warnings: pat cries but like happy cry, they happy and soft

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"Come on, kiddo, it's time for bed." Patton said, getting up from the couch and reaching a hand out towards the little boy sitting there and watching the tv with big eyes despite the credits which had started to roll. He looked up at Patton, the plastic crown slipping off his head.

"No. Another movie." He said, then looking behind himself in slight surprise and picking the crown up. Patton's husband chuckled quietly from where he was sitting in the corner of the couch.

"Sweetie, it's nine in the evening, you need to go get some sleep." Patton said and their son put his crown back on his head with a most adorable pout.

"I wanna watch Totoro." He said, then squealing and giggling a little as Patton lifted the boy up into his arms, one hand supporting the crown so it wouldn't fall again.

"Not tonight, my little prince. You need to sleep so you wake up energized and happy in the morning. What if you're too tired to play with your friends at preschool?" Patton said and Roman's eyes widened.

"Then I can't show Logan my space book!" He exclaimed, convinced. Patton and Virgil shared a moment's eye contact, smiling. They'd been surprised when Roman had asked for a book about stars since it wasn't something he normally seemed very interested in, but Virgil had gone to the bookstore and found one suitable for a four year old the next day.

It made more sense that he wanted it to impress his friend. Gosh, Patton was so happy that Roman had finally made a friend. He was worried he'd have trouble fitting in since he had joined the preschool class later than the other kids, but then a few weeks ago he'd started to mention this other kid named Logan and it seemed like they were really becoming friends.

Still smiling to himself Patton carried Roman towards his room, feeling an indescribable joy as Roman wrapped his small arms around Patton's neck and leaned his head on Patton's shoulder.

They'd only been Roman's parents for five months, five of the happiest and most difficult months of Patton's life. Being a parent was more difficult than anyone could imagine, and Patton and Virgil had had many fears and anxieties because of course they wanted to give their son the safe and loving home he deserved.

There was no book or website to prepare them properly, they were still learning how to be the parents that Roman needed, but Patton hoped that they were doing good. He thought they were, both he and Virgil had noticed how over the past few months their son had opened up more, became more confident and trusting and seemingly started to feel like this was his home.

Patton really, really hoped Roman was feeling like part of their family and knew how incredibly loved he was by him and Virgil. He carried Roman into the bathroom and carefully helped him brush his teeth, then brought him to his room, passing Virgil who was leaning against the doorway.

"Don't forget your pajamas, Ro." Virgil said, as Roman climbed into bed fully clothed and he and Patton stepped outside the room while Roman changed as he preferred that, maybe he wanted to show that he could manage himself or maybe he just wanted his privacy, they weren't sure but they were going to respect his wishes.

"Patton, Virgil, I'm dooone." Roman called, sitting on his bed, still with his crown on his head as they came back inside. Patton took Roman's toy crown from his head and set it on the little table by his bed, then tucking Roman in, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"Sleep well kiddo, we love you." Patton said, then standing up and letting Virgil take his place, bending down to kiss Roman's head and say his goodnight. He turned Roman's night light on and stood up, Patton reaching out to take his husband's hand.

"Good night dad, an' good night dad." Roman mumbled quietly, already drifting off since he was probably a lot more tired than he realized himself. Patton and Virgil both paused, looking at each other and then at Roman, and Patton realized that for a moment there he forgot to breathe.

"Good night, princey." Virgil said and Patton could tell he was fighting not to let his voice shake. He then pulled Patton out of the room, leaving the door open since that's what Roman wanted. Before they were even back in the living room again Patton was crying, free hand pressed over his mouth to make sure he didn't make a sound.

Virgil sat down on the couch and pulled Patton with him, then cupping his face, pressing a kiss to Patton's nose. Virgil's eyes were wet and his smile showed more emotion than anything Virgil could say would.

"He said dad, Virgil..." Patton mumbled, laughing and clinging to his husband, seeing his own joy mirrored in Virgil's eyes before he ducked his head and cry-laughed into his husband's hoodie while Virgil held him tightly.

"He said dad." He repeated into the fabric of the hoodie, pulling back slightly to look at him. Virgil wiped his eyes and mumbled something so incoherent that Patton couldn't make it out. They both laughed, teary laughs, but Patton was sure this moment's happiness could rival all the other best days in his life.

It might not seem like much to others, but it was the first time they'd ever heard Roman refer to them as his dads, otherwise he had always called them by their actual names. It wasn't something that had necessarily really bothered them a lot, but they'd both noticed it and sometimes Patton worried slightly that Roman hadn't accepted them as his parents, or didn't trust them yet.

This felt like some sort of rite of passage, a proof that they were doing it right and making Roman feel loved and a part of their little family. Patton hadn't realized how big of a relief it was to hear that word come from Roman's mouth.

Patton brushed Virgil's tears away from his cheeks with his thumbs, pressing his lips to Virgil's in some sort of kiss that was interrupted by them laughing again.

They ended up lying in a pile together on the couch, cuddled up close and having a conversation of soft murmuring between them, talking about all their best days in their life, adding this one to the mix of dates and birthdays and the night Virgil proposed and the day they got married and the evening when it had been decided that they were approved as adoptive parents and the morning when they had first gotten to meet Roman and the day they got to bring him home with them, to where he belonged.

Their family was small and it had taken them years to get here, and Patton could not love them more even if he tried.

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Written: 27th December 2020
Published: 4th October 2021
Words: 1147

aaanyways parental moxiety is the cutest shit, ive decided