Chapter Text
SATURDAY, APRIL 4
“Peter, honey, have you packed the picnic blanket already?”
Peter spit his toothpaste in the sink, wiping the foam from his mouth with a towel. “Yes, mom! It’s already in the car!”
“Thank you sweetie!”
Peter smiled before walking back into his bedroom, filling up his backpack. He wouldn’t need much for a short trip to the park but he always did like to be prepared. His camera, a couple of books for Lisa in case she got bored, Frankie’s Nintendo Switch, and a few other odds and ends. Lisa and Frankie could keep themselves entertained well enough but Peter liked to play it safe. With their dad’s return from deployment, he doubted they would need many distractions.
Since Dad’s return, Lisa and Frank Jr hardly left his side, chatting his ear off about their neighbor Ms. Martinez’s new dog, Sophie, and could we get a dog Dad, pleaseeee, and just about everything that had happened in his long absence. Peter could tell that his dad was happy to be home and see them all but there was a tiredness that never quite seemed to leave him.
When Peter saw that their dad was overwhelmed by Lisa and Frankie’s chatter or their demands for a new household pet he would always jump in with a Well, Lis, I think we should get a turtle instead, why don’t you come help me look up what kind would be best? or Frankie, you never told me about Malia’s birthday party, how come Dad gets to hear all about it and not me? He could tell that Dad sometimes needed a break from the noise and he got it, really, he just wished he could have a second alone with the man sometimes. He missed him too.
“Quit pulling my hair! I’m not giving you my waffles!” Peter could hear Lisa’s annoyed shriek from the kitchen.
“Frankie, please stop bothering your sister. You already had breakfast.” His mother’s tone was exasperated and Peter rolled his eyes as he imagined Frankie’s pouting face, no doubt smeared with maple syrup from his own waffles.
Just as he finished zipping his backpack, there was a quiet knock on his door frame. Peter spun around to see his dad leaning on the door jamb, eyes crinkled with a small smile on his lips.
“You almost ready to head out? You look like you’re packin’ for a week kiddo. We’re only gonna be there a couple hours.”
Peter chuckled, slipping his backpack onto his shoulders. “With those two, I gotta pack something to keep ‘em entertained, otherwise Mom might just go crazy. Besides, I wanted to bring my camera today anyway, try to get some good shots of all of us together. It’s been a while.”
“That’s sweet of you, kid. Thanks for helping out your mom.” Dad’s smile fell off his lips. “I know it’s been a while since I’ve been home. But I talked with your mom this morning and I think this was the last time. I’ve missed so much, I wanna stay and see you grow up before you head off to college.”
Peter's eyes prickled with tears, but he could feel a watery smile spreading across his face. “Really? You’re gonna come home for good?” It almost felt too good to be true, like he couldn’t trust it.
“Yeah, kiddo, for good.” He took a couple steps and ruffled Peter’s hair before bringing him into a tight hug. “So don’t worry about taking too many pictures today, alright? We’ve got all the time in the world, I just wanna catch up with you. I’ve heard all about your brother and sister, but I know you’ve got stuff to tell me too.”
All the time in the world. That sounded incredible to Peter. He slipped out of his dad’s arms and gave him another smile. “Sure, Dad. How about we go downstairs and help Mom save Lisa’s waffles from the hungry, hungry hippo I call a brother?”
Dad let out a loud laugh at that, the first one Peter had heard since he’d come home. “Yeah, kiddo, let’s get going. If he eats anymore of those he’ll definitely be puking them back up on the carousel later.”
Peter grimaced at that gross mental image. Frankie had better make sure to aim away from him if he did that, he’d just gotten these shoes a couple of weeks ago. He followed Dad out of the room and shut the door behind them, traipsing down the stairs to the sight of Lisa staring Frankie down like a cowboy from the Wild West.
“Alright, you two. We’re gonna be late if we don’t get a move on. Do you really wanna get to the park at rush hour and have to wait half an hour for the carousel?”
“Peterrrr,” Frankie whined, “I’m still hungry and Lisa won’t share! Sharing is caring, that’s what you always say!”
“Frankie I know for a fact that Mom already gave you your own waffles this morning so Lisa doesn’t have to share hers with you. Plus, I’ve got snacks packed in my backpack and there’ll be plenty of food to choose from in Central Park. Get your shoes on in the next minute or I won’t share my M&M’s with you later.”
“M&M’s?!” Frankie gasped, before shooting away from the table to find his shoes. Peter suppressed a laugh at the sight of Frankie sliding into the front hallway on his sock feet.
“Thank you, Petey!” Lisa grinned up at him from her spot at the table. She had maple syrup smeared across one cheek and an unfinished braid running down her back, no doubt abandoned by his mother when she had to stop Frankie from stealing his sister’s breakfast.
“Thank you for the help, Peter.” His mom gave him a quick smile before turning to Lisa. “Alright missy, are you gonna let me finish your hair now? Peter’s right, if we don’t get going we’re gonna miss the best time for the carousel.”
“Yes, Mom,” Lisa sighed, turning back to her waffles. Peter cringed as she poured more syrup on them before stabbing a chunk with her fork and stuffing it into her mouth.
“Jeez, little lady,” Frank remarked from his spot behind Peter, “You’re gonna have a sugar crash after eating all that syrup.”
“Be sure not to give her any M&M’s,” he whispered to Peter. Peter gave a tiny nod, his eyes still on Lisa’s drowned breakfast.
Soon enough, Frankie had his shoes on (and tied! all by himself!), Lisa's braid was secured with a hair tie, and his parents were ushering them all out the door. As Peter climbed into the backseat, sitting between his two bickering siblings, he couldn’t help the smile that grew on his face. Today was the first park visit of many to come, and he couldn’t wait for his dad to finally be home. For good.