Life As He Knew It (Open)

"Okay," Randy said, already falling asleep. "I love you, baby," he said quietly.

John smiled softly. "Love you too." He whispered before falling asleep himself to Randy's voice. He wasn't going to smoke. He love his family too much.

Five years later...

"Please?" Gianna begged.
"No." John groaned, rubbing his temples.
"Pretty please?" The five year old pleaded.
"No, Gianna. Randy, tell your daughter she's not giving me a haircut." He said, looking up at Randy. He remember five years ago when Gianna was born... those were the easy days. On the bright side, John barely aged at all. Gianna had eyes like John's, and his lips. Her hair texture and size was liek John's, but everything else was all Randy.
As much as he loved his daughter, she was not cutting his precious, silky, dark locks...

"John, just let her cut your hair. It'll grow back," Randy replied, siding with his daughter much like he had since she started talking.

John looked at him incredulously. "She's not cutting my hair! She can brush it, she can touch it, but she's not cutting it. You spoil her way too much..." He muttered.

"You say no to her too much. Stop being a pussy and let her cut your hair," Randy said, crossing his arms.

John let his draw drop. Did Randy really call him a pussy because she wouldn't let Gianna cut his hair. He frowned, feeling a little hurt before getting up and going into the kitchen to cook dinner.

Randy frowned, getting up to go apologize but Gianna stopped him.
"Daddy, whats a pussy?" she asked.
"Thats a bad word, baby. Daddy apologizes for saying it. Promise me you wont say it," he said.
"I promise, Daddy," she said, not wanting to disappoint her Daddy.
Randy picked up Gianna. "Lets go apologize to Mommy. I hurt his feelings," he said and walked into the kitchen.

John glanced up Randy but continued cooking. He saw Gianna hop out of Randy's arms and run up to John's leg, wrapping her arms around it as she looked up at him. "We're sorry for hurting you feelings, Mommy. Will you forgive us?" Gianna said, pouting. John sighed, bending down and kissing her head. "You have nothing to apologize for, sweetie. I love you." He said before going back to stirring whatever was in the pot on the stove, still a little hurt at what Randy said. Randy never sided with him, and Gianna was going to grow up a spoiled brat if this kept going.

Randy walked up to John, wrapping his arms around his waist and kissing his neck gently. "Im sorry," he mumbled against his neck. He didnt mean to hurt Johns feelings but sometimes he was too much of a hard ass. It was just hair.

John turned around to face Randy. "No you're not, Randy. Sorry implies you won't do it again. You take her side on everything. That's not good. Because when she's grown up, she's gonna think that she can have whatever she wants without a cost. Cutting my hair, Randy? You aren't supposed to give five year olds scissors. She could hurt herself, or me with them, dumbass." He muttered the last part quietly so Gianna wouldn't hear.

Randy sighed. "Fine, John," he said before letting go of him and walking over to the tale and sitting down, leaning back and stretching his legs, crossing his arms and glaring at the table.

John rolled his eyes. "I take care of two kids in this house." He muttered. He finished, and turned off the stove to let the food cool down before he went over, sitting in Randy's lap. "C'mon, I don't wanna fight." He said, kissing Randy's jaw.

"I dont either. But you couldnt just accept my apology," Randy said, still glaring at the table.

John sighed. "And this is why. Every time I try and talk to you, you walk away and sulk." He said. "I just don't understand why you can't say no to her once and a while."

"Because nobody likes the word no and I dont like being the bad guy," Randy said.

John sighed. "You won't be the bad guy. She'll understand. Watch." He said before looking at Gianna.
"Gianna?" He called.
Gianna looked up from where she was playing with the dogs. "Yes Mommy?"
"I'm sorry sweetie, but you can't cut my hair. You can't use scissors." He said.
Gianna pouted for a moment but nodded. "Okay Mommy. Can I brush Dalton and Carlisle?" She asked hopefully.
John smiled. "Of course you can, sweetie." He said before turning back to Randy. "See, she doesn't look at me as the bad guy. She won't stop loving you because you say no, Randy." He said.

"I dont like saying no," Randy grumbled. "Gianna, baby, be careful with Dalton. Last time you were too rough and hurt him."
"Okay, Daddy," she replied, smiling brightly as she brushed Carlisle.

John sighed. "Remember when you had to tell me no to shopping? I was mad, but I still loved you. And you remember when you had to force me to eat, and I was crying?" He asked. "That was living hell but I still loved you. If you say no, that little girl is still gonna love you unconditionally. But if you keep saying yes, she'll start taking advantage of you. And one day, when you can't give her what she wants, it'll hurt twice as much because you've given her everything else. You gotta say no, Randy. I know it sucks, but you have to." He sighed.

Randy sighed and bit his lip, knowing John was right. "I know," he said quietly.

John smiled softly and kisses Randy. "From now on, at least try and be a little more strict. She'll understand. She's a smart girl." He said with a smile.

Randy nodded. "Im not very hungry. Im gonna go lay down," he said, kissing John before getting up and walking upstairs.

John sighed before he finished making dinner.
Gianna sat at the table. "Why isn't Daddy eating with us?"
John set her plate of food in front of her and kissed her head. "Daddy's just tired." He said, before sitting next to her to eat while Gianna ate as well.

Randy sighed as he stripped to his boxers and laid down. He didnt want John to know but his HIV hadbeen affecting him a lot lately. He was exhausted and had barely been eating.

When he and Gianna finished eating, John cleaned up, put her in her pajamas and put a movie on for her before he went up to his and Randy's room, laying down next to his husband. He pulled Randy to his chest, kissing his temple. "You okay, baby? You haven't been eating lately." He said softly.

Randy nodded. "Yeah, Im fine. Just havent really been hungry," he mumbled tiredly, half asleep.