Isaac's birthday

[bachjones]

 The first time Bach and Isaac noticed Essie in their space during their time, it made Bach a little bit nervous, because just a moment ago he had acted the fool with Isaac, put him on his shoulders so he could see all the pastries and cookies and had given a running commentary about which cookie to take, full of silliness only a kid could appreciate. But hey, he wasn't doing anything wrong, and when Isaac had finally noticed her, the three of them had behaved wonderfully.

The first time he had to say no to a visit from Isaac, because he had to go up for his swimming diploma (and what the fuck, why did he need a paper for that, wasn't it embarrassing enough already), both Essie and Isaac didn't take it too badly, and Bach made up with his son with a Pokemon cookie. Pokemon was a thing, he was learning about it.

So things were going well and Bach was almost comfortable in his place, in this life, around Essie. 

And then Isaac's sixth birthday had to happen. With a party, with other children and the parents of those children. He couldn't even remember if it was him or Essie bringing it up, or maybe Isaac hinting with singing Happy Birthday until everyone got crazy, but it happened.

It happened for five hours, but everyone was gone now, Essie's mansion empty again except for the three of them. Bach should leave soon, but Isaac was still so very happily zooming around, and after ..fuck- after Rick and Ashley, Jamie and Eve, Justin and Britney he kind of want to cling to the illusion of normal family a bit longer. All of them were little, tight, functioning units, while Bach had to shut up whenever someone asked about plans for a second kid, how Bach and Essie had met, how much Isaac looked like his mother. 

"Jesus Christ." He shuffled into the kitchen and into a fridge, two beers in hand. "We need to get Isaac down so I can go sleep. How's a kid's party that exhausting?"

Comments

[bachjones]

"That's going to be a new experience." It came out softer than expected, and Bach was going to blame alcohol, exhaustion and pain on it, because it would have been a perfect way to tell her to ease up on him. He had been a good boy for a very long time around her.

"I'm going to drink something to make my nose better? I'll never understand witches." He did it though, carefully. "Next time give me a straw, yeah? Or do certain things stop working when they have to travel through plastic? Because I'm used to that."

He finished the water, gave her a sloppy wink. "Is this my best side for a good look?"

[wakingwakewood]

"The water is a carrier, allows me to get my power inside you without forcing it, or using your own power to do this. I know you like it rough, but now's not the time. Hush and let me focus." Noses were tricky. Faces in general were tricky because there were more and smaller blood vessels there than in just about any other place in the body. And Isaac's kick had done a real number on them.

Taking a deep breath, Essie centered herself, reaching for the power as she took Bach's face in her hands, cradling his cheeks and laying her thumbs alongside the swollen nose. Drawing the warm energy up and into his face, she slowly eased everything back into place, stopping the bleeding, the swelling and the pain until he was just as good as new. It left her shaking a little, although that possibly had more to do with being this close to Bach again, something that hadn't happened in a very long time, and less to do with the actual energy expenditure.

[bachjones]

Another comment Bach could work with, but he wasn't comfortable around magic enough to continue joking.

His nose turned into a tiny little stove and so another thing to comment on, but Essie was looking so intense that he was fine with just watching. It had been ages since she had been so close, and it was definitely time to start thinking about his mother before he insulted her with a hard on. When would have been the last time since she had sex? And was it with someone else but him?

"You good?" His voice was a bit huskier than usual, without him even trying to. "You're shaking. Did my nose take that much out of you?"

[wakingwakewood]

"Yes. No. It's complicated." Rubbing her hands together, Essie took a deep breath again and finally pulled back. "I'll be fine, you should finish washing up and go see Isaac." She didn't want to think too much about how it felt to be that close to Bach again. How warm his skin felt under her hands. The sound of his voice. They were fine, everything was going well, just the way it was. She wouldn't mess it up by talking about feelings Bach didn't want to hear about anyways.

Reaching for her beer, she waved him on, urging him to go. Isaac was still worried and she could use a few minutes of breathing space to reset her head. Before she did or said something she shouldn't.

[bachjones]

"Complicated." He tried to meet her eyes, but she was fluttering and moving around him like a nervous fly.

After gingerly touching his nose, shooting her a grateful grin, he got up to Isaacs room, rumbling a silly song about a bear in the sea before opening his door. Isaac launched himself out of his bed, stopping just in front of him to ask if he could hug him.
They sang three songs together before Bach remembered that bed time was a thing and he didn't want to give Essie the feeling that the cleaning was just her job. He tugged in his kid, told Dan to stay close in case of bad dreams and went downstairs again.

