Decompression before the real work begins

[erikgeiger]

The water is hot. Not uncomfortably so, but hot enough to soothe the ache that runs the ridge of his spine.  It's been a long day and he imagines a longer night still.  He figures it will be a night spent knee-deep in the world of caffeine, nicotine, and words.  So this precious soak may well be the only thing that he gives himself in the moments

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[womencanwork]

Judith had snuck out of work an hour or so early, letting the boys finish their own projects without her underfoot. Or- at least that is what she told them. Opening the door after a few light knocks, she stepped inside, searching for the owner of the home.

Hearing the dripping of the water from the bathroom, she stepped into the doorway, leaning against the frame she smirked at his submersion.

"Bubbles?"

[erikgeiger]

His wet hair was plastered to his face as her turned toward the sound of her voice. The bubbles were certainly extravagant, he'd gladly admit it, but it had been quite the day and now that she stood there grinning at him arms looking for all intents and purposes like she was holding the world with that door frame, he was thrilled he'd gone through the trouble of throwing them in the bathwater.

"Yeah. Bubbles. They're fun."

To prove his point, he scooped them up with his hands, forming a lopsided pyramid. It was a terribly childlike thing to do, something that Sammy had done during countless baths, but he enjoyed the way the bubbles slowly popped until there was nothing left in his palm but air and a slight film from the soapy mix.

"Gonna stand there or what?"

[womencanwork]

Cue an eyebrow raise, and one hand moving up to play with the first button of her flannel shirt. Follow that with a chuckle and Judith dropping the same hand. "I'm not so sure about that, I wouldn't dare impede on you and your bubbles 'special' time together. Do you think they'd mind?"

She turned her head over her shoulder, just a moment, in case Sammy was behind her, "Also, where is the little munchkin?"

The last thing she wanted was to have to explain this, or to make him explain it.

[erikgeiger]

He chuckled at her little quip about the foam. As special as the bubbles might be, they we hardly good company.

"They're poor conversationalists. Don't you want to get the smell of shop out of your hair?"

He spoke the words quickly and was set to make his own joke when he noticed her glance backward. Always Always worried about the little girl stumbling upon them. It meant a lot. Really it did.

He mulled over telling her where Sam happened to be for the evening. Erik might have flown Samantha's godparents, his best friends, in just for the alone time. It had been mostly for him, the need to just be 'Erik' and not 'Daddy' becoming overwhelming recently, but if prodded about it, he'd admit that she had been the clincher on the deal. Sally and Jeb had quit with the matchmaking a long time ago, but that didn't mean they weren't thrilled when he mentioned a certain mechanic recently.

"She's with her godparents. They wanted some quality time with their favorite little beansprout."

There. Not a lie. Not exactly, at least.

[faiththatfuelsu]

Baths were something she enjoyed, one of the few things she still clung to. The water always managed to take out the ache the healers never could get rid of. It was a surprise to find Erik in there, even more of a surprise to find that he's raided her stash of bubbles.

"Didn't take you for the Eucalyptus type."

She lets the robe slip off her shoulders and steps into the tub without waiting for an invitation. It isn't as if the thing can't easily hold the both of them. She's pretty sure it could fit another three comfortably. The water is the perfect temperature and she inhales the scent that permeates the air.

[erikgeiger]

For a man of his size, baths have always been tricky to manage. THe tubs are often too short or too shallow to accomodate him, making the entire experience less than relaxing. So, being able to freely recline to immerse himself is a luxury he takes hedonistic pleasure in enjoying regularly.

He's about ready to drift off into a drreamless slumber when he hears her voice call out to him, and blinks as Faith's robe falls sliently to her feet and she steps into the hot water. Erik's arms encircle her moments after; he sighs into her neck before muttering a reply.

"It's soothing. How are you? Tired?"

[faiththatfuelsu]

"Should've put the lavender in here, too." She relaxes against him, warm, slick skin acting as a perfect cushion.

"Five by five, Evan's done worse. Didn't get a good taste of him yet. Figured I'd break him in slow." Faith runs a hand through her hair before slipping slightly lower.

[erikgeiger]

"Too late for that. Not leaving now." There were only a few things that would make him consider leaving the tub, lavender was not one of them.

He rubs his hands up and down her arms, mostly just enjoying the contact, the way that she all but melts into him in the weightlessness of the water. Erik drops a kiss onto her shoulder and wonders if he really ought to be talking about this subject when he's trying to relax. Might as well get the conversation over with, though.

"Probably for the best. Chip that big on the boy's shoulder, if you did it quick, you might crush him beyond the point of usefulness. And if I had to guess, you probably went through a lot of trouble with him, right?" He sighs, leaning back just a tad more, shifting his shoulders to work a knot loose.