FIC: "Of cinnamon rolls and dancing lessons, or how to spend a Sunday in Vancouver" Jared/Jensen, PG
Title: Of cinnamon rolls and dancing lessons, or how to spend a Sunday in Vancouver
Author: the_milky_way
Fandom: RPS
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Jensen/Jared
Words: 3468
Beta: Thank you so much parka_girl
Summary: He wonders, briefly, how insane a person must be to actually appreciate the constant noise he endures every day, compared to a quiet home.
Disclaimer: Not real, didn't happen. I don't own any of them.
Notes:
Written for the Fall Fandom Free-For-All campaign, for shiplessheathen, who wanted Jared/Jensen. Something sweet. Jared acting like a dork. Jensen being head over heels. They can be together or just get together in it. Doesn't matter.
The house is quiet. Eerily so. And it's unusual that it wakes Jensen up. He wonders, briefly, how insane a person must be to actually appreciate the constant noise he endures every day, compared to a quiet home. Sun is already filtering through the half-closed drapes, casting the room in a soft yellow glow.
He sits up slowly, looking for his glasses and then at the clock, which has got to be somewhere close to his bedside table. At least it was there the last time he threw a pillow at it, after Jared had changed the alarm and the thing knocked him straight out of bed at two in the morning. Jensen still has yet to come up with a good retaliation plan.
When he finally finds the clock, after stubbing his fingers three times on the sharp edge of the bed post, it shows that it's barely past eight. Jensen groans, flops back down on the bed and tries to go back to sleep. It’s Sunday after all, their day off and there's not one good reason for Jensen to be awake and ready to start the day.
Especially not after Jared had cajoled him into a night of shots, chick flick moments and some serious talking. Jensen still doesn’t quite know what it had been about, not really, and he vaguely remembers Jared complaining about him being stiff, moody and always trying to not to intrude.
Jared has been trying to help settle Jensen in, to make him feel more at home. But sometimes, mostly when he's alone and has time to think about everything, Jensen realises he is still not used to it -- to the newness of everything and to actually be living here. He is not used to being able to see Jared whenever he wants, to have him close 24/7.
After ten minutes of mindless dozing, Jensen knows he's not going back to sleep and if he does, it will be hours from now and he'll just end up all sleepy and dizzy for the rest of the day. Groaning, with a defeated sigh, he heaves himself out of his brand new bed and almost faceplants when he gets tangled in the towel on the flower. And here he thought he was the tidy guy in this relationship.
The second he rests his hand on the doorknob, he can feel the bass line thrum through the entire house. Seems like Jared is home after all. Jensen doesn’t even try to identify the music, Jared has it on low and it wouldn’t have woken him, but since he's awake now, he can only shake his head at the selection.
The first thing he does when he leaves his room is head for the kitchen. It’s like a ritual -- something he gets mercilessly mocked about. But Jensen firmly believes that no day is perfect and nor can he approach it without coffee and cinnamon rolls. The moment he lays eyes on the plate in the middle of the kitchen counter, Jensen wants nothing more than to go look for Jared immediately, just so that he can sink down on his knees and thank him properly.
For a second, he thinks it might not go down so well if he would actually do it now. He wonders why, it takes him a second to remember, which makes the quietness in the house even more suspicious. He's just glad that he was cold last night and went to bed in a shirt and black pajama pants. It would be slightly awkward -- being found in the kitchen wearing nothing but his boxers. Really awkward, even.
But Jensen is focused on the kitchen counter again, and can’t help grinning at the sight of the freshly warmed up cinnamon rolls alongside fresh steaming coffee right out of the coffee maker.
Sometimes Jensen thinks Jared does this so he doesn’t have to endure a grumpy roommate or housemate or whatever he is now. Jensen also thinks that's totally okay with his, because Jared can mock his ritual as long as he wants, as long as he keeps supplying Jensen with the baked goods.
After the fifth roll and the second cup of coffee, Jensen belatedly realises that he maybe should keep the orgasmic groans and sighs to a minimum so that he won’t embarrass himself. And Jared doesn’t need even more mocking ammunition should he walk in on Jensen now.
Licking his fingers clean of the last remnants of cinnamon powder, Jensen decides it’s time to really start the day and go looking for his roommate. He finds Harley first. The door to the basement is wide open and Jensen can hear the music a little clearer now.
