Sawyer (and family) in Space

[gaynecologist]

"It bumpy," Sawyer warns again, giving David a look. He expects his daddy to listen and to 'strap in' for the ride. With the plush toy Sawyer's given him for safety.

"Why's it gonna be bumpy, Sawy?" David asks, amused and very happy to play along. He's sitting on a chair in the kitchen, an empty one beside him and two more empty ones in front, haphazardly set up like a car. Or spaceship. "I thought you were a good space rocket pilot." 

"I good!" Sawyer insists, determinedly looking around for daddy Bryan to put him exactly where he wants him to go. Charlotte is amusing herself on a playmat in David's periphery. "But it bumpy. Don't worry, daddy. Hold hands and don't worry. Daddy, " he looks sternly at Bryan, "you, um..."  He looks back at the chairs, then to Bryan again. "Come here. And look after daddy because it bumpy. "

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[bryanzilla]

"Do I get an airsickness bag?" Bryan asks, walking over to the chairs. Apparently, they're going to space, but they could very well be putting on a production of Violet given the current setup.

"Are there in-flight snacks?" He realizes it's a strange thing to ask for after he's just requested an airsickness bag, but it's that or ask his son for a wine menu, so he goes with the more appropriate choice.

Taking a seat beside David, he holds out his hand. "When did we move on from the cardboard box?" That was cute. That didn't involve his decor.

[gaynecologist]

"As of yesterday?" David guesses, though he really hopes it's not a permanent loss of interest. He loves the cardboard rocket as much as Sawyer did. Does.

Having heard the word 'snacks,' Sawyer turns seamlessly into an overly charming young man, propped up against a chair like it's a bar top. He sticks his hip out. "Can I have popcorn?"

David barks out a high pitched laugh and places his hand in Bryan's.

[bryanzilla]

Bryan swats gently at David's arm at the laugh. He's only asking for popcorn, so why does Sawyer look like he just sidled up to someone at a bar to ask for their number?

"You can have popcorn as soon as you get us back to earth safely. Passengers get snacks, pilots don't get snacks. They're too busy making sure everyone doesn't die."

[gaynecologist]

"Bryan, it's not long since breakfast," David scolds gently, but it's obvious from the expression on Sawyer's face that he's locked that promise away for later. He continues with renewed eagerness, talking aloud to noone in particular about the finishing touches he's making.

Charlotte's ladybug plush toy gets a VIP seat in front of David and a giant stuffed unicorn - that is almost the size of the boy - gets the seat in front of Bryan. Bernie gets up from her spot beside Charlotte to nose at one of the chairs.

"No godd--" Sawyer corrects himself before either of his daddies gets a chance to. "No doggies allowed," he declares, pushing her muzzle away and striding to the front of the ship.

"Are we all set? We got everything we need? Mission Control Center to Captain Sawyer, you are cleared for lift off." David mimics, his voice dropping low and husky. He leans into Bryan with a quieter voice. "How cute is that, bringing the ladybug toy with him."

[bryanzilla]

"Is it there because it's easier to travel with than Charlotte is?" Bryan asks, mimicking David's tone.

"No doggies and no Bugs allowed?" Bryan asks Sawyer. "You don't think she'll get lonely while we're away?"

[gaynecologist]

Sawyer scrunches up his face in contemplation. Everything is set and there's a ladybug just like there is on the television. But his sister might get lonely and Sawyer will definitely miss her while they're away, so he presses an imaginary button on the laundry basket console and turns around to his daddies.

"Wait here. Hold hands! I come back. I forgot something."

"We're not going anywhere," David promises, stretching across to the kitchen counter for a couple of left over orange segments from breakfast. He offers one to Bryan.

Sawyer runs over to his sister and with some verbal encouragement, as well as a hand under each armpit, he pulls her to her feet.

"Come on, the space rocket is going soon and you got to come with us," he declares, taking hold of her hand and walking beside her. She takes some tentative steps next to him, neither of them looking particularly phased. Like they've seen and done it before.

