15th November, 2022 - Los Angeles, California
"Oh it is totally fair V," Sebastian grinned. "August told you 'I love you' first before he told me. So count us even now."
Vincent chuckled, crossing his arms as he leaned against the kitchen counter. "Okay, first of all, I don't think we're keeping score here, Mr. Competitive Dad," he teased. "Second, August was barely forming full words. His 'I wuv you' doesn't count as a formal declaration."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Oh, it absolutely counts. And for the record, Lux's was crystal clear. No baby babbleâstraight to the heart."
Vincent shook his head with a laugh, pushing off the counter and walking over to where Sebastian was standing. "Alright, fine, Mr. 'Straight to the Heart.' I'll let you have this one. But don't come crying to me when she eventually says, 'Daddy, papa is my favorite.'"
Sebastian scoffed. "Please V, she would never betray me like that."
Vincent smirked, leaning closer. "Oh, wouldn't she? I seem to recall who she runs to when she wants another bedtime story, even after you've already told her no."
Sebastian rolled his eyes, trying to fight the smile tugging at his lips. "That's not favoritism, that's manipulation. She knows you're a sucker for her puppy-dog eyes."
"And you're not?" Vincent shot back, raising an eyebrow.
Sebastian laughed, shaking his head. "Okay, fine. Maybe I am. But can you blame me?"
"Daddy, s'not fair!" August says, stomping into the kitchen and interrupting their conversation.
"What's not fair babe?" Sebastian asked, lifting to boy up and sitting him down on the counter top.
"Lux n' Avery are playing without me!" He said dramatically, scrunching up his face to show his disapproval of his sister playing with anyone that wasn't him.
"Well, did you as if you could play too" Vincent asks, taking a sip from his coffee.
"Yes." August says, still pouting.
"And what did they say to that, bud?"
"Well... they said I could join." He mumbles quietly. "But I don't wanna play if Avery's here."
Sebastian and Vincent exchanged a knowing look, trying not to smile too much at August's dramatic declaration.
"Buddy," Sebastian said softly, "why don't you want to play with Avery? Did something happen?"
August scrunched up his nose in thought, kicking his little legs against the cabinet below. "She's too bossy," he said after a moment. "She always tells us what to do, and Lux listens to her instead of me!"
Vincent couldn't help but chuckle, ruffling August's dark curls. "Sounds like someone might be feeling a little jealous, huh?"
August frowned, crossing his arms. "Not jealous," he huffed. "Just don't like it when Lux doesn't wanna play my games. She always listens to Avery, not me."
Sebastian leaned against the counter beside his son, nodding thoughtfully. "I get that, babe. It's tough when things don't go the way you want, especially with your sister. But you know what?"
August looked up, his big brown eyes filled with curiosity. "What?"
"Sometimes it's okay to let someone else have a turn being in charge," Sebastian said gently.
August scrunched his nose again.
"But Luxie's my sister..." He mumbles.
"She is, bud," Sebastian said, brushing a hand through August's curls. "And she loves you so much, but it's important for her to spend time with other little friends too. You know how sad you would be if you only ever got to play with Lux and never saw Josh or Micah or any of your other friends again. That wouldn't be very fun, would it?"
August pouted, still kicking his legs against the cabinet. "I guess not," he said reluctantly, his voice small.
Vincent chuckled, setting his coffee mug down and crouching in front of his son. "It's okay to feel a little left out, buddy," he said, his tone warm and understanding. "But you know what really makes you a great brother?"
August tilted his head, curious despite his lingering sulkiness. "What?"
"Being patient and letting Lux have fun, even if it's not always the way you want," Vincent explained.
August huffed but nodded his head understandingly.
"Now, do you want to go back and play or stay with papa and I and we'll find you something fun to do?" Sebastian said.
"Stay." August whispered, deciding to let Lux and Avery have their time together.
Sebastian smiled, lifting August from the counter and pulling him close. "Alright, bud. You and me then. We can make some art, or play with your trains. You pick."
August thought for a moment, then grinned. "Trains?"
"You got it," Sebastian said with a wink, setting him down. "Let's go set up the tracks in the lounge, yeah?"
August nodded eagerly, his previous frustrations forgotten.
"Let me know if you need help," Vincent called out to them.
