little alien

“He's still sleeping,” Minho said cracking the door open to peek inside at you. “Our baby is a sleepy head,” Jisung replied wrapping his arms around Minho’s shoulders and staring at you with loving eyes. Your paci was hanging out of your mouth and all the stuffed animals Minho had placed beside you were all over the place from you tossing. “I could just eat his little cheeks, look at my Squish,” Jisung said laying his head on Minho and taking in your little existence, resting the day away. Minho didn't want to wake you but if you wanted to be out the door before it got extremely too cold for you, it was a must.

Minho crept over to your cozy bed and placed his hand gently on the critter-covered blanket. A soft scent lingered up to Minho’s nose and he knew Jisung had just washed your bedding from the detergent. The slight movement caused you to be conscious but not awake. When Minho looked down he saw you suckling your blue bear pacifier back into your mouth.

“Bug are you going to sleep all day?” Minho asked softly, placing his hand on your cheek to rub his thumb gently over it. Looking back at the door frame Minho noticed Jisung was gone, finishing up the breakfast he started earlier with chopping sounds finding his ears. “Appa is making your favorite, you might want to get up before I eat them all.”

Your small eyes flicked open to Minho’s words and all you could see was his adoring face. “There he is.” With your attention on Minho you almost forgot to notice you weren't holding your favorite stuffed animal. Panic swelled up inside you when you realized and you instantly began looking through your other teddy bears on the side of your bed.

“Fuffie, Fuffie!” you exclaimed grabbing your pillow to look under it. Out of the corner of his eye, Minho spotted the fuzzy ear of your favorite teddy behind your bum. He quickly grabbed it and placed him in your arms to ease your worry. “Mama wescu Fuffie (Mama rescued Fuffie),” you said gently pushing the hair out of Fuffie’s eyes.

“Does Fuffie know what today is?” Minho asked grabbing your paci to put it back in its case. He then shuffled over to the clothes Jisung picked out for you quietly when you were sleeping. A comfy long-sleeve shirt with the cutest pair of patch-covered overalls.

“Toobay da bay (today is the day),” you said excitedly kicking your feet under the warm blankets and giving your teddy a big squeeze. You then placed him by your pillow so you could hop out of bed without hurting him and focus on getting dressed.

~

“What kind are you most excited to try and find,” Jisung asked you while cutting up your French toast into small bites. All week, you had been bugging to go out and look for bugs with Minho, because he always helped you look under the big rocks. When he finally gave in to your irresistible little face, both Jisung and Minho were surprised that you even slept from how excited you were. Giggling, squealing, and small butterfly kisses all over Minho, must have tired you out was all they could come up with.

“Buhfy, piw bug, pway bug, no cenpede ew (Butterfly, pill bug, praying mantis, no centipedes ew).” You babbled on spitting off every bug you could think of while clearing your caterpillar-shaped plate of French toast. “I don't know if you'll find all of those cause it's a little cold out, which means they're sleeping,” Minho said watching you munch on a grape.

“Look how well Bug did with his fork today Ji,” Minho said pointing out your half-cleared plate and small fork with a bite stuck to it on the table. Jisung let out a gasp and leaned in to rub your sticky cheek. “That's a good Squish, eat your fruit now so you can head out.” Minho sat at the table admiring his two loves interacting and got lost. Your full chubby cheeks, chewing all your food just like Jisung said to.

“Them cheeks are just irresistible. I think Appa is right, we might just have to eat you up,” Minho said giving you a small tickle on your side then going over to Jisung leaning on the counter, for a long hug. He let out a small sigh as he let Jisung sink into him and truly he loved you both more than you could ever imagine.

Paying no mind, you shook in excitement at Jisung’s words and picked up your sippy cup for a drink of apple juice. Over the rim of your cute green cup covered in small stars, you watched Minho grab your backpack to put his phone in. Wipes, hand sanitizer, band-aids, a clean paci, a sippy cup, and even a small toy just in case. All the things you could possibly need, kept inside a bag ready to go out the door in Minho’s hand whenever you were.

~

Waiting, waiting, and more waiting for Minho to be ready and be by your side at the door. Looking down at your shoes with difficult laces, you let out a frustrated sigh. A gentle hand ran through the hair in your face, pushing it aside. “Sit down Bug, I'll put your shoesies on.” You let out a happy babble and plopped down to stick your bear-printed sock out to Minho. He rested your foot on his knee and slid your shoe on, tying the lace without a problem.

After he did the other you clapped your hands happily knowing you were a step closer to getting to the bugs. “Mama ih da bessss (Mama is the best),” you said kicking your feet into the floor and watching the tied bows bounce.

