19th November, 2022 - Los Angeles, California
"You gotta stay still, little love." Vincent chuckled, gently brushing the paintbrush over Lux's cast as he tried to replicate ironman's repulsor.
The small girl had been begging him for a whole day now to copy the design onto her cast and how could he say no when she was being so precious? However, painting the cast of a very little and wriggly Lux was proving difficult.
"Papa, I can't not move!" Lux giggled, her tiny voice bubbling with excitement. "It tickles!"
Vincent let out an exaggerated sigh, pretending to be exasperated, though the grin on his face betrayed him. "Baby, I'm not even touching your arm." He chuckles. "It can't tickle."
"But it does!" Lux squealed, squirming a little more as Vincent tried to steady her arm. "It's like... butterfly tickles!"
Vincent raised an eyebrow, pretending to consider her logic. "Butterfly tickles, huh? Well, maybe it's not the brush. Maybe it's your imagination." He tapped her nose with the wooden end of the paintbrush, earning another giggle.
"You're silly, Papa," Lux said, her eyes sparkling. She stilled for a momentâprobably the best moment Vincent would get. He took advantage, carefully adding a delicate line of glowing blue to the center of his makeshift Ironman design.
"Will it shoot lasers?" Lux asked, her wide, innocent eyes peeking up at him from beneath her curtain of curly hair.
"Only if you believe hard enough," Vincent replied, his tone playful. "The strongest tech in the world starts in the imagination, you know."
Lux gasped as though she'd just uncovered a great cosmic truth. "Then I definitely believe! I'll blast everything! Pew pew!" She mimicked firing beams from her hand, though Vincent quickly held her wrist steady.
"Whoa there, Irongirl. Let me finish the masterpiece first," he teased.
As he added the final touchesâa faint glow effect around the edge of the repulsor and a few golden yellow details going up the castâVincent stepped back to admire his work. "There we go. One fully-charged repulsor arm, ready for action."
Lux turned her head, trying to look without moving her arm too much. Her lips parted in awe. "Wow! It's so shiny! Papa, you're like a real artist!"
Vincent smirked. "Like a real artist? Baby girl, I am a real artist." He winked at her, leaning in to add the finishing touches. "And you're my favorite canvas."
Lux beamed, clearly delighted at the idea.
"M'gonna show daddy n' Auggie!" She says, hopping off the couch and toddling towards the kitchen where August and Sebastian were busy making lunch.
"Careful, Lux! Don't bump into anything!" Vincent called after her, quickly wiping his hands on a rag.
Lux burst into the kitchen like a tiny whirlwind, her enthusiasm spilling out in every direction. "Daddy! Auggie! Look what Papa made!" She held her cast aloft like a trophy, twirling in a circle for added flair.
Sebastian turned from the cutting board, his chef's knife pausing mid-chop as he took in the sight of his daughter's glittering red-and-gold cast. He broke into a warm smile, his eyes crinkling. "Well, look at you, Iron Lux! That's incredible, sweetheart."
Auggie, who had been quietly munching on a piece of carrot, almost choked in his excitement. He scrambled off his stool and darted over to Lux, his eyes wide with admiration. "Whoa! That's so cool, Lux!" he exclaimed, reaching out to gently touch the shiny, glowing design.
"Careful s'wet." Lux murmurs.
Auggie froze mid-reach, his tiny fingers just inches from the cast. "I won't touch it too hard," he promised, his voice filled with awe.
Sebastian chuckled softly as he wiped his hands on his apron. "Looks like we've got ourselves a new member of the Avengers," he teased, giving Lux a playful salute.
"What's for lunch?" Lux asked, noticing the pot of food on the stove.
Sebastian grinned at his daughter's quick shift in attention. "Well, Iron Lux, today's special is a super-powered lunch: grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup," he said, his voice taking on a mock-serious tone, as though he were announcing the most important meal of the day. "Perfect fuel for an Avenger."
Lux's eyes lit up. "I love grilled cheese!" she declared, hopping up and down excitedly.
Auggie, already back at the counter, grabbed a small bowl of carrots and began stacking them into a tiny tower. "I'll be your sidekick, Lux!" he said, mimicking an exaggerated superhero pose with his arms raised. "I'll fight the bad guys with my... carrot powers!" He waved his carrot-stick "weapon" dramatically.
