#that singing mommy and daddy and then just falling asleep is from when jake the dog was born alskdalsd

[palskippah]

I LOVE BROPPY

*gives them babies*

[amydancepants-peralta]

the shape of you 

(aka, Jake and Amy’s first night *together*, post-Mac) - rated NSFW. 💗

the shape of you 

With her fingers gripped around the base of a washcloth Amy Santiago wipes her bathroom mirror clear of all remaining condensation, casting a discerning eye over the reflection that stares back at her as she drops the towel into the nearby hamper.  

It feels like it was only yesterday - but realistically, had been close to six years ago - since she had stood in this very position and prepared for her first date with Jake.  It was a lapse of time that felt as though it had passed in a blink, and tonight there was a part of Amy that longed for the simpler times; when her biggest concern had been how to style her hair, second only to which of the two recently purchased dresses she should wear.  

(Her final decision to wear her hair down, based purely in the hope that Jake’s fingers may end up running through her curls, had clearly been an excellent one - and one that she definitely thanked herself for making later that evening.)

She still remembers the nerves she’d felt that night (that kind of thrumming that seems to run through your veins when you just know you’re on the verge of something amazing), remembers the feeling of the kiss he gave her outside the restaurant.  The way the scent of him had filled her senses as he moved closer, pushing her gently against the exterior with careful hands on either side of her hips.  The scratch of the brick against her lower back until his hands moved between her and the stone, simultaneously protecting her from harm and drawing her into his arms.  The soft sigh she’d let out as their tongues brushed up against each other … the way her body felt like it was melting into his embrace.  

It was the kind of kiss that made Amy forget all the rules (made her forget anything other than how hard her heart was beating against his ribcage) - the kind of kiss that confirmed for her, even if she wasn’t completely ready to admit it - that this thing between them was more than just ‘like’.  The rest, as one would say, is history - and while Amy knows that her and Jake’s love story may never compare to the works of Austen or Brontë, theirs will always remain her favourite.  

And now, two toothbrushes live in their holder by the sink, her perfume sits comfortably beside the same brand of cologne from that evening, and a series of colourful turtle decals are stuck to the side of their bathtub (supervised from above by the requisite rubber ducky).  Clearly, a lot had changed - but the one thing that seems to have made a return appearance from their first night together, is the kaleidoscope of butterflies that have taken up residence in her stomach.  

Tonight was Date Night for her and Jake - their first since she’d given birth to Mac close to seven weeks ago - and in true Santiago style, Amy had spent what free time she’d had over the past few days researching the topic of postpartum sex.  Standing in front of the mirror now, with her favourite black lacy underwear hiding underneath her robe and far too much awareness of the dark circles under her eyes, Amy was - for the first time in her life - regretting all the studying she had done.

It had been hard not to get lost amongst it all - articles on episiotomies (a side effect of childbirth that, thankfully, she had managed to avoid), scores of medical advice on when is the right time and endless testimonials from other new mothers, most talking about their total loss of sex drive or lack of primal response to their partner’s advances.  And even though logically, Amy knows that there is little to no chance of that happening to her and Jake (their sex life pre-baby, by all accounts, had always been healthy - especially so during her pregnancy), it had been enough to plant a seed of doubt in her mind - one that seems to have flourished into something far greater as the hours wore on.  

It had, after all, only been a few weeks ago that her underwear had been made of mesh, and housed icepacks to aid the healing of her nether regions.  Even less since her bra had needed to fight for space amongst the lactation pads that held court, replaced on the regular as she and Mac tried to figure out some kind of routine when it came to feeding.  For a while there, the sexiest thing that either her or Jake could say to the other was ‘you keep sleeping, I’ll take this round’; and now there was a dress hanging in their wardrobe that was a size larger than normal, and a set of stripes on her stomach that remained a constant reminder that things were not as they used to be.  

Amy’s hands fiddle with the contents of her makeup bag, toying with the curved edge of her favourite shade of lipstick as her mind continues to race.  It was insane, to think this way: and if Jake’s attentiveness to her since giving birth to Mac was anything to go by - his clear attraction to her at all stages of their relationship, actually - her doubts were going to be unfounded.  

It had, in fact, only been three days ago that both she and Jake had miraculously woken up before their son … and sleepy morning cuddles had turned into a heavy makeout session, evolving into something a little more before Mac’s indignant ‘I’ve just woken up’ cry filled their apartment and pulled everything to a stop.  (Their plans for this evening had been made that very afternoon, with both of them agreeing that perhaps a little bit of ‘Mommy and Daddy time’ was needed.)  

Deep down, Amy knew that the bond that she and Jake shared was stronger than anything either had ever known - but the doubts still lingered all the same, and there was only one person she wanted to talk about them with.

As if on cue, “Amy Santiago!  Date time!  Time to date!” cuts through their previously quiet apartment, and Amy grins into the mirror as she hears her husband’s keys land in the bowl next to hers, finally returning from dropping Mac off at Grandma Karen’s for his overnight visit.  Already, she can feel the tension begin to leave her shoulders, calling out a greeting in return as she listens to his footsteps move around their kitchen.  

Their home seems strangely quiet without Mac’s presence - largely, because Jake wasn’t singing or talking out his actions as he went, like he did so often when carrying Mac around - and she’s just about to call Jake into the bathroom when his singing voice begins to float down the hallway.  

“I think we’re alone now …” the somehow still familiar melody of the 80s song builds in volume as Jake makes his way towards her, and Amy lets out a giggle.  It’s a song that a 10 year old version of Amy, resplendent in some version of taffeta, would have absolutely danced to at a cousin’s quinceanera.  And while her younger self might be disappointed that her husband didn’t turn out to be a version of Magnum P.I., the Amy that looks back at her in the mirror today, laughing loudly at the man walking towards her, knows that there couldn’t ever be a man better for her than Jake Peralta. 

(Moustaches are overrated, anyway.  They’re a treasure trove of crumbs, and leave you with a permanent pash rash.  Great in theory, but a little morning stubble is much more enjoyable.)

His smile is beyond bright as he passes through the bathroom door, a glass of wine held high in each hand as he hums the last few bars of Tiffany’s greatest (and perhaps, only) hit.  “Hey babe - wow, good lord you are gorgeous.”  

Feeling the tip of her ears heat up at Jake’s statement, Amy smiles at her husband through the mirror, busying herself with a tube of mascara and quickly changing the subject.  “How did Mac go?”

