The Truth of This World..

~Susan Hart/Caitlin Swift~ Independent Ripper Street RP blog by AllTheTrueBeauty AUs, OCs, etc more than welcome

[onlyonecharm]

Pint of Beer (because Reid/Susan babies are the cutest thing everrr)

Pint of Beer: Send a pint of beer for my muse to get pregnant to yours after a night of blackout drinking– or vice versa. Feel free to specify.

“It’s been a while Miss Hart.”

Susan nearly jumped out of her seat in the waiting area of H Division as Artherton spoke.  She managed a small smile, “I suppose it has.”

Noticing her glancing at Reid’s door for the umpteenth time since she’s arrived, Artherton nodded, “They should only be a few more minutes.  After such a grueling week, I’m sure the Inspector will be most grateful for an opportunity to escape for lunch with you.”

Straightening in the rather uncomfortable plastic chair, Susan’s hand unconsciously drifted to rest on her stomach, even without her coat not noticeably different than it had been 7 weeks ago, at the end of another grueling week at H Division.  She and Reid had forgone their usual Friday night excursion to the cinema in favor of take out and a DVD at her flat.  She couldn’t quite recall which one of them had joked about making a drinking game out of the incredibly cheesy movie they were watching, but she could personally claim responsibility for grabbing the bottle from kitchen.  

At the time she had figured on a hangover the next day, but didn’t quite fathom a much larger consequence that had caused her to keep Reid at arm’s length for the past two weeks.  

Once again interrupting her thoughts Artherton’s friendly voice called out, “Ah, there you have it.” as the door to Reid’s office opened.  

[onlyonecharm]

direid:

“I would enjoy the look but not the extra bathroom time” he said with a small laugh as he fixed his tie. “Do I look good enough to be your date tonight?” he asked her, taking a step back to appreciate how beautiful she looked.

He wrapped his arms around her, feeling she was distressed about the whole situation. “It will be fine, Susie… I am here for you… and the little one too, no matter what happens” he reassured her. 

He offered her his arm. “Yes… I think you will have fun tonight with my family, even though they can be a bit too much sometimes…”

“That was....an experience,” Susan said once both of their car doors were closed.  She turned in her seat to face Reid, hoping he noticed that she was grinning and carefully evaluation his own expression.

He hadn’t been wrong in saying that his family was a lot to handle, and having grown up with only a father that was absentee at best, it took Susan a few slightly overwhelmed minutes to settle in.  But all in all she had enjoyed herself and found Mrs. Reid’s slightly embarrassing questions a bit endearing.  

Also endearing -- the way Edmund and his family interacted.  It was a side of him she had never seen and it secretly made her even happier that they were about to embark on the adventure of parenthood together.  

Still though, she could tell he was nervous even now. “That is to say, I had a lovely time.”

[onlyonecharm]

Pint of Beer (because Reid/Susan babies are the cutest thing everrr)

Pint of Beer: Send a pint of beer for my muse to get pregnant to yours after a night of blackout drinking– or vice versa. Feel free to specify.

“It’s been a while Miss Hart.”

Susan nearly jumped out of her seat in the waiting area of H Division as Artherton spoke.  She managed a small smile, “I suppose it has.”

Noticing her glancing at Reid’s door for the umpteenth time since she’s arrived, Artherton nodded, “They should only be a few more minutes.  After such a grueling week, I’m sure the Inspector will be most grateful for an opportunity to escape for lunch with you.”

Straightening in the rather uncomfortable plastic chair, Susan’s hand unconsciously drifted to rest on her stomach, even without her coat not noticeably different than it had been 7 weeks ago, at the end of another grueling week at H Division.  She and Reid had forgone their usual Friday night excursion to the cinema in favor of take out and a DVD at her flat.  She couldn’t quite recall which one of them had joked about making a drinking game out of the incredibly cheesy movie they were watching, but she could personally claim responsibility for grabbing the bottle from kitchen.  

At the time she had figured on a hangover the next day, but didn’t quite fathom a much larger consequence that had caused her to keep Reid at arm’s length for the past two weeks.  

