one
Dating. It wasn't like Avery being drawn to Frank, lured with the prospect of love and protection and paraded through sleazy clubs like a trophy. That wasn't dating. It wasn't like Avery and Jake trading kisses over a set of months, a nervous question before a belated 'yes.' These were dates. Pick-you-up-at-six, ordering dinner and dressing up dates. They made Jack unspeakably nervous, but still so happy. Part of a--a couple. That's it, they were a couple. And Jack could hold Avery's hand in public.
It was a new beginning, nothing like their first one, or Avery and Frank or Jake or Jack and Dylan or Winnie. This was different, because this time nobody could get hurt by them. Jack could fall for Avery (again) and it wouldn't go wrong. Avery could fall for Jack (again, hopefully) with no one watching with narrowed eyes and no oblivious boyfriend. They didn't have to lie, have to hide, didn't have to do anything except for make reservations.
"Yes," Jack would say on the telephone, on a restaurant Avery wouldn't have considered special a few years ago and Jack would never be able to afford. "Table for two." For him and Avery. On their date. "Dickon." Both of them under his name. And Jack blushed at that, his subconscious embarrassing him. Both of them Dickon.*
*he never let himself imagine that usually, just sometimes late at night if Avery was next to him. Jack watched his breathing and his skin made a luminescent colour in the moonlight and imagined exactly that, five years into the future and with the moon glinting on a ring on Avery's finger rather than off of his piercings. Jack would lean over and breathe on Avery's nipple, watching Avery murmur and roll toward him. Jack kissed Avery's eyebrow stud and shifted closer until all that he could see of Avery was eyelashes. Avery Dickon. Jack Driscoll. Real forever.
and
two
"Annabelle, put the camera down. No, put it--stop. Listen, we'll be back in a few hours. Put Elle to bed at what, eight? Eight latest. There's food--okay. If Jake gets back before us, don't let him drink more than like three mugs of tea. Or more than a pot, whatever. Don't forget to say thank you for the tour poster Nick sent you if he comes back. He's leaving tomorrow morning I think RIGHT OKAY LEAVING."
Annabelle giggled at her obviously flushed older brother. There was, of course, a babysitter coming soon, but Jack was already too late to wait. He rushed out the door with his coat half over his arm and scarf flying behind him.
She handed him the keys when he came back a second later and went to play with Elle as he left for a second time.
three
"Hi," Jack said, skidding breathlessly to a stop in front of Avery. Avery raised his eyebrow and looked at his understated and probably overpriced watch.
"How long have we been dating now? Four years? Five?" Avery shook his head and his curls shook too, daintily and darker than they had been on that first date so long ago. "You always do this."
Stricken, Jack babbled an apology. Avery laughed, a clear noise that was like a gift to Jack every time (though he'd never say), and kissed him quickly. "Wanker. You know I don't care." Jack breathed a sigh of relief dramatically and Avery laughed again. "You really are a wanker, you know."
"Only when you go out of town." Jack took Avery's hand and they began to walk, snow crunching under their feet.
"Ooh, I'm going to tell on you. Adelle is going to turn you into a frog."
"She's still a fairy? I thought she was a fairy yesterday."
"No, yesterday she was a witch. Duh." Avery leaned into Jack, kicking the snow in front of them so it scattered in a way that reminded him of walking the aisle. Elle with petals. Jack had one stuck in his hair--he had snow in his hair now, and Avery reached up to brush it away.
"A very cute witch," Jack amended, holding still so Avery could get all of the snow out. His hair was currently brown.
"Yes, very cute."
"The cutest."
"Adorable."
"Gorgeous."
"Who are we talking about now, Jack?"
"Not your daughter." Jack paused and added "sexy" to the list. Avery grinned and kissed him.
"Our daughter," he corrected when they parted again. The corners of Jack's lips twitched up and he corrected himself in a normal tone that only Avery could detect the waver in.
"Our daughter."
Their hands tightened and they crossed the street to their restaurant.