Bedtime Stories: Of Birthday Cakes and Freaks.
Title: Bedtime Stories: Of Birthday Cakes and Freaks
Chapter: 7
Rating: PG
Author:
naughtylaundry
Disclaimer: Oh how I wish it were true.
Summary: The boys help Devlin make out a guess list for his birthday party and they learn maybe Dev isn't as happy as he seems.
A/N: Wow, it's been a loooong time, right? I'm not even sure you guys remember this story but I'm happy to be working on it again. I've been pretty sick for a while and I'm finally in recovery so I'll be back working full force. I hope you still enjoy reading this story like I enjoy writing it.
Previous chapters inside the cut.
Chapter One - http://community.livejournal.com/patrickxpeter/451015.html
Chapter Two - http://community.livejournal.com/patrickxpeter/452236.html
Chapter Three - http://community.livejournal.com/patrickxpeter/462529.html
Chapter Four - http://community.livejournal.com/patrickxpeter/522241.html
Chapter Five - http://community.livejournal.com/patrickxpeter/551439.html#cutid1
Chapter Six - http://community.livejournal.com/patrickxpeter/576053.html
Devlin sat poised on the couch in his trusty Superman pj's with a bowl of Fruit Loops in his lap, the spoon dangling from his mouth. His raven-haired father sat next to him in his boxers, deftly shoveling his own cereal into his mouth. Both had their eyes glued to the television, watching Spongebob Squarepants dance merrily across the screen. Finishing their cereal, they discarded the bowls haphazardly onto the coffee table and Devlin crawled into his father's lap, situating his cast covered arm comfortably against his stomach as they continued to watch the colorful cartoon.
Pete absently played with Devlin's curly mohawk, his eyes focused on the screen but his mind was a million other places. The only thing keeping him in reality was the faint beat of Devlin's heart against the skin of his arm. He sighed as Dev giggled at the antics of Patrick Star and tried to commit his son's laugh to memory; he didn't want to forget it.
After awhile Patrick came in to check on them and re-dress Devlin's injuries. He paused behind the couch watching his two boys thoughtfully; after the scare last night he seemed to be reveling in every little thing, from how Devlin yawned and flexed his fingers as he woke up that morning, 'til now as he sat on the couch with Pete.
"Hey Dev, let's change those bandages and put some more stuff on your face."
Devlin immediately grimaced at this proposition and looked up at Pete for some kind of help.
"Devlin, don't make that face. We've gotta take care of these cuts so they'll get better." Patrick told him sternly, patting the cushion next him.
"But Daddy, I don't wanna!" He poked out his bottom lip as far as it would go, hoping to sway his father away from the antiseptic.
"Yeah, that face isn't gonna help you either." Patrick beckoned to him
cajolingly, "Come here, the faster you let me do this the quicker it'll be over."
Patrick waited a moment for his son to huff indignantly and scoot out of Pete's lap and over to him, his sour face in full force.
"Pete, this is definitely your son. Such a little drama king."
Pete laughed and lazily scratched his torso. "Eh, I really think he gets it from you."
Patrick rolled his eyes and began removing the bandages from Devlin's injuries, causing the little boy hiss. Patrick blew a sharp breath out of his nose and looked at him sternly over the rim of his glasses, warning him that his little noises were not necessary.
"Pop, Daddy's hurting me!" Devlin squealed as Patrick applied the medicine to gash on his cheek.
"Dev, Daddy's not hurting you. He's making it all better, just hold still." Pete took a hold of Dev's little hand to reassure him while Patrick attended to the cuts.
"There. All done. It really wasn't that bad, Dev," Patrick said once he'd finished, but Devlin didn't look like he was in agreement with that statement.
"So, your birthday's on Saturday, bud, who are we inviting?" Pete asked, changing the subject before the little hellion could retaliate. He knew he'd succeeded when the frown wiped itself off of the boy's face and was replaced with a smile.
"Oh man! We gotta invite Uncle Joe, and Uncle Andy. Then, umm, Travie! And uh, Ms Bonnie, and can we invite Bob?"
