Saccharine //joshler [✔️]

twenty seven 🍯

"ty, baby, i'm sorry. i'll be back in two days, okay?"

"no!" tyler yells, furious tears streaming down cherry cheeks.

ashley stands aside, quietly watching the whole ordeal. josh's grandpa had just passed away the day prior, and he had to drive a state over in order to attend the funeral. in no way did he want tyler to attend such a thing. there was not a single doubt in his mind that the poor boy would be wrecked despite never having even met josh's grandpa.

"please, honey, i have to go. ashley is going to stay with you the whole time. you said you wanted to be friends with her, remember? now's your chance!" josh tries to reason, but tyler's tears don't stop.

"don't weave me, daddy! p'ease!" he sobs, now clinging to the man's side. if he hugs him tight enough, maybe josh won't ever be able to leave!

"hey, tyler?" ashley speaks up, both boys' heads turning to her. "i.. um.. i brought something for you, if you want to see it. i left it in the other room, though."

josh smiles, silently thanking her. he kisses tyler's forehead. "oooh, a surprise. wanna go check it out?"

the little hesitates, pondering if he should continue to cry or stop so he can see his surprise... "yes!"

all three meet in the living room, where a couple of ashley's bags sit on the floor. she picks up the plastic bag and pulls out a block set. tyler gasps, milky brown eyes growing wide.

"woah, baby! look at that! ashley bought you a set of blocks to play with," josh grins, ruffling his hair.

"oh my goodness! t'ank you, ash'ey!" tyler giggles, tear long forgotten. he takes the box from her and shakes it up and down. "wan' pway, daddy?"

"i can't play, hon. i have to leave, remember..?"

tyler frowns, glancing between the box and his daddy. "well... ash'ey pway?"

"of course!" she smiles.

tyler smiles as well, setting the box aside to hug josh. the latter holds the boy tight, a knot forming in his stomach as he tries not to think about how much he's going to miss his little boy. they've hardly been away from each other since they've been together. josh just hopes tyler will be good for ashley.

"wuv 'ou, daddy," tyler hums, smiling sadly as they kiss.

"i love you too, tiny. be good, okay? ashley is going to tell me if you're bad. you don't want daddy to punish you right when he gets back, do you?"

"nuh-uh!"

"okay. if you're good, we'll dress up and play house when i get back. how's that sound?"

"otay!"

josh smiles, kissing the boy once again. "thanks, ash. i'll be back sunday. call me if you need anything."

"will do. ready to play, ty?"

"yes!"

🍼🍯🍼

ashley sits on the bed, her back resting against the headboard. tyler is cradled in her arms, the boy demanding she hold him like josh always does. she doesn't mind, of course. she's happy as long as tyler is. they're watching the little mermaid because it's ashley's favorite and tyler hasn't seen it in a while.