Sebastian waved him off playfully. "We've got this, V. Go enjoy your coffee. You've earned it."
Vincent chuckled and returned to his mug, savoring the quiet moments of the afternoon. It felt like a perfect day, a simple kind of happiness that filled their home. No grand plans, no rushing. Just the soft sounds of their little ones playing, the occasional giggle or squeal of excitement. It was enough.
---
"Daddy? Papa?" Lux shouts from the top of the stairs, clutching the hand of her friend Avery.
"I'm coming babe, give me a second!" Vincent shouts back, finishing the last sip of his coffee.
He stands up front the bar stool he was sat on by the kitchen island and jogged towards the stairs.
"What's up, flowers?" He says once he reaches the top, looking down at the two girls.
"The karaoke mics aren't connecting," Lux mumbles. "They're bein' all glitchy."
Vincent raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips as he crouched down to Lux's level. "Ah, I see. Karaoke time, huh? That's a big deal for you two."
Avery nodded eagerly, her pigtails bouncing with the motion. "We wanna sing, but it won't work!" she chimed in, looking up at Vincent with wide, pleading eyes.
Vincent's heart softened at their hopeful faces. "Alright, let me take a look." He stood up, patting the top of Lux's head before following them into the playroom where the karaoke setup was awaiting.
There was a moderately sized speaker placed to the side along with two little microphones to sing the lyrics into. All of this was meant to connect to the TV where they could play whatever song they wanted on YouTube and sing along.
Vincent knelt down in front of the karaoke setup, inspecting the tangled mess of wires that connected everything. He clicked the power button on the speaker, noticing the blinking light that indicated it wasn't connecting properly.
"Wow, it is being a bit glitchy, huh?" Vincent chuckled as he began to untangle some the chords. "Don't worry, I can fix this in no time."
Lux and Avery both nodded enthusiastically, their faces lighting up at the prospect of their karaoke session being salvaged.
Vincent worked quietly for a few moments, his hands skillfully connecting and reconnecting the wires. Suddenly, the speaker emits a small 'ding' sound, indicating that it had finally connected with the microphones and the TV.
"There we go." He hums, handing each of the girls a microphone. "Now which song are you gonna sing first?"
Lux's eyes sparkled as she looked up at Vincent. "We wanna sing Let It Go!" she declared, her voice filled with excitement. Avery nodded enthusiastically beside her, bouncing on her toes.
It made sense for them to want that song. They'd spent the whole of the morning watching Frozen 1 and 2 together, signing along quietly to the songs in the movie until the men had told them that they'd had more then enough screen time.
Vincent chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Of course you do. Classic choice." He grabbed the remote from the shelf and queued up the song on the TV, the opening notes of Let It Go filling the room.
Lux and Avery exchanged excited glances before launching into their impromptu duet. Their voices, though small, were filled with determination as they sang along to the familiar lyrics.
Vincent stood back, a smile tugging at his lips as he watched them. He was proud of how comfortable they were, how uninhibited. They didn't need an audience to performâthey were simply lost in the joy of the music, lost in each other's company.
The adorable mismatch of their voices echoed through the room, but Vincent couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth flood over him.
"Look at you two," He murmured to himself, stepping back to let them enjoy the moment. He didn't realize it, but his heart swelled with affection for them both. It wasn't just the song or their little voices; it was the undeniable bond they shared, the carefree innocence that filled the air.
Lux twirled around, her little hands gripping the microphone with all the seriousness of a professional performer, while Avery followed her lead, giggling whenever they both missed a note. The song wasn't perfect, but that was part of its charm.
Vincent couldn't help but laugh softly at their enthusiasm. He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, letting them finish the song.
As the last notes of "Let It Go" rang through the room and Vincent applauded, grinning widely.
"Bravo, my little stars!" he cheered.
Lux beamed at him, her cheeks flushed with the joy of performance. "Do you think we're ready for a concert?" she asked, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Vincent laughed, kneeling down to her level. "Oh, definitely. You two have what it takes to be the next big thing. I'll be your number one fan."
"Can we do it again?" Avery asked, bouncing excitedly on her toes.
"Of course, my stars!" He says. "What song, hm?"
The girls look at each other, pondering this question as if the answer was the most important thing in the world.
