Title: "Maman's Sleeping"

Author: Veritas Found

Characters/Pairings: Harmony Couffaine, Hugo Couffaine, Louis Couffaine, Luka Couffaine, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Melody Couffaine; Luka Couffaine/Marinette Dupain-Cheng

Rating: K Plus / PG / Most Ages

Summary: Life gets hard when you have four kids under five. Luka's just trying to let Marinette sleep in a little bit and take care of the Band himself. Is that too much to ask? (…yes. Yes, it is.)

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Notes/Warnings: The LBSC Blog hit 250 followers, so we're doing a little celebration for it. A list of prompts for "50 Wordless Ways to Say I Love You" was provided, and I wasn't fully committed until I saw #37 ("Making sure to be quiet while they're taking a nap.") and the Band started screaming (literally, hence the fic xD). That was supposed to be the prompt, at least, except nothing is actually quiet and Marinette doesn't actually sleep. Oops. xD (Did this Sprint Fic style. Three 15m sprints, quick edit, and post. It's all domestic/family fluff here. xD)

"Maman's Sleeping"

Luka tried, but he wasn't quite quick enough to snatch up Marinette's phone before the alarm went off. He was just dismissing it when she groaned and snuggled closer to his chest.

"S'not morn yet…" she mumbled, her speech tired and garbled. He chuckled as he sank back into their bed, rubbing her back and pressing a kiss to her temple.

"It's not," he lied easily. "Not for you, at least." He felt her face scrunching and kissed her temple again. "Sleep, darning."

"Can't…" she sighed, shimmying so that she was on her back. She blinked up at him sleepily, and even though he didn't want her waking up any more than she already was he couldn't resist kissing that sleepy smile she was giving him. Her hand came up to touch his jaw, her thumb rubbing against the stubble. He needed to shave. "Twins gonna wake up."

"You've been pumping enough that they'll be fine if you sleep in a little," he said. He kissed her again, a bit deeper, and she sighed as he pressed her back into their pillows. He nipped at her jaw before pulling away. "You've been running yourself ragged, Marinette. Please? Let me take care of everyone this morning. Sleep in a little."

"Drive such a…" she paused, yawning, and he chuckled as he kissed her cheek. "…hard bargain…"

"Sleep," he whispered. As if on cue, one of the twins started crying down the hall. He heard Melody's voice drifting closer not a second later. "I've got them."

Marinette barely hummed in response, already tugging the blanket back up around her shoulders and snuggling in. He was out of bed and slipping his pants on a moment later, and he was just stepping outside their door when Melody crashed into his legs. She grinned up at him and lifted her arms, wiggling tiny fingers.

"Morning!" she screamed in that way she had that had him convinced she had no idea what volume control meant. He pressed a finger to his lips and hushed her, but she was undeterred. "Louie's hungry. I'm hungry, too! Can we have pancakes?"

"Maybe," Luka chuckled, kneeling down to ruffle her short hair. He was still getting used to her cropped curls, but he liked it. The look suited her. "Can we be quiet, though, Mel? Maman's still sleeping."

Melody's nose scrunched in a perfect imitation of her maman.

"Still?" she parroted. "But we're up now! I want Maman hugs!"

"Can you suffer a Papa Hug for now?" he asked, opening his arms for her. She tipped her head, considering, before shaking it.

"Nope!" she said, turning and running towards the kitchen. "I want pancakes!"

He shook his head, chuckling at his little spitfire. He was about to push himself back up when he saw Harmony standing by the twins' door. He smiled at her and waved. Her fingers twisted in the hem of her nightshirt.

"Can I have a Papa Hug?" she asked, smiling shyly at him. "If Mellie doesn't want one?"

He grinned and walked over to her, scooping her up and holding her tight.

"Always, Chaos," he said, kissing her cheek. Her arms wrapped tight around his neck and she snuggled close. "Think you can keep Mellie occupied while I get the boys fed?"

"Huey's still sleeping," Harmony said. He winked at her as he opened the door. He gave her a final squeeze before setting her down.

"For now," he said, "but you know this loudmouth will have him up in no time. Ok, little man, that's enough."

Harmony giggled as he picked Louie up and set him against his shoulder, bouncing a little as he patted his back. He checked in on Huey's crib, but the other twin was still fast asleep. He nodded towards the door, and Harmony followed him out into the kitchen. Melody was already sitting on the island counter, her tiny arm rooting through a box of cereal as she chewed some of her breakfast with her mouth open. He lifted an eyebrow at her.

"…I thought you wanted pancakes?" he asked. She grinned and swallowed.

"I do want pancakes!" she cheered. She looked at the cereal and frowned. He sighed when she dropped her current handful back into the box. "…can we have pancakes now?"

"That's gross, Mellie," Harmony whined, climbing up onto the island next to her. She took the box from Melody and put it back where it had been left on the island. He'd have to stick it back up in the pantry later. "That's my favorite, too. Now it's got Mellie Cooties in it."

"I don't got cooties!" Mellie whined, and Luka winced when Louie let out another cry at her volume. He had been starting to settle, too…

"Do – yes, Papa?" Harmony asked as he stopped in front of them. He held out the squirming baby with a little grin.

"Mind holding him while I get his bottle together?" he asked. Mellie gasped, her hands immediately reaching for her brother, and he pulled Louie back. "Oh, no. Not after last time."

"I didn't mean to drop him!" Mellie whined. "He's wiggly!"

