Entry tags:

Family don't end with blood, boy.

FAMILY MEME

( credit for original meme goes to singularjustice @ memebells on LJ! )
How does it work? Simple! Choose a relationship (or roll for one, if it suits your fancy), and then RNG for a situation! That, or just go straight for whatever situation appeals to you. These are all fairly vague: just something to start you off!

The only request is keep it family-friendly. If your thread is going to go somewhere darker, please post clear warnings or move the thread to a musebox.

PARENT-CHILD

ROCK-A-BYE How do you get a fussy child to sleep? Read them a story, sing them a lullaby, or just let them stay up until they exhaust themselves? Whatever the choice, it is time for bed.

FOR THE FIRST TIME You've never met this person in your life, but it turns out they're one of the two reasons you exist. Maybe they walked out when you were young. Maybe they never knew you were born. Whatever the reason, it is now time to meet them.

PAST MIDNIGHT That curfew was set for a reason. Now it's two AM, and your kid is just now dragging in. Maybe they're drunk. Or got into a fight. Or just had way too much fun snogging their new love interest. It's time for them to face the music.

NEW HOME It's the first day of your new life together, as parent and child. Whether it's through adoption, a basket on the front steps, or a wish come true, both of you are going to have to learn to take your steps together.

HOLIDAY It could be Christmas, Easter, or just a birthday, but it is time to celebrate! Get together for some good old-fashioned family fun.

TAKE TO WORK DAY What your parents do for a living is the quickest thing that can turn a kid from boring to the coolest on the block. So whatever the job, from accountant to zookeeper, go to work!

YOU'RE NOT MY REAL DAD Being a step-parent (or step-child, for that matter) can be tough. Problem is, you're stuck with each other. So whether you're yelling or just having an awkward conversation, it is time to work things out.

UNEXPECTED GUARDIAN So you're not the parenting type. Too bad. Situation calls for someone to step up to the plate and look out for this kid, and you're the only one near base. Have fun with that.

SIBLINGS

PROTECTIVE BIG SIBLING Okay, look. No one gets to mess with your sibling but you. Your little brother or sister is in trouble; let them know you're going to be the one to take care of it.

RUINING THE NIGHT So your sibling has a hot date. You know what that calls for? Making their lives a living hell.

NEWCOMER Who is this new kid in your house? Your family has adopted, and now you have to call this stranger family. Welcome them into the house, or let them know how much they aren't wanted.

BLOOD BROTHERS So maybe you aren't really related to this person. That doesn't matter. You're going to change that, right now. In this moment, you will become family. Nothing can break this bond.

MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT It's the middle of the night. Your car is broken down, or you're drunk, or you need bailed out, or you just got beat up, or someone just broke up with you. Whatever just happened, it's time to call your sibling and hope they can bail you out.

SIBLING RIVALRY Nobody understands what jerks siblings can be! Always in your stuff, messing up your relationships, getting in your way — it's time for an all out brawl, whether that means yelling, pranking, or fists flying.

LONG-LOST...? Maybe you've heard of this person. Or maybe they are entirely new to you. However, you've gotten the information that you're more than strangers: you're family. Welcome to each other's lives.

ALL ALONE Once your family was whole. Or maybe it never truly was. Whatever the case, the world is a big, dangerous place, and you've only got one person left to rely on: your sibling.

UNCLE/AUNT/NIECE/NEPHEW

SENT AWAY There's something bad going on at home, and you've been sent away to "safety." Problem is, how safe is this relative really? Are they the kooky, cool kind of aunt, or are they a crazed uncle after your fortune? Time to find out.

TAKING YOU IN Something's happened to your niece/nephew's parents, and it's time to step up and do your family duty. They've got nowhere else to go, after all.

THE ONE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT So maybe the family is a little bit... ashamed of you. You're a bit mad, or you've done something they just don't like. Yet you want to be part of your niece/nephew's life, and whatever their parents say, you'll find a way.

GRAND ADVENTURE Maybe you came out of nowhere, or maybe you've just been keeping secrets. But you aren't an ordinary aunt/uncle, and it's time to take your niece or nephew on a very wild ride.

LIKE A PARENT TO ME Sure, you have parents, but this person is who your parents should be like — or maybe who you feel should be your parent in the first place. Let them know how you feel about them.

DON'T TELL MOM Aunts and Uncles have special qualities. Like, sometimes, being a bit more lenient than Mom and Dad might be. So you have a, er, sensitive problem? It's time to run to them.

IN A RELATIONSHIP

NEW BABY ON THE WAY The panicking is already over, but there are still preparations to be made. Maybe you need to set up the nursery, or you've got the best idea for your soon-to-be child's name.

ROMEO & JULIET You love this person. Perhaps more than life itself. But it is time to break the bad news: your family will never approve.

I THINK I MIGHT BE PREGNANT Somehow, you are pregnant. And you think you know who the father is... time to break the news.

WHILE YOU WERE AWAY... You've been gone years, only to come back and find your beloved has a child... with your eyes.