Moving further into the room, Jake leans in to drop a kiss to Amy’s shoulder before placing her glass of wine on the counter.  “Uh, it seemed to go okay?”  Leaning his weight against the wall beside him, he takes a sip before continuing.  “Is it weird how much I missed him, like, the instant I closed Mom’s front door?”

Pulling away from her reflection, Amy turns to face her husband with an understanding grin.  “Not at all.  I felt like a part of me was missing the second the two of you left an hour ago.”  Shrugging, she gives him a sheepish look.  “Almost texted you to bring him home immediately, coz I wasn’t sure I could actually go without seeing him for a night.”

“Okay, yeah.  That makes total sense, because I literally almost turned the car around twice.”

“Ugh, we really are just lovestruck parents, aren’t we?”

“Oh, absolutely.  But, I have to say … I’m also really glad we’re getting to do this.”

Amy’s responding smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes, and the knots in her stomach tighten as she notices Jake pick up on the difference.  

His gaze is careful, holding onto the silence for a beat.  “Ames?”

Her fingers fiddle with the lid of the mascara, lifting and dropping the wand exactly the way she’d been taught not to do, and suddenly all the words she wants to say have jumbled up at the tip of her tongue.  Leaning forward, Jake stretches out his hand to reach for her wrist, and she drops her cosmetics back into the bag without hesitation - the need for her husband’s reassurance too strong to ignore.  The warmth of his palm, tied in with the coolness of his wedding band, is a welcome distraction from the uncertainty running through her mind.  

“Is there something you want to talk about?”

Amy nods, knitting her eyebrows as she lifts her shoulders in a self-conscious shrug.  “I … might have spent a little time the last couple of days, researching into what sex can be like after having a baby.”

Dropping his bottom lip slightly, Jake nods in understanding.  “It wouldn’t be you if you hadn’t.  But, babe … you know that we don’t have to do anything like that tonight if you don’t feel ready, right?  We can just go to dinner, and fall asleep on the couch if you want to.” 

Squeezing his hand, Amy is quick to nod in response.  “I do know, and I also know that I’ve been looking forward to tonight.  Like .. a LOT.”  Throwing a wink, Jake squeezes her hand in kind.  “I just …”  Pulling her fingers out of Jake’s grip, Amy pulls the already closed lapels of her robe tighter.  “There are still so many things happening to my body that I don’t have a lot of control over, and I can’t help but worry a little that it’s only a matter of time before …”

“Before?”

Amy’s chin falls to her chest, folding her arms in front before resting her weight against the bathroom sink.  Despite all of the reasons why she knew these fears to be irrational, they weren’t showing any signs of going away - and if there’s anyone that can help clear her mind, it’s Jake.  Slowly, she raises her head to watch his reaction.  “We’ve always had such a great relationship when it comes to being open and affectionate, and the sex - well, you know how good the sex is, but … I don’t know, what if .... what if things happen, and that changes?”

Jake’s reply is so quick - so factual that it makes her heart quicken at the simplicity of it all.  “Then we work at it.”  Pushing himself off from the wall, Jake comes to stand in front of Amy, tipping one finger underneath her chin and lifting her face towards his.  Bright brown eyes stare into hers, so full of sincerity she wants to cry.  “We grow, and we change with it.  There’s nothing that we can’t overcome, Ames.  Nothing.” 

It’s everything that she already knew to be true, but felt far more authentic when coming from her husband.  She’d felt a little ridiculous to be saying any of it, but it would seem that even the securest of relationships needed a little reassurance now and them.  Trying her best to ignore the tears that are threatening to fall from behind her eye, Amy raises her brows.  “You really think so?”

“I know so.  Babe.”  His hands move smoothly, wrapping themselves around her waist and locking at her lower back.  “You’re my best friend, the greatest person I’ve ever known - and the most sexiest, might I add - plus, the mother of my child.  It’s just not possible for any single universe to exist, where I won’t love you forever.”  Leaning in, Jake rests his forehead against hers, taking a deep breath.  “We’ve had to overcome so many obstacles, and nothing has beaten us.  You’re the love of my life, Amy Santiago, and there is literally not a chance that anything will ever change that.”

It’s all it takes for the threatened tears to begin to fall, and Amy tries her best to blink them away as she stretches onto her toes, lifting herself up to meet Jake’s lips for a kiss.  “I love you, Jake.  And I’m sorry for all the crazy talk, I just - ”

“Ames.”  Jake interrupts, a solemn look falling onto his face.  “I’m always going to want to hear how you’re feeling.  I know you’d do the same for me, and I don’t want you to think there’s anything that you can’t tell me, okay?”

Wrapping her arms around his neck, Amy affirms with a kiss, sighing softly into Jake’s mouth as it deepens.  It’s felt like so long since they’ve been able to do this - to just stand and kiss for no other reason than to be close to one another.  His eyes are glazed by the time she pulls away, and it’s enough to spark a tiny fire in her heart, and so she leans in for another.  

Jake’s voice is muffled slightly when he speaks, waiting for a break in kisses to speak.  “We’re going to be late for the restaurant if we’re not careful.”

In what is perhaps the easiest decision she’s had to make in a long time, Amy tightens her grip around Jake’s neck, pulling him in for another hot kiss before whispering against his supple lips - “Fuck the restaurant.  And please, fuck me.”

She feels Jake’s hands grip her butt in an instant, digging in as he lifts her with ease.  Her legs wrap around his waist, a move that has been done a thousand times before but tonight feels so new, his responding moan sending a wave of shivers up and down her spine as he shuffles them towards the doorway.  

There’s a crib half adorned with muslin wraps and a colourful play mat on the floor near their bed for Jake to dodge, but he moves their joined bodies with a practiced ease, never pausing to adjust his grip until Amy can feel the softness of their pillows beneath her head.  

The smile he gives her as he hovers above is so soft, the adoration clear as she moves to shove his hoodie from his shoulders.  It falls to the floor as his nimble fingers work on the knot of her robe, letting the silk slip through with ease, and Amy can feel her heart begin to race as the material falls away.  She knows that it’s nothing he hasn’t seen before - between marriage and motherhood, there literally isn’t a part of her body that Jake doesn’t know like the back of his hand - but she’s still conscious that the bra is a little tighter than it used to be, and the softness of her post-birth tummy remains.  

