fic: April (Chapter 6)
Finally, here's the next chapter of April!
Thanks for waiting so long readers! (Love you guys so much)
Title: April
Author: Brainzz_Insanee
Pairing: David/Kelly(OC), David/Kimberly, eventual David/Michael
Status: 6/?
Word Count: 5424
Rating: PG-13
Summary: David Cook has reached the feat everyone wants to achieve: He’s got a great girlfriend, a supporting and loving family, amazing friends as well as a continually booming singing career. So with all this going for him, what could jeopardize what he’s strived so hard for? And could it be something from the beginning of his journey?
Author’s Note: Hope you enjoy?
Disclaimer: I don’t own them (but oh do I wish)
Challenge Info / Ch.1 / Ch.2 / Ch.3 / Ch.4 / Ch.5
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David couldn’t reply, unable to prevent himself from smiling at Michael. He indulged in the moment and fell to his side, onto Michael’s shoulder. The man’s right arm draped around the top of his back, lazily rubbing by his neck and unknowingly hitting the tight kink there. The Aussie always seemed to read his mind, something that both continually awed and worried him.
“Yikes mate, you’re so tense.”
“Nah, it’s not that--” He didn’t finish as Michael made sure to prove him wrong, pressing his thumb lightly onto the aching area. The stress was clear on his face but it didn’t need to be seen because his back arched forward, fleeing from the contact.
“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” The Australian teased, smirk plain in sight when he turned his head to the side toward the older individual.
A knock came on the main door, mostly as a blessing. As badly as he needed a massage, he couldn’t get it from Michael. He tended to get very vocal, rarely turned on if he got a really good one. Stress and frustration were a natural part of him so when people relieved it from his body, it was easy for them to know if they were doing a good job or not. He didn’t even want to imagine Mike as his masseuse however, knowing close to a fact that he’d easily get a hard-on from it. And that would be too awkward to live from. Dave casually leapt from the bed then, jogging over to the door and opening it with a smile.
“Mom!” David exclaimed, practically yanking her inside in a close embrace. She had the same exuberance, clutching onto her son and kissing his cheeks. Michael managed to slip by and move her bags into the room, placing them by the couch. All he could do was watch the reunion, grinning ear to ear.
Beth parted from her son, caressing his cheeks with her hands. Her eyes dazzled with joy, going through his ruffled hair shortly after.
“It’s so good to see you, David! Oh jeez, I’m getting all teary-eyed. I haven’t seen you in almost two months! How are you? Well overall wise anyway. Things must still be, you know, settling. I need to stop talking… I’m sorry. I’m rambling. I just really missed you. You’re so famous, no time for your old mother.”
He beamed, shaking his head at the end. “You’re far from old mom. You don’t look a day past twenty-five” At Beth’s incredulous look, he changed the subject. “Come on, seriously mom, I’ll always try to make time for you. I know it doesn’t look like it most of the time…I um-- I’m doing all right, currently at least… thanks to certain people of course.” He finishes in a slight stutter and gestures over to Michael whose standing at the side of this and waving sheepishly over to them both.
David’s mother smiles, “There’s the man I wanted to see! Michael, sweetheart, get over here right now so I can hug you. What have you been up to?”
The Australian soaks it up, bringing her into his arms and kissing the top of her head. He makes it all the more amusing by keeping one arm around Beth, grinning over at David.
“Mate, told you she’d want to see me more.”
“When did you say that?” David bounced back, throwing his arms up in exasperation.
“Uh, when you were sleeping.”
“Yeah sure, liar.”
“Boys, how old are you?“ She began, catching their childish pouts. “Come on now. Michael, you’re acting like a four-year old and David, you’re an open target. You’re probably about five, a year older than him. And yes, as entertaining as it is with you two play fighting, you need to adjust your undergarments back where they belong because I need an update from the both of you stat.”
“What if I don’t wear--” Michael started, brows arched.
“Michael!” David interjected, his whole face verging on dark red.
The Aussie grinned back at him, glint in his eye. “What? I’m just defending the people who don‘t--”
Beth came in this time, blushing lightly and rubbing her temple. “If you go commando dear, I don’t want to know because I‘m not quite sure if I can handle--” She abruptly paused herself, brows coming dangerously close together as her gaze dropped from Michael’s eyes.
“Sweetheart, what happened to your ring?”
The Australian presses his lips together briefly. “It’s off, for good. Stacey and I called it quits, or rather she did. Things weren’t working well between us anymore.”
Beth reached forward, clasping the left hand with both of hers and smiling in Mike’s direction. “I’m sorry to hear about that, I know you two were close. I won’t pry into it, it’s not my business but well-- Can I ask you a few questions?” Her eyes were gentle and inquisitive. The Aussie simply nodded, managing a smile.
“Are you happy? Think about it if you haven’t already.”
David expects there to be a long silence, definitely not an immediate response.
“Yeah, I think so. For a while, all Stacey and I would do was fight. Sometimes I’d have to actually think about the last time we weren’t arguing. It’s odd getting used to but I feel good about it for the most part.”
“My last question… do you think you could be close to someone again, like with Stacey, and possibly enter another long term relationship?”
Dave turns toward her, brows to the moon and mouth agape. “Mom.”
The Australian meekly waved off the intrusion, knowing the woman had the best of intentions at heart. “No, no. Dave, It’s all right. I don’t mind” He started, nervously playing with some of his curly brown hair. “I don’t-- I mean, if I do let myself get into another long term commitment or anything than I want to be really close with the person. I never thought Stacey would ever get bothered by the media but she eventually did… I suppose what I’m trying to say is… well, that I’d need to be close to the person, more so than I ever was with Stacey and I doubt it happening.”
“Never doubt possibility. You’ll find someone sweetheart. A man as charming as yourself, nah, there’s bound to be many after you.”
“Beth, that’s the problem. I’m a known man now. Most aren’t going to be interested in me, just the money that comes with. That’s all people care about nowadays.”
Dave looked between them both, more so at the Aussie. The man was staring down at his left hand, rubbing where his ring should have been. The sight clenched at his heart. Michael had been so in love with Stacey. They were friends for a few years before popping the question and marrying in Vegas with an Elvis impersonator. The information was clear from when his friend had reminisced to him one night during the show. David still remembered how much the Australian’s eyes had shined, and how much he smiled telling the younger man about the spontaneous ceremony.
