#fatherliam

Prompt: It’s your daughter’s first real christmas, and of course she is excited for all that is to come. Although, Liam seems to want something a little more to unwrap this year. And maybe, just maybe, there will be a new addition next year.

Light was just barely streaming in through the curtains of yours and Liam’s shared bedroom when Liam woke up. It was Christmas morning, and not only was it that, but it was the first Christmas that your daughter Carter was old enough to understand what Christmas was. 

Liam rolled on to his side, silently admiring the way your hair fell across your face as you remained in a peaceful slumber, knowing that it was the first time in ages you’d been able to get a good night’s sleep. He moved closer to you, wrapping your body up in his strong arms, pulling your body as close to him as possible. You were subconsciously aware of his actions, although you tried to act as if you were still asleep. Though the act didn’t last long once he started to press feather light kisses to your forehead, eyelids, nose, and cheeks, leaving his lips to linger each time he pressed a kiss. You couldn’t contain your smile as you slowly opened your eyes to look up at him, hand reaching out to gently run the palm of your hand along his collarbone.

He smiled at the small gesture, gently grabbing your hand and pulling it up to his lips, kissing your knuckles softly as he mumbles, “Merry Christmas, (Y/N).”

“Merry Christmas to you too, my love.” You say softly to him, unable to help the smile he creates every time he gives you that look of love and adoration.

It’s silent for a moment as he presses his soft and warm lips against yours, the two of you sharing a gentle and loving kiss as his warm hand rubs up and down your side gently. You kiss him back, your hand cupping his cheek as he nonchalantly pulls you closer. When the two of you finally pull back, he leans across and kisses your nose. 

“You know, (Y/N), I’ve been thinking that I would like to have another kid. You know, to expand the family.” That was a bit of a shock, of all the things he’d say, you had not been expecting that one.

“Liam, are you sure about that? I mean, we already have one daughter and she’s a bit of a handful as it is, are you really sure you’re ready for another one?” You asked, a bit skeptical.

You feel him grab both of your hands in his, his thumb gently rubbing along the curves of your knuckles as he leans to rest his forehead against yours.

“Yeah, I think I’m ready to become a dad again, I mean, that sounds kind of bad like I don’t already consider myself a dad with Carter, it’s just that, she’s reaching the age where she won’t be as dependent on us anymore. I miss all of the neediness, and..” He seems at a lost for words, making gestures as if to be thinking, trying to find the right words. “I miss when she needed us.” 

You bit your lip, thinking about it before you spoke, “She still needs us, Li. She’ll need us for the next sixteen years, and however many after that. Just because she won’t cry to be changed anymore, or need one of us to hold her while she eats, or things like that doesn’t mean she won’t need us. Who will tie her shoes up for her, kiss her boo-boos better, scare the monsters out from under her bed? She can’t do those things by herself.”

Liam nods his head, smiling a little as he thinks about it. He’s back to holding your hands, leaning over and kissing your cheek ever so softly.

“I know but think about this, Carter would love to have a sibling to play with. Don’t get me wrong, she loves to play with Niall and his wife’s kids, but I think she sees Maura-Anne and Jack and wants to be like them. When she came home from her playdate the other day, she asked me: ‘why don’t mummy have a wawamellon up hwer shirt like auntie Emily?’, and one can only assume that she’s asking why you aren’t like that. I didn’t really know what to say to that, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted another. What do you say?” He asks you, voice delicately soft.

You mulled over his proposition for a moment, chewing on your lower lip for a second before releasing it, finally coming to a decision. 

“Why don’t you kiss me and find out?” 

Liam lets out a soft chuckle, a grin stretching across his lips as he wraps his arms around your waist and pulls you close, attaching your lips together. You tilted your head up slightly to kiss him back with a bit more passion and love. He shifted slightly, one leg moving over you as his hands slipped under your shirt to lightly run his calloused fingers along the small of your back.

You hummed out softly from under him, your hands reaching up to tangle in the patch of hair near the nape of the back of his neck, his body laying down on top of you. He pulled back, lips moving to trail from your lips to your jaw, pressing soft kisses there.

“You are so, so beautiful (Y/N).” He says softly, placing a trail of kisses along your jaw.

“Everything about you is beautiful,” He pauses, feeling one of his hands sliding down to toy with the waist of your underwear, playing with the material gently, “God, I love you.” 

“I love you too Liam.” You say softly, tilting his chin up to press a kiss to his lips.

He smiles against your lips, slowly beginning to inch your underwear down your legs, your breaths coming out in soft pants. The love you had for this man was immense, and you wanted nothing more than to lay in bed with him all day.

And you would have, until you were both startled by the door pushing open. Liam was quick to help you pull up your underwear as your two-and-a-half year old daughter came running into the room.

You smiled a little as Liam’s face, despite being slightly disappointed lit up when Carter ran to the bed, calling for him. He bent down and lifted her up under her arms and pulled her close to him.

“Good morning Carter! Merry Christmas baby!” He says reaching down and tickling her tummy, as he presses kisses along her face, making her giggle and squirm around.

“Daddy pease! dwon’t tick me!!” She squeals, laughing loudly, and you can’t help but watch in adoration. 

“Have you been a good girl, Carter? Do you think Santa brought you toys?” He looks down at her, an excited smile on his face. 

“Me was good daddy! Me a good gwirl.” She answers without missing a beat.

