Growing With You

The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the bedroom. Nani was still curled up in bed, peaceful and warm under the blankets. It was rare for him to get extra sleep these days, but today, Sky had made sure he could rest a little longer.

Sky had been up early, slipping out of the house before the kids woke up. Now, he stood in the doorway, watching as their two little ones, Ariya and Riyan, fidgeted with excitement. Both of them held flowers in their tiny hands.

Ariya clutching a neat bundle of white daisies, while Riyan, their youngest and the most adorable troublemaker, gripped a single pink rose with his chubby fingers.

Sky crouched down to their level, giving them an encouraging smile. "Alright, you two." he whispered. "Remember, gentle. We don't want to scare Papa awake, okay?"

Ariya nodded eagerly, her school uniform slightly wrinkled from all the bouncing she had done earlier. "I can do it, Daddy!" she whispered back with confidence.

Riyan, who was still wobbly on his little legs, blinked up at Sky with his big round eyes. "Fow-wer..." he murmured, proudly holding up the slightly squished rose.

Sky bit back a chuckle. "Yes, Riyan, that's a flower. And who's it for?"

The toddler beamed, dimples appearing on his chubby cheeks. "Papa!" he declared, his tiny voice filled with excitement.

"Good boy." Sky praised, ruffling his soft hair. "Now, let's go wake Papa up."

Ariya confidently took the lead, tiptoeing toward the bed with careful steps. Riyan, determined to follow, took a few steps after her but, plop! he fell straight onto his bottom with a little thud.

Ariya gasped dramatically. "Riyan! Are you okay?"

Riyan, unfazed by the fall, simply giggled and held his flower up high. "Fow-wer!!" he repeated proudly, as if that was the most important part.

Sky shook his head fondly, lifting Riyan up and giving him a quick kiss on the forehead. "Come on, baby. Let's try again."

With Sky's help, Riyan toddled toward the bed, gripping his rose tightly. Once close enough, he clumsily climbed onto the mattress, using all his strength to pull himself up next to Nani. Ariya carefully placed her flowers on the pillow beside their sleeping papa, then leaned in with a wide smile.

Riyan, however, had his own approach. He scooted close and placed one chubby hand on Nani's face, patting it lightly. "Papa..." he cooed sweetly before shaking him a little.

Nani let out a sleepy hum, his brows furrowing as he stirred. Slowly, he blinked his eyes open, the first thing he saw being Ariya's bright, excited face.

"Happy Valentine's, Papa!" she chirped.

Then came Riyan, who grinned from ear to ear, his dimpled cheeks puffed out as he held up his slightly crushed pink rose. "Papa! Fow-wer!" he announced proudly, dropping it right onto Nani's chest.

Nani blinked, still half-asleep, trying to process the adorable sight in front of him. Then, his gaze shifted to Sky, who was leaning against the bedpost with a knowing smile.

The warmth in Nani's heart melted into something deeper, something too soft for words. He let out a sleepy laugh and sat up, gathering Riyan into his arms and kissing his fluffy head. "You two planned this, huh?" he murmured, brushing his fingers over the petals.

Ariya nodded proudly. "Daddy helped, but it was our idea!"

Riyan clapped his hands, clearly pleased with himself.

Nani's heart nearly burst on the spot. He pressed a kiss to Riyan's cheek before pulling Ariya into his embrace as well.

Sky finally stepped closer, sitting on the edge of the bed as he reached out to tuck Nani's hair behind his ear. "And the day's just starting." he murmured before pressing a soft kiss to Nani's forehead. "There's more to come."

Nani sighed happily, holding his little family close. "As long as I have you all, don't need anything else."

At the school entrance, Ariya bounced on her toes, barely able to contain her excitement. Her small hands clutched a stack of Valentine's cards she had worked so hard on, eager to hand them out to her friends.

"Papa, Daddy, look! I made extra cards in case someone forgot theirs!" she beamed, her bright eyes full of pride.

Sky grinned, kneeling down to kiss the top of her head. "That's my sweet girl. Your friends are lucky to have you."

Nani smoothed out her uniform. "And don't forget to eat all your lunch, okay?"

"I will!" Ariya chirped before turning to her little brother, who had an entirely different opinion on the school drop-off situation.

Riyan was not impressed. While Ariya was ready to run off, he was more interested in keeping his sister from leaving at all. His tiny fingers curled tightly around the strap of her backpack, tugging it back toward him.

"Ari,....stay.." he said, his voice firm in the way only a determined toddler could be.

Ariya giggled, crouching down to pat his fluffy hair. "I have to go, Riyan! But I'll be back later, okay?"

