hello sam for samira feels whitewashing her name… i had to think who samira was when part 11 popped up on my fyp. i understand it might not be intentional, but as a poc, i am letting you know.
Hiii i understand the concern and totally get it. Im poc (south asian) too and have friends with really similar and also the same names and we usually call them sam as well! Hence why i leaned on using sam as a nickname :p also i know its up to everyone to imagine who ‘reader’ is, but i still like to imagine the reader in my smau is poc
Summary: more than a month has officially passed since the robby incident and your shift to the ‘dark side’. And so far, things are going surprisingly well for you. You’re even growing closer to your attending, which according to you is normal and very much platonic. But your friends think other wise… maybe even your attending as well.
Author’s Note: can’t believe this we made it to 11 parts gng. Thank you all so much for the support. There will be more and dont worry we will get back to more jack x reader moments soon, a Christmas episode perhaps? And no this is not a michael robinavitch x reader fic. Saying michael robinavitch because nicknames are for friends and he is no friend of mine.
not an ask, just wanted to let you know in case it wasn’t intent that for the past few installments of the abbot x reader smau the link to previous chapters has been written as “perv” instead of “prev”
OH MY GOD I SWEAR MY AUTO CORRECT KEEPS FIXING IT TYSM
Summary: more than a month has officially passed since the robby incident and your shift to the ‘dark side’. And so far, things are going surprisingly well for you. You’re even growing closer to your attending, which according to you is normal and very much platonic. But your friends think other wise… maybe even your attending as well.
Author’s Note: took a day to upload this sorry. Have been in the trenches. Anyways, again, i hope this doesn’t feel sloppy 🥲 more tw for robby and robby thinking everything will be back to normal after his YouTuber ass apology. I put which slides are jack’s pov so you dont get confused, every other photo without it written is from readers pov
Comment if you want to be added to the tag list <3
Summary: more than a month has officially passed since the robby incident and your shift to the ‘dark side’. And so far, things are going surprisingly well for you. You’re even growing closer to your attending, which according to you is normal and very much platonic. But your friends think other wise… maybe even your attending as well.
Author’s Note: took a day to upload this sorry. Have been in the trenches. Anyways, again, i hope this doesn’t feel sloppy 🥲 more tw for robby and robby thinking everything will be back to normal after his YouTuber ass apology. I put which slides are jack’s pov so you dont get confused, every other photo without it written is from readers pov
Comment if you want to be added to the tag list <3
Summary: more than a month has officially passed since the robby incident and your shift to the ‘dark side’. And so far, things are going surprisingly well for you. You’re even growing closer to your attending, which according to you is normal and very much platonic. But your friends think other wise… maybe even your attending as well.
Author’s Note: More jack’s Pov in this one so tw for robby again sorry he will up showing up a bit 😞 sorry this one took me a while and might feel rushed and there are certain errors made. Crashing out over assignments (i love it here 😻)
Comment if you want to be added to the tag list <3
Summary: more than a month has officially passed since the robby incident and your shift to the ‘dark side’. And so far, things are going surprisingly well for you. You’re even growing closer to your attending, which according to you is normal and very much platonic. But your friends think other wise… maybe even your attending as well.
Author’s Note: More jack’s Pov in this one so tw for robby again sorry he will up showing up a bit 😞 sorry this one took me a while and might feel rushed and there are certain errors made. Crashing out over assignments (i love it here 😻)
Comment if you want to be added to the tag list <3
Summary: more than a month has officially passed since the robby incident and your shift to the ‘dark side’. And so far, things are going surprisingly well for you. You’re even growing closer to your attending, which according to you is normal and very much platonic. But your friends think other wise… maybe even your attending as well.
Author’s Note: its readers birthday. let the slow burn begin 😝 also this one’s special cz it has jack’s pov too. Hopefully this doesn’t feel too rushed gang. Tw for robby….
Comment if you want to be added to the tag list <3
Summary: more than a month has officially passed since the robby incident and your shift to the ‘dark side’. And so far, things are going surprisingly well for you. You’re even growing closer to your attending, which according to you is normal and very much platonic. But your friends think other wise… maybe even your attending as well.
Author’s Note: its readers birthday. let the slow burn begin 😝 also this one’s special cz it has jack’s pov too. Hopefully this doesn’t feel too rushed gang. Tw for robby….
Comment if you want to be added to the tag list <3
Summary: more than a month has officially passed since the robby incident and your shift to the ‘dark side’. And so far, things are going surprisingly well for you. You’re even growing closer to your attending, which according to you is normal and very much platonic. But your friends think other wise… maybe even your attending as well.
Trigger warnings: mentions of death of a loved one
Author’s Note: no jokes in this one gang. Tried to keep this short. The jokes will be back but i thought this one needed to be a bit serious. Hopefully i didn’t handle the topic too poorly. Anyways, love you all and please take care of your selves and reach out for help if you feel low or need to talk and let things out <3 there will always be people that are more than happy to help and listen.
Comment if you want to be added to the tag list <3
Summary: more than a month has officially passed since the robby incident and your shift to the ‘dark side’. And so far, things are going surprisingly well for you. You’re even growing closer to your attending, which according to you is normal and very much platonic. But your friends think other wise… maybe even your attending as well.
Trigger warnings: mentions of death of a loved one
Author’s Note: no jokes in this one gang. Tried to keep this short. The jokes will be back but i thought this one needed to be a bit serious. Hopefully i didn’t handle the topic too poorly. Anyways, love you all and please take care of your selves and reach out for help if you feel low or need to talk and let things out <3 there will always be people that are more than happy to help and listen.
Comment if you want to be added to the tag list <3
Summary: more than a month has officially passed since the robby incident and your shift to the ‘dark side’. And so far, things are going surprisingly well for you. You’re even growing closer to your attending, which according to you is normal and very much platonic. But your friends think other wise… maybe even your attending as well.
