Chloe (chloejames) wrote in mcdermott_game, @ 2009-12-18 20:50:00 |
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Entry tags: | chloe, chloe/tim, tim |
Chloe and Tim
Who: Chloe/Tim
What: a little serious and a little cute
Where: Tim's
When: Wednesday December9 (backdated
Rating: Pg
Tim switched off the DVD player and looked over at Chloe. He'd just shown her the DVD he'd made for his mother and was anxious to hear her opinion of it. Aside from his mother, Chloe and Charlotte's opinion matter the most to him. Charlotte had loved it and he hoped that Chloe felt the same way about it. "Well, what did you think?" he asked. "Now you know why I've been spending so much time in the film lab. I wasn't just grading projects, I was working on this. I hope Mom likes it." What he didn't tell Chloe was that he'd also made one for her, pictures of the two of them along with some video that had been shot over Thanksgiving. It wasn't quite ready yet but she'd see it on Christmas. He reaction to this one would let him know if he'd wasted his time although he was pretty sure that he hadn't.
When Tim had told Chloe that he had made something for her to watch she was instantly curious (and very grateful for the study break as the paper that was due the next day was NOT coming along well for her. ) She'd been happy to give him an opinion on his work and for a moment had simply marveled at his talent with the editing was involved with his project. She was also surprised that she felt tears come to her eyes as she watched some of the old footage he'd put on there of his family. "I think your Mom is going to love that." She admitted honestly. "I love it and it has nothing to do with me!"
He had noticed her tears and thought they were the highest praise that she could have given him. When she said that his mother would love it and that she loved it as well, he smiled, happy that she had enjoyed it. It also made him look forward to giving her the DVD he'd made for her even more. "Thank you," he said. "One thing that I've always believed is that the important thing about making any kind of film is being able to touch the audience. You want them to feel something and even though these are just home movies and old photos, I wanted to send a message somehow. I know that no one outside our family is ever going to see this but if they do, I hope they get how much we all loved Dad." When he spoke of family, he was including Chloe in that even if he didn't say the words. In many ways, he did consider her family and he knew that his mother was beginning to feel the same way.
"I'm really glad you liked it. I wanted you and Charlotte to see it before Christmas and I'm going to show it to Steven when I get home this weekend. Mom has to wait until Christmas but I wanted everyone else to get a sneak preview." He hadn't wanted Charlotte and Steven to break down in front of Emily on Christmas morning and he'd been afraid that they would. At least this way, they'd have gotten some of the emotions out before hand. "And you...well aside from my siblings, your opinion matters the most to me."
"You did touch the audience." Chloe assured him with a soft smile. "I think it's absolutely beautiful and the perfect present. You captured the essence of the love of your family and that's hard to do." She smiled as she thought of what she'd just watched. "I don't know your mother well Tim, but I'm starting to and I get the feeling that she's going to love this and love the fact that she can sit there and see their whole life together played out... it's pretty amazing."
"It wasn't easy to do," he admitted. "I found myself crying a lot while I was making it. I just...wanted to do this and in a way I guess it did it for Dad too. When I decided that I wanted to teach editing and film instead of doing it professionally, he was a little disappointed." Tim had never talked about this with her before because he found it painful but he knew it was time to share a little more of himself with her. "He told me that I was too talented to waste myself in a classroom. After I finished grad school in 2006, I did work on a couple of low budget films and did some free lance stuff but my heart wasn't in it. I loved being in a classroom, showing other people how to do things, how to share their visions. When I told him that I had accepted the job here, we had a fight. Eventually he was okay with it but I always hated that in a way I let him down."
Was Chloe a little surprised that Tim was offering that part of himself to her right then? Yes, but she loved him all the more for it and she listened attentively, her reactions to his words playing out across her face as they did when she chose to let them. "I bet you didn't really let him down." Chloe mused. "I Mean I don't know, I never met him but from what I can glean from my own family life... if you're happy with what you're doing your parents are happy for you...sometimes it just takes time to see that when you don't see eye to eye on it." She wanted to comfort and really her words were the only way she knew how, even if she knew they fell short.
"You're an amazing teacher Tim. I bet your Dad realized that after awhile. " She reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly. "I bet he would have loved this too. Tht you thought enough of him and your Mom to take the time this did."
"Did you know that I won an award last year?" he asked. It was hanging on the wall in his office but he was pretty sure she hadn't noticed and Tim had never pointed it out. "Every year at graduation, they give a Faculty Member of the Year award. It's voted on by the graduating seniors and it's campus wide. I won last year and I was only the second person to ever win it in their first year. I was floored because I had no idea that I'd been nominated....they keep it a secret....and I sure as hell didn't think I'd win." He shook his head, idly playing with her hair as he spoke. "I called home to tell them about it and Dad did tell me that he was proud. He said that he was glad I was doing something that made me happy. It does. Teaching does make me happy but I like doing things like this too." He indicated the DVD player with a wave of his hand.
