kiaramikaelson prompted " I also wanted to ask if you could do a chapter where all three boys are in little space and just how Klaus would handle that ?" + frkhems prompted "Would love to read a chapter of Klaus at the beach/water park with his three boys. water + overprotective Daddy 🙈 Baby Jeremy, daredevil tyler and overprotective big brother Marcel 😍"
There is no rhyme or reason to Little space, yet Klaus has found a pattern within his own family. Marcel will never drop if the younger two haven't. He knows it has nothing to do with his son trying to hold it back. It seems to be his body knows that he needs to be little when his brothers are. Similarly, Tyler only drops if Jeremy does.
Klaus knows the signs. It's why he's excited to see them the night they arrive at their house in Virginia Beach. He purchased the property 40 years back. It's right on the shore with two bedrooms and a bath. Matt, Rebekah, Elijah and Hayley bought neighboring houses, though they didn't come this trip.
Marcel's room is big enough for all 3 boys. There's a bunk bed for the older two paired with a twin that Klaus put in after he adopted Jeremy. He tucked them all into bed upon their late arrival, knowing come morning, he'd have 3 wild, rambunctious little boys.
Sure enough, he's shaken awake not long after the sun comes up.
"Papa! Papa!" Marcel cries out as Klaus barely opens his eyes. He's knelt beside his dad, face inches from his. "Can we go swimming? Please? Please?"
Tyler speaks fast. He's sprawled across his dad's chest, poking at his chin. "Daddy! I can't find my swim trunks."
"Papa, where's the sand toys?"
"Daddy…"
"Ahhh, my little monsters," Klaus interrupts, tickling Tyler's chin and Marcel's ribs. The boys' chattering turns to giggles. "Whatever happened to "good morning, Papa"?"
Marcel smiles. "Morning, Papa." He kisses his cheek.
Tyler doesn't move. "Hiya, Daddy."
Klaus chuckles. He sits up a bit, moving Tyler so he's sitting on his lap. "We will go swimming in a little bit. Not to worry, I know where everything is…including your swim trunks," he promises. "But we have a few things to do first, such as have breakfast and our blood. Then I'll have to get your brother ready."
Marcel nods. "I can help, Papa."
Klaus smiles, squeezing his cheek. "My good little warrior."
There's some shuffling down the hall and the door creeks open once again. Jeremy stands there, still sucking on his pacifier and clinging Ottie to his chest.
"Everyone was gone," he mumbles, his eyes wide.
Klaus nods sympathetically. "Come here, Angel."
Jeremy runs over and jumps onto the bed, scrambling beside Tyler on his lap. Marcel wraps an arm around him.
"Sorry, JerBear. We didn't want to wake you."
"S'okay," Jeremy says as he cuddles with his daddy. He looks between his brothers. "Can we go swimmin'?"
"Not yet," Tyler informs him, sounding as serious as a little boy can. "Daddy says we have to eat first."
"Oh. I'm hungry."
The other two quickly agree. Klaus smiles, ruffling his youngest's hair. "Alright. Daddy will make something for his little ducklings. Then we can get ready."
"I can dress myself!" Tyler insists. "I'm a big boy."
"We'll see," Klaus says, not wanting to make any promises. He gently maneuvers the two youngest off his lap. "Why don't you boys go watch some cartoons while I cook. It's Marcel's turn to choose."
Marcel grins and jumps off the bed, racing out of the room. Tyler grumbles but follows, holding Jeremy's hand.
Once breakfast is over, Klaus follows the boys to their room. Marcel is able to dress himself in his neon green swim trunks with little dinosaurs all over them. Klaus hands Tyler his blue ones with sharks printed across both sides, but keeps a close eye, knowing he may need help. He turns his attention to Jeremy, holding up his one blue and white striped one-piece rash guard with a brown otter on the front. Jeremy glances at his brothers.
"Why do they get big boy trunks?"
Klaus crouches to his height. "Because they don't need to worry about the sun in the same way you do," he explains. "You could get a sunburn and that would be very yucky. This will keep you nice and protected. Plus, look, there's Ottie on the front."
A big smile breaks out across Jeremy's face, seemingly forgetting all about wanting to be like his big brothers. "Okay!"
The little boy is so excited, he doesn't even put up a protest over having to wear a swim diaper. Klaus gets him ready, making sure everything is buttoned up just right. He turns back to his boys. Marcel has his shoes on the wrong feet and Tyler's trunks are on inside out. Klaus chuckles and fixes up his eldest before turning to the other.