Patrick laughed lightly at his enthusiasm. "Yes, we can invite Bob. But what about your grandparents?"
"Oh them too, only Papa Wentz can't come unless he brings some more of those exploding balloons."
Patrick pinched the bridge of his nose but Pete cheered along with his son. "Anyone else you want to come buddy?"
The little boy scratched his head for a moment, "Can Gramps come?"
Patrick swallowed the lump in his throat and forced a little smile. Pete saw the pained expression on his husband's face and reached out and took one of his hands. Patrick's father had never been truly excepting of Pete and Patrick's relationship and they hadn't spoken in quite some time. Of course, his father politely sent cards and presents to Devlin on his birthday and at Christmas, but other than that, his presence was virtually non-existent in their lives. Devlin never did give up on his grandfather, though he was a little boy and didn't really understand why he never saw him; he just chalked it up to it being that he lived so far away.
Patrick looked at Devlin with sad eyes, "No, I don't think Gramps will be able to come, but Grandma Pat would definitely want to be there."
Pete leaned over kissed Patrick's forehead and Devlin smiled. He loved his Grandma Pat and her pumpkin squares that she always made for him.
"What about the kids in your class bud, you want to invite any of them?" Pete asked, fluffing the boy's unruly Mohawk.
"No."
"Why not Dev? You're turning seven and everyone you want to come is a whole lot older, like us." Patrick looked at his little boy intently. He was failing to look up at either one of his parents and demonstrated a deep interest in picking lint off his pajama bottoms.
"Why not, Devlin?" Patrick repeated, not willing to let his son's odd behavior slide.
"I just don't want to."
Patrick scooped Devlin up and set him in his lap, making the little boy look into his eyes. "There has to be a reason, little man. I mean, don't you want your friends to come to your birthday party?"
"They're not my friends," Devlin said shortly, adopting a little scowl on his face. It was apparent that he didn't understand why his daddy cared so much about the kids in his class.
"Are you telling me out of the twenty-something kids in your class, not a one of them is your friend?" Pete asked, a little disbelieving.
Devlin nodded and kept his thunderous expression. "They don't like me."
"Oh Dev, I'm sure that's not true. Lots of people like you and I'm sure the kids in your class do too."
Devlin squirmed in Patrick's grasp and tried to wriggle off his lap, signs they both recognised as Devlin Avoidance tactics.
"Let me go, Daddy!" he screeched, eyes filling with frustrated tears as he struggled against his father.
"Now you wait just a minute, Devlin Marcus Wentz. I'm not going to put up with the behavior." Patrick pulled the boy back into his lap and began brushing the hot tears off of his son's freckled cheeks. "Now what on earth has gotten into you, huh?"
Devlin gritted his teeth and shook his head at Patrick. This show of defiance was firing Pete's temper; no one treated his spouse that way, especially not their six-year-old son.
"Devlin, you better answer your father or you won't have a party at all and the only present you'll be getting is a spanking."
"Pete, that's a little much babe." Patrick shook his head at his husband before looking back down at Devlin, "Tell us what's up buddy."
Devlin sighed and went boneless in Patrick's arms before speaking in the smallest voice they'd ever heard the little wild child use: "The kids in my class don't want to be my friends."
"Why not, Devlin?" Patrick pressed, trying to understand his child's anguish.
"They said I'm..."
"What'd they say, buddy?" Pete questioned gently.
"They said ...I'm a f--freak."
Devlin buried his face into his father's shirt and began to sob, each harsh cry shaking his small body. Patrick took his hand and rubbed his back while he cried, murmuring softly into his hair. Pete, on the other hand, sat back into the couch with a look of complete shock on his face. Devlin had never said anything about the children not liking him at school; hell, everyone he knew liked Devlin despite his hyperactive tendencies.
Once Devlin had quieted himself down to sniffles, Patrick pulled him from his chest and looked his boy in the eyes, placing a warm hand on either side of his face and wiping away tears with his thumbs. "Devlin, you are not a freak. You hear me?"
Devlin nodded and inhaled sharply, fighting back another crying fit.
"What would make them say that Devlin?"
The little boy's eyes fell and he bit his lip and Patrick hugged him close. "You can tell me squirt, come on."
