A Better Life Part 2
Jared thought it was the coolest thing ever. He was supposed be cool, he knew that, but as he shook Jim’s hand he found himself saying, “I saw Terminator thirteen times in the theater. Then I got it on VHS, then DVD and then the four disk collector’s edition. Thank you for that.”
Jim stared at him and then turned to Jensen, “You’re right he really have no filter.” Then he smiled at Jared, “It’s really nice to meet you, Jared.” To Jamie he said, “I met you when you were way too little to remember me. What did you think of the film?”
“I loved it, it was even better than Transformers. I liked that it was a grown up film that I could watch because they don’t make many like that anymore. I really liked that Brad Pitt was the main bad guy. He made it not so scary because he seemed kind of nice underneath because he loved his daughter. It was scary like Gremlins which is okay scary because it’s not real. And I liked all the aliens, they looked really real and were kind of like Star Wars and Harry Potter and the Muppets had a baby and I liked that all the aliens looked different. And I liked that the aliens were good guys and I loved their submarine. Do you think there’s gonna be toys? Because I want a submarine badly. I didn’t like the bit where it looked like the submarine was going to sink because I was scared but Daddy leaned over and promised it was going to be okay and I liked that the aliens won.” It was fast like it was bursting out.
Jim was grinning, “Well, if the reviews are half as good we’re going to win awards. There will definitely be toys. Do you guys want to meet Brad? He’s around somewhere.”
They started schmoozing. Jared thought it was hilarious. Because he watched Jensen praise people who in turn kissed his ass. Jared had to really work not to laugh and when he caught Jensen’s eye he saw that Jensen knew how funny it was. But he didn’t cut it out, he kept going, and if anything he was goading Jared on. Jensen was challenging him to laugh. Chad came over and Jensen started talking about how sublime Chad’s lighting and staging was in the submarine and that statement was too much for Jared. He lost it, he covered his face.
Then Jensen made it worse by saying, “Chad, you better laugh or else Jared looks crazy.” Jamie was laughing and Jared was pretty sure Jamie was laughing at him.
Then Chad compounded the problem by saying, “How did you break my best friend?”
Jensen chuckled, “You celebrate finishing a season by sharing a plate of fries. We celebrate by standing in a room congratulating each other and telling each other that we’re the next messiahs. And Jared reached his breaking point when I used the words ‘sublime’ and ‘submarine’ in the same sentence. He’s been on edge for over an hour. I think the bit where Guy Pearce said that Beethoven would want to study under me was really when Jared got right up to the breaking point. Then you came over and he fell off the cliff.”
Chad patted his arm but Jared couldn’t take his hands away from his face. Chad laughed, “Well then, cutting the bull and the flattery, you’re going to get the Oscar nod for the song with LeAnn and Steve and Best Score. It hit the right note.”
“Man, we’ll be sitting right next to each other because you’re going to be nominated.” Then Jensen said, “We should get out of here. Jamie’s half asleep.”
Jared sighed and finally managed to pull himself together enough to stop laughing but when he removed his hands he saw three of his favorite faces in the world looking at him expectantly and said, “Stop it, I’ll lose it again. Just stop.”
“Dude, you should see your coloring right now,” said Chad.
“It’s like a panda but red where the black would be,” observed Jamie.
Jared had to bite his lip. And Jensen smiled at him and said, “Okay, let’s get out of here before Jared gets caught in the laugh loop.” They cycled through the room saying their goodnights and left. There was a line of cars waiting to whisk people home. In the stretched limo Jamie fell asleep, snug against his father’s side. Jensen asked, “What did you think?”
“I have absolutely no idea what the movie was about. I was too busy listening to the music.”
Jensen chuckled, “Okay what did you think about the music?”
“I sort of hate that people get to hear it because I loved it so much. I loved that I could hear you in it and I resent that other people will hear you in it. I loved the songs with words, loved hearing your voice.” He leaned over and kissed Jensen. Their tongues both tasted like wine and Jared started to laugh into Jensen’s mouth.
Pulling away Jensen said, “Are you going to lose it again?”
Jared bit his lip and finally managed to say, “How are you not as vain as me?”
“I don’t pay much attention to what they say. My work is amazing, my pay reflects that. I make music I like and that goes with the film. What they say doesn’t mean all that much as long as the music feels right. No one was really listening to it; they were all paying attention to their bits. Your opinion counts because you were paying attention to my bit.”
“The music rocked.”
Jensen grinned, “Good, I’m glad. I like it too.” He kissed him deeply, “Thank you for coming tonight.”
Laughing Jared said, “It was a great sacrifice.”