Riyan's lower lip jutted out in a pout, his big eyes filled with betrayal. He hesitated before holding up his little arms, demanding a hug. "Hug."

Ariya laughed but happily obliged, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "See you later, baby brother!"

The moment she let go, she dashed inside, her ponytail bouncing with each step. Riyan, however, was not happy about this outcome. He stared at the school gates as if contemplating a rescue mission, his little brows furrowed.

Sky, watching this unfold, chuckled and leaned down beside him. "One day, that'll be you running inside too."

Riyan turned his head, his expression dead serious. "No."

Nani pressed his lips together to keep from laughing. "Well, we'll see about that, little one."

Still frowning, Riyan held up his arms. "Up, Papa."

Nani sighed dramatically but scooped him up without hesitation. "I think we might have a future troublemaker on our hands."

Sky smirked, brushing a hand through Riyan's soft hair. "Like father, like son."

Riyan, now content in Nani's arms, wrapped himself around him like a koala and let out a satisfied sigh. "Papa."

Nani kissed his cheek. "You're lucky you're cute."

Sky glanced at the time and nudged Nani playfully. "Come on, we better head to the office before this little prince decides he's ruling the school instead."

As they walked back to the car, Riyan peeked over Nani's shoulder, still watching the school gates. He let out a tiny huff, resting his cheek against Nani.

Ariya might have gone to school, but for today, he was sticking with his Papa and Daddy.

Since Nani was still pregnant with Riyan, Sky decided to step back from acting and invest in the acting industry himself. With Nani's expertise and support, Sky knew they could make it work. His passion for acting had always been strong, but he now saw a new path for himself that allowed him to stay close to Nani and their growing family.

Sky's decision to invest in the acting industry paid off in ways neither he nor Nani could have predicted. What started as a small venture, with just a few contracts here and there, soon blossomed into a full-fledged talent agency and production house.

It wasn't long before Sky's company became one of the most well-known in the industry, attracting both up-and-coming talent and established stars who wanted to work with him.

To make sure he could spend more time with his husband, Sky set up his own office at Nani's company. It didn't exactly make sense since his actual office was at a different location, but Sky didn't mind. His staff, however, had to get used to driving back and forth to deliver documents or meet him. It became a quirky part of their routine, and despite the inefficiency, everyone got used to it.

Riyan, now fully energized, was an unstoppable force at the office. The moment they arrived, he waddled around the lobby, greeting employees with his toddler voice, delighting everyone with his excitement.

While Sky was in a meeting discussing business in meeting room, Riyan found his own ways to create adorable chaos at his daddy's office, grabbing papers from desks, climbing onto chairs, and running after anything that caught his eye.

And Nani caught him trying to use Sky's office chair as a spinning ride. "Riyan, what did Papa say about touching things on Daddy's desk?" Nani asked, raising an eyebrow as he observed his son's antics.

Riyan looked up at him, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "No.... touch." he said, his voice full of innocence.

Nani folded his arms and asked "And what are you doing?"

With a wide, proud grin, Riyan responded "Touch, Touch."

Nani couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head. Just as he was about to intervene, the office door opened, and in walked Win, carrying a box filled with delicious-looking cakes.

"Riyan, my favorite little troublemaker!" Win called out, his voice full of affection. Without hesitation, Riyan squealed and darted toward him, arms stretched wide.

Riyan yelled excitedly, practically launching himself into Win's arms.

Win caught him effortlessly, lifting Riyan up with a grin. "Looks like someone's been causing a little chaos while I've been gone" he teased, holding the toddler high above his head as Riyan giggled.

"Win, Win!" Riyan cheered, wrapping his tiny arms around his uncle's neck, clearly loving the attention.

Riyan giggled and pointed to the box of cakes. "Cake!"

Win grinned, handing Riyan a small, brightly decorated cake from the box. "Here you go, little buddy. A special treat just for you."

Riyan's eyes lit up as he reached out eagerly, clapping his hands. "Cake! Cake!" he said, his words a bit muddled but full of excitement.

Nani raised an eyebrow as he watched Win hand the cake over, his voice slightly firm. "Win, don't let him eat too much. It's not good for his health. " He sighed, looking at the sugary treat in Riyan's hands. "You know how hard it is to get him to eat vegetables."

Win rolled his eyes playfully. "Oh, come on, Nani. It's just a little cake. One won't hurt, right?"

Riyan, still clutching the cake, nodded enthusiastically, his face lighting up. "Cake good!" he said, his toddler voice full of joy.

Nani gave him a stern look. "Riyan..."

But Riyan, ever the little charmer, turned to his uncle for support. "Cake good, Papa!" he said, his words a bit jumbled but clear enough to make his point. He looked up at Win with a smile, clearly siding with his favorite uncle.

