RP with tm_wintergreen, locked to the same

[sylph_fics]

Saturday, Nov 29th

Slade had been prowling around the house, and to the eyes that knew him best there had been something riding on his shoulders since Wintergreen had arrived to set Thanksgiving plans in motion a few days earlier. He'd done a fairly good job of hiding any signs of it while the kids were there, and even when Addie was around... but now, home in Africa together, it was as though he wasn't trying to hide it -- and the restlessness was the most obvious sign.



Wintergreen was purportedly browsing through an older journal for a rough spot in his book, now that they'd returned from the holiday in the States. At the sound of Slade's prowling, he looked over the edge of his journal again...and decided that it was past time to get this dealt with. He set the book down, made sure everything was in order to his satisfaction, then rose and went to where Slade was prowling, leaning in the door there.

Slade turned his head when Wintergreen appeared in the doorway, startled. He'd thought Wintergreen would be lost in the journals for more time than this. "Old friend?"

"Something's on your mind, my boy." His tone was gentle, coaxing almost. This time around, Wintergreen didn't want to let the brooding build up to silences.

Slade just looked at him for a moment, then his lips curved in a small smile. "You know me so well..." he sighed, and went over to the nearest piece of furniture to sit down, the look on his face a request for Wintergreen to join him. The other man did so, settling into the solid back of the sofa, arm laid open to offer closeness, but not commandingly so.

Slade slid over against him, turned enough to look into his friend and lover's face. He took a breath, and started in. "There's something I would like to do over the holidays, but... what we have now works, and it works well. I don't want to shake that up."

Wintergreen looked him in the face, saw the nervous energy there, and leaned in to kiss him gently. When he pulled back, he shook his head. "Nothing...not even Adeline being what she should be...is going to break this." That had to be the only thing that could be pressing on Slade like this.

Slade had leaned into the kiss, letting his partner settle his nerves -- then had to laugh when the kiss broke and Wintergreen spoke. "How do you do that?!" Slade asked him, shaking his head. "I swear, you read my mind."

"How could you not expect me to make that conclusion?" Wintergreen said. "Slade, my dear, I think she and I have a firm understanding of who we are to you, and how we will handle ourselves in the future."

He didn't try to hide the relief that washed over him -- not from Wintergreen, not now. "I know, but..." He shook his head ruefully. "I couldn't ask her again without making sure it would -- I don't know -- be all right."

Wintergreen put his forefinger's knuckle under Slade's chin, meeting his lover's gaze firmly. "I had my fill of denying myself you."

Slade nodded, not trying to drop his gaze away as he let that settle into him. "I'm glad. I missed you," he added quietly.

Wintergreen shifted his hand, opening it, laying it flat along the curve of Slade's jaw. "As I did miss you. But that chapter is finished. If you wish to marry your wife over again, as would be fitting, I will stand up as your man again and be honored to witness it."

"That was the next thing I was going to ask," Slade just pressed his jaw into the strong hand resting there, smile on his lips again. "Thank you."

"No, dear boy. Thank you...for every moment we have shared." Wintergreen caressed, slowly sliding the hand along the neck, behind it, cupping firmly.

"Mmm..." Slade purred quietly, tipping his head back into that touch as his hand came up to reach across and wrap his hand around Wintergreen's shoulder. His head shook a little, eye lit with amusement and self-deprecation as he wondered why he'd let this tie him in knots for so long, when Wintergreen had made it sound so simple...

Wintergreen smiled softly, seeing that light, and then he pulled at Slade to rest against him fully, fingers toying with the hair that was growing out again. Slade settled in against his body, pressing into the hand in his hair with another low, content noise.

Wintergreen took to petting that hair gently, pleased to have a moment of peace. "Military dress again, or shall we go all out formal?"

"Much as I'd enjoy the expressions on some faces if I did... I think formal wear this time. Assuming she agrees," he laughed.

"She'd be amiss to even think of refusing," Wintergreen sniffed.

"You know how she can be, Wintergreen," Slade answered, grin on his face at the affront in Wintergreen's expression and voice. "But since she's answering to being called my wife again... I don't think she will."

"Nor do I, old friend. She is very much your wife again, and this is a step to making it true in all senses."

Slade made another quiet, content noise, and pressed closer, hand petting over the front of his shoulder.

Wintergreen rumbled, then slowly started to chuckle.

"What?"

"Well, military restrictions the last time around no longer apply. I can give you a more proper bachelor send off...."

"And get us both shot by my fiancee, Wintergreen?" Slade couldn't help laughing at the thought, though.

Wintergreen laughed harder at that, which only made Slade join in more. God, but the thought of what Addie would do to both of them if they even gave it serious thought... And... "Another reason not to," he said around the laughs, "I was going to ask Joe to stand up with me..."
"Of course you will, which is why I'll have to give away the bride!" Wintergreen said.

"No, but coaxing Rose and Raven both to stand with Adeline may get interesting..."

Wintergreen considered that alternative for a few moments. "Raven will escort Joseph, and of course Rose would indulge me by being there."

Slade nodded. "I think she would."

Wintergreen sighed softly. "Your son is intent on marriage too."

"I know. I worry, but he's been intent on her since... well before we lost him."

"He's going slow. Prideful boy...no idea where he gets it." The tone was quite bland.

Slade snorted at the light, bland tone. "Oh, only from all three of us, and in spades..."

"I'd nothing to do with it, I'll have you know." Wintergreen's eyes sparkled, though he denied the accusation.

Slade glanced up at the ceiling, as if watching for something, and didn't say a word.

Wintergreen snorted, which only made Slade cock a brow curiously.

"He reminds me of you so strongly at times, save when he is his mother's brand of stubborn...and then he has his own quirks that I can't decipher from any of us."

"I know. I don't know where he got some of it," Slade sighed, amused.

"But he is a treasure."

"That he is, old friend. That he is."

Wintergreen quieted again, his hands petting along Slade's hair and shoulders, caressing gently in passing the neck, as he wondered just when the fates had chosen to shine favorably again. Slade pushed into the touches, returning them with his own as the two of them settled to each other's company for the moment.