Vanilla 5, chocolate 2, strawberry 1: Good For You
Title: Good For You
Main Story: In the Heart
Flavors and Toppings: Vanilla 5 (friendly competition), chocolate 2 (rivalry/jealousy), strawberry 1 (strawberries).
Word Count: 1852
Rating: PG-13 (swearing, some implications)
Summary: In Which Nathan goes to a party, meets an old friend of Gail's, is a wee bit jealous, gets threatened with a beating, gets everything explained, and ends by being more in love with Gail than ever. Oh, and there are Implications.
Notes: My first entry for the cross-country marathon. I felt Gail and Nathan needed some time to be cute. Douglas was previously mentioned here, and Melanie is Nathan's ex-wife and Aaron's mother.
Nathan shifted uncomfortably in his suit and wished he could have worn his uniform. But this-- now what could he call it? Not a party; there was nothing celebratory about it-- this event had something to do with politics, so he'd erred on the side of caution and looking bland. The perfect political spouse, photogenic but forgettable and quiet in the background.
No one would ever believe he was here with Gail.
She looked beautiful, of course, and elegant, with her red hair loose around her bare shoulders, green silk skimming her curves. Completely in control, the consummate politician, exchanging air kisses and handshakes with graceful aplomb. No one would ever believe she was a recent appointee either: Nathan was beyond proud.
Of course, he had other motives for admiring her; motives best exemplified by the slight extra curve to her, just the faintest hint of pregnancy filling out her hips and breasts. He doubted anyone not as familiar with her body as he was would notice, though, and at this point he rather liked it that way. Let it be their secret, just for now.
He slipped up beside her and circled an arm around her waist, sneaking a kiss just beneath her ear as he did so. "Do we really have to be here?" he murmured.
"I'm afraid so." Gail gave a polite smile and nod to a passing elderly gentleman, and rested a hand atop his. "Two hours. Maximum."
"Mrs. Hirschfeld, I'm getting the sense that you don't like these people very much."
She suppressed the smile immediately, but Nathan caught the slight quirk at the corners of her mouth anyway. "Why, Mr. Kendall, I've no idea where you got that impression."
"Call it husband's intuition." He squeezed her hip gently. "Is there anyone here whose company you actually enjoy?"
"You mean apart from you?" Gail turned very slightly in his grasp, just enough so that she could face him. "Um. Heidi Marsden-- she's the brunette in the sparkly blue dress. And Alex Hunter. Uh..." She scanned the crowd in the room, then shook her head. "That's about it. Remind me why I took this job?"
Nathan managed another kiss, this time on her temple. "Because they needed you. Because you're good at it. Because you've got everyone in this room eating out of the palm of your hand." He hesitated, his hand twitching involuntarily towards her abdomen. Because two children were manageable on an architect's and a teacher's combined salaries, but three...
"Because I wanted another baby and we couldn't afford it," Gail said, reading his mind, as she often did. "Ah well. It's just that I do miss the classroom sometimes."
"Look on the bright side," Nathan said, and nodded at an aide scurrying past. "Hang in there for another year or so and they'll give you an aide of your very own to boss around."
Gail brightened visibly. "That's right! I'll have minions. There's an exciting thought."
"When you take over the world, can I have Australia?"
She laughed, and cuddled back against him. "No, Ivy called dibs. You can have New Zealand, though."
Nathan pretended to consider it, and was about to make a counteroffer, when someone nearby said in amused tones, "Gail Hirschfeld, as I live and breathe. What a sight for sore eyes you are, my dear."
Gail stiffened in his arms, and exclaimed, "Douglas? I'll be damned."
"Douglas" proved to be a tall black man with a lazy grin and a short, neatly-trimmed mustache. He kissed Gail on both cheeks, a greeting she returned eagerly, then held her at arm's length. Nathan squashed a spark of jealousy.
"You look lovely," the other man pronounced, finally, with the air of one passing judgment. "Life's been treating you better than when we last spoke, I hope?"
"Much," Gail said, her eyes sparkling. "Where the hell have you been, Doug? Better be somewhere without internet access."
"As it happens," he said, in lofty tones, "I was working with the Peace Corps in South America and I have not had internet access. What's your excuse?"
