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the next morning rolled over, and jackson was awake before mark and daniel. surprising, considering that he worked late then night before.
but he walked out to the kitchen, deciding to make breakfast for the two. he started on some pancakes, hearing daniel's pitter-patter of steps coming to the kitchen once the smell wafted in.
"daddy!" daniel says, hugging to his leg happily and nuzzling it with the side of his face.
"morning superstar," jackson says, picking daniel up and setting him on the counter. "how'd you sleep?"
"good! mark fell asleep too." daniel says, giggling.
jackson chuckles, pouring some juice into a child's cup and handing it to his son. "i saw, you two were snuggling."
"mhm," daniel hums, sipping his juice.
mark sleepily walks into the room, his hair going in all different directions. jackson couldn't help but think it was cute.
"good morning," jackson says, offering a smile. mark waves, yawning.
"morning," mark says, leaning against the counter. "i'm so sorry for falling asleep here, don't worry, i'll get going in a few–"
"don't leave!" daniel interrupts hims, a cute pout plastered on his face.
"i have to," mark says, "i know jackson doesn't want me here all the time, buddy."
"do you have somewhere to be?" jackson says, raising an eyebrow. "i'd love to have you stay. daniel loves you," he says, smiling. "usually he hates his babysitters. but you're something else. you're welcome to stay as long as you want."
"oh," mark says, nodding slowly. "okay, i'll stay then." he smiles softly, as daniel and jackson cheer in sync. mark chuckles, moving to stand closer to the two.
"it smells really good," mark says, nodding towards the food.
"thanks," jackson says, running a hand through his hair. "danny loves pancakes so we usually have them on my days off."
"you're off today?!" daniel exclaims, looking at his father.
"yes," jackson chuckles, "i am."
daniel squeals, throwing his hands into the air. "yay!"
jackson smiles and puts the pancakes on a plate, walking to the dining table.
"could you grab the silverware and plates for me, mark?" jackson says, pulling out daniel's chair for him. mark nods and brings everything over, including daniel's cup that he left on the counter.
jackson puts a pancake onto daniel's plate, cutting it up into small bites for him. mark sits across from him at the table, grabbing a pancake for himself.
he didn't know why, but he felt so at home. jackson and daniel's home was so inviting and warm, he felt happy.
jackson finishes cutting up the pancake, sitting down to mark's left and eating a pancake himself.
"these are really good," mark says, nodding.
"thank you," jackson says, sipping his tea he had brewed earlier.
jackson couldn't, for some reason, stop staring at mark. there was something about him that was just... amazing. the way he was so kind and compatible with his son. the humble smile on his face. his quiet demeanor. he couldn't seem to put his finger on why mark was catching his attention so much.
"we're like a little family!" daniel says, giggling and sipping his juice. "daddy and mark and danny!"
mark and jackson chuckled, making eye contact with each other as they did so. the two just felt so at peace; it was nice. they just knew the rest of the day was going to be splendid.
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a/n: smol little chapter, sorry it's short school is stressing me out and shit
i hope you enjoyed! please vote & comment, i really appreciate it! thanks, ilysm~ -author em
