Saving Little Clark (Brave Daddies #4)

Chapter 24 Clark

With a devilish smirk that would have made any friend proud, I hooked a foot around Alex's ankle and yanked.

He went down with an outraged squawk, arms windmilling comically as he tried to keep his balance. But it was too late. With a muffled thump and a flurry of flailing limbs, he hit the plush carpeted floor in an ungainly sprawl.

For a moment, there was only stunned silence. Alex blinking up at me from his prone position, expression caught between shock and grudging admiration. And then, as if a switch had been flipped, we both burst into giggles.

I collapsed onto the floor beside him, gasping for breath between bouts of hilarity. Every time I thought I had myself under control, I would catch a glimpse of his disgruntled pout, his hair sticking up in wild tufts, and lose it all over again.

But my mirth was short-lived. Because in the next instant, a wicked gleam entered Alex's eyes, his scowl morphing into a predatory grin.

"Oh, it's on now," he growled playfully. "You've just declared war, and I never lose.”

With that, he launched himself at me in a full-body tackle, sending us tumbling. I shrieked with laughter, trying in vain to fend off his tickling fingers as we rolled around on the floor like a pair of puppies.

From there, it devolved into all-out chase as we darted through the mansion. Peals of breathless giggles and mock threats rang through the halls, interspersed with the occasional thump or crash as we careened around corners and bounced off furniture.

I had just executed a particularly daring dive-roll past the kitchen island when a stern voice brought me up short.

"And what, pray tell, is going on in here?"

I froze, Alex hot on my heels, as we turned to face the imposing figure. Daddy stood in the doorway with his arms crossed, one eyebrow arched in a look of fond exasperation.

"Oh, uh..." I stammered, feeling my face heat. "We were just playing?"

Behind me, Alex snickered. "Yeah, Uncle Brody. Clarkie here started it, spank him! I'm innocent, I swear!"

I turned to gape at him in betrayal, but he just blinked back at me guilelessly. The picture of wide-eyed innocence.

Before I could exact my revenge, Daddy was turning that stern look on Alex, making him shrink back with a sheepish grin.

"That right?" he mused, tone deceptively mild. "Well then, I suppose you won't mind helping your poor decrepit Daddies clean up the trail of destruction you two little tornados left in your wake, hmm?"

"Aww, but Uncle Brody!" Alex whined, bottom lip jutting out in an exaggerated pout.

Uncle Will, who had come up to stand beside Daddy, just snorted. "Don't give us that look, Little one. You make the mess, you clean it up. Them's the rules."

Alex heaved a put-upon sigh, the very picture of downtrodden resignation.

"Sorry, Daddy," I mumbled, cheeks heating with chagrin. "We didn't mean to make such a mess. We were just having fun, I guess."

But Daddy just smiled, crossing the room in three long strides to crouch down and press a kiss to my forehead. "No need to apologize, my sweet boy. I'm glad to see you laughing, having a good time. I know it hasn't been easy lately."

His eyes were soft as they met mine, warm with understanding and quiet joy. Like the sight of me happy, playful, was the greatest gift I could have given him.

We set about tidying. Minutes later there was the chime of the doorbell, followed by a familiar, exuberant shout.

"We’re here!"

I jerked upright just in time to see a pint-sized blur come barreling around the corner, making a beeline straight for me. I barely had time to brace myself before I was tackle-hugged within an inch of my life, my arms automatically coming up to catch the giggling, wriggling missile.

"Oof!" I grunted, staggering back a step. "Well hello to you too.”

Elijah grinned up at me, cheeks pink with exertion and eyes sparkling. "Hiya Clarkie!" he chirped, bouncing on his toes. "Hiya Alex! Did you miss me?"

Alex was fighting a smile as he reached out to ruffle Elijah's hair, ignoring the outraged squeak it earned him.

I perked up at the sound of Uncle Oliver's boisterous voice. Beside me, Alex scrambled to his feet with an excited little wiggle.

Sure enough, a moment later Uncle Oliver came sweeping into the room with his usual flair, grinning ear to ear. Uncle Lance trailed a few steps behind, an indulgent smile playing about his lips.

"There's our boy," Uncle Oliver cooed, voice gone soft and sweet as his eyes landed on us. "Causing trouble already, I see."

Beside him, Lance huffed a laugh. "Looks more like a puppy pile to me. Think we could sell tickets? The cute factor alone would make us a killing."

Alex stuck his tongue out at them. "You're just jealous 'cause you're too old and creaky to join in the fun. Don't hate us 'cause you ain't us."

Oliver gasped in mock affront, hand flying to his chest. "You take that back right now, young man. I'll have you know I'm in the prime of my life, I could run circles around you little whippersnappers."

Lance raised an eyebrow, lips twitching. "Whippersnappers? Really?"

Oliver sniffed, raising his chin haughtily. "It's a perfectly fine word. Not my fault these uncultured heathens wouldn't know good vocabulary if it bit them on the tush."

I heard Daddy and Uncle Will snort in unison behind me, a perfect echo of the giggles Elijah was muffling in my shoulder.

Alex narrowed his eyes, one brow arched in challenge. "Oh yeah? Prove it then. Let's see these alleged 'circle-running' skills in action."