Author’s Note: shits gonna go down a little. Again i wanted to type so much more but I’ll have to divide them into other parts. Anyways hope you enjoy <3 and yes jack is a cat dad.
Comment if you want to be added to the tag list <3
Summary: more than a month has officially passed since the robby incident and your shift to the ‘dark side’. And so far, things are going surprisingly well for you. You’re even growing closer to your attending, which according to you is normal and very much platonic. But your friends think other wise… maybe even your attending as well.
Author’s Note: shits gonna go down a little. Again i wanted to type so much more but I’ll have to divide them into other parts. Anyways hope you enjoy <3 and yes jack is a cat dad. Also both of the pictures of jack’s cat here were taken from pintrest.
Comment if you want to be added to the tag list <3
Summary: more than a month has officially passed since the robby incident and your shift to the ‘dark side’. And so far, things are going surprisingly well for you. You’re even growing closer to your attending, which according to you is normal and very much platonic. But your friends think other wise… maybe even your attending as well.
Author’s Note: the amount of times i had to rewrite some of the messages and re take screenshots is insane all because i couldn’t have more than 10 pictures. Anyways it was fun regardless
Comment if you wish to be tagged in these posts <3
Summary: Morning comes, and Jack is still there. Unfortunately, so is the reality of telling Carter and Robby what happened over the weekend. Fortunately, Carter has absolutely no intention of making that difficult. Okay. Maybe a little difficult.
Warnings: implied sexual content, references to sex, grief and discussion of Laura’s death, military injury/amputation/prosthetic, second-chance romance, excessive amounts of kissing, Carter being physically incapable of keeping a secret, Jack Abbot experiencing approximately twenty years of repressed affection all at once.
Author’s Note: We made it, lovelies. 🥹 After all the missed timing, letters, photographs, almosts, and years between them, I really wanted this chapter to be about something much simpler: what happens when Jack and Reader finally get to stay. They get coffee. They tell their family. Jack discovers he apparently has twenty years of kisses to make up for. Carter takes full credit for everything. There is still one very special epilogue to come. 🤍
For a few seconds, he did not know what had pulled him from sleep.
The guest room was quiet. Morning light had begun to gather around the edges of the curtains, pale and soft enough that the room still felt suspended somewhere between night and day.
Then Jack felt the weight against his chest.
He looked down.
You were asleep against him.
One arm rested across his stomach, your cheek tucked against his chest. Your hair had fallen across his skin sometime during the night, soft and disordered from sleep. One of your legs was tangled loosely with his beneath the blankets.
Jack stopped breathing for a moment.
You were here.
Not nineteen. Not a photograph. Not a memory he had carried folded inside his wallet for more years than he cared to count.
You.
Warm and sleeping in his arms.
His chest ached.
The feeling was so full that it almost hurt.
Jack lowered his hand to your back.
He moved carefully, barely touching you at first, his palm tracing slowly over the fabric of your shirt. He felt the steady rise and fall beneath his hand.
You shifted closer in your sleep.
Jack closed his eyes.
That nearly finished him.
His arm tightened instinctively around you, drawing you more securely against his chest.
Last night returned in pieces.
Your face when he told you the truth about the letter.
The hurt in your voice when you told him he should have let you choose.
The hospital.
The lake.
The years neither of you had ever managed to put completely behind you.
Then your voice asking him the question that had finally stripped away every excuse he had left.
Is it over now?
Not even close.
Jack opened his eyes again.
You were still there.
His fingers moved carefully through your hair, brushing a strand away from your face.
He studied you in the weak morning light.
Time had changed you.
There were faint lines at the corners of your eyes that had not been there beside the lake. Your face had softened in places. Your hair fell differently against your cheek.
Jack wanted to know every change.
His heart ached thinking about how many mornings he had missed.
For once, he let it.
He did not turn the feeling into a reason to step away.
His hand moved slowly down your back again.
He loved the weight of you against him.
Loved the warmth of your body.
Loved that you had fallen asleep with your hand spread over his stomach as though some part of you had needed to keep contact even after sleep took over.
Jack looked at your face.
He could still hardly believe the two of you had finally said it.
I love you.
He had said it.
You had said it back.
After all the years he had spent convincing himself that loving you meant knowing when to leave, you had looked him in the eye and told him you loved him now.
Jack’s thumb moved gently along your back.
He knew what this was.
That certainty should have frightened him.
Instead, it settled somewhere deep inside his chest with the weight of something that had been waiting years to come home.
Jack had loved you since he was twenty-one.
He had loved you when he boarded that bus.
He had loved you through every letter.
He had loved you through years in which both of you built lives that did not belong to each other.
He loved you now.
And lying there with you asleep against him, Jack knew something else with a clarity that left no room for argument.
This was the woman he was going to spend the rest of his life with.
Jack stared at you.
Then, with absolutely no warning, the thought became even more specific.
I would marry her.
Jack went still.
Not eventually.
Not after six months of behaving sensibly and pretending the two of you had not already known each other for most of your lives.
Right now.
He would wake you up, pack both your bags, throw them into his truck, and drive straight to Vegas if you opened your eyes and said yes.
The thought should have alarmed him.
Instead, Jack found himself considering how quickly he could get you to Nevada.
His mouth curved.
Completely ridiculous.
Robby would kill him.
Carter would be worse.
Jack could already picture the outrage on the kid’s face.
After everything Carter had done to get the two of you into the same house, there was no chance he would accept being excluded from the wedding.
He would probably produce an itemized list of his contributions to the relationship.
Breadsticks would be on it.
Jack’s smile widened.
Vegas was probably out.
Probably.
You made a soft sound against his chest.
Jack immediately looked down.
