#First Steps | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

lyn31 · 1 month ago

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First Steps

Summary

You and Zayne witness your children’s first steps unfold in a chaos of love, laughter, and sibling-led fanfare.

Ao3 link

My Masterlist ✨

Notes

Pairing: Zayne x MC/Reader More focus on family, family fluff, domestic fluff, banter, chaos, just all around cute children!

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Evening settles gently over the house, casting the living room in amber tones and soft shadows. Zayne has just come home not long ago, his tie now draped over the arm of the couch, his sleeves rolled past his elbows as he finishes drying his hands in the bathroom.

Dinner lingers warm in your stomach, Serena fed and giggly, her soft hair a little tousled from the way she kept leaning against your shoulder mid-bite—like she couldn’t decide whether to eat or cuddle.

Now, you’re curled up on the rug with her, flicking through channels absently while she babbles at the TV, half-interested in the changing lights and sounds. You smile, leaning back on your elbow, the remote warm in your palm. When you glance away from the screen to check on her—

She’s standing.

Not new. Not shocking. She’s been doing that a lot lately, pulling herself up with that proud, wobbly little grin like she knows she’s doing something big. But this time there’s no couch, no support, no hand clinging to yours.

Just Serena, standing alone. Arms slightly lifted for balance. Eyes on you. Brows furrowed like she’s solving a puzzle with her whole body.

Then—she takes a step.

You blink. “Zayne,” you call, eyes still on her. “Darling—husband!” You quickly soften your voice when Serena blinks at the sudden shout, but the urgency stays. “Come here—quick!”

Hurries footsteps carry over from the hallway after the sound of the water shutting off, and then he rounds the corner, towel still in hand, and follows your line of sight. “What’s wrong—”

She’s walking. Slowly, carefully, like she’s moving through honey. Arms out, little knees bending too much, but she’s doing it. One step. Another. The tiniest wobble.

Zayne stops beside you, eyes wide. He looks like someone just took the ground out from under him.

You nudge his leg, still staring at her. “Zayne, sit down—come here.”

He lowers himself to the rug without a word, stunned into silence. You shift, arms outstretched toward Serena. “Come on, sweetie,” you coax, voice gentle and bright. “Come to Mummy.”

Zayne echoes softly, like he’s afraid to break the moment. “Come to Mummy and Daddy, Serena.”

She beams at your voices, as if your encouragement wraps around her like a safety net. Her steps are clumsy, her balance barely there—but she keeps going. One foot. Another. A tiny stumble, a frown. You don’t even realize you’re holding your breath until—

She falls right into your arms.

The cheer you and Zayne let out in unison is loud enough to startle her for half a second—but then her eyes crinkle, and she grins so wide it takes up her whole face. You gather her up with a laugh, kissing her cheek over and over as she squeals.

Zayne leans in, brushing his fingers through her hair, voice low and full of wonder. “She walked. She really walked.”

“She did,” you murmur, pressing Serena close. “Right to us.”

And in the warm evening quiet, with your daughter in your lap and Zayne at your side, it feels like the world just tilted slightly more into place.

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Sunday mornings are slower now.

The kind of slow where sunlight pools over the hardwood floors, warm and golden, and the living room looks like a cozy battlefield of toys, cushions, and small victories. You’re sitting against the couch with Zayne, his shoulder against yours, your phone lazily balanced in your hand while he has his book open in his.

Serena’s nearby on the rug, focused and serious as she helps Callum stack pastel-colored blocks into an unsteady tower. Lucas, as usual, has other ideas—already halfway across the room on all fours, on a determined mission to god-knows-where.

You track him with one eye, about to call out, but before you can say a word, Serena scrambles after him with surprising speed.

“Lucas!” she calls. “You are not permitted to leave your post!”

Zayne raises an eyebrow. “Post?”

“She’s been watching that fantasy cartoon again,” you murmur, amused. “The one with the little knight and the stuck-up noble? She’s both now.”

“I see,” Zayne says softly, eyes flicking from his daughter to the crawling baby. “Impressive range.”

Serena catches Lucas just as he reaches the hallway, her hands scooping under his belly to gently lift him back. She’s stronger than she looks, and careful too, even when Lucas protests with wild baby babbles and flailing limbs.

But even so, Lucas is not one to give up, so when he’s about to topple both of them, Zayne moves to help, but Serena holds out her palm, like a stop sign.

“Father,” Serena announces, holding Lucas like he’s a squirming kitten, “I got this.”

You snort behind your hand.

Zayne blinks, stunned into silence. Then he nods solemnly. “Carry on, Lady Serena.”

Lucas lets out a long string of gibberish that sounds vaguely offended. She gently redirects him toward Callum, who is now looking up from the tower with a furrowed brow like he’s not sure whether this is part of the game or a threat to his structural masterpiece.

Lucas locks eyes with his brother, suddenly still. Then he babbles again—louder this time. High-pitched and emphatic, like a declaration of something very important and very urgent.

Callum answers back in kind, equally nonsensical, their baby language bouncing between them in rising tones. Serena watches them both—half fascinated, half concerned.

Then—Lucas screams.

An actual shriek, arms flung out, and one tiny hand smacks right across Serena’s cheek.

“Ow!” she cries, stumbling back a step. Not truly hurt, just shocked.

You and Zayne both move at once, but Callum beats you to it—he lets out his own battle cry and stands. Wobbly but determined, like someone just flipped a switch.