Lance turned to the rest of us, heaving a long-suffering sigh. "We're about to witness a footrace between a Daddy and a Little, aren't we? This is what my life has become."

Elijah ran up to Uncle Oliver and was being propped on his hip for a quick kiss.

"Get over here and give your Uncle Ollie a big squeeze, I'm feeling neglected," Oliver said, depositing Elijah back on the carpet.

Alex and I wasted no time in complying, charging across the room to tackle him in a boisterous hug. Oliver pretended to stagger under our combined weight, knees buckling as he flailed dramatically.

"Dear me, what have we here? A pair of ruffians and scamps, assaulting my person? I'm not sure my delicate constitution can withstand such rough treatment."

Elijah giggled behind his hands as Alex and I clung to Oliver like limpets. "Don't worry, Daddy Oliver," he called, bouncing on his toes. "I'll save you from the wild things."

With that he launched himself at us, hair flying as he tried to pry us off his captive Daddy. Alex and I rolled obligingly to the side, letting him rescue Oliver with a triumphant crow.

"My hero," Oliver gushed, sweeping Elijah up into his arms and spinning him in a giddy circle. "Whatever would I do without my brave, strong boy to protect me?"

Elijah beamed, puffing out his little chest. "I'll always keep you safe, Daddy," he vowed, solemn as a judge.

A sudden shriek from across the room jolted me. I whipped around just in time to see Alex go flying, arms windmilling as he tripped over a stray couch cushion. He hit the carpet with an undignified squawk, limbs splaying.

"Alexander!" Uncle Will chided, hands on his hips and fighting valiantly to smother a grin. "What have we said about running indoors, young man?"

Alex huffed, rolling onto his back and shooting his Daddy a winning smile. "That it's all in good fun and a little chaos builds character?"

Will snorted, reaching down to tweak his ear in playful reprimand. "Try again, Little one."

"Fine," Alex sighed, heaving himself upright with a put-upon groan. "No shenanigans in the house, keep the wildness outside where it belongs. Happy now, fun police?"

"Exceedingly," Will confirmed, smirk widening. "Honestly, kiddo, it's like you're not even trying to behave today. Keep this up and Santa might just pass us right by tonight."

Alex gasped, eyes going round and bottom lip jutting out in an exaggerated pout. "You wouldn't. Daddy, that's so mean. You know I've been super good all year, Santa won't care about one teeny tiny oopsie."

Uncle Will quirked a brow, wholly unimpressed by the display. "That's what we're calling the trail of destruction you've left in your wake today? Between the tickle fight, knocking over Aunt Lydia's favorite vase, and trying to convince Clark that elves love coffee even though Uncle Brody said no caffeine." He shook his head in mock disapproval, eyes sparkling with mirth. "I dunno, buddy. Sounds more like a Naughty List offense to me. Better start brushing up on your coal-related puns now, just in case."

"Daddy," Alex whined, throwing himself back onto the carpet in a fit of melodrama. "You're ruining Christmas. Elijah, tell him he's ruining Christmas."

Elijah blinked, glancing between them with a tiny furrow in his brow. "I don't think Santa would put Alex on the Naughty List for real?" He sounded uncertain, gaze darting to his own Daddies for confirmation. "Uncle Will is just teasing. Right?"

Lance swooped in smoothly, dropping a kiss onto Elijah's head as he fought to contain a smile. "That's right, little love. Uncle Will is just being silly, pulling Allie's leg a bit. Santa would never deny such a good boy his Christmas magic."

Alex popped up like a jack-in-the-box at that, beaming vindication. "See! Uncle Lance knows what's up. I'm a precious angel baby, Santa loves me and wants me to be happy."

"I think that might be overstating things just a smidge," Oliver drawled, lips twitching. "Let's go with reasonably well-behaved scamp and call it a day, yeah?"

Alex stuck his tongue out at him.

I glanced over at Elijah, noting the way he was starting to squirm in Oliver's hold, nose scrunching in an all-too-familiar tell. Someone was getting antsy, eager to be playing with his friends instead of spectating the grown ups' shenanigans. And honestly, I couldn't blame him one bit.

"Hey, Clarkie," Alex whispered, jutting his chin toward the low coffee table in the corner. "What do you say we have ourselves a little fun, hmm? Daddies can do their boring grown up stuff, let us kids get our party on."

Elijah perked up at that, wriggling out of Oliver's arms and bouncing on his toes. "Tea party! Can we, Daddy?"

Oliver chuckled, ruffling Elijah's hair. "Of course, Jellybean. You boys go play, have a grand old time. Just make sure you mind your manners and use your gentle hands.”

Elijah was already scampering off toward the designated play area, Alex hot on his heels. I made to follow, only to be tugged back by a warm hand on my wrist.

Daddy reeled me in until I was flush against his chest, tipping my chin up with a finger. He pressed a soft kiss to the tip of my nose just to see me scrunch it up and giggle. "Go be a kid, laugh yourself silly. Daddy will be right here if you need me."

I surged up on my toes, smacking a kiss to his lips. Then, I slipped out of his arms and scampered off to join my friends.