you think that you're so alone in the world then you read literature from hundreds of years ago and you realize that other people have always felt this way
whenever jack’s over at your place and you know its time for his nap you always make sure to make best use of your semi-blackout curtains and you like make the bed to be as comfortable as possible for him and if you feel like treating yourself too, you join him for the few extra hours of sleep 🥲
opening the door for him with a warm cup of tea & your coziest, sweetest little cotton nightgown on🥹
you’re always very purposeful to speak in a super low, calm tone of voice— especially after reading his texts about a super rough, emotional shift. usually a really sweet “hi jackie” does the trick to have his strong shoulders drop & his jaw unclench.
he always appreciates how you keep the house super dimly lit and cozy— you would never guess that it’s a bright, sunny 7am; save for jack frozen in the front doorway as he takes in the soft vanilla smell of the house & his girl. he’s torn between ducking his head down into your chest in sleepy release, or sweeping you into his arms and getting a whiff of his favorite shea butter lotion up close.
“hi baby, you sleepy?” he’d coo, as if you worked a gory, draining 12 hour shift. putting his bag down & trying to make his uncomfortable hobble seem normal; even though he knows the prosthetic has rubbed him a bit raw tonight. you lead him to the couch, and he sits with a crack in his knees & an old man groan that has you clenching your thighs the tiniest bit.
now this part, is your favorite. getting to kneel in front of jack as he begins to decompress, palms flat on his thighs as you gaze up at him while he vents. every so often his hand comes down to smoothe over your hair, or squeeze your cheeks so your lips pucker for a quick peck. your hands soothe his strong thighs as you nod along, wanting him to feel seen and understood and appreciated. a tap to your cheek and a docile “c’mon, up” usually signifies that he’s ready for the bedtime routine.
standing, you follow behind him to your shared bedroom, his strong hand on your wrist as he sighs. you can physically see the tension leaving his body the closer you get to the bed; can see his gait faltering as he progresses up the stairs, but pretends it’s always an easy feat.
what follows is jack’s favorite part— the routine of you fixing up his shower as he sits on the bed and finally rids himself of his grating prosthesis. your sweet little hum as you turn the shower on, lining up his soaps and folding his towel on the toilet seat. jack pausing the minstration of massaging his knee to close his eyes, and just take it all in. nothing ever changes here; no fast pace, life or death scenarios. just the woman he loves, humming her favorite sade song & fussing over her grumpy man. tale as old as time, but it still manages to catch his breath— guide him into the comforting embrace of an early morning & a screwed up sleep schedule waiting to be replenished.
grabbing the crutch by his bed— jack’s never been one for a wheelchair, and absolutely refused a cane when you suggested it, he retreats to the bathroom clad only in his tight fitting boxer briefs. on the topic of canes, jack claimed he didn’t need another reason to “feel like a dirty old man around you;” though you will admit, he was smiling when he said it.
& so he showers, but not before greeting you with a small, tired nod & grabbing your waist with a “hey, gimme a kiss.” leaning into him and giggling as one kiss becomes two, and a deeper third. you’re pulling back with a grin, a warning of “jaaaack” on your tongue as he smiles. “alright, alright,” smacking your ass as you leave him to shower.
after 20 minutes, he emerges from the steamy bathroom, towel around his waist and droplets on his chest. the soft light of a candle warmer illuminates his strong arms, one hand gripping the bridge of the crutch as he gazes at you. you lay in bed, gooey and loving, anticipating the dip in the bed. you’ve already slept a good 6 hours. but anything for jack, anything for jack.
sliding into bed, placing the crutch by his bedside table, jack grunts as he settles. first on his back, his tummy rounding as he breathes. he takes in the soft sheets, the warmth of you next to him, the steady buzz of the air conditioner he fixed last week as you watched.
thinks of the tight little tank top you had on, and the sleep shorts riding up your thighs. the sweat on your chest as he laid you on the floor, right next to his tools, and cooled you down with a sharp, crisp blow on your inner thighs. he’s smiling to himself as you look over at him in curiousity.
smiling, jack lifts up his arm, a silent signal for you to slide under. you do, like clockwork. the same song & dance each night, but what willing participants. he pulls your hand to rest on his heart, eyes growing droopy, lip slightly downturned with exhaustion.
and one thing about jack? he’s not sleeping without a goodnight kiss… ever. he cranes his head, kisses your hairline, and uses his nose to tilt your head up. one sweet kiss, two. a soft “love you dollbaby” as he pulls you close. rest, finally, true rest.
craving jack’s mouth so badly during a shift with him that you’re a total brat— like stomping and being snooty and having an attitude.
so on your “break” he takes you to his truck, lays you in his back seat on your back but he keeps standing. he eats you with his hands on your knees as he coos “what am i gonna do with you, huh? my mean, messy girl… where’s my little sweetheart? hm? where’d she go… miss her so much. puffy cunt can’t replace my baby but ohhhhh she’s trying…”
today i am plagued with thoughts of sitting outside by the grill on jack’s lap & grabbing him a beer & me a soda & he never ever lets me open my own can in fear of my nail breaking so he’s mid convo with robby, nodding along to whatever he’s saying and opening my can with a quick “here ya go, baby” before going back to the conversation </3
oh to have a stressful day at work & come home to jack making you nap <3
throwing your heavy bag by the door, you pout as you take in the comfortability of your shared home. lower back aching, feet sore from standing & eyes pulling shut with exhaustion, it’s a relief to see a freshly awoken jack. he’s getting ready for his shift, tying his scrub pants with his toothbrush in his mouth when he hears you trudge up the steps. “hey baby” he casually drawls, brushing his teeth and almost not paying attention. almost.
he notices you don’t answer, and is greeted by the sight of you face down in your shared bed instead. you’re slipping quickly as you pout, “hi daddy, missed you.” “missed me?” “yeah” “yeah? you know daddy loves you? hm?”
you nod sleepily, eyes falling shut when he brings his hand up to scratch at your hair. “take a nap for me, honey” “oh no jackie i can’t, i have so much to d-“ “wasn’t asking baby, c’mon, doctor’s orders” lifting you up by your armpits, unclasping your bra and sliding off your work clothes until you’re in nothing but a pair of panties.
jack pulls the comforter over you with a soft kiss to your forehead, “go t’sleep baby, i’ll come give you a kiss before i leave. kay?”
falling asleep to the sound of jack getting ready, the steady comfort of knowing he’s there </3
Summary: Rumors travel quickly in the Pitt, especially when it comes to a certain silver-haired fox having a wife and kid. As Jack tries to navigate through the gossip, you both go on your first date together–only there’s a few caveats.
