(cg/l, little space)

"oow!" declan whined, smacking the puppy's face.

"hey, hey, don't smack the puppy!" patrick said, pulling the dog away from the boy, gently petting him.

"he scratched me!" declan pouted, pointed an accusing finger at einstein.

"he was trying to play, bub." pete chuckled picking the boy up. "where'd he scratch you?"

"here!" the small boy pouted, holding out his arm to show a few red marks from the dog scratching him.

"ooh, you'll be alright." pete smiled, kissing the scratches better.

"hurts." the five year old grumbled, stomping away to play.

"it's alright, einstein." patrick mumbled, holding the dog close. "he's just a meaniebutt."

"baby,"

"he was bein' one!"

"he doesn't know much better." pete shook his head. "c'mon, we've all gotta get ready for bed."

patrick nodded a little, standing from the floor.

pete and patrick help declan get ready for bed and lay him down- getting him to sleep with a story told by pete.
~~~

"can I...?" patrick asked quietly, pulling on his purposely oversized pajamas. he watched pete, quietly waiting for a response.

"of course, baby boy." pete said, getting a stuffed bear from the closet.

all stuffies and little space things for either of the men were kept in the closet, the only place declan has yet to explore because "it's just clothes, and that's boring."

patrick smiled happily, jumping into bed, waiting for pete. "toby? is it toby?" he asks excitedly, bouncing as he waited to find out what stuffie he would sleep with tonight.

"maybe," pete chuckled, watching the man with a small smile.

"it's toby, I bet!"

"it iiiis," pete pulls out the brown bear wearing a blue scarf and hat. "toby!" he smiled, joining patrick in the bed and handing him the bear.

"toby!" patrick giggled, hugging the bear close.

"yeah!"

patrick smiled still, snuggling up to his husband happily. "toby my favorite, daddy." he said quietly, resting his head on pete's chest.

"I know, honey."

"he the bestest ever."

"he is, isn't he?"

"yeah!" patrick giggles.

"shhh, baby, not so loud." pete said softly, putting his finger to patrick's lips. "why don't we head to bed, baby? we can play tomorrow, okay?"

"okay," patrick whispered, nodding a little. "nigh nigh, daddy." he mumbled with a yawn before closing his eyes.

"night night, baby boy." pete said softly, kissing patrick's head gently before starting to fall asleep himself.