Mark slept a little better with Jack's arm over his side. However, the alarm went off far sooner than his body wanted. Groaning, he slipped from the bed feeling like he had only had an hour or two of sleep. Behind him, Jack groaned sleepily turning over to hug his pillow. Getting to his feet, Mark tapped Jack's thigh, telling him groggily. "Get up, Jack. We don't want to miss the flight." Jack groaned louder, burying his head under his pillow. Mark dressed himself quickly, tossing the last minute stuff into his bag. Gathering the dogs, he made sure they had everything they needed. He told Jack to get up one last time by yanking his blanket off him. He requested an Uber that had a truck big enough to haul them and the dogs to the airport. Jack finally got up, but he was moving so slowly that Mark wondered if they'd make it on time. He was thankful that he woke up two hours early. The first hour alone was spent just getting everything and everyone together in the Uber.

At the airport, Mark paid extra for carts to haul the bags and dogs to the gate. Jack kept the babies calm, but Sally was getting really fussy. She didn't like being awake so early. Mark paid for the bags and dogs to be boarded, then took their carry on and babies to the passport and tickets gate. The line wasn't too bad this early in the morning, but those here were all trying to beat the holiday rush. Some were tired and irritable, taking offense to Sally as she began to cry. Jack rocked her in her carrier, shushing her but she was tired. By the time they got up to check their tickets and passports, they were told to remove the babies from their carriers to put them on the X-ray belt. Sally was happy to be pulled out. She rested her head on Jack's shoulder, sucking on her binky as she tried to sleep. Barry was another matter. He wasn't used to be moved during his naps. Removing him from his carrier made him cry. Mark rocked him, taking him through the first metal detector. Barry cried and cried, even after he put him back into the carrier.

Sally clung to Jack, not wanting to go back in her carrier. So, he carried her as they made their way past the airport shops. Mark checked their tickets repeatedly to make sure they were heading toward the right gate in the massive airport. The smell of coffee and donuts filling the air with a sweet and rich smell. As tempting as they were, he just wanted to find the gate. Reaching a second metal detector, Mark was reaching his sanity limit. Having to take off everything and juggle a fuzzy baby was draining him fast. He hated being rushed and being rushed with a baby was nightmare fuel. Barry started hitting him as he cried loud enough to be heard across four states! No matter what Mark did, he refused to settle down. Barry didn't like being picked up so much when he was tired. Sally slept lightly against Jack's shoulder, but cried a little whenever Jack had to switch arms to take stuff on and off. By the time they reached the loading gate, Mark found a nice open spot by the large windows and dropped everything to focus on Barry.

Laying Barry down in the carrier, he began to rock him in it to calm him back to sleep. Jack tried to lay Sally in her carrier, but when she practically screamed in protest... he just started pacing around to calm her. With Barry finally settling down, Jack uttered out in an exhausted voice as he paced before Mark. "I take back what I said... This is a fucking nightmare... How do people do this?" Mark bowed his head, grumbling out just as tired. "They drink..." Jack chuckled a little, finally taking a seat. Mark put a hand on Jack's thigh, telling him warmly. "We've got a few minutes before the plane arrives. Do you want some coffee?" Jack nodded, stating back only half-joking. "Ya. Irish coffee." Mark snorted, chuckling out. "So, two drops of coffee with extra shots of whiskey and whip cream?" Jack laughed, saying blissfully. "Ooo, extra whip cream sounds good." Mark kissed his cheek, then walked off to order them some coffee. The coffee was overpriced, but they had no other option... and that is what the airport banked on. Taking the coffee back to Jack, they relaxed in the uncomfortable chairs. He wanted to get this over with.

Texting his mom to tell her that they were at the airport and what the airport estimation times were, he told Jack coolly. "Jack... about last night... I'm sorry." Mark put his phone down and looked to Jack. Beside him, Jack was slumped awkwardly in the seat asleep with Sally on his chest. Taking the half-full cup of coffee from him before he spilled it, he smirked to himself. Setting the cups down on the floor, Mark slid off the seat to sit on the floor. Tapping Jack's leg, Jack jerked awake and hugged Sally. Pulling on his pant leg a bit, Mark told him sweetly. "Come down here and lay down with her." Jack was too sleepy to care. Slowly sinking to the floor, Jack turned to lay on his back with his head on Mark's lap. Sally nestled to his chest better, her little hands petting his chest. Mark kept a hand on Sally's back and one on Barry's stomach in the carrier. As tired as he was, he forced himself to stay awake by drinking Jack's coffee when he had finished his own. One or two women giggled at the sight of Sally sleeping on Jack.

While a few older men were pissed that they weren't sitting in the seats. Mark didn't care if he was blocking a few seats. They were tired and anyone that had kids knew how hard it was to keep them happy in times like this. One man took a seat, muttering over his phone to someone. "Great. Looks like there are babies on this flight. I can't catch a break." Mark glared at the man, but held his tongue. He was too tired to comment anything. He was more in the mood to punch him. He understood why crying babies were a problem for some people, but it wasn't like they had places they could go to avoid people like him. They didn't host child only flights. After what felt like hours, they finally began the boarding process. They called up the elderly or people needing assistances first. Then first class. Mark gently woke Jack, telling them that they were called up. Collecting their stuff, they made their way to the desk. Getting their ticket checked, they made their way to the plane. Mark didn't know what kind of first class seats this plane would have but he hoped it would be roomy enough for the babies.

