She didn’t do it very often, and laughed even less frequently, but it made his heart go off like a glitter bomb every time she did. His accomplishments in life might not be impressive to many people, but getting this broken little girl to smile and laugh after what she’d been through was one of the greatest things he’d ever done in his thirty-nine years on this planet.
“I want to go to the zoo and to the aquarium and things like that but it’s too scary right now. So maybe I could practice by going places that are smaller and where I’ll know people. Like maybe Plum’s cafe. Or Halli’s salon. Or Sable and Uncle Jethro’s garden center.”
He was impressed, she’d clearly put a lot of thought into this. Next time he wouldn’t be surprised if she made them a powerpoint or a Youtube video or something. Although she wasn’t very interested in the laptop they’d given her to use. Sometimes she played games or listened to music on her phone, but mostly she preferred to play with toys and color in the nursery, read books in their bed, or watch movies while snuggled on the couch with one or both of them.
“That’s a great idea, teapot. We can definitely make those field trips happen.”
Coco smiled again, still looking nervous but also pleased with herself.
“Um, okay. Third…I know I take up a lot of your time.”
“Ah,” said Hudson, warning clear in his tone. “If these are things you want to do, we are more than happy to help. But if you’re just worried about us, then don’t force yourself to do anything you’re not ready for.”
“I won’t, Daddy. Pinky promise,” she said, and held out her little finger that Huds wrapped his massive one around. It was comical but also filled Ian’s heart to overflowing.
“Anyway, I was thinking that I don’t actually need you to be there when I take naps. It would be okay to be by myself, especially if I was in the playroom with all my stuffies to keep me company. I would really like it if you still tucked me in though. And at night…”
His little princess hesitated then, her fingers closing around her paci and her gaze darting to the hallway where their bedroom was. She was probably wishing she’d brought Hopscotch.
“No,” Hudson said, shaking his head. “Papa and I want you with us at night. We love to cuddle you and we don’t want you to wake up from a nightmare without us there to give you hugs. We all sleep together at night.”
Coco’s face scrunched up. “But—”
“No buts. This is not up for discussion, young lady.”
Her face darkened further, and though it was about as threatening as a baby panda, he felt the need to intervene.
“Hey, Coco. It’s one thing if you’d like some privacy or some alone time or Daddy’s snoring keeps you awake—”
“Fuck you, you’re the one who sounds like a chainsaw chorus,” Hudson muttered under his breath.
“Is that why you want to sleep in the playroom at night?”
She shook her head emphatically. “No. I want to be with you all the time, but it’s silly for one of you to have to sit with me when I’m asleep. And I thought it would be easier for me to fall asleep by myself in the playroom. It won’t feel lonely.”
It was his turn to elbow Hudson who was about to say something.
“How about we compromise then? You’ll take your naps in the playroom, and at night we’ll tuck you in the crib in there at bedtime. But when Daddy and I are ready to go to sleep, we’ll come get you and bring you downstairs to spend the rest of the night with us. Does that sound okay?”
"Yes, Papa. That would be perfect.”
Huds didn’t look thrilled, but he agreed.
“And what’s the last thing?” he asked, wanting to move this along so Huds wouldn’t stay grumbly. He hated it when his partner was moody; Ian really preferred being the emotional yo-yo in the house.
“It’s kind of like a field trip,” she said, and clutched at her paci. “But it’s really close and I’ve been there before and I think I’ll know a bunch of people there.”
Ian felt his brows crawl up his forehead until they nearly met his hairline. Was she saying—
“I want to go to Hive,” she pronounced, her eyes bright and wide. “I want to go downstairs to the club.”
* * *
Hudson
“You are one tough cookie, you know that?”
Cosy looked up at him from where they’d tucked her into the crib for her nap. It had been smart of her to have their big talk right before nap time because she was clearly exhausted. Had been yawning and rubbing at her eyes while he gave her her afternoon bottle.