OTHER

Of course, you are free to make up your own scenario, or do a relationship not done here!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Parent or sibling; blanket no on "in a relationship." Accidental or surprise child acquisition is my jam. ]

[ Child or sibling. Awkward getting-to-know-new-family stuff = 💖💖💖 ]

Selene had stowed away on their ship, and she manages to remain unnoticed for a day before she's caught stealing some food.

"I'm getting off at your next stop, I promise," she tells them, while clutching a small leather satchel close to her chest like she's afraid they're going to take it away from her. (Inside is a small stone statue of the goddess that she'd stolen. Not that she's going to admit it.)

She has one greater fear than her loot being confiscated, however. "Please don't send me back there." Because she's had enough of her life back on her planet, having lost her family and her home, and being a prisoner of the man who ruined it all.

{ This is probably a stretch, but if there’s interest, then woo. I’d be intrigued to have Will meet Villanelle from Killing Eve and them forming an unconventional bond, considering there’s so much to unpack there. I’m always looking to crossover the KE and Hannibal world. It’s a what if Will accidentally took this murderous person under his care post s2 because he’s incapable of dealing with his own trauma. I have ideas. }

[He can be sibling, parent, uncle, or nephew. Canon family is great, but also open to cross-canon AU family. OTA gen, ask first about ships.]

[ down for crossovers, OCs, adoption scenarios, AUs of almost any variety as long as it's not "sekritly a Sequel Parent" (weird awkward courtesy uncle is acceptable). I love this stuff, gimme. ]

[already married, but he could be any of the other options]

[Open to Aus, crossovers or jamjar settings. M/F 25+ for relationship category.]

Introducing Rachel to his family had been a difficult enough decision. He had always had a complicated relationship with his parents, one that he liked to think had a great deal of love in it, but has become more and more strained as he's grown and realized just how fucked up their expectations and treatment of their children has been. Still was, in many ways. His mother's pressures on him to be a perfect performer making it impossible to live up to her expectations, the constant pitting of him against his siblings (up to and including being called the favorite child in their presence), the way she ragged on him about his appearance if it wasn't quite flawless... It was all too much sometimes and he hadn't wanted Rachel to be subjected to it.

And then, of course, there was Jack. As a very young boy, Jesse had wanted to look up to his older brother, but it hadn't taken long for him to see just how fucked up he'd been. He wasn't sure when he'd started using, but it had been long before Jesse was even in high school. He'd watched him fall apart over and over, try to get through rehab, try to make himself better, just to be put back over the edge by his mother's enabling again and again. He kept hoping that each time would be the last time, but it never was.

When he'd heard that Jack had knocked up his latest girlfriend, another drug addict that he'd been living with temporarily, he wasn't shocked. He was surprised when said girlfriend had decided to keep the child. He didn't hear anything else about it for the remainder of the months, which was typical for Jack, who rarely seemed to reach out. He had hoped maybe he was getting sober for his child so that he could raise a healthy child, thought that at least the mother would have gotten off drugs in order to do the same.

So when he showed up at their sister's wedding with a near newborn baby, he'd been more than a little disappointed. Jack and his girlfriend were both very clearly high and they'd almost immediately decided to head for the open bar when the reception had started. This was exactly what he'd been afraid of Rachel seeing when Julie had called him to tell him she was getting married. Of course he had to bring Rachel, of course she'd meet the whole gang... Of course they would end up watching as Jack and his girlfriend took shots and downed glasses of champagne while barely holding on to their little girl. At some point, he had felt the need to intervene. He told them to not worry, to enjoy the party, he just wanted to get to know his new niece.

And that was how he'd ended up here. She hadn't been able to stop crying at first, but Jesse eventually had Googled what helped to calm babies, and every sight had said skin contact was a good way to help. So he'd undone his tie and unbuttoned the top part of his shirt so that he could rest her against his chest, holding her close and softly singing to her. She had quieted down fairly quickly after that, though he still felt her twitch now and then, or she'd start to whimper and he'd do what he could to comfort her. Thankfully her mother had had the sense to bring formula and so he'd made sure to feed her. Currently, he was pacing back and forth, having her propped up on his shoulder with an expensive table napkin protecting his suit as he gently patted her back.

"Come on, kid, let it out. It should be easy, right? I know family functions always make me wanna puke."

Rachel had originally been really happy to hear that Jesse's sister was getting married, and to meet the members of his family that she hadn't gotten to meet yet. She knew that he'd had trouble with family gatherings and he'd made enough off handed remarks masquerading as jokes, for her to know that the St. James' were not exactly the most functional family unit. Then again, it hadn't just been Vocal Adrenaline that had shaped Jesse into who he'd been in high school.

He was close to his sister, who Rachel had gotten to meet a couple of times. The first time she'd seen them together eating at a café not far from theater and she'd thought the worst when she'd seen them hug. It was now an ongoing joke between them and they'd proceeded to get so close that she now considered Julie a close friend and vice versa. Rachel had been looking forward the wedding, despite that the closer it got to the date the more tense Jesse seemed to get. She did what she could to ease that tension, but now she was seeing just why he could get so mean sometimes when he was under an excessive amount of pressure.

