J2 - An Unexpected Love - Chapter 5B/16 - Mpreg
Title : An Unexpected Love 5B/16
Rating : R
Word Count : 20,435
Disclaimer : Really if they belonged to me do you think I'd have time to be posting.
Warnings : Talk of past abuse, Mpreg
Author : angels3 aka Angela
Beta : munibunny
Art and Soundtrack : ldyghst
Additional Art : wincest_drarry
Characters : Jensen/Jared, Steve/Chris, there may be more pairings along the way I'm not sure at the moment.Mike, Tom, Chad, Sandy, Sophia and Joshua Jackson will all be in this fic. There may be others as I find myself needing more characters.
Summary : Grief stricken over the death of his brother, cynical movie maverick Jared Padalecki did the unthinkable - he sought comfort in the arms of his brother's fiancee. The morning after, they both realized their mistake and left for their separate lives. Only Jared can't forget Jensen's soft lips and beautiful eyes. Even as Jared was beginning to think he had to see him again, Jensen came to him.
Jensen was pregnant with his child. His - not his brother's. Jared knew he wanted Jensen more than he'd ever wanted any other woman or man.
First he had to marry him.
Then he had to make Jensen love him.
Author Notes : I am basing this story off a book I read fourteen years ago. I do actually have the book but I will not be using it to write this story. I will be going from my memory of what happened in it, there will be some things that run the way the book did and lots that will not as this is a J2 and mpreg on top of that. The only thing that will be word for word, and then not really, will be the summary since I couldn't do it justice any other way.
Based on the book Scandals by JoAnn Ross
Harlequin Temptation Sept.1994 #506
Chapters 1 2 3 4A 4B 5A 5B 5C 6A 6B 7A 7B 8A 8B 9A 9B 10 11A 11B 12A 12B 13A 13B 14 15A 15B 16
Art and Soundtrack
Additonal Art
Jared waited as long as he could before nerves finally drove him to his parents. He'd told his mom he'd get there around two, but it was more like one when he pulled into their garage. He let himself in the side door and walked towards the sound of voices, hoping to find his parents. What he found was several people in varying degrees of food, floral and decoration preparation and cleanup.
"Mom?" Jared raised his voice a little to be heard over the different conversations being carried on in the kitchen.
Sherri came around the corner a look of surprise on her face, "Hey sweetheart, you're early."
She pulled him down so she could give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Sherri pulled back, looking him over making him feel like he was thirteen years old and going to his first middle school dance.
"You look very nice. I think I like the casual look much better," she said, nodding her head with her words.
Jared had chosen to wear a pair of soft black pants with a button down long sleeve shirt in a light blue. He'd decided against the tie, leaving the top couple of buttons open at the neck.
"So what's going on in the kitchen?" he asked his mom as she led him through the house.
"Jared, just because you and Jensen are moving things along rather quickly doesn't mean your wedding can't be nice," she reasoned.
Jared just shook his head. He really should have been prepared for her to do something like this. There was no way he was going to get away with just simply standing in the living room and reciting his vows. He just needed to warn Jensen and hope he didn't freak out.
"Okay, okay," Jared laughed. "Show me what else you've done," he said, grinning at her attempts to look innocent.
"What makes you think I've done anything else?"
"Because I've yet to see dad, so either you have him out running last minute errands, or he's hiding, maybe both."
"Your father does not hide," she scolded, ruining the effect by giggling as she led him out the back door and down the path.
The closer they came to the pool Jared could make out the gazebo, or what used to be the gazebo. At the moment, it had been draped with fabric, turning it into an enclosed space. Jared reached out and ran his hand over the material and found it was a heavy canvass that he figured would help keep the cold out and heat in, and he could feel heat coming from inside so someone must have thought to use some type of space heater for the inside.
The canvas, while functional, was actually pleasant to look at. It was cream with silver strands worked in at varying intervals. The sun would catch the little spots of silver and reflect them, making the color dance and shimmer. He pulled back the drapes and moved inside. It was nice and cozy inside without being hot. He had no idea where the heaters were hidden at, but they were doing a great job. His mother had set up a simple area with silver candle holders arranged in a semi circle. There was fresh ivy twining its way up the holders and the candles were a deep burgundy. There was also a small podium for the justice of the peace to put his papers.
