The Toughest Job (Common Law Fic)
Oct. 21st, 2015 02:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
asphaltcowgrrlTitle: The Toughest Job
Fandom: Common Law
Pairing: Travis Marks/Wes Mitchell
Rating: G
Warnings: Melodrama ahead
Word Count: 726
Summary: Wes watches Bryony’s increasingly steady walking and thinks about the future.
Author’s Notes: I would apologize for this, but I can’t find it in myself to do so. I had an exceedingly difficult conversation with my 13-year-old’s school counselor today and am left feeling a bit lost and heartbroken. I knew parenting wouldn’t be easy, but I never dreamed I’d be dealing with the things I’m dealing with today. So, this is me trying to convince myself that I’m a better parent than I feel like I am right now. I think I’ve mentioned in the past how much of my own two are in both Violet and Bryony and today only emphasizes it all the more. The differences between my girls are nearly as varied as the differences between Violet and Bryony… right down to the fact that one is blonde and the other is brunette.
Wes watched Bryony toddle after her sister and smiled. She was growing by leaps and bounds every day and it was both a joy and sheer torture to watch. Before long, her steps would become surer, more confident, and at the blink of an eye, she’d be running.
What was he going to do when the day came and she no longer needed him? Either of them because that would devastate Travis as well. But as Bri’s mother – her mama – it clawed at Wes’ heart. He felt selfish when he wished she’d never grow up, hoping she’d stay a toddler forever, but he couldn’t even begin to feel bad about wanting to keep his baby to himself. Keep her safe.
The world was full of bullies, of jerks and liars. All around were people who wanted to hurt her, to snatch her away and do evil things. And although the likelihood of something tragic happening was slim, it still weighed heavily on his mind. Would she be tough enough to survive or would she curl into a ball and let the world have its way with her?
He didn’t worry about Violet nearly as much. She was so much Travis’ child that he knew she’d tackle each and every obstacle as it came her way. Shoving her way through roadblocks and ‘no you can’ts’ to find herself on the other side of the finish line, triumphant. No, Violet wasn’t ever going to let anything hold her back. She had every ounce of the bravado he’d found so damn appealing in her father to ever let life get her down.
But Bryony… she was another story.
Although she was still young, her personality still developing as she grew, Wes knew already that she was a different child than her sister. That she was going to need more care, more attention, more of everything a parent had to give. Shy, reluctant, cautious, she was every inch Wes’ child. Which, more than anything, was what terrified him.
Wes knew from experience how difficult it was to be that kid. He’d lived that life, was still living it. Uncertain, afraid of making a mistake, always worried that he was about to say or do the wrong thing and be called onto the carpet for it. Having Travis at his side helped, but it didn’t fix everything, not by a long shot. He still fretted over the past, stressed about the future. Some days, life was more than he could handle and not even the loving embrace of his husband could make that go away.
To think that his child – either one of them – might ever go down the same rocky, emotional road that he’s trod made him ill. The one thing he wanted to accomplish as a parent was to give his children a stress-free, happy life. While he knew this was an impossible feat, he still gave it everything he had. Win or lose, he’d be able to say he’d done everything he could.
Bryony stood in the middle of the living room, fist in her mouth, looking around for Violet. Her big sister was her barometer, the one she looked to in every situation. Rolling her eyes, Violet stopped her forward progression and came back to take Bri by the hand. With a tug, she drew her out of the living room and towards the playroom, intent on mischief no doubt.
Wes prayed that that never changed, even if Vi grew up to be the hellion her father had been in his teens. God help them all. Maybe, just maybe, if Bri couldn’t turn to himself or Travis, hopefully she could turn to her big sister. All she needed was one steady hand, one broad shoulder, to get her through the hard times. He wanted to be that for her, for all of the people he loved, but if he couldn’t be there for her, Wes was certain that Violet would be. Or Travis, Dakota, or any number of people.
What could he say, he worried. He was her mama after all and that’s what mamas did. They worried about their babies and protected them at every cost. Wes sighed. Maybe he shouldn’t have fought so hard against being called that because, in the end, he fell squarely into that job description. With every beat of his heart.