“Hey Harl, where's daddy?”
Jensen doesn’t even think about how strange it sounds to call Jared that. It’s just one of the things he's already gotten used to over the years. Jared calls them kids, so does Jensen, and it was only a logical step from there to start calling Jared their daddy.
Harley lies sprawled out at the top of the stairs leading down to Jared’s basement gym. He doesn’t so much as blink at Jensen as he moves closer. The dog just yawns hugely, sprawls out even more and affectively blocks Jensen’s way down to the basement. Then the dog flips down on the other side, tucks his paw under his snout and sighs out loud.
It’s all Jensen can do to not break down laughing. He'll later deny that giggle if someone happened to hear it. Harley isn’t much of a guard dog, but Jensen thinks he's a lot like Jared. He looks down at the snoring dog and finds his case proven. Solid evidence and all. On his way down the stairs, he's still grinning and maybe even still giggling at the sight that Harley presented.
All sounds and movements take a sudden hold when he reaches the bottom of the stairs. He's greeted with a scene that makes him instantly wish he had a camera handy. Jensen is momentarily stunned into silence, torn between gaping and bursting out laughing. He chooses to ignore the slight tug in his chest at the sight of Jared, that’s another thing he's gotten used to over the years.
Jared stands with the back to the door. But standing really isn’t the right word to describe what Jared is doing. His hips are swinging from side to side, his arms are flailing all over the place and Jensen is pretty sure his whole body convulses in some kind of spasm or something. Jared’s track pants kind of cling to him, trying to stay up and not move further down his hips. The flashing orange retro t-shirt doesn’t do much to conceal anything.
And really, Jensen can’t be blamed for gaping, it is a rather hilarious view and well, there's even exposed tanned skin added to the mix, which makes it even harder not to just cross the room and jump Jared. There are so many reasons why that would be a really bad idea -- right now or even in foreseeable future.
That scene, though, isn’t enough to complete the picture of utter hilariousness. Because Jared isn’t alone.
Sadie is at his side, moving from paw to paw, ears perked up, wagging her tail and wiggling her backside. All that to the dance music Jensen still can’t identify.
And then it hits him.
They are dancing. Jared is dancing with Sadie.
He watches for a while, pretty sure Jared isn’t even aware of his presence. He watches them dance, hop, wiggle and shake without so much as a hitched breath drowned out by the music.
It shouldn’t be as adorable as it is. It shouldn’t be as hot as Jensen thinks it is, either. It really shouldn’t be. Jared looks like a complete dork. A hot dork Jensen is head over heels for. He watches them move around the room, watches them circle each other and smiles at Jared being absolutely focused on Sadie. It’s one of the rare moments where Jared lets go completely. Jensen loves it. Loves to see him like that.
But when Jared actually twirls around himself and Sadie scrambles to copy him all the while trying not to step on her own paws Jensen can’t hold back anymore and collapses down on the bottom step of the stair case.
He is laughing so hard that Jared’s surprised squeak and Sadie’s happy bark at seeing him set him off even more. And he can’t stop, he laughs so hard that everything else becomes like a distant set of noises. All he can do is laugh and laugh and laugh.
Jensen is holding his sides while he leans against the staircase frame. His face is streaked with tears and he is gasping for breath when Jared appears in his field of vision, red faced but grinning widely.
“You okay, Jen?”
Jensen waves a hand in front of him and nods, unable to speak between gasps for air and the still rippling laughter.
“Oh God … You … Dancing. God.”
He gasps out and giggles again. Jared just squats down in front of him, shaking his head but with some kind of fondness sparkling in his eyes.
“God, Jen it’s not that funny.”
“Dude, it totally is. You were wiggling. Not to mention dancing with a dog.”
Jared huffs, but is still grinning, which Jensen takes as a sign that he isn’t mad at him for laughing and losing it like that.
“I’ll never buy you rolls and warm them up for you again.” Jared is working the puppy eyes now and Jensen secretly loves it, even though he should hate how much of a goner he is when he sees them. It shouldn’t work that well on him, he's known Jared for too long. It’s just more proof of how far Jensen is actually involved.
