Okay, for all those who are enjoying the story of Lucas Rory-Snart in 'Follow the Advice, Not the Example', these are going to be one-shots tying into the main story that people can prompt and ask of me ?

Prompts are always welcome!

Please read, review and enjoy ?

….

"Hartley…. Hartley."

Hartley Rathaway mumbled to himself, snuggling deeper into the sofa cushions, desperately trying to ignore the voice from above him.

"Hartley!"

That got his attention.

As quick as he could, Hartley pushed himself into a seated position. Standing to the side of the sofa was Leonard, holding a squirming 10-month-old in his arms.

"Any reason why you're sleeping on our sofa?"

Hartley winced, which Len quickly picked up on.

"Another conversation with your parents?"

"… I just wanted to wish Father a Happy Birthday. I guess fa- people like me aren't allowed to do that."

Leonard shook his head in dismay, "That…." He glanced at his son, before mentally re-arranging what he was going to say, "… disgusting excuse for a Father. I'm assuming you need a place to stay for a bit?"

Nodding, Hartley grinned as Lucas babbled in his Dad's arm and reached out for him. "Hey…" the younger man whispered, gently taking a hold of Lucas's fingers and tapping out a beat on them, "… you okay Lucas?"

As Lucas continued to babble, the door to the main bedroom flew open and Mick came storming out, not even looking at the trio before he wrenched the front door open and left. Leonard watched him leave, a displeased frown on his face.

"A-are you two okay?"

Leonard simply shook his head, "We had a little…. Discussion last night. It's still a little bit tense."

"Are you going to work things out?"

"Of course…" Len thought to himself for a few moments, "… I have a favour to ask Hartley."

"O-okay?"

Len handed Lucas over to Hartley, "Taking Mick on a… spree might help to soften things between us. However, I need someone to babysit… would you mind?"

Hartley shook his head and grinned as Lucas reached up to grab his hair. "I don't mind babysitting whilst you and Mick work things out…. We don't like it when Mommy and Daddy are fighting do we?" He asked Lucas, his smile only growing when Lucas babbled in response.

"Actually, it's Daddy and Papa…." Sighed Len, "…. But I see your point. Fighting's not good for Lucas."

Hartley nodded, "Exactly! Don't worry about Lucas, I'll look after him."

"Alright…. You have my number, don't you?"

"Yes Leonard."

"The daily schedule is on the fridge and- "

"Leonard, I know!"

Resisting the urge to smile at the younger man, Len lifted Lucas back into his arms and smiled at the baby. "Are you going to be a good boy? Huh?"

Lucas simply beamed, reaching out to grab Len by the nose. The smile soon fell from his face when Len handed him back over to Hartley and headed towards the front door.

"Aaah!" shrieked Lucas, holding out his arms for Len, "AAAH!"

"I've just got to leave…" stated Len as he continued towards the door, "… otherwise it'll only get worse. When I leave, he'll cry for a bit. He'll be fine, don't worry."

Without another word, Len left the apartment… and then Lucas began to cry.

"Sssh, sssh, sssh…" soothed Hartley as he began to rock the baby back and forth, "…. Your Daddy will be back, I swear."

Nothing. Lucas kept crying as he wriggled to get free.

Feeling like he couldn't keep a hold of the baby, Hartley quickly placed him on the ground, smiling sadly when Lucas crawled over to the front door and pushed himself into a kneeling position, banging on the door as he screamed.

"Alright…" sighed Hartley, striding over and lifting Lucas into his arms, "…. Time for a distraction. Let's see if there's a radio in this place."

Gently bouncing Lucas up and down in order to calm him down, Hartley managed to find a radio and switched it to a classical music channel.

Lucas continued to cry.

"Please Kid…" whispered Hartley, trying to remain calm, "… your Daddy will be back!"

No effect.

"Okay…. Time for desperate measures."

Placing Lucas back on the ground (and watching him crawl towards the front door again), Hartley glanced around the apartment, grinning in triumph when he spotted the activity walker. Pushing it to the centre of the room, Hartley then went to grab Lucas and place him in the walker.

"There…" he sighed, "… look at all the pretty colours and buttons! Pretty, pretty, pretty!"

Lucas continued to cry for a little while longer, before the sounds trailed off into sniffling and snuffles and he began to play with the toys attached to the walker.

Hartley sighed in relief, "Right…. Schedule. What's the schedule?"

Making sure that there was nothing that Lucas could hurt himself on, the young man headed into kitchen and scanned the piece of paper on the fridge. "Try and encourage him to walk?" he muttered to himself, "there's actually time dedicated to that?"

He glanced at the clock, "Right, he's probably already had breakfast…. So soon it'll be naptime."

…

After Lucas had slept for around an hour and a half, Hartley sat him down in the high-chair and headed back to the fridge, where there was another list of safe foods for Lucas.

"Grapes? Grapes are easy, I can do that!"

Grabbing a handful of grapes, Hartley quickly began to cut them into smaller pieces and place them in a bowl. Upon placing it in front of Lucas, Hartley frowned as the baby sneered, pushing the bowl away.

"B-but, the list says these are your favourites!"

Nothing.

Pulling his mobile out of his jeans, Hartley fired a quick text to Len.

QUESTION. SHOULD I PEEL THE GRAPES?

Barely five minutes passed before he received a reply (which made Hartley feel better, because it meant that they probably weren't…. you know.

DON'T PEEL THEM. HE'S JUST BEING FUSSY. IF YOU LEAVE THEM WITH HIM LONG ENOUGH, HE'LL EAT THEM.

Hartley sighed in relief, turning his attention back to Lucas…. Who had dragged the bowl back to him and was currently sucking on a grape.

"Oh, thank god."

…..

After all the grapes had been devoured (and the bowl thrown to the ground), Hartley took Lucas out of the highchair and took him back into the living room.

As Lucas played with a variety of toys, Hartley decided to settle on the sofa and continue listening to the radio, re-reading the fourth Harry Potter book as Lucas giggled and threw soft building blocks around the room.

Almost half an hour passed, before the music changed to a familiar tune, Hartley grinned as Lucas glanced at the radio, babbling excitedly and clapping his hands.

"Beauty and the Beast? I knew those two were Disney nerds!"

The main theme from the Disney film, Beauty and the Beast, echoed throughout the living room as Lucas giggled. Placing his book down on the sofa, Hartley tiptoed up behind the baby and lifted him into his arms, beaming as Lucas squealed.

"You want to dance?"

Turning Lucas around in his arms, laughing as the baby patted him on the cheeks, Hartley began to sway from side to side. As the music began to pick up, Hartley found himself twirling around and dipping Lucas from side to side, back and forth as Lucas's giggles turned into full laughter.

Lucas's laughter was contagious, and very soon, Hartley found himself laughing as well.

"Cute…" grumbled a voice from the doorway.

Almost immediately, Hartley came to a stop and span in the direction of the front door, where Mick and Leonard were standing. They were both smirking at the scene, causing Hartley to flush slightly.

"W-we were just- "

Leonard chuckled as Hartley stammered nervously, striding closer and lifting Lucas into his arms. "You were dancing with him… there's nothing wrong with that. Were you having fun Lucas?"

As Lucas babbled and cooed, Leonard grinned at Hartley. "You kept him entertained. Trust me, that's the hardest part about baby-sitting sometimes. Especially with this one."

Mick nodded in agreement with his husband, "Yeah, he gets bored easily." He smirked at Hartley, "Thanks kiddo."

"No problem, honestly!"

"Excellent!" beamed Leonard, "Then you wouldn't mind doing this next week?"

"Ah I-I-I- "

"- It's a deal!"