The Moretti household was a whirlwind of giggles, babbles, and chaos. It had been a few months since Leo began giggling, and now, the little boy was a force to be reckoned with. His laughter was infectious, a sweet sound that made even the most stressful moments feel lighter.
However, Dante was quickly realizing that with two kids-one a spirited toddler and the other an adorable troublemaker-life was never dull.
The Day Begins with a Bang
“Papa! Leo is awake!” Amara’s excited voice rang through the house.
Dante groaned, running a hand over his face. It was barely seven in the morning, and Amara was already on a mission.
“Alright, bambina, I’m coming,” Dante called out, pushing himself out of bed.
Isla stirred beside him, her eyes still closed. “Your children, Dante. Handle them.”
He chuckled, leaning down to kiss her cheek. “Our children, amore. But don’t worry, I’ve got this.”
When Dante reached the nursery, he found Amara standing on a stool, peering into Leo’s crib. Leo was wide awake, giggling as he reached for his sister.
“Careful, Amara,” Dante said, quickly lifting her off the stool. “You’ll fall.”
“But Papa, Leo wanted me to wake him up!” she protested, her arms crossed.
“Leo’s just happy to see you,” Dante said, scooping his son into his arms. The baby immediately grabbed Dante’s nose, laughing as if it were the funniest thing in the world.
“You’re a little troublemaker already, aren’t you?” Dante said, kissing Leo’s chubby cheeks.
Amara pouted. “Papa, I’m not a troublemaker.”
Dante raised an eyebrow. “Really? Who spilled juice all over the couch yesterday?”
Amara looked down, her cheeks turning pink. “It was an accident,” she mumbled.
Breakfast Bedlam
Downstairs, Isla was preparing breakfast when Dante walked in with the kids. Amara was already chattering about her plans for the day, while Leo babbled nonsense in response.
“I think they’re plotting something,” Dante said, placing Leo in his highchair.
Isla laughed, turning to face him. “With you as their father, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
As Isla served pancakes, Amara decided she wanted to “help” feed Leo. She took a tiny piece of pancake and held it up to her brother.
“Here, Leo! Say ‘aaaah.'”
Leo opened his mouth, but instead of eating, he grabbed the pancake and squished it between his fingers, giggling uncontrollably.
“Leo! You’re making a mess!” Amara exclaimed, though she couldn’t help but laugh.
Dante shook his head, smirking. “Like I said, troublemakers.”
When Amara attempted to clean Leo’s face with a napkin, he grabbed it and threw it on the floor. This made Amara laugh even harder, which only encouraged Leo to continue his antics.
“Dante,” Isla said, her tone amused yet exasperated, “can you please get these two under control?”
“On it,” Dante said, scooping Leo out of the highchair and tickling him. “You’re too mischievous for your own good, piccolo.”
Leo’s laughter echoed through the kitchen, blending with Amara’s giggles.
After breakfast, the family moved to the living room. Dante thought it would be a good idea to play with both kids to give Isla a break.
“Alright, bambina,” he said, setting Leo down on a soft play mat. “Let’s build a tower for Leo.”
Amara nodded enthusiastically, grabbing her box of colorful blocks. Together, they started stacking the blocks, with Leo watching intently.
“Look, Leo!” Amara said, placing the final block on top. “We made a tall tower!”
Before anyone could react, Leo reached out with his tiny hand and knocked the tower over, laughing hysterically.
“Leo!” Amara shrieked, though she couldn’t stay mad at her baby brother for long. “You’re so naughty!”
Dante laughed, pulling both kids into his arms. “You two are going to give me gray hair before my time.”
As if to prove his point, Amara suddenly decided she wanted to ride on Dante’s back. “Horsey, Papa! Be a horsey!”
Dante groaned playfully. “You’re getting heavier, bambina. I might need a real horse soon.”
Undeterred, Amara climbed onto his back, giggling as Dante crawled around the living room. Leo clapped his hands, clearly enjoying the show.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about you, piccolo,” Dante said, scooping Leo up and placing him on his chest. “Double trouble now.”
Hearing the commotion, Isla walked into the living room and raised an eyebrow. Dante was lying on the floor with Amara on his back and Leo on his chest, both kids giggling uncontrollably.
“Looks like I’m missing all the fun,” Isla said, leaning against the doorframe.
“Come join us,” Dante said, holding out a hand.
Isla laughed, sitting down beside them. “You three are a handful.”
Amara slid off Dante’s back and crawled into Isla’s lap. “Mama, we’re playing horsey! You should ride Papa too!”
Dante feigned offense. “Excuse me, but I’m not a professional horse.”
Isla smirked. “You’re not? Could’ve fooled me.”
With that, she leaned down to kiss him. Amara made a face, covering her eyes. “Ew, Mama! No kissing!”
Dante laughed, pulling Isla closer. “Sorry, bambina, but your mama’s too beautiful to resist.”
Leo, not wanting to be left out, babbled loudly and reached for Isla. She picked him up, kissing his forehead. “You’re just as handsome as your Papa, aren’t you?”
Dante smirked. “Well, he is my son.”
As the day went on, the house remained a lively mix of laughter and chaos. Amara tried teaching Leo how to crawl, though he was more interested in chewing on his toys. Dante chased the kids around the house, pretending to be a monster, while Isla watched with an amused smile.
By bedtime, everyone was exhausted. Isla tucked Amara into bed, kissing her forehead. “Goodnight, my little star.”
“Goodnight, Mama. Goodnight, Papa,” Amara said, yawning.
In the nursery, Dante rocked Leo to sleep, humming softly. The baby stared up at him with big, curious eyes before finally drifting off.
When Dante returned to their bedroom, Isla was already in bed, waiting for him. “Today was… a lot,” she said, smiling.
Dante chuckled, climbing into bed beside her. “But it was perfect.”
As they lay together, the soft sound of their children’s breathing filled the house. Despite the chaos and exhaustion, Dante wouldn’t trade this life for anything.