Luke & Liam: Birthday
“It's my birthday today, y'know.” Luke told Teddy around his pacifier. He felt so cozy and relaxed, he nearly slipped back into sleep right then and there.
He had expected to not be able to nap with the excitement of his upcoming birthday party, but Liam had told him to try. He wasn't sure how long Liam had rocked him, but he was aware enough to accept that he did not stay awake long. He sat up, trying not to be soothed back to sleep by the automatic nursing of his pacifier. He hated when he woke up before Liam came to wake him up. Not only was waiting for him to come so hard, he also loved being woken up to kisses and snuggles from his big brother. What was that word Liam used to refer to him? He couldn't remember.
"Do you know?" He asked Teddy, but the bear couldn't remember either. He lay back down, planning to pretend to be asleep to get some kisses and snuggles out of Liam, the change of position causing a slight dribble to escape into his Pull-ups. "That's why I don't wear white undies anymore." Luke whispered to Teddy with a giggle. “It must be time to wake up.” Luke told the bear a second later.
All at once, he felt the crib start to gently rock. That couldn't be right! It was wake-up time! Still, he could hear Liam's warm, soothing voice in his head. When the crib is rocking, his head had to be on the pillow, his eyes closed, his breaths slow and steady. In no time at all, Luke was lulled back to sleep.
“Good morning!” Liam cooed. “And look who's early, Lukey?” Luke looked and saw a smiling boy just below him.
“Johnny!”
“That's right!” Liam said with a chuckle. “And guess what? Johnny's gonna give you your wake up bottle.” He rocked Luke in his arms as he directed Johnny. “Go ahead and sit right there. Lift your arms up, I'm gonna put Luke right in your lap.”
“Is his diaper wet?” Johnny blurted out as Luke came down with a soft squish.
“He just woke up from his nap, so yes, he's wet.” Liam said as if it was obvious. “Here, support his head with your arm. Just like that, and then I'll take out his paci and you'll put his bottle in his mouth. Yep, just like that!”
A part of Luke knew that he should be bothered by the situation. Liam was his big brother, so it made sense to have him feed his bottle. Johnny was his friend, his equal. He is in first grade though, he thought. That seemed a lot more mature than spending his days at Jolly ps.”Jungle. And Johnny probably didn't wear Pull-ups.
Out of the corner of his eye, Luke saw Liam doing something. Normally, he was the one feeding Luke his Pediasure or water, so it was interesting to see him moving around the room.
“Keep drinking, Lukey.” Johnny said. “Don't wanna spend all day drinking your bottle!”
“He's right.” Liam said, holding up a very familiar looking yellow shirt. Luke's eyes widened. “Uh-oh, someone saw the surprise!” Liam chuckled, coming over and moving Johnnýs hands. “This'll slow the flow down so he doesn't give himself hiccups.” Luke was impressed. As far as he was concerned, hiccups just happened. If Liam knew a way to avoid them, that only proved how smart he was.
“Can't I get dressed first?” He asked, a bit muffled by the Pediasure in his mouth. That was a Woody shirt!
“Don't talk with your mouth full.” Johnny snickered.
“We don't want your outfit to get dirty.” Liam said, wondering if there was any chance it would survive cake. “Stay focused, Lukey. Eyes on the prize!”
After what felt like forever, the bottle was empty and Luke was allowed to sit up. His Pull-ups squished and he wondered if he had wet them yet again.
“Do you need burps, Lukey?” Liam asked.
“I can burp on command!” Johnny declared. “Me and Jimmy have burping contests sometimes.”
“That's great, Johnny, but Lukey sometimes needs help.”
“Is Jimmy coming?” Luke asked curiously.
“Naw.” Johnny said. “Jimmy was being naughty, so Jack made him stay home.”
“Oh.” Luke preferred Johnny to Jimmy, but he kind of liked that Jimmy was another former big boy like him.
“Focus, little boy.” Liam said. “Do you need burps?” Luke shook his head, looking at the Woody shirt Liam still held. “Alright,” Liam's tone made Luke wonder if he knew better than Luke if he needed burps or not. “But I know you need dry Pull-ups, don't you?”
“Yeah.” Luke mumbled, getting off of Johnny's lap. Liam looked over his shoulder, making a show of checking Johnny's shorts for telltale signs of leaking. Thankfully, he was as dry as Luke's Pull-ups were soaked.
“Johnny, can you put Luke's nookie where it belongs?” Liam couldn't help but laugh as Johnny pushed it right into Luke's mouth. Since it was Luke's birthday, Liam had been thinking about how old he actually was, but it was a testament to how babied he had become that he looked more surprised than annoyed by the pacifier being pushed between his lips.
As soon as Luke's bottom was dry and covered by Pull-ups, he began to impatiently hop from foot to foot, just one more sign that the teenager was gone and forever an adorable little quasi-toddler. Liam idly wondered if Luke would even know what quasi meant anymore as he held up the Woody t-shirt.