Once again interrupting her thoughts Artherton’s friendly voice called out, “Ah, there you have it.” as the door to Reid’s office opened.  

[onlyonecharm]

direid:

Reid blushed and rubbed his neck, rather uncomfortable. “Well, I have a deep appreciation for beautiful women in fine dresses” he said, wondering if it was too obvious he was already noticing her even before that ill fated night.

Reid waited for Susan to finish getting ready. Thankfully they would be in time for dinner. He was nervous about introducing her to his mother and sisters, somewhat worried about what Susan would think about his loud and nosy family but thought that no matter how hard it was, it was definitely easy than dealing with Susan’s dad. 

“Well, I was thinking about ommiting the ‘we were both drunk on tequilla’ part and just tell them we had a happy accident one night and are going steady now” he waited for her reaction, wondering if she would would be fine with his idea of how to explain their situation to his family.

Susan was unable to resist grinning at Reid’s comment.  That party had been months ago, back when she had firmly convinced herself that Reid was nothing more than a dear dear friend and that any thoughts beyond that were simply foolish..and yet here they were.  

“When you put it like that, I’m inclined to wear this dress every day,” she said with a wink before going to change.

A few minutes later she glanced in the mirror at Reid, standing behind her and smiled sadly, “Yes, I think that’s best.”

The answer was, indeed, the best option given their real circumstance, but Susan couldn’t shake a momentarily wave of sadness (and likely hormones) that this would be their baby’s story.  Deciding she couldn’t possibly do anything else to her hair in an effort to delay leaving the house, she turned to Reid wide-eyed, “I guess we should get going?” 

[onlyonecharm]

Pint of Beer (because Reid/Susan babies are the cutest thing everrr)

Pint of Beer: Send a pint of beer for my muse to get pregnant to yours after a night of blackout drinking– or vice versa. Feel free to specify.

“It’s been a while Miss Hart.”

Susan nearly jumped out of her seat in the waiting area of H Division as Artherton spoke.  She managed a small smile, “I suppose it has.”

Noticing her glancing at Reid’s door for the umpteenth time since she’s arrived, Artherton nodded, “They should only be a few more minutes.  After such a grueling week, I’m sure the Inspector will be most grateful for an opportunity to escape for lunch with you.”

Straightening in the rather uncomfortable plastic chair, Susan’s hand unconsciously drifted to rest on her stomach, even without her coat not noticeably different than it had been 7 weeks ago, at the end of another grueling week at H Division.  She and Reid had forgone their usual Friday night excursion to the cinema in favor of take out and a DVD at her flat.  She couldn’t quite recall which one of them had joked about making a drinking game out of the incredibly cheesy movie they were watching, but she could personally claim responsibility for grabbing the bottle from kitchen.  

At the time she had figured on a hangover the next day, but didn’t quite fathom a much larger consequence that had caused her to keep Reid at arm’s length for the past two weeks.  

Once again interrupting her thoughts Artherton’s friendly voice called out, “Ah, there you have it.” as the door to Reid’s office opened.  

[onlyonecharm]

direid:

“This one looks fine… Mother is not as conservative as you picture her to be…” he said as he ducked quickly to avoid the dress and approached her, gently resting his hands on her shoulders. “You look gorgeous and I am sure they will like you not just because you are kind, smart and funny but also because you make me happy” he said as he kissed her forehead. “Now, what about that blue wrap dress you wore at Drake and Bella’s dinner party a few months ago?” he asked with a small smile. “It really brings out your eyes and it won’t make the baby very visible”

Reid was rather anxious for Susan to just pick something to wear so they could be done with telling his mother and sisters about the new addition to the family. He knew they would be rather shocked but were most likely to welcome Susan into the family if she could get past a few tasteless jokes. Also, having their support would be very reassuring for both of them when time came to face Theodore Swift. 

“Caroline is expecting us at 9… so you probably should hurry up a bit”

“And you are incredibly sweet…and patient,” Susan said with a smile. “With an incredibly good memory. We weren’t even…I mean that was before…” 

She motioned to her stomach, eyebrows raised before heading back to their bedroom closet and fishing out the blue dress. “I’m just surprised you noticed.”