Your nose scrunched slightly before your face relaxed again.
He brushed his knuckles gently over your hair.
You shifted beneath his touch and slowly opened your eyes.
For a second, you only blinked at him. Then recognition softened your face.
“Hi,” you murmured.
Jack’s heart did something deeply inconvenient inside his chest.
“Morning,” Jack replied.
Your eyes moved over his face.
“You’re staring at me,” you said.
Jack’s thumb continued its slow path along your back.
“I know,” Jack replied.
A sleepy smile pulled at your mouth.
“How long?” you asked.
Jack considered lying.
“Long enough to become concerned about it,” Jack admitted.
Your smile widened.
“That sounds healthy,” you murmured.
Jack bent and pressed a kiss to your forehead.
“I’m a doctor,” Jack said. “I’ll monitor it.”
A quiet laugh escaped you.
You settled closer against him and rested your cheek over his heart again.
Jack’s arm tightened around you.
Neither of you spoke for a moment.
Then your fingers moved lazily against his stomach.
“You’re still here,” you said.
Jack lowered his mouth to your hair.
“I’m still here,” Jack replied.
You tipped your face up toward him.
“Tomorrow too?” you asked.
Jack’s thumb brushed slowly over your back.
“Tomorrow too,” Jack said.
Jack kissed you before he could start thinking about Nevada again.
The kiss stayed soft.
Lazy.
Unhurried in a way neither of you had managed the night before.
When Jack pulled back, you kept your hand against his chest.
“We should probably figure out what we’re telling Carter,” you said.
Jack exhaled through his nose.
“There goes the morning,” Jack replied.
You smiled.
“We cannot just let him figure it out,” you said.
Jack gave you a look.
“He arranged half of this weekend,” Jack replied. “I think he has already figured out most of it.”
“Still,” you said. “We should tell him.”
Jack’s fingers moved slowly along your back.
“Together,” Jack said.
You nodded. “Together,” you agreed.
Jack looked toward the ceiling for a moment.
“And clearly,” Jack added.
You lifted your head.
“Clearly?” you asked.
Jack looked back at you.
“No vague language,” Jack said. “No ‘we’re seeing where this goes.’ No ‘something happened this weekend.’”
Your mouth curved.
“You really have thought about this,” you said.
Jack’s expression stayed serious.
“He’s nine,” Jack replied. “He deserves to know what’s actually happening.”
The tenderness in his voice softened your smile. You traced one finger over his chest.
“So we tell him we’re together,” you said. “That it’s serious.”
Jack nodded.
“That it isn’t temporary,” Jack added.
You held his gaze.
“That it isn’t temporary,” you repeated.
Jack’s hand settled at your waist.
“And Robby?” you asked.
Jack groaned quietly.
“You tell him,” Jack said.
You laughed.
“Absolutely not,” you replied. “You’re doing this with me.”
Jack closed his eyes.
“He is never going to let this go,” Jack said.
“No,” you agreed. “He absolutely is not.”
Jack opened his eyes again.
“He’s going to be relieved,” Jack said.
You smiled softly. “And happy,” you added.
Jack’s expression eased.
“Yeah,” Jack replied. “Happy too.”
You rested your cheek against his chest again.
For another minute, neither of you moved. Then your eyes shifted toward the clock on the nightstand. You lifted your head.
“What time is Carter coming home?” you asked.
Jack followed your gaze. His expression changed.
“An hour,” Jack said.
You stared at him. “An hour?” you repeated.
Jack nodded once.
You pushed yourself upright.
“We need to get up,” you said.
Jack’s arm tightened around your waist before you could move far.
“We need showers,” you continued. “Coffee. Clothes. We should probably make the bed.”
Jack looked toward the tangled blankets.
“He is nine,” Jack said.
“He has eyes,” you replied.
Jack’s mouth twitched. You tried to pull away again. Jack did not let go.
“Jack,” you said.
His hand slid along your waist.
“We have an hour,” Jack replied.
You looked down at him.
“Yes,” you said slowly.
Jack’s gaze dropped to your mouth. Your stomach flipped. You narrowed your eyes.
“No,” you said.
Jack’s eyebrows lifted.
“I didn’t say anything,” Jack replied.
“You didn’t have to,” you said.
His mouth curved.
You stared at him for another second. Then your own smile betrayed you. Jack noticed immediately.
“That is not a no,” Jack said.
You lowered yourself back over him.
“We really should get up,” you murmured.
Jack’s hands settled at your hips.
“In a minute,” Jack replied.
You kissed him.
The shower could wait. So could the coffee.
Carter still had fifty-eight minutes.
By the time you and Jack made it downstairs, Carter was due home in less than fifteen minutes.
The coffee maker hummed on the counter while Jack opened the cabinet above it and reached for two mugs.
You watched him pull yours down without asking.
Something about that caught at you.
It was such a small thing.
Jack knew which mug you used at your brother’s house. He knew how much coffee you poured before adding cream. He knew you would steal the first sip from his if yours took too long.
There were decades tucked into the ordinary parts of knowing each other.
Jack set your mug beneath the machine.
“We need a plan,” you said.
Jack glanced toward you.
“I thought we had one,” Jack replied.
“For telling Carter,” you clarified.
Jack’s expression shifted.
“Right,” Jack said.
Jack poured coffee into his mug, then slid your mug toward you. You wrapped both hands around it.
“So what do we say?” you asked.
Jack considered the question.
“We tell him we’re together,” Jack said.
You nodded.
“We tell him we decided this weekend,” you added.
Jack’s gaze lifted to yours.
“We tell him we love each other,” Jack said.
The words still did something to you.
Your fingers tightened slightly around the mug.
Jack noticed.
His expression softened.
“That too,” you said with a smile.
Jack stepped closer to the counter.