Series Link
Lovergirlnote: Surprise! Surprise! I swear this storyline has me in a chokehold, y’all. Thank you all so much for the love you’ve been showing it. Also, thank you all for the love you’ve shown “Tumblr Girlfriend.” It means the world. As always, I’m grateful to be creating and building this community with y’all. 🥹🫶🏽
Chapter IV: How’s The Family, Jack?
Jack Abbot has always been terrible with his work-life balance. Even though he’s scheduled for the night shift, he frequently finds himself listening to the police scanner and showing up on the day shift. His therapist had long made a point of telling him that it was unhealthy to be listening in on dispatch calls, but Jack’s always been a bit stubborn.
Okay, maybe a bit is underselling it. Jack Abbot is as stubborn as an ox. Which is why, it surprises absolutely no one when he shows up on day shift to help out with a car pileup. Once the chaos dies down into a somewhat of steady flow, Jack settles at the front desk next to Dana and Robby as he charts.
Jack pretends not to see the looks that Robby and Dana are both throwing him. He finally looks up and gives Robby a hard stare as the other man raises his hand in defense.
“So, how’s the family, Jack?” Robby asks, finally breaking the tension.
Jack raises a questioning eyebrow before looking between Dana and Robby, “What are you talking about?”
“Word on the street is that you’re a happily married man, Abbot. There are also rumors of a certain cutie pie calling you Dada. Wasn’t that the word, Rob?”
Robby nods, “I believe that’s the word I heard, too, Evans. So I guess we’re both wondering why you were holding out on this secret family from us?”
Jack shrugs, “I’m not holding out on anything. S’just not anyone’s business. But since you’re both very nosy, you remember the mom and kid that came here two months ago when she had the flu? Well, I’ve kind of still been seeing both of them.” Jack looks down at the computer as he thinks of you and Nova. His two girls.
He feels the funny fluttering in his chest at thinking of the pseudo-family day that you, he, and Nova had the other weekend. He’s also still reeling from the gut-wrenching kiss that the two of you shared.
Robby scans Jack’s expression and clocks how soft Jack looks once he’s mentioned you.
“When you say seeing them both, do you mean that you’ve been going out on family dates?”
Jack rolls his eyes, “They’re just casual outings.” Even as the words leave his lips, they sound wrong. The outings that he was having with you and Nova were anything but casual. They meant something to Jack. He knows that there’s a large part of him that wants to protect the sacredness of his unit with you and Nova. He doesn’t want too many prying eyes on this. He just wants to enjoy this for what it is.
“Doesn’t sound too casual if the kid’s still referring to you as her father,” Dana quips, as she looks at Jack over the bridge of her glasses.
One point for Dana Evans.
He shrugs, “I don’t know, it’s just kind of stuck, and I don’t really mind it either.”
It’s Robby and Dana’s turn to lift their eyebrows at Jack. Dana takes her glasses off to stare at Jack, “Whoa, Abbot, you telling me you’re having baby fever this late in the game?”
Robby chuckles, “Look, we’re not trying to ruin your dynamic. We’re asking strictly as your friends if you’ve fully thought this all out. I mean, not only are you dating the mom, but the kid has a strong attachment to you, too. That means you’re a significant part of her life now. I just don’t want to see you or that little girl get hurt. You need to be sure that it’s what you want, Jack.”
Jack takes a second to digest the words. Robby’s valid in where he’s coming from. He thinks back to the conversation that he had with you the other night. Jack knows that he’s serious about his relationship with you and Nova. There isn’t a doubt in his mind that he wants to stay close to both of you.
Before Jack can reply, Robby’s called to handle another case. He claps a hand on Jack’s shoulder while giving him a soft smile. It’s only Jack and Dana at the desk, and she’s still giving him an inquisitive look.
“Well, what’s the verdict, Abbot? You in or out?”
“In. I care about them both a lot. I wouldn’t do any of this if I were confused about my feelings. I want to be in Nova’s life, and I want to be in her mom’s life as well.”
Dana smiles at him as she slides her glasses back on, “Well…welcome to fatherhood, Jack.”
You move around your apartment as your friend, Zara, plays with Nova. Zara tickles Nova’s sides as she giggles loudly.
Zara looks up at you, “So you and hot doctor daddy are supposed to be going out this Friday?”
“Yeah, are you still good to watch Nova?”
Zara nods, “Yeah, girl, I wouldn’t let you miss your opportunity to get your back blown out.” You both peer over to Nova, who’s happily chatting away with Bun Bun.
“Girl, nobody’s getting their back blown out,” you respond, picking up Nova’s favorite blanket and folding it.
“Booo! Sis, when’s the last time you’ve been on a date or let a man put you through the mattress?”
It doesn’t take you long to calculate the time frame. You and your vibrator are very familiar with your dry spell. “Not since I found out that I was pregnant with Nova.”
Zara almost breaks her neck turning to you, “Girl, that’s long! I know your coochie is crying for a little love.” She whispers the last part so Nova can’t hear her.
You chuckle and roll your eyes, “She’s just fine, I have the appropriate tools to help her.”
Zara stands from the couch and moves to stand in front of you, “Trust me, the tools are great. My rose toy and I are best friends, but trust me, it doesn’t beat the sensation of having a hot man pressing his body against yours. From all of the things you’ve told me about Jack, he sounds like he’d be really attentive to you and your needs.” She gives a wink at the end of the statement.
You have to admit that you know she’s right. It’s been a while since you’ve been intimate with someone. The sex between you and Nova’s dad was passionate and enjoyable. However, once you became pregnant and he expressed his disinterest in fatherhood, you’d cut the intimacy off quickly.
But you didn’t doubt that Jack would be attentive to your needs. Just with how careful he was with his hands, you imagined that he’d place that same amount of care and attention to bringing you to release. A shiver crawls up your spine at the thought.
Zara smirks, “You’re already imagining it. Listen, I’m not saying rush into anything that you’re not ready for. I’m just saying, have fun on your date with Jack. It’s your time to be you and not just Nova’s mommy. Don’t forget that you deserve to have some time too.”
A long sigh leaves your mouth, “I know. It’s just, I’ve gotten so used to being Nova’s mommy. It feels nice to have someone desiring me in that way, you know?”
“Of course. You’re entitled to that feeling.”
Nova walks over to you and Zara and holds her arms up. You laugh softly before scooping her up in your arms. You press a kiss to her cheek as she giggles, “Mama, m’hungry.”
“What are you in the mood for, lovebug?”
“Mac-n-eese,” Nova responds, flashing her dimples at you.
“Okay, pretty girl, do you wanna help me?” Nova nods her head as you walk to the counter and set her down. Zara stands nearby, making Bun Bun float in the air as Nova giggles. You grab all of the ingredients from the fridge as your phone vibrates on the counter.
