drewxjackson

[drewxjackson]

"I don't think she's up for paralympic jokes yet." He told his brother. Humour worked with a lot of his patients, able to joke about their ailments and darker periods as a way of coping. Today wasn't a good day for his brother's wife, it seemed. Following Travis through the house to get his niece in a warmer getup. "I think she wasn't up for any of her exercises today. Ups and downs, it's normal. She'll be putting her all into it again tomorrow, don't worry." He comforted his brother, knowing that moments like these seemed helpless. "She already is able to make a pincer movement, which is great this soon. Just have to get the strength in it and get her to work on her leg and core strength too." @travisjackson

Hearing the glass, Travis quickly grabbed Bella and started making his way down the hall to check on Lili and Andrew. He knew his brother was trying to help her with the physical therapy and some days were better than others, so when his twin said to not go in there and that his Lili's aim was good, he knew what happened. "She could go out for baseball any day now." He smiled at him before nodding. "Yeah. Let me get her bundled up." He looked at the room and debated going in to talk to his wife, but was going to let her calm down so he turned and went to get Bella into warmer clothes. "What happened?" @drewxjackson

[drewxjackson]

"Correct answer." Andrew flashed him a smile before he nodded, as if he were sincerely pleased with it. Watching the other 'cross his heart' however made him chuckle. He wouldn't be surprised if he found that Ryder had been a boyscout turned firefighter. Wasn't that quite the trope. "He better be. I have a standard to uphold." He boastfully said, though his teasing smile said all that he wasn't that serious about his personal standard in the kismet harbor community. At the other's words, possible situations of what he might stumble into, he hummed, before he shrugged his shoulders. "Better be one hell of a good opening text if he wants to take me for dinner. I have a high standard about that." Which sadly wasn't a lie. His last relationship had spoiled him about the culinary world, but he was working on starting with a clean slate about that. "Tell him not to wait too long then." @ryderthornton

"No comment huh, mmm I guess it will be a mystery then." Ryder chuckled as he smiled at Andrew. He shook his head and chuckled. "You would be wrong there. I know we are sworn to uphold the safety of the community but I actually do not know anyone in the local Police department so who would I go and run to rat you out? You did not do anything wrong so I have nothing to say." he said crossing his heart. Ryder watched Andrew's reaction when he found the sticky note that had his name and cell phone number on it. He wasn't fancy enough to have business cards. The name on his jacket and shirt would have to work. He took the business card when it was passed over to him. "I will keep it safe and sound in my pocket and make sure that it gets to the right firefighter. He will be very happy to have this." he said playing with the card between his fingers. "I think he might flirt a bit more, maybe even continue their teasing nature, ask to meet up for dinner or drinks? Whatever is convenient for you." @drewxjackson

[drewxjackson]

"I can always wear high sneakers, you dick. You can't get prettier," Andrew shot back with a grin, giving Dean a playful jab in the side. "Oh, as if that was gonna save you. You sleep around like there's no tomorrow." He laughed, the teasing tone clear in his voice, but there was no malice behind it. He knew this wasn’t exactly how Dean had planned things, but Andrew couldn't help but feel proud of him for sticking around. Andrew wasn’t sure if he would’ve done the same if Nazli had told him she was pregnant at the end of their relationship. Maybe, maybe not—right now, he didn’t have an answer for that. "Guess he’s got some of those genes from his uncle too, so he’ll be all right," Andrew added with a snort, his tone light but affectionate. Then, his attention was drawn to the photo on Dean’s phone. "Look at that," he murmured, his voice softening as he took in the image of the little boy. There was an unfamiliar swell of pride in his chest as he looked at the child, realizing just how much this meant to Dean. "And you named him, Shane," Andrew said, a note of admiration in his voice. He reached out, his hand landing on Dean’s shoulder as he stood beside him. "He’s beautiful, Dean." The words were sincere, no joking or teasing, just genuine admiration for the little boy who had changed everything. @dean-walker