“And we tell him this isn’t temporary,” Jack added. “It isn’t just something that happened because we were here.”
You held his gaze.
“No,” you said. “It isn’t.”
Jack reached for your free hand. His fingers slipped through yours easily.
“We should make sure he knows nothing changes with him,” you said. “You’re still Uncle Jack. I’m still Auntie. We both still love him exactly the same.”
Jack nodded.
“Absolutely,” Jack said.
You took a sip of coffee.
“And then we let him ask questions,” you said.
Jack went still.
You lowered the mug. “What?” you asked.
Jack studied you.
“How many questions?” Jack asked.
You laughed.
“He’s nine, Jack,” you reminded him.
Jack raised his eyebrows.
“That did not answer my question,” Jack said.
“We answer whatever he needs to ask,” you replied.
Jack stared at you for a moment.
“That feels dangerously open-ended,” Jack said.
“You’ve handled mass casualties,” you reminded him.
Jack stepped into the space between you and the counter.
“I have never treated a mass casualty capable of asking follow-up questions,” Jack replied.
A laugh escaped you. Jack smiled. The sight still felt new somehow. Not Jack smiling. Jack smiling at you like this. Without pulling it back afterward. Without remembering that there was somewhere else one of you was eventually supposed to go.
You set your coffee down. “We’ll be fine,” you said.
Jack’s hand settled at your waist.
“You seem very confident,” Jack replied.
You rested your hand against his chest.
“I am,” you said.
Jack tilted his head.
“About Carter?” Jack asked.
You shook your head.
“About us,” you replied.
Jack’s expression changed.
The teasing disappeared, leaving something warmer behind. His thumb brushed once over your side.
“Yeah,” Jack said quietly. “Me too.”
Jack leaned down and pressed a kiss to your forehead.
The front door opened.
“I’m home!” Carter called from the entryway.
Jack froze.
Your eyes closed.
A brief thud came from the front of the house, followed by the sound of shoes against the floor.
Jack slowly lifted his head.
You looked at him. “So much for the plan,” you whispered.
Jack’s mouth twitched.
“We still have a plan,” Jack murmured.
You looked toward the doorway.
Carter stood there with his overnight bag hanging from one shoulder.
His eyes were enormous.
His gaze went first to Jack. Then to you. Then to Jack’s hand still resting at your waist.
Carter’s mouth fell open.
The overnight bag slipped from his shoulder and hit the floor with a thud.
For one suspended second, Carter simply stared.
Then both of his arms shot into the air.
“YES!” Carter yelled.
You burst out laughing.
Carter took off across the kitchen.
Jack barely had time to brace himself before Carter threw himself into the space between you, wrapping both arms around your waist and twisting enough to catch Jack too.
“I knew it!” Carter shouted as he squeezed both of you.
Jack’s arm came around him automatically.
“Easy,” Jack said through his laugh. “Easy.”
Carter only squeezed harder.
“It worked!” Carter announced.
You wrapped your arm around his shoulders.
“I take it you’re okay with this?” you asked.
Carter pulled back far enough to stare at you.
“Okay with it?” Carter repeated incredulously. “Are you actually together?”
Jack looked down at him.
“Yes,” Jack said. “We are.”
Carter’s entire face brightened.
“Like boyfriend and girlfriend?” Carter asked.
You smiled.
“Like boyfriend and girlfriend,” you confirmed.
Carter looked toward Jack.
“For real?” Carter asked.
Jack nodded.
“For real,” Jack replied.
Carter’s eyes darted between the two of you.
“Did you kiss?” Carter asked.
You opened your mouth to answer, but Carter immediately turned toward Jack.
“Who kissed who?” Carter asked.
Before Jack could respond, Carter looked back at you.
“Did Uncle Jack tell you he likes you?” Carter asked.
Carter’s gaze jumped to Jack again.
“Or did Auntie tell you first?” Carter asked.
Jack stared at him.
Carter continued without taking a breath.
“Are you going to go on dates?” Carter asked.
His eyes widened with another thought.
“Are you going to live together?” Carter asked.
Carter pointed toward you.
“Would Auntie move into Uncle Jack’s house?” Carter asked.
Then he pointed toward Jack.
“Or would Uncle Jack move into Auntie’s house?” Carter continued.
Carter dropped his hands.
“Can I sleep over there?” Carter asked.
You pressed your lips together.
Carter looked between the two of you one more time.
“Are you getting married?” Carter asked.
Silence finally fell over the kitchen.
Jack stared at him.
Carter stared back expectantly.
You bit the inside of your cheek.
Jack slowly turned his head toward you.
“You said whatever questions he has,” Jack reminded you.
You lost the battle and laughed.
Carter looked between you again.
“So?” Carter prompted.
You reached down and rested a hand on his shoulder.
“Sit down,” you said. “We will answer some of these questions.”
Carter immediately turned toward the living room.
“Which ones?” Carter asked as he hurried away.
Jack bent to pick up Carter’s abandoned overnight bag.
“That depends on how quickly you stop asking new ones,” Jack replied.
Carter reached the couch and climbed onto it.
“I really want to know the house one,” Carter called from the living room.
You followed him. “Of course you do,” you said.
Jack came behind you carrying the overnight bag. Carter settled against the couch cushions.
“And the married one,” Carter added.
Jack stopped.
You looked back at him.
For the briefest second, his expression went carefully blank.
You raised an eyebrow.
Jack recovered quickly and set Carter’s bag beside the couch.
“We’re starting with the easy questions,” Jack said.
Carter frowned at him.
“I thought that was an easy one,” Carter replied.
Jack lowered himself onto the other side of Carter.
“It is not,” Jack said.
You sat beside Carter, trying very hard not to smile at Jack.
If only Carter knew just how much thought Uncle Jack had already given to that particular question.
