RP LOG with thinbluegee | Over
Euan had always prided himself on his strength to cope with harsh situations, and being in court really wasn't a foreign scenario. But once the case was all over, and the verdict was signed, sealed and delivered, the first thing he did was exit the court house and throw up in the nearest gutter. He hadn't even realised how completely emotionally coiled he had been through the whole thing. Externally, he was the picture of professional togetherness. He answered to every single piece of shit the opposition flung at him and was strong enough to make eye contact with Ciaran's grandparents despite the horrific things they had dug up on Euan's past. The whole drug thing came out, his sexual past, the theft. But for everything they tried to hit him with, Tom was like some sort of terrier dog, going in for the balls in retaliation to everything. He had an answer for every single thing, he had statements from Euan's old psych assessments and doctors, his medical officers during his time in rehab. He had characters references from all his bosses since he joined the NYPD, and even that he had been offered a position as Lieutenant before choosing to return to Britain as a Detective Sergeant.
It all wrapped up in some sort of messy, grubby package, but at the end of it all, the judge ordered Euan full custody of Ciaran, and granted his full adoption to both Euan and Gee. To top it all off, Tom even managed to get an order for the grandparents to have to pay Euan compensation for not alerting him to the existence of his son when the mother was put in jail. That Euan was in a stable situation financially, physically, and psychologically to have cared for the child, and that option was stolen from him. Euan had been in a stunned haze as he stumbled out of the court. He hadn't slept the night before, absolutely terrified Ciaran was about to be taken from him. He had sat at the boy's bedside watching him sleep, in silent tears most of the night as he tried to prepare himself for the worst. The relief came like a physical blow and the sickness was just a response from having worked himself up so much without even realising it.
He was vaguely aware he wasn't alone as he straightened up and wiped his mouth on some tissues he pulled from his pocket. He turned around with a hoarse cough and found Gee standing there, watching him and looking slightly green from anxiety herself. "He's ours," he told her hoarsely.
Gee sucked in a breath at hearing those two words and for a moment she just stood there too scared to move, or speak, or do much of anything except just look at Euan. Then she moved forward to wrap her arms around her husband and heard the sob that escaped as she rest her head against his shoulder. She hadn't gone into the court room. She knew he hadn't wanted her there, and she'd respected that. Instead she'd waited outside with Aoife, but as soon as she saw Euan come out, she had to come to him to find out what had happened. She'd taken the throwing up as a bad sign, but now she knew better. "I don't ever want to do this again," she murmured before she started to sob again. "I love you, and I love Ci, but waiting to find out is just too bloody much."
"Fuck me, I don't ever fucking want to do it again either. It was fucking horrible. It was exactly how I expected. I don't even know how Tom managed to fucking pull it around, but he just didn't take any shit. All the things he had pooled together about how they treated Ciaran, though. I wanted to fucking climb over that bench and strangle the fuckers," Euan admitted breathlessly. His heart was still thumping rapidly in his chest and he knew they both needed to go back in and sign the adoption orders. He was close to tears himself and he just gripped hold of her for a few moments, trying to let the relief stop feeling like someone was playing a crappy trick on him. "The statement he gave to the court, he said he wanted to be called Fitzpatrick and not O'Sullivan. I meant to talk to him about that, but I just never got the chance. Whatever he wants, he can have."
Gee nodded against his shoulder, her hands gripping at the back of Euan's jacket. Her knuckles were almost white with how tightly she was holding on, but she didn't care. "Please don't have any more surprise children, okay? We got lucky with Ciaran, and I think we should just stick with him. We talked about the Fitzpatrick thing. That's why I'm taking your name too, remember? I think it's a good thing. He wants to move on as much as we want to give him a proper life. I'm glad you didn't wind up in a cell for committing murder in court, but maybe we can go wrap their car in toilet paper, or something? Tom did good. You did good. We have him! It's over."
Euan shook his head and stepped back a little to run his fingers through his hair. "It's not completely over. I feel so fucked in the head, it's not even funny. Three days of this bullshit, I'm surprised I'm not talking in tongues. There was even a slight moment there I was actually wondering if I really was the right one he should be with. We've gotta go sign papers and shit, too. I just want to go home and hug him, tell him I love him. Where is he? Who is he with? Is he okay?"
Gee rest her hand on Euan as she nodded, watching him now with a little concern. "He's fine, he's with my parents. I know they were going to spend Sunday with him, but right now I figured they were the ones that should take care of him right now. Aoife's just by the car. You survived. Maybe you're fucked in the head, but you survived and you have Ciaran. How long will it take to sign the papers? Can we just get it done now? Let's just get it done and go home."
Euan nodded and then shrugged. "I don't know. Tom will be there getting everything in order. I think we just need to sign. I managed to tell him to sort the whole name change thing before I just needed to get out of there for while. I can't believe what they tried to pull. All for a fucking welfare cheque every two weeks. Now they have to pay me compensation. Or pay Ciaran, to be more accurate," he said with a smug smirk as he headed for the stairs again.
Gee's hand shifted to hold onto Euan's as she followed him, keeping pace despite the fact that Euan's anger was obviously still driving him. She just felt her stomach twist from a combination of the anxiety and the hatred she really did feel towards Ciaran's grandparents. She just couldn't understand how two people could be so horrid towards such a beautiful kid. They passed them as they walked up the stairs and Gee's whole body stiffened as she shot them a glare and squeezed Euan's hand tightly. "Compensation is the least they could give him," she murmured loud enough for only him to hear.
Euan, on the other hand, smiled sweetly at them and gave them a cute little wave as he passed. As soon as they were behind them, though, his lips tightened when he started to scowl again. "They make me want to throw up all over again," he admitted stiffly with a small disdainful sniff. He shook his head and paused a little by a marble pillar to unfold the interim orders the court officer had given him. They would all be official once they were signed. He looked over them, seeing plainly there in black and white that he was awarded full custody of Ciaran, and the grandparents were forbidden from trying to contact him. Also that Gee would be given joint custody when the adoption was finalised. He handed the papers to Gee to see for herself.
"I haven't even thrown up yet, but having them anywhere near us again will definitely do the trick." Gee took the papers as she tried to focus enough to read them, not wanting to miss a single word. She pressed her hand against her stomach as it clenched again, only this time it was nervous excitement. She was about to be a mum. She, Euan, and Ciaran were really going to be a family. She looked up at Euan as her eyes filled with tears again before she gave him a nervous smile and leaned in to kiss him softly. "It's really happening."
"You wanna know the strangest part? Our marriage never even came into it," Euan revealed and pointed out that on the papers, it was still her maiden name. It wasn't even asked if he was married to Gee, just what her intentions to Ciaran were. Tom stuck to the facts, and Gee's love for the boy, even if they had known each other for a short time. Her willingness to treat him like he was her own, and the fact she had provided a safe and stable environment for him, even when he was seriously ill in hospital.
Gee's eyebrows went up as she read over the papers again, and realised she was still listed as Gabrielle Mancini. "Then it's a good thing we didn't really do it for the court case otherwise we'd be having a whole lot of second thoughts right about now. I don't regret marrying you at all, Euan. Just so you know. I don't regret wanting to adopt Ciaran either. He deserves a loving family, not some bullshit welfare scheme."
Euan nodded and felt himself tear up when it was getting too much to process. He exhaled heavily and tried to blink the tears away. "Last night was horrible. I just... sat there watching him, trying to see how it would feel it he wasn't there anymore. I couldn't. Every time I tried, I felt sick. I just feel like I don't want to let him out of my sight, but he'll get sick of me if I start pulling the overprotective parent routine. I need to try and fucking sort through all this. Maybe I need to get royally pissed and just drown it all out. I can't remember the last time I had a good drink."
Gee tucked the papers into her back pocket so she could reach up and cup Euan's face as she leaned in close, dropping her voice to a quiet whisper while she pressed kisses to his cheek, and jaw. "There's a fine line between not wanting to lose him now you have him, and the overprotective parent routine. You just need to trust that now he's in our custody things will be alright. If you do want to go out and get drunk, I can watch Ciaran. Maybe you should take Larson with you. I know you two aren't close, but he might appreciate a night out, too. This is me trying not to be the overprotective wife and still need someone to keep an eye on you. But it should be a bloke."
"I don't know, I really don't. I'm not sure he would appreciate sitting there watching me drown my sorrows. Not that they're sorrows, not really. Aye, okay, maybe they fucking are. All of that, I just really didn't want it fucking dragged up and shoved in my face. I was honest with Tom what they might draw out, and he's been a fucking amazing help. Like you wouldn't believe. I feel like I'll never be able to thank him. But it's been one complete mindfuck. Hopefully I'll feel better when I see Ciaran and can just touch him, hug him, know he's really mine now." Euan heaved a heavy sigh of relief now that it was over. "But if I do get drunk, I'm going to tell him that's what I'm going to do so he doesn't freak out."
"And so he doesn't wonder in case you come home wanting noisy sex?" Gee asked with a slightly amused look. She kissed him again before pulling him back into a hug and rubbing her hand against Euan's back. "Then get drunk however you want, explain it to him. I'll still watch him for the night. I mean, I am his Mum now. Almost his mum... I still can't believe it. All of a sudden I'm Mrs Fitzpatrick and I have a teenage son. Tom probably won't want your thanks. As weird as it sounds, I don't think he does it for the constant gratitude. Not even sure he did it for the money."
"Pretty sure I won't be in any condition to get it up, but more a fact he's never seen me drunk and it'd probably be confronting if he doesn't expect it. I don't want him to think he's the reason I've gone and done it." Euan watched her closely for a few moments. "Are you still alright with that? I mean, if you want a breather, Vee would be happy to take him, and surprisingly, Tom said he and Stuart would take him any time, too. They want to bond with him now that Stuart is going to be his godfather. Tom seemed cool when he realised nappies wouldn't be involved. I know, but he gave me my son back. I would have paid anything for that, it's just money. Tom was beyond that. More than."