And then Jake sighs, his eyes raking over her body as he whispers, “You’re so goddamn sexy, Santiago,” and suddenly, Amy doesn’t feel like a new mother with formula in her hair and suitcases under her eyes.  Suddenly, she feels like a woman - a beautiful, desirable woman who somehow managed to capture the heart of the sweetest man to ever walk the earth.  His hands wrap around her waist, lifting her middle towards his as his legs slot in between hers, and the feeling of her husband’s passionate kisses is something that Amy never wants to go without again.  

It doesn’t take long before the rest of their clothing has landed on the floor - a sense of urgency to their movements is something they’ve gotten used to, now that the likelihood of being interrupted has become so high - and it isn’t until Jake begins a trail of kisses down Amy’s jawline that she takes a calming breath.  She feels giddy, like it’s been far longer than seven weeks since they’ve been able to be together like this (eight, if you counted the last time they had sex before Mac’s early arrival), and the feeling of her husband’s hard dick nudging against her thigh was making her crave more, and she wanted it NOW. 

The scent of Jake washes over her as his head dips lower - same as it did all those years ago, only now the scent felt less like cologne and more like home - and her fingers dive into the curls of his hair as his tongue circles the outside of her nipple with the careful consideration of a man who has watched her wince in pain some early mornings.  His teeth scrape along the underside of her breast, the feeling of his breath hot against her skin as he moves to her left to repeat.  With her free hand, Amy traces the length of his back, holding him close as her fingers run over the dips and scars that she knows oh so well, feeling her hips thrust up instinctively towards her husband as his reverent kisses move further down her body.  She can feel the warmth of her arousal pooling in her folds, and it genuinely feels as though she might combust if something doesn’t happen soon.  

Jake lifts his head on the way down, the desire in his eyes obvious as he settles himself at the end of their bed, caressing the outside of her thighs as they settle on his shoulders.  His voice is gruff, the rough sound of a turned on Jake making a welcome return to her ears, and Amy grins.  “Okay, babe?” 

Her heart is racing with both anticipation and nerves, but Amy nods anyway.  She knows that things might be a little different (pushing a tiny human out of your body kinda has that affect), but she also knows the way she’s feeling right now, part of her might just fall apart completely if she doesn’t get to feel Jake’s mouth work it’s magic on her.  

Thankfully, he doesn’t make her wait any longer. 

He starts by rubbing the tip of his nose against her clit, a slow and deliberate up-and-down motion that ends far too quickly, looking up at her with a devious grin as he turns his head to place a tender kiss on the inside of her thigh.  Amy huffs in dissatisfaction, narrowing her eyes in silent reproach, only to throw her head back into the pillow as Jake immediately relocates to where she needs him the most.  His gentle tongue sweeps over her clit with each kiss, lapping up her arousal as the tip of his finger circles her entrance.

“Ames,” Jake whispers, and if it wasn’t for the feeling of his voice vibrating against her over-sensitive body, Amy would swear she’d imagined it.  “Ames, look up for me.”

His fingers, now moving in a circular motion around her folds; are making it very hard for Amy to concentrate on anything right now, and it takes another breath or two before she can lift her head.  Jake smiles as their eyes lock, holding her gaze as he speaks.  

“I love every single part of you, Ames.  This right here?”  He pauses, dropping a kiss on just the outside edge of where she’s craving him before looking up again.  “It shows me how much you want me.  How much you want to be with me, and it's so hot, it drives me crazy.”   His tongue flicks out, drawing a long, thick line against her folds, and her pelvis arches up towards his touch as his fingers slowly enter.  “You’ve literally spilt yourself open to give birth to our child, and you’d do it all again in a heartbeat.”  Carefully, they begin to pump in and out of her, settling into a gentle rhythm that sets all of Amy’s nerve endings on fire.  “You’re a goddess, Amy Santiago.  And I love you more than I can say.”

“I - unhhh! - I love you too,  Jake.”  Her reply is breathless, broken in two as Jake’s tongue returns to her clit, settling into a pattern that increases in intensity - the way he does whenever he knows Amy is about two seconds away from losing all control.  Her left hand travels down until her fingers are running through his hairline, holding him in place with her gentle grip.  

“I’m never not going to want you, babe.”  His breath is hot against her skin, the tiny stubble of his five o’clock shadow ticking her inner thigh as he deviates to place a series of kisses before leading straight back to her centre.  There’s a slight crook to his fingers now, as they continue to move in and out at a steady pace, and it’s enough for both of them to moan their assent.  “So good, Ames.” 

“Oh god babe, right there - yes!”  Jake’s mouth returns to her clit, suckling on her nub as his tongue continues its assault, and its all Amy needs to feel before her mouth falls open in ecstasy, a silent scream of satisfaction falling short in her mouth as her right arm flails up to grip their metal headboard, desperate for something to ground her before her entire body begins to convulse.  It had been so. long. since she’d been able to feel like that … so long since there hadn’t been anything between them, and she’d (almost) forgotten just how damn hard it made her heart race.  

(From his position at the base of the bed, Jake wraps his hand around his erection and gives himself a few solid strokes at the sight of his wife in post-orgasmic bliss, already certain that the image is going to stay in his memory for a long time to come.)     

Amy’s left hand digs into Jake’s hair as she comes down from the high, her fingers carding through the messy half-curls in that way that seems to relax both herself and her husband every time.  “You’re always going to want me?”

His gaze grows soft, and after leaving another kiss against her thigh Jake raises up, the comforter around Amy shifting slightly as he moves towards her.  The familiar feeling of his bare skin against hers calms Amy’s to no end as Jake hovers above, all the love in the world shining in his eyes as he leans down and presses his lips to hers.  “Always.”

Shifting slightly underneath her husband, Amy moves to grip his hard cock in her hand, following the length of his shaft with her palm as Jake moans above her.  She watches as his teeth dig into his lower lip, biting down harder as she increases her pace, and she tightens her hold before releasing him completely as his hips lift slightly away.  

“Don’t wanna come until I’m inside you,” he whispers, pulling her in for the deepest of kisses before settling in-between her thighs and lining himself up.  Amy feels herself tense up, the tiniest sliver of apprehension remaining as her legs widen slightly, and Jake rests his weight on his forearms above her before entering just the tip, pulling out and waiting for her cue to return.  