"I never noticed that." Chloe admitted. "I'd say I feel guilty but lets face it , if I'm in your office I'm pretty much noticing you and that's it." She shrugged and then grinned. "I was right though he was proud.... Film editing is your talent." She mused. "I've heard Jeremy wax poetic about you enough to know that " She explained with a soft laugh. "And I can agree after seeing this but teaching is your gift. It's what you love to do more than anything else." She leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Won it in the first year? " She teased softly. 'And here new knew I was dating the hot shot prof."
"Yeah, that's me. A big hot shot." he laughed and pulled her closer. "I still don't know how I won it. I was shocked. I think the film students paid off someone or something, it's the only explanation I can come up with." Tim was nothing if not modest. He loved what he did but he didn't see that he was anything special. "I'm glad you liked the DVD though. It means a lot to me." While he wouldn't come out and admit it, he had been nervous about showing her. He had expected his sister to like it because it was her family but while Chloe knew his family, the memories represented by the videos and pictures weren't ones that she had been part of. Therefore, hearing her say that she was touched made him very happy.
"Oh that must be it." Chloe teased as she leaned into him. "They paid someone off because that's the only way You'd win it " Her tone was light, amusement evident in it. She loved that Tim was so modest, and she had no doubt that he'd won that award fair and square. He was pretty amazing, or so she thought. "You're going to be prepared with tissues' for your mom, right?" Chloe asked after a moment. "She's going to need them when watching that." She was quiet as she thought over the DVD.. "They looked really happy you know?" She mused. "All young and newly married and then with you guys... you grew up like I did, a lot of love."
Tim nodded. "We did. I never doubted that Mom and Dad loved each other. Because of what he did, he had to travel up to LA a lot, sometimes he'd be gone all week and then come home on weekends. I remember that he always brought Mom flowers when he came back. She loved it. I used to pretend that I thought it was cheesy as hell but I actually thought it was kind of cool. It was like he never wanted her to think he didn't care about her." He smiled at the memory. "He used to tell Steven and me that when we got girlfriends we should always remember the little things. I've always tried too. Steven sort of forgets that but I figure that when he meets the right girl, he'll get it together."
"Steven's too caught up in the other girls he sees to remember the little things for one." Chloe commented with a soft laugh as she thought of Tim's flirtatious brother. "I used to do that too you know, pretend that the cute little things my parents did for each other were embarrassing and silly?" She grinned as she remembered that. "I appreciate it now though....and I'm going to have to remember to thank your Mom for that piece of advice she gave you." Tim was great at remembering and doing the little things for her and she loved that he did that.
"She would enjoy hearing that," he said. "and besides I like doing little things for you. Watching Mom and Dad made me realize that love is something special and it never hurts to let someone know how you feel about them. You never know when you might not get another chance." His father's life had ended much too soon but he knew that no matter what, each of them had known that Dane loved them. "I told you that Dad had been disappointed about my career choice. He was but after I won that award, he called me and we talked about it. He said that the most important thing was that I was happy and it was obvious that what I did was appreciated by others. It made me feel good. I'm so glad that we had that talk before he got sick...it was hard enough but if he'd died with me thinking that he was still disappointed in me...I don't know how I would have handled that." He squeezed her hand and looked over at her, the pain he still felt when he thought about his father's death evident in his eyes.
Chloe's heart went out to him. It always did when the subject of Dane came up. She wanted to help and felt like she fell so woefully short of being helpful on that topic most days. "But you didn't have to handle that." She reminded him gently. "You knew he loved you and was proud of you... " She leaned over to hug him close for a moment. "I wish i could say or do more for you sometimes."
He held her tightly, saying nothing for truthfully there was nothing to say at that moment. When he released her, he looked into her eyes and then kissed her gently. "Thank you but you're doing far more than you realize. Just being here, listening to me, letting me talk about it. Chloe, that's the best thing you could possibly do. Sometimes you don't have to say anything. Sometimes just listening is more than enough."
"Well if that's all it takes." Chloe smiled as she settled back against the couch after he kissed her. "Then I can do that... I'm here for you for all that, okay? as much as you want me to be." He did the same for her, sometimes (or so she thought) better than she did for him. "And speaking of being there fore each other....which we kind of were. We need to talk about next week."
"What about next week?" he asked, picking up her hand and lacing his fingers through hers, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. "It's the press thing for your movie, right? And the premiere is Tuesday? I told you I'd be there, I wouldn't miss it." In fact he was looking forward to it even if he didn't want to admit it. He'd spent so much time in his life pretending to hate the whole Hollywood scene that he was a little embarrassed to admit that he didn't mind it so much when he was with Chloe. Of course that had more to do with the fact that he was with her than anything else and Tim knew it.
