"Aw, are you tired bubba?"

I asked, watching wren try stiffle a yawn.

"N-no papa, no tired"

Wren tried to assure me as Ricky strapped him into his car seat, giving him his blankie and stuffies. I jumped into the front as Ricky cooed and fussed over the baby.

"Are you absolutely completely sure you have everything you need baby bear?"

Ricky asked, tickling wren a little. He giggled and squirmed in his car seat.

"Yeh Dada!"

"Are you sure you're sure?"

"Yesh!"

"Are you sure you're sure you're sure?"

Wren giggled

"Yesh Daddy!"

"Ok then darlin"

Ricky kissed Wren's forehead and shut the car door. As he walked around to the passenger side, I stuck my hand to the backseat and wiggled my fingers, prompting wren to laugh and grab onto me.

"Best little baby boy"

I murmed to myself as I watched my baby in the mirror. He played with my fingers and babbled to himself, then caught my eye in the mirror and started waving excitedly.

By then Ricky was in the car and shutting the door behind him.

"Ooo what're we waving at"

"Papa!"

Wren answered, kicking their legs. I pulled back my hand as wren was distracted, placing them back on the wheel.

"Alright! We are finally off, no more detours, next stop relaxing hotel vacation-nah"

"Yeahhhhh"

Ricky cheered and I began the actual journey.

It wasn't long until a small voice piped up in the back.

"Daddy?

Ricky turned back to wren.

"Yes baby bear?"

"Daddy where my paci?"

Ricky chuckled and reached back, pointing to the pacifier obviously dangling by a clip off of wrens jumper.

"Right there baby"

Wren excitedly put it in his mouth.

"Tank chu Daddy!"

Wren giggled to himself and played with his stuffies in the back as me and Ricky sat in comfortable silence listening to the radio.

The silence was interupted by wren speaking up again.

"Papa?"

"Yes bubba?"

"How much longer we dwivin?"

Me and Ricky sniggered.

"A good bit longer bubba"

"Oh"

Wren stayed quiet for a little longer until yawning. There was a moment before declares to Ricky and I.

"I tiurd"

I chuckled as he squirmed and rubbed stuffie up against his cheek. Ricky awed.

"Thats alright baby bear, you can take a little nap right now. Do you want a drinky?"

Wren nodded and held out a grabby hands.

"Cookie?"

"You're having your cookie later baby, with your baba remember?"

Ricky grabbed a bottle of juice out of the bag and handed it back to wren.

"Can you hold it by yourself like a big boy wren?"

"Wrenny can, big boy"

Wren murmed and held up his bottle with both hands, drinking happily.

David tucked wrens blanket around him and rubbed his tummy.

I doubt even 2 minutes had passed before Ricky could say

"Someone's already snoozing"

"Mhm, I expected him to sleep but not this soon"

I looked in the mirror and smiled at Wren, peacefully sleeping. Stuffie held in a tight hug as he did so.

"He's too cute when he sleeps"

Ricky sipped from his coffee.

"Agreed"

Ricky picked up wrens fallen juice and popped his paci in his mouth. It gently bobbed as the sweet boy slept.

Time passed as we drove on, eventually getting out onto the motorway, with our boy still snoozing in the back.

"Hey look-"

Ricky pointed out the window, I snuck a glance before looking back to the road. There were a couple horses grazing in a field next to the motorway.

"-Wren would love them, but I'm not risking waking him up, not fighting that today"

"Not poking the baby bear?"

We quietly laughed, it wasn't even particular funny, just a small chuckle but it was especially nice.

Now dont get me wrong, I absolutely adore the chaotic and bombastic nature Ricky brings out in us both but I gotta say some of my favourites bits are when he's calmed down just a little. Not enough to stop shenanigans but enough to make him a little mellow. Our calm conversations, comforts and cuddles always come out on top for me.

That tranquil mellow drive I'd hoped for would not be kept up for too long though. In the middle of Ricky's (quiet for the sake of wren) solo to glory of love I smelt something.

"Think we're gonna have to end up poking cause the bear needs a change"

Ricky turned back to see wren still sleeping.

"That was quick, I can probably keep him asleep for the most part, when's the next place you can park"

"There should be a service station coming up, we can stop there"

"Great, if there's a decent bathroom we'll change in there, if not, in the car"

"Wonderful planning dear"

"Thank you dear"

We laughed to ourselves.

There wasn't much time till the service station, thanks to me not skimping down on speed and fairly empty roads. With me and Ricky happily harmonising in hums along to the radio.

That was until a car suddenly swerved in front of us, blarring the horn.Me and Ricky jumped at the suddenness of it as the car sped off down the road ahead of us, doing the same stunt to the other few on the road.