“Your man is calling you,” Zara teases, holding the phone up. You’re the least bit surprised at Jack FaceTiming you. He’d grown more comfortable with FaceTiming you and Nova, especially before he went in for his shift. Upon hearing the phone ring, Nova perks up and tries to stand to reach for the phone.
Zara places a hand on her hip while guiding her to sit down, “Calm down, little girl, before you fly off this counter. You sure do love your Dada.”
Nova excitedly grabs the phone and slides a finger across it to answer. She screams happily as the phone connects and she sees Jack’s face. “Dada!!”
On the other end, Jack’s heart melts at the sight of his little Nova. He scans his gaze over her little puff balls and her chubby cheeks, “Hi, babygirl, you look so pretty. What did you do today?”
Nova starts to think before looking back at the phone, “I color and build blocks. I play outside with Kylie.”
“Woah, you were very busy today! Did you and Kylie have a good time, sweetheart?”
“Mhmm, Dada.”
“That’s amazing, sweetie. Have you been being good for mommy?”
“Mhmm, Dada, I’ve been really good. Mama makes mac-n-eese! Dada want mac-n-eese?”
Jack lets out a gasp, “Oooo, that sounds amazing. I can’t have any mac-n-cheese tonight. I have to work really late, but I’ll call you before you go to sleep, okay?”
“Otay, Dada. Kiss.” You and Zara watch as Nova puckers her little lips and presses them to the screen. She lets out a loud mwah as she seemingly gives Jack a virtual kiss. Zara looks in your direction with her hand on her chest. She mouths, “So sweet” as she pretends to faint.
Jack is in the same predicament as he feels like his heart is about to burst from cuteness overload. He wants to stuff his head in his pillow and cry tears of happiness at Nova’s love for him.
Nova smiles at the phone before frowning, “Dada, kiss back.”
You cover your mouth as the laugh leaves you because you know that Nova means serious business. Jack chuckles softly from his end of the phone, “M’sorry, sweetheart. Here, Dada will kiss you now.” You almost burst into tears as Nova holds the phone up to her cheek, and Jack moves to “give her a kiss.” He lets out a loud, dramatic mwah, to which Nova giggles loudly.
“Thank you, Dada,” Nova said, smiling down into the phone.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Is your mommy around?” Jack asks.
Nova nods before sticking the phone out to you, “Mama, Dada wants you.”
“Thank you, lovebug,” You respond, grabbing the phone from her hand. When you turn the phone to face yourself, Jack is already sitting there with a soft smile on his face.
“Hi Jack,” You said, the butterflies fluttering in your stomach.
“Hi, sweetheart. You look gorgeous,” He states, biting gently at his lip.
You laugh, “I’m wearing a big t-shirt, and my hair’s a mess.”
“Honey, you look beautiful to me no matter what you’re wearing. In fact, I think motherhood makes you look sexier.”
Zara’s head perks up at this, and she moves closer to listen to you and Jack. Jack catches sight of Zara as she peeks over your shoulder. You turn your head and laugh, “This is my best friend, Zara. Zara, this is Jack Abbot.”
“Ahh, so you’re the new daddy,” Zara quips. Your jaw drops, and Nova adds a “Dada” from the back. Jack smirks at the phone, “I guess I am.”
You look between him and Zara, “I’m going to move the phone before you both start conspiring against me.”
“Boo, no fun. Come on, Nova. Let’s give your mommy and daddy a little alone time,” Zara said, flashing a quick wink at you and Jack. She grabs Nova from the counter and starts making silly voices.
You turn your gaze back to the phone, where Jack waits patiently. You both stare at each other silently as a shy smile crosses your face.
“I can’t stop thinking about our date and the kiss from the other night.”
“One kiss and he’s hooked already,” You tease.
“Sweetheart, I was hooked on you the moment that I saw you sitting in my ER,” Jack states.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I couldn’t stop thinking about you after I saw you that night. I wanted to ask for your number, but I know it’d be inappropriate, but it seems like fate…or rather Nova brought us back together.”
You can’t contain the smile that crosses your face at his words. Just as you’re about to respond, Nova walks in and tugs on your shirt, “Mama, me and Bun Bun hungry.”
“Okay, lovebug, mommy’s gonna finish your Mac-n-cheese. Say bye to Jack.” You kneel so that she can get a direct view of Jack.
“Bye bye Dada. See you later,” Nova states, waving her hand at Jack. She holds Bun Bum up to the camera, “Bun Bun say bye, Dada.”
Jack waves you to the camera, “Bye, babygirl. Bye Bun Bun. I’ll call you before you go to sleep, baby.”
“Otay, Dada,” Nova said, turning the phone and puckering her lips again. Jack chuckles but obliges as they both share a virtual kiss to each other.
As you turn the phone back in your direction, you give Jack one last smile, “Bye, Jack.”
Jack quirks an eyebrow, “Daddy doesn’t get a kiss from mommy?”
You can’t help the flood of heat that surges through your body. This man was doing ungodly things to your libido, and he’d only kissed you one time.
You lower your voice, “Maybe, Daddy will get a kiss if he’s on his best behavior Friday.”
“Scout’s honor, sweetheart,” Jack replies.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“I look forward to it. Have a good evening. Call me before you put Nova to bed, I want to say goodnight to both of my girls.”
You nod in agreement before the call ends. You can’t contain the goofy smile that comes across your face and how you just stare off into the distance.
“Oooo…you got it bad, girl,” Zara comments from the doorway.
Truthfully, you were definitely down bad for Jack Abbot.
Friday rolls around quicker than you and Jack anticipate. He’s so nervous that he calls Robby in for reinforcements.
“Okay how do I look?” Jack asks as he stands in front of Robby.
“Do a quick turn for me,” Robby comments from him spot on the couch. Jack turns and quickly faces Robby again. He gives him an expectant look.
“You look great man. I’d date you,” Robby teases.
Jack rolls his eyes, “Unfortunately, we’re already married for life.”
“I’m aware. Which is why I’m a little hurt that you’re choosing to replace me,” Robby states with faux hurt.
Jack chuckles as he spritzes cologne over himself. Robby watches as he fluffs his hair again. “Jack, if you fluff it anymore, she’s gonna think you rolled out of bed. Relax man, it’s gonna go great.”
“I know. I’m just nervous. I haven’t dated much since the divorce.”
After Jack’s divorce from his ex-wife, Klara, he didn’t think that dating would ever be in the cards for him again. With much encouragement from Dana and Robby, he tried his hand at a few blind dates, but they never went anywhere.
Jack’s phone buzzes from the bed. He picks it up and notices you contacts flashing across the screen. He answers the phone just as he puts the phone up to his ear, “Hey, sweetheart.”