She gave him a flat look. "I'm not the one who dropped off the face of the earth. I don't need an excuse."
Douglas waved an airy hand. "All I hear is 'blah blah blah,' babe. How's Ivy?"
"She's ten years old," Gail said, dryly. "How do you think? Seriously, though, she's doing wonderfully. Got a big brother and everything."
The other man arched an eyebrow. Gail only smiled angelically. Nathan, lurking somewhat awkwardly behind Gail, hid a smile of his own.
"Gail, my dear," Douglas said at last, "do explain how you managed to have a child before Ivy."
Gail tilted her head to the side and thought about that for a moment. She wasn't smiling, but her dimples were showing, which meant she was trying very hard not to. "I don't suppose you'd believe time travel."
"No," Douglas said, and looked at her expectantly.
She laughed, and finally reached back, catching Nathan's arm and drawing him up to stand beside her. "I married their father, of course. Nathan, this is Douglas McIntyre, he's a friend of mine from college. Douglas, Nathan Kendall."
"Hello," Nathan said, and put out a hand.
The other man's eyes narrowed, and he made no move to take Nathan's hand. "You're Ivy's father?" he asked, in tones of deep suspicion.
Nathan sighed. He'd been through this before, but never with someone Gail actually liked. "Yes, I am."
Somewhat to his surprise, Douglas fisted his hands and glared. Nathan hadn't seen a glare like that since he'd left the Navy. "I ought to beat you like your parents should have," he said.
"I'm... sorry?" Nathan asked, carefully.
Gail stepped between them and put her hand flat against Douglas's chest. "Excuse me," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "I believe that's my husband you just threatened."
"Maybe now," Douglas said. "You forget I was around when the son of a bitch left you the first time."
There was a moment of very confused silence, then Gail said, "Oh! Oh. No, Douglas."
"What?" Douglas asked.
"Didn't you mention the bastard's name?" Nathan asked, at about the same time.
"No," Gail said, stepping back and linking her arm through Nathan's. "Didn't see the point. That was right after he walked out and I really didn't want to talk about him." She smiled, a bit sheepishly, and Nathan forgave her all crimes past and present. "I think I sort of thought that if I said his name any more than I had to he'd come back, and that was the last thing I wanted."
"Gail, honey," Douglas said, "I'd appreciate an explanation."
Gail turned a long look on him, one that Nathan recognized from the last time she'd been genuinely disappointed in their daughter. "I don't know," she said. "I'm not sure you deserve one. Jumping to conclusions and disrespecting my intelligence like that."
Douglas put on a mock-hurt look. "Disrespecting your intelligence? Who was disrespecting anything about you, babe? If anything I was trying to defend your honor."
"You might," Gail said, levelly, "have trusted me to know my own mind. And thought me capable of defending my own honor, thank you very much."
Nathan had a brief, rather smug moment of pride. He let Gail fight her own battles, unless she asked for help, of course.
If he liked to watch her fight those battles because she was sexy as hell when she was angry, well, that was irrelevant.
"I'm sorry?" Douglas tried. It was more a question than a statement, but Gail, veteran of countless kindergartners, accepted it anyway.
"Nathan is not Ivy's biological father," she said, with the air of one explaining something she'd had to explain too many times before. Nathan squeezed her arm supportively. "He is, however, her father. Clear?"
"As mud," Douglas said. He eyed Nathan, his expression somewhat skeptical.
Gail folded her arms forbiddingly; no more information would be forthcoming. His turn. "I adopted Ivy just after I married Gail," Nathan explained, patiently. "I believe that makes her my daughter as well. Screw genetics."
The last addition might have been a bit impatient, but fuck it. The sooner this conversation was over, the sooner he could cajole Gail into going home, and he was beyond tired of having his family questioned.
"Oh," Douglas said, and looked contrite. "Uh. I'm sorry."
"You'd better be," Gail said, caustically. "He's a Navy vet. He could kick your ass."
At that, Douglas looked even more contrite, and a bit worried. Damn it. Nathan knew he should've worn his uniform. Maybe this conversation would have gone better.
