Baby Blue

Disclaimer: No money is being made; Lord knows I could use it for daycare expenses. The characters belong to Pet Fly, although this story concept is mine.

To Monica and her pesky persistence and Aaron for his inspiring antics. I love you both more than you’ll ever know. This story started out as a teaser in an IM when my sister kept whining about wanting a story that revolved around the song “Baby Blue.” Before I knew it I had a finished story on my hands and a little sissy begging me to post. She even went so far as to clean up the IM and send it to me via e-mail. (Pushy brat.) After a little fluffing and editing it was ready. Pardon any mistakes, as I don’t have a beta. The miss-spelled words in Blair’s speech are meant to be that way. It’s hard trying to write in baby speak. (g) Most of the happenings in my baby Blair stories are true occurrences in my daily life. This holds true with the happenings in the following story…. everything that is except for singing “Baby Blue”…I lean more toward “Hush a bye.”

Two little blue eyes glistened brightly; full of mischief and mirth as Jim lathered the thick auburn locks with a rich, scented soap. Blair began to relax in the warm bath, and Jim knew that it would be just a matter of time before his little bundle of energy would be snoozing. Quickly, with a practiced hand, Jim rinsed the foam from the tangled curls, and conditioned the silky locks to prevent further tangles. Blair cooed and splashed in the water, as little hands repeatedly sank his rubber ducky. Jim grinned at Blair's persistence and determination.

Finally bath time was over and the little one stood shivering slightly, singing, “Shake, shake, shake, shake your bootie”, as Jim let the water out of the tub, before bundling the little imp in a plush oversized towel. The older man shook his head at his son’s antics of shaking his bottom as he sang the oldie. /// Where does he pick up this stuff? /// He silently wondered.

"Me cowd daddy." The little one whined, his bottom lip trembling.

"I'll just bet. I'll have you dried off pretty quick then it's bed time."

"Fust one cookie." Blair held up one finger.

Jim smiled at the tradition the little one had started. One cookie, a glass of milk, and then off to bed. "Yes, one cookie before bed."

Jim briskly rubbed Blair's hair dry, careful not to frizz the natural ringlets that adorned his son's head. Muffled beneath the towel, Jim heard the words that never failed to melt the older man's heart. "Me luff you daddy."

"I love you too you little monkey."

Chubby hands pulled the towel away from his face, blue eyes narrowed at his father. "Me not a monkey, me a woof."

"A wolf."

"Yep, me said that." Blair stated with a matter of fact tone.

Jim grinned. Ever since the special on wolves that the Discovery Channel aired, Blair had been obsessed with the fearless beasts.

"Me don't wike shawks daddy." Shaking his head, Blair was always so animated when he spoke. His body seemed to have a language of it’s own.

Jim arched a brow wondering where this conversation was heading and also wondering if he should stop letting Blair watch so much of the nature channel. "Why is that?" He asked drying little feet that twitched with the effort.

"Day bites me feet off."

"Oh." What could he say to that kind of logic? "Yeah, I guess they could."

"Woofs don't. Day is gooood."

"Mmmmm." Jim nodded, slipping the superman t-shirt over Blair's head.

"Day howl."

"Really? How do they sound?" /// This should be good, /// the older man thought while helping his son on with his shorts.

"Day does dis." Blair got on his knees on all fours and held his head back. A high-pitched little howl filled the small room.

Jim couldn't hold back the laugh that filled him.

Seeing his father’s amusement as a form of approval, Blair let another little howl go.

"Okay Lobo, let's go and get a cookie before you wake the neighbors."

"Me a woof." Blair stated in a low menacing voice as he crawled out of the bathroom and into the kitchen, watching Jim place a cookie and glass of milk on the table with keen eyes. "Me a good woof, not a bad woof. Woofs like cookies." Blair licked his lips noisily as he pulled himself up into his chair, damp curls bobbing and eyes dancing with glee in anticipation of his nightly treat.