“Hey, I have some bad news. I have to cancel for tonight,” You announce solemnly.
“Are you and Nova okay, sweetheart?” Jack questions as he moves to grab his keys.
“Oh, we’re fine. My friend, Zara, who was planning to babysit has a stomach virus, so she can’t watch Nova. It’s a little too short notice for me to ask anyone else to watch her. I’m really sorry, Jack,” you explain.
Jack exhales upon hearing that you and Nova are okay. “You don’t have to apologize to me, honey. I hope that Zara feels better. Do you need me to send Robby over to check on her?”
Robby raises his hands upon hearing his name.
“No, she’s fine. She said the worst was over. I was just really looking forward to this date with you.”
Jack thinks it over for a few seconds, “What if we bring Nova with us?”
“Really?”
“Yeah, sweetheart. We can still have our date, we just add Nova to our date. You get her all dolled up and we’ll go together,” He suggests.
The other end of the line goes silent for a second. “You’d really be okay with taking her with us?”
“Sweetheart, I meant it when I said that I wanted you and Nova. She means a lot to me now, so it’d be an honor if you would let me take you and her on a date tonight.”
You sniffle, “I’d like that a lot, Jack.”
He smiles, “Good, now do you mind if I ask Nova if she wants to come?”
“Sure, just second.”
He hears you walking before you start speaking, “Hey Nova, Jack wants to ask you a really important question.”
“Hi Dada!”
“Hey there lovebug. Now Dada has something very special he wants to ask you. Would you like to come out tonight with me and mommy?”
“Mhmm, I spend time with mama and Dada.”
“That’s right, baby. You, me, and Mommy are going to have so much fun tonight,” He answers.
“Yayy!!”
Jack feels his heart clench at her excitement, “Okay pretty girl, you and mommy get all pretty, and I’ll be there to pick you up in a little bit, okay?”
“Otay, Dada.”
Jack hears Nova passing the phone to you, “We’ll see you soon, Jack.”
“See you soon, honey.”
The line ends as he turns back to Robby, who’s watching Jack with a wide smile on his face. “What?” Jack asks.
“Brother, you’re far gone. You might as well get married. That was hands down the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I almost started crying,” Robby explains.
That soft looks crosses Jack’s face again. Robby hasn’t seen that look on Jack’s face in a long time.
“I really care about them, you know? I know it seems really quick, but it just feels right. They feel like home,” Jack explains.
Robby stands from the couch and crosses the room to pull Jack into a hug, “I’m happy for you man. You deserve this.”
“Thanks Robby.”
“No problem. Now go pick up your girls.”
It take Jack a total of twenty-five minutes to get to your house. It would’ve been twenty if he hadn’t stopped to pick up another bouquet for Nova.
He walks up to your apartment building and waves at the doorman. He rides the elevator up to your floor and he can feel the nerves beginning to settle within his body.
He pushes them down as he knocks on your apartment door. You open the door and Jack feels like the breath leaves his body.
Jack scans his eyes up and down your frame. He appreciates the way that the black dress hugs your body and your skin glistens under the light. A gold chain sits perfectly between your cleavage.
“Sweetheart, you look beautiful,” Jack comments.
“Thanks. You clean up pretty nice, Dr. Abbot,” You state, running your fingers down Jack’s chest, but lingering where he has a button undone.
You give him another sly smile, “Come in.” He clocks the double meaning but follows you nonetheless.
Jack shuts the door as he walks behind you. “These are for you.” He hands you the bouquet of roses.
“Thank you. These are gorgeous.”
As you put the flowers in the vase, you smile at Jack, “Little Miss Nova is waiting to make her grand entrance.” You turn slightly, “Nova, Jack’s here.”
Jack waits patiently, but keeps his eyes on Nova’s bedroom. Soon, the little girl walks into the living room in her pink dress with her hair in two puffs, and big pink ribbons adorning both.
“Oooo..look at my pretty girl. Give us a twirl, Nova,” you said, smiling at your pride and joy. Nova smiles at you and Jack before doing a little twirl.
Jack think that he may need to invest in a heart monitor with how much that Nova gives an overload of cuteness. He walks closer and kneels in front of Nova.
“Hi, babygirl, look at you. You and your mommy look so beautiful.”
“Thank you, Dada,” Nova replies before throwing her arms around Jack. He squeezes her back just as tightly before pressing a quick kiss to the crown of her hair.
He pulls the flowers from behind his back, “These are for you, the most prettiest girl in the entire world.”
Nova looks down at the flowers and smiles so wide that her dimples appear, “Thank you, Dada!” She turns to face you, “Mama, look. Flowers!”
“I see! Why don’t you bring them over here so I can put them in water. That way they can live for a long time.”
Nova nods her head and hands you the flowers. You make quick work of placing the flowers in appropriate vases as Jack and Nova talk to each other.
Once you’re done, you grab Nova’s jacket as the three of you exit your apartment. Nova turns to Jack and raises her arms. Jack scoops her up and settles her in his arms.
You watch as she gives him a soft smile and her eyes have stars in them as stares at him. Similarly, Jack gives her the same look as he turns to look at you. He holds his out, which you take. Jack laces his fingers with yours and pulls you close.
It’s not lost on either of you how much you look like a family. No one would ever suspect that you’d met this man less than two months ago.
When you make it out to Jack’s truck, you groan slightly, “Shoot, I forgot Nova’s car seat.”
“Already covered,” Jack states. You give him a confused look until he opens the back door of the truck to reveal a car seat.
“When did you buy a car seat?”
“I bought it earlier this week. I figured that since I was planning on having you and Nova around more for our little adventures, it’d be nice to invest in a car seat, so you don’t have to worry about taking her car seat out of your car.”
Wordlessly, he places Nova in the car seat and buckles her up like he’s been doing this for ages. She hum happily and smiles at him. Jack reaches around her to hand her his iPad, “Here you go sweetheart, something to keep you preoccupied on the way over.”
“Thank you, Dada,” Nova replies, already tapping away on the iPad.
“You’re welcome, babygirl,” He answers before closing the door gently. He turns to you and finds you still staring at him stunned.
“What?”
“You’re an amazing man, Jack.”
A blush creeps up Jack’s cheeks before he moves to open your door for you. As you step up into the truck, he holds a hand close to you so that your dress doesn’t rise up. Once you’re all buckled up, Jack comes around his side to enter the truck.
He quietly checks over you and Nova before smiling in satisfaction.
The drive to the restaurant isn’t very long. Nova had managed to find YouTube and was singing along to Ms. Rachel.
As Jack pulls in front of the restaurant, you notice the valet rounding the truck to grab the keys. It’s only when the three of you are entering the restaurant that you understand how fancy the place is.