"Do you like it?" Sherri asked biting her lip.
"It's beautiful mom," Jared said around the lump in his throat.
"Well, it's not quite finished, but I couldn't let the two of you start out your life together without it being special," she said.
As they were standing there, several people from the kitchen rushed past them with baskets trimmed in silver accents. They were overflowing with flowers in burgundy and cream, nestled in deep green foliage. They seemed to just set them down in random spots all around the floor and railings, but when they left, the gazebo seemed to come to life.
"I'm going to have them set up a few tables," Sherri said, pointing toward the back of the gazebo, "that way, we can all sit and have a proper supper before you two boys leave to go where ever."
"Thanks mom. You didn't have to do all this, but it's wonderful," Jared said as he kissed the top of her head. "We're not going anywhere, just back to Jensen's to get some packing done. I don't want him lifting a bunch of stuff he's got no business lifting, and this is the only way I know to keep an eye on him."
"Why don't you do that next week? Take the weekend and get to know each other again," Sherri objected.
"Mom, it's going to take me longer than a weekend to get to know Jensen the way I want to. To be honest with you, we're both tired of the upheaval. I'd rather get the moving out of the way, so we can get settled into something more normal. Besides, you're not the only one doing some redecorating this weekend," Jared confessed.
"What have you been up to?" His mom asked.
"I'm working on redoing the guest room. I don't want to rush Jensen into anything he's not ready for, but I didn't want him staying in a generic room either, so I hired a decorator to help me get the room ready this weekend. It should be ready for him to move in on Monday. He's got some things to do this weekend for a show he has coming up and a thing with a center I'm not sure what exactly that's about, but I plan on finding out about that later, so I'll have plenty of time to help Kristen get the room done."
"Are you doing the nursery or just his room?"
"Just his room. I'm hoping he'll want to do the nursery together," Jared answered.
Sherri patted his cheek. "See I told your daddy, I didn't raise no fools."
"Not what you were saying couple of nights ago," Jared mumbled.
"Oh, I didn't say you weren't an idiot sometimes, but you're definitely not a fool," she smiled as she heard a car pull into the drive.
"Well, let's go see if that's your father," she said, moving back down the path towards the house.
They entered the house expecting to see Jerry somewhere in the kitchen or the living room, but he was in neither place. Jared's question was quickly cut off by the doorbell ringing.
"I'll get it," Jared said, making his way to the front door.
He wasn't exactly sure who he was expecting to find when he pulled the door open, but it certainly wasn't Jensen. Especially standing there biting his lip and rocking back and forth on his heels like he was trying to decide whether to cut his loses and run or not.
Jared knew he was staring, but he couldn't really help it. He finally managed to get his brain to function long enough to invite Jensen into the house and shut the door. He took a couple of seconds before turning around to gulp in a few deep breaths. Jensen was wearing a pair of cream pants with a long sleeve shirt in a pale green, his hair was a little longer than he usually wore it and Jared wondered if he even realized he'd forgotten to get it cut.
It took him a minute to realize that Jensen was studying him just as closely as he was studying Jensen. The thought made him smile just a little.
Jensen shook his head. He'd always know Jared's dimples were dangerous and he couldn't afford to be distracted right now, but before he could say anything Jared broke the silence.
"You look very nice," Jared complimented.
Jensen looked down at his clothes, a pale blush running along his cheeks.
"Thanks, Sophia helped me pick it out."
"Sophia?"
"She's one of my friends. She works at a bakery/sandwich shop I found. You have to try it sometime. They have the best chocolate chip muffins and the coffee, the coffee is to die for," Jensen finished somewhat mournfully.
"You'll have to introduce us. She's got great taste."
"She really does, although I picked out the shirt. I kind of like green," Jensen confessed.
"Oh, thank God," Jared said under his breath.
"What?"
"I said, I meant she had good taste being your friend."
"Oh," Jensen said, blushing again.
"I need to tell you something, and I hope you won't get upset," Jared said, not entirely sure how to approach his mom's surprise.
Jensen just looked at him for a minute, "I doubt I'll get upset, just tell me what it is."
"Okay, how about we sit down though," Jared said. He sat on the sofa and waited until Jensen had taken a seat on the other end.