They pulled up to the hotel and the driver opened the door for them. Jensen slipped the man a fifty dollar bill as they left, he was carrying Jamie who mumbled something and rubbed his face against Jensen’s chest.
“Do you think that tip was a little excessive?” asked Jared, “I’m sure it was already built into his pay.”
“I just made half a million on a film, I can tip the driver.”
“Half a million?” repeated Jared as they got into the elevator.
Jensen nodded, “Yeah.”
“Whoa,” said Jared, “I took the wrong career path.”
Jensen chuckled and Jared quickly opened the suite’s door for him, “Let me tuck him in, don’t take off your suit.”
Jared made them coffee while Jensen put Jamie to bed. When Jensen came out Jared held up his mug, “To the man of the hour.” Jensen chuckled.
Coming to him Jensen took the coffee cup away and put it on the counter, “I think you should toast me in bed.” He kissed Jared and then moaned. “A hot man in a suit, only thing sexier is a hot man in a tux.”
“What if I’m naked?”
Jensen started to pull him towards the bedroom by his tie, “Well obviously, that’s best.” Jared shut the door behind them. Jensen threw the sheets back and sat down on the bed pulling Jared into his lap. He kissed Jared as he loosened his tie and started to unbutton Jared’s dress shirt. Jared reached to take his tie off but Jensen stilled his hands, “Leave it on. Please?”
Jared laughed, “Whatever you want, like I said: you’re the man of the hour.”
Jensen lifted Jared’s collar so he could take off Jared’s jacket and shirt but leave his tie on. Jared’s tie had been really loose but then Jensen retightened it, “Love a man in a tie.” He kissed Jared’s shoulders as Jared started to undress him. Jared ground down against him and Jensen bit his shoulder making Jared even harder. Jensen was shirtless now and Jared was massaging his back. “Oh that feels good, I’ve been stressed out all day. My back has been killing me.”
Jared pulled back and unzipped their pants. He moved away, standing and getting naked, “I want you to roll over for me.”
Jensen reached for him, “No, I want fuck you and I want it face to face. C’mon, I’m the man of the hour, remember? You know it turns me on when you giggle.”
“I know, and the man of the hour deserves a back massage and to get rimmed and teased before fucking his most adoring fan into the bed.” Jared bent to take off Jensen’s shoes and socks. “Lift your hips for me.” Jensen did as he was told and Jared pulled off his pants and briefs. “God, look at you. Maybe they get to hear your music but I’m the one who gets to see you naked. Roll over, on your stomach.” Jensen rolled over and Jared straddled him and kissed his way over Jensen’s back.
They’d put the lube and condoms in the bedside drawer the night before. Now Jared used the lube as massage oil. He worked Jensen’s shoulders as he moved down his back, kissing a path down to his ass. He worked his way over Jensen’s back and the man was moaning beneath him, “Feels so good, was so tight. Wanted you to like it so badly.”
“Loved it, loved it so much.” He felt the stress leave Jensen’s body and he started to lick him open. He fucked Jensen with slippery fingers and Jensen was moaning.
“Gonna come, gonna come, not yet, not yet, not yet, not yet,” Jensen was begging. Jared pulled back slowly.
“Back better?”
“So much better,” Jensen groaned.
Jared moved off to the side and flopped down next to “Want to fuck me?”
Jensen climbed on top of his kissing him deeply. “I love what you do to me. I want you.” They started making out and Jensen to slowly start to stretch him. “I really liked having the hottest date on my arm tonight.”
Jared smiled, “You’re welcome.”
Laughing Jensen said, “You really don’t know how to take a compliment.” Jensen’s fingers hit his prostate and Jared bit his lip. Jensen kissed him, “Good?” Jared just nodded, hugging Jensen close.
“I’m ready. I’m so ready, please.” Jared reached for a condom and quickly put it on Jensen and lubed him up, “Please.”
Jensen slid into him and kissed him and Jared was panting and happy. It was wonderful, Jensen was smiling against his shoulder. It was sweet and they were moving together fast. Jensen laughed something Jared said but, as always, Jared had no idea what he was saying. But Jensen helped him out by saying, “I’m pleased you love it and I’m sorry strangers get to see my soul… poetic fool.”
“It’s true,” said Jared. “So awesome.”
“Thank you, it means a lot.” Jensen nipped at his neck. Jensen stroked him into coming. Within a few moments Jensen slumped against him. “So much better than having Guy Pearce say Beethoven would be my student.” He leaned up and kissed Jared. He tugged at Jared’s tie and then undid it, dropping it to the floor. “Ties are sexy.”
“Got that impression.” Jensen reached for the tissues and cleaned them both up a bit. He got up to throw away the tissues and condom.