On the drive, she'd promised Jesse that she'd do anything she could to make things easier for him, but she hadn't guessed that it might include helping him care for his newborn niece while her parents partied. Rachel didn't know a lot about babies, other than the fact that she wanted a couple of her own someday, but if helping Jesse play uncle of the year was what was needed to make the day flow easier than she would do everything she could, even if it meant giving up her own romantic evening. She'd planned on having an evening where they dined, danced, and eventually made love as if it were their own wedding, because she'd started to think about those things in relation to him.

They'd veered off that path pretty quickly, but she'd been right there to agree to assist when Julie had come over to Jesse nearly in tears at how their brother was behaving and how the baby was crying. Their parents were trying to find them, even Mrs. St. James seemed perturbed by her older son's behavior, but she was quick to put the matter to rest when Jesse had agreed to step in. Rachel thought Jesse's mother was a little quick to forget the issue and should have held Jack responsible, but Julie deserved her night and if Jesse was going to play hero than she wasn't about to let him do it alone.

Any regrets she had over a missed romantic opportunity fall to the wayside when Rachel steps out onto the veranda, holding a couple slices of cake. Jesse had tried to be present at the cake cutting, but the smallest St. James had not been able to handle even that and he'd excused himself. The rooftop garden that was just outside the ballroom was decorated as magically as the inside and was bathed in the glow of draped fairy lights tucked among the greenery with floating candles that hung from miniature tree branches. The music can still be heard outside, but it's less overwhelming to a newborn's ears.

For a moment, Rachel stands there, watching them. A smile tugs at her lips as she hears him comment on the puking. The image of him trying to coax a burp from an uncomfortable baby is one that tugs at her warmly and she has to swallow because she's never felt quite so...maternal and it nearly floods her. Finally, she moves towards them, setting the plates of cake on one of the tables that had been used for cocktail hour but now lays empty. She steps into his personal space, curling into his side and wrapping her arm around him, before bringing her hand up to rest on the baby's back.

"Come on sweetie, Jesse's a Vocal Adrenaline alumni, he's really good at taking care of girls when they puke."

Jesse's never thought himself the paternal type. He's always been good with kids, though he would be the last to admit it, but he hadn't thought he'd have that urge to have his own family. First he'd been too driven towards success to think about it, then he always assumed he'd never find a relationship that made him crave a family in the first place... It had never seemed like it would be the right time. He always figured he'd bring too much baggage, be too selfish, and make choices too similar to his mother's. He didn't know anything about babies and he was sure that he would just fuck one up.

Yet caring for Lily was coming as second nature to him. True, he'd had to look up all the basics on the internet, but there was an ease to it he had never expected and it had left him feeling almost vulnerable to it all. Having Rachel try to help on and off all night had made that instinct feel even more alive than ever and as he watches her place her hand on the child's back and mutter her own little joke, he can't help but stare at her with that familiar intense love that he gets for her on so many occasions. This time it makes him wonder if maybe a family was exactly what he needed. If a baby was something that the two of them would have as another inevitability in their lives. Maybe he wouldn't be such a shitty dad if he had her by his side.

He was about to crack a wiseass remark in her direction when, as if on cue, Lily finally let out a belch and he wrinkles his nose as he can tell the bits of milk came up with it. He's thankful for remembering to put the napkin on his shoulder and he goes to carefully shift her as he removes the now soiled cloth. He dabs at her lips a little with it before going to toss it onto one of the garden tables, knowing someone will be by to pick it up later for it to be cleaned.

"Puking after you eat is practically a St. James trademark. I guess you really are one of us." It's a terrible joke, one he never would make if Julie were in ear shot, and he even cringes at it himself immediately after. He knows he only makes these kinds of remarks when he's around his family, having learned to better tame himself and be a kinder person when they aren't around to influence him. He lets out a sigh, going to take a seat on one of the benches as he does so.

He wants to keep his tone lighthearted, wants to say something to brush off the remark that he'd made that was too cruel and close to home, but he falls short. Instead, his voice is quiet, as he gives the only bit of honest he has. "She's going to end up as fucked up as the rest of us. Maybe more so. This isn't... fair."

Not for the first time that night Rachel wonders where it is that Jesse learned to be so good with children. This was his first niece, he hadn't had younger siblings, and she can guess that he never babysat. Then again, she'd never had any of those things and the maternal instinct seemed to come naturally to her when she took a turn to hold Lily. Whatever paternal instinct was inside Jesse was definitely strong and it had been filling her mind with thoughts of the future all night. Maybe it wan't a future wedding she was daydreaming about, but her thoughts were definitely on the future.

Still, the moment is full of melancholy because the reality of the situation is that they are at a wedding taking care of an infant because of irresponsible parents who had clearly continued to use while they'd been expecting her. She could hardly fault Jesse for his anger, barely veiled as humor. She knows Jesse had had a troubled childhood. He made jokes about his parents wintering in Bali by pointing out the expense of the phone call or how his parents told his siblings he was the favorite, but the reality was that those things were disturbing. One didn't have to dig deep to see a boy who had had absent parents who pitted their children against each other.