Liam chuckled, kissing her head again as you sat up, kissing her cheek.

“Should we go find out what Santa brought?” You asked, smiling wide.

“Yeah! yeah! Me see Mummy!” Carter yelled, bouncing in Liam’s lap. 

“Alright munchkin, you go on ahead of mummy and I, we’ll be right there.” Liam says with a soft chuckle, kissing the side of her head as he set her on the floor, watching her run off.

You smiled, shaking your head fondly.

“And as for you,” Liam starts, pressing a kiss to your lips before speaking again, “You and I, will be spending some quality time together later on.” 

❅ ❅ ❅

“C’mon Carter, sit still so I can get you ready, yeah?” You said with a frustrated voice, still trying to get her dressed so the three of you could go and visit Liam’s family for Christmas dinner. It was at the very least an hour’s drive, and dinner was at six-fifteen. It was almost five.

You felt a hand rest on your shoulder, and another presence behind you as Liam knelt down like you were, so he too was at Carter’s level. He gave you this looks as if to say, “I’ve go this”. You nodded your head, standing up.

“Alright, you get her ready and I’ll get a bag packed, and load up the car, yeah?” You said to him.

“Alright love.” Liam answered grabbing Carter’s hand and taking her upstairs to put her in the outfit his sister Ruth had sent her for Christmas, it was a lovely silvery-white-colored dress, adorned with snowflakes, and it came with matching white shoes and tights. 

Meanwhile, you had gone back into the kitchen to pack up the cookies and other goodies you’d made for the Payne Family Christmas Dinner, making sure to wrap them up securely so they would be fresh. Once you had managed to get those tucked away, you went back into the bedroom to make sure you looked decent. You and Liam had given each other matching Christmas sweaters this year, with matching decals that said “Mr.Payne”, and “Mrs.Payne” sewn on the back. You’d both decided to wear those and a pair of nice jeans. Your hair had been curled, and make-up done. 

It wasn’t long after you’d managed to get some of Carter’s new toys and other things Carter would need before Liam had come to find you. He wrapped his arms around your waist, chin pressed on your shoulder.

“You look absolutely stunning, Mrs.Payne.” He whispers into your ear, smiling as he kisses your cheek softly, making you let out a hum in response.

“Are you and Carter ready?” You looked up at him, cupping his cheek as you pressed a kiss to scruff-covered cheek.

“Yeah, she’s got her coat and shoes on, little one is practically asleep on the couch. I’ll carry her out to the car as soon as you’re ready.” 

“Well then c’mon Mr.Payne,  I believe your mother is waiting on us.” You say before pressing a soft kiss to his lips before moving from his arms.

As the two of you came down the stairs, you couldn’t help but notice that Carter wasn’t actually asleep, but more so impatiently waiting for the two of you. 

"Wets go!" She places her hands on her hips, still seated on the couch, turning around to face the two of you.

"We’re coming love, why don’t you curl up and finish your snack and your juice, yeah?” Liam says, walking over towards her.

"Me be weady awges agooo." She says, her tone rather sassy for an almost-three-year-old.

"You haven’t finished your juice, or your snack." Liam says, bending down to her height.

"Me no hungwy." 

Liam sighed, a bit frustrated as you join them, sitting down on the coffee table. 

You pick up the packet of animal crackers and hand them to her, "Take this, and we'll go. Wait, where's your necklace?" Liam questioned, not seeing the medical necklace that usually adorned her neck.

"Me no wanna wear it." She crosses her arms.

He crosses his arms back at her, crouching down to her level; "You need to wear it little love. It keeps you safe."

"It's not pwetty!" She exclaims as if that would make either of us change our minds.

"I'm sorry little miss, but you need to wear that necklace." You say sternly.

"No."

"Did you just tell me no?" You asked, almost in disbelief.

"Yes. me say no." 

"You do not talk to your mother like that, Carter Grace.” Liam says, voice firm.

She sticks her tongue out at Liam, making it obvious that not forcing her to nap that afternoon had been a big mistake. 

You sigh, eyeing the clock before lifting her up and carrying her towards the time-out chair.

"You're in time-out, you should have listened to me."

She looked up at Liam, her brown eyes filling with tears as she juts out her lower lip, sniffling. The same usual act she'd pull when she knew she was in trouble. You couldn't help  but notice the guilt Liam felt  when she looked at him with those big brown eyes.

"Me sowwy daddy! Me no want time out!" She bursts out into tears.

"It's not okay to act like this around adults young lady, I'm in charge okay, and you need to learn your lesson."

"B-But mummy.. pease" She cried, and cried.

You turn away from her, walking over to where you’d set her snack and her juice box, bringing them over to where Liam was standing, handing them over to him. 

“Here, you take care of Carter and I’ll finish loading, yeah?” He nodded, taking the items from you and walking back towards Carter. 

 He walked back over to Carter, and crouched down to her level again, handing them to her.

"You need to eat princess. Eat for me and then you can get out of time-out okay?" He offers her a deal, and she nods, sniffling.

"Need a tissue?" Liam asks and she nods, trying to keep the snot from rolling down her face. Maybe you were right, Carter did still need the two of you.

He pulled a tissue out of his pocket wiping her face and chin free of snot and tears, as she eats. Once she finishes eating, he offers his hand out to her, picking her up with a small smile on both of their faces.

"Now, lets go see Nana, yeah?" She smiles, hugging on to him for dear life.