BEEP BEEP BEEP

There's no better way to wake up then to that god-awful sound of an alarm clock. The blaring sound that rips you away from your blissful sleep just so you can get up and slave away at work for 8 hours then slave away at home until it's finally time to go back to sleep only to repeat it the next day.

That's how I felt 3 years ago at least. I got a promotion and a raise at work, and now I have two reasons to want to get up in the morning.

I sighed as I rolled over and turned off the alarm. 5:30 it read. I stretched out my tired limbs before throwing the blankets to the side and getting out of bed. I stifled a yawn as I stumbled over to my closet and grabbed a pair of underwear then made my way out into the hallway. Flipping on the lights as I went. I went to the second door down and stepped into the bathroom. I flipped on the white LED lights and blinked a few times as my eyes adjusted. I dropped my clean underwear on the counter before stripping out of my pajama bottoms and stepping into the shower.

Once I was clean and had my boxers on, I toweled dried my hair the best I could, brushed my teeth then attempted to style the thick wavy black mess on top of my head.

Five minutes later, I left the bathroom and strode over to the bedroom door between mine and the bathroom. I raised my hand and tapped my knuckles on the against the white door. "Time to get up, monsters!" I called than headed back into my room for a second to grab a pair of sweatpants.

Then I headed downstairs to get breakfast ready. I decided that since today was a special day, I'd make the kids some pancakes.

About ten minutes later I heard footsteps make their way down the stair and a few seconds later Lily came around the corner, dressed and ready to go to school.

"Morning!" She said in a chipper voice. Lily walked into the kitchen and stood on her tip-toes so she could get down three glasses from the cabinet and set them on the counter. Then proceed to get the carton of milk out and fill all three cups and set them over on the island. After putting the milk back in the fridge, she hopped up in one of the barstools and took a sip of the drink sitting in front of her. Setting the glass down, Lily leaned forward and put her elbows on the table while narrowing her eyes at me. "You know it's Monday, so, why are you making pancakes?" She asked me.

I chuckled. "Since today is Sam's first day of Kindergarten I was hoping this would cheer him up a bit," I explained. Lilly nodded in understanding.

"Good luck with that," She giggled. "Sam said he wasn't getting up when I woke him up."

I sighed as I turned to flip the pancakes in the skillet. Sam was not excited about his first day of school in the slightest. For weeks he had been telling me he was not going to go.

I scooped the pancakes out onto a plate, turned off the stove and set them on the counter. "Save one for your brother. I'll be back." I told Lily. She nodded as she stuffed her mouth with a piece of syrup-soaked pancake.

I took the stair two at a time and paused at the kid's bedroom door and made a bet with myself on whether it was locked or not. I rolled my eyes when I tried to turn the nob. Of course, it was locked. The boy never learned. I reached up and felt around the top of the door frame for the key.

Unlocking the door, I swung it open and heard a thump as it hit the Chester draws behind it. "Samual James you had better get your butt out of bed right now," I ordered in a light tone. I quickly scanned the room for the boy. Lily's bed was made, and Sam's had a moving lump under the covers. "Sam," I sighed. "We talked about this. You have to go to school all the other kids."

"No!" Came a muffled reply. "I'm not goin'."

I let out a huff and strolled over the twin sized bed. The five-year-old had to have the same bed as his big sister. I climb over the small form under the blankets and promptly laid down. Squishing the stubborn boy in the process. Sam let out a string of grunts and squeals as I pulled the blankets back and growled and snarled into his neck while tickling the poor boy's armpits. Sam screamed and laughed as he tried desperately to get away from me. Sam managed to roll over onto his back and grab both my hands. He held onto my fingers for dear life, trying to keep them away from him. I leaned back and looked down at the boy. His blonde hair was a complete mess; his face was red, but he had a big grin on his face.

"Bad, Nick! No!" He scolded me, out of breath.

I dropped my jaw and gasp at him. "Me! You're the one that won't get out of bed!" I leaned down again and rubbed my nose into his neck with a growl. Sam laughed and yelled at me to stop while trying to move his head to protect his ticklish stops. In his struggle to stop me from tickling his neck, Sam let go of my hands, and I took the opportunity to attack his sides and knees.

It was truly unfortunate the boy was ticklish everywhere.

Sam was really screaming now. His high pitched laughter made my ears ring, but I stilled laughed as well. When I finally stopped Sam was curled up on his side with his back to me. His hands were tucked protectively under his arms, his ear was firmly pressed to his shoulder, and he was panting like he had just run a mile. I draped my arm over him and pressed my nose to the back of his neck with a grin. Sam let out an anticipating squeak and tried to roll his head back to keep me from tickling him. "No! Stop it!" I let out a low playful growl. "Nick!" Sam laughed.

I laughed and kissed the side of his head. "Okay." As soon as I gave the sign that I was done torturing him, Sam relaxed and rolled over to hug my arm.

"Bad Nick!" He scolded me with a swift smack on my hand. I raised my hand and position my fingers like I was going to ticking him again, and Sam squealed. He giggled as he rolled onto his side and hid against my chest. I chuckled and shook my head at him. I rubbed his back a few times before hugging him tightly.

After a quick kiss on top of his head, I tapped Sams butt. "Alright squirt, time for you to get ready for school," I ordered as I climbed over him to get off the bed. I stretched my arms above my head with a yawn. When I turned around Sam was pulling the blankets back over his head. "Oh no, you don't!" I snatched the covers off and grabbed Sam's arm to hoist him out of bed.

"No!" Sam screamed and tried to jerk his arm from my grip.

"Sam, come on." I sighed. I knelt down to the little boys level and grabbed both of his arms to make him look at me. And boy did he look at me. Sam looked up at me with those big, blue, watery puppy dog eyes. His bottom lip stuck out and quivering. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Don't even try that shit on me. You are going to school whether you like it or not!" the irritation was starting to lace my voice.

"Pwease Nick. Don't make me go!" He said in such a choked up voice I felt a pang in my chest. The crocodile tears were on the brink of falling. I needed to be strong though.

“Samuel, you have too. Why don’t you want to go?” I asked. “You learn to read and write and do math so that hopefully in the future you can file your taxes correctly.” Cause God knows what a fucking hassle Taxes are.

Sam crossed his little arms with a huff and jutted his lower lip out more. The tears were falling now. “I don’t wanna go,” He sniffled.

Raising an eyebrow, I pulled out my ace. “Not even if you got pancakes?”

Those Ocean blue eyes grew wide as Sam looked at me, his mouth hanging open. “Pancakes?”

“Yup.”

Sam looked around his room a minute then the cheeky little thing had the nerve to say, “I want ice cream too.” Funny how the tears dry up and he starts negotiating.

I glared at the little boy for a moment before giving in. “Fine. Get dressed, and you can have pancakes and ice cream for breakfast.”

Sam threw his hands in the air with a triumphant "Yay!" and ran over to the Chester drawers to pull out some clothes. I smiled and shook my head at him.

"Hurry up, or Lily might eat your share of the pancakes," I told him as I left.

"No!" I laughed at Sam's distressed cry.