[bryanzilla]

Bryan raises their clasped hands for Sawyer to see and to let him know they aren't going anywhere. He takes the orange slice from David, popping it immediately into his mouth.

"Thank you," he mumbles around the fruit, taking the opportunity to inspect David's hand while he has it. "I say this because I love you, but you could use a manicure. Your poor cuticles." Just because he's a busy stay-at-home dad, doesn't mean he has to live with dry cuticles and can't pamper himself once in a while.

[gaynecologist]

"You say it because you're Bryan Collins and can't help yourself," David corrects, peering at his hand to see whether his nails are as bad as Bryan is making out. "Hmm." That's as much agreement as he'll allow.

Sawyer has let go of Charlotte by now, going on ahead to move the ladybug toy from the chair so she can sit there. Charlotte lets out a "da", which is her new favourite sound. David thinks it makes her sound like a very agreeable Russian doll when she repeats it over and over. She drops into a squat to fiddle with her shoe, straightening back up with a wobble once she's satisfied.

"I tell you what I wouldn't mind though," David continues, oblivious to the momentous occasion, his eyes slipping shut as he pictures the blissful scenario. "God. A massage. Half an hour of deep tissue heaven." As he talks, he holds out his other hand for Bryan to inspect, moving Sawyer's plush toy to his lap. "I wonder if anyone makes house calls..."

The next thing he knows, both children are by the chair in front of them and Sawyer is straining - and failing - to lift her up into her seat. By the sounds coming from both kids, neither are particularly happy with the situation.

"Did he just carry her?" Obviously not if he can't even left her an inch off the floor now. "Oh my god, did he drag her?"

[bryanzilla]

"Uh, for enough money they do." He makes a mental note to find David a masseuse who makes house calls. And if that person happens to be be a licensed manicurist, too, all the better for both of them.

Sawyer stop his hefting at the accusation, clearly not pleased by it. "I not drag her!" He says as Charlotte slaps the seat of the chair, babbling and bouncing on the spot.

Bryan looks back and forth between the distance from the play mat to the place where she currently stands, then over to David.

"Bug walk."

[gaynecologist]

David meets Bryan's gaze. There's no way their daughter just walked and their three year old son was the only one to notice. He opens his mouth to say something along those lines, but nothing comes out. Because there's the tiniest niggle in the back of his mind that's saying their son isn't a tale teller.

"Noooo... No?" His eyes urge Bryan to share the same opinion, even though he doesn't really know what to think himself.

[bryanzilla]

Sawyer's reaction is genuine, which is the reason Bryan quickly writes off the possibility of him dragging her across the room like a sack of potatoes. He knows he has to be gentle with her and he's almost always very good at being careful.

He lets go a David's hands for a moment, reaching over the chair to pick Charlotte up, moving a few feet away to set her down. "Daddy, no! We gotta go now," Sawyer complains as Bryan retakes his seat.

Sawyer stomps back over to his sister, annoyed, but determined. "Bug, we gotta go now. C'mon," he encourages, helping her back to her feet. She winds up on all fours, rear up in the air when Sawyer leaves her side, skipping back to the formation of chairs, but she follows him. It's a few tentative, wobbly steps, but she eventually makes it back.

"I told you," Sawyer says. "Bug walk."

[gaynecologist]

David's breath catches, his hands cupping his mouth as a mix of surprise and joy takes over his face.

"Oh my god. Baby, you're walking. She's walking, Bry! You did so good." He wants to scoop her up into his arms but he also doesn't want to spoil the perfect vision of Charlotte holding onto the chair leg and smiling. After weeks and weeks of teasing them, she just goes and does it like it's no big deal.

[bryanzilla]

"Omigod, ohmigod, omigod!" Bryan grips David's arm and gives him a shake as he watches her go. "She did it! She actually did it." Smiling back at her, he claps in celebration, causing her to mimic the action. "Yay! That's my girl."