"No, it's not." She knows he's self aware enough to know that he's being cruel, so she doesn't berate him. Rather she reaches up to brush her fingers through his curls and offers him a sad smile. "Well thank goodness she has such a good aunt and uncle to pick up the pieces." She leans in close to Lily, stroking her tiny cheek with her finger, not even realizing she's just put herself in the role of being Aunt Rachel when she doesn't even have an engagement ring on her finger. "Isn't that right sweetie? There will be love in your life, one way or another."

Rachel shifts closer to them and leans in letting her head rest on Jesse's chest so that her face is very close to Lily's. Still so new to the world, Lily's eyes haven't developed enough to see at a distance, but with Rachel so close her eyes focus in on her with a curious intensity and they both seem to fade into some sort of moment, mesmerized by one another.

Jesse liked to believe he had a happy childhood, that he wasn't filled with resentment for the things that he had experienced or the way that his family had treated him. Yet the older he got and the healthier his views on the world became, the more than anger started to creep up. It was harder to ignore the fact that the messages from his parents had left deep scars or the way that his mother had always coddled Jack's awful behavior at the detriment to his health.

That had been easier to ignore until now. It was no longer just Jack that his behavior was effecting. It meant that Lily was now going to suffer as well and she so clearly already was. How long would she twitch like that? What was happening to her inside that was making her scream so loudly for so long? The thoughts raced in his head and made his heart ache and his throat feel tight.

He watches as Rachel leans her head against his chest and makes eye contact with Lily at the distance she needs to clearly see her. It makes that ache in his chest grow, though there's some sort of longing that ties in with it. A part of him wishes it was their own child and not his niece, wishes that the love he was seeing right now could be something Lily would grow up with all the time. He wishes that he could take her away from all of it, give her a real home...

Jesse doesn't notice that there are tears in his eyes until one manages to escape and he quickly shifts so that he can wipe it away without dropping the baby in his arms. He feels his jaw tremble gently, taking a deep breath to try and get himself together, not wanting to make the evening all about his own emotional turmoil.

"Fuck. I'm sorry. The last thing you probably wanted was to deal with my family's bullshit at something as fun as a wedding. Julie really knows how to throw a party, you should be in there enjoying it."

Even if she can't see it, she knows that Jesse is feeling emotional. It frustrated her that his family could be so callous when it came to these matters, but the only thing that she could do was to support him by being there with him. Partying was the farthest thing from her mind and she's surprised that he's even suggesting it. Rachel rubs his arm reassuringly. She's not sure what to say to calm down his concern over her enjoying herself, but she's pretty sure it comes from a mix of embarrassment and his own distress.

As Lily's eyes flutter from exhaustion, Rachel leans in to press her lips to the damp curls stuck to her head. "Uh oh, Uncle Jesse said a bad word, but we won't tell on him, right?" She pulls back then to offer him a warm smile that she offers to try and express all the love she has for him.

Rachel moves to stand in front of him and reaches up to put her hands on his face. "Accepting the drama goes both ways. You have absolutely nothing to apologize for. Look, I had one goal this weekend and that was to be with the man I love and his family. Maybe I wasn't expecting to babysit, but I would much rather be babysitting out here with you than inside with them. And maybe your family is a little bit crazy, but I didn't sign up to judge you based on them. Honestly...this," she looks down at the baby between them, "is a much better indicator than the man you are, than any of those grown adults in there. So please stop feeling so guilty. I'm madly in love and I want nothing more than to stay in this exact moment with you."

When she starts talking about how she was here for him, how she wanted to be in this moment and not in the party that was raging inside, he found himself having to hold back his tears even more than a moment before. Knowing she loved him so deeply that she would want to stand by his side through this sort of drama and struggle when they weren't even engaged meant the world to him. He closed his eyes, going to lean his forehead in against hers, trying to let himself simply feel whatever was going through him before he tried to respond.

He opens his eyes again to look down at Lily who is drifting off so quickly in his arms. After a moment, he leans forward, going to press his lips against Rachel's, holding a gentle but meaningful kiss that he tries to pour all his love into. He's always thought the world of her, but he's not sure he's ever loved her more than in this exact moment.

Jesse pulls back after a moment, taking a deep breath before he looks at her again. "Thank you," he said, his voice quiet but clearly grateful. "I love you, too." There's a pause where he debates saying something deeper, telling her how much everything she does means to him, how lucky he feels to have her in his life. Instead, he gives her a small smirk, and raises a brow. "Aunt Rachel."

Rachel loved kissing him, always had, but the kiss he gives her now speaks volumes. She can only imagine how hard it is for him to verbally express everything that being at this wedding is bringing up for him, especially when he's now responsible for his family's newest member. She closes her eyes, enjoying the lingering for as long as he needs it to last. When he finally does pull back she slowly opens her eyes and smiles. It's a powerful moment and she swallows a knot that's formed in her own throat.

Then he goes and calls her out for her earlier statement. Her cheeks redden and she swallows again, this time from embarrassment. "I mean...well..." What should she have called herself, she wonders. There wasn't some special title for your uncle's girlfriend. "Well, I mean, you know..." She stutters again, trying to get the words to properly form before giving up, scrunching her nose at him and very lightly batting him on the arm for breaking their romantic moment by teasing her.