Jack has his hand on your back while he carries Nova. The hostess looks up at the three of you with a smile, “How may I help you today?”
“We have a reservation for Abbot,” Jack responds. He doesn’t even realize that he’s subtly squeezing at your waist. You can feel the goosebumps rising on your skin.
The hostess ushers the three of you to the table and brings a high chair for Nova. Jack gently sets her down as she looks around curiously.
“This is really fancy, Jack,” You state.
“Yeah, I wanted to go all out for my first date with these really pretty girls,” He responds with a boyish smile covering his lips.
“Trust me, we’re already impressed by you.”
You turn to Nova, “Isn’t it so pretty here, lovebug?”
Nova smiles at you, “Mhmm mama, really pretty.”
You and Jack pick up the menus, and he can see that you’re hesitant at the prices. He reaches across the table to grab your hand, “Order whatever you want, honey. Don’t worry about any prices.”
He smiles at you before looking down at his menu. When the waitress comes to the table, you order salmon for you and Nova while Jack orders a steak.
Jack turns his gaze to you, “How has work been?”
“It’s been good, we have a new installation for an Indigenous artist that’s releasing her new project. You should come by some time,” You respond.
“I’d like that. I don’t usually have a lot of time outside of work, so I don’t get to enjoy this city as much as I’d like to.”
“Why is that by the way?”
Jack sighs, “I guess, I really just got caught up in working, especially after my divorce. My therapist’s been trying to get me to work on setting more boundaries.”
You nod, “I hope I’m not overstepping by asking this, but what happened between you and your ex-wife?”
“It’s fine, you can ask. It was a combination of factors, but mostly our inabilities to stop being workaholics. We just weren’t finding time for each other and we realized one day that the spark just wasn’t there. We tried for a little bit, but we both felt it was best to go our separate ways. It was clean and amicable though,” Jack explain, taking a sip from his water.
“Where is she now?”
“She’s remarried. Got a few kids. She seems happy, which is what I always wanted for her.”
“And have you tried dating again?”
Jack chuckles, “Briefly, Robby and Dana set me up on a few blind dates, but nothing really stuck. I tried some dating apps.”
You smirk, “Jack Abbot on Tinder and Hinge. Color me surprised.”
You both share a laugh until Jack shakes his head, “The novelty of swiping left and right didn’t feel too enticing, so I abandoned all accounts years ago. What about you? Any notable relationships or dates?”
“Nope, don’t get me wrong, I’ve entertained the idea a few times, but no one ever special enough to meet Nova. I just don’t want to confuse her or have different men coming in and out of her life, you know?”
You and Jack both peer at Nova, who’s focused on the coloring sheet that the waitress brought her. She had her tongue poked out in concentration as she colors the pony on the page.
Jack’s eyes flicker to you, “I know what you mean, she’s a special kid. It’s good that you’re so considerate of her.”
“Dada look!” Nova said, holding up the picture to Jack.
“That’s amazing, sweetie. You’re so talented.”
“Dada, picture.”
Nova and Jack both look down at his phone before he laughs softly. He opens the camera app and points it at him and Nova. They both smile at the camera and make funny faces as Jack snaps each picture.
After their impromptu photo shoot, the food arrives to the table. You reach over to chop up Nova’s salmon.
“Thank you, mama.”
“You’re welcome, lovebug.”
The three of you eat with idle conversation flowing as Nova entertains you and Jack with stories about Bluey and Bingo’s adventures. Jack catches her looking at his steak and giving him a smile.
He cuts a piece of the steak and slides it over to his plate. He laughs to himself as Nova copies him with putting the steak on the fork and eating it.
“That was actually her first piece of steak,” you point out.
Jack gives you a surprised look, “Oh, I hope you didn’t mind me giving her a piece.”
“Not at all. I’m glad to see that she’s trying new food and by the looks of it, she likes it,” you state, watching as Nova continues to eye Jack’s steak.
Without hesitation, Jack cuts the rest of the steak into pieces before sliding half to Nova. She smiles, “Thank you, Dada.”
“Anytime, sweetie.”
After the meal, Jack pays the bill and guides you and Nova from the restaurant.
He turns to you both, “Do you guys want to go get ice cream?”
Nova perks up, “Ice cream!!”
You and Jack chuckle. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He drives to the nearby ice cream shop and holds the door open for you both.
You all sit together once you get your respective ice cream cups. Nova’s has a mountain of sprinkles and gummy bears because Jack insisted that she get whatever she wants.
“I’ve never been a mint chocolate chip girlie,” You announce, looking down at Jack’s ice cream.
You chuckle, “Sweetheart, are you judging my ice cream?”
“Yes! You might as well be eating toothpaste!” Jack laughs loudly before staring at you, “You’re missing out. Here, I think you may change your mind.”
He slides the cup over to you. An idea pops into your head and you decide to roll with it. “Maybe, I didn’t want to mix my spoon with your ice cream. Wouldn’t it be better if I just had some from your spoon?”
Jack swallows harshly before nodding, “Yeah, you’re right. We wouldn’t want any cross contamination.”
You smirk, “You know best, Dr. Abbot.”
Jack looks down at the spoon before dipping it into the ice cream and holding it out to you. You lean forward and slide your lips along the spoon. Jack feels his mouth go dry when he sees a peek of your tongue gliding across the ice cream. Your glossed lips look amazing as you give him a heated look.
You slide the spoon from your mouth, “Hmmm…you may be right. It’s better than I remember.”
Jack looks down at the spoon, which now has your lip gloss around it and some ice cream left. Wordlessly, he slides the spoon into his own mouth.
He nods, “I think you’re right. It definitely tastes a lot better.”
The eye contact between the two of you doesn’t break. God, you really want to kiss him.
Jack drives you and Nova back to your apartment. You both catch her head lolling to the side as she tries to fight her sleep.
Jack parks and rounds the truck to help you down. He moves to the back to scoop Nova up in his arms. She immediately lays her head down on his shoulder and he smiles at seeing her chubby cheeks pressed so comfortably against him.
“She really does like you,” You comment as you both step onto the elevator.
Jack rubs a comforting hand across Nova’s back, “I really like her too. I like her mommy just as much.”
You smile and lean closer to his side. Your faces nearly touch, “Nova’s mommy likes you a lot too.” Before Jack can close the distance, the elevator dings.
You open your apartment door as he walks in with Nova. He passes her over to you and she stuff her hand into your curls for comfort. It’d been a frequent habit of hers ever since she was born.
Nova lifts her head, rubbing at her eyes. She glances at Jack, “Dada, bedtime story.”
Jack looks to you for permission, to which you nod, “Let me change her into her pajamas, then we can read her a story together.”