Gee laughed softly as she glanced around to see if their hero was in sight, but Tom must have still been organising the paperwork. She looked back at Euan to find him watching her, and smiled at him. "Of course I am. It's just starting to hit home that I'm really going to be his mum. That the time's here. It's not just a possible scenario. I don't need a breather from Ci. Are you kidding? He's the best kid to be stuck with. Not that I'm stuck with him, but you know what I mean, right? I think we should let Tom and Stuart take him at some point, but not tonight. Tonight I think I should be with him." Gee gave him a soft squeeze. "I know, love. I do. I'm sure you can find someway to thank him when the time's right. Just don't forget that you're the reason his case got solved, and he was cleared of murder."
Euan laughed a little. "You might back track on those thoughts a little when he's coming to us at two am to say he's puked in his bed or we're getting calls from the school to say he's writing swear words in his homework," he joked. "Not that I'm talking from experience or anything... Alright, so you can be with him and I'll drag someone out to get pissed with me. I might take Vee. Actually, I think she offered to peel me out of a gutter if I needed it. But I will speak to Ciaran first. If I can come up with a way to explain that I need it without him thinking booze will solve everything, because right along with sex, I never want him touching the stuff. Hey, I didn't clear his case, I just helped out a bit."
"You helped out when we really needed a break. That's something I'll never forget, even if I want to forget the how. And no, I won't backtrack on those thoughts even after I get a call from the boss saying that you've been writing swear words in your reports," Gee teased with a grin. "Vee's a good choice. She's your BFF after all, and this is what they're here for. I'll organise some movies to watch with Ciaran. I might even get him to help me make some pizzas for dinner. I don't want to be falling into the take-out trap just yet. I have no idea how you're going to manage explaining getting drunk... I'm incredibly interested to hear that conversation."
Euan shrugged with a smirk. "Wouldn't be the first time. Don't count your chickens on the puking in the bed, mind. Just remember, you're the one encouraging me to go out and get blinded. I just want him surrounded by positive influences. Vee will be great, so will Supercop. He's also Catholic and has a soft spot for kids. I think they'll both be good for Ciaran. And fuck, yes. He needs to eat well to get his strength back. It's alright now and again, but he's not used to junk food, so I don't want him to get used to it either. Oh, aye? Just like you're incredibly interested in hearing me explain sex to him."
Gee nudged Euan before she pulled away slightly to give him some space back as she just tucked her hand into his back pocket. "I'll make sure I put the plastic sheets on our bed then. I'll still look after you, even when you are hungover and acting like a hurting bitch. Ciaran's destined to at least have Catholic influence. My parents will be proud. I think we're actually pretty lucky with our support network. We don't have to worry about Ciaran ever getting left with someone we don't trust." Gee nodded as she bit back another smile. "Exactly. I think you're going to have plenty of interesting conversations with our son."
"Aye, I wanted to ask about that. Do you you have a church here in London or something? I need to arrange that christening. He asked me he 'got Catholic' and to be honest, I wouldn't even know where to fucking start with. Not like I make a habit of christening kids. Just so long as I don't need to go near the confession box or I'll be there until the kid is fifty." Euan pointed. "Reminds me too. Ethan called, wants to know it's okay if Ciaran can spend the day with Sophie one day. Something about a mini accidental Yoda. I did not ask. I don't want to fucking know."
Gee shook her head. "I don't, but Mum and Dad do. It's close to where they live. They've gone there ever since I was little. There's probably bigger churches, too. Matt would know. I could ask my parents though about the chances of having the christening at theirs. You start with the Bible, love. That's usually a good place to start. Even if I'm not sure I need Ciaran thinking he's a sinner just because he'll start going through puberty. I won't make you go to confession. I like you dirty, and sinning." Gee's eyebrows went up slightly before she nodded. "Sure, of course. Wow, should we start charging to rent Ci out to all these willing couples?"
Euan looked at her uncertaintly. "Do I need to buy him a Bible? Where do I get those? He'll probably want to draw in it. Is that bad? Does it count as desicration or something? I bought him a photo album and he put all those beach and Stonehenge pictures in, and then drew these borders on each of the blank pages. Also, does it make me a bad father for laughing when he faceplanted his peanut butter sandwich the other day? I totally laughed my arse off when he fell asleep. He doesn't like peanut butter by the way." He nodded and then shrugged. "I think Sophie could just use some grounding after the miscarriage. Ethan wasn't making a whole lot of sense. He still sounded tired. Can't imagine going through shit like that. Plus, Ciaran didn't really get it."
She looked at Euan for a moment before she just gave a small, disbelieving shake of her head. "If we hit up a motel and steal the Bible out of the drawer, you won't need to buy him one. Otherwise you can find them pretty much anywhere. It's the Bible, Euan. It's not the Holy Grail. And no, it's not bad. At least I don't think it's bad. If Ciaran winds up in Hell, then whichever God is up there, is a right prick for sending him. It's just how he expresses himself. The drawings might help him process. Yes, it makes you a terrible father. Did you at least wake him up so he wasn't suffocated by the sandwich? Okay, so no peanut butter for him. That's alright, I don't love the stuff either. I can't imagine it either. I can't even really imagine being pregnant in the first place, let alone losing the kid. That's awful. If he'll help them, then they can definitely take him. It'll be hard for him to fathom just yet."
"Well, I don't want him to fucking read it. I just want him to know the faith is there if he wants it. I don't want it shoved down his throat. He's already had that, and it was some wanker's fucked up opinion of what religion should be and had my kid walking away thinking he was going to hell for existening. I'm making an executive Dad decision. He doesn't need a Bible. And if he does for the christening, we'll hang onto it until he's older and can understand he's not a leper," Euan decided as the reached the documents office of the court and took a number from the computer so they could wait to sign everything they needed to. He took his phone out of his pocket and pulled up an image on the screen to hand it ot Gee. "I woke him up after I took a photo of him. I couldn't help it. It's nice to know my kid does stupid things like I do. I think he'll just keep it real. He's innocent. He doesn't really get it, but it will help Sophie feel like life isn't so sucky."
"Whatever you want, darling," Gee said as her lips pressed together in amusement. She was fine with Euan making the executive decisions if it kept him happy. She also happened to agree with, but she still made a note to get a Bible. "He's not a leper, and we'll make sure he understands that. I can't believe you took a photo of it! How could you take a--aw, he's so cute!" Gee took the phone and looked at the photo with a mixture of amusement and pride. "He's even got some peanut butter in his hair... Which is exactly what she needs right now."
Euan leaned over to look at the photo with a smirk. "I told him to go lie down, but he said he didn't need to. I know the whole road trip, wedding overkill thing took it all out of him. Hell, I'm still knackered from it. I was trying to get everything together for the case, I didn't realise how much he had phased out in boredom. We need to think about getting him that dog. It might just give him something to focus on. He's got a smart brain in the head of his, he needs to stimulate it. I have no idea how he didn't go mental with those arseholes."
Gee smiled again at the picture before she gave Euan his phone back. "Agreed. Especially given he won't be in school until next year. Maybe we can get him some extra books too, even if he does just wind up drawing on all of them. Once you're over your hangover, maybe we could visit the shelter. Or were we going with the pet shop? I can't remember anymore. Either way, he can pick the puppy. He was obviously too scared and desperate for affection to be mental."
Euan dug his wallet out and handed Gee over his credit card. "Take him and get him some kid shit. Books and sports stuff. Maybe one of those video game things. I remember when I was a kid I was always a pain in the arse when I was bored. I know he won't be, but I still don't want him bored and falling off more furniture. He spends some time on the laptop, but he doesn't have a lot of interest in it. What about comics? He likes comics, doesn't he? Take him to one of those shops, and I'll try and find the best place to get a dog that won't be a hemorrhoid."
Gee kissed Euan as she squeezed his thigh reassuringly. "I love it when you're all decisive and handing over your credit card. What makes you think it was just when you were a kid? You're a pain in the arse now when you're bored. I'll make sure he has plenty of things to keep him occupied. Even if I have to buy it all while he just stands there not actually willing to believe he can just have anything he wants. Maybe you should take Vee, or Aoife for dog duty."
"Oh, aye. He'll just give you that big-eyed look when you ask him what he wants and pick something like a crayon. And it really will be all he wants, so we'll just get it all and he can look through it as he wants it. I just want him to start feeling like a normal kid. I want to take him to the beach and to Blackpool where he can ride on rollercoasters and eat junk food. I think he'll start feeling better once he's got something to feel normal about." Euan nodded and put his phone back away. "But I'm not getting anything that looks like a coughed up furball or anything that can have bows put on its fur."
"Exactly," Gee agreed with a soft laugh as she thought about when they had taken Ciaran to get clothes. He'd just picked out one t-shirt and that was all he'd wanted. "He just needs to feel like his Dad isn't going to get taken away at any turn. Once he understands that you have custody, that the adoption's gone through and nothing can happen, I think he'll be more comfortable. He'll be more inclined to relax. The dog will help too, but definitely no lapdogs."
Euan nodded and started to bounce his leg restlessly. "I wish they'd fucking hurry up. I've had enough of fucking court houses to last me a lifetime. I need to let him know everything is gonna be okay. I know we haven't really been able to do that. He knows there has been a whole lot of bullshit pending. He's done his best. I'm just glad he hasn't freaked out all over the place and made himself sick. He asked me the other day if he really did need to take those pills forever, and it sucked to tell him aye. I just can't believe they never fucking noticed how sick he was. It was satisfying to see Tom go for the jugular with that."
Gee tried not to slap his leg for doing the bouncy thing as she just took his hand again. "I'd try and help you out with a little something to relax, but I don't think these guys are going to appreciate me sitting here with my hand down your pants. Did you want to call him while we waited? It's okay if you do. I won't think you're being overprotective dad too much. I know, love. It's awful having to make him swallow those pills. He still has so much trouble with them. I feel like I'm torturing him even when I cut them for him."
Euan held up his hand. "No, no. He needs know it's all cool hanging out with your folks. If I'm calling every five minutes, he'll start getting nervous that maybe something should be wrong. They'd call if something was up. Right? They would call, aye?" He looked at her for clarification. He knew the answer, but he couldn't help if he just needed some reassurance. "There's some doctor's appointment coming up. I want to talk to them about that. There's got to be another kid-friendly way of doing it. I'm just fucking relieved he understands he has to take them or he'll end up back in hospital again. Can't blame the poor kid for fucking hating hospitals. I'm right up there with him. The fucking arse-gaping gowns and Nazi nurses."
