Chapter Text
Coming to Jared’s physical therapy session had been a mutual decision. If they’re going to follow Dr. Atlas’ orders on finding ways to alleviate the strain on Jared’s spine, then Jensen’s all in. It was their deal, after all. They’re a team in all of this, even though nothing breaks Jensen’s heart faster than seeing the pain Jared’s going through. It makes Jensen feel stuck on the sidelines and useless. He can’t take take the discomfort away from Jared - the world knows he would if he could - and he’s scared to death of how much harder everything is going to get.
If Jared’s physical therapists are going to try to come up with things Jared can practice at home, then Jensen sure as hell is going to be there. How else will he learn what to do? Despite that, he does feel a little like a fish out of water. These appointments are things Jared does on his own. At first, he’s sure it was because Jared was trying to keep Jensen from being scared away at the prospect of being in a relationship with someone in Jared's condition. But now, it’s habit. It’s a place Jared goes to keep his body strong and in best working order. He’d once teased that he didn’t want Jensen around to distract him, because then he’d get nothing done, before honestly explaining that he likes going alone. It is his time to focus and think, and Jensen gets it. Maybe it’s why he feels like he’s encroaching in something that’s been solely Jared until this point in time. It’s almost as if he’s overstepping one of the few boundaries they have, invading Jared’s personal space in a way that isn’t comfortable for either of them. Though, it has to be. Jensen makes a mental note to leave Jared to his own devices during therapy time once the pregnancy is over with.
Marcus and Josie are nice enough. It’s clear that they have a well honed relationship with Jared; every interaction with their patient speaks of the fact that they’ve been working together for years. They’re not deliberately trying to make Jensen feel like the odd man out, it’s just that their very being there is making it pretty obvious that it’s exactly what Jensen is.
“Jensen, you come around over here,” Marcus instructs, trusting Jared’s care to Josie so that he can twist away from Jared enough and make eye contact with Jensen.
The words snap Jensen out of his reverie and he startles. “Oh, yeah, okay,” He says as he shakes his head to clear it. Doing as Marcus requested, he scrambles onto the mats where they are working with Jared, saddling up beside his boyfriend.
“Come ‘round here often,” Jared tries to tease from his place on the mat. He’s in a modified all-fours position, having both of his palms flat on the mat and directly under his shoulders so that they hold his upper body up. Josie and Marcus worked on manipulating Jared’s legs, making sure his knees are aligned with his hips and placed in such a way that evenly distributes his weight and Jared’s essentially holding himself in the position all on his own. The problem is, with his swelling middle and messed up center of balance, Jared can’t get himself into this position all on his own. Add the fact that, without his medications, there is always a chance he’ll have a muscle spasm and fall out of position, and Jensen quickly understands his part in all this before they even explain it to him.
“Hey,” Jensen breathes out, voice soft and familiar in a way that denotes he’s only speaking for Jared’s ears. “You okay?”
“I’m…” Jared pauses and scrunches one side of his face in a wince. Transferring more of his weight to his right palm, he can keep his balance long enough to press a palm to the movement in his belly. “I’m okay. He’s just being naughty.”
Though Josie’s shifting Jared’s hips slightly, it’s enough for Jared to slam his palm back to the mat for stability. “Just let gravity do its job for a moment. The whole plan is to make sure he gives your spine a break, give him an opportunity to stop settling up against it.”
“It’s not his fault,” Jared huffs out protectively, shaking his head from left to right.
“No one said it was,” Jensen reassures, combing his fingers through Jared’s hair and pushing it away from his face.
Jared winces again and rocks his weight from palm to palm. “No, you’re right. It’s my fucking fault for having to sit down all the time. Kid’s got nowhere else to go - ”
“Shut up,” Jensen warns, his words an ordinance but in no way harsh. “Without you, he wouldn’t even be here. So shut up.”
Jared does, snorting a push of air through his nose that Jensen thinks makes him look more adorable than annoyed.
“Glad you said something,” Marcus elbows Jensen and chimes in, “because if you hadn’t, I would have. I’m not working overtime so you,” he gives a pointed glare to Jared, “can have a pity party. So cut it out. And before you say anything...I know you’re tired. I know you’re in pain. And I know those two things make you cranky. If I’ve been working with you as long as I have and I didn’t know those things? I’d be worried. But trust me, this is going to work.”
Jared falls out of the position but with so many hands on him, he is gently guided to the mat. He still has his palms holding him up but now he’s resting on his right hip. “Okay, yeah. So...let’s make it work,” is all Jared says while a new determination slides into place.
“Good.” Marcus grabs Jensen’s hands in his own and guides them to where he wants them on Jared’s body. “I’ll teach you how to get him up into position, and then where to hold his hips to help alleviate some of the stress his spine’s been under. Then we’ll practice getting out of the position and into it again until you both have the hang of it,” Marcus concludes while working together with Jensen to hoist Jared’s hips up and square them to the mat. Then he moves his hands away so that Jensen is the only one holding Jared steady.
“Got it.” Jensen shuffles a little closer to Jared’s form but remains focused on keeping Jared’s hips just the way Marcus had shown him. “This okay, Jay?”
“Yeah,” Jared says, looking over his shoulder at Jensen. The expression on his face morphs as he bites his lower lip and furrows his brows together. “Shit, baby, come on,” he pleads, managing to transfer his weight to his right palm again so that he can press a comforting hand to his middle. “Remember when I was worried because I couldn’t feel him?” Jared pushes through the discomfort to laugh through a dimpled smile. “I’m man enough to admit that I was wrong.”
It takes some maneuvering, but Jensen manages to sneak forward enough so that he’s able to reach his hand out and place it besides Jared’s. His boyfriend’s right; Jensen can feel angry little kicks - he thinks they’re kicks - and it’s not like Jude to be this feisty. “Hey, Jude,” Jensen says, his tone completely conversational before his brain remembers that the phrase will never not come with thoughts of the song of the same name. An idea, a silly one, sparks in his brain and he wets his lips before letting it unfurl. There is potential for him to make a fool of himself in this moment but, if it will ease Jared’s discomfort, then it’s a fair price. “Hey, Jude,” he says again, this time there is a lilt to the words and his throat lets the melody of the song and lyrics fill the room. He’s not loud, but with his voice aimed towards Jared’s middle, it’s enough.
