Colin Matthews (reluctant_wolf) wrote in supernextdoor, @ 2012-07-26 09:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | 10.18.11, cleo, cleo and colin, colin |
Things are Changing Fast
Who: Colin and Cleo
What: Mostly talking
When: 10.18.11 - Tuesday Evening
Where: Their home
Warnings: semi NSFW for brief nudity.
Cleo had been extremely tired all day. She wasn't even entirely sure why so she just chalked it up to being one of those days. After work she had come home and gotten right into a nice hot bath which she'd ended up falling asleep in. She woke up with the water freezing cold and that just made her shiver so she'd gotten out, dried off and curled up in the bed she shared with Colin, sprawled out in the middle, her face against the sheets on his side of the bed. His scent comforted her. A bit too much, however. She ended up falling asleep once more and instead of having dinner ready for her fiance when he got home, she was still curled up sleeping with her face against his sheets. She didn't even hear him as he entered, nor when he made his way down the stairs. For all intents and purposes, Cleo was oblivious to the world around her.
He didn't care if dinner wasn't ready. Cleo was so wiped out, she didn't even stir when he came through the room to take his shower. Once he was done, he crossed to the bed, chuckling softly at how she pretty much sprawled across his side of the bed. Not wanting to attempt to move her, he climbed onto the bed on her side. Drawing his mate into his arms, he nuzzled her neck softly, inhaling deeply. He could smell the fatigue. She was pregnant, if he remembered about the time Becky found out she was pregnant, she'd been tired all the time. So that was probably what it was. He snuggled Cleo closer, deciding a nap sounded pretty good anyway. Sleepy kitties had that effect, no matter what form they were in.
The feel of his arms around her drew her out of her sleep and she couldn't help but smile a little even before she opened her eyes. She curled in against him, taking in his warmth and letting out a content sigh. "Colin," she murmured, her voice still wrapped up in sleepiness. "How long've you been home?" she questioned. Then she realized she hadn't even made dinner for him. She let out a groan and frowned a little. "I haven't even decided what to make for dinner," she muttered. "What do you want to eat?"
He let out a growl when she started fussing. She was worrying about dinner when she was so wiped out he'd managed to come home, have a shower, and climb into bed with her before she woke up. She was kidding, right? "Baby, don't worry about dinner," he grumbled, pulling her back against him. "You're too tired. We'll order something."
She wanted to keep fussing, to argue that she was fine and could make dinner, but he was too warm and too comforting and she really didn't want to move. She gave in and let him pull her against him again, smiling a little as she tucked her face in against his neck. "How was work?" she murmured, pressing a gentle kiss against his skin.
And he wouldn't hear it. Cleo was obviously tired, or she wouldn't have still been asleep when he got home from work. "Weird," he said, smiling despite that because she was snuggling him. He started carefully stroking her hair, wincing when he realized she'd probably laid down with it wet. Okay, petting her hair was a bad idea. He settled for rubbing her back instead. "Darcy, some kid that Tony grew up with, was lurking around the shop. She's some kind of were-bluebird and she definitely has a thing for him. The weird part is I think it's mutual. So that was a fun conversation to be a third wheel to."
She liked the feel of his fingers in her hair, but he was right by stopping. If he kept it up, her hair would likely be looking something akin to a poodle. No one wanted that, least of all her. It was difficult enough to deal with as it was. "Weird," she said. 'Kid' didn't exactly sound like a good thing, but she chose not to ask how old this girl was. She'd probably see for herself if she ended up at the shop for whatever reason. Hopefully she could resist the urge to chase Darcy around and eat her. "I'm glad you're home," she murmured. "The bed isn't warm enough without you in it."
It wasn't something Colin wanted to deal with. It really didn't matter how old the girl was. She was in high school. Even if it was her last year or whatever, it was just...ick. Cleo was at least 19, which from what he could tell was the British equivalent to like mid-twenties considering how she didn't act remotely like any 19 year old he ever met. "I'm glad to be home," he said. "I wish you'd texted me after work saying you were beat. I could have called something ahead and picked it up on the way home or had it delivered. You have to be hungry."
