The Ticklish Brotherhood - 2. Catching Up

Beams of soft moonlight shined on twenty-five-year-old Mikey and twenty-nine-year-old Dakota as they peacefully slept in each other's loving embrace. The young men's slightly hairy, slender, muscle-toned legs were entwined, and their bare feet were positioned in a combination of upturned wrinkled soles and on their sides with the arches resting on the cloud-like mattress.

"Mmm, morning, my beautiful Warrior angel," Dakota said. His voice was thick with early morning rasp.

"Good morning, Indian boy," Mikey greeted. He rolled to the side, kissed his husband's dimpled cheek, sat up, yawned, and stretched.

The still groggy brunette slid his feet into the size nine slippers beside the bed, then shuffled into the bathroom. He heard the mumbles and soft grunts of his half Cherokee, half Irish soulmate following close behind as Dakota’s size twelve slipper-clad feet padded across the burgundy, blue, cream, and black colored oriental rug, and light-colored hardwood floor it covered. After relieving themselves, the men turned the light off and climbed back into bed.

"Pale-faced husband's son will arrive soon," Dakota said with a smirk as he playfully used the broken English that accompanies the stereotype of Native Americans.

Mikey giggled and said, "When pale-faced child visits at dawn, he's the brave Cherokee Warrior's boy."

The half-Indian gasped and squirmed when the younger brunette's middle fingertip traced the edge of his deep belly button crevice. "Mikey, no fair," Dakota whined childishly.

"Sorry, babe, you're just too sexy when that deep voice of yours becomes light and giggly," Mikey teased.

The ticklish man softly growled as his fingers pressed into and kneaded along his mate's rib cage. Instantly, high-pitched squealing laughter echoed off the walls, and the former tickler was pinned down and enjoying the ticklish retaliation. After agreeing to an undefined, temporary truce, the husbands shared a loving kiss, and their heads were once more on the pillows to get a little more sleep before their boy came to wake them up again.

An hour and a half later, the sunlight's first golden amber rays shined into the bedroom's floor-to-ceiling windows, filtered by the gently rustling leaves of the mature oak, creating abstract shapes of shadow and light that danced along and illuminated the pale yellow master suite's walls.

The door slowly opened, and a smiling boy looked around the room with bright hazel-colored eyes full of curiousness. The blonde-haired nine-and-a-half-year-old, dressed in Superman-decorated pj's and matching socks, tiptoed over the threshold and crept slowly toward the king-sized bed. His hand covered his mouth to try and muffle the giggles threatening to escape as the youth got closer to his intended destination.

Mickey's index fingers slowly inched towards the pair of soft, bare soles, plump toes, and curved arches facing him. One finger lightly tickled the pinkish pad of Mikey's big toe, and the other finger stroked along Dakota's light tan big toe. The boy's eyes widened and sparkled with playful mischief as he softly snickered. He loved feet and found it intriguing to watch the twitching toes.

Keeping their faces out of the boy's line of sight, Mikey and Dakota shared a subtle and quick nose nuzzle. The pair grinned at each other as they silently told each other not to snicker or giggle before closing their eyes again. Over the past two years, this morning ritual had become their new norm since adopting Mickey. The doting fathers loved it and enjoyed the endless joy of indulging the youngster's fun.

The tip of the almost ten-year-old's tongue rested on the end of his upper lip when he gazed at his sleeping Dads to see if they were awakened. After seeing no noticeable movement, Mickey lightly tickled the balls of the men's bare feet. His breathing slowed and became shallower as the tingling excitement filled his body when the two feet wiggled, and twenty toes wiggled and scrunched. Mikey and Dakota worked hard not to giggle yet, especially when they heard the soft giggles from their son. Neither of them had found a way to completely resist giggling when he did.

The playful mischief maker knew he was teetering on the edge of getting away with his endeavor and his Dads waking up and capturing him before he could escape. Despite the danger of being caught, the boy launched the longest, most pronounced tickling of the morning so far. He put his arm around Mikey's ankle and Dakota's ankle, his fingernails switched between lightly and rapidly, strumming up and down the entire length of both soles.

The room erupted in Mikey's and Dakota's boisterous tickle-induced laughter as the blended sound bounced off the walls. Ten toes flexed and uncurled, which caused the two arches to wrinkle and smooth out. "Warrior boy's gonna get it," they hollered in unison.

Mickey squealed and laughed as he turned and ran for the door. He was two steps away when Dakota's arms scooped him up and flung him, wiggling, screeching over his broad shoulder.

"Hope little warrior boy had fun now warrior Dads' have tickle fun," Dakota said and chuckled.

Mickey screeched as he was lightly body-slammed on the mattress. He tried to roll onto his stomach and escape, but Mikey pinned him down, blew raspberries on his neck, and tickled his pit hollows. His high-pitched squealing laughter filled the bedroom. They increased in volume when his ankles were trapped in the crook of Dakota's arm, and his sock-clad feet and toes were treated to a slow tickling.

"You're cheating, Daddies," the blonde boy hollered.

"Little warrior boy asked for it," Mikey said.

The tickling lasted another few minutes before Mickey was placed across both his Dads' laps and received their loving hugs and kisses, which he eagerly reciprocated. Dakota sat his son on his husband's lap and kissed the boy's forehead. He kissed Mikey's cheek, slid into his slippers, and headed downstairs to the kitchen, where he started making breakfast.

