#josh fluff

yns pov

Josh and I's little baby hazel has been babbling her head off for the past couple of months. She love to try to say every words that comes out of her family's mouth. "Come on baby, say Da-Da, Dada" Josh gives Hazel a big smile looking into her eyes. She's sitting up on his knees as he holds her by under the arms. Hazel gives him a grin with her two teeth that have come in.

I walk from the kitchen where I grabbed hazel her banana flavored popsicle I make for her snacks and sit with them on the couch. Hazel starts making grabby hands at the snack, I come close to them and cuddle into Josh and hand her the popsicle. I lean my head onto Josh's shoulder and he kisses my forehead. "I heard you trying to get her to say dada. Why have you been pushing her so hard?"

Josh sighs and shakes his head. "I don't know I'm just gone so much and with the band and the new album coming out and I just worry she won't know how much I care and love for my Hazel-baby" Josh nuzzles his nose into hazels cheek and neck. Hazel looks at me with a blank stare just gnawing on her popsicle.

I run my hand through his hair in a comforting way, trying to comfort him from his own thoughts. "Awe sugar she knows she loves you. She gets the biggest smile and lets out the loudest squeals when you come back from being gone. You're the only person she won't scream bloody murder at when she is woken up from her nap. That has got to count for something." Josh laughs and gives my cheek a kiss.

"You're right baby thank you. Just having a quick self pity moment but I'm okay now. Okay Hazy girl, Daddy's gotta finish packing for his weekend trip to Knoxville with all your silly uncles." Josh gave Hazel a squeeze and sat her down on her play mat to let her mess around. His turned to me and pecked my lips before walking to our bedroom to finish packing his duffel bag.

I get on the ground with Hazel to start playing with her. I take the popsicle stick that no longer had anything on it out of Hazels mouth. I look into her eyes and she gives me a small smile. I whisper, " Come on Haze say Dada, that would be an amazing present for when daddy gets back."

Once Josh had left, all I was doing was trying to get hazel to say dada. I was singing it in little songs I made up, saying it over and over until she was laughing super hard, and begging her to just say the simple four letter word.

Finally we made it to Monday morning and Josh was gonna be back home that night. Hazel was sitting in her highchair drinking her milk as I cut up her eggo waffle and strawberries. Once I was done, I drizzle a little bit of syrup on them and carry the plate over to Hazel. "Okay baby, you can only eat if you say Dada, say Da-Da!" Hazel looks up at me with her big brown eyes that she got from Josh. She starts moving her mouth, trying to say the letter D. "Come on baby, you got it!" Hazel looks a little frustrates as she tries. "Dddd...Da...Da. Da-da" I let out a huge gasp. "Yes baby good job! Dada!" Hazel continues to babble the word over and over the whole day. It was safe to say I was extremely excited for Josh to get home.

Once Josh is pulling into the driveway Hazel and I are standing on the porch in the cool summer night breeze while we wait for Josh to get out the car. He quickly grabs his bag from the back and starts coming toward us. "My beautiful ladies hello!" Josh comes up the porch steps and drops his bag. He cups my cheek and gives me a romantic kiss before taking Hazel from my arms. "Ugh leaving my girls is getting harder and harder. Hello Hazy, how are we doing?" Josh pecks her cheek as she squeals with a smile on her face.

They head inside and start playing on the living room floor with all her toys while I unpack Josh's bag. I've always helped with his luggage after a work trip as my way of helping with the traveling stress. Once I was done unpacking his stuff I walk to the living room to see what my little family was up to. Hazel was sitting on top of Josh's stomach as he blew little raspberries onto the bottom of her feet as she let out lots of little squeals and giggles.

I walk over and sit on the couch right in front of them. "Hazel I think it's time to show daddy what we were working while he was gone." Josh gives me a confused and looks back at Hazel. "What do you have to show me baby?" Hazel looks around with a blank face, obviously having no idea what we are talking about.

"Hazel say dada." Hazel starts moving her lips the way before you say D. Josh watches her with wide eyes. I point to josh as I get on the floor next to them. "This is Dada" Hazel looks at josh, looking like she's making the connection. "Da..Dada!" Hazel keeps saying it over and over and Josh has a teary look on his face. "That is the best gift a guy could get. Thank you." I nod and peck him on his lips.

"I didn't help her at all. She just loves her dad so much."

......

I hope you all enjoy dad josh as much as I do....ugh anyways ily all <3

“I don’t have that,” he giggled.

You grinned. “Well, you need some sort of luck out there, don’t you? Here, you can borrow mine. I won’t tell anyone.”

You pulled the tube of vanilla chapstick from your pocket and held it out to him, winking.