Keeping his eyes down he spoke even softer than before. "They said I can't be their friend because I don't have a daddy and a mommy like they do. They said I can't play with them 'cause I'm a freak with two daddies."
Patrick clutched Devlin to his chest tightly and now began to fight back his own tears; he'd always feared that this day would come, regardless of what he told himself. It broke his heart that people would teach their children to be so prejudiced at a young age. So what if he and Pete were a gay couple? That didn't make Devlin any less of a first-grader; he wasn't beneath those other children and he certainly wasn't a freak.
Pete sat very still with his hand over his eyes, willing his inner rage to subside. How dare they treat his child this way? How dare they make Devlin feel as if he wasn't worthy enough to play with other six year olds that belonged to heterosexual couples. How dare they?
Pete sat up and wrapped his arms around both Patrick and Devlin, tugging them until they both laying snuggled to his chest. They lay absolutely quiet for awhile, the chattering cartoons on the television filling the still room.
"Devlin, you listen to me," Pete finally managed to speak, taking his son's chin in his hand and smiling when Dev's grey eyes met his. "You are NOT a freak. Don't you ever listen to anyone who tells you that you are. Your Daddy and I have told you that you have two parents that love each other very much and love you just as much."
Devlin sighed and nodded, giving Pete a watery grin. "I know Poppa. I don't want a mommy anyway. I love my daddies."
Patrick smiled and kissed Devlin's forehead, "Hey buddy, why don't you go get dressed and then we can go to the bakery to order your birthday cake. Maybe if we have time we could even rent a movie on the way home, does that sound good?"
"Yes!" He cried with that particular resilience of children, hopping down off the sofa and bounding off up the stairs.
Pete kissed Patrick soundly once Devlin had vanished and tangled his fingers in his husband's hair. "You know I love you," he whispered against his lips.
"Of course I do, I love you too Pete. I just wish people weren't this way. How could they say that to Dev?"
Pete placed a finger over his lips and shook his head, "I don't know 'Trick... but I love you and I love him. It's the three of us 'til the end."
"Yeah. The Wentz family against the world."
Chapter: 7
Rating: PG
Author:
naughtylaundryDisclaimer: Oh how I wish it were true.
Summary: The boys help Devlin make out a guess list for his birthday party and they learn maybe Dev isn't as happy as he seems.
A/N: Wow, it's been a loooong time, right? I'm not even sure you guys remember this story but I'm happy to be working on it again. I've been pretty sick for a while and I'm finally in recovery so I'll be back working full force. I hope you still enjoy reading this story like I enjoy writing it.
Previous chapters inside the cut.
Chapter One - http://community.livejournal.com/patrickxpeter/451015.html
Chapter Two - http://community.livejournal.com/patrickxpeter/452236.html
Chapter Three - http://community.livejournal.com/patrickxpeter/462529.html
Chapter Four - http://community.livejournal.com/patrickxpeter/522241.html
Chapter Five - http://community.livejournal.com/patrickxpeter/551439.html#cutid1
Chapter Six - http://community.livejournal.com/patrickxpeter/576053.html
Devlin sat poised on the couch in his trusty Superman pj's with a bowl of Fruit Loops in his lap, the spoon dangling from his mouth. His raven-haired father sat next to him in his boxers, deftly shoveling his own cereal into his mouth. Both had their eyes glued to the television, watching Spongebob Squarepants dance merrily across the screen. Finishing their cereal, they discarded the bowls haphazardly onto the coffee table and Devlin crawled into his father's lap, situating his cast covered arm comfortably against his stomach as they continued to watch the colorful cartoon.
Pete absently played with Devlin's curly mohawk, his eyes focused on the screen but his mind was a million other places. The only thing keeping him in reality was the faint beat of Devlin's heart against the skin of his arm. He sighed as Dev giggled at the antics of Patrick Star and tried to commit his son's laugh to memory; he didn't want to forget it.
After awhile Patrick came in to check on them and re-dress Devlin's injuries. He paused behind the couch watching his two boys thoughtfully; after the scare last night he seemed to be reveling in every little thing, from how Devlin yawned and flexed his fingers as he woke up that morning, 'til now as he sat on the couch with Pete.
