I just KNOW Carmen would be such a soft and amazing dad. 100% would make sure in between the restaurant to be there for you, and be there for his little cubs (doesn’t want things to go in the same vain it did with his lack of relationship with his dad) Even if working at the restaurant is one of his biggest priorities, you know he is absolutely taking time off in the last few months before your little girl or boy arrives (A strong supporter of Carmy being a girl dad). You’d have to physically and gently pry your baby from his arms because he can’t stop kissing them and pressing his nose against their little cheek 😭
oh my god, all the discourse about girl dad/boy dad on tiktok and i'm just like in the dictionary in MY universe carmen's photos is right under girl dad. carmen would be an amazing father regardless, but when he finds out hes getting a little girl???
He's buying her every single toy that could possible exist. It's just all pressed up against his chest at the checkout line no trolley nothing. Just straight cave man energy must..get..babygirl..things...
He's inconsolable when she comes, just straight up hiccuping and crying as the nurses try to get her out of his goddamn death grip. It's like your baby needs a bath and Carmen is like holding up against his pale ass bare chest like get out of my fucking face with that.
he's probably tricking Richie to come over under the guise of your god tier baked goods that never make it past the first minute of family - JUST to build his in utero baby girl a tree house. for you know, the 6 years that will come up.
"Alright, alright" Richie grins, rubbing his hands together as Carmen pulls into the drive way. He's damn near halfway out the car door before Carmen can kill the engine and if it was anyone but Cousin, Carmen would've attempted to hide his grin.
"Blessed thee, you absolute angel" Richie calls out as he opens the door. You poke your head out from under the load of laundry you've been trying to sort - the aching dullness at your hips preventing you so.
"Rich? What are you doing here?" You say, eyebrows quirking up at his sudden arrival.
"Funny too! You really got yourself a catch" Richie laughs, playfully jabbing at Carmen.
You look towards him, clocking your head at the grin that's begun to take up half of Carmen's face. You knew that look, what did he do?
"You know I didn't even get a piece at family last week? Fuckin' gremlins matter of fact I have to get back to the Bear soon, got a couple catering orders to organise. Least it isn't for Cicero's daughters best friend's dog or some shit" Richie mutters, and you can't help but hie the giggle before you straighten out.
Someone had to be the adult here, right?
"Is it in like a tupperware or..?" Richie replies when the puzzled look on your face remains
"What is?"
"Those cinnamon pastry thingies you always make" Richie replies, slowly turning to Carmen, than back to you
"Carm told me you made a little extra"
"Oh Richie" You sigh
"Don't..no. Cousin." Richie hands raise up to his temples, pinching the line that formed from believing a word out of Carmen's mouth.
"Don't tell me you lied" Richie quickly twists his body to point at Carmen
"I knew it was too good, I should have known.."
"Relax, it's for the greater good"
"What greater good? Do you know you deliberately contributed to a mans starvation?"
"You can't lie to a man that's going through those stages Cousin! No, no you don't get it!"
"Aye relax"
"You..you're a fucking mirage. That's what this is" Richie chuckles, shaking his head.
A silence falls over the three of you, and as your eyes meet Carmen you can't help the smile that creeps onto your face.
"So are you going to tell me why I'm here??" Richie yells suddenly.
"Yeah, I wanna build something for my future child that my wife is going to bring into this world. You know, something that's more important than fucking cinnamon buns
"Cinnamon twists" Richie murmurs softly, eyes glazed over, and if you squint it looks like a tear has actually squeezed out.
"Let him mourn Carm" You reply, gently rubbing Richie crouched figure.
Carmen shakes his head, rolling his eyes as he waits all of 5 seconds before his patience wears into an annoyed grunt.
"Alright what does my future niece need" Richie sighs
"Carmen we've already got the changing table and bassinet ready" You continue, running through the list of baby things that had begun to take up all the 'open space layout' you're house had. How much more things could you need?.
"Was doing some work out the back, and doesn't that tree we have close to the fence have a real good foundation" Carmen murmurs
"What are you saying?" Richie yoans
"My babygirl would want a tree house
"Carm-
"Just listen, I know her, half of her at least. And I wanted one the moment I could climb a tree. So naturally she would want one alright? And, and so it's like I'm just having it ready for when she needs it.