In the time that he’s lost in thought, his mother and Mike have sat down. His friend takes one side of the couch whilst Beth makes herself comfortable in one of the chairs across from the sofa. They’re both looking at him, more so of his mom. Michael has an amused expression, but it’s surprisingly subdued. Clearing his throat uncomfortably, he sits in the middle of the couch by the older man. David reaches out to rub the other man’s shoulder momentarily, giving him his best reassuring smile.
“I know you’ll find someone.”
“Thanks mate.” There aren’t any doubts in his reply, and the words seem to have sparked new life in those dark brown eyes. Michael’s always been the one to get him off the ground and into a better mental state of mind so for him to be the one helping this time, it lessens the feeling of uselessness he gets when trying to comfort others. He reluctantly, but smoothly, removes his hand from the shoulder and returns it to his side.
He glances over at his mom, whose smiling back at him.
“Now that I’ve bothered Michael to an extreme amount, I get to annoy you now.”
“Gee, can’t wait mom.” He replied, light sarcasm on his tongue. Michael caught it within seconds, busting up a gut next to him. It was impossible not to join in on that. The sound of that man’s laughter was indescribable, and beyond infectious. He cracked up too, followed shortly by his mother. David got up from the couch, wiping his eyes and jogging over to the fridge.
“Anybody want anything?”
“Dear, you’re delaying the inevitable interrogation. I’ll have a lemonade.”
“I know mom, and you, Johns?”
“I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
Dave grinned, taking advantage of his bartending skills and carrying everything in his grasp. He slowly placed a glass of lemonade for his mother on the coffee table, and handed Michael a beer. The man raised a brow at the label, incredulous look in his direction. David put his beer down on the table too, raising his hands dramatically.
“Do you have something against Corona?”
He had that ‘who me’ look going on. “I didn’t say anything.”
“What, do you think I put something in it then?”
“Did you?” Michael retorted within seconds, squinting at the liquid inside.
“This is what I’ve had to deal with recently, him. He’s been the issue.” Dave replies, taking a chug of his beer before setting it on the table. The older of the two practically giggles by him, before his mother gives him that look; the one that demands him to spill everything going on.
“Okay mom… I give” He sucked in a long, deep breath. “I haven’t had too much going on. And Michael this will be news to you too” In turn, the Australian shifted around on the couch and sat right next to him. Their shoulders brushed. “When I told Kimberly about what’s going on… basically, we had a fight. We yelled back at each other for a bit before we settled on breaking up. We’re going to try and be friends still though.” He feels the piercing gazes from both of them but keeps his eyes on his hands, folded loosely in his lap. His thumbs twiddle unintentionally.
He’s too curious for his own good. It’s going to kill him someday.
He looks up, and his mother is agape. Her hand is half covering it whilst the other plays around with the fabric of her light cotton sweater. David glances over to Michael, the man’s dark eyes wide with a vast mixture of emotions in his eyes. He picks up on some of them; confusion, surprise and anger. He doesn’t understand the reasoning of the last.
“I’m sorry mate…” The Australian’s light murmur of a reply.
There’s no ‘when did this happen’ or ‘why didn’t you tell me sooner’ and David is beyond thankful of that. He doesn’t want to answer questions about it.
“She left not too long ago, back to Los Angeles. We thought it was easier that way.”
“You or her?” Beth pipes out. She’s scratching the surface.
Dave pauses, his first instinct to lie but fights it. “More of hers. It made sense though.”
He puts down the rest of his beer, getting up and away from the silence that has sank into the setting. It’s one of the reasons he dislikes sharing personal information, the stillness that usually follows it. He throws away the beer, wishing there was more in it. He’s not surprised when he comes back in, and they’re in the same positions he left them in.
“Well, this has been simply stellar” David pipes in, feeling a wave of energy and strength come over him. “But there are other things I need to do today and uh, since we’re telling all… mom, I had this thought that came over me and Michael’s the only person whose known this. He was lucky enough to be in proximity when I figured this well, epiphany out but anyway-- Yeah, I’m stalling” Dave was fidgeting, trying not to beam idiotically. He was hopeless though. “I definitely want to be a father. I know that I kept bouncing back and forth between the options, but this one just separated from the others. I need to do this for both myself and Kelly. That‘s why you‘re coming with me mom, over to her parent‘s house because I want you there. I need you there with me on this.”
He let out a breath, getting most of it out in one breath. Michael’s arm went around his shoulders, yanking him close with a huge smile.
“You have no idea how overjoyed I am for you.”
David looked to his right, temporarily taken back at the glimmer and shine in those dark brown eyes. It stole his breath. Somehow he managed a smile in return, mentally patting himself on the back for accomplishing even that. He was taken first class back to reality, upon the impact of his mother bringing him into his arms tightly. She was crying by his ear, the liquid slowly trailing along his collarbone. Green eyes closed, bringing one of his hands into her blonde hair while his other arm went around her waist.
Beth was whispering almost inaudible words. “I know you’ll take care of her. I wish you knew how proud I am… that I’m blessed to have sons who are willing to take on responsibilities, not only for themselves but for others as well. I‘ll-- Oh god, I’ll gladly walk this road with you…” She ran her hand along his head and neck, grasping at him.
He smiled, relaxing his body against hers and resting his head on her shoulder.
“Thank you… thank you” Dave whispered. “Love you mom.”
“Love you too.”
He’s not sure how long they were like that. He couldn’t care less though. He hadn’t seen his mother in a while. David wished they could see each other more, he missed her. She slowly parted from him, placing both hands on his cheeks and looking straight at him.
“David, when do you want to head over?”
“Earlier the better.” He said back, standing up from the couch as her hands fell from his face to her sides. Dave took her hand, facing the Aussie.
“Do you mind if--”
“Nah mate. I’ll drive you both over and wait in the car.”
The younger released a sigh of relief, sheepishly smiling. “Thanks Michael.”
“No probs. Let’s go already.”
Michael smiled, striding over to the door and holding it open for them. They slipped by him, closing it after. It didn’t take them long to get into the car, the Australian acting like the perfect chauffeur. The man was also able to keep things light in the car drive too, taking away the anxiety in the air whenever it surfaced.
“Do you think she’ll like me?” Beth asked quietly, turning to her son.
“Yeah. I think so” He replied with a smile, wiping the sweat that had gathered in his palms. “Besides, who wouldn’t like you?” She took that well, letting her shoulders fall and sending a smile in his direction. She plopped her head on his shoulder and kept it there for the rest of the car drive.