The housekeepers had put their PJs underneath their pillows and Jared reached under them to get his pants and tee-shirt. Jensen came back with a glass of water. “It’s midnight but with the time difference it’s really two in the morning and we have to get up at seven but, thankfully, that’s really nine according to our body clocks.” Jensen slowly pulled on his PJs as Jared drank the glass of water. Jensen climbed into bed and pulled up the sheets, “Will you be able to sleep?”
“Yeah, going to a real Hollywood premier really tired me out.”
“Good,” Jensen turned off his bedside table and Jared did the same. He wrapped himself around Jensen who said, “That feels good.”
~~~
When Jensen woke up the clock on the bedside said five AM but he quickly translated that to be seven at home. He got up, took a shower and went back onto the room to find Jared missing. He dressed and went out into the kitchen where Jared was cutting up fruit. “There’s coffee waiting for the man of the hour,” said Jared and Jensen laughed.
“Don’t you think my hour is over?”
“Nope, not in my eyes.” Jared handed him a cup of coffee and said, “So using my awesome smart phone I looked at the reviews.”
Jensen didn’t want to hear the reviews not until he had some coffee. So he redirected it, “Why do you make fun of my phone so much?”
“Because all it does is take pictures, text and phone, that’s pathetic.”
“That’s two more functions then I need.”
“How do you know when you have an email?”
“I check my computer.”
“But, I mean, I can check my email anywhere. I’m always up to date. I can look at my facebook-”
“I don’t have one of those. And I don’t want to be constantly bugged; I want media when I want it not all the time.”
“I get the news.”
“A newspaper is delivered to my door every morning. If I need more than that I turn on the computer. I don’t like that people can bug me all the time; I don’t want to get called while I’m in the supermarket. If I didn’t have Jamie I wouldn’t have a cell phone at all.”
“I have news alerts that bring me stuff I like. And today they are set to your name and The First Voyage.”
Jensen braced himself, “Good? Bad?”
“So much Oscar buzz it’s overwhelming. They loved it. Loved the film. And they all really loved your music, said it’s the best return ever, bemoaning how long you were away, saying it’s a new dawn for music.”
Jensen laughed, “Well, I would love a nomination.”
“You seem underwhelmed.”
“It makes me feel a little sick. Once I’m done with a movie I like to just leave it be. I only like knowing the outcome.”
They flew home later in the morning, Jamie slept for most of the plane ride. They got home at one and they spent the rest of the day lazing about by the pool relaxing as it was Sunday. For dinner Jared made them a big salad with steak and for dessert Jensen made flan. The week was hectic so Jensen ignored any and all requests to score movies. But having his life made him think of other things.
One night Jared took the dogs for a run while Jensen gave Jamie a bath and put him to bed. Jensen felt maudlin and he tried to tamp it down but it was there. When Jared came in he was dripping with sweat and he let the dogs out to play in the pool to cool down. He looked at Jensen and said, “What’s wrong?”
“Jamie is going to be seven in February, he’s growing up.”
“Aww, Jen,” Jared hugged him, sweat soaking into Jensen’s PJs.
“I want a baby, Jared.”
“They grow up, Jen. You knew that going in, babies grow up. He was never going to stay a baby.”
“No,” Jensen shook his head, “I mean, I want a baby. I’m not ready to not be the dad of a little kid. I want another kid. I know, I know, we just got our life sorted out, we’re busy people. I know that this is all still new. Maybe when you said you wanted kids it was lip service because you didn’t think it would happen. I don’t know what you want. There are still frozen embryos from when we were having Jamie and maybe you like the idea of a kid but don’t like the idea of the baby being biologically my dead wife. I don’t know how the Palickis would feel about it. If you want to be the father, okay great but you said that there wasn’t anyone you would want to be the mother of your child. And we could do egg banks, whatever, I don’t care. I want a baby and I want you to be the daddy.”
Jared rubbed his back, “I want a baby, cross that worry off the list right now. Yes, there are logistic problems. If someone got pregnant tomorrow the due date would crash with your theoretical tour dates. There are things to consider. Tricia has great genes, look at Jamie, couldn’t ask for more, cleaver and kind and awesome. The embryos are waiting, all ready to go. The baby gets three sets of grandparents. I don’t really care if I’m the bio dad. If I’d ever been in a stable relationship before I probably would have adopted. I was very happy to settle for being Jamie’s de facto stepdad. But now you’re saying you want a baby and I’m thrilled. I’m totally in.”
Jensen felt himself smiling. “It’s not too soon?”
“Like you said, I’m a freight train without breaks. I want a baby you want a baby: let’s have a baby. But I want you to be sure about this; let’s be sure that it’s not just a freak out because Jamie’s getting closer to ten than five.”