He’s not going to pretend that the fact his and Jared’s child always calms down at the sound of Jensen’s singing voice doesn’t fill him till he’s bursting with pride. Even a stranger could see that on Jensen’s face. It’s hard for Jensen to be anything but filled with a warm, accomplished feeling - like all is right in the world. That he can take care of his son in so many ways already and the baby isn’t even topside yet.
Yeah, Jared’s been dealing with the brunt of the pregnancy, but in this way, Jensen gets to level the scales a bit.
Not that it’s a competition. He knows it’s not. But it still evens him out. He’s built a career on managing coworkers’ and students’ distress and making sure everything is copacetic.
He doesn’t sing the entire song, just an abridged version, but Jude starts to settle down and Jared lets out a relieved sigh. It’s a moment of calm between them and Jensen forgets for a second that they’re not alone, reminded of that fact when Josie lets out something between a squeal and a sigh.
“I’m sorry that was...pretty much the sweetest thing I’ve actually seen happen in front of me,” Josie falls back into a cross-legged sit and curls her hands to her chest. “Why are you gay?” she asks in Jared and Jensen’s direction, not really aiming the words at one man in particular. As if she hadn’t meant to say them aloud, she chokes on a breath of air and blinks. “I mean...” but she doesn’t finish her words, choosing instead to laugh and make a gesture with her hands to clear the air. “Aaanyway,” she drags out, rising once again to her knees and smoothing both palms over Jared’s back, one on each side of his mostly elongated spine. “This should release some tension here. Rounding or curving your spine a little bit is okay but I don’t want you to put too much pressure on it by lowering it too much. Just soft, gentle movements, okay? Let’s see if we can get the kid to hang out away from your spine.”
Nodding, Jared tests his range of motion and settles into the safe support of Jensen’s hands. “It does feel better, actually.”
“Well imagine that,” Marcus adds with feigned surprise. “Josie, I guess we don’t have to turn in our degrees after all.” The lightheartedness in his voice is enough to finally cut through any of the lingering pessimistic haze.
And just like that, everyone’s head is back in the game.
***
They’re sitting in the car on the way back from physical therapy when an idea pops into Jared’s head. “Hey, Jen?”
“Hmm?” Jensen hums, without taking his eyes off the road.
“I’m kinda craving some pancakes right about now.” Turning his head, Jared watches the wheels in Jensen’s head turn. It’s hard not to find it just a little bit funny. Pancakes mean so many things between the two of them ever since Jared blurted it out in response to Jensen saying he wanted to start dating exclusively. It’s probably why Jensen’s scrunching up one side of his face trying to settle on exactly what meaning Jared’s going for. Truthfully, Jared’s not sure himself. Yeah, he’s exhausted in a way that he always is after physical therapy, but he’s also happily settling into a respite from all the back pain he’s been feeling. It’s a relief and comes with a satisfying burst of energy. Having Jensen butted up against his backside during a majority of the PT session left him wanting a little one on one time with his boyfriend. But he is also pretty darn pregnant and hungry, which does have him craving the actual food product. Having pity on Jensen, Jared’s stomach makes things a bit clearer by grumbling.
“Oh, those type of pancakes,” Jensen laughs out.
“Well, yeah. That and...you know…” Jared shrugs and laughs as well, but he’s pretty sure Jensen isn’t following the second part of that sentence. His boyfriend is already too caught up in the new directive of needing to provide sustenance for his growing little family. Jared can clarify everything later, because right now? Jude is making it pretty clear that he doesn’t care what his fathers do, but they better make sure he gets something to eat soon.
Thankfully, their son doesn’t have too long to wait as they are already pulling up to their house. It’s pretty routine for Jared to get himself out of Jensen’s car, but today his body isn’t having it. He tries to swing himself out and into the waiting wheelchair Jensen has popped open in wait by the passenger side door but Jared doesn’t feel confident enough to try swinging himself into it. With his belly getting bigger, Jared’s been able to keep a handle on the changing distribution of weight and center of balance, but after working through PT, his arms are tired enough to make him unsure if he should do this himself. “A little help?” he says, the words coming out as the request they are meant to be. He looks up at Jensen with a large exhale of defeat. “Getting too big to move like I used to.”
Jensen moves on autopilot, maneuvering himself so that Jared can throw an arm around his shoulders and they work together to get him seated in the chair. “Jay, I don’t think you being big has ever stopped you from being able to do anything,” he jokes, eyeballing Jared’s frame. “It’s jus’ that you’ve got an added passenger who is making it a little difficult.”
“That’s exactly what I meant,” Jared says with a roll of his eyes as he playfully punches Jensen’s shoulder. The cheese factor in Jensen’s words has an unexpected effect and makes butterflies explode in Jared’s chest. His heart flutters at the way Jensen laughs a little louder at his own joke and Jared is irrevocably in love with this man. It’s hard not to be, especially after he just serenaded their child - an action he’s done before but never with an audience - in front of Marcus and Josie and his unwavering dedication when helping Jared through physical therapy. Before he removes his arm from around Jensen’s neck, he surprises the man by pulling him into a kiss.
Jensen’s taken aback and almost falls onto Jared’s lap, but only because he’d been moments away from pulling upright. Once his brain gets with the program, he stabalzies his stance and gives Jared a run for his money by intensifying the gesture. With the way Jared tilts his head back just enough for Jensen to sweep their tongues together, their instant connection is palpable.
They melt together in a kiss that they’ve both been needing. Everything pours out between them and their lips work to make sense of it all. Jared isn’t prepared for any of it because this simple act of kissing the man he loves is so intense. With his fingers combing through the hair on the back of Jensen’s head, Jared closes his eyes and pulls Jensen closer. They kiss until they are out of breath, only pulling away a fraction so that their foreheads are still connected. “I really wanna make pancakes with you.” Jared breathes out in little pants. “Like...all the time. But...especially now….’cause…” He can’t figure out how to string more words together so he shuts up and kisses Jensen’s lips again, softer this time and sweetly kissing the corner of the man’s mouth before he pulls away again.
Jensen’s eyes crinkle with a smile like he finally does know everything in Jared’s head. “I love you too,” he says.
“I didn’t say anything,” Jared blinks.
“You kinda did.” Jensen strokes a thumb along the line of Jared’s jaw. “And I wanna do all that too. You have no idea . But…” He squeezes the hand of the arm Jared had wrapped around his neck before slowly lifting it off of him. It makes it easier for Jensen to settle one of his palms on the swell in Jared’s middle. “How about lunch? How about we do that first?” There is a little flurry of activity under Jensen’s palm, making him smile. “Kid says ‘yes’.”
