(no subject)

[not_that_spike]

The light from the TV set is the only light on in the room; the volume's all the way down. Seven Samurai plays, scenes interspersed with subtitles, but he's not really paying attention. That's because across the room, in her basket, one princess is fast asleep.

By the black-and-white-and-gray light, he studies Beth: her profile, the curve of her shoulders, the glint in her eyes punctuated by the television's flickering. He's got one hand on the small of her back and a cigarette between his lips, but he's not going to smoke it in here. He's not going to smoke it at all; it's just to have it there out of habit. He's stretched out watching her, occasionally glancing at the movie. Last time they did this, she had a baby.

If he's sure of only one thing, it's that the same thing isn't going to happen tonight.

Love you, Slim. If he could, he'd send the thought to her right through the palm of his hand. For all he knows, she feels it anyway.

Comments

[not_that_spike]

Once that ridiculously small diaper is on and the old one's thrown safely away (and really, who ever knew plastic bags were so damn useful?), he steps back just enough to let Beth take over. At first, the thought of diapers sent him into an actual panic: shortness of breath, dry mouth, wide eyes, the whole thing. But now... hell, he could even show Faye how to change the baby without breaking a sweat. Not that he wants her that close to Beth Junior.

For a moment his hand lingers in Beth's hair as she holds the baby, swaying back and forth in that automatic way that people seem to do when they've got an infant in their arms. He likes the connection: baby in Beth's arms, Beth in his. It feels trite but breathtakingly sweet. Soon enough, though, he lets go, turns off the movie and TV, turns on one of the soft bedside lights, and plumps up the pillow for Beth. Their little princess is going to be hungry after such a nice long nap, and he wants both princess and queen to be as comfortable as possible.

He's never been the kind of guy to ask how high? when someone tells him to jump, but he'd do that for either of his Beths in a heartbeat. Any time, anywhere, for any reason. After all, he's in love.