"Oh my god"
"What?"
"She isn't even here yet!"
"Don't remind me" Carmen grunts, genuinely grunts out.
"Carm, she'll be crawling for like so long" Richie interjects
"You don't know her" Carmen replies quickly, throwing accusatory eyes at Richie
"You think my baby girl won't be able to crawl in a tree house? I'm feeling a lot of negative energy I don't like"
"Besides, I already bought the wood. And everything else" Carmen murmurs
"I'm doing this for her Cousin, her!" Richie replies
"What about the catering order Rich?" You quirk, he had just stop rambling about it.
"Ah don't worry about it hun. Anything for my god daughter" Richie grins. Throwing his hand behind him for full effect.
"You can't be her god father and her uncle Cousin" Carmen replies
"Why the hell not-"
Richie is interrupted by the slight wince that leaves your mouth and has you ripping the counter and holding your sides.
Carmen moves towards you in a flash, gripping your sides softly as his eyes furrow in concern.
"You okay baby?"
You breathe out through your nose forcefully
"Just feelin sore, I'm alright"
"You don't want me doing the tree house? Done. It's over. Richie get the fuck out my house" Carmen yells out the last part
"Hey!"
"No, no do it. You're probably right"
"Bout what?"
"Every kid wants a fucking tree house"
Carmen carries you to the bathroom, with direct orders to soak in the tub for at least an hour while your child's metaphorical tree house is built.
You can hear the consistent argue of Richie and Carmen filter through the bathroom window even over the grating sound of sawing wood. You love it every bit, and as you kiss Richie goodbye, you slide a container of your cinnamon twists into his hand.
He turns around, the biggest smile you think you had ever scene on his face as he throws the finger at Carm, and takes off running out the door before he can react.
ok ok so i just read your fucking carmy kid blurb and i'm weeping
but i was babysitting tonight and we played fucking restaurant with their tiny little plastic food AND ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS CARMY HELPING YOUR DAUGHTER COOK WITH HER FAKE FOOD AND PRETENDING TO ENJOY EVERY BIT OF 'FOOD' THAT SHE MAKES HIM LIKE SHE'S THE MOST TALENTED LITTLE CHEF
ok i'm sorry i'll calm down now
STOPSTOPSTOP because yknow he gets way too into it and starts acting like its actual food and your baby's just playing but he's like "no that's not how—"
Your daughter squeals and slams the plastic potato on the the counter of the toy kitchen. "Cook!"
"That's right, you're cooking!" Carmen smiles, keeping a hand on her little back every time she sways back on her still unsteady legs. "What are you making, bug?"
"Cheese!"
Carmen's lips quirk, "That's a potato."
Your daughter tilts her head with a frown, curls bouncing. "'tato?"
"Yeah, for French fries. Or mashed potatoes." He pauses. "Or scalloped potatoes... you could even make—"
"Daddy," she interrupts, leaning towards her dad to press a kiss to his nose. "No more, please."
Carmen stares, stunned, while you start cackling from your spot on the couch.
He watches his daughter put the potato in the play oven, "wait you have to wash and boil before—."
"Bear, she's playing," you tease, getting up and moving towards them al the while biting back a smile at your husband's disgruntled face.
"Never too early to teach her."
You hum, still amused, and lean down to kiss him.
+ Not twenty minutes later you have a blubbering toddler in your arms screaming about how her dad is a meany who refused to eat her unwashed potatoes :(
when you were pregnant carmen was super anxious about anything going wrong. you had to constantly remind him you couldn't control what happened.
has marcus make your gender reveal cake and it was beautiful
towards the end of your pregnancy, he had you stay at the restaurant so he could keep an eye on you and your water broke at the bear during family.
was freaking out more than you were on the drive to the hospital. after a couple of minutes of driving, he was comforting you and saying words of affirmations for the whole journey.
when your baby is born he’s in awe at how beautiful she is and how similar she looks to you.
nervous when you take her home but you assure him he’s gonna be a perfect dad.
when she wakes up crying carmen gets up, letting you sleep, to soothe and put her back to sleep.
cuts down his smoking because he knows you are not a fan of it and hurt the baby
constantly cooking for you and the baby.
