Daniel's POV

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room as Daniel and Johnny tiptoed into the kids’ bedroom. They paused for a moment, taking in the sight of their children, Robby, nestled on the top bunk, and little Sam, sprawled across the bottom bunk, her wild curls sticking out in all directions. It was the first day of school, and excitement buzzed in the air like the gentle hum of a summer day.

“Rise and shine, you two!” Daniel called softly, flicking on the light switch. He moved to Sam’s bunk first, gently shaking her awake. “Sam, time to get up!”

Sam stirred, her big blue eyes fluttering open as she yawned and stretched like a tiny cat. “Dada, Papa! It’s school day!” she squealed, the realization of the day ahead sending a jolt of energy through her.

“Yep! Time to get ready!” Daniel replied with a smile, brushing his fingers through her hair to tame the messy curls. He could already see the excitement bubbling in her as she bounced up and down, eager to start her day.

Robby, on the other hand, rolled over in his bed, pulling the blanket over his head. “I don’t want to go,” he mumbled, his voice muffled and tinged with reluctance.

“Come on, buddy. You’ll be fine!” Johnny encouraged, walking over to the side of Robby’s bed. “You’ll meet new friends and learn so many cool things.”

With a deep sigh, Robby peeked out from under the blanket, his brown eyes filled with uncertainty. “What if I don’t make any friends?” he whispered, a frown creasing his forehead.

“Everyone feels a little nervous on the first day, Robby,” Johnny reassured him, kneeling down so he was eye level with his son. “Just be yourself, and I promise you’ll find friends in no time. Plus, you’ve got your sister to help you, right?”

Sam, overhearing the conversation, chimed in excitedly from her perch above. “Yeah! I’ll help you! We can be friends together!”

Daniel didn't want to burst Sam’s bubble by telling her that they weren't going to the same school as she was going to preschool.

Robby managed a small smile at Sam's enthusiasm, feeling a flicker of hope in his chest. “Okay, I guess,” he replied, his voice a little more confident.

After a quick family huddle, Johnny and Daniel helped their kids get dressed. Sam chose her favorite outfit—a bright pink dress with sparkly shoes, twirling around in delight. “Look, Dada! I’m a princess!” she proclaimed, her excitement infectious.

Robby, feeling a bit more encouraged, picked a cool blue T-shirt with a dinosaur on it, which he thought made him look tough. “I’ll be a dinosaur friend!” he declared, striking a pose that made Sam giggle.

Once they were dressed, the family headed downstairs for breakfast. The smell of pancakes wafted through the air, making Sam bounce in her chair. “Pancakes! Yay!” she squealed, clapping her hands.

Daniel was busy at the stove, flipping pancakes with a smile. “Just what the princess ordered!” he teased, pouring syrup onto the stack.

Johnny set the table, placing colorful plates and cups down for each of them. “Remember, it’s important to have a good breakfast before school. You need energy for all the fun you’ll have!” he encouraged as he placed a heaping stack of pancakes in front of Sam.

As they sat down to eat, Sam eagerly dug into her pancakes, while Robby poked at his with a fork, lost in thought. “What if no one wants to play with me at recess?” he murmured, his brow furrowed in concern.

“Hey, I bet there will be lots of kids who want to play with the coolest dinosaur in school,” Johnny said, leaning closer to his son. “Just be friendly, and you’ll be surprised at how many friends you can make.”

Robby looked up from his plate, still uncertain but reassured by his father’s words. “Okay, I’ll try,” he replied, a hint of determination creeping into his voice.

After breakfast, Johnny and Daniel helped the kids gather their backpacks, ensuring they had everything they needed—lunches packed with their favorite snacks and new school supplies. Sam grabbed her glittery backpack and swung it over her tiny shoulders, a proud smile spreading across her face.

“Ready to conquer the world?” Johnny asked as they lined up at the door.

“Yes!” Sam exclaimed, raising her fist in the air, while Robby nodded, though his confidence still wavered.

