- please check the AN at the bottom once you've read this :))
1st November, 2022 - Los Angeles, California
"I know," Vincent mumbles, tying his tie around his neck. "But we've got to start getting back into a more normal routine."
It was 6am and Vincent stood at the end of the bed, getting ready for work. For the past month, they'd taken some time off work to help Lux adjust but now, they had to ease back into their lives and find a balance between work and caring for their little ones. It wasn't an easy decision for them, but they knew they couldn't pause everything forever. He glanced over at the bed where Sebastian was still half-asleep, the sheets tangled around him.
Usually, they could work from home but they'd been missing from the company for so long that Vincent knew he had to show his face around for a little while.
"Mmm" Sebastian groaned, still coming too.
"Plus, you're going to be home with them the whole day." Vincent added, pulling on his slacks.
Sebastian cracked one eye open, his voice groggy. "You're really leaving me to face the wild ones alone? Lux is getting easier, but August? That boy is a tornado in disguise."
Vincent chuckled softly as he buttoned his shirt. "You've handled him before, Seb. Besides, I'll only be gone until mid-afternoon. You've got this."
Sebastian stretched out across the bed, his hand running through his messy hair as he sighed dramatically. "Fine. But if he decides to redecorate the living room with crayons again, I'm calling you immediately."
Vincent smirked, adjusting his tie in the mirror. "That was one time. And hey, at least he's creative."
"Creative, sure," Sebastian muttered, rolling onto his side and rubbing his face.
Vincent chuckled as he grabbed his suit jacket from the chair, slipping it on with practiced ease. He leaned over the bed and kissed Sebastian's temple. "You'll survive. And maybe keep the crayons out of reach this time."
Sebastian cracked a small smile, his grogginess fading.
"I should get going before I'm late. Text me if you need me, okay?" Vincent said, glancing at his watch.
"Yeah, yeah," Sebastian mumbled, pulling the blanket over his head. "Good luck out there, corporate warrior."
Vincent smiled as he grabbed his bag and headed out of the bedroom, quietly shutting the door behind him. The house was still peaceful in the early morning light, but he knew that wouldn't last long. The sound of tiny footsteps down the floor let him know that one of the kids - probably August - was already awake. He shook his head with a fond smile. Tornado or not, he loved that boy.
With much effort, Sebastian forced himself out of bed, walking into the large ensuite bathroom and turning on the shower.
He had to get the morning started before he fell back asleep again.
Stripping out of his boxers, he stepped into the shower, and let the warm water cast over his face, he couldn't help but let out a deep sigh. The mornings were often the most chaotic part of the day in their house, but they also held a kind of quiet before the storm. He relished this brief moment of calm, knowing that once he stepped out of the bathroom, he'd be stepping into the full energy of a new day.
---
"Lux..."
"Lulu"
"Sissy... wake up."
Lux shifted in her bed. The feeling of a little finger poking her side was not the way she wanted to wake up this morning.
Slowly, she cracks her eyes open to be immediately met with the sight of August crouched by her side.
"You're awake!" August says happily, already pulling the blanket off the small girl.
Lux whines as the warm cocoon is pulled away from her, burying her face in the pillow to block out the brightness of the morning. "August, it's too early," she mumbles, her voice muffled by the pillow.
"But I wanna go in Daddy n' papa's bed" August whines, tugging at her arm now, his energy already at full blast despite the early hour. "S'much funner in there."
Lux groaned softly, squeezing her eyes shut as if doing so could magically transport her back to sleep. "Then go without me," she murmured, her voice still thick with exhaustion.
August pouted, crossing his arms in mock indignation. "But I want you to come too!" He gave her arm another tug, this time more insistent. "S'no fun without you, Sissy!"
Lux sighed deeply, her body still heavy with sleep. She rolled over onto her back and blinked up at him. His big brown eyes, filled with childish determination, were impossible to resist.
"August, it's barely even light outside," she murmurs "You should still be in bed."
