Bzzp

Bzzp

Bzzp

"Dada"

Bzzp

Bzzp

Bzzp

"Daddyyyyy"

I opened my eyes to Wren on top of me. I sat up and saw that we were still on the couch. We must've fallen asleep last night.

"Daddy make it stop"

A sleepy Wren squirmed and fussed in my lap. There was an incessant little buzzing sound. I left Wren in a pile of blankets on the couch. He was too tired to complain and simply curled up with a small whine.

I stood, immediately feeling the toll of sleeping on the couch. I groaned and spotted my phone, where I left it. On the ground, vibrating like crazy.

Looking at the clock, it was 7am. I opened my phone to find so many texts from Louis and a few missed calls.

Reading them made my head spin.

David...

...Unconcious..

.........Hurt....

...Hospital..

I sent him a text to say Wren and I coming. I called a taxi and frantically got ready to leave. I barely time to get Wren's bag ready as I changed his wet diaper. He was barely awake and fussed throughout. It was a blur, all I could focus on was making seeing David.

I managed to get a bottle, his blanket and stuffie in an already filled diaper bag.

Still in our clothes from yesterday, I slipped on shoes, grabbed our coats and saw the taxi already outside.

I must've looked insane. Barreling out of the house and into this mans backsteet. He asked if I was alright and where we were headed. I told him the hospital and assured him I was alright.

The taxi ride gave me a breather. Wren was back asleep, sucking peacefully on his pacifier in my lap.

I couldnt stop thinking about david. All the terrible scenarios my brain could think of.

I tried occuping myself by messing with wrens hair as he peacefully snored in my lap. The taxi driver kept conversation light, as he sped to the hospital.

We pulled up outside. I payed and thanked the man. Bag slung over my shoulder and Wren snuggled into me as carried him, I headed inside to reception.

Straight up to the man behind the desk.

"Hi, how can I help you today?"

"My husband, david nightshade, was admitted last night, i- I need to see him"

"Um alright sir, can I get a name?"

"Richard Nightshade-"

"Ricky!"

I turned and saw louis running over to me.

"He's been waiting for you"

Louis talked to the receptionist, and I was finally allowed through.

"Room 32, just down the hall, take a left"

We walked through the hallway and I was very confused.

"Y-youre text said he was unconscious"

"He was-"

Louis took a breath

"He got bit"

I stopped in my tracks

"He what?"

I dashed to his room, well as best I could while not waking up Wren. Louis tailed behind me trying to get me to slow. I eventually came to the room. Busting in through the door, I saw David.

Sitting up a hospital bed eating some toast. He looked at me and smiled. He put the toast down on a plate on his sidetable.

"Hey"

"Dont 'hey' me, you have me worried sick"

I whisper shouted at him. Attempting not to disturb Wren, I hugged David. He let out an 'off' before chuckling.

"Lemme take him"

I gave him Wren. Who huffed and snuggled in the new source of warmth.

"What happened, Louis said you were bit"

"Yes but-"

Louis suddenly enters, cutting off david. He looked like he was about to say something but he read the room.

"I'll give you guys a minute"

He left and I turned back to David.

"She only got my leg, louis got me here quick-

He pulled the blanket off, revealing the bandaged lower half of his left leg.

"I am going to be ok, ok, theres no need to worry, they got all the poison out, she was weak, it was like a snake bite"

I processed what he said

"So when can you come home?"

"Later today hopefully-"

I cut him off in surprise

"Really?"

"Well hopefully, they wanna keep me in to make sure my blood pressure doesn't drop and stuff like that"

I breathed out a sigh I didnt realise I was holding in. He was ok. I really dont know what I'd do with myself if he wasn't.

"Promise me you'll never do this again"

"What?"

"Scare the living shit out of me"

I let out a breathy chuckled and David's face saddened. He patted next to him and I joined him on the bed.

He quickly swung an arm around me and trapped me in next to the still dozing Wren.

I looked up and he kissed my forehead.

"Never again, I'm never leaving my babies again"

He squeezed me tight.

"I love you"

"I love you too... pretty weird that we just had a beautiful family moment in a hospital bed with one asleep and one with a gammy leg, right?"

"There's my ricky"

David released his grip on me but still kept his hold on Wren.

I stayed lying beside him on the bed and gave my hands something to do by pushing wrens hair out his face.

"Now, I just want a quick answer, please no details, I don't wanna know.

Is she gone?"

David looked down at me and nodded.

"She's gone for good"

I smiled. It's a weird feeling finding out your abuser is dead. Weird but good. I sat up. David leaned around me and kissed my cheek.

"You ok- Hey!"

I looked over and saw Wren pulling at David's hair. Little tyke must've woken up looking for trouble.

Wren half whined half giggled as david pryed his hands off his hair.

"How's my good little princess doing?"

"Good papa!"

"Well that's good"

David chuckled

"Mhmm me an daddy watched movies an den daddy got sad buh I make him beh-ur!"

"That's great bubba"

David gave me a look that said 'are you actually ok?' And I nodded so David turned back to Wren.

Wren finally realised that we weren't in the house but a strange unknown place to him. He whimpered and lay back into David.