As they walked to the car, Johnny glanced at his kids, noticing the mix of excitement and nerves in Robby’s demeanour. “Remember, we’re just a phone call away if you need us, okay?” he reminded them, giving Robby a reassuring pat on the back.

With a deep breath, Robby nodded. “Okay,” he said, taking Sam’s hand as they climbed into the backseat, their hearts racing with anticipation for what lay ahead.

The drive to school was filled with Sam’s animated chatter, her excitement bubbling over, while Robby occasionally glanced out the window, lost in thought but now with a flicker of hope in his heart. They arrived at the school, the large brick building looming before them, filled with the sounds of children laughing and playing.

Daniel could tell Robby was still nervous and was putting a smile on for everyone.

“Robby, I promise you’ll make friends. They’re going to love you,” Daniel whispered reassuringly.

Robby nodded, a more genuine smile starting to form. “Yeah, okay, I’ll make friends.”

Johnny chuckled and ruffled his hair. “That’s the spirit, Rob.”

After giving both their kids a quick kiss, Daniel and Johnny watched as they walked off hand in hand.

Once the children were out of sight, Daniel sighed. “I don’t know how I’m going to cope without seeing Robby for seven hours.”

“Well, at least we’ll get to see Sam at two,” Johnny replied. “That’s something.”

Daniel huffed. “Yeah, I suppose, but still…”

Johnny nodded. “Unfortunately, we’ve still got work to do. Come on, let’s go before we’re late.”

Daniel leaned in, brushing his lips against Johnny’s for a couple of minutes before pulling back. “Yeah, let’s get going.”

**

Robby's POV

Robby walked into Maple Grove Elementary, his hands gripping the straps of his backpack tightly as he watched hundreds of kids walking past him. His heart pounded in his chest, and the noise of chatter, laughter, and slamming lockers filled the air, making him feel even smaller. He shifted nervously on his feet, glancing around at the groups of children who seemed to already know each other, smiling and talking as if they'd been friends forever.

He kept his head down, avoiding eye contact as he made his way to his classroom. The bright hallway, filled with colourful posters and artwork, felt overwhelming. He wished he could just blend into the walls and disappear.

As he entered his classroom, Robby paused for a moment at the door, feeling frozen in place. Rows of desks filled the room, and kids were already seated, chatting away or unpacking their new supplies. His teacher, Mrs. Taylor, stood at the front of the class, writing something on the board. She was tall, with kind eyes and a gentle smile, but that did little to ease the nervous knots in his stomach.

Taking a deep breath, Robby quietly found an empty desk near the back and slipped into his seat, hoping not to draw any attention to himself. He fumbled with his backpack, pulling out his notebook and pencil, keeping his eyes down on his desk as the rest of the class settled in.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Good morning, class!” Mrs. Taylor’s voice rang out cheerfully, and Robby dared to look up. “Welcome to the first day of school! I know some of you are new here, and it can feel a little scary, but we’re all going to have a great time getting to know each other.”

Robby shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glancing at the other kids. A few of them looked just as nervous as he felt, while others were already whispering and giggling with friends. He swallowed hard, wondering if anyone would even notice him.

The morning passed slowly, with introductions and activities meant to help the students get to know one another. Robby participated when asked, but he kept his answers short, still feeling too shy to open up.

During recess, Robby lingered near the playground, watching as groups of kids ran around, playing tag or talking in clusters. He wasn’t sure where to go or what to do. He spotted some kids playing soccer in the field, but he didn’t feel confident enough to join them.

Just as he was about to sit down on a bench by himself, a boy around his age with messy brown hair and a friendly smile walked up to him. “Hey, do you want to play soccer with us?” he asked, pointing to the group kicking a ball around.

Robby blinked, surprised that someone had actually approached him. “Uh... I’m not really good at soccer,” he mumbled, nervously tugging at the straps of his backpack.

