Chapter Text
Mid August
17 months old
Teio found there was very little for her to complain about despite the heavy weight of two toddlers laying on her and her girlfriend muttering nonsense in her sleep. She was trying to get the girls to sleep in their own beds, but her daughters much preferred cuddling up to their parents than sleeping on their own. Besides, how could she say no to those little pouts, even if it meant the bed was crowded and she was likely to get kicked for most of the night.
Point had somehow wedged herself between her parents, mostly laying on Teio's chest with her tail hanging over part of McQueen’s stomach. Pulsar on the other hand, had curled up behind Teio's legs, clinging to the back of her knees.
Teio tried to extract herself from the pile of sleeping bodies, gently removing little hands from her clothes and wiggling her way off the bed. She scooted a sleeping Pulsar closer to the center of the bed, little hands instantly grabbing onto McQueen’s waist and snuggling in. Teio couldn't help but smile.
She padded to the kitchen, turning on the electric kettle and starting on breakfast. Pulsar was much less picky now, eating most anything so long as Teio took a bite of it first. Point ate everything you offered her unless she was being stubborn and wanting to nurse instead.
Her morning continued, the sun creeping higher into the sky. Steam curled from the tea cups steeping on the counter and fish sizzled in the pan as Teio hummed to herself. The door to her bedroom creaked, little foot falls approaching the kitchen. Point came out and grabbed onto Teio's legs, pressing her face into them. It wasn't unusual for one of the girls to wake up and make their way out to the kitchen in search of attention, though Point did it far more often. The door creaked again, this time heavier foot steps signaling McQueen making her way out.
Point let go of Teio’s legs, instead running to meet McQueen as she entered the kitchen, a sleepy Pulsar in her arms rubbing at her face.
"Someone's full of energy this morning." McQueen said, ruffling Point's hair as the toddler tackled her legs.
"She's been awfully clingy, I can hardly take a few steps without her following me. I hope she's not coming down with something. It might be another round of teething or separation anxiety." Teio said calmly, turning off the stove and plating their food.
McQueen placed Pulsar in her high chair before picking up Point to look in her mouth.
"I don't see any irritation or redness, so I don't think she has any teeth coming in. I'll keep an eye on her, just in case." McQueen put the toddler in her own chair, soft, nonsensical words tumbling from Point's mouth.
The rest of breakfast was quiet, Pulsar eating her food without a fuss for a change. McQueen sipped at her tea, watching Pulsar try to use her spoon to eat her apple sauce. She was getting better at getting the spoon in her mouth without slopping it down her shirt, much to McQueen's delight. Bath time was still a fight and the less mess Pulsar made, the better.
Teio was back at work, usually leaving just after the girls' nap time, leaving McQueen to look after them during the evening. It was easier for McQueen to work from home, being an architect, as opposed to Teio, being a dance instructor. Not that McQueen minded, she loved spending time with their kids. The problem was the girls getting anxious now that Teio wasn't always at home. Point specifically was having a hard time adjusting, typically wandering around after her nap, looking for Teio and crying.
So far, today was going just as it always did, Teio was breastfeeding Point as she prepared them for their nap. Pulsar tugged on McQueen’s hand, whining slightly with her tail flicking.
"Wet!" Pulsar cried.
Pulsar was very particular and especially hated having a wet diaper, demanding to be changed almost as soon she went. McQueen supposed it was almost time to start toilet training, at least for Pulsar.
"Alright baby, let's get you changed. Don't wanna take a nap all wet, do we?" McQueen chuckled.
Point suckled away, her little tail swishing. Teio rubbed Point's ears as she nursed, trying to comfort her before she had to leave.
"I know, It's tough being a toddler. Taking naps, eating, and playing. You've been such a strong girl, Mama's proud of you." Teio said softly, fingers stroking Point's hair.
While Point didn't quite understand the words being said to her, she seemed to understand the gentle tone behind them, relaxing and fluttering her eyes as drowsiness began to overwhelmed her.
"That's one down, poor thing is powerless against boobs and pets." Teio chuckled.
"Like mother, like daughter. Some apples don't fall far from the tree." McQueen said, passing Pulsar to Teio and taking the now sleeping Point from her grasp.
"Guilty as charged!" Teio barked a laugh.
Once both girls were tucked in, Teio gently placed a kiss on each of their foreheads.