"Where we?"

"We're at the hospital bubba, papa got a bit hurt and I'm getting better"

"No wan papa hur"

"I'm nearly better bubba theres no need to worry"

Then a doctor came in and it all went to shit. Wren screamed, turned and hugged David. He was shaking.

I gently took him off David but with much protest. David apologised and explained his fear, in retrospect maybe not the best idea bringing him here but what else could I do?

Eventually wren was sitting in my lap, and the doctor started some routine questions. I distracted Wren with his morning bottle. He focused on his milk as David reaffirmed that he was feeling ok apart from the expected soreness.

"Ok, everything seems to be fine, but we'll be keeping you in for 12 hour observation. If you stay fine you'll be out by the end of the day"

"Great, thanks doc"

The doctor left and Wren finished off his bottle. I burped him and he curled up in my lap, playing with my shirt collar and babbling to himself.

"Hey hospitals aren't a great place to keep a baby, why dont you and Wren go shopping"

"I dunno-"

"Here"

David reached into his wallet on the nightstand and pulled out his credit card.

" I've caused you two enough stress. Enjoy yourselves. I'll be out later today and we can have a family movie night. Just please dont bankrupt us"

The opportunity was there, my inner mall rat was screaming to be let out. I took the card, slipping it into my breast pocket for the moment.

"You're a real sugar daddy you know that david"

David blushed and I laughed. I gathered up wrens things and after a big ol goodbye hug we were off.

We passed louis, who was pacing in the hallway. Wren whispered to be let down and I obliged. He ran up behind Louis and hugged his legs, barely reaching past them.

"U-uncul lou ok?"

Louis smiled

"I'm fine squirt, thanks for the hug"

He awkwardly bent down and patted Wrens head and wren giggled, waddling back to me. I picked him up.

"Thank you Louis"

Louis stood back to his full height. Intimidating as hell

"What?"

"I-uh thanks for getting david here"

"Oh... couldn't let him get hurt"

He sighed. Sensing a nerve had been struck I switched topics.

"You know, Wren's sweet 16 is getting close-"

"Really? I thought he was like 13"

Wren whined and we laughed.

"Ha yeah he's a small bug but-uh how long you sticking around cause we'd love to have you"

"Thank you for the offer but I really only have clearance for a week away"

"Damn, we'll be sure to give you a call, ok?"

"Ok, where are you two heading anyway?"

"Wren doesn't really like hospitals"

Wren let out a little mmphf noise

"So we are going on a shopping spree, while daddy gets better, right babes?"

Wren did the same noise but muffled because my shirt was in his mouth.

Louis laughed

"Alright, see yous later"

Wren only now seemed to realise that it was going to be an us day again and he was not impressed. He expressed this by getting an attitude

Taxi ride back, arms crossed with a pout on his face. It was cute at first but once we were home, he started kicking up a fuss about everything.

It was supposed to be a quick pit stop at home, freshen up, change clothes, grab a snack. But Wren had other ideas.

Clothes were a struggle, but eventually I convinced him to let me put him in the overalls. He wouldn't let me touch his hair so it stayed messy.

I don't even know how I managed to get the mittens on. Going out tended to make Wren anxious and I wanted to be safe.

He ate the snack I gave him. Must've been too hungry to protest a sandwich.

It all culminated when I got out the stroller. Wren wasn't having it

"Noooooo"

"Wren don't moan, you have to sit in the stroller"

"Daddy carry me!"

He made grabby hands

"Baby bear I cant carry you everywhere"

Tears brimmed at Wren's eyes, he fell to the floor and screamed. He tried to scratch his arms but the mittens restricted him and it only frustrates him more.

"Wren baby you need to calm down"

I knelt and tried to touch him but I was pushed away. This was going nowhere.

"Wren, you're getting a time out"

"No timeout Daddy!"

I picked him up and he thrashed. I pulled out the stool in the kitchen and sat him on it. He squealed trying to get back into my arms.

"Wren no,

We do not scream, we do not push, we do not throw tantrums.

You will stay in time out until I come get you"

I set the timer

Wren wailed on the stool, but surprisingly didnt move. I nearly caved and ran him as his tantrum calmed down. Screams turned to whimpers and soon the timer went off. I only set it for 5 minutes, david would say at least 10 but he really only needed 5.

I entered back into the kitchen and bent down to Wren's level.

"Wren look at me"

Wren looked up. His face was red and stained with tears, that still spilled from his giant eyes.

"Why were you put in time out?"

"C-c-cuz I sceem an pu'h Dada an t-woah tantwum an an an-"

Wren started to sob again

"Am sowwy dada! Wren sowwy!"

I hug him and he cried into me.

"Oh sh sh sh baby it's ok. You've learnt your lesson havent you?"

He nodded into my chest and mumbled

"Bad boy"

I rubbed his back

"No baby bear, you're a good boy. I know you are. Now what had my good boy all worked up?"

"I-i dunno. Jus upset"

"That's ok lil bug, we all get those days"

I stood, grabbing a tea towel and drying his face. I brought him back to the stroller and buckled him in without much fuss. I gave him stuffie and he smiled.

