#fitzjames*

[bbynedtime]

Momma's boy

[bbynedtime]

thinking about little-puppy interactions and melting at the thought of Sol being the tiniest baby puppy and littles being diligently instructed by their caregivers on how to take care of such a tiny pup... Ned is a bit scared to touch (what if he bites!) but once he has been coached to let Sol sniff his hand first he cautiously and happily pets him. Later he'll fall asleep snuggled up against him.

Little Harry Goodsir has to be gently reined in a little so he does not spook the puppy, wanting to pet him all over and so excited to play with him!

Also little Collins barely speaks but he DOES murmur "doggie!!" all excitedly when he spots a puppy.

That's a cuteness overload combo ;_; Ned and Sol? I've melted.

Sol might get spooked when someone's yelling or being otherwise loud but he's loving the attention imo. Plus Ned pets very gently.

Harry sooo wants to befriend the puppy, he wants to play fetch and run in the yard! It takes a moment for someone to explain that Sol is too small a puppy for that 😔 just pets are fine too.

[bbynedtime]

Bouncing off Ned being occasionally the oldest: I 100% see Hickey or whatever villain has managed to get Tozer getting tired of caregiving/having a scam they need to pull/wanting to sleep with someone new and leaving a distraught, tiny Tozer on James and Francis’s doorstep and Ned, whether little or not, being extremely anxious over the whole situation (because there’s a BABY at his house and what if it doesn’t go home and it’s gonna try to play with HIS toys????) but also being very much a chronic older sibling and reluctantly wanting to help this sad baby because *he’s* been a sad scared baby and even though this new kid is taking up his parents time he doesn’t want him to be stressed like he usually is

Oh poor babyy ;_; the fic inspiration is too strong- (i hope you don't mind the Ned POV, i just thought it fit the occasion)

Ned came downstairs because of the horrified "OH MY GOD" he heard his mama say.

"How long have you been out there, sweetheart?" mama said and pet Sol's hair. Oh. Sol is here. Are they having a surprise sleepover...?

Sol sniffed and shrugged. "Dunno."

"Poor thing is soaked through... Tom, would you prepare a bath for him?"

Tommy nodded and ran off quickly.

Ned reached for him but didn't catch him.

"Francis, please find a pull-on and some spare clothes? Ned's will do I think..." Why does mama need his clothes? What's happening?

"On my way." Dada walked past Ned and pat him on the arm. "Don't worry, he's okay."

Ned stared after him as he disappeared in the play room. Why wouldn't Sol be okay...? What's going on? It's so confusing. There's so much happening and he doesn't know... Doesn't know anything. He-

He walked towards mama, wanted her to hold him, but she was holding Sol.

Oh no... Sol really is all wet. And he's crying. Is he sad...? He doesn't want Sol to be sad...

They're friends, he should do something. But what can he do? ... Oh!

He ran back upstairs and found the big fluffy doggy toy Sol likes. He always plays with it when he's here.

But when Ned wanted to go downstairs, mommy was already taking Sol up. So he waited for them on top of the stairs.

"Oh, honey, i don't know if Sol is in the mood for toys right now. He's very cold, he needs a warm bath first, okay? Then you two can play."

But that's not what the toy is for! It's to help him be brave! He tried giving Sol the toy anyway, but he didn't take it. Maybe momma's right. Sol should warm up first. Ned sure isn't in a mood to play when he's all cold either.

So Ned ran ahead to the bathroom and put the doggy toy on the ground. It's okay, it will not get wet.

Tommy was still preparing things. He saw Ned come in and pet his arm. "Are they coming?"

He nodded.

"Okay. I took some of your clothes so Sol has something dry to wear, alright?"

Those are his clothes, not Sol's. And he's going to mess them. And... and tear them. And-

"Aw, Ned... It's alright... I'll make sure to wash them afterwards and all. Okay?" Tommy kissed his forhead and pet his cheek. Tommy is so nice always...

"Oh, you've got it all set up I see." Mama said. She was at the door with Sol now.

"Yeah... Poor thing looks like he really needs it." Tommy said and helped mama undress Sol. He was shaking all over. Is he cold or crying? Ned can't tell from so far away.

He walked closer and knelt on the floor. Sol was in the bathtub now. Mama was washing him and petting his hair and shushing him like she does with Ned when he's not feeling very good.

And Sol looks like he's not feeling good at all. Not at all.

So Ned lied his head on top of the tub and tried very hard to talk. Talking was so hard since morning... He only said a few things, but he has to try to make Sol feel better. "Is okay," he said.

Mama turned to him. "Aw, Ned..."

"Is okay." He said again. If mama thinks he's doing good then he is.

