The Escape is Only Temporary

Inspired by this ask!

Johnny would honestly admit he skipped over the ‘about me’ section of dating profiles, more interested in the photos. Yours however had an eye-catching first line – CHILD FREE, NOT LOOKING TO DATE ANYONE WITH KIDS. 

That was fine with him.  He had no plan to settle down because he didn’t think it fair to leave a family for weeks or months at a time. He also wouldn’t want to date someone with bairns and grow attached just to have the relationship end.

…He swiped right.

At the first date you were upfront about not just being child free, you were infertile.  When he didn’t immediately end the date or start lecturing, you figured to throw the next dating hurdle at him.  You were a dedicated pet-parent to a 14-year-old longhair tabby named Evangelina or Evie.  Johnny admitted he was excited to meet her, he was a huge animal lover but, with his work and traveling so much he hadn’t had a pet of his own in years.

You warned him that Evie might not approach him right away.  The last man you’d brought home had kicked her when her claws got stuck on his trousers.  Johnny was livid at the thought of someone kicking a defenseless animal.  You soon had him snorting Ale from his nose as you described twisting the fiend’s arm behind his back and marching him out of your home. Making sure to give the man a harsh shove off your stoop.

The first time he visited your home he found himself sitting across from a cat that was honest to God glaring at him.  In each photo you had shown him Evie had looked at you with pure adoration. The look she was giving him, however, was a mix of annoyance and disgust. “Keep the heid wee beastie, Ah'm no here fur a square-go.”  Johnny tried to make nice, offering his hand for Evie to smell only for her to puff out her tail. She was NOT happy with your guest.

As time passed and he kept coming around the wee beastie resigned herself to growling at him from under furniture and around corners.  Climbing up her tower to hiss at him should he get too close or speak too loudly in her presence.  She even refused to take Dreamies from him! 

The first time he showered at yours Evie had nipped at his feet from under the vanity.  You apologized profusely while applying ointment.  Johnny laughed your concern away, saying it was a decent ambush and he’d need to secure the bathroom better next time. 

Things didn’t improve with the wee besom until 8 months into your relationship. 

He wasn’t worried when you didn’t reply to his “back at base” text after a few hours.  It was normal not to be in contact for days or weeks at a time so he didn’t take it personal when you didn’t immediately reply.  By the second day without even a thumbs up he was beginning to worry.  Rushing over to your home and letting himself in with the key you had only recently given him, found you tucked up in bed.  You wheezed a bit as you slept on oblivious to his panicked arrival.  Your beastie lay curled against your chest, puffed up and staring him down as if daring him to wake you. 

Satisfied you were alive; Johnny began clearing the tissues that hadn’t made it into the wastebasket and left you to sleep.  He decided to make himself useful, emptying the bin, starting a load of laundry and rummaging through your cupboards to make a grocery list.  Eventually he returned to your room with a fresh bottle of water for the next time you woke up.  Beside it he set down a bowl of water and some kibble, having noticed the nearly empty bowls in your kitchen.  Your beloved fur-baby had clearly refused to leave your side.

He would later swear that Evie had looked at him with surprise instead of her usual disgust.  Telling everyone that would listen, “That was the day the wee beastie realized I wasnae the baddie.”

Sitting on your desk was now a photo of you and Johnny holding Evie.  Your girl had purred so loudly as Johnny had wrapped his arms around to give her chin a scratch.  It was a proper family photo and the one Johnny also kept a copy of.

Notes-

it’s been a while since I spoke with a Scottish person so I didn’t attempt the accent but I did include phrasing I’m familiar with.

I have a set of pictures of my elderly cat looking at me, eyes wide and happy, the next pic she notices her new sister (the baby) and she is clearly angry LOL 

Inspired by this ask!

You hadn’t meant to start a relationship with your quiet neighbor. Honestly you just wanted him to eat something homemade once in a while.  The flat you and your son lived in was only 1 of 6 units so it was very common to run into the other residents coming and going.  Except the large man with the scared face. You could go months at a time without seeing him.  But when you did see him, he always had a bag of takeaway – that just wouldn’t do. 

It wasn’t until later you’d realize Simon had been sweet on you. Even if only by the fact that he allowed you to bully him into coming over for dinner.  Or that he willingly exchanged phone numbers so you could plan better instead of just flagging him down in the hallway.

Your son was less enthusiastic about your dinner guest.  At 9 years old he was painfully shy and insecure about everything he did. His father truly was to blame, calling the boy a ‘sissy’ for crying – even when his hamster died.  Or taking him to the gym to ‘toughen him up’ when the scrawny 5-year-old was walloped by an older kid at the park.

So, it wasn’t a surprise that after 4 years of dating Simon, conversation between them was still stilted and superficial.  Nearly nothing personal being shared by either of them.  But Simon did keep trying to make a connection with your son.  If only so things were less awkward with the now teenager whenever Simon stayed over.

You felt Simon shifting around again, hearing him let out an annoyed huff you rolled over.  Sleepily you asked, “Your back?  Or dreams?”

Simon sighed and sat up, “M’ mind won’ shut up.” Rubbing his face as he walked around to your side of the bed, and leaned down he kissed your forehead, “Sorry to wake you, Love.  Go back to sleep. I’ll be downstairs.”  You let out a groggy agreement, quickly slipping back to sleep.