"Mom decided she wanted today to be special for us, so she did a little something," Jared paused as Jensen's face went pale.
"Jensen, are you okay?"
"Yea. What did she do?" Jensen asked weakly.
"She just decorated some, and she wants us to have a nice supper with her and dad," Jared finished tentatively.
"Oh," Jensen replied, some of the color returning to his face, "That's sweet."
"What were you afraid she'd done?" Jared asked curiously.
"Invited like a 100 people," Jensen whispered sheepishly.
Jared snorted, "Well I'm sure given enough time, she could have pulled that off too, but a day and a half isn't much time to work with even for her."
"Yeah, I guess not," Jensen smiled at Jared's obvious glee over his mother's antics.
"Hey um... I wanted to ask you something. I should have asked you before now, but I thought you'd have brought it up, and then you didn't but it's been bothering me." Jensen was well aware he was rambling and was grateful when Jared broke in.
"What did you want to know?"
"Well, you've not said anything about a prenuptial agreement, and I just thought with everything you had, it would be something you'd want to do," Jensen said hesitantly.
"Would you be more comfortable if you had one?" Jared asked.
"Why would I need one?" Jensen's brow furrowed.
"You are an artist Jensen, and while I don't know what you make from the sales of your work now, I can only imagine that over time your popularity will grow," Jared explained.
"No, I don't think I need a prenup. I don't have anything of value. You, on the other hand, have a great deal to lose, and I can't believe you haven't given it some thought or been advised by some well meaning lawyer somewhere on having one signed."
"Oh, I've been told several times over the last two days exactly what they thought of my decision. The fact remains, I don't want one nor do I believe I need one," Jared stated matter of factly.
"What makes you think I won’t take you for everything I can get my hands on?"
"Because I've known you most of my life Jensen."
"People change Jared," Jensen stated stubbornly.
Jared leaned over and took Jensen chin in his hand. He wanted Jensen to be looking him in the eye, "Yes people do, but you haven't."
Jensen just stared at him incredulously.
Jared pulled back and waited for Jensen to say something. When he just continued to stare, Jared decided now was a good as time as any to address the other issue he needed to talk to him about.
"Look, I know we don't agree on what we want this marriage to be right now, and I know you may not want to, and if you don't I understand, but I'd like you to think about something," Jared said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small black box.
Jensen knew what it was, he just didn't know what to do. Jared had every right to expect and to want him to wear his ring. They were going to be married after all. He just didn't know if he could do it without being eaten alive by guilt. The warm round metal that lay against his chest was a reminder of what he'd had and lost. Jensen looked up at Jared, could read the hope in his eyes, and couldn't bring himself to crush it. He couldn't lie either.
"Jared, I'd be honored to wear your ring, but I need you to know this first before you open the box," Jensen said as he reached up and unbuttoned one of the top buttons of his shirt and pulled a chain free from the neck of his shirt. There at the end of the chain was a single gold wedding band.
"I haven't taken this off since the funeral," Jensen said looking up at Jared. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to take it off. I'll wear your ring and I'll be just as proud of it as I would have been to put this one on my finger, but I needed you to know that I still wear this one." Jensen said, tucking it back in his shirt.
Jared swallowed around the lump in his throat. He had to wonder, briefly, if he was crazy for trying to compete with the ghost of his brother, but one look at the man in front of him answered that question without more than a second’s thought. "Jeff's ring?"
Jensen seemed to know he wasn't asking about the ring around his neck, but rather the ring that Jeff would have worn. "I did the same with his. Your mom said it was okay."
Jared reached over and squeezed Jensen's hand, "Of course it was okay, I just didn't remember seeing it. I didn't mean to worry you."
Jensen breathed a sigh of relief and some of the tension that had tightened his shoulders relaxed. He was still waiting for Jared to decide if he could live with it though.
"I'm not going to lie either. I know you loved Jeff, still love him, and I hope one day you can move forward. I'm willing to take that chance, and I'm willing to wait for you to be ready," Jared said as he opened the box. Inside lay two thick gold bands. They each had a polished finish with a strip of satin that ran down the middle, giving the metal a warm feeling surrounded by the glow of the polished sections. Jensen reached out and ran his finger gently over one the rings, warm from being cradled in Jared's pocket.
