b.e. short stories <3

steps

"Bubba come here," Billie cooed, reaching her arms out to the child.

We sat with our legs apart on opposite sides of the rug spread across the living room, trying to get our 18-month-old daughter, Madelyn, to walk from one person, to the other.

"Look! Go to Mama!" I cheered words of encouragement.

"Mamamama," She babbled. Billie and I couldn't help but laugh at the adorable response.

Billie reached behind her, grabbing Madi's favourite toy bunny.

"Look what I've got!" She got the young child's attention.

Madi was thrilled by the sight. Beginning to walk, she took a couple steps before falling to her knees, deciding that crawling would be quicker.

"You're supposed to walk babygirl!" Billie's laughs, grabbing Madelyn and smothering her in kisses and tickling her.

Her laughter filled the room and I couldn't help but join in.

"She's so ticklish," I observe, noticing how she erupts in fits of laughter every time Billie and I touched her.

"She gets it from you." Billie tells me. I fake gasp, pretending to be offended.

"Did I lie? We can't even cuddle without you accusing me of tickling you!" She proves her point.

"You do tickle me!" I defend myself.

"I literally don't." Billie rolls her eyes, turning my head towards her and kissing me before I could argue back.

Our kiss was cut short as Madi began to climb all over us.

"Mamamama," She babbled again, leaving sloppy kisses all over Billie and I's faces.

"Mwah!" She'd say after each one.

I scrunched my face at the wet feeling, but I couldn't reject any of Madelyn's kisses.

"Thank you, Princess." I pass her over to Billie.

"Try agin?" I ask her, heading towards the end of the rug once more.

Billie stands Madi up, waiting for any movement. We watch as the child stands still, holding onto the couch.

"Madi," I get her attention, "C'mere."

I hold my arms out reaching for her, wiggling my fingers. I watch as a cheeky smile spreads across her face.

She turns to Billie, almost like she was waiting for Billie to tell her.

"Go on," Billie laughs, lightly pushing her towards me.

Slowly, she begins to waddle towards me, falling into my arms once she made it to the end.

Billie and I begin cheering, letting her know she had done the right thing.

"Good girl!" I scoop her up, smothering her in kisses, "Can you do it again?"

Almost immediately, she heads over to Billie using her feet.

"She's all grown up," Billie pouts, holding her.

"I know, won't be long before she starts talking her head off," I sigh, joining Billie and Madelyn.

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i'm such a sucker for family stories or stories with billie and kids omfg