Gee nodded as she used her other hand to cup his face. "Of course they'd call. I won't even try and tease you about that. I know you'll just wind up having a heart attack. I'm sure they've got it under control. Ciaran really is an easy kid. If they needed us, they'd be calling. No, definitely not. I'm still proud of him for surviving the hospital, I just really, really don't want him to wind up back there any time soon. Do you think he can just manage not to hurt himself for a little while? At least to the point he needs the hospital."
"... maybe you could just text them and ninja ask if he's okay without him knowing?" Euan suggested sheepishly after a moment of thought. "Fuck. I fucking hope so. I can't handle seeing him in pain like that. It's why I'm trying to make sure he doesn't stress out on us. In saying that, no kid should be stressed out like he was anyway, so we're just doing our jobs anyway. It's stupid. Some days he still doesn't feel like mine. It's like a dream."
Gee rubbed her thumb over Euan's hand as she fished out her phone from her bag sitting in her lap and stared at the screen as she tried to work out a ninja way to ask her parents if Ci was okay. "You don't want much, do you? Okay, okay. Let me think." Gee was just about to start typing a message in when her phone vibrated and she switched to the inbox to see who the message was from. It was Stuart, and she started to grin as she read the words, 'congratulations, it's a boy'. She nudged Euan as she showed it to him. "Well, wake up, Daddy Fitzpatrick. It's time to start embracing the family life."
Euan really wanted a cigarette. He hoped these bastards didn't make them wait much longer. A number was called over the screen above their heads and he looked up, realising they were still way off. The joys of a court case in London. "Oh fucking hell. Slow arsed bastards," he cursed. He looked over at the phone with a smirk and a snort. "Tell him he's fourteen years too late, but we won't say no to presents. Preferrably booze or tobacco. Cigars. He owes me cigars."
Gee punched in a reply about cigars, knowing all too well what Stuart would probably have to say about something like that. She then created a new text message to her Mum's phone and sent it. She really did hope that Ciaran was alright. Her eyes flicked up to look at the numbers as her nose crinkled. "Jesus, is that seriously what they're up to? Think we have time for a quickie? Hey, um, what do you want to do about Christmas?"
"If we do that, something would happen. Sod's fucking Law. Or the judge will come in for a crap, and decide I'm a fucked up father and change his mind," Euan said wryly, scruching his nose up. "Christmas? Isn't that, like... shit, it's not months away. Christmas, seriously? That means we'll have known each other a year. I can't believe it's been a fucking year since I came here to try and convince Vee she was being a wank. Then ended up in hospital for trying to do a good deed. Now I have a son, and a wife. Holy fuck."
Gee smirked at him. "That's the part where I remind you it's been the best year of your life. I mean, you did get me out of it, and Ciaran. Still, wow... a whole year. A whole bloody year just gone. Do you still think Vee's being a wank?" Gee looked down at her hand and the rings sitting on her finger as she smiled softly. "Christmas is not months away, and I was wondering if you just wanted Christmas with the three of us, and Aoife, or what. Are you a big Christmas person?"
Euan pressed his lips together and shook his head. "Not really. Haven't really been since I moved to America. Sort of just offered to work at Christmas. Came home a couple of times for the big family dinner thing, but that completely stopped when Mum and Dad died. Holidays and special occasions died in the arse after that. We never felt like celebrating without them. I just kept working through them. Last year was the first time in awhile I did anything, and it was only because Vee demanded it. But now there's the kid, and I can't see that his Christmases have probably been a whole heap of fun. Now with his mindset. They were probably all focused on the religion shit of it. We'll have to do something. We can't just phase over Christmas with a kid in the house. I just wouldn't know where to fucking start with it all. Maybe we should just have a big thing at our place? It's big enough. Just don't fucking expect me to cook any turkeys."
"You won't need to cook the turkey. I can do that. And if we ask everyone to bring one dish with them, then that also helps to take the pressure off so that not one person is lumped with all the cooking. I think it would be really nice to have something at our place, and give Ciaran a big family Christmas. We need to get a tree and some decorations. I only ever had a pissy little thing in my apartment, so it's not going to cut it. I think I tossed it when I moved in with you anyway." Gee frowned a little in thought before her phone buzzed in her bag and she picked it up to check the message. She held it out for Euan as she smiled. "He's fine, love. You can start breathing again."
Euan pulled his lips to the side, still not able to stop the restless leg bouncing. "Christmas, you know... hasn't really been anything to me since my folks died. It feels surreal. I probably wouldn't want to even bother. It's hard around all the holiday things. I hope I can just set that aside for the kid so he can have some fun. I'm just not sure I'll be able to. This time last year, my life was just completely different. I would have pissed myself laughing at anyone who said this is where I'd be in a year. And probably cussed them out for being a dipshit."
Gee really was trying hard not to just sit on Euan's lap or something to stop his leg from bouncing. It was one nervous tick she could never handle. "We don't have to do anything huge," she said quietly. "If you want it to just be the three of us that's how it can be. We can still make it special for Ciaran. Maybe just have my folks over on Boxing Day? And Aoife. What about your brother? You don't want to see him at all?" She finally decided to sling her leg over his, but Euan's leg still didn't stop bouncing and she just wound up smiling from having hers jiggled. "We don't have to have big just because we have the space for it. You don't need to be suffering over Christmas just for Ci. He wouldn't like knowing you were hating it."
"I don't know. I just feel like after all the bullshit this year, we should stick around the important people. Make Christmas something that isn't fucked in my head. Oh hey, Aoife and me are both close to Ronan, but he has family in the States. We could invite him. He might like to come meet Ciaran. He keeps asking about him in texts. He got the natural dad mojo of our family. I just want Ciaran to have everything he's never been given. All that bullshit he thinks he doesn't deserve because he's on a one way ticket to hell. It just might be a bit hard for a wee while when it hits me that our folks really aren't here. Wouldn't be the first time," Euan admitted wryly.
Gee held onto his hand tightly as she looked at Euan. "Difference is that you're not alone this time. You have a family, and I know none of us are your parents, but we still love you. We still care about you. And your folks would be so proud of you right now. I'm proud of you. Maybe you think your brother got the natural dad mojo, but I think you're doing pretty fucking well, and don't sell yourself short, okay? You're an amazing dad. We should invite Ronan, though. Let Ciaran meet his uncle."
Euan wet his lips and looked at Gee with a small frown. "Do you think it would be too overwhelming for him? Not Ronan. He's a resilient fuck. Stockbroker, says it fucking all. I mean Ciaran. The whole big family crowd scene. He did okay at the wedding. Looked a wee bit like he was feeling like a goldfish in a bowl at one point there, but he got on okay. The weird thing is, he talks to people who talk to him. He just isn't always sure why they are talking to him at first. Not to mention the innocence. Fuck. Some of the questions he comes out with..."
"Most of us are used to him now. They won't stare so much, or make him feel like a goldfish. They don't want to make him feel uncomfortable. I can't really say for sure if he would find it overwhelming. Maybe he'd actually love it once he's spent a little more time with everyone." Gee pulled her mouth to the side. "Maybe we should just ask him what he wants to do for Christmas? He's not a ticket to hell, and he doesn't jinx people. He just needs to be comfortable."
"I'll see what he says. Hopefully he doesn't run screaming into the night at the notion of Christmas because they've brainwashed him about virgin births or something." Euan looked up and found Tom coming into the documents office and start in a conversation what looked like another lawyer talked. Euan fleetingly wondered if they spoke a different lawyer language when they got together like that. "Marriage suits him. Do we look that grossly happy? Wouldn't pick him for the same bloke that was nearly wrapped around a traffic light pole less than twelve months ago."
Gee scrunched her nose up as she thought about the rubbish Ciaran's grandparents had been feeding him. "Maybe he'll think it's sacrilege that we're not all depressed over the event, and focused on Jesus. Personally I still think it's about family, presents, and food. I can't help it. Maybe I'm Catholic, but the birth of baby Jesus is usually the last thing on my mind. We'll find out, huh?" She looked up to see where Euan was looking, and smiled at Tom as he glanced in their direction. "Yeah, it really does. It suits Stuart, too. I've never seen him so happy. I don't know if we do. Do I look like that? He's so lucky, but it also goes to show how good Stuart's been for him. Tom and Ethan were always alone, but they're now part of bigger families."
"They brainwashed him, but didn't want him fucking christened. I was seriously about a step away from lodging criminal charages against them for child abuse. Isn't like I couldn't build a decent case against them. But at the end of the day, they took care of him, sort of. I don't know. I'm trying not to harbour too many fucking homicidal thoughts." Euan analysed Tom for a moment and then shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe they look different because they're gay," he joked with a smirk. "Seriously, that big bucket of in-laws thing must be full on."
"They're automatically sparkly because they're gay?" Gee asked with a soft laugh. "Maybe we're just so used to seeing Tom hurting, or suffering over the last year with all that's happened, that the fact that he's really happy is new. He's not ashamed to smile, and enjoy it. It's nice. I think everyone should be able to live like that. Well, think of all the energy you'd save from not having those thoughts. It's actually draining planning a murder," Gee replied jokingly. "Still, they're gone now. Never allowed to see Ciaran again."
"Aye, they are. Look at that. I'd castrate myself wearing pants that tight," Euan joked, smirking. He tried to relax a bit, but when another number got called that wasn't his, he shot the recipient a death glare like it was their fault for having an earlier number. He tried to stifle a yawn, but it was impossible. This was screwed. As if three days in court wasn't torture enough. "How do you know it's draining planning a murder?" he asked, glancing at her in amusement.
Gee winked at him. "I plotted yours enough times in the early days. I always slept like a baby afterwards. If you wore pants like that, I'd never let you leave the house. It's bad enough watching all the women perve on your arse in your current pants. It's crazy how much Tom loves showing off his package, but I guess Stuart can put up with it. He does reap the benefits, after all." She brushed her hands over Euan's hair as she looked up at the numbers again and sighed. "Bloody hell, this is what purgatory must be like."
"They're making sure I'm serious about this, I bet they are. It's a fucking conspiracy. I bet there are wee cameras all around watching to make sure I don't scratch my balls wrong or something," Euan said, maybe only half joking. Truth was, he wouldn't really feel completely better and content until he could get home to hug his son and tell him everything was going to be okay. "What part of the marriage vows was that in? Til death us do part? That's taking it to the extreme, is it not? And in my own defense, you kept putting up with me," he added with a smug smirk.
