Valentine's day was coming up, and Shouyou was excited. At every store he went to, he would run to the closest display of Valentine's cards and thoroughly investigate each one, making up words for what he saw written but could not read.

"This one says, 'Happy Va'entine's day, Daddy'! And this one says, 'Happy Va'entine's day, Tobio'! And this one says, 'Happy Va'entine's day, Kenma'! And this one says-"

Koushi was eventually able to pull Shouyou away from the cards and toward the aisles that held the items on his list, listening as Shouyou explained his designs for Valentine's day cards for all his friends.

"Kenma's will be... hmm... Red! 'cause Kenma likes red! And maybe purple too and yellow 'cause he likes those colors too! And Kageyama will have a blue one! And Noya-san will get a purple one too! With stars 'cause he's the coolest!"

Nishinoya Yuu was the newest addition to Shouyou's group of friends. Being 16, Shouyou thought he was the coolest thing since sliced bread, and had taken to calling him 'Noya-san'. Koushi had found Nishinoya from an ad for baby sitting, and it had taken all of one visit for Shouyou to be hooked. It was lucky that he lived only a few streets down from them; Koushi would have almost felt bad calling him as often as he did if he lived farther away.

At Shouyou's insistence, they took one more stop at the craft area before heading to the check out, basket full. Shouyou also insisted on helping put things onto the conveyor belt, and watched closely as each item was scanned and put into a bag. Koushi, knowing Shouyou didn't like being left out, handed him the lightest bag to carry out to the car. Then they began their journey home.

Making Valentine's day cards, Shouyou decided, was 'funner' with friends, and he demanded that Tobio and Kenma be brought over to help with their creation.

And so they did. Kenma arrived first, Tadashi tagging along behind him timidly as they walked into the house. Tsukishima was the one that brought them, saying that Kuroo was back at the house overrun with homework for his college classes. Daichi and Koushi both sent their sympathies, images their own university days flashing before their eyes. Koushi opened up his kitchen and coffee pot to Tsukishima, and offered to make tea for Daichi, knowing that he prefered something weaker to drink. Daichi and Tsukishima then settled into the couch in the livingroom as Koushi got everything ready.

Shouyou was talking rapidly to Kenma and Tadashi; Kenma looked nearly bored, eyeing the nearby idle TV, and Tadashi looking like he wanted to talk, but didn't want to interrupt Shouyou.

"Shou," Daichi said, gaining all three children's attention. "How about we get the paper and colors out and you guys can start making your cards?" Shouyou's eyes sparkled, as did Tadashi's, and even Kenma looked to be more excited than before. Daichi stood up again and headed to the kitchen. On the counter lay the bags from the store, and Daichi grabbed them, pecking Koushi on the cheek and asking if he needed any help and receiving a very pleased no before returning to the living room.

Shouyou rushed to Daichi the moment he came back, jumping and pulling at the bags. Daichi let him take them, and Shouyou, giggling fiercely, established the ground as his and dumped everything onto it. Daichi internally sighed, not that he didn't know it would happen.

The three kids crowded around the goods, and Shouyou began to organize everything, making piles for paper and coloring utensils and a cautiously bought bottle of gold stars. They weren't small enough to get everywhere, thankfully, but Daichi still watched suspiciously as the bottle was set into its own category.

Koushi came in then, holding a tray with two cups of dark brown coffee and one with a lighter tea. Daichi took his cup and sipped, watching Tsukishima add sugar to his coffee before taking a long drink.

"So Tsukishima," Koushi said after tasting his own coffee. "What do you and Kuroo have planned for Valentine's day?"

Tsukishima on instinct looked over at Kenma and Tadashi as Shouyou laughed loudly, pulling Tadashi in for a hug. His expression softened. "We haven't set anything up yet, since his schedule's been hectic." His voice changed then to a more teasing tone. "What about you two? Calling a sitter for the evening?"

Daichi didn't even have to look at Tsukishima to see the smirk on his face.

"We're being the children watchers this year," Koushi said. "so that all you guys can go off and have a romantic night to yourselves without paying a sitter."