“Lunch sounds good,” Jared nods, adding with seriousness, “but I’m cooking.” Jared puts both of his hands on the arms of the chair and shifts himself into a comfortable position.
“You don’t have to. I’m sure you’re tired from the day. I’ve got it.”
“It’s not that I don’t appreciate the offer, Jen,” Jared says while rolling back and forth an inch, “it’s just that...I’m way better at making pancakes.” He knows it’s a baited statement, one Jensen isn’t going to leave sitting there, which is why he raises his eyebrows at Jensen with a smirk before hightailing it to the front door.
“What did you just say,” Jensen calls after him, getting himself together to languidly jog after his boyfriend.
“The truth,” Jared replies. “Don’t feel bad. There are a lot of other things you’re good at. This just isn’t one of them.” Jared’s laugh rings out as he gets their front door open and wheels inside. He’s not wrong. Jared really is better at making pancakes, but Jensen’s strengths have been shining in so many other areas of their lives. Even in places Jensen never thought he’d be, like a soon-to-be father.
Jared hears Jensen’s “you’re gonna pay for that,” and he’s sure he will. Now, however, he’s busy getting to mixing up some pancake batter because the sooner they get to eating, the sooner Jensen can make Jared “pay for that”.
***
The smell of freshly prepared pancakes and syrup is still in the air long after their meal is done; Jensen can smell it even though they are in their bedroom.
After the meal, Jensen had managed to convince Jared to practice the position Josie and Marcus taught them, if only to put his mind at ease that the spinal pain Jared had been experiencing really is, for now at least, fading into the background. “This right?” Jensen asks, as he supports Jared’s hips. He has his boyfriend positioned just as he’d been taught, carefully making sure Jared’s legs are hip width apart and staying parallel to one another.
“Yeah,” Jared confirms. He looks over his shoulder. He’s managed to wedge a bunch of pillows under his chest so that his wrists are not supporting all of his weight. “I must look like an idiot like this.”
“Are you serious?” Jensen does understand why Jared would be feeling vulnerable in such a possion. But idiotic? Definitely not. Jensen thinks he’s anything but. All Jensen sees is that determination that had originally attracted him to Jared. He sees strong arms and those hands that turn him into putty. Jensen sees a man he is undeniably in love with, a man who is visibly going through hoops to make sure he carries their child to term. All of that makes Jensen’s blood quicken. Shaking his head in disagreement with Jared’s statement, he shuffles forward on his knees so that the warmth of his body meets Jared’s backside. “You can’t be serious. Because my dick may have behaved during therapy, but I’m not making any promises about that right now.”
“Huh?” Jared gets out before the sound dies on his tongue. He figures out what the other man means when he rocks his bodyweight backwards and feels the harder line of Jensen’s body, more specifically, the thickening line of his growing arousal.
“I was pretty much rubbing up against you the whole time, and I kept the right head in the game. Not exactly easy to do when...I’m me and you’re... you ,” Jensen says softly. “Gotta give a man some credit.” His hands don’t loosen from Jared’s hips, holding the younger man steady when he shivers.
A breathy noise leaves Jared’s throat and he swallows thickly.
“You look pretty good to me, Jay.” Jensen licks his lips and then drags his teeth over the lower portion. “Much better when I get to touch you behind our doors.” His fingers splay out so that he’s still holding Jared up with the meatier part of his palm but he’s about to stroke the sensitive skin around Jared’s hip bones.
There might have been a word on Jared’s lips but Jensen can’t understand it. All he hears is Jared’s breath losing its steady rhythm.
The coil of want that has been pent up inside of Jensen all day finally has the opportunity to unfurl and stretch through Jensen’s body. It hits him hard, making him swallow a growl as his dick hardens and seeks friction between the cleft of Jared’s ass cheeks. That kiss in front of the house was a hard one to come back from. Jared had pulled him in hard and fast and, though the phrasing might be silly, all he wanted to do was make their own person brand of pancakes. It’s their thing. It’s such a silly phrase that became a way of revealing the currents of their love. The only thing that stopped him was this new penchant for worrying about their son and Jared during this pregnancy. But now that he’s sure that everything is taken care of in that regard, he really can’t help himself. He wants to touch Jared and prove that the man looks far from idiotic. “Jay, you have no idea what you do to me.”
“I do.” Jared turns his head and locks lust blown eyes with Jensen. “I really really do.” He shifts his weight to his left palm and balances himself there so he can take Jensen’s hand and pull it forward and across the joint where leg meets torso. It helps Jensen get a good hold on the man by hooking his arm there, but it also let’s Jared bring Jensen’s fingers in contact with his own clothed stiffening cock. “‘Cause you do it to me too.”
That has Jensen groaning. He allows himself the luxury of stroking Jared a few times just to hear the man’s breathing go erratic. “You okay holding yourself up for a few seconds?”
“Uh-huh,” Jared affirms.
To do what Jensen intends on doing, he has to let go of his hold on Jared’s hips. Instead, he supports him less securely by wrapping arms around his waist while managing to tug Jared’s pants and underwear down. He gets them yanked down to the bend in Jared’s knees before he goes back to holding him firmly. “I’m gonna show you just how much I like the view,” Jensen breathes out as he drags a kiss across Jared’s left buttocks, “but you gotta tell me if it’s too much. Or if it stops feeling okay.” He gives a reassuring squeeze around Jared’s hips. “Don’t worry. I got ya. But you tell me if you get uncomfortable.” He leaves a trail of kisses to Jared’s other ass cheek and rests his forehead there. For his part, Jensen has done everything in his power to familiarize himself with the confines of his partner’s body. He has stumbled a few times, but Jensen’s figuring out ways to understand how paraplegia has changed Jared’s body. He has hang ups about certain things, old ways of thinking that it’s not fair Jared can’t have strong muscles here, in his thighs, like he does in the rest of his body. But he’s learning to stop thinking about what Jared doesn’t have and being thankful for everything he does have. Everything Jensen can kiss, like the sensitive furl of muscle that causes Jared to shout when Jensen sucks a kiss against it. “Gotta tell me you’re okay, Jay.” It’s a new position for them, parts Jared is conscientious about are on display, and Jensen wants to make sure Jared’s okay with it, both emotionally and physically.
“I’m…” Jared shivers and Jensen can feel him rocking back to increase the pressure of Jensen’s lips against his anus in the slightest amount. “I’m good.”
