Pencil Me in for a Word with You 1/1
Title: Pencil Me in for a Word with You
Author: writen0w
Pairing: Jensen/Jared
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,272
Content Note: mpreg
Summary: Jared has some news. Now all he's got to do is find just the perfect moment to share them with his boyfriend.
Pencil Me in for a Word with You
Jared isn't the greatest cook to ever walk the earth. Between the two of them, Jensen's definitely much more adept in all things kitchen, but that didn't discourage Jared from attempting to prepare breakfast today.
He steps back from the kitchen island to get a good look at what kept him occupied for the last hour and a half. Tongue poking out, Jared glances over the tray he filled. Two plates are stacked with fresh pancakes-he even ignored the pancake and baking mix they've lying around somewhere and made them from scratch using Nana's home recipe-and, yeah, he may have left them on for a tiny bit too long, but the maple syrup dripping down the sides of the stacks in delicious golden-brown rivulets totally makes up for that. Two glasses of orange juice-he used the hand press juicer to avoid unnecessary noises-and a bowl of fruit top everything off.
Neither Jared nor Jensen had lifted a finger in the kitchen during the last days. Their fridge is still filled with leftovers from two different Christmas parties, but special occasions call for special measures, and Jared wants to do this just in style.
Satisfied with the surprise he put together, Jared picks up the tray and leaves the kitchen. His heart starts pounding so hard and fast on his way to the bedroom that he has to stop in the middle of the stairs and take a deep, settling breath. He tells himself everything's going to be fine. Because it will. They've tried for quite some time now, and there isn't an ounce of a chance that Jensen won't be happy about this. There isn't. But nervousness and excitement mixed with anticipation create this whirlwind of feelings. It washes over Jared and clouds his judgement, leaves him unusually insecure.
He nudges the bedroom door open with his foot and slips through, puts the tray on the nightstand and sits down on the edge of the bed, right beside Jensen. The freckled shoulder peeking out from under the covers looks too inviting not to touch, to kiss, and Jared leans down to do just that. His lips hover over the creamy skin, inches away from connecting when suddenly a shrill sound rings through the room.
Jared jumps, and Jensen starts from sleep, his shoulder connecting with Jared's jaw in a fluid motion.
“Ow!” exclaims Jared, more from shock than from pain, his hand reaching up to cradle the underside of his face.
“Fuck, babe, I'm sorry.” Jensen sits up and pulls on Jared's wrist to get a look at his jaw. The ringing continues, loud and disturbing, and Jensen's face morphs into the apologetic expression Jared's gotten used to over the last months, his lips a thin line, eyes going soft and wide, and regretful. “Sorry,” he mutters again before pressing a kiss to the corner of Jared's mouth and climbing out of bed.
Jared sits and watches Jensen fetch his pants from last night off the ground and pull his phone out. It's only a little consolation that he sounds as irritated as Jared feels when he answers the cell with a gruff “Ackles.” What follows is a series of hums and yeahs, but it's the “I'll be there.” that lets Jared's heart sink in his chest.
“They need me at the firm,” Jensen explains while crossing the room to their walk-in closet.
This was supposed to be your first time off since … forever, Jared thinks and stays silent, because this discussion only leads to them both saying things they don't mean and throwing accusations around they don't need.
Jensen gets dressed quickly and efficiently, white button-down to black slacks. “I promise I won't be long. I'm just going to fix what Speight screwed up, and then I'm out of there.”
“Okay,” Jared says to convince himself.
Jensen walks over to him, pushes Jared's bangs off his forehead to leave a kiss and turns to the nightstand to pick up his watch. “You made us breakfast?” he asks, hesitating in putting his watch on and indicating the tray. “Jay, I'm sorry. I'll take you out tonight and make it up to you, okay? You choose the place.”
“Sure.”
“I'm sorry.” Jensen leans down for another kiss, and then he's gone.
“Me, too.” Jared flops down on his back, good mood gone and disappointment settling deep into his bones.
-*-
It's Lauren who calls Jared and tells him Jensen will be home late; they'll have to postpone their plans for lunch or dinner, or whatever Jensen had in mind, Jared's not sure himself. In any case, Jensen won't make it.
It's not like Jared expected differently, yet something in his chest crushes at the words. He's still so excited to tell Jensen, and he won't do it over the phone or in passing. Breakfast in bed sounded perfect, a lazy morning the ideal occasion to share the news. Now that that's ruined, Jared's sprawled on the couch and wonders what to do with the day. He's on Christmas break, and Jensen should be off work, too, but now that he isn't, the prospect of a long day spend at home bores Jared out of his mind.
He texts Alona and arranges to meet her for hot chocolate and pie at their favorite coffee shop.
Jared spots her seated in a corner with mismatched armchairs, overstuffed and worn, when he arrives, their trademark orders already set out on the old crates serving as tables. “Jensen working?” she asks after one glance at him.
Jared nods and schools his features; Alona's always been able to read him well. They've become close friends over the last five years, and Jared's glad it was her apartment he moved into when he first came to the city.
Jared sinks into one of the chairs and leans back, lets the low rumble of voices drift over him until Alona pokes him in the side. “What?”
“Don't do that.” Alona sweeps her arm out and indicates Jared's face at his questioning look. “We talked about this. We agreed that we knew what we got into before we even started dating them. There's no point in lamenting their work load now.”
It's thanks to Alona that Jared even knows Jensen. The dreamer in him believes fate would've brought them together anyway, but everyone always tells him a dose of reality can't hurt, so he's ready to tell people that without Alona, the two of them probably wouldn't have met. She was already seeing Jeff by the time Jared moved in. A blind date with Austin's hottest gay lawyer, as Alona advertised Jeff's co-worker, and the rest is history.
