sidestory

[sailorstarsun]

I felt like since fridaychallenge is on hiatus, I had nothing to write! D= But this had been bumbling around in my head for a little while, so I took the time to jot it down.

It's short. It's sweet. It features smooshy daddy!Gü.


Title: Smile, Baby!
Series: Back of the Sun x as-of-yet-unnamed series crossover
Characters: Günter, Antonio, baby Luka
Genre: general, some romance
Rating: G
Warnings: I'm not filling in all the blanks, so some things may be confusing.
Also, I swear I don't have anything against Italians.







He awoke suddenly, a random dream of a cat attacking his face startling him to consciousness. After a moment of catching his breath, he realized he was alone. Normally the late night cries of their family's newest addition would wake him up, but perhaps the days of sleep lost since Luka's arrival had finally caught up with him.

Reaching a hand over to Antonio's side of the bed, he found the empty mattress warm. Though with Antonio's high body temperature, he could have gotten up hours ago and the bed would still retain his heat. And without another thought, Günter got up, slipped on his glasses, and went to see if his lover – his husband – needed any help.

He found Antonio in Luka's room, as expected, sitting in a chair next to the crib. His arms were crossed over the crib's top railing, with his head resting upon them. Both father and child appeared to be sleeping peacefully.

Günter moved as silently as possible to stand beside them. It was such a gentle scene, and it brought a soft smile to his face. Antonio had been so tired after everything that's happened. After he'd finally started recovering from what his father had put him through, Stefano then dropped the newborn Luka off on their doorstep, opening the wounds all over again. And in the week since Luka's arrival, Antonio hadn't gotten a wink of sleep. For the first time in the many years they'd been together, Günter thought Antonio might be in over his head.

Raising Luciano had been difficult enough, and he was an older child when they adopted him. But a baby – a tiny, tiny baby – was even more of a challenge. Antonio hadn't even known how to change a diaper until two days ago, much less how or when to feed and bathe a newborn. And that he refused anyone but Günter's help made it even harder. His pride insisted he could do it all himself.

But he was doing it. He was learning everything he needed to care for a newborn, and he was doing it gloriously.

Günter peeked into the crib, heart warmed to see Luka sleeping so quietly, then gently ran a hand through Antonio's hair. The silver locks curled right back into place as a vivid blue-green eye slowly cracked open. "Sorry," Günter said softly, though he was still smiling.

"What time is it?" Antonio asked as he lifted his head and wiped at his eyes.

"Probably around three, I think. Did he wake up?"

Antonio's eyes drifted to the crib and the child sleeping in it. "No, I was just checking on him."

"You should come to bed," Günter said. "You need to rest, and you'll sleep better if you're more comfortable."

"Ah," Antonio agreed, sparing one last glance at Luka after he stood up. But he and Günter had only just made it to the door when the child started crying, as if being left alone was enough to pull him awake in fright.

Antonio stopped, paused, then turned to go back until Günter stopped him with a touch to his arm. "I'll stay with him. You go to sleep."

A line of emotions crossed Antonio's face – worry, affection, exhaustion – until finally he nodded. He ran a hand up Günter's arm and gave a loving squeeze, then said a quiet "Thanks," before slipping out of the room.

Günter went back to the crib and smiled despite Luka's cries. He picked the baby up effortlessly, as Luka had obviously inherited Antonio's slender build, and held him to his chest. He was warm, also like Antonio, and his silver hair was soft as his small head rested on Günter's shoulder. It seemed the only thing Luka inherited from the mystery mother that no one but Stefano knew was his silver eyes. It was because of those eyes that Antonio had concluded his father must have chosen a woman that looked like Günter to bear the next del Drago heir. It was a nice thought, at the absolute very least, but did not grant Stefano any forgiveness for forcing Antonio to have a child against his will.

But despite everything, Günter had very quickly fallen in love with Luka. How could he not? Luka was a part of Antonio after all, and didn't deserve any of the animosity his grandfather had earned. And Günter was touched that everyone had assumed or known that he would have a large role in raising Luka, and considered him just as much a father as Antonio was. He truly loved Luka as his own, just as he did Luciano. Despite everything, Günter was happy that his family had grown.

Within mere moments, Luka had stopped crying, quickly dropping off back to sleep. Günter sat in the chair that still held Antonio's warmth, and leaned back. He was quite tired himself, and as his body settled comfortably in the chair, with Luka resting against his chest, he figured it probably wouldn't hurt to close his eyes for a bit.









He awoke suddenly, sharp pains around his scalp startling him to consciousness. It was daylight, and he was still in Luka's room. A blanket had been laid over the both of them, but Luka was awake now, and he was pulling at the locks of Günter's hair that he'd found.

Günter winced as Luka gave another sharp tug, and the child laughed as though his father's pain was nothing short of hilarious. His pure-silver eyes, devoid of any pupils through which to see, showed happiness.

"Troublemaker," Günter said with a smile. Then he kissed the baby on his nose. "Just like your Papa."

Luka's smile matched his own.




-END-

Comments

[cashew.insanejournal.com]

;_; fridaychallenge will come back once I get my life in order.

You do realize that I am now convinced that there are secret dollie purchases happening behind the scenes, right?

[sailorstarsun.insanejournal.com]

No worries! =D I have enough to keep me patiently entertained until its return.

Also, there may be. Or there may not be. I'll never tell. ;P