"But I'm not sleepy!" August argued, bouncing slightly on his heels. "And Papa already left for work, so Daddy's lonely." He tilted his head, his bottom lip jutting out in an exaggerated pout that Lux knew he was using on purpose. "Pleeease, Lulu? We can cuddle and watch cartoons in their bed!"
Lux gave him a long look, weighing her options. She could stay in her warm bed and try to salvage what was left of her sleep, but she also knew that August wouldn't leave her alone until she gave in. With another sigh, she sat up, running a hand through her tangled hair. "Fine," she muttered, earning an immediate cheer from August.
"Yay! C'mon, let's go!" He grabbed her hand, practically dragging her out of the bed before she could change her mind.
"Okay, okay," Lux said, stifling a yawn as she shuffled along behind him, her bare feet padding against the cool floor.
The siblings made their way down the hall, August skipping ahead with a burst of energy that Lux couldn't understand this early in the morning. She trudged behind him, her arms wrapped around herself for warmth. When they reached their daddy's room, August pushed the door open without hesitation and scrambled onto the oversized bed, crawling under the thick duvet like he owned the place.
The sound of the shower running from the ensuite bathroom confirmed that Sebastian was in fact distracted and wouldn't notice the two littles sneaking into his bed.
Lux hesitated at the doorway, rubbing her eyes. She was still debating whether to fully commit to August's plan when he peeked his head out from under the covers, grinning widely. "Come on, Sissy! It's warm in here!"
The offer of warmth was tempting, especially as the coolness of the floor nipped at her toes. With a small sigh of surrender, Lux climbed onto the bed, settling in beside the older boy. August immediately snuggled up to her, throwing an arm around her waist as if he'd already won the greatest prize of the morning.
"I told you it's better in here," he whispered, his voice filled with satisfaction. Lux couldn't help but smile faintly, even as her tired eyes fluttered closed again.
"Okay, okay, you win," she mumbled, her voice still groggy.
August giggled but nodded earnestly, making himself comfortable. For a few moments, the room was peaceful again, the only sound being the faint rush of water from the bathroom. Lux felt herself sinking back into the calm, her brother's warmth beside her lulling her closer to sleep.
But of course, August wasn't built for long stretches of silence. "Sissy?" he whispered after a few minutes, poking her gently in the side.
"Mmhmm?" Lux responded, her eyes still closed, her voice more of a sleepy hum.
"Do you think Daddy will let us have pancakes today? The kind with chocolate chips?" His tone was filled with such innocent hope that Lux couldn't help but crack an eye open.
"Maybe," she said, her voice soft. "But we just had those the other day."
August grinned, clearly delighted by the possibility. He wiggled happily under the blanket, already planning how he would make his case to their daddy and not caring that they'd already had them this week. Pancakes were his favourite. "I'm gonna ask as soon as he's out of the shower!"
Lux just nods, her body relaxing into the comfortable mattress. She can feel her eyes slipping shut again but she doesn't care enough to resist.
Before long, the sound of the shower stopped, and moments later, Sebastian emerged from the bathroom, his hair damp and a towel tied around his waist, exposing all of his tattoos which were usually covered by a shirt or sweater.
Sebastian froze in the doorway, spotting the two little figures bundled up in his bed like mischievous kittens caught in the act. His eyebrows arched in mock surprise, though the faint smile tugging at his lips betrayed his amusement.
"Good morning, wild ones," Sebastian said, his voice warm but teasing as he leaned against the doorframe. "To what do I owe the honor of this early visit?"
"We came for a snuggle!" August says excitedly, already squirming around in the bed with anticipation.
Sebastian chuckled softly at August's enthusiasm, shaking his head as he walked into the room, the towel around his waist still hanging low. He sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at both of the children who were now nestled comfortably beside him.
"Well, if it's snuggles you're after, I guess I can't say no." His voice was filled with a quiet affection, and he reached over to pull the blanket over the three of them, making sure they were all cozy.
