Kiddos ★ lennstarr

10. K-i-s-s-i-n-g

Julian was delighted to have known that Ringo had stayed the night. He laughed and hugged Ringo so tight that he could feel the circulation cutting off from his system.

It was only 11:27 am, John had insisted on keeping Ringo for breakfast.

"No I can't," Ringo politely declined. "I have to go."

"But you just woke up," John said and grabbed his hand. "Just stay for breakfast."

"Please Ringo," Sean and Julian whined. "Please."

"Fine," he sighed and the boys cheered in victory. "I'm only doing it because you're begging me to though."

"Sit with me!" Sean smiled.

"No, sit with me!" Julian responded and the man looked at the two with conflicted blue eyes.

"Boys, boys," John yelled over their arguing. "Let Ringo choose. Don't pressure him."

Ringo looked back and forth between the two boys and blushed. He moved over to John and watched as the boys gawked at him with disappointment and betrayal.

"I was actually hoping to sit with your father," Ringo smiled. "If that's okay with you two."

"You wanna sit with Daddy?" Sean asked him. "Why?"

"He has a crush on Daddy," Julian laughed. "Duh."

"Now kids let's not be so rude to-"

"Daddy and Ringo sitting in a tree. K-i-s-s-i-n-g. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes-"

"Julian!" John raised his voice.

"Sorry," he mumbled and looked down at his toast. "I don't mean it. Honest."

"It's okay kiddo," Ringo smiled. "I know you didn't mean it."

"Are you gonna leave?" Sean was distraught.

"For such a silly reason? Now way." He answered and the boys, including John, sighed of relief. "Now let's eat, I'm starving."

★

"Park?" It was hours after Ringo had left and Sean had decided to wait until Julian came from school to go.

"I thought you already went," Julian said and spread out his homework on the table. "You're going again?"

"No we wanna go with you!" Sean whined and grabbed hold of his brother's arm.

"Me?" Julian looked at his father. "But isn't it too late to go?"

"I'm off work today," John smiled. "I want to spend some time with my boys."

They both smiled and scampered over to the coat rack at the door, jumping to reach the first jacket that they could get their hands on.

John watched with delight as the boys continued to struggle with the rack, almost knocking it down in the process. He finally got up and grabbed their coats.

They lived directly across the park so it was only a few steps into 76th street and there was Central Park in all its glory. John sat himself on the bench and watched his sons play tag, their rules far too complicated for him to understand.

It was a mixture of "safe is the rock" and "but rock is everywhere it's not fair!" as well as "shut up" and last but not least "Daddy!"

John couldn't help but laugh at the kids. Their ridiculous rules were the main reason why they got nothing done. As he went to them he bumped into a couple, "sorry" he murmured, as did they. He looked back and saw that they were arm in arm, laughing and smiling, truly happy to be in each other's presence.

He thought back to Julian remarks at home. "Daddy and Ringo sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g."

"Boys," John blushed. "Tonight I need you two to stay with Paul. I want to go out tonight if that's okay with you guys."