He took it, looking skeptical. “What does lucky chapstick do?”

“Oh, you don’t know?” You sunk into a crouch and leaned in secretively. “It makes you run super fast, and dribble basketballs super well, and shoot good baskets. Plus, you know, it makes other kids’ teasing or mean comments bounce off you, like magic.”

You stood back up. “You just have to keep it a secret and tell nobody you have it. That’s what makes it lucky.”

Minjun studied at the chapstick in wonder, then looked back up at you, grinning. “Thanks, Auntie.”

You winked again. “No problem, bud.”

Someone bumped into you, and you stumbled.

“Shi—uh, shoot. Sorry,” the man apologized.

“Oh, you’re g…” you trailed off when you looked at him. Damn, he was handsome. Maybe some church parents have some rights. “Um. You’re good.”

He graced you with a polite, serene smile before crouching down, just like you had, and facing an excited-looking little girl Minjun’s age.

“Got everything, Leah?” He asked.

The little girl nodded happily, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

He clapped her on the shoulder twice. “Great. You’re going to be great. And don’t forget, what are we gonna do?”

Leah could barely contain her excitement as she squealed, “gonna whoop ass and take names!”

You clapped a hand over your mouth quickly, stifling a surprised laugh.

“Shhh, quieter.” The man looked around frantically, and you noticed a few nearby women shooting scandalized looks this way.

He noticed you watching and winced. “Sorry, she…”

You grinned and looked back down at Minjun. “What do you think, Minjunnie? Wanna help her whoop some ass?”

Minjun looked absolutely delighted. “Am I allowed?”

“Hell yeah you are,” you said, “just don’t tell your parents. You can be the ass-whooping squad.”

You offered your fist, and Minjun gave you a quick fist-bump before turning to Leah and offering his fist.

She grinned and fist-bumped him back. “C’mon, let’s go.”

“Thank you,” the man sighed, sounding relieved as he stood and watched the two of them walk into the gym together. “I know people around here get sensitive about swearing…”

You turned and grinned at him. “Not me, no worries.”

He needed to stop having such a nice smile, please. It was doing funny things to your pulse.

“So if you’re not one of his parents, are you his big sister, or…?”

You snorted. “Noooo. He’s my sister’s kid. She and her husband had a meeting tonight, so I brought him.”

“I didn’t think you looked familiar,” he said, still smiling. He offered his hand. “Joshua Hong.”

You shook his hand and introduced yourself back.

“You wanna sit in the back with me, away from the, uh, moms staring at us right now?” He asked, lips twitching.

You glanced surreptitiously around, realizing he was right. “Oh, um—”

“Hey, you guys! How’s it going?”

You turned to see the basketball coach offering Minjun and Leah high fives.

“Good!” The little girl shrilled. “We’re whooping ass and taking names!”

You nearly choked on your own tongue.

“Oh, fuck,” Joshua muttered under his breath.

The coach raised his eyebrows. “Uh, what?”

“We’re the ass-whooping squad,” Minjun chimed in, cheerful as ever. “My auntie said so.”

Time to go. You spun on your heel, walking away quickly as the coach turned to glance at the gym door.

To your surprise, Joshua was still next to you, walking briskly.

“On second thought,” he murmured, “why don’t we grab a coffee instead?”

You couldn’t help a giggle. “Is this what it’s like to be the ‘bad influence’ parent? On the run from the purity police?”

“This is what it’s like to be the fun parent,” Joshua corrected, grinning. “So how about that coffee? My treat for being cool about Leah.”

“Oh, I…sure,” you said, doing your best to sound more confident than you felt. You weren’t accustomed to being asked out, and certainly not by people who looked like him.

But he seemed glad you’d agreed, a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. “Cool. There’s a coffee shop just across the street. It’s an easy walk.”

You felt a little like a fish out of water, walking into a coffee shop with Joshua Hong. But you had a hunch you could learn to love the feeling.

You sighed. “It’s like, two years for what? I feel like I wasted all that time.”

“You had a lot of good times, right?” Josh asked. “I mean, you spent two years with this person for a reason.”

You were really glad to be the only two around, sitting in the grass with Josh running his hands through it, you plucking blades of grass out and fiddling with them. You sighed heavily, feeling the dense weight in your chest that threatened tears, and cleared your throat as you looked up at the sky.

“I’m not even mad at him. Things weren’t good for a while,” you told Josh. It felt good to really be talking about it, especially with him. “I feel like I’m mad at myself for being upset. Like, when did things get so hard?”

Josh nodded.

“I know we’re both young, Josh,” you went on. “But don’t you ever just really want to find that one person that makes you feel like--like that’s just it? Like the search is over?”