August immediately climbs over Sebastian onto his other side, effectively sandwiching the man in-between himself and Lux.
Sebastian chuckled as August wriggled closer, his tiny arms wrapping around him like a human blanket. Lux, still feeling the sleepiness tugging at her, nestled into his side, her head resting against his shoulder. It was moments like these that made him forget the chaos of everything else - the craziness of re-raising the littles, the weight of responsibilities. For now, it was just this small, quiet moment, and he allowed himself to enjoy it.
"You didn't go and wake up Luxie from her bed, huh Auggie?" Sebastian asks, noticing how sleepy the girl is still.
August grinned sheepishly and shrugged, clearly unbothered by his little sister's grogginess. "I did," he said brightly, "but she was too sleepy to come at first. So I had to help her." He looked up at Sebastian with wide, innocent eyes, trying to convey just how much of a hero he felt like in that moment.
Sebastian chuckled softly, brushing a hand through August's messy hair. "I think you may have dragged her out of bed a little early, buddy," he teased, a fond smile on his lips.
"Daddy needs to shave" August comments, brushing his hands over the mans stubble.
Sebastian let out a soft chuckle at August's comment, his hand lingering in the boy's hair as he smiled fondly at him. "Yeah, I suppose I do," he agreed, rubbing his chin. The feeling of August's tiny hands brushing against his stubble made his heart swell.
"Maybe later, buddy," Sebastian added, brushing his hand down August's back in a soothing motion.
Lux let out a quiet murmur beside him, her body fully relaxed against his side, the warmth of the blanket and the comfort of the two of them making it so easy to drift back into the haze of sleep.
"Why don't you go find one of your story books, Auggie? We can have a bit of a quiet morning while we wait for Luxie to wake up fully."
Sebastian suggested gently, his voice soothing.
August's eyes brightened at the mention of storybooks. He immediately sprang off the bed, excitedly bounding out of the room to find a book.
Lux remained tucked into his side, her breathing deep and even, still caught in that space between sleep and waking. Sebastian adjust her against himself, making sure she was still comfortable as she nestled closer. The sound of August's little feet pattering down the hallway gradually faded, leaving Sebastian alone with his daughter in the quiet room.
She was still wearing her sweet little pyjamas decorated in muted pink tones and tiny ladybugs embroidered into the fabric. Sebastian couldn't help but smile as he watched her sleep. The innocence of it, the way she trusted him so completely, wrapped around his heart like the softest of blankets. He gently brushed a strand of hair from her face, careful not to disturb her slumber.
This, right here, was his sanctuary.
A few minutes passed before he heard the sound of August's feet returning down the hallway, a loud thud followed by the unmistakable sound of him clambering up onto the bed once more, a storybook clutched in his hands.
"I found it!" August exclaimed, his face lighting up with excitement as he slid into the bed beside Sebastian.
"Good job, Auggie," Sebastian replied with a grin, reaching over to pull him closer. "What story did you pick?"
August holds up the book.
"Ah, The Giving Tree." Sebastian hums. "That's a good one."
"Alright, babe, let's read," he said, his voice calm and soothing as he started reading aloud. "Once there was a tree..."
August snuggled in closer to him, his little hands wrapped around the book as he leaned in to listen intently. His attention was rapt, his wide eyes following each word with a childlike fascination.
As Sebastian read, Lux's breathing deepened again, the soft, rhythmic sound of her slumber blending with his gentle voice. The calmness of the moment seemed to settle around them like a blanket, and for a moment, everything else - the work, the chaos, the responsibilities - faded into the background.
Occasionally, August would point out little details in the illustrations, his eyes wide with awe.
"...and the tree was happy," Sebastian read softly, closing the book with a satisfying thump. He glanced down to see August's head leaning against his arm, his energy finally ebbing, at least for a moment. Lux was still tucked against his other side, her little hand clutching the edge of the blanket as she slept soundly.
