Later
Summary: Maine/Wash, after the war. Part IV. Just one to go now, I think.
Three years later:
Wash had never felt entirely comfortable in the Seattle area apartment Maine had rented. It was closer to Sam, but lacked the calm atmosphere and quiet surroundings of the cabin. Still, he understood the need to be near the hospital, and for that he wouldn't have had it any other way.
He came out of the bathroom, fussing with his tie, and looked over at Maine who was sporting a little grin. He looked so good, so at ease. Wash was nervous as hell.
Maine came over and took his hand, kissing it softly. "We don't have to do this, you know," he murmured. Suits always made him feel uncomfortable, anyway.
Wash shook his head firmly. "It's been too long," he said. "Should have done this years ago. Besides, good timing, what with Sam being well enough to take day-trips again."
Maine straightened Wash's tie, then stepped back to look at his partner. His hair was more than peppered with gray, and while his face showed his forty-four years, he still looked every bit the handsome man with beautiful brown eyes he had met what seemed like a lifetime ago in the Project. He had even grown out a goatee, which Maine found irresistible.
"Nine years," Maine breathed, his eyes glittering even though he had a bitter-sweet smile on his face.
"What?" Wash said, wondering at the way Maine was just looking at him, but the other shook his head and gave him a kiss.
"Nine years since the war ended. Since we came home."
Wash nodded. And they had met seven years before that. "Well, you're not getting any younger," he teased, bringing Maine into an embrace.
"Oh, listen to you," Maine laughed, but hugged him close in return and let out a little hum. "Mmmmm, you smell good."
Wash laughed and held him tighter. It was nice that after all these years, Maine still told him things like that. But too soon the clock was urging them on.
"Come on, we should get going."
"Do you have everything?" Wash asked once more as they headed out the door.
"Yes, hon," Maine reassured him yet again. "I've got it all right here. God, I think you're more nervous than I am," he laughed as Wash closed the door behind them.
The hospital took longer than they had expected, but soon Maine had wheeled Samantha out in her chair and carefully lifted her into the truck to sit between them. She had a warm hat on to insulate her bare head against the crisp, autumn air. She was tired, but happy and chattered away as they went. They were both so proud of her, so strong and brave.
It was only a short drive from there. Wash was grateful for Sam's presence, and she helped to smooth away the last of his butterflies. Maine, on the other hand... the closer they had gotten, the more nervous he became until he was almost shaking. Samantha held tight to her father's hand, or perhaps he was holding tight to hers. It was difficult to say.
"It's funny to think of you as nervous," Sam said.
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Of all the things you went through in the war, and this is what's got you scared?"
"Trust me, the war wasn't half as terrifying," he said.
Wash glanced at him and just shook his head in amusement, then leaned over and kissed him gently. "Don't worry. It'll all be over soon," he said.
They waited until their names were called. It didn't take long, certainly not as long as Maine had thought it would, but soon he was being prompted to place the ring on David's hand, and repeat after the official. Then Wash did the same, though Maine's fingers had swollen from nerves and they couldn't get the ring past his last knuckle. They both laughed and left it to fuss with later because it was time to kiss.
Samantha threw a handful of rice at them as their kiss turned to an embrace and they just held one another for a few moments as they let it sink in that they really, finally, legally belonged to one another.
"Congratulations, Dad," Sam squealed as Maine drew her into his arms. She squeezed his hands and giggled at the stubborn ring, then turned to get a warm embrace from Wash as well. "Congratulations, Papa."
Maine finally had the family he never thought he wanted; and Wash, the family he never thought he'd have. They found a quiet spot in the park beside the water to have a late lunch and just enjoyed being a family.
They had both decided their honeymoon would be to stay in Seattle and take Sam out to every place she had the energy to go few weeks; just spend as much time as they could with her before her next round of chemotherapy began. Museums and old markets, tall buildings and underground cities, ferries to the islands or rocky beaches by the ocean.
Often times Maine or Wash would end up carrying her places her wheelchair could not easily go, and they were worried with how light she felt these days, but she was always so happy with them. These were some of the best days they could ever remember having.
And their nights... well, lets just say, being married did nothing to diminish their sex drive. If anything, it only heightened their passion and desire for one another.
Two years later:
"Can you believe it?"
"Y'know, I really can't." Maine said, standing back to look around the room. "This... wow, this is gonna be... weird."
Wash laughed and came up behind him. "Just remember, she's not a little girl anymore, Maine." He squeezed his shoulders and kissed his cheek before wrapping his arms around him.