“We were going to have three kids; we didn’t want to have an only child. I don’t want an only child; kids are meant to have siblings. I want him to have siblings. And here I am, madly in love with you, in a position where I’m not going to be a single dad. I want a baby and I want that baby with you.”
Jared pulled back and grinned at him, “Awesome, a baby.” He kissed Jensen slowly and deeply. “We should call Annie. She’s a test run for telling your in-laws. But I really can’t see them freaking out. You’re giving them a grandkid.”
“Yeah,” Jensen took a sip of his coffee, his throat suddenly dry. “That’s a good idea.”
“Don’t freak out yet, okay?” said Jared, kissing him again.
“Okay.” But when Annie picked up Jensen blurted, “I want to have a baby with Jared and I want to use Tricia’s embryos.”
“Alright,” she said slowly, “not the way we usually say goodnight but congratulations?” She was on speakerphone and Jared laughed. “Oh hey, Jay.”
“He’s been freaking out,” said Jared.
“Why?” Then she continued, “Oh for chrissakes, Jen, I’m supposed to freak out? What: how can you consider moving on from your dead wife? Or: ohmigod how can you consider continuing your plan without her? Or: OMG you can’t use your wife’s eggs to continue your family that she wanted you to have? What is supposed to be my problem? Are Mom and Dad not going to be the baby’s grandparents, is there a rule that says a baby can’t have six grandparents?”
“No, of course not. It’s just not exactly normal: using Tricia’s eggs after she died to have babies with someone else.”
“Right and the bit where a gay guy married a lesbian to have kids, that was the normal bit?”
“No but-”
“All I’m hearing is that my brother in-law and his really nice boyfriend are giving me a niece or nephew. You’re not supposed to mourn her for the rest of your life. She wanted Jamie to have siblings and that’s what you’re doing with a great guy who makes you happy and who already treats Jamie like he’s his. And legally speaking the embryos are yours to do with what you see fit. If you want a surrogate I’m up for it, they say it’s easier to have kids later if you have one when you’re young. Plus I can eat whatever I like, and I get maternity leave. I think Jason would be totally into having sex with a pregnant woman. And, I mean, Mack’s knocked up and Meggie’s a little young. I’ll start taking my temperature. We can get started whenever you like.”
“Mack’s pregnant?” asked Jensen feeling shocked.
“No, who said that? I didn’t say that,” said Annie, poorly back pedaling.
“When did she tell you?”
“Like three days ago, she just found out. It doesn’t matter. She and Greg have been engaged for two years and the wedding is less than three months away, she won’t be showing. Chill.”
“Fine, what do you think Ma and Pa are going to say?”
“About Mack having a bun in the oven?”
“No, about Jared and I having a baby.”
“They’re going to be psyched that they’re getting a grandbaby. They worry about you, they about you’re happiness, they worry that you sort of fizzled out after Tricia died. Tell them that you’re having a baby with Jared and they will start buying baby stuff before I’ve actually fallen. Call them, stop being an idiot. They’re going to be thrilled. Then call Jared’s parents, then call yours and then go to bed because you have five kids sleeping over tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Annie,” said Jared. “I think you just wiped out all of his worries.”
“Hey, I get a new niece or nephew and pregnancy leave. See you tomorrow!”
“Night,” said Jensen as they hung up.
“Better?” said Jared.
“Very much so,” said Jensen.
They called all the grandparents and everyone was thrilled, no one was upset. Afterwards he was smiling and relaxed. “Want to practice making a baby?” asked Jared.
“Yes, totally.” Jensen leaned in and kissed his neck, “We’re gonna have a baby.”
“We have to talk to Jamie in the morning,” said Jared.
“Worry about that in the morning,” Jensen was still kissing his neck.
Jared for whistled for the dogs who came in and Jared locked the door behind them, “Bed.”
In bed Jared played his fingers over Jensen’s ribs making him laugh, “Don’t,” Jensen laughed. “Tickles.”
“I love you, Jen.” Jared said as he kissed along Jensen’s neck.
“Love you too.” He pulled Jared to hardness, “What do you want?”
“Handjobs and crashing?” Jared licked at Jensen’s lips, working his way inside. Jensen groaned into his mouth as Jared started to whack them both off. Jensen’s hand joined Jared’s and now it was Jared’s turn to moan and Jensen loved the vibrations. He came laughing into Jared’s mouth, “What?”
“It’s weird to have you quiet during sex. Kissing you shuts you up.”
“You love me even when I ramble.”
“I want to be the daddy of your baby. I love you all the time,” Jared gasped and came over Jensen’s abdomen. “Love that blissed out look too.”
Jared rested his forehead on Jensen’s shoulder. “So if Annie gets pregnant next month she’ll have the baby in August. After the tour but before school starts.”