"Sorry 'bout that. Can I help with the cleaning stuff or do you have a maid coming over tomorrow?"

[wakingwakewood]

Essie managed to finish off one of the beers on the coffee table before Bach came back and was feeling a bit more steady. She was able to convince herself that she'd just gotten caught up in the moment and and everything was fine. "No apologies, he needed you. I was just taking a breather before... all of this."

The house wasn't wrecked. There was that at least. A couple of the mothers had actually made an effort at teaching their kids manners and how to pick up after themselves so most of the plates and cups were already in the trash. The decorations were another story. Balloons, streamers, posters (thankfully no glitter, Essie had been firm on the no glitter or confetti rule, she was indulgent, not insane), ribbons and a few scraps of peeled off wrapping paper from presents. "If you're interested, knock yourself out. I was going to clean most of it up tomorrow. I think most of the food stuff is already in the trash or the fridge I figured the rest could wait."

[bachjones]

"A breather? And you're telling me to get started? No, nah lo- mate, never mind then. You're really not getting anyone in?"

He put his wet shirt on again, pulling down streamers in the process. "I'll do some of the up highs before emptying out your fridge. That's more my kind of cleaning up." Bach found one of her environment friendly shopping bags before opening the fridge, and his third bottle of beer. "I'm almost out of the pasta you helped me made."

Trying to not be to greedy, he stopped after four containers and finished his round of cleaning up, stretching for the highest pieces. "You and Isaac worked together for those higher pieces? Or did you magic them up there?"

[wakingwakewood]

"They're called step-ladders, Bach. They're pretty much made for putting things up on high." But she laughed, hoping he took it as a joke as she forced herself off the sofa and into the kitchen where she pulled the small ladder out. "Just because I have magic and a maid that comes in doesn't mean I can't do things for myself. Besides, she's not coming in until later in the week and I refuse to leave all of this up until then."

Not to mention that despite it being the woman's entire job description, she felt bad about making her clean above and beyond and... this was a bit of that. It wouldn't kill her to do it herself, she'd gotten it all up, after all.

Looking at Bach's carry-out she raised an eyebrow. "You can take more if you need it. There's, like, half a cake left over, too."

[bachjones]

"Step-ladders", he murmured under his breath, trying to view her laugh as something to soften up the correction, not make him feel extra stupid. Why had he never seen tiny ladders before anywhere? "I'm sure Isaac wouldn't mind." That was just testing, checking how much she'd allow for the boy. And a distraction for himself, because with Isaac around at least he couldn't think about sex without feeling disgusted. One day he might be able to be around Essie without even considering it? Bach finished his third bottle.

"Cake. For all the parties I'm going to throw? Secondhand cake sounds like it's really me, don't you think?" He pulled at his shirt's collar. "You don't have any extras? Or can I wash and dry it out before leaving?"

[wakingwakewood]

"I don't have extras, but you're welcome to wash it here." She wasn't going to respond to the second-hand cake comment. It bothered her sometimes, the extent to which Bach beat himself up. He didn't deserve it. Well, he didn't deserve all of it. And most of the time it felt like it was as much to bait her into an argument as it was his own poor self-image. If he was so afraid that she was going to talk him down to his son, he should really consider not doing it himself. But that was neither here nor there and now was not the time to address his self-image issues.

"Heck, if you need to you can just stay the night. I know I'm pretty damn tired." Which wasn't entirely a lie, but if he kept drinking at the rate he was now, he wouldn't be sober enough to drive by the time the shirt finished washing and if she planted the idea now, the easier it would be to take his keys later.

[bachjones]

"You're inviting me to stay over?" Good use of stay versus sleep here, Bach was learning. He just didn't understand where the invitation was coming from. Sometimes it really felt like the woman could read his mind.
"You're inviting me to do my washing here? Because that's how some p-" Jesus, he was slipping up here.

"Thank you", he went with instead. "Direct me to your machine and the necessary guide book and I'll be out of your hair. And I'm sure Isaac will love it." Remember Isaac, that was the important thing.

He put the containers back into the fridge, folded away the bag and returned it to its place. "Which bed am I going to sleep in?"
It wasn't supposed to sound like that.

