From The Woods

They Grow Up So Fast...

Patton chased after his toddler, laughing at his little boy's high pitched giggles.

"I'm gonna get you! I'm gonna get you!" He wiggled his fingers, occasionally poking his son in the ribs.

He turned around, looking up at his father. He smiled, revealing his mouth full of missing teeth. He imitated his Papa by placing his hands on his hips.

"You can't!" He chirped.

"And what makes you say that," Patton said, crouching further down to his son's level.

"'Cause Papa won' let you," His son said, wiggling his hips around. He really couldn't stand still for more than a few seconds.

"Is your Papa here?" Patton asked, leaning for a little bit.

"Uh- no?" His son seemed to think about that for a moment.

"Then you're all mine!" Patton lurched forward, wrapping his son up in his arms. He dug his fingers into his sides, and his little boy shrieked with laughter.

"Dahahahad stohohohohp!" He cackled, scrabbling to get away from his dad.

"Nope," Patton said, popping the P. He heard his husband come into the room.

"Ah, Patton, I see you have caught Virgil," Logan said, smiling softly at the pair. Virgil reached out for him, making grabby hands.

"Pahahapahaha! Hehehehlp mehehe!"

Patton slowed, and Virgil finally broke free of his hold. He ran forwards towards his Papa, grabbing at his pant leg. His head was nearly at a ninety degree angle to see him, Logan was already very tall for an adult. When standing beside his three foot toddler, well, he was a giant.

He crouched down and grabbed Virgil under his armpits, binging him to his chest and standing up. Virgil clutched him around the neck in a quick little hug, before turning slightly to look at his dad.

"See, Papa didn' le' you," he stuck his tongue out at Patton.

Patton stood up and approached the two, bopping Virgil on the nose.

"I guess I'll have to try harder next time then," he winked and Virgil set off into more giggles.

"It's time for dinner," Logan told the two of them, carrying Virgil towards the kitchen. His son perked up, both his hands beginning to quickly pat his papa's shoulders in excitement.

"Mac Cheese?!" He shrieked. Logan laughed.

"No Sweetheart, it's mashed potatoes and chicken nuggets for you tonight," Logan said. Virgil stuck out his bottom lip in a pout, but nodded with a squirm. He was placed into his chair, and the kid immediately adjusted to sit on his knees to see over the table better. He insisted he didn't want something that would make him higher, claiming that he was a "big kid who didn't need baby seats."

Logan sat at the end of the table, and Patton sat beside him. Patton dished out Virgil's food onto a plate, and the child immediately began to dig his plastic spoon into his potatoes.

"Honey, I know you don't need to chew potatoes, but please try not to inhale them," Patton said worriedly.

"Wa' is inhel?" Virgil said around his potatoes.

"Virgil, don't speak with food in your mouth," Logan reprimanded. Virgil nodded and closed his mouth. He swallowed before repeating himself.

"What does inhale mean, Papa?"

"It means to breathe in," Logan said, stabbing his fork into his chicken.

Virgil considered the word for a moment, but ended up brushing it off. He began eating his food again, potatoes getting all over his face and a few pieces of nuggets hitting the floor.