"She's barely eighteen," he corrected. "She's still so young."
"You were making babies at her age," Wash teased.
"Oh god!" Maine went pale. He felt that divine justice had just been served him as he realized he now had to protect his little girl from all the men who would be exactly like he was at their age, sneaking around with other men's little girls. He groaned and rubbed his head.
"Don't worry so much," he laughed. "You think anyone is gonna make it past the two of us? That girl will be lucky if she even has a boyfriend before she's thirty."
"No, I'll be lucky..." Maine mumbled.
"Come on, Dad," Wash laughed. "We'd better get going. It's a long drive."
"Do you think she'll like it?"
They looked around the room they had spent the last year adding on to the cabin. It had its own bathroom and two french doors lead to the porch where she could watch the sunsets in the evening.
Wash nodded. "If not, hey, we can redecorate."
Eight years later:
"You ready?" Wash asked, straightening Maine's tie.
"No," he said.
"Ah, you're fine," Wash insisted, kissing his cheek.
"I feel like we barely know him," he said. "How can we-"
"We've known him for five years," Wash laughed.
"Not long enough," Maine grumbled.
A soft knock came at the door, and one of the ushers popped his head in. "We're ready."
Wash thanked him, then turned back to Maine. "Come on," Wash said. "Time to give our little girl away."
They walked hand in hand to where Samantha was waiting. She positively glowed, dressed in a long white gown and holding a bouquet of lilies. "Hey Dad, hey Papa," she said.
"Hey, beautiful," Maine said. He couldn't help a tear that slipped from his eye, and Wash brushed it away quickly, lest it get his own going.
"If he doesn't cry when he sees you," Wash warned, "I'm going to stand up and object."
"Don't you dare!" Sam said scolded playfully.
They kissed her cheeks, then waited for the music. One on each side of her, they both walked her down the aisle.
Three years later:
Maine was positively glowing with pride. "God, look at her," he said.
"You wanna hold her for a while?" Wash offered and Maine looked terrified.
"What? No no no... I'll break her, or something."
"You'll do fine, Dad," Sam laughed as Wash eased the tiny little arrival into his arms. Maine's look of terror melted away almost instantly as he wrapped her up and she yawned.
"Have you decided on a name, yet?" Washed asked.
Sam smiled and rolled her eyes. "Negotiations are still ongoing," she giggled. "But in the meantime, I'm just going to call her Carolina."
"Carolina," Maine repeated softly. "That's a good name."
Wash agreed it was a very touching tribute. He looked back to where Maine was absolutely wrapped around his little grand-daughter's three-hour old finger. "You're sure responsible for some fine looking girls," Wash said with a chuckle. "Cosmic joke of the century."
"Oh hush," Maine said, holding little Carolina to his chest. "Your momma made you pretty," he gushed at her.
"She's got Jason's chin," Sam said, smiling on her father and daughter.
"When does he get back, again?" Wash asked.
Sam's smile faltered a little. "Six months. Maybe longer. I hear deployments are being extended all over."
"Well, we'll make sure you've got whatever you need," he said, patting her hand softly. "We can even set up a nursery for you in your old room if you like."
Sam squeezed his hand tight. "Thank you, Papa," she said. "What would I ever do without my dads?"
"We love you, Sam. You know we'd do anything for you." Wash's eyes were drawn back to where Maine was cooing and tickling his finger under Carolina's chin. "You're going to have to give her back, you know," Wash teased him gently.
"Quiet, you," Maine said, mock irritation in his voice. "I never got to hold Sam when she was this size." Carolina yawned again and closed her eyes, lulled by the gentle rocking and held safe in her grandpa's arms. "She's so tiny! Can you believe it?"
"Not really," Wash admitted with a grin, coming up behind him to gaze down at her over his shoulder.
"Goddamn, man-"
"Dad! Language!" Sam scolded. "If she grows up swearing like a sailor I know who to blame!"
Wash only laughed. "Ooh now, young lady, I've heard far worse come out of your mouth before, so don't go blaming that all on your dad."
"Well, where do you think I learned them," Sam laughed.
"Your momma," Maine said, but had the decency to look suitably chastised anyway. He came over and sat in the chair by Sam's bed. "Never thought I'd be a grandpa," he said.
Sam couldn't help by smile at him, then looked to Wash. "What about you, Papa?"
"Never thought I'd even get to be a father," he said, leaning over her bed to kiss her gently on the forehead.