That’s all Jensen needs to hear. He holds onto Jared tightly, smirking at the thought of having the man at his mercy. As long as Jared is still giving him the all clear he can: kiss, nibble and suck every part of him until he’s falling apart. It’s a thought good enough to send a fresh pulse of blood to his own arousal. Jensen is definitely going to use the fact that some areas of Jared’s body, like the one he’s kissing around and teasing, have decided to make up for the areas that Jared’s lost feeling in by becoming hypersensitive to his advantage.
He starts off slowly, teasing Jared’s opening by pushing from the tip of his tongue against the opening’s edges, moving in a slow circle to be sure he’s attacked every nerve he can reach. Then he starts by probing deeper, making slow pushes inside Jared and taking his time licking the sensitive walls there.
“So good,” Jared breathes out, fists curling into the bed sheets his palms are pressed against.
Jensen’s voice vibrates against Jared’s opening and he smirks mischievously, “Yeah?” Having enough of the slow exploration of his boyfriend’s opening, he starts to eat him out with more intensity. He kisses the muscle there, sucking at it and teasing it until he can really work his tongue inside. Going deeper and faster, Jensen builds up to a steady onslaught on Jared’s anus.
“Oh my god,” Jared moans. He’s shaking slightly but holding steady in the position. True to his word, Jensen’s still holding him securely and Jared trusts him enough to not worry about falling and only focus on what the man is doing with his mouth. “Jensen...don’t stop.”
Heeding those words, Jensen fucks his tongue into Jared’s ass all the harder. He encourages the way the younger man is rocking back into his face by helping the movements along. With his hands on Jared’s hips, it’s easy to direct Jared exactly where he needs to be for Jensen to inflict optimal pleasure.
It’s not long before Jared is falling to pieces; Jensen can tell. He’s able to read the younger man like that. Even without being able to see Jared’s face, Jensen knows what expression he’d find on it - lust heavy lids almost closing over his eyes and lips parted, twitching every now and then as he makes pleading moans. He repeats the same one armed attempt to hold Jared up that he relied on earlier when pulling his pants down and doesn’t waste time coating his pointer finger with his own saliva. His mouth had done a thorough job of loosening Jared’s entrance and when he pushes the digit inside, it’s with little resistance.
A punch of air is forced out of Jared’s lungs, followed by a drawn out moan. It isn’t until the sounds Jared’s making become a sudden yelp of pleasure that Jensen knows he’s aiming his finger spot on to toy with the bundle of nerves inside Jared that always have him hurling towards orgasm.
“Jus’ like that,” Jared urges before saying the words again, this time sounding like more of a plea.
Jensen curls his finger along his boyfriend’s insides, stroking them slowly before pulling the entirety of his finger out. Jared’s starting to shake too much and Jensen’s already decided he’s going to resume holding him properly, but not before fingering him with the added stretch of his middle finger. He gets in several strokes, each one hitting their mark, before he pulls both fingers out and returns them to their place around Jared’s hip. Everything happens in one smooth movements, and the moment Jensen’s fingers leave Jared’s body, his tongue is taking their place.
“I’m gonna…” Jared tries to get out, but he moans out something that sounds like “come.” He desperately tries to balance himself on one palm again, his newly freed hand reaching back to stroke his neglected dick.
“Oh no you don’t,” Jensen warns. He’s able to curl his hand forward and grasp the base of Jared’s length. Thumb and forefinger curling around the organ, Jensen gives a little squeeze. “I’d love to get you there, Jay. I really would. But I could also keep you on the brink a little longer.” The whine in protest from Jared isn’t unexpected. It doesn’t do enough to convince Jensen to release the pressure around Jared’s dick, but it does urge him to lap at Jared’s ass in hopes of showing Jared what he’s in for. “I’ll eat you out till you’re coming all over this damn bed...but,” Jensen pauses to suck the ring of muscle under his assault. “You’re gonna have to admit that I can make pancakes too.”
Jared’s response is so quick that it’s almost on top of Jensen’s demand, every part of his voice sounding wrecked. “Yes, yes...I admit it. You win. You can make pancakes too. Now make me come already!”
Those are the magic words Jensen needs to switch his hand’s intentions from starving off Jared’s orgasm, to coaxing it on. He wants to be eating Jared out when the man finally falls over the edge, but his fingers can’t help themselves. They wrap around Jared’s dick and stroke him several times, coming away sticky with the moisture already gathering at the head. Jared’s length feels hot and heavy in his hand, making Jensen regret not taking the time to shove his own pants out of the way. Touching Jared has Jensen’s dick straining at the zipper of his jeans and he growls at the frustration of it all.
“Shit,” Jared gets out. “Hold me up, Jen. Not gonna be able to...gonna…” Jared shivers and tosses his head to the side.
“I got ya.” Jensen says once he’s released Jared’s dick and has hoisted the man’s hips a little higher. The words, “come for me,” leave Jensen’s mouth before it’s back on Jared’s anus. He probes inside the twitching hole, tripping the nerves there and setting of a chain reaction.
When Jared comes, it’s with a shout of Jensen’s name. Jensen works him through it, licking at Jared’s insides gently. He doesn’t pull away to survey the damage until every wave of orgasm seems to have subsided.
Jared’s still holding himself upright, but his arms are shaking with fatigue and his head is sagging between his shoulder blades.
“You okay?” Jensen asks.
“Ye-yeah. So good…” Jared turns his head and their eyes meet. “Can you...uh,” he pauses, partially to catch his breath and partially out of sheepishness. “Can you fuck me? Not like this,” he hurries out of his mouth while he makes a nodding gesture to indicate the position they’re in. “Like...on my side.”
Jensen’s heart stumbles in his chest. He’s wanted to be inside Jared for hours, but he’d been so focused on getting Jared off that he wasn’t playing that card. If Jared was too tired to do anything more after that, then Jensen wasn’t going to push for it. But hearing the request out of Jared’s mouth and knowing that his boyfriend is riding a post orgasmic high are enough to make a pulse of come dampen the inside of his boxer briefs. Jared is so pliant and sensitive after he comes, even more responsive than he usually is. And every fiber of Jensen’s being is filled with want. With need for the perfect person who’s still reeling from the orgasm Jensen just brought him to. “Fuck yes,” Jensen drawls out. He manages to shift his own body so that he can gently bring Jared out of the position and lay him on his right side. Jared looks flushed, but his whole body is thrumming with pleasure and his eyes are curved into a satisfied smile that makes Jensen need to kiss those lips. He smooths brown hair off of Jared’s forehead and dips his head so their lips can brush against one another’s. In regards to the intensity of it all, the kiss is a lot like before. Adding the fact that Jensen’s hands now have the power to roam Jared’s entire body and Jensen’s already weak in the knees, Jensen knows he’s a goner. “Not gonna last long. Not after…” Jensen doesn’t finish but he’s sure Jared gets it.