“I don’t know if we can do it that fast. We’ll see.” Jensen ran his hands over Jared’s back, “Let’s put on pants and go to bed. A baby keeps you up half the night, we should enjoy this while we can.”
“I take naps during the day, I can be up with the baby until four-thirty when I have to go to the market. It’ll work, I promise.”
“I know, I know it will. I’m just warning you about the long nights ahead.” Jared kissed him one last time before getting up. He cleaned them both up before handing Jensen flannel pants.
For Halloween Jamie and Tim went as racecar drivers. Jared worked a lot on what was now just being called The Gallivanting Gourmet getting episodes done quickly. He’d always had a say in the shooting schedule and he wanted enough of it to be done so that he could have a quiet holiday season. They got seventeen of the season’s twenty-two episodes done before Thanksgiving.
Then it was Thanksgiving with his family and Christmas Eve with his family. Christmas morning was spent with Jensen’s parent and the afternoon was spent with the Palickis. They went home and ate dinner, just the three of them, and Jamie started to learn his new guitar, loving every minute of it. New Years was spent at the house with lots of friends and family around. All the time they were doing fertility stuff with Annie and the whole family was waiting for news.
Jamie was so excited about having a brother or sister that he talked about it endlessly. Except that in January he had the winter recital. He was excited and wore a blazer and khakis played two of his newly arranged classics which made Jensen get lightly teary with pride. Now in school during his music classes he focused exclusively on his guitar. Miss Patsavas said that Jamie was beyond her skill level. But on days when Jamie got to have two music classes he always spent one of them just playing the piano, practicing.
Every weekend they went over to Chris and Steve’s place to record Jamie’s CD. Jensen helped with all the backup music, recording it while Jamie was at school. All Jamie needed to do was the piano for the classics and the pop songs and singing on the pop tracks which were adorable. It was amazing how quickly it went and when he said that Jensen smirked, “Jamie’s a genius, it goes fast. This isn’t hard for him, it’s not like riding a bike, that took close to a year.”
And then they went to Mack’s wedding which was awesome. Mack looked beautiful; Greg looked like he might puke. Mack and Greg announced that she was pregnant and Jensen’s mom cried happy tears. There was a formal sit down dinner that night without kids and it was nice and Sandy was actually the person who babysat Jamie that night. It was really cool to have all the parts of his life melting into a whole.
The only fly in the ointment was Jamie’s six month checkup. He hated giving blood for his RAST tests but Jensen bribed him with promises of cake. But the results were so awesome that Jamie forgot to be upset. Milk could be added back into his diet. He was thrilled and when Jensen and Jared were alone with Kim in his office Jensen said, “Level with us, what’s he likely to grow out of?”
Kim shook his head, “I don’t want to get your hopes up.”
“We won’t get our hopes up.”
Leaning forward Kim said, “What I will say is this: he’s not going to grow out of shellfish, fish, peanuts, nuts, strawberries, sesame or avocados and it is likely that he will develop an allergy to latex because that’s related to avocados. There is a possibility that he could out grow the seaweed, pears, mustard, horseradish and wheat. But I don’t want you to expect that.” Jensen still hugged him.
Jensen went to the supermarket for supplies. That night they had grilled cheese sandwiches with American processed dairy cheese that melted beautifully they had ham in them. Jared made them a creamy tomato soup that he hadn’t been able to pull off with soy milk no matter how hard he’d tried. For dessert they had chocolate. Jamie loved it, it was the first time he’d eaten it since he was three and Jensen bought a large selection of chocolate.
The next morning, when Jared asked Jamie what he wanted for breakfast while they were cuddling in bed, Jamie said, “Chocolate chip pancakes and a glass of real milk.”
Without think Jared kissed his forehead and said, “You got it, baby.” But Jamie didn’t tell him off for calling him baby and hugged him before rolling over and going back to sleep.
The Oscar nominations were announced and sure enough The First Voyage did very well. Jensen was nominated for best song (the one without LeAnn and Steve) and best score. He was asked to perform his song at the awards and he happily agreed. Jared loved how much Jensen smiled now, it wasn’t a rare expression but the default.
Jamie’s CD was ready by mid February, the day after the anniversary of Tricia’s death. No one ever said anything about the day and Jensen was grateful for that. Meggie donated her abilities as a professional photographer and did the covers for their CDs. Jensen’s was just a close up of him, caught in a laugh. Jared thought the picture was really sexy. Jamie’s was him sitting at the piano, he had his hands on the keys and was wearing his Piano is My Life shirt it was pretty obvious that he wasn’t playing because he too was laughing. Jensen sent them to his agent and they were both snapped up quickly by EMI and the release and tour dates were set.
