(Untitled)

[jack_inthegreen]

There's a chill in the air--more than a chill, an outright nip--but Jack has Georgia bundled up warm and snug and taken her for a walk around the lake. Upon occasion she insists on getting down from his arms and attempting a step or two on her own, but she's not quite mastered the art of staying upright yet.

Soon. Bebbehgoddesses don't crawl for

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[vs_nuggan]

A little baby boy, about six months old, crawls over to Georgia.

Seems his mum had a similar idea. She's just behind.

[vs_nuggan]

"Dadadadada!" Jack Theodore joins in.

Shufti smiles. "No sweetheart. Green Jack is Georgia's daddy."

[jack_inthegreen]

Jack smiles a little and nods to Jack Theodore. "She's got two--she can share."

[vs_nuggan]

A guilty look flashes through her eyes. She strokes Jack Theodore's hair gently.

"Well, we'll see about getting you one some time little one." she says quietly.

[jack_inthegreen]

"You never did find your husband, then," Jack says softly.

[vs_nuggan]

A pause.

"I found a man who wasn't interested. As far as he's concerned, Jack's father is dead."

[jack_inthegreen]

"I see," Jack says softly, frowning, and he sighs. "The kind of man who gives the rest of us a bad name."

[vs_nuggan]

A small pause again.

"He didn't need to say anything. When he saw I'd caught up with him he looked like he wanted to die there and then. An offer of a military dowry was the only thing that brought a flicker of hope to his eyes."

She picks up Jack Theodore and holds him close.

"It's his loss. As far as Jack's concerned, his father was a man called Johnny, with blonde hair and blue eyes, a brave soldier who was killed in battle and loved me until the end. It's not like he'll know any different."

[jack_inthegreen]

Jack slowly nods, his expression no happier. "I'm very sorry it worked out that way."

[ooc: heading for home, back in about half an hour.]

[vs_nuggan]

"Thank you."

She looks away a moment, not wanting him to see that even now, the issue still causes her to blink back tears.

"Sometimes it's hard looking after him on my own." she says, looking back and trying to keep the tightness from her voice. "But I couldn't marry a man who doesn't love me and him."

[jack_inthegreen]

"Nor should you," he says gently.

[vs_nuggan]

She glances up at him, big blue eyes like her son's.

"I feel that I have been depriving him." she says softly. "Because I can't give him the attention he demands all the time. Sometimes I just have to rest."

[jack_inthegreen]

"I'm sure there are people here who'd be willing to help you with him sometimes," he says.

[vs_nuggan]

"Oh there are." she says, feeling she can't say what she means.

"I... I don't know how to explain it. I just feel he misses out by only having one parent. I could pass him from person to person, but it wouldn't be the same."

[jack_inthegreen]

He sighs, troubled, and strokes Georgia's auburn curls. "People do raise children alone, and no one claims that it's easy. So long as you're willing to ask for help there will be people willing to offer it.

"As for the other . . . I'm sure there's someone who'd be as good for you as he will be for Jack. People are like shoes, after all. Everybody's got a mate somewhere."

There he goes, quoting TV shows again.

[vs_nuggan]

She smiles a little.

"There is someone who may turn out to be special, but I don't know if he's looking for a long term relationship."