After changing into the dress, Susan stood in front of the mirror, freshening up her makeup. She was more nervous than she cared to admit. Theodore was difficult for sure, but at least Susan knew how to handle her father. Having grown up without a mother (or what most people would consider a normal parent save for Mary), she could only assume that, like Theodore, a mother would have high, if not unreasonable, expectations for her son. 

When she lifted her arms to fix her hair, she glanced in the mirror and frowned. “Your mother may not be that conservative, but I doubt she’ll be thrilled at the prospect of her son getting some girl pregnant after too much tequila.”

[celestial-soot-deactivated20191]

[sexlessrpmemes]

Winter-themed ask memes!

☕ : our muses are in a coffee shop drinking hot chocolate together, watching the snow fall outside.

⛄ : our muses are making a snowman together/ trying to outdo each other’s snowman (specify!)

🌨 : my muse knocks at my muse’s door during a snowstorm.

🍁 : our muses are playing in piles of leaves/ your muse is trying to stop mine from diving into a pile of leaves (specify!)

🕯 : my muse was trying to be cute and light candles but accidentally spilled the wax and burned themselves/ set something on fire (specify!)

🎁 : my muse is going to give your muse a present… what a lovely surprise!

❄️ : snowball fight!

🍴 : my muse is trying to cook a warm seasonal meal, like a dessert pie or a meat pie, and it smells delicious/ is going terribly, terribly wrong.

🏔 : our muses are hiking in the wilderness and a blizzard is beginning to brew/ they are lost/ need to pitch a camp. 

🌬 : the wind kicked up and blew something of your muse’s possessions, such as a pair of gloves or scarf, towards my muse (specify what it was!)

[scribbledbyhand]

… meeting went on and on and on …

[lemanstreet]

@scribbledhandwrite I look forward to your next meeting?

[corpyburd]

But we think it’s worth it;)

[direid]

This is offensive!!!! … Miss Susan would never dream such things, right, @onlyonecharm??? Also, I swear I never had a similar dream about Miss Susan, not even one about us being on a desert island…

[onlyonecharm]

It’s positive slander, my dear Inspector. Why would anyone that the two of us would deign to be anything, but friends?

[onlyonecharm]

Pint of Beer (because Reid/Susan babies are the cutest thing everrr)

Pint of Beer: Send a pint of beer for my muse to get pregnant to yours after a night of blackout drinking– or vice versa. Feel free to specify.

“It’s been a while Miss Hart.”

Susan nearly jumped out of her seat in the waiting area of H Division as Artherton spoke.  She managed a small smile, “I suppose it has.”

Noticing her glancing at Reid’s door for the umpteenth time since she’s arrived, Artherton nodded, “They should only be a few more minutes.  After such a grueling week, I’m sure the Inspector will be most grateful for an opportunity to escape for lunch with you.”

Straightening in the rather uncomfortable plastic chair, Susan’s hand unconsciously drifted to rest on her stomach, even without her coat not noticeably different than it had been 7 weeks ago, at the end of another grueling week at H Division.  She and Reid had forgone their usual Friday night excursion to the cinema in favor of take out and a DVD at her flat.  She couldn’t quite recall which one of them had joked about making a drinking game out of the incredibly cheesy movie they were watching, but she could personally claim responsibility for grabbing the bottle from kitchen.  

At the time she had figured on a hangover the next day, but didn’t quite fathom a much larger consequence that had caused her to keep Reid at arm’s length for the past two weeks.  

Once again interrupting her thoughts Artherton’s friendly voice called out, “Ah, there you have it.” as the door to Reid’s office opened.  

[onlyonecharm]

direid:

Reid smiled at how she rested her head on his shoulder. He truly enjoyed this closeness with Susan as he reached for her hand and interwined their fingers. 

“Oh yes… but I think that if any of us tried to interrupt we would still be here tomorrow morning” he said with a small smile. “You know Jackson cannot stop once he has started talking… specially about Mimi” he added with a small giggle before he planted a kiss on her cheek.