Carter sat between you on the couch, looking from your face to Jack’s like he had just been granted permission to conduct the most important interview of his life.
Jack rested one arm along the back of the couch.
“All right,” Jack said. “One question at a time.”
Carter nodded seriously.
“Who kissed who?” Carter asked.
You pointed toward Jack. “He kissed me,” you said.
Jack tilted his head.
“Technically, you kissed me first,” Jack corrected.
You turned toward him. “On the cheek,” you said.
Jack shrugged. “A kiss is a kiss,” he replied.
You stared at him.
“That does not count,” you said.
Jack’s mouth twitched.
“It counted to me,” Jack replied.
Carter’s eyes widened.
“When was this?” Carter asked.
You looked back at him.
“On our first date,” you said.
Carter leaned forward.
“You had a first date?” Carter asked.
Jack nodded.
“We did,” Jack confirmed.
Carter looked delighted.
“So Auntie kissed you first?” Carter asked.
Jack pointed toward him.
“Exactly,” Jack said.
You gave Jack a look.
“On the cheek,” you repeated.
Jack looked completely unbothered.
“Still counts,” Jack replied.
You shook your head.
“Then you kissed me for real,” you said.
Jack’s gaze shifted toward yours.
“Yeah,” Jack said. “I did.”
Something warm passed between you. Carter looked back and forth between your faces.
“And last night?” Carter asked.
You smiled.
“Jack kissed me first,” you replied.
Carter turned toward him. “Again?” he asked.
Jack nodded once.
“Again,” Jack said.
Carter sat back against the cushions.
“Okay,” Carter said. “So Uncle Jack is the kisser.”
Jack stared at him.
You burst out laughing.
“I am not the kisser,” Jack said.
Carter’s eyebrows lifted.
“You kissed her first twice,” Carter pointed out.
Jack looked toward you.
“This line of questioning is over,” Jack said.
You were still laughing.
“I think the evidence is pretty strong,” you teased.
Jack gave you a betrayed look.
“You are supposed to be on my side now,” Jack said.
You leaned closer.
“I am,” you replied. “You’re still the kisser.”
Carter grinned. Jack sighed.
“Next question,” Jack said.
Carter immediately sat straighter.
“Did Uncle Jack tell you he likes you?” Carter asked.
You glanced toward Jack.
“He told me considerably more than that,” you replied.
Carter’s attention snapped to him. Jack shifted slightly beside you.
“I told your aunt I love her,” Jack said.
Carter’s mouth fell open.
“You did?” Carter asked.
Jack nodded.
“I did,” Jack replied.
Carter turned toward you so quickly his shoulder bumped yours.
“Did you say it back?” Carter asked.
You smiled.
“I did,” you confirmed.
Carter made a delighted little noise and sank backward into the couch.
“This is so much better than I thought,” Carter said.
Jack looked toward you.
“I’m beginning to regret agreeing to questions,” Jack muttered.
Carter popped upright again.
“Are you going to go on dates?” Carter asked.
You nodded.
“Yes,” you said. “We are definitely going to go on dates.”
Carter smiled. Then his expression turned thoughtful.
“Are you going to live together?” Carter asked.
You and Jack exchanged a look.
“That one we don’t know yet,” you said.
Carter frowned.
“Why not?” Carter asked.
Jack leaned forward and rested his forearms against his thighs.
“Because we just decided to be together last night,” Jack explained. “We don’t have to decide everything else today.”
Carter considered that.
“But you might live together?” Carter asked.
Jack glanced toward you.
“Yeah,” Jack said. “Someday, we might.”
Carter perked up immediately.
“Would Auntie move into your house?” Carter asked.
Jack’s mouth opened.
Carter turned toward you before he could answer.
“Or would Uncle Jack move into your house?” Carter asked.
You laughed.
“We definitely don’t know that yet,” you replied.
Carter thought for a moment.
“Uncle Jack has the bigger TV,” Carter said.
Jack nodded slowly.
“Good to know that will be a factor in negotiations,” Jack replied.
Carter looked toward you.
“But Auntie has the better couch,” Carter added.
You nodded. “Obviously,” you said.
Jack looked offended.
“My couch is fine,” Jack said.
Carter shook his head.
“It’s scratchy,” Carter replied.
You reached across Carter and patted Jack’s knee.
“This is valuable feedback,” you said.
Jack gave you a look. Carter’s eyes widened with another thought.
“If you live together, can I sleep over?” Carter asked.
Jack’s expression softened immediately.
“You can sleep over whether we live together or not,” Jack said.
Carter looked toward you.
“At both houses?” Carter asked.
You nodded.
“At both houses,” you confirmed.
Carter smiled. Then he looked between you again.
“Are you getting married?” Carter asked.
Jack went very still beside you. You felt it. You looked toward him. Jack kept his expression carefully neutral.
“We are not planning a wedding twelve hours into dating,” you said.
Carter shrugged.
“You already dated before,” Carter pointed out.
Jack slowly turned toward him.
“That is an aggressive interpretation of the timeline,” Jack said.
Carter frowned.
“But you did,” Carter insisted.
You bit back a smile.
“He has a point,” you told Jack.
Jack looked toward you.
“Do not side with him,” Jack said.
Carter leaned forward.
“So maybe?” Carter asked.
Jack rubbed one hand over his jaw.
“Maybe is the most you are getting out of us today,” Jack replied.
Carter smiled.
“I’ll take maybe,” Carter said.
You laughed.
Of course he would.
Carter shifted against the cushions.
“Does Dad know?” Carter asked.
You shook your head.
“Not yet,” you replied. “We’re going to tell him when he gets home.”
Carter’s entire posture changed.
“I can tell him,” Carter offered immediately.
Jack shook his head.
“No,” Jack said.
Carter’s shoulders dropped.