“Stick ‘em up, cowpoke!” He said with a drawl. Luke giggled and threw his hands into the air. Liam pulled the shirt down over Luke's torso, though he always felt a little sad about dressing him. He washed Luke's clothes with baby detergent that made everything he wore so nice and soft (on top of smelling like fresh baby), but no fabric softener on earth could make fabric as soft as Lukey's skin. Liam loved it so much that he had invented a game called the Snuggler, a supervillain who could make Liam fall asleep by snuggling with him, just as an excuse to co-sleep with Luke once or twice a week.
“Are there pants?” Luke asked hopefully, looking lovingly down at his Woody shirt.
“What do you think, Johnny? Does Lukey need pants?”
“Uh,” Johnny shrugged. “Pull-ups are kinda his undies, right?”
“Yeah!” Luke's tone was firmer than it had been in a long time, though still a far cry from the grouchiness he used to be able to muster.
“Well, like, me and Jimmy play in just our undies, but Mommy says it's not appropriate with company.”
“Oh.” Liam said. “Well, that's true for big boys like you or me, but for little guys like Lukey? It just makes them cuter, don't you think?”
“I don't get pants?”
“Shh, Johnny and I are talking. It's not nice to interrupt.” Liam said, pulling Luke to him and hugging him. “Johnny, can you go grab Lukey's cowboy hat from the dress-up box?” Johnny ran over. “And no, Lukey, no pants today. I want to keep an eye on your Pull-ups.” Even though the party wasn't going to be very long, Liam was more than a little dubious about Luke's ability to avoid another change. “They're Toy Story anyway, right?”
“I guess.” Luke mumbled.
“Here's Johnny with your hat!” Liam watched as Johnny put the hat on Luke's head, not even hesitating to put the elastic under his chin. “How you're a real cowboy! Aren't you?” Luke considered it, realized there was no point whining about pants, and nodded. “Oh, but not yet. You need one more thing.” Luke watched, his curiosity growing, as Liam reached just outside of the bedroom and came back with a brightly colored gift bag. The pacifier nearly tumbled from his mouth as he realized it was a present!
“A flying cowboy?” Liam teased as Luke bounced up and down. “I didn't even say who this is for!”
“It's me, it's me, it's me.” Luke sounded as if he had eaten a half dozen Pixie Sticks while Liam's back was turned.
“Alright, well, where do you want to sit while you open your present?” Luke looked around, not entirely understanding the question. “Do you want to sit on Johnny's lap or my lap?” Liam liked the idea as soon as he said it, mentally logging it away to have Luke open any and all presents he got while sitting on someone's lap.
“Yours.”
Luke managed to be patient until the moment Liam relinquished the gift bag to him. Tissue paper filled the air as Luke dug to the very bottom of the bag and gasped. This time, the pacifier did not stand a chance, tumbling to the floor as Luke beheld a very special pair of Crocs.
“You got them!” He squealed, jumping up and then flinging himself into Liam's arms in his excitement.
“Sure did.”
A few weeks ago, Luke had somehow found out that there were, in his words, Woody boot clogs. In an instant, they became the only thing he had ever wanted and it pained Liam to tell him he would have to wait to maybe get them for his birthday. Of course, he had ordered them immediately, wondering if Luke realized that they were actually Jessie's boots. Still, Liam loved that the same boy who had hated his first pair of Toy Story Crocs was now begging, almost on bended knee, for these. And now, he was smothering Liam's face with kisses.
“Well, let's try them on, silly.” Liam said. “Careful!” Luke had flung himself to the floor with such force, his head had smacked down, though he seemed completely unfazed and, more importantly, unharmed.
“What are they?” Johnny asked. Liam had completely forgotten about him in the moment.
“They're – I'm telling him, Lukey – they're Toy Story boots.”
“They're so cool!” Luke said, still almost hyperventilating. Liam pulled them out of the bag.
“Gotta hold your feet still, Luke!” He said, unable to stop smiling as he slid each boot onto Luke's tiny feet. “Hands.” Luke reached out and he pulled him to his feet. “Johnny, Lukey needs his nookie!” Johnny eagerly rushed over to help and Liam hoped he would take that on as his duty for the rest of the day. “How do they feel?”
“So good!” Luke said. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Liam chuckled and took the hug as a chance to scoop him up.
“We'd better get downstairs for your party, buckaroo. Oh. Before I forget…” Luke whimpered softly as one of his clogs came off so soon as it had gone on, but Liam lifted it up so he could see the sole. “See this?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What letters are those?”
“It says”
“Shhh, I didn't ask what it says. What letters are those?”
“El, eye, ay, em.”
“Yep. Just like how Woody has Andy's name on his boot, you have mine. That means you're mine, Lukey.” Even with all the excitement, this was Luke's biggest smile. He liked being Liam's.