“All right, we’re here.” Michael piped in, the vehicle coming to a slow stop. The Australian went to get out of the car, but David put his hand on his shoulder.
“Are you sure you don’t mind--”
“Not at all. I’ll take a drive around while you and your mum are in there.”
“You’re the best, thanks.”
“I know” Michael replied, a cheeky grin. “Get in there already. Oh and Dave, just give me a ring when you‘re ready to go.” At the man’s words, he waved before getting hold of his mother’s hand and walking up the stairs to the door. He pauses there, realizing that he should have called first. He’s about to knock but it opens, Richard there with a timid smile and gesturing them inside.
“Hi David” Greeting the rocker with a handshake, leading into a hug. “How are you?”
“Okay, not awesome or horrible. Yourself?”
“I’m trucking by. It’s hard looking at pictures of her” He says first, pausing at the sight of David’s mother. She‘s fiddling with the sleeves of her sweater. “Beth, wow. It’s been years…” Richard trails off, embracing her as well. “I’m sorry that we had to see each other under these circumstances.”
“It’s fine” She replied, patting his cheek affectionately. “How’s Elizabeth?”
“Not good. It hit her the most. She doesn’t even like to look at herself anymore.”
“Why’s that?”
“Kelly was a spitting image of her mother.”
Beth nods, apologizing for the question and sitting down on the couch. Richard insists on getting them something but they both decline. And when he comes back into the room, Elizabeth is at his side. She’s in a loose fitting pair of pants and her long sleeve keeps slipping off her shoulder, the bags under her eyes show her grief most of all. She detaches from her husband to hug Beth and David.
Her voice is soft but strong when she speaks, her question getting to the root of the visit.
“Have you made a decision, Mr. Cook?”
David presses his lips together, glancing over to his mother for one last look of encouragement. She gives it. He meekly smiles, suddenly feeling bashful and can’t help the warmth that spreads along his face. Elizabeth has taken a seat as well, Richard right by her. He’s caressing the side of her arm lazily.
“Yeah, I made one” He replies slowly, trying to focus on evening his breathing. “And I know that you’re probably thinking that I didn’t reflect about this long enough and I should be really considering how the rest of my life will be but… I’ve made up my mind, and I can’t imagine the alternative. I want to take full responsibility of April. I‘m ready to be there for her, I‘ll put her above everything else in my life” His sigh of relief is clearly audible, echoing across the silent room.
“Sorry, just um… That’s been locked up in my head for a while...” David sheepishly smiles, running a hand through his hair.
Richard waves it off, his eyes twinkling in a way that David hasn’t seen in a long time.
“That’s all right, David” He stands up with the younger man, gesturing him out of the room with a hand on his back. “Mind if we take a walk?” Dave shakes his head, a timid smile. His mother informs him that she’ll stay there and take over some things with Elizabeth. Both women smile at him before he’s out of there.
He walks at Richard’s side in the halls, and he listens to everything the other man says. They jump from topic to topic. The man has learned things that not many know, and he’s gracious for the information. He’s also relieved when the older individual keeps the conversation light. He asks about the Royals and how his music is going. At one point they find themselves arguing whether Quiznos or Subway has better sandwiches.
They stop outside one of the rooms. Dave raises a brow, arching it high.
“Why did we stop?”
Richard smiles, a small one. “Just listen against the door.”
He’s confused beyond belief but he does it anyway, getting close to the door and resting his ear against the surface. At first he doesn’t hear anything except light music. Then he gets it. There’s a small voice inside, trying to sing but it’s coming out as hums and la-la’s.
“Do you-- Could I go in?” He asks gently, a beaming smile on his face.
“Go ahead David, I know you want to see her. I’ll be in the kitchen.” The man surprisingly walks off and out of the hall, leaving David there to mull in his thoughts and work up the nerve to knock on the door. He raises his fisted hand to it, pausing it in mid-air. He knows he’s thinking too much about it when he wonders if she will like him still or if she’ll even remember him. The first meeting he had with her makes his eyes moisten, chuckling silently to himself when the image of the plush elephant comes to mind and how much she latched onto it when she was introducing herself. That makes him lightly hit the door with his knuckles, absentmindedly chewing on his bottom lip.
David waits a few minutes, or what seems years to him before he considers simply heading back to the living room where his mom must be waiting. After all, the Disney music is playing in the room. He muses that she probably didn’t hear it. He’s about to knock again when the door opens, pulling back his hand and dropping his arm against his side. And there she is, looking up at him curiously with widened blue eyes. His breath is caught, managing somehow to slowly lower himself to her height. She doesn’t seem to recognize him though, and it kills a piece of him.
“April, hey there…” His voice is quiet, coming out barely audible. “I know we haven’t known each other that long but…my name is David, do you remember me?”
She looks down, curly brown locks falling around her face as she studies the green crayon in her hand. Her crystal blue eyes seem to lighten a shade when her head comes back up, smiling at him fully and her dimples clear.
“Daddy…” The young girl murmurs, launching herself suddenly into his arms. David laughs richly, arms coming around her completely and resting his head against hers. She joins in, giggling into his neck. Her soft hair tickles his cheek and her fingers tug at his hair. She actually stays in his embrace, she doesn’t move except snuggle further into him. Unintentionally though, he releases a small and strangled sob against her. She moves away from him with confused eyes when one of his tears touches her fair skin.
“Why you crying daddy?” April says a moment later, coming close to him.
David’s head tilts up, meeting her eyes head-on. They’re full of such wonderful purity, and he doesn’t want to ever taint that nor fill their relationship with lies. He tells himself that he’ll do his best to be honest with her always.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t find you sooner.”
All she does is smile, headed tilted to the side as she reaches up to dab at the tear that had begun to trail down his cheek. “You here now so all okay.” Right after she says it, she offers out her crayon.
“Are you sure?” Dave weakly whispers, letting her drop the crayon into his palm. April nods her head multiple times, grasping onto his fingers and lightly pulling him into her room. He tells her how strong she is and he’s graced with her laugh. When he enters the room, David is marveled at all the variety of color. It’s all bright shades; mainly sky blues, creamy oranges and rose pinks. April runs over to the small cassette player, abruptly pausing and nibbling on her bottom lip.
“What’s wrong?”
“Turn off, don’t know where push.”
