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[thisismyboomstick]

He can't sleep.

He's had more than a few restless nights recently, but this one's been the worst yet. As he wakes from yet another nightmare, he mutters a curse.

"Screw this."

He gets up quietly, careful not to wake any of the suite's other occupants, and enters the baby's room.

Which is where Sheila finds him a few hours later, dozed off on an armchair near the crib, amidst a pile of stuffed animals.

(He may actually be holding the teddy bear, but if anyone asks, he'll deny it.)

Comments

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

As someone who enjoys her sleep, almost vainly, she rarely appreciates being woken up by motion.

She pokes him, gently, and points out quietly, "You are even more vulgar in your sleep."

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

"Mrrfph. Sorry, babe."

He sits up, and immediately discovers the consequence of sleeping in an awkward position for an extended length of time.

"Ow."

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"That is another reason why it is not wise to sleep in piles of toys," she advises, scooping up the wide-awake baby. "And you are probably hungry."

Jay doesn't say yes to that, but that's because he's four and a half months old.

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

He vacates the chair, stretching away the crick in his neck.

"Didn't really mean to fall asleep there."

In his current, half awake state, he hasn't yet realized that he's still holding the teddy bear by one leg.

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

But Sheila does.

"Give the baby his toys back," she says, smiling.

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

Curses. Caught in the act. "Used to be my bear anyway," he mutters.

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"You have attachment issues, I think."

She's starting to sound like Raven.

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

"Hey, if you'd been having nightmares all week, you'd need somethin' to cuddle too."

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

Subtle pout.

"Do I not exist?"

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

"Of course. I just.... feel better when I'm in here."

It's half to do with the fact that his anxiety over their son's future decreases with proximity, and half the fact that nurseries are inherently soothing spaces.

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"Je comprends," because French comes naturally when surrounded by family.

Being a student in Alsace did that.

"Maybe we should all share the room."

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

"Might be kinda crowded," he points out.

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"It is fairly small, yes -- of course, I was not entirely serious. At this stage in my life I never saw my mother anyway," Sheila adds nonchalantly, watching Jay eat.

"I believe it will be beneficial for him in the future, not having a wet nurse. We were always distant."

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

He nods silently. He still doesn't understand a lot of the customs from her time, but mother-son togetherness can't be a bad thing.

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"Oh, Ashley --"

She's cut off by Jay's grabbing at her sleeve, and laughing quietly, moves to put him back in his crib -- it's a bit early yet for him to be awake.

"-- what is a gee six? Someone was telling me today about a sale on a gee six, and I have never heard of a gee six."

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

"Huh? ... Oh. It's a type of car."

He watches Jay for a few minutes. Just to make sure he settles down alright.

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"Do we want one?"

Her look, not her words, say he's fine.

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

"Not really, no."

His look says I know that perfectly well but I worry anyway.

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps I should learn to drive one anyway. A car, that is, not a gee six in particular."

Scary thought.

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

..... There's a long pause as he tries to figure out how to phrase this diplomatically.

"Someone might end up losing another limb."

Well, that attempt at tact failed.

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"... you manage just fine with three," she replies, not really sounding offended.

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

"Except for the part where I have to worry about rusting when it rains."

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"That," Sheila says, smiling wider, "is right around when Lilly starts to tease you about the oiling."

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

It's way too early to be facepalming. Ash ignores this fact and does it anyway.

At least he's smiling while he does it.

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"We ought to hold a dinner party, really."

Those statements were TOTALLY related.

... sort of.

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

Riiiight. The incongruity is almost enough to give him mental whiplash.

"Huh?"

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"Did you not hear me, or does my manner of association bother you?"

Yes, Raven, you are officially contagious.

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

"I heard you."

He shakes his head and puts on the (metaphorical) Good Husband hat.

"Anything you wanna plan's fine by me."

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"Are you sure?" she asks, and her expression is so innocent it's frightening.

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

"...Okay, that's the look that scares me. What've you got in mind?"

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"More like where."

Calmly, "My uncle's chateau is really a very nice place, and the laundry room is fond of letting me into the dungeon."

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

A brief Are you sure that's wise? thought flits through his mind, but he ignores it. He's never exactly been one to care about what's wise.

"This means I have to get dressed up again, doesn't it?"

[horseblanket.livejournal.com]

"Yes. You looked very nice before," she adds.

[ash--evildead.livejournal.com]

He gives her a brief kiss on the forehead.

"So did you."