"You can't fight bad guys with carrots!" Lux exclaims. "That'll only work for like... bunny rabbits."
"Nuh uh," August retorted. "I'll use magic carrots!"
"There are no magic carrots!" Lux says dramatically. "Plus, my repulsor is was more powerfuller anyways."
"Wha's a 'pulsor?" August asks, tilting his head.
"Something that's wayyy cooler than a carrot."
Sebastian chuckles. "Alright little ones, enough carrot talk. Lunch is just about ready so why don't you go and wash your hands."
He paused.
"Or was your 'hand' if you're Lux"
The pair toddled off, still murmuring nonsense about carrots and repulsors. Vincent walked into the kitchen, wandering over to his husband who was now plating the grilled cheese sandwiches.
"You know, I think she might actually believe her arm can shoot lasers now," Vincent said with a grin, his hands still lightly dusted with paint.
Sebastian shot him a playful look over his shoulder. "Well, considering she's got the imagination of a thousand superheroes, I'm not surprised."
Vincent chuckled, leaning against the counter. "Guess we should start getting ready for the laser beams any minute now, huh?"
Sebastian smirked as he set the last sandwich down on a plate. "I think she's more likely to blast her way through a bowl of soup before anything else."
The sound of little feet scrambling back into the room interrupted the moment, and soon enough, Lux was back, her good hand freshly washed, but her expression already serious as she marched over to her highchair at the table and waiting for one of the men to lift her into it. "Okay, I'm ready to eat!" she declared.
Auggie followed suit, looking equally excited about lunch.
Vincent grinned and scooped Lux up, gently settling her into her highchair with a flourish. "Alright, Iron Lux, fuel up for your next big mission!" he teased, fastening the tray in front of her.
Auggie climbed into his chair, his carrot stick still in hand. "I'm ready too! After lunch, I'm gonna help Lux defeat the bad guys with my magic carrots!" he declared proudly, poking a piece of carrot into his mouth like a weapon.
"After lunch you're both going down for a nap." Sebastian corrects, carrying two steaming bowel over tomato soup over, each accompanied with a grilled cheese.
Auggie gasped dramatically. "Naps are evil," he announced, his tiny voice filled with horror. "They're the biggest bad guys of all!"
Lux, however, didn't seem to mind the idea of a nap. She was too busy carefully placing her grilled cheese sandwich into her soup, making little splashing noises as she dunked it, clearly enjoying the process more than the actual eating. "I don't mind naps," she said casually, her focus on her soup.
Sebastian chuckled, finding it ironic. The reason she broke her arm in the first place was because she snuck out of bed whilst she was meant to be napping.
"Let's try to stay in bed this time, hm?" He coos, placing a sippy cup of water down in front of her.
Lux nods in agreement, taking another big bite of her grilled cheese that's been dipped in soup. "Don't wanna break my other arm too."
"Yeah, let's keep that one intact." Vincent agrees.
The two littles continue with their lunch, slowly devouring the meal.
Sebastian leaned against the counter, watching his family. His gaze lingered on Lux's glowing cast, her tiny hands grasping her sandwich, and he felt an overwhelming sense of love. There was something so innocent and pure about their little world, even with all the chaos and unexpected mishaps.
Vincent stood beside him, his hand brushing against Sebastian's for a brief moment before he spoke softly, "You know, I think this might be my favorite day in a long time."
Sebastian smiled, looking over at his husband, his eyes warm with affection. "Yeah? Despite the chaos and the whole 'carrots are magic' talk?"
Vincent nodded. "Yeah, but mainly cause there's been no shattered glass or hospital trips."
Sebastian chuckles. "Mmm, true. I'll take that as a win."
Soon enough, both littles were full with a satisfied look on their faces.
Sebastian placed the empty bowls into the dishwasher whilst Vincent wiped down the trays of their highchairs that were littered with crumbs and splodges of tomato soup.
"Alright littles ones," Sebastian announces, shutting the dishwasher door. "Nap time."
Auggie groaned dramatically, flopping sideways in his chair like a deflated balloon. "Nooo! I told you, naps are the bad guys!"
Lux, on the other hand, was already starting to rub her eyes, her energy winding down despite her earlier enthusiasm. Lugging a heavy cast around on her arm all day was definitely draining her energy a little faster than usual.
"Don't be like that Auggie." Sebastian coos, lifting him out of his highchair and holding him against his chest. "You love nap time, hm? All the nice stories and cuddles?"