Jack nods and feels the anticipation rising in his chest. He never thought that he’d get the opportunity to read his kid a bedtime story, but the fact that Nova wants him to send a wave of emotions throughout his body.
You appear soon and gesture for Jack to follow you. He enters behind you into Nova’s room where she’s laying in her pink bed. She has Bun Bun tucked into her side.
You and Jack sit on each side of her bed. She smiles at you both. Her mommy and daddy are both here to put her to sleep.
“Okay, sweet girl, what book are we reading?” Jack questions, keeping his voice soft.
Nova looks at you both, “Goodnight, Little Bear.” You move from the bed to her bookshelf to grab the book. You pass it over to Jack and you both sit at the top of the bed next to Nova.
Nova cuddles close to you and Jack as he starts reading. The soft lull of Jack’s voice, along with you rubbing at her hair has Nova drifting off almost instantly. She struggles to keep her eyes open until Jack makes it to the last page.
You lean closer and press a kiss to her cheek, “Goodnight, my lovebug. I love you.”
“Night night, mommy. I love you too.” She whispers, pressing a kiss to your cheek. She holds Bun Bun out to you. You press a kiss to Bun Bun, “Goodnight Bun Bun, mommy loves you too.”
Nova turns to Jack, “Night night, Dada. I love you.”
Jack feels his heart steel inside his chest. He can feel the tears stinging at his eyes as he tries to will them away. He gives you a look, and you smile softly at him.
“Goodnight, my Nova. Daddy loves you too,” Jack whispers back. He presses a kiss to her other cheek. Just as she’d done to you, Nova holds Bun Bun up and Jack presses a kiss to the stuffed rabbit, “Night Bun Bun. Daddy loves you.”
Seemingly content with everything, Nova closes her eyes and her soft snores enter the room. You move to turn on her big night light, which illuminates stars across the room.
Carefully, you and Jack exit Nova’s room. You leave the door cracked open in case she needs you later on. You and Jack walk back into the living room.
He wipes at his eyes.
“Are you okay, Jack?”
He smiles before sniffling, “Yeah, it’s just….I never thought I’d be able to have something like that. Thank you for allowing me to be here with you and Nova, sweetheart.”
You move closer, “Thank you for being present. There hasn’t been a moment where I doubted your intentions, Jack.”
Jack steps closer to you. He looks down at you before bringing a hand to the side of your face, “I care about you, sweetheart, a lot. I wake up every day, waiting for the moment when I get to see or talk to you and Nova. I’m serious about this. About us.” He takes a second to pause, “Would you be like to be my girlfriend, sweetheart?”
A wide smile crosses your face, “There’s nothing that I’d like more than being your girlfriend, Jack.”
That same wide and goofy look crosses his lips. You both look at each other before he leans down to press his lips against yours.
There in your kitchen with your baby girl sleeping a few feet away, you and Jack Abbot officially became a couple.
Getting your baby ready for bedtime is its own procedure for Jack. She must have her bath, her lotion, and her overly expensive sound machine. And once he's checked that the baby monitor is still working (it always is), you get a front-row seat to his utmost patience as he waits for Chubby to pick a board book to read.
You're assuming Jack's so patient because, one day, she'll have careful enough hands for regular paper books. No need to think about that heartaching future now, but you can't help it!
"Chubs...did you or Mommy pick this book?"
You're sitting on the nursery rug, folding Chubby's tiny clothes into a dresser that is already too full with pretty things you just had to buy. Chubby ends up in Jack's lap in the glider, all clean from her bath.
She smacks the book that "she" picked out.
'Daddy Hugs and Loves!'
Jack's glaring at you. You grin.
"She picked it out with the other two, Dad. She took advantage of her options."
Jack's avoided Daddy Hugs and Loves! since you bought it at Target. He's read a book about a truck, then a grumpy cow who learns to treat others with respect and kindness. He had to argue your joke that the book copied his likeness.
...But you managed to sneak in Daddy Hugs when he wasn't looking.
He groans. You know he feels ridiculous before he even opens it. But it's a book about a talking bear and his baby girl cub. Nothing in it should hurt him, unless he's insane about having to confront the representation of fathers and daughters in the media.
...Okay. You wouldn't put it past Jackie.
"You okay, Jack?"
Jack shrugs, shifting Chubby in his lap. It’s a children’s book---"
"Da...beeee."
She smacks the book again. His hands grip its spine.
Da can mean any of a number of things. It's usually reserved for Jack, but it's an interchangeable demand, really. She uses da when she wants something opened or given to her. But if you know your daughter as well as you think you do, you're sure it's her demand for Jack to read the damn book right now.
"Alright, alright. I'm picking up the pace. Here we go."
Jack opens the book. The first page is the paper bear standing in a nursery, holding his arms out to his cub.
"Daddy’s arms are big and strong."
His voice comes out low and steady, a little raspy from the long day and the way Chubby keeps curling her toes against his forearm. But that's just your guess.
"They hold me when the day feels long."
You slow in your folding when Jack clears his throat and turns the page quickly. The next picture is worse for him.
The dad bear is carrying the cub through a storm, holding an umbrella over her. She's smiling, and her papa is looking down like the only thing that matters is that she's dry.
Jack stares at it.
Well. Fuck the bear.
Chubby whines, impatient. "Mmmm."
"I’m getting there. Be patient. See? When the thunder rolls and the skies turn gray..."
Jack swallows.
"Daddy keeps the fear away."
...He needs to check the thermostat again. It's too hot in here. He'd open the window if it wasn't a safety risk. He'll just have to be warm while getting jumped by a ten-dollar book from Target.
Daddy keeps the fear away. Ha. What a stupid fucking lie to put in a baby book.
He doesn't keep the fear away. He installs too many cameras and gets mad that there are still blind spots. There shouldn't be. But Dad doesn't keep the fear away. He's full of it, just like he's full of his own shit.
"Jack, keep going."
"I'm letting her process the material."
Jack's chubby excuse shifts in his lap, rubbing her cheek against his shirt. Her hand finds his thumb as she fusses, cause she has processed nothing but the fact that his voice has stopped.
Jack turns the page. It's a bedtime scene of the bear and cub in a rocking chair, not unlike him and Chubby in the glider right now.
This is so fucking cruel. You're cruel. He reads the line in his head.
Daddy’s voice is low and deep. It sings me safely into sleep.
No. No, that’s not—
Jack sighs heavy. Chubby tips her head back against his chest, her eyes just as heavy with sleep.
"Daddy's voice is..."
...He can't.
"Daddy's voice is low and deep. It..."
The rest doesn't come. He hates this book. He hates the stupid papa bear. He hates that his breathing turns shallows enough that you stop what you're doing.
"Hey, you don't have to finish it."
"I can read a damn book for infants. It's just..."