(http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm112/angels3679/?action=view¤t=ring.jpg - ring)
"How do you know what size I wear?"
"I'm just good that way," Jared said refusing to give up his secrets.
Jensen quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Jared honey, who was at the door?" Sherri asked coming into the sitting area.
"Oh Jensen, I didn't know you were here!" She exclaimed.
"Hey, Mrs. Padalecki, I just needed to talk to Jared about a couple of things," Jensen said as he stood up.
Jared followed his actions, standing and waiting for his mom to make the next move.
"Jensen sweetheart, how many times have I told you to call me Sherri?" She said, taking his face in her hands and pulling him down so she could kiss his cheek.
"A few," Jensen admitted sheepishly.
"That's right, and while it'd make me even happier for you to call me mom, I'll settle for Sherri right now," she said, taking her hand and pulling him down to sit beside her.
"Jared, I think your father is finished hiding and needs some help out back," Sherri said with a smile and a wink.
Jared gave her a dimpled smile, and tried to ignore the terrified look Jensen shot him. He made a hasty retreat, leaving a nervous Jensen behind. He really wanted to tell him that everything would be okay and that there wasn't anything to worry about, but he figured a few minutes with his mom would work a whole lot better than him just saying it.
"Now Jensen, stop looking like I'm going to yell at you. I know Jared has told you that both his father and I understand what happened and why. I wish we could have all been spared losing Jeff, but I'm very happy that you're still going to be a part of our family."
Jensen didn't really know what to say, and he didn't think he could really say it with the lump clogging his throat, so he just squeezed her hand and nodded his head.
"Now tell me, how have you been feeling?" Sherri asked.
Jensen blinked at her at the quick shift in topic. It took him a second to realize she was asking about his pregnancy and another for him to understand she didn't want him dwelling on sad memories on his wedding day.
"I've been a little tired, mostly just keeping close company with the toilet," he said before he could catch himself.
Sherri laughed at the absolutely mortified look on his face, "Honey, there's nothing you can say that I haven't gone through myself. Believe me when I say I honestly understand everything you're going through and will go through except for the whole macho aspect of the pregnancy."
"I know, but I could have worded that so much better," Jensen whispered, blushing.
"You do realize I'm not as easily shocked as you think I am?" she said with a grin.
"I think I'm beginning to find that out," Jensen said, smiling back.
Jared came back to the house thirty minutes later and found his mother and Jensen still talking. The atmosphere, however, was relaxed and both of them were smiling. He was so relieved to see some of the tension that Jensen had been carrying no longer a part of his demeanor, he hated to interrupt.
"Hey, the justice of the peace is here," he told them.
"Is he ready?" Jensen asked, standing and holding out his hand to help Sherri off the sofa.
"He said give him just a few minutes. He wanted to go over the paperwork and the ceremony. He said he doesn't get to do them as often as he once did."
"Well, that's fine," Sherri said, "Why don't we find your father so Jensen can say hello before the magistrate is ready?"
"He's in the kitchen trying to sneak some of the sausage rolls," Jared tattled.
"I heard that," Jerry said as he walked up behind his son and flicked his ear.
"Ow!"
Jensen covered his mouth, trying to hide the laugh threatening to break loose.
"Oh, you think it's funny do you? That's okay, when you're sitting there waiting for supper and it's all gone, it won't be so funny then, will it?" Jared mourned, still rubbing his ear.
Jerry walked over and wrapped an arm around Jensen's shoulder, guiding him into the kitchen. "He's a big baby. I swear, sometimes I wonder how he ever survived his childhood," he said loudly enough that Jared could hear him.
"That's okay, mama loves me more anyway," Jared yelled from the sitting room.
Jensen finally lost it, laughing so hard he had tears running down his face.
"Did I also mention he's a mama's boy," Jerry responded to his son's comment.
Jensen had just about stopped laughing but lost it all over again. When he was finally able to breath again, Jerry had set a small plate of finger food in front of him and a cup of water. Jensen was a little confused and it must have been written on his face because Jerry just laughed and took a drink from his own glass.
"I remember Sherri being sick a lot. I figured you didn't eat very much this morning," he explained.