“Why not?” Carter asked.
Jack looked at him.
“Because it’s our news,” Jack explained.
Carter pointed toward himself.
“I helped,” Carter argued.
Jack narrowed his eyes.
“You contributed,” Jack allowed.
Carter grinned.
“That means I should get to tell him,” Carter said.
“It does not,” Jack replied.
Carter turned toward you for support.
You shook your head.
“Uncle Jack and I are telling him,” you said.
Carter sighed dramatically.
“Fine,” Carter replied.
Nothing about his face suggested he intended to handle that information calmly.
For a few seconds, he was quiet.
Then his expression changed. The excitement softened into something more thoughtful.
Carter looked down at his hands.
“I think Mom would be happy,” Carter said.
The room seemed to still.
Your breath caught.
Jack’s expression changed beside you.
Carter looked toward him.
“Dad says Mom loved you,” Carter said.
Jack swallowed.
“I loved her too,” Jack replied quietly.
Carter turned toward you.
“And she loved Auntie,” Carter added.
Your eyes burned.
“She was my best friend,” you said.
Carter nodded.
“I know,” Carter replied.
He looked between the two of you.
“So I think she’d like this,” Carter said. “Us being a family like this.”
Your throat tightened.
You reached for him and pulled him against your side.
Carter came willingly.
“I think she would too,” you said softly.
Jack moved closer. His hand settled gently against the back of Carter’s head.
“Yeah,” Jack said. “I think she’d be pretty happy about it.”
Carter rested against you for a moment. Then he tipped his head back to look at Jack.
“Would she make fun of you?” Carter asked.
Jack’s mouth curved.
“Relentlessly,” Jack replied.
You laughed through the tightness in your throat.
“She absolutely would,” you agreed.
Carter smiled.
“Good,” Carter said.
Jack looked toward you over Carter’s head.
For a moment, the three of you stayed there.
Then Carter abruptly sat up.
“What time does Dad’s plane land?” Carter asked.
Jack exhaled.
“There he is,” Jack said.
Carter looked toward the clock.
“How long until he gets home?” Carter asked.
“A few hours,” you replied.
Carter groaned and collapsed backward against the couch.
“A few hours?” Carter complained.
Jack leaned back beside him.
“You will survive,” Jack said.
Carter sat up again.
“Can we call him?” Carter asked.
“No,” Jack replied.
Carter turned toward you.
“Can we FaceTime him?” Carter asked.
You shook your head.
“No,” you said. “We’re waiting until he gets home.”
Carter looked back at Jack.
“Can I at least text him and ask when he’ll be here?” Carter asked.
Jack considered it.
“You can ask when he’ll be home,” Jack allowed. “You cannot tell him why.”
Carter was already scrambling off the couch.
“I’m texting him,” Carter announced.
Jack caught the back of his shirt before he made it two steps.
“No clues,” Jack warned.
Carter twisted around.
“I know how to keep a secret,” Carter said.
Jack stared at him. Carter stared back. You burst out laughing.
Jack released his shirt.
“That statement is not supported by the evidence,” Jack said.
For the next few hours, Carter became nearly impossible to contain.
He checked the time. Then the flight status. Then the time again. Then he stood at the front window despite knowing Robby was nowhere near the house yet.
Jack tried to ignore him.
He failed.
“You checking the driveway is not going to make his plane land faster,” Jack said from the couch.
Carter let the curtain fall.
“It could make the ride from the airport faster,” Carter argued.
Jack looked over the top of his book.
“That is not how transportation works,” Jack replied.
Carter groaned and wandered back toward the kitchen.
A few minutes later, you passed behind Jack on your way upstairs. His hand caught yours automatically. You stopped and looked down at him.
“Jack,” you said.
Jack lifted your hand and pressed a kiss to your knuckles.
“What?” Jack asked.
You smiled.
“Nothing,” you replied. “You’re just very clingy today.”
Jack looked completely unapologetic.
“I missed twenty years,” Jack said. “I’m catching up.”
Your heart squeezed. You leaned down and kissed him. Jack caught the back of your neck and kept you there for another second.
“Love you,” Jack murmured against your mouth.
You smiled.
“Love you too,” you replied.
From the front window, Carter groaned.
“Dad is taking forever,” Carter complained.
Jack let his forehead fall against yours.
“Your nephew has terrible timing,” Jack murmured.
You smiled.
“Our nephew,” you corrected.
Jack went still. His eyes lifted to yours. Something warm moved across his face.
“Yeah,” Jack said softly. “Our nephew.”
Carter called from the other room. “I can hear you!”
You laughed and pulled away. Jack kept hold of your hand for another second before letting you go.
“Of course he can,” Jack muttered.
You headed upstairs to shower.
Jack lasted twelve minutes.
He told himself he was looking for his phone charger. Then he told himself he needed the shirt he had left in the guest room. By the time he reached the hallway, even Jack had stopped pretending. The bathroom door opened. You appeared in the doorway with a towel wrapped around your body, another twisted loosely around your damp hair.
Jack stopped in the middle of the hallway.
You looked up.
His gaze moved slowly over you.
“Seriously?” you asked.
Jack did not even attempt innocence.
“Fuck,” Jack said.
You laughed.
“You have seen me naked,” you reminded him.
Jack stepped closer.
“That does not appear to have helped,” Jack replied.
You adjusted the towel at your chest.
“Did you need something?” you asked.
Jack’s eyes flicked briefly toward the guest room.
“I had a reason for coming upstairs,” Jack said.
You raised an eyebrow.
“And now?” you asked.
Jack looked back at you.
“I have a different reason,” Jack replied.
Your mouth curved.
“Jack,” you warned.
He reached you and rested both hands lightly at your waist.
“I’m looking,” Jack said.
“I noticed,” you replied.