"I didn't think I was as tired as I was when I got home," she admitted. "I got into a bath, thinking that would help, but then I fell asleep in the tub and when I woke up I was freezing. So I got out and dried off and thought 'oh, I'll just lay down til I'm warm again'. I guess that didn't work," she said, letting out a little laugh and shaking her head. "Sorry I didn't text you. I just figured I'd make something after I got through with my bath. We can get a pizza or something. Or whatever you're in the mood for."
Colin chuckled. "I think it worked too well," he observed, looking down at her all comfy and snuggled in the bed. He frowned when she apologized. "I didn't mean it like that, baby. I just want you not to push yourself. Yeah, you're a big tough werecat, but the first month is like the killer for the crazy fatigue if I remember that baby book I wished I hadn't read last year when Becky got pregnant. So from now on, you're that tired, we'll figure something else out. I can always cook. I like to cook, you know that. And it makes the wolf feel all useful."
"I'll be okay," she told him. "Chasing babies all day just wears me out every once in awhile," she shrugged. It would get easier. Or at least she hoped it would. At least until she was as big as a house and having to chase around babies. Yeah, not thinking about that right now. "I like it when you cook," she admitted. "You're actually pretty good at being a house husband," she teased.
He didn't like the way that sounded. Especially since she didn't seem all that enthused about chasing babies. Her cousin had gotten her the job because Cleo needed one. "Baby," he began hesitantly. "If it's wiping you out this much now, how much is it gonna kill you six months down the road when you're hitting your third trimester and huge and exhausted?" There were other jobs she could do. Or she didn't have to work. The house was paid for, the shop was paid for, both her car and his truck were long paid for. There was no real reason for her to work. The shop gave them a good life. "You don't really have to work, Cleo. Even if I can bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan." He gave her a little smirk for the bad joke.
Unfortunately for Colin, the most prominent thing he said that she heard was 'when you're hitting your third trimester and huge'. Like she wanted to be reminded that she'd be as big around as she was tall. Sighing, she rolled onto her back and pushed the blankets away from her top half, fingers sliding over her stomach. It was still flat, of course, but it wouldn't be for long. "I like working at the daycare," she told him honestly. "I love the kids. I do." She wasn't sure if she was trying to convince him or herself more. "And I'm not going to lounge around the house while you work, that's not fair." She furrowed her brow and shrugged a little. "I'll figure it out."
Yeah, this was not flying. He'd said something wrong and she was being silly. Colin let out a sigh and shifted up to lean on one elbow. "Cleo, don't do this," he said. "You know I don't like this shit. I want you to tell me stuff. Otherwise I will never figure it out on my own. I am just not one of those guys. I need to be frequently bludgeoned with obvious shit that women seem to notice without effort. I don't pretend to get it. But I can't help you if you don't tell me what's bugging you."
She frowned. "I want to work," she told him firstly because she did. "And I know that I'm not going to be able to keep doing what I'm doing and it makes me feel a little useless. And I don't want to think about how huge I'm going to get." She scrunched up her nose and shook her head a little. "I'm sorry. I'm just tired and with Isis leaving I just feel like everything is moving so fast and it's making me dizzy."
"So come work at the shop?" he suggested. "Becky works less and less and we could use a counter girl. Somebody to take the orders. Right now, it's whichever of us isn't elbows deep in work if Becky's not there. Then you can sit around as much as you need to. And I can sneak into the office and steal kisses." That sounded like a good plan to him. He frowned when she said Isis left. "Did she and Niko split? They looked like they were doing good last time we saw them."
She wasn't sure if working in the shop would be good considering she could barely be around Colin without wanting to pounce him. But she could curb her enthusiasm with learning how to do stuff at the shop. It could be a learning experience for her and she could help out Colin at the same time. "No, they're still together. Some big fiasco happened. Something about getting out of town or murdering his father. So they're gone. Is it bad that I feel a little abandoned? I mean I'm happy she's happy but it's still sad to see her go."
"Whoa, I know Niko was talking about telling his parents and how it was gonna suck, but it went that badly? Jesus." Colin wrapped Cleo up in his arms. "No, it's not bad. It's not like you know many people here. I'm sorry." He kissed her gently. "You know they wouldn't have left if they didn't need to." He sighed, stroking her hair gently, trying to avoid any tangles.