Jensen ducked his head. He didn't really know how to deal with all the concern Jared's parents were showing him. It wasn’t that they hadn't done the same thing when he was younger, but he was an adult, and his mom had been gone for over two years now, so he'd just gotten used to not having that in his life.
"Thanks. I had a couple of pieces of toast that decided to stay with me, and even with the nerves, I am a little hungry," he admitted.
"Well, go ahead and eat then. Otherwise, Jared will be in here trying to steal off your plate."
Jared showed up in the kitchen twenty minutes later to find his dad and Jensen discussing the merits of job training and education for young adults. He was slightly confused by the choice of topic but decided he'd question one of them about it later. Right now, the gentleman was ready to do the ceremony and he was about to have a nervous breakdown.
"Mom says it's time for us to get out back," Jared said, reaching across his dad and sneaking a sausage roll.
"See what I mean?" Jerry told Jensen.
Jensen snickered when Jared stuck his tongue out at his dad's back.
"Jared, you do realize I can see your reflection right?" Jerry asked.
"Gotta go," Jared said, rushing out of the room.
Jerry turned around shaking his head, "I swear that boy never grew up. I don't know why everyone thinks he's such a hard ass to deal with."
"I think you see a completely different side to him than everyone else does," Jensen answered as they made their way through the house and out the back door.
When they rounded the corner and Jensen got his first glimpse of the gazebo, he came to an abrupt halt. Jerry put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "She wanted you and Jared to have something special."
Jensen looked over at his soon to be father-in-law and swallowed around the emotion lodged in his throat. "I know, I just didn't realize she'd done this much."
"Son, you don't have a clue what that woman's capable of. I hope your stomach can handle flowers and candles."
"They haven't been a problem so far," Jensen answered, bewildered.
He understood when he moved the cloth aside and entered the covered gazebo. Sherri had turned it into a simple but beautiful space. The candles were lit and the flowers, while fragrant, weren't overpowering. The colors were rich and vibrant and Jensen's fingers itched for a paintbrush. Jared was talking to the justice of the peace, and he could see the small box sitting on the edge of the stand that answered the question of how they would be doing the rings.
Jensen moved forward to meet the man that would be marrying them, Jared introducing the justice of the peace as Jonas. They discussed which ceremony they were using, and what they needed to do. When Jonas was satisfied everything was covered and all was ready, he announced they could start. The ceremony was short, only fifteen minutes. When it came to the exchanging of rings, Jonas held the box so each of them could take their turn. Jensen's hands were shaking so bad, he had no idea how he got the ring on Jared's finger. When it came time for Jared to put the ring on his, Jared took his hand in one of his steadying it, before his slid the ring on with the other.
There was an awkward moment when Jonas told them they could kiss, neither of them having thought about that part until it was too late. Jared, while disappointed, wasn't prepared to push Jensen on the matter, but Jensen leaned forward just a little so Jared met him halfway. Their lips touched for just mere seconds, but it was enough to have Jared fighting his body for control. When he pulled back and opened his eyes, he met the slightly dazed eyes of Jensen. Jonas broke the spell by pronouncing them married and congratulating them.
While Jerry escorted Jonas out, Jensen made sure he told Sherri how much he appreciated the effort she had put into making their day special and just how beautiful everything was. Jerry returned, followed shortly by several people carrying heaping platters of food, which they carried to the tables at the far end of the gazebo. Jensen hadn't even noticed the tables until someone lit several hurricane lamps set along the length of them. The servers made several trips. The last thing they carried in was a small three-tier wedding cake with two small grooms sitting on top.
Jensen was fighting the urge to cry, his emotions slightly out of whack thanks to the surge of hormones that would attack him at unexpected times. It wasn’t entirely unexpected for them to creep up on him at this particular moment, but still they made him uncomfortable in his own skin.
"You really didn't have to do all this. I appreciate it all and it's absolutely beautiful, but to just have you accept me was enough," Jensen told his in-laws.
"Jensen we accepted you the moment you stepped foot in our house. You just have a piece of paper telling you what we've been saying for years," Sherri said, wrapping her hand around his and squeezing quickly before releasing it. "Now eat. You look like you'd blow away if a good wind blew."
Jared gave him a sympathetic look. "Better do what she says. She won't stop fussing until you do."
