The best papi

"If you mix the milk and the flower then I'll crack the egg", Ryan suggests as he smiles at his son.

"But I wanted to do the egg", Art, his 5 year old, whines.

Ryan raises an eyebrow at him. "What is that, darling?"

"Can I cracked the egg, please, daddy?" Art asks in his sweetest voice.

Ryan chuckles. "If you really want to, I can show you how to do it. But I thought you always let daddy do that so your hands wouldn't get sticky?"

Art crosses his little arms across his chest. "When I was a little baby, yes. But I am a big boy now. I can crack eggs, daddy. Papi thaught me how to do it."

Ryan smiles. "Did he now?"

Art grins proudly. "Yes."

Ryan nods. 'Well, you'll always be my little boy, but you're right that you're probably old enough to handle a little more responsibility in the kitchen".

Art chuckles. 'You can trust me dad, I am not going to set our kitchen on fire like you did."

Ryan gasps offended. "I didn't set the kitchen on fire. The lasagna caught on fire but it was still in the oven, you little liar. Have you been telling people I set our house on fire?"

Art giggles. "Maybe"

Ryan groans. He is definitely dragging Santiago with him to parent teacher night this year. One of the many benefits of no longer being a single parent.

Despite of what his older brother told him when he informed him that he'd become a licensed foster parent and was looking to foster-adopt a little kid he's done a great job as a single dad.

He raised a respectable, loving, sweet, happy and polite kid that he wouldn't trait for anything in the world.

But he can't deny that now that Santiago is in the picture a huge weight has been lifted of his shoulders.

He managed to keep Art safe and happy all on his own, but it's nice to be able to take a shower or a piss without worrying that his kid will hurt himself.

When Art was two Ryan left him on the couch with a picture book, for what could not have been more than a minute while he took a piss, and when he came back his son had used a marker to draw zebra like stripes all across his body.

Although Ryan will admit the pictures he took are still some of his favorites it's nice to have someone else also be responsible for him now.

Although if you'd told him 3 years ago that he was going to start dating again, let alone let a man move in to the house he shared with his kid he would have laughed in your face.

He'd genuinly made peace with the idea of not dating again until Art himself started dating.

But the second he met Santi he knew he was going to break that promise he'd made with himself.

Ryan had experienced enough horror dates in his twenties to have developed a small allergy to first dates.

But then Santi came in his life who not only stole his heart but also the heart of his then almost three year old kid and he knew this one was going to stick around.

Tomorow is Santiago's birthday and Art and him bought the most precious of gifts.

They're going to give him a coffee mug with the words best papi on them and they're currently baking a cake for him.

Ever since Santi proposed to Ryan a few months ago Art has been referring to him as papi behind his back.

But he and Ryan agreed to surprise Santiago with it when it felt right for all them.

As far as Santiago knows he's simply been Santi for the past 2.5 years.

Ryan knows he has every intention to adopt Art when they get married so he suspects Santi will cry a few happy tears when he sees the mug.

Ryan smiles at his kid. "Why don't you show me what papi taught you?"

Art grins proudly as be takes the egg Ryan hands him and smashes it against his forehead.

Ryan almost bursts into laughter until Art bursts into tears as the egg drips down his little face.

Whoever said raising toddlers isn't hard work probably made their partner, babysitter or someone else do the hard work.

He scoops Art up in one arm and grabs a clean dish towel with the other one that he splashes some water on.

"It's okay, darling, just keep your eyes closed. Daddy has got you", he says softly as he whipes the towel across his face.

Then he carries Art up stairs after turning the preheated oven of.

"Where are we going?" He asks confused.

"To the shower, we don't want you to get salmonella", he explains.

Art scrunches his nose up. "What's that?"

"It's a disease that chicken's can carry with them and that you can get from eating raw eggs or raw chicken. But in this case you should be fine if we use some soap", Ryan promises.

Art looks up cruously. "Did you buy more of the raspberry shampoo I like?"

"The pink one with the glitters in them and with the mermaid on the bottle?" Ryan asks knowingly.

Arthur nods, his blonde hair bobbing.

'Yes, I did", Ryan smiles.

Art grins, all the panick long forgotten. "You're the best daddy".

Ryan smiles. This is exactly why he decided not to wait to have kids until he had a partner.

Art washes his body with the pink glittery soap while Ryan washes his hair.

Then he wraps him in a soft towel and helps him get dressed in underwear and the shark onesie Santi gave him last Christmas.

As if on cue Ryan hears the lock turn on the front door.

"Sweethearts, I am home", Santi singsongs.

Art immediately dives out of his bedroom to greet him.

"No running on the stairs, mijo", Santi warns him from the bottom of the staircase, before Ryan has the chance, making his heart flutter.

Art walks down the stairs at a semi respectable pace and then throws himself in Santi's arms.

