parenthood | niam au [ON HOLD]

too early

"no way, daddy. it is too early," teddy says firmly when liam tries to wake him up.

liam fights back the urge to chuckle. "it is not too early, sweet boy. it's time to get up!"

"but daddy, the sun's not even awake yet!"

"i know, cub, but your papa and i have a surprise for you and your brother and sister."

teddy perks up. "a surprise?"

"that's right," liam nods, and like magic, teddy's wide awake.

"flynn! wake up! surprise!" he shouts.

"shhh, cub, it's too early to be shouting," liam scolds gently.

"surprise?" flynn questions in a groggy voice. it takes more coaxing to get him out of bed than it does teddy, but with promises of snuggles and being able to sleep in the car, he gets up. "snuggles first, daddy?" he pleads, pouting cutely, so he scoops up his boys and tosses them into his and niall's bed. they squeal and giggle, but go quiet when he shushes them so they don't wake zinnia. they curl up against his side, and a few minutes later, niall pops his head out of the bathroom.

"what on earth are you guys doing?" he asks, smiling.

"snuggling, papa. come snuggle!" little teddy pats the spot next to him, and niall can't help but lay there for a few minutes. then he gets up and takes teddy with him. "papa, what's the surprise?"

"if i told you, it wouldn't be a surprise!" niall laughs.

that makes teddy pout, but niall refuses to give in. forty-five minutes later, everyone is fed and in the car. zinnia and teddy conk out almost immediately, but flynn stares out the window, curious about where they're going.

"hey, i know where we're going!" he says suddenly. "this is how we go to uncle zee's!"

"that's right," smiles liam, and flynn beams, thinking he's gonna have a playdate with elise. to his surprise, though, when they get there, they don't even get out of the car. liam gets out to talk to zayn quickly, and then they're driving again. they drive for what seems like years (though in reality is only about two hours), and flynn doesn't realize he's fallen asleep until his daddy is waking him up.

"where are we?" he yawns, rubbing his eyes and stretching.

"take a look, ducky," chuckles liam, and flynn does so.

"oooh!" he squeals. they're deep in a forest which banks on a beach. there are other families, kids playing in the sand, and a bunch of tents set up all around them. "are we camping, daddy!?"

"yes, we are, cupcake!" liam laughs, kissing flynn's face. flynn wiggles to be set down, and he runs over to elise to play.

"daddy, i'm still sleepy," teddy whines. zinnia is just looking around at everything, wide-eyed, from her perch on niall's hip.

"li, help me set up the tents," zayn calls. liam goes over to help him, and niall and harry stand and watch, amused. their kids run around them, playing freeze tag.

"don't go anywhere near the lake," warns harry, so they stay close.

"i'm so excited for s'mores," niall says randomly, which makes harry laugh.

"me, too. we haven't been camping in ages, i'm so excited!"

"me, too!"

- - -

once the tents are set up, they all take decide everyone could use a little nap. niall gently lays zinnia in her travel crib, and she lets out a huge yawn, curling her little toes.