“I know, it's just …” Jared releases a frustrated breath. “Jen's worked so hard all year, and I've been looking forward to spending some time with him.” Especially now.
“We all are,” Alona says, sighing and patting Jared's knee, “but what's the point in being miserable just because something's balked those plans? You wouldn't be able to stop moping once you've started. And I bet Jensen would rather be home with you as well.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Jared takes a sip from the mug in front of him, the sweet flavor of the chocolate warming his throat and soul. “Okay, change of subject, please. Where's Lily?”
“Stayed with my parents after Christmas. We'll pick her up on New Year's but that's still three days to go, and it's already too silent in the house.” Alona shrugs.
“You miss her, huh?”
She rolls her eyes as if the answer is the most obvious thing in the world. “How can I not?”
Jared's lips curve upward, a private smile sliding into place. He wants to tell her, too, but it's only fair that Jensen is the first one to know.
-*-
Jared doesn't see much of Jensen over the following days. He's pretty much exhausted once the sun goes down and crashes early. In turn, Jensen's already left for the office when Jared blinks awake in the morning.
The third night, Jared's adamant to stay up and wait for his boyfriend. He really only settles on the couch to rest his back. He has no attention of falling asleep in front of the TV, much less of sleeping through dinner and only jerking awake by the sensation of an afghan being thrown over his lying form.
“Jen?” he murmurs, blearily and around a yawn.
“Yep, it's me. Who'd you expect?” Jensen laughs, kneeling in front of the couch and looking the way Jared feels.
Jared smooths one hand down Jensen's cheek, stubble rasping on the tips of his fingers, his thumb tracing the shape of the dark circle under Jensen's eye. “Need to get you to bed.”
“Look who's talking.” Jensen catches Jared's hand and kisses his wrist, presses his lips against the steady beat of his pulse point. “I'm just gonna hop in the shower, and then I'm back.”
“Okay.” Jared watches Jensen climb the stairs and burrows deeper into the afghan. It's so cozy, and his eyes are still kind of heavy; closing them sounds like the best idea he's had all day.
-*-
Mike's apartment is buzzing with people and music. Jared knows maybe half of them, and he doesn't really understand why Mike felt the need to invite what has to be half the town-To test the maximum capacity of his own four walls? The thing that counts, however, is that Jensen's among them.
Jared looks over his shoulder to see him perusing the two tables forming the makeshift buffet. Paper plate in hand, he seems to be deciding between Pepperoni pizza and pizza topped with so much cheese it's already soaking through the box.
Jared leans casually against the wall as Jensen's on his way back to him. Jensen maneuvers through the crowd of people looking beautiful, the dark green dress shirt a perfect contrast to the milky hue of his skin, freckles visible where he's rolled up the shirt sleeves to expose lower arms and elbows. His shoulders are pushed back, his posture strong and confident. Eyes set on Jared, Jensen smiles widely, the skin around the corner of his eyes crinkling.
“You look so sexy tonight,” Jared greets him and pushes closer. He hooks his fingers in the belt loops on Jensen's waist and pulls until Jensen's near enough.
“Yeah?”
Jared chuckles, Jensen's always loved to get his ego boosted. “Yeah.”
Jensen twists slightly to place his plate on the end table beside them, then returns his attention to Jared, cupping his face in both of his hands and pulling him down, their lips almost brushing. “Gonna have some time for you later. And tomorrow. I'm definitely staying home tomorrow.”
Jared's heart flutters in his chest, and he can't keep the stupid grin off his face. This feels good, being with Jensen and having the promise of a new year backing them up. It's not as romantic as he wanted it to be, but it's right, better than all the fleeting chances he got and missed.
Somewhere, in another corner of the stuffed room, a voice calls for them to get ready for the countdown, and the usual shuffling begins. Excitement is cracking in the air, and the last ten seconds of the year pass with Jared's eyes locked on Jensen mouthing them along with the rest of the crowd.
Jared's mind is still racing to find the perfect words when lips crush against his. The familiar, insistent press turns to nibbling, and when Jensen grants him the first taste of his tongue, tingles of pleasure shoot up and down Jared's spine.
With a last lick inside Jared's mouth, Jensen breaks the kiss. “Happy New Year,” he whispers, already leaning in again and speaking into Jared's ear. “I love you, babe.”
Jensen starts sucking on Jared's ear lobe, wet flicks along the sensitive muscle, and Jared feels heat crawl up his neck. He pulls himself together, adrenaline rising as he reaches for Jensen's hand. “I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?” asks Jensen, focused on Jared's neck now, sounding distracted.
“Jen …” Jared tries, moving away from Jensen's questing lips to get him to look at him. If nothing else, he at least wants to see Jensen's reaction.
Jared's hands are clammy as he brings the one that's tangled with Jensen's at their sides around and forward. He digs his teeth into his bottom lip to keep the words and laughter inside, to prevent them from bubbling up too early, and places Jensen's left hand on his stomach, one of his own closing above it. One last, deep breath, and the words tumble out. “There's going to be three of us.”
Jensen's eyes grow wide, and his mouth drops open, forms a perfectly round shape but doesn't release a single sound.
Jared's smile is still in place. It grows with every second Jensen's just staring at him, and he feels warmth spread through his body. Contentment. Like he was meant to be here and now, on New Year's in a crowded, noisy apartment, giving Jensen the news that will turn their lives upside down.
“You're pregnant?” Jensen asks at last, voice full of hope and cautiousness.
It makes Jared so happy he could burst with it, because he can finally nod and say, “I am.”
end
Continued in Hide Here, Confide Here.