His daughter jumped up and took the plate from him and then he lowered himself to the couch. Quinn poured the flavored water out as Keith started the movie.
“I want to sit by Dad,” Leo hollered.
“I want to too,” Haley said.
“Me too,” Keith chimed in.
Quinn rolled his eyes and chuckled. “I’ll tell you what…” Quinn started. “Haley and Leo can sit by me for the first half of the movie, and Keith, you can sit next to me all by yourself for the second half.”
They all nodded. That argument was over. The movie started, and Quinn smiled as both Haley and Leo snuggled against him. They all ate their pizza, and for the moment, it was quiet.
“I’ll get the lights.” Keith said, jumping up from the floor. He turned the light off before hurrying back to where his plate was.
“That’s better,” he said, sounding mighty satisfied with himself.
Quinn smiled. Indeed it was better. He loved these moments with just him and the kids.
Quinn ignored the voice that said it would be even nicer to have someone on the other side of Leo, with both their arms around the little guy. Someone he could share a smile with when Keith sounded all grown up. Or someone that would say Leo could sit next to them while Haley and Keith sat with him.
The credits to the movie started to roll, and Quinn tried to move his arm and winced when a cramp radiated through his muscles. He finally got his arm loose from behind Leo’s back where he’d fallen asleep against his shoulder. Keith was sprawled out on the couch, his legs over Quinn’s.
“That was so good,” Haley said from her place on the floor. She looked over to him, and he put his finger to his lips.
“Turn on the lights please.” He made sure to keep his voice at a whisper.
She jumped up and turned the lights on. Both Keith and Leo groaned, but neither one made a motion to wake up. Quinn surveyed the situation in front of him and slowly lowered Leo so he lay on the couch and not on his shoulder, then tucked Keith’s legs closer to his body.
“Go on and head up to your room, Hales. I’ll be up in a minute,” he said.
She nodded and yawned before getting to her feet and walking out of the living room and ran up the stairs.
He picked Leo up and cradled him in his arms. Damn, he wouldn’t be able to lift him soon.
Quinn carried him up the stairs to the boys’ bedroom, and with one hand, pushed the cover back, then lowered Leo into the bed, and covered him up before leaving to get Keith.
Back in the living room, Quinn grabbed Keith and held him in his arms, then carried him upstairs and to the room. He repeated the same process he had done for Leo and then leaned forward and kissed his forehead.
“Goodnight, buddy,” he whispered.
Quinn went over to Leo and gave him a kiss of his own. He reached out and turned on the night light which sat on the bedside table separating their beds, then shut the main light off when he got to the door before leaving the room. Haley’s room was his next stop, and she was already snuggled up in bed and looked up as he entered.
“Did you have fun tonight?” he asked.
She nodded. “It was really fun!” She gave him another toothless smile and held her arms out for a hug which he leaned into willingly. “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you, too, Haley Bells,” he whispered. “Sleep tight.” He kissed her forehead, then turned to leave.
“Daddy?” she said.
He turned to her. “Yes, baby girl?”
“Tomorrow night, can we watchFrozen?” She gave him those wide, puppy-dog, hazel eyes that she probably inherited from the donor. “Please!”
Quinn smiled. “We’ll see about that. Sleep now, honey, and I’ll see you in the morning.” He blew her a kiss, chuckling as he left her room.
He finally made it to his room and turned the light on. He looked over at his bed and then dragged himself over to it and collapsed on top of the covers. Sometimes it was exhausting, and he worried he wasn’t doing enough as a single parent. But he was all they had, and they were all he had.
Quinn ignored the pang of loneliness. At least he could spread out in bed and there was no one hogging the covers or so far on his side of the bed that he almost fell off.