He had expected to not be able to nap with the excitement of his upcoming birthday party, but Liam had told him to try. He wasn't sure how long Liam had rocked him, but he was aware enough to accept that he did not stay awake long. He sat up, trying not to be soothed back to sleep by the automatic nursing of his pacifier. He hated when he woke up before Liam came to wake him up. Not only was waiting for him to come so hard, he also loved being woken up to kisses and snuggles from his big brother. What was that word Liam used to refer to him? He couldn't remember.
"Do you know?" He asked Teddy, but the bear couldn't remember either. He lay back down, planning to pretend to be asleep to get some kisses and snuggles out of Liam, the change of position causing a slight dribble to escape into his Pull-ups. "That's why I don't wear white undies anymore." Luke whispered to Teddy with a giggle. “It must be time to wake up.” Luke told the bear a second later.
All at once, he felt the crib start to gently rock. That couldn't be right! It was wake-up time! Still, he could hear Liam's warm, soothing voice in his head. When the crib is rocking, his head had to be on the pillow, his eyes closed, his breaths slow and steady. In no time at all, Luke was lulled back to sleep.
* L *
“Good morning!” Liam cooed. “And look who's early, Lukey?” Luke looked and saw a smiling boy just below him.
“Johnny!”
“That's right!” Liam said with a chuckle. “And guess what? Johnny's gonna give you your wake up bottle.” He rocked Luke in his arms as he directed Johnny. “Go ahead and sit right there. Lift your arms up, I'm gonna put Luke right in your lap.”
“Is his diaper wet?” Johnny blurted out as Luke came down with a soft squish.
“He just woke up from his nap, so yes, he's wet.” Liam said as if it was obvious. “Here, support his head with your arm. Just like that, and then I'll take out his paci and you'll put his bottle in his mouth. Yep, just like that!”
A part of Luke knew that he should be bothered by the situation. Liam was his big brother, so it made sense to have him feed his bottle. Johnny was his friend, his equal. He is in first grade though, he thought. That seemed a lot more mature than spending his days at Jolly ps.”Jungle. And Johnny probably didn't wear Pull-ups.
Out of the corner of his eye, Luke saw Liam doing something. Normally, he was the one feeding Luke his Pediasure or water, so it was interesting to see him moving around the room.
“Keep drinking, Lukey.” Johnny said. “Don't wanna spend all day drinking your bottle!”
“He's right.” Liam said, holding up a very familiar looking yellow shirt. Luke's eyes widened. “Uh-oh, someone saw the surprise!” Liam chuckled, coming over and moving Johnnýs hands. “This'll slow the flow down so he doesn't give himself hiccups.” Luke was impressed. As far as he was concerned, hiccups just happened. If Liam knew a way to avoid them, that only proved how smart he was.
“Can't I get dressed first?” He asked, a bit muffled by the Pediasure in his mouth. That was a Woody shirt!
“Don't talk with your mouth full.” Johnny snickered.
“We don't want your outfit to get dirty.” Liam said, wondering if there was any chance it would survive cake. “Stay focused, Lukey. Eyes on the prize!”
After what felt like forever, the bottle was empty and Luke was allowed to sit up. His Pull-ups squished and he wondered if he had wet them yet again.
“Do you need burps, Lukey?” Liam asked.
“I can burp on command!” Johnny declared. “Me and Jimmy have burping contests sometimes.”
“That's great, Johnny, but Lukey sometimes needs help.”
“Is Jimmy coming?” Luke asked curiously.
“Naw.” Johnny said. “Jimmy was being naughty, so Jack made him stay home.”
“Oh.” Luke preferred Johnny to Jimmy, but he kind of liked that Jimmy was another former big boy like him.
“Focus, little boy.” Liam said. “Do you need burps?” Luke shook his head, looking at the Woody shirt Liam still held. “Alright,” Liam's tone made Luke wonder if he knew better than Luke if he needed burps or not. “But I know you need dry Pull-ups, don't you?”
“Yeah.” Luke mumbled, getting off of Johnny's lap. Liam looked over his shoulder, making a show of checking Johnny's shorts for telltale signs of leaking. Thankfully, he was as dry as Luke's Pull-ups were soaked.
“Johnny, can you put Luke's nookie where it belongs?” Liam couldn't help but laugh as Johnny pushed it right into Luke's mouth. Since it was Luke's birthday, Liam had been thinking about how old he actually was, but it was a testament to how babied he had become that he looked more surprised than annoyed by the pacifier being pushed between his lips.
As soon as Luke's bottom was dry and covered by Pull-ups, he began to impatiently hop from foot to foot, just one more sign that the teenager was gone and forever an adorable little quasi-toddler. Liam idly wondered if Luke would even know what quasi meant anymore as he held up the Woody t-shirt.
