|
B.J Sandburg Icing On The Cake Jim smiled as he recognised Naomi's car. For once he and Blair had been prepared in advance for an invasion by Ms Sandburg and The Aunts, even if they were an hour early.
Of course he wasn't thrilled that they'd parked in his spot, and he sighed and parked further down the street, contemplating carrying the groceries all by himself.
Jim automatically focused his thoughts on the loft as he climbed out of the truck, homing straight in on Blair and the twins. Naomi's voice hit his ears as he reached in the back of the truck for the groceries and he paused, arrested as he heard her words.
"Blair told me they'd used protection all the time," she was saying in a low voice.
Jim frowned, sharpening his senses still further. Blair was in the bedroom with the twins, and his even breathing and heartbeat told him he was still napping. Naomi and two of the Aunts were seated on the patio, and the third Aunt was in the kitchen. Jim sniffed. She was making tuna salad sandwiches.
"But if you're thinking it was some kind of asexual reproduction," Aunt Loretta said anxiously, "how do you explain it happening so late in the year? Surely if Blair's body was so determined to reproduce it would have done so well within safe times?"
"You're crediting The Curse with some kind of intelligence," Aunt Jane dismissed scornfully. "The mating instinct was just that, an instinct. And when Blair's body was ready, that is when he was sexually active, then the reproduction kicked in."
"Exactly," Naomi said excitedly. "And that's my point. What if Jim had no part in the actual conception? It's possible."
"It's crazy," Loretta pronounced. "Birth control fails all the time. And if Blair's body was as cunning as you say under The Curses influence, maybe it was enough to sneak past the birth control. That's a lot more credible to me than asexual reproduction."
Jim closed his gaping jaw with a snap, feeling his brain try to race up with the incredible conversation that was taking place upstairs in his home. Asexual reproduction? And Naomi's words echoed in his mind. If Jim had no part in the conception?
Setting his jaw he locked the trucks door, forgetting about the groceries getting warm in the back. Mind racing he ignored the elevator in favour of the stairs, taking them two at a time in his haste. When he reached the door he jammed his key in the lock and twisted it savagely, pushing the door open and slamming it into the wall.
Aunt Jane was carrying a tray of sandwiches across the loft and she started violently when the door banged, almost spilling the food on the floor.
Ignoring her, Jim paced to the patio windows and stopped in the doorway, hands gripping the wooden frame tightly. Naomi was staring over at him guiltily, nervous hand at her throat.
"Oh my," Aunt Loretta said nervously.
"J-Jim," Naomi stuttered. Too late she looked down and saw his truck parked in the street. Realisation sparked in her eyes and she blinked nervously.
Jim clenched his hands more tightly on the door frame, only now aware how much his rage had built as he raced up here. His first instinct was... impossible, and he reined it in, staring at her with as much hurt as consternation.
"Why... why would you even say something like that?" he forced out.
Naomi's eyes grew wide. "I didn't... I'm sorry," she whispered.
Aunt Jane came up behind him. "What?" she said. "What happened?"
Jean and Loretta looked away, unable to meet Jim's eyes.
Aunt Jane's voice hardened. "What have you done, Naomi?"
"I didn't mean anything by it," Naomi said desperately. "It was just a thought I had. When Blair told me..." She reached out one hand appealingly. "I'm sorry, Jim."
Jim's stomach twisted at the pretty little apology, her words still echoing in his head. "I want you out of my home," he said in a low voice.
"Jim?" Blair put his hand on Jim's shoulder from behind. "What did you say?" he asked in a bewildered tone.
Jim closed his eyes, unable to deal with all of them at once. "I want her out of my home," he repeated dully. He pulled out from under Blair's hand, readying himself for the arguments to come.
"I don't understand," Blair said, still sounding confused. "Mom?"
"Oh, honey," Naomi said, looking flustered. "It's all a storm in a teacup, I promise. I was just telling the Aunts my theory about the twins conception."
Blair grasped Jim's arm and the Sentinel automatically opened his eyes to look at his Guide. Blair's eyes widened and he stepped closer to Jim in a move the older man recognised as protective.
Jim wondered what his eyes showed. If it was anything like the pained turmoil he was feeling Blair must be getting quite a show.
"What theory?" Blair demanded of his mother.
Naomi blinked at the hard tone she was unaccustomed to hearing from her son. "Maybe I didn't think it through," Naomi stuttered. "I shouldn't have said anything."
"What did you say?" Blair asked loudly.
"She said I wasn't the twins father," Jim said dully.
