Who: Jonathon, Quentin & Quentin’s son, Teddy What: Making homemade pizza, Future Kid Plot Where: Their home When: August 17th (backdated for future kids plot) Warnings: None Status: Completed Gdoc
Though Jonathon had seen Teddy, he'd not been properly introduced. Today was going to change that. The three of them were going to make homemade pizza for dinner and he was looking forward to it. Quentin had been spending all his time with his son as he should. The man practically glowed and almost always had a smile. He was so happy for him and wished his son could stay forever. He worried how Quentin would be when he left. He would be there for him though in whatever way he needed him.
Johnathon arrived home from work and looked all around seeing no sign of anyone.. "Quentin? I'm home!" He called out.
Quentin had taken Teddy with him to the grocery store before that day, but it was always an adventure with the boy. He was used to watching his daddy & papa tending the garden for their food, or on trading for things in the market. Just being able to go to a single location with everything they could possibly need was, as far as the boy could tell, one of the best things ever about this place. He helped Quentin pick out the best veggies, except for the yucky mushrooms, and asked (begged) for a toy because he saw one that he wanted. Quentin could never tell his son no, so as they made their way home, Teddy was dragging his new little wagon with one of the bags in it. “See, daddy? I can help too!”
By the time Jonathon walked into the house Teddy was standing on a stool with one of Quentin’s old shirts over his clothes like an apron. They were in the process of shredding the cheese. “In the kitchen!” Quentin called out but kept his attention on those tender little fingers so close to the dangerously sharp edges of the grater. “Be careful, Teddy…” He looked up when he heard footsteps and smiled. “Hey you. We’re just making sure all the toppings are ready to go before we get the dough rolled out.” He nodded over to the plastic covered bowl on the counter. “I have it over there resting and getting up to room temperature. We were just waiting for you to get home.”
“Well, don’t you two look all busy,” he smiled brushing past Quentin to stand beside Teddy. “I love cheese. Make sure to shred some extra for my pizza.” He was adorable, the apple of Quentin’s eye. Just being near the man he could feel an enormous vibe of happiness that he wasn’t sure he’d ever really seen on Quentin. “Guess what I have for dessert Teddy?” He smiled again and went to grab the container he’d sat on the counter the day before. “Ta-dah! Cookies!” Teddy’s eyes went wide and he stopped shredding the cheese. “Can I have one now?” That smile killed him. “You have to ask your daddy about that.” Though he was pretty sure Quentin would say no.
“What do you need me to do? Do you want me to start rolling out the dough?”
It was so hard for him to say to Teddy, but it was dinner time and that was a whole different set of rules. He shook his head at the question in those big, puppy eyes. He’d thankfully had years of practice at this game. “You know better than that, young man.” He softened his words with a smile. “We’re about to start making the pizza anyway, but after dinner you can have a cookie. Okay?” As expected, cue the extra sad and pleading puppy eyes, but Quentin stood firm on his no cookies before dinner stance. Teddy sighed and pouted just slightly as he returned to his job of shredding the cheese. He had to make sure there was plenty for Mr. Jonafen’s pizza.
Quentin watched his son as he got back to his job and then looked up at Jonathon. “I was thinking we could split it into thirds, and every one can pick their own toppings for each one. ” He turned his eyes back to watching Teddy as he continued to speak. “Or split it in thirds and put two of them back together into one pizza for us grumps to share. What do you think?”
There it was. The kind no and Teddy pouting more with his big puppy dog eyes. It was a good thing he wasn't in charge because he'd have trouble saying no to that face. "Milk and cookies sound perfect for dessert though." He leaned down close to Teddy, voice dropping a little. "Maybe I can talk your daddy into letting you have two cookies." Teddy nodded vigorously, smiling wide. Jonathon looked up at Quentin and winked at him.
"I think thirds and then combining to make ours sounds like a plan." He went to get the dough and split it up then grabbed the rolling pin and some flour. "You and Teddy can use the rolling pin." Jonathon went to the cabinets and opened the one where the glasses were kept. He found a glass one and brought it to the counter. "I learned this from my mom when our rolling pin broke once." He pressed out the dough, sprinkled some flour on it and the glass then began rolling it out. "That marinara sauce smells so good. I can't wait for us to dig into the lasagna I got tomorrow."
“You can try to talk me into it.” He chuckled and shook his head. He could already tell that he would lose if those two decided to gang up on him. Saying no to one set of puppy eyes was one thing, but two? He wasn’t sure if he was strong enough for that. He wasn’t sure there was anyone alive who was strong enough for that.
“Or we can… before he could suggest they take turns with the rolling pin, Jonathon was getting out a glass. Quentin and Teddy both watched him and Quentin smiled. “Well that’s one way to do it.” He would never have thought about using a glass instead of a rolling pin. Teddy just watched him with the glass while Q got the last of their toppings out. Everything had bee sliced and things that needed cooking had been cooked and were in bowls ready to be used. He got his son’s attention again and then set about getting Teddy’s little pizza rolled out. HE let the boy do it himself, he just helped enough to keep it more or less round shaped and he put the sauce on because that was too easy to mess up. “Okay, just remember you can’t put too much cheese or the dough won’t cook all the way through.”