“Oh, am I disrupting the lovebirds?” Jackson asked sarcastically as he returned. 

Reid gave him an ugly look.

“Sorry, it’s a bit hard to accept other people can be happy while I am miserable… Now, let’s talk about you and Susie procreating” he said with a smirk. 

Baby Jackson doing okay? Susan rolled her eyes at the text, and nevertheless tapped out a quick, Yes, they’ve been behaving this week. I’ve hardly been sick, in response to Jackson’s text message.  

It was three weeks after she and Reid had told Jackson about their pregnancy, swearing him to secrecy for the time-being with the promise that they’d consider naming the baby after him. It wasn’t that they were trying to keep it from their friends - it was more the matter of their families.  Susan still hadn’t figured out exactly how to broach the subject with her father, but luckily, Theodore had been traveling and out of touch for a few weeks, buying her some time.

But as for Reid’s family....

“How much is your mother going to judge me if I wear this one?” Susan asked holding up a grey, scoop-neck dress.  Not waiting for Reid’s answer, she continued, mumbling to herself, “I suppose a scarf would work...and shoes...oh god, which shoes?”

Narrowly avoiding Reid’s head, she tossed the dress on the growing pile on the bed and rushed to the hall closet where they had finally decided to stash her extra shoeboxes, calling after her, “What time are they expecting us, dear?”

[onlyonecharm]

puresails:

memedelene:

Yet Another Munday Meme  Send me a symbol and I’ll answer ooc 

ѩ - Are there any characters that you love, but simply cannot role play? 

Җ - What’s your greatest source of inspiration when it comes to role playing? 

ℛ - Are you religious? 

♬ - Do you listen to music when you write? If yes, what kind of music? 

ᚡ - Random fact about the mun? 

✒ - Do you have a preference when it comes to gender regarding your muses? 

ಹ - Share a story from your childhood! 

෴ - Tell us about your day. 

㉘ - How do you usually spend your birthdays? 

⨌ - If you ever had the opportunity to clone yourself, would you? 

ᚖ - Do you wear makeup?

༺ - Do you have any siblings? What’s your relationship with them like? 

๛ - Share an embarrassing story about yourself! 

❤ - Are you and/or your muse currently in love with someone? 

ℳ - Do you think you have a good handwriting? 

☢ - When was the last time you went to the cinema? What movie did you watch?

⨕ - Are you a jealous role player? 

[onlyonecharm]

Pint of Beer (because Reid/Susan babies are the cutest thing everrr)

Pint of Beer: Send a pint of beer for my muse to get pregnant to yours after a night of blackout drinking– or vice versa. Feel free to specify.

“It’s been a while Miss Hart.”

Susan nearly jumped out of her seat in the waiting area of H Division as Artherton spoke.  She managed a small smile, “I suppose it has.”

Noticing her glancing at Reid’s door for the umpteenth time since she’s arrived, Artherton nodded, “They should only be a few more minutes.  After such a grueling week, I’m sure the Inspector will be most grateful for an opportunity to escape for lunch with you.”

Straightening in the rather uncomfortable plastic chair, Susan’s hand unconsciously drifted to rest on her stomach, even without her coat not noticeably different than it had been 7 weeks ago, at the end of another grueling week at H Division.  She and Reid had forgone their usual Friday night excursion to the cinema in favor of take out and a DVD at her flat.  She couldn’t quite recall which one of them had joked about making a drinking game out of the incredibly cheesy movie they were watching, but she could personally claim responsibility for grabbing the bottle from kitchen.  

At the time she had figured on a hangover the next day, but didn’t quite fathom a much larger consequence that had caused her to keep Reid at arm’s length for the past two weeks.  

Once again interrupting her thoughts Artherton’s friendly voice called out, “Ah, there you have it.” as the door to Reid’s office opened.  

[onlyonecharm]

direid:

Reid straightened on his chair, giving her hand a supportive squeeze and nodding as she spoke. Jackson laughed. “No, really… I have seen Reid in a locker room… it’s almost physically impossible for it to happen and being comfortable to you, darlin”

Reid blushed at his question. “We have been “together” offically only for two days now…” he said, afraid of giving the man more details of the circunstances of the child’s conception.

