parenthood | niam au [ON HOLD]

sleepy

a/n: if you guys have requests that you want to happen later on in the book, feel free to comment below and i'll keep them in mind when i'm writing!

"i don't wanna be awake," flynn whines, eyes still shut.

"shhh," liam responds. "go back to sleep."

flynn rolls over, smushing his face against liam's chest. liam exhaustedly wraps an arm around the small boy, snuggling him. teddy, ever the crazy sleeper, has managed to somehow burrito himself in his blankets and lay halfway on top of niall at the same time.

flynn manages to slowly doze off. it's the saturday before the kids start school, and it already appears that it's going to be incredibly lazy. both flynn and liam manage to go back to sleep, and even zinnia sleeps in late. when everyone rouses, it's nearly 11am.

"i can't believe we got so much sleep!" niall laughs, scooping zinnia out of her crib. he rubs his eyes, and liam stares at him fondly. his pajamas are rumpled and his hair is a mess, yet he's never looked more beautiful to liam.

"hungry," teddy says after a big yawn.

"me, too," flynn nods.

"eggs and toast it is," liam replies, not feeling like actually cooking anything that'll take effort. "ducky, don't forget to feed the puppies, yeah?"

"i won't!" flynn chirps, scampering down the steps. both boys greet the puppies with hugs and kisses, and after greeting them, flynn pours the food into their bowls without spilling.

"good job," liam praises him, ruffling the sweet boy's hair. flynn joins teddy at the table after washing his hands, and the boys play with barbies while liam cooks.

"tired?" liam asks niall as he fills two mugs with coffee.

"oh, god, exhausted. slept so well, though." niall takes a sip from one of the mugs and sets the other on the counter next to liam.

"eat up!" liam cheers, distributing the plates to the places on the table. zinnia cheerfully eats cheerios off her tray table.

"i love eggs and toast," teddy tells liam before taking a huge bite.

"whoa there, cowboy! slow down," liam gasps. "don't want you to choke!"

"i won't," he responds, mouth full.

"hey, you know better than to speak with your mouth full," niall scolds, and teddy swallows and apologizes. after finishing breakfast, the boys obediently put their plates in the sink, and niall sets zinnia on the floor in the living room, telling the boys to play nicely with her. from where he's standing at the sink, he can see them playing, and can hear her squeals of delight.

liam lets out a yawn. "how can i possibly still be tired?"

niall laughs. "i kind of am, too. i want a nap."

"oh, yeah. i could go for a nap, too," liam nods, drying one of the plates niall hands him. once the kitchen is clean, niall and liam make their way out to the living room to see the kids sprawled out on the floor, fast asleep. liam puts zinnia in the pack 'n play, careful not to wake her up, and scoops teddy up.

"no, daddy. sleep," he mumbles groggily.

"hush, sweetheart. we can sleep more," liam says, silently thanking god that today is so lazy. he sprawls out on the couch, teddy laying on his chest, and closes his eyes. when he glances over at niall, flynn is starfished on the couch, pretty much laying more on niall than not. he lets out a sleepy laugh which makes teddy groan disapprovingly.

when liam opens his eyes again, the sun is low in the sky, warm gold. it's golden hour, and he watches with an affectionate gaze the way it kisses his husband's skin. it settles in the dip of his collarbone, the bridge of his nose, the cupid's bow of his mouth, god, liam loves him. he wants to kiss him all over, everywhere the sun is touching him. it almost physically pains him to look away, but teddy is shifting on his chest, and he gently smooths the boy's hair, soothing him. teddy lets out a sleepy sigh and goes still.

everyone is still asleep except little zinnia, who is making little displeased whines, not quite crying. liam gently lays teddy on the couch, miraculously not waking him up, and approaches the pack 'n play.

"hi there, little doll," he coos, lifting her. she brightens just at seeing her father, and he rains kisses on her faces. he takes her upstairs and changes her diaper, and then brings her back downstairs for a bottle. "you've had a super lazy day, haven't you, little girl?" he smiles. she just blinks up at him with large eyes, and he strokes her chubby, little cheek with his index finger.

when he goes back into the living room, teddy is awake and pouting.

"you left," he accuses liam when they make eye contact.

"you could hear me in the kitchen, couldn't you?"

teddy nods. "still. you left. i woke up and you were -- you were gone." his pout grows, eyes watering, and liam opens his arms for his darling, middle baby. teddy crosses the room quickly, curls up into liam's chest, sitting on his left thigh. zinnia is on his right, and he gently touches the baby's nose.

"i love you, teddy bear. you should know by now i'm never leaving you, cub."

teddy sniffles. "i -- i know, daddy. i just don't like it when you're gone...even just for a little while."

liam leans his cheek against teddy's head. "i don't like it when i'm gone either."