“Oh come on … No, please. I appreciate your morning runs way more since you've taken up buying those for me. At least I get to smell cinnamon all morning instead of your rank racing shoes. And really, what’s so bad, I only saw you dancing. Well, dancing with your dog, which is kind of pathetic if I think about it …”
Jared just smiles, pats him on the head and stands up to shut the music off completely. Jensen hadn’t even realised it had been turned down until now.
“You know, you weren’t supposed to see that. Like ever. Thought you’d be sleeping until noon.”
“Well, don’t leave the basement door open then ... Oh, and it was kinda too quiet to sleep anyway.”
Jensen ducks his head slightly, not really sure why he couldn’t stop himself from blurting that out. It’s not like Jared needed to know that Jensen couldn’t sleep without knowing that Jared was home and safe. How pathetic was that anyway?
“Awwww, Jenny-beans can’t sleep when he doesn’t hear the kids? That’s awfully cute of you, man.”
“Oh fuck off, Padalecki. I am just getting used to all the ungodly noises you make.”
It hits Jensen a second too late about what he just said. This time it’s Jared cracking up. The only thought, besides being absolutely embarrassed, is how great and happy Jared looks when he laughs like that. Jensen wishes he could see it more often; it’s been rare lately. Between the break up with Sandy, the other things they have to deal with, the hard working schedules and the lack of sleep and spare time. Jensen still can’t help but grin at Jared.
“You know that’s not what I wanted to say, right?”
Jared sniffles a little, pats Sadie as she moves ahead to climb the stairs, and shrugs at Jensen.
“Yeah. I know. You aren’t really awake yet, right? Despite your 10 cups of coffee and however many rolls you had before you came down here.”
Jensen knows the teasing tone, knows Jared is trying to make this a little less embarrassing for Jensen. So he just smiles, stands up and is suddenly eye to eye with Jared. Not that this is any less awkward, but Jensen isn’t exactly thinking properly when presented with Jared’s eyes staring into him. Or with Jared standing so close for the matter.
Jensen has to bite down on the inside of his cheek to prevent himself from taking a deep breath. All he wants to do is inhale and take Jared’s scent in. No one said Jensen can’t be any more pathetic, he always finds the next level with sure aim.
“Uhm… you just know me too well, Jay. Really.”
“Scary, isn’t it?”
“Very much so. Yes.”
Jared smiles, grabs Jensen’s hip and pulls him close.
“So Jensen. How hard exactly is it for you to not just go and take what you want right now? I know you want to, I just don’t know why you won't just do it.”
Damn Jared for knowing Jensen so well. It really is scary when Jensen thinks about. But it’s so purely Jared as well. He's always known what’s going on in Jensen’s head, almost right from the start. It still sometimes startles Jensen to realise how much that has developed into a mutual thing lately.
“Right now? Very hard I’d say.”
“Why?”
“Well.. you know.”
“Actually, I don’t. What holds you back? You know you can just go ahead now and kiss me or jump me or whatever you want to do to me. Just let go and do it, Jensen. It’s pretty easy.”
Jared pulls Jensen even closer, has them standing chest to chest, just mere inches between them and it would be so easy to just lean in and kiss Jared. So easy, but there is still something holding Jensen back. It hasn’t been long since he was allowed to actually touch, kiss, lick and say things to Jared.
It’s still all new, so much to grasp and think about, that sometimes Jensen doesn’t even know if it's real.
“I know. I do. It’s just new… I sometimes have to remember that I can.”
“You can. You definitely can and you are allowed to.”
“Good. But you know what’s holding me back today?”
“Uhm, not exactly. Tell me.”
“Your sister standing on top of the stairs and laughing her ass of at you dancing.”
That startles a bark of laughter out of Jared which answered by Harley, who seems to have given up his spot to come down a few steps. The slight blush on Jared’s cheeks and the horrified expression has Jensen shaking with laughter again. This Sunday morning kind of looks like a good start to collect mocking material.
“Dude! I totally forgot about them being here. Oh God.”
All Jensen can do is burry his head on Jared shoulder and laugh helplessly. Jared’s arms come around him though and he is held safely while he shakes with laughter. Jared even starts to scratch his fingers slightly up and down Jensen’s back, bunching his t-shirt a little in the process.
It’s really not fair. He tells Jared just that.
“Sorry, couldn’t resist. You all shaking and warm in my arms.”
“Dork. And you totally forgot your own family. Weak. Really weak, Padalecki.”