“Yeah, sometimes,” Josh replied quietly.

You glanced at Josh then looked quickly to the grass. You never understood why Josh was always single--whenever you pointed out other girls, he never showed any real interest. He’d been on dates and been around but never anything serious, and never anything for too long. Yet he was the sweetest, funniest, brightest guy you knew and you felt any girl would be so lucky to have him as a boyfriend. You felt you would be lucky if you had someone like Josh by your side.

It actually made you feel a little hopeless about yourself. If even Josh couldn’t find someone, how could you? 

“Do you feel like you’ll find your person?” you asked him, meeting his eyes again.

Josh offered you a small smile. “I don’t know. Maybe they need to find me first.”

“They will,” you assured him. “You’re too special to ever be alone.”

“So are you,” he countered.

You waved your hand at that, dismissing him. “I don’t feel very special right now, but thank you.”

Josh put his hand on your knee. “You are special, Y/N.” He ran his hand down your shin, his eyes following his own movement. “You’re so special to me. Do you know that?”

You managed a smile. Josh was always good at making you feel loved. “Yeah, I know, Josh. Thanks.”

He sighed and rested his cheek on your knee, his hand resting on your calf. “I think I found my person,” he said. “But I don’t know if she’s found me.”

You started to play with his hair, trying not to answer the question yourself despite an insight growing inside you. “Who is it?” 

There was a considerable pause before he sat up, removing his hand, and sighed again. “This is really bad timing. I’m sorry.”

Was it really happening then, after so long? You tilted your head a little, raising your eyebrows. “What is it?”

He tugged at his bottom lip, looking past you, up toward the sky. The moment felt so heavy, you just sitting there perplexed while Josh was suddenly quiet and flustered; then he moved closer to you, resting at your side, and reached up to turn your face to him. 

Before you could say or do anything, Josh’s lips were on yours--soft yet hurried--and two seconds later they were off, though his hand was still caressing your cheek.

“I’m so sorry, Y/N,” he said when you didn’t respond, only able to look at him, your cheek blazing. He took his hand away and sat back on the grass, almost looking like he was getting ready to get up. “I’m sorry.”

Perplexed and in a slight daze, you broke your stare at the grass to look to Josh, whose cheeks were also red, his brow furrowed and eyes wide. “Josh--” you said, then laughed a little. “I don’t even know.”

He seemed to ease up after you laughed, and he settled back down next to you. “Bad timing, see?”

“No, not that--I still don’t understand,” you admitted, not because you didn’t understand what he was saying but because you didn’t understand why it’d never clicked earlier. Why neither of you ever said anything.

Josh took your hand, turning to face you again. “I’ve tried, Y/N. I’ve tried to be with other people,” he said. “They’re not you.”

You ran your thumb over his. “You never said anything.”

“How could I? I couldn’t ruin your relationship, or risk our friendship,” Josh answered. “For two years I tried to find someone else but I’ve only ever been able to think about you.”

You exhaled, nodding your head to yourself as you prepared yourself for what you were about to say. “I thought about you a lot, Josh. And not just in a friend way, but in a, ‘I wish Josh were here with me instead’ kind of way.” You took his other hand and sighed. “I wish I’d said something somewhere along the way.”

“Really?” he replied, blushing.

“Of course, Josh. You’re my best friend,” you told him. “And maybe that fact made things more confusing for me but--I wish I didn’t spend two years with someone that wasn’t you.” 

Josh smiled. “We still have lots of time. Whenever you’re ready, darling,” he said, leaning forward and kissing your forehead. “I’ll be waiting.” 

Your cheeks flushed again. You smiled back and pressed your lips to his, letting the kiss linger, soft with love. It felt like something you should have done long ago but Josh still leaned into it, caressing your face carefully, and it was clear then that you were both finally in sync.

---

~GIF~

The tambourine jingled louder when he wrapped his arms around you and squeezed. “Hey, pretty lady,” he said, that warm voice you’d missed so much gentle in your ear. “I missed you.”

You squeezed him back. “I missed you too--what are you doing here? I didn’t know you’d be back in town.”

“We took a detour,” he told you, pulling back and kissing your cheek. “And I remembered you said today was music day, so I sort of invited myself, if that’s okay.”

You were blushing, feeling like you must be as exuberant as your kids. “Yeah, are you kidding?” you replied and ruffled his hair. “They’ll actually have a real musician teaching them.” 

Josh laughed, tipping his head back. “Well, we’ll see. What did you have planned?”

“Okay, don’t laugh,” you began, turning to rifle through the CDs. “I was gonna start with a classic: ‘We Are The Dinosaurs.’”

