(Inspired by gwenifred's 01/20/2023 portrait of the Carson Family, characters from the "Renegade's Shadow" audio RP universe.)
The bracelets on Judith's wrist moved around as the youngest Carson played with them. Tyler had been a handful all day, but at least now he was in a better mood and content to sit on his mother's lap.
The front door opened. "Anybody home?"
"Da da!" the little boy shouted as Oliver walked into the living room and set his satchel down.
"Hey, Sport," Oliver said warmly, as his son Tyler wriggled on Judith's lap.
"How's my two favorite wolves today?" Oliver said, giving Judith a kiss on the cheek and tussling Tyler's hair.
"We're fine. Someone had a fit of temper this morning at breakfast, but he's doing better."
Tyler's babbling almost sounded like a giggle. Judith felt like the boy had been proud of himself for upending an entire bowl of cereal onto the floor. At least he'd stopped making an angry fuss as he watched her clean up his mess.
Tyler held out his arms to his father. Oliver picked him up and snuggled him. Judith watched her boys and her heart melted. Tyler loved his daddy. And Oliver ate up every ounce of it and returned that affection a thousandfold.
He set Tyler back down on his mother's lap.
"Let's see if he'll growl for me…."
Judith frowned. "Oliver, he's still a baby. He's not even walking yet."
"Never too early to start practicing." He knelt down in front of Tyler, who watched Oliver intently. "Besides, it will be fun."
"For you or him?"
Oliver paused. "Hopefully both."
Tyler grinned at his father. " Da da."
Oliver tickled the boy's tummy. A round of giggles erupted from Tyler. "Want to play a game with Daddy?"
The little boy clapped his hands together.
"Okay, Tyler, do what Daddy does." Oliver gritted his teeth and growled softly.
Tyler's eyes widened and his brow furrowed. He didn't look like he would start crying, but he wasn't sure about this. He leaned back towards his mother.
"It's okay, Tyler," Judith soothed. She gave Oliver a look.
"He didn't cry, so that's a good sign," Oliver said in response.
"Here, let's try this. Tyler, watch Mama and Daddy."
Oliver leaned forward, touched the tip of his nose to Judith's, then repeated the sound he made before. Judith growled in response.
This time, Tyler looked more inquisitive. He looked back and forth between his smiling parents. He reached towards his father and grunted.
" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/wordsbyparker.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Carson-Family_Gwenifred.png?fit=910%2C622&ssl=1" class="size-medium wp-image-1429" src="https://wordsbyparker.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Carson-Family_Gwenifred-300x205.png" alt="" width="300" height="205" /> Original artwork by Gwenifred
Oliver knelt back down and Tyler leaned forward, his nose touching his father's, just like he'd seen Oliver do with Judith. Then he reached out and put his little hand against Oliver's jawline.
Oliver growled, and Tyler returned the sound, a tiny warble compared to his father's low rumble.
"Good job, Tyler!" Oliver said, and Tyler, once again very proud of himself, bounced up and down and repeated his new growl.
His parents clapped their hands, and Judith wrapped Tyler up in a hug. Their "Little Man" was going to grow up much faster than she wanted him to.
For now, she soaked in every second of time she could in these moments, just her and her boys.
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