“So you are saying you got drunk and knocked up Barbie?” he said with a laugh. “Goddamnit, Reid… you definitely reached a whole new level of epic”

“You should aspire to such,” Susan said raising an eyebrow at Jackson.  

The American feigned a wounded look and turned to Reid, “You’ve got your work cut out for you, Reid.  I can’t imagine this one when the hormones kick in.”

“I’d be more than happy to preview that experience if you choose to keep talking like I’m not sitting right next to you,” Susan said. “Now then, weren’t we rushed here to discuss YOUR problems?”

Having learned many time over during their own relationship, Jackson knew when Susan was done with his attempts to steer around the matter at hand, and so the American launched into the events leading up to the latest blow up between himself and his current girlfriend, Mimi Morton.

Roughly an hour later, and, she hoped, over halfway through Jackson’s ramblings, Susan found herself slumped in the booth, rather wide-eyed as he continued to ramble.  Finally he said, “’Scuse me darlin’..coffee...and whiskey.”

Susan stood, letting Jackson out of the booth, and as he wandered off to the cafe’s restroom, she sat down once more, this time next to Reid.

“Although I’m grateful he’s done interrogating us, I don’t think either one of us has gotten a word in for about forty minutes,” she said leaning her head on Reid’s shoulder for a moment. 

[lady-alanna-deactivated20230826]

[onlyonecharm]

countessripper:

I don’t know where this came from, but it looks like Susan and Jackson….

[lemanstreet]

Sackson Saturday

[mcxsteamy]

;PSA

[onlyonecharm]

onlyonecharm:

lovelornrocketscientist:

THIS MUN ENCOURAGES THE FOLLOWING:

send me all the memes you like. Sometimes I’ll take a while to get to them but never be scared to send memes, even if we aren’t mutuals. Memes are open to everyone.

ask me questions if you like OOC even if we aren’t mutuals.

turn any of our memes into threads.

remind me if I’ve forgotten about our thread. I won’t be mad. Sometimes I just need a kick in the ass. 

throw things at me even if we haven’t plotted it. Throw starters, HCs you have for our muses, songs you want me to listen to—literally thrown anything you like at me, okay? 

never feel like you have to reply or justify why you haven’t replied to me. If you don’t feel a thread, that’s cool, sometimes it happens. I won’t be offended. Just HMU if you want to HC or plot more on it. If you want to drop the thread, that’s cool too. Just let me know. We can do something else. It happens.

come at me even if you’re not part of my fandom because I love crossovers. Some of my favorite threads are crossovers. Hit me with your OCs too. I love ’em.

have a goddamn good time in this community! That’s what it’s all about!

[lemanstreet]

Conor and a puppy, double heart melter.

[lady-alanna-deactivated20230826]

Baby 😢

[celestial-soot-deactivated20191]

The two pups. 

[onlyonecharm]

Pint of Beer (because Reid/Susan babies are the cutest thing everrr)

Pint of Beer: Send a pint of beer for my muse to get pregnant to yours after a night of blackout drinking– or vice versa. Feel free to specify.

“It’s been a while Miss Hart.”

Susan nearly jumped out of her seat in the waiting area of H Division as Artherton spoke.  She managed a small smile, “I suppose it has.”

Noticing her glancing at Reid’s door for the umpteenth time since she’s arrived, Artherton nodded, “They should only be a few more minutes.  After such a grueling week, I’m sure the Inspector will be most grateful for an opportunity to escape for lunch with you.”

Straightening in the rather uncomfortable plastic chair, Susan’s hand unconsciously drifted to rest on her stomach, even without her coat not noticeably different than it had been 7 weeks ago, at the end of another grueling week at H Division.  She and Reid had forgone their usual Friday night excursion to the cinema in favor of take out and a DVD at her flat.  She couldn’t quite recall which one of them had joked about making a drinking game out of the incredibly cheesy movie they were watching, but she could personally claim responsibility for grabbing the bottle from kitchen.  