"Good thing some of us listen then, huh?" Jensen joked.
"Hey, I listen!" Jared exclaimed in mock outrage.
"Oh yeah, I remember how well you listen. I recall someone being told not to go out when they were grounded, and I remember how well that turned out."
"It would have turned out just fine if someone hadn't gotten up during the night and locked the door."
"How was I supposed to know it was unlocked for a reason? I was worried someone would come in and murder us in our sleep," Jensen said as he forked a piece of steak into his mouth and moaned at the taste.
Jared's train of thought was completely derailed at the unexpected noise coming from Jensen. He couldn't take his eyes off the obvious delight the food was causing Jensen. However, watching the man lick his lips, swallow his food, and wrap his lips around the edge of his glass was about to drive him insane. His parents, thank all that was holy, were oblivious to his plight, and Jensen was too wrapped up in his foodgasm to catch on.
His parents finally did him a favor without realizing it, and distracted Jensen from licking his fork, by asking if he'd like to cut the cake. Good thing too because Jared was seriously considering jumping the table and doing something completely unforgivable if he had to watch that pink tongue flick out one more time and lick the tines or run along those pouty lips to get all the sauce off them. Then again, when he saw the look Jensen was giving the cake he might have relaxed too soon.
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Jared was happy to see that Jensen was eating and didn't seem to be getting sick. He'd asked him how the morning sickness had been over the last couple of days and Jensen had told him morning, noon and night didn't classify as morning sickness, but the nights had started to get better so he was hopeful that the noon's would follow and then, if he were really lucky, the mornings would be a thing of the past as well. Jared hoped he was right. He was well aware from all the reading he'd done that the baby would be taking the nutrients it needed from Jensen, since there was very little that he'd been able to keep in his system for the baby to use.
Jensen wasn't really sure how his first night of marriage dissolved into a fight albiet it just a verbal disagreement, but the sense of deja vu that gave him sent cold shivers up his spine, but he wasn't giving in. He understood Jared's reasoning. He was tired, and they had left later than planned, but he had a lot of packing left to do and he had spent less than three hours painting in the last two days. He still had canvases to finish, plus he had one more he wanted to do. Jared had finally caved and was following him home in his own car, which gave Jensen time to get the trembling in his hands to stop and the terror he knew was lurking behind his eyes hidden.
He pulled into his driveway, cursing at the darkness surrounding his house. He could have sworn he'd left the porch light on. Of course, the light could have blown, but he was pretty good about changing them every month to make sure that didn't happen. Jensen figured he had been pretty distracted lately. He climbed out of the car and popped the trunk, reaching in to get the box of food Jared's mom had sent home with him.
"Jensen let me get that," Jared said, climbing out of his car.
"I can lift a box of food you know."
"Yes, but if I have the box you can get your key in the lock. Did you forget to leave the light on?"
"I thought I'd flipped the switch, but I was preoccupied so it's possible, and we didn't think it'd be this late when we got back anyway," Jensen said, shrugging.
They walked up the path and Jensen fumbled with the key, finally getting the door open and moving out of the way so Jared could get inside. He tried the switch and nothing happened so he reached up and twisted the bulb, intending to take it out, but when he moved it, the light flickered on. Jensen frowned at the bulb and started turning it the other way the light coming on and staying on.
"Was it blown?" Jared asked, coming up behind him making him jump a little.
"No just loose. It's never done that before," he said, frowning.
"Well it's weird, but I guess it can happen," Jared said, looking at the light.
Jared looked around while Jensen finished tightening the light. He was a little surprised that there were as many boxes packed as there were. Jensen had told him over supper that Sophia had stayed over and helped him pack, something else he needed to make sure to thank her for when they were introduced. Jensen disappeared into the kitchen to stow the food in the refrigerator and Jared decided now would be a great opportunity to poke around a little.
Jensen seemed to have the oddest collection of things on his shelves. There were the usual candles and pictures, of course, but there were the items that would only have meaning to their collector. A small wooden box engraved with beautiful symbols and pictures particularly intrigued Jared. It had a small blue feather, a lock of hair tied with a small strip of leather, a smooth black stone, a tiny dried flower and several other items in it. He snatched his hand back when he heard Jensen come back into the room, pretending he'd been looking at the rather impressive collection of books that sat behind all the knick knacks.