“Oh come on, it’s not my fault that you are so hot and loveable that you occupy my every thought.”
“It’s more like you forgot not to get too wasted yesterday, so that you remember the occupied guestrooms today. You forgot your own family… Man, wait until I tell Sherri.”
Jensen thinks the next move is more to shut him then anything else, but he doesn’t protest because Jared kissing him with all he has will not ever be something he'll protest. Never. It starts heated, possessive and kind of rough, but Jensen slings his arms around Jared’s neck and slows it down into a long, languid and loving kiss.
When they break apart both of them are smiling. Nothing is rushed or secret like it had been for such a long time. It’s slow, warm and everything Jensen's been hoping for but never thought would happen. Looking into Jared’s eyes, he knows the other man thinks the same.
Matching smiles are really pathetic, but kind of belong to the situation.
“My good morning kiss, I presume?”
“You deserved it. Being all gentleman-like and coy while you really just wanted to jump me.”
The cough from the top of the stairs has Jared looking up and grinning. The moment is lost, but Jensen doesn’t care, he has Jared and it’s looking to be a good day.
Ten minutes later, he is about to reverse his opinion, mainly due to Megan Padalecki’s impressive ability to embarrass everyone and anything within seconds of talking to her. Jensen thinks he should be happy that Mackenzie isn’t around this time.
Just one question of her has the entire breakfast table spluttering and choking on various beverages or foods.
“So JT, are you done with your mating ritual dance or do we have to do the promised city tour all on our own while you and Jensen finish it by dancing horizontally?”
Jensen ducks his head quickly, biting his lips, not sure if he can survive another round of helpless laughter. And, really, he actually wants to spare himself the embarrassment of being outed as a giggler. Sherri’s indignant squawk as well as Gerry almost losing his coffee over the table, makes it hard, though. Really hard.
Megan just sits there, smiling all smug, proud of herself and looking more like a devilish teenager than a 20-something and out of college.
Jared just looks clueless for a second, which Jensen absolutely does not find adorable and which does not make him want to kiss him in an indecent way in front of his family. It makes Jensen snort, though -- no one said Jensen is subtle, after all. He can practically see the light going on when Jared gapes at Megan.
“Mating ritual. What? Huh?... God… no I was.. dancing with Sadie. Work out and stuff.”
“Dancing with Sadie. Jared that is sick, even for you.”
“Megan!”
This time it’s all three remaining Padaleckis shouting, which makes Megan blush and apologize and Jensen crack up hard. He is aware of everyone looking at him, but he can’t hold it in anymore. After a few seconds everyone else is laughing, too. Jensen is pretty sure that it is more because of him cracking up than because of what Megan said.
He doesn’t care at all. Laughing right now seems to be a way for him to lose all the tension, all the fear and angst that had kind of taken hold of his mind over the last couple of weeks. There was and is intense shooting for season four, the not-so-relaxing hiatus with the fights with Danneel and the consequences following. And, of course when he and Jared told their parents, then later, Jared’s parent’s coming up for a visit; it all had Jensen on edge for a while now.
No wonder he'd been stiff and moody, to say it using Jared’s words. Laughing, having something to laugh about, to feel good about, it all helped to settle him down. Step by step. Slowly.
He hasn’t laughed so much in ages and it makes him feel good about being head over heels in love with the man sitting next to him. The man who's currently rubbing Jensen's back in an effort to calm him down again.
When Jensen is calm enough to speak again, he just smiles at everyone and shrugs.
“Sorry. It was just ... too much, I guess.”
Sherri is smiling at him, but not indulgent and judging as he had suspected, but free and happy. Happy for them. Jensen feels settled, grounded, happy that he -- they -- have such a strong support network around them. It helps a lot when dealing with life.
“Come on Jen, let’s get dressed. We did promise them to show them new sights.”
Jensen doesn’t even protest being dragged, almost manhandled, out of the kitchen, doesn’t even protest that his coffee cup is still full and his toast half eaten, because he feels Jared vibrating, feels his hand shaking and knows Jared just needs a few minutes alone with him to calm down and to focus on the situation.
Gerry says some to Meagan, who just laughs, Sherri joining in. It's just one part of the whole thing -- the new experiences. Jared mumbling against Jensen’s neck when he has him pressed against their closed bedroom door is another. Both parts belong to his life and he wouldn’t want to miss them for anything.
