Steve put Walt in his bouncer and set up the TV for Ruth to watch her new favorite movie The Little Mermaid.
"Okay Daddy has to shower really fast so you be good and watch your brother. If he starts crying come get me." Steve told Ruth.
"Okay Daddy." Ruth said not looking away from the TV.
Steve rushed through his shower and was back down stairs in exactly 8 minutes. Apparently thats all it took for Ruth to cause some chaos.
When he went to the living room everything seemed fine but when he looked at Walt he wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or yell.
Walt had lipstick smeared around his eyes, across his forehead and around his mouth. The 6 month old didn't seem to mind as he kept bouncing playing with his toy.
"Ruth! What did you do!?" He decided on yelling.
"I didn't do anything." She shrugged looking innocent while holding her hands behind her back.
"Then who did this to your brothers face?"
"I guess he must have did it himself."
"How did he get mommy's lipstick?"
"He… probably took it when she said goodbye to him."
"Ruth you have to stop lying. Lying is bad. You shouldn't do this to your brother but lying is worse. No more TV tonight." Steve said sternly.
Ruth's face crumbled and tears sprung to her eyes. "But I..I… I just wanted to play with him!" Ruth cried.
Steve shut off the movie and Ruth sat in her little chair crying.
"I'm sorry Daddy but he doesn't do anything and I was bored so I thought he wouldn't mind playing dress up with me."
"Ruth, you can't just take Mommys things without permission, you can't draw on your brothers face and you definitely can't lie to me."
"I'm sorry Daddy." Ruth looked down at the floor and then back up at him with her big blue eyes full of tears. "Can I have a hug?" She asked hesitantly as she sniffed.
Steve of course would never say no to a hug from one of his kids.
Ruth had been doing this since she was a toddler. If she got in trouble she always wanted a hug or kiss. It's like she wanted to make sure he still loves her after she got in trouble. He secretly found it sweet.
He squatted down in front of her and she ran into his arms wrapping hers around his neck.
"Daddy you still love me right?" She whispered.
"Of course baby. I will love you no matter what."
"Even if I'm bad?" She asked looking up at him.
"Yes."
"What if I'm really really bad?"
"Ruth… whatever bad thing you're thinking of doing you better not."
"I'm not thinking anything." Ruth shrugged innocently.
"Mmmmhmmmm."
"But you'd still love me?" She asked sweetly.
"Yes. No matter how bad you are or how loud I yell I will always love you okay but that doesn't mean it's okay to be bad." Steve said as sternly as he could.
"Okay." She smiled and snuggled in his shoulder while Steve kissed her head.
"I'm going to wash your brothers face." Steve said putting Ruth back on the floor. "So please be good."
Ruth nodded and sat down grabbing a nearby toy.
Steve lifted Walter out of his bouncer and brought him to the bathroom. He took a washcloth and ran it under warm water before trying to rub off the lipstick. The baby fussed a little but mostly stood still for him.
"Sorry buddy your sister did a number on you. You're gonna have your hands full when you get older, but by then you'll probably be partners in crime teaming up to give your old dad a heart attack."
Walt babbled at him happily.
"Yeah I know you will. This is all my fault I've raised a bunch of backstabbing traitors." Steve exclaimed playfully and Walt laughed at Steve's dramatic expressions.
When Walt was finally clean Steve brought him back to the living room and sat on the couch with Walter in his lap.
Walters light brown hair was a little damp from the washcloth and his big blue eyes watched Steve.
Steve knew the universe was messing with him when they had another kid that looked just like Nancy equipped with her exact eyes. Now he had a house full of those eyes to contend with and he knew he would lose every time.
Walt began dozing off in Steve's arms and Ruth came over and plopped herself at Steve's side.
He put his arm around Ruth who leaned heavily against his side and quietly watched his amazing kids fall asleep in his arms.
Steve loved moments like this. He adored his little family and would watch them forever if he could. It wasn't easy taking care of them and they were too mischievous for their own good sometimes but Steve wouldn't change a thing. They were perfect because they were his and Nancy's and for so long he thought his dream of a loving family would stay just that, a dream, but he was living the dream now and he couldn't be happier and he really couldn't wait to laugh with Nancy about what Ruth did to Walt's face.