"And now you're a grandpa, too," she said.
Three years later:
Wash had never felt entirely comfortable in the Seattle area apartment Maine had rented. It was closer to Sam, but lacked the calm atmosphere and quiet surroundings of the cabin. Still, he understood the need to be near the hospital, and for that he wouldn't have had it any other way.
He came out of the bathroom, fussing with his tie, and looked over at Maine who was sporting a little grin. He looked so good, so at ease. Wash was nervous as hell.
Maine came over and took his hand, kissing it softly. "We don't have to do this, you know," he murmured. Suits always made him feel uncomfortable, anyway.
Wash shook his head firmly. "It's been too long," he said. "Should have done this years ago. Besides, good timing, what with Sam being well enough to take day-trips again."
Maine straightened Wash's tie, then stepped back to look at his partner. His hair was more than peppered with gray, and while his face showed his forty-four years, he still looked every bit the handsome man with beautiful brown eyes he had met what seemed like a lifetime ago in the Project. He had even grown out a goatee, which Maine found irresistible.
"Nine years," Maine breathed, his eyes glittering even though he had a bitter-sweet smile on his face.
"What?" Wash said, wondering at the way Maine was just looking at him, but the other shook his head and gave him a kiss.
"Nine years since the war ended. Since we came home."
Wash nodded. And they had met seven years before that. "Well, you're not getting any younger," he teased, bringing Maine into an embrace.
"Oh, listen to you," Maine laughed, but hugged him close in return and let out a little hum. "Mmmmm, you smell good."
Wash laughed and held him tighter. It was nice that after all these years, Maine still told him things like that. But too soon the clock was urging them on.
"Come on, we should get going."
"Do you have everything?" Wash asked once more as they headed out the door.
"Yes, hon," Maine reassured him yet again. "I've got it all right here. God, I think you're more nervous than I am," he laughed as Wash closed the door behind them.
The hospital took longer than they had expected, but soon Maine had wheeled Samantha out in her chair and carefully lifted her into the truck to sit between them. She had a warm hat on to insulate her bare head against the crisp, autumn air. She was tired, but happy and chattered away as they went. They were both so proud of her, so strong and brave.
It was only a short drive from there. Wash was grateful for Sam's presence, and she helped to smooth away the last of his butterflies. Maine, on the other hand... the closer they had gotten, the more nervous he became until he was almost shaking. Samantha held tight to her father's hand, or perhaps he was holding tight to hers. It was difficult to say.
"It's funny to think of you as nervous," Sam said.
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Of all the things you went through in the war, and this is what's got you scared?"
"Trust me, the war wasn't half as terrifying," he said.
Wash glanced at him and just shook his head in amusement, then leaned over and kissed him gently. "Don't worry. It'll all be over soon," he said.
They waited until their names were called. It didn't take long, certainly not as long as Maine had thought it would, but soon he was being prompted to place the ring on David's hand, and repeat after the official. Then Wash did the same, though Maine's fingers had swollen from nerves and they couldn't get the ring past his last knuckle. They both laughed and left it to fuss with later because it was time to kiss.
Samantha threw a handful of rice at them as their kiss turned to an embrace and they just held one another for a few moments as they let it sink in that they really, finally, legally belonged to one another.
"Congratulations, Dad," Sam squealed as Maine drew her into his arms. She squeezed his hands and giggled at the stubborn ring, then turned to get a warm embrace from Wash as well. "Congratulations, Papa."
Maine finally had the family he never thought he wanted; and Wash, the family he never thought he'd have. They found a quiet spot in the park beside the water to have a late lunch and just enjoyed being a family.
They had both decided their honeymoon would be to stay in Seattle and take Sam out to every place she had the energy to go few weeks; just spend as much time as they could with her before her next round of chemotherapy began. Museums and old markets, tall buildings and underground cities, ferries to the islands or rocky beaches by the ocean.
Often times Maine or Wash would end up carrying her places her wheelchair could not easily go, and they were worried with how light she felt these days, but she was always so happy with them. These were some of the best days they could ever remember having.
And their nights... well, lets just say, being married did nothing to diminish their sex drive. If anything, it only heightened their passion and desire for one another.
Two years later:
"Can you believe it?"
"Y'know, I really can't." Maine said, standing back to look around the room. "This... wow, this is gonna be... weird."
Wash laughed and came up behind him. "Just remember, she's not a little girl anymore, Maine." He squeezed his shoulders and kissed his cheek before wrapping his arms around him.