She's not that offended though and actually relieved to see him making a proper joke. If he's back to teasing playfully, it means that he's feeling better and she could hardly be upset with him over it. It's just representative of how she sees herself in relation to the St. James wedding, and she's very hopeful to have one of her own someday, maybe sooner rather than later. They hadn't spoken too much about the future, but she hoped that he thought about it as much as she did. They had their ups and downs as a couple, but their relationship had a maturity to it that was new to her, and everything about it felt right. They were flourishing together which was evident in how flawlessly they'd come together tonight for Lily.

She keeps the playful tone light as she reaches over to very gently lift Lily out of his arms. She was starting to tremble again and with care Rachel takes her into her arms and grabs for her shawl that was hanging off the back of the chair to wrap her up. "Shame I can't undo my dress as easily as you can your shirt." She teases him as she takes a seat and makes herself comfortable. "Want some cake?"

He can't help but chuckle as he watches her stumble over herself, trying to find the right words to respond to his teasing, and the chuckle lasts a moment longer as he feels her smack his arm. Jesse knows full well that it was the easiest thing to call herself in the moment, but there's a large part of him that certainly wants to make it a reality. He's never been able to picture himself with anyone but Rachel Berry, not when he really thought about it. He had loved her and wanted her from nearly the moment that he'd met met her, even if things had gotten... complicated. Now that their relationship was normal and, dare he say it, healthy? He had a hard time not proposing to her on a regular basis.

Having her here and helping him with Lily just reinforced those desires. He wanted a family with her more than anything and he knew that better than ever now. Watching as she takes Lily carefully from his arms and wraps the baby up in her shawl, holding her to her so carefully and in a way that shows her maternal nature so flawlessly, he's hit with that desire all over again. He loves her. Truly. Someday, he'd get this for real, and not just from being forced into watching his irresponsible brother's little girl instead.

"Clearly you need to get more buttoned dresses," he says with a smile, going to reach up to his shirt to start to redo his own buttons. He leaves off the tie, though, figuring that it's too late in the night to even care about that sort of thing anymore. He never liked to wear them longer than necessary anyway.

Reaching out, he takes the cake she'd brought into the garden with her, giving a nod of thanks. "At least I can trust my family would never get a dry cake." He goes to take a chunk out of it, popping it into his mouth, and lets out a sigh of contentment. He points his fork down at it as he looks at her with relief. "This might make the whole night worth it."

"Buttoned cocktail dresses and evening gowns are in short supply, and I doubt her mother would appreciate me laying her against my chest anyway." Rachel's gown was still low cut, purposefully giving a nice view of her cleavage as she'd wanted to entice Jesse with. She wasn't the bustiest of women, but Lily seemed to appreciate curling in against her and she starts to relax a little against her chest. Rachel adjusts her so that her head lays as close to her heart as she can. It occurs to her that out in the garden with her shawl tucked around them, she'd have plenty of privacy. After hours of handing her back and forth and looking things up, they'd learned Lily did best when tightly wrapped up, or with her skin against theirs.

When Lily stops shaking again, Rachel lets out a slow breath. "I think it's passed." She had no idea what these episodes were that the baby was having, but she had a feeling the parents didn't either. It had only been a short time with her, but all Rachel felt incredibly protective of her. Jesse had told her that it was the side effect to her mother using during pregnancy, though not so extremely that she would have been taken away from her. She's trying to put it to the side, but it's hard to when she's been placed in the role of caregiver.

She watches Jesse eat the cake and looks over at the piece she'd gotten for herself. "That good huh?" Shifting, she reaches out with the hand not cradling the baby to get herself a piece. The food that night had been amazing, maybe not enough to offset the family drama, but no less amazing. She chews the piece and her own look of satisfaction washes over her face as she swallows. She hums her satisfaction. "That's incredible. I think it might be the best cake I've ever had. Shame you are too little for this one," she murmurs to the sleeping infant. She reaches to take another bite, before taking a sip from her glass of champagne.

"You don't happen to know if your brother or his girlfriend have a plan tonight, do you? I'm not complaining, and I don't mind being Aunt Rachel as long as it's needed, but I'm a little concerned for her. I saw them on the dance floor when I grabbed these and they don't look very..." capable of parenting "...well put together." Truthfully Rachel thought this was probably the kind of situation that warranted child services, but she hadn't wanted to bring that up to Jesse.

Jesse's quiet as he watches Lily stop shaking, his eyes not leaving her for a few moments after. He hates seeing her suffer, not knowing if she's in pain or if it's just harmless twitches that mean nothing. He didn't know how good the hospital was that they had kept her in originally, whether they would have been willing to discharge her at the parents request even when she may not have been ready to. Some places did that, cared less about the children and more about just making room for another patient.

He sighs, shaking his head when she asks about Jack. "I don't think he's ever been capable of having an actual plan," he says bitterly, taking another bite of cake to try and keep his spirits from sinking too low. He knows his brother and how easy it is to lose him entirely once the drinking starts. He chews quietly, staring at his plate, before he looks back up to her with a sad smile.