I exasperatedly muttered .

"What was that guys fucking deal- god"

I would've blasted that idiot right back with my own horn but he was too far gone and the other drivers seemed to be taking care of it for me. I settled for banging the steering wheel once and letting out an angry breath.

"It's always those flashy sports cars you know, that and trucks. Thinking they own the road-"

My attention was stolen away from idiotic road users to Ricky thumping me and gesturing backwards. I looked in the mirror and saw wren fidgeting and shifting in his seat. He whined, kicked, eventually opening his eyes, raising his little fists to rub them.

We waited with baited breath at what wren would do, what way his mood would swing. He whined and sniffled, all fussy. When his squirming stopped, Wren realised he needed a change.

He started to cry, and Ricky basically bent his spine backwards trying to comfort him.

"Hey little bat, no more tears. You're gonna be ok, that loud car was such a meanie.

Wren was not in the mood to be consoled though. He continued to cry. He put his hand and one of stuffies hooves into his mouth as he did so.

Ricky to attempted to replace them and quiet the little one with his pacifier. It did so to an extent. Wren accepted the switch but still cried, the frustrated tears pouring down his cheeks, as he let out little muffled hiccups and cries in between sucks.

"Oh sweetie we'll get you cleaned up in no time. We're nearly there, aren't we David?"

Ricky glared at me, begging for a good answer.

"Uh huh, well be there in a few minutes"

"See darling, just a tiny itty bit longer,"

Wren sniffled and kicked his legs which seemed to only upset him more. He pulled at the straps on his seat.

"Ouh! Icky"

Ricky placed his hand on wrens knee.

"Shshsh"

He spoke calmly, letting wren grab onto his hand with a sad whine. I frowned knowing there wasn't much I could do with me driving. So I focused on that.

I hastily took the nearest exit towards the service station, driving for only a little longer before turning and pulling into the small parking area.

It was mostly empty, a few people around, filling up on petrol or buying gum.

I parked and both me and Ricky got out to go around to wren. Despite me being closer, Ricky got there first.

He opened the door and immediately took our distressed baby who was now crying while clutching onto Ricky's shirt, stuffie in his other hand"

"Icky wet"

He sniffled, resting his head against Ricky's shoulder.

Ricky shushed but refrained from bouncing the crying boy.

"Ok you go check the state of the bathroom, I'll get everything else together"

"Might want to get another onesie too, think he's sprung a leak"

I added, indicating to the small wetspot on wrens onesie. Ricky groaned.

"Great, now go check the bathroom"

I walked away as Ricky kicked open the boot and started going through bags, the little one on his shoulder still crying his little heart out.

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

I was cold, uncomfy and tired and Daddy wasn't fixing it.

"Daddy peas"

I tried to say but behind the pacifier and my tears it just sounded like a few more disgruntled cries.

Daddy seemed to get the message though.

"Daddys moving as fast as he can little bug"

It was then, as daddy finished grabbing things out of the boot, I looked up. I looked up to see a couple of people around the place, all staring at me.

I put my face straight down into Daddy's shoulder, still crying loudly. I just wanted to go back to sleep, why'd it have to be so hard.

I was having such a nice dream too. I was with jam in this field with a bunch of horses qnd we were running around eating sweets and riding. It was so nice

Daddy rubbed my back and whispered little praises into my ear, quietening me down.

I listened as Footsteps approached and I could hear Papa's voice.

"Bathrooms clean, do you need anything else"

"No I got it from here"

"You sure?"

"Well maybe a kiss?"

Daddy asked, Papa chuckled. How could they be kissing eachother at a time like this. I screeched into Daddy's shoulder, alerting them to my obvious distress.

I could feel Papa leaning in.

"Sorry baby, you get a kiss too"

Papa kissed my templed. Sure it wasn't my intention but it made me feel a little better. I humpfed and felt Daddy's weight shift as he hung the diaper bag from his shoulder.

I peeked up to see us walking away from the car and papa. I would've cried more but my throat and eyes were getting quite sore so I just whimpered.

I felt us go through some doors and then Daddy whispered to me.

"You're ok sweetie, it's just us now. Daddy'll get you changed so quick"

I looked out and watched as daddy laid down a blue polka dot mat on top of a counter and then me down on top of it. I whimpered as I sucked on my paci, rubbing stuffies soft mane up against my cheek.

Daddy reassured me as he took off my jumper and onesie. I shivered a little, it was cold in the bathroom.

"I'll be quick darling"

Daddy ripped off my diaper and started wiping me down. The wipe was even colder and made me cry out again, coughing from my dry throat.

Daddy rubbed my tummy in comfort and began slowly calming down as he changed me.