"You like to read?" Jensen asked.
"Yes, even though I do more than enough of it for my job, I like to read when I have the chance."
"Hmm."
Jared wasn't sure why that was important, but he felt like he'd passed a test and couldn't help but smile.
"Well, where would you like to start?" he asked, grabbing a box and the packing tape.
"How about I start wrapping the breakables, and you start with the books?" Jensen suggested.
They spent the next three hours talking about books and movies as they packed Jensen's belongings. They finished with the living room, marking which boxes went to storage and which were going to the house. Once they got to the kitchen, Jensen asked what he had in his and when Jared explained he had a full setup, everything they packed was marked for storage. The only rooms left were the bathroom, bedroom and the extra room which Jensen used to paint in.
Jared suggested Jensen pick out a few outfits he'd need and set them aside, and then he'd help him get the rest packed up before calling it a night. Jensen disappeared into his room and Jared took the bathroom, packing up the extra towels and sundries that one tended to overbuy when things were on sale. He glanced down at his watch and realized it was almost eleven, not believing it was so late. He finished taping up the box he was working on and knocked on the bedroom door.
Jensen was pulling items out of his closet and laying them across his bed. Jared watched him work for a minute before he knocked a little louder and cleared his throat.
"Hey, let me help you get the closet finished, and then you can go to bed okay?"
"We can finish the room if you want to," Jensen offered.
"It's been a long day, you need your sleep, and I still have to drive home. I can come over on Sunday and help you finish up."
"I'm not tired," Jensen lied, as a yawn caught him by surprise.
"Sure your not," Jared grinned at him.
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It was after midnight before Jared made it to his house, their house, he mentally corrected, smiling at the thought. He had to threaten to hide Jensen's paint brushes to get him to stop packing and admit he was tired, even though he could hardly keep his eyes open and yawned every ten seconds. He had made sure Jensen was on his way to bed before he turned off the lights and checked the doors. He let himself out never knowing that someone watched from the shadows.
Jared headed straight for the kitchen. He wanted a glass of ice cold water and a hot shower before he crashed face first into the bed. There was a note on the refrigerator door from Kristen letting him know the progress for the day. He was happy to see that she'd been able to get all the materials they needed, and that she'd even been able to get the bedroom and bathroom primered before she left. She also warned him she'd be over bright and early, and since it was well after eleven when she left and he wasn't home, she'd bring breakfast. The smiley face at the bottom included horns and Jared could picture the manic smile she was wearing when she drew it.
He finished his glass of water and dragged himself up the stairs and into his room, stripping out of his jeans and t - shirt he'd changed into at Jensen's. He took a quick shower washing his hair to get out the dust and cobwebs. There was at least one thing he'd learned tonight, that while Jensen kept things neat and tidy, he apparently despised dusting. Not that he cared much for it either. Hell, that's why he had Caroline come in once a week to do his.
Now that he thought about it, he needed to see about getting her to come more than once a week. He wasn't a slob but he didn't want Jensen to feel overwhelmed, with the house being so much bigger, not that he expected Jensen to clean but he had a feeling getting Jensen to listen at times would be like beating your head against a brick wall. He decided he'd call Caroline in the morning. Unfortunately, the brain activity had woken him up enough that now he couldn't seem to fall asleep.
He threw the covers back and climbed out of bed. Jared grabbed his sweat pants off the end of the bed and pulled them on before making his way down the hall to Jensen's room. He opened the door and flipped on the light. The room, while clearly far from being done, already excited Jared. There was blue tape everywhere to create a clean line and the wall sockets had been removed. He poked his head into the bathroom and it had received the same treatment. The primer Kristen had used was very light. She hadn't really thought they'd need one because the walls had been a light blue and it was going to be a pale sage, but she didn't want to take the chance, so she'd done a light one to be on the safe side.
Jared ran a finger lightly over one of the walls, happy to see it was already dry. Looked like they'd get to do the painting tomorrow, or rather later today, he thought yawning. He shut the light off and opened the door to the nursery. It had all the supplies stored in it at the moment, and he looked at the cans of paint. There was a dot on top to show the color after it had been mixed, and the sage had been a good choice. Jared looked around the room different colors and pictures kaleidoscopic in his head of what the nursery would look like when it was completed. It gave him a warm happy feeling but there was another one there in the background he couldn't a finger on.
