patrick sighed softly, watching his son run around the back yard. it had rained recently so that meant mud. he did not want the boy outside, but he could not catch him in time.

"please be careful, bub!" he said from the door, hoping the three year old would listen. there was nothing out there that could hurt him, patrick was really only concerned with the mud. he had already done laundry, and while it was a bath night, he did not feel like giving the boy a bath just yet.

"I will!" declan giggled, running in circles around a decent sized mud puddle.

"dec, please get away from the mud, daddy doesn't want you to get too dirty."

sure, patrick could have gone out and chased the boy around to try and catch him, but what good would that do? he could catch the boy, and he start screaming and crying. patrick already had a headache, he did not want that. or, patrick could chase him around and they both get dirty. patrick was not up for that either. so, he decided, as long as the boy stayed mostly clean, he could play.

patrick watched as declan started off towards the playset he and pete had got him. he smiled a little, watching the boy slowly and carefully swing himself.

"keeping a good eye on him?" a familiar voice asked as strong arms gripped patrick's waist.

the small man smiled, turning in his husband's arms, nodding up at him. "as always." patrick mumbled, putting his arms loosely around pete's neck. "how was work?" he asked softly.

"it was–"

"daaad!" declan's small voice sounded from the swing.

both men turn, each smiling at their son as he started to run to the door.

"dec, watch out for the–!"

𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩

"mud..." patrick finished with a groan.

pete chuckled softly. "it's okay, honey. I'll get him," he said softly, letting go of patrick. "could you start the bath, please? I'll give him the bath and clean it all up, too... but would you mind starting it?"

patrick nods with a small, thankful smile before running off to start the bath just as asked.

as pete bathed declan, patrick got things ready for dinner- well, their plates and such, since patrick had dinner made.

when dinner time finally came around– that being when declan and pete had returned from the bath– they each told of their days.

patrick's usual "I cooked and cleaned, dec and I played..."

pete's couple funny stories from work, and anything important to go with it.

and declan's usual crazy stories of fighting dragons and protecting the house from goblins! he always told his dads stories like that- such an imaginative child. it always brightened their days, especially if things were bad.

eventually though, dinner was over, pete did the dishes as patrick helped declan brush his teeth and get ready for bed. where pete would then join him to tuck in the boy, and tell him a bedtime story.

tonight's story was cut short as declan snored softly halfway through.

patrick chuckled softly, looking at pete who pouted in response to the snores. "that's okay, petey," he whispered, smiling at the man. "you tell me the end of the story."

pete smiled some, nodding as he took patrick back to their room where he finished the story, and they both fell asleep. patrick curled up to pete, a small smile on his face, and pete holding patrick close, hand stuck in the strawberry blonde locks.

they would awake the next morning only to start the day again- work, cook and clean, play, dinner, bedtime. that was their normal, and they loved it.