[wakingwakewood]

Essie found herself watching Bach, trying to figure out what was going on in his head. Sometimes, she almost wished she had her cousin's gift and this was becoming one of those times. Because that's how some people what? How friends who had friends with bloody shirts acted? Did he think that she - he couldn't possibly be thinking she was propositioning him, could he? But he was asking about bedrooms like he didn't already know she had perfectly serviceable guest rooms.

And yeah, sure, she wasn't going to complain all that much while he was lounging around her house shirtless and - maybe she should just stop there. Of course he would think that. It was the never-ending subtext to their entire lack of a relationship. A relationship that had been built entirely on sex, had been about sex, until it wasn't and he couldn't handle it. And she hated herself a little for missing that sometimes. It had certainly made things easier.

And more distracting which was why she found herself speaking before running the words through her internal Bach-filter. "Which bed did you think you were going to sleep in?"

[bachjones]

"Yours. With you on the couch as the perfect hostess you are." That wasn't a bad catch. Wasn't it? She was asking it for with those kind of replies.

He rubbed his face. "I'll pick the guest room closest to Isaac's room. Surprise him in the morning, leave after breakfast. Is that okay by you?"

Bach was finally acting like an adult when it came to them, which was way past time because he was the oldest between the two of them as well. Maybe that was something he had to think of instead of Isaac whenever he considered sex, how young she still was. And he had saddled her up with a kid. God, things were only getting more depressing.

He rubbed his face to clear his mind of thoughts. "Mind if I take a shower first?"

[wakingwakewood]

Essie wasn't sure if she was relieved at the lack of snarky, innuendo-laden response or disappointed. She should be relieved. It's what she'd been wanting, wasn't it? A more practical, responsible, non-bait-y Bach. What was that French term Grandy had used? Détente? An easing of hostilities and for now, she'd take it. Acting like adults. For Isaac.

"Yeah, that works for me. Not a problem. There's towels in the bathroom across from Isaac's room. It's filled with bath toys, but the shower's good." Or, the naughty part of her mind was happy to kick up, he could use her shower like he had that night they'd all passed out in her bed. Before things had completely broken down and he'd left. When she'd had a moment of extreme regret that she hadn't joined him. But that wasn't very practical or adult, was it?

Man, she hated being the adult all the time.

[bachjones]

"You sound disappointed. Like, a lot." Bach turned towards her, leaving just the appropriate amount of room between them. "Or is that because I'm staying over?"

Anything, he'd accept anything as an invitation now. "Because I can drive home. Walk home. Get a cab home, get the rich mo- lady of the house to spring for it. It's not that cold outside yet, I could walk to the beach and sleep there. Maybe even in the sea, see how that scale side of me likes that." 'Remember?', he wanted to add. There's never been anyone but you that gave me such a reaction. Bringing the worst out in me.

"Bath toys? In case I need some entertainment before bed? After all, I'm not that tired, just ..pleased." Now he wasn't even going to bother with fighting a grin. "Satisfied, you could even say."

[wakingwakewood]

Shaking her head, Essie chuckled, "I'm not disappointed, Bach. And I'm glad you're staying." And she really was, although she almost rolled her eyes at the fake offer to sleep on the beach. Mostly because she saw it for what it was. Or she was pretty sure she did. Having him move so much closer was a little unnerving and left her a little flushed, a reaction she dearly wished she could control a little better.

"But I don't think they're your kind of toys. Those I keep where Isaac can't find them." Essie mentally kicked herself. Now was not the time to be flirting. Definitely not now. Clearing her throat, she took a step back, needing just a little bit more space while she casually put her foot in her mouth. "You can, um, give me your shirt, I can start the wash if you want to take that shower now."

[bachjones]

That was twice the same agreement, and Bach was definitely not too drunk to not recognize it. The little heat to her cheeks were just an exclamation point, and maybe there were possibilities there.
Should be take them?
No. Yes. If he'd be sure that it would end okay, no pain for Isaac whatsoever. Maybe they should try again? They were two grown ups, pretty much?

"My shirt." He wrung it out once more before giving it to her. "There you go. Should I wish you good night now or will I see you between the kitchen and the bedroom? Or did I set your mind on some things that can't wait?" That was going to be a jerk off point later, Essie with toys.

[wakingwakewood]

Okay, that was definitely an offer. And one she should refuse, right? They just managed to reach a point where they weren't blaming each other for everything, taking everything as a personal insult, and were just able to be in the same room without snapping at each other. But standing there, holding his shirt while he had that look on his face, she badly wanted to say fuck it to everything, all the progress, all the work and just get lost the way they used to. Together.

