"Tyler? I'm here," Josh calls out, softly closing the wooden door behind him. He hears quick pitter-patters of feet until, suddenly, a small body jumps into his arms. The older laughs, arms wrapping around Tyler in a tight embrace.

"Joshy! I's missed you sooo much!" The boy squeaks, nuzzling his face into Josh's neck.

Josh carries him into the living room and sits down with the boy on his lap, bodies still firmly pressed together. "I missed you too, cutie."

Tyler giggles lightly, lifting his head to meet Josh's eyes. The latter gulps, heart beating faster from the pure innocence the little radiates. "You's my daddy?"

"Is that what you want?" Josh asks, cupping Tyler's jaw with both hands and softly stroking his cheeks with his thumbs. "I might not be the best daddy."

"You's silly!" The brunette grins, white teeth poking past bubblegum lips. "Joshy's the best!"

"I'm gonna need your help sometimes, okay honey? You have to help me figure things out and tell me if I do something wrong or if I do something you don't like. I'm going to try my hardest though. Okay?"

"Otay!" Tyler beams, sitting criss-cross with his legs wrapped around Josh's waist. "Daddy?"

The man smiles, biting his lower lip ever so gently. That's a sound he could get used to. "Yes, baby?"

"Nufin', I's just wanna say it."

"You're too cute," Josh gushes, leaning in to press a little kiss on Tyler's nose. The boy goes cross-eyed, staring at his nose in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"Nose kissies?"

"What about them?" The older chuckles.

"Why no lip kissies?"

"Do you want me to give you kissies on the lips?" Josh asks slowly, not wanting Tyler to feel pressured into rushing right into things.

The brunette nods quickly, small fists tightening around the front of Josh's shirt. "Yes, daddy, lip kissies!"

"You're sure?"

"Yes!"

Josh leans in slowly and presses their warm lips together, only to pull away seconds after. It was short and sweet, and it must've been perfect for Tyler. He broke out in a fit of giggles and his cheeks turned bright pink.

"Again!"

"More lip kissies?" Josh smiles, liking the way Tyler reacts to baby-talk. His eyes glow so bright and he gets the most precious look on his face. Josh could melt.

"Yes, more!"

"Manners?"

"Pwease, Daddy?" The little frowns, lower lip sticking out in a little pout as a result of not immediately getting his way.

"Good boy," Josh murmurs, so sure he's saying the right things considering the way Tyler's face is as red as a tomato. He leans in once again, kissing Tyler's pretty pink lips. Once, twice, three times, until Tyler can't stop giggling. Josh finds himself laughing along, planting little kisses all over the brunette's face.

"Daddy! Tickles! Stop!"

"Uh-oh, I heard the word tickle... Looks like it's time for the tickle monster!"

"No!" Tyler shrieks, while laughing at the same time. He tries to pry himself from Josh's grip, but the latter is too strong.

He holds Tyler with one hand while the other dances across his sides, tickling his ribs lightly to not hurt him. The little one squeals, giggling and writhing in Josh's arms.

"Daddy! Gotsta pee!"

Josh stops, suddenly, fingers hovering over the boy's sides. "Do you need help with that?"

"Nuh-uh, but you gotsta stop ticklin' me!"

"Okay, honey, I'm sorry. Go potty and when you come back we can do whatever you want, okay?"

"Otay, Daddy!" Tyler grins with excitement, quickly entangling himself from Josh and running off down the hallway.

🍼🍯🍼

Tyler sits with his legs underneath the coffee table, back pressed against the couch and sandwiched inbetween Josh's legs. The latter soothes his fingers through Tyler's loose curls, watching as the little colors.

His tongue pokes out between his teeth as Tyler adds finishing touches to his coloring page, dropping the blue crayon against the table. "All done!"

Josh leans forward, peeking over top of his head to look at the picture. The brunette holds it up with a wide smile, thrusting it towards Josh. "For you's, Daddy!"

"Wow, baby, thank you. I love it! Want me to take it home and hang it on the fridge?"

"Yes!" Tyler nods, turning himself around and crawling into Josh's lap. "Wan' cuddles."

The older obliges, scooping the boy between his arms and tenderly cradling him. Tyler's face nuzzles into his chest, little hums of content spilling from his rosy lips. Josh watches as Tyler brings his thumb to his mouth, taking it between his teeth as he sucks on it.

Josh really wants to talk more about Tyler's littlespace; his likes, dislikes, behaviors, needs... Those kind of things. But he figures it's best to wait until Tyler is feeling big again, although talking about it may just regress him again. Josh has no clue.

The boy in questioning gazes up at his daddy with pretty doe-eyes, making soft sucking noises around his thumb. Josh coos, kissing his forehead softly. "Do you have, like, a pacifier or anything?"

Tyler nods, but tightens his grip on the front of Josh's shirt.

"Want me to get it?"

The little frowns, pulling his thumb out from between his lips with a pop. "Don' go, wanna cuddle."

"I'll take you with me, cutie," the older chuckles, one arm beneath the undersides of Tyler's knees and the other beneath his back.

Tyler's thumb is immediately shoved back in his mouth while his free hand points Josh in the direction of his bedroom. He points at the dresser, tapping on a certain drawer. Josh opens it slowly, eyeing its contents.

Pacifiers, candy, a tiara, and coloring books complete with crayons and markers. He holds up two pacifiers, a glittery pink one and a yellow one with a lion on it. "Which one, honeybee?"

Tyler hums, pointing at the yellow one. Josh tosses the pink one back and shuts the drawer.

"Ahhh," Tyler smiles, mouth open wide. The older plops the pacifier in his mouth, pressing a little kiss against it. Tyler giggles, pointing at the bed.

"Sleepy? You need a nap?"

The little nods slowly, eyes fluttering shut. Josh almost forgets what he's doing because Tyler looks so heavenly, but a little whine brings him back to earth.

"Sorry, I was thinking about how cute you are," he grins, sitting the boy on the bed and pulling the blanket over top of him.

Tyler doesn't respond, the red tint to his cheeks speaks for itself. Josh tucks him in snuggly, about to leave when a small hand closes around his wrist. He looks at the boy in confusion, only to find him pointing at the other side of the bed.

"You want this?" Josh asks, holding up a tiny stuffed bunny. Tyler nods vigorously, making grabby hands at the item. "A tiny bunny for my tiny guy."

Tyler giggles, holding the stuffed animal against his chest. He pats the spot next to him. Josh doesn't hesitate in joining him.

"Is Thumper!" Tyler expertly speaks around his pacifier, nuzzling the bunny's nose against his daddy's.

"She's almost as cute as you are," Josh gushes, joining Tyler under the comforter. He wraps an arm around the boy's shoulders, pulling him against his chest.

"Not she, him's a boy!" The brunette pouts, eyebrows furrowed.

"Oh, I'm sorry baby, he's almost as cute as you are," Josh corrects himself, threading his fingers through brown locks as Tyler drops his head to rest on his chest.

A giggle is Tyler's only response. He falls silent after that, soft sucking noises and heavy breathing the only noise filling the room. Josh glances down, seeing the boy already fast asleep with Thumper clutched in his hand.

Tyler is cute even when he's sleeping, which Josh used to think was impossible. However, gazing at the sleeping little, he is the only exception to Josh's theory. He's so cute regardless of what he's doing. Tyler doesn't even have go try, he's just naturally beautiful and it makes Josh's head spin.

With a smile, he lets his eyes fall shut.