Author: the_milky_way
Fandom: RPS
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Jensen/Jared
Words: 3468
Beta: Thank you so much parka_girl
Summary: He wonders, briefly, how insane a person must be to actually appreciate the constant noise he endures every day, compared to a quiet home.
Disclaimer: Not real, didn't happen. I don't own any of them.
Notes:
Written for the Fall Fandom Free-For-All campaign, for shiplessheathen, who wanted Jared/Jensen. Something sweet. Jared acting like a dork. Jensen being head over heels. They can be together or just get together in it. Doesn't matter.
The house is quiet. Eerily so. And it's unusual that it wakes Jensen up. He wonders, briefly, how insane a person must be to actually appreciate the constant noise he endures every day, compared to a quiet home. Sun is already filtering through the half-closed drapes, casting the room in a soft yellow glow.
He sits up slowly, looking for his glasses and then at the clock, which has got to be somewhere close to his bedside table. At least it was there the last time he threw a pillow at it, after Jared had changed the alarm and the thing knocked him straight out of bed at two in the morning. Jensen still has yet to come up with a good retaliation plan.
When he finally finds the clock, after stubbing his fingers three times on the sharp edge of the bed post, it shows that it's barely past eight. Jensen groans, flops back down on the bed and tries to go back to sleep. It’s Sunday after all, their day off and there's not one good reason for Jensen to be awake and ready to start the day.
Especially not after Jared had cajoled him into a night of shots, chick flick moments and some serious talking. Jensen still doesn’t quite know what it had been about, not really, and he vaguely remembers Jared complaining about him being stiff, moody and always trying to not to intrude.
Jared has been trying to help settle Jensen in, to make him feel more at home. But sometimes, mostly when he's alone and has time to think about everything, Jensen realises he is still not used to it -- to the newness of everything and to actually be living here. He is not used to being able to see Jared whenever he wants, to have him close 24/7.
After ten minutes of mindless dozing, Jensen knows he's not going back to sleep and if he does, it will be hours from now and he'll just end up all sleepy and dizzy for the rest of the day. Groaning, with a defeated sigh, he heaves himself out of his brand new bed and almost faceplants when he gets tangled in the towel on the flower. And here he thought he was the tidy guy in this relationship.
The second he rests his hand on the doorknob, he can feel the bass line thrum through the entire house. Seems like Jared is home after all. Jensen doesn’t even try to identify the music, Jared has it on low and it wouldn’t have woken him, but since he's awake now, he can only shake his head at the selection.
The first thing he does when he leaves his room is head for the kitchen. It’s like a ritual -- something he gets mercilessly mocked about. But Jensen firmly believes that no day is perfect and nor can he approach it without coffee and cinnamon rolls. The moment he lays eyes on the plate in the middle of the kitchen counter, Jensen wants nothing more than to go look for Jared immediately, just so that he can sink down on his knees and thank him properly.
For a second, he thinks it might not go down so well if he would actually do it now. He wonders why, it takes him a second to remember, which makes the quietness in the house even more suspicious. He's just glad that he was cold last night and went to bed in a shirt and black pajama pants. It would be slightly awkward -- being found in the kitchen wearing nothing but his boxers. Really awkward, even.
But Jensen is focused on the kitchen counter again, and can’t help grinning at the sight of the freshly warmed up cinnamon rolls alongside fresh steaming coffee right out of the coffee maker.
Sometimes Jensen thinks Jared does this so he doesn’t have to endure a grumpy roommate or housemate or whatever he is now. Jensen also thinks that's totally okay with his, because Jared can mock his ritual as long as he wants, as long as he keeps supplying Jensen with the baked goods.
After the fifth roll and the second cup of coffee, Jensen belatedly realises that he maybe should keep the orgasmic groans and sighs to a minimum so that he won’t embarrass himself. And Jared doesn’t need even more mocking ammunition should he walk in on Jensen now.
Licking his fingers clean of the last remnants of cinnamon powder, Jensen decides it’s time to really start the day and go looking for his roommate. He finds Harley first. The door to the basement is wide open and Jensen can hear the music a little clearer now.
“Hey Harl, where's daddy?”
