#touchtherain

“do you think we’re doing a good job?”

they were on a family camping trip, one of the first ones of the year. their four year old son had demanded to be allowed to help pitch the tent which gray had laughed and agreed that he could help. willow had watched from the sideline, chuckling as her boys struggled to get the tent all set up and ready. she’d offered her help but they had both stubbornly refused, insisting they could do it themselves. they’d gotten it done eventually and then they’d moved on to setting up the campfire.

it was later that night, while their son was fast asleep in the tent, that gray looked over at his wife. “do you think we’re doing a good job?” he asked her seriously, wondering what her opinion on their parenting skills was.

willow seemed surprised by the question. “i think we’re doing a good job,” she said without hesitation, reaching over to take his hand in hers. “i know you’re doing a good job.” she had known grayson would be a good father even before she’d gotten pregnant. seeing him with his nieces and his nephews, she’d never once thought for a second that he could be anything but a good father. “why do you ask?”

“i don’t know. i just…” gray paused, trying to put into words what exactly had prompted the question. “sometimes i worry that i’m a bad dad, or that he’s going to grow up and think we did bad in something we did while he was growing up.” 

she stopped to think for a moment before leaning against his side, resting her head on his shoulder. “i think we’re doing good,” wills sounded more confident in her answer this time. “he’s happy, he’s healthy. i think the only thing he has to complain about right now is his lack of a younger sibling.” she finished with a giggle. their son had made no secret of his desire for a younger sibling to play with after seeing his parents with each of their own siblings.

“well, if that’s his only complaint, then i guess you’re right and we’re doing a damn good job,” grayson laughed before grinning. “maybe we should get to work on that request of his, though.”

“shhhh! i just got her/him to sleep”

jackson hated when he got home late. the game had ended at ten o’clock and he’d hoped that he’d make it home before abby had put the baby to sleep but that hadn’t been the case. he’d been one of the players asked to stay for an interview after the game and he’d been unable to avoid staying. he gave a quick interview and had rushed out of the arena immediately afterwards.

he opened the door and was immediately welcomed home by the animals, the dogs barking in greeting. “sorry i’m late, i had to stay for an interview an-” jax didn’t get to finish speaking before abby came running out of the baby’s room with her finger over her lips.

“shhhh! i just got her to sleep!” abby whispered at him, looking over her shoulder and back towards their daughter’s room as if she was afraid the barking dogs and jax’s loud voice would have woken her immediately.

“dammit, i missed bed time,” jax whispered, a pout on his face as he glanced in the direction of their daughter’s room. “did she give you a hard time going to sleep again?” their daughter was teething now and had been giving abby a hell of a time about going to sleep lately.

“it wasn’t so bad tonight,” abby shook her head. “only took twenty minutes compared to the hour it took last night.”

“that’s good at least,” jax mused, leaning down to give her a quick kiss.