Hours later as the sun was starting to rise, your son made his way out to the courtyard, a bowl of cat food for the strays in hand.  He paused seeing Simon sitting out on the patio. As he contemplated going back inside he couldn’t stop his curiosity at seeing what Simon had in his hands, “Is that a sock?”

Simon grunted to acknowledge the question, “Yep, just about done too.”

Setting down the food he sat in the chair opposite his mum’s boyfriend, “Alright, I’ll bite…why are you knitting a sock?”  

Simon’s scarred mouth twitched with amusement, “It’s healthier than smoking.”  He chuckled at the unimpressed look the boy gave him, “Knitting is like meditating for me.  Once my hands know the rhythm my mind can take a break and relax for a bit.”

The 2 of them sat together a bit longer, a couple of stray cats making their way over to eat the breakfast your son set out. 

By the time you woke up they were back in the flat preparing breakfast.  Your son and Simon discussing their plans for the day.  It wasn’t an enormous difference but, your son seemed to be genuinely engaging in the conversation. You almost pinched yourself to make sure you weren’t still asleep.

Notes-

Simon would absolutely keep Simon and Ghost separate entities to better compartmentalize life vs work.  Plus walking around the city center with a balaclava is going to attract so much more attention than scars or really he could wear a medical mask and let people think he’s a germaphobe.

Crafting has been a form of therapy for as long as there’s been war – check out the drawings and paintings done by WW1 soldiers.

Inspired by this ask!

In the 3 years since your husband died you had made it a point to attend as many of your son’s football matches as possible.  Trying to fill the hole left by his father’s loss to the best of your ability.  Attending these matches had also helped ease your grief, finding community with the other parents.

Now here you were standing beside the pitch, blushing like a teenager as Coach Garrick’s brother smiled at you.  He’d introduced himself as Kyle, laughing that, “There’s already one Coach Garrick, and two Garricks on the pitch, a fourth is excessive.”   The man was fit and funny…and military like your late husband.  Shit, you didn’t think you had a type but, maybe you did.

As the match wrapped up Kyle’s attention was brought back to the pitch and you were left to be elbowed by Mrs. Hamond.  The woman never missed a thing, thankfully she wasn’t malicious about it…just annoyingly juvenile. 

As your son approached you after the match, you noticed he seemed irate despite his team winning.  Setting a hand on his shoulder you asked, “What’s wrong sweetie?”

He huffed and shoved your hand away, “What’s wrong?!  My mum just spent the entire match mooning over Coach Kyle! In front of everyone.  Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is?!” With a final aggravated growl he turned and rushed away from you.

“So…”  You turned and saw Kyle standing a few feet away, clearly having overheard the outburst.  “If that’s his reaction to us smiling at each other – how do you think he’ll react when he finds out we’re dating?”

Groaning, you shuffled over to him and dropped your head on his chest. He chuckled as he rubbed his hands up and down your back, telling you it everything was going to be fine. “Please don’t let him upset you, Babe. He’ll come around eventually.”

Shoving down your worry you snuggled further into his chest enjoying his warmth, “I hope so.  I’ll try talking to him while you’re gone. Hopefully - when you get back- the three of us can get a bite to eat?”

Wishing him a safe trip back to Hereford and promising to text him once you arrived home, you gave him another quick kiss before reluctantly walking away.

Notes-

It really depends on the person and family dynamics - but, you should introduce your kid to the person you're dating fairly early in the relationship. Especially if it's just you and your kid/s.

Inspired by this ask!

After 22 years of marriage, your husband John was finally retiring from the military. It hadn’t been the most stable relationship, but it worked for you.  You were both career driven, his position taking him away for long stretches of time.  Meaning for the last 16 years you had been raising your daughter and running the household mostly alone.  Now you weren’t entirely sure how John was going to fit into the life you and your daughter built.

A week into John’s retirement you had settled down with a cup of tea when you heard car doors slam shut, voices growing louder as they approached the door.  Your daughter stormed into the sitting room red faced.

Your husband stormed in after her looking equally, if not more, upset, “- idea where you were?  That you might have been in an accident or abducted!”

You quickly stood to separate them, hands up in a placating manner. 

John looked at you with clear frustration, “She said you allow her to go to her friend’s house whenever, that she doesn’t have to ask permission before taking off.”

Your daughter scoffed, “I’m 16 not 6, I haven’t needed to ask permission to go to a friend’s house in years.”

Reluctantly you nodded and confirmed, “That’s true, she’s been friends with the same girls since they were in nappies.  And I trust her to stay out of trouble.”

John rubbed a hand down his face, “Right, I’m not even going to tell you how damn reckless that is. We’re going to establish some ground rules, starting off – young lady don’t walk away while I’m talking to you.”

Your daughter laughed loudly in disbelief from her bedroom doorway, “Oh, no. You don’t get to try and act like a parent now. Not after ignoring me my entire fucking life.”

Calmly she met John’s eye and continued, “I don’t have a father. You’re just my mum’s husband.” Shutting her door, the sound of her lock deafening in the silence that settled around you.

John stood staring at the closed door, his face unreadable, his arms hanging at his sides. The only sign he was affected by your daughter’s words was the tense set of his shoulders.  Taking a deep breath, he turned and marched out of the house, the door closing behind him with a snap. 

Notes-

While I don't think Price would have stayed married - like every other service member he's definitely been married and divorced at least once LOL