Jensen set up a trust for Jamie and Jensen said, “That’s money for when you grow up. I had a trust when I was little. The money was set up so that I could have it when I graduated college or turned twenty-five whichever came first. I used some of the money for the house and the pool and some for Mommy’s medical bills when she was going to have you and some for my violin, and guess what?”
“What?” asked Jamie.
“I still have a lot of the money for stuff like your allergy tests. And it’s a good thing it was put in a trust like that because if I’d had it when I was little I would have gotten myself a bed shaped like a race car and when I got my license I would have actually bought a sports car.”
“Now will the money for allergy tests come from my money?”
“No, baby, I’m the daddy. I take care of you. That’s my job; I’ll take care of everything you need from allergy tests, to your first car and college. The money will be waiting for you when you grow up.”
Jamie’s birthday was on a Friday and that night was going to be a family party. Jensen called the restaurant where he and Jamie had always gone for date night. They assured him that they never used sesame seed oil so Jensen made a reservation for the whole family for Friday. He included Jared’s family and it was going to be a huge party. And Saturday was the party for Jamie’s friends, all of the kids from his class and Jeff and Josh’s kids.
Jamie was up early on his birthday and bouncing on the bed. “Daddy, wake up, I’m seven.”
Jensen laughed, sitting up and hugging Jamie tightly. “Baby, you’re getting so big.” He kissed Jamie’s forehead, “Want presents now or after school?”
“Now,” Jamie bounced.
Jensen and Jared climbed out of bed. Jensen had assumed that Jamie would want his presents first and so he had set them out on the kitchen table the night before. There was a huge hippo stuffed toy with a bow on top of the other stuff. Jensen knew that Jamie was slightly too old for stuffed toys but Jensen wasn’t ready to let go of it yet. Jamie hugged the hippo to his chest and said, “I’m going to use him as a chair.” He put the hippo down.
Jensen pointed at the packages, “Those three are little, that one’s is your main one from Jared and me. That’s the order.”
So Jamie opened them in that order. He freaked out over the three little Lego sets that were all aquatic themed. But when he opened his big one he fell silent. He stared at it for a long time, just drinking it in, and then said, “Can I play with it or is it just for looking at?”
Jensen laughed, “You can totally play with it.”
Jamie looked shocked and picked it up, “Oh wow, I’m allowed to take it out of the box?”
Laughing Jared said, “It’s not for looking at.”
“But it’s a real, metal, painted-not-decaled, Generation One Rodimus Major still in the sealed box. Tim says these are really expensive. He says you can’t take them out of the box. He says the only reason he’s allowed to play with his Ratchet is because his dad took it out of the box in the eighties.”
“It’s a toy, Jamie, toys are meant to be played with.” Jensen smiled, “I would open it if I were you.”
Jamie took that as his cue and ripped off the plastic before carefully opening the box and removing the Transformer. “Wow.” It was in car form and Jamie ran it back and forth along the table.
“Like him?” asked Jared.
“Love him,” Jamie hugged them both. “Thank you.”
“Baby, we have to get you dressed,” said Jensen.
“I can’t bring Rodimus Major to school,” said Jamie sadly.
“That’s true,” said Jensen, “but you get to give out cupcakes.”
Jamie lit up, “Yeah, everyone loves that bit.” Jensen got him quickly washed and dressed. Jared made them fruit smoothies.
Jeff Morgan came over with Tim. They were a little early to pick up the cupcakes and Jeff was dropping off Tim’s sleepover things as Tim was going to stay after the party the next day. Tim’s eyes lit up, “Is that Rodimus Major? You took him out of the box. You’re not supposed to take them out of the box,” Tim said sounding scandalized.
“Toys are not investments, Tim, they’re toys,” said Jensen. Jamie jammed his feet into his shoes and Jeff took the cupcake carrier from Jensen. Jensen smiled at the boys, “I’m picking you guys up this afternoon.” He hugged Jamie one last time, “Happy birthday, Jamie.”
After Jamie left Jensen started to clean up the kitchen. Jared said, “When you told me that you spent three hundred bucks on birthdays I thought we were going to get Jamie tons of stuff. When you said that we were allotting one hundred and eighty of it to a piece of twenty-six year old metal and rubber I thought you were crazy. And then he was so excited he could barely bring himself to touch it.”
“I know my boy,” said Jensen. “Charisma, his girlfriend from last year?”
“They broke up?” asked Jared.