“I guess you were just destined for shortness. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll finally get your growth spurt” Dean continued to tease him, shaking his head as his friend insisted that he would pick up more dad jokes as time went on. “You see what happens when you move away? I do things like becoming a dad- so you’re not allowed to leave anymore or I’ll do something even bigger and stupider” he joked, before pulling out his phone to show Andrew a picture of him with his son, “Fuck you, I got great genes- my boy has two good looking parents he’s all set in that department” he said, holding the phone out when he pulled the picture up to show him. “He looks like me, I think” @drewxjackson

[drewxjackson]

Sure, Andrew had always been into sports. Running, kayaking, surfing at the beach—those had been his staples. But hiking? That hadn’t been part of his regular routine until he’d gone to Nepal. Once back in Kismet Harbor and things at home had settled down, he’d decided to take the chance to reacquaint himself with the hiking trails around town. He’d learned early on to rely on the sounds of his surroundings, preferring them over the distraction of music blaring in his ears. But today, there was a sound he hadn’t quite expected—a chorus of what sounded like pigs nearby.

Momentarily confused, Andrew scanned the area, brows furrowed in curiosity, until his gaze fell on the towering figure leading the group. That’s when he saw them—the pigs, trailing behind, with a cat walking calmly at the man's side. Andrew’s face broke into a genuine laugh, one free of malice or mockery, just pure amusement.

"Wow," he said, still chuckling. "I always figured if you were going for a Disney character, you'd pick Tarzan. But Snow White? That's a surprise. Do birds sing with you, too?" he teased, the sight of the strange entourage still making him smile. @romanrhodes

where: kismet harbor hiking trails with: andrew jackson ( @drewxjackson )

it was a strange sight, but one that had become either common or a nice surprise for the people who used the lower, more gentle hiking trails of kismet harbor. roman wasn't sure how he had started taking his pigs, maple and honey, for regular walks, but they dutifully followed along, occasionally stopping to snuffle something in the undergrowth. they would eventually return to his side, squeaking indignantly if he'd walked too far ahead without them.

his cat, apple, also joined them. the cat had wandered onto rhodes farm from the wilderness and decided he lived there now. he'd adapted very well to living indoors, which made roman suspect he was an abandoned pet. like the pigs, he always followed roman, and the animals didn't seem to mind each other.

"what is it?" roman asked maple as she snuffled eagerly, almost completely submerged into the bush. her sister, honey, grunted softly as she wandered around. "c'mon, we need to get home eventually." he poked the pig's side, but she ignored him. he let out a sigh, stretching his back as he waited, when he turned and caught the eye of someone he hadn't expected to see here.

"oh... good morning."

[drewxjackson]

It still felt strange for Andrew to walk toward the apartment and not call it his anymore. He had spent years there, finding solace and comfort in its walls, until it no longer fit. He had traded it all to live with the love of his life, in a house he had come to love almost as much as the man who owned it. Then, he'd let his niece and nephew move into his old place, giving them a chance to get back on their feet with low rent. Now, he had neither home to call his own—just a place to visit if he was lucky—and was starting over. But none of that showed as he knocked on the door, waiting for his nephew to answer. When the door opened, Andrew lifted a bottle of Sprite with a playful grin. He couldn’t exactly show up with wine, could he? "Smells great, River. What's cooking?" he asked, keeping the mood light. @riverxjackson

River had been doing well lately, working hard and full-time, sometimes more than the normal full-time hours. He was just trying to get his life in order and start living a normal life. Yes, he was thankful that Andrew took him in had helped him but he knew it was time to be on his own. He made money now as Rory did, and he didn't want to keep living for free, so he wanted to have Andrew over to talk about it.