"See it's not so bad little bug"

Ah I love little baby drama every once in a while. Hopefully attitude doesnt become regular with Wren. Hes too much of a bean to have constant attitude.

Rolling around town, nothing seemed appealing. The one day I have free reign of David's card and theres no sales. Wren was playing with stuffie so the few people we passed on the street didn't bother him.

It wasnt until I spotted Donna's salon across the street that I knew what we were gonna do.

"Wren honey-"

I knelt next to him and Wren stopped playing to pay attention

"How'd you feel about getting a haircut? We can go to Daddys friend Donna. You like donna right?"

"Like donna"

"I'm glad, and you certainly need a trim"

I laughed as Wren hid behind his long bangs

We crossed the street and walked straight in. The small store was empty apart from donna playing candy crush on her phone, evident by the loud 'tasty' that rang out.

"Hello how can I- Ricky aaaahh!"

Donna jumped out from the main desk. She wore her work attire. Black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, black jeans and boots with her hair tied up in a pony tail. She hugged me and squatted in front of the stroller.

"Hey kiddo! You doing good?"

Wren just nodded, trying to take in the new environment.

"So what beings my two favourite people here?"

"Ha Emma won't be too happy to hear that-"

We laughed

"- but, I was going to ask if you're not to busy. Wanna take a whack at this little guy's mop"

I ruffled up wrens hair.

"Omg I'd love to! Yay! Kiddo you excited?"

Wren babbled but seemed nervous.

"Don't worry, I'll be doing all the work, all you have to do is sit in chair and look pretty"

Wren was more on board now.

I took Wren out of the stroller and quickly checked his diaper, it was a little wet but not enough to warrant a change.

Donna got out a booster seat for the chair that had a little strap so he wouldn't fall.

"Alright kiddo take your throne."

I placed Wren and he was buckled in.

Donna spun the chair and Wren giggled. First she rolled him over to the sink.

"First we're gonna wash your hair, that ok kiddo?"

Wren looked confused

"No baf?"

I jumped in

"No baby bear, Donna's just gonna wash your hair. Now lean back for me like a good boy"

Wren whimpered and held out his hand, which I took. Rubbing his palm reassuringly and his hair was washed.

He had his eyes closed the whole time, only opening them when he was being patted dry with the towel.

Wren was rolled back over to the mirror where he saw himself and frowned. Wren shook his head like wet dog giving a line of wet across mine and Donna's shirt. We both laughed while Wren just looked confused.

I sat down in the chair to them and Donna began. Combing Wren's hair down so it could be cut.

"So you just want a trim or are we going mohawk"

Wren whined "nooooooo"

Donna and I laughed again

"Don't worry Wren I'm joking"

"But yeah, just a trim. Nothing too extreme"

"You're the boss"

I kept ahold of Wren's hand while the cut continued. When suddenly my phone started vibrating. I looked and saw sarah was calling, answering immediately.

"Yello"

"Heyyy ricky"

"Heyyy sarah, what's up"

"I have incredible news"

"Oooo do tell"

"Alex is talking again!"

"Really?! That's great!"

"I know! The doctors said it would take awhile cause of the trauma and such-"

She trailed off a bit obviously uncomfortable before picking right back up.

"-but she really just went FUCK THAT and she's talking again! It's not her usual chatter box self but I get the occasional exposition dump from her and I nearly cry every time"

"Ah god I'm so happy for you. We have to get a playdate in motion. Wren's misses Alex"

Wren spoke up at this point. "Ya!"

Making sarah on the other end laugh.

"I think seeing people over than doctors and her stuffies will do Alex some good"

"I can imagine. Now how are you doing?"

"Better, talking to you always makes me feel better"

"Aww thank you, love you bish"

"Love you too bish"

"Ok I'll call you later but I gotta go, wrens getting his first haircut"

"Oh my god! Goooo!"

"Byeeeeee"

"Byeeeeee"

We both hung up and I turned my attention back to Wren and donna.

"I havent seen sarah and alex in ages! Do tell them to stop by, unless they're going to another hairdresser in which case tell them to fluff off"

Wren giggled at Donna's attempt at censoring.

Soon the cutting was all done and Donna was fluffing wrens hair back up with the hairdryer.

I stood behind them for a dramatic reveal. The chair was spun and and I gasped.

His hair no longer draped over his eyes or covering the back of his neck. It was elegantly trimmed with a little wavy curl showing through his thick hair.

"Oh baby bear you look breathtaking!"

He was unclipped from the chair and Donna helped him down. He then waddled to me, probably needing a change.

I kneeled down and he crawled into my lap.

"You like daddy?"

"I love it baby, do you like it?"

"Mm hmm"

"Now what do you say to Donna?"

"Tankies ms Donna!"

Donna squealed

"Ugh you're too much kid"

I tickled wren and he squealed, giggling and attempting to tickle me back.

"Here ricky, gimme your phone. Gotta get a picture"

I handed her my phone and she took a picture of me and Wren.

I sent it to david and he responded within 10 seconds.

'Oh that's going in a frame'