"Hey Dev, let's change those bandages and put some more stuff on your face."
Devlin immediately grimaced at this proposition and looked up at Pete for some kind of help.
"Devlin, don't make that face. We've gotta take care of these cuts so they'll get better." Patrick told him sternly, patting the cushion next him.
"But Daddy, I don't wanna!" He poked out his bottom lip as far as it would go, hoping to sway his father away from the antiseptic.
"Yeah, that face isn't gonna help you either." Patrick beckoned to him
cajolingly, "Come here, the faster you let me do this the quicker it'll be over."
Patrick waited a moment for his son to huff indignantly and scoot out of Pete's lap and over to him, his sour face in full force.
"Pete, this is definitely your son. Such a little drama king."
Pete laughed and lazily scratched his torso. "Eh, I really think he gets it from you."
Patrick rolled his eyes and began removing the bandages from Devlin's injuries, causing the little boy hiss. Patrick blew a sharp breath out of his nose and looked at him sternly over the rim of his glasses, warning him that his little noises were not necessary.
"Pop, Daddy's hurting me!" Devlin squealed as Patrick applied the medicine to gash on his cheek.
"Dev, Daddy's not hurting you. He's making it all better, just hold still." Pete took a hold of Dev's little hand to reassure him while Patrick attended to the cuts.
"There. All done. It really wasn't that bad, Dev," Patrick said once he'd finished, but Devlin didn't look like he was in agreement with that statement.
"So, your birthday's on Saturday, bud, who are we inviting?" Pete asked, changing the subject before the little hellion could retaliate. He knew he'd succeeded when the frown wiped itself off of the boy's face and was replaced with a smile.
"Oh man! We gotta invite Uncle Joe, and Uncle Andy. Then, umm, Travie! And uh, Ms Bonnie, and can we invite Bob?"
Patrick laughed lightly at his enthusiasm. "Yes, we can invite Bob. But what about your grandparents?"
"Oh them too, only Papa Wentz can't come unless he brings some more of those exploding balloons."
Patrick pinched the bridge of his nose but Pete cheered along with his son. "Anyone else you want to come buddy?"
The little boy scratched his head for a moment, "Can Gramps come?"
Patrick swallowed the lump in his throat and forced a little smile. Pete saw the pained expression on his husband's face and reached out and took one of his hands. Patrick's father had never been truly excepting of Pete and Patrick's relationship and they hadn't spoken in quite some time. Of course, his father politely sent cards and presents to Devlin on his birthday and at Christmas, but other than that, his presence was virtually non-existent in their lives. Devlin never did give up on his grandfather, though he was a little boy and didn't really understand why he never saw him; he just chalked it up to it being that he lived so far away.
Patrick looked at Devlin with sad eyes, "No, I don't think Gramps will be able to come, but Grandma Pat would definitely want to be there."
Pete leaned over kissed Patrick's forehead and Devlin smiled. He loved his Grandma Pat and her pumpkin squares that she always made for him.
"What about the kids in your class bud, you want to invite any of them?" Pete asked, fluffing the boy's unruly Mohawk.
"No."
"Why not Dev? You're turning seven and everyone you want to come is a whole lot older, like us." Patrick looked at his little boy intently. He was failing to look up at either one of his parents and demonstrated a deep interest in picking lint off his pajama bottoms.
"Why not, Devlin?" Patrick repeated, not willing to let his son's odd behavior slide.
"I just don't want to."
Patrick scooped Devlin up and set him in his lap, making the little boy look into his eyes. "There has to be a reason, little man. I mean, don't you want your friends to come to your birthday party?"
"They're not my friends," Devlin said shortly, adopting a little scowl on his face. It was apparent that he didn't understand why his daddy cared so much about the kids in his class.
"Are you telling me out of the twenty-something kids in your class, not a one of them is your friend?" Pete asked, a little disbelieving.
Devlin nodded and kept his thunderous expression. "They don't like me."
"Oh Dev, I'm sure that's not true. Lots of people like you and I'm sure the kids in your class do too."