"She's barely eighteen," he corrected. "She's still so young."
"You were making babies at her age," Wash teased.
"Oh god!" Maine went pale. He felt that divine justice had just been served him as he realized he now had to protect his little girl from all the men who would be exactly like he was at their age, sneaking around with other men's little girls. He groaned and rubbed his head.
"Don't worry so much," he laughed. "You think anyone is gonna make it past the two of us? That girl will be lucky if she even has a boyfriend before she's thirty."
"No, I'll be lucky..." Maine mumbled.
"Come on, Dad," Wash laughed. "We'd better get going. It's a long drive."
"Do you think she'll like it?"
They looked around the room they had spent the last year adding on to the cabin. It had its own bathroom and two french doors lead to the porch where she could watch the sunsets in the evening.
Wash nodded. "If not, hey, we can redecorate."
Eight years later:
"You ready?" Wash asked, straightening Maine's tie.
"No," he said.
"Ah, you're fine," Wash insisted, kissing his cheek.
"I feel like we barely know him," he said. "How can we-"
"We've known him for five years," Wash laughed.
"Not long enough," Maine grumbled.
A soft knock came at the door, and one of the ushers popped his head in. "We're ready."
Wash thanked him, then turned back to Maine. "Come on," Wash said. "Time to give our little girl away."
They walked hand in hand to where Samantha was waiting. She positively glowed, dressed in a long white gown and holding a bouquet of lilies. "Hey Dad, hey Papa," she said.
"Hey, beautiful," Maine said. He couldn't help a tear that slipped from his eye, and Wash brushed it away quickly, lest it get his own going.
"If he doesn't cry when he sees you," Wash warned, "I'm going to stand up and object."
"Don't you dare!" Sam said scolded playfully.
They kissed her cheeks, then waited for the music. One on each side of her, they both walked her down the aisle.
Three years later:
Maine was positively glowing with pride. "God, look at her," he said.
"You wanna hold her for a while?" Wash offered and Maine looked terrified.
"What? No no no... I'll break her, or something."
"You'll do fine, Dad," Sam laughed as Wash eased the tiny little arrival into his arms. Maine's look of terror melted away almost instantly as he wrapped her up and she yawned.
"Have you decided on a name, yet?" Washed asked.
Sam smiled and rolled her eyes. "Negotiations are still ongoing," she giggled. "But in the meantime, I'm just going to call her Carolina."
"Carolina," Maine repeated softly. "That's a good name."
Wash agreed it was a very touching tribute. He looked back to where Maine was absolutely wrapped around his little grand-daughter's three-hour old finger. "You're sure responsible for some fine looking girls," Wash said with a chuckle. "Cosmic joke of the century."
"Oh hush," Maine said, holding little Carolina to his chest. "Your momma made you pretty," he gushed at her.
"She's got Jason's chin," Sam said, smiling on her father and daughter.
"When does he get back, again?" Wash asked.
Sam's smile faltered a little. "Six months. Maybe longer. I hear deployments are being extended all over."
"Well, we'll make sure you've got whatever you need," he said, patting her hand softly. "We can even set up a nursery for you in your old room if you like."
Sam squeezed his hand tight. "Thank you, Papa," she said. "What would I ever do without my dads?"
"We love you, Sam. You know we'd do anything for you." Wash's eyes were drawn back to where Maine was cooing and tickling his finger under Carolina's chin. "You're going to have to give her back, you know," Wash teased him gently.
"Quiet, you," Maine said, mock irritation in his voice. "I never got to hold Sam when she was this size." Carolina yawned again and closed her eyes, lulled by the gentle rocking and held safe in her grandpa's arms. "She's so tiny! Can you believe it?"
"Not really," Wash admitted with a grin, coming up behind him to gaze down at her over his shoulder.
"Goddamn, man-"
"Dad! Language!" Sam scolded. "If she grows up swearing like a sailor I know who to blame!"
Wash only laughed. "Ooh now, young lady, I've heard far worse come out of your mouth before, so don't go blaming that all on your dad."
"Well, where do you think I learned them," Sam laughed.
"Your momma," Maine said, but had the decency to look suitably chastised anyway. He came over and sat in the chair by Sam's bed. "Never thought I'd be a grandpa," he said.
Sam couldn't help by smile at him, then looked to Wash. "What about you, Papa?"
"Never thought I'd even get to be a father," he said, leaning over her bed to kiss her gently on the forehead.
"And now you're a grandpa, too," she said.