He knew he and Rory could handle rent; they both worked enough. But River also had ideas on what he wanted to do next in his life. That he was an EMT, but to become a paramedic, it was more schooling and longer. He had made some food for them and now was waiting for Andrew to arrive. @drewxjackson

[drewxjackson]

Andrew raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off. Was his brother about to announce he’d bought a restaurant in Italy and was moving? Shouldn't that kind of news be something for the whole family to hear at once? Still, Andrew stayed quiet, waiting for Ben to come clean. When Ben finally spoke, it wasn’t anything Andrew had expected. "Uh," Andrew murmured, still processing. "I mean, congratulations." He quickly pulled himself together, adding some enthusiasm to his voice. "That’s a great thing for you to do, Ben. Tell me about them—are they local? Out of the country? Baby, toddler, or child?" He asked, fully convinced Ben was talking about adoption. @benjaminxjackson

Ben had been pacing a bit after he texted his brother Andrew. He had decided that Andrew was the first person in the Jackson that he was going to tell. He was most likely going to tell Travis last, the last thing his brother needed was this news. He looked up at Andrew when he let himself into his place. He sighed for a moment and was silent to collect his thoughts. "So....Okay, I don't know how you will react but...." he spoke before deciding to peel off the Band-Aid and just say it.

"I am going to be a dad. Am having a kid..." he spoke looking at his brother's face and trying to read their reaction. @drewxjackson

[drewxjackson]

"No comment," Andrew smirked, his eyes gleaming with a playful challenge. "But I’m pretty sure that, despite what the media wants us to think about a supposed feud between firefighters and the police, you’ll rat me out in no time if I’ve done something. Which, of course, I totally haven’t." His grin only widened, the mischief in his eyes daring the other to say otherwise. Taking the stack of papers from the other person, his gaze quickly dropped to the yellow sticky note with a name and number scrawled on it. Andrew raised an eyebrow, looking up with a feigned air of curiosity when the mysterious firefighter was mentioned. He played along, as if the whole thing was perfectly ordinary. "Right, then I’m sure I can trust you to deliver this back to him," he said, his tone casual but laced with a hint of amusement. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out one of his business cards—at least he still had those, even after he’d quit his job a year ago. "Any idea what this firefighter intends to do once he ends up texting me, though?" Andrew asked, leaning in just slightly, his eyes narrowing with a sly curiosity. @ryderthornton

“Knock on wood I haven’t. I mean I’ve been close to having one but luckily got off with a warning. Have you ever gotten one? I’m sure someone as good looking and handsome as yourself could easily smooth talk out of one?”Ryder stated as Andrew moved closer to take the paperwork from his hands. The paperwork he forget that he was holding getting lost in talking with Andrew or more starting to flirt with him. His number was right on top left on a sticky note. “You know it happens to be just that same firefighter. He left his number and always stayed to make sure that it got straight to you. No one else.”

[drewxjackson]

"And here I thought I was being unpredictable." Andrew teased her, raising his hands in self defense when she pointed at him, all accusatory. "How could I forget, you put up with me for all those years." A laugh fell from his lips before he told her the idea he had, waiting for her to answer and when she did allowed his lips to spread into a smile, lifting his arm for her to take and hold. "Time to get those hips moving again, then." He'd missed their dancing classes from back then. And though perhaps they weren't married anymore, he had no problem believing there'd still be the same vibes as they had back then. He was grateful for that, that they hadn't lost it. @nazlixceyhan

As Nazli stepped outside of work, she was met with a familiar sounding voice. "Is it?" She raised a brow, knowing that Drew had no reason to be at her place of work unless it was to run into her. "You look like you're up to no good," she wagged her finger at him, "I hope you didn't forget we were once married and I can see the glint in your eye." She teased Drew with a laugh. At his suggestion of an alternative evening, she raised a brow, "Well," Nazli paused as her smile grew, "I'd have to say, let's salsa, baby." @drewxjackson

[drewxjackson]

"That I do." Andrew uttered without putting much thought behind it. At Roman's explanation as to the animals he had purchased in the meanwhile, there was a slight arch of the brow, an expression he soon shared the thought behind. "Sorry for asking, I get the whole chickens because they produce eggs. But do you have the ducks and pigs for ... slaughter? Or just to have animals about?" He curiously inquired. Would Roman raise animals just for them to end that way? "Sounds great, though. I know you had big plans." And he hoped that the improvements he had helped make to the farm had been beneficial so far to help him get there.

