parenthood | niam au [ON HOLD]

breakfast in bed

"shhh!"

"daddy, i --"

"flynn, shhh! you're gonna wake up papa!"

a low chuckle, liam's. "shh, sweethearts," he hushes them gently. "teddy, can you open the door for me, bub? my hands are full."

"i can do it, papa!" teddy sounds delighted, and niall hears the soft creak on the hinge of the door as it opens. he shuts his eyes quickly, figuring pretending to be asleep is his best plan at the moment. teddy, flynn, and liam tiptoe their way into the room. liam bends over zinnia's crib to make sure she's okay (she's asleep) and gently shakes niall's shoulder.

niall makes a sleepy sound. "mmm?"

"ni, wake up," liam whispers.

"yeah, papa! wakey wakey, eggs and breakfast!" teddy cheers, keeping his voice low so he doesn't wake zinnia. 

"it's eggs and bakey," flynn responds, sounding irritated. niall lets out a quiet laugh, and then rolls over. liam is holding a tray with pancakes, eggs, and bacon on it. niall gasps.

"you made this for me?" he questions softly.

"i poured the juice!" flynn adds proudly.

"nuh-uh!" teddy argues. "you held the cup!"

"still counts," flynn pouts.

"it sure does," liam grins, ruffling flynn's hair affectionately. he gives niall an affectionate, semi-apologetic smile. niall beams back.

"thank you all sooo much," niall smiles. he pushes himself up into a sitting position despite the pain. liam helps teddy and flynn into the bed and climbs in after him. they all eat bits off of niall's plate, knowing he won't be able to finish it all. 

"i'm sleepy again," teddy mumbles. his chubby, little cheek is smushed against liam's forearm, liam dozing off beside him. flynn is snugged against niall's side, eating the last few grapes off of niall's plate.

"are you sleepy, too, flynn?" niall asks him.

flynn shakes his head. "i'll cuddle with you if you are, papa."

"would you rather get up?"

flynn hesitates, and then nods. "but i'll stay if you wanna sleep," he says in a rush. just then, zinnia makes a little squawk sound; not quite a cry, but not a happy sound either. liam's eyes snap open.

"i've got her," he says in a raspy, sleepy voice. teddy makes a displeased sound when liam starts to move.

"no, li, it's okay," niall responds. "go back to sleep." liam hesitates, and niall sits there, flynn in his lap, stroking his hair. liam eventually dozes back off to sleep, teddy sprawled half across the bed. "what's the matter, little girl?" niall coos, lifting zinnia out of her crib. she makes a little gurgle sound, little face scrunched up.

"she's mad, daddy," flynn notes. "maybe she wants a cuddle? or popsicles."

that makes niall laugh. "come on, sweetheart. do you want to watch tv?"

flynn hums. "wanna stay with you, papa. i don't like being not with you."

niall can't properly lean down to kiss the top of flynn's head, but with flynn on tiptoes, they make it work. "you're the sweetest little boy," niall tells him, and little flynn gets flustered at the attention.

"paw patrol, please?" flynn begs when they make it downstairs. zinnia has finally started to cry, and angry little wail. niall turns the tv on and leaves flynn in the living room, but flynn follows him into the kitchen.

"what's wrong? paw patrol is playing," niall says, confused, as he mixes a bottle of formula for zinnia.

"wanted to stay with you," is all flynn says. he leans his head against niall's hip. 

"c'mon. we can go watch paw patrol now," niall tells him once zinnia's bottle is done. instead of running ahead, like niall thought he would, flynn clings to his hand and doesn't sit down until niall does. he cuddles himself right up against niall's side. flynn cheerfully watches a few episodes of paw patrol before he starts squirming. "what's wrong, baby? do you need to go potty?" 

flynn shakes his head. "wanna play with toys," he says.

"okay. you can go upstairs and grab some, if you want," niall offers.

flynn actually sobs. "no! not without you!" he screeches, and then bursts into tears. only then does niall really understand what's going on. 

"oh, sweetheart, is this because of me being away from you when zinnia was born?" niall questions, gently thumbing away the tears.

flynn is still trembling. "scared you're gonna leave forever," he sniffles.

"oh, my baby," niall coos, pulling him closer. flynn's warm, little cheek is wet against niall's, and his sniffles are loud. "i'm not going anywhere, sweet pea. i promise you that."

flynn hiccups. "papa?"

"yes?"

"i love you soooo much. i was scared to...but i love you lots. lots and lots and lots."

that makes niall cry. "i love you, too, sweet boy. more than you can understand." he kisses flynn's forehead, and the little boy curls up in his father's lap and continues to watch paw patrol.