Blair's eyes widened in shock and flew to meet his mother's gaze. "You what?" he whispered in horror.
"I didn't mean it that way," Naomi hastened to assure him. "I was talking about the possibility of asexual reproduction, that's all."
"That's all?" Blair ground out. His hand tightened on Jim's arm. "With our babies sleeping a few feet away you say something like that?"
"I'm sorry," Naomi babbled.
Blair shook his head dazedly. "Asexual reproduction?" he repeated in disbelief. "Mom?"
Naomi sat down with a bump, her eyes filling with tears. "I am sorry," she said miserably.
"Now now," Aunt Jane said firmly, stepping between Blair and his mother. "Let's not start saying things we can't take back later."
"Too late," Blair whispered.
Jane looked at him shrewdly. "Maybe," she agreed. "But there's no need to let this get any further out of hand."
Aunt Loretta stood up. "It really was just a foolish discussion," she ventured. "And one we would never have indulged in if we'd known Jim could hear." She braved a look at Jim. "I'm sorry, Jim."
Jim covered Blair's hand on his arm, squeezing it for comfort. "It wasn't you, Loretta," he said quietly. "I heard you defending us."
Loretta blushed and looked away. Jean clenched her hands in her lap. "I never thought how hurtful it would be for you to hear that," she admitted.
"Naomi?" Blair whispered. His mother refused to meet his eyes. "Maybe you should go now."
Naomi gazed up at him in shock. "What?"
"I can't even discuss this reasonably with you right now," Blair said evenly. "I'm too angry to think straight. That you could say Jim isn't my babies father..." He shook his head again, disbelief in his eyes. "Those are our children in there, Jim's and mine," he continued in a fierce whisper. "You know how much that means to me."
Naomi's tears spilled down her cheeks. Aunt Jane wrapped a bracing arm around her shoulder. "Let's leave Blair and Jim alone for a while," she suggested.
"I really am sorry," Naomi repeated as Jane led her past a silent Jim and Blair. The other Aunts rushed over and grabbed hats and coats.
"You know she didn't mean it," Aunt Loretta said awkwardly as Jane led her out. "She's just... Naomi."
Jim glanced down, wondering that his partner hadn't yet softened to his mother's tears. There was a time he'd thought Blair could forgive his mother anything.
But there was nothing but sadness in Blair's eyes as he nodded to his Aunt. "Take care of her," he said quietly.
Loretta blinked sadly. "Bye, Blair."
Jim closed the door softly, then turned to his lover.
"I'm so sorry, Jim," Blair said in a hushed voice. "I'm just so... so..."
Jim stepped forward, wrapping his arms tightly around his lover. "Just tell me you don't believe it," he mumbled, unaware before the words came out of his mouth that he was going to say such a thing.
"What?" Blair said in astonishment, fighting back out of his arms. "Of course I don't believe it!" he exclaimed.
Jim's cheeks reddened under the passionate gaze. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I know you don't."
"Jim, you're not taking any of that crap seriously, are you?" Blair said incredulously.
"Of course not!" Jim said hotly. "I was just angry and hurt that she should say such a thing, that's all."
"Damn right," Blair said hotly. "We made those perfect little girls together, you and I. That's one of the reasons I started loving them so fiercely, back when they were still butterfly movements inside me. Because you put them there. Because we made them with our love."
Now Blair's cheeks reddened and he looked embarrassed. "Now I sound like some kind of lame greeting card," he mumbled.
"No," Jim protested, grasping his shoulders. "I felt the same way," he admitted sincerely. "Laying there with you at night, feeling those little lives inside you, knowing we had created them together..." He trailed away, lost for words.
Blair's eyes were bright. "Yeah," he agreed softly. "All that love... It's one of the reasons we could stay together, despite everything life's thrown at us. Those hours bonding together."
Jim's heart lightened at the lovely words and memories. "Yeah," he repeated.
Blair's eyes hardened and he formed a fist with one hand, slamming it into his other palm. "I can't believe my mother could say something like that!" he exclaimed.
Oddly, with Blair on his side and Naomi gone, Jim found he could view it all with more detachment. He shook his head. "I'm sure she didn't mean to hurt me," he shrugged.
Blair shook his head. "That's not the point," he said firmly. "She rockets through life on her own course, never caring what it does to those around her, and we shake our heads and make excuses for her. Dear ditzy Naomi."
Jim fought down his inner satisfaction. It was unbecoming of him to take pleasure in this situation. Blair was hurt, and that was something he wanted to avoid, not encourage. What good would it do his lover to be in conflict with his mother? Naomi was Naomi, that was the sad truth. As kind hearted and generous as a child, she could also be as thoughtless and selfish as one.