Sebastian set the book aside, careful not to disturb either of them. He tilted his head back against the headboard and let himself relax into the warmth of the moment.
August shifted slightly, his small hand resting on Sebastian's chest. "Are trees really happy like that?"
Sebastian chuckled softly, stroking his hand over August's messy curls. "Well, buddy, I think the tree was happy because it loved the boy. Just like I'm happy because I love you and Lux."
August looked up at him, his brown eyes bright but thoughtful.
Lux shifts too, her big brown eyes fluttering open once more.
"Look who's awake again" Sebastian coos, watching as the small girl slowly comes round.
Lux blinked up at Sebastian, her sleepy face soft and innocent. Her small hand reached up to rub her eyes. "Daddy..." she murmured, her voice quiet and a little wobbly, the way it always was when she'd just woken up.
Sebastian smiled gently and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Morning, baby girl," he said softly. "Did you sleep well?"
Lux nodded slowly but didn't say anything more, instead nestling closer to Sebastian's side, seeking the comfort and warmth of his embrace. She clung to his arm with her tiny fingers, her head resting on his chest now, just under his shoulder.
"Luxie, we read a story!" August piped up, his voice still bright but quieter than before. He didn't want to overwhelm her, but his excitement about the morning was hard to contain. "The Giving Tree! Daddy read it. And the tree was happy!"
She didn't say anything, but she nodded faintly, acknowledging him.
"Daddy," August said suddenly, as if an idea had struck him. "Can we have pancakes now? With chocolate chips? Pleeease?" His voice was filled with so much hope and enthusiasm that Sebastian couldn't help but chuckle.
"Pancakes, huh?" Sebastian mused, glancing down at Lux, who had perked up slightly at the mention of breakfast. "What do you think, Luxie? Pancakes sound good?"
Lux nodded, her brown eyes still wide and heavy with sleep, but there was the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips now. She snuggled closer to Sebastian, as though silently telling him she wasn't ready to leave his side just yet.
"Well, I guess I don't have much of a choice then," Sebastian said with an exaggerated sigh, earning a giggle from August. "But you two have to help me make them, alright? No slacking."
August cheered, already bouncing in place. "I can mix the batter!" he announced proudly. "And Luxie can... uh..." He tilted his head, thinking hard. "She can put the chocolate chips in!"
Lux didn't respond, but she gave a tiny nod.
Sebastian scooped her up into his arms with ease, holding her close as he stood from the bed. "Alright, let's get moving, team. Pancake duty awaits." He ruffled August's hair, earning a big grin from the boy, who hopped off the bed and ran ahead toward the kitchen.
Sebastian followed at a slower pace, carrying Lux with him. She clung to him, her face buried in the crook of his neck, her small body warm and soft in his arms. He could feel her little hands gripping his shoulder, her trust in him so complete it made his heart ache with love.
By the time they reached the kitchen, August had already pulled a chair over to the counter and was climbing up onto it, ready to help. "I'm ready, Daddy!" he declared, his excitement making him wiggle in place.
Sebastian chuckled as he set Lux down gently on a nearby chair, making sure she was comfortable before turning to August. "Alright, buddy. Let's wash our hands first, and then we'll get started."
He guided both littles through the process, his voice patient and encouraging as he explained each step. Lux was slower to warm up, still quiet and clinging to Sebastian's side for much of the morning, but by the time they were pouring batter onto the griddle, she had started to come alive again, her small voice chiming in to ask if she could add the chocolate chips.
By the time the pancakes were ready, the kitchen smelled like warmth and sweetness, and both Lux and August were equally excited to eat their creations.
Sebastian lifted them one by one into their highchairs before placing a plate pancakes down in front each of them.
August clapped his hands together, practically bouncing in his highchair as he stared at the stack of fluffy pancakes in front of him. "Chocolate chip pancakes!" he declared triumphantly.
