Night, special night

[bachjones]

Bach was at Essie's, even though it was Friday night and he always spent that at his own place. If he was going to be honest, these days his place was more of a stock room, the small apartment he threatened Isaac to lock up if he was in a particularly foul mood. But to admit that he was practically living at Essie's, living off her ...

He was being grumpy about this because he didn't want to think about talking to her tonight about the tour. It was super tiny, she'd barely notice he'd be gone, but he could have probably told her sooner. And Isaac as well, but Isaac couldn't keep a secret, even though he was growing into that pre-puberty phase that made him try. It wasn't like three weeks was that bad, anyway, right?

The ring in his back pocket was burning a hole in it, but Bach had been long enough with Essie that he knew that tonight wasn't the best timing for it. That distracting her from a fact would only make her angrier about it. 

He inhaled, exhaled and knocked on the door with his wrist, his hands full with groceries. "Here's the food dude! Open up, please!" 

Comments

[bachjones]

"What?" Okay, maybe they've had had too much sex for her to be awake enough to jump for joy or at the very least scream a little until they both remembered Isaac, but this was like very ..lackluster considering those things. Had Bach done something wrong? Should he have been singing, dancing, bringing her strawberries and whipped cream?

"Did I do it wrong? Don't you - Aren't y-" Fuck, shit, shit fuck. Was Essie going to say no? Hadn't the question been clear enough? Had he talked too much around it? Had he? "Essie?"

His hand spasmed, making the box snap closed. If Bach would believe in that kind of things, he'd believe that to be a sign.

[wakingwakewood]

"No! You didn't do anything wrong, it's just... I really wasn't expecting this. At all and I - " She knew she was floundering and she knew it was making him second-guess himself. They'd done the exact same things to each other over and over again for her not to see the signs. But trying to capture a coherent thought in her scattered mind was like trying to catch a single raindrop in a downpour.

So she did the best thing she could think of, which was not to think at all, lean over, and kiss him as hard as she could, whispering a soft, "I love you," as she did so.

[bachjones]

"Love you too", Bach returned, trying to come up with what should be done next. Maybe he should just give Essie a moment, maybe it hadn't been the perfect moment at all. Maybe - again - had he been thinking with his dick instead of his head, but dicks didn't propose, right?

"Take a minute. Or a few. I just - it was just - I've been walking around with that thing for a while." He opened the box again, put it into her line of sight. "I know it's your size, but do you like it? Just say the first thing that comes into your head. Bonus points if it's something nice." Bach was starting to feel a bit lightheaded. Maybe he should have waited with this until breakfast. What would they tell Isaac?

[wakingwakewood]

"You've been... how long is awhile?" How had she not noticed? Well, she supposed she knew, it hadn't even been something she'd been thinking about and she'd assumed the same for Bach. But wow, had she been wrong. So wrong. So... she should really say something else.

"I love it, it's perfect, but I didn't even know you wanted to get married, I thought... you didn't want to be tied up in all of... this." Whatever this was, although it seemed they were certainly trying to define it tonight.

[bachjones]

Essie was stalling. Bach saw it now, the same thing that happened when Isaac didn't want to admit to something he knew he was going to get in trouble with.

It was like a punch in the chest, and he sat back. "I don't know. Some months, but there was never a right time. It's a weird thing to plan. I just - it felt like - " It had felt good, but why the hell had he thought that this time he should have followed his feelings? Essie had never ever hinted at a ring or marriage or anything future related except for things about Isaac. Isaacs' Spring Breaks yes, where Bach and Essie would be in ten years, no. Fuck.

"We should probably try to get some sleep in before the alarm goes." Good thing he was leaving soon.

[wakingwakewood]

"No, don't, Bach, please don't pull away. I'm just so surprised and I'm not saying no, love." And she wasn't, she didn't even intend to because deep down, she wanted this so badly, to make their family solid. Official. Which sounded so silly when she thought about it, but it was true. Just a little seal of... finality. That this was really it and would be forever.

[bachjones]

"I know that. I wasn't kidding about that alarm." He just seriously ached for her, like his entire body itching and only her touch, her approval being the balm to calm that. It made him feel way too weak, and Bach knew that he didn't make the best decisions when he felt like that. So he bit his tongue.

