Chapter Text
Malcolm dozed in the warm sunlight, tucked away under a beautiful oak tree, lost somewhere between slumber and consciousness, when he heard a familiar excited voice cry out “PA!!”
With a smile, the man opened his eyes and arms, receiving the child that sprang at him with an “OOF” that was less for show every year. “Hello, my spawnling.” Malcolm greeted, looking down at an impish face with his own blue eyes staring back at him, a lock of the child’s untamably wavy black hair falling into his grinning face.
“Pa, the tadpoles are all grown up!” Five year old Marek burbled happily, squirming as Malcolm tucked that errant hair behind a softly pointed ear. “Da helped me talk to them!”
“Did the frogs have anything interesting to say?” Malcolm asked, eyebrows raising, as in his periphery he saw someone tall and handsome approaching.
“No…” Marek pouted, only to brighten once again, “But Da says if I eat all my greens this supper, he’ll help me talk to the cows!”
“They’re not the best conversationalists either, but I’m proud of you, buddy.” Malcolm smiled helplessly at his son, his own unending ball of energy. “Did you thank your father before running over here?”
“He did not,” Halsin chuckled as he approached, ruffling Marek’s hair as he moved to sit beside Malcolm, “But thanks was not needed.”
“Say thank you to your father,” Malcolm booped Marek’s nose, and the child scrunched up his face, turning to fling himself into Halsin’s arms.
“Thank you for helpin’ me with ‘Speak to animals’, Da!” Marek hollered, squirming like a live wire, before twisting out of Halsin’s grip to chase after a butterfly.
“I know not where he gets all this energy,” Halsin shook his head with loving bemusement, drawing Malcolm into his arms and kissing his silver streaked hair softly.
“My fault, I’m afraid.” Malcolm admitted, watching as there son got bored and picked up a stick to pretend he was a knight, “I was pretty much equally hyperactive as a kid. Puberty is what slowed me down.”
“I am trying to imagine you as such and failing, my heart. You seem to emanate a calm these days that I envy.” Halsin murmured against his hair, and Malcolm snickered quietly.
“Being utterly happy tends to do that, I think.” Malcolm sighed, flinching when Marek almost tripped. “Careful, buddy!”
“PA I WANT TO BE A POWER RANGER!!” Marek screeched gleefully, adopting what he thought was an epic pose.
“Ask your Uncle Judas for your birthday,” Malcolm called back, shaking his head. “I mildly regret telling him about power rangers now.”
“He is enjoying himself, and not hurting anyone, that is all that matters.” Halsin soothed, laughing gently at the ‘harrumph’ Malcolm let out. “Our child is perfect, my love. I am almost tempted to ask for another…”
“Almost?” Malcolm questioned dryly, and he felt Halsin grimace against his hair.
“You suffered so greatly bringing him into this world, little Badger. I would not put that pain upon you again for anything.” Halsin rumbled, making Malcolm shiver, feeling the Druid’s timbre through his whole body.
“Nothing says we can’t practice making another, however,” Malcolm pointed out slyly, smirking at the interested growl Halsin let out.
“EWWWW DAAAAA, PAAAAA, YOU’RE BEING GROSS AGAIN!” Marek caterwauled, looking horrified beyond words, and Malcolm couldn’t help but giggle at his son’s disgust, feeling Halsin laughing behind him.
“I love you both.” Malcolm breathed, finally, truly at peace.
Of course, the moment was ruined by Judas zooming over head and crash landing into the lake, hollering, “DOWN BY THE RIVER!”
“That’s a lake.” Malcolm muttered.
“SEMANTICS!!!”