Gee turned Euan's face towards her as she kissed him and pulled back with a smile. "You could never scratch your balls wrong, you're too much of an expert. And yeah, I kept putting up with you. How could I not? I was only joking. I never did plot your death. Maybe just a little spanking. I don't regret putting up with you one bit. And look, it paid off, didn't it?"
"They're my balls, I'll scratch if I want to," Euan replied back without hesitation. "Fuck, quit with the spanking. It's creepy, not a turn on. You can spank yourself well away from my presence, it ain't my thing. You don't see people walking around poking themselves in the eyeballs for a sexual turn-on, do you? I'm going to reserve judgment on assuming everything is going to be rosy now. After this past year, I don't think any psychic powers would hold up to predicting all that bullshit. Right now, I just want to see with my own eyes that my kid is okay, and I'll be happy with that. Everything else is a bonus."
"Who said it was supposed to be a sexual turn on? If kids got turned on by their mothers smacking them, we'd have even more societal issues in the world. I've also only mentioned spanking once - as in now - since the last time you told me off for it." Gee looked up at the number screen again, and then down at her watch. "Might have to wait a bit longer on the kid front. Personally I'm glad that we made it to the end of the year without imploding. I'm pretty proud of us. And I never, ever would have thought that Ciaran would have been on the horizon. Makes me just a little worried about what next year might hold."
Euan shrugged. "Just so long as he is okay, it'll be fine. But we're using birth control. A lot of it. I can't be put in Ethan and Sophie's shoes without mentally exploding. One kid is enough for me right now. Worrying about him is going to give me grey pubes, and I don't want him feeling like we'll be shoving him aside for a shinier model just yet." Another number was called up, and again, not his and Euan only just managed to catch himself before giving the number screen the bird and exploding in a string of colourful expletives.
Gee looked from the screen to Euan, and bit back a grin. She couldn't help being amused when Euan wasn't allowed to just swear left, right, and centre. "Oh, I'm all for birth control. That really is the part of me that abandoned being Catholic as soon as I was old enough to realise that they didn't do anything to prevent sexual diseases, or accidental pregnancy. I'm more than happy with Ciaran right now. Really. I just want to be home with him, too. I want to maybe just smother him a little bit."
Euan stretched back and exhaled slowly. "I thought being a drug addict, getting stabbed, rehab, losing my folks, all that, was the worst thing I ever went through. That had nothing on today. I seriously thought for a short time there that they were going to take him the fuck away from me, and I was terrified."
Gee swung her other leg over Euan's so that she was practically sitting in his lap. She didn't even care that there were people staring at them. If they had to wait, then she was going to be comfortable. She took Euan's hand in hers and ran her finger over the wedding band there. "I had no idea what to think. I didn't even know if what was going on was good, or bad. Three days felt bad, like it was too long. It wasn't like I could sit at home, though. I have no idea how you actually stayed sane going through it, but I am so proud of you. And so incredibly relieved they weren't so fucked in the head as to deny you custody."
"They would have done what was best for Ciaran, and he said in his statement he wanted to stay with us. They seriously tried to peg me with child abuse because he had a broken arm. I expected it on some level, but it didn't come as any less a blow. Thank fuck the judge told them to withdraw the accusations. He said it was laughable and they were walking a thin line. I can handle a lot of accusations, but hitting my own kid and breaking his arm?" Euan shook his head with a small growl. "The judge was good, though. Plus, I think Sophie's input when she had spent time with Ciaran was a big deciding factor."
Gee's eyebrows went up a little. "Yeah? How did she deal with it all? Was she actually here? I didn't even see her come out, or go in. They really were going for the low blows, weren't they? It's probably all they could come up with. They wanted to hit you where it hurt, so they must already know that Ciaran means the world to you. Lucky you did get a good judge. I hear some of them can be total pricks."
Euan shook his head. "Nope, wasn't there. Of course she wasn't. I assume she and Ethan are at home, but I can't say that's accurate. She spent time with Ciaran, though, so they had her reports and things. She must have some really high standing in cases like these. Her word was pretty golden, so I owe her one there too. I just... fuck. I think they're bitter that I actually stepped up. They probably spent his whole life thinking I was the scum of the fucking earth, and to suddenly be fighting against me like this. Which reminds me." He dug into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out one of the baby photos Vee had gotten for him and handed it to Gee. "Vee got them for me. I didn't have a chance to show you before."
"Of course... I still can't believe how quickly things changed after the wedding. All of a sudden Ethan and Sophie were suffering, and we were going back home to prep for the case. Well, you prepped. I just watched. She's always seemed like she knew what she was doing, and I think she does really care about Ciaran. Thinking you were the scum probably made them feel less like the scum themselves. Fucking wankers. To think they believed they were more deserving to have Ciaran than you... Mental bastards." Gee blinked, trying to stop the frown that was appearing again as she thought of the grandparents. She looked down at the photo Euan was offering her, and took it with a smile that instantly pushed away any negative thoughts. "Oh my god... It's Ci! Baby Ci. He's so beautiful. How could anyone have ignored this kid?"
It was Euan's phone that went off with a text message this time. He could feel it vibrating in his pocket, which reminded him he needed to turn the sound up again. He took it out and found a text from Ciaran. They had given him a mobile for this very purpose, but he hardly used it. It was a message asking Euan if he would be home soon and with a sigh, he showed it to Gee. "It must feel like he's hardly fucking seen us. Poor kid." He looked at the baby photo with a smirk. "At least that isn't the one of him trying to eat a bug. It was nice to see he was still a normal kid under the beaten down exterior. I don't know how she got them. I didn't ask, but it was great. They were trying to keep this shit from me. But he's my son. He belongs with me and the world can go fuck itself if they think otherwise. I ain't saying I'm gonna be peferct, because I'm not. Far fucking from it. But it will be my right. Our right. Between us all, we gotta get it some sort of right, aye?"
Gee nodded as she kissed Euan's cheek. "Absolutely. Some sort of right is our kind of right. Who needs perfect? Who needs conventional. Poor Ci, though. He really must be wondering if he's going to see you soon. But he will. Just as soon as these bloody bastards get through the rest of the numbers quickly. Isn't there some way to speed this up? Where did Tom go? Maybe he has strings to pull. Vee did really well to get these. I still can't believe they won't just acknowledge that you need photos of your own son. That you want to know what he was like as a bug-eating kid."
Euan nodded wryly. "Aye, I worried about that. The kid is probably thinking someone is going to come in and take him away if the court case goes badly. I haven't told him the half of it, but he's cluey. He's picked up enough to know I am there for the custody and his adoption. He'll be thinking he doesn't deserve and someone will take us away. I know it. That's why I want to get home. I wish these fuckers would be a bit more courteous. In saying that I don't even have anyone offering to let me jump the queue at Tescos. I must look scary," he said with a smirk. "Or that if they let me through, I might rob the cash register. I dunno, maybe he went to have more phone sex with Stuart. I caught them at it during one of the breaks. They're just fucking arseholes. I'm glad I have some of him now. I want to get some frames, stick them up around the place."
"Tom and Stuart are fucking arseholes because of phone sex?" Gee asked with a teasing tone. "I know, I know. You meant the grandparents. You don't look that scary. They're probably all worried the checkout chicks will start throwing themselves at you. Not that you'll hold them up. Or maybe it's that broody Irish brow you get," Gee suggested as she reached up to brush her fingertips against where Euan's brows were furrowed together. "We haven't had phone sex yet. Should we try phone sex? Maybe I can ring you when I'm at work. You can let me know if Ci's otherwise occupied. And not climbing the furniture."
Euan looked at her with a small snort. "Why have phone sex when we can have the real thing? How do I explain that to the kid if he walks in on it? I think he's had enough wanking talk for this decade. I don't want him to see how it's actually done, even if I am wondering if he tried it after you told him it was okay. Still not seen any real evidence of it, though. He's probably a ninja wanker. I was about his age when I started, but there was nothing ninja about what I did. I couldn't fucking get enough. It was a rapid transition from that to sex."
Gee smiled at him before she started to laugh. "Oh god... I don't think there's anything ninja you do. I can't imagine there ever has been. I don't know if he's tried it. I would have thought he'd ask someone, or talk to someone about the sensation, but is he close to any of our male friends? Not yet. Stuart might be his godfather, but he hasn't had much time with Ci. And Ciaran thinks Ethan's Batman, so I don't think he'd ring up Bruce Wayne for wanking advice. Would he even know what to wank over?"
"No fucking clue, really. I mean, I guess it depends what way he swings. You generally know from a young age, but then if he hasn't thought much about it, maybe not. He'll find something that makes him feel good, or think of things in his head. For all I know, he found my tittie magazines again, and he has his laptop. You can find boobs on there anywhere. Or he might just do it because it feels good. Most guys really don't need anything to wank over. It's all about friction." Euan huffed out a sigh. "He just seems too fucking young. I know he's not, the rational side of my brain knows its going to be sooner rather than later that he gets curious, but still."
Gee bit down on her lip. "I can't believe we got him in time for puberty. Surely his grandparents did have the baby talk with him... Or maybe the mum did. Do you think she did? Do you think they did? We're never going to know until he just starts asking questions. I get that they didn't encourage the wanking thing. And that's fine. I can deal with that horribly, but at least I did try to deal with it. Friction, huh? You really are just going to be putty in my hands, aren't you?"
Euan shook his head slightly and scrunched up his nose. "I doubt it. Maybe he had sex ed at school, but he was asking you a lot of questions, you said. He's probably had the bare minimum, maybe heard stuff from mates at school. Maybe had the baby talk, but not the sex talk. And even if they did, can you imagine it? No sex before marriage, but don't get married because you're Satan spawn? Arseholes," he spat. "You already know I am, and he's my offpsring. I get nervous how he is going to be when he discovers how much fun his Fitzpatrick willy is."
"All we can do is hope that Ci approaches his Fitzpatrick willy with some, um... Well, I just don't want him to be bloody climbing on the furniture to have a wank that's for sure," Gee offered as she frowned a little, and she even had the Mum Tone. "Or sticking it in the vacuum cleaner. Let's make sure he never, ever gets curious over that sort of thing. He can lock himself in the bathroom all he wants."
