Simon: age 3
JJ's POV
"Papa? When is Daddy coming home?" Simon asks as he tots into the kitchen. I am busy making dinner at the stove. Josh has been away for a week on a brand deal in America. He is supposed to be coming home tonight in time for dinner.
"Daddy will be home within the next thirty minutes. When the long hand on the clock is at the nine, that meant that thirty minutes has passed," I explain to the toddler. I point on the clock on the wall that is in the kitchen, but it can be seen from the dining room where he had been coloring. I look down at the small boy and notice his blonde hair looks different. A streak of red is right at the front of his spiked up hair.
"What did you do to your hair, Simon?" I ask out of bewilderment and shock. I kneel down in front of the boy and run my fingers through the front of his hair. I try to rub the color from his hair, but it doesn't budge.
"I want cool hair like yours, Papa," Simon explains as he pats my purple dyed hair. It takes everything within me to hold back the smile that threatens to appear on my lips.
"What did you use?" My mind is trying to figure out what he got his hands on to do it with. Josh has pretty much locked down the house ever since Simon started walking.
"A marker," Simon says with a wide smile on his lips.
"Daddy is going to kill me," I mumble as I pull my hands from his hair and pull him into a quick hug. He eventually squirms from my hold and runs back to the dining table.
I follow the boy and notice a red sharpie on the table. I take the sharpie and sit down next to him.
"Simon, you know you aren't supposed to have markers. Where did you find this one?" I ask him as I hold up the marker. His focus is on the scribbled on piece of paper on the table in front of him.
"I saw Daddy put it in the drawer before he left," Simon says without lifting his head. With that, I take the marker and place it on the kitchen counter back towards the wall so that it is out of his reach.
I return to the stove and stir the vegetables in the pots. I open the oven door and peek in at the chicken that is cooking. The timer beeps and I grab a rag and pull out the tray. I set it on the counter and pull down two large plates and a small kids plate from the cupboard. I transfer the chicken onto a serving platter as well as the peas and green beans into serving bowls. I carry the plates and silverware into the dining room to set the table.
"Simon, please clean up your coloring stuff. Dinner will be ready as soon as Daddy is home," I direct Simon. He nods and shoves his crayons back into the box.
"Help... please," he says after I look at him and wait for the magic word. He is holding the open box up at me. I flip the top closed and watch as he runs to put the box away on the shelf.
The sound of the front door is heard as it opens. Bags are dropped to the floor and the door is closed. A small squeal is heard before little pounding footsteps.
"Daddy!" Simon shrieks. I step into the lounge so that I can see the front door. Josh is holding Simon in his arms after he bent down to his level. His suitcases are on either side of the door on the floor. Simon's little arms are wrapped tightly around Josh's neck. A smile spreads across my face at the sight of the two.
"Hi, Si," Josh enthusiastically greets the boy. He litters his face with kisses. Excited and happy giggles erupt from Simon. While Simon's head is pressed to Josh's shoulder, he looks up and catches my gaze.
"Why don't you go wash your hands and get seated at the table for dinner," Josh suggests to Simon. The boy nods and releases Josh to run into the bathroom.
Josh stands and makes his way over to myself. I expect him to pull me into a hug, but he instead connects our lips and pulls my hips to him. One of my hands goes to his chest while the other holds the side of his face. His teeth graze my bottom lip and cause my lips to open so that he can deepen the kiss.
"Daddy, I drew you a picture!" Simon exclaims as he runs around the corner holding a sheet of paper. Josh breaks the kiss and smiles down at Simon as he pulls me to his chest. I shift my head against his shoulder so that my face is hidden in his neck. I am happy and relieved to have Josh home. I missed him.
"Wow! That's really lovely, Simon!" Josh enthuses. He takes the picture from the boy and examines it closer. A bright smile covers Josh's face. A proud look is plastered to Simon's adorable little face. He then turns and goes back to the dining room.
Josh kisses my forehead. His hands run up and down my back as I tighten my grip around his neck.
"I missed you," I mumble into his skin.
"I missed you, too," Josh whispers into my ear.
"Let's go eat before it gets cold," I suggest after a bit of silence. I pull away from Josh's body and head in the direction of the kitchen to take the food to the table.
Simon is sat at the head of the table that seats six. With just the three of us, we only use half of the table, but there are enough seats for the rest of the Sidemen to all be over and have dinner every now and then. Josh is sat in his spot on the side of the table closest to the kitchen. I carry the food to the table and set it down in the middle of the table.
I go to sit down and Josh is already preparing a plate for Simon. He makes sure that it is all cut up so that he won't choke.
"Want to tell me why our son has red hair?" Josh raises his eyebrow at me from across the table. I can tell by his smirk that he finds it more amusing than infuriating. He places the plate of cut up food in front of Simon.
"Why don't you tell Daddy, Simon?" I look to the boy who is trying to stab a piece of chicken with his fork.
"I like the color red. Papa has cool hair, and I wanted cool hair, too," Simon adorably explains as he frowns at his plate.
"He watched you put the red sharpie away in the drawer before you left," I answer Josh's unspoken question as I take Simon's fork from his hand. I stab a piece onto the fork and hand it back to him. He happily shoves it in his mouth and munches on it.
Like I said, I don't know how many chapters this series will have. Enjoy the consistent uploads while they last. Until next time, Ilya, bye!!!
