Alright, so I had this idea the other day, and this is me acting on it. It'll be my first multi-chapter, so bear with me on updates.
Basically, Charlie, Evan and Ethan have four kids. This story will capture different parts of their lives over the years. There will be 9 chapters total (as far as I can see right now), with one chapter for each child (or, as you'll see in the next one, children :) ) as a baby, as a young kid/teen, and as an adult. So the first three chapters will introduce you to the baby Amos-Brightmans, and then the next three will cover them as kids, in the same pattern, and so on.
If it doesn't make sense now, it will as the chapters progress, so just bear with me, as I said.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy!
Evan and Ethan gazed down at the tiny, cherubic form sitting up in her crib, calmly studying them with dark cornflower blue eyes and clearly having no plans that involved going to sleep. They'd tried laying her down with her favorite blankey and stuffed elephant, they'd given her two bottles of warm milk, (and had to change her diaper three times) and they'd even read her a chapter of Alice in Wonderland, hoping to soothe her to sleep. She was having none of it. The moment they left the room, she'd begin tossing her toys and blankets out of her crib and babbling to herself, and would gaze up at them seriously the minute they'd hurry back in. The expression on her little face was one they'd seen worn many times by their husband, a look bursting with quiet, good-natured defiance, which said that while it would be amusing to watch them try, they'd never make her obey. Upon seeing it, the twins couldn't help but smile at just how much she looked like him, before accepting their daughter's silent challenge and deciding to use the tactic that almost always worked on him. Ethan scooped her out of the crib and held her close while Evan placed a kiss to her soft chestnut curls.
"Alright, Lucy, it's time for bed," Ethan told her.
"We mean business, little one. You have to go to sleep," Evan continued, trying to keep his expression serious. Lucy put a tiny hand on each of their cheeks.
"No," she said, smiling a smile that was 100% them, though they had no biological claim on her. They bit back grins and couldn't seem to scold her, partly because at eleven months, "no" was one of the only words she knew, and partly because she was far too cute and far too much like him for them to resist. They kissed and snuggled her for a few minutes, still amazed that they had the smartest, most beautiful, most wonderful daughter in the entire world (and of course they weren't biased at all).
"Dad will be very upset if you're not asleep when he comes back from his trip tonight," they told her, knowing perfectly well that he was wrapped around her finger right along with them.
"Dad!" Lucy cooed happily. They grinned.
"Do you want us to sing to you, bug?"
"Daddies," she declared, smiling brightly and giving them kisses. Chuckling and taking her reaction as an affirmation, they began singing, Ethan rocking gently in place to lull her to sleep.
Together at last
Together forever
We're tying a knot
They never can sever
I don't need sunshine now to turn my skies to blue
I don't need anything but you
Lucy blinked slowly, leaning against Ethan and cuddling into his neck, listening.
You've wrapped me around
That cute little finger
You've made life a song
You've made me a singer
And what's that bedtime tune we'd always "ba ba boom?"
Ba ba ba, ba ba ba, but you
Evan peeked at his daughter, smiling at Ethan when he saw her eyes growing heavier.
Yesterday was plain awful
(You can say that again!)
Yesterday was plain awful
But that's
Not now
That's then
The baby drifted off, sighing softly and fisting her hands in Ethan's shirt. The twins opened their mouths to keep singing, starting slightly when they heard a different voice join them.
"I'm poor as a mouse," Charlie sang quietly, setting his bag down and going over to kiss them hello, stroking Lucy's downy hair. Evan and Ethan grinned, blue eyes alight with love, continuing to sing with him.
I'm richer than Midas
But nothing on Earth
Could ever divide us
And if tomorrow I'm an apple-seller too
I don't need anything, anything, anything
I don't need anything but you
They finished together, smiling warmly.
"Hello, loves," Charlie whispered.
"Hey, babe. We missed you."
"I missed you too. I swear, this season is gonna be the death of me," the brunet sighed, running a hand over his face as if he was trying to wipe off the memories of the grueling soccer games and equally grueling trip across the country he'd endured that weekend. "How was the little one?"
"You really do need to take more time for yourself…you're worn far too thin. But as for this one," Ethan smiled, laying her down and tucking her in, "She was perfect."
"As always," Evan supplied, moving behind Charlie, kissing his back softly, before beginning to knead the tension out of his shoulders and neck. Chaz sighed contently, leaning into the touch and wrapping his arms around Ethan, letting his husbands' warmth and the familiar pink and green of his daughter's things calm him. The three of them watched Lucy dream for a few moments, soaking up the quiet time together, a rarity in their hectic lives. Before long, Charlie yawned and kissed their necks, relaxing even more as he took in their scent, a mix of fresh air and spices and what could only be described as sunshine.
"Bed, loves?"
They smiled and led him down the hall to their bedroom, pulling down the soft blankets on the king sized bed and slowly stripping him down. He smiled gratefully, crawling under the covers and collapsing against the pillows, eyes closing immediately.
"Ev, Eth?" Charlie mumbled as they tugged off their shirts.
"What is it, baby?" They questioned softly, sliding in next to him. He pulled them close.
"Sing to me?"