Hey there! It's now time for a new chapter of 'Big Time Choice'! Let's see how the others took to meeting our dear little Royce! This is mostly a filler chapter, small Kames interaction, more will come in the next installment but for now, enjoy. :) Disclaimer: I don't own Big Time Rush! All I own is the plot and the OCs of Mau and Royce!
Telling Mama Knight, Katie, Carlos and Logan about Royce at first was easy. James, with Kendall at his side holding a napping Royce, explained as best he could his son's history without delving too much into his and Mau's past relationship. He told them things that Mama Knight asked to know, like how Royce was conceived, if he was a healthy and happy baby, and if James was going to take full custody of him. James was relieved to know the red-headed woman wasn't upset with him, taking on the role of a parent so young.
Of course she seemed a little worried, after all eighteen didn't mean he was really all grown up, but after seeing how healthy and beautiful Royce Hayden Diamond-Reynolds was, she easily realized that the brunet was a responsible 'mother'.
And that the fact that James named her as one of Royce's grandmothers won her heart even more. Her soft coffee brown eyes shined with adoration for the sleeping child, even before she knew his name.
Katie didn't seem too happy with the idea of a baby in the already stuffed apartment, but James and Kendall did catch a faint smile touching her lips when Royce woke up and started blowing bubbles in her big brother's face. Kendall pretend to cough and gag, grossed out while his funny faces made Royce giggle.
Yeah, maybe having a baby who likes to mess with the boys might not be so bad after all.
Carlos, being the child he was at heart, was already in love with Royce. He had plucked the hyper baby out of Kendall's arms and began playing with him on the floor, digging out some toys from under the couch (his old toys). Royce instantly took interest in his older playmate, big hazel-green eyes shining as he bounced a squishy blue ball between his chubby fingers.
James already knew his son would love Carlos; the Latino was the perfect playmate for a just as hyper, energetic child. He was a great uncle.
As for Logan, he observed the child from a short distance. There was no doubt in James's mind that Logan's doctor side will be a regular occurrence around Royce. He will be the protective, cautious uncle in contrast to Carlos's carefree, happy-go-lucky. He pulled the brunet aside and asked about past doctor visits, the foods Royce liked in order to work out a nutrition chart plus a schedule to take him out to the park every afternoon. He smiled when Royce reached out to him, the brilliant raven scooping the child up into his arms and checking out his teeth.
Royce in response played and pinched Logan's cheeks, cooing the whole time. That gained him a grin from Logan.
Kendall wrapped an arm around the taller boy's waist, they watching on as their family fawned over the giggly, bouncing baby. "Looks like they like him, told you Royce would be loved in two seconds flat."
The brunet rolled his eyes at the blond's smug look, though he smiled back in thanks. "Yeah, but then again he is a cute baby. Who wouldn't love him?" He said.
Kendall chuckled, shaking his head. Another squeal filled the air, his bottle green eyes falling on a laughing Royce being tickled senseless by Katie.
A flutter entered his chest at the sound, the sensation confusing him though. Of course Royce was a cute baby; the dirty blond didn't mind children at all, in all honesty he liked playing with them and making them laugh. They were curious, active and adventurous like him; something about Royce though kind of got to him, on a whole new level.
Those big, wide eyes. That messy tangle of dark hair. Those balloon-round cheeks and cute smile. The way he squealed and reached out towards anyone, eager to meet new people. How he blew bubbles, clapped his hands and nibbled on his lower lip with his tiny, white teeth.
Everything about him seemed special, of high importance to Kendall. He didn't know why though, at all.
'I'm warming up to him, that's it.' He told himself simply. The fluttery feeling was still there however, tickling his ribcage with a light, warm sensation.
-Page Break-
"There you go, who's now a happy boy? You're all full and clean, now let's get you in your jammies!"
Kendall watched with a small smile as James dug through Royce's baby bag and pulled out a small pair of plaid pajama bottoms and a tank top. After feeding him his evening bottle, giving him a bath and changing him, Royce was now ready for bed. James's side of the room had been cleared of his stuff to make room for Royce's: extra diapers, tubs of powder formula, his clothes and shoes and extra blankets and favorite Pooh doll. James had got out Royce's favorite pillow and fluffed it nicely, intending for his baby boy to be completely comfortable while he slept. His bed wasn't that big, but it would do for tonight. Mau had promised to stop by first thing tomorrow with Royce's crib ready.
All in all, the brunet had been thoroughly prepared for his son's arrival; everything he would need within reach.
Royce yawned as James carefully worked his short, stubby legs into the bottoms, a tiny fist rubbing at his eyes. "Mama, tired..."