"You did such a great job, but the sharks need to be on the outside, my little pup," Klaus explains. "Let Daddy help you."
Tyler frowns. "I'm not a big baby like Jeremy!"
"I'm not a baby!" Jeremy argues back.
"Boys, boys," Klaus warns. "That's enough. It's okay to need a little help. That's what daddies are for. No more screaming at one another, that's not how brothers act."
Tyler and Jeremy sigh, muttering their apologies. Klaus helps his middle son with his trunks before grabbing the large diaper bag to make sure everything is in there: extra clothes, diapers, toys, blankets, everyone's stuffies, umbrella, sunglasses, pacifiers, hats, towels and sunscreen. The boys follow him down the stairs and he grabs the cooler with enough food and blood to feed about a dozen. Even in younger spaces, these boys never stop eating.
"Jeremy, you can walk, but only if you hold hands with your brothers," Klaus says.
Adorably, Tyler and Marcel each hold one of his hands as they make it down the steps. They only have to walk about 3 feet until they reach the busy beach in front of them. Klaus puts himself on high alert, sniffing out any potential threats. His boys are not the only Littles out today. Most seem like happy families, looking to create memories just as he is…
Still, he doesn't allow himself to drop his guard. No one is going to touch his babies and ruin their fun day.
Tyler and Jeremy try to charge for the ocean, but their older brother stops them and gives them a warning glance. Klaus chuckles as he sets up the large blanket and umbrella. It's impossible to find a spot completely secluded but he does his best to stay away from any families without kids or Littles. He settles the bags nearby.
"Alright, boys, we are going to have a very fun day, but you need to remember Daddy's rules. Tyler, Marcel, what's your most important one?"
"Keep our rings on, Papa," Marcel says. Tyler nods, playing with the one on his left hand.
Klaus nods. "That's right." He slides the sunglasses on their faces. "All three of you need to stay where I can see you at all times. No going too far out in the water. If I tell you to come back over here, you listen. No running off. There is only one of me and three of you. Please do not ruin this for your brothers."
He looks at Jeremy, who would've clearly been in the ocean if not for Marcel tightly holding his hand.
"Angel, I'm going to put on your sunscreen, glasses and hat, you need to keep these on, understand?"
Jeremy nods. "Yes, Daddy."
"And if you go in the water, you need your swimmies. You'll either go with me or Marcel."
The little one lets out a dramatic sigh. "Do we have to take a nap?"
"After lunch, the three of you will have a little rest on the blanket. You don't have to sleep," he says, despite knowing that they will all likely knock out. "Just for an hour, then you can go back to playing."
The boys only slightly grumble. Klaus gently pries Jeremy away from his brothers, watching as the big boys head for the shore. He grabs the sunscreen and squirts a healthy dollop on his hand, rubbing it across all the exposed areas. Jeremy wiggles, making a face.
"It's cold!"
"I know, bud," Klaus sympathizes. "But, it'll keep you from getting all burned and tingly. Remember how yucky that felt last time?" In spite of the overprotective father doing everything to prevent it, Jeremy still got burned. He spent a week getting aloe baths to heal it.
"Yeah," Jeremy concedes, poking out his tongue. "Hurted lots."
"Exactly." Klaus rubs it into his legs, getting both sides before moving up to his face. He uses the most of Jeremy's cherub cheeks and little nose. "This way, you can have the most fun and not have to worry."
Once Jeremy's got three coats of the sunscreen, Klaus straps the bucket hat to his head and slides the sunglasses on his face. "Do you wanna join your brothers in the water?"
"Uh huh!"
Jeremy is patient as Klaus puts on his floaties. Together, the two head to the shore where the boys are. Marcel and Tyler splash each other in the shallow area. Jeremy joins in, getting Marcel in the face. The eldest brother scoffs, shoving him. Jeremy shrieks and grabs some wet sand, hurling it at his back. A small sand fight ensues. Klaus watches on, trying to make sure no one gets it in the eye. He keeps glancing around, moving closer to the boys when anyone else draws near.
The sand fight comes to an end and the boys wash themselves off in the waves. They take turns showing off tricks, such as Marcel's backflip. Tyler pulls Jeremy onto his back as he speeds through the water, rushing right back.
"Be careful with your brother!" Klaus calls out. "Do not drop him!"
"I won't, Daddy!"