Euan started to snigger at this. "I predict, you're going to be the first one to discover it, and then you have to deal with it, Mummy," he said with a devious and trademark smirk. Then the number caller dinged again and his number finally flashed up. "Oh thank fuck for that. If they take another four hours with these documents, I'll belt someone, I swear I will."
Word Count | 9,645
It all wrapped up in some sort of messy, grubby package, but at the end of it all, the judge ordered Euan full custody of Ciaran, and granted his full adoption to both Euan and Gee. To top it all off, Tom even managed to get an order for the grandparents to have to pay Euan compensation for not alerting him to the existence of his son when the mother was put in jail. That Euan was in a stable situation financially, physically, and psychologically to have cared for the child, and that option was stolen from him. Euan had been in a stunned haze as he stumbled out of the court. He hadn't slept the night before, absolutely terrified Ciaran was about to be taken from him. He had sat at the boy's bedside watching him sleep, in silent tears most of the night as he tried to prepare himself for the worst. The relief came like a physical blow and the sickness was just a response from having worked himself up so much without even realising it.
He was vaguely aware he wasn't alone as he straightened up and wiped his mouth on some tissues he pulled from his pocket. He turned around with a hoarse cough and found Gee standing there, watching him and looking slightly green from anxiety herself. "He's ours," he told her hoarsely.
Gee sucked in a breath at hearing those two words and for a moment she just stood there too scared to move, or speak, or do much of anything except just look at Euan. Then she moved forward to wrap her arms around her husband and heard the sob that escaped as she rest her head against his shoulder. She hadn't gone into the court room. She knew he hadn't wanted her there, and she'd respected that. Instead she'd waited outside with Aoife, but as soon as she saw Euan come out, she had to come to him to find out what had happened. She'd taken the throwing up as a bad sign, but now she knew better. "I don't ever want to do this again," she murmured before she started to sob again. "I love you, and I love Ci, but waiting to find out is just too bloody much."
"Fuck me, I don't ever fucking want to do it again either. It was fucking horrible. It was exactly how I expected. I don't even know how Tom managed to fucking pull it around, but he just didn't take any shit. All the things he had pooled together about how they treated Ciaran, though. I wanted to fucking climb over that bench and strangle the fuckers," Euan admitted breathlessly. His heart was still thumping rapidly in his chest and he knew they both needed to go back in and sign the adoption orders. He was close to tears himself and he just gripped hold of her for a few moments, trying to let the relief stop feeling like someone was playing a crappy trick on him. "The statement he gave to the court, he said he wanted to be called Fitzpatrick and not O'Sullivan. I meant to talk to him about that, but I just never got the chance. Whatever he wants, he can have."
Gee nodded against his shoulder, her hands gripping at the back of Euan's jacket. Her knuckles were almost white with how tightly she was holding on, but she didn't care. "Please don't have any more surprise children, okay? We got lucky with Ciaran, and I think we should just stick with him. We talked about the Fitzpatrick thing. That's why I'm taking your name too, remember? I think it's a good thing. He wants to move on as much as we want to give him a proper life. I'm glad you didn't wind up in a cell for committing murder in court, but maybe we can go wrap their car in toilet paper, or something? Tom did good. You did good. We have him! It's over."
Euan shook his head and stepped back a little to run his fingers through his hair. "It's not completely over. I feel so fucked in the head, it's not even funny. Three days of this bullshit, I'm surprised I'm not talking in tongues. There was even a slight moment there I was actually wondering if I really was the right one he should be with. We've gotta go sign papers and shit, too. I just want to go home and hug him, tell him I love him. Where is he? Who is he with? Is he okay?"
Gee rest her hand on Euan as she nodded, watching him now with a little concern. "He's fine, he's with my parents. I know they were going to spend Sunday with him, but right now I figured they were the ones that should take care of him right now. Aoife's just by the car. You survived. Maybe you're fucked in the head, but you survived and you have Ciaran. How long will it take to sign the papers? Can we just get it done now? Let's just get it done and go home."
Euan nodded and then shrugged. "I don't know. Tom will be there getting everything in order. I think we just need to sign. I managed to tell him to sort the whole name change thing before I just needed to get out of there for while. I can't believe what they tried to pull. All for a fucking welfare cheque every two weeks. Now they have to pay me compensation. Or pay Ciaran, to be more accurate," he said with a smug smirk as he headed for the stairs again.
Gee's hand shifted to hold onto Euan's as she followed him, keeping pace despite the fact that Euan's anger was obviously still driving him. She just felt her stomach twist from a combination of the anxiety and the hatred she really did feel towards Ciaran's grandparents. She just couldn't understand how two people could be so horrid towards such a beautiful kid. They passed them as they walked up the stairs and Gee's whole body stiffened as she shot them a glare and squeezed Euan's hand tightly. "Compensation is the least they could give him," she murmured loud enough for only him to hear.
Euan, on the other hand, smiled sweetly at them and gave them a cute little wave as he passed. As soon as they were behind them, though, his lips tightened when he started to scowl again. "They make me want to throw up all over again," he admitted stiffly with a small disdainful sniff. He shook his head and paused a little by a marble pillar to unfold the interim orders the court officer had given him. They would all be official once they were signed. He looked over them, seeing plainly there in black and white that he was awarded full custody of Ciaran, and the grandparents were forbidden from trying to contact him. Also that Gee would be given joint custody when the adoption was finalised. He handed the papers to Gee to see for herself.
"I haven't even thrown up yet, but having them anywhere near us again will definitely do the trick." Gee took the papers as she tried to focus enough to read them, not wanting to miss a single word. She pressed her hand against her stomach as it clenched again, only this time it was nervous excitement. She was about to be a mum. She, Euan, and Ciaran were really going to be a family. She looked up at Euan as her eyes filled with tears again before she gave him a nervous smile and leaned in to kiss him softly. "It's really happening."
"You wanna know the strangest part? Our marriage never even came into it," Euan revealed and pointed out that on the papers, it was still her maiden name. It wasn't even asked if he was married to Gee, just what her intentions to Ciaran were. Tom stuck to the facts, and Gee's love for the boy, even if they had known each other for a short time. Her willingness to treat him like he was her own, and the fact she had provided a safe and stable environment for him, even when he was seriously ill in hospital.
Gee's eyebrows went up as she read over the papers again, and realised she was still listed as Gabrielle Mancini. "Then it's a good thing we didn't really do it for the court case otherwise we'd be having a whole lot of second thoughts right about now. I don't regret marrying you at all, Euan. Just so you know. I don't regret wanting to adopt Ciaran either. He deserves a loving family, not some bullshit welfare scheme."
Euan nodded and felt himself tear up when it was getting too much to process. He exhaled heavily and tried to blink the tears away. "Last night was horrible. I just... sat there watching him, trying to see how it would feel it he wasn't there anymore. I couldn't. Every time I tried, I felt sick. I just feel like I don't want to let him out of my sight, but he'll get sick of me if I start pulling the overprotective parent routine. I need to try and fucking sort through all this. Maybe I need to get royally pissed and just drown it all out. I can't remember the last time I had a good drink."
Gee tucked the papers into her back pocket so she could reach up and cup Euan's face as she leaned in close, dropping her voice to a quiet whisper while she pressed kisses to his cheek, and jaw. "There's a fine line between not wanting to lose him now you have him, and the overprotective parent routine. You just need to trust that now he's in our custody things will be alright. If you do want to go out and get drunk, I can watch Ciaran. Maybe you should take Larson with you. I know you two aren't close, but he might appreciate a night out, too. This is me trying not to be the overprotective wife and still need someone to keep an eye on you. But it should be a bloke."
"I don't know, I really don't. I'm not sure he would appreciate sitting there watching me drown my sorrows. Not that they're sorrows, not really. Aye, okay, maybe they fucking are. All of that, I just really didn't want it fucking dragged up and shoved in my face. I was honest with Tom what they might draw out, and he's been a fucking amazing help. Like you wouldn't believe. I feel like I'll never be able to thank him. But it's been one complete mindfuck. Hopefully I'll feel better when I see Ciaran and can just touch him, hug him, know he's really mine now." Euan heaved a heavy sigh of relief now that it was over. "But if I do get drunk, I'm going to tell him that's what I'm going to do so he doesn't freak out."
"And so he doesn't wonder in case you come home wanting noisy sex?" Gee asked with a slightly amused look. She kissed him again before pulling him back into a hug and rubbing her hand against Euan's back. "Then get drunk however you want, explain it to him. I'll still watch him for the night. I mean, I am his Mum now. Almost his mum... I still can't believe it. All of a sudden I'm Mrs Fitzpatrick and I have a teenage son. Tom probably won't want your thanks. As weird as it sounds, I don't think he does it for the constant gratitude. Not even sure he did it for the money."
"Pretty sure I won't be in any condition to get it up, but more a fact he's never seen me drunk and it'd probably be confronting if he doesn't expect it. I don't want him to think he's the reason I've gone and done it." Euan watched her closely for a few moments. "Are you still alright with that? I mean, if you want a breather, Vee would be happy to take him, and surprisingly, Tom said he and Stuart would take him any time, too. They want to bond with him now that Stuart is going to be his godfather. Tom seemed cool when he realised nappies wouldn't be involved. I know, but he gave me my son back. I would have paid anything for that, it's just money. Tom was beyond that. More than."
Gee laughed softly as she glanced around to see if their hero was in sight, but Tom must have still been organising the paperwork. She looked back at Euan to find him watching her, and smiled at him. "Of course I am. It's just starting to hit home that I'm really going to be his mum. That the time's here. It's not just a possible scenario. I don't need a breather from Ci. Are you kidding? He's the best kid to be stuck with. Not that I'm stuck with him, but you know what I mean, right? I think we should let Tom and Stuart take him at some point, but not tonight. Tonight I think I should be with him." Gee gave him a soft squeeze. "I know, love. I do. I'm sure you can find someway to thank him when the time's right. Just don't forget that you're the reason his case got solved, and he was cleared of murder."