Oh God, his voice. It sounded like James's when he was little, the right pitch and everything!
'Royce may look a lot like Mau, but he definitely got some things from James.' Kendall mused, a chuckle leaving him when James kissed the top of his son's head and made a puppy face.
"Yo se amor, yo se. A dormir, mi lindo bebe a dormir..." He cooed, gathering Royce up in his arms before he started to rock him back and forth.
As the child's eyes began to droop, James began to sing. He would brush Royce's hair back and nuzzle his nose with his, singing softly as if in a lullaby. Kendall propped himself up on his elbows and watched James as he sang, not looking away even when Royce was finally out like a light and sleeping peacefully in his 'Mami's' arms.
It was a really cute sight, James holding his son close and listening to the soft breathing against his chest.
"Is he a light sleeper?" Kendall asked, voice lower than normal so to not disturb Royce. James smiled and shook his head, careful not to shift about too much.
"Nah, once he's out he's out until morning. He rarely wakes up in the middle of the night now; that was more common when he a few months old."
"So he knows Spanish and English? Can he speak both?"
"A little. He understands Spanish really well, it was his first language, and speak it. He's still learning English, but he's getting there. He knows how to say small phrases in English, like where he's from and how old he is."
"Any fears, things he doesn't like?" Kendall asked. This information was important to him; he wanted to know everything he could about Royce, his new nephew.
Nephew, huh he never thought he'd get to say that.
Surprise, surprise.
James tucked Royce in, the boy squirming a little before cuddling to his pillow and Pooh bear. "Roy isn't really scared of anything, actually. He's just curious is all, very curious. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with him; he's always looking for adventure, getting himself into trouble. The only thing he doesn't like is loud noises, they freak him out."
"Hmm. He kind of...looks like you, asleep." Kendall pointed out, scooting forward to get a better look. James chuckled and ran a hand through those soft, dark curls.
"Kendall, I'm really glad everything worked out you know? Everyone is okay with Royce, heck love him even, and didn't press a lot concerning Mau. I'm introducing him properly tomorrow and everything, but I'm glad the focus was on my son."
"Me too, plus looks like Royce loves us right back. He didn't start crying or screaming, he was all chilled. That's a good thing, right? I mean, he likes us?" James rolled his eyes playfully at the dirty blond, making sure Royce wasn't getting hot under the blankets.
"Yes silly, it means he likes you. He usually cries and kicks when he doesn't like someone; he knows when someone is trouble, bad news. And I have told him about his grandmas and aunt and uncles; this is just the first time he's met everyone in person."
"So you've showed him pictures of us?"
"Yep, before and after pics. You know, of us as a band, the places we've been to. I've played our albums for him a couple times. Ha, he gets so excited and dance-y when I do." Kendall smiled.
"So he's a fan too, huh?"
"Yeah, another Rusher." James said, stifling a yawn behind his hand.
"James, you should probably turn in for today. You look really tired." Kendall said gently, putting a hand on the taller boy's shoulder.
James smiled back weakly, light bags under his eyes. He really was drained; Royce's seemingly endless energy and his earlier conversation with Mau have left him beat.
Sleep sounded really good right now...
"Okay, are you going to bed too?"
"Yeah, we have early rehearsal tomorrow with Gustavo." Kendall spat this out with a roll of his eyes, annoyance clear in his tone.
"Think Gustavo will rip my head off if I bring Royce to the studio tomorrow? I can't leave him here, Mama Knight and Katie will be out the whole morning..." James trailed off, looking terrified.
He wasn't terrified of Gustavo per say, of what he'd do to him. He was terrified of how the loudmouth producer will react to and treat Royce.
He didn't care if Gustavo treated HIM like crap, but he wouldn't hesitate to throw his two cents in if he said anything about his precious baby boy.
Kendall wrapped his arm around James's now, expression still gentle but also a bit serious. "Don't worry, Jamie. If he says something, we'll put him in his place. Royce is part of the family, of the BTR dream. He messes with him, he'll get quadruple pucks to the head."
James stifled his laughter as he elbowed the blond away playfully, eyes warm again. "Night, Kendy."
"Night, Jamie. Night to you too, champ." Kendall said, ruffling Royce's hair before getting into bed, turning off the lights once James was comfortable in bed as well.
"Night." James said once more before he closed his eyes. He was out in seconds.
"Yeah, night..." Kendall responded weakly, eyes on the two snoozing on the opposite side of the room.
He watched them for who knows how long, falling asleep to the sounds of James's breaths and Royce's soft snoring.