Jack leaned down and kissed the corner of your mouth. Then your cheek. Then your temple. You laughed and tried to push him back.
“Carter is downstairs,” you reminded him.
Jack pressed another kiss just beneath your ear.
“I am aware,” Jack murmured.
“You are behaving like a teenager,” you added.
Jack lifted his head.
“I behaved better as a teenager,” Jack replied.
You stared at him.
“That is deeply concerning,” you said.
Jack kissed you again.
A shout came from downstairs.
“UNCLE JACK!” Carter shouted.
Jack closed his eyes. You started laughing against his chest.
“What?” Jack called.
Carter’s voice carried up the stairs. “Dad’s flight landed!”
Jack rested his forehead against yours.
“Wonderful,” Jack muttered.
You smiled.
“You should go congratulate him,” you said.
Jack’s hands stayed at your waist.
“I’m busy,” Jack replied.
You laughed and pushed gently at his chest.
“Go,” you said.
Jack reluctantly stepped back. His gaze dropped over you one more time.
You pointed toward the stairs. “Jack.”
Jack looked at you.
“Fuck,” Jack repeated.
You shut the bathroom door in his face.
Jack stood there for a second.
Then he smiled to himself and headed downstairs.
By the time he returned to the living room, Carter was holding Robby’s flight information on the tablet like breaking news.
“He landed,” Carter announced.
Jack lowered himself onto the couch.
“You have mentioned that,” Jack replied.
Carter sat beside him.
“So how long now?” Carter asked.
Jack checked the time.
“Long enough that staring out the window still will not help,” Jack replied.
Carter sighed.
A few minutes later, you came downstairs dressed and still drying the ends of your hair.
Jack looked up.
And forgot whatever Carter had just been saying.
You caught him staring. Again.
“What?” you asked.
Jack shook his head.
“Nothing,” Jack replied.
You narrowed your eyes.
“That was definitely something,” you said.
Jack’s mouth curved.
“Damn it, Robinavitch,” Jack murmured.
You smiled.
“What am I doing?” you asked.
Jack stood and crossed toward you.
“That,” Jack said.
He leaned down and stole another kiss. Quick. Soft. Still enough to make you smile against his mouth.
When he pulled back, his hand remained at your waist.
“I can’t stop looking at you,” Jack admitted.
“You’re doing a pretty bad job of trying,” you replied.
“I’m not trying very hard,” Jack said.
You brushed your thumb along his jaw. “I noticed.”
Jack kissed your forehead.
“Love you,” Jack said.
Your expression softened.
“Love you too,” you replied.
From the couch, Carter made an exaggerated sound of disgust. You both looked toward him. Carter was grinning.
“You guys are weird now,” Carter said.
Jack pointed at him.
“You did this,” Jack replied.
Carter’s grin widened.
“I know,” Carter said.
An hour later, the sound of a key turning in the front door sent Carter flying out of the living room.
Jack looked up from the couch.
“Easy,” Jack called after him.
Carter ignored him.
The front door opened.
Robby stepped inside with his conference bag over one shoulder and his suitcase rolling behind him.
“Dad!” Carter shouted.
Robby barely had time to let go of the suitcase before Carter threw himself at him.
“Hey, buddy,” Robby said, laughing as he caught him.
Carter wrapped both arms around his middle.
“You’re home!” Carter said.
“I’m home,” Robby confirmed.
Carter pulled back.
For one second, he simply grinned up at his father.
Then his entire body seemed to remember the secret. His eyes widened. His shoulders lifted. He bounced once on the balls of his feet.
“I have to tell you something,” Carter announced.
You appeared behind him.
“Carter,” you warned.
Jack came up beside you.
“Let him get through the door,” Jack said.
Carter looked back at both of you.
“But it’s important,” Carter argued.
You pointed toward Robby’s suitcase.
“Your father has been traveling all day,” you reminded him. “Give him a minute.”
Carter groaned. Robby looked between the three of you.
“What did I miss?” Robby asked.
Jack reached for the handle of Robby’s suitcase.
“Nothing that can’t wait a minute,” Jack replied.
Carter made a frustrated sound. You smiled at Robby.
“How was the flight?” you asked.
Carter stared at you in disbelief. Robby shrugged off his conference bag.
“Fine,” Robby said. “Long.”
You nodded.
“And the conference?” you asked.
Carter threw his head back.
“Come on!” Carter groaned.
Robby looked toward him, laughing.
“What?” Robby asked.
Carter bounced again.
“I have something important to tell you,” Carter repeated.
Jack gave him a warning look. “Give your dad a second.”
Carter pressed his lips together. He visibly tried. His shoulders rose with one breath. Then another.
You watched him hold it in. Three seconds. Maybe four.
Then Carter exploded.
“UNCLE JACK KISSED AUNTIE AND THEY LOVE EACH OTHER AND THEY’RE GOING TO MOVE IN TOGETHER AND GET MARRIED!” Carter shouted.
Silence filled the entryway.
Jack closed his eyes.
You covered your mouth with one hand.
Robby stared at Carter.
Carter grinned up at him.
Jack opened his eyes.
“We did not say the last two things,” Jack said.
Carter turned toward him.
“You said maybe,” Carter argued.
Jack pointed toward him.
“Maybe does not mean announce it to your father,” Jack replied.
Robby slowly looked toward you. Then toward Jack. His expression changed.
“You two are together?” Robby asked.
Jack’s hand found yours.
“Yeah,” you said. “We are.”
Jack squeezed your fingers.
“We are,” Jack confirmed.
Robby stared at both of you for a second. Then his face softened.
Not surprised.
Relieved.
Happy.
“Finally,” Robby said.
Carter threw both arms into the air.
“I did it!” Carter shouted.
Jack turned toward him.
“You contributed,” Jack said.