Ryan walks down behind him and kisses him briefly, ignoring Art's giggles. "Hello, darling, how was work?"

Santi walks into the livingroom with Art on his hip.

"It was fine, I suspect that Hunter put salt in my coffee though", he complains before putting a hand through his thick, black curls.

Art gasps making Ryan smile.

"How was your day, sweetheart?' Santi asks kindly.

Ryan grins. "I got some writing done before I picked Arthur up".

Santi smiles. 'I can't wait to read it tonight."

"Thanks, I haven't had the time to start on diner yet, sorry", Ryan whispers as he hands Santi a coffee.

Santi shrugs. "That's fine, sweetheart. I can whip us something up."

Ryan shakes his head. "It's already pretty late. Art should eat soon or he'll get stomach aches."

"Okay, should I order pokebowls then?" Santi asks as Art nods excitedly.

Ryan must have done something right if their kid get this excited about the prospect of eating vegetables and rice for dinner.

Santi grabs his phone and types something in. "Okay, so chicken for me for protein. Falafel for Ryan. What do you want, mijo?

Art looks at Ryan. "What do I like again, daddy?"

"Falafal", Ryan answers as he pours tea for him and Art.

"Okay and vegetable wise?" Santi asks.

"Spinach, cucumber, tomatoes", Art tells him with a smile.

Ryan turns around and gives his son a look.

"More vegetables?" He asks with a guilty giggle.

Ryan nods.

"Uhm corn and sweet potato and sea grass", Art decides.

Santi laughs. 'Sea weed?"

Art nods.

Santi smiles. "Okay, and do you want cheese?"

"He wants it", Ryan tells his partner softly.

He knows it sometimes makes Santi sad when Ryan knows Art's preferences better so he tries not to be to obvious about it.

Santi once told him he regrets not meeting Ryan sooner because he'd have really liked to raise a baby together.

Ryan always planned on giving Art a sibling by adopting an older kid from foster care, since he knows first hand how messed up the system is in America.

But when he found out how much Santi grieved not having experienced the period that Arthur was a baby he changed his mind.

Ryan can't wait to raise another baby and it's admittably nice to have someone to share the sleepless nights with this time around.

Art is a really sweet kid and he was a good baby, but he's just as much of an insomniac as his daddy.

Santi's gasp brings him back to the present.

He furrows his brows. "What's wrong?"

"Art just told me he cracked an egg on his forehead because I apparently taught him that", Santi says looking mildly horrified.

Ryan chuckles. "You didn't?"

"I didn't, babe, I swear. I did teach him how to crack an egg but I did not tell him to use his forehead. I simply showed him a trick but I told him he wasn't allowed to repeat it", Santi assures him.

Ryan smiles. "It's alright, love. I am not angry. Art needed a shower anyway", he teases as he furrows their son's hair.

"Don't forget to get a kid portion", Art tells Santi.

Santi smiles. "I won't."

Ryan scoops Art up. "We are going to finish your surprise, Santi. Would you be a dear and set up the blanket ford for the movie night? It's a tradition on the night before someone's birthday".

Santi grins. "I'd love to."

Art claps his hands excitedly. "Can we watch little mermaid with our dinner?"

"Technically Santi gets to choose because he's the birthday boy", Ryan reminds him.

Santi chuckles. "We can watch little mermaid. But when you're older we're going to watch star wars together."

Art nods seriously. "Okay"

Ryan closes the door to the kitchen as Art and him continue baking the cake they were planning on making, until the food arrives.

Santi knocks on the door with his arms full of take-out boxes with the three pokebowls.

"The food is here and the fort is ready".

Art excitedly runs to the livingroom.

Ryan sneaks a quick kiss when Art isn't looking.

Santi squeezes his waist.

'Which movie doe you want to watch, Arthy? The cartoon one or the live action one?" he asks then.

"The real mermaid, obviously".

Santi chuckles. "Sorry, stupid question."

They eat their diner and watch the movie until Art falls asleep on Ryan's lap.

He pauses the movie knowing Art will be angry if they don't know the exact moment he stopped watching tomorow.

Then he leans in for a kiss from Santi.

The angle is awkward with Art asleep on his chest and lap but they make it work.

Someone else might expect to get lucky if it's their birthday tomorow but Santi knows Ryan's rule.

No sex while his son is home.

It's one of the first things he ever told Santi if you would believe that.

He knows most parents have sex when their kids are in bed, but Ryan has raised a spoiled insomniac who could climb into his bed at any second of the night.

Art is still used to the life he used to live with his dad when the big king-size bed was always half empty and Ryan always let him climb in there when he had a nightmare.

Most of the time Art would grab his stuffed animals and go straight to Ryan's bed when it was bed time.

It never bothered Ryan.

Art was only two years old, he was going to enjoy the cuddles as long as he got them.

He knows some parents think 5 is to old to let your child sleep in your bed but Ryan figures Art will grow out of it eventually.