Jensen doesn’t even think about how strange it sounds to call Jared that. It’s just one of the things he's already gotten used to over the years. Jared calls them kids, so does Jensen, and it was only a logical step from there to start calling Jared their daddy.
Harley lies sprawled out at the top of the stairs leading down to Jared’s basement gym. He doesn’t so much as blink at Jensen as he moves closer. The dog just yawns hugely, sprawls out even more and affectively blocks Jensen’s way down to the basement. Then the dog flips down on the other side, tucks his paw under his snout and sighs out loud.
It’s all Jensen can do to not break down laughing. He'll later deny that giggle if someone happened to hear it. Harley isn’t much of a guard dog, but Jensen thinks he's a lot like Jared. He looks down at the snoring dog and finds his case proven. Solid evidence and all. On his way down the stairs, he's still grinning and maybe even still giggling at the sight that Harley presented.
All sounds and movements take a sudden hold when he reaches the bottom of the stairs. He's greeted with a scene that makes him instantly wish he had a camera handy. Jensen is momentarily stunned into silence, torn between gaping and bursting out laughing. He chooses to ignore the slight tug in his chest at the sight of Jared, that’s another thing he's gotten used to over the years.
Jared stands with the back to the door. But standing really isn’t the right word to describe what Jared is doing. His hips are swinging from side to side, his arms are flailing all over the place and Jensen is pretty sure his whole body convulses in some kind of spasm or something. Jared’s track pants kind of cling to him, trying to stay up and not move further down his hips. The flashing orange retro t-shirt doesn’t do much to conceal anything.
And really, Jensen can’t be blamed for gaping, it is a rather hilarious view and well, there's even exposed tanned skin added to the mix, which makes it even harder not to just cross the room and jump Jared. There are so many reasons why that would be a really bad idea -- right now or even in foreseeable future.
That scene, though, isn’t enough to complete the picture of utter hilariousness. Because Jared isn’t alone.
Sadie is at his side, moving from paw to paw, ears perked up, wagging her tail and wiggling her backside. All that to the dance music Jensen still can’t identify.
And then it hits him.
They are dancing. Jared is dancing with Sadie.
He watches for a while, pretty sure Jared isn’t even aware of his presence. He watches them dance, hop, wiggle and shake without so much as a hitched breath drowned out by the music.
It shouldn’t be as adorable as it is. It shouldn’t be as hot as Jensen thinks it is, either. It really shouldn’t be. Jared looks like a complete dork. A hot dork Jensen is head over heels for. He watches them move around the room, watches them circle each other and smiles at Jared being absolutely focused on Sadie. It’s one of the rare moments where Jared lets go completely. Jensen loves it. Loves to see him like that.
But when Jared actually twirls around himself and Sadie scrambles to copy him all the while trying not to step on her own paws Jensen can’t hold back anymore and collapses down on the bottom step of the stair case.
He is laughing so hard that Jared’s surprised squeak and Sadie’s happy bark at seeing him set him off even more. And he can’t stop, he laughs so hard that everything else becomes like a distant set of noises. All he can do is laugh and laugh and laugh.
Jensen is holding his sides while he leans against the staircase frame. His face is streaked with tears and he is gasping for breath when Jared appears in his field of vision, red faced but grinning widely.
“You okay, Jen?”
Jensen waves a hand in front of him and nods, unable to speak between gasps for air and the still rippling laughter.
“Oh God … You … Dancing. God.”
He gasps out and giggles again. Jared just squats down in front of him, shaking his head but with some kind of fondness sparkling in his eyes.
“God, Jen it’s not that funny.”
“Dude, it totally is. You were wiggling. Not to mention dancing with a dog.”
Jared huffs, but is still grinning, which Jensen takes as a sign that he isn’t mad at him for laughing and losing it like that.
“I’ll never buy you rolls and warm them up for you again.” Jared is working the puppy eyes now and Jensen secretly loves it, even though he should hate how much of a goner he is when he sees them. It shouldn’t work that well on him, he's known Jared for too long. It’s just more proof of how far Jensen is actually involved.
“Oh come on … No, please. I appreciate your morning runs way more since you've taken up buying those for me. At least I get to smell cinnamon all morning instead of your rank racing shoes. And really, what’s so bad, I only saw you dancing. Well, dancing with your dog, which is kind of pathetic if I think about it …”
Jared just smiles, pats him on the head and stands up to shut the music off completely. Jensen hadn’t even realised it had been turned down until now.