Josh did laugh, but not at you, nor at the song choice. He moved in close and looked it over with you. “That’s great--who doesn’t love dinosaurs?” 

“I feel like you could easily incorporate your tambourine into it,” you said, gently flicking a bell with your fingertip. “And it’s really easy to sing along to, obviously.”

He smiled again. “I’ll try to follow along.”

You both sat in front of the kids, all of them in a circle on the bright blue and purple carpet, the music just beginning and Josh readying his tambourine, smiling at the kids. You loved that Josh was like a kid himself, with his wonder and amusement seemingly unwavering, and him in this particular environment just seemed to work. 

He did quickly work with the song, establishing his rhythm and interjection of the tambourine easily, and the lyrics were even easier to attach himself to. You knew the song by heart, having listened to it a thousand times, but with Josh playing and singing next to you, it felt like an entirely new experience.

One of your kids was already very taken with Josh, which you weren’t surprised by. He’d always reminded you of Josh a little, with his boisterous energy and loud laugh, his vibrant silliness and affinity for music, too. He looked up at Josh with big, awe-struck eyes, moving them down to the tambourine whenever Josh tapped it, and started to clap along to that same tambourine playing.

You giggled but kept singing, getting a kick out of the whole thing. When it ended, no one seemed too eager to have it all end, so you turned to Josh and asked, “What if we did ‘Anthem?’”

He grinned at that and squeezed your knee. “It might not be the same without Jake’s guitar, but I think you and I could make up for it.” 

And you felt you both did--Josh’s voice was as beautiful as ever and he made sure you were in sync, swaying side to side in your chairs, him tapping the tambourine against his knee and into his hand. You both managed to corral the kids into singing the chorus in unison--just like in the actual song--with you getting them started and Josh doing his classic vocalizations, his free hand moving in the air with each note.

The kids were super into it and you were too, glancing over at Josh continuously, your heart swelling with adoration. He caught your eye and smiled, then winked, and your heart melted. 

“Anthem” had always been your favorite Greta Van Fleet song. You loved its endearing simplicity, its uncomplicated message and authenticity, and singing it alongside your most favorite person felt like yet another daydream. Whenever you heard the song, you felt like maybe the world really could go back to being vibrant and colorful, full of love and tenderness, and the kids singing with you made that daydream feel more and more like a real possibility. 

After giving the kids their snacks, you handed a juice box to Josh and smiled, taking one for yourself too. He smiled back and you both sat on the desk, his tambourine motionless at his side for now.

“You’re so cute,” you told him as he took the first sip, watching his lips pursed around the tiny plastic straw. “Thank you for coming in and surprising all of us.”

“It was really for you, Y/N,” he said, leaning into your side. “But I had a lot of fun. You think they like me?”

You laughed. “Yeah, no doubt--did you not see them staring at you?”

“It’s the tambourine,” he insisted and rested his head on your shoulder. “I really missed you.”

You sighed and rested your hand on his leg. “I missed you too, Josh.”

“We’re leaving tomorrow,” he said, placing his free hand on top of yours. “So can I see you after school today?”

There went your heart again, swelling to the point of bursting. “Yeah, I’d love that,” you said, smiling a little to yourself at the purple stain on Josh’s lips. 

Josh glanced out at the kids, all seeming to be distracted by their own juice boxes and the song “Down By The Bay” playing from the speakers, then leaned into you and kissed your lips--a lingering, gentle kiss that tasted like sugared grapes, his tambourine jingling quietly as you moved closer to one another. 

---

After your classes ended you did you due diligence at the grocery store, picking up more orange juice, soup, saltines, Vick’s Vapor Rub (just in case), throat lozenges, ibuprofen and a box of raspberry popsicles. You didn’t know what Josh already had on hand but you wanted to arrive to him fully prepared. 

The door was unlocked and Josh was on the couch, snoring gently with one arm hanging over the side, the orange, brown and green knit blanket over him bunched and tangled haphazardly around his legs and waist. He stirred a little at the sounds of you walking in and the crinkling paper bag, then propped himself up a little on the arm of the couch, reaching one hand up to rub his eyes.

“I’m sorry, Josh,” you said quietly, cradling the bag in your arms. “You can keep sleeping.”

He inhaled a deep breath and rubbed his eyes for another second. “It’s okay, I’m up,” he said, voice a little more gravely than usual, then gave you a little smile, a sincere one despite how flushed and tired he looked. “You’re so sweet to come over. I owe you.”

You sat down on the end of the couch, placing his feet in your lap and adjusting the blanket over them. “No, it’s no problem. I really missed you in class today.” You reached out and laid the back of your hand over his forehead. “You’re really burning up.”