“Me either,” Jared counters.
“Fuck,” Jensen groans out. That’s just about the hottest thing he’s heard. It’s not the first time he’s made Jared fall apart so quickly in a row, but it will never get old.
“That’s your job,” Jared says but when Jensen doesn’t move to do anything, he continues. “No, really. I need you to fuck me. You weren’t the only one with a well behaving dick. Can’t always feel what you’re doing back there, but I can feel those hands on my hips. And I...wanted that dick pressed up against the parts I can feel.”
“Yeah?” Jensen raises his eyebrows. He’s not asking because he doubts what Jared’s telling him; he’s asking because he likes to hear Jared say it.
“Yeah.” Jared shoves the mound of pillows he had made, grabbing one of the pillows to tuck under the side of his belly. “Want it real bad.”
Jensen does too. His fingers find the button fastening his jeans closed and yanks it open harshly. The jumbled mess he becomes when he shucks his pants off is borderline comical but Jensen doesn’t have time to care. He forgoes removing any of his other clothing, just takes enough time to grab the bottle of lube from their nightstand and to completely rid Jared of his pants, which had become tangled at his feet.
Coating his hand with lube, Jensen curls it around his dick to coat it good and proper and then he shimmies down the bed so that his hips are alongside with Jared’s. He hooks his left arm around the inner portion of Jared’s left leg so that he can hold it up and open. Then Jensen props himself up on his right elbow for stability and works, making an awkward reach to align his arousal with Jared’s opening, he holds the length steady as he pushes his hips forward and watches each inch disappear into Jared’s heat.
The position doesn’t lend itself to having a lot of leverage and it’s a lot of work on Jensen’s part, or rather his hips, to build up the force needed to pound into his boyfriend, but Jensen manages it. Holding onto Jared’s leg helps, but even then, Jensen’s conscious of not pulling too strongly. “Shit, Jare...You always feel so good.” Jared’s ass feels as amazing as ever around Jensen’s cock and Jensen groans low in his throat when he bottoms out. He twists his hips slightly, working to find the angle at which to fuck into his boyfriend that will make sure Jared feels everything. He’s been told he’s good at that, and it’s a lot of pressure to keep up his winning streak. Testing the angle, he makes a few slower practice thrusts until he gets the hang of them.
“Oh!” Jared pants. “ There . But harder. Right there.”
Communication is a beautiful thing. Jensen does as Jared says and they fall into a perfect rhythm of pushing and pulling. It’s clear that Jared’s not messing around because the man already has his hand on his dick and is stroking it at a pace comparable to the snap of Jensen’s hips. What they’re doing is nothing fancy, it’s just the two of them dissolving into pleasure tinged panting and raw sex.
It’s fast and simple, but every thrust of Jensen’s hips makes the head of his cock collide with the nerves inside of Jared and the way Jared’s ass constricts around him brings him one stop closer to orgasm.
“Holy fuck,” Jensen shouts and his hips go haywire. Their smooth movement gets choppy and he works to bury himself in Jared, seating himself there before the first rope of come splatters onto Jared’s insides. Closing his eyes, Jensen loses himself to his orgasm and his hips make tiny abbreviated thrusts into Jared. He’s blissed out, but not too far gone to feel Jared reach a hand back and scramble to force Jensen inside him as deeply as possible.
“Stay there...stay...stay…” but Jared’s words end on a litany of dirty declarations that he’s coming along with all the throaty sounds that come with the act.
Jensen does stay buried as deeply as he can, but he drops Jared’s leg and pulls the man closer. They’re a mess of sweat and come and there’s nowhere he’d rather be. Kissing at the nape of Jared’s neck, he inhales his boyfriend’s scent and floats in the post coital haze they’ve landed in.
They’re quiet for some time, so long that Jensen thinks maybe Jared fell asleep. But it’s Jared who breaks the silence. “As much as that position helps with my spine, I don’t know if we’re going to be able to keep doing it. Because if it ends like that , every time...it might kill me.” Jared takes Jensen’s hand and brings it to his lips so he can press a kiss there.
The gesture makes it easy for Jensen to feel the smirk Jared has on his lips. “What a way to go then, huh?” Jensen teases, kissing the sweaty curls behind Jared’s ear.
“Could be worse.” Pulling Jensen’s hand away from his lips, Jared coasts it down over his stomach. “Feel real good right now.”
“Good. Glad to be of assistance.” Jensen nuzzles his nose against Jared and kisses him yet again. He can’t help himself. When his lips are this close to Jared’s skin, how could he not? His palm flattens against the curve of Jared’s belly and realizes he’s holding both his boyfriend and their son. It’s sweet and peaceful until Jude gives such a strong kick that Jensen gasps. “Whoa, someone's up.” He knits his brows at Jared’s lack of reaction. “Doesn't that hurt?”
“Umm...sometimes. Not really when he’s where he is now. Kinda numb to some sensations over there. It comes and goes...kinda like the nerve pain. And without taking some of my meds...what I feel has been a bit unpredictable. So...if my hand wasn't on my stomach, I probably wouldn't have noticed.” His words cut off abruptly and he winces. “ That ...that I felt. Pretty hard to ignore a kick to the bladder.” He rolls his eyes in surrender to what comes next and winces again. “And now I have to pee.” Pushing himself up, he scans the room for his chair, which is just out of arm's reach for him. Pointing a lazy finger at the chair, Jared’s lips make an apologetic frown. “Which, unfortunately, means you gotta get up and help me pee.”
“That’s so sexy,” Jensen teases.
Jared scowls at him playfully. “Shut up.”
“No, really. What’s sexier than that? Helping my fucked out boyfriend to the bathroom?” Jensen shrugs, being overly dramatic in his delivery of the words. “That’s romance.”
Jared pushes a palm to the middle of Jensen’s face, both shutting him up and muffling the laughter he is starting to emit. “I hate you.”
“The mess you left on the bed begs to differ.” Jensen kisses the palm Jared has hovering over his lips and then slips out of the bed, moving to get the chair. Today feels like it was full of moments they needed . There were uncertain and uncomfortable moments in physical therapy, but when those were all peeled away, they are still them. They’re still playful and ridiculously in love.
