Mcd Jeffmau cause parent trap urges(except it isn't parent trap it's just one of the parent ships I like) or Or ZoeJeffMau(Polycule, Zoey Jeffrey and Aphmau cause parent sin love)
(ZoeyJeffMau!! A short thing and an Au at the end) Aphmau rises before the sun. Her eyes open to the dark, and she takes a moment to sink into the hold of her partners. They are warm, and her heart swells. She almost considers staying in bed, except she has work to do. She extracts herself slowly, and watches as they rearrange before struggling into her day clothes.
Aphmau gets water from the well, and sets out the plates and cups for breakfast. She digs through the garden and pulls up some weeds in the lantern light, and heads to the fields. Brendan had said he needed help clearing the harvest, so she starts cutting and pulling grain and carrots. She travels to the barn and drops her stack, milks a cow and bottles it up. She leaves most of the milk at the barn, and takes the rest to the bakery, where she picks up some bread. Brendan and the Babe House get their first orders of the morning, and she stops to chat with Brendan before they go their separate ways. There’s a lot to do, after all.
She puts the bread in the house, and gathers clothes from the line outside. Aphmau briefly notices that Malachi’s pants need to be patched. Aphmau folds the clothes, and throws the pants over a chair. She’ll get to it later.
Jeffery wakes up at dawn, the sun rising in his face. They should really start closing the curtains before they fall asleep. Zoey curls closer to him as he sits up and he smiles, pressing a kiss to her head before getting up. Aphmau’s always running around the village by this time. He stretches as he peeps in at the kids. Levin’s eyes are peeking over his crib.
He shuffles over and lifts the baby up, with a coo. “Hey there, little guy. Isn’t it a bit early for you?” Levin giggles at him, and Jeffery takes him downstairs. There’s bread on the counter and a pair of pants on the chair. “Looks like your mom left quick, huh?”
Jeffery hurries to the basement, where he quickly changes Levin and puts him in a new onesie. He takes the baby back upstairs, and sits him in a high chair. “Whatcha want for breakfast?” He lifts a bottle of milk. “You want some fruit? I think you want some fruit.” Jeffery pours some milk into a bottle and cuts up some strawberries.
While Levin plays with the strawberries, and the milk warms up, Jeffery cliches some bread, and piles it with more of the fruit. Drizzling on some honey, and setting it aside, Jeffery cracks eggs in a pan and starts on proper breakfast.
“You know, I think we should a picnic.” Levin blinks up at him, and reaches for his bottle. “Yeah, I know. ‘Feed me, peasant.’ You’re very sweet Levin.” Jeffery cradles him as he suckles the bottle, humming softly as Levin falls back asleep.
He puts him back to bed, and tucks the covers back around Abby before leaving the room. Jeffery pops a berry into his mouth, before grabbing the pants on the chair, and rolling up his sleeves. He had some time.
Zoey wakes to hushed laughter. She can hear it downstairs and across the hall, filling the house with noise. She heads out, pulling her hair up as she goes. Abby and Malachi are whispering over Levin’s crib, playing with the sock puppets Aphmau had been so excited to make for them. Levin giggles again at whatever they’re saying, and Zoey smiles.
“I see you’re dressed.” The kids smile at Zoey, and she walks over and picks Levin up. “Come on, let’s go eat.”
Aphmau and Jeffery were standing over an already made table when Zoey brought the kids down. Aphmau had obviously gone mining, based on the dirty pickaxe propped against the door, and the smudge on her cheek. Jeffery is mumbling something as he turns back to the counter, and Aphmau laughs, turning towards their footsteps.
Zoey doesn’t think anyone has looked at her the way those two do. Aphmau's face lights up, and she takes Levin from her arms, putting him in his chair before cooing at him, and standing back up. Zoey’s immediately wrapped in Aphmau’s arms, and feels her kiss her cheek before turning back to the kids. Jeffery places plates in front of them, before kissing the top of Zoey’s head, and placing his chin on top.
They stand there for just a minute before they are ushered to the table. Zoey stirs honey in her tea and pretends she doesn’t notice the amount of coffee Aphmau is pouring into her cup. She leans into Jeffery’s side, and passes Aphmau napkins as she feeds Levin.
The sun was bright outside.