"I guess it did. His dad said some things that pissed Isis off enough to want to dissect his innards. I think Niko did all he could do and pulled her out of the situation." She certainly didn't blame him, but she didn't like that Isis was gone when the whole reason she'd come to the country in the first place was to help her. Now everything had changed. She wouldn't leave Colin, however, so regardless of the changes, she was firmly set in staying right where she was. "I know," she nodded. "I just wish she didn't have to leave."
Colin nodded. "Of course he did," he agreed. "We'll go visit them sometime after the twins are born, okay?" She had to know where they were and then she could at least see her cousin and the babies. "I do too. I was sort of kind of starting to like Niko." He smiled at her wryly. "It'll be okay, baby. You just need to get out more. Find an expectant mother's group you like and charm them with that British wit and your awesome personality."
She felt better at the thought of getting to visit her cousin and the girls once they arrived. And Isis would no doubt make a trip for the wedding if she wasn't too far along. It wasn't so bad, she supposed. Everything would work out in the end. "I do," she agreed with a little nod. "I mean I've met a few people who are nice and all. I just need to branch out. It'll be easier when I'm not exhausted."
Exactly. Things would get better. "You have to do what's best for you and our baby," he reminded her. "Yes, so you work the desk at the shop, save us from having to deal with customers when we'd rather be fixing their cars and have more energy after work." He nuzzled her cheek. "I like the last one especially."
"You just want eye candy at work that doesn't come with a kilt," she teased. She smiled all the same though, lifting her hand to gently brush over his cheek. "Are you sure you don't think I'm silly for leaving a job this quickly?" she muttered, frowning a little.
Colin snorted. "Carr doesn't wear a kilt to work," he scoffed. "Sorry to disappoint you." So he was a little jealous? She was his mate and Carr was another male wolf. Not funny. He dragged his attention back to what Cleo was saying. "Of course not, baby," he assured her. "I'm the one who suggested it. I want what's best for you and the baby. Since this works, then let's do it. I'll ask Becky to add you to my insurance so you can get some of your prenatal visits covered, and it'll all be good."
"I like my men without the skirts," she told him. "And less Scottish." Leaning in a little, she gently kissed him and slid her hands through his hair and smiled as she pulled her lips back from his. "And blonder," she added. Colin certainly had nothing to worry about when it came to Carr. Or any other man for that matter. Cleo's inner kitty had firmly made her choice in men. She was starting to like the idea of working with him more than she wanted to admit. "And you're positive that I won't cause problems being there? Distract you too much?"
And now she was asking him questions while she was distracting him. Colin took a minute to get his brain online again before he could reply. "Because you don't distract me with texts all day anyway?" he reminded her. "Besides, I like having you close by and when you get further along and need breaks, you don't have to worry about your boss giving you hell."
He had a point there. She did send him a lot of texts daily. And call him more than she should. And worry over him even when she knew he was perfectly safe and fine. "I can only imagine how fussy you'll be over me when I'm 'huge', she said, muttering that last word as if it was the worst thing in the world. "I hope you have a reinforced chair that won't shatter beneath the weight of me."
Colin let out a long breath. She had to fixate on that one damned word, didn't she? "Yes, I will be even worse then," he agreed. "Because I love you and the baby and I want you both to be safe and happy." He rolled his eyes. "Babe, you're itsy bitsy. So small I can pick you up with one arm. Even if the baby weighs ten pounds, you won't even come close to needing a special chair. Please."
She pouted a little. "If the baby weighs ten pounds, I'll never be able to deliver it normally," she told him. "Don't jinx me." She'd be lucky to be able to deliver an eight pound baby normally. "Especially if I don't want to go to the hospital. Pray for a small baby." She doubted she'd be that lucky, but she didn't want to think too much about it when they had plenty of time to worry over the weight and size of their unborn child.
He just couldn't win tonight... "I didn't say I wanted a ten pound baby," he muttered. "I want to be there for the birth. So yeah, I am praying for no complications." This conversation just sucked. "Everything's going to be fine. I wasn't huge or anything. There's no way in any world you were a big baby." He grinned down and started tickling her.
Complications were not something she wanted. She wanted him there for the birth too. And this conversation did suck. Until he started to reassure her and convince her that their baby wouldn't be huge. Hopefully he was right. She grinned when he tickled her, squirming away from him as best she could though really she wanted to be caught. "So not fair," she laughed.