"How about the one from The Lion King?" Avery suggested, sticking the Disney theme they had set.
Lux nods in agreement. "Yeah! The one about Simba wanting to be the king papa! That one!"
Vincent chuckled, nodding. "I Just Can't Wait to be King? A perfect choice for future stars like you two."
He quickly set the song up on the TV, and as the familiar upbeat melody started, the girls wasted no time in jumping into action. Lux was already hopping around, her little feet doing a half-spin as she held the microphone, and Avery followed suit, her pigtails bouncing with every move.
Their voices, still high-pitched and full of innocent enthusiasm, filled the room as they belted out the lyrics, slightly off-key but with a pure joy that made Vincent's heart swell. It wasn't perfect, but it was their version of perfect, and that was all that mattered.
As they sang, Lux's energy was infectious. She twirled around, her arms spread wide as if she really were preparing to rule the kingdom. Avery was right by her side, taking the lead on a few lines with her own dramatic flair. It was so precious.
Vincent stood back, watching them in awe. They were so young, yet so full of life and personality.
Eventually, the song ended, and the girls, out of breath and giggling, dropped their microphones dramatically to the floor, their chests rising and falling with the excitement of the performance.
"That was amazing!" Lux exclaimed, her face flushed with the joy of their impromptu concert.
"Yeah, I think we definitely need to take this act on the road!" Avery said, her voice full of excitement.
Vincent laughed softly, walking over to them and crouching down to their level. "You two were fantastic. I don't think the world's ready for your talent just yet. Maybe a few more practice sessions first?"
Lux gave him a dramatic pout. "But we're ready now!"
Avery nodded enthusiastically. "Totally ready."
Vincent smiled, tapping the top of each girl's head. "Well, how about we let you both rest a little before your next performance?"
Lux's pouted. "You mean... nap time?"
Vincent chuckled. "No, I mean after a snack and a little bit of downtime. Maybe some drawing or puzzles? You need to fuel up before your next big performance."
Avery grinned. "Okay, we'll take a snack. But then we're back on stage!"
"Of course," Vincent said with a grin, standing up. "Snack time it is. You two can be back on stage after we refuel."
Soon enough, both Lux and Avery were sat at the kitchen table, a plate full of goldfish crackers, little cheese cubes and some strawberries cut in half to refuel their bodies. Lux was immensely enjoying having her friend round to play - she couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this carefree.
As the girls munched on their snacks, their chatter filled the kitchen, bouncing from one topic to another as only children could. Avery was animatedly explaining her grand vision for their "world tour," complete with sparkly outfits and a backup band, while Lux nodded along enthusiastically, chiming in with her own ideas about having "unicorn lights" on stage.
Vincent leaned against the counter, watching the girls with a fond smile as they plotted their grand plans. Their imagination seemed limitless, and he couldn't help but marvel at the purity of their excitement.
It made him feel so paternal in a way he couldn't quite describe, like his heart was expanding to make room for all the love he felt. It reminded him of how important it was the preserve this type of innocence whilst he still could.
Life wasn't perfect, but it didn't need to be. In this moment, with the little ones dreaming big and laughing loud, it was everything they could have ever hoped for.
---
"I don't wanna brush my teeth!" Lux wailed, clutching her blanket as if it could shield her from the tyranny of bedtime. Her cheeks were flushed, her lip trembling as she glared at her dads like they had just committed the gravest betrayal.
Lux's meltdown began innocently enough, as most do. She had insisted she wasn't tiredâdespite the droopy eyes, the yawns that snuck up on her mid-sentence, and the sluggish way she dragged her favorite blanket around the house like a tiny storm cloud. But when Vincent suggested it was time to start the bedtime routine, that tiny storm cloud turned into a full-blown hurricane.
She was over-tired, over-excited and over-whelmed from the days adventures. She didn't want to stop just yet - even though her little body clearly needed a break. The fact that she'd missed her nap today as well certainly wasn't helping.
"Lux, sweetheart," Vincent said as calmly as he could, crouching down to her level. "I know you're tired, and brushing your teeth isn't fun, but it's important. We can't skip it, okay?"
"No!" she shouted, tears now starting to spill over. "Avery doesn't have to brush her teeth!"