"Well I'm going to be in LA all week." Chloe explained, smiling as he laced fingers with hers, she always felt a thrill when they touched, even something as simple and chaste as that touch of their fingers against one another. "Commuting from Carlsbad won't be a fun thing to try to do so the studio is putting me up in a suite. I was wondering..." Since he'd said he'd be there for it all if she wanted him to, Chloe was thinking it'd just be easier to have him there all week, she only hoped he'd be willing. "I mean I know you want to see your family and all and I'll understand if you say no, but would you want to stay with me for the week?"
Tim was surprised at her request since he hadn't really expected it. He'd offered to be with her if she wanted but truthfully he hadn't thought she'd ask. "Of course I will," he said and leaned in to kiss her. "and it's okay. I'll have plenty of time to see my family so don't worry about that. I'd love to be there with you. And if this suite is anything like the one that we had in New York, it should be pretty sweet." He was teasing of course since he'd be happy in a Motel 6 if Chloe was with him but he couldn't resist the joke.
"Oh it'll be better than that actually." Chloe admitted. "Since the studio's booking it and not Chloe." And to keep her happy for the press junket they were doing their best to appeal and anticipate anything Chloe might need or want. She'd been surprised when Julie had sent her the information that the studio had sent her. "I'm glad you said yes." She admitted with a sigh of releif. 'I love having friends or family with me for press, it makes it go easier I just... wasn't sure if you'd be willing to take the whole week out of your life to do that for me."
He kissed her, his lips teasing hers for a moment before he pulled away. "Chloe...remember what we talked about the other night? It's all part of being there and supporting each other. I don't mind at all. If you want me there and I can be there, I'll be there for you. It's that simple. You'd do it for me, wouldn't you?"
"I would." Chloe agreed. "good point." She added with a smile as she leaned in for another soft kiss. "Thanks for that.. I know it'll be boring for you but I really want you there for all of it."
"I doubt that it will be boring," he said. "I'm sure there will be lots of things to keep me interested. Besides I think your publicist is secretly in love with me." He laughed and gave her hand a squeeze. "besides I like watching you in action, you know that." Tim was being truthful, he found that he really did like watching her interact with fans. "I wonder if our favorite TMZ photographer will be around?
"Oh all around/" Chloe mused, laughing at his about Nadine. 'And she does like you, that I must admit... " She grinned, leaning in for a soft kiss. "You're kind of awesome, do you know that? You're taking a week out of your life to do the press stuff with me, you spent copious amounts of time making an amazing present for your mother... you do your best to be there for Charlotte.... Yea, you're pretty awesome."
The compliment made him shake his head. "I'm not that awesome," he said. "In fact I can be a giant pain in the ass but I like doing things for people I love. I always have so none of it is a chore." Tim didn't see that going with her on her press junket was that big a deal, he was just glad that she wanted him to be with her. It might get a little boring at times but she wanted him there so he saw no reason why he shouldn't be there.
"Says the man who's never been on a press junket." Chloe replied dryly. "It can be a chore, for everyone involved." She explained. "The perks are pretty cool though... and the hotel is going to kick ass...Still though you are that awesome Tim. I mean I won't deny you can be a pain in the ass, so can I but that doesn't take away from your awesome."
"You have a point," he admitted. "I can't say I've ever been on a press junket so this will be my first. And we can certainly enjoy the perks. Hell, I'll even rub your feet when you get back to the hotel at night and you're tired. I promise I'll earn my keep." He grinned when she acknowledged what he had said about being a pain. "You didn't have to agree that I was a pain quite so quickly," he said with a laugh and playfully nudged her. "It's true but you could have at least waited a beat before you agreed."
"Oh i'm sorry!' Chloe teased back. laughing as she nudged him back. "Tim you're perfect, you're never a pain" She grinned at him as she spoke, not even feigning a straight face. "Good thing I love you even when you are a pain. " She added as she leaned into kiss him.
"See that's why we work," he replied. "You love me when I'm a pain and I love you when you're a pain so it's all good." Tim loved the easy way they could tease one another, it was something he'd never experienced with another woman. "You know something? I like the fact that we can joke like this." He decided that he might as well speak his thoughts aloud. "I don't feel like I have to be someone I'm not when I'm with you. I'm very grateful that you don't expect me to be perfect because god knows I'm not."
"Hey i'm absolutley never a pain!" Chloe feinged offense. "I'm perfect haven't you heard?" She added with a smirk and then nodded at his words. "I have to agree Tim. I have faults, you have faults and we know that.. My Mom would say that's the first sign of a real realtionship...when you're not blinded by anything."
"I'd say your mother is a very smart woman," he said. "No illusions here which is not a bad thing. It's a lot easier than trying to live up to expectations." He completely loved that there was on pretense between them, it made things a lot easier. "although if you ever want to be blinded by my awesomeness, I won't complain." He shot her a wink and kissed her nose.
"I'll keep that in mind." Chloe assured him with a giggle as he kissed her nose. "and I'll let you know if I ever decide to." She added as she settled back into his arms.