Lifting her pelvis in invitation, Amy holds onto Jake’s gaze as he enters another inch inside her; holding for a moment this time before pulling out completely, returning again with another longer stroke.  It’s something that he’s never done before, but was actually the perfect way for Amy to feel reacquainted, and as he repeats the process inch by inch, she gradually feels the last tendrils of tension begin to fade.  

Finally, their bodies are hard up against each other, and Amy can’t help but let out a heavy breath as the intimacy of it all envelops her.

“Hey.”  His thumb traces her cheek, following the contour of her cheekbone, and it’s definitely not the hormones that are going to make her cry.  With eyes so soft Amy could almost dive into them, Jake gives her a tender smile.  “I’ve missed you.”

Amy’s hands trace the subtle lines along his arms and shoulders before resting on either side of Jake’s neck, dipping her fingertips into the base of his hairline as she returns his smile.  “I’ve missed you too, babe.  I love you.”

Jake responds with a kiss, the press of his lips against hers so loving and familiar that Amy cranes her neck to chase for more when it ends.  He gives her a knowing smile, nudging the tip of his nose against hers before diving in for another, moving his hips in careful thrusts as his tongue sweeps gently against hers.   

Logistically, Amy knows that the feeling of togetherness and completion is what making love is all about - but still, as Jake moves above her and she finds her body responding to his steady rhythm, she finds herself overwhelmed by the emotions washing over her.  There were times as a new mother when her body had not felt like her own - like she was merely a walking vehicle for any and all of her son’s needs - but laying here with Jake, feeling all of the other parts of her body awaken at his touch, made her feel so alive. 

In her husband’s arms, Amy feels incredible like an irresistible woman, like the goddess he’s always insisted she is.  And, most importantly - she feels loved.  

Jake’s pace increases, his crazily sexy eyes locking onto hers as he lets out a breathless moan, and Amy feels her lower body instinctively lifting towards his to meet his thrusts.  “Oh god, babe … you feel incredible.”  Amy’s shoulder blades dig into the mattress as she presses her chest against her husband’s in response, elongating her neck and letting out a satisfied sigh as Jake dips down to lick the sweat off her skin.  

It’s his breathless version of her name a moment later that makes Amy break out into a grin, tightening her grip around his lower waist and digging her fingernails into his butt.  Jake takes the cue, speeding up again as Amy’s legs tighten around him, sinking her teeth into his shoulder before shifting her weight and rolling him onto his back.  

The movement makes his cock slide almost completely out of her, a situation Amy is quick to rectify, throwing him a sly grin as she sidles down.  Jake’s teeth sink into his lower lip as their bodies join back together again, a reaction to the sensations that Amy finds herself mirroring, stretching out her spine as she flips her hair back and settles her weight on her husband’s thighs.  

It was a moment just like this that she had been afraid of - being in front of her husband in all her naked glory, highlighting all the newly marked curves of her body with no chance for cover.  But one look at his face - at the sheer amount of adoration and attraction she finds there, made it clear that when it comes to being loved by somebody like Jake Peralta, there was never going to be anything to fear.  

And so she moves, clenching the muscles in her upper thighs as she rises and falls, dipping her pelvis back and forth so that she can really feel every part of him.  Jake’s hands fall to her legs, fingertips digging into her soft flesh as he moans beneath her, sliding up to her stomach as she leans forward to rest one hand on his chest.  He grins up at her, tracing gentle circles against her skin with his thumbs as he pumps his hips up to meet her every time, and maybe this is the hormones but Amy swears she’s about to either laugh or cry.  It’s only taken a moment, but one smile from her husband, and all of her apprehensions are gone completely.   

Amy feels the stretch of her ribcage with every staggered breath she takes, gripping Jake’s lower legs from behind as she sets their movements into a steady rhythm.  “Babe … Jake.  Ohh, I’ve missed this.”

She lets out a moan as she feels Jake’s hand slide up her slick skin, moving towards one breast and cupping her there, carefully circling her nipple with his thumb while his other hand moves to replicate on the other side.  It feels incredible, her husband’s touch - especially when coupled with the feeling of his erection inside her - and there’s a breathless affirmation of the same bubbling out of her throat when his hands move to her lower ribs, holding her steady as he lifts his back off of the mattress and pulls Amy in for a kiss.  

It’s sloppy, the messy kind of kiss lovers give each other when their bodies are moving at too steady a pace for it to be anything but, but Jake takes the chance to bend his knees behind, silently encouraging Amy to lean back slightly as her own legs stretch out behind him.  She can feel the pulse of blood rushing back to her upper thighs as her feet join together behind Jake’s back, holding him in place as she leans against his knees and lifts her pelvis up and down at this new angle.  It’s perfect - it’s tantalising, especially once her husband’s skilled fingers reach down to play with her clit - and it’s definitely going to make her come.  

“I love you so much, Ames.  I’m so lucky to have you, you don’t even know,”  Jake’s voice is strained, a surefire sign that he himself isn’t far away from completion, and Amy cannot resist the chance to lean forward - looping one arm around his neck and puling him in for another kiss.  She loves this man, with everything that she has, and it’s the thought of what they have together that finally pulls her over the edge, crying into his mouth as her second orgasm of the night washes over her.  It’s clearly all that Jake has been waiting for, the sound of his own moans mixing with Amy’s as he makes one final push towards release.  

It takes a while for either of them to disentangle themselves from their upright position, their mixed gasps for breaths the only sound in the room until Jake pulls himself out of his sex-induced haze, covering the section of Amy’s neck he has access to with kisses as she lets out a satisfied sigh.  Her legs tingled (as did some other places), and part of her cannot wait to write her own (highly positive) account of postpartum sex on the forums she’d visited earlier in the week.  But there was something she wanted more than that; and as Jake falls back onto the mattress below she follows suit, tucking herself into the juncture of his neck and shoulder - and just like that, things were exactly as they should be again.

There’s still a latent note of exhaustion in Jake’s voice when he speaks, but his tightened grip around Amy’s naked body begs her not to move as he turns slightly to glance at the clock on her nightstand.  “You know, if we moved quickly, we could probably still make our reservations … just blame it all on a flat tire or something.”

Sighing into Jake’s chest, Amy shifts impossible closer before shrugging her shoulders half-heartedly.  “We could … or, we could order takeout.  Eat, talk, have more sex … whatever.”

Twisting his neck slightly, Jake ducks his head down to meet Amy’s lips with a chaste kiss.  “It’s official.  My wife is a genius.”