when your daughter goes to nursery/daycare he cries but you remind him she's only gone for 3 hours.
loves when you come to the restaurant, the whole restaurant loves you and tina loves watching your sweet baby.
makes her the cutest bento boxes for school every day.
okay i’m not super into kid fics most of the time but i was reading over @thebearer ‘s writing with dad!carmen (who literally slays everything she writes) and now—
I’m thinking of his little daughter one night, sitting at the kitchen table with her hair wet from the shower, brushed back and leaving a damp spot on the back of her pyjama shirt, and she’s having some fruit for dessert while you wash dishes and Carmen prepares her lunch for school tomorrow, and out of nowhere she asks absentmindedly “Daddy could you pack some extra please?”
And Carmen is instantly on alert, Has he not been feeding her enough? Has his baby been going hungry at school? He shoots you a look but you look just as confused.
“Of course, ladybug.” He nears the table, wiping his hands with a kitchen towel all the while keeping his eyes on his little daughter munching on a piece of watermelon like she didn’t just send him down a spiral of inadequate parenting. “You been hungry after lunch?”
She shakes her head and reaches for another piece.
“Then why do you want more, babe?”
“It’s not for me, it’s for Maisy.”
Carmen is more confused by the second. But for you, who’s been a Maisy, it becomes clear as day.
“Have you been sharing your food with Maisy, bug?” you ask her with a smile, coming up to brush a few drying strands out of her face.
She nods through another mouthful, pineapple this time. She offers you a slice and you take it.
“Does she not have a lunch of her own?” Carmen seems to finally be catching up.
“No,” she hums, inspecting a blueberry before putting it back on the plate. “I think her mommy and daddy forget. They forgot to pick her up on Wenedsday”
“Wednesday,” you correct gently, using your hand to wipe the juice dripping down her chin.
“That one,” she nods.
Carmen and you lock eyes across the table. On the one hand you share an insurmountable pride that you’ve raised a child kind enough to not only notice, but to care enough to share her food and even ask for more. On the other hand, your hearts break for a child that’s going without food. You can’t fix everything, you both know that, especially since you don’t know the circumstances. But you can sure as hell make sure Maisy doesn’t go hungry at school again.
“Okay,” Carmen says before pressing a kiss to his daughter’s head. “How about I make another lunch for Maisy, hm? Can you give it to her, baby?”
“Yup!” She gives him a toothy grin and then licks her fingers clean. “Thanks, daddy. She really likes your chicken.”
Carmen smiles, “Of course, sweetheart.”
When she climbs on your lap you don’t have the heart to care about the sticky fingers reaching for your face, not when you’re feeling so full of love for the little girl you brought into this world. You take a second to thank the universe for the life it gave you, for the means to make sure your daughter will never have to go hungry. You hold her tight to your chest with misty eyes, “I’m so proud of you, you know? You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to your daddy and me.” Your kisses become playful and your daughter becomes boneless and squirmy in your arms, giggles filling the kitchen. “My sweet sweet girl, I could eat you up you’re so sweet.”
“Hey,” Carmen is approaching now, a glint in his eye as he aims a tickle at his daughter’s neck. “I want a piece of the sweetness too.”
After that night, Carmen makes sure to always send his daughter to school with an extra serving and you make arrangements with a couple of parents to carpool after school.
him and his little mini me with matching curls and pensive eyes :') dressing up your baby as remy from ratatouille and carmy carrying them on his shoulders while they giggle and pull at his hair sTOP
okayyy um I don’t remember exactly what I said but it was something like when Carmy baby girl is in her early teens and in that phase where she doesn’t like herself very much and it breaks his heart but he makes sure she knows how amazing she is and how she is the person who made him love himself
PLS CARMEN WITH A DAUGHTER I SOBBBB and yes he would be so vigilant about mental health stuff, even though he's not very good at talking about it, you've helped him so much and encouraged him to actually get help (I hc you get him into therapy :'))
but he does talk to her about how it's not a flex to deal with things by yourself, and you should rely on the people that love you soB and I feel like his instinct is probably to go to you like, "Something's up, I think you should talk to her." and you're folding laundry like "how about you talk to her, babe," and he has to work himself up to do it but they end up having a heart-to-heart CRYYY
