Family Ties

Part 53

"...I'm not a permanent fixture!" Jackson was venting at Asuka's shop after leaving Raymond's.

"Jack, are you sure that's what he meant?" She tried to calm him down. He's been slamming plates down on the counter as soon as he reached the kitchen. 

"Well, he made it very clear that he wasn't that serious about us! Stupid worm!" He placed his hands on his hips, shaking his head. "I mean, would I do all that and change my whole life for a piece of ass!" He roared.

"Okay Jack, you're starting to scare my customers." She quietened him down. "Have you told him how you feel about him?"

"Well, he should know by now!"

"That's not what I asked. Have you ever told him in so many words how you feel about him?" She challenged him.

"Well, eh, no, actually. But, do I really have to spell it out?" This was frustrating. He didn't know what Raymond wanted, which made it even more frustrating.

"He's a romantic, Jack. You need to tell him if you feel some kind of way about him. You wanted to woo him in the beginning, right?" When he nodded, she continued, "Then get the spark back and while you're showing him how you feel, try telling him."

"You think that would work?" He was unsure. Raymond didn't see him as a permanent person in their lives, how could he convince him otherwise?

"That's what Tony did and I melted right into those skinny arms of his." She grinned.

"Well, that explains why you're being the voice of reason for once." He smiled briefly. "Okay, let me get out of here." He took off his apron and moved toward the door.

--

"Skye, how would you like to help me with a secret project?" He asked once he'd collected him from school the next day.

"What kinda project?" He asked suspiciously.

"A surprise for Papa. What do you say? Do you want to help me make Papa smile?"

"Papa is mean." He declared.

"Papa loves you very, very much and doesn't want you to be disappointed or hurt. You understand that, hmm?"  He stopped to look down when Skye suddenly came to a halt.

"Are you going to hurt me?" He asked, looking up at Jackson with wide eyes. Crouching down in front of him, Jackson took his hands, looking him squarely in the eyes.

"Of course not little one. I'd never, ever hurt you. Promise."  He smiled before pulling Skye into a hug.  "Now, what about that surprise for Papa, will you help me?"

Skye seemed to think things over, staying very still while he could feel the steady pulls of Jackson's heart. He kept in eyes trained on Jackson's as if looking for something. Jackson found his stillness a bit disconcerting. He couldn't tell what was going on in Skye's head, but it felt as if he was looking deep into his soul. He held as still as possible, waiting for Skye to say something.

"Promise?" He asked, watching as Jackson nodded.

"Promise."

After a while, Skye seemed to come to some sort of conclusion, because he nodded with a very serious face, before giving Jackson a bright smile.

"Now, how about helping me with my surprise for Papa?" He tried again, and after another pause, Skye finally nodded in agreement.

"Can we get some ice cream?" He took Jackson's hand again while they walked.

"Nice way to slip that in there." He chuckled. "We can get some for dessert, how does that sound?"

When they got to the apartment, Raymond was already there, on the couch, reading.