Win couldn't help but laugh, his grin widening as he ruffled Riyan's hair. "See, Nani? Even he agrees with me! Cake is good."

Nani sighed in defeat, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "I swear, you two are a team. You're both troublemakers."

Riyan took a bite of his cake, his eyes sparkling with happiness as he looked up at Nani, then at Win. "Yummy!" he said, showing off a little bit of frosting on his cheek.

Win chuckled and turned to Nani, teasing him. "Come on, Nani, just one treat isn't going to ruin his health. You're too strict sometimes!"

Nani crossed his arms "I'm just trying to make sure he grows up healthy, okay? No need to spoil him with sweets."

"Too late for that." Win teased, giving Riyan another playful pat on the head.

Riyan nodded, his cheeks full as he giggled. "Cake!"

Once Riyan finished his cake, Win grinned widely, his plan now in full motion. He scooped Riyan up into his arms with ease, holding him as if he were a little bundle of joy. "Alright, time for a fun adventure" Win said, heading toward the door.

Nani raised an eyebrow, watching them with a skeptical look. "Wait, where do you think you're going with my kid?" he asked.

Win gave Nani a cheeky grin. "I'm taking him to the mall." He glanced at Nani mischievously, then added "And once more, you don't need to pick up Ariya today. I'll go get her. You can enjoy some peace and quiet. Bye!"

Before Nani could protest any further, Win was already walking out the door with Riyan happily perched in his arms, chatting excitedly in his jumbled toddler words. "Mall! Toy! Ari" he babbled, clearly looking forward to the outing.

Nani watched them leave, shaking his head fondly but still chuckling to himself. "Spoiling them rotten... It's like they're both his kids now." He sighed.

As Sky and Nani sat cozily on the couch, enjoying the warmth of the moment, the house felt unusually quiet. Normally, the sounds of Ariya's chatter or Riyan's excited giggles would fill the space, but tonight, the house was empty, with only the soft hum of the living room lights in the background.

"Ariya and Riyan are with Win tonight, huh?" Sky asked, glancing around, a small smile on his face as he realized how peaceful it was without their child usual hustle and bustle.

Nani nodded, his fingers absently tracing patterns on Sky's arm as he relaxed against the couch. "Yeah, Win offered to take them out for a little Valentine's celebration. I'm sure they're having a blast."

Sky chuckled softly, picturing Win spoiling both of the kids, especially Riyan with his endless energy. "I can already imagine Win giving Riyan all the cake and candy he can handle." he said, shaking his head with a playful smile.

"Let's just hope Win remembers to keep them on a sugar rush limit" Nani responded with a laugh, his voice tinged with mock concern. "Otherwise, we might have a sugar-infused tornado on our hands tomorrow morning."

Sky snorted, his grin widening. "Win really is scared of you, Nani. He knows exactly what'll happen if he spoils them too much."

Nani chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I don't know about that, but it's still a little strange not having them around tonight. The house feels so... quiet."

Sky looked over at Nani, his gaze softening. "Yeah, it's a little too quiet." he agreed, his fingers brushing gently against Nani's hand. "But you know, this gives us the chance to enjoy a peaceful evening together."

Nani smiled, leaning into Sky's touch. "You're right. It's nice, but it does feel a bit lonely."

Sky chuckled and stood up, his excitement suddenly evident. "Well, since it's just us tonight, how about I make us a special dinner?"

Nani raised an eyebrow.

With that, Sky quickly made his way to the kitchen, leaving Nani to relax on the couch. The soft clink of pots and pans, the sizzling sounds from the stove, and the occasional hum of Sky's voice filled the room. As Nani leaned back, he couldn't help but feel a warm sense of love and contentment.

After a while, Sky reappeared, his hands carefully setting the table for a romantic dinner. The room was filled with the faint aroma of something delicious, an array of dishes that Nani could hardly recognize but looked absolutely tempting.

Sky smiled proudly. "Ta-da! Dinner's ready."

As they ate, the atmosphere felt intimate and warm. They talked about everything and nothing, reminiscing about old memories, laughing at shared jokes, and just enjoying the peace of the evening.

Once they finished eating, Sky pushed his chair back and walked over to Nani's side. He knelt in front of Nani, gently placing his hands on Nani's lap, looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes.

"Nani... I have something to ask you." Sky's voice was soft, almost hesitant, as though he was building up the courage for something important.

Nani raised an eyebrow "What is it now? You're making me nervous with that look."

Sky bit his lip slightly, his gaze unwavering. "I've been thinking about this for a while... and I really, really want to ask you for something." He paused for a moment, as if making sure Nani was paying attention.