"Among other things." Andrew nodded, as his stay there had been a combination of hiking, prayer, study and even helping the locals with whatever they needed. Which in his case mostly meant fixing or building things. "Milk and cheese. Takes getting used to, but now I have to get used to it all over again." He shrugged, still not liking cheese on his bread, so he steered away from it so far. "Will do whenever Liliana isn't throwing her mugs at me."

"You know me, can't sit still." Roman's words hadn't been interpreted as flirting from his perspective. If it had, there would've been a different response rolling from his lips. Words now neither of them wouldn't be able to guess. "Yeah, okay." He nodded instead, then let out a chuckle. "Good for you then, I'm around to rub it in your face some more." He teased, then gestured at Roman's hair. "Besides, I'm always going to be the jealous one with those locks." Andrew continued, giving Roman a light pat on the arm before he carefully moved the direction he'd been running into. "See you around, big guy." @romanrhodes

END.

"you know me." roman said without thinking, but smiling none the less. it was getting easier to think about their relationship without it ripping him apart. in the end, andrew had good reason to not see them together, and roman could only accept that. "yes. or at least i'm trying to. i brought in a second coop, to keep ducks, and built a small enclosure out in the orchards for my pigs. i'm expanding the orchard... and more chickens. anyway." roman realised he'd been rambling without thinking and managed to stop himself before he got into the finer details.

"nepal, right. hiking the himalayas." roman had been thinking of peru. "did you try the yak milk?" roman asked, almost teasing. he nodded when andrew mentioned travis and his family. "yes, of course. please pass on my congratulations. and i hope liliana recovers quickly, so they can enjoy the, uh... newborn phase." it felt weird bringing up babies with andrew... it was the reason he'd dumped roman, after all. that, and the farm.

"nurse andrew, back in action." roman teased again, and realised he was doing it, and decided to back off. this was getting a little too close to flirting. "anyway, i should head off, let you get back to your run." roman nodded, moving to step past andrew at the top of the stairs. "it was good to see you, andrew. you look well. very tan, i'm almost jealous."

[drewxjackson]

It was an eerie and hollow feeling, standing there with his brother crying his heart out, the sound of beeping monitors in the background, the sound of the ventilators keeping his brother's wife alive. This definitely wasn't a place where Travis should spend all of his time, though Andrew knew he wouldn't be able to keep him from this place for too long. "I know." Andrew answered, looking at his brother the moment he had stepped back. "But it's where I'm supposed to be." He continued, then offered a smile. "Show me my brand new niece, won't you?" @travisjackson

The connection between the two had always gone both ways. If the roles were reverse, he'd be just like Andrew and be able to sense the pain that went through his brother. However the roles were not reverse and while Travis didn't want to be going through this at all, he would never wish that the roles were different. Sobbing into his twin, he let himself release all that he had locked up. He was good at keeping things bottled in when he wanted, but with Andrew, they all came out. Minutes passed before he finally moved back and he swallowed. "I told you not to come." Travis spoke, trying to joke, but no sense of amusement was coming out of him. @drewxjackson

[drewxjackson]

"I thought you were supposed to grow taller when stress gets lifted off of your shoulders." Andrew snickered, though left aside that stress greeted him like an old friend the moment he returned home. His brother's situation, starting his old job again, running into his ex. He even signed up for evening classes so he was staying on top of new studies for his job. That, and starting anew with a place of his own, he definitely had more on his plate than intended upon his return. "Alright. I'll give you a break then, but there will be dad jokes in the future." He mused, stepping back. "Well, show me. Does he have his mom's good looks or is he unfortunate with inheriting yours?" @dean-walker

