🍼 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓃: 𝒜 𝐵𝒾𝑔 𝒟𝒶𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒶 𝒲𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝐵𝑜𝓎 🎀🧸

Lucas clutched Amari's hand tight as they stood in front of the Choi family's front door. His pastel pink sweater sleeves were pulled over his hands, fingers squeezing the fabric as his heart pounded against his ribs.

Daddy's mommy and daddy wanna meet me...

His tummy felt all twisty, and he wished so badly he could just hide behind Amari and suck on his paci. But he had to be big right now. Big and brave—even though he felt super little inside.

Amari looked down at him with a smirk, squeezing his fingers. "Damn, tiny, you shaking?"

Lucas pouted, glaring up at him. "Nuh-uh..." His voice was small, barely above a whisper.

Amari chuckled, ruffling his soft black hair. "Relax, baby. They gon' love you."

Lucas wasn't so sure. Parents didn't usually like him. They thought he was weird—too quiet, too babyish, too much. And what if they asked about his dad?

His tummy clenched at the thought.

Before he could get too lost in his head, the front door swung open.

Mrs. Choi stood there, a warm smile on her face. She had deep brown skin, high cheekbones, and dark, wavy hair pulled into a neat bun. She wore a soft-looking beige sweater, and her eyes sparkled with kindness.

"Amari, baby, you're finally home," she teased before turning her gaze to Lucas.

Lucas gulped, clutching Momo—his tiny bunny plushie—in one hand. "H-hi..." he mumbled.

Mrs. Choi's expression softened instantly. "Awww, sweetheart, no need to be nervous. Come in, come in."

Lucas stepped inside hesitantly, his heart racing. The Choi house smelled warm, like cinnamon and something baking. A cozy couch sat in the living room, and there were family photos everywhere.

Then, a deep voice made Lucas freeze.

"You must be Lucas."

Mr. Choi.

He was tall—really tall. He had dark brown skin like Amari's, broad shoulders, and a serious expression. His deep voice made Lucas's little heart go thump-thump-thump.

Lucas looked up at him with wide, nervous eyes, his lips pressing together as he tried to act big. "U-uhm..."

Before he could get too overwhelmed, Amari casually threw an arm around him. "Dad, don't scare the baby," he said, smirking.

Lucas blushed deep red, stomping his foot. "N-not baby!"

Mrs. Choi giggled. "Oh, you are adorable."

Lucas pouted, pressing his face into Amari's arm.

Amari chuckled, pulling him closer. "C'mon, tiny, let's sit down."

💖💖💖

A little while later, Lucas was curled up on the couch, sipping juice from a cup with both hands. He'd been trying so hard to be big, but his body kept slipping into little space. Amari's mom was too soft, too warm—she kept talking to him in that gentle mommy voice that made his brain go all fuzzy.

"So, sweetheart," Mrs. Choi said with a smile. "Tell me about yourself. Your mom—Mrs. Min—she'll be joining us soon, right?"

Lucas nodded slowly. "Uh-huh... M-mommy's on her way..."

Mrs. Choi's smile deepened at the way he said mommy, but she didn't say anything.

Then Mr. Choi spoke. "And your father?"

Lucas froze.

The air felt too thick.

His hands tightened around his juice cup, and his breathing got all weird. Amari noticed instantly.

"Dad," Amari said, his voice sharp.

Lucas tried to swallow, but his throat felt stuck. His fingers trembled, and before he could stop it, his eyes got all teary.

"U-uhm..." His voice wobbled, and he hated it. Be big. Be big. Be big.

Mrs. Choi reached out, placing a soft hand on his knee. "Oh, baby, you don't have to talk about it."

But Lucas couldn't stop himself. His lip trembled, and he gripped Momo tight against his chest. "M-my daddy left..." His voice was tiny, barely a whisper. "He d-didn' want me or mommy... He got 'nother fam'ly now..."

Silence.

Mrs. Choi's eyes filled with something sad—the kind of sad only moms understood. "Oh, sweetheart..."

Lucas sniffled hard, blinking fast. He hated talking about this. He hated remembering his dad, hated knowing that his real daddy never wanted him.

But then... a warm, strong arm wrapped around his shoulder.

Amari.

"Lucas's dad was a piece of shit," Amari said, his voice firm. "He don't matter."

Lucas looked up at him, blinking away tears. Amari squeezed him just a little.

Mr. Choi cleared his throat. "Well, that's all I need to know," he said simply. "We'll take care of you now, Lucas."

Lucas blinked, his little brain struggling to process the words.

Mrs. Choi nodded, smiling warmly. "Absolutely. You're family now, sweetheart."

Lucas's heart ached—but in a good way. In a way that felt warm and safe.

"...F-family?" he whispered.

Amari smirked. "Yeah, tiny. Family."

Lucas sniffled again, then—without thinking—he crawled into Amari's lap, pressing his face against his chest. He felt so little, so safe, and he couldn't stop the tiny, happy whimper that escaped his lips.

Amari wrapped both arms around him, holding him tight.

"Shhh... gotchu, baby."

Lucas sighed, feeling warm all over.

For the first time in forever, he wasn't just Lucas-the-weird-quiet-kid.

He was Lucas-who-had-a-family.

And that? That felt really, really nice.

💖🍼✨