Auggie squirmed half-heartedly in Sebastian's arms, though a small grin betrayed his growing fondness for the idea. "Maybe a little bit..."
"Oh yeah?" Sebastian chuckles, carrying him out of the kitchen and towards the stairs. "Just a little bit?"
Now it was just Lux and Vincent alone in the kitchen.
"You need any pain medicine, sweetheart?" Vincent asks, tossing the dirty wipe into the trashcan.
Lux shrugged. "Hurts a bit. Achey."
Vincent crouched down in front of her, gently brushing a stray hair from her forehead. "Alright, let's get you comfy, then. You've been such a champ today." He reached for the little basket on the counter where they kept Lux's meds, quickly measuring out a small dose of the pain reliever her doctor recommended.
Lux tilted her head curiously. "Does it taste yucky?"
Vincent laughed softly, holding the tiny plastic cup out to her. "Not this one. It's cherry-flavored, remember?"
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded, holding her good hand out for the cup. "Cherry's okay," she declared, downing the medicine with a scrunched-up nose. "Still a little yucky."
"Fair enough," Vincent replied, chuckling as he handed her the sippy cup of water to chase it down. "All done, Iron Lux. Ready for some cozy time?"
Lux yawned in response, her tiny body already succumbing to the call of sleep.
Vincent lifted her up into his arms, carrying her up the stairs and down the hall before entering her room which was already dimly lit and set up for nap time.
"What story do you want today, babe?" Vincent asked, crouching down in front of her bookshelf.
Lux rested her cheek against Vincent's shoulder, her voice soft and sleepy. "The one with the big, big dragon... Zog."
Vincent nodded, pulling it off the shelf before walking over to the arm chair.
"Can have my binky?" Lux asks, looking up at him with big eyes as he cradles her in his lap.
"Of course, sweetheart," Vincent murmured, reaching over to the side table where her favorite pacifier was waiting. He slipped it gently into her hand, and Lux immediately popped it into her mouth, her eyes already drooping.
She'd been asking for it a lot more recently, outside of nap time and bedtime when she wasn't meant to have it and she would be incredibly upset when the men said no. She seemed to find extra comfort in it, especially after her accident. Vincent and Sebastian had decided not to push too hard about limiting it for now. After all, she was just a little girl dealing with a lot, and if a pacifier brought her peace, that was okay.
Vincent adjusted her in his lap, opening the book to the first page. "Alright, let's see what Zog's up to today," he whispered, his voice soothing. Lux snuggled deeper into his chest, her tiny body warm and relaxed against him.
"Dragon." Lux murmurs, her little pointer finger reaching out to touch the colourful illustrations.
"That's right, baby," Vincent said softly, his voice low and steady as he began to read. "Zog, the biggest, brightest dragon in the land, was learning how to roar and soar with his friends at dragon school..."
Lux's little finger traced over the page. "Goes roar?"
Vincent smiled gently, his heart full as he read the familiar words, watching Lux's eyes slowly flutter. "That's right, sweetie. Zog roars really loud, and he flies high in the sky with all his dragon friends. Do you wanna hear how loud he roars?"
Lux's eyes widened a bit, her pacifier gently bobbing in and out of her mouth as she nodded sleepily.
"Okay, here it goes," Vincent whispered, trying his best to imitate the sound of a big, mighty dragon. He let out a soft but exaggerated roar, trying to be as gentle as possible so it wouldn't startle her.
Lux giggled sleepily, clearly amused. "Roar! Like that!" she said, her voice soft and drowsy.
"Just like that, sweetheart," Vincent agreed, smiling at her. He resumed reading in a low, rhythmic voice. "Zog was the biggest dragon at dragon school, and though he was a little clumsy, he was always kind to his friends. And do you know what? He loved to help everyone around him."
Lux snuggled in deeper, her eyes half-lidded. "Zog help."
"Yes, he does," Vincent whispered, stroking her hair as she relaxed more into him. "Zog always helps his friends, and they help him too, because that's what friends do. They take care of each other, just like how your Daddy and I take care of you."
He continues to read to her, his voice softening as he noticed her breathing slowing, the weight of her tiny body growing heavier in his lap. She was on the edge of sleep now, her pacifier moving slowly in and out of her mouth as her eyelids fluttered.