“She’s in a different homeroom, she might as well have moved to a different continent. Anyway, she got an iPad for Christmas. Can you believe that? A seven year-old with an iPad. Either some kids are getting grownup way too fast or the Carpenters don’t know their kid that well. Or maybe Charisma has way too much stuff. Mack got a Lady Lovely Locks doll with all the VHSs when she turned seven and I cannot believe that that less than twenty years later kids are so much more adult that an iPad is the equivalent thing.”
“Yes, but Jamie is a little bit more innocent, I think. No videogames in the house helps.”
“I told him that he can have a game system when he turns thirteen. I’m hoping he won’t want one. Nintendo stole my brother’s childhood. I was never that interested. But in the summer when the rest of us were running around outside Josh was always in front of the TV. I don’t want that for Jamie. Is that totally crazy nowadays?”
“I don’t think it’s crazy. It’s stealing my nephews’ lives. I just think you’re lucky that Jamie isn’t really that interested in them or else the begging would never stop. Jeff’s boys are begged for a Kinect for their Xbox for Christmas. And got one.”
“Jamie got the guitar because he was saying he wanted to learn another instrument. He loves that guitar. But, to be totally honest I think he liked this more. Did you hear him list it off?”
“‘A real, metal, painted-not-decaled, Generation One Rodimus Major still in the box.’ That was pretty funny,” said Jared. “He was almost shaking he was so excited.”
“Yeah, after the movie came out Jamie got so into Transformers that I got him the whole DVD collection of the old cartoons and he loved them so much that he thought the movie wasn’t as good.”
Jared laughed, “We watched a few while you were in LA. They’re not as good as I remember them being.”
Jensen also knew that they’d watched the episode of the barbeque while he was away because Jamie missed him when he left. Jared went to the restaurant to cover lunch as he was taking a rare Friday off from cooking. Jensen meanwhile cleaned the house. Most of his day was spent cooking for the class party the next day.
When he went to pick the boys up he saw that Genevieve Cortese, Jamie’s homeroom teacher for the year, looked worried while Jamie looked put out. And Jensen sighed as he pulled up to the curb. He opened the window and said, “Hi, Gen, what’s up?” as the boys climbed into the car.
“Daniel Balfour said that getting toys for your birthday is babyish and Rodimus is a gay name. Jamie was understandably upset because it’s not nice to insult someone’s birthday present and he doesn’t like people saying gay like it’s a bad thing. Thankfully, Tim set Daniel straight by saying that a brand-new metal 1984 Rodimus Major is way cooler than anything Daniel has ever touched. We talked about words that can hurt with the whole class and I made Daniel apologize but he didn’t really mean it and Jamie did not accept his apology. Eric just picked Daniel up and I would expect a phone call when you get home.”
“Thank you, Gen. We’ll see you on Monday.”
She leaned in the window with a smile and said, “Jamie, I hope you have fun tonight and at your party tomorrow. Happy birthday!”
Jamie smiled, “Thanks, Miss Cortese.”
“So, outside of Daniel being rude how was your birthday?”
“Everyone loved the cupcakes and I got an eraser shaped like a dog, a birthday sticker and birthday pencil with a monster topper!” said Jamie.
“It’s green and has googly eyes,” added Tim.
“Very cool,” said Jensen.
Time asked Jamie if he could play with Rodimus the next day and Jamie said, “Yes, but he’s for gentle playing. I don’t want to smash him into stuff. I want his paint to stay nice. We can still smash Optimus Prime into stuff.”
“I won’t drop him or hurt him, I promise,” Tim crossed his heart.
“We can transform him and he can ref the fights.”
“Cool,” said Tim. “This is really exciting.”
They dropped Tim off and went home. Jared was there, freshly showered still running a towel over his hair. He smiled, “Someone called while I was in the shower.”
“That will be Eric.” Jensen hit the play button on the machine.
“Hi, Jensen, it’s Eric Balfour. I am so sorry about this. Give me a call back and we’ll see if we can sort this out a bit.”
Jared stared at the machine, “Eric Balfour from 24?”
“Yep,” said Jensen. “His wife is from Austin.”
Jamie started to explain what happened at school as Jensen called Eric back. Eric picked up and Jensen said, “Hi, Eric, it’s Jensen.”
“Jensen, I’m sorry. Please believe me what he’s saying is not coming from us. I think it’s the TV, they use slurs like they’re just words. And his older sister listens to music with the n word in it. I’m not sure how we got here. I didn’t want to move to Texas but I thought the kids would grow up a little slower out here, I liked that. We sent the kids to Leahnant thinking that they would still be in a liberal atmosphere. I grew up in LA and I thought this would be sheltered. But I think kids grow up faster nowadays. You never see a kid with bow biters anymore, it’s all Velcro.”
Jensen chuckled, “Jared and I were talking about that just this morning.”