Dave crouches down slowly and gestures with his hands toward the device, hovering over the buttons. He asks her if he can touch it and she’s hesitant at first, nodding after a couple moments. A small smile graces his face, relieved that she had some trust in him. David gently goes behind her, placing his right index finger over her corresponding one whilst he cautiously holds her at her waist with his left hand. She’s silent as he guides both of their fingers over the buttons, telling her which each one does until they get to the off button. He applies small pressure on top of her finger, letting her know to hit the eject button. She slowly lays her finger on the off button, resting it there for a few before she presses it. The music stops, the cassette popping out of the player.
April falls back onto his abdomen, and he hesitantly grasps her waist. She doesn’t move in his hold, again making him smile. He brings her up in the air briefly before letting her sit on his leg, dangling her small ones by his knee. Her face leans up, partly facing his with a grin. She giggles a little, plopping her head back onto his collarbone. His head leans forward lightly, and exhaustion drops upon him. Dave finds himself falling asleep against her brown locks.
“April?” He gets a mumbled ‘hmm’ in response, the words he wants to express disorganized in his brain. He wants to ask her so many things, but he bites his tongue instead. The young girl drops off his leg though, glancing up at him curiously and waiting for a question.
“What do you like to do for fun?”
She giggles. “Draw!” It’s the saying of the word that springs her to full vitality, pointing over to her kiddy table full of crayons and paper. She’s incredibly animated while she jogs around the room. She shows him the pictures she’s made. His smile is impossibly wide, asking about each one and why she did it. Each time she gives the same answer.
“Don’t know…” April replies for the third time, shrugging her shoulders dramatically.
“Could I draw with you?”
She grins to the tentative question, shoving him a couple crayons or so into his palms and making herself comfortable in the kiddy chair. She even gestures to the other kiddy chair next to her but David raises a brow at the small pieces of furniture, knowing he’d break it within a couple minutes. Instead he kneels, organizing the crayons for her.
“What are we going to draw?” Dave pipes in, rubbing her shoulder.
There’s no hesitance in her response, and it doesn’t fail in melting his heart.
“You and me, silly.”
Dave nods, and it’s all he can manage because he’s sure that if he tried to talk to her then words would we spoken incoherently. He simply watches her draw. Her tongue slightly sticks out of her mouth as for the deepest form of concentration and a rich laugh escapes his lips when she draws stick figures, one short and the other one tall.
“Which one is me?” He asks playfully.
April proudly mashes her finger down into the taller stick figure’s face, giggling at the incredulous expression formed on his face.
“That one!” She exclaimed, running away from him when he reached to tickle her. He jogged after her, even in the hallways as she made her way around the rooms and eventually to the kitchen. It was when she noticed the food being made that she paused, giving him the opportunity to swoop down and gather her into his arms from behind.
She laughed at first, restless within seconds when he stood back up. She was determined to escape the hold David had her in. His hands placed the smallest amount of pressure on her stomach to keep her there.
Out of the corner of his eye, David saw his mother falter when she walked into the kitchen. A hand went over her mouth, biting her bottom lip although her tear-filled eyes gave her away her awe. He too paused, sucking in a breath and beaming at her before lowering himself, April in arms, to the floor. She turned around immediately, facing him on a similar height level with sparkling cerulean eyes.
“April…I want you to meet someone, is that okay?”
She fiddled with a strand of her brown hair, nodding a few times. In turn, Dave looked past April and gestured his mother over to them. Beth joined the other two on the floor, crouching down next to her son timidly. Just before David’s mother was about to speak, the small child abruptly runs behind her father.
“Hi…” She whispered into the air by his back, her head barely peaking out. She brings her arms close to her body in a natural manner of cautiousness. The action makes him smile inwardly because when seeing her this second time, she was the opposite of shy. She openly embraced him and even let him look into her life. Then again, he tells himself to the aspect that children are instinctively warm-hearted but the feeling of having her trust him, is wonderful.
“Hello, I’m Beth. Your name is April?” His mother urges on, clearly patient with her.
She stops talking, completely hiding away from everyone’s eyes. David’s heart clenches and swells at the same time. It stupefies him that she’d actually choose to hide behind him, even though the grandparents are right there in the room.
Dave swiftly turns around, staying low to the ground and lifting her chin up with the tip of his finger. Her mouth is in a slight pout, and cheeks lightly flushed. He smiles her at, patting her cheek affectionately.
“Hey, it’s all right…” Cupping both of her cheeks softly. Her eyes are filled with all sorts of questions but they don’t leave his, not even for a second. “She’s really nice. April, she’s my mother. I told her how awesome you are, and she wanted to meet you. You can trust me, I wouldn’t trick you.”
She nods shakily after a couple minutes, pushing her lightly to stand next to him while he remains in a crouched position. She looks down at his fingers and he follows her gaze there, sucking in a breath when she loops his with hers. The sight draws a tear to build in his eye but he quickly wipes it away.
“Yes ma‘am” She whispers so quietly that it’s hard to hear. “My name is April.”
“It’s lovely to meet you dear.”
She blushes, “Thank you.”
Elizabeth places a plate of macaroni and cheese on the kitchen table, lifting up the girl and plopping her on the chair when she urges for help after many attempts at using her own strength. The woman stays by April’s side while she eats, Richard walking them out of the room and toward the living room where a few folders lay on a coffee table. Beth sits down next to Richard, whose on one of the end of the couch so David takes a place in a chair across from the couch so he can keep eye contact with the other man.
“Is there a way for this to go over smoothly, quickly and as out of eyes as possible? I mean, don’t get me wrong… I in no way feel ashamed about taking on the responsibility of caring for April for you, Elizabeth and Kelly but I don’t want the media and press digging their claws into everything. At the very least, avoid the press until all the agreements have gone through.”
Richard scratches the side of his neck, shrugging. “Usually these sort of things stay under wraps for regular individuals but David, I’m going to be honest with you… Being all famous now from American Idol, there’s an extremely high likelihood of it leaking to the media. I can say this for sure, Elizabeth and I will try our best at keeping this process silent, but of course, do be prepared if need be.”
David’s eyes cast down, half-lidded green eyes staring at his own fingers intertwined. He was silent until he heard laughing in the kitchen, gaze shifting in the direction of the sound and staring mystified at April’s wide smile and twinkling eyes.