Though really, he couldn't blame the other man that much. Anyone with any affection for Gail could not like her ex, and anyone with any affection for Ivy must hate the guy.
Is there something wrong with me, Daddy?
Well, that explained Douglas's reaction, anyway.
"It's all right," Nathan said, and held out a hand. "I'd have just punched the guy, myself. I'm grateful for your forbearance."
The contrite look changed to one of surprise as Douglas took Nathan's hand and shook once, firmly. "Well, you know how it is with these parties. Better not to cause a fuss."
Gail rolled her eyes, made a you-should-talk motion, and took Nathan's arm in a possessive grip. "Doug, it was lovely to see you again," she said, pointedly.
Douglas laughed. "Nice to know you can still say what you don't mean, darling," he said.
"I'm a politician," Gail said. "We should get coffee sometime. And by that I mean you can buy me coffee to make up for insulting my husband."
Nathan, through an extreme effort of will, did not laugh. Instead he shrugged. "It was an honest mistake, love."
"And you're too easy-going." She kissed his jawline, then tugged on his arm. "Now take me home and buy me strawberries. Lots of strawberries," she added, her voice heavy with meaning.
He didn't even try to suppress this smile. Gail's pregnancy cravings were a hell of a lot easier than Melanie's, and when she asked in that tone it meant she was craving something else too. "What happened to two hours?"
"I changed my mind," Gail said, 'smartass' unspoken but clearly heard. "Also, Douglas pissed me off."
"I said sorry," Douglas pointed out, to no one in particular.
Nathan made an appropriate effort to look solemn. "All right then, I won't complain. It was nice to meet you, Douglas."
"You too," Douglas said, raising his glass just a bit. "Sorry about the... eh, you know."
Nathan shrugged again. "No offense taken. Like I said, I'd like to beat up the sonofabitch myself."
Douglas nodded solemnly. "Maybe bring a couple friends along. I know a few guys who'd want in."
"Boys," Gail said. "I'm glad you two are getting along but you can do the posturing thing later. After I get my strawberries and out of this dress."
Douglas's eyebrows went up. Nathan bit back another grin. Subtlety, thy name ain't Gail. "All right, all right. After you."
Main Story: In the Heart
Flavors and Toppings: Vanilla 5 (friendly competition), chocolate 2 (rivalry/jealousy), strawberry 1 (strawberries).
Word Count: 1852
Rating: PG-13 (swearing, some implications)
Summary: In Which Nathan goes to a party, meets an old friend of Gail's, is a wee bit jealous, gets threatened with a beating, gets everything explained, and ends by being more in love with Gail than ever. Oh, and there are Implications.
Notes: My first entry for the cross-country marathon. I felt Gail and Nathan needed some time to be cute. Douglas was previously mentioned here, and Melanie is Nathan's ex-wife and Aaron's mother.
Nathan shifted uncomfortably in his suit and wished he could have worn his uniform. But this-- now what could he call it? Not a party; there was nothing celebratory about it-- this event had something to do with politics, so he'd erred on the side of caution and looking bland. The perfect political spouse, photogenic but forgettable and quiet in the background.
No one would ever believe he was here with Gail.
She looked beautiful, of course, and elegant, with her red hair loose around her bare shoulders, green silk skimming her curves. Completely in control, the consummate politician, exchanging air kisses and handshakes with graceful aplomb. No one would ever believe she was a recent appointee either: Nathan was beyond proud.
Of course, he had other motives for admiring her; motives best exemplified by the slight extra curve to her, just the faintest hint of pregnancy filling out her hips and breasts. He doubted anyone not as familiar with her body as he was would notice, though, and at this point he rather liked it that way. Let it be their secret, just for now.
He slipped up beside her and circled an arm around her waist, sneaking a kiss just beneath her ear as he did so. "Do we really have to be here?" he murmured.
"I'm afraid so." Gail gave a polite smile and nod to a passing elderly gentleman, and rested a hand atop his. "Two hours. Maximum."
"Mrs. Hirschfeld, I'm getting the sense that you don't like these people very much."
She suppressed the smile immediately, but Nathan caught the slight quirk at the corners of her mouth anyway. "Why, Mr. Kendall, I've no idea where you got that impression."