Euan laughed a little. "You might back track on those thoughts a little when he's coming to us at two am to say he's puked in his bed or we're getting calls from the school to say he's writing swear words in his homework," he joked. "Not that I'm talking from experience or anything... Alright, so you can be with him and I'll drag someone out to get pissed with me. I might take Vee. Actually, I think she offered to peel me out of a gutter if I needed it. But I will speak to Ciaran first. If I can come up with a way to explain that I need it without him thinking booze will solve everything, because right along with sex, I never want him touching the stuff. Hey, I didn't clear his case, I just helped out a bit."
"You helped out when we really needed a break. That's something I'll never forget, even if I want to forget the how. And no, I won't backtrack on those thoughts even after I get a call from the boss saying that you've been writing swear words in your reports," Gee teased with a grin. "Vee's a good choice. She's your BFF after all, and this is what they're here for. I'll organise some movies to watch with Ciaran. I might even get him to help me make some pizzas for dinner. I don't want to be falling into the take-out trap just yet. I have no idea how you're going to manage explaining getting drunk... I'm incredibly interested to hear that conversation."
Euan shrugged with a smirk. "Wouldn't be the first time. Don't count your chickens on the puking in the bed, mind. Just remember, you're the one encouraging me to go out and get blinded. I just want him surrounded by positive influences. Vee will be great, so will Supercop. He's also Catholic and has a soft spot for kids. I think they'll both be good for Ciaran. And fuck, yes. He needs to eat well to get his strength back. It's alright now and again, but he's not used to junk food, so I don't want him to get used to it either. Oh, aye? Just like you're incredibly interested in hearing me explain sex to him."
Gee nudged Euan before she pulled away slightly to give him some space back as she just tucked her hand into his back pocket. "I'll make sure I put the plastic sheets on our bed then. I'll still look after you, even when you are hungover and acting like a hurting bitch. Ciaran's destined to at least have Catholic influence. My parents will be proud. I think we're actually pretty lucky with our support network. We don't have to worry about Ciaran ever getting left with someone we don't trust." Gee nodded as she bit back another smile. "Exactly. I think you're going to have plenty of interesting conversations with our son."
"Aye, I wanted to ask about that. Do you you have a church here in London or something? I need to arrange that christening. He asked me he 'got Catholic' and to be honest, I wouldn't even know where to fucking start with. Not like I make a habit of christening kids. Just so long as I don't need to go near the confession box or I'll be there until the kid is fifty." Euan pointed. "Reminds me too. Ethan called, wants to know it's okay if Ciaran can spend the day with Sophie one day. Something about a mini accidental Yoda. I did not ask. I don't want to fucking know."
Gee shook her head. "I don't, but Mum and Dad do. It's close to where they live. They've gone there ever since I was little. There's probably bigger churches, too. Matt would know. I could ask my parents though about the chances of having the christening at theirs. You start with the Bible, love. That's usually a good place to start. Even if I'm not sure I need Ciaran thinking he's a sinner just because he'll start going through puberty. I won't make you go to confession. I like you dirty, and sinning." Gee's eyebrows went up slightly before she nodded. "Sure, of course. Wow, should we start charging to rent Ci out to all these willing couples?"
Euan looked at her uncertaintly. "Do I need to buy him a Bible? Where do I get those? He'll probably want to draw in it. Is that bad? Does it count as desicration or something? I bought him a photo album and he put all those beach and Stonehenge pictures in, and then drew these borders on each of the blank pages. Also, does it make me a bad father for laughing when he faceplanted his peanut butter sandwich the other day? I totally laughed my arse off when he fell asleep. He doesn't like peanut butter by the way." He nodded and then shrugged. "I think Sophie could just use some grounding after the miscarriage. Ethan wasn't making a whole lot of sense. He still sounded tired. Can't imagine going through shit like that. Plus, Ciaran didn't really get it."
She looked at Euan for a moment before she just gave a small, disbelieving shake of her head. "If we hit up a motel and steal the Bible out of the drawer, you won't need to buy him one. Otherwise you can find them pretty much anywhere. It's the Bible, Euan. It's not the Holy Grail. And no, it's not bad. At least I don't think it's bad. If Ciaran winds up in Hell, then whichever God is up there, is a right prick for sending him. It's just how he expresses himself. The drawings might help him process. Yes, it makes you a terrible father. Did you at least wake him up so he wasn't suffocated by the sandwich? Okay, so no peanut butter for him. That's alright, I don't love the stuff either. I can't imagine it either. I can't even really imagine being pregnant in the first place, let alone losing the kid. That's awful. If he'll help them, then they can definitely take him. It'll be hard for him to fathom just yet."
"Well, I don't want him to fucking read it. I just want him to know the faith is there if he wants it. I don't want it shoved down his throat. He's already had that, and it was some wanker's fucked up opinion of what religion should be and had my kid walking away thinking he was going to hell for existening. I'm making an executive Dad decision. He doesn't need a Bible. And if he does for the christening, we'll hang onto it until he's older and can understand he's not a leper," Euan decided as the reached the documents office of the court and took a number from the computer so they could wait to sign everything they needed to. He took his phone out of his pocket and pulled up an image on the screen to hand it ot Gee. "I woke him up after I took a photo of him. I couldn't help it. It's nice to know my kid does stupid things like I do. I think he'll just keep it real. He's innocent. He doesn't really get it, but it will help Sophie feel like life isn't so sucky."
"Whatever you want, darling," Gee said as her lips pressed together in amusement. She was fine with Euan making the executive decisions if it kept him happy. She also happened to agree with, but she still made a note to get a Bible. "He's not a leper, and we'll make sure he understands that. I can't believe you took a photo of it! How could you take a--aw, he's so cute!" Gee took the phone and looked at the photo with a mixture of amusement and pride. "He's even got some peanut butter in his hair... Which is exactly what she needs right now."
Euan leaned over to look at the photo with a smirk. "I told him to go lie down, but he said he didn't need to. I know the whole road trip, wedding overkill thing took it all out of him. Hell, I'm still knackered from it. I was trying to get everything together for the case, I didn't realise how much he had phased out in boredom. We need to think about getting him that dog. It might just give him something to focus on. He's got a smart brain in the head of his, he needs to stimulate it. I have no idea how he didn't go mental with those arseholes."
Gee smiled again at the picture before she gave Euan his phone back. "Agreed. Especially given he won't be in school until next year. Maybe we can get him some extra books too, even if he does just wind up drawing on all of them. Once you're over your hangover, maybe we could visit the shelter. Or were we going with the pet shop? I can't remember anymore. Either way, he can pick the puppy. He was obviously too scared and desperate for affection to be mental."
Euan dug his wallet out and handed Gee over his credit card. "Take him and get him some kid shit. Books and sports stuff. Maybe one of those video game things. I remember when I was a kid I was always a pain in the arse when I was bored. I know he won't be, but I still don't want him bored and falling off more furniture. He spends some time on the laptop, but he doesn't have a lot of interest in it. What about comics? He likes comics, doesn't he? Take him to one of those shops, and I'll try and find the best place to get a dog that won't be a hemorrhoid."
Gee kissed Euan as she squeezed his thigh reassuringly. "I love it when you're all decisive and handing over your credit card. What makes you think it was just when you were a kid? You're a pain in the arse now when you're bored. I'll make sure he has plenty of things to keep him occupied. Even if I have to buy it all while he just stands there not actually willing to believe he can just have anything he wants. Maybe you should take Vee, or Aoife for dog duty."
"Oh, aye. He'll just give you that big-eyed look when you ask him what he wants and pick something like a crayon. And it really will be all he wants, so we'll just get it all and he can look through it as he wants it. I just want him to start feeling like a normal kid. I want to take him to the beach and to Blackpool where he can ride on rollercoasters and eat junk food. I think he'll start feeling better once he's got something to feel normal about." Euan nodded and put his phone back away. "But I'm not getting anything that looks like a coughed up furball or anything that can have bows put on its fur."
"Exactly," Gee agreed with a soft laugh as she thought about when they had taken Ciaran to get clothes. He'd just picked out one t-shirt and that was all he'd wanted. "He just needs to feel like his Dad isn't going to get taken away at any turn. Once he understands that you have custody, that the adoption's gone through and nothing can happen, I think he'll be more comfortable. He'll be more inclined to relax. The dog will help too, but definitely no lapdogs."
Euan nodded and started to bounce his leg restlessly. "I wish they'd fucking hurry up. I've had enough of fucking court houses to last me a lifetime. I need to let him know everything is gonna be okay. I know we haven't really been able to do that. He knows there has been a whole lot of bullshit pending. He's done his best. I'm just glad he hasn't freaked out all over the place and made himself sick. He asked me the other day if he really did need to take those pills forever, and it sucked to tell him aye. I just can't believe they never fucking noticed how sick he was. It was satisfying to see Tom go for the jugular with that."
Gee tried not to slap his leg for doing the bouncy thing as she just took his hand again. "I'd try and help you out with a little something to relax, but I don't think these guys are going to appreciate me sitting here with my hand down your pants. Did you want to call him while we waited? It's okay if you do. I won't think you're being overprotective dad too much. I know, love. It's awful having to make him swallow those pills. He still has so much trouble with them. I feel like I'm torturing him even when I cut them for him."
Euan held up his hand. "No, no. He needs know it's all cool hanging out with your folks. If I'm calling every five minutes, he'll start getting nervous that maybe something should be wrong. They'd call if something was up. Right? They would call, aye?" He looked at her for clarification. He knew the answer, but he couldn't help if he just needed some reassurance. "There's some doctor's appointment coming up. I want to talk to them about that. There's got to be another kid-friendly way of doing it. I'm just fucking relieved he understands he has to take them or he'll end up back in hospital again. Can't blame the poor kid for fucking hating hospitals. I'm right up there with him. The fucking arse-gaping gowns and Nazi nurses."
Gee nodded as she used her other hand to cup his face. "Of course they'd call. I won't even try and tease you about that. I know you'll just wind up having a heart attack. I'm sure they've got it under control. Ciaran really is an easy kid. If they needed us, they'd be calling. No, definitely not. I'm still proud of him for surviving the hospital, I just really, really don't want him to wind up back there any time soon. Do you think he can just manage not to hurt himself for a little while? At least to the point he needs the hospital."