Vincent smiled, savoring the quiet moment. These were the moments that felt like pure magicâthe little, peaceful moments when everything else in the world faded away, and it was just the two of them, curled up together with a story.
Sebastian had quietly made his way down the hall after settling August, hearing the soft hum of Vincent's voice reading the story. He peeked into the room and saw the serene sight: Vincent holding Lux in his arms, her pacifier resting gently in her mouth, her tiny form relaxed against his chest. Her cast, glowing faintly in the dim light, seemed to shimmer.
"How's she doing?" Sebastian whispered, his voice barely above a breath but of course, Lux's eyes snapped right back open when she heard his voice.
"Uh-uh," Vincent tutted, brushing his thumb gentle along the bridge of her nose, trying to soothe her back to sleep. "Shut those eyes again, sweetheart."
Lux let out a small groan, her tiny hands instinctively gripping at Vincent's shirt as she tried to blink the sleepiness away. "Daddy," she murmured softly, her voice still thick with sleep.
Sebastian smiled and entered the room, kneeling down beside the chair where Vincent sat. "Shh, it's okay, Luxie," he whispered gently, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Papa's right, you can sleep now."
Lux blinked up at him with sleepy, confused eyes for a moment, then yawned, her body curling into Vincent's chest once again.
Vincent's fingers gently stroked her hair, his voice barely audible as he spoke to Sebastian. "She's been asking for the pacifier a lot more, lately."
Sebastian nodded, his gaze softening as he watched Lux settle back into Vincent's embrace. "I noticed. She's been through a lot lately, huh?" he murmured, lowering his voice even further as he crouched beside them.
"Yeah," Vincent whispered as he ran his thumb gently over the curve of her cheek, his voice soft with affection. "If this helps her feel safe, I'm not gonna take it away right now. We can deal with it later, once she's back to her usual self."
Sebastian smiled softly, leaning in to press a kiss to Lux's forehead. She was pretty much passed out now.
"Later," He agreed in a whisper, his lips brushing against her hair as he straightened. He stood and placed a hand on Vincent's shoulder, squeezing gently.
Slowly, Vincent stood too, carrying Lux over to her bed and laying her down onto the mattress.
He carefully adjusted her small body, making sure the cast rested comfortably on a soft pillow they'd placed there earlier. Lux stirred slightly, letting out a faint sigh, but she didn't wake. Her pacifier shifted in her mouth as her hands curled loosely around the blanket. They tucked her in carefully so as not to jostle her before stepping out of the room.
Sebastian walked next to Vincent, his hand slipping into Vincent's and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You're a natural," he murmured.
Vincent tilted his head, his lips quirking into a soft smile. "You're biased."
"Absolutely," Sebastian replied, his grin matching Vincent's. "But that doesn't mean I'm wrong."
---
"Be gentle, baby." Sebastian instructs, standing closely behind August and ready to intervene if necessary.
August had insisted on waking Lux up from her nap, saying it was his "super important big brother job."
Lux lay sprawled in her bed, her tiny figure peaceful and still, except for the occasional little snuffle of breath. She'd kicked the blanket off in her sleep and her top had risen up a bit, exposing her little tummy.
"Be gentle," Sebastian repeated softly, watching Auggie carefully, ready to jump in if things got out of hand. "She's still sleepy, okay? We don't want her to get upset."
Auggie nodded seriously, his brows furrowed in concentration. He took a slow step forward, lifting a hand to softly pat Lux's arm, careful not to jostle her too much.
"Like this?" He asked, gently patting the side of her arm but not firmly enough to actually wake her.
Sebastian nodded, allowing August to take control of the situation.
Auggie's expression was one of utter concentration as he slowly patted Lux's arm again, a little more confidently this time. "Lux, it's time to wake up! You've been sleeping for a super long time!" he whispered, his voice full of brotherly affection. He tried to sound just like Vincent did when he woke them up, but the little boy's voice still held the excitement and innocence of a child eager to wake up his sibling.
Lux whimpers, shifting slightly in her bed but not waking up quite yet.
Auggie paused, watching Lux's little face scrunch up as if she were trying to fight the idea of waking up.
"It's okay Auggie," Sebastian soothes. "Just try again."
Auggie nodded seriously again, determined to complete his "super important big brother job" with care. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a soft whisper. "Luxie... It's time to wake up," he said gently, his tiny hand hovering near her cast. This time, he rubbed his fingers lightly along her arm, his tone filled with the same tenderness that the men used.
