"You ready to go see TyTy, RuRu??" Josh asked his daughter enthusiastically.
The baby smiled as she heard 'TyTy.' She hadn't seen him in what felt like ages.
"I think that's a yes," Josh grinned as he saw his daughter's adorable smile. She was only six months old, but she always had a reaction to everything.
He loaded Ruby up in her car seat in the back of his car and drove to the hospital his husband was at. Not only was this a big deal for Ruby, but it was a big deal for Joshua as well. Ever since Tyler's diagnosis, he'd only get to see him about once every two to three weeks.
Tyler had cancer, and while he was getting better, he still had to be in the hospital. Josh was fully ready to get a nanny for Ruby so he could be with his husband the whole time for support, but Tyler wanted Ruby to have at least one of her daddies there. So, Josh raised Ruby.
It was really hard on him. He was so used to being with his husband all the time, being allowed to hold and hug and kiss him whenever he wanted, but he couldn't anymore. Especially with Ruby.
He drove to the hospital, handing Ruby the balloon he had bought for Tyler to keep her occupied.
"Ok, RuRu. When we go in, you gotta give that balloon to TyTy," Josh said.
Ruby didn't understand. She instead just sat in Josh's arm, staring at him with drool running down her chin as she held the balloon.
Josh chuckled and knocked softly on the door, opening it to see his husband looking as sad as ever.
"H-hey, Ty!" Josh exclaimed enthusiastically, immediately wanting to cheer his husband up. "RuRu, look who it is!"
"SKALKDHDHAKALDJ!" Ruby babbled excitedly as she saw Tyler, making grabby hands towards him.
Tyler put on a smile Ruby believed was genuine but Josh knew it was forced. He set Ruby down on Tyler's lap.
"Hi, RuRu," Tyler said quietly, playing with her hands.
Ruby grinned as more slobber ran down her chin, handing the balloon to her daddy.
"Thank you, sweetheart," Tyler said. "Good sharing."
Ruby blushed and smiled shyly, leaning forward and face-planting into Tyler's chest.
Josh walked up to Tyler, holding the hand that didn't have the IV in it. "Hi, baby."
"Hi," Tyler said, looking up at his husband.
Josh knew that look. Tyler wanted to be alone with him. So he took Ruby to the area where they kept kids while the adults were together in the actual hospital rooms.
He kicked off his shoes and crawled into the hospital bed with Tyler, cuddling him. He pressed a kiss to behind his ear. "How're you feeling?"
"Terrible," Tyler said softly.
"You've told the doctors though, right?" Josh said.
Tyler nodded. "They changed my IV."
Josh kissed Tyler's hair and nodded. "I've missed you. So much."
"I've missed you too," Tyler sniffled.
"Oh, baby, please don't cry," Josh said, quickly kissing away his husband's tears.
"I can't do it, Josh," Tyler cried. "I can't do this any longer."
"Tyler, you are the strongest person I know," Josh said. "You can and will get through this all. But I really, really think I should start being with you every day. It's not good for you to be all alone."
Tyler just continued to cry softly.
"My mom can take care of Ruby," Josh said. "She'll still See us both, but I really don't want to leave you here all alone anymore. It's not good for any of us."
Tyler sniffled but nodded.
Josh nodded, texting Momma Dun before pocketing his phone and returning his full attention to Tyler.
"As soon as you get better, we're going on a second honeymoon. I don't care what anyone says. We are going on a second honeymoon," Josh said.
Tyler did nothing.
"Isn't that exciting, baby?" Josh asked.
"I mean, I-I guess, b-but they aren't acting like I'm going to get better, Joshie. I don't wanna leave you and Ruby," Tyler said, tears threatening to spill from his eyes again.
"You're gonna get better, baby," Josh said. "Please don't lose hope. Please, please don't."
Tyler just sniffled and balled Josh's shirt up in his fist, wanting him even closer even though they were touching as much as possible in their situation.
"I-I just wanna be able t-to go on dates with you again a-and do n-new things with Ruby a-and make love w-with you a-and take her t-to the park and just do all the fun stuff we did b-before I got sick," Tyler cried.
Josh's heart broke. He wanted all of those things too. He then got an idea. "What's saying we can't make love?"
"I-I'm in a hospital a-and I'm on an IV a-"
"We can work around those. We can be quiet," Josh said. "Did the doctor ever say you can't have sex?"
"N-no," Tyler said quietly.
"Then let's do it," Josh said. "Let's have our fun."
"Joshie, I-I don't want o-our last time being in a hospital bed," Tyler said.
"Baby, don't talk like that. When you get better, we're gonna make love anywhere and everywhere you want. Just, right now, options are limited. This certainly will not be our last time," Josh promised.
Tyler chewed on his lip then nodded.
Josh smiled and kissed Tyler's nose. "That's the good thing about hospital gowns. That cute little butt of yours is already hangin' out."
Tyler blushed deeply and smiled shyly.
It was a genuine smile.
The boys quickly but gently made love, keeping as quiet as possible.
Once the finished, they composed themselves and just snuggled in the bed. Ruby joined them a few hours later before Josh's mom came to pick her up.
Tyler's mood got a lot better once Josh started staying with him. His health got better, too. His body responded to the treatment much more effectively.
Ruby came and saw the boys every day for a few hours, where they had family snuggle and reading time. She would then go back to Momma Dun's while Josh stayed with Tyler in the hospital, holding him tightly.
After about a year, Tyler won his battle with cancer.
And, as promised, Josh took him on a second honeymoon. The first where Tyler was healthy and wanted to do anything and everything with Joshua.
It was filled with lots love making, adventures, and snuggles.
And when they returned home, Tyler finally got to start taking Ruby to the park. They had a TyTy-RuRu date once a week where they'd go out and do something together. They also had JishJish-RuRu dates and TyTy-JishJish dates.
Their family was full of love and health, and they couldn't be happier.