In an hour, there will be an extra blanket laid out on top of the bed, and Jake and Amy will alternate cartons of takeout as they talk about everything that’s happened over the last two months.  It’ll be another hour before their meals have been cleared away completely; another again before Jake lifts his head off of his resting place on Amy’s abdomen, leaning in for a kiss that definitely leads to Round Two.  They’ll end up sleeping the rest of the night away, curled up into each other’s arms as they relish the silence - yet already dreaming of picking their son up in the morning and looking for all the ways he might have grown during his one night away.  

But for now, Amy will rest in her husband’s arms, basking in the feeling of his fingertips as they trace lazy patterns on her bare skin.  Change, after all, is inevitable.  But the world that she and Jake have built - for both themselves and their family - is strong enough to take on anything.  

And truthfully, that is all she will ever need.  

[sambergscott]

the best thing is you

just jake, amy, and their favourite things about being parents

There are a lot of things Jake loves about being a dad: stealing his kid’s food when he can’t finish his plate, sleepy cuddles before bed, putting on voices for all the characters in his books, and wearing matching Adidas Superstars. But if he had to pick his absolute favorite number one thing, playing with Sam’s toys would come out on top.

Luckily, their apartment is filled with toys, organised by type, colour and size into various bins and baskets and labelled (Santiago Style!) so he always knows where to put stuff during tidy-up time. If Jake so much as accidentally puts one red Lego block in the yellow Lego container, Sam tuts, rolls his eyes and snitches on him to Amy later.

He has lots of toys but it’s not like he’s spoiled or anything; Amy has a big family and he gets a lot of hand-me-downs. Amy helps him write thank you cards every time he receives a new toy, they constantly remind him how lucky he is and donate his unwanted items to less lucky girls and boys.

(During one decluttering sesh, he puts his favourite truck in the giveaway pile for another kid to play with and Amy almost cries. They’re biased, but they’re pretty sure that Sam is the best kid ever).

They re-enact Ninja Turtles scenes with his action figures, roam the apartment with his dinosaurs and play shop (which consists of Sam selling Jake tinned goods that he already owns).

Both Jake and Sam’s favorite thing to play is the appropriately titled Detective Daddy game.

In short, Jake wears his badge and a tie (even over his t-shirts because, as he explains in his Grandpa Holt voice that never fails to make Sam fall over in a fit of giggles, wearing a necktie in the workplace is very important) and interrogates the three year old until he confesses to his crimes.

It usually goes like this.

“Princess Mommy has been kidnapped!”

Dramatic gasp.

“And I think you took her.”

“Me?” He clutches his chest, feigning innocence.

“I found her tiara in your bedroom, I checked the baby monitor security footage and you weren’t where you said you were and most incriminating of all, I found your fingerprints on her Amy water bottle.”

“My name’s Amy!”

(He often confuses the fact that they share one of the same names and thinks his name is Amy, not Santiago. It’s kind of adorable).

“I checked your file,” he brandishes a manila folder he stole from work and drops it on the dining room table, “and your name is Samuel.”

He gasps again. “I didn’t do it, Officer!”

“Just admit it,” Jake growls playfully, leaning forward to intimidate the suspect.

Sam climbs onto the table and closes the gap all the way, booping his nose against Jake’s and making him break character for half a second.

“Admit you kidnapped Princess Mommy,” Jake insists, tickling him until he finally surrenders.

“I did it! I did it!” He cries. “I kidnapped Princess Mommy and Queen Karen!”

Cue Jake a dramatic gasp from Jake this time.

“You’re going to jail for a long, long, long, long, long, long time!”

Jail is a pillow fort in the corner of the room.

(It’s actually cosy and super comfortable; Sam sent Jake there one time when he played the role of detective the morning after Jake had worked a night shift and he may have fallen asleep until his son decided to jump on him to wake him up so they could have more fun).

Jake scoops the dangerous(-ly cute) criminal into his arms and throws him in pillow fort prison, then rescues his Princess and Queen from the couch.

Sam can’t get enough of cop related games. It warms both Jake and Amy’s hearts that he’s so proud of what they do; it makes all the late nights and time away from him totally worth it.

Victor and Camila buy him a Police Station Lego set for Christmas and, after constructing it with mommy and daddy, it sits pride of place on top of his dresser next to a framed picture of the three of them. The next time he visits the Ninety-Ninth precinct he brags to Rosa, Charles and all the uniformed officers about how his police station is way cooler than theirs.

That very Christmas, he plays cops and robbers for the first time and kicks Santiago cousin butt. Amy high fives him in front of her brothers, thrilled that Sam is continuing her legacy of being the best at the game.

Jake will come up with elaborate (kid friendly) cases that Sam is obsessed with, for example, “oh no! Someone stole a pizza from Sal’s and is getting away!”

“Not Sal’s!” Sam cries because even at three years old, he is aware that Sal’s is the best pizza place in Brooklyn. Like father, like son.

He chases his police cars around the living room, making siren noises and eventually cutting the bad guy’s car off before he can escape towards the bedrooms down the hall.

(They’re going out for a walk when their elderly neighbour offers him one of her grandson’s fire engines that he’s got too old for. Sam declines because firefighters are for losers and the FDNY suck. Amy shoots her an embarrassed smile and herds Sam away).

When it’s time for bed and all the toys have been put away, Jake tells him the story of how a cool, leather jacket-wearing detective married the youngest female Sergeant in the history of the Nine-Nine.

Sam asks to hear it again every night.

--

There are a lot of things Amy loves about being a mom: baking chocolate muffins and pretending not to see when he steals some of raw mixture (even though he has chocolate all round his mouth), sleepy cuddles before bed, singing to Disney hits at the tops of their voices and trying not to cry when he brags about his mom being the youngest female Sergeant in the history of the Nine-Nine to everyone they meet. But if she had to pick her absolute favourite number one thing, teaching Sam to read and write and count would come out on top.

She was always good at school. She got the highest grades. She loved crawling into her dad’s lap and reading to him, glowing under his constant praise. She didn’t need any help with the big words unlike Tony and it wasn’t long before her teacher advised that she skip fourth grade.

She studied Art History at college, topped her class, and was the best in her group of recruits at the Academy, too.

As her brothers started having kids, she loved helping them read and, as they got older, helping them with homework. She especially loved when they would confide in her that she’s smarter than their dads. Beating her brothers, even as an adult, was still her greatest joy. Until she fell in love and had a kid of her own and beating her brothers was demoted to third spot.