"Okay," Sol said but didn't smile at all.

"We'll clean you up and then you two can have a snack and nap together, how does that sound?" Mama asked.

That sounds very nice. Maybe he can help? "M- make s-s-snack with dada?" Words are so hard...

"That would be so sweet of you, Ned," mama smiled. "You don't have to, but I'd be very proud of you if you did. Go ask dada if there's something safe you can do, okay? No knives."

He nodded. Knives are scary, he doesn't want any knives. Daddy can do that.

.....

They made a snack with dada. Toast! But all kinds of toast so anyone can pick one. Sweet and salty and also one with an apple slice on it - that one was for daddy.

Sol chose the peanut butter one and also the peach marmelade one and also the strawberry marmelade one.

Ned sat on the couch, even though Tommy doesn't like it when he eats on the couch. And Sol sat next to him and also ate his toasts. He was happier. He even talked a little bit with dada.

"If you're both done eating, what about the nap?" Mommy asked.

Nap sounds nice. He's very tired...

Sol nodded too.

"Alright, I'll bring you some blankets then. You two wait here, okay?"

"Okay, mama."

[Fic cuts off abrubtly i know ;_; i sort of got stuck]

[bbynedtime]

Oh my GOD Puppy Ned has bewitched me. The image of Jamie bottle feeding him!!! Also I feel like Crozier would underestimate just how tiny of a pup he is and would try to train him to sit or some such and Jamie would have to be like FRAUNCIS he's just a little thing!!! Also I think little!Jop would enjoy playing with him QwQ

Also to indulge myself please consider: baby Johnny loves animals but Mama worries about letting him play with the bigger pups lest he get hurt. Little Puppy Ned is the ideal solution. He'll happily curl up with Johnny and let himself be pet without risk of getting rambunctious. Maybe Mama even gives him a collar that matches her and Johnny's outfits <3

😭😭😭 Crozier trying to teach Ned to sit, meanwhile Ned is just lying on the floor on his belly, absolutely clueless that he's even Supposed to be doing something... Tommy WOULD love playing with him yea :} well, playing... as much as Ned can play when he's that small.

Ooh, yes please, indulge >:]

That'd be so funny though. Hodge takes one look at Hoar running head first into Sol, tackling him and then both rolling on the ground, nipping eachothers hands. She turns that stroller around like NOPE. NOT DOING THAT.

Ned just. Lies wherever he's placed when small, with his big eyes and cute yelps... Johnny might even start mimicking him trying to "talk" ;_;

A matching collar would be sooo cute 🥺 she totally would btw

[bbynedtime]

suddenly sad about the idea of Ned having a little toy that he hides under his pillow and keeps secret andloves to play with when he's alone. And he is SO scared when Fitzmommy discovers it because he has spent all this time worrying that someone will find it and take it away. But Fitz sees his tears and is like oh NO. NOONE WILL TAKE IT AWAY I PROMISE.

I'm sad now too, ow.

Fitzjames gently asking "so do they have a name?" And when he gives a name, James shakes the doll's hand like "Nice to meet you"

And I have to stop now or I'll cry- someone take over

[bbynedtime]

Jop just sort of mouthing on fitzmom when hes not quite sure how to ask to bond with her thru breastfeeding like ned..just snuggling into her and maybe sucking on her top at first...

IM GOING TO CRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Top 5 prompts that dealt emotional damage to me (in a positive way)

*throws this fic at you*

James was reading on the sofa late into the evening - the book Francis had bought for her birthday a few months back. She'd finally gotten around to it and today seemed like a quiet enough of a day to get a few tens of pages in. Francis had gone to put Neddie to bed and probably fell asleep while telling the little a good night story. She expected to see Thomas at least a few times before he goes to sleep, so she didn't even blink when she heard steps in the hallway.

Only when the set of spotted pyjamas stopped right in front of her did she look up from her book.

Thomas held Ned's comfort blanket to his chest like a shield. His eyes were cast down, half hidden by his hair. She could tell he was small. Very small.

"Hello, love," she greeted, moved the bookmark to her current page and set the book on the table. "Here to cuddle with me?"

He didn't say anything, only gave her a short glance. He seemed to be thinking very hard on something - he chewed his tongue as his eyes searched the floor and his fingers drummed on the blanket.

She tried again. "Do you just want to sit here with me?"

Tommy shook his head.

"So you do want to cuddle?"

Again, no response. Cuddling is clearly closer to what he wants, but not quite it. She has little chance of figuring out what it is he wants if he doesn't talk at all. If only he looked at her, then she could probably tell...

"Tom, please talk to me? Just yes or no is okay."

"Hm." Tom quickly looked up at her again and shuffled closer.

