(I saw a cute list of agere prompts somewhere, I wish I could remember where. So I thought I would give writing some of them ago)
Dennis and Robby had a shared day off, for the first time in a month. They were cuddled together in the hammock in the backyard of Abbot and Robby's house. Dennis nuzzled closer into Robby, letting out a happy little sigh.
"Abba, wook," he said, pointing to the flower pots.
"Pretty flowers," Dennis answered, smiling and wriggling at the newly blooming daffodils, tulips and hyacinths Jack had planted last year.
"You're right, they are pretty"
Dennis nodded, "mhm, pwetty" he echoed.
"Spring time really feels like it's here. Instead of all the rain"
"Yucky rain. Rain's no fun," Dennis grumbled, making Robby chuckle.
"We wouldn't get pretty flowers without the rain though bud," Robby explained.
Dennis just hummed in response and settled back down into Robby, running his toy tractor over the older man's belly.
A few minutes later Dennis furrowed his brow and looked up at Robby.
"Yes bug?" Robby asked back gently, hand coming up to run his hands through Dennis' fluffy hair.
"Springy? Like Tigger?" Dennis said, question somewhat disjointed.
Luckily, Robby knew what he meant.
"Not that kind of springy Den," Robby murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of Dennis' head. He loved how Dennis' brain worked when he was little.
"Tigger's bouncy which, you're right, has the same meaning as springy. This spring is the season," Robby explained.
"What season?" Dennis questioned straight back.
"A season is how we split up the year based on weather"
"Spring has pretty flowers?"
"Yeah buddy, spring has pretty flowers. And it's less cold than winter, means we can be outside more"
Dennis hummed, obviously thinking about what he'd just been told.
"Hmm, 'kay," he said, just accepting it. "Can I go play now?"
Robby chuckled happily again, "sure you can Den. You want help getting down?"
Dennis shuffled off and happily tottered over to where he'd left his farm animals on the grass.
Robby relaxed back into the hammock, one eye on Dennis and the other on the book he was trying to read. He couldn't get enough of days like the one he was having. Slow, relaxed, nothing urgent or in need of fixing. Perhaps the only thing to make it better would be Jack there with them. But Robby didn't have long to wait for that, he was upstairs asleep; which also explained why he and Dennis were outside.
Dennis' mother had called that morning. It hasn't gone well. Robby had no idea what was said due to Dennis ending the call in tears. Then, once Robby had helped him relax enough for the crying to stop, he'd regressed. They were outside as Dennis was getting antsy, he was under stimulated, emotional and needed something to do. So Robby grabbed an old sheet pan, filled it with some water, dry rice, beans and other fun textures, and took it out into the back yard for Dennis to play with.
Spring time was Robby's favourite time of year. He hated the cold, but hated how much the heat of summer made shifts at the pitt worse. It lead to so many perfect opportunities for fun activities with Dennis and Jack. Hikes, picnics, afternoons in the sun relaxing in the yard, gardening (although that was more Jack's thing). And not missing all the sunlight in a day was great too!
"DADA!" Dennis squealed, scrambling up from the floor and charging for Jack.
"Easy Denny," Robby tried to warn but to no effect. Dennis ran, full tilt - well, as full as he could manage when he was regressed and poorly co-ordinated, into Jack. Normally Jack was all for the roughhousing and giving Dennis all the sensory input he could get. However, balanced on his crutches after just waking up, it was less than ideal.
"Woah!" Jack let out in a breath as he had to steady himself on the door behind him, before wrapping an arm around Dennis.
"Hey bug, how you feeling?" Jack asked, as Robby got out of the hammock with all of the grace of a fifty four year old man with very long limbs. Jack held back a laugh but couldn't quite restrain his smirk, getting a glare over his glasses from Robby.
Dennis stepped back from Jack's hug. "It's bouncy now! Like Tigger!" he said happily, jumping up and down and grinning.
Jack nodded along, not wanting his boy to feel bad, but not understanding at all what he meant.
Robby wrapped an arm round Jack's waist and a kiss on his temple. "We were talking about it being spring now. Bug's just a little confused about spring being a season and something bouncy"
"Ah, got it," Jack said nodding
"Can we watch Tigger?" Dennis asked, still bouncing.
"We'll watch it after dinner, okay?" Robby offered
Dennis nodded incredibly enthusiastically, and went bouncing all around the yard.
Jack and Robby perched on the bench just outside the back door.
"What about you? You doing okay?" Jack asked, pulling Robby into his side.
"Yeah. I really am," he answered, sounding calm.
Jack smiled, just a small flick of the corner of his mouth, but Robby saw it nonetheless.
"And how's he really?" he asked, nodding towards Dennis who was still bouncing, but now with a toy sheep in his hand.
Robby shrugged, "his mom called, he cried - a lot"
Jack nodded in understanding, "been regressed ever since?"
Robby nodded in confirmation. "I just wish I knew how to help him better after his family calls"
"I wish his family wouldn't call," Jack scoffed.
"Papa look!" Dennis called over
Robby got up, walking over to where Dennis was still jumping.
"More bouncy flowers!" the young man said, pointing to some bluebells
Robby nodded, smiling at Dennis' enthusiasm. "There sure are"
"I like spring now! Is good!" Dennis declared.
Jack had made his way over, to curious to see what Dennis had decided was fascinating. As much as he liked watching Robby and Dennis interact, it was so much better when he got the chance to join in too.
"Look Dada, bouncy flowers," Dennis repeated. "Spring is the bestest, I love it!"
Robby pulled Dennis into his side for a hug, the need to hug his little bug combining with the dizziness from seeing him jump meant it was a no brainer.
"I love spring too bug," Robby said.
"Count me in on that too," Jack added coming to hug Dennis from his other side.
Dennis smiled and hummed happily, nestling deeper into the hug, relaxing slightly for the first time that day.
(Maybe this is something? Thank you for getting to the end. Have a beautiful day! Stay safe)