#melody ramirez

“Thank you, mistah Wizad” Stan thanked Fiddleford politely as he took the item he chose from the Mystery shack. Although he didn't know where ‘Mr Wizard’ came from, he decided it was far too cute to correct.

“You are very welcome, son” he smiled ruffling his head one last time before those feisty tiny hands smacked his hand away again.

“You are not my pa”

“Excuse me?” Fiddleford blinked at the offended expression on the small boy. He quickly glanced at his friend who looked just as clueless, if not pouty that the boy hadn't given him any attention.

“Mr Mcgucket?” Soos’ voice carried over from the other room and Fiddleford watched the small boy tense abnormally. It wasn’t odd that a child this young would feel shy, even if it is a younger version of the brash man Stan… Still…

The way the boy froze in place didn’t seem like the usual timid kind.

“Is Mr Pines and other Mr Pines here?” Soos asked just as he opened the door. It didn’t take long for his searching eyes to fall on the boy before him.

In hindsight, Fiddleford should have warned Soos about the predicament Stan Pines had found himself in. He couldn’t help but blame himself when the boy immediately dropped his new gift and crouched down like a snail hiding in its shell.

“Stanley!” Stanford called, rushing to the boy's side. The poor thing curled up, covering his ears and hiding his face in his knees.

“Stanford wait-”

“Stanley! Stanley, what's wrong?” Stanford did not wait, attempting to force the boy away from the little safe hidey-hole by tugging his hands away and trying to pull his face away from his knees which ended up in-

“Ow!” He pulled back, looking at his hand in shock as a clear bitemark (with missing teeth) was now on his hand.

Fiddleford had a vague feeling this would all go further downhill, he needed to get the young-Stan away from behind commotion, from Ford's look of disbelief that's changing and from Soos who is probably too big and intimidating for the little boy.

Just as the boy began to groan quietly, a humming sort of keen, Stanford took a deep breath that had been most likely gearing up with more scolding but thankfully was interrupted as Soos’ heavy footsteps approached.

Without much of a word, the man sat in front of the boy, keeping a bit of distance, and Fiddleford quickly approached to drag his fuming friend away.

“You saw that, didn't you?!” Ford demanded, looking up at him as he was dragged from the floor and shoving the bitten hand in his face. Fiddleford should really have a good talk with him.

“You did that to yourself, you old fool!” he scolded, tugging on his ear so he'd give lil-Stan some space.

“Wh-”

“Quiet”

===

Eventually, with Mr McGucket managing the other Mr Pines to quiet down, the boy in the gifts hope stopped moaning sadly and carefully pulled his hands away from the mess of curls and his ears.

A moment later, Soos was met with a reddened face and a confused expression.

“Hey” he greeted with a smile. The boy blinked back.

“I scared you pretty badly, huh?”

The boy nodded

“Sorry dude” he apologised, hoping it was enough.

The boy sniffled, staring at him for a long time and just blinking. Soos hears the moment the other..well- Dr Pines opens his mouth to speak but from the corner of his eye he can see Mr McGucket slap a hand over his mouth.

“Your hat is funny” the voice is small but it carries judgement, Soos can't help but laugh.

“Yeah, it is pretty funny, huh?” He fixes the fez on his head, straightening it. The boy nods.

“My pa has a hat like that”

“Yeah? Your pa must be pretty cool then, dude” Soos smiles but it slowly fades as the boy shakes his head. Huh… he remembered being that age and thinking his own biological father to be cool despite his many absences. Maybe this kid is just a natural born hater.

“...you wanna try wear it?” He offers anyway and can't help grin at how the boy immediately nods his head rapidly.

Getting up, Soos approaches the kid carefully, afraid to scare him again, but the boy seems far too focused on the fez being placed upon his head to care.

“Aww” Mcgucket and Dr Pines coo and Soos chuckles as he watches the fez tip sideways, far too big for the kid's head.

“It stinks” the boy wacks the little tail of the fez and wipes his nose with the back of his hand a moment later. His legs, which had been pulled tightly close to his chest, now sprawled out.

“Does it? Huh, never noticed” Soos says, watching how the kid just whips his head side to side to watch the tail of the fez whip around “you sure it's not you who stinks?”

“No!” The kid giggles, face brightening with mischief “You stink!”

“No, dude. We stink” he says humbly, giving the mystery kid a poke.

And the boy squeals with laughter.

It isn't until later that they make it inside the house that Soos gets updated on the situation. Suddenly, his hands shake as he holds what is Mr Pines in his arms.

“Really dudes?!” He eyes both men and then the boy, who is Mr Pines, in his hold. The boy, Mr Pines, holds onto his shirt and seems happy to have the fez over his eyes, still whipping his head side to side to feel the tail wack.

“Yes, I am afraid so… dude” Dr Pines sighs, entering the kitchen and stopping abruptly when he sees Melody already there, cooking and definitely taking a bite or two from the cooking food.

“Oh!” She brightens at the sight of them before her eyes zero in on the young-Mr Pines in his arms “Oh!!”

From one blink to another, Melody is suddenly in front of him, gushing over how adorable Mr baby Pines is, which is true, Soos nods along. She talks to him, voice high pitched, and she coos when baby Pines pulls the fez up from his eyes to curiously look at who is speaking.

“And who is this adorable little girl?” She asks with glee, wiggling her finger in front of baby-Pines who just looks confusedly at it.

“Melody, he isn't-”

“I'm Susie!!” Baby Pines suddenly declares, throwing both arms up.

“Susie!!” Melody gushes, immediately stealing ‘Susie’ from Soos “My! What a pretty princess you are, Susie!!”

“Wha- he is not a girl!” Dr Pines tries to step in but it's clear Melody doesn't hear him “Stanley-!”

Melody hugs baby-Pines tight and she turns the heat down from the stove to give him her devout attention, she plays with his hair and playfully tickles him. The kitchen is suddenly filled with coos and giggles.

“Hehe lady, lady! I have a secret” baby-Pines snickers and motions for Melody to come closer.

Seeming to be wrapped around ‘Susie's finger, Melody does so, allowing baby-Pines to whisper in her ear in that way kids do when they don't really know how to whisper quietly, hands clumsily covering his lips.

“I'm not a girl”

“WHAT?!” Melody overly exaggerates her shock, pulling back with a gasp.

“Yeah!” Baby-Pines giggles “I lied!!”

“Susie, you're a boy?!”

“No!!” And the squeal is loud, baby-Pines nearly falls off her arms as he leans back with a fit of giggles, face red and feet kicking “My name isn't Susie, silly! It's Stan!”

“Stan?”

Finally sensing something was off, Melody looks away from the child in her arms to look at the other ‘Stan’ in the room. A look of confusion and worry crosses her face before she looks to Soos.

Sensing his girl needed some reassuring, Soos smiled, watching her features soften just the slightest as she returned it.