It was one of the rare mornings you got to wake up naturally, without an alarm clock ringing or your boyfriend waking up first. You opened your eyes with a yawn. Garcello was asleep with his back to you and the covers pushed down to his waist. His hair was messy and splayed across the pillow. You listened to his snores and smiled. There was nobody you would rather wake up next to.
The door to your room swung open and you heard a set of scampering feet run into the room giggling. You sat up quickly, holding out your hand and leaning over in a futile attempt to keep the young boy from jumping onto the bed. He landed on Garcello's side and Garcello let out a muffled groan.
"Adrien." You said firmly. He smiled and laid down in front of his father and tucked his head under Garcello's chin. Garcello looped his arm around the small boy and pulled him closer to his chest while he cleared his throat.
"He's alright." Garcello said. His voice was gruff from sleep. He rolled over, pulling his son with him and dropping him on the bed between the two of you.
Six years ago your son had been born at 1 in the morning on a Tuesday. You hadn't been due for another 10 weeks so when you woke Garcello up to tell him your water broke he was panicked. He had chewed through a straw on the way to the hospital. He had stopped smoking around you when you told him you were pregnant and stopped smoking when Adrien was a baby, but once he weas old enough he picked it up again. Adrien had been in the hospital in the NICU until his original due date. Garcello was understandably protective of his son.
"How many times have we said don't jump on dad?" You said. Adrien smiled and giggled and Garcello scooped him against his chest. He growled playfully and pretended to bite Adrien's cheeks while he laughed, pushing against his arms.
"Dad!" Adrien said as Garcello squeezed him. Garcello let out a deep laugh and let him go. Adrien, stayed pressed against Garcello's chest. Adrien had always been preferred his father, and Garcello adored it. He loved it when Adrien would climb into his lap in the evenings to watch a movie and fall asleep on his chest. He had always wanted to be a dad.
Adrien curled up against Garcello's chest, tucking his head under Garcello's chin and holding a fist full of Garcello's white T-shirt. Garcello rested his hand on Adrien's back, rubbing it gently. He reached up and smoothed down Adrien's dark hair, the same color as Garcello's natural hair. Adrien snuggled closer against his father and Garcello smiled.
"Mommy what are we doing today?" Adrien asked, peering at you over Garcello's forearm. You sat up slightly and held yourself up with your elbow, looking to Garcello. He was holding Adrien contentedly with his eyes shut as he slowly fell back asleep.
"Oh I don't think we'll do much." You said. Adrien huffed.
"It's not a special day or anything." You said with a sly smile. Garcello raised an eyebrow and cracked one eye open as Adrien stirred against his chest with a small whine.
"Momma," Adrien said, holding Garcello's arm.
"What baby?" You said, still smiling.
"Mom it is a special day!" He said, laying across you. You let out a small huff.
"Oh? What day is it? Saturday?" You asked, looking at him.
"It is Saturday but it's my birthday!" Adrien exclaimed. You smiled down at him.
"No you had one last year." You said. "You turned five, Dad took you to the pool." You said. You remembered that day vividly. Garcello had walked in the door an hour after the pool closed with his son sleeping in his arms, the pool bag slung over his shoulder, both towels around his neck and the worst sunburn he'd ever gotten. But he was smiling the entire time he put his son to bed and told you all about the fun they had at the pool while you slathered him in aloe.
"I get a birthday every year mom." Adrien piped up.
"No that doesn't seem fair." Garcello said. Adrien twisted his head to look up at Garcello and reached up to tug on a lock of Garcello's teal hair.
"It is fair dad." He said. Garcello kissed his sons forehead and Adrien smiled softly.
"Hm, I'm not sure," You said as you ruffled Adrien's hair. "What do you want to do today bud?" You asked.
"Waffles!" Adrien cried, sitting up quickly and headbutting Garcello in the nose. Garcello rolled backwards, bringing his hand to his face with a groan. Adrien turned around and pressed his palms flat on Garcello's chest.
"I'm sorry dad!" He said, trying to pull Garcello's hand away from his face. Garcello set his opposite hand on Adrien's head and chuckled.
"I know bud you're alright." He said. Adrien laid his head on Garcello's chest and you chuckled.
"Should we make some waffles then boys?" You asked. They both nodded and you stood up, grabbing one of Garcello's T-shirts from the dresser to put on over your tank top. Adrien rolled off the bed and landed on the ground with a thump. Garcello swung his legs over the side to stand and stretch.
"Come on buddy." He said, reaching down to Adrien's level. Adrien took Garcello's hand and Garcello lifted him off the floor to set him on his feet.
***
You opened the door and Garcello walked through it holding Adrien in his arms. He had fallen asleep in the car on the way home from the amusement park and wouldn't wake up long enough to walk into the house. You tried to wake him up, you knew it hurt Garcello's back to carry him, but he had insisted.
"Babe it's alright, I got him." He said when you reached to take Adrien from him. He carried him to his room and set Adrien in his bed. He grabbed his pajamas, waking him gently and helping him get ready for bed before tucking him in. You followed behind Garcello, kissing Adrien on his forehead before closing his door and walking to your bedroom.
Garcello was sitting on the bed in just his boxers, one hand on his chest while he stretched his shoulder. He pulled his shoulders back to stretch his chest and grimaced before letting out a cough. He still smoked sometimes, but he limited it to outside when his son wasn't around.
"Are you alright?" You asked He sighed and nodded, standing up to hug you. He had developed a bit of a dad bod since the Adrien was born. He didn't have as much time to work out and as he cut back on smoking his appetite returned. He hated, it, he always said he needed to get back in shape, but you loved it. You loved him no matter what he looked like, no matter what shape he was in. You rubbed his back and pressed a kiss to his bare chest.
"You're a good dad." You said. He huffed and you looked up at him.
"You are Garcello. Adrien adores you." You said. His dad wasn't in the picture, he had never had a father figure and always panicked that he would have no idea how to raise his son. But he had excelled from day one. Watching him walk around the park today with Adrien sitting high on his shoulders had done something to you.
"Maybe we should have another one?" You suggested, kissing Garcello's shoulder. He chuckled and looked down at you. He wouldn't ever refuse the process that it took to have a baby, but he could barely keep up with Adrien when he was born. His chest got tight if he played too rough, or chased him too long.
"We could, or." He rested his hands on your hips and the two of you slowly swayed with each other.
"We could get married?" He suggested. You tilted your head and stopped swaying. He swallowed heavily.
"Garcello," You paused, "are you, proposing?" He cleared his throat, walking over to his night stand and opening the drawer. He pulled out a small velvet box and played with it in his hands as he walked towards you. He got down on one knee and held the box in front of it, opening it to reveal the most beautiful ring you had ever seen.
"Marry me?" He asked simply. You smiled, resting your hand on his cheek.
"Of course, you have to ask?" You said, tears welling in your eyes as Garcello took the ring from the box and sliding it onto your finger. It fit perfectly. You loved the feel of it on your finger, you loved what it meant.
"I have something for you too." You said, rushing to your own night stand and pulling out a small wooden box. You opened it and showed it to Garcello to reveal a silver tungsten band with a thin teal line down the center and the words "Garcello my beloved" engraved on the inside. He took it with a wide smile and examined it.
"Is this an engagement ring?" He asked with a lopsided grin. You felt the heat rising in your cheeks and nodded.
"It is, I just didn't know when to bring it up." You said. Garcello slipped the ring onto his finger and held his hand out to admire it.
"I love it." He said before turning to you and taking your hands in his.
"And I love you." He kissed you deeply. "And, we could have another one. I've always loved the thought of having a daughter."