Everything quiets down as it gets later. Aphmau was always surprised how many people were willing to push something off to the next day as it gets later, and she would be grateful if it didn’t mean more to do. She finishes the repairs to the road, and stretches, checking it off the list. She was done for the day. She could go home.
Jeffery lifts the spoon from the soup, and hands it to Abby. She shakes her head, and he sighs.
“Still no?” He grabs his cooking spoon again, and stirs the pot. “What would you add?”
“It’s sweet.” Abby shrugs, lifting up a carrot and plopping it in. “How do we stop it from being sweet?”
“Potatoes could help, I think.” Aphmau piles in from the doorway, putting a bag on the floor. “Brendan just gave me a whole bunch.”
“Maybe…” Jeffery leans over the pot again, and hears Abby run to Aohmua. They start whispering as Abby leads Aphmau into the basement, and Jeffery eyes them as they pass.
He decides to ignore the mischievous grins on their faces.
Zoey watches Malachi put another card in the pile and hums. He had wanted to teach her the game, and she was losing badly. Levin naps a couple of feet away. Zoey places another card down, and then throws her hands up dramatically. Malachi shakes his head, and puts down another card.
“How are you so good at this game?” Zoey shuffles the cards, and Malachi smiles.
“I used to play it with my tutors before… We had nothing better to do.” Malachi reaches out, and deals the cards, setting up two more spaces.
“What’re we playing?” Aphmau wraps their ankles together under the table, and picks up her cards.
“Crazy Eights” Malachi says. “It's a four player game.” Aphmau smiles.
Zoey loses more often than she wins, so she volunteers to help Jeffery with dinner. Aphmau was trying to teach the kids a game called Spit, and simultaneously playing with Levin. Jeffrey smiles at her, and passes her a knife.
“What’s with the potatoes?” Zoey starts skinning the potatoe he hands her, and he turns back to the pot on the stove.
“Abby said the soup was sweet, so I’m trying to cut that down.” He taps her shoulder, and lifts up a spoon. “Taste.”
“That’s good.” Zoey tosses the potato skins in the bucket by the door. “Not very sweet.”
“Perfect then.” He picks up the cubed potatoes and puts them in the pot, and puts a lid on it. “Dinner should be done in a bit.” Zoey wipes her hands on his apron, and Jeffery grabs her hand, spinning her around.
Zoey laughs as he spins her, pulling her close and swaying with her. The kitchen was built for this, allowing for them to spin around and dance to zero music.
“Did I tell you today that I love you?” Jeffrey mumbles. Zoey huffs.
“Only twice.” She pulls away and smiles at him.
“That’s not nearly enough.” Jeffery steps away and clears his throat. “I love you.” Zoey shakes her head, and kisses his cheek.
“Love you too.” Little arms wraps around her waist and Zoey looks down at Abby’s bright eyes. “And you as well little lady.”
“‘mau went to change Levin.” Malachi picks up a slice of bread and goes to take a bite. Jeffery grabs the bread from his hand, and guides him to his seat. “I guess it’s dinner time.” Zoey didn’t even know how he got over there without them noticing.
Abby sits in her seat, and takes a sip of her water, while Zoey starts dishing up soup. Jeffery places bowls and slices of bread on the table, and sets Levin’s applesauce next to Aphmau’s seat. She comes down with the baby sleepily grabbing her shirt.
“He’s trying to fall asleep on me.” Aphmau mumbles, carefully sliding him into his seat. Jeffrey ruffles Levin’s hair gently, before tugging Zoey into her seat. She gets so worried about all of them.
Aphmau puts Levin to bed after they both finish eating, patching one of her jackets as she sits beside his bed. Abby and Malachi come in and change into their pajamas. Aphmau finishes her stitches, and sighs before acknowledging the two kids looking at her expectantly.
“I guess it’s story time.”
Jeffery places his head on Zoey’s shoulder as she pets one of the dogs that decided to invade their bed. Aphmau is curled up in his side, completely focused on the book in her lap. Moments like this Jeffery wonders what his life would have been like if he hadn’t met them.
He hopes this is where he’ll be in the future.
They go to sleep with the moon shining on them.
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Au (Jeffmau) idea: Where Malachi and Abby both end up in Pikoro (where A and J) met for their birthday (twins), and their parents run into each other for the first time in years. Levin is still adopted.