"I think it's probably safest to say we're on babysitting duty all night. At this rate, he's not going to stop drinking until passed midnight, if he even stops once the party is all wrapped up. I'm guessing he and his girlfriend are more likely to end up passed out than they are ready to be responsible parents."

The truth was, Jesse was fully aware that child services should be here. He even thought he ought to call them himself, though he knew it would ruin the wedding. A part of him still thought he should talk to them when he returned to New York, especially since that's where Jack resided as well. It wouldn't make the family happy, but Lily was more important than keeping on his mother's good side by not rocking the boat.

She and Jesse had known Lily all of twenty-four hours but she'd spent more time in their arms then she had either of her parents as far as Rachel could assess. Even at the rehearsal dinner, she'd been passed around a lot or left in her carrier when she wasn't fussing. While she was definitely a fussy baby, Rachel didn't seem to mind that much and had on multiple occasions bounced her while telling Jesse that she was just stretching her vocal cords. It wasn't easy to watch her cry, but she was easier to calm than her mother had suggested. She was completely smitten with her and Rachel saw that Jesse was too.

"Well, that's okay," she offers when he suggests they are likely going to be on all night. "That just means we get this little duckling all to ourselves." She sets her fork down to reach out and place her hand over his. "I am sorry though. I can see how painful this is for you. It's one thing to act like a child, it's another thing to act like a child when you have one, but look for tonight, it's fine. We're here and we'll take care of it, take care of her. It's a lot more fun than doing the chicken dance, right?"

Rachel knows she can be judgmental, but she's pretty sure in this case, it's warranted. She wants to suggest that they are doing the best they can, but that's obviously not true. Partying when you had an upset infant was questionably neglect. She just hoped that they were only doing so because they knew Lily was safe in the arms of family. Rachel knows she wouldn't do the same, and she's not even sure she would have attended a wedding with such a new baby. She didn't know much about kids, but she was pretty sure that you were supposed to be careful with public events until they'd had their shots.

The whole thing gives Rachel pause as she realizes that if she did have to attend a wedding with her own new baby, she'd be doing much the same. She looks up at her boyfriend, chewing on her lip in consideration, especially since she'd previously had a close call. She'd never told him, but with it on her mind she feels like she wants to say something. She goes back to her cake. "I thought I was pregnant once. Took a questionable positive at home and Santana eventually dragged me to the clinic, the test said I wasn't. It was a close call either way." She swallows, letting her eyes fix on Lily's face as she stares down at her in her arms.

"A few months back I was late, three days. I was going to buy a test the next day, but by the time I woke up the next morning I'd started bleeding." She isn't sure what he'll do with all that, she'd all but forgotten about it. Her cycle was pretty on schedule, but like any cycle it could vary, especially when life got so crazy that she'd forget a pill and have to double up the next day.

Jesse's quiet for a moment as he looks down at Lily, knowing that he'd rather be caring for her than doing some dance for sure, but there's still something under the surface that lingers. Some tension he can't quite get out of his system, an anger towards Jack that he hasn't felt in a while. "I love holding her. I love being here with her. I won't deny that it's not the worst way to spend an evening, but..." He runs his tongue over the back of his teeth at he thinks, before taking a deep breath and letting it out through his nose in a heavy sigh.

"This is a once in a lifetime event. Or, well, one hopes it is, anyway. For Juliette's sake, I hope it is." He bites at his lip, continuing to look down at Lily, reaching out to run a finger over the top of her head gently. "I was supposed to be able to be in there with her, spending time with her, celebrating her and her love. And Jack just... took that from us." He shakes his head, pulling his hand back so he can rub it over his face to stop anything like tears from forming.

"But I guess he'd say I took a whole shit ton of stuff from him, so it's not a pissing match worth getting in to."

He knows how much Jack has always resented Jesse, made Jesse feel like he'd stolen their parents from him, that he'd been at fault for the emotional neglect and abuse that Mrs. St. James inflicted on her children. Despite the fact that he had once been more outwardly arrogant about his position as the favorite, he's always felt like there was a heavy amount of blame and pressure on his shoulders for how terribly Jack had turned out. It was a heavy burden to carry, especially in times that were supposed to be happy.

His thoughts are jarred away from that, however, when Rachel mentions thinking she was pregnant once before, and the scare she'd had only a couple months back. "Why didn't you say something?" It's not accusatory, more curious. Thinking about her assuming she was pregnant, the worry it must have caused even just for those few days... He also can't help but have the small, prodding thought of what if she had been? If she had had to go get a test and it had been positive?

The feeling it swells up inside of him makes him look at her a bit differently, before he clears his throat and glances away. "... It wouldn't be the worst thing," he says finally. "I mean, I'd prefer the usual order of engagement, marriage, baby, but..." He trails off, going to go back to stroking the fine hair on Lily's head. "If it doesn't go that way, that's okay too."

Edited 2021-07-02 03:53 (UTC)

She'd wanted to bring it up because all of what they were doing tonight made her wonder. It didn't matter what kind of birth control you were on, pregnancy could come on quite unexpectedly and change everything. With everything that they were doing with Lily, Rachel had just begun to wonder how he might have responded if she was pregnant. She shrugs a bit, finally looking back up to him. "I mean, I didn't say anything because it happens from time to time and it just occurred to me that I was a few days late and that I should take a test. I figured that I would let you know the results." It was the same thing that she'd done with Brody, though she hadn't been nearly as scared of the results with Jesse.