Jensen would be lying if he said the day squashed all his worries over where this journey towards parenthood is bringing them. For the moment, however, it’s settled them and Jensen's going to take what he can get.
***
Jared hates the feeling in his gut right now. It’s something he always forgets happens to him until it’s actually happening again.
Jared doesn’t panic. Not really.
He usually likes to see how situations play out before he decides what plan of attack his mindset is going to take. True, he does tend to live in a world of concern over Jude’s well being, but that’s different. That’s his baby .
But habitually, Jared doesn’t tend to jump to conclusions. Since childhood, he’s lived his life in a world colored by the terms “best case scenario” or “there are a handful of possibilities”, so he knows better than to let his mind wander to the worst case scenario because sometimes that’s what it is, but he’s proven to doctors that in most cases, for him it is not.
So when he finds himself jumping to the worst possible reason for why his father just called him, Jared starts to get that sick sense of dread in his stomach. There was just something in Gerry’s voice when he asked Jared to come over that has Jared thinking his father has been gearing up over all of these months to finally sit Jared down and tell him just what a big mistake he thinks he is making. Gerry’s tone had been dead serious, his classic lightness missing completely.
So it’s hard for Jared to think anything but the fact that something must be wrong.
The way he asked Jared to come over for lunch was more of a statement than a question. The simple words of “come over for lunch,” were left hanging between them until Jared offered to be over in an hour. Then the call disconnected and Jared’s brain started reaching for the thousands of possible reasons for the call.
He’d usually try to quell his nerves with art, but there isn’t time for that. There isn’t really even time to call Jensen and storyboard the possible ways lunch with his father can go. Despite being the weekend, Jensen’s out at Arkin, helping work on a building wide attempt infuse school pride as the seniors prepare for graduation. He’d offered to chaperone while students came into the building to decorate the walls with banners depicting hand painted versions of the school’s mascot and hang ribbons in the school colors. Jared was all set to join him, but, much to his students’ disappointment, he’s smart enough to know that he’d be pushing himself too much this weekend.
So now he’s stuck in his head with enough time to get himself ready and drive to his parent’s house, but no time to figure anything out.
Pregnancy’s been getting rougher on his body, making him slower and tiring him out. He doesn’t really know what he expected, but Jared feels the literal weight of being pregnant adding new layers of difficulty to his life. He’s simply physically not able to do some of the things he used to do before, which he supposes is true for everyone, but limiting his physical abilities even more has been a challenge. He can’t just swing himself around like he’d gotten used to doing. Now it’s a slow and calculated process that has Jared wondering how difficult things are going to be as he inches closer to 40 weeks along. Jude’s just going to get bigger, meaning Jared is too.
He smoothes out where the front of his t-shirt stretches out, working hard to cover the swell in his middle. Jude’s been naughty all morning but in this moment the baby is quiet, like he knows Jared’s feeling overwhelmed.
“Ready to go see grandpa?” Jared laughs at the end of his question because he doesn’t think he ever used that term in regards to his father. He probably should have because Jared can’t remember a time when his father was defined as anything other than parental. Gerry is, in so many ways, the role model for how Jared would love to parent Jude. He wants to have the same energy that his father has, and the same way of simply knowing his children can do whatever they want to do. Jared doesn’t even know who Jude is going to be, but Jared already knows that he wants Jude to grow up in a world where no one defines him. Nobody but himself. He know his mother loves him just as much, but she was more calculated and cautious. Gerry let his kids, all three of them, experience the world on their terms in order to figure it out. Just because Jared came with a wheelchair, didn’t mean he was coddled from the bumps and bruises that came with growing up. Gerry let Jared figure it out, and if he failed, at least he failed in a way that gave him the ability to go back at it at a different angle.
But Jared can never be his father. That thought is both literal and figurative. However, Gerry has set a prime example of how Jared wants to be as a parent. Yet, a small part of him has doubts that his physical inability will stop him from doing just that.
“Shit,” Jared mumbles under his breath. He’s not ready for these thoughts and they’ve come out of nowhere. He supposes it’s normal to have doubts before having a baby, but these realizations are darkening his outlook. “Shit,” he repeats. Maybe his dad was right...about all of this only leading to heartache.
And a headache.
On the drive over to his parents’ house, he can’t seem to shake the thoughts. They are written all over his face, a fact he knows because he can feel the weight of them furrowing his brow and tightening the lines around his mouth. He has to make a conscious effort to plaster a smile on his face by the time he’s in front of his parent’s house and using his key to let himself inside.
“Dad?” he calls, wheeling himself down the hall.
“In the kitchen,” comes Gerry’s response.
Jared follows his father’s voice, finding the man knee deep in preparing for...something. One eyebrow cocked, he asks “what are you doing?”
“Cooking….or trying to.” Gerry curses as he surveys the mess he’s created.
“And what exactly are you cooking?” Jared wheels himself closer to get a look for himself.
“Homemade spinach and cheese stuffed tortellini,” Gerry answers, like it’s the most rational decision to make for a simple lunch.
The fact that his father’s response came across so matter-of-factly is exactly why Jared does a double take. “For lunch? Are you serious?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Two reasons...well, actually three. One, that takes hours. Hours . More like a dinner than a lunch item. Two, that’s mom’s recipe.” Jared supposes that’s not actually a reason why his father shouldn’t attempt to make it, but it’s something his mother always makes. That’s just the way it is. There’s something wrong with the wavelength of the world if reason two doesn’t pull any force in his argument. “And three, possibly the most obvious reason, have you ever made homemade pasta?”
“As it turns out, those are all good reasons,” Gerry says without a bruise to his ego. “I don’t actually have a clue what I’m doing but I figured, ‘hey, it can’t be that hard.’ Took me about ten minutes to learn that it’s pretty complicated. I don’t know how your mother makes it look so easy.” He turns and brushes off his flour dusted hands on the thighs of his jeans. “Figured I am too far in now to just throw in the towel.”
“I’d say the towel throwing would probably be the most merciful way to deal with this situation,” Jared laughs. His fingers dance over the recipe card his father placed on the counter and traces the scrawl of his mother’s handwriting. Scanning the card, he can see that having the ingredients isn’t the issue; they’re all laid out before them. “Why didn’t you just have mom make them?”