Nani could feel his heart flutter at the sight of Sky's adorable puppy-like expression. "Sky... what is it?"

Sky took a deep breath, his eyes full of hope. "Can we get a dog?"

Nani blinked, caught off guard by the request. "A dog?" he repeated, his voice a little incredulous.

Sky nodded eagerly, his hands tightening slightly on Nani's lap as he leaned in a little closer. "Please, Nani. Just think about it. A little puppy to spoil, someone to keep us company... especially when the kids aren't around. It'll make our family even more complete. You know we both love animals, and I promise I'll take care of it. I won't make it too much work for you."

Nani chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're serious, aren't you?"

Sky nodded, his puppy-dog eyes sparkling with sincerity. "I am. I know it's a big responsibility, but I'll make sure it doesn't add too much to your plate. I just... I really want to make our family even better. We can have a dog, and it'll be fun, and we can take care of it together."

Nani gazed down at Sky for a moment, his heart warmed by how genuine and hopeful Sky looked. He could see how much Sky wanted this, and while Nani wasn't exactly thrilled by the idea of adding another responsibility, but he knew he couldn't say no to that look.

He sighed dramatically, leaning back in his chair as if to contemplate, but the smile tugging at his lips was unavoidable.

Sky's face lit up, his hands gently squeezing Nani's lap in excitement. "So, you'll say yes?"

Nani rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. "Fine. We'll get a dog. But I swear, you're the one who'll take care of it."

Sky grinned widely, his hands reaching up to wrap around Nani's waist as he pulled him into a hug. "Thank you, thank you! You won't regret this, Nani. I promise I'll be the best dog parent ever!"

Nani chuckled, his hands resting gently on Sky's back. "You'd better be. And if it gets out of hand, I'll hold you to that promise."

Sky laughed, pulling back to look at Nani with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "I'll be great, I swear!" he said, his words slurring just a little from the wine. His smile was so bright, and his excitement so contagious, it was hard for Nani not to smile back.

But as Sky took another sip of wine, it became clear that maybe he was enjoying himself a little too much. The tipsy sway in his movements and the gleam of giddiness in his eyes were enough for Nani to know that Sky would need help getting to bed soon.

Nani chuckled softly to himself, standing up and holding out his hand to Sky. "Alright, let's get you to bed before you get any more ideas."

Sky giggled, his arms suddenly around Nani's neck as he leaned into him, swaying slightly. "You're the best, Nani. I love you so much."

"Yeah, yeah." Nani muttered with a smile, trying to help Sky stand up. But Sky was stronger than he looked, and Nani struggled for a moment, trying to balance the weight of his overly cheerful husband.

Eventually, after some effort, Nani managed to guide Sky to the bedroom. The door clicked softly behind them as Nani helped Sky onto the bed, the relief of finally getting him there making him breathe a little easier.

Just as Nani was about to leave the room, he heard Sky's voice, slightly muffled, but still unmistakably clear.

"Nani, hug."

Nani paused, his hand on the doorframe, and turned to see Sky sitting up on the bed, his eyes half-lidded but full of the same pleading, adorable innocence. His arms were stretched out towards Nani, waiting for him.

Nani couldn't help but laugh softly, shaking his head. "Well, now I know where Riyan learns to ask for hugs." he muttered to himself, amused.

He walked back into the room and sat beside Sky on the bed, pulling him gently into an embrace. Sky rested his head on Nani's shoulder, his body still a little warm from the wine, but there was something sweet and content about him, something that made Nani's heart soften.

" Nani, if you could turn back time, would you still choose me?" Sky's voice was soft as he still drunk.

"Puppy, I've carried two of your children... what do you think?" Nani looked at him, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Sky let out a soft laugh, his eyes sparkling as he gazed at Nani. "Then... do you want to carry another one?"

Nani's eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and uncertainty flashing across his face. Before he could even respond, Sky suddenly leaned forward, pulling him onto the bed. In one smooth movement, Sky climbed on top of him.

" Puppy, stop whatever you're thinking right now. "

Sky shook his head, his playful grin growing wider. "I'm not thinking... I'm just loving you."

Without waiting for another word, Sky leaned down, his lips brushing against Nani's with a softness that spoke volumes, his kiss tender but deep, full of everything he couldn't say. Nani's body responded without hesitation, his hands finding their way to Sky's back, pulling him closer, deepening the connection between them.

As they shared that tender moment, the world around them seemed to disappear. Nani's mind lingered on Sky's words, the warmth of his touch, and the love that filled the space between them. They had already created such a beautiful family, but somewhere deep down, they both knew they weren't quite done yet.