The boy shrugged, still smiling. “That’s okay. I’m not that great either. We just play for fun. I’m Matt, by the way.”

Robby hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly. “I’m Robby.”

“Cool, come on!” Matt encouraged, already jogging back towards the field.

Feeling a little less nervous, Robby followed Matt and joined the game. The other kids, who were all friendly and welcoming, didn’t seem to care that Robby wasn’t the best player. They laughed and cheered whenever someone made a good kick, and soon, Robby found himself laughing along with them.

As the game went on, Robby started to feel more comfortable. He even managed to score a goal, which made everyone cheer, including Matt, who gave him a high-five.

By the time recess was over, Robby was out of breath and smiling, something he hadn’t expected to be doing on his first day. As the bell rang, signaling the end of recess, Robby felt a sense of accomplishment wash over him. He had actually played soccer with the other kids and had fun doing it. Walking back into the classroom with Matt and the other boys felt different now—less daunting and more like a team.

Mrs. Taylor was waiting for them at the front of the room, smiling brightly. “I hope you all enjoyed recess! Now it’s time for a fun activity. We’re going to do some art and create our own name tags to decorate the classroom.”

Robby settled back into his desk, excited by the prospect of using markers and stickers. He pulled out his supplies and began sketching his name in big, colourful letters. He carefully decorated around it with stars and dinosaurs, his two favourite things. As he worked, he could hear the chatter and laughter of his classmates around him, which made him feel even more at ease.

“Wow, Robby, that looks awesome!” Matt said, peering over at Robby’s desk.

“Thanks!” Robby replied, feeling a rush of pride. “I love dinosaurs. Do you like them too?”

Matt grinned, nodding vigorously. “Yeah! I like the T-Rex the best. It’s so cool! What about you?”

Robby’s face lit up. “I like the Velociraptor! They’re fast and smart!”

As they chatted about dinosaurs, Robby noticed that more kids were gathering around to see his artwork. A girl with pigtails leaned over. “Can I draw a dinosaur too?” she asked, her green eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Sure!” Robby replied, thrilled that she wanted to join in. “I can show you how to draw one if you want.”

The girl smiled and introduced herself. “I’m Mia. What’s your favorite dinosaur?”

“Velociraptor!” Robby repeated, feeling even more confident now that he was sharing his passion. He quickly sketched one for her, explaining the details as he went.

By the end of the art session, Robby had not only finished his name tag, which he proudly displayed with a colourful dinosaur motif, but he had also made a couple of new friends in the process.

As lunch approached, Robby felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness again. He had made friends during art, but he still wasn’t sure where to sit.

“Are you going to sit with us at lunch?” Matt asked as they packed up their art supplies.

“Yeah, definitely!” Robby replied, feeling relieved that Matt had asked.

In the cafeteria, the atmosphere buzzed with energy. The long rows of tables were filled with laughter and chatter, and Robby could see some kids waving to him as he walked in with Matt and Mia.

“Over here!” a boy called, waving from a table near the middle of the room. Robby recognised him as one of the kids who had played soccer with them.

“Let’s go!” Matt said, leading the way. They settled down at the table, and soon Robby found himself sharing stories about his favourite games and cartoons with the group.

“Did you see the new episode of ‘Dino Adventures’ last night?” one of the boys asked.

“Yes!” Robby exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. “I can’t believe the T-Rex almost got caught by the Nanotyrannus!”

The conversation flowed easily, and as Robby munched on his peanut butter and jelly sandwich, he felt a warmth spread in his chest. The nervousness that had engulfed him earlier that morning faded away.

“Hey, I'm having some friends over next week. Do you want to come round to mine and play video games?” Matt asked, looking right at Robby.

Robby’s heart skipped a beat. “Really? That sounds awesome!” he replied, unable to hide his excitement.

“Brilliant! I'll ask my parents to send yours the address,” Matt said, giving Robby a thumbs-up.

