Middle Fingers Up // Billy Hargrove x Reader

𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑻𝒀-𝑺𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑵

When you're finally home, you're fully exhausted - as is the sleeping child you were struggling to carry up the stairs to the bedroom. You lay him gently on the bed and are about to head to get changed yourself when your parents come into the room and interrupt your plans. Assholes. 

"Honey, we have something to show you..." Your mom says, barely able to contain her excitement at whatever they had lined up. Okay, adorable assholes. "What is it?" You speak in a hushed tone to remind them to do the same, so not to wake Theo. Your dad gestures you to follow with a nod of his head and leads you to the room across from yours, "Dad's study? I don't- I don't understand." You sigh, shrugging your shoulders. 

It's when they open the door that you realise why they were so excited - he'd converted it into a bedroom fit for your little king. A toddler bed, endless toys and a giant teddy bear slumped next to the bed. You gasp, feeling a tear spring to your eye as you enter and look around. "Oh my God, you guys-- What?" Your mouth was agape as you move to pick up a framed photo of you and Theo that had been taken last Christmas by your dad. The tear was freed at that as a choked sob sounded in your throat.

"Well, we were hoping you might visit us more now if Theo had his own room. It gives you some privacy too - Lord knows us moms need it." You mother snorts, waving a flippant hand to add flair to her words in a way that makes you laugh. 

"I love it so much. Thank you." Your hand was resting over your heart as the overwhelming love for your family seeps in. Today had been so emotionally difficult and this wasn't helping at all. "Mommy?" The sleepy sound of your son entering the room looking for you draws your attention and you shuffle over to where he stands at the door. 

"Oh we woke you, I'm sorry buddy. But look! Look what your grandparents did for you!" You duck down onto your knees and pull him close, reaching a hand out to point around the room. He blinks sleep from his eyes and finally takes it all in as he hugs to your side, inhaling sharply once he does. "Woah," is all he says as he stands there in awe. 

"We'll leave you to tuck the little one in. I'm happy you like it, princess." Your dad says, patting a hand on your back before leaving with your mom. He hadn't called you that since you were a kid and you almost choke on another sob. You pick up Theo and cross the room, setting him down on the bed and wrestling with his tired limbs to get him into some dark blue pajamas. 

He was so tired he just flopped around and only grumbled once or twice. You tuck him in and smile down at him, running the backs of your fingers over his cheek. "Did you have fun today, Theo?" You ask, not expecting much of a response but what he says catches you off guard.

"I like daddy. He's funny." 

There's a twinge in your chest at hearing him call Billy that. You thought it would take way longer for him to warm up to the man, but you figure kids were easier to win over than adults. Especially ones like you. "Yeah? So you had a good time?" Your voice was weak in the silence, cut only by his heavy breaths. 

He could barely keep his eyes open as he spoke to you then, but there was a ghost of a smile on his little mouth. "The best." Another twinge. 

You were so glad that he had a good time, but honestly it would have been so much easier for you if he hated Billy. You could go back to New Orleans after the Holiday's and carry on with your life.

Now? Now you would have to figure out a way to co-parent from two different states just to make him happy. It sounded so exhausting. But could you do it? For Theo's sake? Obviously. 

Whatever it took to make him happy, you'd do a million times over. That was motherhood, you guessed. 

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