"Which is why your sister's on baby-holding duty," he said, tapping Melody's nose once he'd handed Louie over to Harmony. He ruffled Melody's hair, making her scrunch her face again. "Now c'mon. I thought I told you to keep it down? We're letting Maman sleep in today."

"But whyyyyy?" Melody whined.

"Because you're a little terror and Maman needs her sleep," Harmony deadpanned, absently patting her brother's back. Luka blinked at her before biting down on his lip, trying not to laugh. She sounded just like his ma when she talked like that. And she wasn't wrong, but Marinette would kill him for agreeing with her. If it was Marinette out here with them, not him, she'd probably also have words about being kind to your sister. He winked at Melody as he dropped a kiss to Harmony's head.

"That's why she's my favorite," he teased instead. Melody rolled her eyes and heaved an exaggerated sigh.

"That's why Maman's my favorite," she shot back. He flicked her forehead and moved to the refrigerator, determined to get Louie's bottle made before he started crying again and really did wake Marinette up. "Maman gives the bestest hugs and makes the bestest pancakes!"

"I like Papa's hugs," Harmony said, cuddling their brother, "and his pancakes."

"Still my favorite," Luka called from the other counter. He smiled when he heard Harmony's answering giggle and Melody's whine. Once the bottle was ready, he walked back over to them. He smiled and wiggled the bottle at Harmony. "What do you think, Big Sister? You wanna feed him while I get the pancakes going?"

"Can I help?" Melody asked, kicking her feet against the cabinets. Luka tried not to wince. There would be baths in everyone's future if he let Melody help with the pancakes, but…

"Sure thing, songbird," he said. He picked her up from the counter and put her back on her feet. "How about you start by getting me some bowls?"

When she ran off to the cabinets by the stove, he turned back to Harmony and wiggled the bottle again. She held out her hand, and a moment later Louie was happily devouring his breakfast.

"Think I can get the pancakes made before Huey wakes up?" he whispered to her. She giggled and shook her head.

"Nope," she said, and he placed a hand over his heart.

"Cruel, Harm," he whined. She stuck her tongue out at him, and he chuckled as he ruffled her hair. She smiled as she looked back at her brother, humming one of his older songs as she fed him. "He was still out like a light when we were in there. Hasn't even made a peep yet! I've got –"

"Or your little songbird and the crying baby were just too loud for you to hear him," Marinette's voice came from the living room. Harmony grinned at him – no, she was smirking, his little ball of chaos had definitely mastered smirking – when he winced. "You're an old man, Couffaine. Too many years on stage has ruined your hearing."

He looked up to find Marinette standing there in her robe, Huey in her arms and happily sucking away at a breast. She still had that sleepy smile on her face, but she also still looked like she could climb straight back into bed. Luka wondered if he'd be able to sneak Huey away and steer her back towards their room before…unfortunately, Melody had also heard her, and any plans to get Marinette back to bed were dashed.

…ah well. Maybe, if they were lucky, she could catch a nap later.

"Maman!" she screeched, dropping the mixing bowls to the floor with a loud CLANG before barreling towards her maman. She crashed into Marinette's legs, wrapping her tiny arms tight around her and snuggling close. Years of reflexes kicked in, and Marinette, bless her, only stumbled a little. She laughed and reached down, patting Melody's head.

"Careful – careful!" she said gently. "I've got your brother."

"You're supposed to be sleeping," he sighed, walking over to them. She smiled up at him and shrugged.

"I can sleep later," she said, and he rolled his eyes. She always said that, but with four kids (mostly under five), 'later' never seemed to come. "I'm fine, Lu. You know I don't mind."

"I just want you to take care of yourself, too," he said. He bent down and kissed the black fuzz on Huey's head, and the baby wiggled closer to his maman. Luka chuckled and raised his head, pausing to give Marinette her own kiss. He heard Melody giggle between their legs, and he smiled against Marinette's lips.

"Gross," Harmony grumbled, sounding just like her aunt.

"Morning," he whispered to Marinette before pulling back. He clapped his hands together and looked around at his family. "Ok! Well, since everyone's up and the boys are taken care of…Mel, how about we get breakfast for everyone else started?"

"Pancakes!" Melody cheered, and he chuckled as he pushed her back towards the bowls she had dropped.

"Pancakes," he agreed, nodding. He grinned up at Marinette as Melody raced to get the bowls they'd need. "And eggs?"

"Bacon," she said, moving past him to sit on the stool next to Harmony. She kissed their daughter's cheek before dropping a kiss on Louie's head. "Eggs if the girls want them, but I want bacon."

"Bacon's good," Harmony said. Melody ran over to them and held up the bowls. Luka took them from her and grinned down at her.

"And you, songbird? Eggs or bacon?" he asked. She scrunched her nose and made a face at him.

"Papa," she sighed, as if he was the most taxing person she'd ever had to deal with, "I want pancakes!"

"Ok, ok," he laughed, scooping her up and making her squeal. She grinned at her maman as he held her there, and Marinette grinned back before darting in to kiss her cheek. Melody squealed again before squirming, until one of his arms was under her butt and the other was around her back and she was burrowing into his chest. He grinned and squeezed her tight, shooting Marinette a little smile before dropping a kiss into her curls, making her giggle again. "Pancakes it is."

Notes: Just so no one's clutching their pearls, Mellie was sitting on the floor the time she "dropped" Louie and Marinette was right beside her. He barely fell a foot and was perfectly fine. Besides, he's a Couffaine Terror Twin – they're resilient.