"Call it husband's intuition." He squeezed her hip gently. "Is there anyone here whose company you actually enjoy?"
"You mean apart from you?" Gail turned very slightly in his grasp, just enough so that she could face him. "Um. Heidi Marsden-- she's the brunette in the sparkly blue dress. And Alex Hunter. Uh..." She scanned the crowd in the room, then shook her head. "That's about it. Remind me why I took this job?"
Nathan managed another kiss, this time on her temple. "Because they needed you. Because you're good at it. Because you've got everyone in this room eating out of the palm of your hand." He hesitated, his hand twitching involuntarily towards her abdomen. Because two children were manageable on an architect's and a teacher's combined salaries, but three...
"Because I wanted another baby and we couldn't afford it," Gail said, reading his mind, as she often did. "Ah well. It's just that I do miss the classroom sometimes."
"Look on the bright side," Nathan said, and nodded at an aide scurrying past. "Hang in there for another year or so and they'll give you an aide of your very own to boss around."
Gail brightened visibly. "That's right! I'll have minions. There's an exciting thought."
"When you take over the world, can I have Australia?"
She laughed, and cuddled back against him. "No, Ivy called dibs. You can have New Zealand, though."
Nathan pretended to consider it, and was about to make a counteroffer, when someone nearby said in amused tones, "Gail Hirschfeld, as I live and breathe. What a sight for sore eyes you are, my dear."
Gail stiffened in his arms, and exclaimed, "Douglas? I'll be damned."
"Douglas" proved to be a tall black man with a lazy grin and a short, neatly-trimmed mustache. He kissed Gail on both cheeks, a greeting she returned eagerly, then held her at arm's length. Nathan squashed a spark of jealousy.
"You look lovely," the other man pronounced, finally, with the air of one passing judgment. "Life's been treating you better than when we last spoke, I hope?"
"Much," Gail said, her eyes sparkling. "Where the hell have you been, Doug? Better be somewhere without internet access."
"As it happens," he said, in lofty tones, "I was working with the Peace Corps in South America and I have not had internet access. What's your excuse?"
She gave him a flat look. "I'm not the one who dropped off the face of the earth. I don't need an excuse."
Douglas waved an airy hand. "All I hear is 'blah blah blah,' babe. How's Ivy?"
"She's ten years old," Gail said, dryly. "How do you think? Seriously, though, she's doing wonderfully. Got a big brother and everything."
The other man arched an eyebrow. Gail only smiled angelically. Nathan, lurking somewhat awkwardly behind Gail, hid a smile of his own.
"Gail, my dear," Douglas said at last, "do explain how you managed to have a child before Ivy."
Gail tilted her head to the side and thought about that for a moment. She wasn't smiling, but her dimples were showing, which meant she was trying very hard not to. "I don't suppose you'd believe time travel."
"No," Douglas said, and looked at her expectantly.
She laughed, and finally reached back, catching Nathan's arm and drawing him up to stand beside her. "I married their father, of course. Nathan, this is Douglas McIntyre, he's a friend of mine from college. Douglas, Nathan Kendall."
"Hello," Nathan said, and put out a hand.
The other man's eyes narrowed, and he made no move to take Nathan's hand. "You're Ivy's father?" he asked, in tones of deep suspicion.
Nathan sighed. He'd been through this before, but never with someone Gail actually liked. "Yes, I am."
Somewhat to his surprise, Douglas fisted his hands and glared. Nathan hadn't seen a glare like that since he'd left the Navy. "I ought to beat you like your parents should have," he said.
"I'm... sorry?" Nathan asked, carefully.
Gail stepped between them and put her hand flat against Douglas's chest. "Excuse me," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "I believe that's my husband you just threatened."
"Maybe now," Douglas said. "You forget I was around when the son of a bitch left you the first time."
There was a moment of very confused silence, then Gail said, "Oh! Oh. No, Douglas."
"What?" Douglas asked.
"Didn't you mention the bastard's name?" Nathan asked, at about the same time.
"No," Gail said, stepping back and linking her arm through Nathan's. "Didn't see the point. That was right after he walked out and I really didn't want to talk about him." She smiled, a bit sheepishly, and Nathan forgave her all crimes past and present. "I think I sort of thought that if I said his name any more than I had to he'd come back, and that was the last thing I wanted."
