompt: Tired parents of a toddler want their sleep, but they love their baby boy more
Words: 1104

"PAPA" echoed through their house earning a groan from Autumn. She opened one eye, 2:25am, the clock read. For being so small and never sleeping for too long their newly aged 2 year old had so much energy. "PAPA" the little voice called out again from the next room. "Go get him" she mumbled to Winter, who had not yet moved throughout the noise. "But it's your turn" he grumbled. She smacked him lightly on the arm and lifted her head from the pillow to look at him. "He wants you" she said more firmly. Winter got the hint and started getting up, making sure to be extra dramatic about it. "PAPA!" the toddler cried out louder and more feisty. "Why did we have to make a baby that has both of our attitudes rolled into one" he said before slipping out of the room.

Autumn laughed to herself at this, that was true. Their little Benjamin, Benny for short, was a perfect mix of the both of them and he had both his mama and papa wrapped around his little finger.

A very tired Winter came back into their bedroom holding a far too excited for it to be 2am Benny over his shoulder. "Hi Mama" he said. She rolled over to the side they were both getting into bed and looked at her sweet holding her precious little boy. He had Winter eyes and dark hair and she could tell he was going to have his father's quick wit as he grew up. "Hi baby, it's still night time, which means sleep time for Benny". The little boy gasped as if he had just heard shocking news. "Mama, birds?" "No baby the birds aren't out yet, Mama, Papa and Benny wake up when we hear the birds"

They were trying everything and anything to get their boy to sleep through the night, their current trick was getting him to listen for the birds, unfortunately for them this didn't seem to be working as all he wanted to do was sit up at night and listen for the birds. They had tried lavender in his room, white noise, a completely dark room, a night light. Anything they could think of to try and help but the tot just had far too much energy.

"Up now, toast!" he exclaimed sitting on his knees in between his parents, Autumn and Winter looked at each other. They had fallen into the habit of taking him downstairs a few months back to help him settle but now every time he goes downstairs he expects to get his usual breakfast of toast, they had stopped taking him down but still each night he would ask for toast. "No buddy, no toast, sleep" Winter told him lying with his eyes closed to try and at least pretend to sleep. "Papa awake" "nope, Papa asleep" this made Benny giggle and Autumn couldn't help but smile at Winters attempt to sleep through this.

She loved watching him be a dad, he was truly the best there was and Benny adored his papa. Benny sat on top of winters stomach making him groan "little man, papa is trying to sleep and you should be doing the same, look mama is asleep too". Benny looked over at Autumn who was lying wide awake watching her two boys. "Noooo mama awake" Autumn laughed, nothing got past her baby.

Benny let out a small yawn and rubbed his eyes, indicating that he was actually tired. "Come here little one why don't you come lay in between us" his mother suggested, patting the space in between them, he scrambled into bed between his parents and got nice and comfy watching his mother. Despite him being a daddy's boy, Benny adored his mother and loved when they would have little moments together. Winter had rolled over to see his two favourite people having a little chilled moment together. Autumn stroked their boy's nose and softly began to sing

"Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star
Do you know how loved you are"

Soft snores came from the toddler and she kept stroking his nose to make sure he was fully asleep. "He's over" she whispered to Winter when they were certain Benny was completely asleep. "Maybe all he needed was his mama's voice to put him asleep" Winter said giving Benny and Autumn a kiss on the head. Aut smiled at his comment.

"I don't want him to grow up" she admitted, sure the toddler phase was hard but seeing and feeling how much love the three of them had for each other and how funny and bright their son is at such a young age was something Autumn would find hard to beat. "You want to be tired your whole life?" Winter joked but then continued "I agree though, he's such a cool kid"

"I think we're doing a good job with him" Autumn said, this had been something she had been insecure about since she found out she was pregnant with Benny, coming from a household where there were constant arguments and slamming doors and tears and people walking out she was so scared she would pass this trauma onto her baby she was determined to make her home a safe place for everyone who lived there, she wanted to break that generational curse.

"Of course we are my darling, we're doing the best we can for our first time, you're an exceptional mother to him" and he was telling the truth Autumn was the best mother Benny could have and Winter was so proud of how far she had come. "I want him to stay small forever, one day he isn't going to need us Wint, I want him to be two forever, I know it's tough but he's such a good kid"

"I know my love and who knows maybe we could have more when he's a little bit older" Autumn smiled at that thought, she loved having Reece around when she was young and always wanted a few children, she was happy Winter brought that up.

They lay there talking a while longer just watching their son taking breaths and looking so peaceful in a deep sleep, they were both just about to fall asleep when Winter said "As much as I would like him to stay small I will not miss him kicking me in the ribs each night he shares a bed with us" Autumn smiled.

"Well, like you would say when I was pregnant, he's doing it out of pure love"