A/N: Things feel pretty..surreal at the moment. The volcano in my neighbouring island of Saint Vincent is erupting, the ash fall is blowing and covering our sky here in Barbados and it's making morning look like night. Throw in our continued battle with the pandemic and everything is all so crazy.

This is a little drabble that I dusted off cause I need a little fluff in my life in the midst of everything that's going on. Maybe some of you need a little fluff too.

Sarah groaned into her pillow, her fingers outstretched and searching for her husband's body. Instead, she was met with cool sheets and she surmised that Chuck had been gone for some time.

"Chuck?" Sarah called out, hoping that he was in their en suite bathroom. "My feet are cold."

Tossing on her other side, Sarah fumbled for the clock on the bedside table. It read 7 A.M. Sighing, she decided to get out of bed. She went to the bathroom, washed her face with warm water and brushed her teeth before trudging down to the kitchen.

Coming down the steps, she could hear squeals by giggles, followed by exaggerated whispering and shhing.

"Liam! You'll wake up Mommy!" Levi lamented.

"Me quiet!" Liam yelled.

As Sarah finished her descent, she stood by the arch way leading to the kitchen. She was careful to remain out of her family's line of sight, preferring to take it all in for a few moments. Her two year old was sitting on the floor, surrounded by art supplies. Meanwhile Levi was pouring orange juice into three cups.

Liam, seeing one of his toys under the table, crawled over for it. As he did so, his foot knocked his sippy cup over and some of his orange juice began to trickle over Levi's drawing. "Dadda, we play?" Liam went over to Chuck who was flipping a pancake.

"Not right now buddy. We can play later."

Liam frowned and went to his older brother. "We play?"

Levi looked down at Liam. "I have to finish my drawing before Mommy wakes up."

"Otay," Liam relented, going over to the playmat with the intenion of playing ball with himself.

A couple munutes later, Levi, now being done with his assigned task of pouring the juice, went back over to his art supplies. He settled down and reached for his favourite marker. It was only wen he turned back to the drawing that he saw the titled sippy-cup, its contents still trickling on his paper. He screamed. "You ruined my drawing!"

"Hey! Hey!" Chuck interjected, coming over to his boys. "What's the matter?"

"He ruined my drawing!" Levi accused once again, this time taking the Sippy cup up and handing it to his father.

"I'm sure he didn't mean to," Chuck said as he took the cup and set it down on the counter.

"But he did!" Levi was adamant. He rose to his feet and glared at his little brother, the toddler seemingly unaware of his brother's anger.

Liam looked up at them both and tugged on Chuck's pants leg. "We play now?" He held up the ball to Chuck and then to Levi.

Levi snarled and whacked the ball away, sending it bouncing into the living room. Liam, thinking that that meant it was play time, clambered to his feet. When he did so, Levi shoved him, causing him to fall back onto the play mat. He fell with a yelp and began crying.

"Levi!" Chuck said sharply.

"He ruined my drawing and now he wants to play!" Levi pouted.

Liam's cries were becoming louder and Chuck lifted him up into his arms, hoping to soothe the child. "It was an accident. And you know you're not to push your brother like that."

"Levi mean!" Liam hiccuped between his sobs.

"Apologise." Chuck instructed.

"But Daddy," Levi began.

"Levi. I am not arguing with you about this. I've told you before, you need to be kind to your brother. Sometimes he will mess up and it's okay that you're angry but you can't lash out at him like that."

Suitably chstised, Levi muttered his apology.

"Good morning!" Sarah decided to stroll into the kitchen then.

"Momma!" Liam squealed, wriggling in his father's arms. Sarah walked over to Chuck, accepting his chaste kisss on the lips as a greeting before he handed their son to her arms.

"Good morning baby boy!" Sarah plastered kisses all over his face, causing him to squeal.

Sarah noticed Levi was still on the play mat, looking forlornly at his drawing. She and Chuck exchanged glances. "Good morning Levi." The six year old looked up at his mother with tears in his eyes. "Aw baby, what's wrong?"