She was Blair's mother, and the twins grandmother. And Jim had learned through sad experience that family was a commodity that couldn't be easily replaced once thrown away. Wisely he refrained from mending fences now. It was too soon for one thing, and for another he had yet to forgive his mother-in-law her thoughtless words.
He wrapped an arm around Blair's shoulder. "Almost feeding time, isn't it?"
Blair blinked at the change of subject, but automatically looked up at the kitchen clock. "Soon," he agreed. "I'll warm the formula."
"Just a minute," Jim murmured, leading his partner into the bedroom. One of the cribs was piled high with clean laundry, diapers and tiny clothes fighting for room. The twins shared the other crib, laid top to toe. They were still so small they could share a cot and still have room. The airy piece of furniture was bright white, gay coloured decals on each end.
Ammie's hand was poised on her cheek, tiny fingers already exploring her own face, even in her half sleep. Jordan was sleeping intently, tiny brow furrowed, lips pursing and sucking the occasional sip of air.
Jordan liked to be swaddled, wrapped securely in the soft folds of blanket, probably feeling as secure as in the womb. Ammie on the other hand liked only a light cover, which her active little legs inevitably kicked off. Sure enough one side was already dislodged, and a pointed little foot was arched and slowly flexing in the pink romper.
Jim sought the right words. "I've looked and looked for us in them," he began slowly. "Their hair, the shape of their eyes, even that half smile Ammie gets when she's feeding."
"That's gas," Blair interjected automatically. He wrapped an arm around Jim's waist, leaning against him as they stood by the cot.
"Sometimes I think I see something in the colour of their eyes, that shape of Jordan's lips..." Jim leaned his cheek on Blair's head. "You know I'd love them, Chief, no matter what."
Blair tightened his arm. "Jim?"
"It's okay," Jim soothed. "I know that they're part of us. I've known it since I connected with them in your womb. I just mean..." He trailed away again, cursing that he didn't have the words to describe all that he felt.
"I understand," Blair assured him.
"Do you?" Jim asked urgently. He pulled back and gazed into his partner's eyes. "I couldn't love them more or less, you know? No matter what."
"Yes," Blair agreed gravely. "I do understand. And I feel the same way. That they're part of both of us is just the bonus." He grinned. "The icing on the cake."
"Yeah," Jim smiled slowly. Of course he understood. Did anyone in the world know him as well as Blair did? Jim often wondered if he knew himself as well as his lover did. It should have been an uncomfortable thought, but instead he felt a little as Jordan must, swaddled tight in Blair's love.
"The icing on the cake." Jim held Blair's arms tightly. "Wait here for me, Chief," he said urgently. He barely waited for Blair's surprised nod before bolting out of the nursery and up the stairs to their room. He scrabbled in his drawer and pulled out a folder full of papers, then rushed back down the stairs.
"What is it?" Blair said curiously as Jim held out the folder like an offering.
"Something I've been working on since the girls were born," Jim said, feeling nervous. Should he have discussed this with his partner first? Blair should have been involved in this from the beginning, but at first Jim hadn't wanted to worry his recuperating partner, and then he hadn't wanted to get his hopes up if the lawyer told him his hopes were... hopeless.
Blair unwound the cord holding the folder closed and peered inside, pulling out a few sheets. He froze, eyes widening. "Custody..." he whispered.
"Joint custody," Jim confirmed. "I wanted to find out all about it before I told you what I've done."
Blair studied the sheaf of papers. "What have you done?"
"Basically I give you equal rights under the law," Jim said, trying to look into his partner's eyes. "We get all the documents drawn up by a lawyer and go before a judge. The lawyer says it's pretty damn airtight. I mean, if anything happened to me no one would question... Blair?" he said when he could wait no longer.
Blair heaved a sigh and then looked up at him, eyes bright with unshed tears. "I knew you were up to something," he smiled. One tear overflowed and he wiped at it awkwardly with his wrist. Jim employed one gentle finger to sweep it away. "I hoped... I knew you wouldn't let me down."
Jim breathed out a sigh of relief. "We still have papers to sign and the thing with the judge to get through. But it is gonna be okay, baby." He shrugged. "This just seemed like the best time to tell you."
"While you were doing it would have been the best time," Blair chided gently. "But I understand why you didn't," he overrode when Jim opened his mouth to protest. "Thank you, Jim."
Jim smiled. "Just making things right, Chief," he murmured.
The End.
|