15-4 for H/V~distewiSeptember 6 2012, 06:18:24 UTC
She's not actually his child, but... there's something about her that makes him feel so... protective. Paternal, might be the word. So when he sees his sweet little lamb shaky and alone in the dark cold of a New York night, he doesn't hesitate.
He simply sweeps her up into his arms. She fits nicely. Mind the blood, sweetheart. Daddy will keep you warm on the way home.
Her periods of wandering off have lessened now, with Miss Säde's insistence assistance. But that still doesn't mean they don't happen.
The problem is, as always, getting back once she gets lost. There's no one to follow home, no one to ask for directions.
But then she's being swept up into arms and while that at first earns an astonished swirl of hair and eye color, as soon as she recognizes who's holding her, she smiles. Almost snuggles in a little, despite the blood.
He can't murmur reassurances, the way he's seen parents do to children. He can't cluck and coo and tell her it's fine, it's him, it's time to go home and she's not alone. But... there's something special between them. There always has been. She tends to simply understand exactly what he means without him saying a word.
So he squeezes her elbow as he shifts her closer. Licks his lips to be certain they're clean of blood before pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. They're not what people would call a 'normal' family, of course.
But he thinks she understands how much she means to him. How much like a family this really is.
1-1. Payback.endsjustifiedSeptember 6 2012, 06:06:22 UTC
It's been years since he needed her to patch him up. He's gotten a lot better at getting others to do his work for him, leaving him largely in a state of not being broken.
But... well. When she's got the flu, she's still got to expect he'll be fussing at her face with a cool washcloth. "Soup'll be done in a minute."
She really shouldn't've expected anything less. This was the way of things, after all-- she took care of him, he took care of her. It doesn't make it any less special.
Nor does it make her any less stubborn about it, same as he would be. "'s just a--" Cough. "--\'s a mild case,/ bráithre. \No need t'be breaking out th'pots and pans./"
"\Stop your fussing,/ Moira." He's still not quite settled back into constantly speaking the language of their childhood together. He does, however, continue to carefully wipe over her face, fight the fever gently. "You'll like it. I promise. \Recipe I used to make for Mam./"
HOLLYWOOD >.> /Lisa has some splaining to do. Rachel's place with cuddles pl0xbiggest_heartSeptember 6 2012, 06:30:06 UTC
[Well, the cat is out of the bag, but somehow, Lisa isn't entirely sure that it's being received as warmly as she'd hoped. Which is why she's got a cup of tea warming her hands and a blanket warming her lap and feet while she looks at Rachel across the couch.]
I... Rachel, you've practically been a surrogate mother to me since I was five. I know this is hard, but we have a little time, and I want you to know that I want you in my life, and in Darren's, and in our baby's. We didn't plan for this, and I'm sorry for that.
[She does sound sorry. Incredibly so. And she sounds afraid, which she very much is. Darren's done his part to keep her from total breakdown, but that fear is still very present. She's twenty-five and dealing with a surprise pregnancy; only an idiot wouldn't be scared. But she wants this.]
What will it take to make this up to you so that we can be okay for this family?
There will be cuddles. After the line facing.thediamondstarSeptember 7 2012, 06:52:38 UTC
A large part of her is disappointed. Disappointed that they didn't wait, disappointed that this had to be a surprise to everyone involved and almost an unpleasant one. Some of the feeling probably shows in her expression.
But a part of her is glad. Glad that they told, glad things will be able to mend, glad she'll be able to see her grandchild come into this world.
"I'm not certain this is something that can simply be... made up, Lisa. It's a change in lifestyles that we'll all have to adjust to, and that's more something to be learned to cope with more than reconciled."
And really, at the end of the day there's only so much the girl needs forgiveness for. That the both of them do, although Darren would be going through a bit more of a grind.
"I... presume you'll make things more official between you two?" Because if not, that may be a place to begin. Everyone loves a good wedding.
Mama :((((((((biggest_heartSeptember 7 2012, 20:59:36 UTC
She looks unimaginably guilty right now, guilty enough to set her cup aside and pull her knees up to her chest. She's at four months or so by now, but Rachel has known since a little after she and Darren found out. Things still aren't working out the way she so desperately wants them to.
"I know," she whispers. "My career is on hold, Darren's... He's determined to stay in-state, and I don't know what I'm doing. But I'm sorry, Rachel. This was stupid, and we should have been more careful, and I'm- I'm sorry."
Blame hormones, but there are tears in her eyes, which she is very deliberately hiding in her knees. She's terrified, and marriage hasn't even come up in serious conversation. She doesn't know how to do any of this.
"I...we... It isn't that I don't want to, it's just- I mean, I don't...want to get married just because there's a baby on the way, Rachel. If we're going to do that, why can't it be on our own terms?" Her voice is small. Quiet. Soft and shaky.