Bach turned to his side of the bed and pulled one of the old shirts he slept in from underneath it. Anything to do something instead of having to think. Her words were slowly sinking in, but there was no excitement about them. Maybe it was better if he wasn't looking for excitement right now. With the shirt over his head, so it made his voice muffled just the right way, he added: "Not saying no is nice."

[wakingwakewood]

Essie slid over to Bach's side of the bed, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on the back of his shoulder. She didn't have to be psychic to tell he was agitated, that she'd upset him with her confusion and hesitation. "You are the most wonderful and confounding thing that has ever happened to me, Bach Jones. And if you're really serious about wanting to get married, I'd be happy to be your wife. I just never thought you wanted to."

She hoped it was enough, it was honest and true and considering the odd circumstances, probably what she should have led with.

[bachjones]

It wasn't tears and I love yous, but Bach wasn't too hurt to not recognize that Essie was being real here. They had never talked about it, he had never thought about it until now, until the comments and glances at her hand had become impossible to ignore. That almost felt like he was doing it for others, but Bach would never do anything for others, unless he wanted to do it first. And it didn't matter, this time. He just wanted Essie to be okay with it. Happy with it.

He felt himself relax. "You sure? I know you don't not say things to save my feelings, but this would kinda - I think we really have to be sure about this one."

[wakingwakewood]

"I love you. I love our family." Essie kissed him behind the ear. "And when you think about it, we've already been married once, I'm pretty sure we can manage it again." Chuckling, she allowed her memory to recede to that weird spell that had taken the town, and how happy they'd been in that little cottage in the woods. "At least this time we won't be struggling to make ends meet. And you won't be looking over your shoulder for my disapproving family." At least not any more than they already did.

Using a hand to gently turn his face towards hers, she fixed him with a gaze, trying to put everything she felt into her eyes and her smile. "We don't have to do this right away, or maybe we do, but whenever we do it, I'll be right there at your side."

[bachjones]

Bach felt something collapse inside of him, and he never felt so fragile and so invincible at the same time. She wanted it as well, she wanted him and them as well.

"Damn." Exhaustion hit him now, and he dropped his head on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for doing it like this, I don't even know what I'm doing anymore. I don't even know - many things right now." How were they going to tell Isaac? They probably had to tell Isaac, who else? And how soon did they have to start a wedding? Would she want a big party? Because Bach just wanted it down on paper, if he was honest. That she was his. And he hers, he guessed.

[wakingwakewood]

"I won't say I was even close to prepared for this, love, but you did well. And we'll figure the rest out...later. I'm kinda exhausted at the moment." She ran her hand through his short head, scratching his scalp a bit. He was crazy, no doubt, but he was her crazy - for good now, even if they hadn't had the ceremony yet.

"I love you. Forever, but you've got a tour to prepare for and we should probably get some sleep."

[bachjones]

"Oh shit, the tour!" Shit, Bach was going to have to leave her. "Do you want me to stay?" He always loved it when she scratched him like that, and sleep already had its claws in him. He yawned. "We really need to sleep. Let's just sleep first." He was nervous about the tour, not about the marriage, not about what just had happened, he was probably just exhausted.



He was woken up by a dog in his face. Dan made a noise while Isaac was cackling somewhere. "He didn't wanted to go out with me", their son lied. "He just ran over here."
Like Essie hadn't raised that dog to be the most polite thing. "Isaac .."
"I'm going to make coffee!"
Dan made another noise and sat down.
"Es? Don't tell me you slept through that."

[wakingwakewood]

"Coffee?" It was all she could manage, after everything she'd completely conked out, emotionally drained and full of strange dreams. But the ruckus pulled her out of her reverie and she buried her head in the pillows until she heard something that made some kind of sense.

"Summone say coffee?" Because that sounded nice. And probably necessary. Very, very necessary.

[bachjones]

"Isaac is making coffee." Bach curled around her. "Or you can stay in bed? I'll distract everyone and you can sleep some more. Anything important happening today that you can't drop out on? Else just ... stay here." It had been a while since he had short nights like these, but he'd manage. Basically, he just wanted to hear from Essie that she was okay. Because ..because shit, they were engaged now.