Once Teddy’s pizza was rolled out and topped Teddy hopped off his little stool and pushed it over to where Mr. Jonafen was working on the adults’ pizza. “Can I help, Mr Jonafen?”
Jonathon kept glancing over at Teddy as he made his pizza. He looked so happy and watching Quentin help was a definite family picture moment, so he did just that. He wiped his hand on a dish towel then took out his phone and snapped a couple of pictures before setting it aside. He had the dough all rolled out and then rounded it. Perfect. He was about to reach for the sauce to add it when Teddy pushed over his stool and asked if he could help. It was the cutest thing ever and being called Mr. Jonafen just melted his heart.
"Of course you can help. Give just a few seconds." Jonathon spooned the sauce onto the dough. "You hold the spoon and we'll spread the sauce on together, okay?" Teddy nodded and once he had the spoon Jonathon put his hand over Teddy's and together they made sure sauce was covering every inch of the dough. "Good job, Teddy," he beamed. "Now let's add the cheese." Honestly, this was so much fun and Jonathon could get used to it. "That's the cheese done, but now your daddy gets to add the onions and mushrooms because we don't want our hands to stink like smelly onions, do we?" Teddy shook his head. "Noooo, we don't. You get to put on the stinky onions daddy!" He announced, turning to look at him.
Quentin pretended not to notice when their pictures were taken, but for at least one of them he was looking directly at Jonathon’s phone making a silly face. He couldn’t help it. He was having one of the best days he’d had since he found himself in Madison. Come to think of it, every day that Teddy was there had been his best days since arriving in Madison. He was hoping that whatever power brought the boy into his life would let him stay. Just the thought of losing him hurt so much Quentin pretended it wouldn’t be happening ever.
Once they had Teddy’s pizza done he made sure the oven was preheating then turned to watch Teddy helping Jonathon. Ok. THAT Was the cutest thing he’d seen in a very long time and it was his turn to take pictures of the adorable pair. He rolled his eyes and pulled the mushrooms and onions over beside the adults’ pizza. “That’s why you use a spoon, silly boy!” He booped his son’s nose then did exactly that. He used a spoon to get them spread out, not because they were smelly onions, but it was just easier that way as far as he was concerned. Onions first, then mushrooms and then the pancetta. “And now a bit more cheese…” He spread the cheese over the toppings then moved their pizza over beside Teddy’s. “Okay, we’re gonna have to put the big one in for a few minutes before putting the bigger one in.” He put theirs in first then set the timer. He washed his hands then looked over at Jonathon while he was drying them. “How about you guys go get the trays set up in the living room so we can eat in there while we watch our movie?”
“Look at you using a spoon.” Jonathan laughed then turned to Teddy. “Looks like we’ve been given a job…let’s go!” He picked the boy up and flew him like an airplane over to where the trays were kept. Teddy laughed and giggled before he was set down. Jonathan got the trays out, handing one to Teddy to carry back to the counter. Together they added napkins to each one and sat paper plates on the counter. Carefully and keeping an eye on the one Teddy was carrying they made their way to the living room and sat the trays on the table.
He airplaned Teddy back to the kitchen. “What does everyone want to drink?” He walked over to Quentin and spoke quietly in his ear. “Can I have a beer, dad or do I have to keep it rated G?” He chuckled and resisted kissing Q by stepping away.
Watching the two of them together made Quentin wish that things could have been different with Eliot. Not because he particularly wanted the man around, that particular ship had sailed and he was not calling it back. But for Teddy’s sake. He knew as much fun as Teddy was having with Jonathon, he would have loved to have his Papa around too. It would have to be in addition to, not instead of as far as Q was concerned. While they got the trays together with plates and napkins he got out a couple of glasses for him and Jonathon, and the lidded cup he’d bought for Teddy. Not a sippy cup. The boy was well past that, but a lid and a straw were a good idea.
He grinned and leaned into Jonathon a bit then laughed at the question. “You can have one beer, and if you’re a really good boy you have another after the movie.” He leaned into the kiss then stepped away when the timer went off. “Careful, baby, the oven is very hot.” He waited to make sure Teddy was not close enough to get hurt when he opened it then took a moment to turn their pizza around and then put Teddy’s in reset the timer. “I’m gonna give them another ten minutes, then check them.”
"Something to look forward to," Jonathon grinned. He picked Teddy up then walked over to Quentin. "Daddy looks like he needs a hug." Teddy was handed over and wrapped his little arms around Q's neck. Jonathon moved to start cleaning things up, putting things in the dishwasher and fridge then wiping off the counters. All the while he kept sneaking glances at father and son.
The timer on the oven went off and Jonathon went for the pizza cutter then took the pizza's out, slicing them up and adding some to each plate. He carried those into the living room and put them on the trays. Coming back into the kitchen he grabbed a beer and some extra napkins. "Let's go, boys. I'm hungry and I'm excited about watching the movie." And spending time with his two favorite guys. They settled onto the couch with Teddy between then started the movie. "You better keep an eye on your pizza, Teddy. Your daddy might try to steal some of it," he teased, chuckling. "I'll share, Mr. Jonafen, with you and daddy." That completely melted Jonathon's heart and he couldn't help leaning over to drop a kiss on top of his head. "You're very nice, but I think we'll be okay. Remember we have cookies for dessert." That made Teddy smile brightly as the movie started and they all dug into their pizza.