"All right, I better get ready to go. I've only got Kita today, so I shouldn't be very long. Call me if you need anything?"
McQueen watched Teio flutter about the room, changing and brushing her hair out. She wanted to run her hands over Teio’s lean frame, days at the gym really doing wonders for McQueen’s appetite.
"Do you have any requests for dinner? I can order something or I can try to cook something up? I've gotten better at simple dishes." McQueen walked up behind Teio, squeezing her shoulders and dropping a kiss to her ear, making it flick.
Teio leaned into the touch with a pleased hum. "McQueen, I have to go to work. As much as I would love to play with your boobs while you pet me, I'm afraid that will have to wait til tonight."
Teio spun around and kissed McQueen on the lips. "Chicken sounds lovely by the way."
***
As if on cue, as soon as Point was awake, she was pouting and begging for 'Mama'. While McQueen responded to 'Mama', she knew that she was referring to Teio.
When she had discussed with Teio about what they should have the girls call her, Teio had insisted that she was also their mom, so that meant she could also be 'Mama'. McQueen felt that might be confusing to them, so she often just referred to herself by her own name. Now 'McQueen' was very difficult to say, even for many adults, hell even Teio sometimes pronounced her name more like 'Makween', so she instead used her childhood nickname of 'Mackie'. Not that either of them could say that either, but who could blame a girl for trying.
Everyone had a name that the girls called them, generally garbled versions of their names like with Palmer, or "Pama', and Dober, or 'Dohba'. Rudolf was a bit of a special case, being dubbed 'Loulou' by the girls. Rudolf had preened at that one, apparently delighted by the name, not that McQueen could figure out why. The only one who didn't have a name was somehow her, despite her best efforts.
"Come here Point, come sit with Mackie. Let's watch some TV." McQueen tried to distract the toddler.
Point stopped and looked at McQueen, tilting her head slightly. She toddled over, a stuffed carrot in her arms.
"Mama?"
"Mama's at work, sweetie, but Mackie is here. Do you want some juice?"
Point furrowed her brow, looking very confused.
"Mommy juice?"
That was a new one.
She swooped up the toddler, bringing her to the kitchen to fix her some juice. She mixed a little bit of juice with some water in a sippy-cup.
"Here you go, juice for Point." McQueen handed the little girl her cup.
"Thank Mommy." Point leaned on McQueen’s shoulder, sucking down her juice.
Pulsar wasn't far behind, wandering her way into the kitchen.
"Mama?"
She fixed another cup and handed it to Pulsar. "Want some juice, Pulse?"
Pulsar's eyes lit up, little arms reaching out to McQueen.
"Juice!"
***
"Are you sure it's okay for them to try honey?" Teio flicked her tail and worried her hands.
"It's fine, they are 15 months old. It's only dangerous before they turn a year old." McQueen mixed a small bit of honey in with some yogurt, preparing lunches for the girls. "I've been curious if they'd like it as much as you do, seeing as there is always a jar of it around somewhere."
Teio gave her an uneasy smile, unable to help but worry. She trusted McQueen, trusted her fully, but sometimes the anxiety spoke louder.
McQueen brought the first spoon over to Point, the toddler opening her mouth without hesitation. As soon as she tasted it her little eyes lit up, eyes widening. Her ears stood straight up and stiff, her tail turning into a blur.
"More!" Point was enthralled.
"Yes, Point. You can have some more," McQueen snickered and gave her another spoonful. "Guess the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree with this one."
Teio started to relax a little, still not completely over her gnawing anxiety. She took a spoon and brought a little bit of yogurt over to Pulsar. The toddler eyed it suspiciously, debating if she wanted to eat it.
Teio gave an amused sigh, bringing the spoon to her own lips. Pulsar watched, looking more interested now that Teio tried some. There wasn't a lot of honey mixed in, Teio could taste it but it definitely wasn't as much as she herself would have enjoyed.
Again she tried to give some to Pulsar, slowly letting her decide if she really wanted to eat. Pulsar sniffed it, turned her head slightly and took a bite. Her face scrunched up immediately, unsure how to react to this entirely new flavor.
"Didn't like that one, huh?" Teio began to pull the yogurt away, not expecting Pulsar to want any more. To her surprise, Pulsar whined, grabbing towards the yogurt. "Or maybe you do. Honestly it's kinda hard to tell."
Pulsar ate the remainder of her yogurt, scrunched expression never leaving her face.