OneShots♡ (Bradga)

Parents 1

Bradley dashed around the house, his heart racing with a mix of panic and excitement. Stefani would be home in less than an hour, and he had spent the day looking after their son, Charly, on his own. It was a delightful but exhausting experience, and now, as the final countdown began, he faced a minor crisis: Charly was missing. Just minutes ago, they had been in the kitchen together, happily making a mess with food. But now, the little boy had vanished.

Charly? Chaaaarly?

He felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his chest. He only let him out of his sight for two seconds, but now that he could crawl, almost walk, he was moving quickly. Bradley hurried up the stairs, checking every room. The nursery, the bathroom, their bedroom- all empty. His mind raced with possible hiding spots. Then, he heard it, a soft giggle coming from Stefani’s dressing room. Bradley’s heart skipped a beat. He approached the door and paused, taking a deep breath before stepping inside.
There, amidst a sea of shoes, was Charly, sitting on the floor with one of Stefani's white heels in his tiny hands. The shoe was smeared with lipstick, and Charly had managed to get some on his own face too. Bradley froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Charles Joseph Cooper! What do you think about destroying your mother's shoes ?! Young man ...!!

Charly looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes, his little face covered in pink streaks. He had Stefani’s captivating eye color, a striking shade of green that always made Bradley's heart swell with love. The sight of Charly’s messy but adorable face softened Bradley's initial shock. The little boy’s lower lip quivered, and tears welled up in his eyes.

Now look at this mess! Mummy will definitely kill me! What were you thinking?

Bradley sighed, gently rubbing Charly's back as he held him close.

Sorwy!

The little boy's lower lip began to wiggle and a few tears ran down his sweet cheeks. He couldn't speak many words yet, but knew that he had to apologize. The little baby started to cry silently, burying his face into the crook of Bradley’s neck, much like Stefani did when she was feeling overwhelmed. Bradley kissed the top of his head, the familiar scent of baby shampoo and innocence making his heart melt. The sobs quieted, and Charly’s little fingers clung to Bradley’s shirt.

I'm sorry, buddy. I didn’t mean to scare you, but you can't play with Mommy's things. We'll figure this out together, okay?

He gave him a kiss on the head and the sobs calmed down immediately.

Ok, now let me see if I can fix that again.

Bradley said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. He examined the white shoes, now smeared with bright pink lipstick.

Where did you get the lipstick from?

Charly pointed a chubby finger towards Stefani's vanity chair, where her bag had toppled over, spilling its contents across the floor. Bradley rolled his eyes and went to her dressing table. He tried to return the bag to the right place and came across a small picture. At first he thought it was a new ultrasound scan, but then he shook his head. It was probably from when she was pregnant with Charly. There was a warm feeling spreading inside of him, when he thought back to her pregnancy. For a short moment he got lost in thoughts, but then put the picture in his pocket and the things back in her bag.
Once the room was tidied, Bradley returned to the kitchen with Charly and the lipstick-stained shoes. He placed the shoes in the sink, hoping he could salvage them.

You know Charly, I'm glad you didn't paint more things.

He tapped his son on the nose, making him laugh. It was one of the most beautiful noises he had ever heard.