"... maybe you could just text them and ninja ask if he's okay without him knowing?" Euan suggested sheepishly after a moment of thought. "Fuck. I fucking hope so. I can't handle seeing him in pain like that. It's why I'm trying to make sure he doesn't stress out on us. In saying that, no kid should be stressed out like he was anyway, so we're just doing our jobs anyway. It's stupid. Some days he still doesn't feel like mine. It's like a dream."
Gee rubbed her thumb over Euan's hand as she fished out her phone from her bag sitting in her lap and stared at the screen as she tried to work out a ninja way to ask her parents if Ci was okay. "You don't want much, do you? Okay, okay. Let me think." Gee was just about to start typing a message in when her phone vibrated and she switched to the inbox to see who the message was from. It was Stuart, and she started to grin as she read the words, 'congratulations, it's a boy'. She nudged Euan as she showed it to him. "Well, wake up, Daddy Fitzpatrick. It's time to start embracing the family life."
Euan really wanted a cigarette. He hoped these bastards didn't make them wait much longer. A number was called over the screen above their heads and he looked up, realising they were still way off. The joys of a court case in London. "Oh fucking hell. Slow arsed bastards," he cursed. He looked over at the phone with a smirk and a snort. "Tell him he's fourteen years too late, but we won't say no to presents. Preferrably booze or tobacco. Cigars. He owes me cigars."
Gee punched in a reply about cigars, knowing all too well what Stuart would probably have to say about something like that. She then created a new text message to her Mum's phone and sent it. She really did hope that Ciaran was alright. Her eyes flicked up to look at the numbers as her nose crinkled. "Jesus, is that seriously what they're up to? Think we have time for a quickie? Hey, um, what do you want to do about Christmas?"
"If we do that, something would happen. Sod's fucking Law. Or the judge will come in for a crap, and decide I'm a fucked up father and change his mind," Euan said wryly, scruching his nose up. "Christmas? Isn't that, like... shit, it's not months away. Christmas, seriously? That means we'll have known each other a year. I can't believe it's been a fucking year since I came here to try and convince Vee she was being a wank. Then ended up in hospital for trying to do a good deed. Now I have a son, and a wife. Holy fuck."
Gee smirked at him. "That's the part where I remind you it's been the best year of your life. I mean, you did get me out of it, and Ciaran. Still, wow... a whole year. A whole bloody year just gone. Do you still think Vee's being a wank?" Gee looked down at her hand and the rings sitting on her finger as she smiled softly. "Christmas is not months away, and I was wondering if you just wanted Christmas with the three of us, and Aoife, or what. Are you a big Christmas person?"
Euan pressed his lips together and shook his head. "Not really. Haven't really been since I moved to America. Sort of just offered to work at Christmas. Came home a couple of times for the big family dinner thing, but that completely stopped when Mum and Dad died. Holidays and special occasions died in the arse after that. We never felt like celebrating without them. I just kept working through them. Last year was the first time in awhile I did anything, and it was only because Vee demanded it. But now there's the kid, and I can't see that his Christmases have probably been a whole heap of fun. Now with his mindset. They were probably all focused on the religion shit of it. We'll have to do something. We can't just phase over Christmas with a kid in the house. I just wouldn't know where to fucking start with it all. Maybe we should just have a big thing at our place? It's big enough. Just don't fucking expect me to cook any turkeys."
"You won't need to cook the turkey. I can do that. And if we ask everyone to bring one dish with them, then that also helps to take the pressure off so that not one person is lumped with all the cooking. I think it would be really nice to have something at our place, and give Ciaran a big family Christmas. We need to get a tree and some decorations. I only ever had a pissy little thing in my apartment, so it's not going to cut it. I think I tossed it when I moved in with you anyway." Gee frowned a little in thought before her phone buzzed in her bag and she picked it up to check the message. She held it out for Euan as she smiled. "He's fine, love. You can start breathing again."
Euan pulled his lips to the side, still not able to stop the restless leg bouncing. "Christmas, you know... hasn't really been anything to me since my folks died. It feels surreal. I probably wouldn't want to even bother. It's hard around all the holiday things. I hope I can just set that aside for the kid so he can have some fun. I'm just not sure I'll be able to. This time last year, my life was just completely different. I would have pissed myself laughing at anyone who said this is where I'd be in a year. And probably cussed them out for being a dipshit."
Gee really was trying hard not to just sit on Euan's lap or something to stop his leg from bouncing. It was one nervous tick she could never handle. "We don't have to do anything huge," she said quietly. "If you want it to just be the three of us that's how it can be. We can still make it special for Ciaran. Maybe just have my folks over on Boxing Day? And Aoife. What about your brother? You don't want to see him at all?" She finally decided to sling her leg over his, but Euan's leg still didn't stop bouncing and she just wound up smiling from having hers jiggled. "We don't have to have big just because we have the space for it. You don't need to be suffering over Christmas just for Ci. He wouldn't like knowing you were hating it."
"I don't know. I just feel like after all the bullshit this year, we should stick around the important people. Make Christmas something that isn't fucked in my head. Oh hey, Aoife and me are both close to Ronan, but he has family in the States. We could invite him. He might like to come meet Ciaran. He keeps asking about him in texts. He got the natural dad mojo of our family. I just want Ciaran to have everything he's never been given. All that bullshit he thinks he doesn't deserve because he's on a one way ticket to hell. It just might be a bit hard for a wee while when it hits me that our folks really aren't here. Wouldn't be the first time," Euan admitted wryly.
Gee held onto his hand tightly as she looked at Euan. "Difference is that you're not alone this time. You have a family, and I know none of us are your parents, but we still love you. We still care about you. And your folks would be so proud of you right now. I'm proud of you. Maybe you think your brother got the natural dad mojo, but I think you're doing pretty fucking well, and don't sell yourself short, okay? You're an amazing dad. We should invite Ronan, though. Let Ciaran meet his uncle."
Euan wet his lips and looked at Gee with a small frown. "Do you think it would be too overwhelming for him? Not Ronan. He's a resilient fuck. Stockbroker, says it fucking all. I mean Ciaran. The whole big family crowd scene. He did okay at the wedding. Looked a wee bit like he was feeling like a goldfish in a bowl at one point there, but he got on okay. The weird thing is, he talks to people who talk to him. He just isn't always sure why they are talking to him at first. Not to mention the innocence. Fuck. Some of the questions he comes out with..."
"Most of us are used to him now. They won't stare so much, or make him feel like a goldfish. They don't want to make him feel uncomfortable. I can't really say for sure if he would find it overwhelming. Maybe he'd actually love it once he's spent a little more time with everyone." Gee pulled her mouth to the side. "Maybe we should just ask him what he wants to do for Christmas? He's not a ticket to hell, and he doesn't jinx people. He just needs to be comfortable."
"I'll see what he says. Hopefully he doesn't run screaming into the night at the notion of Christmas because they've brainwashed him about virgin births or something." Euan looked up and found Tom coming into the documents office and start in a conversation what looked like another lawyer talked. Euan fleetingly wondered if they spoke a different lawyer language when they got together like that. "Marriage suits him. Do we look that grossly happy? Wouldn't pick him for the same bloke that was nearly wrapped around a traffic light pole less than twelve months ago."
Gee scrunched her nose up as she thought about the rubbish Ciaran's grandparents had been feeding him. "Maybe he'll think it's sacrilege that we're not all depressed over the event, and focused on Jesus. Personally I still think it's about family, presents, and food. I can't help it. Maybe I'm Catholic, but the birth of baby Jesus is usually the last thing on my mind. We'll find out, huh?" She looked up to see where Euan was looking, and smiled at Tom as he glanced in their direction. "Yeah, it really does. It suits Stuart, too. I've never seen him so happy. I don't know if we do. Do I look like that? He's so lucky, but it also goes to show how good Stuart's been for him. Tom and Ethan were always alone, but they're now part of bigger families."
"They brainwashed him, but didn't want him fucking christened. I was seriously about a step away from lodging criminal charages against them for child abuse. Isn't like I couldn't build a decent case against them. But at the end of the day, they took care of him, sort of. I don't know. I'm trying not to harbour too many fucking homicidal thoughts." Euan analysed Tom for a moment and then shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe they look different because they're gay," he joked with a smirk. "Seriously, that big bucket of in-laws thing must be full on."
"They're automatically sparkly because they're gay?" Gee asked with a soft laugh. "Maybe we're just so used to seeing Tom hurting, or suffering over the last year with all that's happened, that the fact that he's really happy is new. He's not ashamed to smile, and enjoy it. It's nice. I think everyone should be able to live like that. Well, think of all the energy you'd save from not having those thoughts. It's actually draining planning a murder," Gee replied jokingly. "Still, they're gone now. Never allowed to see Ciaran again."
"Aye, they are. Look at that. I'd castrate myself wearing pants that tight," Euan joked, smirking. He tried to relax a bit, but when another number got called that wasn't his, he shot the recipient a death glare like it was their fault for having an earlier number. He tried to stifle a yawn, but it was impossible. This was screwed. As if three days in court wasn't torture enough. "How do you know it's draining planning a murder?" he asked, glancing at her in amusement.
Gee winked at him. "I plotted yours enough times in the early days. I always slept like a baby afterwards. If you wore pants like that, I'd never let you leave the house. It's bad enough watching all the women perve on your arse in your current pants. It's crazy how much Tom loves showing off his package, but I guess Stuart can put up with it. He does reap the benefits, after all." She brushed her hands over Euan's hair as she looked up at the numbers again and sighed. "Bloody hell, this is what purgatory must be like."
"They're making sure I'm serious about this, I bet they are. It's a fucking conspiracy. I bet there are wee cameras all around watching to make sure I don't scratch my balls wrong or something," Euan said, maybe only half joking. Truth was, he wouldn't really feel completely better and content until he could get home to hug his son and tell him everything was going to be okay. "What part of the marriage vows was that in? Til death us do part? That's taking it to the extreme, is it not? And in my own defense, you kept putting up with me," he added with a smug smirk.
Gee turned Euan's face towards her as she kissed him and pulled back with a smile. "You could never scratch your balls wrong, you're too much of an expert. And yeah, I kept putting up with you. How could I not? I was only joking. I never did plot your death. Maybe just a little spanking. I don't regret putting up with you one bit. And look, it paid off, didn't it?"
