twenty eight - oh baby

                                    

                                          
Mae sits in the empty doctors lounge with a coffee clutched in her hands. It's early, the sun just rising, as she waits for Jackson to come find her. Almost 30 minutes to the dot, the door opens and he comes in; freshly showered, clean bandaged and in sweats and a hoodie.
She sits up slowly and sets the coffee down, the drink cold and untouched. "Do you want anything?"
"Water." He says as he pulls a pill box from his pocket. 
She silently grabs him a glass and sits opposite him as he swallows them together. She rubs her hands together nervously, her mind conscious of her rings. "Where do we..."
"I don't even know." He admits. They sit in silence for a moment. "You've been off. Since TJ was born. I'm not sure why..." He sinks into the couch and watches her.
Mae sits on the edge, arms resting on her thighs as her hands rub together endlessly still. "Ah." She says slowly, taking a deep breath. "I don't want kids." She blurts.
"Okay..." Jackson says slowly.
"I don't think I want kids." She corrects and looks at his face. It's unreadable of anything other than confusion. "I don't know if I want kids and you do. How do we make that work?"
Jackson bursts out laughing and leans his head back. Mae grabs a pillow and launches it at him, Jackson blocking with his good arm as he keeps laughing. "I'm sorry I'm sorry!" He gasps and holds the pillow to his chest. "Mae." He whines but not negatively. "Mae!" He does it again.
"What?" She snaps as she stands and begins to pace. 
Jackson grabs her hand and pulls her between his legs, rendering her still. "Mae... is this what's been bothering you?" He asks gently as he looks up at her. 
Her worried eyes look back at him as she nods small.
"I don't want kids. Anymore that is. Well, maybe I do but not right now." He says.
Mae frowns small then looks confused. "You said about when we have kids... when and if are different."
"I imagine we may one day but if we didn't? I wouldn't mind. If we decided right now we won't then I'd be okay. If we wait ten years and I'm almost 50, I might have a heart attack but then I'd be excited." He jokes small. "But, Wigan, there is no pressure. I'm so sorry if I made you feel-"
She covers his mouth to silence him. "Don't be sorry. Please. It's not your fault I'm a m-"
He covers her mouth and smirks behind her hand as she raises a brow. "Two can play this game." He mumbles.
She blushes and nods once. Both let their hands fall to their sides for a moment before grabbing one another in a tight embrace. She buries her face in his neck and he in hers. She sighs in relief as the weight escapes her shoulders. "Are you okay?" She mumbles into him.
"Crispy." He tries to joke but groans/laughs when she hits him. "My wife hit me, no I'm not okay."
She pulls away with an eye roll. "You're fine."
He grins and sits back as she flops onto the couch beside him. "Please don't ever be afraid to talk to me." He says gently.
Mae blushes. "I'm not... I'm just... you've given up a lot to be with me. And I would never want you to regret that. This felt like a big thing you might, I don't know, spiral over - yes I know I'm the one who spiralled." She tuts as he gives her a look.
"I have hardly given up a thing." He reasons. "Mo-Catherine was bound to be something I confronted soon enough anyway. And I'm glad it was sooner rather than later." He leans his head back. "She ran my life like it was a business."