Levi sniffed, watching as his mother sat down opposite him with Liam in her lap. "Liam spilled his juice all over my drawing."

Sarah nodded, having already heard the commotion a few moments ago. "Did he do it on purpose?"

Levi pursed his lips. To be fair, Liam had been helping him with the drawing, handing him different crayons and markers when he'd asked for them. "I don't think so," he finally muttered.

"I don't think he did either," Sarah smiled. "Isn't that right Liam?"

"Momma?" Liam looked up at her and then back to his brother. "Levi sad?"

"He's a bit upset that his drawing got wet," Sarah explained.

"Wet?" Liam parroted.

"Yeah, you knocked over your cup and some of your juice was spilled," Sarah explained.

Liam scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. "No Momma, me juice in cup."

"Yeah, but some spilled,"

Liam shook his head. "Juice in cup, Momma," he repeated, this time pointing to his cup.

Levi shook his head in resignation, knowing that his brother probably didn't understand what he had done. "It doesn't matter anyway. The drawing is ruined."

"Levi pretty drawing for Momma?"

"Oh was it for me?" Sarah widened her eyes, feigning surprise. "Can I see it?"

"Liam!" Levi scolded as he hid the paper behind his back and out of his mother's sight. "It was supposed to be a surprise, remember?"

Liam climbed out of his mother's lap and tottered over to Levi. "Me keep turprise?" Levi sighed dramatically, throwing his hands up in the air. Liam tugged at his older brother's shirt, anxious. "Me good at keeping Momma's turprise?"

"Yeah, yeah Liam. You did pretty good."

Liam smiled toothily, clapping his hands together. "I help Levi dry Momma's drawing?"

"That's a good idea Liam," Chuck offerred. "I'm sure if you two work together, it can be dried by the time we're ready to eat breakfast."

"Your Daddy's right. You'll both accomplish more if you work together," Sarah smiled. "Tell you what, why don't you two go get my hair dryer. I'm sure that would be quicker than just waiting for it to air dry."

The children nodded their assent and scurried off. Sarah saunteered over to her husband. "Good morning, again."

"Good morning, babe," Chuck replied, bending down to kiss her. It was far to chaste for Sarah's liking and when he made a move to straighten, Sarah pulled him down again, backing them up until Chuck was against the sink.

"Now that's more like it," Sarah smirked after she ended the kiss.

"Happy birthday, Sarah."

"Thank you," Sarah smiled, nuzzling his nose.

"You're job diffusing the situation with the boys."

"Mhmm," Sarah hummed, "just another day in our crazy life right?"

"Yeah, but I wouldn't trade it for the world," Chuck smiled. "You know, what you said to them about working together reminded me of what my father told Elle and I. I remember Ellie was running after me, yelling for me to come back and saying that mom was gonna be so mad. I ran to my father's office and pounded on the door for help. I'd broken Mom's favourite necklace and I was convinced that Ellie was gonna hurt me for it. Dad was working...caught up with whatever project he was working on at the time. Anyways, Dad did come to my rescue, took the pendant, and he said that there is nothing broken in this whole world that we couldnt't fix if we work together."

"Aw babe," Sarah hugged him. "I didn't mean to make you sad."

Chuck squeezed her hand. "It's alright. I miss him...I wish he could be here, ya know, get to meet his grandchildren, make up for the time he missed in our childhoods..."

"I understand. But you have your memories and we can share them with the boys," Sarah comforted her husband.

Chuck nodded. "I hope the boys grow up to have a strong relationship like Ellie and I do, ya know, that they're there for each other."

"I'm sure they will be," Sarah assured. "Sure, Levi is a bit...mean sometimes, but we're working with him on that. Our children will be okay."

Chuck nodded and clapped his hands together. "Whew, I'm sorry for making things so heavy."

Sarah smiled at him lovingly. "Well, I am your own personal baggage handler. I can take what you dish out."

Chuck smirked at her. "Oh hoh! Is that so?" He challenged, arching his brow at her.