“You know, you weren’t supposed to see that. Like ever. Thought you’d be sleeping until noon.”
“Well, don’t leave the basement door open then ... Oh, and it was kinda too quiet to sleep anyway.”
Jensen ducks his head slightly, not really sure why he couldn’t stop himself from blurting that out. It’s not like Jared needed to know that Jensen couldn’t sleep without knowing that Jared was home and safe. How pathetic was that anyway?
“Awwww, Jenny-beans can’t sleep when he doesn’t hear the kids? That’s awfully cute of you, man.”
“Oh fuck off, Padalecki. I am just getting used to all the ungodly noises you make.”
It hits Jensen a second too late about what he just said. This time it’s Jared cracking up. The only thought, besides being absolutely embarrassed, is how great and happy Jared looks when he laughs like that. Jensen wishes he could see it more often; it’s been rare lately. Between the break up with Sandy, the other things they have to deal with, the hard working schedules and the lack of sleep and spare time. Jensen still can’t help but grin at Jared.
“You know that’s not what I wanted to say, right?”
Jared sniffles a little, pats Sadie as she moves ahead to climb the stairs, and shrugs at Jensen.
“Yeah. I know. You aren’t really awake yet, right? Despite your 10 cups of coffee and however many rolls you had before you came down here.”
Jensen knows the teasing tone, knows Jared is trying to make this a little less embarrassing for Jensen. So he just smiles, stands up and is suddenly eye to eye with Jared. Not that this is any less awkward, but Jensen isn’t exactly thinking properly when presented with Jared’s eyes staring into him. Or with Jared standing so close for the matter.
Jensen has to bite down on the inside of his cheek to prevent himself from taking a deep breath. All he wants to do is inhale and take Jared’s scent in. No one said Jensen can’t be any more pathetic, he always finds the next level with sure aim.
“Uhm… you just know me too well, Jay. Really.”
“Scary, isn’t it?”
“Very much so. Yes.”
Jared smiles, grabs Jensen’s hip and pulls him close.
“So Jensen. How hard exactly is it for you to not just go and take what you want right now? I know you want to, I just don’t know why you won't just do it.”
Damn Jared for knowing Jensen so well. It really is scary when Jensen thinks about. But it’s so purely Jared as well. He's always known what’s going on in Jensen’s head, almost right from the start. It still sometimes startles Jensen to realise how much that has developed into a mutual thing lately.
“Right now? Very hard I’d say.”
“Why?”
“Well.. you know.”
“Actually, I don’t. What holds you back? You know you can just go ahead now and kiss me or jump me or whatever you want to do to me. Just let go and do it, Jensen. It’s pretty easy.”
Jared pulls Jensen even closer, has them standing chest to chest, just mere inches between them and it would be so easy to just lean in and kiss Jared. So easy, but there is still something holding Jensen back. It hasn’t been long since he was allowed to actually touch, kiss, lick and say things to Jared.
It’s still all new, so much to grasp and think about, that sometimes Jensen doesn’t even know if it's real.
“I know. I do. It’s just new… I sometimes have to remember that I can.”
“You can. You definitely can and you are allowed to.”
“Good. But you know what’s holding me back today?”
“Uhm, not exactly. Tell me.”
“Your sister standing on top of the stairs and laughing her ass of at you dancing.”
That startles a bark of laughter out of Jared which answered by Harley, who seems to have given up his spot to come down a few steps. The slight blush on Jared’s cheeks and the horrified expression has Jensen shaking with laughter again. This Sunday morning kind of looks like a good start to collect mocking material.
“Dude! I totally forgot about them being here. Oh God.”
All Jensen can do is burry his head on Jared shoulder and laugh helplessly. Jared’s arms come around him though and he is held safely while he shakes with laughter. Jared even starts to scratch his fingers slightly up and down Jensen’s back, bunching his t-shirt a little in the process.
It’s really not fair. He tells Jared just that.
“Sorry, couldn’t resist. You all shaking and warm in my arms.”
“Dork. And you totally forgot your own family. Weak. Really weak, Padalecki.”
“Oh come on, it’s not my fault that you are so hot and loveable that you occupy my every thought.”