Lux let out a small, sleepy whine, her eyes fluttering open just a little. She squinted up at her big brother, her face still scrunched in a mixture of drowsiness and confusion. "Daddy?" She murmurs, her voice muffled by the pacifier that was still in her mouth.
Auggie froze, his heart racing as he looked up at Sebastian for reassurance. Sebastian offered him a soft smile and a nod, signaling that he was doing great.
"Not Daddy, Luxie." Auggie said gently, taking a deep breath before trying again. "It's me, Auggie! Time to wake up!"
Lux's brow furrowed slightly as she blinked up at him. "S'dada?" She murmurs, looking around the room.
Auggie's face fell slightly at Lux's confusion, but he quickly recovered, determined to do his best. He reached out and gently took her good hand, holding it softly in both of his little ones. "Nope, not Daddy. It's just me, Auggie," he repeated, his voice a little more confident. "I'm waking you up 'cause you've been sleeping for a really long time. Come on, wake up!"
Lux's eyes fluttered open a little more, squinting up at him, still half asleep, but now more aware of her surroundings. "Auggie..." she mumbled, her voice still thick with sleep and the pacifier bobbing in and out of her mouth. "Dreamin'..."
Auggie nodded seriously, his little mind working hard to be as helpful as possible. "Dreams are cool, but it's time to wake up. Daddy said, you need to get up now. You need a snack or somethin'."
Lux rubbed her eyes, slowly realizing she was no longer in the cozy, dim light of the nap room but now in the middle of the day. She gave a tiny groan and pulled her blanket up to her chin, trying to curl up again.
"Nooo..." she muttered, clearly not ready to leave the comfort of sleep.
"Come on, Luxie," Auggie said, his little voice full of encouragement. "You gotta get up, okay? You'll see Daddy, and he'll help you get all comfy after. Just one more minute, okay?" He patted her arm again, this time with a little more insistence.
Sebastian, who had been standing quietly in the doorway, watching the little exchange with an amused and affectionate smile, stepped closer. He could tell that Auggie was doing his best to fulfill his "big brother job," even if it was a bit more challenging than he expected.
"Alright, little one," Sebastian said softly, kneeling beside the bed where Lux lay. His voice was gentle, soothing, just like when he'd coaxed her to sleep earlier. "Luxie, sweetheart, it's time to wake up now. Auggie's been doing his best to get you up. How about we get some cuddles after you're awake, hm?"
Lux's eyes shifted slowly toward her daddy, and she finally took in the sight of him standing beside her bed. She blinked a few times, her drowsiness still clearly lingering. "Daddy?" she whispered again, a little more clear now, her small hand reaching out toward him.
Sebastian smiled warmly and gently lifted her up, her tiny body now fully awake enough to realize what was going on. "Yes, sweetheart. It's time. You had a good nap. You feel better?"
Lux, still gripping her pacifier tightly in her mouth, nodded faintly, though her eyelids drooped again as she nestled her head against his chest. "Mhm..." she mumbled sleepily.
"Good girl," Sebastian whispered, his voice low and comforting. He cradled her carefully in his arms and stood up, swaying her gently.
"You did great, Auggie," Sebastian said. "I think you've officially earned your 'super important big brother' badge for today."
Auggie beamed, proud of his work. "I did it! I woke her up!"
"You sure did." Sebastian laughed softly, then leaned down to kiss the top of Lux's head.
"Need.. change please." Lux murmured softly.
Sebastian chuckled softly, his fingers brushing through Lux's hair as he held her close. "Alright, sweetheart, let's get you all cleaned up." He gently shifted her in his arms, careful not to disturb her too much.
"Why don't you go downstairs and help papa with the snack?" Sebastian suggested, placing Lux down onto the changing table.
Auggie nodded eagerly, his little face lighting up with excitement. "Snack time!" he announced, racing towards the door before looking back over his shoulder at Sebastian.
"Go on, big helper," Sebastian encouraged with a smile. "We'll be down in a minute."
"Daddy, hold." Lux whines slightly, wriggling on the table.
"I know, babe, you just wanna be held, hm? But I've got to change you first, yeah?" Sebastian chuckled, pulling down her bottoms.