He points at Lucas dramatically, as if delivering a verdict. Lucas freezes for half a second, guilt and confusion chasing each other across his face. But then, seeing Callum upright, he does the same—rising slowly, legs stiff, arms out.

And they walk.

Not toward you. Not toward Serena. But toward each other.

Tiny, uncertain steps. Stumbling. Teetering. The air is thick with silence and barely restrained laughter as you and Zayne watch, Serena standing off to the side, wide-eyed and rubbing her cheek.

“They’re… walking to duel?” you whisper.

“Seems like it,” Zayne murmurs.

You smile softly, leaning into him. “Our boys. Always dramatic.”

Zayne hums in agreement, his breath cool against your head.

They meet in the middle, nearly nose-to-nose, sway for a moment—

And then simultaneously reach out to pinch each other’s cheeks.

Soft squeals and giggles fill the room, and you let out a breathless laugh, leaning into Zayne’s shoulder.

“Well,” you say, eyes shining, “that’s how our boys take their first steps.”

Zayne hums, smiling faintly. “As long as they don’t take their second steps into war.”

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The house is alive in that usual early evening way—voices down the hall, a door opening, the quiet buzz of homework music leaking from Serena’s room. You and Zayne are in the kitchen, debating cookies versus fruit, when somewhere from the living room comes a faint—

“HOPE?! Wait—HOPE!!”

You freeze mid-step, breath caught.

Zayne halts mid-peel, the mango half-peeled in his hands. “Was that Lucas?”

You barely nod before the sound of quick footsteps fades, followed by—

“CALLUM! SHE’S WALKING! I NEED BACKUP!”

You blink. “She’s what?!”

Zayne drops the mango.

Back in the living room, Hope stands in the middle of the floor, wobbly but beaming, her tiny fingers fluttering in the air like she’s holding invisible reins. Lucas circles her in tight loops, hands fluttering like he’s afraid to touch her and ruin it.

“Stay there! Don’t move! Wait—move a little—but carefully!”

A thump from the hall—then Callum stumbles in, one sock on, holding a juice box like it’s sacred. “What did you do?!”

“I didn’t do anything! She did it on her own!” Lucas gasps. “Get Sis! Get Mom and Dad! Leave your phone here—I’m gonna film it!”

Callum thrusts the juice box into Lucas’s hand, bolts, then doubles back to hand him his phone before sprinting toward the kitchen.

And then Hope walks. Just one step, but it lands like thunder.

Lucas shrieks, nearly vibrating with joy. “YES! Good job! You’re doing amazing, Hopey—” He circles wildly. “Wait for everyone! WAIT FOR—”

He suddenly claps a hand over his mouth, as if just realizing he might’ve startled her—but Hope only giggles, eyes locked on her big brother.

She’s too delighted to stop. She takes another step, then one more—arms up, laughter spilling out with every wobbly bounce. Each tiny footfall louder than the last.

Serena bursts in, breathless, pencil still behind her ear and eyes wide. “Is she—?!”

“She’s WALKING!” Lucas yells. “Callum’s getting Mom and Dad—someone cheer or something!”

“She’s not a dog, Lucas!”

Hope wobbles and plops down on her diaper, still giggling.

You and Zayne make it with Callum in tow—just in time to see her push back up to her feet again, determination written all over her face.

You both freeze in place, breath held, memory bleeding in.

Zayne’s hand brushes yours, then lingers—fingers tangling loosely.

“She really about to walk,” he murmurs, voice low with something like wonder.

You glance at him, your smile soft. “Time flies, huh.”

Then, toward the kids. “Did we miss it?”

“No!” Lucas and Serena shout at once. “She’s gonna do it again!”

Lucas frantically shoves the phone into your hands. “Record! Mom, Record! I forgot to do it! Go! Quick, she’s gonna do it again!”

You’re laughing too hard to respond, but you hit record anyway, just as Hope steadies herself and starts walking toward Serena, her little feet slapping against the floor with every precious step.

Serena crouches low, steady, like Hope’s own lighthouse. “Come on, Hope! That’s it, little star—”

Callum skids into place beside Serena, holding out a handful of cereal as a bribe. “Hope, you want this?! Come and get it!”

Hope changes direction with a squeal. While Serena sighs. “One of these days, she’s going to bite one of you.”

Somehow, Lucas is holding a blanket now, sweeping it before her like she’s royalty. He gasps, “Let her through! Royal baby on the move!”

Zayne leans into your side, watching the chaos unfold as Hope toddles into her siblings’ arms, her laughter rising with theirs.

“Did the others ever have this many cheerleaders?” he murmurs, eyes still on them.

“Nope,” you murmur. “But I think she’s enjoying the audience.”

And she is—because of course the baby of the family learns to walk surrounded by love, laughter, and a full production team of siblings ready to replay the video a hundred times.

In this house, every step—no matter how small—always leads back to love.

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Notes

Omg I was trying to find on where I put the last line where it say something like "Serene and Hope" and I was gonna be like "Look guys I plan it since back here!" But I forgot which fic that is 🥹 I thought it was in Little Surprise, but it’s not... Just know, I was thinking about it very carefully, lol. The forgetful part is inevitable... Here's the series list if you want to read more about Husband/Dad Zayne! Parenthood AU list ✨ EDIT: I found it… It's in the It'll be okay technically it's not in the main timeline but I thought it's like a cheeky little thing I can slip in to because I already decide their children from the start already ahahaha

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