Art may be adopted but he inherited Ryan's insomnia so almost every night he ends up coming to his bedside telling his daddy he either had a nightmare or can't sleep.

Ryan thought he might stop when Santi started sleeping next to Ryan when Art was about 3.5 years old.

But when Art found out that Santi didn't mind he realized that meant double the cuddles.

So yes Ryan may have created a cuddle monster who is allergic to sleeping in his own bed.

But if that's the worst crime his kid ever commits it probably means he did a good job.

Besides he likes that Art feels safe and happy sleeping in between him and Santi.

And their arms are long enough that they can still hold eachother with a 5 year old sleeping in between them.

At first he assumed it would bother Santi to have someone else's kid constantly climb into his bed and cockblock him.

But it never did.

Santi later admitted he realized pretty early on that Ryan and him were the real deal so he wanted Art to like him if he ended up becoming his papi.

And the more time went by the more Santi started seeing Art as his own kid and now he cherishes the late night cuddles as much as Ryan does.

The only downside about Art

climbing into their bed about 6 out of 7 days week is that they can only have sex when Art is at school.

But most of the time when Art is at school Santi is at work as a firefighter and Ryan is writing at home.

They make it work though and they usually find about three opportunities a week to keep their sex life alive.

Once Art is older and doesn't creep in to their bed every night they'll lock the bedroom door, so he'll be forced to knock if he's sick or scared, and they can have sex without traumatizing him.

But if they'd lock the door now Art would be very offended because he's way too spoiled to even consider that Ryan and Santi's bed doesn't technically belong to him.

No one needs to feel sorry for Santi though.

Ryan has a fun day planned for his birthday tomorow with him and Art.

And the day after that Art will be at school and they will have the entire house to themselves until 3 in the after noon to make up for lost time.

Ryan scoops Art up to carry him to bed but ever the light sleeper he wakes up immediately.

He yawns and stretches adorably before pointing an accusatory finger at Ryan.

"You didn't wake me when the clock hit midnight. You promised I'd get to celebrate Santi's birthday!"

Ryan doesn't make a habit out of lying to his son.

But like most parents he told him about Santa and the tooth fairy.

And every New Years eve he changes the clock to make Arthur think he got to stay up until midnight when it's secretly only 7pm.

He's planning to do the same thing tonight.

"No, it's not midnight yet, darling", he says calmly.

Which isn't a lie. If he had to guess he'd say it's about 8:30 pm.

Aka past the bedtime of a 5 year old but not even close to midnight.

"How long until midnight?" Art asks curiously.

Santiago checks his watch. "10 minutes."

Oh how Ryan loves him.

"Can we give Santi his presents and the surprise?" Art asks sweetly.

Ryan smiles. "Okay, go to the kitchen I'll be right there.'

Art climbs of his lap and races to the kitchen their dog following close behind him.

"How late is it really?" Ryan whispers.

"Almost 9", Santiago whispers back.

Ryan steals one more kiss before going to the kitchen to help Art decorate the cake.

A few minutes later they come back into the livingroom.

Art is holding a cake with two candles. A 3 and a 6.

Ryan let Art carry the cake after much pleading but he refused to light the candles until the cake was on the diner table.

Art grabs Santiago's hand as he excitedly drags him to the table and tells him all about the cinnamon coffee cake they made him.

Ryan lights the candles even though Art begged him to let him do it.

Then he takes a picture as Santiago blows on his candles and Art excitedly claps in his hands.

After that Ryan cuts the cake.

Art frowns. "Why do we all get baby pieces? We're not babies."

Ryan laughs. "You'll get a bigger piece tomorow. But too much sugar before bed will keep you up all night."

Art pouts. "But I am hungry."

"You can have yogurt with berries or a peanut butter sandwich if you're still hungry after the cake", Ryan offers.

Art sighs dramatically like Ryan is the worst dad in the world. Santiago laughs.

They eat the cake and then Ryan grabs the present Art has been impatiently waiting to gift Santiago.

Santiago unwraps the present with Art bouncing in his lap from excitement.

The best papi in the world

It reads in white letters on the blue coffee cup.

Santiago looks up to Ryan with tears in his eyes.

Ryan kisses his forehead before Santiago turns to Art who grins up at him. "Don't cry, papi".

Hearing Art say it out loud does infact make Santiago cry harder.

Art whipes his tears and kisses his cheek.

Santiago crushes him in a hug.

"Do you like it? I designed the mug on daddy's computer!" Art tells him proudly.

"I love it", Santiago chokes out hoarsely.

When Art goes to brush his teeth for bed Santiago all but jumps Ryan.

"Thank you for letting me be a part of your little family", he whispers between kisses.

"I did make you wait almost a year until you got to meet Arthur", Ryan reminds him.

Santiago shrugs. "It was totally worth it"