“It’s more like you forgot not to get too wasted yesterday, so that you remember the occupied guestrooms today. You forgot your own family… Man, wait until I tell Sherri.”
Jensen thinks the next move is more to shut him then anything else, but he doesn’t protest because Jared kissing him with all he has will not ever be something he'll protest. Never. It starts heated, possessive and kind of rough, but Jensen slings his arms around Jared’s neck and slows it down into a long, languid and loving kiss.
When they break apart both of them are smiling. Nothing is rushed or secret like it had been for such a long time. It’s slow, warm and everything Jensen's been hoping for but never thought would happen. Looking into Jared’s eyes, he knows the other man thinks the same.
Matching smiles are really pathetic, but kind of belong to the situation.
“My good morning kiss, I presume?”
“You deserved it. Being all gentleman-like and coy while you really just wanted to jump me.”
The cough from the top of the stairs has Jared looking up and grinning. The moment is lost, but Jensen doesn’t care, he has Jared and it’s looking to be a good day.
Ten minutes later, he is about to reverse his opinion, mainly due to Megan Padalecki’s impressive ability to embarrass everyone and anything within seconds of talking to her. Jensen thinks he should be happy that Mackenzie isn’t around this time.
Just one question of her has the entire breakfast table spluttering and choking on various beverages or foods.
“So JT, are you done with your mating ritual dance or do we have to do the promised city tour all on our own while you and Jensen finish it by dancing horizontally?”
Jensen ducks his head quickly, biting his lips, not sure if he can survive another round of helpless laughter. And, really, he actually wants to spare himself the embarrassment of being outed as a giggler. Sherri’s indignant squawk as well as Gerry almost losing his coffee over the table, makes it hard, though. Really hard.
Megan just sits there, smiling all smug, proud of herself and looking more like a devilish teenager than a 20-something and out of college.
Jared just looks clueless for a second, which Jensen absolutely does not find adorable and which does not make him want to kiss him in an indecent way in front of his family. It makes Jensen snort, though -- no one said Jensen is subtle, after all. He can practically see the light going on when Jared gapes at Megan.
“Mating ritual. What? Huh?... God… no I was.. dancing with Sadie. Work out and stuff.”
“Dancing with Sadie. Jared that is sick, even for you.”
“Megan!”
This time it’s all three remaining Padaleckis shouting, which makes Megan blush and apologize and Jensen crack up hard. He is aware of everyone looking at him, but he can’t hold it in anymore. After a few seconds everyone else is laughing, too. Jensen is pretty sure that it is more because of him cracking up than because of what Megan said.
He doesn’t care at all. Laughing right now seems to be a way for him to lose all the tension, all the fear and angst that had kind of taken hold of his mind over the last couple of weeks. There was and is intense shooting for season four, the not-so-relaxing hiatus with the fights with Danneel and the consequences following. And, of course when he and Jared told their parents, then later, Jared’s parent’s coming up for a visit; it all had Jensen on edge for a while now.
No wonder he'd been stiff and moody, to say it using Jared’s words. Laughing, having something to laugh about, to feel good about, it all helped to settle him down. Step by step. Slowly.
He hasn’t laughed so much in ages and it makes him feel good about being head over heels in love with the man sitting next to him. The man who's currently rubbing Jensen's back in an effort to calm him down again.
When Jensen is calm enough to speak again, he just smiles at everyone and shrugs.
“Sorry. It was just ... too much, I guess.”
Sherri is smiling at him, but not indulgent and judging as he had suspected, but free and happy. Happy for them. Jensen feels settled, grounded, happy that he -- they -- have such a strong support network around them. It helps a lot when dealing with life.
“Come on Jen, let’s get dressed. We did promise them to show them new sights.”
Jensen doesn’t even protest being dragged, almost manhandled, out of the kitchen, doesn’t even protest that his coffee cup is still full and his toast half eaten, because he feels Jared vibrating, feels his hand shaking and knows Jared just needs a few minutes alone with him to calm down and to focus on the situation.
Gerry says some to Meagan, who just laughs, Sherri joining in. It's just one part of the whole thing -- the new experiences. Jared mumbling against Jensen’s neck when he has him pressed against their closed bedroom door is another. Both parts belong to his life and he wouldn’t want to miss them for anything.