Author's Note: Written by my lovely fiance awhile ago. If you're not already, follow her on tumblr at bananabus-squadgoals. Thanks guys, I hope you enjoy. As always, until next time, be safe.

Mornings

Jonathan enjoyed the mornings. They were quiet, peaceful. It was a stark contrast to how the rest of the day would typically go.

He'd get up, well before the rest of his family, and give his sleeping husband a kiss on the forehead. The other man would mumble in his sleep, squeeze Jonathan tightly, before letting him go. He knew the importance of Jonathan's routine, and though he'd wish his husband would spend the early morning hours laid next to him, he knew it made him happy.

Jonathan went for a run on the days when it was warm, worked out in their home gym when it was cold. He'd take a quick shower, stare lovingly at his still sleeping husband as he dressed, and then went to make breakfast for the rest of his family. Pancakes were his specialty: chocolate chip, banana, blueberry. His husband has said that Jonathan has ruined pancakes for him, and can't eat any whenever they go out to have breakfast for dinner on Thursday nights.

This particular morning, he was making banana pancakes, with a pot of fresh strawberry jam boiling on the stove next to him. He could already hear the patter of footsteps above him, and although the peace and quiet of his morning was about to be shattered, he lived for his family. "Dad is going to kill you!"

"It's not even that short, Benny!"

He transferred the last of the pancakes to a plate, and the jam into a gravy boat. Three cups of coffee were ready on the counter, and he took one before taking a sip. His son was the first one in the kitchen, and nodded gratefully to Jonathan as he took one of the mugs.

Benjamin was eighteen, ready to graduate in two months and about to head off across the country to attend the school of his dreams. Jonathan was immensely proud of him, and happy that he'd grown out of his rebellious phase quickly enough to make the grades he needed. "Just wait until you see Mia." Benny said as he sat at the table and put a huge stack of pancakes on his plate.

"Should I be worried?"

"Worried that I'll be late to school." Benny mumbled. Jonathan raised his eyebrows, not quite sure how to take that response. His husband was down next, fixing the sleeves on his suit and ruffling their son's hair as he passed. "Pop, it took me ages to get it perfect!" Benny complained loudly.

"You have your father's hair. It always looks perfect." Evan winked at his son, before walking towards Jonathan and kissing him. "Good morning."

"Morning, babe." Jonathan grinned at him and handed him the last coffee.

He and Evan were approaching their twentieth wedding anniversary, and Jonathan was the happiest he had ever been. They'd met in college when they were assigned as roommates in their freshman year. A year later, they were dating. Their marriage was a happy one, filled with joy and compassion. They fought, just as every couple does, but they never went to bed angry, and they've never let their kids see them when they were arguing. "Oh, banana, my favorite." Evan ran his hand down Jonathan's arm before going to join his son at the table. The stack of pancakes was diminished quickly, and Jonathan had to remind the pair that there was still one person that had yet to eat.

Amelia, their youngest, was sixteen and very much into makeup and clothes. She was a good kid, never getting in trouble and doing well in school. She had a boyfriend, one which Evan and Jonathan reluctantly approved of despite their reservations about their little girl in a relationship.

"Mia!" Jonathan called up the stairs. "Hurry up or your brother and father are going to eat everything."

"I'm not hungry!" She shouted back.

"She just doesn't want you guys to see what she's wearing." Benny pointed his fork in the direction of the stairs. "My bet is that she'll run straight to the front door and yell for me to come on."

Jonathan and Evan shared a look.

"Are you going to elaborate?" Evan asked his son.

"Trust me, I won't need to."

"Mia, come down." Evan said loudly.

"I'm not ready yet!" Was the response they received.

"Amelia Lynn…" Jonathan warned.

They heard a frustrated groan, and within seconds, their daughter was walking down the stairs and into the kitchen. Evan and Jonathan stared at her, both with matching looks of terror. "Absolutely not."

"Get your ass upstairs and change right now."

She was wearing a short dark blue skirt, a white tank top, and a blue cardigan.

"It's regulation!" Mia argued, hands on her hips.

"The hell it is." Jonathan fired back. "If I can see your knees, it's too short."

"I agree with your father." Evan replied. "And the fact that you knew we would have a problem with it, tells me that you know it's too short."

"You guys are such dictators!" Mia shouted. "There are girls that wear even shorter to school!"

"She has a point." Benny said with his mouth full of pancakes.

Evan shot him a look. "Close your mouth while you chew. And I thought you were on our side."

Benny swallowed loudly, before speaking again. "I am on your side. I'm just saying that girls wear next to nothing at school."

"Not that girls shouldn't wear what they want, but in our house, you are not going to be walking out of it wearing that." Jonathan told her. "Go change into some jeans."

Mia stomped her foot, but obeyed her parents and went back upstairs.

"Who even bought that for her?" Evan asked his husband.

"I certainly didn't."

"She bought it with Tessa at the mall last week." Benny supplied.

"I'm revoking her mall privileges." Jonathan took a sip of coffee.

"We'll just go with her next time."

"Oh yeah, cause that's a good idea." Benny rolled his eyes and stood to put his plate in the sink. "She'll become a social pariah."

"It's a risk that we're willing to take." Jonathan told him, laughing.

Mia came back down, this time in jeans, and shot her fathers' a dirty look.

"Keep that up, missy…" Evan warned. "You look very nice. Now go, before you're late to school."

There wasn't much time for her to eat, so Jonathan handed her a breakfast shake. He kissed her forehead. "Love you, Mia."

"Yeah, yeah, I love you too." She rolled her eyes, but gave her father a loving gaze. "Come on, Benny. I have to meet Tessa before first block."

"Should've thought of that before you took an hour to get ready." Benny said, even as he grabbed his keys.

Mia pushed him lightly, and kissed Evan's cheek before following her brother. They heard, "You're such a snitch!" before the front door closed, leaning the pair alone in the kitchen.

"I love them both, but they're going to give me gray hair." Evan said fondly, shaking his head.

"Hate to break it to you, babe, but you already have gray hair." Jonathan teased.

Evan pulled Jonathan down into his lap. "That's rude." He said before kissing him. "How about we let the kids fend for themselves tomorrow morning, and we stay in bed all day?"

"We both have to work tomorrow." Jonathan pointed out. "But, if you're really good, maybe I'll let you in on the plans for our anniversary."

Evan nuzzled his neck. "I'm always good. Just tell me."

"It's a surprise. But maybe I'll just cut my morning routine tomorrow and let you know how much I love you." Jonathan kissed the top of his head. "Now, I have to get ready for work and you'll be late if you don't leave now."

"Yes, mom." Evan reluctantly let him go, and stood after him. "I love you."

"I love you too, you giant dork." Jonathan knew the rest of the day would be spent with business calls, meetings, and definite annoyance at his fellow coworkers. But he knew, when he came home that night, Evan would have already made dinner, the kids would be doing their homework at the kitchen table, and the four of them would spend the rest of the evening catching up on their favorite shows. Mia and Benny would leave them after a while to go to their rooms, and it would only be Evan and Jonathan left in the living room, sitting with their arms wrapped around each other and hopelessly in love.