At the time she had figured on a hangover the next day, but didn’t quite fathom a much larger consequence that had caused her to keep Reid at arm’s length for the past two weeks.  

Once again interrupting her thoughts Artherton’s friendly voice called out, “Ah, there you have it.” as the door to Reid’s office opened.  

[direid]

Jackson stood quiet for a long moment as the waiter brought Reid and Susan their hot chocolates.

“Why didn’t you ordered a mimosa?” he asked Susan, before looking at Reid’s identical hot chocolate mug.  “Oh my god, you are pregnant!” he said, looking in shock at the woman in front of him. “My condolences to the unlucky bastard” Reid felt somewhat upset about Jackson talking to Susan like this and gave him an ugly look. “I would let you know my parents were officially married, Homer”

[onlyonecharm]

Susan sighed, resisting the urge to roll her eyes at both of them.  Instead she reached over, squeezed Reid’s hand gently for a moment and then turned back to Jackson saying, “Yes, I am...or rather Edmund and I are expecting a child.”

Jackson looked back and forth between Susan and Reid.  “How is that even possible?”

“You’re the doctor,” Susan shot back taking a sip of her hot chocolate.  “And your activities outside work would indicate that you’re fairly familiar with the process.”  

Jackson gave a low whistle, “Touche’ darlin’”  Try as he may, he was unable to resist grinning over his cup of coffee.  “So how’d the two of you manage to be together all this time without anyone knowing?”

[rp-memes-cafe]

Penny Dreadful -- Sentence Starters

“I must find out who I am yet going to be.”

“Oh, I will miss her to my bones.”

“Let it end. With a kiss.”

“It hurts me more than I thought it would, seeing you.”

“Do you not yet comprehend the wicked secret of the immortal?”

“You have become a perfect, unchanging portrait of yourself.”

“Passion will undo the best of us and lead only to tragedy.”

“Their blood is on my soul!”

“You have poisoned my heart.”

“We make our own heaven and our own hell.”

“Don’t I scare you?”

“I whistle away haunts like you before breakfast, love.”

“It is too easy being monsters. Let us try to be human.”

“Please don’t take her from me. Please.”

“I would rather die who I am than live as your demure little wife.”

“Why is it men always resist doing what’s best for them if they think it makes them look weak?”

“I would rather die here on my feet than live a lifetime on my knees.”

“We shall go everywhere, thee and me.”

“Don’t try to stay conscious.”

“You’re not a killer.”

“There’s one monster who loves you for who you really are. And here he stands.”

“Why not be who you are instead?”

“I will love you til time has lost all meaning.”

“You are made for the day. Not the night.”

“We prize things most when we’ve lost them.”

“No man should have to murder a member of his own family. This I know.”

“People are better than we think.”

“We have been unhappy long enough.”

“You may be done with Hell, but it is not done with you.”

“To save my son, I would slaughter an entire army.”

“Do you feel forgiven?”

“I’m not leaving you for anything in this world.”

“We have so much to catch up on, do we not?”

“How valuable is your life?”

“Lay hands on him and it’ll be your end.”

“I must save you from all of this. One way or another. “

“We shall have, my dear, a monumental revenge.”

“There’s blood on my teeth. And in my soul, I think.”

“Now, you are mine.”

“I already know what’s wrong with you.”

“But please do not fear for me. I have no fear myself.”

“I’m sorry you feel so unloved.”

[onlyonecharm]

+💤

Send in “💤“ for my muse’s reaction to your muse resting their head in their lap. Alternatively send “+💤“ for my muse to rest their head in your muse’s lap.

Though none of them was in ideal condition after all they had been through, it was Reid she worried for the most, and a glance over at Jackson indicated that he shared his wife’s opinion.  A hot bath, fresh clothes and a meal, courtesy of Miss Morton had done them each a bit of good, but Reid had seemed to find the most solace in the bottle of whiskey situated next to him on the floor. 

“We need to rest,” Jackson softly in his wife’s ear as she leaned in the doorway.  He jutted his chin toward the Inspector, once again reaching for the drink.  “All of us.”  