Sebastian raised an eyebrow, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed. "I think Avery does brush her teeth, flower. And if she doesn't, her daddy will have to have a very serious talk with her dentist."
"No!" Lux screamed, turning away from the men and running into the kitchen.
Sebastian sighed, exchanging a knowing look with Vincent. "We've officially entered 'runaway princess' mode," he murmured, pushing off the doorframe to follow her. "I'll handle this one, V. You've been on the front lines all day."
Vincent chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, tag team. Good luck, babe."
Sebastian nodded and walked toward the kitchen, where Lux was now hiding under the table, clutching her blanket like it was her last lifeline. Her little face was red and blotchy from crying, and she had stuffed the edge of her blanket into her mouthâa habit she'd picked up whenever she was upset.
Sebastian crouched down near the table, resting his arms on his knees so he was closer to her level. He didn't speak right away, just waited for her to notice him. After a few moments, she peeked out at him from behind her blanket, her teary eyes filled with defiance.
"Hey, flower," Sebastian said softly, his voice gentle but firm. "You having a tough time right now?"
Lux didn't respond, just continuing to glare at the man as if he was the worst person in the world.
Sebastian nodded like he understood, lowering himself to sit cross-legged on the floor.
"Go away daddy." She mumbled, turning her back to him.
Sebastian stayed quiet for a moment, letting her have the space to feel her emotions. He knew better than to push when she was this upsetâLux needed to feel like she was in control, at least a little.
After a little while he spoke again, his voice soft and gentle. "I get it, baby. Sometimes, when I'm really tired, I feel like everything's too much, too."
There was no response, just the faint sound of her sniffling under the table. He leaned back slightly, resting the palms of his hands against the floor behind him and leaning backwards. "You know, once we brush your teeth, we could have a nice longgg snuggle, hm? A bedtime story too, if you're interested."
No response.
Sebastian let the silence hang in the air, knowing that sometimes, just being present was enough. Lux's little body was still stiff with defiance, but she was listening.
"I think you might need your daddy right now, huh?" he said softly, offering a small smile even though her back was turned.
For a long time, Lux didn't respond. The tears had slowed, but the storm was far from over.
"I want Avery to come back." She said bitterly, still chewing on the corner of the blanket.
Sebastian's heart softened at Lux's words, the sadness in her voice cutting through the tension like a quiet whisper. He sighed, his heart aching for her.
He understood, really. The day had been full of excitement, and now, the weight of tiredness and emotions was finally catching up to her. It was hard when you couldn't have what you wanted, when you couldn't control the pace of the day anymore.
"Avery's gone home, sweetheart," Sebastian said gently, his voice soft. "But you know what? You've got your papa and me. And we're right here with you, okay?"
Lux sniffled, and Sebastian could hear her little body shudder as she tried to compose herself. "I don't want you," she mumbled, her voice muffled by the blanket.
Sebastian's heart ached at her words, but he knew she didn't mean it. Lux was just overwhelmed, and sometimes, when emotions ran high, the smallest things could feel like the biggest problems.
"I know you don't want us right now, but I think maybe you just need a minute to feel better," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lux let out a quiet sniffle, coughing slightly due to the blanket in her mouth causing her to gag.
Sebastian immediately shot up from the floor, concern flashing across his face. "Hey, heyâno blanket in your mouth, sweetheart," he said quickly, reaching out to gently pull the edge of the blanket from Lux's grasp but her grip was tight and she didn't want to let go of the comfort object. She let out a small, startled cry, and he quickly soothed her. "It's okay, Lux. You're alright."
Sebastian's heart raced as he reached for Lux, his mind working quickly. She was too young to understand the danger of a blanket in her mouth, and he knew that if she wasn't careful, she could choke.
"Lux, baby, you've got to let go of the blanket, okay?" he said, his voice calm but firm. He gently pulled the fabric from her mouth, just as she gagged again, her little face turning a shade of pale he had never seen before.
Before he could react any further, Lux's eyes widened in panic, and she let out a small cough. Sebastian's instincts kicked in, and he scooped her up in his arms, rushing to the kitchen sink.
"Hey, heyâbreathe, Lux. Just breathe." He murmured, his voice steady as he placed her on his lap, tilting her forward slightly to avoid anything blocking her airways.