The Santiago genes are just as strong in Sam.

He’s like Jake in a lot of ways: his dark, unruly curls, his nose, his sense of humour, his penchant for dramatic reveals.

(Running into their room at 5am shouting, “Mommy! Daddy! I didn’t wet the bed last night!”, for example).

But he is smart. Santiago-level smart.

He learns to count to twenty before all his friends, is a super reader and bilingual.

Amy has been singing him Spanish lullabies since he was a newborn, teaching him his “Por favor”s and “Gracias”s, whispering “Te amo” as she kisses him goodnight. She cries so hard the first time he says it back.

It’s very important to her that he can speak Spanish so they have  lessons with daddy on Tuesday nights. She buys a textbook and makes them sit opposite her at the dining room table like they’re actually in school.

“¿Cuántos años tienes?” She asks him after their first lesson.

“Tengo tres años,” he responds with a proud smile that has Amy gathering him into her arms and smothering him with kisses.

Rosa has been teaching Jake Spanish for a couple of years but his brain is so full of case details and Die Hard quotes that Sam quickly surpasses him, joining Amy on her side of the table.

“Tell mama she’s pretty,” he instructs.

He furrows his brow, immediately looking to Amy for help.

“Luces bien.”

“That was it!” He snaps his fingers. “Luces bien, Ames.”

She blushes, tucks her hair behind both her ears and flicks to the next page of the textbook. She’s only in one of his hoodies and leggings, she’s not even sure when she last washed her hair, but her husband makes her feel beautiful. Always has done, right back to the time he said her dress makes her look like a mermaid.

Along with Spanish, she teaches him basic geography. He knows that Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, that Havana is the capital city and can draw the flag with his crayons. He shows off to Camila the next time they visit and earns himself an extra cookie.

He can write his name, too, and she remarks that at age three his penmanship is already better than Jake’s.

(Jake sticks his tongue out at her, even if it’s true).

Like Amy, he loves books. Loves the silly voices Jake makes as he reads, loves reading along with Amy and love love loves reading the book of Jake and Amy (illustrated by Terry) that Jake has made for his fourth birthday.

“Don’t you want to read a different book tonight?” She questions foolishly. They’ve read it three nights in a row.

“Nope,” he grins. “Mommy and daddy’s book.”

Her heart melts as she opens the book and he snuggles into his arms.

“It was her first day at the Nine-Nine...”

--

After an interrogation that went on longer than expected, Jake missed dinner and bath time and had to break several speed limits to get home in time for his bedtime story and goodnight kisses.

He locks the apartment door behind him and follows the sound of Amy’s voice to Sam’s bedroom, recognizing the story immediately.

“I’m hearing wedding bells!” Amy reads, doing a spot on impression of Charles’ voice.

Jake stifles a laugh, leaning against the doorframe and listening to his wife recite the story he knows so well.

There are a lot of things they love about being parents, but at the end of the day, watching Sam play and learn and cuddle their spouse is the best thing of all. And soon they will get to watch them do it all over again with Baby Peralta 2: Peralta Harder.

[secondgenerationnerd]

DickKory Family Angst #12-to-Fluff #7, basically classic nightmare scenario in which the entire family comforts each other at the end.

As always, enjoy!!!! I will also be off work this Friday and Saturday, so send in allllll the requests!

-----

Kor’i and Dick know that the life they have is one they shouldn’t. They shouldn’t have the home they do, the jobs they love, the children that they adore. Their early lives never let them believe that they could ever make it to this point of their lives. They weren’t supposed to at least. But they do. They do and they’ve never felt more blessed to have what they have. They still go out as heroes, but rarely together. Someone has to stay home.

“Dick?” Kor’i opens the door to their bedroom. He jerks awake, blinking at her. “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.”

“S’okay.” He rubs his eyes, sitting up. “C’mere.”

“Why?” She knows what he wants. The same thing he always wants when she comes home safe. 

“Babe, please just kiss me already.”

“Well, since you asked so nicely.” Kor’i goes over to his side of the bed, kissing him. He always kisses her when she comes home safe. He needs a reminder that she’s safe and alive and here. She’s here. Kor’i takes a moment to change out of her uniform and into one of his t-shirts. 

“Much better,” He pulls her into his arms, kissing her gently. Kor’i snuggles into her husband’s arm. There are few things that she loves more that her husband holding her after a long night of patrol. “Missed you at dinner.”

“Did Jakey and Mar’i behave for you?” 

“’Course they did. I’m super daddy after all.” She laughs at his joke. 

“I’m happy.” They talk about their days and their children, anything to stay awake just a little longer. It’s well into the night when they finally start to fall asleep. Two gentle whimpers from the door wakes them.

“Daddy...” Dick looks to see Jakey and Mar’i sniffling. Jakey clings to his stuffed puppy while Mar’i pulls on the bottom of her sleep shirt. 

“Bubba? Starshine? Why are you awake?” Dick asks.

“Bad dream...” Mar’i’s whimper breaks her parents’ hearts. It takes a lot for their brave girl to cry. “Jakey too...”

“Daddy...” Jakey toddles over to the bed, dark hair messy from his sleep. Kor’i pulls her baby boy into her arms. Kissing his head and holding him close to her heart, Kor’i tries to stop his shaking. Dick slides off the bed and goes to his daughter. He lifts her into his arms, letting her hide her face in his shoulder. 

Dick and Kor’i sit close together, letting their children feel scared but safe. Jake and Mar’i eventually stop shaking. Kor’i leans over, kissing her daughter’s head, “Starshine? Do you want to talk to Mommy and Daddy about your nightmare?”

Mar’i shakes her head, clinging to her father. Dick holds her closer as he looks at their son, “Bubba?”

“Mommy an Daddy go buh bye. Wike gamma and gampa.” Jake rubs his tired eyes.

“Oh, Jake.” Kor’i makes him look at her. “Mommy and Daddy are right here. I promise we aren’t leaving you any time soon.”

“It’s ok if you’re scared, Bubba.” Dick assures the little boy. “I know it’s a scary thought for Mommy and Daddy.”

“You and Mommy get scared?” Mar’i looks up at her parents.

“Of course we do. There’s lots of things that scare us. Wanna know what we do?” Dick asks. The kids nod, “ We talk about it. Mostly with each other, but talking about it, giving it a name, makes us less lonely. We talk about it and hug each other and we make sure neither of us feel alone.”

