[Princeton] Quality twin time

[pullmysteth]

Who: Riley & Tab
Where: Downtown Princeton
When: Wednesday morning
Follows: Nothing really
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Riley had somehow managed to drag Tab from Bed, Bath & Beyond into Babies'R'Us on their impromptu shopping trip in Princeton. He had needed stuff for the new house when he realised going from an apartment

Comments

[asinthecity]

Tab was trying not to be bored, really. Or scared. They were in a shop full of baby stuff after all, and with the baby stuff came the mothers and their babies. Babies that could jump out and suck off her face at any moment. Tab took the lollipop from her mouth - Riley's subtle way of trying to get her to quit complaining - and pulled her mouth to the side as she looked at it. "Person, or poop factory?"

[asinthecity]

"So does that mean you've given more thought to the how?" Tab turned to look at him with her eyebrow raised. "Because I got to be honest, beanpole. I'd really like to be a real aunt as well as a god-aunt."

[pullmysteth]

Riley shrugged a little. "I don't really stop thinking about it. I just don't know how I really feel anymore. Riley's birth just seemed to change a lot, you know? Then the whole thing with Pat and Aiden, and Chase... I've been thinking a lot about a lot of stuff lately."

[asinthecity]

"Hard not to hear the cogs turning every night since we've been staying with you, Big Bro. You always were a loud thinker. Just didn't want to ask what you were thinking about. Trying to be respectful of your privacy for once," Tab admitted with a slight eye roll. "I've been thinking about the wedding stuff."

[pullmysteth]

Riley pulled his lips to the side and glanced at her. "I haven't really been thinking about wedding stuff much at all, but then, that's mostly the girl thing, isn't it? I don't know anything about weddings. There's a few things I need to put into place before we get married anyway."

[asinthecity]

"As if I know anything about weddings. Do I look like the kind who kept a scrap book and shit? I don't think so. I don't even know where to start. I don't even know if Luke wants me to start." She looked down at the ring on her finger, and smiled a little. It was perfect, and modest, and had a ruby instead of a diamond. "What things? Can I help?"

[pullmysteth]

"You should chat to Tara. Pat tells me she was a lot like you before she met Lachlan. She was all about her career and had little to no interest in nabbing some guy. Then it all changed, like it did with you and Luke. She arranged her whole in about three months when Lachlan was in rehab. She might have some tips or she might tell you to have a good stiff drink and go for it," Riley said with a smirk.

He exhaled slowly and scratched his head. "Not really. A will, for one. Things like changing my medical records to show Evie as my next of kin... things that don't seem so important, but are glaringly important to me in case something ever happens... and it might. I have to be realistic about that. The pills aren't a miracle cure. Something still might go wrong. It's just practical precautions, that's all."

[asinthecity]

"Maybe Tara should start a wedding consultant business for the completely clueless," Tab said with a laugh. "I vote for the stiff drink. I don't know how we're going to pull this off, beanpole. Maybe you should do it with me."

Tab's expression sobered and she took Riley's hand in hers. Hearing about Riley making a will started to make her heart ache, but she understood. Something could go wrong, and Tab didn't know what she would do. "Definitely important things. Evie's becoming a huge part of your life, so you should take care of her. Just like she should take care of you."

[pullmysteth]

Riley smirked. "I don't think she would be able to sell her tactics. She spent a lot of the lead up crying and broke her leg on her wedding dress. Disaster central that all come together in the end." He paused. "I think you and Luke might be ready to get married before Evie and I are, squirt."

"It's just hard. I know it should be all happy and hearts and flowers, but I need to have the boring side of things set too to be content. Some days if I don't feel well, I get worried the pills aren't working and I'm just nervous. It'll be alright, though. It'll fall into place."

[asinthecity]

"You say that like we know what we're doing. We're just taking it one step at a time, the latest step being an apartment and a bar and living here." Tab screwed up her nose. "I love Tara, but I really don't want my wedding to be like that. Mostly I'd just be happy if me and Luke managed to show up at the same time and got married."

Tab squeezed his hand as she leaned against him. "I love you, Big Bro. I know it's hard, I do. Well, I look at you and I know it's hard. If I could make it easier, I would. Tell me it at least helps a bit that I'm here? I hated the distance between us."

[pullmysteth]

Riley nodded. "Of course. Everyone has different ways they want to do things. Lachlan and his family needed the big traditional Scottish wedding and by the time he made it that morning, everyone was just glad to see him breathing. After the ceremony, it was just a huge party and it was lot of fun. I love it. But then, it's always great to be around family like that and just have fun."

He laughed a little. "What do you mean? Of course it is. It's fucking brilliant having you here. I'm going to dread the day you move back to New York."

[asinthecity]

"It's nice even having a family to have a big party for. I'm assuming Luke's going to want his family here. You'll get to meet all his sisters and stuff." Tab squeezed the duck to hear it quack again. "Think I could get away with ducks as the theme? Lachlan might melt if he sets foot in the place."

"I just wanted to check I wasn't getting in the way. As for that day, we really don't have to think about it yet. It's going to be a while, beanpole."

[pullmysteth]

"He's the only son, isn't he? I think it will be a big thing for his family. They seem pretty cool." Riley eyed the duck. "He'll bring Riley locked away in a protective bubble," he laughed. "Tara put duckie booties on him with his baby kilt and Lachlan nearly had a stroke."

He lowered his voice as if he had a secret to share. "I tell you something," he said furtively. "Princeton's actually big enough for both of us. Hell, it's even big enough for the likes of big shot, Aiden," he joked, smirking. "There isn't a rush. Like I said, we'll get there."

[asinthecity]

"Yep. I don't think he minds, though. He loves his sisters. They are pretty cool now that I'm past my freak out. Guess I still just want to make sure they know I am good enough for him." Tab laughed as she tucked the duck under her arm. "I'm only joking about a duck wedding. Teasing Lachlan is far too tempting. Duckie booties with a kilt? Well, it's certainly a look..."

She hit Riley lightly in the shoulder and rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the info, Big Bro. Still can't believe just about the entire New York contingent of our group seems to have migrated to Princeton."

[pullmysteth]

"Have you spoken to Luke about it? Maybe he wants a big wedding? Hell, maybe he wants to get married in Australia where is family is?" Riley asked. "He looked adorable. The booties were about twice the size of his feet, but they looked cute with the kilt. He had little mittens on, too, because he was scratching his little face with his nails." He paused and leaned forward on the cart he had gotten at the front of the store. He sighed. The pendulum seemed to be swinging for wanting a baby this week, tipping more and more with the amount of time Riley spent with his godson

[asinthecity]

"There's been no wedding talk since the engagement. Well, since the ring buying. Still can't believe I asked him. Not that I don't want to marry him! It's just... oh my god, I actually have found someone I want to marry. That makes me think of marriage and stuff. Do you think he'd want to get married in Australia? My first trip down there and I'd be getting hitched..." Tab trailed off as she lost herself in thought, trying to work out if getting married in Australia was a good thing or not. She blinked to bring herself back, and looked at Riley. She could see those cogs turning again. "If you want a kid, you should make it happen, beanpole. I'll do anything to help."

Tab sucked in a breath, and let it out in a heavy sigh. "Holy shit... poor Pat. Aiden definitely made the right decision. Hope he remembers we're here if he needs us."