"I know you can, doc."
God. He'd rather have kiddo argue. Your faith in him is more murderous than the little doubt you have.
He looks down at the daughter you've given him again. She blinks slower. He forces his voice back into place.
“It...it sings me…”
No. His voice is all the worst parts of him trying for protection, but it's been cruel, and it's snapped. It's made you flinch. His voice is the thing she'll copy, if he isn’t careful.
You cross the nursery and put warmth on his shoulder by settling your hand there.
"Let me?"
There's no point in not letting you, is there? He hands you the book, his movement is stiff.
You sit on the arm of the glider, one hand coming to rest on the back of Chubby's head. She blinks up at you. You smile. Jack tries to disappear into the chair while still holding the weight of your little girl.
"Mommy's got you. Daddy’s voice is low and deep. It sings me safely into sleep."
Your voice is soft and pretty, and that's why neither of you understands why her little face trembles into a whine, the one that always comes before her wail. Jack, for a moment, thinks she's just tired.
Yeah, me too.
"Oh, sweetheart--"
But Chubby turns in Jack's lap towards him, twisting clumsily as she grabs at his shirt.
"Daaaaaa!"
Your and Jack's eyes meet when she fusses harder.
"Daaaaaa! Da...BEE-DA!"
"...I think she wants Dada, right now, Jackie."
Apparently. Not the softer, perfect voice. She wants awkward pauses and his stupid-as-hell commentary? Why?
Because she knows you're perfect and wants you sometimes as much as she knows Jack as himself and wants him all the same?
Why?
Jack takes the book back, and his hands are not steady when he does. You slide off the arm of the glider, kneeling beside it instead, resting your cheek against his knee.
Chubby settles the second the book is back in his hand, though she keeps one fist locked in his shirt to make sure he doesn’t attempt book abandonment again.
...Two girls he doesn't deserve, loving him anyway. What else is he supposed to do but do whatever they want? Least he can do.
Jack clears his throat.
"Alright, I’ve got it. It sings me safely into sleep."
Chubby relaxes, just like that. He stares down at the top of her head before turning the page.
It shows the papa bear kissing the cub's forehead with a moon in the window. It's too sentimental, aggressively so. And no, he's not just thinking that cause looking at it makes him feel like his organs out falling out through his sternum.
"Daddy’s hug is where I stay…"
His voice catches again. You kiss his shin.
"In dreams until the morning day."
He almost gets through it in a way where he's confident enough to make a promise. I'll be here forever. But..he knows better. He's seen too many parents leave without meaning to. How many families have been ruined by a heart suddenly stopping or a car running a red light? He can't promise anything.
He presses his lips to her head.
"I'll be here for as long as I can be. That'll be enough mornings."
Enough practice to make it all the way through this stupid ass book without stopping. Almost.
baran al hashimi x fem!reader - 2k words - age gap (r is late 20s, baran is 40) - you and baran have been hooking up for a few months, never really going beyond that. one satruday you run into her at your favorite museum, and she has a guest | from this poll |
note: happy pride month gays. love y'all. unhh. (the sound is included in the message.)
Every other week, Kaveh stayed at Baran's house, which meant that every other Saturday, they ended up at the Carnegie Museum of Art.
It was one of Baran's favorite traiditons. The museum itself was stunning on its own, but it was made lovier when a tiny little body was pattering next to her, pointing out this-and-that, talking his little head off with questions, darting around the exhibits while Baran tried to mindfully enjoy it.
Baran had loved this museum since she was roughly fourteen years old and miserable on her middle school trip to D.C. She had gone to a nice enough school that they could afford to do an afternoon stop in Pittsburgh on the way home, and Baran had wandered into the museum half-asleep and walked back out feeling rearranged. There were many things about Pittsburgh that, now 40, she tolerated rather than loved. But this place had stayed in her bones.
Kaveh, unfortunately, was seven. He was usually a fantastic sport, but there were only so many oil paintings a child could stare at before he felt he'd seen them all.
Still, every Saturday Baran asked, “Do you want to come with me today, joonam?”
And every Saturday her sweet boy said yes.
She always let Kaveh lead when they visited the museum because there wan’t a single exhibit she didn’t enjoy and she had learned really quickly that if he felt he had control over what they were seeing, the longer he was able to last.
Usually, this meant they ended up in the sculpture hall. Kaveh adored the tall, skinny statues there with his entire little heart.
“They look silly,” he would whisper loudly, staring up at the long bronze limbs and dramatic poses with complete delight.
And every single visit, without fail, he would eventually turn to Baran with barely-contained excitement and say, “Māmān, take a picture.”
Then he’d plant himself beside the statues and imitate them as seriously as possible, long face, arms thrown awkwardly into the air, knees bent at impossible angles as Baran gleefully snapped his photo.
Kaveh was bounding back to her side and standing up on his tip-toes to see the fruit of his photo shoot. She was showing him the latest one, his nose wrinkling with pleasure at his own performance, when his head snapped to the side with the speed of a small animal catching a scent.
Baran had about half a second of confusion before he pulled in a breath and used every bit of it:
“DOCTOR Y/N!!!”
Baran jolted so hard she nearly dropped her phone.
“Kaveh—”
Too late.
Across the gallery, you turned around and Baran’s heart sunk through every floor of the museum. It seemed like an awful collision of her two worlds that she very carefully kept separate.
She knew you in fragments that didn’t belong in a place like this, your scrubs and tired eyes after a long shift that always softened when you saw her, you padding through her kitchen at night, stealing water from the fridge like you lived there too, you half-asleep against her shoulder, breath warm.
She also knew how your voice sounded when it went all high-pitched and breathy, whimpering pleas of her name in her ear as your hands scraped down her back, her kissing your neck—
And now there you were. Dark jeans, a soft cream sweater with the sleeves pushed up to your elbows, a tote bag from a college Baran had never heard you mention, rings stacked on your fingers that caught the gallery light. Your hair was different than she'd ever seen it. You looked soft.
She watched your expression move through confusion and arrive at something warm and surprised and delighted.
"Hi, Kaveh," you called across the gallery.
Kaveh was already moving. He crossed the room at a pace that was technically not running because his feet were not fully leaving the floor at the same time, but was in every other sense running. You crouched down to meet him and he wrapped his arms around your neck without preamble, without hesitation, the way children do when they've decided about a person.
"You're here!” he beamed.
"I am here," you laughed, settling back on your heels with your arms resting on your knees, completely unbothered by the contact with the museum floor. "What are you doing here, little dude? Are you an art guy?"
Kaveh pulled back and shrugged. "Sometimes," he said. "Māmān likes it a lot more than me though. But she says it's good for my brain."
"Smart woman, your mama."