"Did you sleep well, baby boy," Mikey asked as he wrapped his arms around the giggling boy and rocked them back and forth.

"Yep, and Wolfie kept me safe as always," Mickey said, referring to his rainbow-colored stuffed wolf. He got the stuffed animal when he was adopted as a Christmas present from Lance.

Mikey giggled and laid his chin on the boy's shoulder. "I'm glad Uncle Lance got him for you. Wolfie's been an awesome watch wolf."

Mickey leaned back against his Dad's chest and closed his eyes when Mikey's slender fingers lightly stroked his blonde locks.

"I love it when you and Daddy do that."

"We know, my brave warrior boy," Mikey said and kissed the youth's cheek.

Mickey wrapped his arms and legs around his Dad's neck and waist and was carried into the bathroom. When they finished, Mikey gave the boy a piggyback ride and tickled the wiggling pair of feet as their boyish giggles floated through the house. Once the father/son pair reached the kitchen, Mikey bent his knees, the blonde-haired boy jumped down, then skipped over to Dakota, wrapping his arms around the proudly smiling man.

"Daddy, Daddy tickled my feet all the way from the bedroom," Mickey fake whined.

"I heard, my brave little warrior. Just like I heard both of you giggling and having fun," Dakota said as he lifted the boy in his arms and cuddled him.

Mikey closed his eyes and journeyed through the happy memories of his Dads, Grandpas, and Uncles doing the same thing with him and his brothers.

"I can feel your heart overflowing, my beautiful husband," Dakota whispered as he softly kissed the slightly younger man's cheek.

Tears dripped down his cheeks as Mikey smiled and nodded. "It's because of the love that's always surrounded the family. I couldn't imagine not having it, and even before meeting the Giovanni side of our family, the Dads always gave me and Adam as much love as they could."

"Now you've shared that shining beacon of love with me and our boy, and it's made me the proudest man alive, my sweet angel boy."

The two men's arms wrapped around their waists and pulled each other into a loving, passionate embrace. Their eyes glistened with unshed tears as the powerful love-filled energy passed through them and around the room. Their left and right arms moved in sync as their fingers gently stroked soft cheeks, and slowly, their lips inched toward and connected in a warm kiss that launched fireworks in their closed eyes. The need to breathe caused the pair to finally separate after almost two minutes of lip lock.

"I love you," Dakota and Mikey whispered in unison.

"Umm, Daddies, can we get back to what's really important, ya know, like feeding the absolutely adorable and starving Mickey?"

The men turned to face their giggling boy. Mikey grabbed their son and threw him over his shoulder. Dakota trapped his kicking legs and tickled the kid's feet. Mickey's squealing laughter flowed from his lips, and a minute later, he surrendered.

After he was back on his feet, the blonde boy gathered the silverware and placed them on the table, then did the same with the plates when his Dad handed them to him. Mikey fixed a cup of coffee for him and his husband, then poured a glass of grape juice for Mickey and set them on the table. Once Dakota served the hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs with cheese, sausage patties, and toast, he sat and ate with his boys.

"Don't forget, I'll be later than usual coming home," Mickey said.

"You're working on the science project with Corey a couple blocks over, right," Dakota asked.

"No, Dad, that's tomorrow. I've got rehearsal for the choir this afternoon."

"We can't wait to watch you guys," Mikey said with pride in his eyes.

"The collective parental unit called," Dakota offered. "They're enjoying the six-month cruise around the world we all went in on to give them for Christmas last year."

“That’s awesome, they deserved the vacation.” Mikey smiled and said, "Adam called."

"How are my Uncles and Cousin?"

"Your Uncles Adam and Jai are loving DC. They're very close to getting the real estate office up and running. Your cousin Michael Anthony's growing like crazy and getting into everything," Mikey and Dakota chuckled. "Uncle Lance is swamped with his classes at law school and working for Senator Halstrom."

"I miss my little bros and nephew," Dakota said. "I can't believe it's been almost a year since they left."

Mikey grinned. "Are you boys ready to meet the Giovanni Clan side of the family?"

"What?" Dakota and Mickey asked in unison as they dropped their forks.

Mikey burst out laughing, then pulled out his phone and explained what happened while showing his husband and son the sleep text with Anthony.

Dakota shook his head and smiled. "So, I'm gonna finally meet the Amazing Antboy."

"Yep, as well as Pappy Tony," Mikey said, still giggling.

Mickey grinned like the Cheshire Cat and asked. "How do you know it's a boy ant?"

Mikey and Dakota shook their heads laughing, then kissed the giggly boy.

"Alright, funny Warrior Boy, time to get dressed so I can take you to school, then get to Barefoot," Dakota said.

"Oh, that reminds me," Mikey said as he rinsed off the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. "Ty's coming back next week. He misses us and being at the lake."

Dakota whooped and hollered as he lifted Mikey off the floor, spinning them in a circle. "That's awesome, Angel Boy."

Mikey giggled and kissed his boyish mate. "I love you, Kota-Bear."

"I love you too, my beautiful Warrior Angel."

"Do you two ever spend time apart when I'm not in the room?"

Mickey laughed and ran back upstairs with his Dads right behind him.