I wanna go off more on the baby au tbh, imagine all the tired nights with the baby as it demands being fed and both them are just like "your turn."
Absolutely!
It had been only a few weeks since they found their newest member of their family. Little Arthur. Dutch had been reluctant at first, but after seeing Hosea cradling the baby in his arms, that soft glow that seemed to appear around his lover. It seemed like a big step, seeing as he and Hosea had only been in a relationship for a few months but Dutch was a softy and Hosea was good with the baby.
Dutch and Hosea had been taking turns going out on small jobs. Mostly, Hosea, he was good at conning money from people. Dutch wasn’t nearly as good, he was usually going after the bigger jobs, using the loudest route possible. But with the little one, they had to be more careful.
Arthur was a generally happy child, if not a little mischievous. Always trying to put things in his mouth that shouldn’t be in his mouth. He had started to crawl around the little homestead they fixed up at least until he was big enough to ride with them.
At night though, the child was a terror. No matter what they did, Arthur would be up half of the night screaming his little lungs out. It wouldn’t be so bad if Hosea didn’t insist that Arthur’s crib was put in their room at the foot of their bed. Dutch was wholeheartedly against the idea, but he couldn’t deny Hosea anything when he looked up at him with those big blue eyes.
Tonight, they both prayed and hoped it would be different. That Arthur would finally sleep through the night. It wasn’t. Dutch groaned quietly into his pillow while Hosea groaned into his back his arm tightening around Dutch’s waist.
“Your son is awake,” Hosea grumbled.
“Before dawn, he’s your son,” Dutch grumbled back wincing as Arthur let out a shriek.
“It’s your turn,” Hosea countered. “I got up this morning, you get the first one.” Dutch heaved out a great sigh taking Hosea’s arm off his waist and went over to the crib where Arthur was kicking his little legs while fat tears rolled down his face.
“Okay, okay Arthur. It’s okay,” Dutch said tiredly picking the child up. Arthur continued to cry as Dutch took him out of the bedroom into the front room so Hosea could try to get a little sleep. “One night, that’s all I’m asking kid. Just sleep for one night,” Dutch scolded lightly while he went over to the table and checked his diaper. “You’re clean…” Dutch said wrapping him up again. Arthur was still crying as Dutch picked him back up and went over to the little bottle on the counter of cows milk and tried to put it to his lips.
Arthur whimpered until he realized the bottle was there. He put his little hands on the glass bottle and took the nozzle into his mouth slowly. “There,” Dutch sighed in relief while Arthur sucked down the milk. “So you were hungry, I shouldn’t be surprised,” he said and sat down in one of the cushioned chairs by the fireplace while he fed Arthur. “You know…I never wanted to be a dad. Didn’t really have one growing up myself. My mother and I never got along either. I thought I’d go through my whole life living by my own rules, stealing from the rich, robbing banks, trains, and stagecoaches. Living my life to the fullest.”
“Then I met Hosea and I knew life wasn’t going to be the same. We still do our thing, outlaws and such. But…” he sighed with a smile and looked down at Arthur who was still suckling. “I love him, it’s only been a few months, but I love him. He’s my partner in all things. In crime, and in my bed, and…” he paused and looked at Arthur who had finished the milk. Dutch pulled the nozzle away putting it on the stand next to him and put Arthur against his shoulder rubbing and patting his back. It only took a few minutes before Arthur let out a burp followed by a few gurgles and cooing.
“Very good, you feel better?” Dutch asked cradling the child again. Arthur cooed again grabbing at Dutch’s necklace. “Hey now, don’t tug,” he said rocking the child slowly. Arthur’s little hands went around the ring at the bottom of the chain. His eyes were wide and curious. Dutch chuckled sliding the necklace off so Arthur could grab at it without pulling. “It’s a special ring, I play it off as nothing special, but I plan on giving this to your daddy someday,” he whispered to Arthur. “But you keep that between us, you hear?” he asked. Arthur gurgled again in response making Dutch laugh. “Good,” he said.
Dutch doesn’t know how long he was sitting there with Arthur. He had propped his feet up on a foot stool he had moved over to his chair. Arthur on his chest rubbing the baby’s back and telling him stories until Arthur fell asleep.
Dutch looked at the clock, it was after two in the morning. He got up going to the bedroom and tucked Arthur back into to his crib kissing his forehead and pet his head. “I love you, son,” he whispered. He took the necklace out of Arthur’s hands putting it around his neck again and moved to lay down in the bed.
Hosea hummed a little when the bed dipped and rolled over to lay on Dutch’s chest his arm slung over his stomach while Dutch’s arm wrapped around his shoulders.
“Finally asleep?” Hosea asked sleepily. Dutch hummed in reply, his eyes closing while he turned his head to rest against Hosea’s. “Good night, Dutch,” Hosea said leaning up to kiss his jaw.
“Good night, Hosea,” he said while he drifted off himself. It wouldn’t be the last night little Arthur would wake them up, but Dutch no longer complained when it was his turn. He never wanted to be a father, but for Arthur and Hosea, for his family. He’d try.