He turns back to face them both, green eyes glistening. “Just tell me what to do.”
Thanks for waiting so long readers! (Love you guys so much)
Title: April
Author: Brainzz_Insanee
Pairing: David/Kelly(OC), David/Kimberly, eventual David/Michael
Status: 6/?
Word Count: 5424
Rating: PG-13
Summary: David Cook has reached the feat everyone wants to achieve: He’s got a great girlfriend, a supporting and loving family, amazing friends as well as a continually booming singing career. So with all this going for him, what could jeopardize what he’s strived so hard for? And could it be something from the beginning of his journey?
Author’s Note: Hope you enjoy?
Disclaimer: I don’t own them (but oh do I wish)
Challenge Info / Ch.1 / Ch.2 / Ch.3 / Ch.4 / Ch.5
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David couldn’t reply, unable to prevent himself from smiling at Michael. He indulged in the moment and fell to his side, onto Michael’s shoulder. The man’s right arm draped around the top of his back, lazily rubbing by his neck and unknowingly hitting the tight kink there. The Aussie always seemed to read his mind, something that both continually awed and worried him.
“Yikes mate, you’re so tense.”
“Nah, it’s not that--” He didn’t finish as Michael made sure to prove him wrong, pressing his thumb lightly onto the aching area. The stress was clear on his face but it didn’t need to be seen because his back arched forward, fleeing from the contact.
“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” The Australian teased, smirk plain in sight when he turned his head to the side toward the older individual.
A knock came on the main door, mostly as a blessing. As badly as he needed a massage, he couldn’t get it from Michael. He tended to get very vocal, rarely turned on if he got a really good one. Stress and frustration were a natural part of him so when people relieved it from his body, it was easy for them to know if they were doing a good job or not. He didn’t even want to imagine Mike as his masseuse however, knowing close to a fact that he’d easily get a hard-on from it. And that would be too awkward to live from. Dave casually leapt from the bed then, jogging over to the door and opening it with a smile.
“Mom!” David exclaimed, practically yanking her inside in a close embrace. She had the same exuberance, clutching onto her son and kissing his cheeks. Michael managed to slip by and move her bags into the room, placing them by the couch. All he could do was watch the reunion, grinning ear to ear.
Beth parted from her son, caressing his cheeks with her hands. Her eyes dazzled with joy, going through his ruffled hair shortly after.
“It’s so good to see you, David! Oh jeez, I’m getting all teary-eyed. I haven’t seen you in almost two months! How are you? Well overall wise anyway. Things must still be, you know, settling. I need to stop talking… I’m sorry. I’m rambling. I just really missed you. You’re so famous, no time for your old mother.”
He beamed, shaking his head at the end. “You’re far from old mom. You don’t look a day past twenty-five” At Beth’s incredulous look, he changed the subject. “Come on, seriously mom, I’ll always try to make time for you. I know it doesn’t look like it most of the time…I um-- I’m doing all right, currently at least… thanks to certain people of course.” He finishes in a slight stutter and gestures over to Michael whose standing at the side of this and waving sheepishly over to them both.
David’s mother smiles, “There’s the man I wanted to see! Michael, sweetheart, get over here right now so I can hug you. What have you been up to?”
The Australian soaks it up, bringing her into his arms and kissing the top of her head. He makes it all the more amusing by keeping one arm around Beth, grinning over at David.
“Mate, told you she’d want to see me more.”
“When did you say that?” David bounced back, throwing his arms up in exasperation.
“Uh, when you were sleeping.”
“Yeah sure, liar.”
“Boys, how old are you?“ She began, catching their childish pouts. “Come on now. Michael, you’re acting like a four-year old and David, you’re an open target. You’re probably about five, a year older than him. And yes, as entertaining as it is with you two play fighting, you need to adjust your undergarments back where they belong because I need an update from the both of you stat.”
“What if I don’t wear--” Michael started, brows arched.
“Michael!” David interjected, his whole face verging on dark red.
The Aussie grinned back at him, glint in his eye. “What? I’m just defending the people who don‘t--”
Beth came in this time, blushing lightly and rubbing her temple. “If you go commando dear, I don’t want to know because I‘m not quite sure if I can handle--” She abruptly paused herself, brows coming dangerously close together as her gaze dropped from Michael’s eyes.
“Sweetheart, what happened to your ring?”
The Australian presses his lips together briefly. “It’s off, for good. Stacey and I called it quits, or rather she did. Things weren’t working well between us anymore.”
Beth reached forward, clasping the left hand with both of hers and smiling in Mike’s direction. “I’m sorry to hear about that, I know you two were close. I won’t pry into it, it’s not my business but well-- Can I ask you a few questions?” Her eyes were gentle and inquisitive. The Aussie simply nodded, managing a smile.
“Are you happy? Think about it if you haven’t already.”
David expects there to be a long silence, definitely not an immediate response.
“Yeah, I think so. For a while, all Stacey and I would do was fight. Sometimes I’d have to actually think about the last time we weren’t arguing. It’s odd getting used to but I feel good about it for the most part.”
“My last question… do you think you could be close to someone again, like with Stacey, and possibly enter another long term relationship?”
Dave turns toward her, brows to the moon and mouth agape. “Mom.”
The Australian meekly waved off the intrusion, knowing the woman had the best of intentions at heart. “No, no. Dave, It’s all right. I don’t mind” He started, nervously playing with some of his curly brown hair. “I don’t-- I mean, if I do let myself get into another long term commitment or anything than I want to be really close with the person. I never thought Stacey would ever get bothered by the media but she eventually did… I suppose what I’m trying to say is… well, that I’d need to be close to the person, more so than I ever was with Stacey and I doubt it happening.”
“Never doubt possibility. You’ll find someone sweetheart. A man as charming as yourself, nah, there’s bound to be many after you.”
“Beth, that’s the problem. I’m a known man now. Most aren’t going to be interested in me, just the money that comes with. That’s all people care about nowadays.”
Dave looked between them both, more so at the Aussie. The man was staring down at his left hand, rubbing where his ring should have been. The sight clenched at his heart. Michael had been so in love with Stacey. They were friends for a few years before popping the question and marrying in Vegas with an Elvis impersonator. The information was clear from when his friend had reminisced to him one night during the show. David still remembered how much the Australian’s eyes had shined, and how much he smiled telling the younger man about the spontaneous ceremony.