“So I’ve talked to him about why gay is a mean word, meaner than lame. We talked about why you shouldn’t ever insult someone’s birthday present and how hurtful it is. I asked him how he would feel if Jamie had made fun of his present. He understands more now. He would like to apologize better.”
“Sounds like a great idea to me.”
“He’s not coming tomorrow; I think he needs to be taught a lesson. Everyone loves parties at your house and I don’t think he gets to enjoy that.”
“I think if he apologizes that’s enough.”
“I disagree. He called his sister a retard the other day. Words aren’t getting through to him so he’s missing the party and I hope the other kids talk about how awesome it was all day Monday.”
“Okay, well, you’re the boss. But I’m not offended if that’s what you’re worried about. Seven year olds are idiots, every single one, these things happen. Once Jamie forgives him I think we’re good to go.”
“Well, thanks for that, but he likes to play up when his mom’s on location, we take turns. I’ve got to put my foot down. You want to put it on speakerphone so that we can monitor it?” asked Eric.
“Sounds like a great idea.” Jensen set the phone to speakerphone and said, “Jamie, Daniel wants to talk to you.”
At the same time he heard Eric say, “Daniel, Jamie is on the phone for you.”
Jensen handed the phone to Jamie as Daniel said, “Hi, Jamie.”
“Hi, Daniel.”
“I’m sorry I made fun of your Transformer. It was mean. I wouldn’t like it if you made fun of my PSP and it wasn’t nice of me to call it babyish. My big sister has stuffed animals, different kids like different stuff and that doesn’t make it babyish. And gay is a really hurtful word because it means boys who like boys and it doesn’t mean lame and your dad is gay and he’s really cool.”
“Apology accepted,” said Jamie then he said, “I’ll see you tomorrow at my party.”
“No, Dad won’t let me come as punishment.”
“But I accepted your apology,” said Jamie, confused.
“Sorry, Jamie,” said Eric, “it’s one strike too many. Maybe you guys can have a play date soon.”
“Okay, Mr. Balfour. I’ll see you on Monday, Daniel.”
“Happy Birthday,” said Daniel.
“Thank you,” said Jamie. He handed the phone back to Jensen as the Balfours hung up. “How long do we have before dinner?”
“We have an hour and a half before we have to get dressed in nice shoes.”
“I’m going to start transforming Rodimus Major. It’s got tons of movable parts.”
“What about the Lego?”
“I’m gonna play with that tomorrow. First I want to play with Rodimus.”
Jensen nodded. He made coffee and watched as Jamie followed the instructions, transforming the car into a man. “There was a poster in the box, what do you want to do with that?”
“Can we get a poster frame?” asked Jamie.
“Sure, if that’s what you want.”
“I think it’s too nice to just be pinned up.”
“Hey,” said Jared, “mine’s not in a frame!”
Jamie smiled and said, “You can buy yours off the Food Network website. You can’t get one of these. If something gets on your one I can get a new one. I can’t buy another one of these so it gets framed.”
“What if I sign mine? Will that merit framing?”
“Jared, I have pictures of you and me now, those are framed.”
Jensen smirked at Jared as he handed off a cup of coffee. “Accept it, Jay, you’re not famous anymore. Now you’re just Jared and your poster is no longer the focus of the room.”
Jamie smiled, “It’s still my favorite show and you’re still my favorite person on TV but now I don’t really need the poster, you’re here.”
“Aw, thank you, baby.” He smiled, “I’m going to have to start doing the show again soon so I won’t be around so much. It takes a lot of traveling. But Sandy promised me I’ll stay in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana so I can make sure I’m home for a couple of days every week.”
Jamie sighed, “We’ll watch lots of Dinner for Two while you’re away. Do the dogs have to go too?”
“No, the dogs will stay home.”
“Okay, Daddy and I will take good care of them.” Jamie looked a little glum and then he said, “I’m stuck.” He was staring at the instructions. Jared sat down next to him and studied the charts.
“Step fourteen,” said Jared, “making the headlights into blasters.”
“We have to go back,” Jamie started to reverse the steps.
It took an hour and ten minutes for Jamie to totally transform him and then he just stared at him, “Coolest present ever.” Two little wheels were under his feet and Jamie skated him along the tabletop.
They got ready for dinner, dressing up and putting on nice shoes. Jared fed the dogs before they left. Everyone was waiting and there were cheers as they went in. Someone had brought balloons and the dinner went well. Jamie got Legos and sheet music, which he loved. Jamie tried to convince him to let Marky, Mary, Kurt and Eric sleepover but Jensen said, “Jamie they’re sleeping over tomorrow with Tim. I want you to be nice and rested for your party tomorrow and I don’t think that’s possible with a sleepover the night before.”
~~~
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