Under the Same Sky [BOYXBOY]

Alternative Ending

Jayden scrunched his eyes tightly as he shifted in the bed, unwilling to get up. The wailing continued to grow louder, causing him to nudge his husband's sleeping form with his foot.

'It's your turn to change him,' he muttered, keeping his eyes closed.

Samuel grumbled but after a few more sharp nudges, he relented and tossed the covers off, mumbling something under his breath of tyrant husbands and their equally tyrant sons.

A few minutes later, the wailing ceased and a contented gurgling could be heard coming from the next room. A soft smile appeared on Jayden's face at the sound and he had almost dozed off when he felt the bed dip beside him.

'Why can't we just ask your mother to move in? She has been offering for weeks.'

'She does enough already. Besides, I'm not keen on having her overhear you getting handsy in the middle of the night.'

'I don't get handsy,' Samuel protested.

Jayden cracked one eye open and stared at him.

'That much,' he amended. 'At least then we can actually get some sleep.'

'I get enough sleep.'

'Of course you do,' Samuel muttered under his breath. 'You are an insomniac owl. The rest of us normal people can't function on three hours of sleep.'

Jayden smiled and rolled his eyes. 'Drama queen. Fine, ask her if you want but don't come complaining to me when we no longer have any privacy.'

Samuel placed a kiss on his forehead. 'I shan't.' He paused and a suggestive smile snaked its way across his lips. 'Now that we do have privacy, however...'

Jayden's eyes narrowed.

'And Sky has finally settled down...'

'No.'

Samuel pouted. 'Why not?'

'I have practice in two hours, and you have a class in one.'

Samuel huffed and laid down beside him, eyes staring emptily at the ceiling. 'Do you think if I ask nicely, your mother will make me a box of cupcakes to take to school?'

'You don't need to ask nicely. She clearly has a favourite and it's not me.'

Samuel snorted. 'It's not me either. It's your little despot of a son.'

Jayden kicked him lightly. 'He's not a despot, he's an angel.'

'Clearly, I'm not your favourite either.'

'If it makes you feel any better, you're obviously his favourite.'

Samuel turned to grin at him. 'Does that make you jealous?'

Jayden closed his eyes. 'No.'

Samuel giggled. 'Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night.'

They heard the front door open as Victoria made her way into the apartment. A few minutes later, the sound of soft coos came from the baby's room.

Jayden sighed. 'I guess it's time to get up now.' He nudged Samuel with his toe. 'If you promise to be extra good today, I'll let you take a shower with me.'

A large grin blossomed on Samuel's face. 'Deal,' he said as he stood and scooped Jayden from the bed.

'We have to be quick though, before my mother gets it into her head to make us breakfast again.'

The thought had Samuel quicken his footsteps, but sadly they weren't quick enough, for the kitchen was already filled with the smell of sizzling bacon and fresh coffee by the time they had stumbled in.

'Good morning,' Victoria greeted cheerfully, without turning around. 'Coffee's ready for you Samuel, and your tea would be done in just a minute, Jayden. I'm just working on the pancakes now.'

They eyed the food suspiciously as they sat on the counter. Samuel took one sip of his coffee and had to suppress a gag.

'That's... strong.'

'Wakes you right up, doesn't it?' she replied brightly, placing a cup of tea before Jayden. 'Perfect to start the day.'

Jayden eyed the cup warily and nudged it to the side. 'We've spoken about this, mother.'

'I know, I know. But I think I've finally gotten a hang of this little domestique.'

'The fact that you still call it "domestique", shows you haven't gotten the hang of anything.'

'Ah, but just yesterday my cupcakes sold out. Even Samuel commented on how much my baking has improved.'

'Your baking has improved, your general cooking has not,' Jayden pointed out.

Victoria rolled her eyes good-naturedly, placing the pancakes before them. 'It's through practice that one improves. Back me up, Samuel.'

Samuel blanched. At Victoria's smiling look, he nodded and stabbed a pancake with his fork, shoving it into his mouth. 'Mm... quite good, quite good.'

Victoria's smile brightened. 'There, see.'

'Coward,' Jayden hissed at him as soon as his mother's back was turned.

'Goodness, is that the time?' Victoria exclaimed. 'We better get going. Sky and I would be late for our morning walk, and you two would be late for college. Come on, quick.'

They quickly finished their breakfast-or as much of it as they could without throwing up-and rushed to the door. The morning air was crisp, and the faint warmth of the sun had just begun to peek through the clouds, casting long shadows on the slowly waking street, as Victoria strapped Sky to his stroller and placed a kiss on each of their cheeks. 

'Good luck today. Have fun!'

They waved as she disappeared down the corner before walking hand-in-hand in the opposite direction.

At that moment, all was perfect in the world.