“In case you haven’t noticed, your mother’s been a little too preoccupied with the fact that she’s going to be a grandmother. She’s got no time for me, her husband of thirty plus years.” Gerry says the last part with a bit of added self-sympathy. “You want a glass of water?” he asks, but doesn’t truly wait for an answer before reaching for two glasses and filling them from the tap. “Anyway, she’s not here. Took off to spend the weekend at her sister’s. Didn’t she tell you?” He continues after Jared shakes his head ‘no’. “Yeah, well, she said something about not having seen her in some time and there is no way in hell she’s going anywhere for a long while after that baby’s born.” He gestures towards Jared’s middle with the glass of water he has in his hand before offering it to Jared. “She figured she’d see her sister now. Leave me here to fend for myself.”
“You’re perfectly capable,” Jared teases. “Though you wouldn’t know it from the looks of the kitchen.” There is pasta flour dusting over the nearby surfaces, various mixing bowls and a his parent’s pasta machine in the middle of it, not entirely assembled correctly.
Scratching at the back of his head, “it’s not as bad as it looks.” Gerry says with mock innocence.
“Still...homemade tortellini for lunch?” Jared preoccupies himself by rocking back and forth. Despite the humor of finding his father in such a culinary mess, he still remembers the tone in Gerry’s voice when he’d called. The lightheartedness they’re in now is like a blanket. “When you called me spur of the moment to come over for lunch, I was thinking something more like a turkey sandwich.”
“Thought about that. But, I’ve been craving these tortellinis for a while now. And since your mother isn’t here. I figured my only shot of having them was to make them myself. Guess I was wrong. I don’t know what I’m doing…” his words dwindle into a silent musing. “But you do,” he declares, pointing a finger at Jared.
“Yeah, well, I mean...technically. It’s been years since I’ve helped mom make them.” Jared holds his palms up and shrugs. Jared knows he is a completely adequate cook. Actually, he’s damn good at it. But, what a lot of people don’t realize, it’s not simply because he likes cooking. What he likes to do is be creative. Whether it is painting, molding clay, building something, or cooking, Jared has always excelled at using his hands to create things. And while he did spend a lot of his childhood outdoors, learning to cause just as much trouble as his siblings, he also spent more time than Jeff or Megan in the kitchen. Maybe it’s because playing with food was his first blank canvas to be completely creative, or maybe it’s because it was a place where he could do everything . There were no limits for him because of his wheelchair.
“I bet you’ll remember real fast.” Gerry checks the clock on the wall. “I’ve got time if you do. We can make it an early dinner. Megan’s coming over later. She can be a guinea pig.”
“I’ve got time.” Jared nods.
“Good.” Gerry throws an empty mixing bowl at Jared. “Here, you work on making the actual pasta. All I am good at making are rocks of dough. I think I can handle the filling. That’s pretty straightforward. All measuring and no finesse.”
Jared switches to autopilot. Nothing in his parents’ house has changed since the bus accident, when they restructured their lives to fit Jared in it. Everything is exactly where he remembers it being and it doesn’t take Jared long to get the mixing bowl he prefers and wash his hands. Reassembling the pasta machine is easy once he separates the parts his father crammed together incorrectly.
Then they work in silence. The two of them haven’t had any type of one-on-one time since before his pregnancy reveal and that leaves Jared jumpy. Following a plan - albeit a recipe - makes it easy for Jared to take his mind off of any of the concerns he’s had about coming to visit his father. He wheels back, grabs the right amount of eggs from the fridge, and cracks them into the bowl with one hand, a move that’s often made his sister jealous. Megan is all dainty hands and cracking eggs is always a two handed ordeal, otherwise she’s serving egg shells into the mix. Tossing the shells in the garbage, he ignores all the utensils his father has out on the counter and pulls open a draw to find a battered old dough whisk that has been around longer than Jared has. He slowly incorporates the eggs into the flour, building the mixture into a soft dough.
All of this is done without Jared sneaking a look at his father. He’s so focused on his task and the thoughts in his head, that he startles himself when he slaps the dough onto the part of the kitchen island that is just perfect for his height. His capable hands begin to knead the dough, working it into the perfect consistency by adding just enough flour to make sure it isn’t sticking to the counter. His dad was right, this reminds him of making meals as a family, when all five of them were crammed into the kitchen and pulling their own weight during dinner prep. It’s how it always was for his family and Jared appreciates that more than ever.
But he also remembers days where Megan and Jeff would speed through their assigned chores and join in on a huge neighborhood-wide game of tag. Or after dinner when the telltale sounds of the ice cream truck’s musical siren traveled to their door and the two of them would rush outside to chase it down. Sure, they always got him a snack, but Jared knew there was no way he’d been fast enough to catch up with the truck on his own.
“Dad,” Jared chokes out because he’s ready to rip the bandage off and admit that maybe his father was right in the beginning. “I...I’ve been thinking the whole ride over here and...for the last half hour. I…” He sighs and drops the perfectly kneaded dough to the counter. “I think you’re right.”
“About?” Gerry says, rolling his wrist in a gesture of needed elaboration.
“Maybe I’m not cut out to be parent material.”
The conversation goes so quiet that when Gerry releases the spoon he’d been using to mix the cheese and spinach filling, the sound of it clattering to the edge of the bowl reverberated through the room.
Jared takes that as a sign of agreement, like he hit the nail on the head. “I mean...I’ll never be able to do a lot of things. Those traditional things, you know? Like...I’ll never be able to run and play with my son. And if he gets hurt, what if, because I’m in this chair, I can’t help him in the way he needs me to? And I can’t teach him to swim.” Jared starts to get carried away, his brain rambling off a thousand things that he can’t do so that they are all snowballing together and shooting him into a whirl of anxiety. “I mean...what if I can’t - ”
“Stop it.” Gerry commands, voice booming. There is anger behind it, but not one Jared can pinpoint.
“But you’re right.” Jared wheels himself, inadvertently covering the handholds with flour, backwards so he can spin to face his father more squarely. “I think maybe I’ve gotten in a little over my head.” His voice cracks with the emotions behind the words. It’s fear of letting his father down, or letting himself down, and he sees that now. He can’t let his son down as well. With a tremendous exhale of air, Jared turns sideways again so he doesn’t have to see the expression on his father’s face. He’s sure it’s one that will confirm all of his fears.