Carter pointed between you and Jack.
“You were not together before,” Carter argued. “Now you are.”
Jack stared at him. Carter grinned.
“I got them together,” Carter announced to Robby.
Jack’s eyebrows lifted.
“We are grown adults, Carter,” Jack said.
Carter shrugged.
“You needed help,” Carter replied.
You burst out laughing. Robby looked toward Carter.
“He has a pretty strong case,” Robby said.
Jack looked at him.
“Do not encourage him,” Jack replied.
Robby laughed.
“I leave for one conference,” Robby said.
Carter beamed.
“And I fixed everything,” Carter replied.
Jack rubbed one hand over his face.
“That is not what happened,” Jack said.
Carter looked toward you.
“It kind of is,” Carter argued.
You bit back a smile.
“I am staying out of this,” you said.
Jack gave you a betrayed look.
“Coward,” Jack replied.
Robby’s attention shifted back to the two of you. His amusement softened.
“So this is it?” Robby asked.
The question quieted the room.
You looked toward Jack.
“Yeah,” you said softly. “This is it.”
Jack’s thumb brushed over your knuckles.
“It is,” Jack confirmed.
Robby nodded slowly.
Then he stepped forward and pulled you into a hug. You let go of Jack long enough to wrap both arms around your brother.
Robby held you tightly for a moment.
“About time you two got together,” Robby murmured.
You smiled against his shoulder.
“Yeah,” you said. “It really is.”
Robby pulled back and looked at you.
“Took you long enough,” Robby replied.
Then he looked toward Jack. Jack lifted one eyebrow. Robby stepped closer and clasped a hand around Jack’s shoulder.
“You good?” Robby asked.
Jack glanced toward you. His gaze softened.
“Yeah,” Jack said. “I’m good.”
Robby studied him for a second. Then he smiled.
“Good,” Robby replied.
Carter tugged on Robby’s sleeve.
“And they might get married,” Carter reminded him.
Jack groaned.
“Carter,” Jack said.
You pointed toward Carter.
“That part is currently under review,” you said.
Carter nodded seriously.
“I’m optimistic,” Carter replied.
Robby laughed.
Jack looked toward you. You looked back at him. His mouth curved.
And for once, neither of you looked away.
By the time you and Jack finally left Robby’s house, the afternoon had begun to soften toward evening.
Carter had hugged both of you twice before letting you go.
Robby followed you to the front door while Jack reached for his jacket.
Carter hovered beside him.
“You know I’m still taking credit for this,” Carter said.
Jack pulled on his jacket.
“We know,” Jack replied.
Carter grinned.
Robby opened the door for you, then looked between you and Jack.
His expression softened.
“I’m really happy for you guys,” Robby said.
You smiled.
“Thanks, Robby,” you replied.
Robby looked toward Jack. Jack met his gaze.
“Yeah,” Jack said. “Thanks.”
Robby nodded once. There was something almost relieved in it.
“About damn time,” Robby added.
You laughed. Jack sighed.
“There it is,” Jack said.
Robby’s grin widened.
“You knew it was coming,” Robby replied.
Carter leaned around his father.
“I got them together,” Carter reminded him.
Jack pointed toward the driveway.
“We’re leaving now,” Jack said.
Carter laughed. You hugged Robby once more before stepping outside.
“Love you,” you said.
Robby squeezed you.
“Love you too,” Robby replied.
Jack waited beside you until you pulled away.
Then the two of you headed down the driveway toward your separate cars.
You stopped beside yours while Jack crossed toward his truck. For a moment, neither of you opened a door. Jack looked across the driveway at you.
“Any big plans tonight, Robinavitch?” Jack asked.
You rested one hand on the roof of your car.
“Very big,” you replied. “Laundry. Takeout. Reality television in my sweatpants.”
Jack nodded slowly.
“Hot,” Jack said.
You laughed.
“Try to contain yourself,” you replied.
Jack leaned against the side of his truck.
“Not going particularly well today,” Jack admitted.
Your smile softened. Jack looked at you for another second.
“You want some company?” Jack asked.
The question sounded casual.
Almost.
But you heard everything underneath it.
Not only tonight.
Not only the weekend.
The ordinary parts too.
You smiled.
“Yeah,” you said. “I do.”
Jack’s mouth curved.
“Your place?” Jack asked.
You nodded.
“My couch is better,” you reminded him.
Jack smiled.
“I know,” Jack admitted.
You stared at him.
“Oh, now you admit it?” you asked.
Jack reached for his truck door.
“I’m trying to get invited over,” Jack replied.
You laughed.
“You're buying dinner,” you said.
Jack nodded.
“Done,” Jack replied.
You paused before getting inside.
“Jack?” you called.
He looked over the roof of his truck.
“Yeah?” Jack asked.
You smiled.
“Love you,” you said.
Jack’s expression softened immediately.
“Love you too, Robinavitch,” Jack replied.
You climbed into your car.
Jack got into his truck.
And when you pulled out of Robby’s driveway a few minutes later, Jack’s truck stayed behind you all the way home.
Summary: A horrible experience with robby screaming at you on your last day on the morning shift that was heard by practically everyone, leaves you embarrassed and crying. What’s even worse is that your night shift attending heard it during handoffs. So much for first impressions. lets just hope things don’t go more down hill from here
Author's Note: ok little more of abbot now and i promise there will be more and more later down the line
Time skip: you’ve been working night for almost half a month now
Summary: A horrible experience with robby screaming at you on your last day on the morning shift that was heard by practically everyone, leaves you embarrassed and crying. What’s even worse is that your night shift attending heard it during handoffs. So much for first impressions. lets just hope things don’t go more down hill from here
Author's Note: ok little more of abbot now and i promise there will be more and more later down the line
Time skip: you’ve been working night for almost half a month now