Lux sighed dramatically, her little hands reaching out to him as if to protest the brief separation. "Hold, Daddy," she repeated, her voice small and pleading.
Sebastian smiled softly, leaning in to kiss the top of her head. "I know, sweetheart. Just a few more minutes, okay? I promise I'll hold you as soon as you're all fresh and clean."
Lux let out a tiny groan, clearly still not thrilled with the idea of being changed, but she didn't protest further. Her pacifier bobbed gently in her mouth as she gave her Daddy a big, sleepy yawn.
Sebastian worked quickly, carefully changing Lux while whispering soft words of reassurance, letting her know that soon she would be back in his arms. Lux squirmed a little but didn't resist, the rhythmic motions of Sebastian's hands soothing her.
Once she was freshly changed, Sebastian lifted her into his arms again, her little body now fully cuddled against his chest.
"There we go, all better," he whispered. "now can I have your binky please, sweetheart?"
"Keep?"
"Not right now, babe," Sebastian said softly. "Just for nap time, okay? Let's keep it in your bed for now, and I'll hold you until you feel all better."
"No, keep please?" She murmured, her good hand going up to cover her mouth the that Sebastian couldn't pull it out.
Sebastian smiled gently, his heart aching a little at the way Lux clung to her pacifier, a small gesture of comfort amidst the world of uncertainty and change. "I know, sweet girl," he murmured, brushing her hair back from her face. "But we've got to put it away for now. You've had enough rest, and I think you're ready for some time with Daddy, right?"
"Wanna keep please." She says stubbornly.
"Sweetheart," he began gently, his voice soothing, "I know you want it. And I understand. But remember, we agreed we'd keep it for nap time and bedtime only, okay?" He kissed her forehead, smoothing a stray lock of hair away from her face.
Lux's lip quivered slightly as she looked up at him, her little hand clutching at his shirt with a soft, persistent grip. "Keep, please, Daddy."
Sebastian hesitated for a moment, his heart torn between the desire to give her comfort and the need to help her move forward, even in small ways. He brushed her hair back again, his fingers gentle on her skin. "I'll hold you," he promised. "We don't need the binky, but you can have my arms, all the cuddles, and all the comfort you need."
Lux let out a soft whimper, her eyes big and round as she shifted in his arms. She wasn't ready to let go of the small comfort just yet, and her body was still heavy with sleep.
"I know, baby," he whispered, pressing her closer. "I know it's hard. But I'm right here, always, and I'll hold you until you feel better, okay?" He rocked her in his arms, gently moving her hand away from her mouth and taking the pacifier from her. "Plus, you can't have a snack with a binky in your mouth, huh?"
Lux whimpered softly as Sebastian took the pacifier, her tiny fingers curling into his shirt as she looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes.
"It's okay, Luxie." Sebastian murmured, cradling her close against his chest. "Let's go downstairs and see what's for snack, hm" He suggests, hoping to distract the little one.
Lux let out a small sigh, her eyes still cloudy with sleep, but she seemed to accept his offer.
He gently placed her on his hip, adjusting her so her good arm draped comfortably around his neck while her head rested on his shoulder.
Auggie was already at the kitchen table, eagerly awaiting the arrival of his snack. His eyes lit up when he saw his sister being carried into the room, his excitement palpable. "Luxie! You're awake!" he exclaimed, bouncing in his chair.
Lux barely stirred at his exuberance, still clinging to Sebastian as she snuggled closer, her head resting on his shoulder. "Mmm..." she murmured sleepily, her eyes barely open, but she gave Auggie a small smile.
Sebastian gently set Lux down into her high chair, carefully adjusting her to make sure she was comfortable.
"No, daddy hold." Lux says, her fists still clinging to the hem of his shirt.
Sebastian smiled softly at Lux's request, feeling his heart warm. "Alright, sweetheart," he whispered, gently lifting her back up into his arms.
"Someone's being clingy this afternoon." Vincent comments, walking over with some apple sauce and animal crackers for the little ones.
Sebastian chuckled softly, adjusting Lux so she was nestled comfortably in his arms. "You're telling me," he said, taking a seat on a normal chair at the dining table.
"You know," Vincent said with a smile, "I think she's really taken a liking to her Daddy today."
"Can you blame her?" Sebastian says, grabbing a few animal crackers and trying to feed them to Lux who was not interested in them at all.
