Milli-Verse: Vacation Part 2

[sbpd_papabear]

Waking up wrapped in Karen's arms is perhaps the best thing Henry could possibly imagine - nuzzling into her sleep-matted hair and inhaling the sweet scent of day-old shampoo and her right there against him. For a long moment, he's afraid to move - afraid to break the moment and move on to a new one. It should scare him that he's so comfortable already, that he's throwing around words like 'love' so haphazardly... but that's what he's become with her. He doesn't just want her, he flat out needs her in his life now - and if that's not love, damn it... nothing is. Soon, though, it will be over - they'll have to go home and Lord knows if he'll ever get to be this close again.

Gently, he presses a kiss against the back of her neck and another to her bare shoulder, squeezing tight around her waist.

And then he feels her shift back against him and murmur something that may be his name and reflexively whispers; "Good morning, beautiful."

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[sbpd_papabear]

A smile warms on his face and he takes he easy bite, stopping to kiss her fingertips. "Ah, I'm adequate," he laughs and then leans closer to nudge against her.

"I just hope she likes me, I wasn't exactly... what Shawn wanted in a father." It's a tough subject, to say the least, and as much as he'd never believe it if Henry told him as much; Henry's well aware of the fact that Shawn thinks he was a bad father.

"What sort of things does she like? I can get the boat ready after I finish up at the station... I'll probably be down at the dock shortly after dawn anyway so you two can just meet me there when you're up and ready."

[chief_mom]

"Mmm, she likes celery and cucumbers and Muppets, reading and singing," she laughs. "Anything shiny, sparkly or with flowers, and pudding cups." It's so hard to describe her child in simple phrases, but those things come right to the fore.

"She likes you, you told her some story at the Christmas party at the station, she kept retelling it for days afterward."

"Your relationship with Shawn has always been complicated. But he knows that you love him, and you're proud of what he's accomplished. And he loves you."

[sbpd_papabear]

He could make some of that happen... maybe. At least he'd try, because he really wants Iris to like him. It'll make things a good deal easier between he and Karen if it goes that far... when it goes that far.

He chuckles under his breath, trying not to think about Shawn if he can help it. Not now.

"Yeah, well... I want everything to be perfect." He lets himself be distracted with his sandwich, taking a big bite and swallowing it with a sip of beer before he asks; "She got a fishing pole and life vest? I've got a spare adult set, but I got rid of Shawn's old vest a decade ago."

[chief_mom]

"Life vest yes, fishing pole no. But that's simple to remedy," she swipes the beer, stealing a little kiss before stealing a sip and handing it back.

"Perfect is a pipe dream with a six year old. Things happen, which I bet you remember. It'll be fine, Henry. No worrying, please."

There's enough to worry about. This part should actually be pretty easy. Iris isn't hard to please. "I love that you want perfection, though. I love you."

[sbpd_papabear]

Henry's smile warms and he pushes up fully to lean against her, pressing a kiss against her shoulder. "I love you too."

Still, his mind wanders and he can't help but think about it... not worry, just strongly consider things. "This is good, right? I mean that we're talking about this stuff."

He doesn't want to rush her into anything, but at the same time he's not holding back on anything... not this time.

[chief_mom]

She can't stop herself from wrapping her arms around him, nuzzling gently against his neck. "It's so good. Planning, and wanting things to grow and become more than just..."

She sighs, but only because she's getting ahead of herself.

"We're good together, especially in these private moments. But it's a long road ahead, and there are sure to be some bumps. But we can talk about things, and that's pretty damned fabulous. I hope we never stop talking about things."

Talking, for her, means that he cares enough to bother. That's huge.

[sbpd_papabear]

He wouldn't dream of caring any less.

Lifting his chin, he shifts against her again and finds her lips with his, letting himself taste the sweet fruit off her tongue before breaking away.

"Promise I won't if you don't," his voice takes on a soft, almost playful note - but he means it all the same. "I need you to tell me what I miss."

Because for all his keen senses and memory, he knows he can be damn blind when it comes to what someone else is thinking... what they need, and when he's hurting them.

[chief_mom]

"I can do that." It's an easy promise to make because she doesn't foresee there being too much. He's trying too hard to be careful. Maybe just because things are new, but she doesn't think so, she thinks it's from prior experience.

"So long as you tell me if I'm too much."

That's her greatest fear, leaning on him too much. Taking advantage of his generosity and kindness, and especially his strength. Getting lost in the fact that for the first time in far too long, someone wants to be there with her.

"We can do this." If she keeps saying it, they can both start believing it. Hopefully.

[sbpd_papabear]

Relationships are fragile things, and he'll be damned if he lets this one break because he's blind to certain things.

"Never too much," he sets down his food and wraps his arms back around her, squeezing tight. "We will do this, Karen... we are doing this."

[chief_mom]

"We are," and that brings back her smile, and her appetite. She finds a sandwich for herself, and settles against him. "It's really pretty awesome."