parenthood | niam au [ON HOLD]

sweets

"daddy! daddy, daddy, daddy, wake up!"

liam lets out an exhausted groan. he grabs the boy -- flynn, judging by his size -- and tugs him into the bed, fitting him against his side. 

"no, daddy, don't wanna cuddle -- it's time to get up!" flynn's voice is muffled by liam's bicep, where his cheek is smushed.

"no, sweet pea...too early," liam mumbles. he nuzzles his cheek against the top of flynn's head.

"but, daddy, i'm hungry," flynn huffs.

"just give daddy five more minutes," liam pleads. flynn goes quiet, nuzzling closer to liam. he hasn't had a lot of time to cuddle with his daddy, mostly his papa, so it's nice to be close to him. liam's arm is muscular, holding flynn close to him. liam manages to doze off for a little bit longer, but he's kept from falling all the way asleep because flynn is poking his bicep. "you're not gonna let me sleep more, are you?"

"sorry. too hungry."

liam sighs. "okay, angel. up we go, bub." he scoops flynn up in his arms, and flynn lets out a delighted sound and nuzzles his cheek into liam's neck. "where are your papa and teddy?" liam asks, confused by the empty bed. he leans over the crib to check on zinnia, who, miraculously, is still asleep. he runs a hand over her head -- soft, brunette, downy hair is coming in -- and makes his way down the steps.

"papa said he was goin' grocery shopping," flynn mumbles into liam's neck. "teddy wasn't s'pposed to go, but he cried. i wanted to stay with you."

liam kisses the top of flynn's head. "such a sweet boy," he says softly. flynn gives a tiny smile.

"daddy," flynn says a few minutes later, when they've made it into the kitchen.

"flynn."

"can i have cheerios?"

"sure thing." liam sets flynn down, and he kicks his legs in his chair as liam pours him a bowl of cheerios. flynn crunches away happily, and liam tiredly rubs his eyes as he makes himself a cup of coffee. "how's your cheerios?"

"crunchy," flynn responds, which makes liam laugh. "i like it when you laugh, daddy."

"yeah? i like it when you laugh, too, ducky."

flynn giggles. "ducky?"

"yeah, i think that'll be my nickname for you. ducky. what do you think?"

flynn is beaming. "yes! i like it!"

"okay, ducky." liam leans over the table to kiss the top of his head. "shall we go watch paw patrol?"

"yes!" flynn hops up from the table.

"ah-ah-ah, what do you do with your bowl when you're done?"

"oops," flynn gasps, and puts his bowl in the sink. "can we watch now?"

"sure," liam chuckles.

- - -

sometime later, liam is blinking himself awake. he hadn't even realized he'd fallen asleep, but he jolts himself awake when he realizes flynn is no longer in his lap. 

"flynn?" liam calls. his heart starts to beat harder, and he calls flynn's name again. he runs to the glass door to the backyard, where he can see the puppies scampering around, but no flynn. "flynn!" he runs up the steps, the only place he hasn't checked yet, and his heartbeat relaxes when he realizes he can hear flynn's voice.

zinnia is making some displeased whining sounds, but liam can hear flynn talking gently to her.

"shhh, baby...shh, zinnie, it's okay! it's okay...don't cry! don't cry, i'm here," he's cooing, and liam's heart is overflowing with how much he loves him.

- - -

"daaaaaddy!" teddy yells delightedly. 

"hi, stinker!" liam laughs, suddenly having two armfuls of his four-year-old.

"not a stinker, daddy! that's mean!" teddy pouts, but a few giggles burst out of him when liam kisses all over his face. 

"sorry, cub." he kisses teddy's nose again. 

"we bought stuff for cookies," niall says, struggling to get through the door with all the grocery bags he's carrying. liam puts teddy down so he can help him.

"cookies, huh?" liam questions, giving niall a kiss. niall deepens it quickly, smiling into the kiss.

"yeah. teddy begged for christmas cookies, and his puppy face is too cute."

liam laughs. "can't blame you." he kisses niall's face again, unable to help himself. 

a few minutes later, teddy and flynn are elbow deep in cookie dough. teddy is giggling hysterically at moony, who is licking cookie dough off of his foot (lord knows how it got there). padfoot is nosing at flynn's side, and flynn leans down and lets him lick his face, and then makes a displeased squeal.

"daaaaddy, he licked my face!"

"you leaned down for it, ducky," liam laughs.

"i have doggie spit on my face!" 

liam chuckles, and grabs a rag, wets it, and wipes down flynn's face.

"they're so cute," niall laughs, leaning his head against liam's shoulder. he's cradling zinnia in his arms, and she makes happy gurgly noises. padfoot noses at her toe, and then leaves the room. "can you believe she's nearly a month old?"

liam shakes his head. "i really can't believe it."

"i'm so happy i'm experiencing this with you, li," niall whispers. he sounds tired, but not at all unhappy.

"oh, my love. every day with you is an adventure."