"They're my balls, I'll scratch if I want to," Euan replied back without hesitation. "Fuck, quit with the spanking. It's creepy, not a turn on. You can spank yourself well away from my presence, it ain't my thing. You don't see people walking around poking themselves in the eyeballs for a sexual turn-on, do you? I'm going to reserve judgment on assuming everything is going to be rosy now. After this past year, I don't think any psychic powers would hold up to predicting all that bullshit. Right now, I just want to see with my own eyes that my kid is okay, and I'll be happy with that. Everything else is a bonus."
"Who said it was supposed to be a sexual turn on? If kids got turned on by their mothers smacking them, we'd have even more societal issues in the world. I've also only mentioned spanking once - as in now - since the last time you told me off for it." Gee looked up at the number screen again, and then down at her watch. "Might have to wait a bit longer on the kid front. Personally I'm glad that we made it to the end of the year without imploding. I'm pretty proud of us. And I never, ever would have thought that Ciaran would have been on the horizon. Makes me just a little worried about what next year might hold."
Euan shrugged. "Just so long as he is okay, it'll be fine. But we're using birth control. A lot of it. I can't be put in Ethan and Sophie's shoes without mentally exploding. One kid is enough for me right now. Worrying about him is going to give me grey pubes, and I don't want him feeling like we'll be shoving him aside for a shinier model just yet." Another number was called up, and again, not his and Euan only just managed to catch himself before giving the number screen the bird and exploding in a string of colourful expletives.
Gee looked from the screen to Euan, and bit back a grin. She couldn't help being amused when Euan wasn't allowed to just swear left, right, and centre. "Oh, I'm all for birth control. That really is the part of me that abandoned being Catholic as soon as I was old enough to realise that they didn't do anything to prevent sexual diseases, or accidental pregnancy. I'm more than happy with Ciaran right now. Really. I just want to be home with him, too. I want to maybe just smother him a little bit."
Euan stretched back and exhaled slowly. "I thought being a drug addict, getting stabbed, rehab, losing my folks, all that, was the worst thing I ever went through. That had nothing on today. I seriously thought for a short time there that they were going to take him the fuck away from me, and I was terrified."
Gee swung her other leg over Euan's so that she was practically sitting in his lap. She didn't even care that there were people staring at them. If they had to wait, then she was going to be comfortable. She took Euan's hand in hers and ran her finger over the wedding band there. "I had no idea what to think. I didn't even know if what was going on was good, or bad. Three days felt bad, like it was too long. It wasn't like I could sit at home, though. I have no idea how you actually stayed sane going through it, but I am so proud of you. And so incredibly relieved they weren't so fucked in the head as to deny you custody."
"They would have done what was best for Ciaran, and he said in his statement he wanted to stay with us. They seriously tried to peg me with child abuse because he had a broken arm. I expected it on some level, but it didn't come as any less a blow. Thank fuck the judge told them to withdraw the accusations. He said it was laughable and they were walking a thin line. I can handle a lot of accusations, but hitting my own kid and breaking his arm?" Euan shook his head with a small growl. "The judge was good, though. Plus, I think Sophie's input when she had spent time with Ciaran was a big deciding factor."
Gee's eyebrows went up a little. "Yeah? How did she deal with it all? Was she actually here? I didn't even see her come out, or go in. They really were going for the low blows, weren't they? It's probably all they could come up with. They wanted to hit you where it hurt, so they must already know that Ciaran means the world to you. Lucky you did get a good judge. I hear some of them can be total pricks."
Euan shook his head. "Nope, wasn't there. Of course she wasn't. I assume she and Ethan are at home, but I can't say that's accurate. She spent time with Ciaran, though, so they had her reports and things. She must have some really high standing in cases like these. Her word was pretty golden, so I owe her one there too. I just... fuck. I think they're bitter that I actually stepped up. They probably spent his whole life thinking I was the scum of the fucking earth, and to suddenly be fighting against me like this. Which reminds me." He dug into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out one of the baby photos Vee had gotten for him and handed it to Gee. "Vee got them for me. I didn't have a chance to show you before."
"Of course... I still can't believe how quickly things changed after the wedding. All of a sudden Ethan and Sophie were suffering, and we were going back home to prep for the case. Well, you prepped. I just watched. She's always seemed like she knew what she was doing, and I think she does really care about Ciaran. Thinking you were the scum probably made them feel less like the scum themselves. Fucking wankers. To think they believed they were more deserving to have Ciaran than you... Mental bastards." Gee blinked, trying to stop the frown that was appearing again as she thought of the grandparents. She looked down at the photo Euan was offering her, and took it with a smile that instantly pushed away any negative thoughts. "Oh my god... It's Ci! Baby Ci. He's so beautiful. How could anyone have ignored this kid?"
It was Euan's phone that went off with a text message this time. He could feel it vibrating in his pocket, which reminded him he needed to turn the sound up again. He took it out and found a text from Ciaran. They had given him a mobile for this very purpose, but he hardly used it. It was a message asking Euan if he would be home soon and with a sigh, he showed it to Gee. "It must feel like he's hardly fucking seen us. Poor kid." He looked at the baby photo with a smirk. "At least that isn't the one of him trying to eat a bug. It was nice to see he was still a normal kid under the beaten down exterior. I don't know how she got them. I didn't ask, but it was great. They were trying to keep this shit from me. But he's my son. He belongs with me and the world can go fuck itself if they think otherwise. I ain't saying I'm gonna be peferct, because I'm not. Far fucking from it. But it will be my right. Our right. Between us all, we gotta get it some sort of right, aye?"
Gee nodded as she kissed Euan's cheek. "Absolutely. Some sort of right is our kind of right. Who needs perfect? Who needs conventional. Poor Ci, though. He really must be wondering if he's going to see you soon. But he will. Just as soon as these bloody bastards get through the rest of the numbers quickly. Isn't there some way to speed this up? Where did Tom go? Maybe he has strings to pull. Vee did really well to get these. I still can't believe they won't just acknowledge that you need photos of your own son. That you want to know what he was like as a bug-eating kid."
Euan nodded wryly. "Aye, I worried about that. The kid is probably thinking someone is going to come in and take him away if the court case goes badly. I haven't told him the half of it, but he's cluey. He's picked up enough to know I am there for the custody and his adoption. He'll be thinking he doesn't deserve and someone will take us away. I know it. That's why I want to get home. I wish these fuckers would be a bit more courteous. In saying that I don't even have anyone offering to let me jump the queue at Tescos. I must look scary," he said with a smirk. "Or that if they let me through, I might rob the cash register. I dunno, maybe he went to have more phone sex with Stuart. I caught them at it during one of the breaks. They're just fucking arseholes. I'm glad I have some of him now. I want to get some frames, stick them up around the place."
"Tom and Stuart are fucking arseholes because of phone sex?" Gee asked with a teasing tone. "I know, I know. You meant the grandparents. You don't look that scary. They're probably all worried the checkout chicks will start throwing themselves at you. Not that you'll hold them up. Or maybe it's that broody Irish brow you get," Gee suggested as she reached up to brush her fingertips against where Euan's brows were furrowed together. "We haven't had phone sex yet. Should we try phone sex? Maybe I can ring you when I'm at work. You can let me know if Ci's otherwise occupied. And not climbing the furniture."
Euan looked at her with a small snort. "Why have phone sex when we can have the real thing? How do I explain that to the kid if he walks in on it? I think he's had enough wanking talk for this decade. I don't want him to see how it's actually done, even if I am wondering if he tried it after you told him it was okay. Still not seen any real evidence of it, though. He's probably a ninja wanker. I was about his age when I started, but there was nothing ninja about what I did. I couldn't fucking get enough. It was a rapid transition from that to sex."
Gee smiled at him before she started to laugh. "Oh god... I don't think there's anything ninja you do. I can't imagine there ever has been. I don't know if he's tried it. I would have thought he'd ask someone, or talk to someone about the sensation, but is he close to any of our male friends? Not yet. Stuart might be his godfather, but he hasn't had much time with Ci. And Ciaran thinks Ethan's Batman, so I don't think he'd ring up Bruce Wayne for wanking advice. Would he even know what to wank over?"
"No fucking clue, really. I mean, I guess it depends what way he swings. You generally know from a young age, but then if he hasn't thought much about it, maybe not. He'll find something that makes him feel good, or think of things in his head. For all I know, he found my tittie magazines again, and he has his laptop. You can find boobs on there anywhere. Or he might just do it because it feels good. Most guys really don't need anything to wank over. It's all about friction." Euan huffed out a sigh. "He just seems too fucking young. I know he's not, the rational side of my brain knows its going to be sooner rather than later that he gets curious, but still."
Gee bit down on her lip. "I can't believe we got him in time for puberty. Surely his grandparents did have the baby talk with him... Or maybe the mum did. Do you think she did? Do you think they did? We're never going to know until he just starts asking questions. I get that they didn't encourage the wanking thing. And that's fine. I can deal with that horribly, but at least I did try to deal with it. Friction, huh? You really are just going to be putty in my hands, aren't you?"
Euan shook his head slightly and scrunched up his nose. "I doubt it. Maybe he had sex ed at school, but he was asking you a lot of questions, you said. He's probably had the bare minimum, maybe heard stuff from mates at school. Maybe had the baby talk, but not the sex talk. And even if they did, can you imagine it? No sex before marriage, but don't get married because you're Satan spawn? Arseholes," he spat. "You already know I am, and he's my offpsring. I get nervous how he is going to be when he discovers how much fun his Fitzpatrick willy is."
"All we can do is hope that Ci approaches his Fitzpatrick willy with some, um... Well, I just don't want him to be bloody climbing on the furniture to have a wank that's for sure," Gee offered as she frowned a little, and she even had the Mum Tone. "Or sticking it in the vacuum cleaner. Let's make sure he never, ever gets curious over that sort of thing. He can lock himself in the bathroom all he wants."
Euan started to snigger at this. "I predict, you're going to be the first one to discover it, and then you have to deal with it, Mummy," he said with a devious and trademark smirk. Then the number caller dinged again and his number finally flashed up. "Oh thank fuck for that. If they take another four hours with these documents, I'll belt someone, I swear I will."
Word Count | 9,645