Mother’s Day
niall / fluff / part 5 of 5
4 years later.
Niall blinks his eyes open to a warm and bright Sunday morning. If only it had been that which had woken him up, as the golden light hits the bed and envelopes the room in a cosy and familiar way.
No, what had actually woken him up, was James.
“Daddy, ‘t’s mornin’, wakey wakey!” He is careful to whisper, aware of his sleeping Mummy on the other side of the bed.
“Hi bud, y’wanna come in f’a snuggle?” Niall softly smiles as he sees excitement light up in his son’s blue eyes, his messy brown hair sticking up in every direction, always a cause for you to comment on how alike the two of your boys were.
“Only f’a minute though, we need’ta get the presents ready f’Mummy!”
Niall lets James curl into his side for a good half hour - James’ version of a minute - , before shifting the small boy from him. He’d been stroking his daddy’s chest hair and humming while Niall’s gravelly morning voice asked him if he was going to be extra good for Mummy today.
A firm nod from his little buddy was enough to suffice for an answer.
In the time that the pancake batter had been mixed, and Niall had rescued the large bouquet of flowers from the bucket in the garage, the fruit had also been freshly prepped for breakfast. James was pleased that everything he’d “written” on his list that he continued to check off, had been done, and all before you had woken up.
“Y’ready spud?”
Niall carries the tray as James places his clipboard down, ready to carry the flowers in, while Niall could handle the breakfast tray and bag of presents.
“Daddy! What about Maisie?!”
You’d woken up to a small hand on your shoulder and a rumble on the bed before opening your eyes to see your son clambering up and shoving the flowers at you.
“Happy Mummy’s Day!” he grins, and he looks just like his father.
“Oh sweetheart, thank you SO much! These are beautiful flowers!” you smile as you bring James in for a light peck, the token of affection warming your heart.
“Where’s daddy?” You ask. Normally you’re awoken by both of your boys, but James, as always, has a carefully thought out answer:
“Daddy’s gettin’ Maisie. He says I'm a big boy and I can cuddle y’first.” He uses his own little irish charm to squish in even closer to you, and wrap his arms around you. He might be his daddy’s double, but he certainly was a Mummy’s boy. In any other circumstance, you might have thought this bond could have bothered or even upset Niall quite a bit, until you see him at the door with a bag of gifts in one arm, and your sweet new baby girl in his other. A complete Daddy’s girl.
“Daddy brought Maisie! Now we all here Mummy!” James pipes up, glad that everyone is accounted for, and that the present opening could begin.You kiss your husband softly as he places the bag next to you on the bed. The little one in his arms watching the love-fest of Mother’s day going down for the first time - and certainly not the last - in her life.
Maisie had been a beautiful surprise.
It was your 10 year anniversary, and James had only just turned 3 years old. You didn't ever consider having another baby, what with James being the miracle he had been in your lives. You’d never mind being too careful, since you’d felt that the universe had given you a complete family, but oh no, a couple of months later and 3 positive tests, you were having another baby.
When you’d found out you were having a girl, as Niall hit the golf ball full of pink dye, you’d never seen him openly weep with joy just as he did in that moment, aside from James’ birth. You were giving him a baby girl.
She’s now nearly 3 months old, and while not quite the chunk that her brother was, she feeds well and sleeps for 18 hours of the day and allows for her brother to balance soft toys on her (until daddy or mummy tell him to stop - although Maisie never really minds). Her light wispy hair is soft, yet not quite the dark shade that Niall and James share. However, you reckon she’ll have her daddy’s eyes.
You’re so blessed to have two beautiful babies, one smart little cookie, who is so wild and happy like his Daddy, but soft and gentle around his new baby sister. Maisie is a snoozy, slow-paced baby, but her tiny personality is already showing in her half smiles and the way she wriggles when she hears her Daddy’s voice, especially when he sings her to sleep as she’s tucked safely in his arms.
James adores her and tells everyone at nursery about her. Niall adores her because she’s his baby girl, one he never thought he would have and didn't know he could ever need. His little Maisie Grace.
You open the macaroni card - with James writing his own name on the card for the first time -, some glittery homemade jewellery, and a painting from your sweet little man. Niall presents you with a little plate with prints of Maisie’s hands and feet and the bouquet of flowers from him and a tiny bunch from Maisie that would sit perfectly on the dining table where you all ate. Niall’s gift to you was simply the bonus of dropping off the kids at a friend’s house to have a night to yourselves.
Niall kisses Maisie with short quick pecks to her forehead, causing her to grin and show her gums and the first signs of a little dimple on her cheek as a glob of drool trails down her chin. “oh come on lovie, we’re meant to be helpin’ Mummy today, not slobberin’ everywhere! ya trying to give some kisses?”She makes a face, somewhat of a smile, and Niall can hear James pretending to be a spaceship holding his teddy and throwing him into the air.
Mother’s Day was surely just a glimpse of what a wonderful life he helped to create with you.
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