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Abigail and Sophia had built a big fort in the living room, using couch cushions, pillows that they could find around the house, and massive blankets. TJ meanwhile watched everything unfold from his playpen, eyes filled with wonder at what his big sisters were doing. Tom then enters the living room, pausing at the sight before him.
"Uhhh girls?" He asks. "What's going on here? Why does the living room look like an explosion of pillows and blankets went off?"
"We built a pillow fort!" Abigail replies brightly.
"Oh, really? And you didn't think to invite ME to help?" He pretends to look hurt, placing a hand over his chest.
The girls both laugh at their father's exaggerated hurt reaction. "Daddy! Come in pwease!" Sophia says.
Tom pretends to wipe away an imaginary tear from his eye. "Alright then. If you insist." He says before crawling in.
The inside was surprisingly spacious. There were stacks of pillows and blankets everywhere, creating a cozy and comfortable space. The older man leans back, making himself comfortable.
"Not too shabby, kiddos. You did a great job here." He says, impressed. He suddenly smirks. "But is it enough to stop... The Tickle Monster!"
He gently scoops up both of his daughters into his arms and blowing raspberries into their necks while tickling their sides. They break out into laughter and squirm in his arms, trying to escape his attack.
"Dahahahahaddy! Stohohohohop!!" Abigail cries out through her giggles.
Tom grins, continuing for a few more minutes before finally stopping. The girls take a moment to catch their breaths, their cheeks flushed pink from laughter. Aiden steps into the living room upon hearing the commotion, eyes wide as he takes in the massive fort in front of him.
"Whoa… Did a tornado of pillows and blankets hit our living room?" He asks.
Tom turns his head to look up at his husband, chuckling. "Nope! Just the handiwork of our two little angels here!"
"I can see that." The younger man walks closer, kneeling down at the opening of the fort. "Can I come in?"
"Of course!" Abigail exclaims, her and her sister scooting over to make room for him.
Just then, a familiar babble from the playpen catches the bi color haired man's attention. He looks over to see TJ making grabby hand gestures and babbling.
"Awww! Does my baby want to join in on the fun?" Aiden coos, standing back up. He carefully lifts his son up into his arms. TJ's eyes light up, giggling and reaching out towards the fort.
The bi color haired man carries him inside the fort and settles down next to his husband and daughters, setting his son down in his lap securely.
A comfortable silence falls over the group, occasionally filled with the sound of TJ's baby babbles. The light from the lamp creates a warm and calming atmosphere within the fort. Aiden leans his head softly on his husband's shoulder.
"I love you." He says quietly.
Tom smiles, pressing a soft kiss to the top of his head. "I love you too, sunshine."
Abigail and Sophia exchange a knowing glance, both of them smiling. They've both grown used to their parents' lovey-dovey moments, but they still find it cute.
"Alright!" Aiden says suddenly. "I'm gonna go get some snacks from the kitchen! Who wants some?"
"Oh! Me! Me!" Sophia and Abigail raise their hands eagerly.
"I'll be right back then!" He kissed Tom's cheek and gently lifts TJ up off his lap and into his husband's arms. He crawls out and heads towards the kitchen.
The girls watch their other father leave and then turn their attention back to their father.
"Daddy?" Sophia asks.
"Hm?" He looks over at her, humming in acknowledgement.
"I have a kwoestion." She says.
Tom raises an eyebrow. "What is it, sweetheart?"
"How does the baby get in the bewwy?"
The older man nearly chokes on air. "O-oh... W-Well... Uhh..."
Aiden returns with his arms full of snacks and juice boxes. "I'm back! What did I miss?"
"Nothing!" Tom answers a bit too quickly.
The bi color haired man raised an eyebrow but shrugged it off, dumping the snacks onto the floor. "Alright kiddos, we've got chips, gummy bears, juice boxes, chocolate, and pretzels!"
"Papa, can we watch a movie?" Sophia asks, taking the bag of opened Chex Mix that Tom helped her open.
"Sure we can, sweetheart." Aiden says as he opens a small jar of baby food in his hands, scooping up some of the food onto a small baby spoon.
Tom picks up the remote and turns the TV on, scrolling through the options. "What do you girls wanna watch?"
"Disney!"
"Disney it is, then!" He finds a family friendly movie and plays it.
Aiden brings the spoon to TJ's mouth, who happily eats it. "That's a good boy!"
The movie Tom had picked out was Moana. Abigail and Sophia eat their snacks, watching the brightly animated scenes while Tom and Aiden take turns feeding their son. The bi color haired man wipes the corners of TJ's mouth with a towel.
"Papa, can you make us some popcorn, please?" The older girl asks, looking away from the TV screen for a moment.
"Sure thing, sweetheart!" Aiden says warmly. "You okay with him for a few minutes?"
"Yeah, I got it, babe." He nods, cradling their son in his arms. "We'll have some father-son bonding time, won't we buddy?"
TJ coos, babbling nonsense. Aiden kisses both of their cheeks before crawling out of the fort and heading to the kitchen.
As Moana sails across the ocean onscreen, Tom gently bounces TJ in his lap to the rhythm of the music. The little boy giggles every time. A few moments later, Aiden returns with a big bowl of freshly popped popcorn.
"Movie snacks are here!" He announces, crawling back into the fort and setting the bowl down in front of his daughters.
"Hooray!" Abigail immediately reaches for the popcorn, her eyes glued back to the screen as Moana meets Maui. Sophia follows shortly after, grabbing a handful too.
Aiden settles down back next to his husband again. Tom puts his arm around his waist, resting his hand on his hip and watch as Moana and Maui sail across the ocean together.
The room is dark and quiet. Aiden and Tom are laying side by side on the pile of pillows and blankets, arms wrapped around each other. They bask in the silence, hearing nothing but the sound of the other's breathing and the quiet snoring of their sleeping kids around them. The bi color haired man shifts slightly, tucking his head under his husband's chin.
"Best night ever." He whispers.
Tom presses a kiss into his head. "Yeah."
The soft glow from the kids' portable nightlight shines faintly on their faces. The moment is quiet and intimate, the two of them wrapped up in their own little world. He then breaks the silence.
"Aiden?"
"Hmm?" The smaller man hums in acknowledgment, tilting his head up to look at his husband.
Tom rubs gentle circles on his hipbone. "Every time I see you with our kids, I just... sometimes can't believe you carried them. You gave us this." He glances at their sleeping children curled in little nests of blankets.
Aiden smiles, his eyes becoming glossy. “I carried them... but we made them. Every part of this.” He looks at him fully now, one hand resting over his chest where scars from his past still linger beneath his shirt.
His fingers brush lightly there before sliding down to rest just above Aiden's belly, the same one that once held their children. “And every time I look at you, I see strength... and I see beauty."
A single tear slips free from the bi color haired man’s eye. Not of sadness, but of being seen. Deeply and completely.
Tom wipes away the tear with his thumb. "You're amazing, you know that?"
"Because I have you..." Aiden whispers, voice thick with emotion. He presses a soft kiss to his husband's lips, slow and full of love.
Inside their little pillow fort, surrounded by sleeping children, everything was perfect.