“Stick ‘em up, cowpoke!” He said with a drawl. Luke giggled and threw his hands into the air. Liam pulled the shirt down over Luke's torso, though he always felt a little sad about dressing him. He washed Luke's clothes with baby detergent that made everything he wore so nice and soft (on top of smelling like fresh baby), but no fabric softener on earth could make fabric as soft as Lukey's skin. Liam loved it so much that he had invented a game called the Snuggler, a supervillain who could make Liam fall asleep by snuggling with him, just as an excuse to co-sleep with Luke once or twice a week.
“Are there pants?” Luke asked hopefully, looking lovingly down at his Woody shirt.
“What do you think, Johnny? Does Lukey need pants?”
“Uh,” Johnny shrugged. “Pull-ups are kinda his undies, right?”
“Yeah!” Luke's tone was firmer than it had been in a long time, though still a far cry from the grouchiness he used to be able to muster.
“Well, like, me and Jimmy play in just our undies, but Mommy says it's not appropriate with company.”
“Oh.” Liam said. “Well, that's true for big boys like you or me, but for little guys like Lukey? It just makes them cuter, don't you think?”
“I don't get pants?”
“Shh, Johnny and I are talking. It's not nice to interrupt.” Liam said, pulling Luke to him and hugging him. “Johnny, can you go grab Lukey's cowboy hat from the dress-up box?” Johnny ran over. “And no, Lukey, no pants today. I want to keep an eye on your Pull-ups.” Even though the party wasn't going to be very long, Liam was more than a little dubious about Luke's ability to avoid another change. “They're Toy Story anyway, right?”
“I guess.” Luke mumbled.
“Here's Johnny with your hat!” Liam watched as Johnny put the hat on Luke's head, not even hesitating to put the elastic under his chin. “How you're a real cowboy! Aren't you?” Luke considered it, realized there was no point whining about pants, and nodded. “Oh, but not yet. You need one more thing.” Luke watched, his curiosity growing, as Liam reached just outside of the bedroom and came back with a brightly colored gift bag. The pacifier nearly tumbled from his mouth as he realized it was a present!
“A flying cowboy?” Liam teased as Luke bounced up and down. “I didn't even say who this is for!”
“It's me, it's me, it's me.” Luke sounded as if he had eaten a half dozen Pixie Sticks while Liam's back was turned.
“Alright, well, where do you want to sit while you open your present?” Luke looked around, not entirely understanding the question. “Do you want to sit on Johnny's lap or my lap?” Liam liked the idea as soon as he said it, mentally logging it away to have Luke open any and all presents he got while sitting on someone's lap.
“Yours.”
Luke managed to be patient until the moment Liam relinquished the gift bag to him. Tissue paper filled the air as Luke dug to the very bottom of the bag and gasped. This time, the pacifier did not stand a chance, tumbling to the floor as Luke beheld a very special pair of Crocs.
“You got them!” He squealed, jumping up and then flinging himself into Liam's arms in his excitement.
“Sure did.”
A few weeks ago, Luke had somehow found out that there were, in his words, Woody boot clogs. In an instant, they became the only thing he had ever wanted and it pained Liam to tell him he would have to wait to maybe get them for his birthday. Of course, he had ordered them immediately, wondering if Luke realized that they were actually Jessie's boots. Still, Liam loved that the same boy who had hated his first pair of Toy Story Crocs was now begging, almost on bended knee, for these. And now, he was smothering Liam's face with kisses.
“Well, let's try them on, silly.” Liam said. “Careful!” Luke had flung himself to the floor with such force, his head had smacked down, though he seemed completely unfazed and, more importantly, unharmed.
“What are they?” Johnny asked. Liam had completely forgotten about him in the moment.
“They're – I'm telling him, Lukey – they're Toy Story boots.”
“They're so cool!” Luke said, still almost hyperventilating. Liam pulled them out of the bag.
“Gotta hold your feet still, Luke!” He said, unable to stop smiling as he slid each boot onto Luke's tiny feet. “Hands.” Luke reached out and he pulled him to his feet. “Johnny, Lukey needs his nookie!” Johnny eagerly rushed over to help and Liam hoped he would take that on as his duty for the rest of the day. “How do they feel?”
“So good!” Luke said. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Liam chuckled and took the hug as a chance to scoop him up.
“We'd better get downstairs for your party, buckaroo. Oh. Before I forget…” Luke whimpered softly as one of his clogs came off so soon as it had gone on, but Liam lifted it up so he could see the sole. “See this?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What letters are those?”
“It says”
“Shhh, I didn't ask what it says. What letters are those?”
“El, eye, ay, em.”
“Yep. Just like how Woody has Andy's name on his boot, you have mine. That means you're mine, Lukey.” Even with all the excitement, this was Luke's biggest smile. He liked being Liam's.
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