It is a relief though to know that he's okay if something did veer them off course. "I was hoping you'd say that. I wasn't too worried a few months ago. Maybe a bit nervous, but not scared the way I felt with my ex. You and I live together, we're stable financially, and we are disgustingly in love. She just makes me wonder what you might have said, what we might have done." At least they weren't on drugs or relying on their parents for financial support. They'd be okay. She's suddenly overwhelmed by the fact that they are actually discussing being completely tied together, and how much she likes that idea.

"I don't think I'm ready to throw out the birth control or anything, but I like this. I like being in the middle of your life and even your family, no matter how crazy they might be. I'm not going anywhere." She reaches out to weave her fingers through his. The way she feels for him makes everything before this moment pale in comparison, and she would do everything she could to fight for this relationship. One of the best things about it though was that it required very little fight, it all flowed so naturally. Her endless anxiety held her back from wanting to assume, but she felt strongly that Jesse was the one she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

Because she loved him so much, she can't help but feel an ache for him that he has been playing the role of father to his niece tonight and that's a role that's not his. It was depriving him of an opportunity to spend some special time with his sister. Rachel chews at her lip in thought, glancing back through the doors into the main ballroom. "But you're right, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You need to go spend some time with her. Go ask her to dance. She's your sister and you need this moment with her. And if you think Jack and Amy won't notice, I'll bring Lily upstairs to our suite. You can join us when you're ready."

He nods quietly at the explanation. It isn't like he knows the details of how all menstrual cycle stuff works, even with what he's learned from living with Rachel and listening to her talk about her body. Public school educations were not the kindest to teaching about women's bodies and few of the things he'd read had ever mentioned things like late periods outside of pregnancy or a possibly life threatening STD. He's relieved to know she would have told him once she knew, though; he'd hate to think she'd be so afraid of his reaction that she'd waffle on her faith in him to be understanding.

He stares at her when she says she wants to be in the middle of his life, his hands instinctively holding hers and squeezing. After all they've been through, all the things she's seen tonight alone, it means the world to him that she still wants to be there. Enough that he feels a lump in his throat, one he swallows down before he leans in to kiss her softly.

"I like you being in the middle of my life, too. Even if I wish it was a less... chaotic one to be in." He knows that she seems to do just fine with chaos, though, and so it makes his lips twitch with a smile of amusement, no actual embarrassment found on his features. He trusts she accepts him and wouldn't say she wasn't going anywhere if she didn't mean it.

The offer makes that lump come right back though and he can feel that familiar swell of love for her. The sort that always makes him act like an idiot and incapable of ever saying no to her. The love that always makes him want to blurt out a proposal, even when he knows they should wait for a little longer, get things more... settled. He clenches his jaw, looking back towards the party, before he gives a slow nod. He really does want to dance with his sister. Get that moment before she ends up leaving for her honeymoon.

"If... If you're sure. I don't want to leave you all by yourself if it's too much."

She knows it's hard for him to leave her to care for Lily alone, not because he doesn't trust her, but because he doesn't want her to feel like she has to do it all. She doesn't see it as a burden and she's fine. "It's not. I'd offer to join you in the ballroom, but I'd hate for her to have another episode of screaming like she did earlier. So I think that the two of us will retire to the room."

Standing up, she reaches out for the diaper bag and pulls it over her shoulder as if she's been doing it for years. "So yes, you go and have at least a little bit of fun. All I ask is that when you come up, bring some food and another couple slices of that cake."

She isn't planning on going back on what she had said, but she does want to make sure that he is okay with her plan. Rachel wasn't going to force him to do anything. "So we'll see you soon?"

It's clear from the look on his face that he's okay with the plan, even if he wishes that there was a way for them to both spend time with his sister at the moment. Instead, he gives a nod at her question, moving in to carefully hug her without disturbing Lily in the process. "Thank you," he all but whispers, before he pulls back from the hug. He puts a kiss against Rachel's forehead, and then one against Lily's, before he goes to head back towards the reception hall.

His brother was certainly still having a grand time and Jesse does his best to ignore the irritation that wants to bubble up inside of him, focusing instead on getting to Julie. He was grateful she hadn't left yet to get started on her own romantic plans for the evening and he's able to get in a couple of dances with her and a drink before he finally decides to head back to join Rachel. He's got a platter with a few appetizers, cake, and a couple of glasses of champagne in his hands, and he balances it carefully as he taps the card for the room against the scanner. Getting the door open, he makes sure it closes silently behind him as he makes his way into the suite.

Placing the tray down on the table, he moves over to Rachel, tilting his head as he comes up beside her. "How's she doing?"

It hadn't gone completely as planned when Rachel had brought Lily upstairs. The baby had woken up just as she was getting her settled. That had started another round of excessive sobbing, that had left her feeling a bit useless. She'd cried for good while before Rachel had decided to run a bath and climbed in with her. Cuddled skin against skin and surrounded by the warmth of the water, Lily had finally eased.