“Jared,” Gerry says with a sad verberbarance to the name. He uses his foot to spin Jared so that they’re facing each other again. “I’ve never thought that. Not even once.” Running a hand over his face, he looks like a different man when he meets Jared’s gaze. His eyes have turned down in a heartbroken expression, the frown lines around his mouth doing the same. “And I went and fucked it all up by letting you think I did.” He puts a hand up, asking for Jared to allow him more time to collect his thoughts before continuing. “It’s not the I doubted you’d be a great parent. There is no one on this earth who I think is better prepared to do that. I mean that.” He nods along with the words. “I’ve watched you grow from a tiny thing I could hold in one arm into the man sitting in front of me. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as strong as you, Jared. I’d like to give a lot of that credit to your mother and myself, but I know it’s more than that. Yeah, we had something to do with it, but it’s who you are. It’s your spirit. It’s why you’re a good teacher. You’re kind, selfless, determined, and fiercely loyal. I never doubted that. It’s simply - and maybe you’ll understand this when Jude is here - I’d rather die than see anything happen to you. I almost lost you once, I wasn’t ready to be in that position again. So...what you interpreted as me not having faith in you as a parent...that was me being afraid that your body wasn’t strong enough to make you a parent. To make me a grandfather.” Gerry stops there because he chokes on a cry that stops up his throat and comes out in a loud mess.
Jared’s seen his father cry before, but not often. His father has no problem expressing himself or showing emotions, but seeing his father cry has always been a rare thing. It makes the scene all the more painful for Jared to watch because those emotions are raw and radiating from Gerry. Jared can almost feel them as much as he can see them. It’s all written there and Jared knows how much his father means what he says. The regret at causing Jared any emotional turmoil is palpable. “Dad…”
“I love you Jared. I love all of you. Your brother...your sister…” He wipes at his eyes with the back of his hand. “I love you all equally. And hearing you tell me that there was a chance you would be putting yourself in danger? I was afraid loving you wasn’t going to be enough.” He lets out a laugh that sounds partially relieved and partially like he’s realized his own foolishness. “Of course, you’ve gone and proven to me that you can do just about anything you set your mind to. I mean...look at you.” He gestures towards Jared’s middle. “Looks like you’re smuggling a basketball rather than shooting hoops with one.”
“Thanks,” Jared snorts, trying to diffuse the emotion in the air. His eyes are damp with the things Gerry’s words have stirred up.
“It’s a good thing, right? Means he’s gonna get here safe and sound.” Gerry holds a hand out, hesitating as he hovers it over Jared’s middle.
“You never really touched him before,” Jared muses, taking his father’s hand and pressing it to the swell. “He’s really strong, dad.”
“‘Course he is. He’s your kid.” Gerry smiles, the expression deepening when he feels the slightest movement from his grandson. “Hey little guy,” he says softly. “Guess I didn’t really know how to do this. How to still be afraid but also be excited.”
“I can teach you a thing or two. I’m pretty much both of those things...all the time.” Jared stretches in an attempt to get more comfortable. “Well, those two things and hungry. I’m hungry all the time.”
Gerry laughs at that, letting the sadness in his eyes shift over to something lighter. The moment is fleeting, as he gets back on track to what he has left to say. “I didn’t like hearing those things come out of your mouth, those things about not being able to do things for Jude. Because...none of them are true. You can do anything. You’ll figure it out just like you always do. So what if you can’t run after your kid. That’s what Jensen’s for, right? I’ve seen you two. You’re a team. What he can’t do, you can. And vice versa. This little boy, my grandson ,” he says, pausing as he tests the words on his tongue, “he’s lucky to have you two as parents. And he’s got one hell of a basketball player for a father. So, all of this concern about not being able to do those traditional things with your son? That’s bullshit.” He places a hand on Jared's shoulder and squeezes. “You've got this.”
The words are powerful. Those three syllables have the answer to why Jared has been feeling unsteady in his confidence. His father has always been his number one supporter. He's fought for Jared even before Jared could understand just how hard those fights have been. After hearing his father's words, it all seems to click into place. “Shit,” he says, covering his eyes with his palms. “You're gonna make me cry.”
“That's why I wanted to have you over for lunch,” his father replies.
“To make me cry?” Jared laughs softly at the silliness of his own question.
“To make sure you knew all that,” Gerry clarifies as he makes a waving gesture with his hand to somehow sum up all they've discussed.
Jared nods. “I'm glad you did.” He’s still tearing up, but his eyes are smiling along with the waterworks. “Even though you've got me crying like a baby.”
“Nothing wrong with that. I'm pretty sure I was doing the same thing a few minutes ago.” With a smile, Gerry squeezes Jared's shoulder again before patting him good-naturedly on the back.
“Yeah...glad we’re on the same page now. Because I know my body can do this. I just know. So you’ve got to trust me. The rest of the parenting issues? I’m gonna have to trust you and hope I learned from the best.” When Jared takes in a breath it starts as a sniffle but develops into a clearing of his airways. He feels remarkably better than he did this morning. Sometimes, he supposes, he needs his dad to set his head straight. And that works the other way around as well.
“Hello?” A voice - Megan's voice - calls through the house followed by the sound of the door slamming behind her. She walks into the kitchen, eyes darting between her father and brother, taking a moment to assess the situation and notice the residual tears in their eye. “Everyone okay?”
“Yeah. We're making tortellini.” Jared says, clarifying everything and nothing all at once.
“O-kaaaay,” Megan draws out, brain scrambling to come up with some sort of explanation. Failing, she shrugs and rounds the kitchen island. Bending down, she places a kiss on her brother's cheek. “Hey roller-skate.” Voice peaking in enthusiasm, she rubs her palm over Jared’s baby bump. “Hi baby-skate! How is my favorite nephew?”
“Hungry,” Jared says. “How is my favorite sister?”
“I'm your only sister.”
“Jude's your only nephew.”
“Touche.” Megan goes to her father and looks at the ingredients littering the counter. “Mom's tortellini?”
Nodding, Gerry adds, “an attempt.”
Swiping her finger along the bowl containing the cheese mixture, she pops it in her mouth and cocks her head in consideration as she tastes it. “Mom's is better,” she teases her father. “Move out of the way old man, Jared and I have this.” She butts him out of the way with her hip and grabs the pepper.
Putting his hands up in surrender, Gerry backs away. “Fine. I see how it is. My kids...always insisting they know better than their father.”
“Yeah, 'cause sometimes we do.” Jared raises an eyebrow at his father, eyes finally drying and filling with a habitual laughter that he has around his family.
“Sometimes you do,” Gerry echoes with a smile.
It's a simple moment shared between them. To Jared, however, it means everything.