“I don’t have a fever, I checked,” Josh said, reaching across to the coffee table, looking at the thermometer sitting there. “But yeah, I don’t feel great.” He took his hand back suddenly, coughing into the crook of his arm.

You rummaged through the bag for the Vick’s. “I got this in case you didn’t have it,” you said and, when he coughed again, you moved in closer and eased the blanket down from his waist. “Do you want me to put it on for you?”

He nodded, looking a little sheepish, his eyes a little red and wet. You two had been close for a long time and you knew Josh tended to get a little embarrassed when he was down and out--not that he was opposed to help, but he always said how bad he felt about it, even when you would remind him you liked trying to help him feel better.

You opened the plastic container and scooped some of the cool petroleum onto your fingers, then gingerly lifted Josh’s shirt at the hem and slid your hand carefully up, gently spreading it over his chest. He sighed a little then stifled another cough, clearing his throat. He exhaled softly and leaned back, seeming to start to relax as you spread the last of the Vick’s over him.

“I’m gonna wash my hands,” you told him, standing up and grabbing the bag. “I got orange juice--want some?”

Josh nodded. “Please.”

“Want a popsicle? I got the raspberry,” you said, taking the box out. “I couldn’t remember 

if you liked cherry or raspberry more.”

He laughed a little, hoarsely, smiling up at you. “You got it right, Y/N.”

You tore open the box and handed one to him, thankfully not too melty, though you could see the dark, berry-red liquid clinging to the slightly transparent white plastic wrapper. He took it and tore it open and popped it in his mouth.

“Thanks,” Josh said, smiling a little again, already a stain on his lips.

You smiled back and headed into the kitchen. There was an empty bowl and spoon sitting in the sink, the empty carton of orange juice Josh had mentioned earlier also sitting discarded on the counter; you grabbed it and threw it in the trash, then washed the bowl and spoon. Anything you could do to make his life a little easier. 

The popsicles went in the freezer; the soup went in the cupboard, though you’d probably ask Josh if he wanted it later, and at least you knew he’d eaten something before you got there; the orange juice went into the fridge after you opened it and poured him a glass, pairing that with two ibuprofen cradled in your hand.

“Here, sunshine,” you said to him when you returned, handing him the orange juice, then setting the ibuprofen on top of a coaster on the coffee table. 

“Thanks,” he said, the berry stain on his lips even darker, a little bit on his chin, and you giggled quietly to yourself. “What did I miss in class?”

“We watched an anime,” you told him, laughing a little more. “You missed such an interesting day.”

“An anime?” Josh repeated, managing a mucus-choked laugh himself. “Really?”

“Yeah, it was, uh--it was interesting,” you said, settling back on the couch, putting his feet back in your lap. “You would’ve appreciated the animation.”

“Did Jim give his usual narration?”

You laughed loudly, lightly slapping his shin. “Yes! He paused it like, every two minutes.”

Josh laughed too, sounding a little less congested, though he reached to the coffee table to get a tissue. “Sorry,” he said, blowing his nose. “I’m so gross today.”

You pouted a little and stroked his leg. “No, not gross, Joshua,” you insisted. “Just a little under the weather. I hope you feel better soon.”

“Yeah, me too,” he agreed, setting the popsicle stick with the used tissue and taking the ibuprofen in his hand. “I’ll be in class on Wednesday though, sick or not.”

“You should rest,” you told him, smoothing down the blanket over his legs, then leaning over to do the same over his waist. “Jim will probably be relieved of your own commentary.”

Josh laughed at that and nestled himself against the pillow behind him. “Probably.”

“You wanna take another nap?” you asked, watching him as he sipped more orange juice. Gross was not the descriptor for him, even while sick--with his flushed cheeks, the sheen on his skin and his glossy eyes, he still looked adorable. You could remember all the times Josh cared for you when you were sick and you weren’t sure you looked quite that endearing, but he’d done it anyway, bringing you juice and tea, playing with your hair as you dozed off against his shoulder.

“I might fall asleep again if we watch a movie,” he told you. “Anything you want, Y/N.”

You hummed to yourself. “You need something funny. Don’t you think?”

He smiled. “I think so.”

You got up, resting his legs back on the couch, and leaned down to kiss his forehead. “Let me take a look.”

“Don’t kiss me, Y/N!” Josh warned, suddenly more awake than ever, giggling and swatting at you. “You’ll get sick too.”

You waved him off with your hand. “No, I’ll be fine,” you assured him. “Besides, if I do, I know you’ll take care of me, too.” 

---