"You've never had a problem setting my mind on things, Bach. Ever. It's what happens after that scares me." They can't afford to screw this up again. Not with Isaac involved. But she wasn't doing what she should be doing which was saying no.

[bachjones]

Well shit. Of course Bach appreciated the returned gesture, so why was he feeling just a little bit nervous? Could his everything just for once keep it together in one way?

"You want to make up a contract?" Now he was the one keeping his distance, so she didn't had to notice that he was half hard already. "I leave after breakfast, I don't expect anything recurring, if it's disappointing we won't bring it up, I won't f-" Ha. Haha. Too late for that one. He decided against mentioning how they were both grown ups, it would only make her laugh.

"Relax. He's not going anywhere. Even if I'd want to."

[wakingwakewood]

"That's not- dammit." Essie wasn't even sure how to put into words what she was really afraid of. Or rather she was, but the last time she'd brought it up, he'd more or less walked out on her and she desperately didn't want him to do it again. So the fact that she wasn't just looking for a casual fuck, not from him, that fear she decided to keep to herself. If she was the only one that was going to get burned, she'd deal with it. She'd been dealing with Bach's emotional denial for this long, what was awhile longer? She needed this, she needed something, she wanted him.

"I don't want either of you going anywhere. And leaving after breakfast is fine." Taking a step forward, she took a deep breath and looked up into his eyes. "Still want that shower?"

[bachjones]

Then what? If she wasn't going to talk about it, he wasn't going to push. It had been months since he'd had sex, and with Essie it was always good. He wasn't going to risk that here.

"You're going to rub my back? And everything else? You've got good showers here, I love your showers." Bach kissed her, softly, nothing more than a tease for the both of them.
"It's a deal. Do you want me to promise I won't hog the sheets after or are just going to lead the way while undressing yourself? Pretty please?"

[wakingwakewood]

Oh, but that tease was cruel and he knew it. Her pulse was already kicking upwards and her body dearly wanted to tell her mind to take a damn hike. Which, honestly, she wasn't opposed to, but if he wanted a tease, she could definitely tease, running a finger down his abdomen until she could hook it slightly in the band of his pants, tugging them just a little closer to each other. "Asking for a strip tease, are we? Do I get anything in return?"

She gave him a teasing kiss of her own, with a little nip before she started to back away towards the stairs.

[bachjones]

"Me, for the next six hours?" He checked the clock. "Eight, maybe even. I have to admit that it has been a while and therefore nothing new has been added to my set list, but I don't think you ever complained about what I did."

"You don't understand, I'm already half dressed. Only my pants are left to take off. So if you want me singing and dancing, sure; it just won't last very long. Opposed to other things." And honestly, Bach couldn't come up with anything she'd wanted outside sex right now, and sex was what they were going to have. "If there's anything else you desire, you need to start giving me pointers."

He followed, of course. His eyes on hers, humming just a little under his breath to release some of the tension. They were going to have fun.

[wakingwakewood]

Essie chuckled, shaking her head. Not exactly what she'd been looking for, but then there was nothing about this situation that was normal. Reaching the stairs, she started to climb, grabbing the hem of the light dress she'd been wearing and pulling it over her head, leaving her in just her underwear and bra. She didn't drop it though, the last thing she needed was Isaac waking up in the middle of the night and coming across her clothes in the middle of the floor. Instead she waited until Bach had followed close enough and she looped it around his neck, pulling him close to her as she continued to walk backwards towards the bedroom.

She didn't kiss him, she didn't touch him aside from the occasional brush of her chest against his, or the tap of their legs. She just kept him close enough to feel the heat of his body against hers, smell the scent of alcohol and whatever soap it was he used, hear the sound of his breathing and whatever that was underneath, enough to let the memories of so many nights, real and fairy-tale flood her mind. She knew she was going to eventually regret this, but right now, she really didn't care.

[bachjones]

Hey, he had given her a chance to speak up, right? What else was he supposed to do? It didn't seem to be that important either, nothing in her sound of actions had changed, so he was just going to go ahead.

"That I gave you eight hours doesn't mean I was hoping for six of teasing like we're in high school. Come here." Bach made a grab for her, trying to get her closer to the bed instead of dancing around it. "Or do I need to get a guitar because there's some wooing to be done?" It was easy to find her rhythm, and he leaned in to hum it in her ear, share the fun just a little more, relax anything that still needed relaxing.

"You know I'm the impatient type. Can't we get once out of the way so we can take it slow after? Hm?"