“What if you don’t wanna talk?”

“We have a special word that we use. So we know to love the other person a little louder.” Dick smiles at them. “Tomorrow, we can come up with words for you guys.”

“Can we sleep in your bed?” Mar’i asks. Kor’i smiles at her.

“Of course, Starshine.”

Dick and Kor’i arrange themselves so Jakey and Mar’i are squished happily between their parents. Kor’i sings them a lullaby, a happy simple one from her childhood. Mar’i falls asleep first, face buried in her father’s chest. Jakey tosses and turns for a while until he finally drifts off. 

“Good night, Dick.” Kor’i cuddles her son, impossible green eyes starting to shut. 

“Night, babe. I love you.”

They shouldn’t have had this life. They shouldn’t. But they do and they’ve never been more grateful for anything. 

[brightpinkpeppercorn]

First Love

Choices September Challenge

Prompt: Day 7 - Future ( @choices-september-challenge ) Characters: Jake McKenzie Summary: Set 10 years after Endless Summer’s Vaanu ending. Jake’s son asks about his first love (thanks for the request @9k4!). 

Rating: PG Word Count: 2248 Disclaimer: I only own original characters. Otherwise, the characters are owned by Pixelberry.

Tag List: @delphinuskelly @indescribablechoices @mind-reader1 @flowerpowell @daniela2510

“There’s a casserole in the fridge. Just follow the directions on the post-it.” She grabbed her duffel bag and slung it over her shoulder. “Ashton’s bedtime is at 8. If it he gets scared, read him--”

“The Little Prince. I know. I introduced him to that book, remember?” He picked up her purse and handed it to her. “Besides, didn’t you know we’ve been reading Harry Potter the last coupla weeks?”

Surprised, she looked at him straight on. “You have?” He nodded. “Oh! Okay. Well. He needs his bath at--”

“Clare, darlin’”. He smoothed a wrinkle on her blouse. “I know how to take care of our son.” His hands moved to brace her shoulders. “Now take a deep breath. Relax your shoulders. Go have fun, okay?”

Smiling gratefully at him, she walked into his arms, enveloping him. After a moment, she looked up at him. “Thank you. I love you, Jake.”

He placed a kiss on her forehead. “I love you, Clara. Now listen,” With a sheepish look on his face, he ran a hand through her black hair, cupping the back of his head. “If you get drunk and lonely, you know who to call.”

After being met with an eye roll, he leaned down and gave his wife a quick kiss. “Let me know when you get there. Drive safe.”

“Bye, mommy!” A blast of energy ran from the living room and hugged Clara’s legs.

She knelt down and hugged their six year old son. “Bye, my little one. Are you and Daddy going to have a fun weekend?”

“Yeah!” The little boy then flung himself onto Jake who picked him up. “We’re gonna go flying!”

“Just make sure your Daddy doesn’t fall asleep in the cockpit, okay?” Biting her upper lip to suppress a wince, Clara looked at her husband, mouthing ‘sorry’.

Jake gently shook his head, making sure not to react in front of their son. “There’s a whole ream of paper waiting for us to make into planes.” He put his son down on the floor. “Can you go put the paper into two stacks?” The child gave him a determined nod and walked off.

She waiting until the room was empty and looked back at Jake. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned that.”

“Water under the bridge, Clara.” Crossing his arms, he looked at his wife who was definitely overpacked for her ‘sister’s weekend’. “I’d ask you if you forgot anything but I’m sure you packed your entire closet.”

“Boy Scout motto - be prepared.” Her wristband beeped and her eyes widened. “Must go!” Love you!” She gave him one last kiss and ran out of the door he had opened for her.

*** “Can you do the song again?” It was 8:30 pm and Ashton was still awake in his bed, cuddled into Jake’s side. Jake shook his head, attempting to stand up. “Please! Just sing my house!”

“Alright, but then you’re sleepin’.” Jake cleared his throat. “You might belong in Gryffindor --”

The child shook his head. “Not your House. My house. Sing it like Mommy talks.”

Clara had lived in the United States for about a decade but still retained her posh London accent. Though Jake hadn’t lived in Louisiana for almost twenty years, he still had a bit of a Southern drawl. These did not mesh very well. Ashton knew that and it made him giggle.

“Alright.” Jake let out a deep breath, hugging Ashton closer. Trying his very best Clara impression, he sang in a low voice “... or perhaps Slytherin, you’ll make your real friends, those cunning folk use any means, to achieve their ends …”

After waiting a few minutes and confirming sleep with his son’s slow breathing pattern, he eased himself off of Ashton’s bed and walked out of the child’s bedroom.

*** “Daddy …?” Ashton’s quiet, sleepy voice woke Jake up. He had fallen asleep on the couch, the Harry Potter book, the Sorcerer’s Stone, on his chest. Jake muffled an unintelligible response. “I can’t sleep.”

Opening an eye and stifling a yawn, Jake sat up and pulled Ashton on the couch. “Shouldn’t have given you that second sundae, Little Potter.” Jake ruffled his son’s floppy black hair and took a moment to look at him - with his big green eyes, he really did favor Harry Potter. “Your stomach hurt?”

Ashton nodded, hugging his Hedgwig the owl stuffed animal close. “Can we go to the hammock?”

“Something you need to talk about?” At year five of Ashton’s existence, he discovered the hammock to be the place to wax philosophical or spill whatever was on his mind to his father. The child nodded and took a hold of Jake’s hand before walking out to their backyard.

With just a sliver of the moon and no clouds in the sky, the stars shined bright. After getting the two of them nestled into the hammock, Jake put an arm behind his head and smiled, finding a particular constellation.

“Daddy.” Cocking an eyebrow, Jake looked down at Ashton who seemed nervous. A dramatic flourish with his hand followed a big sigh. “I’m in love!”

Trying hard not to laugh, Jake smiled and calmly asked, “In love, huh? Who’s the lucky kid?”

“Hermione!”

“Hermione Granger? From the book?” Ashton shook his head from his cuddled position against Jake’s chest. “You know a Hermione?”

“No!” This time Ashton’s response was more exasperated but just as dramatic. “She has glasses and big brown hair. She knows everything. She’s pretty. That’s my nickname for her.”

Jake smacked his own forehead with his hand. They’ll have to talk about nicknames. “Do you call her Hermione?” A shrug. “What’s her name?”