As lunch came to an end, Robby couldn’t help but smile. He had faced his fears, made new friends, and even been invited to play after school. When the lunch bell rang, he stood up with the others, feeling lighter and more confident than he ever had before.

**

Daniel's POV

Daniel had been making lunch in the kitchen. With only three classes to teach that day, he'd gone home early, but not before picking Sam up from school.

“Today was so much fun! I made loads of friends!” Sam had said, grinning when he collected her.

“I’m so proud of you,” Daniel had replied, lifting her into his arms before securing her in the car seat.

Now, Daniel was cooking Fettuccine Alfredo, halfway through preparing the sauce when Johnny and Robby walked in. Wiping his hands and turning off the stove, he greeted them.

“Hey, boys,” he greeted them.

“Hi, Dad!” Robby responded brightly.

“How was school?”

Robby beamed. “It was great! I made some friends, and one of them invited me to their house next week.”

Daniel’s heart swelled with pride. “That’s brilliant! Lunch will be ready in a few minutes, why don’t you go get changed?”

“Okay!” Robby said, nodding before running off.

Once Robby had left, Daniel and Johnny exchanged a glance. Daniel moved closer, wrapping his arms around Johnny’s neck, and Johnny instinctively pulled Daniel into his embrace.

“I’m so proud of them—our kids,” Daniel said softly.

“Our kids,” Johnny repeated, shaking his head in disbelief. “It still feels crazy to think about.”

“We built all this together, Johnny, and I couldn’t have asked for a better person to share it with,” Daniel added with a smile.

"Me too, my sunshine," Johnny murmured, and they leaned in, moving towards each other until their lips met softly in the middle. The kiss was gentle and slow, as though they had all the time in the world to enjoy this intimate moment. The warmth of their mouths connected, and they savoured the sweetness of each other, feeling the world around them fade away. As they lost themselves in the kiss, it quickly transformed into something more passionate, igniting a fire within them both. Johnny’s hand moved to Daniel's chin, lifting it gently to deepen the kiss, his lips exploring Daniel’s with an eager urgency.

But then, a soft buzzing interrupted their bliss. Daniel hesitated, pulling back slightly to discern the source of the noise, while Johnny, reluctant to break the moment, trailed kisses down Daniel's neck, planting soft, lingering pecks that turned into gentle nibbles. The sensation sent waves of pleasure through Daniel, prompting a low moan to escape his lips.

After a moment of searching, Daniel realised the sound was coming from Johnny’s pocket. “Love, someone’s calling you,” he whispered, breathless from the teasing kisses.

“I’ll call them back later,” Johnny replied, his voice thick with desire, as he bit down on Daniel's neck a little harder, drawing another groan from him.

Daniel gently pushed Johnny away, his cheeks flushed. “We can pick this up later; just answer your phone.”

Johnny sighed deeply, his lips swollen and a tempting shade of red from their kisses. “You’re no fun,” he pouted, though a hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth. He reached into his pocket to retrieve his phone, answering it reluctantly while still stealing glances at Daniel, already anticipating the moment they could continue their passionate exchange.

“Who is it?” Daniel whispered to Johnny.

“Sid’s caregiver,” Johnny replied softly.

Although Daniel couldn't hear the conversation on the other end, he could tell from Johnny's expression that it was not good news. Suddenly, Johnny’s eyes widened in shock, his eyebrows shooting up and his mouth falling open in disbelief.

“Yeah, alright, I’ll be there. Thanks,” Johnny said before ending the call.

“What happened?” Daniel pressed, concern etched across his face.

Johnny remained silent for a moment, struggling to find the words. Then he finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Sid's dead…”

————————————————————

Author's Note!

Hello, my dears! I truly hope you enjoyed this chapter. I wanted to let you know that the upcoming chapters are going to be quite intense, filled with a fair share of angst and emotional turmoil. I apologise in advance for the rollercoaster of feelings you might experience, but I assure you, it will all be worth it! So, please stay tuned; there’s much more to come, and I can’t wait to share it with you!