Sarah returned the smirk. "Mhmm!" There was a twinkle in her eyes as they danced from Chuck's eyes to his lips. Sarah cocked her head, her eyes now sweeping over Chuck's entire body.

Chuck leaned down to kiss Sarah, his grip on her waist strong and firm, yet tender. Sarah deepened the kiss and he manoeuvred them over to the counter. She hummed into the kiss, glad that Chuck cleaned as he cooked and so the counter wasn't cluttered. Their lips disconnected briefly and Sarah used that chance to hop onto the counter. Chuck gently parted her legs, giving himself room to step in between them. As soon as he did so, Sarah hooked her legs behind him, locking him there.

Chuck's lips found hers again, and Sarah moaned into the kiss. When she felt Chuck's fingers lightly brush against her ribcage, she shivered. "Chuck," Sarah mumbled against his lips.

"Mhmmm," he responded, his voice raspy.

"Maybe we can continue this later?" She finally managed to pull away from his lips.

Chuck nodded, coming out of his haze. "Oh baby, I have magic coming your way tonight!"

Sarah licked her lips. "I look forward to it."

They heard their children giggling as they came down the stairs. Sarah hopped off the counter and fixed her clothes.

"Momma, Momma! Hair dryer!" Liam said excitedly.

Levi handed it to him so he could go get their drawing from off the table and together, they presented the hair dryer and the drawing.

"Turprise!" Liam giggled and threw his hands in the air when his older brother presented their gift.

Sarah looked at the drawing and felt a warmth rise in her chest. Looking at her children, her heart swelled with love. It was a stick figure drawing of their family, with . The words 'We love you Mommy. You're the best" were written in red crayon, thanks to Levi and red hearts were all over it.

"Happy birthday, Mommy," Levi said shyly.

"Happy birthday, Momma!" Liam squealed.

"Aw, thank you babies," Sarah smiled brightly and smoothered each child with kisses.

"Do you like it, Mommyy?"Levi asked apprehensively.

"Oh I do, in fact, I love it. I am going to treasure it forever."

"Even though it smells like orange juice?" The boy looked skeptical.

Sarah nodded, nuzzling her nose against his, making him giggle. "I love it, Levi. Thank you for making it for me. Thank you both." She extended her arms, inviting her children for a hug.

"I love you Mommy," Levi stated.

"Love you Momma!" Liam smiled.

"And I love you, so, so much!"

"Breakfast will be ready in five," Chuck announced from the stove.

"Okay boys, you heard Daddy. You two pack up your art supplies and then we can eat, okay?"

The two children obeyed and while they put away their stuff, Sarah quickly blow dried their drawing. Chuck came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Nice drawing, clearly they got their art skills from me."

"Yeah, yeah," Sarah drawled. "I look forward to my present from you."

"Oh babe, you're gonna love it," Chuck promised, resting his chin in the crook of her neck.

"Mhmm, I guess it's safe to assume it'll be magical?"

"Yup, exactly." Sarah laughed and turned to face her husband. She then wrapped her arms around his neck. "I hope I get to spend at least fifty more birthdays with you. But even then, it won't be enough time for me to adequately express how much I love you or how much you mean to me."

"Oh be still my beating heart! That was very sweet of you."

"Gah, thanks for making me feel like I'm eight."

She cupped his cheek. "I know it's my birthday but I kinda have a present for you too."

"Oh yeah?" Chuck quirked his brow.

Sarah nodded. "It'll arrive in time for your birthday."

She could see the wheels turning in his head, trying to figure out what kind of present would take almost six months to arrive. "You don't mean..." Chuck began, his eyes going from her face to her stomach. They had talked about having another baby a couple of months ago but then their lives had become a bit hectic and their baby making plans hadn't been at the forefront of their minds.

He gathered Sarah into her arms and twirled her in the air in jubilation which caused her to laugh. "Best news ever!"

A/N: Thanks for reading.

Until next time, keep safe.

xoxo

Barbadiangirl