“Helen. She shares her gummy bears at lunch. We sing a song.” Ashton hummed a tune. “Why are there so many songs about rainbows …”

Of course the son of a cynic and a dreamer would pick that song. Jake closed his eyes and listened to the tiny voice sing his version of the song. Suddenly, he felt a pang in his chest. “Ash?”

“Yeah?”

“Call her Helen. Don’t call her Hermione unless she’s okay with it.”

“You call me ‘Little Potter’. Uncle Al is Malfoy!” Aleister was still a constant in Jake’s life, much to his dismay. Clara was his childhood neighbor and had moved to the United States right as Jake was picking up and starting to mend the pieces of his broken heart. Surprising even himself, Aleister had suggested the two of them go out for coffee. The pair had held off that coffee for three years, the time Jake needed to become somewhat whole again.

“Malfoy and I have an understanding.”

“Daddy. What do you call Mommy?”

Shifting, Jake looked down at his son and hugged him closer. He’d never given Clara a nickname, he couldn’t get himself to do that. “I call her Clara. Clare for short.”

“Oh.” The two laid in silence for several minutes. Jake had just drifted off to sleep again when he heard, “Is Mommy the first girl you loved?”

“Huh?” His eyes blinked open and he looked up at the stars again. Running a hand through his hair, he took a deep breath. It’d be so easy to answer Ashton’s question with a ‘yes’ but Jake had always stressed honesty with his son. Deep down, he knew he’d have to have some tough conversations about his past. He just didn’t think one of them would happen so soon. “No.”

Ashton lifted his head to look at his father. In the soft light of the house, Jake could see Ashton’s green eyes widen. “You loved another girl?!” Reluctantly, Jake nodded his head. Yes, it definitely would have been easier to lie.

“I did. A long time ago. Before I met your mom. Just over ten years ago.” Jake’s eyes met his son’s and for the first time, his face wasn’t flush, his eyes weren’t watering, he could breath when he thought of her. There was a sense of calm - it took him a long time to get there. A lot of patience from Clara.

“What was her name? Was she pretty? Did you get married? Do I have a sister?!”

“Ashton. You gotta calm down, Little Potter.” The child turned so he could rest his elbows on Jake’s chest. Grinning, Jake looked at his son and ruffled his hair again. “I met a beautiful woman on an island. Her name was Taylor but I called her Princess. She was the prettiest gal you’d ever seen, besides your Mom.” Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes and pictured her. “Big, blue eyes. You could get lost in them. Her hair was like sunshine. Her smile could light up a room.”

A dreamy look was on his son’s face. “Princess? You liked her because she was pretty?”

Seemed as though Ashton had picked up Jake and Clara’s lessons regarding valuing people for their inner beauty. “Well, son, I met Princess during a really bad time in my life.” Anticipating the barrage of questions to come, he held up a hand and the child closed his mouth. “Different story for a different time.” Clearing his throat, he continued, “She was strong, clever, and brave. Didn’t put up with my grumpiness or my shenanigans. I trusted any decision she made.”

“Did she help you?”

Darting his eyes back to his son, he nodded. “More than you can imagine. She saved my life. I was broken and she fixed me.” His hand moved to gently cup his son’s face. “Princess taught me what real love is.” He paused a moment and looked at his son thoughtfully. “If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t deserve to love your Mom. I wouldn’t deserve to be your Dad.”

Excitedly, Ashton hugged his father, little arms pushed into Jake’s torso. “Did you marry her before Mommy?”

“Yeah. We got married. In a tree.” His son’s jaw dropped. “Ain’t what you think. Don’t get any ideas.”

“What happened to her?”

Taking a deep breath, Jake placed an arm around Ashton. His lips curled into a grin. “She saved the world.”

Ashton’s eyes flew wide open again, clearly enamored. “Like a superhero?”

“Better than a superhero.”

Ashton looked up at Jake again and moved to rest his elbows on Jake’s chest. “What happened after she saved the world?”

“Well.” Another deep breath. “Princess had to go away forever.” Ashton was still, a slight frown forming on his face. “She took two pieces of my heart with her.”

The frown deepened on the child’s face. “Did you get them back?”

Running his hand to flatten Ashton’s hair, he nodded. “Yup. Got the first piece back when I married your Mom. The second piece I got back the day I first held you in my arms, kid.”

Ashton smiled, hugging his father again. Jake looked down at him and then up at the sky again, biting his lower lip, contemplating his next move. He picked up Ashton and placed him on his back next to him. “Look up at the stars and follow my finger.” Jake’s finger traced two lines that came together at a point. “You see those two lines before the square?”

A few minutes later, Ashton could see those lines and he shook his head up and down in agreement. “I see it!”

“That’s Andromeda. That’s where Princess is, looking down at us.” Jake was beaming and looked down at his son. “Why don’t you wave to her?” Giggling, Ashton did just that.

They sat in silence, looking up at the stars. Eventually, Ashton’s eyelids became heavy. Nuzzling his into Jake’s neck, he whispered, “I like Princess.”

Jake patted his son’s back and looked up at the constellation again. “Me too, Little Potter.” He gave a slight wave. “Hey Princess”, he mouthed. He smirked when he saw one of the stars twinkle. *** After ensuring Ashton was asleep, Jake walked into the master bedroom and opened a nightstand drawer. In the drawer was a box that housed an old cell phone.

Taking a deep breath and rubbing his hands together, he turned on the phone and pressed a button.

Her voice came through. “Jake. I promised you a year and a day and I’m sorry I won’t be able to fulfill that vow.

Part of me will always be with you. And you, I take with me wherever I’m headed next.

It’s because of you that I’m able to face this decision. The strength and confidence you taught me.

You gave me a lifetime worth of love in a few short weeks. Goodbye, Top Gun. I love you forever.”

Ten years. Every single day for ten years, he listened to that message. Clara knew it and accepted it as part of his baggage.

A weight seemed to be lifted off of his shoulder. Running his hands over his face, he looked at the phone for a few minutes. “I’ll always love you, Princess.” Gingerly, he hit the ‘delete’ button on his phone. That was it, the message was gone.

He finally felt free, finally at peace. Digging into his pocket, he took out a frayed pink ribbon, from their handfasting ceremony, and tied it around the phone. “Until we meet again.” He placed the phone back into the box and closed the drawer.

A buzz came from his cellphone and he looked at the clock. Yep, that was Clara, drunk. “Hey Posh Spice.” He chuckled at her response. “Just trying a nickname out for ya …”