Reaching their seats, he was thrilled. They had a little nook to themselves with a two person couch instead of chairs. Before them was a foot stool with a built in drawer for their carry on. The flight attendant gave them special baby carriers that hooked to the wall above the stool. These carriers had special velcro folds to keep the baby nestled inside during take off. It was so fancy that Mark wanted to cry. Taking a seat on the sofa by the window, he pulled Barry out to lay him in the new carrier. Barry cried a little but nestled in quickly with his blanket. Jack gave their carriers to the flight attendant who put them in a closet in front of their nook, then went to help someone else. Jack couldn't get Sally to lay down, but held her while the others boarded. Mark eventually took her from Jack, rocking her as he hummed close to her ear. His deep voice usually put her to sleep at home. Once she was out cold, he carefully slipped her into the carrier and strapped her in.

Jack relaxed beside him, huffing out happily. "The second your mom takes them... I'm taking a nap." Mark chuckled, wrapping an arm around Jack's shoulders as he replied lovingly. "I agree. I'll sleep for a week straight." After the plane was loaded, their peaceful moment ended. The loud 'ding' over the coms woke Barry and Sally. Instantly they began to cry as the flight attendants went over the safety briefing. Unable to remove their seat belts or take them out. They were forced to lean forward and try to calm them with belly rubs and soothing voices. After the briefing, the plane began to move with more 'dinging' for the seatbelt sign. Mark was tempted to bust the stupid thing as Barry cried more. Sally reached out for Jack, but Jack couldn't pick her up yet. The plane began to bounce down the runaway, jostling the babies in their carriers until they both were unhappy. The first class passengers all gave them nasty looks, but Mark gave them his own fowl glare. The second the next loud 'ding' signaled that they could move about the cabin, both Mark and Jack removed the babies to hold them.

Sally calmed down as Jack hugged her and lulled her back into a light sleep. Barry wasn't so easy. He cried at the loud noises and was hungry now, but Mark couldn't feed him. Getting up, he walked the aisle a bit with him to settle his crying, but Barry still whimpered and fussed over his hunger pains. Giving Barry his binky, Mark hoped to trick him into thinking he was eating. He couldn't believe it worked as Barry finally calmed down. Putting him back in the carrier, Mark dropped into the seat, asking Jack hopefully. "I guess we should have brought noise cancelling headphones for the babies." Jack huffed, mumbling out. "If only they existed." Mark chuckled, removing his phone as he told Jack. "True. I might have something better though." Putting on an audiobook with Grim Fairy tales, Mark nestled it between the carriers for the babies to listen to while they slept. It wouldn't cancel out a lot of noise, but he hoped that it did enough to calm them. It had appeared to help when the flight attendant arrived to give them drinks.

They enjoyed a nice chilled soda to keep their caffeine levels up, but otherwise there was a weird silence that hung between himself and Jack. Mark guessed it had to do with what had happened last night. He regretted telling Jack any of that. He didn't want him to think that he thought he was a bad match for him. With Jack already threatening to take his kids... he didn't want this to add to it. Sure, Jack was acting like he was fine, but he knew him too well. Jack was hiding how he really felt about it. He wanted to explain but didn't know where to begin. Jack leaned on him, finally saying after a long time. "Do you think we can snag some breakfast before we go to sleep?" Mark kissed his temple, sweetly telling him. "Sure. What are you in the mood for?" Jack smirked against his shoulder, mumbling out sleepily to him. "Waffles." Mark grinned, whispering to him lovingly. "I know a nice place we can go for it." Jack soon dozed off on his shoulder and Mark turned his eyes to the window to watch the fluffy clouds roll by.

Soon the 'ding' was back as a flight attendant announced their decent. Mark retrieved his phone, but held it close to them to let it keep playing for the babies. They hadn't fully awoken like before. They just stirred a bit. It wasn't until the plane jerked and rumbled from hitting the runway that they jerked awake. Barry began to cry, but Sally just stretched in her carrier. This was about the time she would normally wake up. The plane pulled into the docking gate, before Mark pulled Barry out of the carrier. Holding Barry to his chest, he soothed him. Barry whimpered by his ear, tugging on his shirt restlessly. While they waited to be let off, Jack texted Mark's mother to tell her that they had landed. Then he collected their stuff. Just as before, the elderly and assisted care people were let off first. Then first class. Getting their carriers back, Mark laid Barry back in it and followed Jack out. Jack bounced a giggling Sally as they left the terminal, making Mark roll his eyes with a smile. Her giggling was making other people chuckle at her. She was fascinated with her own echo in the terminal.

Stepping out, they made their way down to the luggage area. Grabbing a cart, Mark left Barry with Jack while he retrieved the dogs. He returned just as they were starting up the luggage belt. Jack shook his head, telling Mark gruffly. "Barry needs to be changed..." Mark nodded but told him honestly. "He'll have to wait a bit. Stay with them. I'll get the luggage and then we'll find a bathroom." Leaving to hunt down their luggage in the crowd, Mark found their stuff and loaded it onto the cart quickly. He was just starting to push the cart back, when he noticed Jack was sitting alone with Sally. Barry was gone. Gesturing to the missing carrier, he didn't get to express his concern because Jack told him happily. "Relax. Your mother took him to the bathroom." Mark exhaled in relief, then mumbled out as he clutched his heart. "Don't do that to me... It's too early." Jack chuckled, then pointed. Mark turned straight into his mom giving him a hug and excitedly saying. "You made it in one piece! You didn't lose your hair!"

When Mark gave her a confused look, she chuckled out. "I almost pulled my hair out trying to take you and your brother on your first flight. It was horrible... I worried that you'd lose your hair." She picked at his hair, then added bluntly. "You need a shower. You look terrible." Mark brushed his bangs away from his eyes, answering lightly. "Ya. I know. I'm tired." His mom hugged Jack, chuckling out. "You have everything? Ready to go home?" Mark nodded slowly. Was his mother always this energetic or was he just too tired to keep up with her? Moving carefully, he followed them out to the car. He couldn't wait to see a fluffy bed. To Be Continued...