Devlin squirmed in Patrick's grasp and tried to wriggle off his lap, signs they both recognised as Devlin Avoidance tactics.
"Let me go, Daddy!" he screeched, eyes filling with frustrated tears as he struggled against his father.
"Now you wait just a minute, Devlin Marcus Wentz. I'm not going to put up with the behavior." Patrick pulled the boy back into his lap and began brushing the hot tears off of his son's freckled cheeks. "Now what on earth has gotten into you, huh?"
Devlin gritted his teeth and shook his head at Patrick. This show of defiance was firing Pete's temper; no one treated his spouse that way, especially not their six-year-old son.
"Devlin, you better answer your father or you won't have a party at all and the only present you'll be getting is a spanking."
"Pete, that's a little much babe." Patrick shook his head at his husband before looking back down at Devlin, "Tell us what's up buddy."
Devlin sighed and went boneless in Patrick's arms before speaking in the smallest voice they'd ever heard the little wild child use: "The kids in my class don't want to be my friends."
"Why not, Devlin?" Patrick pressed, trying to understand his child's anguish.
"They said I'm..."
"What'd they say, buddy?" Pete questioned gently.
"They said ...I'm a f--freak."
Devlin buried his face into his father's shirt and began to sob, each harsh cry shaking his small body. Patrick took his hand and rubbed his back while he cried, murmuring softly into his hair. Pete, on the other hand, sat back into the couch with a look of complete shock on his face. Devlin had never said anything about the children not liking him at school; hell, everyone he knew liked Devlin despite his hyperactive tendencies.
Once Devlin had quieted himself down to sniffles, Patrick pulled him from his chest and looked his boy in the eyes, placing a warm hand on either side of his face and wiping away tears with his thumbs. "Devlin, you are not a freak. You hear me?"
Devlin nodded and inhaled sharply, fighting back another crying fit.
"What would make them say that Devlin?"
The little boy's eyes fell and he bit his lip and Patrick hugged him close. "You can tell me squirt, come on."
Keeping his eyes down he spoke even softer than before. "They said I can't be their friend because I don't have a daddy and a mommy like they do. They said I can't play with them 'cause I'm a freak with two daddies."
Patrick clutched Devlin to his chest tightly and now began to fight back his own tears; he'd always feared that this day would come, regardless of what he told himself. It broke his heart that people would teach their children to be so prejudiced at a young age. So what if he and Pete were a gay couple? That didn't make Devlin any less of a first-grader; he wasn't beneath those other children and he certainly wasn't a freak.
Pete sat very still with his hand over his eyes, willing his inner rage to subside. How dare they treat his child this way? How dare they make Devlin feel as if he wasn't worthy enough to play with other six year olds that belonged to heterosexual couples. How dare they?
Pete sat up and wrapped his arms around both Patrick and Devlin, tugging them until they both laying snuggled to his chest. They lay absolutely quiet for awhile, the chattering cartoons on the television filling the still room.
"Devlin, you listen to me," Pete finally managed to speak, taking his son's chin in his hand and smiling when Dev's grey eyes met his. "You are NOT a freak. Don't you ever listen to anyone who tells you that you are. Your Daddy and I have told you that you have two parents that love each other very much and love you just as much."
Devlin sighed and nodded, giving Pete a watery grin. "I know Poppa. I don't want a mommy anyway. I love my daddies."
Patrick smiled and kissed Devlin's forehead, "Hey buddy, why don't you go get dressed and then we can go to the bakery to order your birthday cake. Maybe if we have time we could even rent a movie on the way home, does that sound good?"
"Yes!" He cried with that particular resilience of children, hopping down off the sofa and bounding off up the stairs.
Pete kissed Patrick soundly once Devlin had vanished and tangled his fingers in his husband's hair. "You know I love you," he whispered against his lips.
"Of course I do, I love you too Pete. I just wish people weren't this way. How could they say that to Dev?"
Pete placed a finger over his lips and shook his head, "I don't know 'Trick... but I love you and I love him. It's the three of us 'til the end."
"Yeah. The Wentz family against the world."