"In return," Daichi added. "We get one ourselves while Shou spends the night at Tobio's."

Shouyou, having heard the name, looked over excitedly. "When will Tobio get here?" he asked, running over and planting his hands firmly onto Daichi's legs, looking him straight in the eye. Koushi laughed.

"He should be here soon," As soon as Koushi said that, the doorbell rang, and Shouyou screamed before racing to the door. Daichi let out a breath, somewhere between a sigh and a laugh, as he stood and followed the ball of energy he called his son. By the time he got there the door was already wide open and Shou was letting them in. Daichi greeted Iwaizumi while the shorter two went to the living room, Shouyou once again speaking at the speed of light.

"I wish I had that kind of energy," Iwaizumi said, and Daichi laughed, agreeing. He offered a seat and something to drink, but Iwaizumi turned it down.

"I'm gonna have to pass. Tooru hasn't been sleeping well lately and he's off at work right now, so I want to get in a few hours. What time do you want me to pick up Tobio?" Daichi listened as Tadashi gave out a squeak and three distinct peals of giggles followed.

"Whenever works for you. Shou won't care if he's here for a while, I'm sure. You and Oikawa can join us for dinner if you guys aren't up to cooking."

"Yeah, I think we will." Iwaizumi said. He told Daichi when Tooru got off work, and Daichi replied with what time to come. As he was leaving, Tobio raced in from the living room, giving Iwaizumi a tight hug before rejoining the other kids. Then Iwaizumi, smile on his face, left. Daichi rejoined the other adults in the living room. He watched fondly as Shouyou explained the rules to everyone, that "the paper goes here", and "the markers go there", and that "if you need s... scissor we ask daddy." Koushi held up a hand, indicating himself as 'daddy'.

"I'll help you guys with the cutting." he said. "Don't worry, I'm a professional paper cutter so I won't mess up." Daichi snorted at the doubtful look Kenma gave Koushi. Shou, in contrast, stood proud.

"Yeah! Daddy's great at everything!" Shouyou's eyes sparkled, and Tadashi looked at him in awe. Tobio didn't seem to be paying attention, invested in finding the perfect marker, and he dumped the box over so they rolled out over the hardwood. He grabbed his prey with one hand and settled down by the coffee table to draw his masterpiece.

Kenma did the same, acquiring a box of crayons from one of the piles and choosing a sheet of yellow paper. He carefully folded it into one big side and one small side (read: half). Tadashi immediately went over to Koushi, certified paper cutter, and asked for his paper to be cut into a heart.

"Who are you making your valentine for, Tadashi?" Koushi asked softly, cutting the paper with precision.

Tadashi glanced over at Tsukishima, then whispered, "It's a secret."

"Ooh, of course." Whispered Koushi back, and he passed the cutout heart over to the boy, who ran to the coloring utensils.

Shouyou had been broadcasting his plans to everyone: he explained his card idea to Kenma while he was choosing paper; told Tadashi all of the colors he liked while finding the right colored pencils; then thought out loud to Tobio about what shape to use on the cover. He had chosen purple paper, and wrote across the front in barely legible characters: "tu NoYah ssaN." The rest of the paper was assaulted with a glue stick, and then filled with gold stars.

Kenma stepped into Daichi's line of sight, pulling his attention. He held out his paper.

"Will you write for me?" he asked.

"Sure. What do you want it to say?" Daichi copied the words down, thankful for his naturally neat handwriting in case someone actually tried to read the card. When he handed the card back Kenma gave him a smile and a quiet 'thank you' before walking back to his spot on the ground.

Shou and Tobio were arguing over whether orange or purple was the best color ever, their voice rising high over the sounds of Tsukishima's and Koushi's soft conversation. Koushi leaned over and did his best to console the both of them, and Daichi had to smile.

He'd never thought of himself as being good with kids, especially not when Koushi and him had adopted Shouyou. It had felt like so much work, and trying to keep Shou clean and safe and disciplined had taken even more from him. But now, looking over the children in his living room, one his own and three nearly adopted, he couldn't ask for anything more.