This story includes some elements mentioned in the previous one, 'Mama', and is a continuation of it. Probably one of the few, if not only, connecting fics in these one-shots.

Word: Tree

Dakavendish, cont. of 'Mama'

1.6k words

"Vinnie, dear, do we have any more nails?"

Dakota popped his head beneath the tree branch, blinking as his glasses tried to slip down his nose from where he hung upside down. Stupid gravity.

"Have you tried in the red box? I think we had some extras from when we were building the bedrooms in there."

"I'll check- and please stop hanging upside down, you're going to hurt yourself!"

Dakota watched as Cavendish headed to the red tool box, sticking his tongue out at his back childishly. Still, he swung himself up onto a sitting position on the strong tree branch. "Will not!"

"Will too!"

"Will not!"

"Will- found them!"

Dakota paused where he was reaching for the hammer, waiting…

"Will too."

He grinned at the whispered words he knew Cavendish wouldn't be able to resist saying. Called it.

He waited until Balthazar scrambled up the tree beside him, and surprised him with a little peck on his lips once he got up.

"Vinnie!"

"Love you, Balthy." He grinned as Cav blushed.

"Yes, well, I love you too. Still-"

He waved what he knew were going to be safety worries away. "Nails?"

"Here." Cavendish rolled his eyes, but handed them over anyway. He clambered up the rest of the treehouse ladder to step into the hand-built structure.

Dakota listened as his partner moved around, the floorboard of the structure not even creaking. A flicker of pride sparked within him. They might be older, but they were still a hella good team. He turned his attention back to the swing set he was installing, right on the branch he sat on. Just as he measured where he wanted the nail, and was about to start hammering, a soft humming interrupted his movements. He listened, tilting his head, foot bobbing in the air alongside the tune.

"Is...is that 'Wellerman'?"

Cavendish poked his head out from the treehouse doorway, grinning. "Maybe."

"Bal, we are in a tree- probably the furthest away from the sea, or water. Except, I guess, our water glasses."

"Soon may the wellerman come, to bring us sugar, and tea, and rum~"

"One day when the tonguing is done, we'll take our leave, and gooo~" Dakota joined his partner's soft singing, returning the grin.

Cavendish dipped back inside the treehouse, and Dakota watched as he adjusted the curtains within. "Maybe we're nowhere near the sea, but it's still a good song. Do you think we can build them a little sea boat or something?"

Dakota huffed out gentle laughter, shaking his head and returning to his task. "Balthy, you spoil them just a tad too much."

"This treehouse was your idea."

"Was it? Hmm, shame, I don't remember that."

Cavendish snorted, and Dakota laughed alongside him, placing a hand against the strong tree trunk to support him as he shuffled to his feet on the branch, admiring his handiwork.

"Do you think the swings'll stay?"

"They look good to me. Now, come here and help me finish up. The kids will be here soon."

Dakota hummed, and shuffled his way over to the treehouse ladder, clambering up and into the house. He glanced up at Cavendish, blushing as the male surprised him with a small kiss on his nose.

"Cavendish!"

"Just getting you back for earlier, love."

He laughed, and Dakota could only roll his eyes, smiling. He should have expected as much. He stepped inside, gently tugging his partner back far enough for him to fully wrap his arms around him, pressing his head into his husband's back, a content sigh pulling from his lips.

"You alright, love?"

Dakota smiled. He loved that. He loved him. "Yeah...Balthy?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

He felt Cavendish gently trap his wrists in his hands, turning himself around to hug Dakota into his chest. Vinnie took advantage of it, pressing his head against Cavendish's chest, listening to his slightly sped up heartbeat.

"I love you too."

Fingers slipped under his chin, and he followed them to look at Cavendish's turquoise eyes, bright with adoration. Dakota continued to follow them, leading him to a sweet kiss against his lips.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, sharing hugs and kisses and simple domestic bliss. Until they heard the telltale sound of car tires against their driveway gravel. Dakota raised his head from where it was pressed against Cavendish's chest, the two swaying lightly, a stupid grin overtaking his features.

"Whoops. I think we took a bit too long."

They glanced around the partially finished interior of the treehouse, which really only needed a few decorative finishing touches. Cavendish turned back to him with a glimmer in his eyes. "The mess? It's a feature, not a bug."

"Oh my god, Cav."

His partner laughed, proud of having picked that up from the multiple games they played with their kids, and made his way down the treehouse ladder, to greet their kids from their four day vacation with the Murphy's and friends.

Once Dakota touched down from the ladder, he was immediately attacked, and he gave a soft "Oof!" as the air was knocked out of him. He turned around to properly hug his eight year old adopted daughter, her laughter contagious. Sky squealed as her papa picked her up easily and swung her around.

