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Sue emerged from her shared bedroom a short while later, the faint scent of talcum powder trailed after her, and a lanky bundle. Reed, freshly changed and marginally more awake was cradled in her arms.
His eyes still half-lidded, he blinked slowly, taking in the familiar living room with renewed, albeit drowsy, interest. Gone was the fussiness, replaced with that soft and curious post-nap calm.
When the two settled back onto the couch, Sue pulled the book she had placed beneath her arm before they had walked back.
《Busy Bee》, a post-nap favourite for its simple plot and bold illustrations, the perfect combination for a little scientist.
Sue arranged Reed comfortably in the curve of her lap so he could see the book.
"Alright my little scientist," she murmured, her voice a warm hum as she opened the book, "Let's see what our buzzy friend is up to today."
She turned to the first page, her voice a soothing narration as she pointed out the yellow winged blob that lay on an oversized flower, "See the bee? Pete the bee sleeps!"
Reed's eyes, still heavily-lidded focused with infantile intrigue. A soft, interested sound escaped as he clumsily patted at the laminated page where the sleeping bee lived.
Just below sat Johnny on the plush carpet, each hand holding an action figure. He casted an upward glance at two on the couch, "Pff, babies," he said under his breath as the figure in his left hand took a dive bomb into the pillow beside him, "Lookin' at dumb bees. Cool kids fight giant robots!" He added, having his other figure perform aerial loops, accompanied by whooshing sounds.
Sue turned the page, "Pete the bee saw his friend, Puck the duck!" she narrated, tracing her finger over the cheerful duck.
Reed cooed, his fingers patting becoming more enthusiastic as he saw the little bee flying close to the duck.
The whooshing sounds from Johnny faltered slightly. His eyes flicked back up at the colourful book. He scooted his toy battle a couple of inches closer to the couch.
"Flying robots are way cooler than ducks," Johnny declared, although, his voice lacked the usual conviction.
His toy landed on the second throw pillow, "Way cooler."
Sue hummed, a knowing smile hidden as she turned his head back to the book. She flipped to the next page.
"Look Reed, Puck wants Pete to take a swim with him!"
The illustrated lake sparkled from the embossed foil. Reed let out a delighted gasp at the new tactical. He babbled happily, stringing nonsensical syllables and sounds as he investigated the page, pointing at the bee and the water.
The action figures were now long since forgotten as Johnny pivoted his attention until he was fully facing the couch. His chin rested on the edge of the cushion as the foil glittered in the lamp that shone over them.
"Shiny," Johnny murmured to himself. Then, catching himself he added, "But not as shiny as Galaxtor's armor. Obviously."
Sue bit back a chuckle before continuing with the story, "Puck the duck and Pete the bee decided for the bee with swim they needed to find a bee sized boat!"
"But boats don't come in that size!" Johnny interjected, "If they don't find a bee boat Pete will get all wet!"
Sue reached down and smoothed Johnny's hair, "And here I thought 'Bee book was dumb' and playing was more fun?"
Johnny pouted slightly but leaned into the touch, "Well that was before they tried to go swimming! Now it's like, a mission!"
The older of the Storm siblings just chuckled lightly, her gaze going over to the bundle that was her husband who she cradled on her lap. His face nestled against the crook of her neck, soft puffs of air escaping past his lips, his eyes fully closed, those thick lashes occasionally fluttering from the gentle shifts in Sue's movements.
"Huh, looks like our busy bee is heading back to the hive for a rest," Sue said as she closed the book with a soft thump.
Johnny's head jerked up. His chin slipping off the couch cushion as he blinked. He looked from the closed book, then to the sleeping Reed and then to Sue.
A soft, frustrated huff escaped past his lips. It wasn't loud but a huff of pure and unadulterated disappointment from a child who had been engrossed in the fantasy.
"But!" Johnny whispered unable to stop himself, "he didn't see what Puck and Pete did! He didn't find out if they got to do swimming!" His bottom lip jutted out in a pout Johnny couldn't quite suppress, "He fell asleep before it ended!"
Sue pressed her lips together to attempt to hide her amusement at Johnny's apparent investment in the story.
"He did miss the end, didn't he?" Sue said, rubbing the back of her sleeping husband, "guess the journey to the lake was just too exhausting for him. Nap time called him a bit louder than the storyline."
Johnny slumped back to the floor, arms crossing over his chest as he glanced over at Reed before looking back at his forgotten action figures.
"Babies," he huffed as he picked up one of the figures, "Always fallin' asleep when things get good," he said as he lifted the figure in a loop-de-loop, "Means I'll never get to know how that bee got to swim."
Sue looked at her pouting brother for a moment before gently shifting Reed to balance on one thigh before patting her other.
"Well, how about this? Why don't we finish the story then, when Reed wakes up you can tell him how it ended," Sue suggested, holding the book at Johnny's level, "With your own Johnny twist."
That pout instantly vanished as Johnny climbed onto the couch, nestling himself close to Sue as she re-opened the book. With a small flick of her fingers, the book floated with a translucent blue so that Sue could wrap her free arm around her little brother.
"Now, lets see how Puck and Pete figure this out."
Johnny laid his head against Sue, not seated on her lap like Reed but he nestled close nonetheless. Soaking in the warmth of her voice as the story continued.
Sue smiled as she looked down. Reed, fast asleep, little hands curling and gripping at her blouse, and Johnny, wild blues staring intensely at the pages of the book.
Calm and serene, sharing a moment with her two boys. Sue wouldn't have it any other way.