Fandom: Common Law
Pairing: Travis Marks/Wes Mitchell
Rating: G
Warnings: Melodrama ahead
Word Count: 726
Summary: Wes watches Bryony’s increasingly steady walking and thinks about the future.
Author’s Notes: I would apologize for this, but I can’t find it in myself to do so. I had an exceedingly difficult conversation with my 13-year-old’s school counselor today and am left feeling a bit lost and heartbroken. I knew parenting wouldn’t be easy, but I never dreamed I’d be dealing with the things I’m dealing with today. So, this is me trying to convince myself that I’m a better parent than I feel like I am right now. I think I’ve mentioned in the past how much of my own two are in both Violet and Bryony and today only emphasizes it all the more. The differences between my girls are nearly as varied as the differences between Violet and Bryony… right down to the fact that one is blonde and the other is brunette.
Wes watched Bryony toddle after her sister and smiled. She was growing by leaps and bounds every day and it was both a joy and sheer torture to watch. Before long, her steps would become surer, more confident, and at the blink of an eye, she’d be running.
What was he going to do when the day came and she no longer needed him? Either of them because that would devastate Travis as well. But as Bri’s mother – her mama – it clawed at Wes’ heart. He felt selfish when he wished she’d never grow up, hoping she’d stay a toddler forever, but he couldn’t even begin to feel bad about wanting to keep his baby to himself. Keep her safe.
The world was full of bullies, of jerks and liars. All around were people who wanted to hurt her, to snatch her away and do evil things. And although the likelihood of something tragic happening was slim, it still weighed heavily on his mind. Would she be tough enough to survive or would she curl into a ball and let the world have its way with her?
He didn’t worry about Violet nearly as much. She was so much Travis’ child that he knew she’d tackle each and every obstacle as it came her way. Shoving her way through roadblocks and ‘no you can’ts’ to find herself on the other side of the finish line, triumphant. No, Violet wasn’t ever going to let anything hold her back. She had every ounce of the bravado he’d found so damn appealing in her father to ever let life get her down.
But Bryony… she was another story.
Although she was still young, her personality still developing as she grew, Wes knew already that she was a different child than her sister. That she was going to need more care, more attention, more of everything a parent had to give. Shy, reluctant, cautious, she was every inch Wes’ child. Which, more than anything, was what terrified him.
Wes knew from experience how difficult it was to be that kid. He’d lived that life, was still living it. Uncertain, afraid of making a mistake, always worried that he was about to say or do the wrong thing and be called onto the carpet for it. Having Travis at his side helped, but it didn’t fix everything, not by a long shot. He still fretted over the past, stressed about the future. Some days, life was more than he could handle and not even the loving embrace of his husband could make that go away.
To think that his child – either one of them – might ever go down the same rocky, emotional road that he’s trod made him ill. The one thing he wanted to accomplish as a parent was to give his children a stress-free, happy life. While he knew this was an impossible feat, he still gave it everything he had. Win or lose, he’d be able to say he’d done everything he could.
Bryony stood in the middle of the living room, fist in her mouth, looking around for Violet. Her big sister was her barometer, the one she looked to in every situation. Rolling her eyes, Violet stopped her forward progression and came back to take Bri by the hand. With a tug, she drew her out of the living room and towards the playroom, intent on mischief no doubt.
Wes prayed that that never changed, even if Vi grew up to be the hellion her father had been in his teens. God help them all. Maybe, just maybe, if Bri couldn’t turn to himself or Travis, hopefully she could turn to her big sister. All she needed was one steady hand, one broad shoulder, to get her through the hard times. He wanted to be that for her, for all of the people he loved, but if he couldn’t be there for her, Wes was certain that Violet would be. Or Travis, Dakota, or any number of people.
What could he say, he worried. He was her mama after all and that’s what mamas did. They worried about their babies and protected them at every cost. Wes sighed. Maybe he shouldn’t have fought so hard against being called that because, in the end, he fell squarely into that job description. With every beat of his heart.