Dean had always been someone who made time to ensure he got to go out with his friends as much as possible. Recently though he hadn’t been able too, with longer working hours and a baby he had let too many of his friends slip his mind. It wasn’t on purpose, so he went out to the Christmas Fair on a rare day off to see if he would run into any of his friends. Hearing the familiar voice sneak up behind him, Dean turned around with a big smile and pulled Andrew into a tight hug, “You ass” he said, shaking his head before pulling back a little and looking at his best friend, “Did you shrink since I last saw you? You look shorter” he teased him, his face beaming with a bright smile. “Oh god, no dad jokes, I’ve already heard enough to last me a lifetime” @drewxjackson

[drewxjackson]

"Okay, I am here." Andrew said as he sat down besides his brother, having let himself in, into his brother's home. He nearly spend all of his free time at Travis' home to help with the house and with Liliana's PT. Benjamin's message had seemed urgent, however. so after he made sure Travis and Liliana were fine, he made his way over. "What's going on?" @benjaminxjackson

[drewxjackson]

RICHARD MADDEN Killer Heat (2024)

[drewxjackson]

After the sound of shattering glass and his hurried footsteps out of the bedroom, Andrew looked up to find his brother standing in the hallway, his eyes shifting down to the baby he was cradling, back up to his face again. "Yeah... I wouldn't go in there if I were you." Andrew warned his brother, looking over his shoulder where he had just left his sister-in-law behind, brushing off his sweater as if the glass had gotten on him too. "It's safe to say her left side and aim are still good." It wasn't that strange to find that Liliana got frustrated with the physical training, but he'd barely got started until she'd lost her temper on him. Maybe Travis had more luck.. Later, though. "Feel like taking a walk with Bella or something?" @travisjackson

[drewxjackson]

"Sounds like you never got a speeding ticket before." Andrew mused, though for all he knew, he was talking bull himself. He'd never had a ticket before himself so what little did he know about it. He let out a tiny snort at the mention of handcuffs, keeping the comment that came up to himself. "Well if it's the cute firefighter that tends to volunteer with the hospital to drop off discharge papers, then I'll take it." Moving forward, he took the documents from the other, holding it against his chest. "Did he just leave his phone number, though?" @ryderthornton

Everyone at one point in time tried to remain professional at their workplace, not wanting to cause a scene but sometimes it just was difficult not to flirt and give compliments when attractive people came by or meeting them on a call. This was one of those times. Ryder tried to give off the impression that he was just going to drop off discharge paperwork but really inside he had an ulterior motive. Flirt and be cute. The nurse pointed behind him and when he turned around, Andrew was there. He smiled at the other and could feel his mouth go dry and words escape his brain. What was he going to say? “Oh I didn’t know the sheriff office could do that. I mean it might make it easier coming from someone that doesn’t carry handcuffs. But just a couple of discharge paperwork’s here, maybe even a phone number of a certain firefighter.” @drewxjackson

[drewxjackson]

"Fancy I'm running into you here." Andrew said as he had caught up with Nazli outside her work, a glint in his eyes as he was most clearly up to something. "I know that it's been a long day, and you probably want to go home, put your feet up, watch a boring telenovela but what if I said there was a salsa lesson with our names on it?" @nazlixceyhan

[drewxjackson]

"Never hurts if I do, though." Andrew mused, taking her by the hand before starting to walk alongside her. When Nazli announced the engagement of her sister however, shock as well as enthusiasm spread across his face and he was about to ask specifically which sister it was, she had already provided him with a name. "Wow. Congratulations." He finally told her, sincerely meaning it. "Ricky?" He delved into his mind for any memory of a Ricky that he had met in this town. "Okay you got to tell me more, leave no details out." At least there was plenty to talk about while they perused the festival's booths. @nazlixceyhan

END

"Very possible," though she knew that the two of them could end up in that argument round and round with neither of them willing to cave. "You never have to bribe me," not that she would turn him down in that matter, "but, of course, I'll walk with you." Nazli agreed, a smile keeping the corners of her lips tugged upwards. "First and foremost, you've missed my sister getting engaged," she told Drew, "Alina," she corrected, knowing that he could have mistaken the second youngest sister. "The baby of the family," she shook her head, "I'm happy for her though, Ricky is so sweet." @drewxjackson