Susan nodded, but then turned, catching Jackson’s hand before he could move toward the Inspector.  “Let me try.”

Jackson took her place leaning against doorframe, while Susan moved to sit with Reid on the floor.  

The pair didn’t acknowledge each for moment, before Reid took a shuddering breath and whispered, “He’s gone.”

“I know,” Susan replied softly.

“And Mathilde…”

“Is safe in this moment, depending on you to guard yourself so that you may come back to her.” It was as much a reassurance to herself as it was to Reid, and perhaps, somewhere beneath the layers of whiskey, it was this sentiment that prompted him to set the bottle back down. Instead of leaning back against the wall, Susan guided Reid so that his head was resting in her lap, the way she had sat with Conor on their last night at Newgate.  “Sleep now, Edmund.”

As Reid’s eyes drifted shut, Susan’s met Jackson’s and from the doorway, he nodded his understanding.  Trying not groan heavily and wake their sleeping friend, Jackson settled on the floor next to Susan and looped an arm around his wife.  

[onlyonecharm]

Pint of Beer (because Reid/Susan babies are the cutest thing everrr)

Pint of Beer: Send a pint of beer for my muse to get pregnant to yours after a night of blackout drinking– or vice versa. Feel free to specify.

“It’s been a while Miss Hart.”

Susan nearly jumped out of her seat in the waiting area of H Division as Artherton spoke.  She managed a small smile, “I suppose it has.”

Noticing her glancing at Reid’s door for the umpteenth time since she’s arrived, Artherton nodded, “They should only be a few more minutes.  After such a grueling week, I’m sure the Inspector will be most grateful for an opportunity to escape for lunch with you.”

Straightening in the rather uncomfortable plastic chair, Susan’s hand unconsciously drifted to rest on her stomach, even without her coat not noticeably different than it had been 7 weeks ago, at the end of another grueling week at H Division.  She and Reid had forgone their usual Friday night excursion to the cinema in favor of take out and a DVD at her flat.  She couldn’t quite recall which one of them had joked about making a drinking game out of the incredibly cheesy movie they were watching, but she could personally claim responsibility for grabbing the bottle from kitchen.  

At the time she had figured on a hangover the next day, but didn’t quite fathom a much larger consequence that had caused her to keep Reid at arm’s length for the past two weeks.  

Once again interrupting her thoughts Artherton’s friendly voice called out, “Ah, there you have it.” as the door to Reid’s office opened.  

[onlyonecharm]

She had closed her eyes, briefly, when he kissed her cheek and gazed at him a moment longer after he stopped speaking, “Yes, of course.”

Clearing her throat, and regaining a bit of her bearings, Susan nodded her head toward a table where Jackson was slumped, nursing a drink and texting, “Certainly an infant can’t be any more difficult than a heartbroken surgeon, right?”

She led the way to the table, gracefully sliding into the booth next to Jackson, giving him a pat on the back, “What happened, dear?”

[direid]

“Well, a regular one will probably be much easier… but it’s your kid we are talking about” he said playfully as they made their way to the booth.

Reid sat quietly in front of them and ordered him and Susan two hot chocolates, letting her work a bit of her magic on the heartbroken American.

“…And where the hell have you two been? I have been trying to call since yesterday!” he said, visibily suspicious.

That was when Reid knew their secret was done. Jackson was probably the most perceptive man he knew, so the lie would have to be good.

“I had an unexpected business to tend to” he hoped, imagining his “boring life” would hold no interest to the American. 

[onlyonecharm]

“Busy weekend at the shop,” Susan said nonchalantly as she sipped her hot chocolate.  

“Busy enough that you couldn’t answer a damned text?” Jackson muttered taking a swing of his coffee that no doubt also contained a shot of whiskey.  

“Theodore’s in town so I’ve been avoiding my phone,” Susan said, slightly relieved that there was at least some truth in that statement.  

Jackson actually chuckled and shook his head, “What in the hell is he hassling you about this time, darlin’?  You got rid of me, your business is going well enough..” He shrugged and raised an eyebrow at Susan, then Reid.