Except...

"Did we just miss her first steps while sitting in the same room as her?" He never plans to admit that to anyone and as long as David agrees, it's something they can take to their graves.

[gaynecologist]

"I don't know what you're talking about," David immediately replies with newfound composure. That's not how he's going to tell the story. "Now we gotta keep an even closer eye on you," he cooes, taking hold of Bryan's hand again and not because he's been told to.

"Daddy, I falling asleep," Sawyer announces like a warning, despite displaying absolutely no outward signs of sleepiness.

"Sawy, Bug walk. It's a big deal," he tries to explain, receiving a heavy sigh in response.

"Bug walk before," eyerolls his son.

"Bug walk how much before just now? Bug walk yesterday?"

Sawyer nods emphatically.

"Oh my god, we're terrible parents."

[bryanzilla]

"I don't know what you're talking about," Bryan echoes.

They're great parents. It's not their fault that their baby is apparently super stealthy and secretive. Besides, Sawyer seems so disinterested that there's no way he'll let the cat out of the bag and tell anyone they missed Charlotte's actual first steps. They can still totally get away with it.

[gaynecologist]

David's not naive. At the hospital, it's an unwritten rule that it's acceptable to lie to new parents that, yes, that really was the first ever time the baby has smiled. Nine times out of ten, it's not, it's just the first time the parents have been witness to it.

Still, he's not going to let it take away from the celebrations. David lifts their hands, pressing a long, hard kiss to the back of Bryan's with a mwah sound at the end.

"Are we going to space or what?"

[bryanzilla]

"Yeah!" Sawyer replies, pumping a fist into the air and taking his seat in what Bryan guesses would be the Captain's chair. "Hold on, Bug!"

Bryan leans into David, shoulder pressed against his and he watches Charlotte bounce on the spot. He's smiling and content, even if he still thinks their should be snacks on this flight.

"Oh. Make sure it's one of those planets where I'll weigh less than I do here, not more."

[gaynecologist]

David starts jigging his shoulders up and down, giving Bryan a look to play along.

"Woah, it's so bumpy. Thank goodness we're holding hands. A+ piloting skills, Captain."

Smelly wanders in, depositing himself halfway under Bryan's chair and flopping onto his side. It kind of ruins the illusion but Charlotte looks pleased and immediately goes to stroke his ears.

[bryanzilla]

Bryan's is more a below the waist shimmy than David's shoulder jiggle method. He feels ridiculous, but at least feels ridiculous with David sitting beside him.

"Uh-oh. Has the ship just been breached by aliens?" Bryan asks, looking down at Smelly. "False alarm, it's not hostile," he says as Charlotte's outstretched hand is immediately covered in puppy kisses.

[gaynecologist]

Charlotte presents her now wet hands to Bryan like she's brought him a gift and is trying to convince him it's the best thing since sliced bread.

"Wow! Look, a shooting star!" David exclaims, pointing towards a cupboard door. "Everybody make a wish!"

"Popcorn and glitter!" Sawyer cries, letting out a roar of excitement at the prospect. "Nee nor nee nor nee nor!"

"That's...not a spaceship noise. If it's making that noise, should we worry?" David asks, swinging his gaze to Bryan.

[bryanzilla]

"Snacks! Hold the glitter." Bryan exclaims as his own wish, tickling Charlotte's cheek.

"Maybe it's a space ambulance?" Which is good for when he passes out from malnutrition. There's even a doctor on board already and everything. He's still not sure it would make that sound in space, but if Sawyer's imagination says it does then who are they to argue?

[gaynecologist]

"A safe landing," David says as his wish, not taking any chances. He gives Charlotte's hair a stroke, smiling as her curls bounce back into place. She lifts her arms to be lifted up, struggling to see over Bryan's knee.

"Sawy, instead of alien fries, do you want alien mango?"