He turned the light off and gently shut the door. It was time to try and get some sleep. Kristen would be there in a few hours, and he could just imagine the torture he would endure over the next twelve hours or more.
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Jensen spent the day painting. He knew he needed to finish up the two for the show, but he had to paint the other picture first. He pulled out a new canvas and squeazed out several different shades of reds and greens onto his board, adding some white and silver along the way. By mid afternoon, he was starting to get a headache and realized he'd almost forgotten lunch. Breakfast had again been toast with a little bit of jelly this time. Things were looking up. He stood up, stretching out the kinks in his back, and made his way to the kitchen, his stomach growling at the thought of the leftovers in his refrigerator.
Sophia showed up as he was sliding his plate into the microwave. He opened the door, letting her in and making sure to lock it behind her he'd been getting increasingly nervous as the days progressed.
"Well, it looks like you got a lot accomplished last night," she said, throwing her coat across the back of the couch and following him into the kitchen.
"Yeah, we would have gotten finished if Jared hadn't ordered a halt and sent me to bed," Jensen grumbled, taking the food back out of the refrigerator.
"Why would he do that?" Sophia asked, taking down a plate and grabbing another cup.
"He said I was tired, that I needed to get some sleep."
"Well, you haven't been sleeping," Sophia agreed. "What time was it when he suggested you get some rest?"
"Somewhere around eleven," he said, taking his plate out and putting hers in.
"Hmm sounds like he might have been right," Sophia mused.
"You know, you could wait until you meet him to start taking his side," Jensen moaned.
"Honey, I'm not taking sides, I just know you. You were stressing out all day yesterday after getting up at the crack of dawn. I bet you didn't sleep worth shit the night before either, did you?"
"Not really," he acknowledged.
"Then you went and did the meet the parents thing, got married and spent whatever amount of time packing. I'm sure he just wanted to make sure you took care of yourself, and I'm more than happy to have someone else sharing that little pleasure with," she said, pouring some tea in each glass and setting them on the table.
"You do realize I'm a grown man right? I can take care of myself!"
"Of course you can, but we care about you so it's just part of the package. I would assume that's why you constantly fuss about the men I date." She stated, arching her eyebrow and waiting for him to disagree.
"You date assholes," Jensen responded with a scowl.
"Hmm, maybe. So how did the whole parents thing go?" Sophia asked, stabbing a piece of steak and moaning around the taste.
"I know, you should have had it before the nuking. Actually, it went well. It's not like I didn't already know them, I was just worried how they would deal with the cheating on Jeff and then me being pregnant."
"Jensen, you didn't cheat on Jeff. I understand why you feel that way, and I guess emotionally you can call it that if you want to, but physically he was gone you didn't cheat on him. So use another term because I don't like it when you put yourself in the same category as some of the slimy bastards I've dated."
Jensen looked at her shocked for a second. "Okay."
" Good, now tell me what they said and then tell me about the wedding."
Jensen grinned at her quick change of attitude and subject. " Well, Sherri was very understanding. She said she was happy to have me as part of the family, that she wished it was without the other stuff but that she'd always considered me part of it. She asked about the baby and how I was feeling and then Jared's dad came and got me, took me into the kitchen and fed me some finger food before the ceremony, said Jared had told him I'd been sick a lot, and he figured I might need a little hold me over until supper."
Sophia sat and ate while listening to Jensen talk about Jared's parents and the wedding. She was pleased that the family she'd not met yet seemed to realize how special Jensen truly was and had gone out of their way to not only make the day special but to welcome him into the family, not because he was Jeff's ex fiance, or that he was pregnant with their grandchild, but because he was Jensen. When they finished eating, Jensen disappeared into his studio and she decided to finish boxing up his room, leaving only his studio to do on Sunday.
Sophia knocked on his door a couple of hours later and told him she was going to head home but to call her before he moved. Jensen promised after he'd gotten her work schedule for the week and swore he'd bring Jared by so they could meet each other. He wasn't sure who was looking forward to it more, Sophia or Jared, and he was beginning to think it should scare him, a lot.
Continued Here