Okay, that was better. Colin laughed and hauled Cleo back into his arms, giving up on his tickle attack. Because once it started turning on him, the wolf felt cornered and it never ended well. "Who says I play fair?" he challenged, leaning in for a kiss. "I love you, Cleo."
Cleo had learned very quickly not to tickle back. Colin was right. It never ended well. She smiled against his lips and nodded a little. "I love you too," she murmured. "I'll love you more if you feed me though."
Oh yeah, food. Colin's stomach rumbled in protest. Food sounded good. "I don't feel like waiting for a pizza to be delivered," he admitted. "I can grill us up some burgers quick?" That didn't take any effort really. "There's still some onions leftover from this weekend."
She nodded. Burgers sounded good. Really good. "Do we still have ice cream in the freezer?" she asked, sitting up and trying to remember where she put her nightgown.
Colin was distracted by the view when she asked her question. "Uh, yeah, I think so," he said. "Unless you went on another late night ice cream binge and ate it all. Then no." He sighed and hauled himself off the bed. He'd already put on sweat pants, so it only took him a minute to find a tee shirt.
Cleo stuck her tongue out at him and got out of bed, finding her nightgown hanging off of the dresser and slipping it on. "You'll just have to learn to stock up on ice cream better," she told him decidedly, nodding her head. "And it's all your son's fault that I'm hungry all the time." Yes, she'd decided the baby was a boy. Her mother was fairly certain it was and so was she. She couldn't really say why she felt that way. Perhaps the undying need to eat everything all the time.
He laughed. "So you've decided the baby's a boy, huh?" he teased. "I thought you thought your mother was crazy." There were a million old wives' tales about how to tell, but that's all they were. "Fine, I will go buy more ice cream after work tomorrow." He caught Cleo around the waist and pulled her to him for a kiss.
"She is crazy," she told him. "But I just think he's a boy. What do you think?" she questioned. But then he was pulling her into him for a kiss and she was more focused on that than anything else. "Mmm, good," she murmured. "I suppose I should put in a notice at work. Stay til they find someone else. I doubt it'll take long though. They've got a waiting list for people needing a job."
"I think I have no idea," he told her. "But I know better than to argue. So baby is a boy until further testing disputes this." Or Cleo changed her mind. Which was a distinct possibility. "It's easier to say 'he' anyway." He shrugged. "Up to you," he said. "I'll talk to Becky about setting you up and getting you trained. Not that the intake work is hard. Its just something I'd rather not do, because it requires filling out forms and dealing with people who never want to hear what I have to tell them."
Cleo grinned a little. "You mean I get to argue with people because they're not listening?" she said. It sounded like a heck of a lot more fun than trying to get babies not to stuff things in their diapers or bite the other children. "I think I'm going to like this career change."
"Haha," he scoffed. "No you get to give them a form that tells me what their junker car is doing that isn't right and then well, I still get to tell them what they don't want to hear. Which is how much money it's gonna cost to fix it." Colin grinned. "But if you want to be the one who does that, I will love you forever."
She smiled and leaned up to get another kiss from him. "Aren't you going to love me forever anyways?" she asked him. "I really kind of hope you do because see I'm making this really special present for you. It'll take a few more months, but I'm sure you'll love it."
"Well, yeah," he said, then got distracted. "You're making me a-" Then he realized what she meant and groaned. "Yeah, lack of food has made me dumb. Going upstairs to cook." Jesus, he was dim sometimes.
Cleo couldn't help but laugh a little. "You could definitely use some food, baby," she agreed, kissing him once more before heading up the stairs. "And I'm going to help you cook. Because I said so." So there. She'd have stamped her foot but she was pretty sure he wouldn't argue over much.
"Yes, dear," he shot back, letting her precede him up the stairs. Because it was a really nice view. What? Once they had food squared away, they could get to other more fun things. "You're just mad because I'm a better cook than you are."
Turning around once she reached the top of the stairs, she folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. "Are not," she defended, sticking her tongue out at him. "I can cook just as good as you, thank you very much."
She was so cute when she was all fluffed up and miffed. Colin stepped up so he was eye level with her, which left a few stairs between them. "I didn't say you weren't a good cook," he told her. "But admit it, you like my cooking more than you own."