"Eat your cookie, it's past bed time." Jim reminded his son in a patient tone.

Blair frowned. "Me hate my bed." Then continued to take the cookie apart and lick at the filling, just like dad had taught him to do.

"Too bad, soooooo sad." Jim stated in a teasing voice.

Blair twisted around in his seat to face his father; chocolate cookie circled his mouth. "Me stayin’ up,” he informed.

"I don't think so, you have school tomorrow."

"Me hate scwoool." Jim rolled his eyes.... this conversation, like the cookies, had become a nightly ritual as well.

Blair smacked on his cookie and slurped his milk, then looked at his father. "Me wanna stay up wiff you." A mighty yawn escaped his mouth.

"Well, we’ll talk about it."

This seemed to satisfy the little one as he finished up his cookie.

By the time the last drop of milk was slurped from the glass, Blair's eyelids were drooping and another yawn escaped. "Yep…me stayin’ up. We watch Stawgate."

"Stargate?"

"Yep, me said dat. We watch stawgate and the agiens. They got weapons....pow, pow." Another yawn and little fists rubbed at sleepy eyes. "Eat some popcorn tooo." Yawn “It's good fowe me. Nummy for me tummy." Yawn.

Jim grinned at Blair's attempt to postpone bedtime. He walked around the table and scooped the drifting bundle up into strong, secure arms.

"Me wikes Jack...." Blair continued.

"Sshhhhhhh," Jim tried to shush him

Blair laid his head on Jim's shoulder. "Teal'c tooo."

Jim grinned. "Shhhhhhh"

"Not the agiens...day're bad." "Hush." Jim began walking through the loft, occasionally pacing back and forth in front of the balcony windows while gently swaying with Blair hoping the motion would put the little one into a light doze.

"Dannel`s not bad…he’s good.” Came a soft whisper.

Jim rolled his eyes. "Baby, baby blue.... baby blue eyes I'm loving you..." Jim sang softly, trying his best to remember the words to the old Beach Boy’s tune. His voice rich and deep, and saved for special moments like this.

“All alone in bed at night, feel the pull of a lonely day. Thoughts like music starts to play, I wonder where you were today. Baby, baby blue, baby blues eyes I dream of you.”

Blair sighed, becoming still and feeling very much like a dead weight. Jim smiled knowing that as usual, the song was working.

“Late at night when the whole worlds sleeping, I dream of you.”

Blair’s breathing evened out, becoming slow and deep.

“Close to you I feel your sweet heart beating, I dream of you. Late at night, late at night, honey late at night, I dream of you.”

Jim made his way carefully to the small room that sat beneath his own. The former storage room had been transformed into a nursery that any little boy would love. Shelves lined the walls, filled with Beanies, Cherished Teddies and Boyds, while others were filled with books, cars and other what-knots. A border decorated the upper wall, a sports motif with soccer balls, baseballs, footballs and basketballs. A juvenile “car” bed sat in the far corner. The small bed reminded Jim of an old Corvair his uncle once owned, but figured the bed was supposed to resemble a sportier vehicle.

Jim continued to sing as he entered the room, careful not to trip on the toys strewn about on the floor. /// We will definitely have to have some house rules as you get older./// “Baby, baby blue, baby blue eyes I'm loving you. I'll hold you in my dreams tonight, hold you till the morning light.” One handed he pulled down the covers, then gently laid Blair among the various animals that served as his protectors during the night, and his best pals during the day.

Blue eyes fluttered for a moment. "Me luffs you daddy. Sing sum mowe." Then the little eyes closed and a smile drifted over the elfin features as Jim began to sing again.

“Baby, baby blue. Baby blue eyes I'm loving you..... Baby, baby blue…..”

When the song was finished, Jim brushed the hair away from Blair’s face, delivering a soft kiss to the boy’s forehead. "I love you too pumpkin." With one final look at his son, Jim turned out the light on another day and another adventure.

The End