"What are we going to tell Isaac?", he whispered into her hair.

[wakingwakewood]

Teaching their son how to measure grounds and fill the coffee maker was by far one of the best parenting decisions Essie had ever made. Just the idea of a hot beverage was enough to begin perking her up a bit, although the idea of staying in bed all day was appealing. Still, she had a business to run, and Bach probably had errands to run before his trip she could help with.

But speaking of Isaac, she turned a bit in Bach's arms so she could face him. "I think nothing, maybe? For now? Until we have a better idea of details? Like, dates? What do you think? I'm okay if you want to tell him, though."

[bachjones]

"Nothing?" Bach had to laugh. Didn't she know how he was completely unable to lie to their son? Kid seemed to have a sixth sense for his father's untruths, although lately he seemed to care less about those as long as they weren't directly related to Isaac. Was that puberty?

"I didn't think about a date yet. Or like ... everything else. Do we have to invite people? Do you want a white dress? Do you want me in a fancy suit?", he added with a wink. "Or way less clothes?" It was just a party, right? He could do a party, and then there were probably signatures at city hall and it was done. No big deal.

[wakingwakewood]

Essie found herself giggling a little. The idea of the two of them in a fancy formal wedding setting is rather ridiculous. "I think those are all questions for much, much later. Besides, I think I'm way past wearing white." Leaning over, she nibbled at Bach's neck a bit, knowing that with Isaac downstairs, there wasn't time for anything... more elaborate, but it she was in that kind of mood.

"I know Laura and Levi will want to come. The people from the shop, your band, your... family?" She knew they weren't going to get away with nothing, but she knew beyond a doubt she didn't want an elaborate something. Elaborate somethings gathered attention she was happy to do without.

[bachjones]

"Oh fuck." Bach covered his face with a pillow. "Oh, fuck. Levi. He's going to kill me, he never liked me. And Lara's going to have a field day watching. Do you think ..." He threw the pillow off the bed. "I have to do some siren thing to make this wedding happen? And you -- with your witches stuff, are you even allowed to connect with a bastard? You're not going to lose your powers or something, right?"

Just before Bach could realize what a stupid idea this was going to be, and why hadn't he thought this through? - Isaac showed up with two big mugs of coffee. "Coffee!"

[wakingwakewood]

"What hokey movies have you been watching? I don't-" And then there was coffee. Delicious coffee delivered by the most wonderful, chaotic, pretty much accidental thing to happen in her life.Taking a sip, she patted the bed next to her, glad she'd thought ahead enough to throw on a t-shirt before falling asleep.

"C'mere, you delightful boy. Thank you for coffee, have you through about what you want for breakfast." If there was anything she'd learned as a parent it was how to abruptly pivot conversations when Isaac was entering a room.

[bachjones]

"Hokey - what kind of word is hokey even, and I don't watch movies, we live in one sometim- Thanks, Isaac!" Now their son wasn't too old and too cool to keep his distance, snuggling up against Essie. At least they didn't have to go through the adoption nonsense again. Would Essie chance her last name? Essie Jones?

"You didn't ask me what I want for breakfast." Maybe they should do something big to celebrate, even though Isaac didn't know about the why yet. Bach felt like celebrating just a little, to keep the nerves at bay. Maybe.

[wakingwakewood]

"Ah, but Isaac made me coffee. Make the coffee, get to have input into breakfast." Giving their son a wink, she took a sip of the warm caffeinated liquid and smirked at her newly-minted fiance. Something that made her want to giggle at the thought of. It was going to take a bit to get used to that thought, or be able to think about it without blushing.

Even her finger, with the ring, felt new and strange and delightful and despite her intention not to do anything to draw attention to it, she idly started to spin it around her finger.

[bachjones]

"I just ask-"

Bach looked at Isaac, who seemed more attentive than usually lately. "Did you walk Dan already as well?"
His son just nodded. "I want you to make me waffles. With Essie's whipped cream." He seemed to pick up that he was balancing on an edge here. "Please. Did you have a nice night?"
Little bugger.

"Waffles for the gentleman, I guess. Es, we're going to leave the bed?"