8-1 for bitty in everyone's-been-to-war!mens.dynionSeptember 6 2012, 06:38:29 UTC
It's taken adjusting, turning into a civilian again. Moreso, of course, having to quite suddenly turn into a father. Rachel's love, her silent strong presence beside him at night, has eased the transition.
But some days are simply easier. And today happens to be one of those days. Because today, Adair is teaching him to bake cookies, and there's something easy, comfortable, about being covered in flour and following a little girl around the kitchen.
It was the best of 'verses. It was the worst of 'verses. And so on.theadamantbairnSeptember 7 2012, 06:32:46 UTC
Of all of them, it's likely Adair who's had the easiest time adjusting to their new family dynamic. But then, things've always been easier for children. Even when the world is complicated, things are simple.
It's with that easy simplicity that she tugs him around, tiny hands reaching for larger ones or the ends of shirt in an attempt to lead. There's a spot of flour resting almost perfectly on her nose, and then of course the flour all over her clothes, his, the furniture, and the floor. The old Isaac would probably have been horrified.
It can be both. o/dynionSeptember 7 2012, 14:02:32 UTC
She helps. The ease she's taken to things makes it easier to pretend things are genuinely supposed to be this way--more than intellectually. They're raising a child together. They're making a family.
It's nice when it comes naturally to be with her. To catch her, for example, and hold her still just a moment, wipe that smudge of flour off her nose with gentle affection.
Comments 748
Reply
He simply sweeps her up into his arms. She fits nicely. Mind the blood, sweetheart. Daddy will keep you warm on the way home.
Reply
The problem is, as always, getting back once she gets lost. There's no one to follow home, no one to ask for directions.
But then she's being swept up into arms and while that at first earns an astonished swirl of hair and eye color, as soon as she recognizes who's holding her, she smiles. Almost snuggles in a little, despite the blood.
Reply
So he squeezes her elbow as he shifts her closer. Licks his lips to be certain they're clean of blood before pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. They're not what people would call a 'normal' family, of course.
But he thinks she understands how much she means to him. How much like a family this really is.
Reply
Reply
But... well. When she's got the flu, she's still got to expect he'll be fussing at her face with a cool washcloth. "Soup'll be done in a minute."
Reply
Nor does it make her any less stubborn about it, same as he would be. "'s just a--" Cough. "--\'s a mild case,/ bráithre. \No need t'be breaking out th'pots and pans./"
Reply
Reply
Reply
I... Rachel, you've practically been a surrogate mother to me since I was five. I know this is hard, but we have a little time, and I want you to know that I want you in my life, and in Darren's, and in our baby's. We didn't plan for this, and I'm sorry for that.
[She does sound sorry. Incredibly so. And she sounds afraid, which she very much is. Darren's done his part to keep her from total breakdown, but that fear is still very present. She's twenty-five and dealing with a surprise pregnancy; only an idiot wouldn't be scared. But she wants this.]
What will it take to make this up to you so that we can be okay for this family?
Reply
But a part of her is glad. Glad that they told, glad things will be able to mend, glad she'll be able to see her grandchild come into this world.
"I'm not certain this is something that can simply be... made up, Lisa. It's a change in lifestyles that we'll all have to adjust to, and that's more something to be learned to cope with more than reconciled."
And really, at the end of the day there's only so much the girl needs forgiveness for. That the both of them do, although Darren would be going through a bit more of a grind.
"I... presume you'll make things more official between you two?" Because if not, that may be a place to begin. Everyone loves a good wedding.
Reply
"I know," she whispers. "My career is on hold, Darren's... He's determined to stay in-state, and I don't know what I'm doing. But I'm sorry, Rachel. This was stupid, and we should have been more careful, and I'm- I'm sorry."
Blame hormones, but there are tears in her eyes, which she is very deliberately hiding in her knees. She's terrified, and marriage hasn't even come up in serious conversation. She doesn't know how to do any of this.
"I...we... It isn't that I don't want to, it's just- I mean, I don't...want to get married just because there's a baby on the way, Rachel. If we're going to do that, why can't it be on our own terms?" Her voice is small. Quiet. Soft and shaky.
Reply
Reply
But some days are simply easier. And today happens to be one of those days. Because today, Adair is teaching him to bake cookies, and there's something easy, comfortable, about being covered in flour and following a little girl around the kitchen.
Reply
It's with that easy simplicity that she tugs him around, tiny hands reaching for larger ones or the ends of shirt in an attempt to lead. There's a spot of flour resting almost perfectly on her nose, and then of course the flour all over her clothes, his, the furniture, and the floor. The old Isaac would probably have been horrified.
Reply
It's nice when it comes naturally to be with her. To catch her, for example, and hold her still just a moment, wipe that smudge of flour off her nose with gentle affection.
This is what families do, right?
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment