Kiddos ★ lennstarr

20. He Said It!

Ringo was staying at the house anytime he could. When he was busy at his work, Julian and Sean were bugging their father to call him so that they could say their "hellos" when he wasn't there to say it in person.

The kids were awestruck with how John had slowly started to change. He let them stay up later than usual, was nicer than usual, everything was different now that Daddy was in love.

When John had gone downstairs to fetch the mail, Sean had entered Julian's room and poked his brother in the side for his attention.

"Jules," Sean whined. "Jules I wanna talk."

"About what?" Julian turned to his brother.

"Daddy," Sean crawled onto his older brother's lap. "Don't you think he's acting all weird now?"

"Weird how?" Julian asked.

"Well," Sean sighed and twiddled with his fingers nervously. "He's been real different ever since Ringo came."

"Yes you could say that," Julian smiled to himself and hugged his brother. "You don't like that?"

"I do, I do," Sean looked down and sighed. "But every time Daddy falls in love, they leave. What if Ringo leaves too?"

Julian bit his lip. He hadn't thought about that. First Mum, then Sean's mum, but Ringo? He didn't want to lose Ringo.

"He won't leave," he reassured Sean, even if he wasn't so sure about it himself. "I promise he won't leave."

"Good," Sean nuzzled closer to his brother. "I don't wanna lose him."

"Me neither," Julian sighed and kissed his head. "Aren't you tired? Let's get your pjs on so you can go take a nap."

"But I'm not tired!" Sean pouted and let tears roll down his cheek just as the door to the apartment opened and footsteps came closer towards them.

"Daddy!" Sean had run from Julian's lap and to his father's legs. "Jules wants me to go take a nap!"

"Well he asked me if Ringo's gonna leave us the same way his mum and mine left you!" Julian said, eyes widening when he realized the words that spilled from his lips.

"Whoa whoa, kiddos what's gotten a hold on you two?" John chuckled shallowly but his mind had already wandered to the very thought.

"Did you just- did you just say kiddos?" Julian asked.

"Huh? Well it seems I have haven't I?" John smiled nervously and scooped up Sean in his arms. "Tiger, I need to talk to Jules privately so I'll appreciate it if you get into your jammies and wait for me to tel you a bedtime story. Got it?"

"Fine Daddy," Sean sighed. "But I'm telling Ringo that you called us kiddos!"

"Oh no!" John feigned worry and set the boy down, watching as he went to his room all by hisself.

"What do you want to tell me?" Julian sat down on his bed, looking down at his bare feet.

"Sean. Did he really think that Ringo might leave us?" John sat himself down next to his son and took his hand in his.

"I mean, yeah," Julian furrowed his brows and scooted farther away from his dad. "He's so scared of losing another parent. And I-Daddy I'm scared too. What if we lose him? I don't want to lose him after all the people we've lost."

"Oh god," John sighed and rested his head in his hands. "What have I gotten myself into?"

"Daddy come on," Julian rubbed his father's back awkwardly. "This is good. I love Ringo a lot. So does Sean. We just don't want to lose him. Please try hard to keep him Daddy. We want him here just as much as you probably do."

John looked up at his son with red eyes. He took off his glasses and wiped his eyes with the back of his palms and set his glasses on the bridge of his nose once again.

He pulled Julian close for a hug and kissed his head.

"I don't want to lose him either kiddo," John whispered. "He's really special to me too."

"You should go tuck Sean in," Julian said, not bothering to look up. "He's probably worried about you."

"Got it." John nodded and got up from Julian's bed.

"Wait," Julian had grabbed hold of John's wrist and was biting his lip. "I love you Daddy. Just thought you should know that."

John's heart swelled in his chest. He'd said it. Finally.

He went back to his son's bed and hugged him tightly. "I love you too Jules," John said through tears. "Just thought you should know that."