“I think we have everything Bug as long as you put Fuffie back in your bed,” Minho said looking down at you on the floor. You gave a small nod and started chewing on the sleeve of your shirt which Minho instantly fixed with a turtle designed so you could chew on it. “Give Appa a kiss,” Minho said reaching a hand out to Jisung signaling for him to come closer.

“Wait! Don't forget the snack I packed for him,” Jisung said handing a small baggy of fish crackers to Minho from the counter. “Little explorer needs his snackies,” Minho said patting your head and putting the plastic bag into the front pocket of your backpack that now slung across his shoulder.

“Yeah especially since Squish here didn't finish his fruit,” Jisung said with a raise to his eyebrow as he showed the unfinished bowl from the sink. Minho looked at your little shy face trying to hide in your knees and couldn't be angry.

Minho leaned into Jisung and whispered, “But look at him.” Turning around, Jisung looked at your little scrunched body sitting on the ground where Minho had helped with your shoes. A pout flung to Jisung’s lips and he felt horrible despite not being serious in his words. “Ok how about if you're good for Mama, I'll make us all a treat for when you get back.” Your small face instantly perked up and reached out for Minho to help you stand up. Cradling your face, Jisung placed a soft kiss on your cheek. “Be good Squish and listen to Mama, okay?” he whispered placing another kiss on your forehead and adjusting the strap to your overalls. You nodded softly with his warm hand under your chin and turned excitedly to the door. One last long kiss to Jisung’s lips and Minho was holding your free hand to walk out.

~

The nip in the air bit your nose and it mostly worried you that there wouldn't be any bugs. The warm clothes you had on kept you safe so your mind was fully on bugs and not the weather. A few blocks had passed without you noticing and soon you came to the start of the woods. Minho took you down a soft trail that led you to the big pond with rocks and dry rotted logs hopefully full of creepy crawlies.

“This looks like a good spot to search Bug,” Minho said letting go of your hand to pry up a rock. You quickly scurried over to see what was underneath and to your surprise a big worm was sleeping. “Quick get him!” Minho shouted excitedly pointing at a beetle hanging from the rock.

He scooped up the worm before putting the rock back and duck walked over to where you were squatted down looking at the beetle. It had a shiny green glaze to it and had your full attention as you poked your finger to make it crawl. “What about me?” Minho said in a funny voice holding up the wiggly worm.

“Don wowy, I wub wormy (Don’t worry, I love the worm),” you said running your finger along it, poking Minho’s finger in the process. “Wook (Look),” you said pointing at the beetle’s pretty colors flashing in the light. “Ain’t that something. We have to tell Appa about it, he loves green.”

You smiled proud of yourself for picking up the beetle and noticing its pretty color. Getting to tell Jisung about it made that all even better as bravery swelled inside you. “How about we look over there,” Minho said pointing to the only bush that wasn't halfway dead. Waddling over, you placed the beetle on a branch that stuck out and waved it bye before looking to Minho. He was holding up a flat rock that rested under the fluffy bush, scrutinizing the dirt beneath it.

Seeming Minho was having no luck, you decided to walk around to the other side. Sticks, rocks, and grass were all you could see. Just when you were about to move on you tilted your head up and spotted two small hands. “Mam ma ma mama ma I fou pway!!! (Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, I found a praying mantis!!!),” you shouted, looking up at the triangular head, which stared at you with a slight tilt.

Minho came running around, throwing the rock across to the cold water's edge worried you were hurt. “What is it Bug!?” he said with a huff as he knelt to where you were sitting in the dirt. “I dih scaring da pway (I didn't want to scare the praying mantis),” you said pointing up to the top of the bush where a large green bug was nestled.

A relieved smile popped on Minho’s face as he held out his hand for the mantis to crawl onto. “Such a good eye!” As Minho lowered his hand for you to see, all you could do was giggle. From her small legs crawling on you, to the small silly tilts of her head. “What a giggle box you've become,” Minho said patting your head as your laughter echoed through the quiet trees.

A praying mantis, worm, green beetle, colony of ants inside a tree, small weevil, and a cricket you could hear but never found. All the things you were repeating in your mind so you could tell Jisung back at home every detail. You breathed the air in hard that at some point had gone freezing cold. Out of breath from running and shivering, you clung to Minho as he led you back home in the dark. Your fingers curled into the fabric of his big warm jacket that he slung over your shoulders. When digging under a log you got dirt all over the sleeves and though it was designer Minho didn't care. His Bug was cold and needed it more than he did.