In the time that he’s lost in thought, his mother and Mike have sat down. His friend takes one side of the couch whilst Beth makes herself comfortable in one of the chairs across from the sofa. They’re both looking at him, more so of his mom. Michael has an amused expression, but it’s surprisingly subdued. Clearing his throat uncomfortably, he sits in the middle of the couch by the older man. David reaches out to rub the other man’s shoulder momentarily, giving him his best reassuring smile.
“I know you’ll find someone.”
“Thanks mate.” There aren’t any doubts in his reply, and the words seem to have sparked new life in those dark brown eyes. Michael’s always been the one to get him off the ground and into a better mental state of mind so for him to be the one helping this time, it lessens the feeling of uselessness he gets when trying to comfort others. He reluctantly, but smoothly, removes his hand from the shoulder and returns it to his side.
He glances over at his mom, whose smiling back at him.
“Now that I’ve bothered Michael to an extreme amount, I get to annoy you now.”
“Gee, can’t wait mom.” He replied, light sarcasm on his tongue. Michael caught it within seconds, busting up a gut next to him. It was impossible not to join in on that. The sound of that man’s laughter was indescribable, and beyond infectious. He cracked up too, followed shortly by his mother. David got up from the couch, wiping his eyes and jogging over to the fridge.
“Anybody want anything?”
“Dear, you’re delaying the inevitable interrogation. I’ll have a lemonade.”
“I know mom, and you, Johns?”
“I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
Dave grinned, taking advantage of his bartending skills and carrying everything in his grasp. He slowly placed a glass of lemonade for his mother on the coffee table, and handed Michael a beer. The man raised a brow at the label, incredulous look in his direction. David put his beer down on the table too, raising his hands dramatically.
“Do you have something against Corona?”
He had that ‘who me’ look going on. “I didn’t say anything.”
“What, do you think I put something in it then?”
“Did you?” Michael retorted within seconds, squinting at the liquid inside.
“This is what I’ve had to deal with recently, him. He’s been the issue.” Dave replies, taking a chug of his beer before setting it on the table. The older of the two practically giggles by him, before his mother gives him that look; the one that demands him to spill everything going on.
“Okay mom… I give” He sucked in a long, deep breath. “I haven’t had too much going on. And Michael this will be news to you too” In turn, the Australian shifted around on the couch and sat right next to him. Their shoulders brushed. “When I told Kimberly about what’s going on… basically, we had a fight. We yelled back at each other for a bit before we settled on breaking up. We’re going to try and be friends still though.” He feels the piercing gazes from both of them but keeps his eyes on his hands, folded loosely in his lap. His thumbs twiddle unintentionally.
He’s too curious for his own good. It’s going to kill him someday.
He looks up, and his mother is agape. Her hand is half covering it whilst the other plays around with the fabric of her light cotton sweater. David glances over to Michael, the man’s dark eyes wide with a vast mixture of emotions in his eyes. He picks up on some of them; confusion, surprise and anger. He doesn’t understand the reasoning of the last.
“I’m sorry mate…” The Australian’s light murmur of a reply.
There’s no ‘when did this happen’ or ‘why didn’t you tell me sooner’ and David is beyond thankful of that. He doesn’t want to answer questions about it.
“She left not too long ago, back to Los Angeles. We thought it was easier that way.”
“You or her?” Beth pipes out. She’s scratching the surface.
Dave pauses, his first instinct to lie but fights it. “More of hers. It made sense though.”
He puts down the rest of his beer, getting up and away from the silence that has sank into the setting. It’s one of the reasons he dislikes sharing personal information, the stillness that usually follows it. He throws away the beer, wishing there was more in it. He’s not surprised when he comes back in, and they’re in the same positions he left them in.
“Well, this has been simply stellar” David pipes in, feeling a wave of energy and strength come over him. “But there are other things I need to do today and uh, since we’re telling all… mom, I had this thought that came over me and Michael’s the only person whose known this. He was lucky enough to be in proximity when I figured this well, epiphany out but anyway-- Yeah, I’m stalling” Dave was fidgeting, trying not to beam idiotically. He was hopeless though. “I definitely want to be a father. I know that I kept bouncing back and forth between the options, but this one just separated from the others. I need to do this for both myself and Kelly. That‘s why you‘re coming with me mom, over to her parent‘s house because I want you there. I need you there with me on this.”
He let out a breath, getting most of it out in one breath. Michael’s arm went around his shoulders, yanking him close with a huge smile.
“You have no idea how overjoyed I am for you.”
David looked to his right, temporarily taken back at the glimmer and shine in those dark brown eyes. It stole his breath. Somehow he managed a smile in return, mentally patting himself on the back for accomplishing even that. He was taken first class back to reality, upon the impact of his mother bringing him into his arms tightly. She was crying by his ear, the liquid slowly trailing along his collarbone. Green eyes closed, bringing one of his hands into her blonde hair while his other arm went around her waist.
Beth was whispering almost inaudible words. “I know you’ll take care of her. I wish you knew how proud I am… that I’m blessed to have sons who are willing to take on responsibilities, not only for themselves but for others as well. I‘ll-- Oh god, I’ll gladly walk this road with you…” She ran her hand along his head and neck, grasping at him.
He smiled, relaxing his body against hers and resting his head on her shoulder.
“Thank you… thank you” Dave whispered. “Love you mom.”
“Love you too.”
He’s not sure how long they were like that. He couldn’t care less though. He hadn’t seen his mother in a while. David wished they could see each other more, he missed her. She slowly parted from him, placing both hands on his cheeks and looking straight at him.
“David, when do you want to head over?”
“Earlier the better.” He said back, standing up from the couch as her hands fell from his face to her sides. Dave took her hand, facing the Aussie.
“Do you mind if--”
“Nah mate. I’ll drive you both over and wait in the car.”
The younger released a sigh of relief, sheepishly smiling. “Thanks Michael.”
“No probs. Let’s go already.”
Michael smiled, striding over to the door and holding it open for them. They slipped by him, closing it after. It didn’t take them long to get into the car, the Australian acting like the perfect chauffeur. The man was also able to keep things light in the car drive too, taking away the anxiety in the air whenever it surfaced.
“Do you think she’ll like me?” Beth asked quietly, turning to her son.
“Yeah. I think so” He replied with a smile, wiping the sweat that had gathered in his palms. “Besides, who wouldn’t like you?” She took that well, letting her shoulders fall and sending a smile in his direction. She plopped her head on his shoulder and kept it there for the rest of the car drive.