Klaus is only able to relax when he hears Jeremy's giggles. Marcel takes him next, tossing him in the air and pretending like he won't catch him, only to do so at the last moment. Jeremy shrieks with happiness, kicking his legs.
It's another hour before the boys grow tired of the water and choose to sit in the sand, building with their shovels and pails. Tyler gets to work on his, not looking up at all as he loads up his pail. Jeremy quickly shovels in a bunch of sand and tips his bucket over, frowning as it all falls back onto the ground. He tries again, getting similar results.
"It won't stay," Jeremy complains, kicking his feet a little.
"'Cause you're using regular sand, silly," Marcel says. "Look, you gotta use this kind."
He has Jeremy dig up the wet sand and helps him fill up his pail. Marcel sits back and allows Jeremy to do the honors. The lopsided structure stays upright. Jeremy beams, clapping.
"I did it!" He looks up at Klaus. "Daddy! I did it! Like Bubby and TyTy!"
Klaus grins. "You did, my clever little starfish." He ruffles his hair.
"Papa, you need to help us," Marcel says with a smile. "You taught me!"
Klaus grins, adjusting his sunglasses. "Alright, little ones, let me show you how it's done."
Together, the three of them work on building a big sandcastle. Tyler eventually breaks away from his own thing to help. Jeremy mostly works with his brothers, following their instructions to get more sand or find a cool shape outline from the bag.
"This is a biggg castle," Tyler remarks as he finds a stick for one of the roofs.
Klaus' eyes twinkle with glee. "I bet it's for a king with his princes," he says. "Three little ones to be exact."
"Nuh uh," Marcel shakes his head. "One is big."
"Oh, but to daddies, all their kids will be babies forever. Even when they're big." He scratches Marcel's back, allowing his son to smile.
"Just Daddy's babies," Tyler adds, dumping more sand to make the drawbridge. "No one else's."
Klaus grins. They silently go about making their castle. The family only stops once all are happy with the product. It expand across their large blanket, towering a little high. Leaves, shells, stones and sticks decorate the structure throughout. As soon as the shovels are put away, the boys dash back to the ocean to play. Klaus hovers nearby, standing guard. He only relaxes when Jeremy grabs his hand and drags him in with the rest of them, encouraging him to help "get back at Tyler".
As they reach midday, the family heads back to their blanket. Klaus distributes lunch and sits with Jeremy on his lap so he can eat his sandwich without dropping it.
"Sit down, Ty," Klaus reminds him for about the tenth time only 5 minutes in.
"But I wanna play!"
"You can, but first you need to put some food in that tummy."
"Can't I play and eat?"m
"No. Now, do you want to sit like a big boy with Marcel or do you have to sit on Dada's lap?"
Tyler makes a face but settles beside Marcel. Once the sandwiches are gone, Klaus hands the older two their sippy cups of blood. He grabs Jeremy's baby bottle filled with water and holds it to his lips. His baby boy wraps his hands around it and begins drinking without having to be asked.
"Since we just ate, you boys need to wait to swim," Klaus says. Marcel and Tyler whine, pouting a little. "Why don't we all relax on the blanket for a few minutes?"
Keeping a tight hold on Jeremy, he reaches into the bag and pulls out three stuffies. Ottie is tucked under the little one's arm as he drinks his bottle. Pooh Bear goes to Tyler while Marcel gets his beloved Toad, the one he's had since long before his classification. Klaus lowers himself on the blanket so he's laying down, adjusting Jeremy on his chest. He pulls Tyler on one side of him, Marcel on the other, wrapping his arms around the three to keep them close. The boys sip their drinks and relax under the large umbrella. There's more fun to be had, but for now, Klaus just wants to cuddle with his babies as they nap. Marcel drifts off, dropping his cup to the blanket. Klaus has to remove Tyler's along with Jeremy's bottle, replacing them with their pacifiers. Marcel is content with his toad alone, rolling over in his sleep so his head lay on his papa's bare chest, just inches from Jeremy's. Tyler's rests comfortably on his shoulder.
Amidst the chaos of the crowd, cawing seagulls and crashing waves, Klaus' three little monsters snooze for a good hour and a half.
Posted twice today, but it was much needed to get my mind off some things. I'm not one to write overly fluffy pieces like this but it actually did a world of good for my mental health, so maybe I'll have to try it again in the future.
Next time, something not as fluffy, but we'll see Marcel's feelings regarding Klaus raising Jeremy and Tyler.
As always let me know what you think and feel free to leave prompts!