Lux, quieter but no less pleased, reached for her fork with small, deliberate movements. She gave Sebastian a shy smile, her eyes still a little sleepy but now sparkling with happiness. "Thank you, Daddy," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sebastian leaned down to kiss the top of her head, his hand brushing over her soft hair. "You're welcome, little love. Now eat up before it gets cold."
He turned to August, who was already digging in with gusto, syrup dribbling down his chin as he grinned. "And you, Mr. Tornado - try not to make a bigger mess than the pancakes are worth, alright?"
"I never make mess" August tries to argue.
Sebastian just shook his head, a smile playing at his lips as he grabbed his own plate and took a seat in front of them. He watched as Lux carefully cut a small piece of her pancake and took a bite. "Good?" he asked her.
She nodded, her little voice piping up again. "It's yummy."
"Of course it is," August interjected confidently, a mouth full of pancake.
"Where's papa today?" Lux asked softly. She remembers August telling her something about papa leaving for work but back then, she'd been too tired to even care.
Sebastian smiled gently, reaching across the table to brush a stray hair from Lux's face. "Papa had to go to work today, sweetheart," he said softly. "He'll be back later this afternoon, though. Not too long."
Lux nodded slowly, her tiny fingers gripping her fork. She seemed to mull over this information, her little brows furrowing.
"Work?" She asks curiously. From what she could tell, the men were absolutely loaded. Why did they need to work?
Sebastian chuckled softly at her question, his heart warming at her innocent curiosity.
"Yeah babe, work." He explained. "Even though you only know us as your daddy and papa, we still have other responsibilities. Papa has a job where he helps a lot of people, and sometimes he needs to be there in person to make sure everything's going the way it should."
"What job?" Lux presses.
Sebastian paused, considering how to simplify Vincent's complex role in a way that Lux could understand. He set his fork down, leaning forward slightly to engage the two littles in the conversation.
"Well," Sebastian began, "Papa and I own a company and papa needs to go in to make sure everyone has what they need to do their jobs, and solves problems when things don't go the way they're supposed to."
"Oh... So Papa goes to help people?" she asked, her voice still soft but more curious now.
"That's right," Sebastian nodded, giving her a gentle smile. It wasn't 100% accurate since there was more adult matters like clients and business management, but it was the simplest way to explain it to Lux, and he didn't want to bore her with all those details.
"But most of the time, we work from home so it's not often I'm a single dad for the day." He chuckles.
Lux nods slowly, taking in his words.
"What're we gonna do today daddy?" August asks, syrup smudged on his cheek.
Sebastian smiled warmly, reaching over with a napkin to wipe the sticky syrup from August's cheek. "Well, buddy, I was thinking we could have a fun day here at home," he said. "Maybe some painting, playing with toys, and if you two behave, we could even watch a movie later."
August's face lit up at the mention of painting. "Really? Painting?"
Sebastian laughed softly, nodding. "Of course. But that means we'll need to set up your aprons so we don't get paint everywhere. And you'll need to help me clean up after."
August, unable to contain his excitement, wiggled in his highchair again. "I wanna paint a dinosaur! A really big one! And maybe a rocket ship!" His imagination was already firing on all cylinders.
Sebastian chuckled, finishing the last bite of his pancake before standing up to collect their empty plates. "Sounds like we're going to have quite the art show," he said, his tone light and encouraging. "But first, we need to clean up breakfast. Then we'll set up in the playroom for painting, okay?"
They finish breakfast and Sebastian takes the two upstairs to get washed and dressed. It was a little harder than normal since he and Vincent would usually take one little each but now he has two to handle by himself.
"Alright, little ones," Sebastian said as they reached the top of the stairs, his voice cheerful but firm. "Let's get you two cleaned up and ready for the day."
It was a bit of a process but after half an hour he had both Lux and August in clothes and ready for painting.
He'd even managed to dress himself too since he spent half the morning with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.