“All right, we’re here.” Michael piped in, the vehicle coming to a slow stop. The Australian went to get out of the car, but David put his hand on his shoulder.
“Are you sure you don’t mind--”
“Not at all. I’ll take a drive around while you and your mum are in there.”
“You’re the best, thanks.”
“I know” Michael replied, a cheeky grin. “Get in there already. Oh and Dave, just give me a ring when you‘re ready to go.” At the man’s words, he waved before getting hold of his mother’s hand and walking up the stairs to the door. He pauses there, realizing that he should have called first. He’s about to knock but it opens, Richard there with a timid smile and gesturing them inside.
“Hi David” Greeting the rocker with a handshake, leading into a hug. “How are you?”
“Okay, not awesome or horrible. Yourself?”
“I’m trucking by. It’s hard looking at pictures of her” He says first, pausing at the sight of David’s mother. She‘s fiddling with the sleeves of her sweater. “Beth, wow. It’s been years…” Richard trails off, embracing her as well. “I’m sorry that we had to see each other under these circumstances.”
“It’s fine” She replied, patting his cheek affectionately. “How’s Elizabeth?”
“Not good. It hit her the most. She doesn’t even like to look at herself anymore.”
“Why’s that?”
“Kelly was a spitting image of her mother.”
Beth nods, apologizing for the question and sitting down on the couch. Richard insists on getting them something but they both decline. And when he comes back into the room, Elizabeth is at his side. She’s in a loose fitting pair of pants and her long sleeve keeps slipping off her shoulder, the bags under her eyes show her grief most of all. She detaches from her husband to hug Beth and David.
Her voice is soft but strong when she speaks, her question getting to the root of the visit.
“Have you made a decision, Mr. Cook?”
David presses his lips together, glancing over to his mother for one last look of encouragement. She gives it. He meekly smiles, suddenly feeling bashful and can’t help the warmth that spreads along his face. Elizabeth has taken a seat as well, Richard right by her. He’s caressing the side of her arm lazily.
“Yeah, I made one” He replies slowly, trying to focus on evening his breathing. “And I know that you’re probably thinking that I didn’t reflect about this long enough and I should be really considering how the rest of my life will be but… I’ve made up my mind, and I can’t imagine the alternative. I want to take full responsibility of April. I‘m ready to be there for her, I‘ll put her above everything else in my life” His sigh of relief is clearly audible, echoing across the silent room.
“Sorry, just um… That’s been locked up in my head for a while...” David sheepishly smiles, running a hand through his hair.
Richard waves it off, his eyes twinkling in a way that David hasn’t seen in a long time.
“That’s all right, David” He stands up with the younger man, gesturing him out of the room with a hand on his back. “Mind if we take a walk?” Dave shakes his head, a timid smile. His mother informs him that she’ll stay there and take over some things with Elizabeth. Both women smile at him before he’s out of there.
He walks at Richard’s side in the halls, and he listens to everything the other man says. They jump from topic to topic. The man has learned things that not many know, and he’s gracious for the information. He’s also relieved when the older individual keeps the conversation light. He asks about the Royals and how his music is going. At one point they find themselves arguing whether Quiznos or Subway has better sandwiches.
They stop outside one of the rooms. Dave raises a brow, arching it high.
“Why did we stop?”
Richard smiles, a small one. “Just listen against the door.”
He’s confused beyond belief but he does it anyway, getting close to the door and resting his ear against the surface. At first he doesn’t hear anything except light music. Then he gets it. There’s a small voice inside, trying to sing but it’s coming out as hums and la-la’s.
“Do you-- Could I go in?” He asks gently, a beaming smile on his face.
“Go ahead David, I know you want to see her. I’ll be in the kitchen.” The man surprisingly walks off and out of the hall, leaving David there to mull in his thoughts and work up the nerve to knock on the door. He raises his fisted hand to it, pausing it in mid-air. He knows he’s thinking too much about it when he wonders if she will like him still or if she’ll even remember him. The first meeting he had with her makes his eyes moisten, chuckling silently to himself when the image of the plush elephant comes to mind and how much she latched onto it when she was introducing herself. That makes him lightly hit the door with his knuckles, absentmindedly chewing on his bottom lip.
David waits a few minutes, or what seems years to him before he considers simply heading back to the living room where his mom must be waiting. After all, the Disney music is playing in the room. He muses that she probably didn’t hear it. He’s about to knock again when the door opens, pulling back his hand and dropping his arm against his side. And there she is, looking up at him curiously with widened blue eyes. His breath is caught, managing somehow to slowly lower himself to her height. She doesn’t seem to recognize him though, and it kills a piece of him.
“April, hey there…” His voice is quiet, coming out barely audible. “I know we haven’t known each other that long but…my name is David, do you remember me?”
She looks down, curly brown locks falling around her face as she studies the green crayon in her hand. Her crystal blue eyes seem to lighten a shade when her head comes back up, smiling at him fully and her dimples clear.
“Daddy…” The young girl murmurs, launching herself suddenly into his arms. David laughs richly, arms coming around her completely and resting his head against hers. She joins in, giggling into his neck. Her soft hair tickles his cheek and her fingers tug at his hair. She actually stays in his embrace, she doesn’t move except snuggle further into him. Unintentionally though, he releases a small and strangled sob against her. She moves away from him with confused eyes when one of his tears touches her fair skin.
“Why you crying daddy?” April says a moment later, coming close to him.
David’s head tilts up, meeting her eyes head-on. They’re full of such wonderful purity, and he doesn’t want to ever taint that nor fill their relationship with lies. He tells himself that he’ll do his best to be honest with her always.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t find you sooner.”
All she does is smile, headed tilted to the side as she reaches up to dab at the tear that had begun to trail down his cheek. “You here now so all okay.” Right after she says it, she offers out her crayon.
“Are you sure?” Dave weakly whispers, letting her drop the crayon into his palm. April nods her head multiple times, grasping onto his fingers and lightly pulling him into her room. He tells her how strong she is and he’s graced with her laugh. When he enters the room, David is marveled at all the variety of color. It’s all bright shades; mainly sky blues, creamy oranges and rose pinks. April runs over to the small cassette player, abruptly pausing and nibbling on her bottom lip.
“What’s wrong?”
“Turn off, don’t know where push.”