"There's my girl!"

"Don't forget me!"

Dakota grinned, setting Sky down as she continued to squeal with happiness, turning to her ten year old adoptive brother, Luca. He kneeled, opening his arms, and Luca ran right into them, and he nearly toppled over. Dakota stood quickly, and swung him around just like he did with Sky, only setting him down as he heard a chuckle behind him.

Luca ran up to Milo as he and the others stepped up to him and Cavendish, who was hugging Sky tightly.

"Hah, they really missed you!"

Dakota grinned, stepping closer to them. "Hey, Milo! Hey Melissa, hey Zack! Did you guys enjoy the trip? I hope Sky and Luca weren't any trouble, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy."

Mrs. Murphy lifted a hand, waving it. "Oh, not at all, they were wonderful!"

Milo nodded enthusiastically, kneeling as Sky ran up to him, and letting her piggyback, moving his trusty backpack to the front of his chest. The now sixteen year old swung her around a little, saying, "It was a blast! I'm really glad they came, it was a lot of fun!"

"Papa, dada, guess what, guess what!" Both Dakota and Cavendish turned to Luca, the ten year old boy tugging on Cavendish's coat tails, and Cavendish ruffled his hair.

"What's up, Luca?"

"We went to a waterpark!" He jumped up and down, excitement shining in his eyes.

"And sum mountains!" Sky chimed in.

"Don't forget the forest!" Melissa pointed out.

"And the river rides!" Zack noted, smiling as Luca nodded profusely at him. "Hey, Luca, Sky, did you guys always have a treehouse?"

Dakota snorted, and Cavendish chuckled as the kids' head practically did a 360, eyes widening at the treehouse they somehow missed up to this point. Sky scrambled off of Milo's back, and Luca detangled himself from where he was weaving around his dada, and they tumbled over to the swing set, oohing and ahhing.

"I think that means that they like it." Dakota mused, a pure smile forming on his face as the swings held underneath the kids' weight.

"Possibly." Cavendish mumbled, gently tapping their wedding bands together, their silent reassurance. They turned in unison towards the others.

While Cavendish walked away with Mr. and Mrs. Murphy to repay for food and gas ("Oh, no worries, you really don't need to-" "I insist though, I know those two aren't the easiest to take care of!"), Dakota led the sixteen year olds to the playground, joining the sudden game of imaginary cowboy laser tag that Sky and Luca managed to begin.

At some point, it led to Sky and Milo taking up the unfinished treehouse as shelter, while Luca and Zack took up their spots behind the swings, and Dakota and Melissa hid behind the woodworking that he and Cavendish had yet to put away. Milo and Sky threw down a few Nerf guns, which Cavendish and he had stored up in the treehouse as a surprise, and it became a frenzied battle with a lot of chaos, laughter, and dramatic death scenes.

And Dakota was absolutely not embarrassed as he heard a quiet, "Ahem" behind him, right as he was acting out a dramatic death scene that had the kids in stitches, looking up with a blush as Cavendish met his eye, a twinkle in them. Though his arms were crossed, and his foot was tapping, it was hard to mistaken the grin on his face.

"Yes? Is there something you needed, Balthy? I'm kind of in the middle of a gorgeous and dramatic death scene, here. And after I complete it, Melissa here will totally avenge my death, right?"

"If the scene's good enough, I will!"

He glanced at Cavendish, grinning. "You heard her. Ahem- OH, ABSOLUTE WOE IS ME! MY GOODNESS, ACK- AGH-AUGH! SHOT FROM THE FIEND ATOP THE OLD TIMEY BELLTOWER! OH, WOE IS TO ME AND MY LIFE!"

The performance must have been good enough, because Melissa hopped out from behind their cover, yelling out, "REVENGE!" and charging the treehouse. Cavendish helped Dakota up from the ground, rolling his eyes playfully.

"Must you be such a child, Dakota?"

"You know what they say- if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. You down to enact my revenge as well?"

And as Cavendish produced a nerf gun from somewhere behind him, Dakota collapsed on the ground yet again, clutching his stomach from the laughter.

"I thought you'd never ask."

And thus, the first day of the treehouse was dotted with battle cries, laughter, and nerf bullets.

I'm glad Cavendish and Dakota got their dreams, of having a family :D Fun fact: I used the name Luca before I saw the movie, and I was so glad to see it while editing yesterday, since I wrote this so long ago and forgot their names! Additionally; I think I'll try to keep to a M/W/F upload schedule until this story finishes, but only time will tell if I keep to it lol. That said, I hope you all enjoyed this story, maybe leave a review and/or a bit of constructive criticism? :) I hope you lot have a marvelous morning/afternoon/evening/night and be sure to take care of yourselves!