"Do you want me to hold you?"

"Yes," Tom said, but looked to the side and pressed the blanket to his chest.

"Angel," James began softly. "If there is something you want, you can tell me... Or show me. You know you can do that, right? Show me, what it is?"

He carefully stepped closer and after looking around the sofa for a few seconds, he pulled a large pillow towards James and gestured for her to lean her back against it. Then he sat down sideways in her lap, unfolding the blanket over himself.

She helped him pull the blanket up to his shoulders and wrapped her arms around him. "Is this it?"

After a bit of silence and Tommy shrinking in her arms, he gently whined a 'no'.

"Take your time, it's okay."

Then James felt the soft tugging at her shirt and a touch of cold on her chest. No, not cold. Wet. Her first thought was that Tom had started crying, so she reached up to pet his cheek, but then she heard the suckling. Soft, airy, suckling and Tom's fingers just barely creeping under the hem of her shirt.

"Aw... Tommy... Do you need some baby love? To nurse for a while...?"

"Yeah," Thomas chirped, shrinking even more in her arms.

"You can nurse on me, little one. I didn't know you wanted to so I didn't offer, but you absolutely can." She kissed the top of his hair, then let go of him to pull up her shirt. "There... Just mind your teeth," she smiled down at him and guided his head closer.

He latched on perfectly, good little thing, and began gently suckling.

"There, doesn't that feel nice?" she asked as she brushed the hair out of his forehead to see him better.

He whimpered, then stopped nursing to breathe deep for a while. He began to shiver and James feared he may start to cry...

That fear proved correct when she felt two teardrops land on her stomach and trickle down towards her pants. Before she could pull him closer to kiss it better, though, he went back to nursing on her. So instead she lowered her head to rest on the top of his and rubbed up and down his arm. "Good boy, Tommy."

He shakily breathed out and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Good boy," she whispered and kissed his hair, then pulled back to see him better. He was adorable. His nose was scrunched up from pushing against her breast and his eyes  were closed in bliss. "Tom, should I rock you? Would you like that?"

He hummed, then turned his head up, finally looking in her eyes.

Warmth filled her chest and flushed her cheeks.

Her little one. Her Tommy. She kissed his forehead, then gently began swaying him side to side. "Like this?"

He slowly blinked.

At least they can talk properly now that he's not hiding his eyes. But she shouldn't make him think of too many words. He's small after all. He should be relaxing.

So she continued to sway with him, watching his eyes as they closed a little bit more after each slow blink, until they remained closed. He stayed nursing for a while, but even that eventually stopped as he fell asleep.

It's a gift - his trust. And he's a gift, too. He'd told her when he was big a few weeks back, that she was his gift. His angel from heaven. She accepted the compliment with a laugh, but kept thinking about it days after. And now to have proof of it. A solid proof of how safe he felt...

Tommy cuddled closer, mouthing somewhat blindly at her breast, before falling asleep again.

Both their backs will ache if they stay like this all night. She'll have to carry him to bed or at least get up from under him and place him down flat. But for now she enjoyed the warmth in her lap. The cold from where Tommy was nursing and left wet with spit. The gentle pleasure of it slowly settling down in her muscles.

She pulled the blanket higher to cover Tom's shoulders and her chest as well.

Francis will probably wake up in a while and come down for some water before he goes to his own bed. He can help move Tom to a more comfortable position later.

She pulled him closer, rested her head on top of his and closed her eyes.

Their Tommy...

[bbynedtime]

I need Tommy Jop to be wrapped in a soft blanket, paci in his mouth, with Fitzjames on one side and Crozier on the other... And they're making up a story as they go, adding to what the other said sentence by sentence. And Tommy is falling asleep and feels so safe between them. Their voices. Their occasional laugh. Their warmth pressed against him. The hand in his hair. Another hand on his cheek...

[bbynedtime]

thinking about Fitzjames teaching Jopson how to change Ned and augh!! She'd be SO protective of her lil Ned! Warning Jopson to make sure he is all clean and dry and to not make the tapes too tight!! And Ned is just laying there SO embarrassed but also so amazed by how careful Jopson is with him under mommy's watchful eye!

Absolutely delightful ;_;💖 She will make Sure he does it right. I'm thinking who'd bring the "teaching Jopson to change Ned" thing up. Would it be Jopson? 👁👁 Probably James though... would be awesome if Thomas asked it himself. He wants to learn 🥹

Oh, here's the tiny comic I promised! Sorry that every frame is in a different style I cannot for the life of me get my styles together

The nappy doesn't look too great but Tom tried rly hard😔 He will only get better at it. They all get ice cream afterwards btw 😌