Lux's face was still pale, but after a few moments, she took in a shaky breath, her tears streaming down her cheeks. She was still frightened, still trembling, but the immediate danger had passed. Sebastian's hand was gently rubbing her back, soothing her.
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart," he whispered, feeling the weight of the moment. "I should've caught that earlier."
Lux took a deep breath, her small body still trembling in his arms.
"Lord..." Sebastian murmured under his breath. "You scared daddy Luxie." He whispers, kissing her the top of her head.
Lux hiccupped, sniffling softly as she leaned into her father's chest, still shaken by the panic of the moment. Sebastian held her close, his heart still racing from the brief but terrifying episode. He gently rocked her back and forth, his hand rubbing her back in soothing circles, trying to calm her down.
"brush my teeth now?" She asks quietly, looking up at him with teary eyes.
Sebastian smiled softly, his heart swelling with relief as he gently wiped away a tear from Lux's cheek. "Yeah, let's go brush those teeth of yours."
He carried her back upstairs and into her bathroom, setting her down on the counter. He grabbed her toothbrush, squeezing out a splodge of toothpaste onto the bristles. He held it up to her mouth and she opened wide, allowing him to brush her teeth for her.
When he finished brushing, he set the toothbrush down and wiped away the last of her tears with a soft thumb. Lux still looked pale, but the worst was over.
"All done, my little baby girl," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. "You did it. You're so brave."
Lux looked up at him with wide, watery eyes, and for a moment, the defiance had melted away. "I... I'm sorry, Daddy," she mumbled, sniffling. "I didn't mean to be bad."
Sebastian's heart softened at her apology. He shook his head gently, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "You weren't bad, Luxie. You were just upset. And sometimes, when we're upset, we don't always make the best choices. But that's okay. You're allowed to have those moments."
Lux nodded slowly, her small arms wrapped around his neck as he lifted her off the counter.
"Let's get you into your pajamas, and then we'll have that snuggle, okay?" Sebastian asked softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Lux's face brightened at the mention of snuggling.
As he carried her back to her bedroom, her eyes started to flutter a bit. She was finally starting to wind down after a long, eventful day.
When they reached her room, Sebastian helped her switch into her cozy pajamas and also changed her into a nice clean diaper again. Lux was a little more compliant now, her earlier tantrum forgotten, replaced by the overwhelming comfort of bedtime.
"Right," He says, lifting her back up. "where do you want to have our snuggle? Your bed or your the rocking chair?"
Lux snuggled closer to Sebastian, blinking sleepily as she thought about his question. "Bed please."
He smiled softly, nodding as he carefully settled Lux back into her bed. The familiar scent of lavender from her pillow filled the air, and he gently tucked her in, making sure she was snug and warm. The soft glow of the nightlight cast a calming ambiance in the room, and everything felt peaceful now.
"Alright, my little flower," he whispered, brushing her hair back from her face. "Let's have that snuggle."
Sebastian crawled into the bed beside her, his body curled protectively around her little frame. He could feel the tension in her body finally start to ease as she relaxed against him, her breathing slowing.
He placed a soft kiss on the top of her head, his heart full of love for this little girl who had tested his patience but also filled his life with so much joy.
Lux let out a small sigh, her tiny body shifting slightly as she settled into the warmth of her daddy's embrace. Her tears had long since dried, replaced by the quiet comfort of being held close.
Sebastian continued to run his fingers through her hair, a slow, calming rhythm that helped soothe the last bits of tension out of her little body. He smiled down at her, the glow of the nightlight making her delicate features look even more angelic.
She was a pretty girl. His pretty girl.
"I love you, baby." Sebastian murmured softly, not expecting any response from the girl who was teetering on the edge of sleep. "So, so much."
"Love... you too." Lux yawns, letting out a quiet sigh.
He smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
Sebastian adjusted himself, pulling the blanket up just a little more to make sure she was warm and safe. As her breathing slowed, he could tell she was finally slipping into the sleep she so desperately needed.
Despite the moments of difficulty, this was what he lived forâthe quiet moments, the soft smiles, the little snuggles that made all the chaos worth it.
~~~
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-also, I did not proof read this so let me know if I made any mistakes-