She was more fascinated by playing with the material of Sebastian's shirt.
Vincent chuckled, leaning over to gently tap Lux's hand. "Looks like the crackers aren't quite cutting it," he observed.
Sebastian smiled, stroking Lux's hair as she absently fiddled with his shirt, her little fingers gripping the fabric like it was the only thing holding her to the waking world.
"Maybe I should've let her keep the pacifier," Sebastian murmured with a teasing smile, looking over at Vincent. "She's been more stubborn than usual today."
Vincent raised an eyebrow, leaning against the counter. "She's just being a little one, Seb. It's fine to indulge her a little, but I know you've got her best interest at heart."
Sebastian nodded, glancing down at Lux. "Look baby," He says, holding up an animal cracker in hopes that it would gain her attention. "It's a yummy cracker. Which animal is this? Do you know?"
Lux's eyes fluttered briefly as she watched the cracker in her father's hand, her tiny fingers still clutching his shirt. She seemed to register the gesture, but her attention remained focused elsewhere, likely still drifting between the last remnants of sleep and the waking world.
"Daddy," she murmured softly, her voice thick with sleep, not really acknowledging the cracker.
Sebastian smiled gently, brushing her hair back from her face. "I know, sweet girl, you're still tired." He leaned down and kissed her forehead, his voice soft. "We'll get you all comfy, I promise. But what do you think about the cracker? Do you think it's a lion or a bear?"
Lux blinked a few times, her gaze slowly focusing on the cracker. She chewed on her lip, her small hand still gripping his shirt for security. After a few moments of contemplation, her eyes narrowed with curiosity.
"Lion?"
Sebastian chuckled softly, relieved to see a flicker of interest. "You got it, baby. It's a lion. Good job."
"Look!" August chimes in, apple sauce all around his mouth." N' this ones a el'phant!" He holds up an elephant shaped cracker.
Vincent chuckles, reaching for a wipe to clean the boy. "A lion and an elephantâboth very good choices."
Sebastian smiled warmly at the playful scene unfolding in front of him. Lux, still snuggled in his arms, was watching Auggie with sleepy eyes, and though her attention drifted in and out, there was a quiet sense of contentment in the air. Her little fingers were still wrapped around his shirt, and despite the stubbornness earlier, there was a soft relaxation to her posture now, even if she wasn't quite ready to fully wake up.
"Good job, Auggie," Sebastian said, his voice full of pride as he looked at the cracker in his son's hand. "You're really good at this, huh?"
"Here, Luxie, I got you a giraffe!" August said excitedly, holding up another cracker.
"You want to try one, Luxie? Auggie picked it out just for you." Sebastian cooed, encouraging Lux to take the cracker.
After a long pause, Lux's eyes flickered once more to the cracker, and this time, she made a small, determined reach for it. Auggie's face lit up at the small but mighty gesture.
"Good girl, Luxie!" he cheered, bouncing in his seat. "Eat your giraffe!"
Sebastian chuckled, happy to see that even in her sleepiness, Lux was finding her way into the moment. She took the cracker from Auggie, holding it delicately in her tiny hand. It was a slow, measured process, but she eventually brought it to her mouth and gave it a tentative nibble.
Vincent, standing nearby with his hands full of crackers and apple sauce, looked over at Sebastian. "She's coming around, huh?"
"Yeah, little by little," Sebastian replied, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he watched his children. "She's just... holding on to the last bits of sleep. But I think she'll be okay."
Lux chewed slowly, her eyelids still heavy but now lifting a little more as she gave her daddy a faint smile. "Giraffe..." she murmured, the word barely audible but still enough to bring a small, proud smile to Sebastian's face.
"That's right, sweetheart," Sebastian said softly, adjusting her in his arms so she could sit up a bit. "A giraffe. You're so smart."
"Me too, me too!" Auggie chimed in again, holding up a cracker shaped like a turtle this time. "I'm gonna make a whole zoo for you, Luxie!"
Lux, still clinging to Sebastian's shirt, slowly leaned her head against his chest again, her soft, contented sigh the only sound from her for a moment.
Sebastian noticed her gentle acceptance of the world around her, even as she clung to him, seeking the comfort and security only he could provide. The constant balance of independence and the need for affection was something both of his littles constantly taught him in these small, tender moments.
And before Sebastian or Vincent have a chance to intervene, Lux has fallen asleep once again.