"That doesn't mean anything," she told him. "It's not my fault you make all this delicious, fattening, American food," she whined. "I just haven't learned everything there is to know about your cuisine. I am going to make it my goal in life to surpass your cooking skills."
Colin laughed. "Well, I can teach you," he reminded her. "It's not hard. Although cuisine is kind of a strong word. Or you could ask my mother, which would get you in her good graces. Especially if you bring a few recipes she's never seen before to the mix. She taught me and Becky how to cook and it's something for you girls to bond over. I just cooked this weekend because nobody ever lets me cook." Colin loved to cook. Mostly because he loved to eat. But he swore both Becky and Cleo just decided it was one chore he didn't need without ever asking him his opinion on it.
"I think it would be easier to bond with a rattlesnake than your mother," she told him honestly, letting out a little sigh. "Maybe I should just give up the ghost and let you cook more often," she told him. "But then I'll gain a billion pounds before I pack on the baby weight." It was an exaggeration of course, but she knew that she'd put on some weight from American eating regardless. There was just so much cheese and deliciously fattening ingredients.
Colin rolled his eyes. "She's not that bad," he told her. "She's just overprotective. Give her time. By the time the baby comes, she'll be eating out of your hand. You're giving her a grandchild. And you made me do something she'd been nagging me to do for years. So stop worrying so much." He stepped up until he was one step below Cleo. "So you eat healthy stuff for breakfast and lunch and then you can shamelessly enjoy whatever fattening food I decided to cook for dinner." Colin never understood this obsession himself. He'd always eaten whatever the hell he wanted and never had to worry about it. "But I think you're worrying about it too much. You're gonna need every calorie you can take in for Junior there."
She supposed he was right. His mother wasn't the devil or anything. Cleo really couldn't blame her all that much for reacting the way that she had. She doubted she'd have reacted any differently had she been in Helen's shoes. "I still like your dad better," she told him, shrugging a little. "You're right though. I have an excuse to be a little pig now," she smirked. "I do, however, envy your ability to eat anything you want and still be a stick," she sighed. "Lucky."
"Everybody likes Dad better at first," Colin told her wryly. "They're not me, therefore they don't get to see his critical side. Worst boss I ever had. Why I went into business for myself. Mom takes time to warm up to. But now that you're family, she'll protect you just as viciously. So there's that in her favor. It's how she shows she cares. That and incessant nagging." He chuckled, pulling her close and pressing one hand to her flat tummy. "Yeah, you do. So use it to your advantage. It isn't like I don't eat vegetables and stuff like that." Colin even liked salad. He liked it doused in Ranch dressing, but he liked salad and could eat a whole bag of premade salad in one setting when the mood struck him. Never stuck around though. "My sister says the same thing, even though she's a stick too. I don't get when you skinny girls complain about skinny guys."
"You're just like your mother," Cleo told Colin. "It's why you two fight so much," she teased. "And also why you understand her. You just happen to like me better than she does right now." Cleo didn't dislike Helen, but it would take a lot of warming up to her to really feel welcome. She smiled at his hand against her stomach, covering it with one of hers. "Just promise you'll still love me no matter how round I get?" she teased.
Colin wanted to protest, but it was true. Becky was more laid back like Dad and pretty much served the same role he did in keeping her headstrong, opinionated brother from going bull in a china shop on little provocation. "Yeah," he said. "Of course I like you better than she does right now. You put out for me." He grinned at her teasingly. "Of course I will. So long as I still get some." Yeah, he was being a brat. But teasing her was fun.
Cleo rolled her eyes at him. "Men," she scoffed. "You'd better start coming up with new positions for when my belly is in the way," she warned him. She had no intentions of cutting him off. Unless he did something stupid. In that case, it was his own fault.
"Yeah, because thinking about sex positions isn't going to do anything but make me want to try them out?" he reminded her as he carefully moved Cleo out of the way so he could actually get to the kitchen and start making food. "I don't think coming up with positions that will work is a problem."
Following him into the kitchen, she smirked a little. "I don't think we're out of the honeymoon stage yet," she grinned. "Cook fast, baby, we've got research to do." Yeah, that sounded pretty good to her. She was getting her second wind and knew just how she'd like to exhaust herself again. This time it would be a lot more fun.