He threw away the old diaper and taped up a new one on me.

"Thats better right darling?"

I hiccuped and nodded. Daddy kissed my nose. I yawned and rubbed at my eyes.

"Oh someone's still tired, is that why you were all cranky baby bear. Oh my darling little fuss pot"

Daddy cooed at my while nuzzling my cheek. I pulled at his hair, smiling for a second. Daddy gently pulled my hand away, rubbing my palm with his thumb.

He helped me sit up and pushed my hair out of my eyes.

"Look at your eyes sweetie, they're all red. All that crying must've hurt"

I whined a little as I nodded. Daddy then wet a tissue with cold water and dabbed gently at my eyes. I sighed at the nice cool feeling, the stinging in my eyes disappearing.

"I bet that feels nice little bat"

He smiled and kissed my nose again. I shivered, whining a little.

"Oh I'm sorry darling, you're probably freezing. Here Daddy's got your bear onesie to keep you nice and warm during your nap nap"

Daddy got out the fuzzy brown onesie from the bag and started dressing me up in it.

He babbled nonsense at me as he did, zipping it up and putting up the hood. I was definitely greatful for the warmth. Daddy clipped my paci to the onesie, giving it a boop.

Daddy picked me up and began packing everything away, I snuggled up to his neck and he patted my diapered bum.

"All clean"

He kissed my temple and walked out of the bathroom. I hid from the bright sun, whining a little.

I nearly fell back asleep on Daddy's shoulder but the scratching in my throat from all the crying was stopping me. I squirmed and fussed as he carried me back to the car.

Papa waited, standing by the car.

"Ricky look!"

He called out excitedly.

"They had magnets in the store"

Daddy giggled at how excited papa was.

"Oooooo what'd ya get?"

Papa held out something I couldn't properly see and Daddy took it. Papa very proudly stated.

"It's a horse with a pair of sunglasses on"

Daddy sniggered, handing me the magnet when I made grabby hands for it.

"Why might I ask?"

"Well I saw it, it made me laugh and I bought it"

"And look at this little bear, all squeaky clean

I didnt respond to him, too focused on fiddling with the magnet before handing it back to Papa.

"What'd you think bubba?" Do you like it?"

"Gud"

I said quietly before coughing again.

Papa smiled devilishly and I could almost feel Daddy's turn to a frown.

"Wren, are you feeling a little hoarse-"

He looked to Daddy, who remained stonefaced and didn't acknowledge the joke. Papa laughed to himself for a second before asking.

"Seriously though bubba is your throat a little sore"

I nodded sadly, I just wanted to go back to napping. To my dream jam and the dream horses.

"You wanna finish your juice before you go back to sleep baby?"

Daddy asked and I nodded again. Papa opened up the car door and took my bottle of juice out of the car.

"Come 'ere princess"

He said and I was passed over. He held the to my lips and I immediately latched on. Papa chuckled

"

Aw my small little princess

I drank the juice, it immediately soothing my throat. I relaxed into Papa's arms and he started rocking me from side to side.

As I was rocked, daddy and papa talked above me.

"Such a tired little princess"

"Mhm-"

Daddy hummed.

"Yeah, he's such a little diva when he's tired."

"A cute little diva, maybe we should make his naptimes a bit longer, curb the divaness"

"Maybe, ugh I wanna hit the spa as soon as possible at the hotel. You should join me David, I think you'd like it "

"Oh yeah? I'll keep it in mind."

Papa laughed. At that point juice had stopped coming out of my bottle and I whined. Stopping when I realised my voice wasn't strained. I smiled as papa put my paci back in my mouth. I yawned again, both papa and daddy cooing and awing over me.

"My little tired baby bear" I kicked my legs as I was passed back to daddy. The car door was opened and my special seat was calling to me. Daddy placed me back into said seat, tucking me in with my blankie and making sure I had stuffie.

Daddy continued to bend down into the backseat for me. Looking me dead in the eye and asking.

"Baby bear..."

I tilted my head in confusion.

"Are you absolutely completely sure you have everything you need?"

He tickled me and giggled. Eventually nodding.

"Yeh Dada"

"Are you sure you're sure?"

"Yesh"

"Are you sure you're sure you're sure?"

Wren giggled

"Yesh Daddy"

Daddy leaned down and kissed my nose.

"Such a good boy"

I smiled lazily as daddy walked around the car, papa taking his place and leaning in to kiss my cheek.

"You're a very good boy princess. Love you"

H

e shut the door behind him, getting the front next to daddy.

"So-"

Daddy began

"No more detours?"

"None more planned, should be smooth sailing from here"

I listened to them whisper,

Papa started up the car, the gentle humming being the last straw for me and I slipped back into snoozing.