Pay the fiddler's tune (for onceaheroine)

[with_aprice]

There had been tea, to start with, when Archie and Nick first sat down in Archie's den.  Sometime over the course of their conversation the tea had become laced with whiskey, and by the time the more mundane had been talked out and they'd gotten to the real meat of the conversation the tea as abandoned completely in favor of straight shots of

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[onceaheroine]

She heard them coming. Of course she did. Even without the enhanced hearing that came of being a slayer, she would have heard Nick caterwauling.

Honestly, her first emotion was relief, that nothing had happened. But hard on its heels was a real irritation and worry -- for him to be singing like that, Nick was absolutely pissed off his gourd. And for an injured Watcher to be out after dark and drunk enough to be making that much noise was stupidity of the highest order.

Belle stood on the front steps, and waited for them to sway their way around the corner.

[beyour_guide]

Archie was happy for Belle. He'd first met her when she was weighed so heavily with grief that even walking seemed difficult. Pity hadn't lasted long, though. He admired her, respected her, and above all worried about her. They'd worked side by side for five years, and she'd become his best friend. That she had her husband back now, the love of her life, made him happy. Never had he seen the look on her face that he saw that second day, when he'd come to check on him and she was looking at Nick with wonder and love

[with_aprice]

Walking still wasn't the easiest thing, after two weeks of daily exercises and relearning to use the cane. it reminded him of physical therapy when he'd first relearned to walk in the hospital, decades ago. Belle, he suspects, has been reading up on such things via the internet.

The fact that he's managed the trip from Archie's to home without falling, even with the support of his new friend and cane, is probably something of a miracle. He does stumble quite a bit, though, as he makes his way to the bottom of the stairs, his singing finished for now.

"It's m'wife. My wife," he repeats for emphasis. He likes the sounds of the words, that even after two weeks seem amazing to be able to say again. "'ello, love."

[onceaheroine]

Belle walks down the first few steps and sits, crossing her arms over her knees and leaning her chin on her forearms. She studies them both for a moment. "You know, I've generally subscribed to the theory that both my Watchers are... intelligent, practical, thoughtful men. Sensible, even," she muses.

[with_aprice]

When he first escapes into the library he glances at the whiskey on the small redwood bar, but there's a small voice in his head that cautions he's close enough to alcohol poisoning already. Instead he slumps onto the couch and stares at nothing. He doesn't cry; what little emotional reserve he had was used up in fear and yelling, and now that he knows about the babe he has nothing left to grieve with

[onceaheroine]

If he'd come up right after she'd returned, Nick would have found his wife flushed and touching herself. Tension, combat and adrenaline have a very particular effect on slayers, Belle has learned. Or on her at least. And it's hard to remain disciplined and not take advantage of her husband now that he's home. she's wound tight and had taken the time to relieve herself.

At the point at which he comes upstairs, she's sitting on a meditation cushion, still warm from her shower and her damp hair is braided. Her eyes are closed and her breath is slow and even.

[with_aprice]

Though he doesn't have quite as much grace as he once did, for a man with a cane be moves pretty softly. Tonight especially he tries not to make noise, not wanting to wake up Archie, or his wife if she's asleep. Instead of sleep, though, he finds her meditating, and lingers in the doorway. She looks more relaxed than she did earlier. She always looks beautiful. Now, though, he's reminded once again how young she is. How damn much she's had to carry on her shoulders despite that youth.

He stands, and watches, and doesn't know what to say. Or if he should.

[onceaheroine]

Quiet as he might've been, she'd heard him coming. And even if he hadn't made a sound, she'd feel his eyes on her, sense his heartbeat. It pulls her out of the light trance she'd barely felt settle over her, but Belle doesn't open her eyes immediately. She lets him watch her for a moment, wondering if he plans on speaking.

When he doesn't, she lets her eyes flutter open and meet his.

It's been years since she's looked at him and felt at a complete loss as to what to say to him.