A low gasp escaped Jisung as he rushed over to the door where his two loves were standing with the shivers. He softly pushed Minho into the living room where he had a hot chocolate tray set up with a heater, and fluffy blankets on the couch. “Lemme put this in the hamper then we should go get a bath,” Jisung said taking Minho’s jacket off you and cringing slightly at its condition.

When your eyes locked in on the warm room and chocolatey drinks on the table that's all you wanted. Jisung returned, still soft and caring despite you stomping your foot in anger. “Wan coco hnmmphf (I want hot cocoa),” you said with an over-exaggerated sigh.

“Yes but what if we add bubbles and Mama will put Fluffie on the couch so you can cuddle with us,” Jisung said grabbing your hand and rubbing his thumb across it. The idea of getting to cuddle up with a sweet treat excited you more than the bubbles. “I wan Fuffie n Ma ma ma n Appa n rankie (I want Fluffie, Mama, Appa, and my blanket),” you said hurriedly following Jisung’s lead to the bathroom. All your favorite toys, a soft blue light, and bubbles filled to the brim that smelled sweet. A perfect bath that Jisung knew would calm you down. Pairing that with all the activities you did and a double cuddle, you'd be knocked out for sure even after getting sugar.

Sinking down in, you let your toes stick out above the bubbles and wiggled them around in the water. “Babbles babble flubble (bubbles bubbles bubbles),” you said scooping some up and gliding them across your arm. Jisung busied himself getting you washed, hoping to be done before it was too far past bedtime.

“What all did you see out there?” Jisung asked as he tilted your head back to rinse off your neck. Instantly you got excited and remembered all the cool bugs you desperately wanted to tell him about. The ants and green sparkle beetle, even the worm that had a funny voice were mentioned but best of all the praying mantis.

Jisung smiled the whole time, adoring your beaming and passionate face as he took in all the information you'd give him. Combing your hair, drying your toes, zipping up your teddy printed onesie, and sealing everything with a kiss before you rushed out of the bathroom to find Minho.

Two cat-covered mugs and a smaller cup with a lid you knew to be yours. Minho didn't even need to ask if you wanted tiny marshmallows he simply popped off the lid, making sure not to spill, and plopped a few in. Handing you the small cup, Minho took his from the stand and looked behind him as Jisung walked in. “Starting the fun without Appa?” he asked sitting down so you were sandwiched between them.

He rubbed under your chin to collect the running cocoa from you desperately gulping it down and wiped it on a napkin before getting his. “Must have done a good job,” Jisung said taking a swig from his mug and perking up to the taste.

As your body was still recovering from the cold outside, being between your Mama and Appa was the best of all. Minho had his arm around Jisung so you leaned into him and clung your free hand to his sweater. “Aww my Squish, aren't you better now that you're clean?” Jisung asked putting his hot chocolate down on the stand beside him to wrap around you fully. The silkiness to his voice was comforting and all the coziness made your eyelids slowly become heavy.

His fuzzy sweater tickled your face as he propped your feet across his legs and craddled you. A soft hand ran through your hair making your eyes shut to the feeling. Watching your little eyes flutter shut, Minho realized you still needed to clean your teeth. He snatched your falling cup from your hand and wasn't surprised by its light weight. Upon taking the lid off he saw the bottom, it was empty. “I'll clean this mess up, don't worry,” Jisung said helping you ground yourself so you could go with Minho to brush your teeth.

~

Sleep had started to find your eyes again as Minho held onto your shoulders and guided you to their bedroom. It smelled good but you couldn't describe in what way and that's how you came to know the room without opening your eyes. No struggle or fuss came from you when the big comforter on their bed was pulled up to your chin. A clean Jisung emerged beside you getting under the covers to cuddle his sleepy baby. When Minho re-entered the room your two little fists rubbing your sleepy eyes made his lip pout at Jisung from how cute the scene was.

You rested your head on his chest, letting out a sigh when you felt a tap on your lips. Minho stood hovering over you with your paci to your lips and Fuffie waving his paw. “I’m ready for bed too,” Minho said with a different funny voice he always did for Fuffie. “Mama comin' to eep? (Is Mama coming to sleep?),” you asked grabbing onto his sleeve and bringing his hand to your face.

If Minho’s atoms allowed him to melt then that would've been the moment he let go. Your sweet sleepy face pressing into his hand, pleading for his comfort. “Of course, I will Bug. Mama needs to shower first,” he said with a tilt to his head just as silly as the praying mantis.

ashley brown

jessica riley

emily davis

beth washington

hannah washington

a/n: and right after the boys here's the girls! I love how the moodboards turned out, especially the one of Emily and Jessica. It took slightly longer to post this because tumblr decided to delete some of my drafts :(

mike munroe

chris hartley

matt taylor