Dave crouches down slowly and gestures with his hands toward the device, hovering over the buttons. He asks her if he can touch it and she’s hesitant at first, nodding after a couple moments. A small smile graces his face, relieved that she had some trust in him. David gently goes behind her, placing his right index finger over her corresponding one whilst he cautiously holds her at her waist with his left hand. She’s silent as he guides both of their fingers over the buttons, telling her which each one does until they get to the off button. He applies small pressure on top of her finger, letting her know to hit the eject button. She slowly lays her finger on the off button, resting it there for a few before she presses it. The music stops, the cassette popping out of the player.
April falls back onto his abdomen, and he hesitantly grasps her waist. She doesn’t move in his hold, again making him smile. He brings her up in the air briefly before letting her sit on his leg, dangling her small ones by his knee. Her face leans up, partly facing his with a grin. She giggles a little, plopping her head back onto his collarbone. His head leans forward lightly, and exhaustion drops upon him. Dave finds himself falling asleep against her brown locks.
“April?” He gets a mumbled ‘hmm’ in response, the words he wants to express disorganized in his brain. He wants to ask her so many things, but he bites his tongue instead. The young girl drops off his leg though, glancing up at him curiously and waiting for a question.
“What do you like to do for fun?”
She giggles. “Draw!” It’s the saying of the word that springs her to full vitality, pointing over to her kiddy table full of crayons and paper. She’s incredibly animated while she jogs around the room. She shows him the pictures she’s made. His smile is impossibly wide, asking about each one and why she did it. Each time she gives the same answer.
“Don’t know…” April replies for the third time, shrugging her shoulders dramatically.
“Could I draw with you?”
She grins to the tentative question, shoving him a couple crayons or so into his palms and making herself comfortable in the kiddy chair. She even gestures to the other kiddy chair next to her but David raises a brow at the small pieces of furniture, knowing he’d break it within a couple minutes. Instead he kneels, organizing the crayons for her.
“What are we going to draw?” Dave pipes in, rubbing her shoulder.
There’s no hesitance in her response, and it doesn’t fail in melting his heart.
“You and me, silly.”
Dave nods, and it’s all he can manage because he’s sure that if he tried to talk to her then words would we spoken incoherently. He simply watches her draw. Her tongue slightly sticks out of her mouth as for the deepest form of concentration and a rich laugh escapes his lips when she draws stick figures, one short and the other one tall.
“Which one is me?” He asks playfully.
April proudly mashes her finger down into the taller stick figure’s face, giggling at the incredulous expression formed on his face.
“That one!” She exclaimed, running away from him when he reached to tickle her. He jogged after her, even in the hallways as she made her way around the rooms and eventually to the kitchen. It was when she noticed the food being made that she paused, giving him the opportunity to swoop down and gather her into his arms from behind.
She laughed at first, restless within seconds when he stood back up. She was determined to escape the hold David had her in. His hands placed the smallest amount of pressure on her stomach to keep her there.
Out of the corner of his eye, David saw his mother falter when she walked into the kitchen. A hand went over her mouth, biting her bottom lip although her tear-filled eyes gave her away her awe. He too paused, sucking in a breath and beaming at her before lowering himself, April in arms, to the floor. She turned around immediately, facing him on a similar height level with sparkling cerulean eyes.
“April…I want you to meet someone, is that okay?”
She fiddled with a strand of her brown hair, nodding a few times. In turn, Dave looked past April and gestured his mother over to them. Beth joined the other two on the floor, crouching down next to her son timidly. Just before David’s mother was about to speak, the small child abruptly runs behind her father.
“Hi…” She whispered into the air by his back, her head barely peaking out. She brings her arms close to her body in a natural manner of cautiousness. The action makes him smile inwardly because when seeing her this second time, she was the opposite of shy. She openly embraced him and even let him look into her life. Then again, he tells himself to the aspect that children are instinctively warm-hearted but the feeling of having her trust him, is wonderful.
“Hello, I’m Beth. Your name is April?” His mother urges on, clearly patient with her.
She stops talking, completely hiding away from everyone’s eyes. David’s heart clenches and swells at the same time. It stupefies him that she’d actually choose to hide behind him, even though the grandparents are right there in the room.
Dave swiftly turns around, staying low to the ground and lifting her chin up with the tip of his finger. Her mouth is in a slight pout, and cheeks lightly flushed. He smiles her at, patting her cheek affectionately.
“Hey, it’s all right…” Cupping both of her cheeks softly. Her eyes are filled with all sorts of questions but they don’t leave his, not even for a second. “She’s really nice. April, she’s my mother. I told her how awesome you are, and she wanted to meet you. You can trust me, I wouldn’t trick you.”
She nods shakily after a couple minutes, pushing her lightly to stand next to him while he remains in a crouched position. She looks down at his fingers and he follows her gaze there, sucking in a breath when she loops his with hers. The sight draws a tear to build in his eye but he quickly wipes it away.
“Yes ma‘am” She whispers so quietly that it’s hard to hear. “My name is April.”
“It’s lovely to meet you dear.”
She blushes, “Thank you.”
Elizabeth places a plate of macaroni and cheese on the kitchen table, lifting up the girl and plopping her on the chair when she urges for help after many attempts at using her own strength. The woman stays by April’s side while she eats, Richard walking them out of the room and toward the living room where a few folders lay on a coffee table. Beth sits down next to Richard, whose on one of the end of the couch so David takes a place in a chair across from the couch so he can keep eye contact with the other man.
“Is there a way for this to go over smoothly, quickly and as out of eyes as possible? I mean, don’t get me wrong… I in no way feel ashamed about taking on the responsibility of caring for April for you, Elizabeth and Kelly but I don’t want the media and press digging their claws into everything. At the very least, avoid the press until all the agreements have gone through.”
Richard scratches the side of his neck, shrugging. “Usually these sort of things stay under wraps for regular individuals but David, I’m going to be honest with you… Being all famous now from American Idol, there’s an extremely high likelihood of it leaking to the media. I can say this for sure, Elizabeth and I will try our best at keeping this process silent, but of course, do be prepared if need be.”
David’s eyes cast down, half-lidded green eyes staring at his own fingers intertwined. He was silent until he heard laughing in the kitchen, gaze shifting in the direction of the sound and staring mystified at April’s wide smile and twinkling eyes.
He turns back to face them both, green eyes glistening. “Just tell me what to do.”