Baran had crossed the gallery at a more appropriate pace and arrived to find you already looking up at her, easy and warm, not making anything of it.
"Dr. Al-Hashimi."
"Dr. Y/L/N." She heard how formal it sounded and internally winced. She cleared her throat and softened her tone. "Small world. I'm sorry about the ambush."
"Please don't be," you beamed, standing. "This is the best thing that's happened to me all morning."
You had met Kaveh twice before and Baran had kind of freaked out both times (you knew good and well she didn’t really want you two interacting, didn’t want to blend whatever fuck-buddy situation you had going on with the version of her life she was presenting to her son) but both interactions had been really, really lovely. You’re not sure what you did to earn Kaveh’s adoration, but you were glad you had it as the adorable little boy beamed up at you, staring at you like you hung the stars.
Baran, standing slightly to the side, was also looking at your face. For completely different reasons. She took in the different style of your hair, the jewelry she hadn’t seen because it was kind of a pain to wear rings at work, the tote bag with your college insignia — a school Baran had not known you attended, had never heard you talk about, another piece of the woman she hadn’t had yet.
There were so many pieces.
“Are you here alone?” Baran heard herself ask.
You smiled. “I am, embarrassingly enough. I just like it here.” You paused. “Mom-son date?”
“We come most Saturdays,” Baran said. “When Kaveh is persuadable.”
“It’s an awesome hangout spot,” you nodded warmly, trying to will your heart to stop fluttering. Baran looked so… touchable? Something about her was calmer, more settled, and you wanted to soak it in like a sapling begging for just a drop of water to sustain it, but she was here with her son. And you were just a friend. Barely even that.
“Well, it was lovely to see you both,” you started to turn, “I hope you—”
Kaveh latched onto your arm, eyes going big with sudden sadness. “Wait, are you going?”
You froze, mouth falling open a bit, and your eyes shot to Baran. Sure, you liked her company and loved her son, but you knew this woman had boundaries and you never took that personally.
“Um, well, Kaveh—”
"Don’t go yet because we are looking at statues and you can join us," Kaveh said excitedly. "Do you want to see?"
You blinked. Your eyes still searching Baran's face.
It was sweet, Baran realized. She allowed her head to tilt, a warm smile to come across her face.
"Yes," she said warmly. "Join us. We could use the company."
Huh. You shook of your shock and replaced it with an eager nod of your head.
"I'd love to," you replied, a similar smile pulling at your lips. "Show me."
—
You fell into step beside her at an easy distance, and Baran noticed that too — the careful inch of space you maintained, not crowding her nor presuming that the invite meant she, all of the sudden, wanted you on top of her.
You talked to Kaveh mostly, crouching when he pointed at things, asking him questions that took his opinions seriously, which made him stand a little taller each time.
"That one is super sad," Kaveh pointed at a bronze figure with its head bowed.
"Hm," you studied it. "What do you think he's sad about?"
Kaveh thought about this. "Maybe he lost something."
“Lost something?” Baran prompted.
“‘Cause his head is down, Māmān,” Kaveh replied. “He’s lookin’ for it.”
It surprised a laugh out of you — real and unguarded, bubbling up from your chest and floating out into the high-ceilinged room — and Baran's eyes went straight to your face.
She'd heard you laugh before. But not like that. Not with nothing behind it but the simple fact that something delighted you.
She looked away before you could catch her looking.
She was noticing things she had no particular right to notice. The way you paused longest in front of the landscapes. The small private smile when something caught you, unannounced and unperformed. The fact that you knew which paintings were which without looking at the placards.
Initially she had been bracing herself for some level of awkwardness bred from the reminder that you existed in a different compartment of her life, one that didn't belong here under the high windows with her son. But you hadn't made it awkward. You just looked very content not to be alone on a Saturday, and it made her heart twist.
She felt herself begin to unknot.
"You come here often?" she nudged you with her hip as you walked again, and didn’t miss the way your eyes twinkled at the contact.
"Most weekends I'm not working," you tilted your head at the room around you. "There's a painting in the next gallery I've been coming back to for about a year."
"Which one?"
You smiled a little. "I'll show you when we get there."
In the decorative arts wing Kaveh grabbed your hand to drag you toward a suit of armor, and you let him, and Baran watched your face when he pressed his small nose against the visor to peer inside. The expression you wore was so soft, so unself-conscious, that it caught her off guard.
She had long wondered what you were like when you weren't managing anything at all, be it your poise at work or your manners in her apartment or your ecstasy in her bed. Maybe this was it. Maybe this was exactly what you looked like laid bare.
—
They reached the end of the last gallery with the slow inevitability of a good afternoon running out. Kaveh had gone boneless against Baran's side around the second hour mark, dragging his feet and clinging to her arm, suddenly non-verbal.
You crouched down to him. "It was very good to see you, Kaveh. Thank you for the statue tour."
"You can come next Saturday," Kaveh offered, hand reaching out to fiddle with the neckline of your shirt.
Baran watched your face. She saw you almost smile and then she watched you catch it and smooth it over.
"That's a very kind invitation," you said carefully, to Kaveh, but you were still looking at her.
The restraint of it was so practiced and so deliberate that it nearly hurt. She had put you here in this careful, curtailed space and you had stayed in it without a word of complaint, because she'd asked you to a few months ago. Please don’t ask about my ex-husband, please don’t ask about my son. You had nodded and respected it ever since, because that was the kind of person you were.
She had an empty afternoon ahead of her, but you were full of so many little pieces that had started to crack away from your skin and fall into her palm just over the course of an hour. She wanted more. She wanted every shard until she could build your full mosaic.
"We were going to get lunch," Baran said. "There's a place around the corner Kaveh likes."
She paused, small and deliberate.
"I would like it if you came."
Baran watched the surprise dance across your eyes even though you tried to remain nonchalant. You were a very smart girl and she knew you understood exactly what she was actually saying. This was very different from when you would brush shoulders in the hospital, or when your phone would buzz with a "Are you free tonight?"
"Are you sure?" you asked softly.
"Very sure," she said, then raised her brow with a smirk. “Do I have to say please?”
You looked at her for a beat longer, something soft and open moving through your expression, and then you smiled so large it changed your whole face.
"Okay," you said. "I'd like that."
Kaveh grabbed both your hands at once, one each, and lurched forward without ceremony.
MP!Reader is big on just planting herself in Brendon’s lap. It started back at their wedding. An ex of hers coming towards her. She went to her new husband who was talking to some of his fraternity brothers. She placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked at her before opening himself up for her. She sat right down and the boys continued their conversation. And since then, she’ll sit in his lap. It doesn’t matter if he’s in the middle of reading a book or eating a meal. She’ll come right to him. She’s got him trained to push his seat back just enough.
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