The playroom was already a whirlwind of color and excitement when Sebastian set out the painting supplies. Bright jars of non-toxic paint were lined up neatly on the low table, next to cups of water and brushes of varying sizes. He had even laid out a large plastic sheet over the floor to protect against the inevitable mess. August was practically vibrating with anticipation, bouncing on his toes while Lux lingered closer to Sebastian, holding tightly to the hem of his shirt.
"Alright, Picasso and Da Vinci," Sebastian joked, crouching down to help Lux into her smock first. She stood still, her big brown eyes following his every move as he tied the strings in the back. "Let's try to keep the paint on the paper, okay?"
August giggled, already attempting to wiggle into his own smock. "I'm gonna paint the biggest dinosaur ever, Daddy!" he announced proudly.
Sebastian grinned, giving him a quick assist with the smock before standing. "Biggest dinosaur ever? That sounds like a challenge. What about you, Luxie? What are you going to paint?"
Lux looked down shyly, her little fingers twisting together. "Maybe... a butterfly?" she murmured, glancing up at him for approval.
Sebastian's heart melted instantly. "A butterfly sounds perfect, baby girl," he said warmly, placing a kiss on her forehead. "You'll make the prettiest butterfly ever."
With that, the two littles were settled at the table, each with a large sheet of paper in front of them. August wasted no time, dunking his brush into the green paint with wild enthusiasm. "This is gonna be its tail!" he declared, dragging the brush across the paper with a flourish. Paint splattered onto the plastic sheet, but Sebastian chose not to comment - yet.
Lux, on the other hand, approached her painting with careful precision. She dipped her small brush into the pink paint, her strokes slow and deliberate as she started on the wings of her butterfly. Her tongue peeked out slightly in concentration, and Sebastian couldn't help but smile as he watched her work.
She wasn't just painting any old butterfly. She was painting the same butterfly that were on her sneakers from a few weeks ago.
Sebastian sat close by on a chair beside them, watching over them like a hawk while occasionally stepping in to refill paint cups or adjust smocks slipping off tiny shoulders.
August's "dinosaur" was growing by the second, his bold strokes quickly filling the page with a bright green, vaguely lizard-like figure. "It needs more teeth!" he declared, grabbing the smallest brush to dot jagged white triangles onto the creature's wide-open mouth. "It's a T-Rex, so it's gotta look scary!"
Sebastian chuckled. "That's the scariest little dinosaur i've ever seen babe"
Sebastian sat back, letting them work while his eyes moved between the two. August was now adding a bright orange sun in the corner of his picture, his face scrunched in concentration. Lux, on the other hand, was carefully painting tiny dots of purple and blue on her butterfly's wings, mimicking the patterns from her sneakers. The room was filled with the soft sound of brushes swishing in water cups and the occasional giggle as August's paintbrush accidentally flicked drops onto his face.
"Daddy, look!" August suddenly exclaimed, holding up his painting with both hands. His grin was as wide as the dinosaur's teeth. "It's done! Do you like it?"
Sebastian pretended to examine the picture with utmost seriousness, stroking his chin as though he were a museum curator. "Hmm... I think this might be the most ferocious dinosaur I've ever seen," he said, nod.
"Can we put it on the fridge?" August asks.
"Of course," Sebastian agreed. "But let's let it dry first, okay?"
Lux, not wanting to be left out, timidly held up her butterfly painting. Her big brown eyes searched Sebastian's face for approval. "Do you like mine, too?" she whispered.
Sebastian's heart melted as he took in the delicate beauty of her artwork. The butterfly looked as though it could flutter off the page at any moment, its shimmering wings a testament to her careful, patient work. "I love it, Luxie," he said sincerely.
Lux's smile was small but radiant, and she nodded as she carefully set her painting down to dry.
Eagerly, August picked up another piece of paper and began working on painting a Stegosaurus to go with his T-Rex. And as the morning wore on, more and more little creations were hung up around the playroom as the two little ones continued to paint.
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GUYS I NEED IDEAS!! please tell me what you'd like to see in future chapters :)
Merry Christmas to anyone who's celebrating xx ðð