After the bath, Rachel had gotten her dried and dressed in a fresh diaper and a onesie that she'd found in the diaper bag. Then she'd gotten her to drink a bottle of formula before Lily had finally drifted off to sleep. It had left her feeling only moderately haggard and if she hadn't been so annoyed at the complete abandonment of Jesse's niece by her parents, she might have understood them needing a night off.

When Jesse enters the hotel room she's sprawled out on the king sized bed, the blankets moved to the side to provide a safe perimeter so Lily won't get caught up in the blankets. She'd been just about to fall asleep herself, but looks up when he enters. She places a finger to her lips, before answering him in a quiet tone.

"We had a bit of a rough one. She had another fit, but we took a bath together and then she calmed down enough to take a bottle. She's been asleep for about half an hour now. Did you get to spend some time with your sister? Oh and did you let your brother know we have Lily?"

"He wasn't really in a place to listen, but I didn't get the impression he really gave a shit where she was anyway," he said a little bitterly, keeping his voice as hushed as possible, and taking a deep breath after the words leave him. He knew that was how it was going to go. He hated it, but he had to accept it.

He rubs his face to try and clear the agitation, giving her a small smile after. "Juliette appreciated the time with me, though. Thank you. I'm sure she'll reach out to thank you later too." It was certainly a moment that the two of them would at least get to cherish. Something Jack hadn't taken from him after all, thanks to his having an amazing girlfriend.

Seeing the exhaustion on her face, he leans over, going to press a kiss to her temple. "You get some sleep. I'm gonna shower up before I join you guys. I'll close the door so it doesn't wake her up."

"I'm so sorry Jesse, but I am glad that you got the time with your sister. I'm sure I'll catch up with her tomorrow."

Glancing at the baby curled up against her, Rachel feels her chest tighten painfully at Jesse's response. The fact that neither he or his girlfriend cared where Lily was made her desperately upset. It could have been just as easy for someone to kidnap her with God knew what kind of motives. How long would it even be before they remembered they had a child to consider? The desire to tell Jesse that they should just offer to take her off his brother's hands hangs unspoken in her thoughts because it seems such an unrealistic idea. However, she knew that when they had to give Lily back to her rightful parents it wasn't going to be easy knowing how little they truly cared.

For tonight, she intends to make sure that Jesse's niece knew what it was like to be taken care of at a moment's notice. No matter how much rest it cost her, she wanted to make sure that Lily knew what it was like to feel close to another person who truly cared. It hadn't taken Rachel long to fall in love with her and she has a feeling that she and Jesse are going to make sure to be very prominent members of her life.

"Sounds good, I can't wait to dig into that food."

She offers Jesse a smile despite the knot that's formed in her chest and nods. She really is exhausted and she should catch some sleep before Lily is awake again. But she's torn between that and how good the platter of food looks. Sleep wins out though and she conks out to the melodic rhythm of the shower with one hand protectively resting on the baby.

[ Found family, anyone? ]

{{Canon
Geralt: Newcomer(little baby foundling witchers!), Blood Brothers, Ruining the Night, Middle of the Night, Protective Big Sibling.
Lambert: Protective Big Sibling, Newcomer, Sibling Rivalry,
Either: All Alone, depending on canon and canon point.
Ciri: Taking You In, Grand Adventure, Like A Parent to Me, Don't Tell Mom(Dad)
(on the extreme off chance)Vesemir: Past Midnight, Take to Work Day(the Path), You're Not My Real Dad(yes you are)
AU/CrossCanon/Flex
A Child of Surprise (a child taken by witchers near their 7th birthday as payment for a favor): Any of the Parent/Child prompts, any of the uncle/nephew (or niece) prompts. Not necessarily his Surprise, since he did that once and royally fucked it up, but down to give him a second chance.
Fellow Witchers: Any of the prompts except In A Relationship, depending on age, school and rank.}}

( so many good opportunities here for this one. yes please~ )

( doo-bee-doo-babooo~!!~ come get this bae. )

[Can be child or sibling.]

((Can do Modern AU; adopted Parent or Aunt most likely, but can also do Sibling))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Family don't end with blood, boy.

FAMILY MEME

PARENT-CHILD

SIBLINGS

UNCLE/AUNT/NIECE/NEPHEW

IN A RELATIONSHIP

OTHER

Artemis Hart | OC

Jim Hawkins | Treasure Planet

please accept this stray

will graham ; hannibal

Sheldon Sampson/The Utopian || Jupiter’s Legacy

Maglor | The Silmarillion | OTA

Cassian Andor | Rogue One | OTA

Patrick O'Shaughnessy | Werewolf: The Apocalypse

Charlie Kelly | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Rachel Berry | Glee

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Remilia Scarlet (aged up or smol) | Touhou Project | OTA

Eskel || The Witcher (any) || OTA

Loki Laufeyson | Marvel Cinematic Universe / D+ / 616

The Child | The Mandalorian

Mebh Óg MacTíre | Wolfwalkers

Eliza Hamilton | Hamilton | M/F for shipping