Tʜᴇᴀ's Lɪᴛᴛʟᴇ : Aᴄᴇ Eᴠᴀɴ

[Ten]

In the morning, my peaceful slumber is broken by my baby nuzzling into me. Since he had been sick the past week, I let Ace stay with me. Otherwise when he's little, I prefer him staying in his bed.

"Good morning, sunshine." I whisper in his ear, brushing nose along his skin, while sneaking my arms around his body.

He stirs, snuggling further into me, but not opening his eyes yet.

"Come on, honeybear. We gotta get up." I continue to whisper, slowly moving my hands to his stomach where he's ticklish. "Or else the tickle monster would come and get you."

A ghost of a smile tugs at the corners of his lips but he still refuses to peel his eyes open, which makes me chuckle and slowly stroke his body.

"Mh." He muffles, trying to dodge my hands while also keeping up with his act on pretend-sleep. "Sweepin'."

"Is that so?" I ponder dramatically. "Okay then."

I don't move my hands for a while and he peeks one of his eyes open, closing it right away when he sees me watching him, muffling another giggle, knowing very well he just got caught.

"You naughty baby! Now feel the wrath of the tickle monster!" I exclaim and start tickling his armpits and body, crawling my fingers all over as he bursts out in a fit of laughter.

"No, mama! Stahp! No! I gud boy! Stawp!!" He squeals loudly, thrashing about to avoid my hands. "Acey gud boy! Go 'way tickle monstew!"

"Okay, okay." I stop, letting both of us breathe and Ace pries his eyes open, giving me a toothy grin.

"Mowning, mama." He says, sitting up and stretching his arms.

"Good baby." I drop a kiss to the top of his head and get out of the bed. "How are you feeling today? Do you think you can use the potty yourself?"

"I feew 3." He holds up four fingers, making me chuckle and ruffle up his hair. "I use potty."

"Okay, big boy. Come down when you're done." I say and leave the room to head for the kitchen to make breakfast for us.

Ace is doing a lot better now but I still need to get him to the doctor for a final check-up, making sure no flu or any virus' still in his body. So, after breakfast, I get us both ready and head straight to the clinic for Littles. Forutnately, he has taken a liking to the doctor, Franie, a very smiley and kind hearted woman, so he doesn't fuss there much.

"Hey, buddy." Franie welcomes him in her usual nasaly, sweet tone and Ace kicks his feet happily. "Aw, someone's happy to see me." She playfully tickles his sides and Ace giggles.

"Say hello, baby." I remind, putting him down to sit on the bed for the check-up.

"Hello, Fwanie!"

"Hello to you too. Now are you gonna be a good boy and be strong for me today? Or are you gonna be an icky boy and cry for mama?"

Ace giggles, throwing his head back. What's so funny in that? Maybe it's the way she talks.

"I be gud boy. No icky bicky." He finally says after calming down.

Franie's face brightens, she fetches her equipments to begin the check-up, I stand next to Ace by the bed.

"I know you're a good boy."

They keep on chatting through the whole thing, Ace doesn't even wince or cry when she takes his blood and I'm shocked. When she's done, Franie offers Ace a bowl of candies and my polite baby takes only one, smiling shyly.

"You can get the reports by evening. I don't think he's got anything though. Ace is a healthy little baby, ain't he?" She boops his nose and once again, Ace doubles over in giggles.

"Thank you, Franie. Have a nice day, bye." I help Ace jump off the bed and take his hand in mine.

"You're welcome. Take care you two, bye bye Acey." She does a starfish movement with her hand and Ace laughs again, copying her;

"Bye bye, Fwanie!"

As I buckle him in his carseat, I lean my hand by the side of the car to talk to him.

"Baby, you like Franie so much?"

He nods vigorously. "Yeah!"

"Why though?" I let my intrusive thoughts win and ask away.

"She funny! She soun' funny. She make Acey happy."

It's so silly but I feel a surge of jealousy flooding my system hearing him say all that. I don't say anything else to him and close the door shut, getting to the driver's seat and begin driving to his class. I'd drop him off and then go for a meeting at the office. I also have to submit all of my papers at the college today. So, it's gonna be a hectic day.

"Bye, mama." Ace chirps as I put his backpack on his back and strap it, also making sure his pacifier's clipped to his onesie.

"Bye, love. Be a good boy and tell the teacher right away if you need to go potty or feel sick, okay?"

"Okay."

"I love you." I kiss his forehead.

"Wuv you too, mama." He beams and waves his hand at me.

I wave back and stand there watching him till he disappears inside amidst the crowd, then get back in the car to drive to the office.

Why am I already tired?

☃︎•••~~~•••☃︎

We come home around 6, and Ace's nap time's missed. I'm already dreading his cranky mood because I myself is cranky today. I can't deal with a cranky kid as well.

"Come on, Acey freshen up and get ready for bed."

"But I dawin' fiwst."

"No, Ace. We already missed your nap time so it's gonna be dinner and straight to bed. You've got school tomorrow."

"Nu! I miss dawin'. I do it now!" He stomps his foot a little.

I glare at him, just what I feared, God, how am I gonna handle this without lashing out. It's not entirely his fault, I had to keep him at the daycare in the college building because I had to stay to submit my early graduation form, and get some formalities done. Which caused him to miss not only his nap time, but also his play time.

"I know, baby. But today has been a little different than the other days, so please just listen to mama. For one night. I promise we can stay up late and have ice-cream tomorrow night."

"But I pway with Anna." He pouts, his bottom lip quivering. "I miss my toys, and they wan' pway with me."

I groan inwardly, rubbing a hand down my face.

"Ace, please can we not do this tonight? I'm exhausted and I need some rest. So I'm asking you to just listen to me and get to bed after dinner." I say a bit sternly, also pleadingly, hoping he'd get the hint.

He stares at me for a few seconds, without blinking—which is a bit creepy might I add—then puts his drawing book down and hangs his head low, making his way upstairs.

I sigh in relief. "I'll come and change you in a minute, sit on the potty till then."

"It's okay, I can handle it."

I'm a bit surprised to see him slipping out, but also relieved. Though I feel really bad to have him slip out of his headspace due to my physical exhaustion.

I should be used to managing everything by now. I shouldn't force my Little to be Big and handle stuff on his own, it's not good for his mental health, or our bonding.

Fuck. I shouldn't have done that.

From now on, I should have a list of rules of my own as well, to make sure this never happens again, and my baby's always happy.

The social workers may visit us anytime, anyday, and I'd hate for them to think I'm not worthy of taking care of my baby.

☃︎•••~~~•••☃︎

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