"Gail, honey," Douglas said, "I'd appreciate an explanation."
Gail turned a long look on him, one that Nathan recognized from the last time she'd been genuinely disappointed in their daughter. "I don't know," she said. "I'm not sure you deserve one. Jumping to conclusions and disrespecting my intelligence like that."
Douglas put on a mock-hurt look. "Disrespecting your intelligence? Who was disrespecting anything about you, babe? If anything I was trying to defend your honor."
"You might," Gail said, levelly, "have trusted me to know my own mind. And thought me capable of defending my own honor, thank you very much."
Nathan had a brief, rather smug moment of pride. He let Gail fight her own battles, unless she asked for help, of course.
If he liked to watch her fight those battles because she was sexy as hell when she was angry, well, that was irrelevant.
"I'm sorry?" Douglas tried. It was more a question than a statement, but Gail, veteran of countless kindergartners, accepted it anyway.
"Nathan is not Ivy's biological father," she said, with the air of one explaining something she'd had to explain too many times before. Nathan squeezed her arm supportively. "He is, however, her father. Clear?"
"As mud," Douglas said. He eyed Nathan, his expression somewhat skeptical.
Gail folded her arms forbiddingly; no more information would be forthcoming. His turn. "I adopted Ivy just after I married Gail," Nathan explained, patiently. "I believe that makes her my daughter as well. Screw genetics."
The last addition might have been a bit impatient, but fuck it. The sooner this conversation was over, the sooner he could cajole Gail into going home, and he was beyond tired of having his family questioned.
"Oh," Douglas said, and looked contrite. "Uh. I'm sorry."
"You'd better be," Gail said, caustically. "He's a Navy vet. He could kick your ass."
At that, Douglas looked even more contrite, and a bit worried. Damn it. Nathan knew he should've worn his uniform. Maybe this conversation would have gone better.
Though really, he couldn't blame the other man that much. Anyone with any affection for Gail could not like her ex, and anyone with any affection for Ivy must hate the guy.
Is there something wrong with me, Daddy?
Well, that explained Douglas's reaction, anyway.
"It's all right," Nathan said, and held out a hand. "I'd have just punched the guy, myself. I'm grateful for your forbearance."
The contrite look changed to one of surprise as Douglas took Nathan's hand and shook once, firmly. "Well, you know how it is with these parties. Better not to cause a fuss."
Gail rolled her eyes, made a you-should-talk motion, and took Nathan's arm in a possessive grip. "Doug, it was lovely to see you again," she said, pointedly.
Douglas laughed. "Nice to know you can still say what you don't mean, darling," he said.
"I'm a politician," Gail said. "We should get coffee sometime. And by that I mean you can buy me coffee to make up for insulting my husband."
Nathan, through an extreme effort of will, did not laugh. Instead he shrugged. "It was an honest mistake, love."
"And you're too easy-going." She kissed his jawline, then tugged on his arm. "Now take me home and buy me strawberries. Lots of strawberries," she added, her voice heavy with meaning.
He didn't even try to suppress this smile. Gail's pregnancy cravings were a hell of a lot easier than Melanie's, and when she asked in that tone it meant she was craving something else too. "What happened to two hours?"
"I changed my mind," Gail said, 'smartass' unspoken but clearly heard. "Also, Douglas pissed me off."
"I said sorry," Douglas pointed out, to no one in particular.
Nathan made an appropriate effort to look solemn. "All right then, I won't complain. It was nice to meet you, Douglas."
"You too," Douglas said, raising his glass just a bit. "Sorry about the... eh, you know."
Nathan shrugged again. "No offense taken. Like I said, I'd like to beat up the sonofabitch myself."
Douglas nodded solemnly. "Maybe bring a couple friends along. I know a few guys who'd want in."
"Boys," Gail said. "I'm glad you two are getting along but you can do the posturing thing later. After I get my strawberries and out of this dress."
Douglas's eyebrows went up. Nathan bit back another grin. Subtlety, thy name ain't Gail. "All right, all right. After you."