parenthood | niam au [ON HOLD]

too many mosquitoes!

"daddy, i don't like bug spray," flynn frowns, pouting up at liam.

"i know you don't, ducky, but i'm sorry, you need it. if you don't, the mosquitoes will eat you up! nom nom nom!" liam starts to tickle him, and the boy squirms away, giggling.

"daddy, no!" he squeals, trying to wiggle even further out of liam's grasp. when the boy is red-cheeked and whiny, liam finally stops. "mean, daddy!"

"sorry, kiddo." liam kisses flynn's nose. "can i spray you now?"

flynn nods, but his face is scrunched up in displeasure. he lets out an unhappy squeal when liam sprays him liberally with the bug spray.

"done?" he asks hopefully when liam's stopped.

"yup, kiddo. you wanna send your brother in here? ask papa if he's ready to go."

"okayyy," flynn hums, galloping out of the room. a few seconds later, teddy is making his way into the room.

"hi, daddy," he beams, hugs liam around the waist as if he hasn't seen him in hours, when in reality, it's been about ten minutes.

"hi, sweetheart. is it okay if i spray you with the bug spray?"

teddy nods, uncaring, and liam sprays him quickly.

"alright, buddy! you ready to get going?"

teddy nods and puts his arms up to liam. "up, please?"

liam scoops him up and kisses his little button nose. 

"i'm excited!" squeals teddy, and starts to play with liam's hair.

"what are you doing, kiddo?" liam chuckles as he carries teddy into the kitchen where flynn, zinnia, and niall are waiting. 

"playing," teddy mumbles into liam's neck. liam just rubs his back.

"ready to go, babe?" liam asks niall, putting a hand to his cheek. niall smiles, kisses his wrist.

"yep, we're all set." he scoops zinnia onto his hip and takes flynn's free hand. "can you carry this?" he points to the picnic basket resting on the counter.

"got it," liam nods and scoops the basket up. "what time does it start?"

niall glances at his watch. "we have twenty minutes. we should go."

"alright, payne crew! let's head out," liam cheers, and all three kids cheer. with some effort, the three kids get buckled into their carseats. the moana soundtrack plays on the radio, and liam takes niall's hand as they drive, kissing the back every couple of minutes. "oh, did you call zayn?"

"yep."

"you think of everything." liam kisses his hand again.

"you're right. i'm pretty much perfect," niall teases, smiling.

"that you are," liam responds, no teasing in his voice.

"papa! i can see the screen!" squeals flynn, and as soon as the car is in park, he's scrambling to unbuckle himself.

"wow there, cowboy, slow down! no getting yourself out of your carseat, you know better," niall scolds.

"sorry, papa," flynn pouts, and niall kisses his forehead a few times to show him he's forgiven. "i see uncle zee!" he shouts, and runs off to hug him.

"can i go, too?" teddy whines, and when liam nods, he runs towards them, too.

"i used to love movies in the park," niall smiles and tucks himself against liam's side.

liam rubs his bicep. "i did, too. it's been a long time since i've been." he kisses niall's temple, and niall stays there, tucked against his side for a little while. "we need to have a date night."

niall nods. "yeah, we do. i miss hanging out with you, dude."

"i miss hanging out with you, too, bro, even though we literally stayed up watching jeopardy until 3am last night."

"i wanted to win," niall pouts.

"i know. poor baby." liam laughs when niall sticks his tongue out. "come on, let's go see this movie."

when liam and niall finally catch up to flynn and teddy, they're playing with elise, running through the grass.

"come on, kids," zayn calls. "we gotta go get set up before the movie starts!"

"yay!" shrieks elise, bouncing forward to take harry's hand. luckily, they're a bit early, and they get a spot perfectly in the middle of the park. liam spreads out their picnic blanket big enough for all of them, and the kids are quick to cuddle up in the middle as the previews start. liam hands out sandwiches and chips and veggies, and the kids eat as they watch, beaming up at the screen, smiles on their chubby little faces.

harry tosses a grape at zayn, who tries to catch it in his mouth but misses. niall laughs, and when he tosses one at liam, liam catches it.

"show off," zayn huffs, and liam laughs. niall curls up against liam's side, and liam runs his fingers through his hair. niall shuts his eyes -- he forgets how exhausting parenting is until he has the opportunity to rest for a minute. as the movie goes on, the bugs start to come out, and the kids whine in displeasure as they start to get bitten.

"daddy, too many mosquitoes," flynn whines, and attempts to hide himself underneath liam, as if his daddy's larger body will protect him.

liam laughs. "okay, we can get out of here."

"thank you for the movie," teddy chirps sweetly, smiling up at his parents.

"aw, you're very welcome, cub. such good manners," liam coos, kissing his nose, and teddy giggles, beaming.